How the convenience industry reacted to the spring Budget
Philip Hammond delivered his first and the final spring Budget today, where business rates, a lowering of the sugar levy, a minimum excise on tobacco and an extension of the timeframe for businesses to...
View ArticleLocal partnerships vital as retail crime cost each store £4.6k last year
Independent retailers should partner with local crime prevention initiatives to tackle the growing problem of retail crime. That was the message as the ACS launched its 2017 Crime Report this month....
View ArticleACS and SGF won’t back down on bottle deposit, but NFRN retailers lend support
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation and the ACS have reiterated their opposition to plans for bottle deposit return scheme in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. The organisations penned letters to the...
View ArticleRising retail costs cause cutbacks to store investment
Soaring business rates, spiralling wage bills and other rising retail costs are causing retailers to scale back investment plans, according to the ACS. Figures for December last year to February 2017...
View ArticleThumbs down for new alcohol rulings
Restrictions on alcohol promotions and an increase of licensing fees across England and Wales has been heavily criticised. The House of Lords Committee Review has recommended further restrictions on...
View ArticleACS: We will continue to make a case for bottle deposit scheme to be scrapped
Over recent weeks, there has been a growing interest in each of the administrations of England, Scotland and Wales about deposit return schemes for bottles and cans. For convenience store owners in the...
View ArticleONS reports 8% hike in shoplifting in 2016
Retailers faced an 8% rise in shoplifting incidents last year, according to the latest crime figures from the Office for National Statistics. In 2016, there were approximately 358,235 incidents of shop...
View ArticleSpeak up ahead of General Election to make small stores secure
Retailers need to speak to all their local parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming General Election if they want to get a better deal from the next Government. The NFRN and ACS have called on...
View ArticleSimply Fresh set for city centre expansion
Premium fascia Simply Fresh is to roll out city centre format stores that split their offer between food- service and convenience retail later this year. Co-founder and managing director Kash Khera...
View ArticleNow is the time to find out how MPs will help convenience retailers
As we enter the height of election season, the day-to-day business of Government is put on pause, but this doesn’t mean our work as a lobby group is less important. If anything, it’s one of the most...
View ArticleConvenience stores need retail mobility solutions to stay convenient
Changing consumer demands, increased competition and the rise of online delivery means independent retailers must invest in retail mobility solutions their stores, according to Mark Thomson, retail...
View ArticleFSB and ACS give positive response to election manifestos
The Federation of Small Business’ (FSB) chairman Mike Cherry has outlined the trade body’s position on both the Conservative and Labour election manifestos. In a statement on the more recent...
View ArticleRetailers at risk: Seven in 10 stores still selling branded tobacco
Exclusive research has found that 70% of retailers are risking prosecution as they aren't complying with new branded tobacco laws. Retail Express accompanied Islington trading standards on a series of...
View ArticleIndependents may be able to opt-out of deposit return scheme
Members of Scottish Parliament exploring whether to enact a deposit return scheme have accepted that independent retailers may not have the space needed to take part. A new report by the Scottish MSPs...
View ArticleFive lessons from Ireland: How Spar retailer Thomas Ennis aims to be the best...
When Dublin retailer Thomas Ennis started out in 2005, he started with a vision to have the best fresh food and drink in the market. Working with Spar, he now runs 12 city centre and forecourt stores...
View Article‘Work with us, not against us, on recycling’
As retailers and as consumers, we have a role to play in reducing waste, recycling and improving the environment we all share. This can include educating our customers, contributing to local recycling...
View ArticleDeposit return schemes is an important debate – not just for our sector, but...
The Scottish government recently announced its intention to look more closely into the feasibility of a deposit return scheme, commissioning research to look at different DRS models and their impact on...
View ArticleCouncillors and retailers disagree on shop priorities
Local councillors believe improving shopping area amenities and transport, and better use of planning permission are the best ways to help independent retailers and their communities. However,...
View ArticleFood Standards Agency to charge retailers for permit to trade
The Food Standards Agency has outlined its plans to make every food business pay a yearly fee for a permit. The programme would also extend food standards regulation such as inspections to all food...
View ArticleHow do locals rate your convenience store against your competition?
We hear about convenience stores operating at the ‘heart of the community’ a great deal – just go over recent issues of the trade press to find inspiring stories about retailers who play a crucial role...
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