Edinburgh shopping centre central to Scottish economy

A report released today by Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh’s leading retail and leisure destination, has highlighted the significance of the centre’s contribution to the Scottish economy. With 14 million visits in 2017, Fort Kinnaird has seen its Recruitment and Skills Centre help 3,200 people into work over the past five years. Continue reading Edinburgh shopping centre central to Scottish economy

John Lewis Edinburgh celebrates Easter with egg-citing family events

Retailer launches Easter programme as it reports increase in demand for seasonal gifts and party decorations

John Lewis reveals Easter celebrations are set to be bigger than ever as the nation embraces the annual spring holiday with bespoke eggs, DIY tea parties adorned with decorative eggs and bunting, and cracking Easter bunny hunts. To get set for an Easter egg-stravaganza, the Edinburgh store has launched a Bunny Bunting workshop and Easter Bunny hunts for kids and adults alike. Continue reading John Lewis Edinburgh celebrates Easter with egg-citing family events

CeX Leith to open in Kirkgate

Revolutionary recycling retailer CeX is due to open in Leith in early March. CeX buys, sells and exchanges phones, games, movies, tablets, computers, PCs, cameras and digital electronics. The store will create eight new jobs and will be run by franchisees Shazad Akram and Kashif Hamid. It is their fourth CeX store. Continue reading CeX Leith to open in Kirkgate

M & S for Raeburn Place development


Raeburn Place Foundation has announced the signing of a lease agreement with M&S Foodhall for the Edinburgh Accies development at Raeburn Place. As the anchor tenant, Marks and Spencer will take 500m² towards the centre of the Comely Bank Road frontage.

Continue reading M & S for Raeburn Place development

It’s in the bag: carrier bag charge raises £6.7m for good causes

‘Staggering’: Scotland’s single use carrier bag usage has dropped by 650 million – more than 80% – since charge was introduced

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Scotland’s Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced that retailers across Scotland have witnessed a staggering reduction in the number of single use carrier bags handed out since the 5p charge came into effect 12 months ago.

Data from major grocery retailers indicate a reduction in bag use of around 80 per cent since 20 October 2014 – equivalent to at least 650 million fewer bags being handed out annually compared to previous years – with funds of around £6.7 million being donated to good causes as a result of the charge.

Boots, one of Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment signatories, has reported an estimated 80 per cent reduction in carrier bag use in Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary was at its store in Aberdeen to speak to shoppers about their experiences of the change so far.

Mr Lochhead said: “The 5p charge has been a major success with the number of single use bags down by a staggering 650 million, and with nearly £7m raised for good causes.

“Previously statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every single year – more per head than anywhere else in the UK.

“I thank Scotland for embracing this policy and showing we’re serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment. I am confident that Scotland is going to go from strength to strength in its bid to tidy up our streets and beaches, where litter has been a highly visible problem in the past.”

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “With retailers in Scotland reporting a reduction of 80% in the use of single use carrier bags, it’s evident that Scottish shoppers have embraced a new shopping habit. It’s not always easy to change our habits, but Scotland is proving it has this in the bag.

“Many organisations have already agreed to donate money raised by the 5p charge to good causes, by signing up to Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment. Other retailers across the country are now being urged to follow suit.”

Nationwide retailers that signed up to Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment – an agreement to disclose information on the charge, and donations made, to a central publicly available portal – are reporting that various charities up and down the country have also benefited from funds raised by the charge, with at least £6.7 million being donated to good causes.

Morrisons, the Co-operative and Waitrose have indicated a reduction of 80 per cent, with Asda reporting a drop of 90 per cent. Sainsburys have seen 100 per cent reduction of single use carrier bags as they no longer offer them to shoppers.

Stephen Watkins, head of customer experience North & East Scotland at Boots UK, added: “We want to help our customers care for the environment while making a difference in their local communities. We’ve seen a really positive effect in our stores in Scotland since the introduction of the charge in 2014, with an estimated reduction of around 80 per cent in carrier bag usage. We’ve also been able to offer significant support to Macmillan Cancer Support and the important work that they do for those affected by cancer in Scotland.

“From 5 October 2015 we are donating the net proceeds of the sale of these bags to BBC Children In Need. Together with our customers we can help make a difference to our environment and support community projects across Scotland the rest of the UK.”

Local Morrisons stores spared the axe

Morrisons names eleven stores to close

morrisons

Morrisons has revealed the stores it plans to close, a week after announcing ‘disappointing’ sales figures – a 47% drop in half-year pre-tax profit to £126m..

The supermarket giant announced plans for the closures last week as part of an attempt to revitalise the business, but has only now revealed which stores will be close. The retailer said it was also selling 140 loss-making “M” local convenience stores for about £25m.

Local stores at Granton Waterfront and Ferry Road are not affected – the stores to close are all in England. They are: Burnham-on-Sea, Castletown (Sunderland), Clevedon, Little Hulton, Northallerton, Oldbury, Salford, Shildon, Streatham, Tyldesley and West Bromwich.

There was no announcement about the date of the closures, but up to 900 members of staff will lose their jobs.

Chief executive David Potts said he regretted the closure of the stores. “This is a difficult decision, but one which we cannot see any way through to make those stores viable,” he said.