It’s rare to find such a varied and colourful collection of brands combining so well to cater for a particular category, but at Republic Technologies, home of Swan, Cricket, Zig-Zag, OCB, Poppell and Bryant & May, among others, there seems to have been a natural growing together over the years – or rather centuries, because some of the brands stretch back to Victorian times.
Terry Elton, the UK managing director, has himself been at the company a fair time – “This is my 21st year,” he says – certainly long enough to know the company better than almost anyone. He is in the perfect position to talk to us not only about the future of Republic Technologies, but what lies in store for tobacco, in the light of unending government regulation and the ongoing vape revolution.
In other words, if you want to know about lighting up and smoking – what it means and where it’s headed – Terry is your man, even if he is a non-smoker himself.
“We work for a very smart entrepreneur over in Chicago–Don Levin,” says Terry. “He started with Top Tobacco and a few other things over in in the US. He was sourcing products from over here at Bolloré, in the South of France, which is now where Republic Technologies’ head office is. And it's grown from there.”
Levin steadily bought up paper mills and historic cigarette accessory operations as he grew his empire from the USA. Zig-Zag had started in the French Alps in 1894 and took as its logo the head of a Zouave – a French colonial infantryman from North Africa. The OCB brand began as the First World War ended, in 1918, and the initials come from Odet, Cascadec and Bolloré. The Bolloré family originally owned a paper mill on the banks of Odet River where it produced cigarette papers.
“I've seen a number of product launches – I've been involved in a huge amount of them to be honest,” Terry says of Republic’s growing product list, explaining that his present position is far from where he started out.
“I worked for Dun and Bradstreet and then Cisco Systems in Credit management. I came here in 2000 as a credit manager,” he says. “And I sat down with the MD and told him, based on what I saw while I was managing credit, that our supply chain was fundamentally wrong because the invoices weren't going out at the same time as the goods. And I think at the end of 2003 he said, right it's time to stop talking now and show us what you can do.”
Terry was supply chain manager until about a week before lockdown last year: “Santi [Santiago Sanchez, Republic Technologies’ Chief Executive] told me that the time had come for me to take charge of the business.
“The pandemic has not made life easy,” he admits, “but I have to say, I've got a fantastic HR Controller who, again, I've worked with for over 20 years. In fact, she employed me. She has been following the government guidelines closely and has given me really valuable guidance and advice. We've spent a lot of time talking to our people.”
The last year has been hard, but Terry says that the business is coming out of the lockdown period smiling: “We've had a really good, strong 18 months.”
Smoking and vaping have performed well during the pandemic, so to speak, just like convenience. Put them together – as you should, because tobacco and its substitutes are more than ever a corner shop mainstay – and the market must be looking very interesting.
“Basically, we strive to be experts in our field,” says Terry, keen to explain that with tobacco accessories you can maintain a point of difference in a broader category seen by many as controversial.
“We don't sell tobacco in the UK which I’m quite pleased about because tobacco brings its own complications. And that enables us to have a different perspective on the broader market and the role that accessories can play within it.”
A roll-your-own revolution
There is also a big change underway in the tobacco category. With the coming of vape, and its ability to give control of the experience to the vaper, has also developed a big swing towards loose tobacco to make roll-your-own cigarettes.
“It’s the experience,” Terry explains – there is a new culture of making and perfecting your own smoking experience that simply buying a packet of ready-mades does not offer.
“When you buy a tailor-made cigarette, you open the packet, you've got something in your hand which you then proceed to smoke,” he says. “When you smoke a roll your own, you've put however much tobacco you want in it, you've put what filter you want in it, you've chosen the thickness or the size of the paper, you've made it and rolled that yourself, you've licked the gum on the paper and stuck it yourself. It’s a much more tactile experience.”
Terry explains, using the infinite variety of vape products as an analogy, how the consumer can choose and modify every aspect of the RYO experience: “The reason people use thinner papers is because they want to give the cigarette more airflow. And giving it more airflow means it's smoother – learning how cigarettes are best enjoyed from a consumer’s point of view is the main aspect of the day job for us.”
I mention that in the old days regular cigarette smokers and rollie folk were two separate tribes, but that the situation has changed a lot recently.
“I think it started with ‘duallists’,” replies Terry. “You have the people who if they had money on the hip one week, they'd buy a pack of Marlboro, and if they didn't they’d buy a pouch and make their own.
“Twenty years ago, maybe 10 or 15 per cent of people used a filter. Whereas that number is pushing up towards 50 per cent now.”
The idea behind Terry’s strategy is that there should be a one-stop shop. “So if they want everything you need to light that cigarette, make it, roll it, we do the lot. So rolling machines, matches, lighters, flints or even flavour cards, we offer everything.”
Lighters are another big thing, he says, especially since a major rival recently left the scene. “What we're seeing now is that there is a window in the market where people are looking for candle lighters and utility lighters, and we've always had them under the iconic Cricket brand, which is one of the Swedish Match brands,” he says.
“But we've developed a new, broader range, where we ensure we have an option for every occasion. You don't want to be trying to use 15 matches to try and light 10 candles,” he laughs,“you want one device so you can just go around that room and light all those candles.”
Now, sustainability is becoming a big consideration for people when they use products in general, and this extends to the wrappers on filters and the way papers are produced (OCB is biodegradable and supports rain forests). Terry is proud that Republic Technologies is focused on growing greener – trying to make the acetate in the tubes of filter tips biodegradable, for example.
But at the same time he has to supply the product the market is asking for. “Not everybody will like an eco-filter, for example, because it has a slightly different taste or will have a slightly different draw characteristic. If you take away what people use, it would be like Heinz changing its tomato soup. People may prefer it from a pouch you can recycle, but if it's the wrong flavour, they're not going to like it. So we have to be careful that we don't change that flavour and don't change what people are expecting. It's a challenge.”
Products for people
It may be a challenge, but Terry promises five or six more eco-tinged product launches this year, which we will be told about in due course. The market for accessories is big and growing, Cigarette filters are worth about £100 million per year, and Terry estimates the total market is £310 million, with papers at £97 million and lighters around £74 million.
“We don't kid ourselves,” says Terry, “we know that Rizla has a strong place in the market. But the fastest growing mainstream paper – again because of experience - is OCB, giving the brand a strong foothold in that market.
The demand for filters is growing and Terry is confident Republic Technologies continue to be the market innovators. “We launched six new filters last year and the Swan Fresh Burst capsule filter is already the best-performing filter of its kind in the supermarket/high street/convenience supermarket sector.”
Fusion or flavour cards are some of Republic’s latest introductions to the market for RYO tobacco and FMCs – like capsule filters, designed to replace the minty-ness that the menthol ban sucked out of cigarettes. They are the latest big thing, coming up fast with a market value already at £18 million. Early feedback indicates that Swan branded flavour cards are considered a must stock item by many retailers.
“The Fresh Burst and the Menthol flavour cards are where we've given people that ‘mint hit’ experience,” says Terry. “It’s where you have the strong bite of cold mint, that cool sensation of spearmint, and we tried to give people both, in order to give them that barrier between the harshness of tobacco a menthol smoker is used to.”
Feedback shows that smokers were not prepared for or even aware of the menthol ban and didn't realise that suddenly they were going to lose their menthol cigarettes. With regard to filters and fusion cards, then, he says it was a tough year “in terms of supply, being able to keep all of our customers in stock was a challenge. And we are very conscious about supplying in full.”
The result was, however, that 2020 was a strong year for Republic. “We had double-digit growth. And then we've got double-digit growth again so far this year. So, we're doing okay.”
The big takeaway from the amazing tobacco accessories figures, however, is that 75 per cent of all the market revenue goes through the convenience channel (source: IRI Tracked Data).
“Not many FMCG categories have that balance,” says Terry. Accessories are, in fact, the one category that is most cemented in the convenience channel. The variety of Republic’s products, and the inventive new ways that they can be displayed, are all helping to strengthen the company’s reputation, sales and ambition.
“Wegive the consumer that ability to go in and make a choice. When you're directed by ‘This is what we've got and that's what you can choose from’, that makes it so much more restrictive in terms of what the shopper is looking for,” says Terry, and he explains why the two – convenience and accessories – go together like a horse and carriage.
A marriage of convenience
“When you're in convenience, you have this wide area of things you can see, it just gives people that ability to say, Well, I’ll try that one this time, then I'm going to try that one. And shopkeepers become the experts. I’ve a local Londis near me and I'll ask the question, how's that one selling? How's that doing? They go, that's okay. But this one's really good. You want to try this one’. It's almost like they’re talking as a member of our sales team.”
Terry believes the whole RYO smoking experience is enhanced by the channel, “because when you walk into that convenience store, they're trying to guide you with knowledge based on experience, whereas when you walk into a large supermarket and you walk around, if it's on the shelf, you can buy it. But if it’s not on shelf, the likelihood is you won’t be introduced to an alternative option by one of the supermarket staff.’”
He says convenience has always been important to Republic. “Convenience is becoming more relevant. Lockdown has proved this to people and the whole being-close-to-home, shopping local, will continue because people are actually enjoying it.”
He is going big on making the most of shrinking gantry size by helping retailers get Republic wares on the counter-top – where the diminutive size of paper and filter displays can be a big advantage.
“It's all about the brands fighting for that space from a cigarette point of view, because they need to have as much there as they can have. So what we've tried to do is say “Look, if you haven't got room in the gantry, we understand that. So what we'll do is, we'll make something at our expense, that means you have some way of still showing people that these products are available.”
Terry says that Republic Technologies can happily do that because they're not held under the same legislation as tobacco. “You can use filters and papers as a signpost for the broader range of tobacco (where legislation allows). We find that many retailers already use cigarette lighters to convey to their customers that they have a good range of tobacco-related products available, all of which are usually displayed in a safe location.”
“What we've tried to do is design options for convenience that gives them the ability to display them out in front. The small OCB display, for example, it holds nearly enough to have a full outer of paper. But what it's doing is giving you three different products where you can give people the choice. The same with the filter dispenser, and now we've done a new one with the flavour cards. It's small and will only hold four outers. But for the retailer, you know that £40-£50 worth of product on shelf is in a space that’s smaller than what’s needed for a chewing gum rack.”
Where profit and shelf-space are at odds, accessories are a clear winner. Republic is backing up its display strategy with a sales-force boost to help retailers take advantage of the swing towards RYO and other accessories.
Again, he says, this is about the retailer being able to sell the products he wants to sell within a small space, and making sure the full range is there and well-stocked.
“Convenience is about availability,” says Terry,“and there is nothing worse than going to a corner shops because you need milk and eggs, and when you get there they haven't got any. Same thing for our products:late at night or when you decide you want to go sit in the garden and have a cigarette,it’s about having the availability of the products you want. We understand how important availability is to them as much as it is to anybody else.”
With this philosophy in mind, Republic have also specifically designed outers and case sizes for convenience.
“Wherever we can,” nods Terry. “It’s to make it so the outright purchase for the convenience retailer is smaller. When we're delivering into wholesale, you may be putting 30, 40 or 50 into a case. And what we're trying to do is make smaller cases for convenience. But at the same time we're looking at how to make the space or footprint of those products smaller as well – and have we made it as consumer-friendly as we can:have we taken the plastic out of it, if we can?”
He says this care for design is backed up by a sales force with expertise in educating retailers so they can sell more product. “New field salespeople will be taken into the warehouse, and they'll pick products for a day, so they understand what the product sizes are, how they're sold, what's in them,” he explains.
If the salespeople understand all these fine gradations of smoker experience, they can pass it on to retailers as they educate about the intricacies of each product. Retailers can then educate the customers – the growth in the category has shown the importance of this sort of expertise – and the market demand can be solidified with good knowledge and advice.
This is the experience that will cement the importance of convenience for Republic’s market, and Terry is certain that the future for the partnership is bright.
“Some of our strongest growth through the pandemic has been in convenience,” he says.“Consumers have been hesitant to walk into shops where there could be large numbers of people shopping at the same time. We're trying to create products that give them the experience that says,‘I enjoyed that, I want to try that again.’Convenience is really key to us. We are growing and convenience has been a big player in that and a big part of that success.”
I suggest that the mix of searching for value, but together with the premiumisation of experience is a perfect combination for the products that Republic Technologies supplies “We won’t always be the cheapest on shelf, we understand that,” says Terry. “But what we can guarantee is that with the brand heritage that's behind us, what you're buying will do what it says it does. I think there’s a drive towards shop local, shop with experience in mind, and doing something where you think you're supporting your local community, but at the same time, you're getting value for money. And I think that's where the market is still heading.”
UK retail sales rose less than expected in the runup to Christmas, according to official data Friday that deals a fresh blow to government hopes of growing the economy.
Separate figures revealed a temporary reprieve for prime minister Keir Starmer, however, as public borrowing fell sharply in November.
The updates follow news this week of higher inflation in Britain - an outcome that caused the Bank of England on Thursday to leave interest rates unchanged.
Retail sales by volume grew 0.2 per cent in November after a drop of 0.7 per cent in October, the Office for National Statistics said Friday.
That was less than analysts' consensus for a 0.5-percent gain.
"It is critical delayed spending materialises this Christmas to mitigate the poor start to retail's all-important festive season," noted Nicholas Found, senior consultant at Retail Economics.
"However, cautiousness lingers, slowing momentum in the economy. Households continue to adjust to higher prices (and) elevated interest rates."
He added that consumers were focused on buying "carefully timed promotions and essentials, while deferring bigger purchases".
The ONS reported that supermarkets benefited from higher food sales.
"Clothing stores sales dipped sharply once again, as retailers reported tough trading conditions," said Hannah Finselbach, senior statistician at the ONS.
Retail sales rose 0.2% in November 2024, following a fall of 0.7% in October 2024.
Growth in supermarkets and other non-food stores was partly offset by a fall in clothing retailers.
The Labour government's net borrowing meanwhile dropped to £11.2 billion last month, the lowest November figure in three years on higher tax receipts and lower debt-interest, the ONS added.
The figure had been £18.2 billion in October.
"Borrowing remains subject to upside risks... due to sticky interest rates, driven by markets repricing for fewer cuts in 2025," forecast Elliott Jordan-Doak, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK and chair of ICAEW’s Retail Group, commented that the later than usual Black Friday weekend meant November’s retail sales figures saw only a slight uptick as cost-conscious consumers held off to bag a bargain.
“Despite many retailers launching Black Friday offers early, November trade got off to a slow start which dragged on for most of the month. This was driven by clothing which fell to its lowest level since January 2022. The only saving grace was half-term and Halloween spending helped to slightly offset disappointing sales throughout November,” Baker said.
“As consumer confidence continues to build and shoppers return to the high street, this should translate into more retail spending next year. However, there are big challenges coming down the track for the sector, so retailers will be banking on a consumer-led recovery to come to fruition so they can combat a surge in costs.”
Thomas Pugh, economist at RSM UK, added: “The tick up in retail sales volumes in November suggests that the stagnation which has gripped the UK economy since the summer continued into the final months of the year.
“While the recent strong pay growth numbers may make the Bank of England uncomfortable, it means that real incomes are growing at just under 3 per cent, which suggests consumer spending should gradually rise next year. However, consumers remain extremely cautious. The very sharp drop in clothing sales in particular could suggest that consumers are cutting back on non-essential purchases.
“We still expect a rise in consumer spending next year, due to strong wage growth and a gradual decline in the saving rate, to help drive an acceleration in GDP growth. But the risks are clearly building that cautious consumers choose to save rather than spend increases in income, raising the risk of weaker growth continuing through the first half of next year.”
Dutch dairy collective FrieslandCampina has agreed to merge with smaller Belgian rival Milcobel, creating a leading dairy cooperative.
FrieslandCampina, whose brands include Yazoo and Chocomel, said the merger will provide the foundation for a future-oriented organisation that has dairy front and centre for member dairy farmers, employees, consumers, and customers.
The proposed merger is subject to approval by FrieslandCampina’s members’ council, Milcobel’s extraordinary meeting of shareholders, and antitrust authorities. The companies said member dairy farmers, employees, works councils and trade unions have been informed about the merger proposal.
Both companies, owned by dairy farmers for many generations, complement each other well in market positions and product portfolios. The merger offers further business development opportunities in market segments such as consumer cheese, mozzarella, white dairy products (such as milk, buttermilk, and yoghurt), and ingredients, as well as benefits in efficiency and expertise, for example in the area of sustainability.
“The combination of FrieslandCampina and Milcobel is bigger than the sum of its parts. It creates a future-oriented, combined dairy cooperative that is resilient and capable of capitalising on opportunities in the dynamic global dairy market,” said Sybren Attema, chair of the board of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina.
“This strengthens our appeal to member dairy farmers, business partners and employees. Moreover, this step supports us in realising a leading milk price for our member dairy farmers, now and in the future.”
Betty Eeckhaut, chair of the board of Milcobel, said: “The cooperative philosophy, which is deeply rooted at both Milcobel and FrieslandCampina, is the bedrock for this proposed merger. Our goal remains to create added value for our member dairy farmers.
“Through our regional complementarity we will become the cooperative dairy partner of choice for current and new members, with a solid milk supply for a successful future. For employees, the new organisation provides great opportunities to grow in an international environment. For customers, this merger means more innovation, an expanded product portfolio and further professionalisation of our services.”
Based on the combined 2023 annual figures of FrieslandCampina and Milcobel - excluding Milcobel's Ysco business, which is in the process of being divested - the new, combined organisation has a pro forma revenue of more than €14 billion (£11.6bn) , operates in 30 countries, employs nearly 22,000 staff worldwide, and processes a total volume of approximately 10 billion kilograms of milk.
The boards of the cooperatives and executive management of the two parties have signed a framework agreement regarding the proposed merger. The companies aim to finalise a detailed merger proposal in the first half of 2025, which will then be discussed with the members of FrieslandCampina and the shareholders of Milcobel.
The UK government has pledged stronger measures to combat anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which it acknowledges as serious crimes that disrupt communities and harm businesses.
Addressing a House of Lords debate on Monday, Home Office minister Lord Hanson detailed plans to abolish the controversial £200 shoplifting threshold and to introduce a new offence for assaults on retail workers.
“Anti-social behaviour and shop theft are not minor crimes. They cause disruption in our communities,” Lord Hanson stated.
“Shop theft in particular costs retailers across the nation millions of pounds, which is passed on to us as customers, and it is not acceptable. That is why, on shop theft, we are going to end the £200 effective immunity. For shop workers, we will protect them by introducing a new offence, because they are very often upholding the law in their shops on alcohol, tobacco and other sales.”
He also emphasised the government’s commitment to restoring visible neighbourhood policing, with 13,000 additional officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) planned, as well as piloting new “respect orders” to ban repeat offenders from town centres.
Later on Wednesday, the home secretary announced a £1 billion funding boost for police across England and Wales to restore neighbourhood policing. The money will include new funding of £100 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers, community support officers and special constables.
The debate was initiated by Labour peer Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, who painted a vivid picture of the toll anti-social behaviour takes on workers and communities. “Many people who work in shops feel like they are living in a war zone,” she said. “Anti-social behaviour can so often be the canary down the coal mine and tell a wider story about what kind of society we are living in.”
Baroness Hazarika also urged the use of technology such as facial recognition to target hardened criminals responsible for terrorising shops and local residents.
Lord Hanson agreed, adding that the government is equipping police with the resources to better address persistent offenders, including funding initiatives like Operation Pegasus, which targets organised retail crime.
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the Lords debate tackling anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
“We very much welcome that Baroness Hazarika has raised this hugely important issue for our members. It is shocking that over two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence,” Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said.
“After 14 years of successive Tory governments not delivering the change we need on retail crime, we are pleased that the new Labour government announced a Crime and Policing Bill in the King’s Speech and all the measures that it contains, as set out by Lord Hanson.
“The chancellor announced in the Budget funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting, and the government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.”
In response to the mounting pressures faced by postmasters across the UK, the Post Office has unveiled a centralised wellbeing platform aimed at simplifying access to support resources.
Post Office said the surge in shoplifting and violent incidents, documented in the 2024 ACS Crime Report, has only intensified the demand for comprehensive support.
With shoplifting on the rise year-on-year since 2021, and the Christmas trading period presenting heightened risks due to increased footfall and stock levels, the wellbeing of postmasters has become a pressing concern.
The new wellbeing platform, accessible via the Branch Hub app, provides a single point of access to a range of resources designed to meet Postmasters' immediate and ongoing needs. It is divided into three sections:
‘I Need Help Right Now’: Offers urgent support, including access to emergency services, mental health first aiders, , area and business support managers and organisations like Samaritans.
‘More Support and Guidance’: Provides practical tools such as security advice, social media abuse resources, and connections to organisations like Citizens Advice and Mind.
‘Access Community Support’: Encourages peer connections through WhatsApp and Facebook groups, as well as in-person meetings.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Post Office, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP), and Voice of the Postmaster, underscores a shift towards a more cooperative approach between historically independent groups, and creates a shared wellbeing network that is accessible to all postmasters, regardless of affiliation.
Mark Eldridge, postmaster experience director at Post Office, said the initiative will ensure that anyone who needs help can find it quickly and easily.
“It’s about creating a culture of care and resilience in the face of the challenges our postmasters face every day. If the initiative means helping just one postmaster, then we have done our job successfully,” Eldridge added.
Tony Fleming, postmaster at Thorne Post Office, shared how the initiative provided vital support following a traumatic armed robbery at his branch.
“It was incredibly difficult for the person faced with this violent threat, as well as the wider team. It’s a traumatic experience to go through as part of your day job and having the immediate support of the Wellbeing resource was invaluable – it really was wellbeing personified and gave me and everyone in the branch the support to get back to doing what we do best, serving our fantastic community in Thorne,” Fleming said.
Paul Patel, a Hampshire-based postmaster, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the platform’s ability to combat isolation and foster collaboration:
“It has been a difficult time for all postmasters who continue to serve their communities every day often feeling alone in their daily work life. It’s such a privilege to collaborate across the network to support Postmasters wellbeing from forming friendships to guiding for more professional support.”
Christine Donnelly of the NFSP highlighted the initiative’s accessibility and symbolic value.
“From a postmaster perspective this works on several levels. It is an easily accessible resource that offers advice and facts, but it also says by implication that we care, that participants from different areas of the business recognised a need and worked together to make it the best it could be,” Donnelly noted.
“It says you are not alone or the only one - how can you be if there is a whole site available?”
The Post Office plans to evolve the platform based on postmaster feedback, ensuring it remains relevant to emerging challenges.
Earlier this week, Post Office has announced a £20 million boost for postmasters to address their concerns that their income has not kept up with inflation over the past decade.
Both independent postmasters and Post Office’s retail partners that operate branches on its behalf will receive the top-up payment ahead of Christmas. The top-up payment will be based on both the standard fixed and variable remuneration the branch received in November.
Independent retailers have weathered one of their most challenging years in 2024, with multiple headwinds affecting the sector, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).
With pressures mounting throughout the year, independent retailers have faced an increasingly difficult trading environment marked by changing consumer behaviour and economic uncertainties.
"2024 has presented unprecedented challenges for independent retailers,” said Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira. “Consumer spending on non-food items has declined significantly, while persistent footfall problems and fragile consumer confidence have impacted high streets nationwide. Despite inflation coming under control, interest rates are falling slowly, affecting both business and consumer spending."
"The retail landscape has become increasingly competitive, with large chains implementing deeper and longer discount periods. The rise of ultra-fast fashion retailers like Shein and Temu has created additional pressure on margins, whilst deflation on non-food items has further squeezed profits," he added.
The sector has also grappled with retail crime, with Bira's latest survey showing 78.79 per cent of businesses reporting increased frequency or severity of theft incidents.
Research from PwC earlier this year also highlighted the scale of the challenge, with 6,945 outlets shutting – equating to 38 store closures per day, up from 36 per day in 2023. The figure outnumbered the rate of new store openings, which rose modestly to 4,661, averaging 25 openings each day.
Mr Goodacre said: "The key difficulties independent retailers are grappling with include low consumer demand, as consumer confidence remains fragile and shoppers are highly value-focused. Independent shops struggle to compete on price as large chains are able to discount more deeply and for longer periods."
Looking ahead to 2025, retailers face new challenges. He added: "Medium-sized retailers will see a significant increase in employment costs, while thousands of smaller retailers will be hit with higher business rates as relief drops from 75per cent to 40 per cent."
However, Mr Goodacre said he sees reasons for optimism and added: "We expect 2025 to bring some positive changes. Wages are set to rise faster than inflation, which should boost consumer spending. Both inflation and interest rates should continue to fall, helping to rebuild consumer confidence."
"The circular economy presents a growing opportunity for independent retailers, and with economic growth set to improve, we anticipate better trading conditions. While challenges remain, independent retailers who stay adaptable and resilient will find opportunities in the year ahead."