The Country Range Group has launched the first in a series of Menu Solution Guides for 2021 with the opening brochure focusing on the driving forces behind plant-based food and how caterers can profit from its growing rise in popularity in the UK & Ireland. Launching to customers and chefs in January through the CRG member sales teams, the Group’s social media channels and … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2020
Brexit Deal or No Deal: Politicians as confused as the rest of us
The Brexit preview currently on show at Dover, Folkestone and other UK ports has not deterred the Prime Minister from refusing to look at any further extension to the transition process. This points to a no deal Brexit being the almost certain outcome, with increased disruption to UK supply chains inevitable. There seems however to be increasing optimism that a deal will be … [Read more...]
Sustainable disposal of surplus hospitality assets
H&C News meets with suppliers regularly to keep up to date with the latest product and service innovations, aiming to get the inside track on what companies offer to the market and how it is delivered. This week, we met with Paul Fieldhouse, who heads up Ramco’s Foodservices business, fresh from winning two prestigious new clients, a QSR chain, and a major … [Read more...]
Borders closing worldwide to the UK following Government admission of losing control
In most aspects of life planning leads to the best outcomes, yet as a country we have a Prime Minister that leaves everything to the last minute. This has been blatantly obvious throughout Brexit, and is now also all too apparent with the Covid-19 pandemic. The cost to the hospitality industry, UK PLC, and the international reputation of the UK as a consequence of the PM’s … [Read more...]
Mounting pressure from business leaders on Government for increased economic support
The shock announcement yesterday by the Prime Minister to impose Tier 4 restrictions on London and SE England has seen business leaders call for new additional support from The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales followed the PM’s move with similar restrictions imposed by the devolved Governments. The speed of the imposition of changes was also a … [Read more...]
UK Flights to Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands suspended with EU called on to follow
Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands have suspended receiving flights from the UK today, with Germany, France and other European nations looking to follow. The move to limit travel to Europe from the UK follows the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday placing tougher restrictions on London, and similar announcements from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The message … [Read more...]
London and SE England placed in Tier 4 from midnight
The Prime Minister has announced London and South East England will enter a new Tier 4 level of restrictions from a minute after midnight tonight. "We cannot continue with Christmas as planned," the PM said as he addressed the nation from Downing Street alongside Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance. People cannot travel into a tier four area, or mix with anyone outside … [Read more...]
PM to announce London in Tier 4 and adjustment of UK Christmas rules relaxation at 4pm today
The Prime Minister will announce live on television at 4pm today that London and much of SE England is being placed in Tier 4, alongside UK wide adjustments or even the cancellation of relaxing rules over Christmas. There has been an unusually high volume of communications today between Westminster and the three devolved nations. Nicola Sturgeon is chairing an emergency … [Read more...]
Leon CVA approved by creditors saving 670 jobs
The creditors of healthy fast food chain Leon Restaurants Limited (Leon) have approved a plan to restructure the firm’s finances through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), preserving 670 jobs. 90 per cent of creditors approved proposals put forward by business advisory firm Quantuma on behalf of Leon. Quantuma’s Andrew Andronikou and Brian Burke will now act as … [Read more...]
Marcus Rashford launches website supporting children and vulnerable families over Christmas
Marcus Rashford MBE and the Child Food Poverty Taskforce have launched a new website today, coinciding with the transmission of a new BBC documentary which has been following his campaigning efforts to tackle child food poverty. The website has two main aims. Firstly, to help vulnerable families and children to find support over the Christmas holidays via an interactive … [Read more...]
Leicestershire County Council support local pubs unable to open
The British Beer & Pub Association has responded positively to Leicestershire County Council’s innovative initiative that offers a one-off payment of £1,000 to support small village pubs which are unable to open their doors over the festive period. Launched today, the initiative – thought to be the only one of its kind in the country – is designed to keep people in jobs, … [Read more...]
Not being allowed to be hospitable at Christmas, a personal perspective from Stuart Procter
Amidst the all too large numbers being used in headlines currently, there is a very human story behind each and every one of them. The rushed and widely predicted announcement of London’s migration from Tier 2 into 3 on Monday impacted tens of thousands of hospitality businesses, unceremoniously forced to close. The enormity of the action by Government is of course … [Read more...]
Hospitality closed for Christmas and in need of sustained support from Government
The relentless lock down measures being imposed across England continues and will see Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire all will move up a tier, along with most of Surrey, East Sussex, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire. Hospitality businesses in these regions will join many of their counterparts first thing 19 December. The Chancellor announced … [Read more...]
An open letter from the UK catering industry backing: Minister for Hospitality
There’s no denying that the hospitality sector has been one of the hardest hit throughout the pandemic, and as many businesses continue to struggle during this crisis, we will never have a greater opportunity to make a stand. This year, in particular, we have seen many examples of disjointed thinking surrounding this industry. Several of the challenges may have been … [Read more...]
Make sure you’re ready for the unknown: esoteric Brexit
The Government is spending huge amounts of money on advertising asking companies to “make sure they are ready for Brexit”, but, again pause, but, there is no definition of what Brexit is or what is required to meet it yet agreed. So, what indeed are Government asking companies to prepare for? With only 15 days to go before the Brexit transition deadline expiring, the … [Read more...]
