Press Releases

The Scottish Government has published its response to the consultation on details surrounding the introduction of a ban on disposable vaping products, set to come into force in April 2025.

The response provides additional clarity on their views on the definition of a disposable vape, as well as more information about the way that the rules will be enforced. The Scottish Government acknowledges that enforcement was the biggest concern raised by those who submitted evidence to the consultation.

New evidence from ACS’ Employment Survey and ACS’ Colleague Survey shows the convenience sector continues to deliver secure and flexible employment to 437,000 colleagues across the country.  

98% of colleagues working in the convenience sector are on permanent contracts and as a result 83% of colleagues feel secure in their current role. The majority of colleagues are also drawn from the local community with 47% walking to work with an average commute time of just 13 minutes per day.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on HFSS restrictions, calling on the Scottish Government to save consumers and small businesses from additional costs as the nation emerges from the cost of living and cost of trading crisis. The Scottish Government is proposing additional restrictions to those in place in England, but is aligning with England on the illogical definition of small businesses exempted from the new rules.

The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill that would make assaulting a shopworker a more serious offence.

A new report released today (13th May) o

ACS has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Technology and Solutions Showcase, taking place on 4th June at Stoller Hall in Manchester.

The Tech & Solutions Showcase provides a unique opportunity for retailers to find out about new transformative innovations that have either been recently launched or will be launched in the future by suppliers.

The following companies were selected by ACS’ Independent Board and have been shortlisted to demonstrate their product or service at the event:

The Association of Convenience Stores has called on the Government to provide Trading Standards in England with an additional £140m over the next five years to fund a new battalion of 400 enforcement officers, aimed at tackling the rising tide of illegal vape devices being distributed in England.

Figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, published today, show that shoplifting

ACS has welcomed confirmation from the government that the introduction of deposit return schemes in the UK will be pushed back to October 2027, subject to agreement from the devolved administrations. 

In a written ministerial statement published this morning (April 25th), Robbie Moore MP confirmed that the previously scheduled October 2025 go live date for a deposit return scheme was a ‘stretching target’ and that an October 2027 implementation would be required to ensure that the rollout of schemes was effective and efficient. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has given evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, highlighting the human impact of crime on local shops and the challenges retailers face when reporting crime to the police.