Britain’s corner shops are in danger of dying out as future generations increasingly snub their local convenience stores, analysts have warned.
Although elderly shoppers still use them almost daily with almost half (45 per cent) of the over-75s going to their neighbourhood supplier at least five times a week, the same is not true of younger adults.
Among those aged 18-24, only 28 per cent go to a convenience store daily but this is likely to fall to 19 per cent over the next two decades, according to industry experts.
Britain’s corner shops are in danger of dying out as future generations increasingly snub their local convenience stores
And that could spell the end of Britain’s ‘Open All Hours’ stores who serve the local community, warned specialist research company Him at their ‘Future of Convenience’ conference this week.
Generations who have relied on such retailers for topping up on groceries to getting their daily paper, cigarettes or snacks, are dying out and not being replaced by tech savvy youngsters, they added.
Young adults are working longer hours or commuting further so they don’t pop in before and after work.
Instead, they order what they want online and want places where they can sit down on their devices.
This has led to the rise of coffee shops and sandwich shops but a decline in using convenience stores with no seated areas.
Young adults also want more locally sourced goods, not just big name brands, more organic produce and more ethically sourced food and drink.
They see convenience stores at outdated – both in what they sell and the layout – the conference was told.
There is also the lack of technology in some, where purchases below a certain amount – such as £5 or £10 – cannot be paid for by contactless card without an additional fee.
Young adults are working longer hours or commuting further so they don’t pop in before and after work. Instead, they order what they want online and want places where they can sit down on their devices
Him client development manager, John Clifton, said: ‘There is probably a bit of a disconnect between a younger demographic and convenience stores, who don’t necessarily see convenience stores as integral to their life like the older demographic.
‘If we were to push everyone in this age bracket forward 20 years, it paints a pretty bleak picture if we don’t change anything or address this problem now.’
He suggested more digital displays, self service tills, contactless payments and personalised offers.
Being constantly online has taught younger consumers how to be alerted to bargains when they appear so convenience stores could cash in on this by having special price promotions at certain times of day, for instance, when those potential customers are most likely to be around.
Louise McWhirter, head of insights at Him, told trade site Conveniencestore.co.uk: ‘With the rise in consumers as ‘experts’, shopper expectation is rising.
‘Retailers and suppliers should be maximising meal time day parts and on the go pack sizes to fit the need of the modern shopper.’