NEWS SPECIAL
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR ALL THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
JOB FINDER Women in Wholesale has launched a Job Finder section on its website to advertise, free of charge, any vacancies in the wholesale, retail and FMCG sectors. There are no fees and no hidden charges and the site can be accessed here.
LOCKDOWN LOSSES The second lockdown will cost non-essential retail £6.8bn over the four-week period, according to new research from Retail Economics. The closure of non-essential shops will hit hard but boost online
PUBS TO SELL TAKEAWAY BEER IN ENGLAND
T
A GOVERNMENT U-TURN MEANS PUBS CAN SELL TAKEAWAY BEER DURING LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND.
he UK government has made an abrupt U-turn and is allowing pubs in England to sell takeaway beer during the current monthlong lockdown. Under the new restrictions, customers must order their drink via a website, phone or text message and deliveries are also allowed. Pre-ordered alcohol can be collected by customers as long as they do not enter the premises. Plans published at the weekend
suggested that while restaurants could sell takeaway food, takeaway alcohol was to be banned. It is estimated that around 7.5 million pints of beer will be simply poured down the drain as a result of the latest legislation. The government stated that public health and safety remains the number one priority, which is why pubs and other hospitality venues cannot serve alcohol on site to take away to prevent people from gathering outside their premises.
sales by an estimated £2.9bn compared with the previous year. Independent high street retailers will be hardest hit.
TEA UP SALES The University of Warwick have helped ensure Tetley tea remains on shelves during lockdown by working with brand owner Tata to analyse Tetley’s sales and stock data to accurately build a reliable demand profile. Based on the analysis, Tetley’s UK factory in Teesside increased production by more than 40% to let the brand meet unprecedented demand levels.
SWA WELCOMES GRANT FUNDING NEWS The Scottish Wholesale Association has welcomed last week’s confirmation by the First Minister that Scottish wholesalers will be able to access much-needed hardship grant funding to help businesses which can remain open but are directly constrained by the Scottish Government’s new fivetier local Covid restrictions. Eligible businesses will be able to apply for grants worth £1,400 or £2,100, based on rateable value. This is in addition to the UK Government’s new Job Support Scheme launched on 1 November and means that wholesalers are eligible for grants every four weeks for as long as the restrictions last.
10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 29 / WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2020
SWA Chief Executive Colin Smith has written to the First Minister and Finance Secretary Kate Forbes requesting a meeting to outline firsthand the “reality of the cliff edge” and the impact it will have on public-sector contracts should wholesale not receive targeted sector support.
