More than half of closed convenience stores still yet to re-open

Convenience stores, forecourts and newsagents forced to close by the coronavirus pandemic have re-opened quicker than other outlets, but more than half remain shut.

The latest data from news wholesalers shows 39% of the 2,772 convenience, forecourt and CTN sites that shut have now resumed trade, compared to just 23% of all 4,440 news selling sites closed by coronavirus fears.

Forecourts were the most likely to return to trading, with 82% of dedicated forcecourts and 63% of forecourts with a convenience offering now reopened for business, leaving just 77 petrol stations remaining out of action.

News wholesalers reported that a third of closed convenience stores, newsagents and grocery stores had returned to serving customers.

In comparison, closures of shops in office units continued to rise, with a 17% rise in closures since early April. Of the 113 international travel point stores measured, all remained closed. Of domestic travel sites such as train stations, just five out of 391 closed sites has restarted trading.

Stores on holiday parks, universities, street kiosks and ferries, and home news delivery operators were also amongst those with closed sites struggling to get shutters lifted, with all reporting an under 5% re-opening rate.

Costcutter, which supplies and operates a number of university campus stores, said it had experienced approximately 80 closures.

Loss of trade was the most commonly referenced reason for store closures for retailers spoken to by Better Retailing, followed by health concerns and inability to secure the necessary stock. PayPoint reported that more than 1,000 of its partnered sites had closed at the peak of crisis, with half still shut.

Find out more on our coronavirus information hub for retailers