C-Stores do well ahead of Plan-B - but what will Christmas bring?

The Retail Data Partnership (RDP), a leading provider of EPoS technology to the independent convenience sector, has revealed data that suggests that independent retailers are benefitted dramatically from movement restrictions and recent supermarket shortages following consumer panic buying. Since then, says RDP's Bryony Walton, sales have remained high in comparison to the previous 12 months.

"As we wait for new announcements from the government and potential new Covid-related restrictions, we take a look at how C-stores have fared over the past few months," she said.

"At the start of the pandemic, the average sales in C-stores increased dramatically, prompted by movement restrictions and supermarket shortages following consumer panic buying. Since then, sales have remained high in comparison to the previous 12 months.

Stores that provided a lifeline for their customers during the emergency have most likely become their lifetime supplier, reflected in continued high sales. Although November basket spend was 4.3 per cent down, total footfall increased +4.1 per cent compared with November 2020."

Walton said the data reveals how shoppers are buying less but more often, compared to lockdown, where they visited less often but bought more while they were there.

A year and a half on from the first lockdown, C-stores are not only still ahead of pre-pandemic performance, but year-on-year figures are also positive. "Average sales per store last month increased by 0.1 per cent compared to November 2020, and by 15.6 per cent compared to November 2019," said Walton.

RDP figures show that in the latest three months, average sales per store have increased by 2.1 per cent compared to the same period last year, based on EPOS sales from over 3500 stores which covered 320 million transactions in the past year.

"If restrictions do return it’s possible that C-stores will once again be providing for the needs of the country," Walton added, saying that the looming threat of strike action jeopardises the ability of some large supermarkets to keep stores supplied and open.

"It seems that customers might once again be relying on their corner store to provide Christmas essentials. Stores can be ready to be Merry!"