News

Book your place at ACS’ biggest ever annual event, Conference23, taking place on 25th April at the Vox in Birmingham alongside the National Convenience Show.

ACS Conference23 is a must-attend event for anyone in the convenience sector looking to grow their business, build valuable relationships, and get exclusive insights on how to prepare for the future.

This year’s conference will feature two sessions with practical ideas for everyone to take back to their businesses, whether you’re a single site retailer or international supplier.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on people working in local shops to take part in its annual Colleague Survey.

The survey asks colleagues about their experience of working in the convenience sector, looking at a number of key areas including: job satisfaction, the most valuable benefits, work/life balance, and more.

ACS’ Colleague Survey is designed to:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Chancellor to take decisive action in the Budget on 15^th March to help keep the UK’s local shops open through 2023.

Book your free place at the launch of ACS’ Welsh Local Shop Report Launch, taking place on 9^th February at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff Bay.

The morning launch event will delve into the findings of the report and explore the important role that convenience stores play in the lives of customers and communities across Wales.

The 2023 Rural Shop Report has highlighted the crucial contribution that the UK’s 17,720 rural shops make to their communities and the need for targeted support from Government to ensure their long term future.

Launched today (January 24^th), the 2023 Rural Shop Report demonstrates the close links that rural retailers have with their communities, their importance as local employers, and the impact that store closures would have on the provision of groceries in rural and otherwise isolated areas.

Key findings from the 2023 Rural Shop Report include:

Business groups including the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and the British Independent Retail Association (BIRA), have written to the Business Secretary, calling on him to rethink plans to slash the support provided to shops, pubs and other local businesses amid fears of widespread closures in the summer.

ACS has welcomed the Government’s plans to guarantee the strategic placement of return points in its proposed deposit return scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

The new scheme, which is intended to come into force in October 2025, aims to significantly reduce the number of bottles, cans and other materials in scope being thrown away, with a target of 85% litter reduction in the three years after the scheme is introduced.

ACS (the Association of the Convenience Stores) is calling on the Government to take urgent action to provide Trading Standards with adequate resources to tackle the trade of illegal vaping products in the UK.

A new survey out today (19th January) has highlighted concerns from Trading Standards about the sale of illegal vapes and the sale of any vaping products to under-18s in the UK.

Research conducted in 2022 by ACS of enforcement officers in Trading Standards across the UK has shown that 61% don’t believe they have the resources to tackle the illicit tobacco market.

Book your place at ACS’ biggest ever annual event, Conference23, taking place on 25th April at the Vox in Birmingham alongside the National Convenience Show.

ACS Conference23 is a must-attend event for anyone in the convenience sector looking to grow their business, build valuable relationships, and get exclusive insights on how to prepare for the future.

This year’s conference will feature two sessions with practical ideas for everyone to take back to their businesses, whether you’re a single site retailer or international supplier.

The Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Small Shops held its annual general meeting today (17^th January) to elect the Chair, review the group’s activity and agree a plan for the coming year. 

Vikki Howells MS has been elected as Chair of the Cross Party Group on Small Shops Group and Russell George MS has been elected as Vice Chair. 

The core purpose of the group is to ensure that the voice of small shops is heard within the Welsh Parliament.