I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the value of the takeaway industry to the UK economy: The public spent £9.9 billion on takeaways in 2018 with spending predicted to grow to £11.2 billion by 2021.
Most of these takeaways are established by the hard-working immigrants who have come to this country and enriched our local communities.
We work hard, pay our taxes, serve our communities help and breathe life into the nation.
The Corona virus is already hitting the number of restaurant visits. But every dark cloud has its silver lining. More people are ordering takeaways than ever before.
Now is the time to update menus and improve your marketing.
Anyone who watched the BBC TV’s ‘Truth About Takeaways documentary a couple of weeks ago would have seen a group of healthy student volunteers eat two takeaway meals a day. Not just curry – but pizza, burgers, kebabs, Chinese and fried chicken.
Over two weeks all of the volunteers became unwell and their brain function deteriorated.
The demand for healthy takeaways, with less fat, salt and sugar and more plant-based options is growing – and growing fast. Let’s up our game, get out there, and meet it. Real Asian cuisines are the healthiest on the plant.
I support many of the announcements in yesterday’s Budget. The one-year abolition of business rates for small businesses and £3,000 cash grants is particularly welcome – and great news to the hospitality industry. We will lobby the Government to extend it next year – as restaurants can save the High Street and stop our town and city centres from becoming ghost towns – as retail business move to out of town and migrate to the internet.
An increase in minimum wage will be seen as a challenge by many restaurant owners. But it’s a level playing field. A rise in wages for the low paid, will encourage more people to fill the entry-level vacancies in our kitchens and front of house.
Owners need to compete on quality – not price.
