News

Book your place at ACS' Heart of the Community conference, taking from 11.30am – 6.00pm on 18th October at One Great George Street, Westminster.

ACS’ unmissable political conference will bring together over 200 retailers and will address sustainability for local shops and the emerging politics which will impact stores beyond the pandemic.

Ben Page, Ipsos MORI chief executive, has been confirmed to address the conference and will explore the changing political landscape. Ben has worked with Government and Opposition Ministers to examine consumer trends and public behaviour.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding convenience retailers to ensure that they are aware of the rules and guidelines that apply to the sale and storage of fireworks.

Retailers must apply for permission to store fireworks from their local trading standards service or fire authority. If permission to store fireworks is granted, then fireworks can be sold within the following dates:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has briefed Peers ahead of the Second Reading of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSC) in the House of Lords, calling for the Government to consider amendments which would introduce tougher sentencing to address attacks against shopworkers.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) on its five-year strategy, calling for the regulator to prioritise reducing the cost of anti-competitive and opaque card scheme fees.  

The draft strategy identifies four key priorities:

Local shops have welcomed the Government’s decision to allow 16 and 17 year olds to continue selling lottery products, when approved by someone over the age of 18, from October this year.

The Minister of State for Media and Data, John Whittingdale, has confirmed the introduction an approved sales system for National Lottery Products following a short consultation in July and August.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on the Home Office to amend the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to create a new offence of assaulting a shopworker.

Today (9th September) the Home Affairs Select Committee published the Government’s response to its report on Violence and abuse towards retail workers.

49% of independent convenience store owners have reported that they’ve worked every day over the last year, doubling the total from last year (24%).

The 2021 Local Shop Report, published this week by the Association of Convenience Stores, highlights how hard retailers have been working over the last 12 months to keep communities going and make sure that there is still enough on the shelves for customers.

Today (7th September) First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addressed the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Programme for Government, setting out legislative priorities for 2021/22, including plans to introduce a Retail Strategy.

The First Minister stated that the new Retail Strategy aims to help the sector innovate, thrive and support local supply chains. The Programme for Government includes plans to revitalise local communities through the development of ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ where essential services can be accessed within a short walk or cycle.

To celebrate Halloween this year, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has unveiled a new on-pack promotion for Fanta, giving consumers the chance to win epic prizes or scary surprises. 

The on-pack promotion will help retailers tap into consumer demand for soft drinks at Halloween –specifically flavoured carbonates, which enjoyed an extra £5.5m in sales in the run up to Halloween last year. 

The campaign will capitalise on Fanta’s longstanding popularity during the spooky season, in fact 1 in 4 flavoured carbonates purchased in October 2020 was a Fanta.  

Book your place at the launch of the 2021 Local Shop Report, taking place in Birmingham and as a virtual event on 8^th September.

The 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 event will feature a panel session with a group of leading convenience retailers to reflect on the findings of this year’s report and to find out about the running of a convenience store first-hand.

Confirmed speakers include: