Kate Nicholls, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) chief executive, has said the hospitality sector has got its mojo back but more needs to be done.
Speaking at today’s (Thursday, 17 December) ALMR Christmas Lunch, which attracted over 1,200 guests, she said: “For the third year in a row turnover, job creation and productivity are all up. So to, for the first time in a decade are outlet numbers. We have outperformed the economy and shown greater high street resilience and investment than retail – and we have taken every opportunity to tell MPs, ministers and civil servants about it.”
“Our vital campaigning work has delivered over £180m cost savings to your businesses this year – on business rate revaluations, restaurant inspection charges, planning, food policy, EMROs, zero hours contracts, employer NICs. Very real bottom line benefits to our members. But there is much more that needs to be done to get the free, fair and flexible market we deserve which will allow us to unlock our potential for growth and investment – in our people, our businesses and our communities. And we have some exciting new initiatives.”
To deliver on these, the ALMR needs to matter – to its members and to those in Whitehall and fundamentally be the big voice of the sector on all things connected to pubs, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.”
The ALMR grew membership by 29% this year and now represents 200 companies, which operate 22,000 managed outlets and employ 650,000 staff between them.
Leave a Reply