SLR p5 news Nov08.qxp 31/10/2008 18:14 Page 5
news
“Far too many anomalies” in tobacco
Lothian Borders &
Angus merges with
legislation, Scottish retailer tells MSP
Co-op Group
Members of Lothian Borders &
By Karen Peattie
at ways to help small businesses”, Angus Co-operative Society
he outlined his belief that rates have overwhelmingly agreed to
Spar retailer and former Scottish relief should be extended to all transfer engagements to The Co-
Grocers federation president Pete businesses under 3000 sq ft. The operative Group. At a series of
Cheema has reiterated his views – current Small Business Bonus meetings, 98%of members voted
and those of many other local Scheme, he said, “does not go far for the Society’s operations to
retailers – that there are far too enough”. be integrated into The Co-
many anomalies surrounding “At present, it is assessed on operative Group.
current and proposed tobacco rateable value,” he told Simpson. The Society operates 66 food,
legislation, suggesting that the “Businesses in different areas, of pharmacy, petrol, funeral and
Scottish Government should the same size, can have varying non-food outlets and employs
address these rather than place a levels of rateable value. My own 1,200 staff with a turnover of
further financial burden on small store in Falkirk is a typical £123m and its operating profit of
businesses by banning the display example. This store has a rateable £4m. As well as trading in the
of cigarettes. value of nearly £20,000, yet my Lothian, Borders and Angus
Pete, who owns three outlets in Stirling store, which is slightly areas, the Society also operates
Stirling, Falkirk and Meigle in According to Cheema, amending larger, has a rateable value of only stores in Grampian and
Perthshire, told Richard Simpson, the Act to take these points into £7500. Dumfriesshire.
the MSP for Mid Scotland and consideration would be far more “In my opinion, rates relief Bob Jamieson, chief executive
Fife, that correcting the anomalies effective than a blanket display should be assessed on square officer of Lothian Borders &
from the previous act would have ban. He said: “I think that footage rather than rateable value. Angus Co-operative Society,
much more impact on reducing convenience stores have had As anyone who has a store less said: “I am delighted the
the sale of cigarettes to underage enough legislation to deal with in than 3000 sq ft is considered a proposed merger, which we are
teenagers. In what Cheema the past few years, and I believe small business, then this should making from a position of
described as a “productive that under the current economic be the threshold. My suggestion considerable strength, has
meeting” with the MSP, he climate it would be wrong to put would be to substitute rateable received such overwhelming
discussed three current further financial pressure on value for size, which would make support from our members.
anomalies: small businesses. it a much fairer system.” “By voting for the merger, our
l It is not a criminal offence for “Remember that we are in a At present, the Small Business members have secured the
someone under the age of 18 to recession, and no political party Bonus Scheme, which replaced long-term future of co-operative
buy cigarettes would want to be associated with the Small Business Rates Scheme, trading in the areas in which we
l Proxy purchasing is not a putting a further financial burden provides 80% relief for a rateable operate.
criminal offence on small businesses.” value of up to £8000; 40% relief “I am confident our members
l Someone under the age of 18 Cheema also discussed the for a rateable value of £8001- and regular shoppers will benefit
can sell cigarettes without rates issue and while praising the £10,000; and 20% for a rateable from the extended services.”
being supervised government for “actively looking value of £10,001-£15,000.
Graham’s fleet of delivery vehicles expands
Family-owned Graham’s Dairies
has made the latest additions to its
150-strong fleet of commercial
vehicles.
The long-established company
supplies a range of organics dairy
products including fresh milk and
cream, cheese, yoghurt, butter,
eggs and crème fraiche, from its
headquarters in Bridge of Allan,
and from other depots in
Glasgow, Cumnock, Brechin and
Inverkevin.
Its Mercedes-dominated fleet
extends from 3.5-tonne vans to 44-
tonne tractor units but the most
recent arrivals are a 26-tonne
Axor 2533L – a second, identical
vehicle is currently in build – and
four 13-tonne Atego 1318s. All
have refrigerated box bodies.
NOVEMBER 2008 l SCOTTISH LOCAL RETAILER l 5
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56