News

Book your free place at the launch of ACS’ 2022 Local Shop Report, taking place virtually at 10am – 12pm on 15^th September.

This virtual launch event will explore the findings of this year's report and provide a comprehensive look at the stores, people and services within the convenience sector.

The UK tobacco track and trace system has now completed its transition from previous IT provider De La Rue (DLR) to a new provider called Dentsu as of 1st July 2022.

The Scottish Government has outlined its plans to restrict the promotion of high fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) products in a new consultation published today (1st July). 

In the consultation, the Scottish Government sets out a range of options for the number of categories of product that would be included within the restrictions, as well as the restrictions themselves which fall into two main categories – location restrictions and promotional restrictions. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to get involved with a campaign which aims to increase awareness of how vital our senses are to living life to the full, especially for people with complex disabilities.

Throughout July, national disability charity Sense is encouraging people to host a Sensational Tea Party – a bake sale/coffee morning with a sensory twist. The aim of these tea parties is to help communities reconnect, create conversation and break down barriers as well as raising vital funds to support people with complex disabilities

New research from the Association of Convenience Stores has shown how consumers feel about their local shops and how important they see them in helping manage their money.

As the nation faces a cost of living crisis, consumers see local shops as part of the solution to manage their money. The UK’s 46,000+ convenience stores have a unique reach into every community, providing a lifeline for thousands of people every day and especially over the last two years during the pandemic.

There’s just less than one week until this year’s Power, Mobility and Convenience Conference, taking place online on 5th July from 10:00am.

This year’s conference will explore how the UK’s 7,000+ forecourts can adapt and change in the future on the road to Net Zero, as well as looking at new and emerging store formats. With the growth of the electric vehicle market challenging the traditional forecourt model, more retailers are looking to innovate to stay relevant to a demanding modern consumer.

Today (28^th June) new provisions come into force to make attacking an individual who serves the public, including shopworkers, an aggravated offence. This was introduced in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act.

Figures from the ACS 2022 Crime Report show that in the last year, 89% of colleagues working in convenience stores have faced abuse in their job, with over 35,000 incidents of violence taking place and over 16,000 incidents including the use of a weapon.

The Bank of England will be withdrawing legal tender status of the paper £20 and £50 notes after 30 September 2022, and we are encouraging anyone who has these at home to spend or deposit them at their bank or Post Office.

There’s just two weeks until this year’s Power, Mobility and Convenience Conference, taking place online on 5th July from 10:00am.

This year’s conference will explore how the UK’s 7,000+ forecourts can adapt and change in the future on the road to Net Zero, as well as looking at new and emerging store formats. With the growth of the electric vehicle market challenging the traditional forecourt model, more retailers are looking to innovate to stay relevant to a demanding modern consumer.

It’s not often I see something in our sector that truly makes my jaw drop. I’ve done this job for a while now, and for the most part great convenience retailing is about executing the fundamentals, realising marginal efficiency gains, implementing lots of small innovations and showing respect towards your colleagues and customers. Retailers who do this are inspiring, for sure, but it’s rare that I see something really new.