Convenience store bosses can personalise the message below to invite politicians to visit their shops
[Your name and address/email]
[Full name of MSP] MSP
[Address/email of MSP]
[date] 2025
Dear [First name of MSP],
Impact of retail crime and the cost of doing business for local shops
I am writing to you as our MSP and local representative of our convenience store at [name and address of the store].
As a local store operator, we are at the heart of our community, and we want to see it thrive. I am sure you will agree that local shops are highly valued community assets, providing lifeline services and local employment, alongside essential grocery goods, all close to where people live.
Convenience stores also provide an important boost and economic multiplier, supporting other businesses in the area. That is why we pride ourselves on being able to deliver a ‘full basket’ of goods and services for our customers.
So, it is with great concern that I write to you regarding the impact that issues such as retail crime, illicit trade, tighter and tighter regulations, and the growing costs of operating a business, are having on our store.
You may be aware that the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s annual Crime Report 2024/2025, was published in March. It shows that nine out of every 10 stores now report that violence against staff occurs at least once a month, that the average cost of shop theft and vandalism has increased to £19,673 per store, and that 62.5% of convenience businesses have at least one member of staff who has experienced mental health & wellbeing issues as a result of the impact of retail crime.
Taking into account the total costs of crime, including investments made on prevention, the British Retail Consortium estimates that the total cost is £4.2billion across the UK (which SGF approximates as £420million for Scotland, given as a nation we make up around 10% of the UK economy).
Similarly, as local business operators, we feel that our governments and ministers are placing an ever-growing administrative burden on us. In many cases, proposed restrictions and tighter controls, across a range of product areas, are hitting well-meaning, compliant retailers the hardest, damaging the viability of legitimate businesses. Meanwhile, non-compliant and illegal traders continue to operate without any restrictions or enforcement by the authorities. Â
This is in addition to a variety of other changes and difficulties impacting the sector. These include everything from changes to waste management/recycling, reduced business rates relief and exponentially increasing employment costs to external factors such as energy prices and food inflation.
For those reasons, I would like to invite you to come and visit our store and hear first-hand the challenges that we are facing as a local business in your area. We would be happy to invite along someone from the SGF to provide a broader context on the issues above if you would find that helpful.
In the meantime, I do hope this information has been helpful, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
PS – You may also find the SGF’s Scottish Local Shop Report 2024 of interest. Which highlights many of the important services and benefits our sector provides for communities across Scotland.
