Press Releases

In its evidence to the Low Pay Commission, ACS has outlined convenience retailers’ concerns about the impact that rising wage costs will have on the local, flexible and secure jobs offered by the convenience sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an update from the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy (JACS) Group on safeguarding the UK’s cash infrastructure, highlighting the importance of cash to businesses and consumers.

The Joint Authorities Cash Strategy (JACS) Group brings together the Bank of England, Payments Systems Regulator (PSR) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure comprehensive oversight of the overall cash infrastructure across the UK.

From today (15th July) the rate of VAT on eat-in or hot takeaway food has been cut from 20% to 5% until 12th January 2021.

The temporary VAT cut was announced as part of the Summer Statement as an urgent response to the coronavirus pandemic as part of the effort to support businesses impacted by forced closures and social distancing measures.

Last week, ACS received clarification that any vendor providing food and drink for consumption on the premises, or hot takeaway food or drinks are eligible for the reduced rate, including local shops.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) and NFRN (the Federation of Independent Retailers) raised concerns about the future of the newspaper supply chain in a joint letter to the Minister of State for Media and Data, John Whittingdale MP.

Recently, newspaper publishers and wholesaler representatives called for a competition wavier to bring the industry together to discuss the future of the supply chain. The Covid crisis has changed many dynamics in the news industry, which presents an opportunity for the industry to think about its future.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to speculation on the Prime Minister’s plans to ban promotions of unhealthy products and restrict where these products can be sited in store.

It has been suggested that the Government is planning to prevent shops from offering promotions on targeted products and a ban is also expected on sweets and chocolates promoted at the end of supermarket aisles and entrances.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the inclusion of certain food and drink sales in the reduced rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor in his summer statement yesterday, and confirmation that convenience stores can go through the same process as other businesses to get licences for seating outside their store.

Today (8th July) the Chancellor delivered a financial statement to Parliament setting out the Government’s latest Covid-19 related policy measures.

During his statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak confirmed that the furlough scheme will end ‘flexibly and gradually’ in October.

The Home Office have published its response to the call for evidence on violence towards shopworkers over a year after it closed, claiming that no changes to the law are necessary to deter those who commit thousands of incidents of threats, violence and abuse against people working in retail.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Chancellor to use his summer statement to help local shops invest in their businesses in the future.

While the statement, due to be given by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday (July 8^th) is not intended to be a major fiscal event, there are still measures that the Government can introduce now that would support convenience stores in the coming months.

Measures recommended by ACS include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the publication of a new report from a House of Lords Committee, highlighting the important role of the convenience sector in providing healthy options for local people and encouraging Government to make it easier for stores to be involved with programmes like Healthy Start and free school meal vouchers.