News

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, calling for better regulation of the energy market and greater protections for small businesses.

In the submission, ACS has highlighted the need for tougher regulation of energy suppliers which will then in turn provide businesses with clarity on their billing, payment options, data transparency, contract terms, and termination.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Low Pay Commission to establish a new emergency brake mechanism for wage rates if increases have a negative impact on businesses and the wider labour market.

Local shops have urged Members of the Senedd in Wales to ensure that the operation of a planned deposit return scheme in Wales should be consistent with schemes in the rest of the UK.

Addressing a meeting of the Welsh Cross Party Group on Small Shops, ACS has today shared some of the challenges of introducing a scheme that will be workable and sustainable for consumers, retailers and suppliers, as well as detailed guidance originally drafted for Scotland on the detailed considerations and adaptations that retailers have to make when providing return points in store.

The dust has settled a little on the postponement of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme until October 2025, and the collapse of Circularity Scotland. Our Government Relations Director Ed Woodall has been at the heart of discussions on DRS in Scotland and across the UK, so I’m passing this blog to him to reflect on what we’ve learned and where we go next…

Entries are now open for this year’s Raj Aggarwal Trophy, a trophy awarded to convenience retailers who have been exceptional in community retailing and helping their fellow retailers.

The trophy was first launched in 2021 to mark the legacy of independent retailer Raj Aggarwal.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is highlighting the negative impact that anti-social behaviour has on the convenience sector and local communities. 
 
This week (3rd -9th July) is ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour) Awareness Week which aims to raise awareness about the detrimental impact that anti-social behaviour has on people and encourages communities to take a stand against this type of behaviour.
 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on increasing levels of transparency for consumers in the UK fuel market.

ACS has welcomed proposals from the Food Standards Agency on modernising food hygiene enforcement activity, highlighting the importance of Assured Advice as a mark of a responsible business.

 The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is consulting on ways to ensure that enforcement resources are focused on the businesses that pose the greatest risk to consumers, as well as updating their processes to give more flexibility for officers to monitor the rating and risk of businesses.

ACS has welcomed the passing of new legislation to ensure a minimum level of free access to cash, ensuring people can continue to conveniently withdraw and deposit cash, following the rapid rate of bank branch and ATM closures.

Retailers are being urged to prepare for the introduction of the King Charles III banknotes which are due to enter circulation by mid-2024.

The King’s portrait will appear on all four of our polymer banknotes (£5, £10, £20 and £50) and the new banknotes can be checked in the same way as the polymer notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II. There are no plans to withdraw the banknotes featuring Queen Elizabeth II, meaning the two designs will co-circulate.