Bestway hub

  • MD Dawood Pervez said the business had become aware of some retailers ‘putting prices up where stock is short’

  • Retailers risked having their accounts put on stop, having credit facilities withdrawn or the removal of their fascia

 

Bestway Wholesale is warning independent and symbol retailers against trying to profiteer from the coronavirus crisis.

The wholesaler has written to its retail customers advising them of strict sanctions if they are found to be unduly inflating prices or breaking up multipacks to sell individual items at a higher price. The wholesaler said retailers risked having their accounts put on stop, having credit facilities withdrawn or the removal of their fascia.

“Since the start of this outbreak of Covid-19, independent retailers have provided a vital lifeline to local communities and many retailers are going the extra mile, providing delivery services to people in isolation and freebies such as coffee to frontline workers including NHS staff,” said Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez.

“However, we’ve become aware of some retailers trying to profiteer by putting prices up where stock is short, and this is very damaging for the reputation of to the industry at large.

“We have a stock control team working around the clock to ensure our depots are replenished, and stock is arriving all the time. Therefore, retailers can continue to use our depots to top up, and they should ensure availability by reducing the number of products consumers can buy, rather than by putting prices up.

“The loyalty independent retailers can build during this time will stretch far beyond the end of the coronavirus crisis.”

The wholesaler has also introduced social distancing measures in its depots, including preventing under-16s from entering, reducing the number of people in depot at any one time and marking areas of two-metre distances.

It is closing some depots early to allow teams the time to replenish stock and keep up supply. Bestway is also issuing retailers with materials aimed at making it easier for them to advertise local delivery services.

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