The Bank of England will be withdrawing legal tender status of the paper £20 and £50 notes after 30 September 2022, and we are encouraging anyone who has these at home to spend or deposit them at their bank or Post Office.
Sep
30
September 2021
Sep
27
Business Secretary Announces Further Measures to Alleviate Short Term Fuel Issues
ACS has met with the Business Secretary alongside other representatives in the fuel industry, highlighting the current issues with demand.
As a result, Businesses Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has agreed to implement a measure to temporarily exempt industry from the Competition Act 1998 for the purpose of sharing information and optimising supply.
Known as The Downstream Oil Protocol, this step will allow Government to work constructively with fuel producers, suppliers, hauliers and retailers to ensure that disruption is minimised as far as possible.
Sep
24
Plunkett Foundation Launches Rural Community Business Awards
Community run convenience stores can enter and get involved in the Plunkett Foundation’s Rural Community Business Awards launched today (24th September). The awards aim to celebrate the UK’s finest examples of community-owned pubs, shops and businesses and their amazing contribution to the communities they serve.
Awards will be given for the following categories:
Sep
24
ACS: One Week Until Natasha’s Law Comes into Force
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers to ensure they are prepared for the introduction of Natasha’s Law.
From 1st October 2021, any food that is prepared on site and pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) will need to be labelled with the name of the food and a full ingredients list.
Foods that are pre-packed for direct sale are packaged at the same place that they are offered for sale or sold to customers.
Examples of PPDS foods include:
Sep
23
Local Shops Offer Secure and Flexible Employment Opportunities
ACS has welcomed a new consultation launched today by the Government on enhancing flexible working rights and making the right to request flexible working, a day one right.
Convenience stores provide local, secure and flexible employment to 392,000 people across the country, 64% of whom have childcare or family commitments that need to flex around their work.
Sep
23
Trade and Industry Bodies Call for Government to Protect Access to Cash
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has signed an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak alongside a group of organisations collectively representing hundreds of thousands of small businesses, millions of consumers to take urgent action to protect access to cash.
Key recommendations from the letter include:
Sep
22
Supplier News: Mondelēz International Announces UK Cadbury Dairy Milk Packaging Set to be Made with Recycled Plastic
Content supplied by Mondelez:
Mondelēz International announced that Cadbury Dairy Milk made in Bournville and sold in the UK and Ireland is to be made with packaging containing up to 30% recycled plastic.
Cadbury, the UK’s biggest food brand, will roll out the packaging innovation on more than 28 million sharing bars in 2022.
Sep
21
ACS: Wellbeing Guide for Retailers and Colleagues
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched new guidance for the convenience sector to provide retailers with practical advice on how to support wellbeing for themselves and their colleagues.
The Wellbeing Guide has been developed in collaboration with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing (WWCW) to provide guidance for retailers of all sizes about practical steps to take on the shop floor to improve staff retention and customer service via a healthy, engaged workforce.
The guide looks at eight key areas of wellbeing, which are:
Sep
20
ACS Launches New Vaccine Policy Posters for Local Shops
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched new posters to help retailers communicate national vaccination policies to their colleagues. The posters can be used by retailers to encourage colleagues to take up their opportunity to have their flu and Covid-19 vaccinations.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience retailers have worked tirelessly to ensure that they can continue to serve their communities while keeping their staff and customers safe.
Sep
16
Book Your Place at ACS’ Heart of the Community!
Book your place at ACS' Heart of the Community conference, taking from 11.30am – 6.00pm on 18th October at One Great George Street, Westminster.
ACS’ unmissable political conference will bring together over 200 retailers and will address sustainability for local shops and the emerging politics which will impact stores beyond the pandemic.
Ben Page, Ipsos MORI chief executive, has been confirmed to address the conference and will explore the changing political landscape. Ben has worked with Government and Opposition Ministers to examine consumer trends and public behaviour.
