Diageo set to launch £1m package of support for beleagured drinks industry
Help for trade which is facing “one of its most challenging times ever”
Diageo has announced a range of measures to help support the British drinks trade as it faces unprecedented challenges from the impact of the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
In the light of the government advising (but not enforcing) people not to visit bars and restaurants, the drinks giant is setting up funds and offering support for those in the industry. As part of these measures – which will start on Monday – Guinness is pledging £1,000,000 to support bartenders in the free trade across Great Britain. Thousands of bartenders will be able to benefit from the fund intended for pubs and bars to put towards bartenders’ wages. A similar community fund is being set up in Ireland.
Anyone working in the drinks trade will be given the opportunity to attend a complimentary Diageo Bar Academy Training Course, via www.diageobaracademy.com, which consists of virtual training and digital learning. Training includes modules such as the ‘business of bar tending,’ which can provide practical advice and may help to manage quieter trading periods.
In addition, the team at Diageo is helping to support smaller retailers, pubs and bars up and down the country by providing flexibility on order size and allowing smaller customers to manage their inventory in this fast-moving situation. This will be applied across Diageo’s total trade customer base in a bid to help customers access product more easily and manage their cash flow.
Dayalan Nayager, managing director of Great Britain, Ireland and France at Diageo said: “The British drinks trade is facing one of its most challenging times ever and we want to help our communities when they need us most. We all need to come together to support the trade and I would urge all my fellow drinks producers to do what they can to help our British pubs, bars and retailers and restaurants.”
The news comes as the Chancellor announced Government-backed loans worth £330 billion will be made available to support businesses through the coronavirus crisis.
Rishi Sunak said the “unprecedented package” – equivalent to 15 per cent of GDP – could go further if demand is greater, and vowed to do “whatever it takes” to help the economy.