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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to provide more support for rural convenience stores as part of the levelling up agenda, highlighting the vital role that these businesses play to the economy and to their local communities.

Book your place at the launch of ACS’ 2022 Rural Shop Report, taking place virtually on Tuesday 25th January.

The launch event will explore the findings of the report, providing a comprehensive overview of rural shops in the convenience sector and the role that they play in communities across the UK.

DEFRA Minister for Rural Affairs Lord Benyon has been confirmed to speak at the launch and will outline the government’s vision for the rural economy, from supporting entrepreneurship, incentivising investment and meeting environmental ambitions.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the publication of correspondence from the Treasury Committee which sheds further light on the increasing cost of card payments for businesses in the UK.

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.