Episode 156 - Read The News with David Nicolaou

In this episode of the Ceres Podcast, Stelios discusses the hospitality news with David Nicolaou from Auckley Friary.

They discuss the following topics:

Greggs Successfully Overcomes Technical Glitch, Resuming Normal Operations

Greggs faced technical glitches affecting payment processing in UK outlets, prompting temporary closures, but quickly resolved the issue, ensuring most shops can now accept payments. This incident echoes a recent outage at McDonald's, emphasising the importance of robust technical infrastructure in the fast-food and retail sectors.

Settlement Awarded in Uber Eats Facial Recognition Bias Case

Uber Eats driver Pa Edrissa Manjang secures a settlement after experiencing racial bias from the app's facial recognition system, leading to his wrongful account suspension. Supported by organisations, Manjang's case underscores the need to address AI-driven discrimination in the gig economy.

When Food Delivery Goes Wrong: A Grievous Assault Case

Delivery rider Jenniffer Rocha pleads guilty to causing grievous bodily harm after biting off a customer's thumb during a confrontation over a delivery mix-up. The incident highlights worker screening and responsibility concerns in gig economy platforms like Deliveroo.

Opinion - The Fight Against Shop Worker Assaults, is Britain angry?

Incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers and emergency service staff have surged, with reports highlighting the severity of the issue. Statistics reveal a significant increase in assaults, threats, and theft-related crimes, causing financial losses and widespread concerns. Legislative measures, including assaulting shop workers and a specific criminal offence, are being proposed to address the issue, but questions remain about enforcement and effectiveness.

Restaurant Owner Jailed Over £30K Covid Loan Fraud

Ilhan Kekec, owner of Derwish Restaurant in Watford and a second establishment in London, is convicted of fraud and failing to notify creditors after fraudulently acquiring a government-backed Covid loan, withdrawing the funds in cash to settle personal debts. Despite being denied the charges, evidence led to his conviction, which resulted in imprisonment and a ban from serving as a company director.

If you have listened to this episode, what do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.