NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 30 MAY 2025
Bestway said it will soon
announce “an improved
ofer for Costcutter
retailers” after Co-op
Wholesale decided not to
extend the long-term
supply arrangement to
the symbol group.
Co-op Wholesale
announced in March it
would cease supplying
fresh, chilled and
own-label to Costcutter
stores, bringing an end to
the long-term supply arrange-
ment.
The present contract
stemming from 2018, ends on
Dec 31.
Bestway meanwhile has
once again assured Costcutter
retailers that eforts are
underway to bring them an
improved ofer very soon.
During the recently held
Bestway Retail Showcase 2025
which was attended by several
Costcutter retailers, the
wholesaler announced, “We
understand how important this
is for your business, and let me
start by saying that we are
committed to announcing our
plans at the earliest practical
opportunity. We appreciate
your continued patience as we
work through the final stages of
this process.
“We have been conducting a
thorough analysis of the market
as part of an exhaustive process
to ensure we deliver a supply
partnership that is future-fo-
cused and tailored to
your needs, creating
the best possible ofer
for Costcutter
retailers.”
According to
Bestway Wholesale, its
aim is to: strengthen
the value and competi-
tiveness, improve the
ease of doing business,
enhance product
availability, consisten-
cy, and responsiveness,
and drive the growth of the
Costcutter brand.
“We are excited about the
opportunities ahead and remain
fully focused on ensuring the
best possible outcome for all our
retailers,” stated the wholesal-
er.
Contrary to earlier reports,
some of the leading Costcutter
retailers to whom Asian Trader
spoke to earlier appeared
unperturbed await and
clarification.
Plans in place following shock Co-op Wholesale walk-away
Bestway to announce ‘improved
Bestway to announce ‘improved
ofer’ for Costcutter retailers
ofer’ for Costcutter retailers
The government’s
Covid-19 loan guaran-
tee schemes delivered a
substantial £77 billion
boost to the UK
economy and prevent-
ed the potential
closure of hundreds of
thousands of business-
es, according to a newly
released evaluation by
the British Business
Bank.
The third annual report,
conducted by London
Economics and Ipsos, assessed
the impact and value for
money of the Bounce Back
Loan Scheme (BBLS), the
Coronavirus Business
Interruption Loan Scheme
(CBILS), and the Coronavirus
Large Business Interruption
Loan Scheme (CLBILS).
The report highlights that
absent the £77bn in lending
guaranteed by these schemes,
between 158,000 and
669,000 businesses could
have permanently closed by
December 2022 and up to 3.5
million jobs could have
been lost as a result.
The schemes were
rapidly implemented
in March 2020 to
support businesses
grappling with lost
revenue and cashflow
disruptions caused by
the pandemic
While the impact
on turnover appeared
to be greater in the initial year
of the pandemic, the report
underscores the vital role the
loan schemes played in
enabling businesses to
continue operating and
maintain employment during
a period of unprecedented
economic uncertainty.
Covid loans delivered £77bn
economic boost, report finds
Tate & Lyle Sugars rolls
Tate & Lyle Sugars rolls
out electric lorries
out electric lorries
Tate & Lyle is accelerating its
sustainability agenda with the launch
of two 100% electric Volvo lorries,
saving 55,000 diesel miles annually
across its East London logistics
routes.
The move is part of the company’s
mission to be the most ethical and
sustainable cane sugar refiner in the
world and has set itself a UK net-zero
target by 2040.
The electric fleet cuts urban
emissions while meeting rising
customer demand for greener supply
chains, backed by internal research
showing 67%t of consumers favour
brands using EVs.
PayPoint partners Roblox
PayPoint partners Roblox
in digital gaming ofer
in digital gaming ofer
PayPoint has partnered Roblox to
expand its digital gaming voucher
service ofering for retail partners,
further enticing younger customers.
The partnerships will see retailers
across the PayPoint network now
ofering customers the option to
purchase Roblox digital gift code
vouchers from over 30,000 stores.
The partnership comes as
PayPoint looks to expand its digital
gaming voucher portfolio, which
already includes Google Play,
Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox as
demand rises for digital vouchers. A
trial launch of the partnership has
seen nearly 10% of stores issuing
Roblox vouchers.
Climate change threatens
Climate change threatens
future banana supply
future banana supply
Almost two-thirds of banana-grow-
ing areas in Latin America and the
Caribbean may no longer be suitable
for growing the fruit by 2080, new
research has found, putting a
question mark on the future supply of
the world’s most popular fruit.
According to Christian Aid’s,
“Going Bananas: How Climate
Change Threatens the World’s
Favourite Fruit”, rising temperatures,
extreme weather and climate-related
pests are pummelling banana-grow-
ing countries such as Guatemala,
Costa Rica and Colombia. An
estimated 80% of banana exports
which supply supermarkets around
the world comes from the region.