4 minute read
COVID-19 UPDATE
PUBS TO SELL TAKEAWAY BEER IN ENGLAND
A GOVERNMENT U-TURN MEANS PUBS CAN SELL TAKEAWAY BEER DURING LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND.
The 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.
NEW LOCKDOWN RULES KICK IN
NEW LOCKDOWN RULES ACROSS THE UK WILL AFFECT ALL ASPECTSOF LIFE, INCLUDING HOW CONSUMERS CAN SHOP AND MEET UP.
The UK has begun to move deeper into lockdown as new rules are introduced in England and Scotland while Wales and Northern Ireland are already in the middle of temporary lockdowns.
A new four-week nationwide lockdown across England starts tomorrow while Scotland moved to a five-tier system on Monday.
In England, pubs and restaurants will close but takeaway is permitted, non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will close and no indoor mixing is allowed. People must stay at home (with some key exceptions) and schools, colleges and universities will stay open.
In Scotland, the five-tier system ranges from ‘close to normal life’ up to ‘close to full lockdown’. No council areas have been placed in the most severe tier yet but many are in Tier Three which prohibits meeting at home, allows pubs to open but only to 6pm and they can’t sell alcohol, leisure and entertainment venues closed and non-essential travel advised against.
Wales is under lockdown until 9 November with similar regulations to England with the exception of the much criticised ban on the sale of “non essential goods” in retail.
In Northern Ireland, a four week period of lockdown restrictions is in place with broadly similar restrictions.
NFRN HARDSHIP FUND REMAINS OPEN
The NFRN has reminded members that financial assistance is still available through the NFRN Covid-19 Hardship Fund. The Fund offers assistance in the form of a grant to members suffering cash flow and other financial challenges.
Since its launch in April, the Hardship Fund has helped 95 independent retailers and paid out nearly £120,000.
Thanks to generous donations from the Federation’s districts, branches and from individual members, as well as from suppliers and publishers, the fund reached an impressive total of £241,621.
To apply for a grant, visit the NFRN’s website.
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.
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.
ASDA TRIALS DIGITAL SHELF EDGE LABELS
Asda has implemented a new electronic shelf edge labelling (eSEL) solution at its Stevenage innovation store.
According to the supermarket, it took over a year to implement and has been one of the most difficult tech challenges the retailer has ever delivered.
The fully integrated solution is now in place and covers over 22,000 individual lines in the store.
JOB FINDER
Women in Wholesale haslaunched a Job Finder sectionon its website to advertise, freeof charge, any vacancies in thewholesale, retail and FMCGsectors. There are no fees andno hidden charges and the sitecan be accessed here.
LOCKDOWN LOSSES
The second lockdown will costnon-essential retail £6.8bnover the four-week period,according to new researchfrom Retail Economics. Theclosure of non-essential shopswill hit hard but boost onlinesales by an estimated £2.9bncompared with the previousyear. Independent high streetretailers will be hardest hit.
TEA UP SALES
The University of Warwickhave helped ensure Tetley tearemains on shelves duringlockdown by working withbrand owner Tata to analyseTetley’s sales and stock datato accurately build a reliabledemand profile. Based on theanalysis, Tetley’s UK factory inTeesside increased productionby more than 40% to let thebrand meet unprecedenteddemand levels.
