UK consumers view their local convenience stores as the most important service at creating jobs, encouraging local investment and attracting more customers, revealed the 2024 Community Barometer compiled by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
The report highlighted that convenience stores employ over 400,000 people and consistently invest over half a billion pounds each year in improving their businesses, investing in sustainable technologies and curating their range of products and services for customers.
Post offices were felt to have the most positive impact on their local area, while pharmacies came in second and convenience stores ranked third out of 16 different local services featured in the report, which was based on an omnibus poll of 2000 adults.
Convenience stores were also deemed to be the third most essential local service after pharmacies and post offices.
The most wanted services were banks, followed by specialist food shops and non-food shops. ACS claimed that the most wanted list of services was a good blueprint for convenience retailers when looking at ways to diversify their offer locally.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Communities across the UK clearly recognise the importance of their local convenience store in providing secure and flexible employment, supporting the local economy, and driving investment in a wider range of services. Our Community Barometer provides a blueprint for the kind of diversity of businesses people want on their local high streets, and highlights the need for crucial services like banking, prescription collections and Post Offices – many of which are already housed within convenience stores.”
The new report also looks at what people believe should be a priority in terms of investment in their local area. The top priorities were seen as public spaces, such as parks; community projects, such as youth centres; and community policing, which was a top priority for over 45s.
Lowman added: “One of the top priorities for the new Labour Government will be to look at ways to improve the way that people feel about their local communities. A diverse range of services is part of that solution, but it’s clear that investment is needed in local community engagement and a stronger police presence. We urge the Government to look at supporting local growth not just in terms of town centres, but in the villages, high streets and smaller parades where people live, work and shop.”
