ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has urged Welsh ministers to work in closer collaboration with retailers when they introduce new measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19. New requirements have been introduced today with no advance notice of changes that businesses need to make immediately.
From today, all retail stores in Wales are required to do the following:
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the progress of a Bill in Parliament to postpone the next re-evaluation of business rates until 2023.
The Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill, would postpone the date on which the next revaluation of business rates in England and Wales takes effect until 1st April 2023. The Scottish Government has also committed to delay its revaluation until the same date.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging local shops to get involved with a new campaign designed to support those who find it difficult to socially distance.
ACS has responded to a Home Affairs Select Committee consultation on violence and abuse against shopworkers, calling on the Home Office to send a clearer message that offences will not be tolerated.
In its’ submission, ACS states that the Home Office’s response to its Call for Evidence does not go far enough to protect retailers and their colleagues from abuse. Key recommendations in the submission include:
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Treasury ahead of the 2021 Budget, calling on the Chancellor to extend the business rates discount in 2021/22 to avoid a ‘sudden shock’ of high rates bills while stores are still dealing with the impact of the pandemic.
In its submission, ACS recommends a minimum 50% reduction in business rates for 2021/22 to taper the reintroduction of rates and avoid a cliff edge spike in operating costs at a time when local shops are still investing in and adapting their businesses to keep customers and colleagues safe.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an announcement from the Scottish Government that the minimum price of a single use carrier bag (SUCB) is set to increase from 5p to 10p in an effort to help tackle plastic waste.
Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham confirmed today (13th January) that the increase is scheduled to be implemented from 1st April 2021. The announcement follows a public consultation launched at the end of 2019 by the Scottish Government on ways to develop Scotland’s circular economy.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society to host a number of virtual awareness sessions to create more Dementia Friends in the convenience sector.
The sessions are free for ACS members to attend and will be taking place on the following dates:
Taking place virtually on 23rd February, ACS’ Rural Shop Report launch event will provide an insight into the essential role that rural shops play in their local communities and to the wider economy.
The morning launch event will reveal the findings of this year’s report, providing a comprehensive overview of rural shops in the convenience sector, the services that they offer and the people running the stores.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has warned that restrictions on where some food products can be sited within a minority of convenience stores in England will have a significant impact on more than one in five of England’s local shops. The Department for Health & Social Care has today (Monday 28 December) published its response to a consultation on restricting placement of certain high fat, salt and sugar products at in store entrances, the end of aisles and at tills, as well as banning mechanisms like “buy one get one free” deals
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers to beware of counterfeit alcohol during the Christmas period after indications of counterfeit goods entering into the UK market.
There have been instances of independent retailers being targeted with counterfeit products and we are reminding retailers to only work with Alcohol Wholesale Registration Scheme (AWRS) registered wholesalers and to take seriously any complaints regarding the difference in the expected taste, smell or look of a product.
