Retail and wholesale leaders set out their wish lists for Swinney
SCOTTISH convenience retail, wholesale and food and drink manufacturing need to be at the heart of new ScotGov policy decisions if ministers are serious about economic growth and public wellbeing.
That’s the take from leaders across the sectors as John Swinney begins a fresh term as First Minister in Holyrood.
Scottish Grocers’ Federation chief exec Pete Cheema called on the SNP to review the mistakes of the past and ensure it was “not just business as usual”.
He said: “To bring back growth to the economy and support essential local businesses, we need a meaningful review of the impact of over-regulation and the cost of doing business.
“When global economic pressures are at an all-time high, the Scottish Government should be working to back sectors such as ours, not bringing in ever tighter restrictions, higher taxation and a conveyor belt of new regulations.”
Cheema added that tackling retail crime and illicit trade should be priorities and wants secure funding for the Retail Crime Taskforce and for Trading Standards to be boosted.
That was echoed by the Fed national president Hetal Patel, who also renewed his call for the introduction of a security grant of £6,500 to help owners of small shops bolster security measures.
Patel continued: “While the SNP’s plans to place price caps on certain goods stocked at large Scottish supermarkets will not affect Fed members directly, we are concerned that this will distort trade and do nothing to help shops or their customers, as well as causing unnecessary complexity and uncertainty.”
Scottish Retail Consortium deputy head Ewan MacDonald-Russell agreed, saying: “Retailers will look with deep concern at some of the manifesto promises, including the unworkable price cap gimmick and new taxes.
“Recent positives have included the Retail Crime Taskforce funding and the retail and hospitality business rate discount, albeit we need more ambition on both.
“With the election over, it’s time for Scotland’s political parties to move on from sound bites to serious government.”
Colin Smith, chief exec at the Scottish Wholesale Association, said the test for the new parliament was whether ambition on food resilience, Scottish sourcing and public health was matched by a real understanding of the supply chain that has to make it work.
He said: “Wholesale must be recognised as critical infrastructure in Scotland’s food and drink system.
“We will be clear about the cumulative pressures facing our members and their customers. If Scotland wants stronger supply chains, healthier communities and more Scottish produce reaching the market, wholesale cannot be an afterthought.”
Food and Drink Federation Scotland chief exec David Thomson said: “Food and drink manufacturing sits at the heart of the weekly shop, supports tens of thousands of jobs across Scotland and is one of the country’s most energy-intensive and globally connected sectors.
“Businesses are facing sustained cost pressures, and government decisions must not add further regulatory or charging burdens that risk pushing costs even higher for firms and shoppers.”
