Best-One Preens owner Lewis Prager has demanded a change in the “problematic” High Fat Salt and Sugar (HFSS) regulations, which are set to be introduced in October this year.
Speaking at the 2022 Food & Drink Expo, at the NEC, Birmingham, Prager complained that the “money grabbing” government have made it extremely difficult for the industry, especially with the sugar tax and rising inflation costs.
Prager sat on the ‘Tapping into Talent: Convenience Stores Rising Stars’ panel, where he was joined by Londis Bexley Park’s owner, Nishi Patel and Mulkerns Spar Jonesborough’s store manager Enya McAteer.
He said one thing that “needs to change” is less regulation in the industry, especially with the HFSS rule being introduced later this year.
READ MORE: HFSS: Which FMCG brands are reformulating bestsellers ahead of October’s law change
The new guidance set out that products with volume-based promotions printed on the packet, for example, ‘two for the price of one’, will be subject to a sell-through period of a year, taking them through to October 2023.
Originally, the policy that aimed to “tackle obesity” also will ban HFSS products from checkout’s and aisle bays to reduce impulse buys.
However, the symbol group owner believes “if people want a product, they will buy it anyway”.
The news comes as The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has criticised the HSFF restriction guidance as it “lacks clarity” over the inclusion of symbol groups and franchises.
Click here to sign up to Grocery Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
