The FWD will continue to maintain pressure on the government to give wholesalers the same financial support as their customers, despite the reopening of the hospitality sector.
This comes after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that bars, pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen under one metre social distancing rules on July 4, meaning foodservice wholesalers will recover a large portion of their customer base.
FWD calls for emergency measures specific to wholesale
Director communications at the FWD David Visick explains that although it’s good news for the industry, the volume of trade even under the looser restrictions is still unlikely to allow wholesalers to trade profitably.
“It’s not a moment too soon for foodservice wholesalers who have been clinging on for three months with hardly any turnover and no tangible support from Government,” he says. “We the FWD will continue to maintain pressure on the Treasury to give wholesalers the same financial support as their customers, despite the reopening of the hospitality sector.”
“Many restaurants, pubs and entertainment venues have unpaid debts to their wholesalers, but will need credit terms to restock, so it will take more than consumer cash flowing up the supply chain to bring the sector and the economy back to life,” he adds.
