Press Releases

Today (30^th July) First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that from 7th August all adults who have been fully vaccinated and are not displaying symptoms will no longer have to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of someone with coronavirus. Retailers in England and Scotland will have to wait longer for fully vaccinated colleagues to return to work.

From 7th August in Wales, instead of instructing fully vaccinated adults to isolate, contact tracers and advisers will provide them guidance on how to protect themselves and stay safe.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched a survey to help retailers and suppliers operating in the convenience sector understand how businesses intend to respond upcoming regulations on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called for the Government’s new plan for cutting crime and tackling the underlying causes of repeat offending, to translate into real action for people operating and working in shops across the country that are repeatedly falling victim to crime.

Book your place at the launch of the 2021 Local Shop Report, taking place in Birmingham and as a virtual event on 8^th September.

The launch event will explore the findings of this year's report and provide a comprehensive look at the stores, people and services within the convenience sector.

The event will feature a panel session with a group of leading convenience retailers to reflect on the findings of this year’s report and to find out about the running of a convenience store first-hand.

Confirmed speakers include:

The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed plans to introduce promotional and location restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar products in stores.

In regulations and guidance published today (21^st July), DHSC has confirmed that the measures will be introduced in October 2022, giving retailers just 15 months to prepare and adapt their businesses. The rules were initially proposed to come into force in April 2022.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Government’s response to a consultation on sanctions to tackle tobacco duty evasion, highlighting the damaging impact that the illicit trade has on legitimate retailers.

The consultation, launched at the end of last year, sought views on proposals for new sanctions linked to the UK’s tobacco track and trace system, and extending HMRC’s traceability enforcement powers to Trading Standards officers. 

Book your place at ACS' Heart of the Community conference, taking from 11.30am – 6.00pm on 18th October at One Great George Street, Westminster.

ACS’ unmissable political conference will bring together over 200 retailers and will address sustainability for local shops and the emerging politics which will impact stores beyond the pandemic.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a call for evidence into financing and capitalising SMEs, which is looking into how diversifying funding models could improve access to finance.

In its submission to the APPG on Fair Business Banking, ACS outlines the difficulties convenience retailers have faced when trying to secure finance to invest in their businesses, particularly during the pandemic.

On 15^th July, ACS chief executive James Lowman gave oral evidence to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) highlighting the impact of the tightening labour market and rising wage rates have on convenience retailers.

During the evidence session, ACS urged caution on further NLW increases with the labour market in a state of flux due to the furlough scheme, EU exit, Covid testing and isolation and other factors. The LPC’s policy is for NLW to reach two-thirds of median earnings by 2024 - currently projected to be £10.33.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has committed to continuing to promote the progress of local shops in offering healthy options to customers and communities across the UK. It follows the publication of the National Food Strategy, led by Henry Dimbleby, which calls for reform of the food system to help the environment, the health of UK consumers, and the NHS. 

Recommendations made in the strategy include: