Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the latest update on the Government’s plan to be net zero by 2050, which looks to address the barriers to the electric vehicle charging rollout.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to submit their entries for a new trophy marking the legacy of independent retailer Raj Aggarwal. The trophy will be awarded to retailers who have been exceptional in community retailing and helping their fellow retailers.

Applications are welcome from any convenience store operator, independent retailers and managers of multiple-owned outlets.

To enter, applicants must submit a short film (maximum of 5 minutes), which will show:

From Sunday 18th July, HMRC will be requiring new checks on the codes that are given to businesses to ensure that they are registered properly for the UK track and trace system.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation launched by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England, highlighting the impact that new regulations would have on the convenience sector.

As part of the Environment Bill, businesses will be required to separate their waste for collection from 2023. This consultation is seeking views on the:

The Treasury has launched a consultation (1^st July), seeking views on how legislation should secure long-term access to cash.

The consultation includes proposals to set a maximum distance that consumers and businesses should have to travel to deposit and access cash without a charge. 

Local shops are calling on MPs to support new amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill when it is debated next week.

The new amendments would provide greater protections for shopworkers and address the 40,000 violent attacks in convenience stores last year.

Conservative MP Matt Vickers is proposing tougher penalties for any workers serving the public that are subject to violent attacks. Labour MPs are supporting amendments for specific attacks on shopworkers and shopworkers enforcing age restrictions.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a new report from the Work and Pensions Committee, urging the Government bring forward the Employment Bill to enhance the rights of workers in the low-paid and gig economy.

The report calls on the Government to develop a strategy for responding to long-term changes in the labour market, looking at wellbeing, skills, technology, and the availability of labour.

Findings from ACS’ 2020 Local Shop Report reveal that convenience stores provide local, flexible and secure jobs for around 412,000 people across the UK.

A new consultation has been launched by HM Treasury, proposing a framework for moving towards three-yearly revaluations of business rates from five-yearly and simplifying the appeals system.

The consultation proposes a number of new requirements on retailers, including:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a new report from the Home Affairs Committee on violence and abuse towards retail workers, which urges the Government to do more to protect people working in local shops.

The Committee’s Inquiry into violence and abuse against retail workers, chaired by Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, was launched in December 2020, and took evidence from ACS, USDAW, the BRC, Boots and others during a series of evidence sessions earlier this year.

New restrictions on the advertising of products containing high levels of fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) has been announced by the Government this morning (24 June).