The Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) has celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Formed in 1918 the Federation has been at the forefront of promoting the interests of convenience stores and community-based retailing. There are now almost 5,300 convenience stores in Scotland, providing over 41,000 jobs. The convenience sector in Scotland has evolved into a vital part of life in every community in Scotland, providing vital services to local people. Eighty per cent of retailers in Scotland are regularly involved in community engagement activities. On average convenience stores are open for at least 14 hours each day and over 20% of retailers work more than 70 hours per week.
Membership of the Federation has grown to include all the major convenience groups and Co-ops operating in Scotland. In 2017 the Federation established the first Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on retailing.
The centenary was officially celebrated on March 21 at an event in Edinburgh City Chambers, featuring the launch of the centenary history book. The event was hosted by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh with one of the special guests being the Cabinet Secretary for the Food and Drink Sector, Fergus Ewing MSP. Mr Ewing represented the First Minister.
The Cabinet Secretary said: “When the Scottish Grocers’ Federation was formed in 1918, Scotland’s retail landscape was very different to now – with the notion of supermarkets some years off, and most shops across the country owned locally. It is testament to the Federation’s enduring relevance, as well as its remarkable adaptability that, 100 years on, the SGF remains as the authoritative voice for the independent convenience store sector, and can be justifiably lauded as a Scottish ‘institution’.
“I appreciate just how much benefit Scotland’s shop owners bring to local communities, by providing vital services, sustaining and creating jobs, and contributing to the economy. The Scottish Government shares the SGF’s ambition to improve Scotland’s trading environment, and I hope we’ll continue to work together for many years to come, in order to achieve that.”
SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema added: “Convenience stores in Scotland have moved on from being corner shops to become an industry sector where the value of sales is almost £4 billion and the contribution to Scotland’s economy in gross value added is over £500 million every year. SGF has been the driving force in this transformation. We have also led the way in promoting responsible community retailing and this has become a way of life for our members. 100 years in existence is a remarkable milestone and we are intensely proud of our industry and the contribution it makes to life in Scotland.”
The centenary history book charts how the Federation and the industry have responded to changing times and new challenges.
