Emma Bedford
Senior Team Lead Food & Agriculture
Convenience stores in the UK - statistics & facts
Time-strapped shoppers are utilizing their local and compact food stores more than ever; the total value of convenience store retail in the UK was forecast to reach over 50 billion British pounds for the first time in 2026.
A convenience store is a small, local retailer that sells a limited selection of everyday staples, including snacks, baked goods, dairy products, shelf-stable food products, and drinks. Sometimes known as corner shops in the UK, most convenience stores are easily accessible and have long opening hours to cater to shoppers’ needs. Along with their local counterparts, many well-known supermarket retailers also operate a large number of convenience stores across the UK.
Convenience stores are set to remain an important channel in the UK grocery shopping landscape. Retailers must continue to adapt to shopper preferences as younger generations start to have a growing impact on the market.
The UK convenience market
The number of local convenience stores in Great Britain has been on an upward trajectory in the past years and reached almost 49,400 in 2023. Employment in the convenience sector increased recently in line with store numbers. The number of jobs in convenience stores increased by around eight percent between 2022 and 2023, reaching a new high of 437,000 jobs. Convenience stores are often part of petrol stations, where consumers can pick up some essentials while refueling. Some of the country's largest fuel retailers such as BP, Esso, and Shell had a shop at every petrol station site in 2023.Convenience store shoppers
Members of the millennial and Generation Z cohorts were the most likely to regularly shop for everyday products in convenience stores in the UK according to a recent survey. Baby boomers were the least likely, with just five percent of respondents regularly using this shopping channel. The average spend per visit to local convenience stores increased in Great Britain in 2020 and 2021, reaching a peak of over 10 British pounds in 2021. By 2023, this figure had decreased by just over three pounds, signaling a change in spending behavior post-pandemic.Convenience stores are set to remain an important channel in the UK grocery shopping landscape. Retailers must continue to adapt to shopper preferences as younger generations start to have a growing impact on the market.
