Press Releases

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.

The Association of Convenience Stores has warned that store closures are inevitable if local shops do not receive support on energy bills beyond March 2023.

In a letter to the Business Secretary, ACS has called for an extension of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme until at least April 2024 for convenience stores across the UK, giving retailers the certainty they need to be able to keep trading and serving their communities.

ACS has strongly welcomed new guidance published by the Scottish Government which takes an important step toward the introduction of a workable and cost effective Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland.

The new guidance, published today (November 4^th) makes the process of applying for an exemption from the regulations much less complex. While this does not change the eligibility criteria for an exemption itself, it does provide the following important features:

Today (27^th October) the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) has launched a series of training videos which have been developed to support and protect colleagues working in the retail sector.

200 retailers gathered in Westminster on Tuesday (October 18^th) to hear from policymakers, political commentators, and local decision makers about how the convenience sector can respond to the challenges it faces on levelling up and sustainability.

The 2022 Forecourt Report, published today by the Association of Convenience Stores, has revealed the work that the UK’s 8,379 forecourts are doing to provide essential products and services to customers, and the investment that is going into making their businesses more energy efficient in the face of rising costs.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Chancellor’s measures to stimulate growth and cut taxes in the short term, calling for longer term support on energy costs.

Measures announced by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng MP in today’s mini-Budget include:

The Welsh Government has introduced a Bill which bans or restricts the sale of some of the most commonly littered single-use plastics in Wales, including a ban on plastic bags which are currently subject to a 5p charge.