Covid-19
Our COVID-19 coverage captures the full impact of the pandemic on the UKโs foodservice and hospitality sector, from lockdown trading restrictions and government support schemes to recovery planning, operational adaptations, and long-term business implications. This includes essential reporting for restaurant operators, pub landlords, caterers, chefs, and F&B directors navigating one of the most disruptive periods in industry history.
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May- 2020 -20 MayCoronavirus
Wagamama to reopen 67 sites amid Covid-19 pandemic
Wagamama has announced it will reopen 67 of its sites for delivery and collection by the end of June. The restaurant has revealed from tomorrow (21 May) 24 of its sites will reopen, following a further 20 to be opened next week (28 May). The move comes after Wagamama temporarily…
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20 MayComment
How to protect your restaurant during lockdown
Covid-19 has brought with it a flurry of disappointing, albeit necessary changes, for an unexpected start to summer. Pubs, shops, and restaurants have shut down to help curb the spread of the virus, having unfortunate consequences to our social lives and leisure time. For many bar and restaurant owners, this…
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19 MayCoronavirus
Sodexo announces reward scheme for employees working through Covid-19
Sodexo UK and Ireland has announced that it will redirect funds from its annual bonus scheme to a special fund that will reward front-line staff who have worked through the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement was made during a regular โvirtualโ town hall meeting for employees, in which it was also…
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19 MayCoronavirus
KFC to reopen 500 locations amid Covid-19 pandemic
Fast food chain KFC has announced it is to reopen 500 of its restaurants for delivery amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month, KFC initially reopened 11 of its UK restaurants and later announced the reopening of an extra 80 of its UK sites amid the Covid-19 pandemic after temporarily closing…
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19 MayCoronavirus
Compass Group launches ยฃ2bn share raising
Catering firm the Compass Group has announced it has launched a ยฃ2bn share offering in order to help increase its liquidity in face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a trading update, Compass revealed that for the first six months of the year ending 31 March 2020 it saw revenues…
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18 MayComment
The coronavirus diaries: James Santillo
My business surviving the Covid-19 pandemic doesnโt worry me, but losing or leaving loved ones does worry me and thatโs why we chose to hit the pause button. On Monday 16 March 2020 my partner, Tara Smyth, and I were sat at my parentโs house, and the outbreak still seemed…
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15 MayPubs and Bars
Greene King launches delivery and takeaway services amid pandemic
Pub company and brewer Greene King has announced the launch of its delivery and takeaway service from a select number of its London sites. The group, which has over 3,000 pubs, hotels and restaurants across the UK, will be reopening 29 of its sites from next week (22 May) amid…
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15 MayCoronavirus
Thousands of Deliveroo employees โat riskโ, warn MPs
A group of cross-party MPs have called on Deliveroo to โprotect the incomes and safetyโ of its workers as the pandemic continues to unfold.ย The coalition of 44 MPs sent a letter to the Will Shu, the groupโs CEO Will, with six demands for the delivery company after accusations it…
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14 MayCoronavirus
Marston’s agrees ยฃ70m banking facility
Pub operator Marstonโs has revealed it has agreed a ยฃ70m banking facility to help improve its liquidity during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a Covid-19 specific trading update it said it has taken a โhighly prudent approachโ in its management of the business during this period. It added that all…
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14 MayCoronavirus
Brighton Pier Group details cash-saving measures
The Brighton Pier Group has secured ยฃ5m in loans in order to shore up cash during the pandemic.ย Both term loans are for a period of two years and nine months, and are in addition to the group’s existing term debt and revolving credit facility. A loan repayment holiday on…
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