Leading buying group Unitas Wholesale has urged the government to reconsider the proposed relaxation of Sunday trading laws in order to protect the future of independent retailers.
The group, which services more than 30,000 independent retail stores, said the move will have cascading effects on economy with its impact on the sales of small stores.
“These small convenience stores are already competing with the ever-increasing power of the multiples, and benefit enormously from periods of time such as Sunday trading periods,” commented Darren Goldney, managing director of Unitas Wholesale.
“By relaxing Sunday trading laws, even temporarily, small stores will see their footfall and sales reduce which will result in unemployment and even business closure for those stores already struggling with rising staff costs and the demands of the COVID-19 crisis.”
The Times has reported on the government plans to suspend Sunday trading laws for a year in measures to revive the economy from the coronavirus crisis.
Earlier, the government has revealed that it was considering a review of the laws after several MPs called on Business Secretary Alok Sharma to suspend the law, which restricts large shops (over 280 square metres) from opening for sale to a maximum of 6 hours between 10am and 6pm.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, alongside Sharma, favour the relaxation, the report said.
Goldney said the group recognises the need to stimulate the economy, but this should be done without “sacrificing this vital channel” which provided a crucial lifeline to the communities during the virus outbreak.
“I implore the government to think again and work with us to protect the livelihoods of small independent convenience retailers across the UK,” he said.
Commenting on the reported move, James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, has also noted that the change would negatively impact the local stores.
“Changing the current laws would serve only to displace trade from the local shops that have been keeping communities going during this pandemic,” he has said, adding that the existing regulations “strike the right balance between the needs of shop workers, consumers, high streets, small shops and supermarkets.”
“To upset the balance that has been struck on opening hours on Sundays would put small shops at risk, with increased costs but no guaranteed benefits for their larger counterparts,” he cautioned.
