Covid-19
Our COVID-19 coverage captures the full impact of the pandemic on the UK’s 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 -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 £2bn share raising
Catering firm the Compass Group has announced it has launched a £2bn 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 doesn’t worry me, but losing or leaving loved ones does worry me and that’s why we chose to hit the pause button. On Monday 16 March 2020 my partner, Tara Smyth, and I were sat at my parent’s 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 ‘at risk’, warn MPs
A group of cross-party MPs have called on Deliveroo to “protect the incomes and safety” of its workers as the pandemic continues to unfold. The coalition of 44 MPs sent a letter to the Will Shu, the group’s CEO Will, with six demands for the delivery company after accusations it…
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14 MayCoronavirus
Marston’s agrees £70m banking facility
Pub operator Marston’s has revealed it has agreed a £70m 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 “highly prudent approach” 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 £5m in loans in order to shore up cash during the pandemic. 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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14 MayPubs and Bars
BBPA welcomes new task force for pubs and restaurants
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the creation of five new ministerial-led task forces to develop plans for how and when closed sectors can reopen safely, following publication of the UK’s roadmap to rebuild Britain. One of the new task forces will specifically look at pubs and…
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13 MayCatering Companies
UK economy shrinks by 2% as pandemic takes its toll
The UK’s economy shrank by 2% in the three months to 31 March 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which also found that gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 5.8% during March, the largest fall…
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13 MayCafes and Coffee Shops
Starbucks to reopen 150 UK stores for takeaway and delivery
Starbucks has announced the reopening of 150 of its UK sites from tomorrow (14 May), amid the Covid-19 pandemic. With the easing of restrictions allowing more travel on roads, beginning 14 May it will begin a phased reopening of Starbucks drive-thru locations across the UK as well as a handful…
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