The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is to focus on planning policy reform and the proposed retail ombudsman, as it continues its campaign for a fairer grocery market.
Chief executive James Lowman said: “Now that the two-year Competition Commission inquiry has come to an end, we have to look forward at how we can influence the regulatory environment in which our members trade. We are focusing our attention on influencing the remedies that have arisen from the commission’s final report, which if implemented in the right way can make a positive difference to the market in which we trade; and taking our case for government intervention to promote a fair and sustainable grocery market to the decision makers that can make a real difference in Westminster and Whitehall.
“We are proud of what we have achieved, thinking back to November 2004, when we began this campaign in earnest with our application to the Office of Fair Trading for a full market review. Since then, we have seen no major acquisitions of convenience stores by the multiples. We have seen a movement grow, all around the country, promoting the benefits of local shops and arguing against the dominance of the major multiples. And we have seen our sector truly realise its importance to the community and focus on maximising this as its point of difference.”
Lowman also confirmed that ACS will not be appealing against the Competition Commission’s findings. “Our full focus is on making a difference to the legacy of the Inquiry,” he said.
A retail ombudsman is highly important, said Lowman. “An effective retail ombudsman can address the worst excessive abuse of buyer power in the marketplace. However, we have to resist pressure for the ombudsman proposal set out by the commission to be weakened or delayed in its implementation. We need an effective ombudsman in place now, and ACS will continue the campaign to ensure this happens.“
The lobbying body will also continue to work with the government on the forthcoming reform of retail planning policy. Lowman said: “We are glad that we played our part in convincing the Competition Commission not to make harmful interventions into how the planning system for retail development currently operates.
“However, this inquiry has been only one part of the wider debate about reform of town centre first planning policy. ACS continues to oppose any weakening of existing policy to make it easier to build out-of-town supermarkets. We are working with the government to ensure that the reform is focused on providing the right tools to local authorities to assess planning applications for out-of- town supermarkets, and to ensure local authorities are empowered to proactively plan for diverse, strong and vibrant town centres.”
The government is expected to publish its draft reforms of town centre first planning policy in July.
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