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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Mar- 2020 -26 MarchRestaurants
Pizza Hut delivery remains open despite restaurant closures amid coronavirus crisis
Pizza Hut has announced the temporary closure of all its UK dine-in restaurants amid the Covid-19 virus outbreak. In an email to customers, Pizza Hut’s general manager Neil Manhas reassured customers Pizza Hut’s ‘delivery huts’ are still open despite closures in dine-in restaurants and stopping collection and takeaway options. Manhas…
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26 MarchCoronavirus
Shepherd Neame announces staffing changes
Shepherd Neame has announced a temporary change to its staffing structure and salary levels as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unfold. In an aim to protect jobs for the long term, none of its staff are being made redundant, and all will remain employed “in the hope that the teams…
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26 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Banks under fire over emergency loan scheme
Banks have come under fire over government-backed emergency loans which require business owners to sign for a personal guarantee, as the UK battles with the Covid-19 pandemic. The British Business Bank (BBB) opened applications for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) on Monday (23 March), and claimed the loan…
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26 MarchComment
Marketing Matters: Covid-19 all in this together
It seems like madness to carry on writing an ‘agony aunt’ column with the unprecedented changes in the industry at the moment. The idea that my answer to a marketing question will have any relevance at all is quite bizarre. Instead, I’d like to take some time to consider the…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Off-licenses considered ‘essential’ businesses by government
The government has added off-licenses to its list of retail businesses that can remain open following a ban to close all non-essential retailers to combat the Covid-19 outbreak. This also includes licenced shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries. It comes after the prime minister instructed retailers and all restaurants,…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Government suspends gender pay gap reporting
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap deadlines for this reporting year (2019/20) due to the coronavirus outbreak. The GEO and EHRC said the decision means there will be no expectation on…
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25 MarchRestaurants
Domino’s donates 100,000 pizza’s to NHS staff
Pizza takeaway company Domino’s has announced it remains open and will donate over 100,000 pizzas to NHS staff amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. Domino’s said in an email to its customers that it will be working with every one of its stores across the UK to donate over…
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25 MarchPubs and Bars
The Alchemist announces temporary closures of all UK sites
Cocktail bar and restaurant The Alchemist has announced that all its sites are closed amid the recent outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. The company, which has 20 sites across the country, released a statement that confirmed the closure. The statement read: “Our venues are closed, which means we’ve put things…
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24 MarchBreweries and Distilleries
Distiller pledges alcohol towards 8 million bottles of hand sanitiser
Distiller Diageo has pledged to enable the creation of more than eight million bottles of hand sanitiser, by donating two million litres of alcohol to manufacturers amid the Covid-19 outbreak. The group behind Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff will now provide grain neutral spirit (GNS) to hand sanitiser producers across the…
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24 MarchCafes and Coffee Shops
Caffè Nero to close all sites temporarily
Caffè Nero has said all of its stores will close temporarily by the evening of Wednesday 25 March until further notice, amid the Covid-19 outbreak sweeping the UK. The chain said that in the face of this “unprecedented challenge” it’s priority now is to “ensure the safety and wellbeing” of…
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