Like many other organisations Bestway has been carefully monitoring the evolving COVID-19 position and the information which is being regularly issued from the UK Government and its impact on our industry.
We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all our customers for practicing social distancing when visiting our depots to ensure everyone stays safe enabling us to remain open for all. We are now in position to welcome new customer registration for those wishing to use our cash and carry service.
Here is a summary of the latest Government guidance that may help you and your business during these challenging times.
The government has announced changes to lockdown measures in England. From Saturday 4 July, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will be able to reopen, providing they adhere to Covid Secure guidelines. These measures include keeping a record of customers and visitors for 21 days, managing venue capacity and layout to ensure the correct distance is being maintained and reducing the need for customers to queue wherever possible.
Accommodation sites, some leisure facilities and tourist attractions may also reopen, if they can do so safely - this includes outdoor gyms, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades.
If you’re looking to reopen, do not hesitate to get in touch with Bestway to see how we can support you to ‘turn the lights back on’. Please contact us here.
For the government's full guidelines on working safely during coronavirus please visit: Gov.uk: working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
On 22nd June, the government published its latest guidance for Employers that want to reopen their business. The guidance helps businesses carry out a risk assessment and make sensible adjustments. Employers reopening their business have a legal responsibility to protect their employees and other people on site. If businesses do not carry out a risk assessment, an enforcement notice can be issued. For further details please visit: Gov.uk: Reopen your business safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
The government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction over the summer, the extension prevents high street businesses facing eviction from 30 July to 30 September. This means no business will be forced from their premises if a payment is missed in the next three months. A new code of practice has been developed to encourage commercial tenants and landlords to work together. For further details please visit:
We would also like to remind our customers GroceryAid, the national charity for the grocery industry, has established a £1.5m fund which aims to provide assistance for retail colleagues. Support on offer includes crisis grants for those facing unexpected hardship due to COVID-19, bereavement financial assistance, and mental health support provided by industry certified BACP trained counsellors. So, please don’t suffer in silence. Our Bestway Wholesale Customer Contact Centre is also available to help and support all customers from 8:00 am – 5.00 pm, Monday – Friday. You can speak to a member of the team by calling 01738 646666.
The Government, in consultation with industry, has issued new guidance to help businesses in the UK get back up and running and workplaces operating as safely as possible.
The guidance clarifies the types of businesses that can operate and how they can run the business safely during coronavirus pandemic.
It is broken down according to type of workplace rather than sector, as many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. And with eight sets of guidelines in total, it is important that businesses understand that they may need to look at several publications according to their circumstances.
It sets out practical steps for businesses focused on five key points:
This new guidance also includes downloadable assets for use on print and digital channels. You can use these A4 print outs to display in common areas to confirm that you have complied with the government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.
For more information on how to make the workplace Covid19 secure, please visit www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
At these uncertain times Bestway Wholesale is also available for support and guidance, our customer contact centre is available from 8:00 am – 5.00 pm, Monday – Friday on 01738 646666.
GroceryAid, the national charity that helps people across the whole of the grocery industry – from the largest factory, through the supply chain, to the smallest store has many ways it can help you and your grocery colleagues. Read more about their services via www.groceryaid.org.uk or call the 24/7 Helpline on 08088 021122.
Today we share some advice and support for businesses which might be suffering as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak and the resultant lockdown, which has now been in place for over a month.
We understand that this may have caused an immeasurable personal and economic impact, and we understand that some of our customers are struggling to meet their financial obligations.
Given the uncertainty facing the UK economy, we want you to know that Bestway is here to help. We have pulled together some useful links for various Government-funded free-of-cost cash grants immediately available which you can explore to support your business. We know that some of our customers have already taken advantage of these schemes and are successfully navigating through these challenging times. You may, therefore, find it useful to explore these readily available free resources.
The below points are also useful to know:
As this coronavirus outbreak continues to put pressure on the retail industry and cause disruption to many lives, we have taken further steps to protect the welfare of our customers and colleagues.
As your wholesaler, Bestway is here to support you and we have teams working around the clock to ensure the optimum availability, service and communication with you as best we can. We were confident in the government’s decision to recognise those involved in food distribution, sale and delivery as ‘Key Workers’ at the end of last week, and with this in mind we ask that you please continue to follow government guidelines and do everything you can to support efforts to reduce the spread of Coronavirus, both whilst operating your businesses and whilst visiting our depots.
We are making changes to our operations in some of our depots and these changes may differ every day. We endeavour to keep you updated, but we ask you to please bear with us as we implement the following across our estate:
We thank you in advance for your understanding of these changes and for your support at this time. Please do also continue to adhere to all government guidelines – you may find some of these links useful:
https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/covid-19-coronavirus
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.fwd.co.uk/current-issues/coronavirus/
https://www.groceryaid.org.uk/news/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
For 44 years, Bestway has been at the heart of the community providing, food, drink, services and advice to businesses across the UK.
Never has this been truer than today, as our colleagues work to support you and your businesses and families whilst the COVID-19 situation is ongoing.
Bestway is closely following advice from the World Health Organisation and Government advice in England, Scotland and Wales with regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is following the suggested actions with a view to limiting the impact to our customers’ businesses and to protecting the health of our colleagues, customers and suppliers.
We are doing everything we can to help our customers and our teams to stay healthy and safe, whether that’s through the products we sell or the services and support we provide.
Bestway is a family owned business and we hold more stock than most PLCs and smaller wholesalers. We have been working hard to ensure we have the right product available for everyone, our availability continues to be very strong and we have contingency teams and plans in place, reviewing stock levels daily to maintain the best service possible.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) clearly has the scope to be very disruptive to daily life, we are already seeing shoppers buying more tins, packets, frozen foods and long-life items. Bestway has a clear focus on the supplies of staple products ‘the community essentials’ for you, our customers, to enable you to continue to serve your local communities.
When it comes to our team, we’re keeping our colleagues updated with advice and information on how to stay safe, whether that’s at work or at home. Our teams in depots have access to hand washing facilities and sanitisers and we’re making sure our facilities are clean and hygienic, at all times.
We continue to monitor advice from the Government and will provide updates accordingly.
Thank you for choosing Bestway, your continued trust is valued and means a lot to us.
Dawood Pervez
Managing Director