Talking Retail covered the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) call for the Government to ensure there is a ‘level playing field’ for the UK’s 16,944 rural convenience stores so they can keep up with technological developments.

The ACS 2019 Rural Shop Report found that one in five people would have to travel more than five miles to get grocery staples if their local shop closed.

The report also found that 34 per cent of people most valued the Post Office services offered by the local shop, with a further 44 per cent citing a free ATM as the most important.

Other key findings included that 79 per cent of independent rural retailers have engaged in some form of community activity over the past year, one in four rural shop owners work more than 70 hours per week, and 22 per cent of rural customers visit their local convenience store every day of the week.

The report was launched in Parliament on Wednesday 27 February at a reception, with MPs from rural constituencies pledging their support.

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