Members network, get advice and fundraise for charity at get-together
FED members and industry guests from across Scotland have come together for an evening of business advice, networking and fundraising for the NewstrAid charity.
The Fed event, held at Rishi’s Indian Aroma in Perth on 19 August welcomed retailers and their families, alongside Fed officials, suppliers and industry partners.
Guests heard from Scotland president Uthay Soundararajan and there were presentations from PU Tech, InPost, Ashfer Capital, Violence Prevention SCIO and NewstrAid.
Members also received updates on legislation affecting Scottish retailers, including HFSS regulations and preparations for the deposit return scheme ahead of its introduction in October 2027.
Attendees also enjoyed a southern Indian banquet, took part in further networking and raised £460 for NewstrAid. The event concluded with a Q&A with multi-outlet KeyStore retailer Arul Gnanasundaram.
After the evening, Soundararajan said: “It gave retailers the opportunity to speak, engage and share their views. Lots of families attended, too. Rather than retailers coming on their own, they brought relatives and friends, which created a great community and showed the diversity the Fed represents.”
The Perth get-together came after senior Fed members in Scotland had voiced their growing concerns about racist harassment and theft to the new head of the Scottish Retail Crime Taskforce, Detective Chief Inspector Jordan Low.
Glasgow retailer and Fed national deputy vice-president Nathalie Fullerton told him: “Members have noticed an increase in verbal and online racist abuse in Scotland this summer.”
Former national president and Blantyre store owner Mo Razzaq highlighted how the harassment was having a massive emotional impact on those targeted.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh shop owner Soundararajan spoke about continued instances of theft – from common food products such as bacon to higher value goods, including alcohol.
DCI Low acknowledged the challenges retailers were facing, highlighted initiatives the taskforce was developing in response and urged Fed members to join its retail forums.
