ACS

ACS has recruited two more major players in the convenience industry into membership - Keystore and Manor Service Stations.

Keystore is the symbol group owned and operated by Glasgow based wholesaler JW Filshill who have joined to ensure that they have representation for their growing portfolio of stores in England. Manor Service Stations is a leading independent forecourt convenience group, operating from 12 sites in the UK. These recruits are the latest in a growing membership that establishes ACS as the voice of the convenience store industry.

Peter Brough, Chairman of Manor Service Stations, said: "The twelve forecourt stores we operate are an increasingly important part of our business, and joining ACS will give us the representation we need for these stores. By being part of an association representing the whole of the industry, we can speak more loudly to policy-makers, and ACS has already proved itself to be an excellent representative for the convenience sector."

Ian McDonald, Sales Director of JW Filshill, who is responsible for the Keystore brand, said: “We wanted to ensure that we had a strong voice on the issues that affect our customers in England, especially as we are now taking the Keystore brand south of the border. ACS has a reputation for effective lobbying, providing sound advice on regulatory matters, and offering good networking opportunities; and we want to work with ACS in all of these areas.”

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Keystore are developing their symbol offering on both sides of the border, and bringing them into membership gives us full representation of all of the symbol groups, and this strengthens our voice in Government.

“Manor Service Stations are one of the leading independent forecourt retailers and we’re pleased to bring them into membership alongside so many other positive, professional retail groups who want to work together to influence policy, access helpful advice, and network with other retailers.”

Other new retail members to join ACS in the past year include Newsplus, HKS, Carsley Group, Warners Retail, Holborns and Applegreen.

Contacts:

Shane Brennan, Public Affairs Director
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Chris Noice, Communications Assistant
01252 533013

Notes to Editors:

1. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,500 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.
2. ACS represents members on issues throughout the UK. In Scotland, ACS works closely with the Scottish Grocers Federation to ensure effective representation to the Scottish Government.