MSPs must champion local stores across communities
THE Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has outlined its key priorities for the next Scottish Government ahead of the parliament’s election in May.
The SGF has called on the next Scottish Government to support local convenience stores across Scotland, highlighting their importance to the communities they serve through its new election manifesto.
Local retailers are gripping with a wide variety of challenges on a daily basis, the SGF has said, which are all severely impacting the sector. As such, the industry body has called for an increase in support to tackle retail crime, which remains at the top of the election agenda for the SGF.
According to the body, 83.5% of it’s members reported an increase in violence towards shop workers across 2024 and 2025 and the average cost of retail crime has now skyrocketed to £19,673 per store, up 38% from the previous year.
Further to this, the SGF has highlighted that it has become more challenging to trade effectively due to tighter restrictions across several categories, along with increasing costs for providing local employment due to higher wages, making it harder than ever to run a store and provide for local customers without having to increase prices to cover these costs.
Graham Watson, president at the SGF and independent retailer for Watson’s Grocers in Moniaive, said: “Retail is absolutely vital to the Scottish economy, and convenience stores are at the very heart of the communities they serve. Providing essential lifeline goods and facilities that boost local wellbeing, growth and employment.
“Our Scottish ministers have a duty that staff and businesses can work in safety and free from the fear of abuse and threatening behaviour. As well as working with the UK Government to ensure new regulation supports rather than hinders our good, well-meaning businesses, rather than pulling the rug out from under them.
“That is why we are asking the new government, whatever its political outlook, to take a serious look at how detrimental business rates and overregulation are impacting small business and local shops.
“Our manifesto sets out the key priorities for our sector, where powers rest with decision makers in the Scottish Parliament, and over the coming months we will keep a close eye on the promises that are made throughout the campaign to support businesses and grow the economy.”
