News

ACS has welcomed the publication of a new report from the Lords Rural Economy Select Committee which calls for more action to be taken to support rural shops.

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy’s Report raises a number of concerns about the way that rural shops and other businesses are disproportionately negatively affected when it comes to policy and provision of services. Recommendations to the Government made in the report include:

Book your place at this year’s Responsible Retailing Forum, taking place on 15^th May at the King Power Stadium, Leicester from 10am until 3pm.

ACS’ Responsible Retailing Forum provides ACS members with the opportunity to hear from policy makers, retailers and other stakeholders about the latest compliance issues affecting the convenience sector as well as emerging policy issues. 

This year’s forum will focus on protecting the environment, healthy eating and the future of regulation.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to new figures from the Office for National Statistics’ annual Crime Survey for England and Wales, reiterating calls on retailers to report incidents of shop theft when they occur.

According to the ONS survey, which covers the whole of retail, the number of police recorded shop theft incidents for the year ending December 2018 decreased by 3% to 374,895 offences.

ACS is calling on retailers to respond to the National Living Wage Survey 2019.

ACS has launched new guidance for retailers to help them comply with upcoming tobacco track and trace regulations.

From today (23^rd April), retailers with multiple sites will be able to apply for the codes that they need to be able to purchase compliant tobacco after the regulations come into force next month.  

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging more retailers to accept Healthy Start vouchers, currently only one third of independent retailers take advantage of the scheme.

Healthy Start is a government initiative which provides pregnant women and parents with young children, who are in receipt of qualifying benefits, Healthy Start vouchers. These vouchers can be used to purchase milk, fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk from local shops which have signed up to the scheme.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has announced a new partnership with the University of Surrey’s Department of Marketing and Retail Management to offer the first ever Diploma in Convenience Retailing. 

The programme is aimed at anyone looking to develop their expertise in convenience retailing, whether it be area managers in retail and wholesale, sales specialists in FMCG companies, rising stars in independent retail or consultants with a keen interest in the sector. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to get involved with this year’s Great British Spring Clean. This year's campaign runs from 22nd March for a month until 23rd April. 

Last year, over 370,000 people collected 650,000 bags of rubbish across Great Britain and this year the aim is to get over half a million people involved in the campaign.

ACS has launched the National Living Wage Survey 2019 and is calling on retailers to respond.

Taking place today in Birmingham, Summit19 is the definitive convenience event which provides fantastic opportunities to connect with new people in the industry and gain insight about the future of our sector.

This year’s Summit consists of two sessions: