Global instabilities including in the Middle East are likely to cause uncertainty for supplies to UK laundry businesses.

Usual trade routes could be disrupted and expected summer holiday trends subverted as conflict continues this spring.

UK contract laundry groups may experience a range of knock-on effects from rising utility costs to fewer Brits opting to fly to holiday destinations this summer in favour of staycations.

Paul Hamilton, technical director at Regenex, said: “Supplies of new textiles may become unreliable and prices may rise as commodities are harder to get told of. Such effects are already evident among businesses I’ve seen and spoken to already this month.

“The latest Textile Services Association laundry costs index, released in January, already points to a 9.4% increase in labour costs in the last year and a 6.9% rise in the price of replacement line stock, without taking into account any such influences.

“The index indicates a reduction in fuel costs, which is good news – but these may rise again sharply as global markets fluctuate.”

Uncertainty will hit at a time when UK hospitality operators may be busier than usual if extended conflict and the potential for Home Office advice against travel lead to more holiday makers booking UK destinations.

Paul continued: “At the moment we just don’t know for certain what will happen but as business leaders we must step up and prepare.

“That could mean working ahead of time to ensure linen stocks are maximised so that beds can aways be made up and bathrooms stocked even if hotels and holiday lets are operating at or near by capacity this summer.”

Regenex works with its customers to get the most out of all laundry stock with specialist cleaning for heavily stained linens that would otherwise be condemned to landfill or rag.