News
ACS Encourages Retailers to Prepare for Refrigeration Changes
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming refrigeration changes that will be in force from the beginning of January and encouraging them to make sure that their store is prepared for the new regulations.
The EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation (also known as the EU F-Gas Regulation), will ban the use of refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 2,500 or more in certain refrigeration units. It will also ban refrigeration technicians from servicing these units.
Read MoreACS Calls on Retailers to Respond to the 2020 Crime Survey
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on retailers to share their experiences of retail crime over the last 12 months in their 2020 Crime Survey.
The survey examines the impact that crime has on the convenience sector looking at how crime is affecting retailers, number of incidents experienced and how much crime has cost businesses over the last year. The survey also considers the causes of these crimes and the measures retailers have in place to prevent crime in their stores.
Read MoreACS: Entries Now Open for 2020 Technology Showcase!
Entries are now open for ACS’ 2020 Technology Showcase, taking place on 5th February in Birmingham.
ACS' Technology Showcase will bring together retailers and suppliers to hear first-hand about exciting innovations in the convenience sector which retailers can use to improve their customers’ shopping experience or help them with the day to day running of their store. The Showcase will also explore the impact that technology has on local shops and the work that ACS is doing to help in this key area.
Read MoreACS: Scottish Deposit Return Scheme Must Consider Impact on Small Shops
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a report from the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee which has called for further clarity from the Scottish Government on the proposed regulations of a deposit return scheme.
The Committee’s report published today (10th December) acknowledged the key role that small retailers will play in delivering an effective deposit return scheme and is “keen to ensure that small retailers are not bearing a disproportionate burden of making DRS work”.
Read MoreACS: Welsh Government to Remove Rates Relief on ATMs
The Welsh Government has announced plans to proceed with an Order to remove Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) from ATMs as of April next year.
The decision follows a consultation launched by the Welsh Government which sought views on the Non-Domestic Rating (Small Business Relief) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2019 and the provision of free-to-use ATMs and access to cash in Wales.
Read MoreInvestment Levels in Convenience Sector Fall By One Quarter over Past Year
Convenience retailers are responding with caution to continued uncertainty around the Brexit process and the upcoming General Election by delaying and scaling back on investments in their stores over the last year.
Figures from the Association of Convenience Stores’ Investment Tracker show that in the 12 months to November 2019, the UK’s 46,000 local shops have invested £558m in their businesses, down from £737m in the previous year – a year on year decline of 24%.
Read MoreACS: Convenience Stores are Vital to Welsh Communities and Economy
New research launched today (3rd December) by the Association of Convenience Stores has revealed the important role that convenience stores play to both the economy and local communities in Wales.
The 2020 Welsh Local Shop Report revealed that 62% of local shops in Wales operate in rural locations, providing essential services to their local communities, including bill payment services (79%), cash machines (68%) and Post Offices (25%).
Read MoreACS Encourages Retailers to Host Store Visits with their Local Candidates
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to host store visits during the General Election campaign 2019 with their local candidates to communicate the important economic and social contribution that convenience retailers make to their communities.
Hosting a store visit is an effective way for retailers to ensure that their local candidates are aware of the issues that affect their business and can also help them to understand how to support the people and businesses in the convenience sector.
Read MoreOver Half of Convenience Stores Providing Water Refills for Customers
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has highlighted the convenience sector’s commitment to providing free water refills to customers in response to a new report from Greenpeace.
Read MoreConservatives Launch Manifesto ahead of 2019 General Election
The Conservative Party have launched their manifesto ahead of the General Election, pledging to ‘unleash Britain’s potential’ after leaving the European Union.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched the manifesto at an event in the West Midlands on Sunday afternoon, guaranteeing that he would get the current Brexit deal through Parliament if the General Election returned a Conservative majority.
Some of the headline policies and commitments made in the manifesto that could affect local shops include:
Employment
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