Asda president and chief executive Tony DeNunzio has issued a rallying cry for retailers to make their voices heard by the Government.
DeNunzio chairs the Retail Strategy Group (RSG), a high-level contact group comprising senior retailers and representatives from the Treasury, Downing Street and the DTI.
He wants feedback from store groups on four key issues - crime, property, planning and the cost of compliance with Government regulations - which are affecting the sector's competitiveness and productivity.
The RSG wants a more coherent strategy to reduce the cost of retail crime by 10 per cent over the next two years. In 2001, retail crime cost the economy£2.4 billion.
On property, the RSG aims to bring about widespread adoption of more flexible leasing arrangements.
On planning, it wants a more effective regime at local and regional levels, with retailers engaging more with planning bodies. It also proposes that retailers and the Government work more closely on the design and implementation of regulations.
DeNunzio said: 'We want to get as much retail input as possible (on the four issues).'
A full outline is available on the DTI Web site - www.dti.gov.uk/sectors_retail.html - and retailers can email feedback to retail.strategy@dti.gsi.gov.uk no later than January 31.
A full report from the RSG will be published in April.
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