UK
In an upbeat update to Textile Services Association (TSA) members its CEO, David Stevens, commented that laundry is definitely back on the agenda and that, after recent hiccups in the supply lines, communication is going to be the key to the industry managing increased volumes.
Stevens wrote: “Laundry is definitely back on the agenda! I met with UKH’s Strategic Director in light of the recent supply issues faced by the hospitality industry, they seem to agree that good communication is going to be key to enable the laundry industry to manage the demand in volumes. I can empathise with what it is like at the moment, having been on the front line for almost 40 years I know how tough it can be, and when we had operational issues in the past they normally only lasted a few days with a solution in sight.
"Everyone I have spoken to believes this could be a long summer. There is also consensus that access to staff and the consequential wage pressure this is creating is going to permanently impact on the industry’s cost model. This is a critical time for our industry and all of us at the TSA are working to help support [its membership] through the next few months as we hopefully move back into more normal trading conditions."
• The next TSA webinar for its membership takes place on 15 July and is focused on access to labour and TSA will be sharing input from employment agencies as well as UK Hospitality.
The TSA is the trade association for the textile care services industry. The TSA represents commercial laundry and textile rental businesses. Membership ranges from family-run operations through to large, multi-national companies. Visit www.tsa-uk.org for more information.
