THIS WEEK'S NEWS

NEWS DIGEST

COVID-19

COVID-19 TESTING FOR ALL ROLLED OUT ACROSS SCOTLAND

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ITS TEST ANDPROTECT PROGRAMME IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONEWITH CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS FROM TOMORROW.

The Scottish Government announced towards the end of last week that ‘Test and Protect’, NHS Scotland’s programme for controlling the spread of coronavirus, will be rolled out across all health boards from tomorrow.

Everyone aged five and over who has symptoms – a new continuous cough, temperature or loss or change in sense of taste or smell – should visit www. nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 to book a test.

Under the system, people will need to isolate with their household as soon as they have symptoms and, if they have a positive test result, they will be asked to provide details of all recent close contacts to NHS contact tracers. Those people will be contacted and asked to isolate for 14 days.

ALDI INSTALLS ACCESS TRAFFIC LIGHTS SOLUTION

Aldi is introducing an automated traffic light system at the entrance to its stores to help manage the number of customers entering and leaving during the coronavirus crisis.

The system will run alongside current measures to ensure social distancing.

The technology is rolling out in stores across the UK following a successful trial.

CARLSBERG MARSTON’S MERGER

Carlsberg UK and Marston’sare to merge to form CarlsbergMarston’s Brewing Companywith an annual turnover ofaround £780m. Carlsbergwill own 60% of the equitywith Marston’s owning theremaining 40%.

SAINSBURY’S 40K SCREENS

Sainsbury’s has announcedthat it has installed its 40,000thin-store safety screen injust two months as it tacklescoronavirus. The supermarketclaimed to be the first UKretailer to reopen such a largenumber of staffed checkouts.

CENTRAL CO STATUS QUO

Central England Co-op hasreturned store opening hoursto normal in the last week,based on customer feedback.The retailer, which hasover 240 stores across 16counties, originally reducedits opening hours in March toallow colleagues time to safelyreplenish shelves with foodand essentials for the localcommunity.

BUSINESS RATES

RETAILERS IN LINE FOR £500M ATM TAX REBATE

SUPREME COURT RULING THAT EXTERNAL ATMS ARE NO LONGERSUBJECT TO BUSINESS RATES ASSESSMENT COULD SEE UP TO£500M PAID IN REIMBURSEMENTS TO RETAILERS.

Retailers are in line for estimated reimbursements of up to £500m after the Supreme Court ruled that external ATMs will no longer be subject to a separate business rates assessment.

The Court dismissed a Valuation Office Agency appeal which means there will no longer be a separate rates bill for ATMs hosted in c-stores.

According to ACS’s 2019 Local Shop Report, 46% of c-stores have a free-to-use ATM while 18% have a pay-to-use machine.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Local shops provide the communities that they serve with vital services, including access to cash, but it had become increasingly difficult for retailers to host ATMs with the high cost of business rates and cuts to interchange fees.”

Lowman added that the government should now set up a simple refund process for all retailers who have been subject to wrongful business rates bills for ATMs.

NON-ESSENTIAL RETAILERS TO RE-OPEN FROM 15TH JUNE

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given non-essential retailers the green light to begin reopening next month as part of his easing of coronavirus lockdown.

Outdoor markets can begin trading in England from June 1st with all other retailers able to follow suit from June 15th.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, welcomed the announcement but insisted that safety must remain the

primary concern. She said: “The announcement provides much needed clarity on the route ahead but safety is the fundamental concern for all retailers and they have been working hard to implement the necessary measures to operate safely over the past weeks. Retailers can begin communicating their plans with their workforces and customers. The industry stands ready to play its part in getting the economy moving again.”

JJ SMALL VAN PLAN

National wholesaler JJFoodservice has invested ina dozen smaller vehicles tosupport its growing direct-toconsumerbusiness in London,which now offers same daydeliveries. JJ’s Next Day HomeDelivery Service and SameDay Service for London hasattracted more than 30,000new household customers overthe past eight weeks.

SILVER SURFING SOARS

UK e-commerce expertParcelHero says over-65sspent 94% more on homedeliveries this April than theydid last year, and that retailersneed to lock-in lockdownchanges now, to ensure theyretain this huge new customerbase.

SMARTY TOP-UPS

PayPoint has launched an exclusive top-up service for SMARTY, the SIM-only mobile network. Retailers can scan the serial number on a SIM pack to directly activate a SMARTY plan. Barcode top-up is also available to existing SMARTY customers who can access a barcode online.

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