James Lowman news, comment and analysis – Page 25
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News
Retailers called to collect refunds from music licensing body
The Association of Convenience Stores is urging retailers to come forward and claim millions owed by music licensing company PPL.The refunds for licensees were secured as a result of legal action earlier this year after they had been...
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NewsChange4Life’s fruit and veg chillers hit the east
Change4Life's convenience store programme has been rolled out to stores in the east of England. Under the scheme the Department of Health offers funding to 'beacon' stores in deprived areas with poor provision of fruit and veg. The...
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NewsLansley’s vision: is the health secretary being myopic?
This week Andrew Lansley outlined the contents of the Public Health White Paper – and the role he wants industry to play. Nick Hughes reports
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News
Shadow appointments get a cautious reception
Industry leaders have given a cautious welcome to the new Labour shadow cabinet announced this week but some have questioned how important a role it will play.Appointments likely to be closely watched include Wakefield MP Mary Creagh...
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NewsNCS announces first commercial partners
The National Convenience Show has unveiled its first raft of heavyweight partners, with Booker, Imperial Tobacco, Heineken and Robert Wiseman on board. The show, which replaces the annual Convenience Retailing Show, takes place at...
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NewsLocalised minimum pricing won’t stop binge drinking, say retailers
If 10 local authorities succeed in exploiting a competition law loophole, it could signal the end of national pricing strategies on alcohol, warns Michelle Perrett
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Comment & Opinion
Third Party: Is the localism agenda good for local shops?
David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ idea has its merits but may give too much power to local authorities, says James Lowman
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NewsOsborne’s medicine: bitter pills mixed with sweeteners
The Emergency Budget wasn’t as bad for the grocery industry as some had feared, but it has some worrying implications, reports Peter Cripps
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NewsEmergency Budget: 'A tough Budget addressing serious issues'
The coaltion government today published its emergency Budget, unveiling a series of measures to scale back the deficit.
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NewsMorrisons alcohol plan blasted as ‘duplicitous’
Morrisons' proposal to tackle below-cost selling and the misuse of alcohol has been panned by wholesalers and independents.
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News
Industry blasts NICE's 50p/unit pricing plan
Proposals to introduce a minimum price on alcohol will not solve Britain's binge-drinking culture and could lead to an explosion in duty fraud, industry campaigners have claimed.
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Comment & Opinion
Saturday Essay: Pressing priorities for the new government
A more hamstrung administration must still act on reducing costs, tackling crime and fair business, says James Lowman
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NewsHuddersfield c-store owner killed as robberies surge
A convenience store owner from Huddersfield has died following a robbery by a gang of teenagers in his store.
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News
The hard facts about role of local shops
A £200,000 government-backed investigation is to examine the role local shops play within their communities.The ACS has teamed up with Oxford University's Saïd Business School to implement the two-year fact-finding project, known as a...
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News
Booze deals out of favour despite spin
Suppliers and retailers have been curbing promotions on alcoholic drinks, cutting the number of deals by 15% and upping alcohol prices by 4%, exclusive new figures produced for The Grocer show.
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News
C-stores pass the test over underage drink
Convenience store owners have often been blamed for allowing alcohol to get into the hands of underage drinkers. But new figures seen exclusively by The Grocer show c-stores are now every bit as responsible as the big retailers when it comes to...
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Comment & Opinion
Saturday Essay: Let’s not drink to localised alcohol regulation
Knee-jerk reactions by councils will heap new burdens on retailers. Partnerships are the way forward, says James Lowman
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NewsGovernment agrees to VAT changes in victory for The Grocer
The government is set to give retailers 28 days to change their prices when it returns the VAT rate to 17.5% on 1 January.
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News
Who’s winning in Westminster?
The grocery industry spends millions of pounds each year beanding the ear of politicians and making sure the industry's needs are understood by policy makers. Nick Hughes reports
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News
No c-store chiller funds as Change4Life rolls out
The government is not making any additional funding available to help c-stores sell fruit and veg, despite announcing plans to roll its Change4Life local stores scheme out across the country. The scheme encourages c-stores to sell more produce...