News – Page 179
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NewsBudget: Business rates temporarily abolished amid coronavirus outbreak
Shops with a ratable value of less than £51,000 will have their business rates “abolished” in the coming financial year, as part of a package of measures to help support businesses through the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
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NewsGrocery Aid Ball raises over £700k
This year’s Grocery Aid ball raised nearly three quarters of a million pounds for the industry’s charity, which provides a range of vital benefits for colleagues who have fallen on hard times or rely on others for contact or support.
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NewsSouthern Co-op expands franchise estate with 12 new stores in a year
Twelve new stores opened under the Southern Co-op’s franchise programme in 2019, with further sites in the pipeline.
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NewsFood waste app Gander drives up sales of reduced-priced items in NI
The introduction of food waste app Gander in Northern Ireland has resulted in a 45% increase in sales of reduced-price food in the country, according to the app’s founders.
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NewsIndependents boost community support as UK coronavirus cases increase
Convenience retailers are stepping up efforts to support local communities in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, which is continuing to spread across the UK and the wider world.
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NewsTesco to sell Thailand and Malaysia operations to “focus the business”
Tesco has agreed to sell its operations in Thailand and Malaysia for approximately £8.2bn, in a move that will “further simplify and focus the business”.
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NewsC-stores faced 50,000-plus incidents of violence over past year
The number of incidents of violence in UK convenience stores was estimated at more than 50,000 over the last year, of which one in four resulted in injury, according to the Association of Convenience Stores’ 2020 Crime Report.
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NewsSouth West Spar group buys Dan Cocks’ former Premier store
Fast-growing Spar group Wessex Retail has acquired Whitstone Village Stores near Holsworthy, Devon, from former Premier retailer Dan Cocks.
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NewsIncidents of violence and abuse against shopworkers up 9%
Incidents of violence and abuse against shopworkers have risen to 424 each day, up 9% on last year, according to the British Retail Consortium’s latest annual crime survey.
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NewsPublic Health England rues smokers’ “false fears” over vaping
Public Health England (PHE) has voiced its concerns that the US lung disease outbreak has affected smokers’ views on e-cigarettes in the UK, as it reiterates its advice that vaping is much less harmful than smoking.
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NewsFuel mission drives just 19% of forecourt visits, research reveals
The UK forecourt market has evolved to such an extent that only 19% of shoppers cite fuel as their main reason for visiting, according to new research predicting 3.8% sales growth within forecourt c-stores in 2020.
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NewsSainsbury’s supply deal a hit at new Simply Fresh store
Simply Fresh’s Sainsbury’s-supplied convenience store in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, has received a “phenomenal” reaction from its customers, according to the symbol group’s creative director Davinder Jheeta.
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NewsBudget: Chancellor under increasing pressure to deliver rates reform
The Chancellor is under increasing pressure to push ahead with business rates reform in the 11 March Budget, following the intervention of organisations representing thousands of businesses.
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NewsConsultation on mandatory introduction of E10 fuel grade announced
The Department for Transport is consulting on plans to require fuel retailers to offer the E10 fuel grade from 2021, as part of the government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme.
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NewsSnowshock reverses decision to end lifetime warranty on slush machines
Slush manufacturer Snowshock has reversed its decision to end lifetime warranties for its machines and instead will focus on a campaign to work with retailers on ensuring proper hygiene and maintenance.
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NewsMinimum Unit Pricing in Wales welcomed by independent c-stores
Independent c-store retailers in Wales have broadly welcomed the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol today (2 March).
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NewsPoundland to start selling luxury yogurt and frozen fish
Poundland is to start selling luxury yogurt and frozen fish as part of a move into chilled and frozen categories following a successful trial.
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NewsLincolnshire Co-op rewards customers who use reusable cups
Lincolnshire Co-op is encouraging membership card-holders to “help the environment” by rewarding them with 25p every time they use a reusable cup to purchase their hot drinks.
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NewsGovernment urged to act on rate review after dismissing MPs’ concerns
The government has broadly defended business rates and dismissed concerns raise by MPs on the Treasury Select Committee, prompting calls to act on its pledge to undertake a fundamental review of the system.
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NewsStores' Deposit Return Scheme concerns raised in Westminster debate
Parliament heard concerns about the impact of a Deposit Return Scheme on small retailers in England and Wales during the second reading of the Environment Bill yesterday (26 February).