For nearly 30 years, James Lowman has been at the heart of the Association of Convenience Stores — 19 of them as Chief Executive. He’s steered the organisation through major change, from the rise of convenience retailing and new government regulation to the turbulence of COVID.

In this wide-ranging conversation, James reflects on his journey from public affairs manager to CEO and the evolution of the UK’s thriving convenience sector. 

He talks about:

The moment he joined a fledgling ACS in 1996 — and how the convenience sector defined itself for the modern era

Early policy battles and what’s really changed (and hasn’t) in how government works with retailers

Why influence is an art, not a science — and how to make people listen and act

What sustained leadership looks like after two decades in the same role

How data transformed ACS’s credibility and voice with government

The human side of the job — from building community to surviving the intensity of the pandemic years

And why he believes local shops aren’t a thing of the past, but “absolutely part of the future.”

A thoughtful, grounded and very human look back at a career spent shaping one of the UK’s most important retail sectors — and a rare moment of reflection before James moves on to new horizons.

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