Eat Out to Help Out: What happens when the restaurant discount scheme ends? August 26, 2020 Queues formed outside restaurants and reservations were booked up weeks in advance as Brits ventured out of lockdown to make the most of discounted meals this month. More than 64m meals have been claimed using the government’s offer to cover half the bill during August, with restaurants toasting a much needed pick-up in sales after [...]
UK firms cut more than 106,000 jobs amid coronavirus pandemic August 19, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has battered the UK economy since it arrived in early 2020 – and no sector has remained unscathed, with more than 100,000 job cuts planned during the pandemic. The government’s furlough scheme has allowed millions of people to keep getting a paycheck, but fears are growing that when this is phased out [...]
Boris Johnson’s calorie labelling plan is well-intentioned but economically inept July 27, 2020 Let me start with a concession to the Prime Minister: not all the policies in his anti-obesity drive are outright objectionable. Banning food advertising and telling shopkeepers where they can and can’t stock their products are obvious and unacceptable intrusions, whatever their intended goal. But as a liberal economist, I am prepared to consider some [...]
Vegan milk firm Oatly raises $200m from investor group including Oprah Winfrey and Howard Schultz July 14, 2020 Vegan milk producer Oatly has raised $200m from a group of investors led by Blackstone, including Oprah Winfrey, actress Natalie Portman and former Starbucks boss Howard Schultz. The investment round, which was also backed by Jay Z’s Rocnation, will be used to fund the company’s growth plans, which include expansion in current markets and new [...]
Most Brits still ‘uncomfortable’ dining out in restaurants July 10, 2020 Most Brits are still uncomfortable with sitting indoors at a restaurant due to fears over the spread of coronavirus, according to a new survey. Alongside pubs and bars, restaurants were allowed to reopen on 4 July after months in lockdown. But the latest survey by the Office for National Statistics found that six in 10 [...]
Burger King boss warns over UK restaurant closures and job losses July 9, 2020 The chief executive of Burger King UK has warned that the fast food chain could close up to 10 per cent of its branches due to the coronavirus crisis, putting up to 1,600 jobs at risk. Burger King boss Alasdair Murdoch said that the burger chain could close between five to 10 per cent of [...]
Which cafes and restaurants are reopening as the coronavirus lockdown lifts? June 10, 2020 After two months of coronavirus lockdown, Britain’s high streets are waking up again. From Pret to Pizza Express, cafes and restaurants across the country are working out how to restart their businesses. So what chains can customers expect to open up again on Monday, when so-called non-essential businesses are allowed to make their long-awaited return? [...]
Alan Sugar bares his teeth in dental row with advertising watchdog May 6, 2020 Lord Alan Sugar today launched a biting attack on the advertising watchdog as he clashed with regulators over a tweet promoting a teeth whitening kit. The Apprentice star had a brush with the law after he failed to clarify the commercial intent behind a tweet advertising a Stylsmile teeth whitening product. The dental brand was [...]
Alan Sugar told to brush up on ad rules over teeth whitening tweet May 6, 2020 Lord Alan Sugar has been given a ticking off by the advertising watchdog for failing to make it clear that his tweet about a teeth whitening kit was an advert. In a tweet posted in December the Apprentice star shared a link to a Stylsmile teeth whitening product, stating: “If you know someone who’s longing [...]
Coronavirus: Greggs to start reopening branches for takeaway and delivery April 27, 2020 High street bakery chain Greggs is preparing to reopen to provide a takeaway service during the coronavirus lockdown. All of the cafe chain’s stores are currently closed due to the UK’s coronavirus lockdown. However, the government restrictions allow cafes and restaurants to remain open for takeaway and delivery services. The company said it will trial [...]