Economy
Economic conditions have a direct impact on consumer spending, supply chain costs, and trading performance across the UK pet industry. Pet Gazette tracks how inflation, interest rates, labour shortages, and broader macroeconomic pressures affect pet retailers, wholesalers, and brand distributors. Coverage includes commentary on pet sector resilience during downturns, price sensitivity among shoppers, and shifts in demand for premium vs value ranges. We also report on government economic policy, retail footfall data, and financial forecasts relevant to pet businesses navigating changing market conditions.
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Mar- 2020 -19 MarchEconomy
Bira welcomes temporary abolition of business rates in Scotland
The Scottish Government’s move to temporarily abolish business rates in a bid to minimise the impact of coronavirus has been welcomed by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP has unveiled a new economic package to the Holyrood Parliament in response to coronavirus, including 12 months…
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18 MarchRetailers
Project Blu makes 1,000 face masks to help with Covid-19 outbreak
Sustainable pet brand Project Blu has temporarily turned its production away from pet accessories into making facemasks for the ‘at risk’ local community. Michele Carbone, co-founder of Project Blu said Covid 19 is the first globalised emergency for mankind, it has woken our conscience. From this point onwards, worldwide viruses…
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13 MarchBusiness
BIRA welcomes increased support for SMEs amid coronavirus crisis
The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has welcomed the Chancellor’s emergency package to help small retail businesses amid the coronavirus crisis. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered his first Budget on Wednesday (11 March) which included a £30bn package to help the UK economy respond to the coronavirus. He…
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13 MarchEconomy
Government to introduce 2% digital services tax
The UK Government has confirmed plans to introduce a new 2% tax on the revenues of online marketplaces which “derive value from UK users”, starting 1 April 2020. The new tax also applies to search engines and social media services, and these businesses will be liable to the tax when…
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11 MarchBusiness Bites
ROUNDUP: Business rates holiday announced by chancellor Sunak
In his maiden budget, the new chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £30bn fiscal stimulus package to help combat the impact of coronavirus on the British economy including a one-year total suspension of business rates for small retail, leisure and hospitality businesses. Headline measures include: A £12bn plan to provide…
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3 MarchBusiness Bites
Coronavirus is stepping up a gear – this could be serious
When I started this column back in December I did not anticipate a single subject would dominate it so much, but as I wrote last week it would be silly not to address the latest coronavirus circumstances given that each new development so far has had a profound impact on…
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Feb- 2020 -28 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Coronavirus sends ripples through markets, governments, companies and the public
Apologies for the repetition, but the new coronavirus is causing such a serious global reaction today it would be silly to focus on other things, so here are four key stories about what looks to be developing into a full blown international crisis. The FTSE 100 has lost nearly £200…
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12 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Parasite boosts Spanish crisp sales
Now that’s the kind of headline journalists like to write. But unfortunately, now that you’re reading the article, the subterfuge must be exposed. We’re not talking about parasites that look for hosts, and we’re not talking about infected food. Instead we’re talking about the Korean movie sensation that just won…
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11 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Yes, the trade barriers are coming
I think both Leavers and Remainers probably expected this in the long run – Michael Gove announced yesterday that businesses should “accept” that frictionless trade with the EU will be impossible whatever agreement is finally reached by the deadline of 31 December this year. This is the cost, he says, of making…
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10 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Ocado ditches Waitrose; Bill gates orders £500m beast-yacht; Boris to lower immigration wage threshold
A busy start to the week in the business pages. As the coronavirus story unfolds I am reluctant to spend every day providing updates on it, but it is worth noting quickly that there is likely to be some worldwide economic turbulence due to the latest developments. A slew of…
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