Russell George MS has been elected as the new Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Small Shops, succeeding Vikki Howells MS.
The decision was taken during the CPG's annual general meeting held on Wednesday (6). The meeting also saw discussion over the important role of access to cash in local communities.
Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) highlighted in the session the current access to cash trends across the convenience sector and the important role that cash plays in local communities and businesses.
Sarah McKenzie, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), also joined the meeting to discuss the FCA's latest interventions to protect access to cash for communities in Wales and what this means for businesses across Wales. The CPG committee also heard from Tenby's Vince Malone, who shared his experience of running a Post Office in his local community and why cash is still important for his customers.
The core purpose of the group is to ensure that the voice of small shops is heard within the Welsh Parliament.
George said, “As a former small shop owner, I am delighted to be elected as Chair of the Cross-party Group on Small Shops. This role is vital in advocating for our local businesses and ensuring that their voices are heard. Access to cash is crucial for communities across Wales, especially in rural areas where many residents rely on cash transactions.
“We must work together to safeguard cash access, ensuring that the people of Wales can engage fully with their local economies and maintain the health of our high streets. I look forward to leading this group in promoting policies that support small shops and enhance financial inclusivity.”
Shopping for beer between Monday and Wednesday is far more common than many might expect, with almost one third of beer shoppers making their purchases on these days of the week, reveals new data published by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC).
CMBC is sharing its new ‘Beersonas’ – its take on beer consumer profiles – which have been designed to help convenience store owners understand more about their beer shoppers and cater more effectively to their needs.
The brewer has revealed that while shopping for beer at the weekend or ahead of a major sporting event remains popular, the ‘Early Bird’ shopper category is actually the most common, representing 29.3 per cent of all UK households.
CMBC’s insights teams’ analysis of recent shopping data identified the following key ‘beersona’ profiles that purchase from convenience stores:
Early Birds, representing 29.3 per cent of shoppers. They tend to buy beer earlier in the week, often purchasing ale alongside other grocery staples such as tea bags, canned vegetables and salad. With a higher disposable income, these shoppers also have more free time and can afford to shop around, buying in smaller amounts but more frequently throughout the week, rather than in one big shopping trip.
Rush Hour Regulars, 16.2 per cent of shoppers. They are usually on a ‘meal for tonight’ mission, using convenience stores between 4pm-6pm ahead of dinnertime – this means they will be on the lookout for chilled beer. They are impulsive and can be persuaded to trade up to a new or premium product, favouring lager over ale.
Weekend Welcomers, 25.7 per cent of shoppers. While all beer sales see a spike at the weekend, older adults with families over-index at this time of the week. Weekend Welcomers are often time-poor, and don’t tend to browse for long. They can be impulsive depending on the weather and if there is an occasion coming along. They may be more likely to look at the Low & No alcohol range available, due to having busy family commitments or needing to drive. Having mid packs around the store and chilling beer where possible will help cater to these shoppers’ needs.
One Quick Thing, 28.8 per cent of shoppers. These are ‘top-up’ shoppers and may not initially be looking for beer. However, they can be persuaded to add it to their baskets via strategic fixture placement that draw attention to great products and promotions. They are deal-savvy and time-poor so will be interested in chilled products and will respond to clear messaging about the best deals.
Howard Dix, Business Unit Director for Impulse at CMBC, said, “Whilst the peak time of the week for beer purchases remains Friday and Saturday evenings, there is an opportunity at the start of the week to appeal to a different demographic.
“Retailers might be surprised to know that older shoppers who tend to shop for beer earlier in the week are actually one of the largest groups of available shoppers. I'd encourage convenience store owners to think about whether there are particular promotions they could run from Monday to Wednesday to cater to this group. Our Early Birds tend to like more traditional beers such as ale and standard lager, so focusing on these products will maximise sales for the full week.”
CMBC currently offers a range of products and pack sizes to cater to all these customer groups, including Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664 Bière and Hobgoblin ale with 440ml and 568ml cans proving most popular among convenience store shoppers.
Arrival of customary "pre-festive" deals boosted food sales though overall sales suffered in October as cash-strapped shoppers stayed at home, holding off purchases amid uncertainty over the budget and fears over rising energy bills.
According to data from the British Retail Consortium and the consultancy KPMG published today (5), sales increased by 0.6 per cent compared with October 2023, less than half the three-month average growth rate of 1.3 per cent.
Food sales increased 2.9 per cent year on year over the three months to October, against a growth of 7.9 per cent in October 2023. This is below the 12-month average growth of 4.1 per cent. For the month of Oct, food was in growth year-on-year.
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said that October’s "disappointing" sales growth was partly driven by half term falling a week later this yea.
"Uncertainty during the run-up to the Budget, coupled with rising energy bills, also spooked some consumers. Fashion sales took the biggest hit as the mild weather delayed winter purchases. Health and beauty sales remained buoyant, with beauty advent calendars flying off the shelves.
“After a painful Budget for retailers, the hope is it will be less painful for households in the immediate term and consumer appetite will pick up in time for the Black Friday sales and festive season. Retailers must now grapple with over £5bn of new costs announced by the Chancellor, including in Employer National Insurance, Business Rates and the uplift in the National Living Wage. Managing this will hold back investment and growth in the short term, while further squeezing already-low margins and risking inflation," she said.
Commenting on sales performance of food and drink sector performance, Sarah Bradbury, CEO at IGD, said,“In October, UK food and grocery sales saw a modest step up in growth compared to September, but this period does not include the last five days of the month, when an uptick of spending around Halloween might have been expected.
“However, the arrival of customary ‘pre-festive’ deals in categories such as wine helped boost sales in the second half of the month. Importantly - volume, as well as value growth, remained positive despite a downbeat mood in the wider economy reflecting nervousness around potential tax hikes in the government’s budget.
“Shopper Confidence continues to reflect very differing shopper experiences, with lower income households feeling much more negative than higher income households. Retailers will be hoping that measures announced in the budget, such as the uplift in the minimum wage, will give a much-needed confidence boost to lower income shoppers and that the nation is looking forward to the coming festive period with more optimism.”
October’s footfall figures declined marginally as compared to last year, shows latest industry data, highlighting concerns for a policy environment that supports growth and investment.
According to data by British Retail Consortium (BRC), total UK footfall decreased by 1.1 per cent in October (YoY), down from +3.3 per cent in September. High Street footfall decreased by 3.6 per cent in October (YoY), down from +0.9 per cent in September.
Retail Park footfall increased by 4.8 per cent in October (YoY), down from +7.3 per cent in September. Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 1.6 per cent in October (YoY), down from +2.3 per cent in September.
Meanwhile, footfall increased year-on-year in three of the devolved nations, with Northern Ireland rising by 1.3 per cent, Scotland by 0.8 per cent, and Wales by 0.4 per cent, while England experienced a decline of 1.5 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, "October’s footfall figures showed a marginal decline compared to last year, primarily due to half-term moving out of the comparison. Despite the decline, retail parks continued to attract shoppers, as they saw positive footfall growth for the third consecutive month. Across England, the northern towns performed best, with Leeds and Liverpool seeing positive footfall last month.
"Retailers have seen footfall consistently fall since the pandemic. Thriving high streets and town centres are not only good for local economies but also form a key part of the social fabric of communities up and down the country. With 6,000 stores closing in the past five years, retailers now need a policy environment that supports growth and investment.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, commented, "After the positive footfall performance we saw in September, October’s footfall dropped back into negative figures compared to the year before. While this will be disappointing for many retailers, who may have hoped the positive figures in September would spell the start of a more consistent uptick in store traffic, it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise.
"We expect to see a bumpy recovery as a myriad of market conditions - from the cost of living to shaky consumer confidence around the Budget – continue to make footfall performance volatile. Retailers now need to look ahead and focus their efforts on the rest of the Golden Quarter, delivering compelling reasons to visit in order to drive ambient footfall and sales during the key Christmas trading period.”
The latest findings highlighted by Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme reveal a shift towards lighter shopping trips, the impact of weather on daytime meal occasions, and strategic growth in forecourt impulse purchases driven by expanded meal deal offerings.
The Convenience Tracking Programme has uncovered significant shifts in the UK's convenience shopping landscape, indicating a continued rise in market penetration with a notable trend towards "lighter" shopping. The number of shoppers in the market has grown, with an impressive +2.8 percentage point increase in year-on-year penetration. Managed convenience channels are driving much of this growth, reflecting heightened consumer interest in convenience store options.
However, while more shoppers are making trips to convenience outlets, they are increasingly favouring lighter shopping trips. The data indicates a -10 per cent decrease in items per trip, paired with a modest -0.4 per cent decline in total spend per visit. This shift suggests a consumer preference for smaller, more frequent purchases as opposed to larger basket sizes, with customers prioritising efficiency and value.
The data also revealed an increase in share for daytime meal occasions, rising by +0.8 percentage points. This shift is partly due to a rebalancing in food-to-go purchases, which peaked last year during an extended period of favourable weather. This year’s comparatively poorer weather has driven shoppers to consume more meals at home, leading to a greater focus on in-home meal preparation. Consumers are purchasing ingredients and essentials to make meals at home, highlighting a sustained demand for convenient meal solutions that align with at-home dining.
In an otherwise stabilised market, forecourts have emerged as a unique growth channel for impulse purchases, registering a +1.3 percentage point increase year-on-year. Meal deals have been a pivotal driver of this growth, up +4.1ppts as a reason for purchasing on impulse. Leading forecourt operators, including BP and Shell, have expanded meal deal offerings in partnership with established retailers, delivering enhanced value and variety to time-pressed consumers. This strategic move addresses the evolving needs of busy shoppers, who are seeking quick, affordable meal solutions.
October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month with food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea along with chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals, shows industry data released today (29).
According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), shop price deflation was at 0.8 per cent in October, down from deflation of 0.6 per cent in the previous month. This is below the 3-month average rate of -0.6 per cent. Shop price annual growth was at its lowest rate since August 2021.
Food inflation slowed to 1.9 per cent in October, down from 2.3% in September. This is above the 3-month average rate of 2.1 per cent . The annual rate continues to ease in this category and inflation remained at its lowest rate since November 2021.
Fresh Food inflation decelerated in October, to 1.0 per cent , down from 1.5 per cent in September. This is below the 3-month average rate of 1.2 per cent . Inflation was its lowest since October 2021.
Ambient Food inflation decelerated to 3.1 per cent in October, down from 3.3 per cent in September. This is below the 3-month average rate of 3.3 per cent and remained at its lowest since March 2022.
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the BRC, said, “October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month. Food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea as well as chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals. In non-food, discounting meant prices fell for electricals such as mobile phones, and DIY as retailers capitalised on the recent pick-up in the housing market.
“With fashion sales finally turning a corner this Autumn, prices edged up slightly for the first time since January as retailers started to unwind the heavy discounting seen over the past year.”
“Households will welcome the continued easing of price inflation, but this downward trajectory is vulnerable to ongoing geopolitical tensions, the impact of climate change on food supplies, and costs from planned and trailed Government regulation. Retail is already paying more than its fair share of taxes compared to other industries.
“The Chancellor using tomorrow’s Budget to introduce a Retail Rates Corrector, a 20 per cent downwards adjustment, to the business rates bills of all retail properties will allow retailers to continue to offer the best possible prices to customers while also opening shops, protecting jobs and unlocking investment.”
Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight, NielsenIQ, said, “Inflation in the food supply chain continues to ease and this helped slow the upward pressure of shop price inflation in October, however other cost pressures remain.
“Consumers remain uncertain about when and where to spend and with Christmas promotions now kicking in, competition for discretionary spend will intensify in both food and non-food retailing.”