Issues of provision and “remoteness” in rural food retailing ‐ A case study of the southern Western Isles of Scotland

Abstract

Considers the topic of food retailing in rural areas, a subject that has been barely researched of late. This is achieved through a case study of the Uist chain in the southern Western Isles of Scotland. Although there has been previous work on food retailing in this area, this has largely been from a consumer‐led perspective. The research presented here takes a provider‐oriented approach, involving a census of retail businesses on the Uists and interviews with owner‐managers of food retail outlets. Specifically, the role of the customer base, logistics and supply, and legislative and economic issues are discussed. In conclusion, it is suggested that future research should concentrate on combining consumer‐ and provider‐led perspectives, investigate the role of effective management in small rural retail businesses, and assess whether such findings are generalisable to other rural areas.

Citation

Byrom, J., Medway, D. and Warnaby, G. (2001), "Issues of provision and “remoteness” in rural food retailing ‐ A case study of the southern Western Isles of Scotland", British Food Journal, Vol. 103 No. 6, pp. 400-413. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070700110400398