Minimum alcohol pricing‘likely by next spring’ in Scotland

Minimum alcohol pricing is likely to be law in Scotland by April next year, following the victory by the Scottish National Party (SNP) in elections north of the border earlier this month (May), reports today’s Independent Retail News.

The SNP failed to introduce minimum pricing last year because as a minority government it could not get the support of the other parties in the Scottish parliament.

But the party now has a majority and it pledged to introduce minimum pricing in its election manifesto as a“priority” in its first legislative programme of the new parliament.

Pundits expect the Scottish government to opt for a minimum price of 45p per unit of alcohol. An industry observer said it would be fairly simple for the government to re-introduce last year’s defeated minimum price plans.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Grocers’ Federation said: “As they have got a majority in parliament they can do as they like. They have run the research and the legislation was written. It isn’t a big challenge to get it up and running again.”

The independent retail trade is fairly ambivalent about the proposals. Minimum pricing could make it easier for retailers to compete on price with the major supermarkets, but it could also limit their own scope for price promotions. There are also fears minimum pricing could fuel the illicit trade and increase cross-border and internet trading.

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The Co-op opens its third food store in London

The opening of the new£600,000 Co-operative Food outlet in Store Street, London, is the third Co-operative Food store to open in the capital within as many months. 

It follows the opening of The Co-operative Food’s flagship Strand store in February, and the opening of another convenience store in Wembley in March.

The Strand store opening in London WC2 was a major milestone as it gave the consumer-owned retailer a food store in every UK postal area, and signalled The Co-operative’s intent to deliver on its ambitious expansion plans for the next three years, with a renewed focus on stores in city centre locations, including the capital. 

The Co-operative Food plans to open more than 300 food outlets over the next three years, creating around 7,000 jobs, including around 50 stores within the first 12 months.  

So far nine new stores have opened, and a further 21 contracts exchanged– with new stores planned for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton, Liverpool, Manchester and Swansea, as well as other locations in the coming months. 

Andrew Coles, national acquisitions manager, for The Co-operative Food, said:“These are exciting times for The Co-operative Food, which is looking to expand the estate following the integration of the Somerfield estate. 

“As a result, the property team is communicating with the retail marketplace more than ever before and recently held an event in Mayfair for agents, landlords and developers, with further events of this kind planned later in the year.”

Source: The Co-op

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Vote for your female retailer of the year

Entries for the Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards are open until Monday 23 May for the 2011, aimed to highlight inspirational role models and their accomplishments within retail.

With retailers in the UK feeling the squeeze (March 2011 sales fell 1.9% -this represents the worst figures recorded since 1996– BRC), it’s never been more important to show support for women in this sector. From florists to pharmacists, boutiques to butchers, department stores to local stores, to those who do it all for free in the thousands of charity shops nationwide.

Maxine Benson, co-founder and director of everywoman, said:“We are looking to give recognition to the talented women in retail whose success will inspire and motivate the next generation.”

Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, said:“There are some excellent opportunities for women in the retail industry. Although there are not as many women in senior positions as there should be, there are many good prospects. At Specsavers, many of our stores are owned by female opticians who recognise the importance of excellent customer service and high retail standards.”

The NatWest everywoman Awards are open to any female business owner. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at The Savoy on 14 September 2011.

To nominate a colleague, co-worker or friend that you think would fit the billvisit:http://www.everywoman.com/ewawards/nomination

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Oddbins to sale 29 of its stores with Christie + Co

A second wave of closed Oddbins stores are to be marketed for sale by Christie + Co on the instructions of Lee Manning and Matthew Smith (Deloitte LLP), joint administrators of Oddbins Limited and Oddbins Properties Limited.

This latest tranche will feature 29 stores, located across the UK.

Steve Rodell, head of retail at Christie + Co, said:“Once again we will be conducting a short, focused marketing campaign for these 29 stores, aiming at operators and individuals who have an interest in the sector. Nine of the second-wave stores are located in and around the Greater London area and should provoke strong interest.”

Best and final offers for these 29 stores are being sought by 5pm on Friday 27 May 2011.

Offers made for stores in the first wave of 55 are being considered by the joint administrators.

Interested parties can find more information about the latest 29 stores offered for sale by visitingwww.christie.com/oddbins

Source:Oddbins

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NIIRTA back Mary Portas’ appointment on future of high streets | TalkingRetail.com

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association(NIIRTA) has welcomed the announcement that TV retail guru Mary Portas is to carry out a UK government-backed review aimed at halting the“decline of the high street”.

Portas will look at the problem of empty shops and how to prevent the growth of“clone towns” dominated by chain stores.

Portas is due to present her findings in the autumn and NIIRTA has called upon the new Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland to invite her to Northern Ireland as part of her inquiry.

NIIRTA chief executive, Glyn Roberts, said:“Local shops and high streets in Northern Ireland matter to consumers who use the health of the high street as a barometer for the economy as a whole. Healthy, diverse high streets mean confident consumers and vibrant local shopping holds the key to economic growth and job creation. We welcome this independent review and urge her to address the tough questions about how to put high streets at the heart of recovery.

“We would urge our new DSD Minister Nelson McCausland, who has responsibility for town centres to invite Ms Portas to visit Northern Ireland to meet with him and local stakeholders as part of her enquiry.

“We will be urging the Government not to shy away from the controversial issues and to put in place a strategy that will robustly promote the high street at a crucial time”

“We need robust decisions on planning rules that are explicitly ‘town centre first’ preventing harmful out of town development, we need an approach to business rates that encourages retailers to invest in high streets and neighbourhood centres and we must promote diversity so that consumers have real choice now and in the long term.”

Source:NIIRTA

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Asda cuts fuel prices | TalkingRetail.com

Asda has given drivers a welcome boost by slashing the price of fuel, with 4p per litre off the price of diesel and up to 1p off unleaded.

Starting today (10 May) drivers filling up at Asda will not pay more than 135.7p per litre for diesel and 134.7p per litre for unleaded at any of its 187 filling stations. 

Andy Peake, Asda’s petrol director said: “Once again Asda has led the way in saving drivers money. Unlike some retailers, our price cuts are across the board. That’s why no-one will pay more than 135.7ppl for diesel and 134.7ppl for unleaded when filling up at any one of our 180 forecourts nationwide.

“As world oil prices have fallen over recent days, we’ve moved quickly to pass those savings on, knocking up to 4ppl off diesel and penny off unleaded.”

Although fuel prices fluctuate, Asda’s aim remains the same. It always wants to be the first retailer in each part of the country to drop prices and the last to put them up. And when it does drop prices, it drops them everywhere, setting a maximum national price cap for its customer, which means they all benefit from its low prices,regardless of where they live.

Asda’s preference would be that everyone charged a national price for fuel, that way drivers would be treated as equals. As it stands though, most of its rivals hide behind local pricing policies, which take advantage of drivers unlucky enough not to have an Asda nearby. 

Source: Asda

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Waitrose reports‘strong’ Royal Wedding sales | TalkingRetail.com

Waitrose has reported an‘outstanding’ week of sales, following a flurry of festivities across the country before the royal wedding.

With the vast majority of shops closed for trade on Easter Sunday, the most accurate comparison is the week following Easter last year, compared to which the total branch sales for the supermarket were up by 23.1%, and 34.5% on the equivalent week two years ago.

Waitrose also saw the busiest Thursday ever (28 April), outside the Christmas and New Year period.

The strong performance finished off a healthy first quarter for Waitrose. Total provisional Waitrose sales for the three months ending 30 April 2011“significantly outperformed” the market, at 8.7% higher than last year.

On a like-for-like basis our total branch sales (excluding petrol) were up by 4.7%. Compared to two years ago, total provisional Waitrose sales for the quarter were 22.3% higher.

Last week’s sales patterns were reflective of the celebratory and patriotic mood across much of the country. The Heston From Waitrose Royal Trifle, created especially for the big day, was in demand and prompted many others to create their own version, with trifle sponges 370% up on last year.

Other traditional British foods that saw strong sales included strawberry sales (51% up on last year), clotted cream sales (70% higher), and cheesecake sales (62% higher).

Source: Waitrose

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