The Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s (SGF’s) Go Local programme has seen monthly sales of fresh and healthier Scottish products rocket 44% at participating convenience stores, according to a new report.
Now entering its fifth year, 127 stores from Shetland to Dumfries & Galloway have taken part in Go Local. The average participating store is delivering 31% of their total sales from Scottish products (when tobacco and news are excluded).
The report also highlighted a significant multiplier impact and boost for the local economy, with expected increases of around £169,000 per store per annum.
The Go Local Programme provides individual grants for retailers to invest in developing a dedicated space for local products (£5,500 in 2024) with a bias towards fresh and healthier lines. Administered by SGF, the project is funded by the Scottish Government and is delivered in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink. It has a particular focus on facilitating ‘meet-the-buyer’ events linking up local retailers with producers in their area. On average, each store increased its dedicated Scottish space by an additional 26.4 metres.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon commented: “We have seen the number of people wanting to support local producers continue to grow and this independent report shows the real impact that the Go Local Programme has had in getting more and more of our fantastic local food and drink on the shelves of convenience stores, a vitally important sector. The programme is bringing real benefits to local communities, supports the economy and importantly offers more opportunities for our wonderful food and drink producers to showcase their products.”
Jamie Buchanan, Go Local Programme Director, added: “The fantastic thing about Go Local is that it is a win-win for everyone. Customers ensure they are getting only the best-quality local produce and boosting the local economy at the same time. Meanwhile, producers and retailers get direct access to their local market while also improving sustainability and cutting out long-distance transport costs.
“It’s no surprise that the programme has gone from strength to strength since its launch in December 2020, and this report confirms the positive impact for participating stores.”
The in-depth report on the project was developed by Research Fellow, Dr Maria Rybaczewska, and Professor of Retail Studies, Leigh Sparks, from the University of Stirling.
