Press Releases

Today (11th April) the Health Minister Neil O’Brien has announced plans to introduce a new scheme encouraging smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes, as part of a series of measures to help the Government meet its smokefree 2030 target.

Key measures announced include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) seeking feedback on legislation to further restrict advertising of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products, highlighting concerns that lo

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to Ofgem’s review of the non-domestic gas and electricity market, calling for better regulation to provide small businesses with clarity and support with their energy contracts.

In the submission, ACS has highlighted the need for stronger regulations on energy suppliers, to provide businesses with clear and transparent information on: billing, payment options, data transparency, contract terms, and termination.

ACS has welcomed the introduction of new legislation to reform the business rates system to improve the accuracy of business rates bills for local shops.

Introduced to Parliament on 29th March, the Non-Domestic Rates Bill aims to deliver on the government’s long standing commitments to increase the frequency of revaluations and make the process of business rates valuations more transparent.

New figures from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have revealed that almost half (47%) of Scottish independent retailers do not know how they will approach the deposit return scheme which is due to go live on 16^th August.

New figures from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have revealed record levels of shop theft being committed against convenience retailers over the last year.

The Association of Convenience Stores has warned that almost 7,000 independently owned local convenience stores could be at risk of closure if the Chancellor doesn’t act in the Budget to target further support on energy costs.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has highlighted the significant impact that proposed measures to restrict the advertising and promotion of alcohol in Scotland would have on local shops.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ proposed approach to updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to make the planning system work better for communities.

Launched today (1^st March) at the ACS Responsible Retailing Seminar, the new DRS Scotland guide provides a comprehensive overview of the scheme being introduced in Scotland in August this year, as well as detailed guidance on how retailers should go about deciding what part they’ll play in the operation of the scheme.