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COVID-19 UPDATE
POST OFFICE ‘KEY TO MAINTAINING BANKING ACCESS’
A NEW REPORT FROM CITIZENS ADVICE SUGGESTS THAT, DESPITE BIG INCREASES IN CASHLESS SPENDING, POST OFFICES REMAIN CRITICAL TO ENSURING CONSUMERS HAVE ACCESS TO BANKING SERVICES.
Citizens Advice have produced a new report focusing on the Post Office’s current provision of banking services.
The report highlights how, despite a huge increase in cashless spending and rising online banking, 14% of consumers and 20% of small businesses still use face to face banking weekly. As banks continue to exit the high street, post offices are key to maintaining access to banking services.
Importantly, the report confirms that vulnerable groups use Post Office banking most frequently, particularly those on low incomes and disabled people.
Some 70% of postmasters, however, told Citizens Advice that pay rates for banking do not Even cover the cost of providing the service, prompting the agency to recommend that the Post Office “ensure postmasters’ remuneration for providing banking is provided at levels that can sustain the service”.
SBSS REVIEW DELAYED
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A DELAY TO THEREVIEW OF THE SMALL BUSINESS BONUS SCHEME.
In a move welcomed by the Scottish local retailing industry, the Scottish government has confirmed a delay to the review of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBSS).
The Fraser of Allander Institute, Scotland’s leading economic think tank, had been commissioned to conduct the review as part of a wider re-examination of the Non-Domestic Rates system. Earlier this year the Scottish government announced that.
SGF Head of Public Affairs Dr John Lee said: “This is the right decision. The impact of the pandemic on businesses must be taken into account. Overall the Small Busines Bonus must be retained and there should be no moves towards making receipt of the bonus conditional or linked to initiatives such as the Scottish government Living Wage or modern apprenticeships.”
It is now expected that the SBBS review will be completed in the spring of 2021.
LOMOND LAUNCHES MARGIN-BOOSTING DEALS
Glasgow-based Lomond The Wholesale Food Co has unveiled a margin-boosting ‘welcome back, giving back’ promotion, cutting the price on many of its bestselling foodto-go products by up to 40% to help boost customer margins, aimed at helping retailers offering food to go as restaurants re-open.
Running until the end of November, the promotion will feature ’star foodto-go products’ each month with each promotion including Lomond’s core line of bestselling products, with a range of chips, bacon, burgers and chicken goujons up for grabs during August.
“It’s been such a terrible few months, we wanted to help our retail customers maintain their food-to-go sales as foodservice operators open their doors once more,” said Director Barbara Henderson.
Products included in the August promotion include 4 x 2.5kg chips at £6.99, 2.27kg bacon at £6.99, 1.9kg battered chicken burgers at £4.99, 2kg chicken goujons at £8.99 and 1kg sliced roast chicken at £5.99. Fond out more at www.lomondwholesale.co.uk
TREASURY WINE UNVEILS D2C PLATFORM
Treasury Wine Estates has introduced its first e-commerce platform in the UK, selling its portfolio of luxury wines direct to consumers.
The company aims to bring consumers “closer to its wider portfolio”, whilst also enhancing the consumer experience by providing people with authentic experiences. Consumers will have access to events and the winemakers themselves – with the longterm ambition being to run a range of monthly events from wine clubs to vertical tastings.
Ben Blake, Head of Marketing for EMEA at Treasury Wine Estates says: “This offering perfectly complements Treasury’s existing routes to market, has the potential to connect with new consumers and provides the opportunity to promote our brands to a wider audience. Direct to consumer platforms are in high demand and we felt that now was the right time to introduce The Winery Collection to wine lovers in the UK.”
30 AMAZON GO STORES PLANNED FOR UK
Amazon is reportedly planning to open up to 30 checkout-free stores in UK with the Sunday Times reporting that the retail giant has already done deals to secure the first 10 sites.
The company is understood to be targeting transportation hubs to attract busy commuters.
LABELLING CONSULTATION
The UK Government has launched a on Front of Pack Nutritional Labelling (FOPNL), running until the 21st October 2020. The government considers it an important tool in reducing obesity and wants to ensure labelling still meets the needs of UK shoppers.
RETAIL WEBINARS
The retailTRUST charity has launched a series of live webinars for retail workers facing redundancy or currently unemployed. The sessions are ideal for everyone working in retail from middle management to shop floor who wants to build their knowledge and skills. For more information, visit www.retailtrust.org.uk/upskilling-webinar
WELSH PUBS OPEN
The Welsh Government has announced that pubs in Wales could fully reopen, both indoors and outdoors, from Monday this week. Previously, pubs in Wales could only reopen to serve outdoors, making it the last part of the UK where pubs couldn’t open indoors, stopping them from fully reopening properly.
