Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

CMA launches probe against four c-stores and pharmacies over hand sanitiser pricing

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has on Thursday (18 June) announced the launch of an investigation against four convenience stores and pharmacies over suspected excessive and unfair pricing of hand sanitiser products during COVID-19 pandemic.

The agency did not reveal the details of the stores.


The CMA clarified that investigation is at an early stage and no assumption about the breach of competition law can be made at this stage.

“The CMA has not reached a view on whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any of the parties under investigation,” it said in a statement.

The regulator has in May said that it has written to 264 firms about price rise for essential products during the pandemic.

These firms accounted for over 3,100 complaints, around a third of the total number of actionable complaints received by the taskforce set up the CMA.

However, the price-related complaints to the CMA have considerably declined from early April, when it has received over 2,500 complaints on large price rises for personal hygiene products and food products.

The largest price increases among them were on hand sanitiser, with a reported median rise of 367 percent.

More for you

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now, with Mandy House positioned second from right

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now

Employees from cash handling experts Volumatic have taken part in a special "Wear It Pink" day to raise money for cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now.

Around 40 staff members based at Volumatic’s Head Office in Coventry donned something pink – from socks, scarves and wigs to full head-to-toe outfits in pink, to raise funds for a charity very close to their hearts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre

'Devastating and out of touch' – indies react to Budget bombshell

Following the initial response condemning the Budget as 'the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory' from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), members have shared their stark reactions to the triple burden of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs.

Multiple retailers have calculated specific impacts on their businesses, with costs ranging from £90,000 to £150,000 per year.

"This budget was horrendous for us as a company. Estimated costs to be around £110,000 - £120,000 per year," said Andrew Massey of Masseys DIY in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Christie & Co

'Popular' Somerset store on the market as long-term owners retire


Brocks at Rockwell Green, a Premier-branded convenience store near Wellington, Somerset is on the market as owners Simon and Rachel Brock are now looking to retire - after running the store for nearly 25 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds announced as new co-owners of Wrexham Lager

Wrexham Lager Beer Co Ltd, the oldest lager brewery still existing in Britain that has been brewing in Wales since 1882, has announced Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as new co-owners of the company alongside the Roberts family.

The acquisition was made by Red Dragon Ventures, a joint venture formed by The R.R. McReynolds Company, majority owner of Wrexham AFC, and the Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York. Red Dragon Ventures was created to drive growth in the Wrexham community and Wrexham AFC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Solar and wind power
iStock

Leading beverage brands join forces to accelerate renewable energy adoption

Ten global beverage companies have joined forces under a new industry-wide consortium, called REfresh Alliance, which is designed to help accelerate renewable energy adoption across the industry’s supply chain.

The new initiative invites additional companies from across the beverage industry to pool and scale their resources to remove barriers to renewable energy adoption in the supply chain, provide education on best market practices and support the industry’s transition to Net Zero.

Keep ReadingShow less