James Lowman news, comment and analysis – Page 2
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NewsMinister pledges to work with ACS on Employment Rights Bill to ease implementation for local stores
ACS had previously warned that it was important the legislation was not “just pro-worker, but pro-business and pro-investment”
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Analysis & FeaturesWhy the Post Office isn't working for today's postmasters
As the public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal comes to a close, can the Post Office turn itself around and, most importantly, earn back the trust of its postmasters?
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NewsLords Committee calls for immediate action to tackle shop theft epidemic
The committee laid out its recommendations in a letter to Diana Johnson, the minister for policing, crime & fire prevention
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NewsYour reactions to the new government’s £40bn tax-raising budget
Readers of The Grocer share their opinions on how the autumn budget will affect their areas of industry
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NewsConvenience stores to bear £666m in extra costs from new budget
The ACS said the impact would be felt “unevenly” across the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores
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NewsBudget could ‘burden’ convenience stores with £634m in extra bills, says ACS
The current projection for the NLW rate in April 2025 is £12.10 per hour, up 5.8%, which would increase the convenience sector wage bill by £417m to over £7.6bn
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NewsDisposable vapes: retailers given until June to clear stocks
From June, the only vaping products available for sale legally in the UK must be refillable and rechargeable, intended for repeat uses
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NewsForecourts invest £19,000 per store over past year, up almost 60%, ACS says
The top area of investment was refrigeration, followed by technology, such as electronic shelf labels, then shelving
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Analysis & FeaturesWhat’s in new workers’ rights bill and who should be worried?
It’s been hailed as the best news for workers in years, but it’s set to ban a number of industry practices and heap challenges on HR teams
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NewsC-store retailers pump £1bn into businesses for first time
Retailers have spent 54.8% more on their stores in 2024 compared with the previous year, up from £646m
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NewsGovernment commits to introduce standalone offence for attacking shopworkers
Retailers and trade bodies have welcomed the announcement, calling it a “crowning moment” for shopworkers who continue to suffer record levels of abuse and violence every day
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Analysis & FeaturesGrocery heavyweights’ wishlist for new government
The election of the first Labour government in 14 years is seismic, not least for the food and drink industry
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Analysis & FeaturesElection: what do the parties promise when it comes to business and workers' rights?
With less than two weeks to go, here’s what the big hitters have to say on business rates, wages, worker rights, apprenticeships, taxes and more
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NewsACS warns of fakes as new King Charles banknotes enter circulation
The trade body has advised that convenience store owners visit the Bank of England website for information on spotting fake notes that might enter circulation from 5 June
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NewsUsdaw slams government for ‘political stunt’ as Criminal Justice Bill is dropped
Usdaw ‘not convinced they ever intended to follow through’ on the promise of a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker
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NewsDRS delays: government set for legal battle to block Welsh plans to include glass
Environment minister Robbie Moore set a new target date for the launch for an “interoperable” DRS of October 2027
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NewsAttacking shopworkers to be made standalone criminal offence
The government is ramping up the use of facial recognition technology to help catch perpetrators and prevent shoplifting in the first place, backed by a £55.5m investment
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NewsLow Pay Commission to consult on national living wage rates
It comes as employers across the country implemented the new NLW this week, which rose by 9.8% from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour
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NewsACS warns of £645m boost to illicit trade after disposable vape ban
ACS said the government must focus on effective enforcement to prevent “rogue traders”
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NewsPCCs highlight progress in tackling retail crime in new report
A number of forces are also using an online data-sharing platform that allows retailers to report and access information about crime