Shops in Wales have contributed £656m in gross value added and provided 26,000 local jobs, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) Welsh Local Shop report.
The report, launched on 26 March, highlights the role convenience stores play in Welsh communities.
It reveals that 38% of stores operate in isolation, with no other retail or service businesses nearby. Additionally, it found that 93% of independent retailers engaged in some form of community activity over the past year.
Rural shops sales up £1.4bn in last year, ACS finds
Convenience stores were also ranked as the second most important type of business for supporting the local economy by Welsh shoppers.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The Welsh convenience sector has once again proved its resilience in providing secure, flexible jobs and acting as an important service hub for customers to access the products and services they need daily.
“We hope that the Welsh government will support retailers in Wales, especially regarding the rising operational costs of trading, so that they can continue to act as community anchors for their residents.”
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