The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has said supermarkets should stop making "misleading" claims about the number of jobs they create when opening a new store.

The Association's report, Job Creation Claims in New Supermarket Retail Developments, says such claims are based on inconsistent criteria, don't distinguish between full- and part-time jobs, and don't take into account the potential job losses at existing shops.

ACS chief executive James Lowman wants to put an end to supermarkets' tactic of using unsubstantiated figures for the number of jobs they would bring to an area in order to "charm" local councils into giving planning approval.

The ACS wants supermarkets claiming to create jobs to take into account full-time positions only, use 18-month projections, and to allow for associated job losses that comes with reducing trade in existing businesses.

"We hope that this study will alert local councils to the tactics used by supermarkets to push their applications through," Lowman said.