The Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s (SGF’s) Go Local Programme has seen monthly sales of fresh and healthier Scottish products rocket 44% at participating stores, according to a new report.
Now entering its fifth year, 127 stores from Shetland to Dumfries & Galloway have participated in the project. The average convenience store on the programme is delivering 31% of their total sales from Scottish products (when tobacco and news are excluded).
The report also highlighted a significant multiplier impact and boost for the local economy, with expected increases of around £169,000 per store per annum.
The Go Local Programme provides individual grants for retailers to invest in developing a dedicated space for local products (£5,500 in 2024) with a bias towards fresh and healthier lines, and has a particular focus on facilitating ‘meet-the-buyer’ events linking up local retailers with producers in their area. On average, each store increased its dedicated Scottish space by an additional 26.4 metres.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “We have seen the number of people wanting to support local producers continue to grow and this independent report shows the real impact that the Go Local Programme has had in getting more and more of our fantastic local food and drink on the shelves of convenience stores, a vitally important sector. The programme is bringing real benefits to local communities, supports the economy and importantly offers more opportunities for our wonderful food and drink producers to showcase their products.”
Jamie Buchanan, Go Local Programme Director, said: “The fantastic thing about Go Local is that it is a win-win for everyone. Customers ensure they are getting only the best quality local produce and boosting the local economy at the same time. Meanwhile, producers and retailers get direct access to their local market while also improving sustainability and cutting out long-distance transport costs.
“It’s no surprise that the programme has gone from strength to strength since its launch in December 2020, and this report confirms the positive impact for participating stores. It has been great to work with both Leigh and Maria developing the report and I want to thank them, and all involved in delivering the programme these past four years.”
The in-depth report on the project has been developed by Research Fellow, Dr Maria Rybaczewska, and Professor of Retail Studies, Leigh Sparks, from the University of Stirling.
Prof. Sparks said: “The Go Local Programme has demonstrated that concerted action from retailers and producers to highlight and spotlight local products provides a significant and sustained growth in sales of these products and overall for the stores.
“Joining the project makes a huge difference in the overall performance of local products, with the increased multiplier effect building community resilience and the focus on local producers and products reducing the carbon and environmental impacts locally and nationally.”
Scotland Food & Drink has also been instrumental in expanding the range of compliant products available through the project.
Scotland Food & Drink Programme Director, Amanda Brown, said: “The Go Local Programme is a great example of how selling and promoting locally sourced Scottish products can build sales both for the retailer but also the producers. Research tells us that Scottish consumers want to buy more Scottish brands and products, and the project is helping make this happen.”
On the 1st of December 2020, the SGF Go Local Programme was launched and set out to support convenience stores throughout Scotland to provide dedicated, long-term display space for locally sourced Scottish products, to drive local sales and ultimately support the economic recovery of Scotland’s’ food and drink sector from Covid-19.
