Media Bites November 5: Thefts, Sainsbury’s/M&S, Tobacco and Vape Bill | News

Shoplifting is at “unacceptable” levels and is not being tackled properly, a Lords inquiry has found (BBC). Crime is severely underreported and the problem is so urgent that police forces must take “immediate action”, according to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

It says retailers need to be able to report crimes more easily, more funding is needed to rehabilitate criminals and regulations should be introduced to make it more difficult to sell stolen goods anonymously online.

M&S and Sainsbury’s are facing pressure this week to publicly reveal whether they expect another price rise next year as the industry faces huge tax rises imposed in last week’s Budget (Sky News).

M&S, which will reveal half-year earnings on Wednesday, and Sainsbury’s, which reports interim results the following day, are jointly facing an extra bill of almost £200m as a result of changes to employers’ national insurance contributions announced by Rachel Reeves. “Food price rises from next April are inevitable,” said one.

Proposed legislation aimed at creating the ‘first smoke-free generation’ is to be introduced in Parliament (standard). The Tobacco and Vaping Bill, which prevents anyone born after January 1, 2009 from smoking legally by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought, will be introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

The bill will introduce restrictions on vaping advertising and sponsorship, as well as restricting the flavours, displays and packaging of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children and young people. Single-use vaporizers will be banned from 1 June 2025 under separate environmental legislation.

Retailers suffered a “disappointing” October afterBudget uncertainty coupled with rising energy bills has ‘scared’ consumers, according to British Retail Consortium-KPMG Retail sale Monitor (The Independent). Food sales rose 2.9% year-on-year in the three months to October, compared with 7.9% growth in the same period in 2023. Non-food sales fell 0.1% amid weaker spending for children’s toys and equipment, clothing and furniture (The Guardian).

Fashion sales were hardest hit as mild weather delayed winter buying, but health and beauty sales remained buoyant, boosted by beauty advent calendars “which flew off the shelves”, the BRC said (standard).

Greggs has launched its new Christmas menu for 2024, which includes festive bread, Christmas lunch baguette and festive baking (Daily Express).