News

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to HM Treasury’s consultation on how the introduction of a tax or charge on plastics could be used to reduce the amount of single-use plastic.

Labour MP Ged Killen has tabled a new Bill seeking to ensure the provision of cash machines in the future, heavily criticising LINK’s decision to reduce the interchange fees paid to ATM operators.

The Bill seeks to provide a legal requirement for access to cash withdrawals through ATMs or other means where there is a demand for it. Such demand would be established through a full market review of the ATM network by the Payment Systems Regulator. The Bill would also remove charges for ATM transactions so that all ATMs would be free-to-use.

VegPower, a fund launched at the beginning of this month to encourage people to eat more vegetables has already reached over £35,000.

The marketing fund will use the top people in the advertising industry to create innovative digital campaigns targeted at children, with the aim of inspiring them to eat more vegetables. The crowdfund has been live for just over a week and has already reached £35,110. The aim is to raise a total of £100,000. More details about the crowdfund are available here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vegpower.

ACS’ Responsible Retailing Forum is now less than a week away, taking place on 16th May. The forum aims to provide convenience retailers with latest policy developments as well as the tools and knowledge to ensure that their stores are trading legally and responsibly.

This year’s Forum will focus on environmental issues, tobacco track and trace, changing age restrictions, and the latest alcohol policy update.

Speakers confirmed include:

ACS has welcomed the launch of a new inquiry led by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on the future of UK high streets and town centres.

The inquiry will examine the future role of the high street in contributing to the local economy and the health, cohesion and cultural life of the local community. It will also look at how local areas are planning for the future of their high streets and town centres and creating the conditions to sustain them in the coming years.

ACS has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that it will seek to work towards a UK-wide deposit return system in Wales.  ACS is calling for detailed consideration of the role that retailers can play in such a scheme, including the challenges and burdens that may arise from it.

ACS has submitted a joint response with SGF to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry on the ATM network, raising concerns about the impact that the removal of ATMs could have on local consumers, especially those in rural areas.

The Inquiry was launched as a result of a decision by LINK to reduce ATM interchange fees paid by banks to ATM operators and retailers by 20% over a four year period starting from July. The Inquiry is considering the impact of this decision on Scottish businesses, consumers and high streets.

The Home Office have published the latest figures from its 2017 Commercial Victimisation Survey, reporting that the number of assaults and threats committed against the wholesale and retail sector has risen significantly over the last year, from 524 incidents per 1,000 premises to 1,433 incidents per 1,000 premises.

The CVS also reports that wholesale and retail premises experienced around 8.1 million crimes over the last year, rising from 5.2m in 2016. Almost two thirds of these incidents (61%) are attributed to theft by customers.

Today a new fund is being launched to tackle the critical issue of veg consumption which is contributing to 20,000 premature deaths every year in the UK. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has raised concerns about the impact of the non-duty paid alcohol and illicit tobacco trade on the convenience sector during an evidence session in Parliament, recommending more powers for trading standards officers to remove retailers selling non-duty paid alcohol and illicit tobacco from the market.