All ACS articles
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NewsForecourt sector warns £13.20 National Living Wage could hit jobs
Forecourt operators are bracing themselves following a report that the minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over will increase to £13.20 an hour next April. They warn that without help in today’s Budget to reduce other employment costs, it could jeopardise the jobs of the people it is intended to protect.
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NewsNational crime figures point to violent trend in shop thefts
Thieves are increasingly threatening violence against retailers and shop workers, with a 10% increase in the number of robberies in the sector over the past year.
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NewsDRS will be ‘huge challenge for 2027’, warns ACS
Petrol station operators must be actively planning for and no longer just thinking about the Deposit Return Scheme. That was the message at the launch of the Association of Convenience Stores’ annual forecourt report this week.
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NewsACS appoints new board members
The Association of Convenience Stores has announced four new appointees who bring “a wealth of experience” to its board of directors.
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NewsRising taxes stifling investment in convenience stores: ACS
The Association of Convenience Stores is blaming rising business rates and employer National Insurance payments for falling investment in the sector.
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NewsFormer ACS chief executive takes on FMCG consultancy role
James Lowman, the former chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, has become a consultant to fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) communications agency Mercieca.
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NewsAssociation of Convenience Stores names Ed Woodall new chief exec
Ed Woodall has been named the new chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, following James Lowman’s resignation in September last year.
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NewsCautious optimism over potential business rate reforms
Small business owners could hear good news when the Autumn Budget is announced in late November, after the Treasury published an interim report indicating ministers are considering changes to business rates.
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NewsJames Lowman to leave ACS after nearly 30 years
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive James Lowman is to leave the organisation in early 2026, after nearly three decades in its service.
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NewsLocal shops cut staff and investment in ‘challenging year’
Convenience retailers, including forecourt operators, are cutting their cloth to reflect increased costs, by employing fewer staff and investing less in their businesses, according to The Local Shop Report 2025.
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NewsRetailers urged to write to MPs ahead of Budget over business rates
Forecourt and other convenience store operators, are being urged to contact their members of parliament ahead of the Autumn Budget on October 30, raising concerns over business rates.
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NewsDisposable vape ban marked by calls for greater enforcement
Yesterday (June 1) marked the start of the ban on the sale of disposable vapes, but calls are already coming for Trading Standards officers to be given greater resources to enforce the new rules.
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NewsCrime and Policing Bill progresses with second reading in parliament
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recognised the unique challenges faced in crimes against rural communities, as the second reading of the Crime and Policing Bill progressed through parliament on Monday (March 10).
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NewsCash still vital for convenience sector, ACS tells Commons committee
Cash will account for a significant proportion of purchases in the forecourt and convenience sector for at least five years, with in-store ATMs also providing a vital resource in communities that do not have access to a bank.
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NewsACS launches extended advice on vape sales ahead of 2025 disposable ban
The Association of Convenience Stores has launched an extended version of its ‘Selling Vapes Responsibly’ guide to support retailers with the transition away from disposable vapes ahead of a ban on the products on June 1 next year.
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NewsACS raises concerns over separate deposit return scheme for Wales
The Association of Convenience Stores has raised serious concerns over the Welsh government’s decision to create its own deposit return scheme (DRS).
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NewsRecycling regulation coming in under forecourt operators’ radar, warns ACS
Forecourt retailers are being warned they risk being unprepared for major new waste recycling regulations taking effect in England in March.
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NewsACS report reveals forecourts as essential convenience sites
The annual ACS Forecourt Report reveals the growing importance of petrol stations’ convenience store business, with 41% of shoppers arriving on foot or bike, a typical non-fuel spend of £11.83, and an average basket of three items.
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NewsACS warns Chancellor against increasing employer National Insurance Contributions
ACS has urged the Government to avoid adding to the cost of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) ahead of the Budget on October 30, warning that any increase in the rate would cost tens of millions of pounds for the convenience sector alone.
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NewsPRA and ACS call on Reeves to give retailers a financial lifeline in upcoming Budget
Associations representing forecourt and convenience retailers have called for measures to ease financial pressures on their members in their submissions to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the October Budget.