ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to provide more support for rural convenience stores as part of the levelling up agenda, highlighting the vital role that these businesses play to the economy and to their local communities.
Launched today, ACS’ 2022 Rural Shop Report has revealed that half of rural stores operate with no other retail or service businesses close by, acting as a lifeline for their customers by providing access to vital services including free to use cash machines (48%), local grocery delivery (26%) and Post Offices (22%). This year’s report also shows that if their local shop was no longer there, customers would have to travel an average of 3.3 miles in order to access these services and to feed their families.
Findings from the report show that over the last year, rural convenience stores have achieved around £15.8 billion in sales and the average rural customer visits stores around 2.5 times per week.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Rural shops are a lifeline to thousands of communities and have gone above and beyond to ensure that they can keep providing essentials throughout all of the disruption caused by supply chain issues and the ongoing pandemic. This is despite rural shops facing significant additional challenges compared to their more urban counterparts – thousands of rural shops do not have adequate broadband or mobile coverage, and many are at the farthest tip of their supply chains struggling to get a choice of supply and the full range of products their customers need.
“Providing targeted support to rural shops and other rural businesses must be integral to the Government’s levelling up agenda to ensure that the gap between rural stores and their urban counterparts doesn’t widen even further.”
Minister for Rural Affairs Lord Benyon said: “Rural businesses are central to this Government’s ambitious levelling up agenda. This report illustrates the vital role which rural shops play in sustaining their communities, both through their significant economic contribution and as valuable social hubs. The report also demonstrates their fundamental resilience and the success of government initiatives to help such businesses keep going throughout the pandemic.
“By better understanding the needs and experiences of rural businesses, we can continue to help rural areas grow and improve as we build back better.”
Additional key findings from this year’s report include:
- Over the last year rural retailers have invested around £195million in their businesses
- Rural shops provide local, secure and flexible employment to over 138,000 people
- Rural convenience stores contributed £3.5billion in GVA
- 79% of rural convenience stores are independently owned
The full report is available to download from ACS’ Member Portal, click here for more information.
