Letter to the Editor – Canberra CityNews

September 5 2014
by Jeff Rogut, CEO of the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores
I write in response to the opinion piece by Michael Moore (‘Smoking out Big Tobacco’s toadies’, citynews.com.au, 3 September 2014) which makes inaccurate and defamatory claims about our Association and seeks to discredit independent research without any basis in fact.
Firstly, to be clear: the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) is not an arm of, nor do we lobby for, the tobacco industry. Whilst AACS does have tobacco companies amongst its members, the suggestion that AACS is merely a ‘front’ for the tobacco industry is highly insulting and offensive to the Association and to the many small retail business owners or other industry suppliers that we count among our membership base.
We are the peak body for the convenience industry in Australia and we represent the interests of more than 6,000 stores nationally, the majority of which operate as small businesses either under franchise or licence agreement.
Secondly, the research we refer to in discussing the additional cost burdens forced on small retailers and consumer tobacco purchasing habits following the introduction of plain packaging is sourced from some of the most credible research organisations in Australia and internationally.
As well as data from our own retailers, we rely on and refer to real data from sources including Roy Morgan, Deloitte, KPMG, Nielsen and AZTEC. Collectively, these companies produce research that is widely valued for its independence and accuracy.
By Mr Moore’s logic, none of the research produced by these companies is credible if it happens to show results that differ from his desired outcomes. This is clearly flawed.
Regardless of who funds the research undertaken by these companies, for their work to be dismissed and mocked, and for their and AACS’ independence to be questioned without basis in fact, is inappropriate and again, insulting.
The actual evidence to date concerning the retail implications of plain packaging is clear. It has had negative financial implications for small businesses, however sales continue to grow despite plain packaging. Obviously this evidence is inconvenient for the health lobby but we make no apology for this.