ACS Podcasts

2023 Local Shop Report

Our 2023 Local Shop Report provides a comprehensive look at the stores, people and services in the convenience sector

Book your place at the must-attend event for anyone in the convenience sector!

Vaping Enforcement Campaign

We have launched a new campaign to help retailers with the responsible sale of vaping products

Crime Report 2023

Our 2023 Crime Report provides a comprehensive look at the scale and the impact of the abuse, violence and other crimes committed against convenience stores

Join ACS - click here for more information about membership!

Our Member Portal has a range of valuable information and resources to help you understand more about the convenience sector

Welcome to ACS

The Association of Convenience Stores is the voice of over 33,500 local shops, supporting our members through effective lobbying, comprehensive advice and innovative networking opportunities.

ACS’ core purpose is to lobby Government on the issues that make a difference to local shops, supported by an expanding research programme designed to discover new information about the convenience sector which can be used to inform decision making both in Government and with those involved directly in the sector.

28.02.2023DRS Scotland
09.02.2023Selling Vapes
01.01.2023HFSS Regulations

Upcoming Events

07.12.2023 12:00pm Christmas Social
31.01.2024 10:00am ACS/PRA Forecourt, Power & Convenience Conference 2024
22.02.2024 12:00pm Ireland Store Tour & Networking Dinner

See our members

Applegreen

With a strong presence in the Southeast of the country and a rapidly expanding network of stations across the UK Applegreen is now conveniently closer to motorists than ever before. We’re looking after the needs of locals, commuters, long distance travellers, and tourists alike. Our customers know It’s all about the journey, Applegreen simply makes it better.

Bargain Booze

Conviviality Retail owns the UK’s largest franchised off-licence and convenience chain with over 600 franchisee-operated stores located throughout England, Wales and soon to be Scotland. Conviviality operates five fascias including Bargain Booze, Bargain Booze Select Convenience, BB’s Warehouse, Thoroughgoods, and Wine Rack. The Bargain Booze fascia was launched in 1988 and is the most prominent brand used by the company.

Best-One

“Building business for the independents”, Bestway is the largest privately owned cash and carry operator in the UK. It operates in the convenience sector through the Best-One symbol. ‘Best-One is a company run by retailers with the know-how and resources to make your independent business more profitable, more attractive to your customer base, and quite simply the best on your area.’

Bestway

“Building business for the independents”, Bestway is the largest privately owned cash and carry operator in the UK. It operates in the convenience sector through the Best-One symbol. ‘Best-One is a company run by retailers with the know-how and resources to make YOUR independent business more profitable, more attractive to your customer base, and quite simply the best on your area.’

Booker Retail Partners

Booker Retail Partners is a wholesaler supplying caterers, retailers and other businesses. On the high street, it operates under the Budgens, Londis and Premier symbol groups. Booker Retail Partners is committed to providing more choice, reducing prices and offering better service to all customers.

BP Oil UK Limited

BP operates in locations along the entire length of the UK, from Sullom Voe in the Shetlands to Hamble on the South Coast of England. At more than 300 company-owned and franchise sites you can find BP Connect stores, alongside award winning Wild Bean Cafes, which provide hot and cold snacks and fresh coffee for motorists. You can also find Marks and Spencer Simply Food outlets at more than 100 BP service stations in Scotland and England.

Budgens

Booker Retail Partners is a wholesaler supplying caterers, retailers and other businesses. On the high street, it operates under the Budgens, Londis and Premier symbol groups. Booker Retail Partners is committed to providing more choice, reducing prices and offering better service to all customers.

Central Co-op Food

Formed by the merger of Midlands and Anglia Co-operatives, Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retailers in the UK, with over 400 trading outlets, a family of around 8,600 colleagues and more than 330,000 regular trading members.

Central England Co-op is independent from The Co-operative Group, but is part of the wider co-operative movement, working together to provide all sorts of benefits for members and customers. Central England Co-operative trades across 16 counties from the Midlands to the East Coast through more than 250 foodstores.

Central Convenience Stores

Based in Dorset and Hampshire, Central Convenience Stores is a rapidly expanding chain of shops. Its aim is to ‘Convenience – Allday – Everyday’ by selling the best national brands alongside locally sourced products.

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society

Chelmsford Star is a co-op society operating across mid-Essex and was first established in 1867 and currently consists of 39 food stores (Co-op Food), two department stores (Quadrant), two travel agents (Co-op Travel) and nine funeral homes (Co-op Funeral Directors).

Co-op

Co-op is the UK’s largest mutual business, owned not by private shareholders but by over six million consumers. It is the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, the leading convenience store operator and a major financial services provider. Among its other businesses are the number one funeral services provider and Britain’s largest farming operation. The Group operates 4,800 retail trading outlets, employs more than 106,000 people and has an annual turnover of more than £13bn.

Company Shop Group

Costcutter Supermarkets Group Ltd

Costcutter currently have 1400 stores throughout the UK & Northern Ireland and has recently been listed in The Times newspaper as one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in the UK ( source: KPMG ). Despite massive competition from huge multiples moving into the convenience store sector, Costcutter continues to expand by offering a flexible style and attitude, coupled with a comprehensive trading and marketing format.

East of England Co-Op

The East of England Co-operative Society is proud to be at the very heart of communities across England’s eastern counties, offering a range of services that help support local towns and villages in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Family Shopper

Family Shopper offers independent retailers a discount format for smaller stores.

Go Local Extra

Go Local Extra is Parfetts Cash & Carry's, industry leading Symbol Group. Go Local Extra provides a promotional solution for every format of independent convenience store. A promotion of hard hitting, key lines to drive footfall and sales to your store.

Gridserve

Harvest Energy

Heart of England Co-Operative

Heron Foods

Heron Foods operates 240 stores throughout the North of England and the Midlands, and employs 2,500 people. Based in East Riding, Yorkshire, Heron is a family owned food retailer dedicated to bringing customers great value in frozen, chilled and grocery products. The company operates from a 270,000sq ft purpose built facility in Melton, East Yorkshire. Heron Foods has been ranked 13th by turnover in The Grocer magazine’s survey of the top 50 independent grocery retailers.

Hursts

MRH has become the UK’s leading independent service station owner and operator. In 2004 it acquired the operations of Kuwait Petroleum GB followed by large acquisitions from Texaco, BP and Esso. MRH now has over 370 company owned service stations in its extensive portfolio the majority of which are branded Esso, BP, Texaco and Jet. MRH has its head office in Epping, Essex and a smaller office in Egham, Surrey .The Company owns a number of brands including its new shop concept called Hursts and the commercial business on the Isle of Wight branded as Isle of Wight Fuels Ltd, with Roberts Garages Ltd in Jersey and Matrix (Highlands) Ltd in the North of Scotland.

James Convenience Retail

The James Retail Group is a leading, independently owned neighbourhood retailer operating around 110 convenience and newsagent stores. It operates Select Convenience branded convenience stores as well as newsagents branded GT News & Supernews which can be found in locations varying including major shopping centres, transport interchanges, local neighbourhoods and hospitals across the central belt of the country.

Jet

JET is the European brand of global energy company, Phillips 66. JET in the UK is a 100% dealer focused network, with over 350 sites throughout the South East, Midlands, East Anglia, North West, North East, Wales and Scotland. The JET brand has a sixty year heritage, with quality fuels supplied by its own Humber Refinery, one of the most sophisticated refineries in Europe.

KeyStore

Keystore is run by JW Filshill Ltd based in Hillington, near Glasgow. They have won Scottish Wholesale Association’s prestigious Champion of Champions awards more times than any of our competitors. They are widely recognised as a driving force in the retail convenience market. Despite the success and industry accolades, they never forget what made, and continues to make them, so great – their retailers.

KwikSave

Costcutter is part of Costcutter Supermarkets Group, consisting of Costcutter, Mace, Supershop, and Simply Fresh, throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Lakeside Group

Lifestyle

Lincolnshire Co-operative

Lincolnshire Co-operative is one of the most successful independent consumer co operatives in the UK, and offer a wide range of services from their divisions. Owned by their members, the people of Lincolnshire and Newark, and has been for more than 150 years. All profits are recycled locally and many of their 2,700 staff get involved with the community by volunteering their time or expertise to local groups or by raising money for their Charity of the Year.

Loco

Loco is part of the Nisa family of independent grocers.

Londis

Booker Retail Partners is a wholesaler supplying caterers, retailers and other businesses. On the high street, it operates under the Budgens, Londis and Premier symbol groups. Booker Retail Partners is committed to providing more choice, reducing prices and offering better service to all customers.

Mace

Mace is part of Costcutter Supermarkets Group which is a predominantly franchise business with over 2,500 convenience stores, trading under Costcutter, Mace, kwiksave and Supershop, throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Malcom's

Malcolm’s has been run by the Cheema family for 31 years and was started by the founders, Malcolm and Baljit Cheema. Malcolm's operates three different models, a convenience store, a discount format and the latest addition, a forecourt.

McColl’s Retail Group Limited

McColl’s is the UK’s leading neighbourhood retailing group with over 1,250 stores trading throughout England, Scotland and Wales. They are comprised of over 500 convenience stores with over 400 stores having a Post Office.

Morrisons

Motor Fuel Group

The recently expanded Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is now the second largest independent forecourt operator in the UK. It has 374 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Texaco and JET fuel brands. It offers its customers premium fuel brands coupled with an attractive, competitive and expanding forecourt shop offer for today’s cost conscious consumers.

Nisa

Nisa is the UK’s leading member-owned organisation, providing benefits to independent retailers and wholesalers in food and drink markets.

One Stop

One Stop is a retail convenience business with over 750 stores across England and Wales. In addition to operating company owned stores, One Stop has recently developed a franchise model which allows independent retailers to benefit from affiliation with the group.

Parfetts

A.G. Parfett & Sons Ltd is a family run wholesale cash and carry business operating across the North West of England, selling food, drink and tobacco goods to independent retailers and caterers.

Park & Shop

Park Garage Group are a family run business whose success and ethos is driven by being customer centric.

Plunkett Foundation

Premier

Booker Retail Partners is a wholesaler supplying caterers, retailers and other businesses. On the high street, it operates under the Budgens, Londis and Premier symbol groups. Booker Retail Partners is committed to providing more choice, reducing prices and offering better service to all customers.

Rontec

Rontec is one of the leading companies in the independent fuel retailing sector, predominantly using the Total brand on their forecourts. Their service stations network delivers high quality fuels, extensive convenience shop ranges and offers top quality car washes.

Sainsbury's

Scotmid Co-operative

Scotmid Co-operative operates 350 retail outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. Our businesses include Scotmid Food, Semichem, The Fragrance House, Funeral Directors, Post Offices and a property division.

Select & Save

Select & Save was formed in 1997 by two entrepreneurs. Since its launch this convenience store symbol group for independent retailers has grown from 2 stores to over 100 across the UK, and is still growing. Select & Save retailers are supported by our two regional offices based in the Midlands and the North-East.

Sewell On The Go

Each store is run by local, friendly, customer focused people, who are always on hand to deliver our promise of good value, quality products and services, tailored to the needs of our local communities. Wherever we can, we partner up with local suppliers and stock our shelves with great local produce ensuring we keep the local £ local.

Our constant strive for excellence has received national and international acclaim. Sewell is currently ranked as a one of the region’s Fastest Growing 50 companies and was voted as a top ten retailer at the NACS International Convenience Conference 2013.

SGN Retail

SGN Retail, based in Dunmow, Essex is an independently owned petrol forecourt operator and standalone convenience store operator trading across the UK from over 70 sites.

Shell

Simply Fresh

Simply Fresh has a supply agreement with Costcutter and benefits from group trading terms. The model requires retailers to invest in high levels of fresh and chilled food, typically 20m of chilled food and 3m of fruit & veg. As a condition of membership, every store has to be affiliated to a local charity, offer in-store carrier bag recycling facilities and use local produce suppliers where appropriate.

Simply Local

SimplyFresh is an upmarket grocery store concept focusing on local and best of British products anchored by an organic healthy range of food. The stores also include a core range of branded grocery lines so we can cater for all types of consumers.

SPAR (UK) Ltd

SPAR is the world’s largest international food retail chain with nearly 16,000 stores in 34 countries. With 2,600 stores SPAR is also the UK’s leading convenience store group.

Sugro

The Guild of Fine Food

The Guild of Fine Food is the UK trade association for anyone making or selling top quality local, regional and speciality food and drink. Its 1,300-plus members include delicatessens, fine food halls and farm shops, speciality food producers, from cheese-makers to chocolatiers, importers and distributors of gourmet foods from around the world and suppliers of equipment and services to support the fine food sector.

The Mid-Counties Co-operative

The Midcounties Co-operative is the largest independent co-operative in the UK. They have almost 9,000 colleagues spread across 450 sites, as well as over 245,000 members who enjoy a share in their profits, as well as knowing they are funding ethical activities and initiatives locally and around the world.

The Southern Co-operative

The Southern Co-operative is a regional Co-operative Society based in southern England. They operate around 150 community stores, covering the following counties: Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex and Wiltshire.

Unitas Wholesale

Waitrose & Partners

Wine Rack

Conviviality Retail owns the UK’s largest franchised off-licence and convenience chain with over 600 franchisee-operated stores located throughout England, Wales and soon to be Scotland. Conviviality operates five fascias including Bargain Booze, Bargain Booze Select Convenience, BB’s Warehouse, Thoroughgoods, and Wine Rack.