The convenience store sector continues to evolve with an influx of strategic restructuring from larger multi-site operators and corporates, many of whom are selectively divesting stores that underperform within their own models.

Inflation, combined with wage and National Insurance increases, has resulted in many operators focussing on high-footfall, larger locations.

This shift is not purely geographic, but also conceptual, as operators started to embrace hybrid formats that blend traditional convenience with ‘foodvenience’ - a fast-growing, on-the-go offering tailored to changing consumer priorities.

The emergence of younger, entrepreneurial independent retailers influencing buyer demand is particularly noteworthy. Business models have been fine-tuned during and post-pandemic, fuelling confidence to expand.

This generational resurgence is driving a more agile and community-responsive retail landscape, where success is increasingly defined by localised stock selections and operational efficiency through economies of scale.

We expect no slowdown in the surge of acquisition demand for sites, particularly across the North West, Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, and close to major cities like Birmingham and Nottingham, as well as Scotland’s Central Belt. We are still seeing a slight discount for businesses in remote locations, such as South Wales and Cornwall, which lie a long distance from where many buyers are based.

We expect demand to continue at the current level as we move into 2026, particularly as banks are keen to lend to experienced owners.