04 December 2007, 21:04 PM
  • The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is fighting back once again, presenting new data to the Competition Commission that it says proves that UK convenience stores are in decline as a result of supermarket competition.

The CC stated in October, when it released its provisional findings into the UK grocery market, that supermarkets were not competing unfairly with c-stores. But the ACS says the data used by the CC was “flawed”.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said, “It is a great shame that several months after we explained clearly why the commission’s analysis of store numbers in our sector was flawed, we are once again rehearsing these arguments.

“The latest data used by the commission, from the Office of National Statistics, is as unreliable as the Experian-Goad database the commission has erroneously given credence to up until this point.”

Experian says it warned the commission that the data it supplied was not suitable for the purpose of the inquiry. Mr Lowman added, “We have presented new data from suppliers, wholesalers and independent market analysts to show the decline in our sector, and we believe the commission will listen to this new evidence and come to a more realistic view on store numbers in its final report.

“What the commission should really be doing is looking at why these stores are closing down and what impact that has on competition. We contend that some of the pricing activity of the major multiples is predatory, and that the loss of independent stores leads to a decline in choice and particularly harms less mobile consumers.”

The ACS is to have its third formal hearing with the commission on 12th December.