All Blogs articles
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Opinion
Support is available for face mask concerns
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman discusses the support for retailers concerned about face mask legislation.
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Opinion
Who will enforce mandatory face masks in shops?
Retailers won’t be expected to enforce the wearing of face masks in shops but what support are they being given?
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Opinion
New shopper missions emerge in lockdown
Insights manager at HIM & MCA Insight Katie Prowse discusses the new missions driving customers to stores.
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Opinion
Fighting back against Sunday trading regulation relaxation
As talk of relaxing Sunday trading regulations comes up again, Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman urges a united front on the issue.
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Opinion
Highlighting the benefits of local
Interest in buying locally sourced produce has accelerated in recent years, driven by health, economic and environmental interests, writes HIM’s Sarah Alhadeff.
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Opinion
The delivery opportunity
Given that convenience stores play a vital role in local communities, now could not be a better time to venture into home delivery when shoppers need it most, writes HIM’s Sarah Alhadeff.
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Opinion
Support in testing times
James Lowman outlines the work the ACS is doing to support local stores during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Opinion
Pulling together
Trading at Eastcombe Village Stores in Gloucestershire is like nothing seen before, Mike reports.
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Opinion
Delivering the goods
Budgens retailer Sid Sidhu is impressed with the results of offering an online shopping service to local customers.
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Opinion
Legislation overload
Planning a refit has hit home to Premier retailer Linda Williams the constraints legislation places on running the business.
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Opinion
A cost-neutral scheme for plastic
The Environment Bill, which first made an appearance in the Queen’s Speech, made its long-awaited return to Parliament at the start of this year and more recently had its Second Reading, writes James Lowman of ACS.
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Opinion
Cold hard statistics
Shoplifting is now essentially a pandemic in Scotland, points out the SGF’s Pete Cheema.
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Opinion
The future of meat-free
Health has been high on the agenda for some time and is firmly established as a mega trend across the UK food and grocery market, writes Steve Gotham from HIM/MCA.
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Opinion
Budget priorities
Backed by a proper majority in Parliament, the Budget on 11 March marks the perfect opportunity for the Chancellor to set out a longer term agenda for the country, says ACS chief executive James Lowman.
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Opinion
From challenge to opportunity
Budgens retailer Sid Sidhu has spotted a big opportunity from the forthcoming ban on menthol cigarettes in May.
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Opinion
Why coffee is good for convenience
Coffee has become the ultimate convenience category, argues HIM’s Blonnie Walsh
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Opinion
The cost of a vote-winning policy
Increases in the minimum wage are piling the pressure on small businesses, reports Hull-based Premier retailer Sam Coldbeck.
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Opinion
Protecting shoppers’ access to cash
The ACS is campaigning to protect consumers’ access to cash.
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Opinion
CBD sales boost
CBD products have become a suprising hit for Sid, from vaping liquids to massage oils.
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Opinion
Can c-stores deliver success?
It is clear that the delivery operators see value in servicing the convenience retail market and are willing to go head-to-head to capture that space, but HIM’s Giorgio Rigali asks if it is the right move for the independent sector.