Press Releases

ACS is calling on Government to undertake an urgent full assessment of wider impact of standardised packaging on businesses, following the statement by Public Health Minister, Jane Ellison, that they are publishing regulations to introduce plain packaging in the UK.

ACS has already written to the Department for Business highlighting the impact in terms of costs and operational burdens, and the threat that the policy will encourage more customers to engage with the illicit trade. A copy of the letter is available here.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has made clear its intention to resist plans to impose a costly and unnecessary tobacco registration system in Wales. 

The proposal is to require all retailers selling tobacco in Wales to pay a £30 fee to register with their local authority and then pay a £20 re-registration fee every three years.

 ACS has welcomed a proposed investigation into the energy market, calling for action to make the market fairer and more competitive for local shops.

The announcement made today by energy regulator Ofgem is to recommend an investigation of the market by the Competition Markets Authority. Ofgem notes that profit increases and price rises have ‘intensified distrust’ of suppliers, and that an investigation is needed to consider whether the current state of the energy market acts as a barrier to competition.

ACS has welcomed the Home Office's decision not to abolish personal alcohol licences.

In its response to the consultation, the Home Office noted that it has “listened to the views received in response to the consultation and in discussion with partners has decided not to proceed with the proposal to abolish the system of personal licences.”

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Chancellor’s Budget, welcoming changes to alcohol duty rates.

Alcohol Duty: Government has announced the scrapping of the alcohol duty escalator; a freeze on duty for ordinary cider and spirits; and a cut of 1p per pint in beer duty.

Local shops have expressed their disappointment as the Government confirms the 3% increase in the adult National Minimum Wage to £6.50 recommended by the Low Pay Commission. ACS’ (the Association of Convenience Stores) evidence has shown that an above inflation increase of 3% is likely to have a negative impact on staffing and investment levels in the convenience sector.

In a speech this morning, Business Secretary Vince Cable confirmed that the Government had accepted all of the Low Pay Commission's recommendations.

Independent retailers are positive about their prospects on 2014, with the latest ACS Optimism Index showing it's third consecutive quarter of improvement. However, the Index is part of a mixed set of results from the ACS Voice of Local Shops survey, conducted with over a thousand retailers in February 2014.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “The third successive rise in the Optimism Index is an encouraging sign for the sector, and is backed up by improving wider economic indicators and the perception that convenience retailing is a growth market.

ACS has responded to a statement from Planning Minister Nick Boles by warning that current planning policy guidance is insufficient to stop the trend of out of town developments being approved.

ACS has called for government, police, local authorities and the trade to work together to establish a clear framework to assess proposed local schemes targeted at preventing street drinking.

ACS has called for more action to enforce a town centre first planning policy, after the influential BIS Select Committee failed to draw attention to this crucial issue in its report on the retail industry, published today.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We are disappointed the committee missed this opportunity to hold Government to account over the weaknesses in the planning system that are undermining retailer confidence to invest in town centres.