ACS: The Local Shop Podcast

ACS: The Local Shop Podcast

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Convenience stores are a huge part of the UK economy, employing over 365,000 people while serving millions of customers every day. The Local Shop Podcast brings the ACS team together with retailers and industry experts to discuss upcoming trends and the biggest political issues affecting the sector.

Association of Convenience Stores


    • Mar 15, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 64 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from ACS: The Local Shop Podcast

    64: Budget 2023 Reaction: Where's the Money?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 21:22


    Chris, James and Ed discuss what was in (and what wasn't in) Jeremy Hunt's Budget, including a complete failure of Government to address the cliff edge of energy costs facing convenience stores. 

    63: Mini (?) Budget Reaction. Ep 63

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2022 18:26


    Chris, James and Ed talk through the main headlines from Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget, including the energy bill relief scheme, investment zones, tax cuts, and more! 

    62: The Energy Crisis Facing Local Shops

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 20:04


    Chris is joined by James and Ed to talk through the crisis facing retailers when it comes to energy bills this winter, what can be done to help, and when the next Prime Minister is likely to act. 

    61: Talking Wellbeing with Meraki Creative Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 35:56


    Chris is joined by Steve Dowling from ACS and Rebekah from Meraki Creative Therapy to discuss the importance of wellbeing for both retailers and colleagues and some of the things that you can do to prioritise your mental health. 

    60: Spring Statement Reaction

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 18:13


    Chris, James and Ed talk through the big announcements in the Chancellor's Spring Statement, what support is available for businesses, and what's next as retailers face into rising costs throughout the year. 

    59: Talking Rural Shops with Kerry Booth

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 19:44


    Follow us on Twitter @ACS_localshops and @localshoppod You can find the full Rural Shop Report at ACS.org.uk

    58: Autumn Budget Reaction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 19:54


    Chris and James talk through the main points of the Chancellor's Budget, including new measures to incentivise investment, duty rates reform, and wage increases.

    budget chancellor autumn budget
    57: Celebrating Incredible Community Retailing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 28:29


    On this episode, we hear from the three finalists of the Raj Aggarwal Trophy, who shared their inspirational stories at the 2021 Heart of the Community Conference earlier this week. The panel session was chaired by award winning retailers Jonathan James and Avtar Sidhu.

    community heart incredible retailing jonathan james community conference
    56: Party Conference Roundup

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 34:14


    Chris is joined by Ed, James, Lydia and Steve to discuss the party conference season, what the Government's agenda looks like in the future, and what it's been like having an ACS stand at conference for the first time.

    55: Making Wellbeing a Priority

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 36:12


    On this episode of the podcast, we hear from Steve Dowling about the launch of the brand new ACS Wellbeing Guide, as well as hear from experts on wellbeing and leading retailers about how they prioritise wellbeing in their businesses.

    54: How to Go Green in Store

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 36:18


    James Lowman is joined by green expert Victoria Robertshaw, Retail Sector Council co-chair Richard Pennycook and net zero policy advisor Sam Lux to discuss what retailers can do to be greener, as well as the new Green Street initiative. Find out more about Green Street at www.greenstreet.org.uk

    53: What's next for ultra-fast grocery? with Matt Truman (True Global)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2021 39:01


    We're joined by prominent retail and tech investor Matt Truman of investment firm True Global to take a deep dive into ultra-fast grocery models like Getir, Weezy and others that have been making headlines in recent months, and how they might change the convenience sector in the future.

    52: #ShopKind

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 17:53


    Chris talks to Ed Woodall about the launch of the industry-wide #ShopKind campaign, plus a Sky News interview with James Lowman and Debbie Robinson.

    sky news james lowman
    51: 2021 Budget Reaction: Good news for local shops?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2021 19:34


    Chris is joined by James Lowman, Steve Dowling and Eleanor O Connell to run through the big announcements from this year's Budget, whether it's good news or bad news for the convenience sector, and what we can expect next from the Government.

    50: Talking Age of Play Changes with Camelot

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 24:16


    Chris is joined by Camelot Head of Retail Operations Julie Brian to talk through the ins and outs of the upcoming change to the age of play for National Lottery products and what it means for retailers. Plus, changes to CBD regulations, and an update on Natasha's Law.Visit the Camelot Retailer Hub at https://www.tnlretailerhub.co.uk/

    49: What's the future of business rates?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 18:38


    Chris is joined by James and Ed to talk about whether the business rates system is still fit for purpose, if there's a simple alternative, and what local shops need right now to help them plan for the future.

    business rates
    48: Discussing Violence and Abuse with USDAW and Sussex PCC Katy Bourne

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 40:29


    Chris is joined by Ed Woodall from ACS, Doug Russell from shopworkers union USDAW and Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne OBE to talk through the issues facing retailers when it comes to violence and abuse, how to get involved with the upcoming PCC elections and the #keepingchristmaskind campaign.

    violence abuse sussex bourne pcc acs doug russell sussex police
    47: The Spending Review Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 12:47


    Chris is joined by ACS Government Relations Director Ed Woodall to talk through the big announcements in the Spending Review, what they mean for retailers, and what all of this means for the future.

    spending review
    46: Innovation Showcase Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 18:10


    On this episode, Chris talks through the latest announcements on the end of lockdown in December, and Will Nelson joins the podcast to talk through the shortlisted entries for this year's Innovation Showcase.

    innovation showcase will nelson
    45: Face Coverings, Masterclasses and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 35:41


    On this episode, Chris talks through the latest on the new regulations that have just come into force affecting convenience stores, we hear a preview of the latest local radio campaign with James Lowman, and exclusive audio from the Summit Masterclass on making local products a star.

    44: Local Shop Report 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 26:00


    On this episode, we talk about the 2020 Local Shop Report - featuring a discussion with ACS Government Relations Director Ed Woodall and an expert panel from Summit20 including Michael O’Loughlin (SimplyFresh), Loreta Lingyte (The Retail Data Partnership) and Aidan Fortune (Convenience Store). 

    43: Summer Statement Reaction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 11:47


    Chris is joined by ACS Government Relations Director Ed Woodall to provide initial thoughts on the Chancellor's summer statement and what it means for local shops.

    42: Talking Investment with Joe Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2020 29:40


    Chris is joined by award winning independent retailer Joe Williams to talk about some upcoming changes to his store in Hook Norton and how his business has fared during lockdown. There's also an update on the reopening of businesses on July 4th, as well as news from Scotland about mandatory face coverings in shops from July 10th.

    41: Supporting Carers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 29:34


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Emma Bould (Alzheimer's Society), Emily Holzhausen (Carers UK) and Sally Wake (Company Shop) to talk about the role of local shops in supporting carers in communities.

    40: The Future of Employment - with James Lowman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 20:16


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris talks to ACS chief executive James Lowman about the impact that the pandemic has had on colleagues working in the convenience sector, the pressures facing workers in the upcoming recession, and the challenges of keeping a sustainable home delivery offer going post-lockdown.

    employment acs james lowman
    39: New Research on How Local Shops are Responding

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 11:40


    On this episode of the podcast, we hear from James Lowman on new research into how the convenience sector has responded to the lockdown, and there's a reminder about changes to tobacco legislation. To refer yourself for a coronavirus test, the website link is https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/ (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/KklNCqYrESqk7QTXSPsI?domain=self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/)

    38: Taking Stock with James Lowman and Ed Woodall

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 39:29


    On this episode, Chris is joined by James and Ed to discuss what the latest changes to the lockdown rules mean for retailers, whether the Government's view of local shops has improved since the Covid-19 crisis, and what the long term impact for the sector might be.

    37: Amit Puntambekar and Harriet English

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 34:58


    On this episode, we speak to Amit Puntambekar, a Nisa retailer from Fenstanton about how his business is adapting, and there's a discussion with Harriet English from the Plunkett Foundation on how community shops and pubs are coping with the lockdown measures.

    36: Dennis Williams and Graham Soult

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2020 47:31


    On this episode, we talk to award winning Scottish community retailer Dennis Williams about the success of Broadway Convenience Store's new hardship fund, and retail consultant Graham Soult about what the future looks like for retail after Covid-19. There's also a chance to hear the newest local radio campaign on Covid-19 testing with ACS chief executive James Lowman.

    scottish acs dennis williams james lowman
    35: Menthol Ban Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2020 19:46


    On this episode Chris revisits the upcoming menthol ban with Julie Byers, exploring which products are affected as part of the ban and what retailers need to do to make sure that they are prepared. We also hear a preview of the latest local radio campaign with James Lowman.

    menthol james lowman
    34: A New Normal

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 31:21


    On this episode, Chris talks to SPAR retailer David Charman and Costcutter retailer Josie Chamberlain about how their businesses have reacted and adapted in the last few weeks. We also hear a preview of the latest local radio campaign with James Lowman.

    new normal spar james lowman
    33: How Stores Are Adapting

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 46:10


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris speaks to David Sands about how the David's Kitchen business has had to refocus during the lockdown, and to Richard Inglis about his experience of running three stores in locations that have been hit hard in the last few weeks. There's also a preview of the latest radio campaign with James Lowman.

    adapting stores david sands james lowman
    32: Keeping Colleagues and Customers Safe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2020 36:54


    On this episode of the podcast, we're talking to Ed and James from ACS, Chief Inspector Patrick Holdaway, independent retailer Rav Garcha and Emma Bould from the Alzheimer's Society about crime in convenience stores during Covid-19, and how retailers are going above and beyond to support vulnerable customers.

    31: Social Distancing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 29:39


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris updates on the latest news from Government in terms of support for retailers in response to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and speaks to Aman Uppal (One Stop Mount Nod) and Patrick Sewell (Sewell on the Go) about how they're responding to new social distancing guidance. 0:59 - Update on support for businesses 3:25 - One Stop Mount Nod 12:04 - Patrick Sewell 22:51 - Radio interview with James Lowman

    30: Update on COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2020 41:36


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris talks through the Government package of support for retailers in response to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and speaks to award winning retailers Sunder Sandher and Avtar Sidhu about what they're doing to respond to demand. 0:42 - Government support for businesses 4:53 - Sunder Sandher 16:04 - Avtar Sidhu (Sid) 33:44 - Radio interview with James Lowman

    29: Budget 2020 Reaction

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 23:40


    Chris, James and Ed react to the big announcements from this year's Budget, including huge news on business rates and other costs affecting retailers in 2020. 

    28: Dementia Friends Campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2020 21:36


    This year, we're working with the Alzheimer's Society to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the convenience sector. On this episode, Chris is joined by James and Emma Bould from the Alzheimer's Society to talk more about what dementia is and how retailers can help. 

    27: Talking Tech with Google

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2020 40:45


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Katie Cross from ACS and Georgie Altman from search giant Google to talk about how retailers can make the most of data and technology. We also look ahead to the 2020 Technology Showcase. 

    google acs talking tech katie cross technology showcase
    26: Budget 2020 Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 23:37


    25: Menthol Ban Mythbuster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020 9:35


    Chris is joined by ACS policy expert Julie Byers to get the facts on the upcoming menthol ban, and an update on track and trace regulations. 

    24: Election 2019: The Morning After

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2019 12:19


    23: Tracking Investment in the Convenience Sector

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2019 18:56


    22: Making Sense of Manifestos

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 27:51


    21: What to Expect When You’re Electing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2019 22:33


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Ed and James to talk about the recently confirmed General Election, how retailers can engage with candidates in their local area, and the issues we'd like to see in a local shop manifesto. 

    20: Heart of the Community 2019 Part Three - Crime

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2019 38:39


    This episode of the podcast features a live panel discussion from the 2019 Heart of the Community Conference on what the justice system can do to tackle violence and abuse committed against retailers. The panellists are Dr Emmeline Taylor (City University of London), Joe Rutlidge (One Stop), Jayne King (Guys and St Thomas Hospital) and Dame Vera Baird (Victims Commissioner). 

    community heart crime university of london st thomas hospital community conference
    19: Heart of the Community 2019 Part Two - Services

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2019 33:49


    The episode of the podcast features a live panel discussion from the 2019 Heart of the Community Conference on how important services are to convenience stores, and which services might be emerging in the future. The panellists are James Daley (Fairer Finance), Richard Piggin (Which?), Steve O'Neill (Paypoint) and Linda Williams (independent retailer). 

    18: Heart of the Community 2019 Part One - Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 39:53


    The episode of the podcast features a live panel discussion from the 2019 Heart of the Community Conference on how the provision of food in convenience stores is changing, as well as the challenges facing stores when it comes to intervention and regulation from Government. The panellists are Gary Stott (Community Shop), Anna Taylor (Food Foundation), Mital Morar (independent retailer) and Ranvir Singh (broadcaster). 

    community government heart community conference ranvir singh
    17: The B Word

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2019 22:09


    On this episode, Chris is joined by Shane Brennan from the Cold Chain Federation and Ed Woodall from ACS to talk about what Brexit means for convenience retailers.    Guidance on preparing for Brexit is available at ACS.org.uk (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/-D3QCzKE8So5G4sXH84g?domain=acs.org.uk) , and there is a Cold Chain Federation webinar on the impact of no deal at coldchainfederation.org.uk/connect/previous-webinars/ (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/7d1mCAP2LsAkZEc9WRxy?domain=coldchainfederation.org.uk)    

    16: Fuel and Forecourts - with James Spencer, Portland Fuel

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 34:58


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Portland Fuel MD James Spencer to talk about changes in the fuel and forecourt markets over recent years, some of the challenges facing forecourt retailers now, and where the sector's future might lie.    The 2019 Forecourt Report will be available to download from 4th October at ACS.org.uk (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/9mdNCvozMTzPkPtXAptk?domain=acs.org.uk)

    15: Local Shop Report Part 3 - Professor Jonathan Reynolds

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2019 27:41


    On this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Professor Jonathan Reynolds from the University of Oxford's Said Business School to discuss the findings of this year's report and share some insights on what makes great convenience retailing. 

    14: Local Shop Report 2019 - Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2019 30:18


    This special live recording of the Local Shop Podcast is taken from the panel at the launch event of the Local Shop Report in the National Space Centre, Leicester. Our panellists are Amish Shingadia, Amit Puntambekar, Vicky Lockie and Graham Soult.

    local shop leicester national space centre

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