The quantity of business regulation for c-stores is now so high that independent retailers are being forced to pay for consultants and extra members of staff simply to complete and check paperwork.

Shaan Chaundry, who runs two c-stores in the West Midlands, has hired an extra member of staff, working 40 hours a week, for the past three years just to deal with business regulations. Shaan said: “It was just getting out of control and was something I just didn’t have time to deal with, so I made a very early decision to hire someone to take care of that side of the business.”