Sunday Trading Campaign a Big Success
6/07/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alastair Darling, that following consultation the Government will not be making any changes to the Sunday Trading Act 1994.

Consumers Reject Longer Sunday Trading Hours
23/06/2006
Consumers have voted against extended shopping hours on Sundays in a national poll conducted by BMRB and commissioned by Convenience Store magazine and the Association of Convenience Stores.

ACS: Competition Commission Must Examine Market Power
09/06/06
In its opening salvo of the Competition Commission's inquiry into the grocery market, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called for the Commission to focus on the market power of the largest four superstore groups.

David Kidney MP Listens to Local Retailer
09/06/06
Staffordshire retailer Peter Mallhi hosted a visit from local MP at his Premier store on Charnley Road. The visit was organised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and offered the opportunity for Mr Mallhi to raise key issues with his local MP.

ACS Scholarship Winners to Go Global
30/05/06
The two winners of the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) 2006 Scholarship – The World at Your Fingertips – have been announced at Summit 06.

ACS Moves Up a Gear with Summit 2006
25/05/06
The rebranding of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) annual conference to Summit 2006 has certainly captured the interest of the key players in the convenience sector

Public Affairs Promotions at ACS
24/05/06
The Association of Convenience Stores is pleased to announce that James Lowman has been promoted to Director of Public Affairs and will take a seat on the Board with immediate effect.

Guidance Review is ACS' Chance to Bring Clarity to Licensing Problems
18/05/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has been invited to take part in a consultation group that will look at the major issues that have arisen with the way in which the new Licensing Act has been implemented.

Rosie Cooper MP Listens to Local Retailers
16/05/2006
West Lancashire retailer Kevin Hunt hosted a visit from local MP Rosie Cooper at his SPAR store in Ormskirk. The visit was organised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and offered the opportunity for Mr Hunt to raise key issues with his local MP.

New Report Further Undermines Case for Sunday Trading Liberalisation
16/05/2006
Less than a week after the Government unveiled its cost-benefit analysis of liberalisation of Sunday trading laws, a new report has uncovered a host of flaws which undermine its conclusion that an end to Sunday trading restrictions would bring economic benefits.

ACS Fights for Small Stores at Sunday Trading Event
10/5/2006
ACS has been making the case for the maintenance of the Sunday Trading Act at an event run by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

ACS Welcomes “Watershed” Examination of Grocery Market
9/5/2006
Today’s announcement from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that they will refer the grocery market for detailed consideration by the Competition Commission has been welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).

ACS Sceptical About Sunday Trading Report
05/05/06
The Department for Trade and Industry’s (DTI) cost benefit analysis published today on Sunday trading has been met with scepticism by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).

Local MP Talks Shop in Northampton
03/05/06
Northampton South MP Brian Binley took time out on Saturday 29th April to visit his constituent Nick Brocklehurst at his SPAR store in Northampton.

ACS Chief Executive David Rae to Retire
21/04/06
David Rae, the Chief Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), has announced that he will retire from his post by the end of the year.

ACS Submission Makes Case for Retention of Sunday Trading Act
13/04/06
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), which has led the small store sector in opposing the extension of Sunday trading hours, has submitted its views to the Government’s consultation on this issue, which closes today.

Local MP 100% opposed to extending Sunday trading
10/04/2006
Andrew Stunell MP (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove) has given assurances that he will vote against any legislation that would extend Sunday trading hours.

Grocery Investigation: ‘Once in a Lifetime Opportunity’
04/04/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) decision to refer the grocery market to the Competition Commission for investigation.

Government Proposals Would Let Shop Thieves “off the hook”
04/04/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), representing over 32,500 independent retailers in the UK, has responded to new plans issued by Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

ANR Welcome New Guidelines for “Lads Mags”
27/03/2006
The Association of News Retailing (ANR), which represents the news interests of over 32,500 members of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), has welcomed new guidelines on the display of so-called “lads mags”.

ACS Warns Government about Growing Costs of Employment
21/03/2006
Following yesterdays announcement that the Government is to increase the National Minimum Wage, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned that small businesses are struggling to afford the seemingly endless cost of legislation and regulatory burdens imposed on their businesses.

ACS’ Campaign Champions Call for Support for Grocery Inquiry
14/03/2006
Following the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) landmark decision to refer the grocery market to the Competition Commission the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) 160 Campaign Champions are appealing to MPs to support the report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Small Shops.

ACS Looks Forward to Watershed Competition Commission Inquiry
09/03/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Office of Fair Trading that the grocery market will be referred to the Competition Commission.

ACS Launches Community Shops Campaign Trust to Fight for ALL local shops
23/02/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), which represents the interests of 32,500 neighbourhood retailers, is setting up an all inclusive Community Shops Campaign Trust to assist it in its campaign for a fairer grocery market.

ACS Welcomes New Debate on Future of Local Shops
15/02/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Small Shops published today entitled “High Street Britain 2015”.

Your Chance to be a Community Hero and Win £1000!
15/02/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched a campaign to recognise publicly the work that neighbourhood retailers do in their local communities.

New Pricing Research Exposes Flawed OFT Policy
15/02/2006
New research by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has shown that One Stop, the chain owned and operated by Tesco, are charging prices over a quarter more than in their larger stores, and over 20% more than in Tesco Express stores.

No Room for Complacency Over Improved Under Age Sales Results
08/02/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed the results of the Christmas test purchasing campaign but is warning the industry against complacency.

Ministers Must Consider Practicalities on Smoking Age Increase
03/02/2006
As MPs consider an amendment to allow the Government to increase the legal age for buying tobacco to 18, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned that retailers and shop staff could face abuse and violence if they have to police an increase in the smoking age.

Bestway Join ACS
24/01/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores is celebrating their continued membership growth with one of the largest wholesale suppliers to independent retailers Bestway coming on board.

Campaign Champions Appeal to MPs for Sunday Trading Support
18/01/2006
The Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) 160 Campaign Champions are appealing to MPs to oppose any changes to the current Sunday Trading Act.

Momentum Builds Against Sunday Trading Liberalisation
18/01/2006
A growing number of MPs are declaring their opposition to liberalisation of the Sunday Trading Act 1994.

ANR: Retailers Must Adapt as Wholesalers Feel the Squeeze
18/01/2006
The Association of News Retailing (ANR) has urged its members to prepare for a magazine market with only three wholesalers remaining. ANR's advice comes after the award of contracts for distribution of Frontline magazines to WHS News. These contracts had previously been held by a number of independent wholesalers.

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