New research published today (15th January) by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) reveals the growing importance of local shops to people in Wales.
The 2019 Welsh Local Shop Report shows how convenience stores are supporting communities by providing thousands of jobs, stepping in to ensure that essential services like access to cash are still available, and investing millions to ensure that they stay relevant in the face of competition from larger stores and online businesses.
Key figures from the report include:
- There are 2,923 convenience stores in Wales, 83% of which are run by independent retailers
- Convenience stores in Wales provide almost 23,000 jobs to local people
- The Welsh convenience sector generated sales of around £2.5bn over the last year
- Over £44m has been invested over the last year by convenience retailers in Wales, the vast majority of which coming from retailer’s own reserves
- Most (62%) of the convenience stores in Wales are located in rural areas
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Local shops are an essential part of Welsh communities, creating thousands of local, flexible jobs and providing not just a local grocery offer, but also acting as a social hub and offering a range of services that many people in the rural and isolated communities of Wales would otherwise not be able to access. Being able to provide such a diverse offer to customers locally is becoming ever more important, especially in those communities that have seen other service providers like banks and specialist stores leave.”
Despite rising costs and a continued squeeze on product margins, convenience stores in Wales have still been able to invest in providing services for customers. The report shows that:
- 79% of stores offer contactless payment
- 48% of stores provide a free to use cash machine for customers
- 29% of stores have a Post Office or Post Office counter
- 67% of stores provide bill payment services
Retailers in Wales are also highly active in their communities. 81% of retailers in Wales have taken part in some form of community activity over the last year, either through raising money for local charities or getting involved with community events, projects and other partnerships. The majority of the funds raised through the 5p carrier bag charge in stores is also going to local charities (58%) as opposed to other national or environmental charities.
ACS works on devolved issues in Wales with members of the Welsh Assembly, promoting the convenience sector in Wales through the Cross Party Group on Small Shops. ACS provides the secretariat to the Cross Party Group, which is chaired by Janet Finch Saunders AM.
Assembly Members have also endorsed a Statement of Opinion, tabled this week in the Assembly, which recognises the important role that local shops play in communities across Wales and highlights some of the headline figures from the Welsh Local Shop Report. The full Statement of Opinion is available here: http://record.assembly.wales/StatementOfOpinion/119
The full Welsh Local Shop Report is available here: http://bit.ly/LSRWales19
