News round-up: draymen strike postponed and pork scratching recall
• Beer delivery driver strike suspended
The planned strike action by 1,000 draymen, which was set to take place this week and next week has been postponed, following an improved pay offer from GXO Logistics Drinks.
Union Unite has recommended the draymen, which it estimated are responsible for about 40% of beer deliveries across the UK and are based at 26 sites, accept the new 4% offer.
The trade union labelled GXO’s previous pay offer of 1.4% as “paltry” and 97% of its members voted in favour of strike action and for industrial action short of a strike by 99% over the company’s offer of 1.4% for 2021.
The strikes were set to take place on Tuesday 24 August and Thursday 2 September but have now been called off while the ballot, which opened on Monday 23 August and closes on Tuesday 31 August, is carried out.
• Mr Porky, Jay’s and The Real Pork Crackling Company products in recall over salmonella fears
Tayto’s, which produces Mr Porky, Jay’s and The Real Pork Crackling Company snacks, has recalled some packs of pork scratchings after salmonella fears.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that testing has found a link to 176 reported cases of salmonella poisoning across the UK between September 2020 and the present date.
Tayto has recalled some of its brands as a ‘precautionary measure’. These include some Mr Porky, Jay’s and The Real Pork Crackling Company products with best before dates up to and including 19 February 2022.
• Hawthorn unveils new operator managed division – Proper Pubs
Hawthorn, the company recently purchased by Admiral Taverns, has unveiled the creation of its new operator managed division – Proper Pubs.
Proper Pubs, which consists of around 20% of the Hawthorn estate, are wet-led pubs, which are run by director of managed operations, Mark Brooke, who joined the company last year.
Proper Pubs will support Hawthorn’s new corporate charity partner, Chasing the Stigma, a national mental health charity which works to reduce suicide, eradicate stigma and enable everyone in the country to be able to access clear pathways to mental health care.
• Welsh pub operator to expand to 12 pubs
Red Dragon Pubs, the Welsh pub operator, is set to open four pubs by the end of October – bringing its estate to 12.
The company, which was founded by James Hunt, and a group of investors, aims to buy and invest in pubs across South Wales.
The pub group was officially launched at The Aubrey Arms, in Swansea – the first pub under its ownership. But since then has added seven more venues to its portfolio in the Swansea and Gwent Valleys.
• Top tips on dealing with noise issues
It is time I think to revisit the issue of external areas of pub gardens and noise. Post-pandemic, are local people more appreciative of their local and more resigned to the odd burst of loud chatter from the garden, or have the months of closure led to a love of the greater quiet and an off-licence and takeaway/Netflix evening?
Experience suggests that there are both reactions out there, but here are some tips as to what to do if there is a noise complaint. I am looking primarily at the issue of people (as opposed to entertainment) which is harder to quantify and harder to deal with.
