Another government initiative that has been around for two years, potentially affects the entire retail supply chain, and is almost totally unheard of, has now announced a spin-off venture.

There will not be many amongst us who are aware of the intricacies of the Retail Strategy Group (RSG), so why exactly should we get excited about the Retail Policy Forum (RPF)? The UK retail industry admits it does not react effectively to the changes in EU legislation surrounding the sector. It is still saying that after two years of the RSG, but feels ready to move onto the next step, the RPF.

Baffling to me, and no doubt to the vast majority of the industry, but then presumably that’s what it’s supposed to be. It is a closed, talking shop, like so many other government, and indeed retail-led initiatives. The illusion of being seen to be doing something is perceived by this government as being more of an issue than actually doing it.

I hope I’m proved wrong and the RPF becomes an interactive forum, which allows input from the outside world and not simply another outlet for the inevitably - and to a large extent understandably - self-serving interests of insiders.

But I doubt it.

• By the time you read this, the winners of the inaugural Re:fresh Awards will have been announced at last night’s sell-out gala dinner, sponsored by Florette. Personally, I would like to extend my congratulations to all winners, finalists and everyone who contributed to what, I am assured, was an extremely high calibre of entries overall.