ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has celebrated the
investment, community contribution and range of services provided
by the UK's almost 19,000 rural convenience stores, despite
significant challenges ahead.
The 2025 Rural Shop Report, launched today (29th
January) sets out the ways that rural retailers make a difference
in their communities, making a case for further support from
Government to ensure that rural shops can continue to play their
essential role in the future.
Key findings from the 2025 Rural Shop Report include:
· Rural shops provide
secure, flexible jobs for over 178,000 people
· 40% of rural shops
are the only convenience store in rural areas, with no other
shops or businesses nearby
· Rural shops generated
£18.5bn in sales last year
· Rural retailers have
invested over £240m in their businesses over the last year to
better serve their communities
The report highlights the unique challenges that rural retailers
face compared to their more urban counterparts, including a lack
of connectivity, issues with the cost and availability of
deliveries, theft and other retail crime, and more. Featured in
the report are case studies that bring these issues to life.
Hopes of Longtown, featured in the report, is an award-winning
village shop and Post Office at the foot of the Black mountains
in Hereford. The shop currently receives 100% discretionary
business rates relief from the local council because of its
status as the only shop in the village, but owner Christine Hope
is concerned that this could be dropped as councils deal with
growing budget deficits.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Hundreds of thousands of
people in isolated areas across the UK rely on their local shop
to provide them with the products and services that they need. If
rural shops aren't able to survive, invest and adapt, nobody will
step in the host the Post Office, offer other essential services
and promote the human interaction and social glue that binds
those communities.
“These shops need to be supported by both local and national
policymakers at a time when costs are rising significantly as a
result of the Budget. We are calling on all MPs in rural
constituencies to commit their support for the rural shops that
trade at the heart of their communities.”
The full 2025 Rural Shop Report is available here:https://cdn.acs.org.uk/public/ACS%20Rural%20Shop%20Report%202025.pdf
