Retail Excellence says compostable and recyclable cups should be exempt from proposed 20 cent levy

The sector is facing spiralling costs, massive energy bills, staff shortages and lower customer spend as it enters what should be the year’s busiest period

On top of ever-present online competition, high street stores just recovering from lockdown now have to contend with inflation, labour shortages and supply-chain issues. Still, experts don’t expect a tide of insolvencies just yet

With the right supports and measures in place, the industry could start to reopen once Covid-19 cases have reached a low enough level