James Lowman news, comment and analysis – Page 31
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'Block big three' - Grimsey
Elaine Watson Big Food Group boss Bill Grimsey has joined forces with big guns in the c-store sector to urge regulators to block the big three supermarkets from bidding for Safeway. He said. "If there has to be a trade buyer, it should be...
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Smugglers raking it in
Anne Bruce and Rod Addy Bootleggers are making "an obscene amount of money" on smuggled cigarettes, according to the Association of Convenience Stores, despite government assurances new measures are working. ACS public affairs and commercial...
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ACS/BRC look to congestion charge pros and cons
As London's congestion charge swung into action this week, the British Retail Consortium warned that smaller retailers could suffer the most. As well as increased distribution costs, the charge could dent sales as shoppers avoided the zone,...
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PASS finally comes of age
Anne Bruce Local authority proof of age card schemes stand to be phased out as new PASS and Connexions card initiatives gain momentum. After months of delays over funding, the British Retail Consortium launched its Proof of Age Standards...
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Tesco's one stop shop
Not for Tesco a slow and painful Sainsbury-style advent into convenience beset by planning battles and distribution problems. Instead it is grabbing a 5% slice of the convenience market in one go. All it needs is T&S’s shareholders to rubberstamp...
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Not for Tesco a slow and painful Sainsbury-style advent into
Then it can get on with its plans to convert 450 prime sites to its lucrative Express format over the next three to four years. The masterplan is to use T&S's distribution network to serve the new standalone Express chain and around 400 residual One...
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Fury at Lotto's Tesco tie-up
Lottery operator Camelot has upset independent retailers by linking up with Tesco to promote direct debit ticket subscriptions with loyalty points. Selected Tesco loyalty cardholders are being invited to play by subscription  by setting up...
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Independents fight 50/50 split
Anne Bruce Camelot has admitted that it is not sticking to a previous commitment to keep 65% of its terminals in the hands of independent retailers. During its bid for the National Lottery franchise, Camelot pledged to keep a 65/35 split...
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Random Customs checks banned
Retailers and wholesalers have criticised a High Court ruling outlawing Customs and Excise random checks. Officers must now only stop travellers if they have a valid reason to believe they are smuggling goods for re-sale. Association of...
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Industry gives a welcome to national ID card plans
Retailers and industry groups have applauded Home Office plans for consultations on the introduction of a national identity card, which could be carried as proof of age. If six months consultation results in approval for an ID card, a Bill could be...
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Standalones hardly lucrative says City
Tesco plans to open 50 standalone neighbourhood Express stores in 2003 as it develops a "credible convenience brand". Corporate affairs manager Martin Venning said Tesco would stick to secondary trading sites as it rolls out the small store...
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n Criticism that UK recycling regulations lack teeth has bee
Recycling is an emotive issue so the suggestion that the UK's current policies might not be achieving a great deal is bound to stir up strong feelings. The fact that the UK's second largest recycling compliance scheme Wastepack failed to meet last...
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n Small retailers face a record level of violence, robbery a
Violence, robbery, threats and abuse are all in a day's work for independent shopkeepers who are increasingly on the front line. As one store owner says bluntly: "My feeling is that it's far more dangerous to be an Asian shopkeeper than a fireman,...
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the national lottery
Sales improvement programme could see yearly churn of 1,500 retailers Camelot sales campaign places 11% on probation Nearly 11% of all National Lottery retailers are now on probation as Camelot steps up its campaign to churn underperforming...
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Suppliers hope PoS loophole
means status quo for fixtures Tobacco manufacturers hope a loophole in the proposed Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill will allow them to continue sponsoring point of sale. The Bill, which will outlaw press, billboard and internet adverts...
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Exclusive survey reveals the UK's leading private grocers
The Grocer has identified the biggest and best privately owned grocery retailers in the UK, in the first survey of its kind. Scottish-based frozen food discounter Farmfoods is the UK's number one with a massive £199m turnover. It took the honour...
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All our top privately owned retailers have one thing in com
They also share strong relationships with their wholesaler and suppliers and are not scared by the might of the multiples. Sheffield-based GT News is a particularly good example. With sales up by 46% in the past year, it is Britain's fastest...
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Failing retailers given six months to shape up
Five hundred National Lottery retailers have been told they will lose their terminal if they don't improve sales. National Lottery operator Camelot has put the first group of retailers on probation as it launches its sales improvement programme....
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ACS offers simplified civil recovery scheme
The ACS is stepping up the fight against retail crime with a new scheme enabling its members to operate civil recovery. Civil recovery allows retailers to claim payments from thieves through the civil courts to cover losses and other expenses...
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Brown ignores security, but brewers are pleased
Independent stores were dismayed the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget statement made no reference to security tax relief for them. James Lowman, public affairs and communications manager for the Association of Convenience Stores, said it...