#219 – VAT Cuts, Wage Blunders, & Drone Deliveries: Are We Reshaping or Repeating the Past?

The Ceres Podcast is never afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. In Episode 219 of the News Review series, co-hosts Stelios Theocharous and David Nicolaou take a thoughtful but no-nonsense look at this week's major headlines. From VAT cuts in Ireland to £1.5 billion investments by fast food giants, the conversation probes who benefits and what these changes mean for independent food businesses—mainly fish and chip shop owners.

Ireland's Hospitality VAT Cut: Short-Term Relief or Long-Term Divide?

David opens the show by spotlighting Ireland's move to cut VAT in the hospitality sector from 13.5% to 9%. Stelios digs deeper: yes, it offers breathing room for small operators, but will big chains absorb the benefits and grow even faster?

"When McDonald's saves a few million in tax, do they lower prices—or just open more branches and outcompete everyone?"

Stelios offers a sharp perspective on Ireland's economy, including its budget surplus, heavy reliance on corporate taxes, and growing healthcare pressures. A story from an Apple support call with a South African ex-resident of Ireland underlines the public's mixed feelings.

Should tax relief favour the sector—or specific types of businesses within it?

Wage Scandals and 'Accidental' Underpayments

Next, the hosts weigh in on the UK government's public naming of over 500 employers for minimum wage violations. While many claim administrative errors, Stelios questions how large businesses with advanced payroll systems can still make mistakes.

"Whether it's deliberate or not—if you're underpaying staff, someone's losing out."

They challenge whether public shaming is enough and whether personal accountability for directors might drive more lasting change.

KFC's £1.5 Billion Expansion: Faith in the UK or Fast-Food Monopoly?

David then pulls in KFC's five-year expansion plan. Thousands of jobs, new stores, supplier partnerships—it all sounds promising.

But Stelios pushes back.

"If all we're doing is filling the high street with the same four brands, are we building a better economy—or just one with more red buckets?"

They explore how this kind of investment, while flashy, can lead to further homogenisation—and how councils may struggle to resist the pressure to approve large-scale rollouts at the expense of independents.

Cranswick Buys Blakemans: A Win for the Family or Loss for the Industry?

The following story covers Cranswick's £32 million purchase of James T. Blakeman & Co.—a family-run sausage maker. David admires the business logic, but Stelios touches on the loss of identity in food production when smaller producers sell out.

"Payday's great—but what do we lose when brands become just another SKU in a portfolio?"

Still, there's a practical upside. Cranswick's pork processing capabilities mean greater stability, higher output, and potentially better margins—though not necessarily lower prices for consumers.

Drone Deliveries: Deliveroo's Dublin Trial and the Dystopia Question

Finally, the duo tackles Deliveroo's drone delivery pilot in Ireland, with Stelios expressing real discomfort:

"The sky's already polluted with light—now we'll have buzzing drones flying about delivering fries?"

While the tech is exciting, the practical concerns around noise, regulation, job losses, and surveillance outweigh the convenience. Both hosts agree: it might be smart logistics, but is it actually solving a real problem—or just chasing hype?

Progress or Just Power Shifting?

This episode is not just about stories—it's about their implications. Whether it's VAT cuts, corporate mergers, or tech trials, the central thread is power: who holds it, who is gaining it, and who is slowly losing ground.

"Are these moves helping the industry evolve—or just stacking the deck further against independents?"

Why Listen?

If you run a food business—especially in the fish and chip trade—Episode 219 will challenge your assumptions, help you see the bigger picture, and offer grounded perspectives you won't find in the headlines.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform and subscribe to The Ceres Podcast for weekly news reviews that go beyond the surface.