Press Releases
ACS Calls for Better Regulation of Small Business Energy Market
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to Ofgem’s review of the non-domestic gas and electricity market, calling for better regulation to provide small businesses with clarity and support with their energy contracts.
In the submission, ACS has highlighted the need for stronger regulations on energy suppliers, to provide businesses with clear and transparent information on: billing, payment options, data transparency, contract terms, and termination.
Read MoreACS Welcomes Long Overdue Business Rates Reforms
ACS has welcomed the introduction of new legislation to reform the business rates system to improve the accuracy of business rates bills for local shops.
Introduced to Parliament on 29th March, the Non-Domestic Rates Bill aims to deliver on the government’s long standing commitments to increase the frequency of revaluations and make the process of business rates valuations more transparent.
Read MoreLocal Shops in Scotland Still Uncertain of their DRS Approach
New figures from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have revealed that almost half (47%) of Scottish independent retailers do not know how they will approach the deposit return scheme which is due to go live on 16th August.
Read MoreLocal Shops Report Record Levels of Theft over Last Year
New figures from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have revealed record levels of shop theft being committed against convenience retailers over the last year.
Read MoreThousands of Convenience Stores at Risk Unless Chancellor Acts on Energy Costs
The Association of Convenience Stores has warned that almost 7,000 independently owned local convenience stores could be at risk of closure if the Chancellor doesn’t act in the Budget to target further support on energy costs.
Read MoreACS: Scottish Alcohol Advertising Restrictions Would Disproportionately Impact Local Shops
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has highlighted the significant impact that proposed measures to restrict the advertising and promotion of alcohol in Scotland would have on local shops.
Read MoreACS Highlights the Importance of Consistency in Planning Policy Reforms
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ proposed approach to updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to make the planning system work better for communities.
Read MoreACS Launches Comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme Guide for Retailers in Scotland
Launched today (1st March) at the ACS Responsible Retailing Seminar, the new DRS Scotland guide provides a comprehensive overview of the scheme being introduced in Scotland in August this year, as well as detailed guidance on how retailers should go about deciding what part they’ll play in the operation of the scheme.
Read MoreACS Welcomes Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society into Retail Membership
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is delighted to announce that Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society has joined ACS as retail members.
Chelmsford Star is a co-op society operating across mid-Essex and was first established in 1867 and currently consists of 39 food stores (Co-op Food), two department stores (Quadrant), two travel agents (Co-op Travel) and nine funeral homes (Co-op Funeral Directors).
Read MoreACS Calls on Scottish Minister to Review Deposit Return Scheme Progress
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has written to Lorna Slater MS, Minister for Green Skills, the Circular Economy and Biodiversity, calling on the Scottish Government to urgently address the challenges facing the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland later this year.
In the letter, ACS warns that there is still confusion over ‘basic operational elements’ of the scheme, such as how prices should be displayed in stores, how often collections will take place, and how long retailers will have to wait for deposit refunds.
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