Press Releases

Investment levels in the convenience sector have fallen by 35% over the last three months as retailers prepare for the introduction of the National Living Wage.

Over the last three months, convenience stores across the UK have invested £116m in their businesses compared to £177m in the previous quarter.

The Association of Convenience Stores has warned that Government plans to remove Sunday trading hours are unpopular, will cost jobs and damage high streets.

In its submission to the Government’s consultation on devolving the power to set Sunday trading rules locally, ACS has revealed the results of a survey of local authority chief executives showing that the measure would benefit out of town stores over high streets and town centres.

The survey showed:

The 2015 Local Shop Report has revealed the vital contribution that local shops make, both to the UK economy and the consumers who rely on them.

Published today, the report offers new information about the value that local shops provide their communities, as well as key information about the entrepreneurs that run stores, their staff and the market as a whole.

Key findings from the report include:

New research released today by the Association of Convenience Stores has revealed how the public, retailers and local councillors feel about their high streets.

The Community Barometer shows that convenience stores and post offices were seen to be the services which had the most positive impact on their local community, with coffee shops, pharmacies and specialist food shops following close behind.

Figures released by Government as part of a consultation on changes to Sunday Trading regulations have been dismissed as out of date and misleading.

In the consultation, Government uses the following statistics to justify its decision:

The Department for Business and the Department for Communities and Local Government have published a full consultation on plans to allow local authorities and metro mayors to increase the hours that larger shops can open on Sundays.

Retail industry bodies the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) have called on local shop owners to write to their MPs explaining the negative impact that proposed changes to Sunday Trading regulations could have on their business.

The Association of Convenience Stores has urged the Low Pay Commission to fully consider the impact of the national living wage on local shops and other businesses after a consultation was published today seeking views on the issue.

The Commission’s consultation asks for views on the future rate of the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage, although the National Living Wage rate of £7.20 per hour for 2016 has already been dictated by the Chancellor in the 2015 Budget.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has today launched new guidance for retailers on how to meet the needs of disabled customers in store.

The guide has been developed in partnership with the Business Disability Forum, and covers a range of issues including wheelchair access, how to assist blind or visually impaired customers and how to assist those with dementia.

ACS has urged the government to include small businesses in the upcoming carrier bag charge in England after new figures from WRAP showed that single-use carrier bag usage in England rose by 200m in the last year.

From October this year, all businesses that employ 250 or more staff will have to charge customers a minimum of 5p for each single-use carrier bag. ACS has previously called for small businesses to be included within the charge to prevent consumer and retailer confusion over which shops do and don’t charge for carrier bags.