Budget 2013: Retailers react – Morrisons, Ann Summers, Asda

“The Government missed a vital opportunity to give UK retail a much needed shot in the arm. Setting rates on a single month’s RPI is completely arbitrary – yet it impacts investment and jobs on the front line all year round. 

“A CPI-based escalator using a longer run average offers a better alternative.” – Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips

“Business rates are a massive burden on retailers and its disappointing that the budget has not acknowledged this and responded to the ‘Fair rates for Retail’ campaign.  I would have liked to have seen the Chancellor show support for the retail sector, retail is a significant part of our economy and the government should be encouraging and supporting retailers.” - Ann Summers chief executive Jacqueline Gold

“The Chancellor has missed an opportunity to bring some certainty to the business rates system and ease the cost burden shouldered by a retail sector that has been hit hard in recent years.” - Asda president and chief executive Andy Clarke

“I think the change they have proposed on National Insurance is helpful for small businesses which is good. It is disappointing to see, given the plight of the high street, that there is no additional support for towards rates bills.” – Maplin chief executive John Cleland

“We are pleased to see a bit of relief for hard pressed families which has readdressed some of the balance for mum and dad who have previously lost out on child benefits.

But the big thing we were hoping for was around property, particularly business rates. There was a real opportunity to have got some relief today. It is our biggest disappointment. Even some form of acknowledgement would be better than nothing” – Toys R Us UK managing director Roger McLaughlan

“You are disappointed. The retail industry has been banging on about business rates for a very long time. [The Government] cannot afford to do it, it’s the only thing you can say,” - Peter Marks, The Co-operative Group chief executive

“High business rates are harmful to growth, as proven by the growing gaps on UK high streets. This is why we are joining the industry in calling for changes to how rates are calculated.

“If the Government is seeking to revive British retail and wishes to support successful brands in order to help businesses achieve their full domestic and international potential, they should have seized their opportunity to introduce a system that produces fairer and more affordable rate increases.

“Basing a year’s worth of rates bills on one month’s RPI makes little sense and there are a variety of alternative options, such as using the Consumer Price Index or diluting inflation volatility by using a 12-month average RPI rate.

“Businesses like Hobbs have adjusted to the new multichannel, multi-national retail reality. Retailers have moved with the times and now the Government must do the same.”- Hobbs chairman Iain MacRitchie

“We had hoped that the Chancellor would have been bold enough to address the crippling matter of business rates, changes to which would have led to improvements of trade on the high street. But bold isn’t a word we would use to describe the Chancellor or this Budget.” - Oddbins managing director Ayo Akintola

“We would have liked to have seen something on business rates, particularly as a retailer that is opening 10 stores a year.

“Increasing the personal tax allowance is good to help stimulate demand. While national insurance for small businesses it welcome. We celebrate our 20th anniversary this year and it started with one store and now we have sales of £100m.” - Cath Kidston, chief finance officer Neil Harrington