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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/feb/26/coronavirus-lufthansa-imposes-hiring-freeze-as-diageo-profits-suffer-danone
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| Coronavirus: Lufthansa imposes hiring freeze as Diageo profits suffer | Coronavirus: Lufthansa imposes hiring freeze as Diageo profits suffer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Airline offers unpaid leave, beverage firm fears £200m hit and Danone also voices concern | Airline offers unpaid leave, beverage firm fears £200m hit and Danone also voices concern |
| Lufthansa has imposed a hiring freeze and is offering employees unpaid leave as part of cost-saving measures to limit the financial impact of the spread of the coronavirus. | Lufthansa has imposed a hiring freeze and is offering employees unpaid leave as part of cost-saving measures to limit the financial impact of the spread of the coronavirus. |
| The German airline, which has cancelled flights to China until the end of March, also said it would expand part-time work options and cancel flight attendant and other personnel training courses from April. People already on courses would not be hired but the company said it aimed to offer jobs to affected trainees “in the long term”. | The German airline, which has cancelled flights to China until the end of March, also said it would expand part-time work options and cancel flight attendant and other personnel training courses from April. People already on courses would not be hired but the company said it aimed to offer jobs to affected trainees “in the long term”. |
| The Lufthansa cutbacks came as several other European companies also warned that the coronavirus outbreak was hurting their operations, amid intensifying fears that the global economy will be hit. | The Lufthansa cutbacks came as several other European companies also warned that the coronavirus outbreak was hurting their operations, amid intensifying fears that the global economy will be hit. |
| On Tuesday, Chevron sent home about 300 workers from its office in Canary Wharf, London, after an employee who had recently returned from a country infected with coronavirus reported flu-like symptoms. Sky said its offices would bar visitors who had been in high-risk countries in order to reduce the threat of contagion for its staff, with all guests required to complete a form at reception desks. | |
| Diageo, the drinks company behind Guinness and Johnnie Walker, said Covid-19 could hit its profits by up to £200m as restaurants and bars in China stay shut. | Diageo, the drinks company behind Guinness and Johnnie Walker, said Covid-19 could hit its profits by up to £200m as restaurants and bars in China stay shut. |
| SSP Group, the British operator of restaurants and bars in airports and railway stations, said its sales across the Asia Pacific region would slump by half in February. | SSP Group, the British operator of restaurants and bars in airports and railway stations, said its sales across the Asia Pacific region would slump by half in February. |
| Lufthansa said it had to cut costs “to counteract the economic impact of coronavirus”. It added that it was “not yet possible to estimate the expected impact of current developments on earnings”. | Lufthansa said it had to cut costs “to counteract the economic impact of coronavirus”. It added that it was “not yet possible to estimate the expected impact of current developments on earnings”. |
| Lufthansa said the measures would reduce its administrative costs by 20%. It added that cutbacks in its flight schedule to China and Hong Kong meant 13 of its aircraft were “currently on the ground”. | Lufthansa said the measures would reduce its administrative costs by 20%. It added that cutbacks in its flight schedule to China and Hong Kong meant 13 of its aircraft were “currently on the ground”. |
| Shares in Lufthansa fell 3% on Wednesday morning as European stock markets suffered further heavy losses. | Shares in Lufthansa fell 3% on Wednesday morning as European stock markets suffered further heavy losses. |
| Diageo, the world’s largest liquor company and home to brands including Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin, predicts a decline in profits of £140m-£200m in the year to the end of June. | Diageo, the world’s largest liquor company and home to brands including Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin, predicts a decline in profits of £140m-£200m in the year to the end of June. |
| Sales are expected to be down by up to £325m. Its estimates excluded the impact of the coronavirus on other markets beyond Greater China and Asia Pacific. | Sales are expected to be down by up to £325m. Its estimates excluded the impact of the coronavirus on other markets beyond Greater China and Asia Pacific. |
| Diageo said the majority of consumption of its products in China took place in bars and restaurants, which mostly remain closed. | Diageo said the majority of consumption of its products in China took place in bars and restaurants, which mostly remain closed. |
| “We have seen significant disruption since the end of January, which we expect to last at least into March,” it said. “Thereafter we expect a gradual improvement, with consumption returning to normal levels towards [June].” | “We have seen significant disruption since the end of January, which we expect to last at least into March,” it said. “Thereafter we expect a gradual improvement, with consumption returning to normal levels towards [June].” |
| The company also highlighted the impact in South Korea, Japan and Thailand, where events have been postponed, conferences and banquets have been cancelled and a drop in tourism has also had an impact on consumption in bars and restaurants. | The company also highlighted the impact in South Korea, Japan and Thailand, where events have been postponed, conferences and banquets have been cancelled and a drop in tourism has also had an impact on consumption in bars and restaurants. |
| The significant drop in international air travel, especially across Asia Pacific, has also hurt Diageo’s business, including sales in airports. | The significant drop in international air travel, especially across Asia Pacific, has also hurt Diageo’s business, including sales in airports. |
| Danone, the maker of products including Volvic and Evian bottled water, and Activia yoghurts, said it would take a €100m (£84m) sales hit in the first quarter as a result of the spread of the coronavirus. | Danone, the maker of products including Volvic and Evian bottled water, and Activia yoghurts, said it would take a €100m (£84m) sales hit in the first quarter as a result of the spread of the coronavirus. |
| The French-based company was experiencing a “severe demand slowdown” for its Mizone water brand in China, which is Danone’s second biggest market and accounted for 10% of global sales last year. | The French-based company was experiencing a “severe demand slowdown” for its Mizone water brand in China, which is Danone’s second biggest market and accounted for 10% of global sales last year. |
| Danone employs 8,200 staff in China and has eight factories, seven of which support its water business. The company said water production resumed on 17 February except for at its factory in Wuhan, which is at the centre of the outbreak. | Danone employs 8,200 staff in China and has eight factories, seven of which support its water business. The company said water production resumed on 17 February except for at its factory in Wuhan, which is at the centre of the outbreak. |
| SSP said in the Asia Pacific region, which generates 8% of group revenues, domestic and international air travel relating to China was down 90%, Hong Kong was down 70% and Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines were down 25% to 30%. | SSP said in the Asia Pacific region, which generates 8% of group revenues, domestic and international air travel relating to China was down 90%, Hong Kong was down 70% and Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines were down 25% to 30%. |
| Its share price fell almost 4% in on Wednesday morning and the company said group revenue would be down by £10m-£12m in February, with operating profits down £4m-£5m. | Its share price fell almost 4% in on Wednesday morning and the company said group revenue would be down by £10m-£12m in February, with operating profits down £4m-£5m. |