From today (15th October) the contactless payment limit in shops is increasing from £45 to £100 with the aim to make in store purchases more convenient.
Contactless payments allow shoppers to pay for goods or services by tapping their debit or credit card onto a card terminal without having to input their PIN.
The contactless limit increased from £30 to £45 in April last year as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
ACS has reiterated its calls on the Government to make business rates reform a priority in response to reports that changes have been pushed back beyond the Autumn Budget.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding convenience retailers to ensure that they are aware of the rules and guidelines that apply to the sale and storage of fireworks.
Retailers must apply for permission to store fireworks from their local trading standards service or fire authority. If permission to store fireworks is granted, then fireworks can be sold within the following dates:
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has announced the finalists of the Raj Aggarwal Award, a new trophy marking the legacy of independent retailer Raj Aggarwal.
The trophy will be awarded to retailers who have been exceptional in community retailing and helping their fellow retailers.
The finalists are:
Book your place at ACS' Heart of the Community conference, taking from 11.00am – 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.
In its’ submission to the Autumn Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the Government to introduce tax reform measures that will help convenience retailers invest in the future of their business, including the extension of 100% business rate relief to all businesses with a rateable value of under £51,000.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the new allergen law that comes into force today.
From 1st October, any food that is prepared on site and pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) must 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:
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.
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.
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:
