Most independent retailers do not want to see Sunday trading laws relaxed for larger retailers, with eight out of 10 believing that it would hurt their business.
The findings in The Grocer’s reader panel survey support feelings voiced last month after calls resurfaced for Sunday trading rules to be scrapped. Tesco and Asda both favour a relaxation of the rules, which could end the limited six-hour Sunday opening times for stores larger than 3,000 sq ft.
But many independent retailers say they are appalled at the thought of relaxed Sunday trading rules for larger retailers.
“Business is always good on a Sunday, and it is because people can’t go to the supermarket at any time of the day,” said one northern retailer. “If Asda and Morrisons are allowed to open all day on a Sunday, then I might as well shut shop myself.”
However, some felt the trading laws should be relaxed for everyone on a Sunday. “If the shops were allowed to stay open longer, everyone could shop in a more stress-free manner,” said another retailer.
As for Sunday trading laws being tightened, half the independent retailers quizzed felt they should be - but only for larger stores - while the rest felt the status quo should remain.
The prospect of a bidding war for Somerfield took a knock this week as neither the Apax Partners/Barclays Capital/ Robert Tchenguiz or London & Regional Properties/Nomura consortiums had tabled an offer as The Grocer went to press. Baird retail analyst Paul Smiddy said: “It was expected that at least one offer would have arrived on Monday and it did not. Last-minute hitches are not unusual, but it may indicate a notch down in the level of the eventual offer.”
Asda.com is offering an optical service and is selling three month’s worth of disposable contact lenses for £56.40, which it claims is up to a third cheaper than the high street.
One in four consumers do not trust the supermarkets to act responsibly, according to a survey by communications agency Cow PR. However, it also found that the major multiples were the most trusted of all business sectors. Further, 72% of consumers would put their faith in brewers and distillers. And 70% said they trusted food manufacturers.
The OFT has cleared Premier Foods’ acquisition for £172m of Marlow Foods, the manufacturer of meat substitute Quorn. The OFT ruled that the acquisition did not qualify for investigation under the Enterprise Act 2002.
Retail sales in central London in July fell 8.9%, the London Retail Consortium has revealed - the worst since monitoring began in October 2002.
Changes to the Licensing Act have been dealt a fresh blow. Office of National Statistics data revealed that alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales had risen by 18.4% in five years - up to 6,544.
no offers tabled
sight for sore eyes
Trust in multiples
acquisition cleared
London sales drop
alcohol deaths up
The findings in The Grocer’s reader panel survey support feelings voiced last month after calls resurfaced for Sunday trading rules to be scrapped. Tesco and Asda both favour a relaxation of the rules, which could end the limited six-hour Sunday opening times for stores larger than 3,000 sq ft.
But many independent retailers say they are appalled at the thought of relaxed Sunday trading rules for larger retailers.
“Business is always good on a Sunday, and it is because people can’t go to the supermarket at any time of the day,” said one northern retailer. “If Asda and Morrisons are allowed to open all day on a Sunday, then I might as well shut shop myself.”
However, some felt the trading laws should be relaxed for everyone on a Sunday. “If the shops were allowed to stay open longer, everyone could shop in a more stress-free manner,” said another retailer.
As for Sunday trading laws being tightened, half the independent retailers quizzed felt they should be - but only for larger stores - while the rest felt the status quo should remain.
The prospect of a bidding war for Somerfield took a knock this week as neither the Apax Partners/Barclays Capital/ Robert Tchenguiz or London & Regional Properties/Nomura consortiums had tabled an offer as The Grocer went to press. Baird retail analyst Paul Smiddy said: “It was expected that at least one offer would have arrived on Monday and it did not. Last-minute hitches are not unusual, but it may indicate a notch down in the level of the eventual offer.”
Asda.com is offering an optical service and is selling three month’s worth of disposable contact lenses for £56.40, which it claims is up to a third cheaper than the high street.
One in four consumers do not trust the supermarkets to act responsibly, according to a survey by communications agency Cow PR. However, it also found that the major multiples were the most trusted of all business sectors. Further, 72% of consumers would put their faith in brewers and distillers. And 70% said they trusted food manufacturers.
The OFT has cleared Premier Foods’ acquisition for £172m of Marlow Foods, the manufacturer of meat substitute Quorn. The OFT ruled that the acquisition did not qualify for investigation under the Enterprise Act 2002.
Retail sales in central London in July fell 8.9%, the London Retail Consortium has revealed - the worst since monitoring began in October 2002.
Changes to the Licensing Act have been dealt a fresh blow. Office of National Statistics data revealed that alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales had risen by 18.4% in five years - up to 6,544.
no offers tabled
sight for sore eyes
Trust in multiples
acquisition cleared
London sales drop
alcohol deaths up
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