Weak harvest costs Northern Ireland's bakeries £20k a week, says bread boss

[belfasttelegraph]( 06 October 2020 'The smallest harvest in 40 years' [Emma Deighan] [Emma Deighan]( Good morning, A rise in the price of wheat after an unusually small harvest [will add around £20,000 a week to the costs of major bakeries]( and could affect the price of bread in shops. Brian Irwin, chairman of Irwin’s Bakery, said: “I’ve been in the food trade for 40 or more years, and we’ve had a really small harvest this year in the UK — the smallest in 40 years — and that’s alarming." A no-deal Brexit could also compound inflationary pressures on flour and bread. “Any agreement other than a free-trade agreement would mean a rush into unprepared conditions”, [warns John Simpson](. Danske Bank says that the [economic activity, which is showing gradual recovery, could be stunted]( by a rise in Covid-19 cases and the end of the Brexit transition period. The bank’s chief economist Conor Lambe [shares his five takeaways]( from their latest Quarterly Sectoral Forecasts. And we talk to Aircoach Managing Director Dervla McKay who says [the bus sector is in a dark tunnel because of Covid]( but she believes there is light ahead. Top Stories [Premium] [Poor harvest costs Northern Ireland's bakeries £20k a week, says bread boss]( [Rise in Covid cases and Brexit hits Northern Ireland economic recovery, warns Danske Bank]( [Premium] [Hospitality sector in Northern Ireland 'can't survive more restrictions']( [Conor Murphy requests urgent meeting with Chancellor on NI lockdown support]( [New car sales figures drop 34% in NI as worrying trend could hit jobs]( [Slowdown for construction sector in Republic of Ireland]( [ASDA named Northern Ireland's most responsible business]( [Newry firm Around Noon steps into fitness food with acquisition]( [LSH team to manage top retail centre in London]( Interview [Premium] ['Bus sector has a bright future after Covid... it's just getting there,' says Aircoach chief Dervla McKay]( Analysis [Premium] [John Simpson: Brexit compromise needed and a workable compromise must be possible]( [Premium] [Conor Lambe: Five things to note from Danske Bank’s latest Quarterly Sectoral Forecasts]( [Richard Curran: Why the legacy of Sean Quinn will forever cast a shadow]( What do you think of this email? [Positive]( [Positive]( [Negative]( [Negative]( [belfasttelegraph]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL This email is from Belfast Telegraph part of Independent News & Media Group Limited. You received this email because you have signed up for the Belfast Telegraph Business Newsletter. [Contact Us]( | [Privacy Statement]( | [Cookie Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright - 2020 All Rights Reserved