Press Releases

ACS has briefed MPs on the important role that local shops play in ensuring that their communities have access to healthy foods ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on the Healthy Start Scheme.

Healthy Start is a government scheme for those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant, parents, carers and young children in low-income families, to help them buy healthy food and milk and get free Healthy Start vitamins. It is a digital scheme that offers a prepaid card to those applying for Healthy Start instead of paper vouchers. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Welsh Government consultation on introducing restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products highlighting the impact on retailers and need for a consistent regulatory approach across the UK.

The consultation looks at HFSS products in terms of placement, promotions and defining what products are impacted. The Welsh Government’s proposals are similar to those being introduced in England on HFSS products, but there are some key differences:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation reviewing the current law on selling in imperial and metric units, highlighting a number of issues that a move to dual pricing would have on businesses, consumers and the wider community.

The Welsh Government has published a draft Bill which seeks to ban or restrict 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.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the CMA’s detailed market study into fuel pricing, highlighting the competitive nature of fuel pricing and the limited impact that retailers can have on the overall fuel price.

The market study follows a review ordered by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in June, which was requested after the price of petrol and diesel increased by over 60p in the previous 12 months.

The market study is focusing on what the CMA sees as the two main factors affecting the increase in the fuel price:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has highlighted the importance of transitional arrangements in advance of the business rates revaluation due in 2023 in a submission to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

In the submission, ACS makes a number of recommendations including:

The Welsh Parliament’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee has published a report on the impact of the cost of living crisis on businesses and communities across Wales.

ACS gave oral evidence to the Committee, which has been cited in the report, highlighting the need for the Welsh Government to provide support to local shops in Wales by helping them to invest in energy efficiency measures, recognising the status of employment in convenience stores, and taking action to ensure that stores can get the deliveries that they need.

The Association of Convenience Stores is delighted to announce the appointment of three new directors to its board - Darren Nickels (Henderson Technology), Susan Connolly (Trading Director, Connolly SPAR) and Rob George (McColls).

Save the date for ACS’ Heart of the Community 2022, ACS’ unmissable annual conference taking place at One Great George Street Westminster on 18th October.

This year’s conference will focus on two high priority areas: levelling up and sustainability and this will be explored through industry experts and prominent figures from across retail.

The keynote speaker for this year’s conference has been confirmed as Katy Balls, deputy political editor of the Spectator, who will be providing analysis of the current political landscape and how this affects convenience retailers.

ACS is supporting the launch of the Government’s new Help for Households campaign, highlighting the important role that the UK’s 47,000+ local shops play in helping customers to save and manage their money during the cost of living crisis.