A new Government campaign that asks businesses to slash consumer prices will disadvantage independent retailers and further threaten local high streets, the National Association of Health Stores (NAHS) warned today.
The high profile campaign, expected to launch next month, will be billed as a way to help tackle the cost of living. On Monday, Number 10’s new new cost of living tsar David Buttress asked business leaders to start thinking of ways to bring down the prices shoppers pay at the checkout.
But the NAHS believes the scheme could have serious unintended effects for smaller, independent businesses. NAHS Chairman, Len Glenville, said today: “Large businesses may have the scale and capacity to make these price cuts but smaller, independent retailers simply do not. If, as a result of this scheme, we see wide scale price-cutting by major retailers we risk seeing more shoppers deserting local high streets. In short, this scheme will end up advantaging the big, already super-profitable supermarkets.
“Independent retailers are battling with soaring rates, unprecedented energy charges and rising wages and staff costs – and absolutely cannot afford to cut their profit margins”
“Independent retailers are battling with soaring rates, unprecedented energy charges and rising wages and staff costs – and absolutely cannot afford to cut their profit margins. What we really need from Government right now is practical help with business running costs, to help independent retailers weather the present storm and continue to offer the vital service they do on their local high streets.”
Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash
