ACS has urged the Government to recognise the importance of rural shops and ensure that they are not left playing catch up when it comes to being able to provide services to their customers.

The 2021 ACS Rural Shop Report has revealed how crucial the UK’s 17,000+ rural shops are to their local communities, with findings from this year’s report showing that throughout 2020, rural consumers have increasingly used their local shop for a wider range of products, and one in five reporting that they depend on their local shop more now than a year ago.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to rethink its plans to put a £26m cost burden on around 2,000 independent retailers as part of its Obesity Strategy proposals.

The latest iteration of the Government’s Obesity Strategy includes a range of measures aimed at encouraging adults to change their purchasing behaviour, diet and lifestyle, with specific proposals aimed at retailers such as:

Book your place at ACS’ Crime Seminar, taking place virtually between 10-11.15am on 23rd March 2021.

The event will feature the launch of the 2021 Crime Report, provide the opportunity to hear about best practice from industry experts and explore how the sector is working to tackle crime.

Minister for Crime and Policing Kit Malthouse has been confirmed to address the seminar to talk about action the Government is taking on retail crime and violence, including ACS’ work in partnership with the Home Office. 

Small Business Minister Paul Scully MP has told the Association of Convenience Stores that he is ‘deeply shocked’ by the abuse and violence faced by people working in local shops.

In a letter to ACS CEO James Lowman, the Minister highlighted the ‘tremendous effort’ that convenience stores have made in adapting and innovating during the pandemic, paying tribute to those retailers that have ‘gone out of their way to support the more vulnerable members of the community during this time’.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Minister for Rural Affairs has been confirmed to provide a keynote address at the event, reflecting on the findings of the report and detailing the Government’s plans to support rural shops.

Taking place virtually on 23rd February, ACS’ Rural Shop Report launch event will provide an insight into the essential role that rural shops play in their local communities and to the wider economy.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has joined a number of business organisations to raise concerns on Government plans to allow retail uses within town centres and local parades to be converted into housing without planning permission.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has confirmed the date for its annual Crime Seminar, which will take place virtually between 10-11.15am on 23^rd March 2021.

The event will feature the launch of the 2021 Crime Report, provide the opportunity to hear about best practice from industry experts and explore how the sector is working to tackle crime.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) consultation on the interim report for its market review into the supply of card acquiring services.

The interim report made a number of proposals:

ACS has joined retailers and trade bodies in calls for the business rates system to be reformed to make it fairer for physical stores.

In an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, published this morning, 18 groups including ACS, BIRA, USDAW, Tesco and Waterstones have called on the Government to make fundamental changes to the way that business rates are collected so that physical stores aren’t at a disadvantage compared to online retailers.

The letter makes the following specific recommendations:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has appointed two new directors as new representatives from the Co-op and from BP.

Hanna Hofer, Vice President of BP’s UK operations and dealer business is taking over as their representative from Dave Newton, who is leaving for a Europe-wide role with BP. Hanna has most recently worked with BP in Shanghai and before that in various roles in the UK and Europe.