28th January 2021
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has suggested that the government’s lack of support for wholesalers, while giving financial and policy assistance to major supermarkets, risks creating a monopoly in food and drink supply.
James Bielby, Chief Executive of the FWD, said many of its members believe the government is deliberately withholding support from smaller regional businesses trading at a loss to supply care homes, hospitals, prisons and key workers’ children, with “devastating consequences” for regional jobs, diversity of supply, and consumer choice.
“As the government refuses to help anyone other than supermarkets, it’s not surprising that many up and down the supply chain believe it’s a deliberate policy decision to let businesses fail, in the knowledge that the supermarkets will be there to pick up the pieces,” said Bielby.
By Lyndsey Cambridge2021-01-27T12:43:00+00:00
FWD CEO James Bielby has said the consequences of the government’s actions would be ‘devastating’ for jobs, diversity of supply and consumer choice
Wholesalers are becoming increasingly concerned the government is prepared to let them fail, according to the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.
FWD CEO James Bielby also warned this week that a continued failure to provide urgent sector-specific support to businesses that supply the shuttered hospitality sector and schools risked creating a supermarket monopoly.
The comments come after nine months of campaigning by the trade association and its members for support including business rate relief, which was given to the supermarkets, hospitality and retail outlets.
By Lyndsey Cambridge2021-01-21T10:42:00+00:00
Source: Pexels
The coalition of 18 trade bodies warn without financial help there will be no one to supply restaurants, care homes, hospitals or pubs once the pandemic passes
Food manufacturers supplying the hospitality sector have told the chancellor they are “facing a financial cliff edge” unless they receive urgent support from government.
A coalition of 18 trade associations including the British Frozen Food Federation, Federation of Food and Drink and Federation of Wholesale Distributors has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlining a series of measures designed to help “many food producers on the verge of going out of business”.