Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Welsh Wholesaler Castell Howell Foods 'forced to increase wages'

Welsh Wholesaler Castell Howell Foods 'forced to increase wages'
Getty Images

Welsh foodservice wholesaler Castell Howell Foods has declared that it has been forced to increase driver wages by 24 per cent since April in a bid to combat the labour shortage crisis, stated the latest media reports.

Claiming that competition for warehouse staff has increased in recent months due to Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Swansea, finance director Nigel Williams told a media outlet that the company has also increased pay to workers in its six depots by 8 per cent.


The wholesaler has reported a fall in sales of 28.4 per cent to £102.5m for the 12 months to 31 October 2020, as per reports, which also added that at one stage sales were down 40 per cent but are now returning close to pre-pandemic levels.

The wholesaler is operating with 100 lesser employees as compared to pre-pandemic times. To mitigate the current staffing issues, Williams revealed that it has made some changes in the deadline for next-day delivery forward to give staff more time to pick and load goods.

Back in June, Castell Howell had highlighted how transport and supply issues are hampering food and drink supply in the UK by contacting customers to highlight the significant challenges faced by the sector.

It was reported earlier that shortages of key staff and problems faced by some suppliers have resulted in the Welsh wholesaler being forced to make some “uncomfortable” decisions and changes in its operation, including having to pass on some supply chain price increases.

More for you

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

Local shops will face significant new pressures as a result of today’s Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget's impact will be felt unevenly across the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores, with some measures such as business rate relief and the increased employment allowance mitigating costs for smaller independent stores, while providing no help for chains and larger independent businesses.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less