THIS WEEK'S NEWS

SCOTMID SHARES CELEB SMILES DURING LOCKDOWN

SCOTTISH CELEBS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO HELP SCOTMIDLAUNCH AN INITIATIVE TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SMILINGTHROUGHOUT THE CURRENT LOCKDOWN.

Scottish celebs including comedian Janey Godley, Still Game’s Mark Cox (pictured) and Homes under the Hammer presenter Martel Maxwell are supporting Scotmid’s #sharingsmiles campaign.

The initiative follows Scotmid’s first lockdown #sharingsmiles campaign, which ran last year. This time, Scotmid is asking people of all ages to share their favourite jokes and help raise a smile by showing those who remain shielding or who are finding the continued lockdown restrictions a struggle, that their communities care.

Scotmid is also raising awareness of its 2021 charity partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Those looking to participate can send their jokes to lynneogg@scotmid. co.uk.

And if you’re wondering, the sloth said: “No, I don’t think so, it all happened so fast.”

POST OFFICE EXPANDS DIGITAL ID SERVICES WITH YOTI

In a move that secures new, additional revenue for Postmasters, the Post Office has rolled out a suite of online and inbranch products in a new partnership with digital identity company Yoti.

The rollout includes a free app that combines customers’ personal data and biometrics to create a secure, reusable ID on their phone, and in-branch services for those customers who do not have access to a smartphone or who prefer face-to-face contact when confirm their identity.

The partnership also connects Post Office customers with online businesses, by enabling companies to use Post Office and Yoti identity verification services for fraud detection, e-signatures and customer authentication services, using secure biometric face matching and liveness detection.

INFLATION RISES IN JANUARY INDICATE INCREASING COSTS POST LOCKDOWN

ONS FIGURES SHOW INFLATION ROSE BY 0.6% IN JANUARY ALONE,RAISING FEARS THAT IT COULD EXCEED THE BANK OF ENGLAND’S2% TARGET BY THE END OF 2021.

The latest Office of National Statistics figures show that food prices rose by 0.6% in January, compared to a 0.1% fall last January, in what could be the first step towards increasing costs post-lockdown.

The steep rise follows a climb of 0.7% in the inflation rate in the full 12 month period to January, raising concerns that inflation will exceed the Bank of England’s 2% target by the end of 2021.

Major price increases were noted across a range of products and categories including premium potato crisps, cauliflowers, fresh salmon and frozen prawns.

Cuts in VAT for hospitality and tourism will stop at the end of March. That, coupled with rising energy prices, could push prices up further.

THIRD OF SHOPPERS STOPPED BUYING FROM EU POST-BREXIT

A survey of 1,000 UK consumers carried out this month by Censuswide has found over one-third (34%) of UK consumers have already stopped purchasing goods and services from the European Union since the UK officially left the world’s largest trading bloc at midnight on 31 December 2020.

The survey also revealed that costs and delays were the biggest concern for younger consumers, with 24% of 16-24-year-olds suggesting an increase in cost had put them off, and 26% suggesting increased delays were behind the decision to stop shopping with Europe.

Men appeared to take a more ‘combative’ stance to EU relations than women, with nearly double the number of men indicating they would not buy EU goods for ‘ideological reasons’ as opposed to their female counterparts.

NEW WHITLEY HOME

Halewood Artisanal Spirits ismoving the production of itsWhitley Neill gin to its City ofLondon Distillery. Productionwill continue to incorporateWhitley Neill London Dry Gin’snine botanicals with distillationtaking place in smaller, handcraftedbatches to boost thebrand’s artisanal credentials.

PORTMAN REPORT

Alcohol industry watchdog thePortman Group has publisheda new report highlightinghow the drinks industry hassupported the Covid-19 reliefeffort. Available here, thereport shows how the industryhas protected pubs, supportedcommunities and produced1.3m litres of hand sanitiser.

TEMPORARY MORRISONS

Morrisons has unveiled a newtemporary store in the Camdenarea of London featuring anew ‘Market Kitchen’ freshfood takeaway offer. The storesits around the corner from anexisting branch that is beingrebuilt. It offers a range ofmade-to-order meals and ahome delivery service.

GOOD LORD

Lord Gardiner of Kimble,Minister for Rural Affairs, hasbeen confirmed to providea keynote address at ACS’sRural Shop Report launch on23 February. He will reflect onthe findings of the report anddetail the Government’s plansto support rural shops. To bookyour free place, email steve.dowling@acs.org.uk.

GREEN GONG

Spar Scotland wholesalerand retail CJ Lang has wona Scottish Green AppleEnvironment Award forEnvironmental Best Practicein 2021. Since 2019 CJ Langhas saved almost 67 tonnesof food from going to waste,reduced carbon emissions bythe equivalent of 244 tonnesof CO2 and given out theequivalent of 37,000 meals.

MÜLLER APPOINTMENT

Müller Milk & Ingredients hasappointed Mars, Aldi andAssociated British Foodsveteran Liam McNamaraas Commercial Director asthe business works towardsrealising its vision to becomeBritain’s private label dairyleader. He joins in May 2021.