ACS chief executive James Lowman has called on the government to recognise the importance of domestic issues like crime, employment costs and the convenience sector’s role in helping protect the environment.
Oct
17
Other
Oct
12
Welsh Cross Party Group Highlights Impact of Crime on Retailers and their Staff
Representatives from the retail sector have told the Cross Party Group on Small Shops in Wales of the serious human and financial cost of crimes committed against retailers and the people working in stores.
The meeting of the CPG on Small Shops heard from representatives from the Association of Convenience Stores, the Welsh Retail Consortium, the Shopworkers Union USDAW and Gwent Police on the impact of shop theft, violence and abuse on the retail sector, as well as ways that the police and justice system can do more to tackle and prevent retail crime.
Oct
10
MP Proposes Bill to Protect Retail Workers from Assaults and Abuse
ACS has welcomed a bill tabled in parliament to protect retail workers who sell age restricted products.
Labour MP Alex Norris, proposing the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill on Tuesday evening, told ministers that retail staff who police the sale of restricted items such as alcohol and knives need extra legal protections, and that those choosing to attack retail workers should face "greater punishment”.
Oct
10
ACS Gives Evidence to HCLG Committee; Calls on Government to Incentivise Investment
ACS has given evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s inquiry on high streets, explaining the need for retail businesses to invest and change, and calling for reform of business rates to incentivise this investment.
Oct
09
ACS Welcomes #LeedsByExample Recycling Initiative Launch
ACS has welcomed the launch of an initiative aimed at improving on-the-go recycling options in the centre of Leeds, where recycling reward machines, 'bubble-blowing' bins, and recycling collection bikes are to be rolled out from today.
The 'Leeds by Example' campaign is aimed at providing consumers with a means of recycling plastic bottles, drinks cans, coffee cups, and other packaging from goods consumed while out on the streets or in public places. At present, only 42 per cent of local authorities provide on-the-go recycling facilities in the UK.
Oct
08
Book Now for Heart of the Community 2018!
Book your free place at ACS’ unmissable political event, the Heart of the Community Conference 2018, which will offer retailers key insights into how the latest political agenda could impact their businesses.
The conference has moved to a new venue at the heart of Westminster, 1 Birdcage Walk, taking place on 16th October from 12-4pm. The conference will bring together retailers from across the country to address the policy issues that really matter for the sector, focusing on tackling retail crime, acting on the environment and the future of work in the sector.
Oct
05
UK Forecourt Sector Employs 95,000 People; Generates Over £4.1bn in Last Year
The 2018 Forecourt Report has revealed the essential role that the UK's 8,418 forecourts play in the lives of consumers, the improvements that forecourts are making in their businesses, and the challenges they face in the future.
The report details the investment that forecourt stores are making in improving their offering to customers through new technologies, more efficient refrigeration and a wider food offer, with over £11,000 invested per store on average.
Other key findings from the report include:
Oct
03
ACS Calls for Retention of Access to Cash for Consumers and Businesses
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Access to Cash Review, which is seeking views on the cash access requirements for consumers and businesses over the next five to fifteen years.
In the submission, ACS calls for retention of the ATM network to meet the demand for cash as a form of payment. The majority of convenience stores trade in locations where they are one of a limited number of shops and services, often providing the only source of cash access for consumers.
Oct
03
Chief Executive's Blog: Thoughts From Party Conference Season
It feels like a bit of a fool’s errand trying to pick out from party conference season the hard policy news related to convenience stores. Let’s not kid ourselves, these events aren’t about setting a detailed policy agenda, they are about big messages played to the base of activists and to the media, and ambitious politicians raising their profile with both of those audiences. This year’s agenda – in truth not unlike the past few years – has been so dominated by Britain’s exit from the European Union that the headlines aren’t really being made by retail issues.
Oct
01
ACS Reminds Retailers of Food Allergen Labelling Responsibilities
ACS is reminding retailers to ensure that they are providing all of the necessary information about allergens in the food that they sell after an inquest found that allergen labelling from sandwich chain Pret a Manger was inadequate. The inquest came after the death of a customer who had an allergic reaction to sesame from a product that was not labelled as containing any.
ACS Assured Advice on food safety and hygiene includes details on how to protect customers from allergic reactions to food. There are 14 allergens covered by the law, which are:
