Independent convenience stores and the local economy
(A2019-9422)

AUTHORS

Maria Rybaczewska, University of Stirling; Leigh Sparks, University of Stirling

KEYWORDS

retailing; independent convenience store; local economy

ABSTRACT

The independent convenience store sector in the UK has been growing strongly in recent years as consumer behavior has shifted and ‘local’ has become more significant. Anecdotal commentary and media coverage claims that independent and local stores are more advantageous for community coherence and resilience as local stores are embedded socially and economically more strongly (than chain stores) in the local community. This paper attempts to extend an understanding of this local embeddedness by a study of a small core set of such stores in Scotland. Focusing on both social and economic local impact the paper sets the grandwork for an extended study of the issues, using detailed data from a large sample of retailers.