The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has updated its manifesto ahead of the Scottish Election 2026, urging for action on retail crime, business rates and removing the legislative burden.
SGF has also announced that a Scottish Election Hustings will take place following its Diversity & Inclusion Conference in Edinburgh on 23rd April.
The manifesto states: “Our nation’s convenience stores are part of a universal basic infrastructure that every successful community needs, serving places where people are proud to live and work. The lifeline services and essential goods they offer however are at risk of becoming unsustainable unless the Scottish Government acts now.”
The SGF manifesto’s key action points include:
RETAIL CRIME
• Sustained support for Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce – not just for the next three years of the spending review, but for the long-term, and with year on-year increases so as to deliver genuine and lasting change.
• More resources for the Scottish Justice System, focused on supporting enforcement organisations to tackle the rise in retail crime.
• Improved police response times, swifter action taken against perpetrators of retail crime and reducing the backlog of cases awaiting trial.
• Improved feedback for retailers when they report a crime and accelerate the use of digital evidence capture to identify, apprehend and secure convictions against perpetrators.
NON-DOMESTIC RATES
• A long-term planned commitment to reduce or at least freeze the basic rate. As part of a plan to promote economic growth and business investment.
• A commitment to provide revaluation equivalent uplifts to Scottish Small Business Bonus Scheme thresholds and the reliefs budget allocation.
• A commitment to extend any equivalent UK support on business rates to include retail
LEGISLATIVE AND COMPLIANCE BURDEN
• A review of the volume of regulation and restriction being placed upon Scottish convenience sector be undertaken with meaningful expectations of delivering sustained small business viability and economic growth.
• Renewed efforts to enforce the laws that are already in effect.
• Where regulation is required, there needs to be a joined-up, sequential and workable approach including allowing for a sufficient notice period before introducing any new legislation.
Other areas of concern highlighted, include: the illicit trade damaging legitimate businesses; the long-term commercial viability of town centres; and the online sales of alcohol and minimum unit pricing.
