Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is delighted to announce that Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society has joined ACS as retail members.

Chelmsford Star is a co-op society operating across mid-Essex and was first established in 1867 and currently consists of 39 food stores (Co-op Food), two department stores (Quadrant), two travel agents (Co-op Travel) and nine funeral homes (Co-op Funeral Directors).

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has written to Lorna Slater MS, Minister for Green Skills, the Circular Economy and Biodiversity, calling on the Scottish Government to urgently address the challenges facing the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland later this year.

In the letter, ACS warns that there is still confusion over ‘basic operational elements’ of the scheme, such as how prices should be displayed in stores, how often collections will take place, and how long retailers will have to wait for deposit refunds.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has praised the resilience of local shops in Wales as part of the launch of the 2023 Welsh Local Shop Report.

At the launch of the report today (Tuesday 8^th February) in Cardiff, members of the Senedd gathered to celebrate the role that convenience stores play in communities across Wales and emphasise the importance of local shops not just as community hubs, but also as local investors and job creators.

Book your place at ACS’ biggest ever annual event, Conference23, taking place on 25th April at the Vox in Birmingham alongside the National Convenience Show.

ACS Conference23 is a must-attend event for anyone in the convenience sector looking to grow their business, build valuable relationships, and get exclusive insights on how to prepare for the future.

This year’s conference will feature two sessions with practical ideas for everyone to take back to their businesses, whether you’re a single site retailer or international supplier.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Chancellor to take decisive action in the Budget on 15^th March to help keep the UK’s local shops open through 2023.

The 2023 Rural Shop Report has highlighted the crucial contribution that the UK’s 17,720 rural shops make to their communities and the need for targeted support from Government to ensure their long term future.

Launched today (January 24^th), the 2023 Rural Shop Report demonstrates the close links that rural retailers have with their communities, their importance as local employers, and the impact that store closures would have on the provision of groceries in rural and otherwise isolated areas.

Key findings from the 2023 Rural Shop Report include:

ACS has welcomed the Government’s plans to guarantee the strategic placement of return points in its proposed deposit return scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

The new scheme, which is intended to come into force in October 2025, aims to significantly reduce the number of bottles, cans and other materials in scope being thrown away, with a target of 85% litter reduction in the three years after the scheme is introduced.

ACS (the Association of the Convenience Stores) is calling on the Government to take urgent action to provide Trading Standards with adequate resources to tackle the trade of illegal vaping products in the UK.

A new survey out today (19th January) has highlighted concerns from Trading Standards about the sale of illegal vapes and the sale of any vaping products to under-18s in the UK.

Research conducted in 2022 by ACS of enforcement officers in Trading Standards across the UK has shown that 61% don’t believe they have the resources to tackle the illicit tobacco market.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has dubbed the government’s energy support package for businesses as “inadequate, poorly targeted and ultimately pointless” as local shops and many other businesses face a massive hike in energy costs from April 2023. The government is currently reducing business energy bills by effectively controlling the wholesale price that is the main component of businesses’ energy bills.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched the agenda for its biggest ever annual event, Conference23, on April 25^th next year.

Taking place at the Vox in Birmingham alongside the National Convenience Show, ACS Conference23 is a must-attend event for anyone in the convenience sector looking to grow their business, build valuable relationships, and get exclusive insights on how to prepare for the future.