3. Chamberlink July Aug 57-80.qxp_Chamberlink 29/06/2021 12:02 Page 67
Retail
Sector Focus Food giants unite for plastic project
A hint of normality amid long road to recovery events, festivals and conferences As I write this on 21 June, today in the weeks to come. It has felt should have been freedom day where liberating to be able to get back remaining road map restrictions were out, meet friends and family removed. again, raise a glass and break Unfortunately, due to the bread. progression of the Delta variant, the To get a bit of normal back. Government have decided they need While we are slowly returning more time to study the impact on this to some normality, the road to rise in infections and give the vaccine recovery is long. programme a few more weeks to The Government’s bill for further minimise risk. It is supporting businesses through disappointing but understandable. I hope, that by the time this article the pandemic is still growing By Tony Elvin goes to print, restrictions will have and it is critical that this support president of Solihull Chamber and been finally removed or we’re very continues. general manager of Touchwood close to it. Right now that support is With that uncertainty in the air, we starting to diminish but decided it was too early to bring back the hospitality and retail businesses are not ready to Touchwood beach. bounce back just yet. Capacity in venues is understandably still clipped, retail sales and footfall, It’s probably not the best idea to have hundreds of whilst more buoyant than last year, are some way children all playing in the same giant sand box just behind 2019 levels and, as we know, the industry is yet, but that doesn’t mean the summer is a write-off experiencing huge staffing shortages. and we’ve got a full programme of activities planned The travel industry too is on the brink of disaster including outdoor crazy golf, trails around the centre, with a frustrating traffic light system and very little family friendly entertainment and blockbuster movie support from government. releases to look forward to. So, we must keep the life support on for a bit Since reopening, Cineworld has been comfortably longer, helping these businesses return to profit busy. They even ran out of popcorn over that first whilst servicing the debt they are carrying from a weekend such was the unexpected rush to see Peter very difficult year. That will mean more people in Rabbit 2. A far cry from their reopening back in June work and therefore more people spending. of last year when a showing of Tenet felt more like an We can all help by shopping in shops and dining in exclusive private cinema experience. restaurants. A holiday feels overdue so let’s book one Thankfully this is another sign that life is starting to of those when we can too. Getting back to a bit of return to normal. We’ve been able to shop in nonnormal can be the perfect tonic for our economy if essential stores for a couple of months now, dine in we choose carefully where to spend it. for a whole month and, fingers crossed, can return to
Retail Therapy
Retailers urge credit scheme extension The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is calling for an extension in the government’s trade credit reinsurance scheme. Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre (pictured) said the removal of the scheme at the end of June could not come at a worse time for independent retailers. BIRA said research of its members had confirmed that they remained concerned about the end of the scheme. The scheme was introduced to cover those offering insurance on
trade transactions, and was brought in during the coronavirus crisis when traders could no longer get this type of insurance. Mr Goodacre said: “Despite the claim that there is a positive economic outlook and no need for this scheme, we have to recognise that any recovery for the so-called ‘non-essential’ retailers is very fragile. “Trade credit is crucial to retail, especially with footfall still 35 per cent below normal levels and restrictions still in place.
“Removal of this scheme at this moment in time is unnecessary. “"Most retailers who have been closed for eight or nine months over the past year will now be submitting accounts showing losses and increased debt. The danger is that the insurers will assess this risk and reduce or even remove credit. “We experienced this while the scheme was in place, and fear for the worst once the scheme is closed. “Our research suggests that 50 per cent of our members agree with us. When businesses are trying to re-build their livelihoods, the last thing they need is loss of credit.”
Four of the UK’s biggest food companies, together with consumer goods giant Unilever, have joined forces in a new plastic recycling project. The four are Mars UK, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Cadbury-owner Mondelez. The £1m project – the Flexible Plastic Fund – is aimed at improving the recycling of plastic by making sure more of it is treated in this way, thus reducing pollution. The Fund will guarantee a minimum value of £100 per tonne of recycled product to incentivise recyclers to process flexible plastic. It thus hopes that the more plastic that is recycled, the more it will attract new investment and jobs to those involved. Louise Stigant (pictured), Mondelez’s UK managing director, said: “Making our snacks sustainably and in the right way is at the heart of our purpose. “Increasing the recyclability of our products and creating a circular economy so our packaging stays within the economy and not the environment is a priority for us. “The Flexible Plastics Fund is an important step to ensuring packaging is collected, sorted and recycled in the UK.”
Mailbox to stage dragon boat race Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity is set to host its inaugural Dragon Boat Race at Mailbox on 25 September. The race will see 23 boats compete against one another, with many of Birmingham’s biggest businesses set to take part. Each team of 16 will participate in a series of 200m races, which will end with one of them being declared the overall winner. Helen Miles, the charity’s corporate fundraising manager, said: “We’re so excited to be holding our first ever Dragon Boat race this year and thrilled that it will be staged in such an iconic Birmingham location. “Mailbox provides the perfect backdrop and we can’t wait to see it filled with our fantastic supporters, rowing to raise vital funds for our patients.” David Pardoe, head of retail, marketing and tenant engagement at the Mailbox, said: “We’re proud to be playing a part in fundraising for such a fantastic cause.” July/August 2021 CHAMBERLINK 67
