British companies buckle up as Brexit deadline nears

Reuters

Published Oct 18, 2019 08:03AM ET

British companies buckle up as Brexit deadline nears

(Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trumpeting a newly minted Brexit deal with EU leaders but now needs backing from the UK's divided parliament in a vote set for Saturday.

Three years after Britons voted to leave the EU, companies are surveying their contingency plans as potential Brexit looms and with it the risk of delays at ports, supply chain disruptions or labor shortages.

The following are the latest Brexit comments from British companies this week (in alphabetical order):

For more on how major sectors are preparing for Brexit, double click:

Bellway Plc (L:BWY)

The housebuilder said it had been in close contact with its supply chain partners over last year to reduce any risks to its business.

Domino's Pizza Group Plc (L:DOM)

Britain's biggest pizza delivery company said it has four to eight weeks worth of inventory of ambient and frozen food products.

Marston's Plc (L:MARS)

The pub group, which imports a significant amount of food and some beers, wines and spirits from Europe, said it was prepared for a potentially chaotic Brexit and that it had implemented contingency plans to ensure a smooth Christmas trading period, including identifying potential suppliers from outside Europe.

Secure Trust Bank Plc (L:STBS)

The lender said consumers and businesses were more cautious in taking loans ahead of the planned Oct. 31 deadline for Brexit, with the company recording slower demand in September.

WH Smith Plc (L:SMWH)