UK | According to new research, the UK’s “corner shops” are enjoying a resurgence, with nearly a quarter of consumers (23 percent) depending on them more than any other retail outlet.
The research was conducted by Coca-Cola, which recognises the importance of convenience stores and their “bosses” and celebrates its 125th anniversary in Great Britain.
For more than a century, convenience stores have proved a crucial retail partner to the brand while providing a vital service to local communities.
Convenience is one of Coca-Cola's most longstanding and critical retail channels, with the CCEP portfolio delivering more than GBP 317m worth of sales in convenience in the last year.
The consumer study revealed that nine in 10 Brits (88 percent) underestimate how long Coca-Cola has been available in gb, with just four percent correctly identifying the full 125-year legacy.
It also revealed that Brits estimate that just 41 percent of Coca-Cola products sold in the UK are made here, despite the actual figure being 97 percent.
Coca-Cola’s 125th anniversary and ‘Made in GB’ credentials are two essential factors that potentially drive shopper behaviour.
Two-fifths of respondents to the survey (41 percent) said they’re more likely to buy a brand with a strong British heritage, and over half (55 percent) prefer to buy items manufactured in the UK, hence the ‘Made in GB’ displayed on Coca-Cola bottles and cans.
The COVID-19 pandemic helped consumers rediscover the importance of their local convenience stores. More than a third (34 percent) of Brits say their local convenience store is an essential part of their daily lives.
A similar percentage (33 percent) said that without their local convenience store, they would struggle to access food and other essential items quickly.
The consumer survey also revealed that, on average, people now visit their local convenience store five times a month, spending an average of GBP 14.90 per visit.
Gen Z spend the most, whilst older generations spend considerably less; GBP 6.10 on average for the silent generation (those 79+) and GBP 9.40 on average amongst baby boomers (60-78).
“Local shops have become a great support system for communities across the country, and I’m proud to be one of the people doing this today,” said Rav Garcha, owner of six stores in the Midlands and the Portsmouth area.
“Being a convenience store owner is full of many challenges, but is also extremely rewarding. From building lasting relationships with customers to connecting with fellow retailers all over the country, we share every part of our lives with these people, and don't take for granted the customers that literally put food on our tables, clothes on our backs and provide us with means to provide for our families.”
Additional research conducted by Coca-Cola within the convenience retail community has shown that competition from larger supermarkets and online retailers is the biggest challenge for retailers when managing their stores (43 percent).
To stay competitive, more than half (54 percent) said they’ve taken steps to improve the in-store experience they offer, while more than a third (36 percent) now offer online delivery.
Convenience retailers are also tapping into new platforms and services to remain competitive:
- 23 percent now offer parcel pick-up/drop-off
- 17 percent provide expanded grocery ranges
- 15 percent give ATM access
- 37 percent have launched a social media presence to make either themselves or their shop feel more personal online
- 12 percent offer home deliveries to support vulnerable customers
These changes haven’t gone unnoticed, with more than half (55 percent) of respondents to the consumer survey saying their local store now offers new services like parcel pick-up and drop-off (23 percent), grocery shopping (17 percent), ATM access (15 percent), home deliveries (12 percent), and support for the elderly and vulnerable (9 percent).
“Convenience stores have been at the heart of their communities for generations, and Coca-Cola has proudly stood alongside them throughout that journey,” said Stephen Moorhouse, General Manager of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in GB
“As we mark 125 years of Coca-Cola in GB, this research highlights the resilience and adaptability of local retailers, many of whom are finding new ways to meet evolving shopper needs. At CCEP, we’re committed to supporting these vital businesses, helping them grow, innovate and continue serving as a lifeline to the communities they know so well.”
According to Coca-Cola, this evolution in the convenience store landscape underscores a shift towards more personalised and accessible retail experiences right on consumers' doorsteps and reinforces the importance of ‘localness’.
“Convenience store owners’ super-power is their adaptability. It’s one thing to be close to your community and to understand what they want, and it’s another thing again to invest in delivering those products and services,” said James Lowman, Chief Executive of Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
“Without these entrepreneurs taking risks and working all hours, thousands of communities would be without the essential services that make them tick.”
With a legacy spanning 125 years, The Coca-Cola Company is committed to supporting the local “bosses” at the heart of local communities.
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