Convenience stores, pharmacies and post offices widen gap with rest on local positive impact

Convenience stores have ranked first among the services that have the most positive impact in local communities, according to a new report from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).

Pharmacies and post offices occupy the next two positions in the Community Barometer 2021, published today, which looks at how people feel about the services that are available to them locally, and the impact that they have on key measures like reducing loneliness, how positive an impact they have on the community and how essential they are.

Convenience stores pharmacies and post offices have polled among the top three services that have an overall positive impact on their local area for several years, but this year’s data has revealed a significant gap between the these three services and the rest, as many of the other services have been closed at times over the last year.

“It’s reassuring but not surprising that local shops and other services are as essential to people’s daily lives as ever,” commented James Lowman, ACS chief executive.

“Throughout the pandemic, and even now with more people working from home on a long-term basis, many have rediscovered their local shops and realised the huge breadth of products and services that they offer, as well as their invaluable contribution to the wider local community.”

Some of the 16 services people could choose from included restaurants, pubs/bars, pharmacies, specialist food shops, coffee shops, non-food stores, pharmacies and others.

Pharmacies came out on top among the services considered as the most essential to have locally, and post offices ranked first among the services that have the most positive impact on house prices. Convenience stores occupied second and fifth position respectively in the two metrics.

Coffee shops and pubs/bars are the two top services that have been considered as having the most impact on reducing loneliness. Convenience stores are ranked next. The services that are diminishing in number have taken up the top spots in the most wanted rankings, with banks, specialist food shops and non-food shops constituting the top three.

“I welcome the findings from this report which reflect what we have seen over the past 18 months of the pandemic. Many people have relied on their local convenience store for food shopping or home deliveries, as well as, the Post Office services that can be found in thousands of convenience stores across the country,” Amanda Jones, Post Office retail and franchise network director, said.

“So many people have been impacted by the pandemic and we’re aware of the important role Post Offices play in helping to combat loneliness in particular. We’re proud of postmasters who serve millions of customers ever week. For some people this may be their only face-to-face interaction with another person. Postmasters will continue to be at the heart of their local community making sure people have access to important services.”

Lowman continued: “Many of the positively viewed services in this report, such as Post Offices, coffee shops and pharmacies, are featured within modern convenience stores, especially in rural and isolated areas where there’s only one place for people to go to get their essentials locally. In other locations, our members are part of a mix of businesses all tailoring their offer to local customers and working together to help maintain vibrant and safe local communities.

“The findings of this report are a testament to the work that convenience store retailers and their colleagues have put in over the last year to keep their communities going.”