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, although this could benefit stores on the periphery, said BRC director general Bill Moyes.
Association of Convenience Stores public affairs and commercial manager James Lowman said: "If people who have to go into central London abandon their cars and travel on foot, they are more likely to visit a c-store."
If congestion charges were rolled out to other towns and cities, however, they could force people out of town centres, which would be bad news for c-stores, he added.
Drivers parking on the edge of the zone could prevent local shoppers parking outside c-stores, said Lowman.

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