Wholesaler JW Filshill has created a minimum unit pricing (MUP) action plan to prepare retailers ahead of the new legislation to be introduced on May 1.

The Glasgow-based company, which supplies more than 175 KeyStore stores across Scotland and the North of England, is working with independents to ensure store owners understand how MUP will affect their business.

The minimum price has been set by the Scottish Government at 50p per unit of alcohol. The legislation is designed to reduce the number of problem drinkers in Scotland by increasing the price of the strongest and cheapest alcohol.

Craig Brown, retail sales director at JW Filshill, said: “We have been providing information to KeyStore retailers every three weeks through our promotional guidelines since February and have sent out an information sheet to all our customers.

“The MUP price is also listed on the sales pages of our website and app so when a customer logs in and goes to the alcohol section they can see what the MUP is for every line.”

He added: “Retailers and their staff are very much on the front line as far as MUP is concerned and need to know what they must to do comply with the law.”

Posters giving retailers more detail about the MUP legislation have been displayed at Filshill’s cash and carry in Hillington. The wholesaler has also updated its ReScan epos system to block the sale of lines being sold below the minimum unit price.

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) and Scottish Wholesale Association have produced guidelines on MUP for their members, alongside the Scottish Government.

The guidance states that the premises licence holder, store manager and store staff are all responsible for ensuring their store is compliant with the new law.

For more infomation visit the official governemnt website or download the full SGF report here.

The Today’s Group has also developed a Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) calculator, available at www.todaysplanforprofit.com.