Wholesale help still needed – FWD

While the mini budget aims to reignite the hospitality sector with a raft of support measures including a discounted eating out scheme and temporary VAT cut, wholesalers are still in crisis and in desperate need of support, say FWD.

“Measures announced today to boost demand in the hospitality sector through the voucher scheme and a VAT cut are welcome, as is the extra funding for businesses bringing colleagues back from furlough,” said James Bielby, Chief Executive, FWD. “However, while it was never likely that today’s statement would be used for announcements about existing schemes, we are still concerned about the lack of specific support for wholesalers.

“If consumers are going to start eating out again foodservice wholesalers need to be stocked and ready to deliver, and to offer credit to their customers. The measures the Chancellor has introduced do nothing to alleviate severe cash flow issues. We continue to work with government to push for wholesalers to receive the same measures as their hospitality and retail customers, specifically Business Rates relief, to maintain a viable supply chain not only into pubs, hotels and restaurants, but also vital public sector contracts such as NHS, care homes and schools.”

budget coronavirus FWD Government hospitality James Bielby wholesale