Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has criticised the Government for rejecting the recommendation of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee to delay the mandatory introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT by one year to April 2020. 

MTD reforms will require VAT registered businesses to submit their VAT records digitally using compatible software. The policy reforms aim to reduce the tax gap and help businesses have a more accurate overview of their tax affairs.

The Government have responded to the Environmental Audit Committee’s report on hand car washes, agreeing with recommendations to update pollution prevention guidance on the Gov.uk website, and writing to major supermarkets to remind them that hand car washes must have appropriate drainage to tackle pollution.

ACS has called on HMRC to publish details of the application process for tobacco track and trace codes as soon as possible, or else risk a backlog of applications and uncertainty about the supply of tobacco to retailers.

HMRC has this morning (30^th January) published limited details of what retailers will need to do to comply with the regulations once they come into force on 20^th May 2019, but have not included anything on how or when retailers can apply for the two codes necessary to be able to purchase tobacco.

Tickets are now available for Summit19, the definitive convenience event of the year.

Summit19 is an unmissable conference, bringing together leading figures in the convenience sector with industry experts from around the world to take part in a discussion about the opportunities for retailers and suppliers in convenience, both now and in the future. This year’s conference will address two critical questions facing the sector, in two business sessions:

ACS has welcomed calls from the Local Government Association to impose tougher sanctions on those caught selling illicit tobacco.  

The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, has called for bigger fines to be imposed on those who sell illicit tobacco products, raising concerns that cheap, illegal tobacco is especially dangerous not just due to the toxins that could be present, but that they don't extinguish themselves - presenting a significant fire risk. 

The Payment Systems Regulator has today (January 24^th) confirmed the terms of reference for its Market Review into card payments, investigating whether retailers are being fairly treated by acquirers and payment facilitators such as WorldPay and Barclaycard.

In the Terms of Reference, the PSR cites concerns raised by stakeholders, including ACS, about the market not being fair. These include:

ACS has responded to the publication of the Office for National Statistics annual Crime Survey for England and Wales, urging retailers to report incidents of shop theft when they occur.

According to the ONS survey, which covers the whole of retail, the number of police recorded shop theft incidents for the year ending September 2018 decreased by 1% to 378,656 offences.

LINK, the UK’s main cash machine network, has announced that cash machine operators are to be given “super premiums” from April, to help keep ATMs in remote areas open.

The new super premium will be paid by banks to ATM operators where cash machines are located in remote and less well-off parts of the country.

ACS has welcomed new commitments on tackling retail crime announced by Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins MP, and has urged Government to ensure that tackling shop theft is included in their work to deal with violent crime.

In a letter to MPs and organisations (including ACS) who attended a ministerial roundtable meeting on retail crime on December 11^th, Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins MP has set out a number of commitments to address the issue of violence and abuse against retailers.

New research published today (15^th January) by the Association of Convenience Stores (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: