Christmas deliveries in the UK could be hampered by a shortage of lorry drivers as the potential pool of workers shrunk to its lowest level since records began in 2005, according to recruiters.
A lack of truck drivers has long been an issue for UK businesses as the popularity of the profession has decreased among British workers. But this year the problem has worsened, with 83 per cent of recruitment firms supplying temporary drivers to supermarkets and retailers saying they anticipate driver shortages being a “significant problem” in the run-up to Christmas. (The Financial Times £)
British food exports to countries outside the EU grew at twice the rate of those to the EU, according to the latest quarterly figures, providing cheer to those who argue that Brexit will free Britain to trade more with the rest of the world. A 12.1% rise in food and drinks exports to £3.4bn was the strongest quarter to date, according to figures published by the Food and Drink Federation. (The Financial Times £)
Exports of branded British food and non-alcoholic drinks shot up by nearly 14 per cent in the third quarter after the steep plunge in the pound since the vote to quit the European Union (The Times £).
Donald Trump says he will issue an executive action on his first day in office to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In a video updating Americans on the White House transition, the President-elect described TPP as a “potential disaster for our country” (Sky News). The TPP trade deal was signed by 12 countries which together cover 40% of the world’s economy. Trump also pledged to reduce “job-killing restrictions” on coal production and stop visa abuses. (The BBC)
Theresa May’s extraordinary volte-face on forcing companies to appoint worker-directors pleased business yesterday, but prompted an angry reaction from the TUC and on social media (The Times £). The pound briefly topped $1.25 today after the Prime Minister promised to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ change after Brexit and dropped hints about a future stimulus spending spree (The Daily Mail)
The Autumn Statement is expected to free up some money to help families on modest incomes. Policies under consideration reportedly include a freeze in fuel duty, as petrol prices have gone up swiftly in the wake of the Brexit vote. Policies to reduce the burden of childcare costs are also being considered (The Telegraph). However, Britain’s economy could grow by just 1.25% in 2017, the Chancellor is set to say in Wednesday’s Autumn Statement, sharply down on previous predictions. Philip Hammond is likely to present sharply reduced economic forecasts from the independent Treasury watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility. (The Daily Mail)
Drinks giant Diageo faces its workers going on strike just four weeks before Christmas after staff voted in favour of industrial action over proposed cuts to their pensions (The Telegraph). Unions said the action could affect all of Diageo’s 50 sites in Scotland, as well as other locations in Northern Ireland and Cheshire. (The BBC)
Hofmeister is back. But not in a form recognisable to anyone old enough to remember the lager brand’s laddish 1980s TV commercials, in which a pork pie hat-wearing mascot urged drinkers to “follow the bear”. Only the name and bear logo remain, as Hofmeister swaps draft and cans for bottles and relaunches aiming to compete in the “premium” lager market against rival brands such as Peroni, Budvar and Estrella. (The Guardian)
Hema, the Dutch retail chain referred to as a “posh Poundland”, has said it will not raise prices and press ahead with its UK roll-out, despite concerns in certain quarters about the health of the British high street. (The Telegraph)
Shares in Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest meat producers, on Monday suffered their worst fall in eight years after the company said profits for next year would come in below analyst forecasts and it announced the departure of its chief executive. Tyson said Donnie Smith would be stepping down at the end of the year as chief executive, a role he has held since 2009, to be replaced by president Tom Hayes. (The Financial Times £)
Tens of thousands of low-wage workers will protest at 20 different airports including Chicago’s O’Hare international airport and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty on 29 November, according to organizers from the group Fight for 15. In addition to the strike at airports, fast-food workers, home care and childcare workers also plan to protest as part of the Fight for $15 movement calling for a $15-an-hour minimum wage and union rights. (The Guardian)
Alibaba has bought a stake in a discount grocery store chain, as China’s biggest ecommerce group broadens its focus from online to offline retail as part of its expansion strategy. It bought a 32 per cent stake in Sanjiang Shopping Club was its “extensive offline network and experience running retail stores. (The Financial Times £)
No comments yet