Despite having a lower share of stores numerically than England and Wales, Scottish wholesale-supplied symbol and fascia stores outperform on share of value sales, share of retail units sold, and number of items in basket, according to research from wholesale and retail insight specialist TWC and hospitality data expert HDI.
Data commissioned by the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), confirms that Scotland is overperforming in wholesaler-supplied convenience retail.
Tanya Pepin, managing director of TWC, said: “TWC provided an update on wholesale sales performance based on their access to data from 75 wholesalers across GB. Foodservice is currently showing strong growth while wholesale into retail is flatter. In both channels, Scotland is over-indexing on value growth.”
However, according to TWC’s SmartView Convenience service, Scotland is the top-performing region in value for retail.
Pepin continued: “TWC also used SmartView Convenience – our market read for sales through wholesaler-supplied symbol and fascia as well as independent convenience stores in GB – to provide an update on convenience retail performance, as well as an insight into Scottish performance versus England and Wales.
“Again, Scotland showed strong results, with the largest regional share of convenience retail value sales of all GB geographies – and the best year-on-year results of all regions.”
The data further revealed that at a product category level, SmartView Convenience reports that all impulse categories are in value growth for the latest 52 weeks and “Scotland’s growth is ahead of the rest of GB”.
“In fact, across seven of the 10 core retail categories, Scotland is reporting stronger year-on-year results,” Ms Pepin added.
SWA chief executive Colin Smith highlighted the current high levels of confidence among Scottish wholesalers. “This insightful market overview doesn’t mask the fact that businesses are facing significant cost pressures from high employee, materials, and energy costs,” he said.
“However, the findings from TWC and HDI tell us that there is optimism within the Scottish wholesale sector and our performance versus England and Wales is heartening in a market that has witnessed considerable challenges and change over the last five years.
“Clearly, local and regional market dynamics are also at play, but this market review can help wholesalers focus on the key challenges and opportunities for growth at time when there is an evolving regulatory environment.
“That said, Scottish wholesalers recognise the need for strategic investment and growth, and understanding how crucial it is to look to the future.”
