Exploring a healthier future for UK convenience stores

Convenience stores can help improve access to healthier and more sustainable food while remaining commercially viable, according to experts at the City St George’s Food Policy Symposium 2026, which was held by the Centre for Food Policy at City St George’s, University of London on Thursday 11 June.

With the theme “Healthy, sustainable and profitable retailing – identifying food policy and market opportunities for the convenience store sector”, this year’s Symposium brought together people from academia, public health, retail and the food industry to examine the future of the UK convenience store sector. The event was generously supported by the Worshipful Company of Cooks.

Across the UK, almost 50,000 convenience stores contribute more than £45 billion annually to the economy and support over 400,000 jobs. They also play an important role in local communities, particularly for low-income families, older adults and young people.

However, the Symposium highlighted the growing concerns around the nutritional quality and affordability of food available in many convenience stores. Tight profit margins, supply chain pressures and the promotion of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products can make it difficult for retailers to stock healthier options.

The Symposium also explored potential solutions to these challenges through keynote talks, panel discussions and workshops involving representatives from across the sector. Topics included healthier supply chains, sustainable food systems, customer needs and experiences, and commercially viable policy interventions.

Professor Christina Vogel, Director of the Centre for Food Policy, opened the event, and the Master John Bennett of the Worshipful Company of Cooks followed. Keynote speakers included Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive Officer of Sustain, and Ed Woodall, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Convenience Stores.

The programme also included panel sessions chaired by Professor Vogel and Dr Sarah Muir (University of Southampton), as well as workshops led by retailers, policymakers, public health experts and community organisations.

Speaking about the Symposium, Professor Vogel said:

“Convenience stores are a vital part of everyday life for millions of people across the UK and are often at the heart of local communities. This Symposium is an opportunity to bring together researchers, retailers, policymakers and community organisations to explore how the sector can support healthier and more sustainable diets while remaining economically resilient. By working collaboratively, we hope to identify practical solutions that benefit businesses, consumers and public health.”

Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive Officer of Sustain, said:

“Convenience store managers and greengrocers are the unsung heroes of the food system. Convenience stores and greengrocers selling fresh food accessibly and at affordable prices are essential services in communities. These have largely been over-looked in government and local authority policies, yet they are just as important as pharmacies for supporting the health of people of all ages and with diverse needs, especially the millions of people in the UK who struggle to access good food and afford the basics of a healthy and sustainable diet. Many convenience stores and greengrocers serve low-income neighbourhoods, and themselves may struggle with costs, crime, decline of supply chain infrastructure such as wholesale markets, and lack of financial or policy support to help them survive and thrive.”

The Symposium aimed to position convenience stores not only as cornerstones of thriving communities but as key players in necessary food systems transformation. Discussions also considered how local and sustainable food producers can better connect with convenience retailers across different UK regions.