The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has announced it on-stand vote taken as part of the International Forecourt and Fuel Equipment show

 

2009.

Throughout the three days of the show, held at Birminham NEC earlier this month, the ACS asked retailers to have their say on the things the government could do to support the retail sector. According to the ACS, the consultation forms part of a programme of activity run by the body to help set the agenda for local shops between now and the next election.

Retailers at IFFE and the Convenience Retailing Show (CRS) ranked the five priorities as follows:

1. Reduce business rates
2. Abandon the tobacco display ban
3. Introduce a supermarket regulator,
4. Tougher action against shop thieves,
5. Stop increases in the minimum wage.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "We are delighted with the level of engagement from retailers with our consultation. Retailers chose reducing business rates as their top priority, but there was strong opinion in favour of all the topics. It is clear that retailers care passionately about the way that taxes and regulation affect their business. We will take this message to Government as part of our ongoing campaigning work.

“This year’s show was a great success and we were able to engage with retailers about the issues that matter to them. We also had a busy time in our advice centre providing the kind of licensing and legal advice that is available everyday to ACS members.”

The ACS also hosted an engaged and lively Retailer Forum. The ACS public affairs team set out the case for campaigning and retailers shared their views on the major issues in the consultation.

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