January 2022

ACS has hailed the incredible contribution of colleagues working in convenience stores across Wales as part of the launch of its 2022 Welsh Local Shop Report. 

There are almost 3,000 convenience stores in Wales, the vast majority of which are independent businesses trading at the heart of their communities. Despite ongoing supply chain disruption, challenges with the pandemic and turbulence in the labour market, Welsh local shops have continued to provide an essential service for their customers due to the incredible efforts made by the sector’s 25,000 colleagues. 

Back in the Summer I wrote a blog about the problems we were starting to see on staff absences, and how the testing and isolation notifications (the “pingdemic”) we were seeing would cause real problems in the supply chain and stores if not addressed. Sadly, I was proven right to a large extent and we sleepwalked into a Summer that was far harder than it needed to be.

Book your free place at ACS’ Responsible Retailing Forum 2022, taking place on Tuesday 8th February 2022 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in Reading.

The event will run from 10am until 2.30pm and will consist of three sessions on; the Delivery of a Deposit Returns Scheme, the Future of Responsible Retailing and the implementation of the Governments promotion and location restrictions on High Fat Salt Sugar products.

Book your place at the launch of ACS’ 2022 Welsh Local Shop Report, taking place virtually on 12^th January, 10 – 11am.

This virtual launch event will explore the findings of the 2022 report, taking a look at the stores, people and services shaping local shops in Wales.

The event will include a speech from Economy Minister Vaughan Gething about the Welsh Government’s plans to support local shops and the Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths will talk about the positive impact of local shops on their communities throughout the pandemic.