New takeaways close to schools face council ban: The government has given councils powers to ban takeaways from opening near schools after a Times investigation revealed that local authorities’ attempts to do so were being thwarted by challenges made by the fast-food giant KFC. Labour’s National Planning Policy Framework, issued yesterday, instructs councils on what to consider when reviewing planning applications. It places far stronger restrictions on where new takeaways can open. Before, the rules said councils were required only to “enable and support healthy lifestyles”, a statement open to wide interpretation. They must now “prioritise preventing ill health”. Local planning authorities have been told to refuse applications for new fast-food outlets “within walking distance of schools”, unless the location is in a designated town centre. Permission must also be denied if evidence shows a concentration of takeaways “is having an adverse impact on local health”. The Times revealed last year that KFC had challenged plans by 43 councils to restrict the number of takeaways near schools since 2017. In more than half of these cases, the fast-food giant has succeeded and town hall bosses abandoned their plans or significantly watered them down. Strengthening national guidance will mean that the authorities affected by these challenges can introduce the child obesity policies that KFC had opposed. Andrew Gwynne, minister for public health, said: “Every child deserves a healthy, happy start to life. Giving local authorities the powers to block applications for unhealthy takeaways near schools puts children’s health first and stops fast-food giants targeting pupils.” Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “The government and the chief medical officer for England have recognised that the food environment entrenches inequalities and promotes obesity, instead of promoting good health. This must change. We know that not all children are equally at risk – fast-food outlets are disproportionately clustered in the most deprived parts of the country, where children are twice as likely to develop obesity by the time they leave primary school.”

Chapel Down hires James Pennefather as new chief executive: Britain’s biggest winemaker Chapel Down, which in September abandoned a planned sale after warning over a poor harvest and declining sales, has hired James Pennefather as its new chief executive. In August, the company’s current chief executive, Andrew Carter, said he would step down ahead of taking up a new role leading Yorkshire brewer and retailer Timothy Taylor in 2025. Pennefather, who will take up his new role on 1 February 2025, has worked in the premium drinks industry for over 25 years and was most recently chief executive of The Lakes Distillery Company PLC, where he led the business’s successful sale to The Nyetimber Group earlier this year. Prior to that, he held a number of senior leadership roles at William Grant & Sons and Diageo across the UK, Middle East, Africa and India. Martin Glenn, chairman of Chapel Down Group, said: “We are delighted to have appointed James, who is an outstanding business leader with deep experience in building premium drinks brands within emerging categories, developing strong customer relationships in the UK and globally and enhancing shareholder value. Chapel Down has made excellent progress as a business and a brand, and James is well placed to continue Chapel Down’s development and growth.” Pennefather said: “I am excited to be joining Chapel Down at such an important time in the company’s growth story. Chapel Down is the leading English winemaker and I look forward to leading the business as it pursues the next stage of transformational growth for customers and shareholders. Andrew leaves a strong legacy and I will be working closely with him and the Chapel Down management team to ensure a seamless transition.” Chapel Down also announced that it had accepted the resignation of Rob Smith as chief financial officer and director. The recruitment for his successor will commence shortly, led by Glenn and Pennefather. Following three years of service as a non-executive director of Chapel Down, Stewart Gilliland has also resigned his position on the board. The company said: “The Chapel Down board has great confidence in the continued growth of the English wine region and Chapel Down’s continued leadership within the industry, underpinned by the quality of its traditional method Sparkling English wines. Chapel Down continues to build on its strong brand leadership position, supported by its 1,024 acres of high-quality vineyards, the industry’s broadest UK distribution and a growing international opportunity. The company confirms that the 2024 Harvest has been successfully completed and is in line with previously announced tonnage and with an excellent vintage quality. The company further confirms that trading in the important final quarter of the year has been strong. The company’s full year position remains in line with management expectations, with the business carrying positive momentum into the new calendar year. A trading statement will be issued in the second half of January in accordance with the company’s normal practice.”

Coffi Lab secures new investment for further growth: Coffi Lab, the dog-friendly coffee shop concept that was launched in 2021 by Coffee#1 founder James Shapland, is set to grow further following a £1.7m investment from the Development Bank of Wales. Coffi Lab currently has five coffee shops in Cardiff and the surrounding areas, two in Monmouthshire and two in England, with a third opening in Bristol, in Gloucester Road, in January. The business now plans to open a number of new Labs in south Wales and the south-west of England, backed with the new investment. The expansion plans are due to create 40 new jobs over the next 12 to 18 months. Shapland said: “When I started Coffi Lab it began with an introspection of what mattered to me. Inspired by my beautiful Fox Red Labrador Dylan, I wanted to create a space where we could welcome dogs with open arms. Beautiful, open venues; a focal point of leafy neighbourhoods where family and friends could come together without having to leave their canine companions at home. We focus on exceptional coffee, warm hospitality and quality food led by taste and provenance. We have invested heavily in our infrastructure to aid smooth and efficient growth. Last year we opened our Coff Lab Roastery and Bakery as well as a central kitchen which has enabled us to deliver seasonal menus and develop relationships with wonderful producers across Wales. Our growth has enabled us to donate over £100,000 to Guide Dogs UK, sponsoring nine life changing Guide Dog Puppies to date. The investment we’ve had from the Development Bank of Wales means we’ll be able to leverage our investment, speeding up our roll out to bring our Labs to even more communities across Wales and beyond.”

Thai Leisure Group – change in National Insurance was enough to spook our investors: Restaurant and bar owners across Leeds have warned that businesses in the hospitality sector could close without more support from the government. They told the BBC it had been a “difficult five years” but that Labour’s recent Budget had made their situation more difficult. Owners pointed to a rise in the national living wage and employer National Insurance contributions as a reason for increased pressures on their operating costs. However, chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had extended business rates relief for a further year and committed to reforming the rates system, which would benefit hospitality businesses. Ian Leigh, managing director at the Thai Leisure Group, which operates the Chaophraya and Thaikhun brands, described Labour’s Budget as a “direct hit on growth”. Leigh said: “With Brexit, covid, energy bills and consumer sentiment it is a perfect endless storm. The sector takes pride in being resilient but we are almost expecting the next calamity.” He said the lowering of the National Insurance threshold in the Budget was a “tax on the number of people you employ, not a measure based on profits or any other business success” and said it would “hurt” his business. He went on to explain that the Budget was already having a negative impact on his restaurant. “The day after the Budget, we had a key meeting hoping to get some investment signed off to enable us to grow the business, open a couple more sites and employ more people. But the change in National Insurance was enough to spook our investors and they dropped out. They said it was a huge change and we’d have to change our business model.”

Consumer confidence continues recovery after suffering budget blues: Consumer confidence has extended its recovery from a drop triggered by prebudget fears, as a top City analyst said that the negative shock to the economy from Rachel Reeves’s tax increases had been overblown. The Times reports that an index of household sentiment compiled by GfK, the research firm, climbed by one point to -17 in December which, combined with November’s three-point jump, takes the reading further above levels registered before the budget on 30 October. The research released today reveals that consumers have become more bullish about their personal finances over the coming year and showed greater willingness to tap their savings to fuel spending. The index stood at -20 and -21 in September and October respectively. The rising sentiment comes as Simon French, a columnist for The Times and chief economist and head of research at Panmure Liberum, scrutinised claims that the chancellor’s budget would engineer a sharp economic downturn. Reeves raised taxes by £40bn in October, including a £25bn tax grab on employers by pushing up their national insurance contributions. In a research note to clients, French said that a “lazy consensus” had formed, which coalesced around the UK economy lacking resiliency. There was “no reason why economic momentum cannot be recaptured” in 2025, he said. Economists have speculated that inflation will stay higher for longer due to businesses raising prices to offset higher tax bills. Reeves also increased the minimum wage by 6.7% and the government has embarked on the largest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. The increase to employers’ NICs to 15% from 13.8% comes into effect next April. Recent data from the Bank of England showed that 54% of companies plan to raise prices in response to the national insurance increase. Some 59% said they would accept smaller margins. French said: “There are other levers/mitigations that employers can utilise that will have a different transmission through to consumer prices.”