The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Summer Economic Update has been broadly welcomed by members of the food and drink industry, but concerns were raised over the speed at which the sector would be able to recover.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has promised Government support to protect and create new jobs to support the UK economy, along with plans to kick-start the hospitality sector, in a ‘mini-budget’.
Workplace deaths across the manufacturing sector – including food and drink firms – have fallen over the past year, according to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) annual workplace fatality figures for 2019/20.
Public Health Wales officials have issued an update on the ongoing coronavirus cases at the Welsh factories of 2 Sisters, Rowan Foods and Kepak Merthyr.
Food industry coronavirus initiatives have continued over the past month, with a range of companies offering support to consumers, the NHS and firms in the supply chain.
The coronavirus-hit 2 Sisters Food Group poultry processing site in Llangefni, Wales has reopened today (3 July), after being given the go-ahead from local safety bodies.
The employees tested positive from the 1,400 strong workforce at the factory in the Beaumont Leys area of the city. It followed cases at a number of other food processors in the area, which have reported clusters of COVID-19 at their sites.
UK labour shortages could stunt meat industry growth and create food security risks, but butchers and EU workers offer vital skills pools, according to the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA).
Health officials have revealed that the 2 Sisters Coronavirus outbreak at the Llangefni factory in Wales has been “contained” and there is no evidence of community transmission.
The meat industry has stressed it is working hard to protect workers amid accusations last week that its plants were centres for the spread of COVID-19.
