Local Shop Report 2021

Shop image
timestamp
Local Shop Report 2021

Jon Cruddas MP has recently been contacted by the Association of Convenient Stores (ACS) regarding the Local Shop Report of 2021.

The report provides a key insight into the convenience store sector, including store and job figures, sales statistics, direct tax contributions, investment made by retail workers and profiles of owners, employees and customers utilising convenience stores. The report finds that the United Kingdom's 47,079 convenience stores have played a bigger role than ever in the economy and in their communities throughout the pandemic.

Local convenience stores in Dagenham and Rainham have provided a total of 609 jobs for local people. London stores have also boosted the national economy by £64 million, with 13% of retailers working more than 60 hours a week to deliver for their communities.

For most people essential services were a problem to access during lockdown with many superstores over 2 miles away but the ACS highlights that local convenience filled the void, offering easy access to produce and services for communities across the country.

Many customers in the report highlighted positives things about convenience stores like being easier to access, quicker, and overall staff members were very polite and helpful. Special tribute was also made to cleaners and staff who kept stores covid-free and safe for customers.

Jon Cruddas MP said: "Local shops are often the heart of our communities. There are excellent examples of this all across my constituency from Marks Gate, throughout Dagenham and in Rainham Village. Offering services such as parcel collection points, which was a vital lifeline during the pandemic, and also in many instances a friendly face and a chat which can make all the difference as we look at ways to tackle loneliness as a society. I commend the work of our local shopkeepers."