UK’s rural stores providing lifeline for isolated communities

By Liz Wells in Industry News 23rd February 2021

Rural shops are the future and the government needs to support them, the ACS said at the launch of its Rural Shop Report today (23 February).

The report reveals that throughout 2020, rural consumers have increasingly used their local shop for a wider range of products, and one in five reporting that they depend on their local shop more now than a year ago.

More than a third of the UK convenience sector is made up of rural shops and between them they employ more than 126,000 people.

The report reveals that rural shop owners have invested more than £197m in their businesses over the past year and 21% now provide a home delivery service in their local area.

In addition, the report shows that 79% of rural shops are actively engaged in their communities, with 42% making donations to a local food bank over the past year.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “Rural shops have been absolutely essential to their communities over the last year, helping customers to shop safely and putting in place new services like home delivery to support those who aren’t able to get out to stores. The message from this year’s report is that rural shops have become even more important during the Covid pandemic, retailers now have even closer relationship with their customers, are employing more people, are taking part in even more community activity, and offer a range of wider and more powerful range of services than ever. These businesses have been crucial at a time when more people are feeling isolated due to the pandemic.”

He added: “Despite still being hampered by less reliable transport links, patchy mobile connectivity and slower internet access compared to the rest of the UK, rural shops are investing in technology and services to improve their businesses and their offer for customers, but we need more support from government to ensure that rural shops are not left playing catch up through no fault of their own.”

As part of the Rural Shop Report launch, ACS chief executive James Lowman took part in a virtual study tour with Christine Hope, from rural shop Hopes of Longtown. The study tour video is available here.