Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched the agenda for its biggest ever annual event, Conference23, on April 25^th next year.

Taking place at the Vox in Birmingham alongside the National Convenience Show, ACS Conference23 is a must-attend event for anyone in the convenience sector looking to grow their business, build valuable relationships, and get exclusive insights on how to prepare for the future.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to think about the practical steps that they can take to help their colleagues and communities feel safer.

Women’s Night Safety Charter

ACS is encouraging convenience retailers to sign up to the Women’s Night Safety Charter. The Charter started as a London initiative, but has since been rolled out in more cities, aiming to help women feel comfortable and confident when walking around at night.

Here are four easy steps that retailers can consider:

The Cross Party Group on Small Shops held a meeting to explore the impact of high fat, salt and sugar restrictions (HFSS) on local shops across Wales.

The meeting was chaired by Vikki Howells MS and attended by a number of members of the Senedd and representatives from independent retail trade associations.

During the meeting, ACS government relations director Edward Woodall explored the impact of the regulations on convenience stores, the difference between the restrictions in England and Wales and the support that local shops need from the Welsh Government.

ACS has welcomed a £460m business rates support package for retailers in Wales over the next two years.

Today (12th December), the Welsh Government has announced a package of business rates support in effect through 2023-24 to help businesses to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and current economic challenges.

The key measures announced include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has written to the new Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison MP calling for an extension of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for local shops.

In the letter, ACS has highlighted the vital role that convenience stores play in communities across the UK and outlined serious concerns about the impact of energy price increases from April 2023.

The Welsh Government has introduced legislation to ban or restrict the sale and supply of single-use plastics across Wales in an effort to reduce plastic pollution.

The legislation will take effect in autumn 2023 and covers the following single-use plastic items:

Local shops have welcomed a significant business rates support package announced in the 2022 Autumn Statement.

In the Autumn Statement, the Government has announced that from April 2023, it will provide business rates support in the following headline areas:

ACS has updated its industry leading Assured Advice guide on selling vapes, helping retailers to tackle the huge rise in illicit products on shelves.

The new ‘Selling Vapes Responsibly’ guide includes everything that retailers need to know to recognise legitimate products, as well as the age verification policies that should be in place to ensure that products are only sold to those who are legally allowed to purchase them.

Some of the key areas highlighted in the guide include:

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has raised concerns about the introduction of different HFSS rules in Scotland and the impact that they’ll have on retailers.

In response to an Impact Assessment from the Scottish Government on the details of proposals to restrict the siting and promotion of HFSS products, ACS has highlighted the significant impact that the proposals will have on retailers – especially those that have stores in both Scotland and other areas of the UK.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has briefed MPs ahead of a ten minute rule motion on tobacco licensing led by Bob Blackman MP.

In its briefing, ACS has encouraged MPs to consider how more resources can be directed to Trading Standards to help them tackle the illicit tobacco trade.

Research conducted by ACS of enforcement officers in Trading Standards across the UK has shown that 61% don’t believe they have the resources to tackle the illicit tobacco and vaping market.