Category Archives: Association of Convenience Stores

Convenience and Local Shop Retailing (and the new @Coopuk @StirUni)

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Leigh Sparks

On the 22nd October the Co-op opened its latest convenience store, at the heart of the University of Stirling.  This was the first Co-op franchise in Scotland and is part of the growth of the Co-op and the convenience and … Continue reading →

Posted in Association of Convenience Stores, ATMs, Community, Consumers, Convenience, Convenience stores, Cooperative Group, Cooperatives, Covid19, Entrepreneurship, Food Retailing, Independents, Local Retailers, Post Offices, Scotland, Scottish Grocers Federation, Scottish Local Retailer, Scottish Retailing, Self-checkout, Small Shops, Uncategorized, University of Stirling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Waaaagaaamaaamaaa – Tesco and Booker spring a surpise (perhaps)

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

I read something the other day whereby the author noted that such was the bad news coming out of this government and the USA so far in January, they were getting nostalgic for the calm and reason of 2016. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Association of Convenience Stores, Booker, Click and Collect, Competition, Competition and Markets Authority, Consumer Change, Consumer Lifestyle, Convenience stores, Food and Beverage, Food Retailing, Mergers, Restaurants, Retail Change, Tesco, Wholesaling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Fully Funded ESRC Collaborative PhD Studentship on Scottish convenience store retailing

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

  Three Year Fully Funded ESRC Collaborative PhD Studentship on ‘Scottish convenience store retailing; understanding local impacts and cost drivers to enhance performance’ – Now Open for Applications A few weeks ago I gave preliminary notice of our success in obtaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Association of Convenience Stores, Convenience stores, ESRC, Food Retailing, Independents, PhD, Retail Economy, Retailers, Scotland, Scottish Grocers Federation, Scottish Local Retailer, Sustainability, University of Stirling | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Announcement: ESRC PhD Studentship 2016

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

Fully Funded ESRC PhD on Scottish convenience store retailing; understanding local impacts and cost drivers to enhance performance Last week I had one of those great emails, bringing good news.  I had been successful again in the ESRC Scottish Graduate … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Association of Convenience Stores, Community Grocer, Convenience stores, Costs, ESRC, Food Retailing, Local Multiplier, Local Retailers, PhD, Retail Economy, Scottish Grocers Federation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Musselburgh, the Scottish Grocers Federation and the Scottish Local Shop Report 2015

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

Some of you will recall that the Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) organised a Study Day this year to Musselburgh, with the aim of looking at what the discounters have to offer and the competition that they “provide” to local convenience … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Aldi, Association of Convenience Stores, Competition, Convenience stores, Discounters, Lidl, Local Retailers, Poundland, Scottish Grocers Federation, Scottish Local Retailer, Small Shops | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Any Given Sunday?

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

Well, the first Conservative UK budget for 18 years has been and gone, and no doubt retailers are beginning to assess what it all means for them. That might be tough given the lack of some details, some rabbits that … Continue reading →

Posted in Association of Convenience Stores, Consumers, Government, Independents, Legislation, Localisation, Part-time working, Planning, Profits, Rates, Regulation, Retail Policy, Retailers, Scottish Government, Sunday Trading, Wages | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Convenience and Community

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Leigh Sparks

In the disaster zone that was the Tesco half year results finally released the other week, there were two figures that confirmed again the changing structure of British grocery retailing. And for a change neither of them were really to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Association of Convenience Stores, Community Grocer, Convenience stores, Local Retailers, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scottish Grocers Federation, Small Shops | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment