THE multitude of challenges facing small shops were discussed when senior members of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) met with their local Senedd Member on Friday, February 20.

Pembrokeshire retailers Vince and Fiona Malone had invited Conservative Samuel Kurtz to visit their Tenby store ahead of the Welsh Parliament’s May elections.

Samuel Kurtz MS has represented the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat since 2021 and will be contesting the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency in May’s election, which will see the Senedd dramatically increase in size from 60 to 96 members and be fully elected by a proportional representation system.

During the meeting, the couple explained how they had expanded their retail and Post Office business to employ 14 people compared to three when they started in 2014. However, this has been threatened by rising business costs, particularly rising business rates bills which are set to take effect in April, as well as higher employer National Insurance Contributions and an above-inflation increase in the national living wage.

The pair discussed the Fed’s manifesto for the Welsh election which focuses on these rising costs as well as calling for action to tackle retail crime and ensuring that DRS for recycling is cost-neutral and does not scope in glass, so that it fully aligned with the rest of the UK and is not overly complex.

During the meeting, Mr Malone spoke about the Fed’s support for DRS – which could cut litter and significantly improve recycling rates if done correctly – but was jeopardised by uncertainty on this from the current Welsh government.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Kurtz said: “I really valued the opportunity to catch-up with Vince as his experience and knowledge of retail and how it intersects with the political world is second to none. I look forward to working with Vince in the run up to the election and sharing the key messages outlined in the Fed’s manifesto after it.”

Mr Malone said: “The Fed and I have written to every candidate standing in the new constituency my business is located in, and I look forward to welcoming the representatives of the other political parties soon.”