News

ACS has called for an EU Alcohol Strategy that tackles the illicit trade and develops an independent evidence base that provides a sound foundation for national policy interventions that tackle alcohol harm.

In its’ submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union, ACS has called for the next strategy to steer clear of a one size fits all approach on interventions to combat alcohol harm and instead allow member states to implement policies at a local level.

ACS has welcomed the proposed consolidation of minimum wage regulations as an important step in ensuring that retailers understand how the laws on the national minimum wage affect their business.

MPs have raised question about the effectiveness of the planning system to direct new retail investment in town centres during an oral evidence session on the National Planning Policy Framework.  John Pugh MP for Southport and member of the Communities and Local Government Selection Committee referenced ACS’ (the Association of Convenience Stores) report ‘Retail Planning Decision Under the NPPF’ during the evidence session.

The 2014 Local Shop Report has revealed the vital contribution that local shops make to the UK economy and the investment in services that continues to drive growth in the sector.

Published today, the report offers brand new information about the diverse range of services that stores offer to their communities as well as key information about the entrepreneurs that run stores, their staff and the market as a whole.

Ahead of the official launch of the 2014 Local Shop Report tomorrow, ACS Chairman Jonathan James appeared on television and radio this morning to discuss the findings of the report, which reveal continued growth in the convenience sector.

On September 10th, ACS will be launching the latest edition of its flagship research project, The Local Shop Report 2014, at an exclusive event at The Studio in Birmingham.

The report brings together new ACS research with existing data from him!, William Reed and IGD to give a compelling snapshot of the convenience sector today. Previous reports have been used in the industry by retailers, suppliers, Government, academics and analysts as the baseline for understanding the local shop market.

From today (2^nd September 2014) new regulations require retailers to assess the products they sell and to report suspicious transactions of bomb-making materials and their precursors (chemicals that can be used to manufacture explosives). The suspicious transaction reporting regime will apply to customers buying specific products who:

In response to a study on plain packaging in Australia, ACS has reiterated its call to the Department of Health to look closely at the operational impact that tobacco plain packaging would have on retailers and other businesses in the UK.

 ACS Chief Executive James Lowman has appeared on BBC radio and television to discuss the retention of current Sunday Trading regulations.

Speaking on Radio 5 Live and BBC Breakfast this morning on the 20 year anniversary of the introduction of the Sunday trading rules, Mr Lowman spoke of the important compromise that balances economic, social and cultural considerations.

‘Managing Health And Safety’ and ‘Selling Fireworks’ are the two latest Assured Advice Guides published by ACS under its innovative primary authority compliance scheme. The scheme, which is free to all ACS members, provides retailers with excellent tailored advice developed by retail and local authority experts.

Once members sign up to the scheme and use the guidance, they can be sure that their policies and procedures will not be challenged or changed by any other local authority.