Independent convenience retailers Amy Sohal and Pinny Singh held talks with Andrew Cooper in Winsford on Friday (9 January), raising concerns over Christmas trading and the pressures facing independents in 2026.
The family has run Ken’s Convenience Store for more than two decades and Amy and her team are familiar figures in their community. In addition, she is currently president of the Fed’s West Midlands district.
During the meeting, which was also attended by the Fed’s political engagement coordinator Doug Oliver, the retailers raised concerns over higher costs including elevated energy bills and higher National Insurance Contributions, as well as discussing the implementation of the recently passed Employment Rights Bill.
They promised to share further information about these matters with the MP in future.
The introduction of the deposit return scheme (DRS) for recycling, which commences next year, was also discussed.
The government was praised for its work on tackling retail crime and the Fed advised Mr Cooper of a recent meeting that senior Fed officials had with crime and policing minister Sarah Jones MP.
After the meeting, Andrew Cooper said, “I have visited the shop before but it was great to meet with Amy and Pinny again and to discuss the work she does as the local district president of the Federation of Independent Retailers and to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing small shops like hers around the UK.
“My constituency office is located in Winsford and I know how valuable the shop is as a service for local people. We were able to discuss how Christmas trading was this year and the challenges of 2026.”
Amy said,"It was great to speak with Andrew again and he listened closely to my comments about what was going well in the business as well as to the concerns I raised. He was also interested to hear about my work as an official with the Fed.”