MERKUR Group UK ask Government for freedom to innovate in socially responsible way

Sascha Blodau, General Manager, MERKUR GROUP UK, believes what the government does over the next 24-months will have a profound impact on how the industry is able to perform over the next decade. “There are some huge social and technological forces that will fundamentally change the way we all consume leisure and ones that the review must respond to and where possible, anticipate” he stated.

MERKUR GROUP UK has presented its case for a review that places social responsibility front and centre stage alongside a progressive approach which will enable the sector to deploy technologies that are common place elsewhere on the high street. Top of the agenda for Merkur is the ability to engage with government in order to establish ways of trialling, monitoring and introducing alternative payment methods. Sascha Blodau explained: “In five years-time society will not be using cash. Consumers want to be given a choice on how they pay for leisure and we need to start the discussions and trialling the alternatives – it is out of step that our customers are being denied what’s available in virtually every other shop on the high street.”

MERKUR GROUP UK wants to see the reintroduction of the Triennial Review to provide a framework for innovation. “If you cannot innovate, players will become bored and switch to alternatives” argued Blodau. “In many cases our players are moving at a faster pace than we are permitted to. The triennial would provide the opportunity to review the potential to create new product types and to remain relevant in what is a fast-moving world.”