NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
SUGRO GROWS Member-owned buying and marketing group Sugro UK has bolstered its membership by welcoming three new members to the Sugro Family: UK Fine Food, E-Natural Limited and Nosh London. The new
LEGISLATION
FURY OVER SUNDAY TRADING LAWS SUSPENSION GROWS THE CONVENIENCE RETAILING INDUSTRY UNITES TO FIGHT
£9m to the group’s existing
PROPOSED SUSPENSION OF SUNDAY TRADING LAWS.
V IDE O
members have added a further
TC WA H
turnover.
POUNDSTRETCHER CLOSURES Poundstretcher has launched a Company Voluntary Agreement that could involve closing stores as part of a survival plan as it looks to restructure the business to stem losses. Up to 253 of the chain’s 450 stores shops could close if landlords do not agree to rent reductions
Convenience retailers from all corners of the industry have united in voicing their opposition to a suspension of the Sunday Trading Laws that currently prevent supermarkets from opening for more than six hours on Sundays. The government is reportedly reviewing Sunday trading restrictions on large stores in England and Wales as part of a plan to kick-start the economy after lockdown. Independent retailer and NFRN National President Stuart Reddish
urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to scrap his plans: “If you value us don’t give Sundays to the supermarkets.” Speaking from his store, Mr Reddish explained how “people want their local stores to thrive, not to be overwhelmed by the supermarkets”. “Allowing supermarkets to open for longer than the allotted six hours ‘would not increase business’, Reddish said. “It will just move it around, costing jobs, threatening businesses and damaging the high street.”
or holidays.
JUUL ID SOLUTION Bestway Wholesale customers can now buy JUUL products on the wholesaler’s site only after completing a new AgeVerification document on the site. Retailers are required to input their name and store’s details, and accept and agree to Age Verification, Store Suspension and Retail Sales policies. The details are mandatory.
6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 9 / WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE 2020
RETAILERS FIGHT CLOSURE OF COVID-19 GRANT SCHEME Retailers in Scotland are urging the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fiona Hyslop, to reconsider last week’s decision to close the Covid-19 Small Business Grant Schemes for new applications on 10 July. The Scottish Grocers’ Federation wrote to Hyslop emphasising the importance of the continued availability of these business support grants for retailers.
SGF boss Pete Cheema said: “Convenience retailers are working extended hours, seven days a week, in order to play their part in ensuring a consistent supply of essential groceries and to continue to provide vital services to our communities though Covid-19. Given these pressures many of them will simply not have had the time yet to apply for these vital business support grants.”
