The Alliance will aim to provide a voice for businesses within the hospitality sector that have been hit as hard by the Covid-19 lockdown as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes.
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The effect of the Covid-19 crisis has been acutely felt by hospitality businesses, and the impact is felt right across the sector.
“There are many associated businesses which rely on the sector for their livelihood and these have been hammered just as hard.
“Supplier businesses within hospitality are just as wide-ranging, varied and dynamic as the venues themselves. Our sector supports businesses as disparate as EPOS companies, licensing solicitors or even linen specialists.
“The shutdown of the hospitality sector has meant that all these businesses have been forced into hibernation as well.
“The Government has recognised the damage that pubs, restaurants, hotels, bars and nightclubs have suffered and have acted quickly and decisively to provide support and save jobs.
“There are many businesses integral to the hospitality sector, facing the same existential crisis and they need the Government’s support now.”
The group, drawn from UKH's supplier membership base alongside non-members, will push for Government support for suppliers in line with operators to ensure any measures in support of hospitality include the entire business network.
The Supplier Alliance has been launched simultaneously with a survey of suppliers to ascertain the scale of the crisis facing their businesses and the need for support.