News

In recent weeks, the Chancellor has come under fire from all sides over the impact of the business rates revaluation, with many claiming that the impact on their businesses could be catastrophic. In the convenience sector, as with many others, the reality is that there will be both winners and losers when the new rates take effect in April.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to ensure that their stores are ready for the introduction of the new £1 coin next month.

ACS took part in a roundtable meeting this morning (28 February) with Treasury Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe to report on the levels of readiness in the convenience sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has briefed peers ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on a new Bill which would require local authorities to consult with community stakeholders before putting up parking charges in their area.

A group of organisations representing over 100,000 businesses has written to all MPs expressing concern about the impact that changes to business rates will have on their members in April.

The letter highlights the issues that thousands of businesses are facing as a result of the revaluation, with many due to receive significant increases in their rates bills.

The group is calling for action in the following areas:

ACS has given evidence to the House of Lords Finance Bill sub-committee on the Making Tax Digital proposals, urging the Government to extend the timeframes for transferring business tax accounting onto digital platforms.

The proposals, originally published through six consultation documents in August 2016, aim to introduce a fully digital tax system with the intention of reducing errors in tax reporting.

The Home Office, fuel retailers and police have come together to tackle the £36 million annual cost of fuel theft on the UK’s petrol forecourts.

The impact that fuel theft is having on the sector has sparked industry groups, including the Association of Convenience Stores, the Petrol Retailers Association and the Downstream Fuel Association into action to develop new guidance to support fuel retailers in training their staff to prevent drive offs and report incidents to the police using a new standard reporting form.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a report from the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee which calls on the Government to delay the implementation of mandatory digital tax reporting.

In the report, the Committee states that the initially proposed timetable of April 2018 for most businesses to be reporting tax digitally is over-ambitious, and could result in unnecessary costs and administrative burdens for businesses.

Other recommendations in the report include:

ACS has produced comprehensive new guidance for retailers on the upcoming changes to tobacco retailing coming into force as part of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive and Standardised Packaging legislation.

From 20th May 2016, manufacturers are only able to produce tobacco in standardised packaging and in a minimum pack size of 20, with restrictions also being put in place for roll your own tobacco. Retailers have a sell-through period of one year to May 2017 in which to ensure that all of their stock is compliant with the new regulations.

As retailers prepare for Christmas, ACS is urging retailers to ensure that they are aware of products that have age restrictions on them.

Convenience store retailers have made record investments in their business over the last three months ahead of expected price rises in the New Year and despite rising costs, according to new research from ACS.

Over the last three months, retailers have invested almost £300m on measures to improve their business, with the total amount invested in 2016 reaching £838m.