Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed calls from Matthew Taylor, the Interim Director of Labour Market Enforcement for tighter regulation to tackle non-compliant hand car washes.

At an event at Resolution Foundation today (13^th February), Matthew Taylor called for the introduction of a national licensing scheme to tackle “endemic non-compliance” in the hand car wash sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is urging retailers to ensure that they are prepared for the introduction of the new polymer £20 and are aware of its security features.

From 20^th February 2020 the new polymer £20 will enter circulation and begin appearing in ATMs across the UK.

The £20 polymer note has been designed to be the most secure banknote yet, incorporating sophisticated security features which are difficult to counterfeit but are simple for retailers to check.

The two main security features to look out for are:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has reiterated calls to the Government to take urgent action to protect shopworkers from violence and abuse.

During a Westminster Hall debate on the Protection of Retail Workers, led by Mike Amesbury MP, there was agreement from MPs that there should be a specific new offence for attacks against someone serving the public.

Speaking in the debate, Gareth Thomas MP said: “We require shopworkers to uphold legislation passed by Parliament so the least we can do is make sure we protect those same workers”.

The Association of Convenience Stores has called on the Government to ensure that rural shops are included in its plans to level up the UK economy. Published today, the 2020 Rural Shop Report outlines the crucial role that rural shops play in people’s daily lives as job creators, service providers and social hubs.  

Book your place at the ACS Crime Seminar, taking place on 10^th March, from 9:30am to 12pm at the Conrad St James Hotel in Westminster.

The Crime Seminar will begin with the launch of ACS’ Crime Report 2020 and will give an exclusive first look at the findings before a discussion with a panel of police, retailers and industry experts.

ACS has set out its recommendations to the Chancellor ahead of the 2020 Budget on March 11^th, calling for changes to policies on business rates, crime and employment costs to help boost the UK’s 46,000 local shops.

In the submission, ACS has urged the Government to give local shops and other small businesses the green light to invest without facing an increase in their rates bills as a result. Convenience stores invested £558m in their businesses in the year to November 2019, but this was down almost a quarter on the previous year.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) and SGF (the Scottish Grocers Federation) have issued a joint call to MSPs urging them to retain the Uniform Business Rate, highlighting the impact that it would have on convenience retailers if business rates were devolved.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a call for views launched by the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill aims to increase protection for retail workers by:

The Government has confirmed that it will re-introduce the Environment Bill to Parliament, kick starting debate on the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme, reform of the PRN System and a new levy on single use plastics. 

ACS has warned that the legislation will pose operational challenges for local shops, especially around the details of a Deposit Return Scheme which would require retailers to take back drinks containers in stores. ACS is working closely with Defra to shape the proposals.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes which comes into force in less than four months.

The European Union Revised Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) makes it an offence for manufacturers to produce menthol cigarettes and retailers to sell menthol cigarettes from 20^th May 2020.