The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has launched a petition asking the Government to offer food & drink wholesalers bespoke financial support in order to save them from collapse in the coming months.
The petition reads: “Food and drink wholesalers are crucial to supplying hospitals, care homes and schools and are a lifeline for vulnerable communities. They are also integral to the post-pandemic economic restart. Despite this, they have been excluded from much Government support and face sector-wide closures.”
It is the latest attempts by the trade association to highlight the wholesale industry’s troubles. The FWD stated that the need for financial aid in the sector is greater than ever with it warning crucial public services will suffer without it.
It also warned that foodservice wholesalers might not have enough cashflow to support the hospital industry when it finally reopens in the coming months.
“In a few weeks’ time the government is going to ask the UK’s foodservice wholesalers to reopen the hospitality sector,” said FWD Chief Executive James Bielby.
“It will need them to stock up in advance so that restaurants, pubs, cafes and leisure facilities can come out of hibernation and revive the out-of-home economy. But that won’t be possible unless the Treasury invests in food distribution.
“Having had no government support through nearly a year of lockdowns and restrictions, and having traded at a loss all that time to supply hospitals, care homes and schools, these wholesalers have no money left and some are on the brink of collapse.
“With no cash or credit insurance, they can’t buy the food the government wants them to distribute or provide the service and support their customers will need as they return.
“There’s no way back for hospitality without its wholesalers, and there’s no hospitality wholesalers without immediate support.”
NAM Implications:
- Lockdown caused the problem.
- Over to the government for a possible solution…
