Press Releases

Merchants applaud further Commission action on card fees

EuroCommerce and the European Retail Round Table (ERRT) are delighted to give their unequivocal support to the further antitrust action taken today by the European Commission against MasterCard’s inter-bank fees.

Philip Clarke, Tesco plc, named new ERRT President

Philip Clarke, Group Chief Executive of Tesco plc, has been appointed as the new President of the European Retail Round Table (ERRT). He takes over from Dick Boer, CEO of Royal Ahold, who has headed the organisation since 2010.

More retailers sign up to agreement in bid to help tackle waste

The European retail sector is pleased to welcome four new signatories to its waste agreement which was first presented on 9 October 2012. The supermarket chains Carrefour, Hofer, Jerónimo Martins and Vomar have recently joined other retailers in their fight against waste, thus demonstrating commerce’s commitment towards a sustainable economy.

Retail welcomes Commission’s preference for a voluntary approach on B2B trading practices

Yesterday, at the meeting of the High-Level Forum on a better functioning food supply chain, 8 EU-level organisations representing commerce and industry announced the agreement on a framework for the implementation and enforcement of the principles of good practice in the food supply chain (still to be reviewed and validated by their members). The European Commission has expressed a preference for a voluntary approach over legislation. This approach should deliver rapidly.

Principles of good practices: Retailers determined to pursue work towards a voluntary solution

After intensive discussions over the past months, the core group multistakeholder dialogue concluded and announced that a compromise on an amended framework proposal could not be reached. Retail organisations regret this decision and see this as a missed opportunity to find a quick and efficient solution for disputes about B2B commercial practices.

European retail steps up the fight against waste

Despite the economic woes, the European retail industry remains committed to achieving more sustainable production and consumption. Grocery stores are going to assist customers in cutting back on food waste. Non-food retailers will focus on making the waste stream of textiles and electronics more sustainable.

Retail supports framework of implementation of principles of good practice in business-to-business relations

Today, organisations representing the retail sector, including ERRT, jointly announced their continued commitment to pursue dialogue and actions to bring a culture change and ensure the fairness in business relations in the food supply chain.

European Court vindicates ban on anti-competitive card fees

The European Court has today upheld the Commission’s 2007 decision on MasterCard, ruling that the MIF set ‘a floor under the costs charged to merchants and thus constituted a restriction of price competition that was to their detriment.’

Dennis Kredler, Director-General of the European Retail Round Table (ERRT) added, “This ruling is excellent news. We now need a robust methodology to regulate how the costs for payment card services are calculated and allocated. The Green Paper on mobile card and internet payments is an excellent opportunity to establish an obligation on card companies to offer a basic payment service.”

New research: divergent regulation hampers growth of cross-border e-commerce in Europe

Launching the study in Brussels today, Dick Boer, President of the ERRT and CEO of Ahold said “To take full advantage of the opportunities of the European Digital Single Market will require a careful look at existing legislation that impacts online business. The faster any obstacles can be removed, the sooner retailers will be able to boost the Digital Single Market and bring added benefits to European consumers. We suggest an ‘e-commerce test’ for a targeted set of European legislation and for all new relevant proposals. This could help speed up the completion of the Digital Single Market and significantly help to double the share of e-commerce in retail sales by 2015.”

European retailers urge political action on child labour in Uzbek cotton production

ERRT member companies, including C&A, Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, H&M, IKEA, Marks and Spencer, today called on the Members of the European Parliament to approve a report which demands changes in Uzbek child labour practices as a prerequisite to approving a significant extension of the EU-Uzbek trade principles agreement. Helena Helmersson, Head of CSR, H&M, says: “Tomorrow’s vote is an opportunity for the EU to send an impactful message to the Uzbek government. There is an urgency to get children out of the cotton fields and back into school. We hope that the European Parliament will unite to support the action.”

Food supply chain CEOs present common principles on fair business relations to Commissioners

Today, the High Level Forum on a better functioning food supply chain, co-chaired by Commission Vice-President Tajani and Commissioners Barnier, Ciolos and Dalli, has welcomed a proposed set of principles agreed amongst a multistakeholder group, aimed to ensure fairer business relations along the food supply chain.

ERRT welcomes Corazza Bildt retail market report approved in the European Parliament today

The European Retail Round Table (ERRT) welcomed the Corazza Bildt retail market report approved in the European Parliament today.

Commenting on the ‘Report on a More Efficient and Fairer Retail Market’, Dick Boer, Ahold CEO and President, European Retail Round Table (ERRT), said: “This report is broadly balanced, addresses many of the key challenges facing the sector, identifies many of the barriers holding retail back, and makes a number of useful, practical proposals. In particular, we welcome the Parliament’s call for the Commission to prepare a comprehensive action plan for retail, in consultation with the sector.  We support and endorse this call, and commit our resources to making it happen".

Retail and brand CEOs urge MEPS and Commission to develop stronger single market for fast moving consumer goods and services

Speaking before MEPs and Commission representatives at the European Parliament, Dick Boer,Ahold CEO and ERRT President, and Andrew Morgan, President Europe Diageo and AIM President, expressed concerns about the weaknesses of the Internal Market and called for a stronger free circulation of goods and services.

MEPs Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP, SE), Cristian Silviu Busoi (ALDE, RO) and Catherine Stihler(S&D, UK) chaired the meeting, that kicks off a series of discussions on challenges, opportunities and solutions for the European consumer goods sector operating in the Single Market.

Collective redress: a real need for EU action?

We do not believe that the case has been made for a new approach on collective redress at the EU level or that any new EU action would be more likely to be well used than the existing mechanisms available either at national level, or provided for in the Injunctions Directive, the Consumer Protection Co-operation Regulation and the Small Claims Regulation.

RFID - Industry initiative endorsed by Commission

The European Retail Round Table (ERRT) joined other private sector associations and Neelie Kroes, the Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, in signing a new privacy impact assessment (PIA) framework for RFID applications at a ceremony in Brussels today.

Dick Boer, ERRT President: "Consumers are key"

Speaking at the 2011 European Retail Policy Summit today, Dick Boer, Executive Vice President and COO Europe, Royal Ahold and President, ERRT, stressed the need for a consumer-centric focus when relaunching the single market. Download the full speech here.

Myth or Reality?

The Commission has done a good job in trying to debunk several of the more outlandish ‘myths’ that have developed about the EU “…based on twisted facts or even lies.  The stories can make entertaining reading, but many people believe them and often come away with a picture of the EU as a bunch of mad 'eurocrats'…”. We follow that good example with this short document, in a similar attempt to correct some of the myths and rumours created about the food supply chain.

New study shows that ‘Own Brands’ stimulate a more competitive, innovative marketplace

A study by Oxera Consulting, prepared for the European Retail Round Table (ERRT) shows that growing competition brought about by own brands in the grocery retail sector not only offers lower prices to consumers but also amplifies choice and promotes innovation. To download the report visit www.errt.org/ownbrands.

Single Market, multiple challenges

The European Retail Round Table (ERRT) has today issued a document highlighting the difficulties large European retailers face in doing business throughout the EU, and has called for 6 specific actions to address the problems identified. Click here to download the document.

Retailers of all sizes contribute to a Sustainable Europe 2020

ERRT President Sir Terry Leahy and EuroCommerce President Rainhardt von Leoprechting announce sustainable business code for Europe’s retailers.

Leading retailers launch pro-regulation coalition to curb illegal logging

A group of 4 leading European retailers have today launched the Timber Retail Coalition (TRC) to support measures to curb illegally harvested timber.  Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer, IKEA and Carrefour Group, all members of the European Retail Round Table, are the founding members.  The TRC is committed to tackling global deforestation linked to climate change.  By providing a single platform for engaging with politicians and policymakers at national and EU levels, the TRC will significantly enhance this effort.

Stimulating consumption an essential element in recovery

Speaking at the European Retail Round Table (ERRT) discussion today on the role retail plays in economic recovery, Paul Skehan, Director, ERRT: "2010 will not be easy and promoting consumption “ as well as investment - will be an essential element for economic recovery".

Retail Forum - Issue paper on optimisation of distribution systems

A more efficient combination of different forms of transport would reduce the impact of goods distribution on the environment, according to a paper issued today by the European Retail Forum.

Post-Copenhagen Retail 20:20 Vision

Today, in the run-up to the Copenhagen summit, the European Retail Round Table publishes a report "Post-Copenhagen Retail 20:20 Vision"™ on the actions taken by large retailers to reduce their energy use, to source renewable energy and to inform and help consumers. Click on the box beside to download the report.

Retailers welcome food supply chain report

The European Retail Round Table has broadly welcomed the Commission's Communication on a better functioning food supply chain in Europe [COM(2009)591] released today.

Visa fee increase arrogant and unjustified

Visa Europe will, from today, increase their fees on the use of credit and debit cards.  Its 'card scheme fees' will increase by as much as 142%, these fees being the non-negotiable charges paid by retailers' banks and card processors to Visa to be part of its card network. These costs are inevitably passed onto retailers and they will ultimately have the effect of pushing up prices on the shelves.

Retailers welcome RFID guidelines and call on Member States to adopt the same approach

The European Retail Round Table welcomed the publication today of a Commission Recommendation concerning the use of radio frequency identification tags (RFID).

Mastercard decision on MIF: Good progress, much further to go...

Press release on the launch of the Retail Forum

Despite recession retail companies moving forward on sustainability

First ever European Retail Policy Debate

The European Retail Policy Debate: Key Challenges and Opportunities for the Retail Sector Over the Next 5 Years will be a unique event at which EU decision makers and the CEOs of some of Europe's major retailers will gather together to discuss the challenges that the retail sector will face in the coming years.

ERRT comments on Food Prices

Lightbulb Tariffs

Launch of SCP

Big Retailers welcome scrapping of Interchange fee

Cross Border Interchange

ERRT welcomes opening of VISA investigation

ERRT Declaration on Energy

DG Comp Ruling on Mastercard

Skehan Appointed as ERRT Director