ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has developed new guidance to help convenience retailers to support customers who are grocery shopping on behalf of others during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Launched today (21st April) the new guidance has been developed to inform convenience retailers about best practice on offering and processing ‘card not present’ payments during the COVID-19 outbreak for volunteers purchasing groceries on behalf of vulnerable customers or people self-isolating.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes which comes into force in one month, despite the ongoing situation with the coronavirus outbreak.
From 20th May 2020, it will be an offence for manufacturers to produce menthol cigarettes and retailers to sell menthol cigarettes as part of the European Union Revised Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU).
Today (20th April) the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme opened, meaning employers can now submit their applications for funding for a grant to cover 80% of the salary of workers furloughed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Under the scheme, retailers can apply for a grant to cover 80% of furloughed workers’ wage costs up to a cap of £2,500 per month, as well as National Insurance and auto-enrolment pension contributions for that wage.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a letter from Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, to those working in retail during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In the open letter to the retail sector, Alok Sharma MP outlines the support that has been made available by the Government for retailers and thanks those working in and running stores.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published new sector-specific guidance for businesses on ensuring that they keep customers and colleagues at a safe distance from each other.
The full guidance is available here.Key points from the guidance are included below.
General Retail Guidance on Social Distancing
ACS has launched a new campaign this week, calling on convenience store retailers to report those who are attempting to raise prices unfairly and take advantage of consumers during the Covid-19 outbreak.
ACS is urging retailers to report any instances they see to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), who have set up a taskforce on the issue in response to complaints about price hikes from consumers.
ACS has developed guidance for retailers in the convenience sector who are looking to provide home delivery for customers, including new information on vehicle insurance requirements.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is outlining the business rates and cash grant support measures that have been made available for retailers in response to the developing situation of the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19).
The funding that has been made available is detailed below:
England
The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates are increasing today, following recommendations made to the Government by the Low Pay Commission (LPC).
From today, the new rates are as follows:
From today (1st April) the contactless card payment limit in shops is increasing to £45 as part of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Shoppers will now be able to make contactless card payments of up to £45 per transaction, an increase of £15 from the previous £30 limit which was implemented in 2015.
An increased limit was already being considered but the process has been accelerated as part of the industry’s response to Covid-19.
