The Association of Convenience Stores has responded to the Chancellor's 2015 Budget, welcoming key measures on alcohol duty and business rate relief.
Mar
18
March 2015
Mar
17
ACS Warns of Impact of Above Inflation Minimum Wage Increase
ACS has warned that the above inflation 3% increase in the adult National Minimum Wage to £6.70 will have a negative impact on staffing and investment levels in the convenience sector.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are disappointed with the increase in the National Minimum Wage above inflation, above average earnings growth, and above public sector pay award levels. Our research has clearly shown that retailers have little choice but to reduce staff hours and delay further business investment when the minimum wage is increased.
Mar
16
ACS Announces Addition of Conviviality Retail to Membership
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has announced that convenience store chain Conviviality Retail have joined as members. 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.
Mar
16
ACS Calls for High Street Support in Business Rates Review
ACS has responded to the Government’s launch of a fundamental review of business rates, calling for greater support for small businesses and high streets.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome this overdue review, and we are pleased that it will take a look at radical options for reforming the outdated business rates system. The review must deliver help for high streets, be simpler than the current system, and offer incentives for investment rather than penalising businesses which improve their premises.”
Mar
13
Local Shops Set Out Growth Agenda to Chancellor
In its submission to the Treasury ahead of the final Budget before the 2015 General Election, ACS has highlighted long term business rates reform, tackling the £1.3bn annual cost of duty fraud and minimising the negative impact of employment costs as the issues where local shops need to see immediate action to unlock more growth and jobs in the convenience store sector.
Mar
13
Welsh Small Shops Group Discuss Business Rates
The Cross Party Group on Small Shops gathered yesterday (11thMarch) to discuss the future of devolved business rates in Wales following the chancellor’s announcement in November’s Autumn Financial Statement.
Mar
12
Retailers Call for Fairer Business Rates System in Scotland
Convenience store retailers have called for changes to the business rates revaluation system in Scotland to make the system fairer as part of a submission to the Scottish Government.
In a joint submission by the Association of Convenience Stores and the Scottish Grocers Federation, the trade bodies have called for a valuation system that is transparent, up to date, and cost effective.
Mar
11
MPs Approve Plain Packaging Regulations
Regulations enforcing standardised tobacco packaging have been approved by MPs by 367 to 113, majority 254, in a free vote in the House of Commons.
Mar
11
ACS Welcomes EU’s Fairer Card Fee Rules
ACS has welcomed measures to cap the costs retailers face when processing debit and credit cards.
Mar
10
MPs and ACS Call for Universal Carrier Bag Charge
MPs have spoken out against Government plans to exclude small businesses from the 5p carrier bag charge in a parliamentary debate this morning (10th March). In the debate, Dan Rogerson MP refused to acknowledge the concerns raised by both MPs and business groups, making no comment on the widespread support for a universal carrier bag charge.
ACS has called for all businesses to be included in the ban to ensure consistency for retailers and consumers alike. Under Government plans, businesses with fewer than 250 employees will be exempt from the ban.
