Spar UK has joined other independent retailers and convenience store owners today in protesting over cuts in commission paid by the mobile phone operator Vodafone.
Spar retailer Kevin Hunt, along with 750 Spar stores in the UK, will refuse to sell Vodafone products from today (July 11, 2008).
Vodafone UK has announced that it will reduce airtime commissions paid to retailers by 1 per cent from August 1.
Hunt, who operates 28 stores in the Northwest, has set up an online petition at Topupratecut.biz for retailers of all groups and sizes to register their concerns about the rate cut.
Spar UK trading director Chris Lewis said: “Vodafone is making record profits while retailers face lower margins and are baring the brunt of corporate cost-cutting, over which they have no control. The situation is unacceptable.”
Hunt said: “This is an industry-wide issue. The more retailers that sign the petition, the more Vodafone will listen to us. We want to show we are serious and there will be more to follow.”
Lewis added: “In the first few hours of its launch, more than 500 retailers had joined the petition. We are offering our support to Kevin in protecting the profitability of all retailers.
“We trialled a successful switch-off around the country on July 4. We are supporting Kevin with a day of action on Friday, July 11 when more than 750 stores will switch off selling Vodafone top-ups.”
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