ALMR Conference highlights significant gains for association

28 April 2016 by Katey Pigden

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) highlighted some of its lobbying efforts over the past year at its spring conference in London earlier today (28 April).

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of ALMR, said the association had been at the forefront of campaigns to reform business rates. She welcomed the action taken by the government to cut business rates, which was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in last month's budget. ALMR estimates the move will save £600 on average per pub.

Other notable achievements included successfully campaigning for cuts to national insurance contributions, new planning guidance for live music venues and pushing back on EU proposals for menu labelling, restaurant charges and licensing restrictions.

Nicholls said: "The past 12 months have been a period of fantastic progress for the ALMR as we look to cement ourselves as the leading voice for all of licensed hospitality. We have been hard at work with our primary aim, which is to fight for a fairer, more flexible deal for pubs and bars and we have seen some significant gains."

She added: "Our work over the past year has saved the industry in the region of £184m and we are in a strong position to achieve even more. We continue to press for a free, fair and flexible market to allow our members' businesses to achieve their full potential."

Nicholls concluded: "We have seen a number of high profile businesses join including Bill's, Maxwell's and Pizza Hut Restaurants and we are in great shape to continue our expansion."

The ALMR's membership - pub, club, bar and casual dining operators - consists of 22,000 outlets employing more than 650,000 people.

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