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ACS is the campaigning voice of over 33,500 local shops. As the convenience store champion ACS supports its members through lobbying, advice on legislation and issues that affect retailers, and through learning and networking events.
Membership of ACS comprises both retailers and suppliers, and the organisation prides itself on its ability to garner information and knowledge from the sector as a whole. This is then used to provide insight and practical help to benefit all members.
The core purpose of ACS is to lobby and champion the convenience store channel through strong leadership and good communication. ACS complements this by providing a range of services designed specifically for local shops to help them develop their businesses. The organisation also has a dedicated News arm, the Association of News Retailing (ANR), focused exclusively on the news industry.
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Chancellor Must Support Local Shops in Budget
Alasdair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is expected to deliver the last Budget of this Parliament later this month. Local shops have called on the Chancellor to support them to continue to serve their community and contribute to the economy.
ACS has written a letter to the Chancellor outlining the steps that must be taken to support local shops. The issues for immediate attention include the following:
• Freeze the duty rates on alcohol and tobacco products.
• Resist political influences in setting…
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Local Shops Back Independent Grocery Ombudsman
ACS has written to MPs urging them to back legislation to bring into force a Grocery Ombudsman that will be debated in Parliament on Friday.
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We see the implementation of a Grocery Ombudsman as vital to the future of sustainable competition in the industry, and local shops are united in backing the legislation.
“Local shops are the collateral damage of the abusive practices that are made possible by the poor regulation of the grocery market. For example, suppliers that… Read More »
ACS Welcomes Ministerial Concessions on Tobacco Display Ban Rules
ACS has welcomed Ministerial concessions regarding the rules that will be in place when a tobacco display ban comes into force for local shops in 2013.*
Regulations to be laid before Parliament next week set out the rules on how retailers can comply with the tobacco display ban enacted in the Health Act 2009. Draft proposals published in November were criticised by local shops as amongst the most restrictive and costly to comply with in the world. ACS has led negotiations with Government and these have resulted in significant… Read More »