Press Releases
Local Shops Call for Investment Boost Ahead of 2021 Budget
In its’ submission to the Autumn Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the Government to introduce tax reform measures that will help convenience retailers invest in the future of their business, including the extension of 100% business rate relief to all businesses with a rateable value of under £51,000.
Read MoreACS: Natasha’s Law Now in Force
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the new allergen law that comes into force today.
From 1st October, any food that is prepared on site and pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) must be labelled with the name of the food and a full ingredients list.
Foods that are pre-packed for direct sale are packaged at the same place that they are offered for sale or sold to customers.
Examples of PPDS foods include:
Read MoreLocal Shops Offer Secure and Flexible Employment Opportunities
ACS has welcomed a new consultation launched today by the Government on enhancing flexible working rights and making the right to request flexible working, a day one right.
Convenience stores provide local, secure and flexible employment to 392,000 people across the country, 64% of whom have childcare or family commitments that need to flex around their work.
Read MoreTrade and Industry Bodies Call for Government to Protect Access to Cash
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has signed an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak alongside a group of organisations collectively representing hundreds of thousands of small businesses, millions of consumers to take urgent action to protect access to cash.
Key recommendations from the letter include:
Read MoreACS Launches New Vaccine Policy Posters for Local Shops
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched new posters to help retailers communicate national vaccination policies to their colleagues. The posters can be used by retailers to encourage colleagues to take up their opportunity to have their flu and Covid-19 vaccinations.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience retailers have worked tirelessly to ensure that they can continue to serve their communities while keeping their staff and customers safe.
Read MoreACS: Government Must Commit to Greater Protection for Shopworkers
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has briefed Peers ahead of the Second Reading of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSC) in the House of Lords, calling for the Government to consider amendments which would introduce tougher sentencing to address attacks against shopworkers.
Read MoreACS: PSR Strategy Must Go Further to Promote Competition
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) on its five-year strategy, calling for the regulator to prioritise reducing the cost of anti-competitive and opaque card scheme fees.
The draft strategy identifies four key priorities:
Read MoreLocal Shops Welcome Approved Sales Mechanism for Selling Lottery Products
Local shops have welcomed the Government’s decision to allow 16 and 17 year olds to continue selling lottery products, when approved by someone over the age of 18, from October this year.
The Minister of State for Media and Data, John Whittingdale, has confirmed the introduction an approved sales system for National Lottery Products following a short consultation in July and August.
Read MoreACS: Home Office Still Not Committing to New Law to Protect Shopworkers
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on the Home Office to amend the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to create a new offence of assaulting a shopworker.
Today (9th September) the Home Affairs Select Committee published the Government’s response to its report on Violence and abuse towards retail workers.
Read MoreNo Days Off: Half of Convenience Store Owners Work Every Day over Last 12 Months
49% of independent convenience store owners have reported that they’ve worked every day over the last year, doubling the total from last year (24%).
The 2021 Local Shop Report, published this week by the Association of Convenience Stores, highlights how hard retailers have been working over the last 12 months to keep communities going and make sure that there is still enough on the shelves for customers.
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