Q&A: Des Gunewardena chairman and chief executive, D&D London

After bumping up its US expansion via a new 11,000 sq ft bar, restaurant and cafe concept in New York’s new Hudson Yards shopping mall, hospitality group D&D has had much to keep it on its toes over the past 18 months. Jo Gilbert catches up with its chairman and chief executive about fighting Covid-19 on either side of the Atlantic.

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs 2020 award winners to be announced in November

Winners of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs GB Young Chef and Young Sommelier 2020 competitions will be announced at an awards dinner on 20 November. 

Primum Familiae Vini launches €100,000 annual prize

BWS sales through grocers continue to boom

Alcohol sales through grocery stores continued to boom in the past four weeks, up 43% year-on-year, as the on-trade stayed shuttered.

New app and bar as Soho’s Trade embraces post-pandemic landscape

Hospitality members’ club Trade is to shift to a “virtual version” of the club’s benefits post-lockdown, looking to evolve its industry support ethos with the launch of a resource-based app.

Cointreau steps up Drinks Trust support

Cointreau has teamed up with a London floral designer to launch a fundraising initiative in support of The Drinks Trust.

Pre-registration and ordering apps considered for on-trade reopening

On-trade visitors may have to register before going to pub, bars and restaurants, health secretary Matt Hancock has suggested.

On-trade groups take initiative on reopening

Many UK pub, restaurant and café operators have set a 4 July reopening in motion despite there still being no announcement from government confirming either the date or possible easing of the 2 metre rule.

Cramele Recas secures Waitrose listing

Cramele Recas has secured its first listing with Waitrose.

Research confirms protracted on-trade recovery

A new survey of UK Hospitality (UKH) members has confirmed that hospitality businesses are expecting a lengthy and painful recovery, with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to come.

Bourgogne less impacted by Covid-19 than feared

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has recorded an overall dip in exports of 1.8% by volume for the first four months of 2020.

‘Distancing’ most important to on-trade guests post-lockdown

Having social distancing measures in place has been revealed to be the key concern for consumers when they return to the on-trade post-lockdown, according to new research released by Hallgarten & Novum Wines today. 

Pinot Grigio DOC delle Venezie emerges ‘unscathed’ from lockdown

Consorzio Doc delle Venezie says it has come out "unscathed" from the lockdown, with bottling numbers stable  (+0.39) at the end of May compared to 2019.

AI proving ‘most exciting catalyser’ of wine innovation

The advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software is by far the most exciting catalyser of innovation in the wine industry, according to speakers at an Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) webinar held yesterday (17 June).

Pernod Ricard unveils on-trade reopening guide

Pernod Ricard UK has published a ‘Back to work in the new normal’ guide to help the hospitality industry prepare to reopen. 

AA launches ‘Covid-19 Confident’ scheme to reassure customers

The AA has launches a Covid-19 Confident accreditation scheme for hospitality businesses that have put risk assessments and safety measures in place.  

Westminster City Council outlines reopening strategy for hospitality

Westminster City Council has outlined the measures it plans to implement in order to help hospitality businesses continue trading while social distancing remains in place. 

FDF calls on support for squeezed supply chain

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned that the ‘squeezed middle’ [supply chain] needs support if the hospitality restart is to succeed.

Johnson urges continued patience in relation to reduction of 2 metre rule

Taking tonights briefing, PM Boris Johnson asked the hospitlity sector to remain patient in relation to reducing the 2 metre social distancing rule as the on-trade struggles to plan ahead of the mooted reopening on 4 July. 

Volume uplift in US off-trade offsets on-trade sales drop

US wine volume sales look set to be flat in 2020 with the Covid-19 led surge in off-trade sales balancing out the drop in on-trade sales, according to new Wine Intelligence research.