Steven Alton, CEO of the BII commented ‘Our members are already facing extraordinary levels of cost inflation in their businesses with more significant rises expected in the coming months.
They are unable to simply pass all these costs through to increasingly cash strapped consumers as they fear this will only further reduce levels of trade. Many will have to trade ahead of pre-pandemic levels to simply break-even.
They need ongoing support to give them the time to rebuild their businesses, provide certainty to allow them to invest in their businesses and also rebuild their teams.
This support is an investment in a sector that has the capacity to be at the heart of the economic recovery and safeguard their essential role at the heart of every community.’
Read the letter here.