News

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation on the future application of the nutrient profiling model (NPM), raising concerns about how changes would impact retailers already dealing with HFSS regulations. 

The Association of Convenience Stores has warned the Home Affairs Select Committee that organised gangs are operating in plain sight in communities, stealing from shops on a massive scale and running dodgy shops with illicit products as part of a network of wider serious criminal activity.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched a new resource hub for convenience retailers to help them prepare for the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme. Currently 48% of convenience retailers have no awareness of DRS.

ACS has welcomed a significant victory in the battle against the illicit trade today as the Government announced 12 month closure orders for businesses found to be selling illicit products. 

Existing powers allow premises to be closed for up to six months, but the Government note that businesses can often reopen before investigations have concluded, allowing criminal activity to resume and creating additional burdens for local authorities, police forces and the courts. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the confirmation of the criteria for which stores can apply for an exemption under the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme, announced today by scheme administrator Exchange for Change.

The Association of Convenience Stores has launched a new campaign aimed at getting tougher sanctions for rogue traders.

The ‘Stop Rogue Traders’ campaign highlights the scale of the problem facing communities, signposts existing resources for reporting illicit activity, and calls for action from Government to get rogue traders off the streets.

As part of the campaign, ACS is calling for key changes to policy, further funding and stronger powers to help Trading Standards tackle the problem, including:

Taking place on 16th June at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, Activation LIVE! is our brand-new event for 2026 where leading retailers will have the chance to engage with some of the biggest brands in convenience to collaborate on plans for the second half of 2026.

Our dynamic brand briefing sessions will feature: General Mills, Danone, Optimum Nutrition, Fox’s Burton’s Companies and Takis.

ACS has responded to the publication of a new consultation on addressing one-sided employment flexibility, highlighting the existing ways that convenience store retailers provide genuine two-sided flexibility and security for their colleagues.

The consultation, which will run until 25th August, seeks views on the implementation of rights that have become law through the Employment Rights Act, specifically:

ACS has responded to the publication of the retail handling fees for the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, warning that thousands of retailers will not be able to cover their costs if they host a reverse vending machine.

After consultation with the industry, DRS scheme administrator Exchange for Change has published the following rates of the retail handling fees:

ACS is reminding retailers about resources and advice available to them to promote their vape recycling service to customers.

Since the start of 2024, all vape sellers have an obligation to provide a vape recycling facility to customers. This is usually delivered in the format of a tube-style bin that customers can return used vapes to, or a box at the till point.