Press Releases

ACS has launched new guidance for retailers to help them comply with upcoming tobacco track and trace regulations.

From today (23^rd April), retailers with multiple sites will be able to apply for the codes that they need to be able to purchase compliant tobacco after the regulations come into force next month.  

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has announced a new partnership with the University of Surrey’s Department of Marketing and Retail Management to offer the first ever Diploma in Convenience Retailing. 

The programme is aimed at anyone looking to develop their expertise in convenience retailing, whether it be area managers in retail and wholesale, sales specialists in FMCG companies, rising stars in independent retail or consultants with a keen interest in the sector. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Government’s consultation on restricting high fat, salt, sugar (HFSS) products, urging the Government to exempt small stores from the regulations and narrow the types of products that would fall in scope of the proposed restrictions.

The Department of Health and Social Care are currently consulting on how the government can reduce children’s exposure to advertising for products that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), to reduce their consumption of these products. Measures proposed in the consultation include:

The Government has launched a call for evidence to tackle violence and abuse against shop staff.

The call is open for 12 weeks and asks organisations and individuals to contribute to the Government’s understanding of the problem.

The most recent Home Office Commercial Victimisation Survey estimated that in 2017, workers from the wholesale and retail sector fell victim to around 510,000 incidents of assaults and threats, more than twice the number recorded in 2016.

The All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group has written to Financial Secretary to the Treasury Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, chair of the Treasury Select Committee Nicky Morgan MP and Interim MDs of the Payment Systems Regulator Louise Buckley and Chris Hemsley, calling on the Government and the regulator to take forward the recommendations of the Access to Cash review and urgently review the impact of ongoing cuts to interchange fees on ATMs imposed by LINK.

ACS has welcomed the publication of the Payment Systems Regulator’s Annual Plan and its focus on ensuring that the card market is fair, and that communities have access to cash in the future.

The plan includes reference to the following areas as priorities for the regulator:

The 2019 Crime Report, published today by the Association of Convenience Stores, has revealed that crimes committed against the convenience sector cost an estimated £246m over the last year, equivalent to over £5,300 for every store in the UK, or what amounts to a 7p tax on every transaction.

But the report also found shocking new evidence of the human cost of violence and abuse against retailers and shopworkers, with a staggering 83% of people working in convenience stores having been subject to verbal abuse over the last year.

HM Revenue and Customs has confirmed that small retailers will be able to start applying for tobacco track and trace codes from 30^th April, just three weeks before the introduction of the regulations on May 20^th.

In his Spring Statement today (13^th March), Chancellor Philip Hammond MP has confirmed that the Government will launch a review into the future of the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage after 2020.

The review of the international evidence relating to the employment and productivity effects of rising wage rates will be conducted by Professor Arin Dube and will consider the views of employers, trade unions, the Low Pay Commission and other stakeholders. The review will report to HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Government’s latest consultation on tobacco track and trace regulations, reiterating concerns about the short lead times for implementation.

The consultation asks for views on the enforcement activity that will be introduced to police the track and trace system. In addition to concerns on the timeframes, ACS’ submission seeks clarification on the process for deactivation of identifier codes (which would effectively stop a retailer from selling tobacco in their business) if the regulations are breached.