Staff shortages could force business closures in the New Year January 3, 2022 Businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors are being hit hard by staff absences as Omicron surges according to industry chiefs.
SME crisis: Late payment of invoices and spiralling costs threaten survival of more than 400,000 small businesses January 3, 2022 Paying invoices too late is threating the survival of hundreds of thousands of small firms, a businesses group warned this morning. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) fears that late payments, high inflation and mounting administration for firms that trade internationally could see numbers shrink if something is not done about these issues. Of the [...]
4,000 people held on cruise ship outside Lisbon after Covid outbreak despite none of the passengers testing positive January 3, 2022 More than 4,000 people are being held aboard a cruise ship in the Portuguese capital Lisbon after a Covid-19 outbreak infected crew members, according to multiple media reports in the Spain and Portugal. Portuguese media reported that 52 members of the crew of more than 1,000 workers tested positive. However, none of the nearly 3,000 [...]
Annual spending on ethical products soars past £100bn for first time December 31, 2021 British shoppers spent more than £100bn on ethical products and investments last year, as the twin crises of the pandemic and climate change prompted significant lifestyle changes. Plant-based food, and products, and secondhand clothes, furniture and even cars saw demand surge in the last year with ethical spending rising to £122bn in 2020 – up [...]
Jubilant South Africa lifts curfew as Omicron wave subsides rapidly with minimal Covid hospital admissions and Delta killed off: ‘Expect the same in other countries’ December 31, 2021 Optimism is growing rapidly in South Africa as the wave of Covid infections caused by the Omicron variant seems to subside as quickly as it came. Infections are down and multiple Covid experts have confirmed the Omicron wave is subsiding quickly. The government therefore lifted the months-long curfew last night, allowing South Africans to party [...]
Ikea hikes prices by 10 per cent as supply chain woes continue December 30, 2021 Ikea confirmed this morning that it has boosted the average price of products in its UK stores by 10 per cent, as supply chain issues continue to disrupt its operations.
Financial protection for holidays surges in importance amid pandemic, says aviation watchdog December 29, 2021 Financial protection for holidays has surged in importance over the pandemic, with many families relying on the safeguard amid sudden restrictions. Nearly 75 per cent of holidaymakers consider ATOL protection more important now than before Covid-19 began curbing travel, research by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has found. The industry watchdog urged families who [...]
Aldi to bolster British suppliers, injecting £3.5bn a year into home grown businesses December 29, 2021 Aldi is set to bolster its UK-based suppliers next year, becoming the latest in a number of businesses trying to bring their supply chains closer to home. In recruiting more than 100 more suppliers in 2022, the move forms part of the supermarket chain’s bid commitment to increase its spend with suppliers on British soil [...]
Pubs and restaurants swallow £10,000 losses in week before Christmas December 29, 2021 Hospitality venues lost more than £10,000 on average in the week before Christmas, the latest data has revealed. Christmas Day takings plunged 60 per cent for pubs, bars and restaurants, industry body UKHospitality found, as the latest Covid-19 wave saw ministers urging a cautious Christmas. London’s hospitality scene has been hit the hardest, the industry [...]
Waitrose makes headway into home delivery through Mindful Chef partnership December 29, 2021 Supermarket Waitrose has partnered up with Mindful Chef, a British company that delivers recipes and ingredients to people’s homes, in a bid to capitalise on the trend propelled during the pandemic. The news comes as the online food delivery industry has become increasingly popular during the pandemic, and just weeks after Asda announced its own [...]
