Scottish Government under fire for failing retailers
SCOTTISH convenience channel leaders have slammed ScotGov for failing to provide the same 40% rates relief being enjoyed by retailers in England and Wales.
And while they welcomed an extra £3million for Police Scotland to tackle crime, announced by Finance Secretary Shona Robison in the 2025-26 Scottish budget, there was also criticism that this was too little to have a lasting impact.
Scottish Grocers’ Federation chief exec Pete Cheema urged Robison to reconsider the rates relief decision, saying: “We are very disappointed that the Scottish Government has failed to recognise the need to support local retail.”
And referring to the additional funds to tackle crime, he added: “Crime is the biggest issue facing our sector. Much more will be needed if we hope to reverse this before matters get even worse for staff and businesses.”
The Fed’s national president, Mo Razzaq, said the rates relief situation was evidence that the Scottish Government seemingly didn’t understand how tough times were for retailers.
He added: “Over the last few years, we’ve been hit by rising crime, rising energy costs plus a rising tide of proposed new laws and restrictions.
“Many of our members at the heart of their communities across Scotland are working from morning until night to try to keep their shops going.”
Director David Lonsdale said the Scottish Retail Consortium was “detecting disquiet” among owners of smaller shops over the lack of rates relief, especially as funding had been provided by the UK Government.
He said: “Matching the rates relief offered elsewhere would help hard-pressed stores here in Scotland at a time when they are grappling with spiralling costs and an uncertain outlook.”
However, he welcomed the extra cash for Police Scotland, which comes after official figures showed shoplifting had soared 25% in the past year from 33,789 to 42,271 incidents.
Meanwhile, Scottish Wholesale Association chief executive Colin Smith said: “Businesses need certainty and tangible measures to invest confidently in the long term.
“For wholesalers, this means targeted support that allows us to manage rising costs while contributing to the economic recovery. There was little sense of any optimism for business confidence from this budget.”
Filshill ready to help KeyStore retailers combat UK budget costs
WHOLESALER JW Filshill is vowing to help its KeyStore retailers as they face a “tsunami of increased costs” when UK budget measures come into force in April.
Store owners will have to shell out on increases to the national living wage and employer national insurance contributions.
Filshill chief sales and marketing officer Craig Brown said: “It’s crucial that we support our retailers to make more margin, stock the right core range and make their promotional plan work for their stores. We have to share best practice on making stores more efficient and reducing unnecessary tasks.”
Brown said marketing support would continue to be a key part of the help Filshill provided, including TikTok promotions featuring Scottish presenter Greg Summers, who has become a star of the platform for KeyStore retailers.
Launching KeyStore’s presence on TikTok in June 2024, the symbol group gained more than 56,000 likes in just three months. YouTube ads and social media training are also available.
