Customers are heading back to high street shops and driving a growing demand for on-the-go food, according to a member survey by Scottish Bakers.
Aiming to find out how trading conditions have changed for Scotland’s bakers as lockdown restrictions ease, the survey found that the reopening of the high street and hospitality businesses has generally improved business for all respondents.
Members reported that trading has increased on average by around 25% since the easing of lockdown measures, bringing activity back into the range of ‘normal’ trading for much of the sector.
Scottish Bakers says the increase is attributable to:
- More general footfall and passing trade
- More demand for food-to-go across the breakfast and lunchtime hours
- Rising demand from hospitality and/or foodservice businesses
- Increased orders from supermarkets/convenience stores
- More demand for hot drinks to take away
Scottish Bakers chief executive Alasdair Smith said: “Whilst it’s not over yet I know, our high street bakers were desperate to get back to some form of normality and it’s great to hear from them that business is bouncing back. Many of our members have shown extraordinary resilience staying open through Covid, providing their communities and customers with fresh bread daily not to mention rolls, pies and pastries to keep our spirits up.
“They have changed business models to offer home delivery and click and collect options, as well as in rural communities stocking a wider range of grocery basics to support their vulnerable customers, so they deserve this bit of good news.
“Our members employ some 11,000 people across Scotland and include hundreds of high street bakeries and cafes as well as wholesalers supplying the hospitality sector along with schools, hospitals and works canteens, so to be able to slowly return to business as usual is heartening.”
Around 70% of respondents still have some 25% of their staff on furlough. Nearly 60% predicted a need to recruit more staff within the next three months. 80% of respondents recognised a requirement to develop the skills of their workforce as part of their recovery plans.
