News

Book your place at the ACS Technology Showcase 2019, taking place on February 5th in Manchester.

This popular event brings the best UK convenience retailers together to hear exclusive insights into new and innovative developments in technology which retailers can use in their stores to improve their customers’ shopping experience and help with the day to day running of the store.

Suppliers also have the chance to exhibit their exciting innovations to retailers.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to get involved with GroceryAid’s first awareness day, taking place on 26^th February.

This annual event aims to ensure that colleagues working in the grocery industry know that they have a place to turn to if they are in need of help and support.

GroceryAid is a national charity offering emotional, financial and practical advice and support on a range of issues for all grocery colleagues and their immediate families.

The Welsh Government have published a new consultation, considering a range of proposals to encourage people to change their eating habits and be more active, including a ban on energy drinks to customers under the age of 16.

Other measures proposed in the ‘Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales’ consultation published today (January 17^th) include:

The Plunkett Foundation, a national charity focusing on rural communities, is celebrating 100 years of supporting community business.

The charity was established in 1919 by Sir Horace Plunkett, with the purpose of promoting a model of community ownership as a solution to rural problems.

To mark the centenary, Plunkett will be holding a series of events throughout 2019 and launching enhanced services and new collaborations across the sector. 

New research published today (15^th January) by ACS reveals the growing importance of local shops to people in Wales.

The 2019 Welsh Local Shop Report shows how convenience stores are supporting communities by providing thousands of jobs, stepping in to ensure that essential services like access to cash are still available, and investing millions to ensure that they stay relevant in the face of competition from larger stores and online businesses.

Key figures from the report include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on changing the planning system to allow for greater changes of use to support the high street to adapt and diversify.

ACS' submission supports a new use class (a category of property types for the planning system) which merges the A1 (shops), A2 (financial services) and A3 (food and drink) use classes to increase flexibility for retailers when developing services alongside their grocery offer. 

Camelot UK Lotteries Limited (‘Camelot’) today announced details of ‘Set For Life’ – a new draw-based game from The National Lottery that will offer a top prize of £10,000 a month for 30 years.

Tickets for the new game will cost £1.50 per line and will go on sale on Friday 15 March.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on reducing harms from high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products, raising concerns about proposals to restrict the location of confectionery, biscuits, crisps and other products can be sold

The consultation proposes a range of measures to restrict the ways that HFSS products can be sold, including restrictions on:

GroceryAid is reminding colleagues about their 24/7 free helpline (online via Live Chat and freephone 08088 021 122) which provides emotional support, problem solving, counselling services, relationship support and career advice.

Small retail businesses are welcoming the Government’s plans to extend the single use plastic carrier bag to small retailers in England. The Government’s consultation published today (Thursday 27^th December) sets out plans to extend the charge to small retailers by 2020 and seeks views on increasing the charge from 5p to 10p.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “We welcome the Government’s plans to extend carrier bag charging to all shops.”