30 October 2015

The First Minister made her first address to the Scottish Grocers’ Federation annual meeting today.

You can read the whole speech here.

Convenience stores employ over 41,000 people right across the country and are often at the centre of local communities.

The First Minister also spoke about the importance of convenience stores in helping people become healthier and make better food choices.

The Healthy Living Programme now has 1,600 members.  It encourages stores do very simple things – for example placing fruit and vegetables at till points – that have a big impact on the choices people make.

The First Minister said:

“We know that this approach works. Sales of healthy products have consistently increased by one fifth when they have been marketed in that way. And if you’re increasing sales in that way, it’s an approach which can be good for you as businesses as well as your customers.”

First minister @NicolaSturgeon upstairs discussing Healthy Living stand and logo @ScotGrocersFed #sgfconferece15 pic.twitter.com/X88RFAWm9S

— Mo Razzaq (@morazzaq) October 30, 2015

The First Minister also welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Grocers’ Federation have signed the 5050 by 2020 pledge, committing to a 5050 gender split on their board.

She said:

“I’m delighted to start by confirming a very welcome announcement you have just made, that you are signing up to the 5050 by 2020 pledge meaning that you are committed to working towards your Executive Board having equal male and female representation by 2020. I congratulate you warmly on that.

“By doing that, you’re joining 157 other organisations who have already signed that pledge. Organisations including Virgin Money, the Alliance Trust, Social Enterprise Scotland and virtually every public sector body in Scotland.

“I hope that individual businesses, as well as the Federation itself, will also consider making the pledge. By doing so, what you will do is help us to promote a more equal society, where everyone has a fair chance to become successful. And you’ll live up to the very best traditions of the Federation’s past.”