All ACS articles – Page 20
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NewsACS warns over bottle deposit impact after minister’s speech
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has responded to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove’s announcement of a new call for evidence on bottle deposit return schemes, urging the Government to consider the negative impact that such schemes would have on the convenience sector. The ...
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NewsACS welcomes findings of new report on recycling
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed a new report from recycling and waste management company Viridor which highlights the need for a more consistent approach to recycling from local councils. In the 2017 UK Recycling Index report, 78% of consumers reported that they believe their local council should ...
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News
ACS highlights problems with Deposit Return Schemes at Labour Conference
Bottle deposit return schemes would impose significant time and cost burdens on convenience store retailers and their staff, according to evidence presented by ACS at the Labour Party Conference this week. At a fringe event hosted by the British Soft Drinks Association on Monday evening, ACS detailed the issues that ...
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NewsMinister’s intervention over rate relief welcomed by ACS
A local government minister’s intervention to speed up the process of rebilling businesses that are waiting for rate relief has been welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). In a Commons statement, Marcus Jones said: “The Government has been consistently clear that it expects local authorities to make rapid ...
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NewsACS warning over proposed EU tobacco regulations
Concerns about the complexity of proposals to track the progress of legitimate tobacco products through the supply chain have been raised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). New draft regulations from the EU Commission would require UK retailers and wholesalers to register and pay to receive unique ‘identifier codes’ ...
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NewsACS and SGF welcome proposals for Scottish business rates
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) have welcomed recommendations on making the business rates system in Scotland fairer for retailers, especially those looking to invest or expand their property. The review, chaired by former RBS chairman Ken Barclay, makes 30 recommendations for change in ...
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NewsACS repeats call for carrier bag charge to apply to all stores
The Association of Convenience Store (ACS) has again called on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to include all stores in England in the 5p carrier bag charge. Currently only businesses with more than 250 employees are included in the charging scheme, with smaller businesses exempt. However, ...
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NewsACS calls for stronger sanctions on illicit trade
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has responded to the publication of the Government’s new Tobacco Strategy, calling for more powers to tackle the illicit trade locally in addition to the national measures set out in the document. The strategy commits to the following measures at a national level: ...
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NewsACS calls for input into plastic bottle recycling plans
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has responded to a question in the House of Lords about plastic bottle recycling and a deposit return scheme, urging the government to listen to the views of convenience store retailers by including them in the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) ...
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NewsACS welcomes recommendations of review of working practices
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed the recommendations of the Taylor Review of modern working practices, which has been published by the government. The report sets out a series of recommendations on flexible working and increasing skills for employees. The review proposes seven principles which aim to address ...
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Analysis
James Lowman: ACS chief executive
After such an unexpected (for most) General Election result, it’s no surprise that Theresa May followed up with a scaled-down Queen’s Speech. But within the speech, there was still one important piece of legislation mentioned that will have direct implications for the forecourt sector. That was the Automated and ...
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NewsACS calls for restraint from Low Pay Commission
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the Government to do more to help with the rising cost of employment and to ensure that wage rates do not have a negative impact on job prospects.In its annual submission to the Low Pay Commission, ACS has raised concerns about ...
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NewsInvestment by convenience sector rising, says ACS
The latest figures from the Association of Convenience Stores have shown an increase in investment over the last quarter, but concerns about the impact of rising employment costs. Convenience stores across the UK invested £193m in their businesses between March and May, which is an increase on both the previous ...
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NewsACS welcomes election promises on business rates
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed commitments from all the major political parties in England and Wales to reform the business rates system. Property costs are among the largest costs faced by retailers and one-in-three retailers are paying increased rates since the revaluation. Additionally, only 39 out of ...
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News
ACS calls on Ofgem to include local shops in proposals to limit back-billing
ACS has called on energy regulator Ofgem to ensure that local shops and other small businesses are included in proposals to limit back-billing of electricity and gas. Currently, suppliers have signed up to voluntary agreements to only back-bill domestic consumers for a maximum of 12 months. Ofgem is looking at ...
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NewsACS chief sets out its priorities for election at Summit17
The Association of Convenience Stores has set out its priorities for government ahead of the election on June 8 and called on the sector to get involved to promote the work being done by convenience store owners and their staff in communities. Speaking to industry leaders, senior retailers and retail ...
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NewsOne month to plain packaging warns ACS
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has reminded retailers there is just one month to go until the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Regulations and Tobacco Products Directive come into force. The one-year sell-through period for retailers to sell branded packs is coming to an end, and from May 20 retailers ...
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NewsACS gears up for general election
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has outlined issues it would like to see addressed in political parties’ manifestoes, after Prime Minister Theresa May announced plans to hold a General Election on June 8. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The election will be an opportunity for all parties to ...
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Analysis
James Lowman: chief executive, ACS
Since the publication of the revised business rate valuations late last year, a range of business groups including ACS have been campaigning to ensure that those hardest hit by the revaluation will be given appropriate relief, and that beyond the revaluation, the rating system will be reviewed so that everyone ...
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News
ACS criticises calls for alcohol restrictions
The Association of Convenience Stores has responded to the publication of a House of Lords Committee Review into the Licensing Act, raising concerns about recommendations made on alcohol promotions and licensing fees.The 168-page review recommends further restrictions on alcohol promotions (which are already in place in Scotland), while also recommending ...