Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on retailers to respond to its annual National Living Wage Survey.

Launched today (16th April), ACS’ National Living Wage Survey will inform ACS’ submission to the Low Pay Commission’s consultation on future wage rates. The consultation is seeking views on:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) partnered with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and other food and drink industry groups for a Welsh hustings event this morning ahead of the Welsh Assembly elections taking place on May 6^th.

The event, chaired by Chris Kelsey, editor of Business News Wales, gave the opportunity for political parties to provide more detail about how their policies will support the food and drink sector.

The party representatives included:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding convenience retailers about the upcoming changes to the sale of manufactured solid fuels and wood.

From 1st May 2021, retail businesses in England including convenience stores, supermarkets and forecourts must not sell traditional house coal (bituminous coal).

Permitted manufactured solid fuels and wood also can only be sold as follows:

Today (14th April) ACS gave oral evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the Government’s and policing response to incidents of violence and abuse of shopworkers, calling for urgent action to protect retail workers.

In evidence session, ACS reiterated the recommendations in its written submission, which include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to a government taskforce looking at business’ experiences with regulation, highlighting the vital role that local shops play in their lives of the communities that they serve and work to provide a range of services locally.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy consultation on establishing new rules around government subsidies.

The consultation was launched following the end of the transition period for leaving the European Union on 31st December. The consultation looks at establishing new UK subsidy control rules, to replace existing EU-derived state aid law.

ACS has called on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to confirm the implementation date and communications plan for retailers ahead of upcoming changes to laws on plastic bags.

The new rules will see all retailers in England included in mandatory plastic bag charging, whilst at the same time setting the minimum amount that can be charged for a plastic bag at 10p. The rules were initially planned to come into force on April 30^th, but DEFRA are set to revise that date due to issues with the parliamentary timetable.

From today (1^st April) the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates are increasing, following recommendations made to the Government by the Low Pay Commission (LPC).

In addition to the increase, the National Living Wage is being extended to 23 and 24 year olds, as announced in the Chancellor’s 2020 Spending Review.

From today, the new rates are as follows:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has urged the Government to ensure that new planning rules maintain the diversity and viability of high streets and town centres.

The Government has announced new rules which will make it easier to turn retail space into residential properties. Coming into force today, the rules mean that instead of full planning permission, developers will go through what the Government is calling a ‘simpler prior approval process’ to turn retail space into residential.

From 1^st April, the minimum price of a single-use carrier bag (SUCB) in Scotland will be increasing from 5p to 10p in an effort to help tackle plastic waste.

Retailers with more than 10 employees (FTE), must keep records on the number of SUCBs sold in the business, with a requirement of keeping these records for a minimum of three years.