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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOLL TOPS 100,000
AS PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON ACKNOWLEDGED INPARLIAMENT YESTERDAY, THE TOTAL UK CORONAVIRUS DEATHTOLL IS NOW IN SIX FIGURES.
More than 100,000 people in the UK have now died as a consequence of coronavirus, after more than 1,600 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded in the latest figures.
Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted “full responsibility” for the government’s actions but added that “we truly did everything we could”.
The UK is the first European nation to pass the distressing landmark and only the fifth country on earth to record 100,000 deaths after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico.
AMAZON TO REDUCE RANGE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
ONLINE GIANT TO FURTHER REDUCE THE RANGE OF PRODUCTSAVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AS A RESULT OFTHE IRISH SEA BORDER.
The impacts of Brexit are already being felt with confirmation from Amazon that it is preparing to remove some products for sale to customers in Northern Ireland as a result of the Irish Sea border.
This is most likely to affect categories like food supplements and OTC medicines and comes after Amazon stopped selling BWS products in Northern Ireland at the start of this year over concerns that it would have pay excise duty twice.
The latest move will kick in when the ‘grace period’ for parcels between GB and Northern Ireland ends. Amazon is reportedly planning on a date of 1 April.
25 YEARS OF COMPLIANCE
Alcohol marketing watchdog The Portman Group has kicked off the 25th anniversary of its Code of Practice by publishing a new report showing that between 2018 and 2020, there was 95% compliance to the Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks. This is up from 92% in 2012.
The report also covers the development of the Sixth edition of the Code that, importantly, includes details on updated guidance and new rules covering the explicit protection of the vulnerable and prevention of serious or widespread offence.
CEO Matt Lambert said: “This shows a strong record of effective regulatory performance over the past three years. The industry’s high level of compliance with our ever-evolving code enables us to fly the flag for a responsible alcohol industry with the public and the Government. At a time when politicians in neighbouring nations are increasingly turning their attention to introducing statutory restrictions on alcohol marketing, the sector’s support and adherence to the Code helps us safe-guard effective and appropriate self-regulation for the sector.”
CONTACTLESS LIMIT COULD RISE TO £100
The single payment limit on transactions using contactless technology could be increased to £100 as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) commits to consulting ‘shortly’ on a further change to the rules.
The new limit would be more than double the current limit as spending via contactless payments continues to grow during the coronavirus pandemic.
The limit was raised last year from £30 to £45.
The FCA has the power to set the boundaries for payments but card issuers retain the power to actually set the limits that are in force.
ESSO NECTAR
Nectar, the loyalty schemeused by Esso, has partneredwith British Airways, lettingmembers convert Nectarpoints into Avios. FromMonday, existing balancescould be converted and futurepoints will also be eligible forconversion into Avios, whichcan be redeemed on BA flights,upgrades and hotel stays.
PAYPOINT PROFITS
PayPoint’s latest accountsshow a fall in group netrevenue of £3m to £24.5mwhich included the cessationof the British Gas contractwhich was worth £1.7m. UKretail services net revenuedecreased by 1.4% to £10.6m,with 46.2% increases in cardpayment transactions andservice fees from PayPointOne.
BOOHOO BOMBSHELL
Debenhams has been soldto online only retailer Boohooand all stores will be closed,impacting 12,000 jobs. Theretailer and its administratorshave steadfastly refused toengage with trade unionsthroughout the process.
ACOSTA COLLECTIVE
Retail consultancy C-StoreCollective has announced fieldexecution and category adviceprovider Acosta Europe as its18th partner. Acosta is parentcompany of Reach, ShopSmartAgency, Disrupt and Flexforce.The business holds long-termpartnerships with brand ownersincluding Nestlé, Heineken,Premier Foods and BritishAmerican Tobacco.
CURIE CASH
Spar wholesaler for the northof England James Hall & Cohas reached another milestonein its fundraising activities forend of life care charity MarieCurie. The company has nowraised over £400,000 sinceMarch 2017 through in-storefundraising in Spar storesacross the region. This figurewill help to fund 20,000 hoursof care for families across theUK facing terminal illness.
JL COUGHS UP
The John Lewis Partnershiphas finally agreed to repay the£300m it received in Covidloans from the government.The retailer was one of the fewmajor retailers to initially refuseto commit to repaying the loan.
