News

Tickets are now available for the 2016 Local Shop Report launch, taking place on 7^th September at Hotel Football in Manchester. The Local Shop Report is ACS’ flagship research project, bringing together information from trusted sources in the convenience sector with brand new information about the people running stores.

The following information features in ACS’ Assured Advice guide on managing food safety and hygiene. More information about Assured Advice and how to sign up to the scheme is available in the Advice section of the ACS website.

Retailers who provide a food to go service for customers must protect those customers that suffer from allergic reactions to food. There are 14 allergens covered by the law – they are:

Video analytics solutions provider VCA Technology has reinforced its commitment to convenience retailing in the UK, by becoming a Club member of the Association of Convenience Stores.

The move follows the company’s recent appointment of Andy Frost as Retail Sales Manager - Europe

The Department for Communities and Local Government have published their response to a consultation on reforming the business rates system, making recommendations for a more transparent, streamlined appeals process.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are pleased that the Government have listened to our concerns about delivering a more transparent rating system in order to resolve retailers’ rating appeals as early as possible.  We welcome that Government has also dedicated resource to support the smallest businesses get fast tracked through the rating system.”

A new pilot scheme is being launched in Gloucestershire to help high street businesses to work together to build their digital presence and promote their stores to customers.  The pilot is linked to the government's Future High Streets Forum, of which ACS is a board member.

The pilot will initially focus on Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud, and will 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 this Friday (20^th May 2016), manufacturers will only be 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 in which to ensure that all of their stock is compliant with the new regulations.

The Government has set out its legislative agenda for the upcoming parliament, confirming the introduction of proposals announced by the Chancellor and Prime Minister over the last year including the local retention of business rates and a new levy on soft drinks.

The new Local Growth and Jobs Bill will put a framework in place to allow local authorities to retain 100% of the business rates they levy. Mayors will also be given the power to raise additional funding for infrastructure projects if they have the support of local businesses.

ACS is calling on convenience retailers to engage with their newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners and work with them on raising the profile and importance of crime against their businesses, especially on the issue of penalties for shop theft offences.

Ahead of the elections on May 5^th, ACS contacted a number of candidates across England and Wales, asking them to commit to a series of measures that would help local shops deal with crime in their area.

The commitments were:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to take advantage of a new platform to allow them to train their staff on Assured Advice.

The platform, which has been developed by online learning company Bolt, will allow any ACS member to sign up to the Assured Advice scheme and benefit from both the assurance of the guides and industry leading training modules for staff members.

ACS has called on the Government to go further in their Red Tape Review to ensure that local authorities are consistent in their approach to enforcement, as well as removing the costly and unnecessary burdens experienced by licensed retailers.

In the submission, ACS welcomes the Government’s intention to remove £10 billion worth of regulation over the course of this Parliament but has highlighted that the local enforcement and interpretation of regulations cause significant problems for retailers in addition to the regulations themselves.