News

Camelot has announced a new, comprehensive package of support specifically designed for all of its 28,000 independent National Lottery retailers. The ‘ALLSTARS’ programme aims to help independent outlets make the most of The National Lottery in their store – to help boost retailers’ bottom lines and build on the £36 billion that they have helped Camelot to raise for Good Causes since 1994.

The General Election has resulted in a hung parliament, with no party achieving a clear majority.

The Conservatives have emerged as the largest party, but have not gained the requisite 326 seats to form a majority Government.

With all 650 seats declared, the Conservative party have won 318 seats with Labour following on 262. The SNP have 35 seats, Liberal Democrats 12, DUP 10 and 13 others.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that she would form a Government with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Independent retailer John Stevenson has hosted store visits from his Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) in advance of the General Election.

PPC Dr Paul Johnson attended from the Labour Party as well as Liberal Democrat candidate Drew Durning.

John used the visit to discuss the impact of the business rates revaluation, retail crime and employment costs on his petrol forecourt store.

Independent Londis retailer Kamlesh Patel has hosted store visits from his Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) ahead of the General Election.

PPC Stephen Timms attended from the Labour Party, as well as PPC Kirsty Finlayson from the Conservative Party.

Kamlesh used the visit to discuss issues including the impact of retail crime, business rates, the National Living Wage and Deposit Return Schemes.

Independent Spar retailer Sarah Davies has hosted a visit from Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) Simon Baynes ahead of next week’s General Election.

Sarah Davies has operated The Cross Stores in Glyn Ceiriog for over 11 years. Her rural shop is the only convenience store in the local community and provides local grocery delivery services and an expanded food to go offer.

Senior representatives from three major political parties have reaffirmed their commitment to reforming the rates system to support small businesses.

The hustings debate, organised by ACS and the Federation of Small Businesses, featured Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell (Labour), Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke (Conservative) and Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrats) being questioned on their plans to support small businesses through economic incentives.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to take advantage of its dedicated platform to allow them to train their staff on Assured Advice.

The platform, which has been developed by online learning company Bolt, will allow any ACS member to sign up to the Assured Advice scheme and benefit from both the assurance of the guides and industry leading training modules for staff members.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today commenced its formal inquiry into the Tesco / Booker merger. More information on the inquiry can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-opens-tescobooker-merger-investigation.

An influential committee of Scottish MSPs has acknowledged that convenience retailers do not have the space to facilitate a Deposit Return Scheme.

The report (available here) by the Environmental Sub Group in the Scottish Parliament has identified that one of the central barriers to a deposit return scheme is the “lack of space for DRS collection facilities in smaller shops or independent retailers”.

Andy Higginson, Chairman of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, has been appointed as President of GroceryAid, the grocery industry charity, by its Board of Trustees effective from 1^st July 2017.

GroceryAid has also appointed a Vice President with Charles Wilson, Chief Executive Booker Ltd, taking up this post.