News

Content Supplied by Aryzta: 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes which comes into force in two weeks, despite the ongoing situation with the coronavirus outbreak.

From 20^th May, the following will be banned:

• Menthol cigarettes (this includes capsule, click on, click & roll, crushball or dual menthol cigarettes)
• Cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco which has been packaged with flavoured filters or papers

The ban does not affect the sale of:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has provided evidence to two Parliamentary Inquiries which explore the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and the food supply chain, highlighting the vital role that local shops have played in feeding communities.

The House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s inquiry looks at the impact of the outbreak on businesses and workers.

Content Supplied by Pladis: 

Since the country went into lockdown we have seen biscuit sales soar as people are at home together, drinking more tea and coffee and having a cheeky biscuit to keep up their spirits.

The Coronavirus pandemic has already started to alter the way that consumers shop. This began with shoppers’ strong desire to stock up on essential items, and was followed by a movement towards less frequent, higher-spend shops as consumers across the UK restricted the amount of time spent outside their homes.  

Content Supplied by EnergyBillKill: 

New figures released by the Association of Convenience Stores today show that local shops across Britain have stepped up to keep their communities going during the coronavirus crisis, making over 600,000 grocery deliveries a week.

Before the coronavirus crisis, figures from the 2019 ACS Local Shop Report suggested that a little over one in ten convenience stores provided a home delivery service. This figure has since skyrocketed, with around two thirds of local shops now offering some form of delivery.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has developed a resource to help convenience retailers work with councils to provide support to the vulnerable customers living in their communities.

Retailers can fill in the ‘Retailer Services Checklist’ with details about the products, services and support that they have available for their customers, particularly those who may be more vulnerable or who are self-isolating.

Content Supplied by Philip Morris Limited:

Philip Morris Limited (PML) has revealed further details of its ‘Buy-Back’ system to support retailers following the ban on menthol cigarettes, as IQOS Menthol Kits become available to stock. 

The ‘Buy-Back’ system will allow retailers to return Philip Morris menthol cigarette packs which have had all UK duty paid, and be in plain packaging. The Philip Morris packs eligible for the system include Marlboro Green, Marlboro Ice Blast and Chesterfield Green.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on retailers to respond to the National Living Wage Survey 2020.

To respond to the survey, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ACSNLWSurvey2020

The closing date for the survey is 6^th May 2020. All responses are confidential.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the launch of a new £1.5 million fund from GroceryAid to help grocery colleagues deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

GroceryAid is a national charity offering emotional, financial and practical advice and support on a range of issues for all grocery colleagues and their immediate families.

The new fund aims to provide help to colleagues in three key ways: