News

Today (7th September) First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addressed the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Programme for Government, setting out legislative priorities for 2021/22, including plans to introduce a Retail Strategy.

The First Minister stated that the new Retail Strategy aims to help the sector innovate, thrive and support local supply chains. The Programme for Government includes plans to revitalise local communities through the development of ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ where essential services can be accessed within a short walk or cycle.

To celebrate Halloween this year, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has unveiled a new on-pack promotion for Fanta, giving consumers the chance to win epic prizes or scary surprises. 

The on-pack promotion will help retailers tap into consumer demand for soft drinks at Halloween –specifically flavoured carbonates, which enjoyed an extra £5.5m in sales in the run up to Halloween last year. 

The campaign will capitalise on Fanta’s longstanding popularity during the spooky season, in fact 1 in 4 flavoured carbonates purchased in October 2020 was a Fanta.  

Book your place at the launch of the 2021 Local Shop Report, taking place in Birmingham and as a virtual event on 8^th September.

The launch event will explore the findings of this year's report and provide a comprehensive look at the stores, people and services within the convenience sector.

The event will feature a panel session with a group of leading convenience retailers to reflect on the findings of this year’s report and to find out about the running of a convenience store first-hand.

Confirmed speakers include:

The Association of Convenience Stores has announced the appointment of SPAR Managing Director Louise Hoste as its new chair from November, with award winning independent retailer Ramesh Shingadia continuing in the role of vice chair.

Louise Hoste will succeed Central England Co-Operative Chief Executive Debbie Robinson as chair of the board. Debbie has served as chair since November 2019 and will remain on the ACS board.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched new guidance for the convenience sector to provide retailers with practical advice on how to support wellbeing for themselves and their colleagues.

Launched today (31^st August) the Wellbeing Guide has been developed in collaboration with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing (WWCW) to provide guidance for retailers of all sizes about practical steps to take on the shop floor to improve staff retention and customer service via a healthy, engaged workforce.

Bookings are now open for the ACS’ Power, Mobility and Convenience conference, taking place virtually on 14th September.

This year’s conference will explore the future of power and mobility and will provide the opportunity for delegates to hear from expert speakers as they discuss the issues currently affecting forecourt retailers and issues they may face in the future.

ACS is encouraging convenience retailers operating in Scotland to sign up with Circularity Scotland to stay up to date with information surrounding the introduction of a deposit return scheme.

Circularity Scotland is the appointed scheme administrator for the deposit return scheme, currently scheduled to come into effect in summer 2022.

Unless exempt, all retailers in Scotland will be required to take back containers once the scheme comes into force. All retailers will be required to charge the 20p deposit on eligible containers.

ACS has responded to a HM Treasury consultation on business rates, welcoming the proposed move to more frequent revaluations and using the business rates system to better incentivise investment.

In its submission, ACS welcomes the planned move to three yearly revaluations, as it would act as a better indication of how rateable values are tracking against the property market. Currently, business rates are reviewed every five years unless they’re delayed by Government.

ACS has welcomed the introduction of a new statutory offence in Scotland for assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker.

The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-Restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act, initially proposed by Daniel Johnson MSP, was backed unanimously by MSPs in January and comes into force today. ACS has supported colleagues at the shopworkers union Usdaw and the Scottish Grocers Federation who have led the campaign for this legislation.

The following has been provided by ACS supplier member Pepsico: 

Walkers is celebrating loved local restaurants with the launch of new limited-edition Local Taste Icons flavours – delicious crunch-sized versions of the most-loved local restaurant dishes. Rolling out from mid-August, the line-up has been inspired by four standout local restuarants and includes: