The Guardian: "Ocado boss: 'more high street shops should shut'"

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"Tim Steiner, the boss of online grocer Ocado, has launched an attack on high street retailers who are asking the government to review business rates, saying more traditional shops needed to close and telling rivals to stop complaining.

"Steiner, who recently announced a deal with Morrisons to launch the supermarket's online service, said:

"Bricks and mortar retailers need to shut more shops and stop moaning about [high street costs]."

"... Business rates are charged on buildings used as business premises, and based on a valuation of the property. The fees go to local authorities, in the same way as council tax does for domestic properties.

"The rates are non-negotiable, although charity shops are exempt, which has led to landlords being keen to fill empty shops with charity tenants to avoid paying rates on an empty building."