The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is to meet with members of the Competition Commission on Friday in order to share evidence that it has submitted as part of the ongoing inquiry into the grocery market.
A formal meeting is planned for May 4.
ACS chief executive James Lowman, pictured, was on hand at the CRS event on Tuesday to outline the stance of the 32,000-shop lobbying body. He said: “We want the Competition Commission to understand local markets and we are intending to demonstrate the waterbed effect on prices through the analysis of buying price differentials.”
Lowman added the lobbying body is eagerly anticipating the release of a planning white paper, scheduled for this spring, which could also have a major impact on the convenience sector. He said: “Will the ‘need test’ be there? We don’t know, but we think it should remain, as without it, out-of-town development will continue to affect our members and damage local choice.”
The ACS is aiming to support the convenience sector with its Summit 2007: Convenience Innovation, on May 1, by showcasing pro-active convenience retailers who have changed their businesses, ACS retail services manager Hugh Arnott told Freshinfo.
He said: “Nigel Mills [managing director at Mills Group Ltd] will talk through his journey with fresh produce, including the mistakes he made, and how he got it right.
“Fresh produce is the fastest-growing category in most convenience businesses, but some mistakes are made when convenience stores introduce fresh produce and, to a certain extent, you have to expect that - it’s not an easy category to deal with.
“The sector has to follow good examples. If an apple looks bad, you have to take it off the shelf because, at the end of the day, it’s better to waste one apple than lower an opinion that the consumer has about the freshness of the products in store.”
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