Running a telemarketing campaign to convenience stores? Here's what's in the list
| In the list | Count |
|---|---|
| Telephone numbers for UK convenience stores | 25,043 |
| Named contacts available (a person to ask for) | 12,107 |
| Workplaces counted by ONS (the whole UK market) | 53,155 |
The list combines two categories: general and convenience stores (19,210 numbers) and convenience stores (5,833). Together they cover corner shops, village stores, symbol-group stores and other small food-led shops across the UK.
About half of the records have a named contact. Many small shops are listed under the shop name only, so for the rest your callers ask for "the owner" or "the manager" and get a name on the first call. It's worth capturing that name in your CRM: on the second call it makes all the difference.
Supermarkets (10,127 numbers) and newsagents (3,558) are separate categories. The ONS figure is wider than this list because SIC 47110 counts every food-led general store, supermarket branches included.
TPS or CTPS? Screening convenience stores' phone numbers before you call
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) you must not make a live sales call to a number registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) or the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS), unless that business has told you it's happy to take your calls. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are treated as individuals, so their numbers go on the TPS; limited companies, LLPs and other organisations use the CTPS. Screen the whole list against both registers before every campaign, and keep your own do-not-call list of anyone who asks you not to ring again.
How UK convenience stores are set up, from the Office for National Statistics (53,155 workplaces, UK Business Counts 2026, SIC 47110):
| Legal form | UK workplaces | Share | Register that applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited companies and LLPs | 42,850 | 81% | CTPS |
| Sole traders | 6,695 | 13% | TPS |
| Partnerships | 3,415 | 6% | TPS |
| Charities, clubs and other non-profits | 195 | under 1% | CTPS |
The ONS table shows mostly limited companies, but read it with care. SIC 47110 includes supermarket branches, which are all company-run, so the share of independent corner shops trading as sole traders or partnerships is likely to be higher than the overall figure. Both registers matter for this list.
Symbol-group stores (shops trading under a group's name and fascia) are usually independently owned. The shop owner, not the group, is the business you're calling and whose registration counts.
Who to ask for when you call convenience stores
In an independent shop the owner buys nearly everything; in a chain store the decision may be at head office. Your first call should find out which you're dealing with.
| Ask for | What they decide | Getting them on the phone |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or retailer | Almost everything: suppliers, card payments, energy, security, ATMs, refits, chillers and freezers. | Often works shifts on the till. Ask staff which days and times the owner is in. |
| Store manager | Rotas, local promotions and day-to-day running in larger shops or multi-shop businesses. | Can introduce you but often can't sign. Ask who does. |
| Franchisee or symbol-group retailer | Most local services. The group may supply the core product range and some equipment. | Ask early what the group provides and what the retailer chooses for themselves. |
| Head office or category buyer | Range and supplier decisions for convenience chains. | Store staff will often say "that's head office". Ask for the name and number rather than ending the call. |
Getting through to the owner of a convenience store
A convenience store has no reception, just a counter phone and a queue. The assistant who answers can't leave the till and won't make decisions, but they know the owner's routine. Use them for that:
- Ask one easy question: "Is the owner in today, and when's a quiet time to call?" It takes them five seconds to answer.
- Don't pitch to the person on the till. They can't buy, and a pitch delivered to a queue rarely gets passed on.
- If the owner is in the stockroom, offer to ring back in ten minutes rather than holding while customers wait.
- Stand out by being specific. Shop owners are rung by a lot of sellers, often about energy and card machines. A clear, specific reason for calling, and a call that ends quickly, separates you from the rest.
Best and worst times to call convenience stores
A convenience store's day is shaped by commuters, school runs and after-work shoppers. These are general windows; a shop near a school or station will have its own peaks.
| When | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning, roughly 6am to 9am | Avoid | Newspapers, commuters and morning deliveries. |
| Mid-morning, roughly 9.30am to 11.30am | Good time | The first rush is over; owners often do paperwork and ordering. |
| Early afternoon, roughly 1.30pm to 3pm | Good time | Usually a lull before the school run. |
| Around school opening and closing times | Avoid | Children and parents fill the shop, especially near schools. |
| After-work hours, roughly 5pm to 7pm | Avoid | Top-up shopping on the way home: the busiest time for many stores. |
| Delivery days | Avoid | The owner is checking in stock. Ask staff which days the main deliveries come. |
| Weekends | Avoid | Busy trading days, and owners are often covering the till themselves. |
Seasonality: when in the year to call convenience stores
Convenience retail has a clear calendar, and owners plan around it:
What to say: a short opener and replies to common objections
With convenience stores, the aim of the first call is often just to book a quiet ten minutes with the owner.
When the phone is answered
Hi, could I speak to [owner's name]? If they're not in, what's a good time to catch them?
To the owner
It's Sam from [your company]. I know you're probably serving, so one quick question: [qualifying question, for example who looks after your card machine contract]? If it's you, when's a quiet ten minutes this week to talk it through?
Fill in the brackets with your own product. Booking the conversation, rather than pitching across the counter, gets you the owner's full attention later.
When they push back
"Fair enough. What does the group supply, and what do you choose yourself?" Symbol-group retailers often have more freedom than the first answer suggests.
"I'm sure you do, so I'll be quick. If I can't show you something useful on [one statement or invoice] in five minutes, I won't ring again." Then keep that promise.
"Thanks, I'll ring them instead, I know they're busy. What day are they in?" Owners of busy shops rarely call suppliers back.
Prices for a list of convenience store phone numbers
You pay per record, and the price per record falls as the order grows:
| Number of records | Price per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 2,500 | £295 |
| 2,500 to 4,999 | £270 |
| 5,000 to 9,999 | £245 |
| 10,000 to 19,999 | £220 |
| 20,000 to 49,999 | £195 |
| 50,000 or more | £170 |
Other phone lists
Questions about calling convenience stores
Where can I get a list of convenience stores' phone numbers to call?
We supply one. Our list of convenience store phone numbers holds 25,043 telephone numbers for UK convenience stores, with 12,107 named contacts available. You can choose by region or postcode area, and add supermarkets or newsagents to the same order. Ask for a free count and sample records first.
Running a telemarketing campaign to convenience stores? What do I need first?
Screen against both the CTPS and the TPS, as many independent shops are sole traders or partnerships. Then call mid-morning or early afternoon on weekdays, ask staff when the owner is in, and aim to book a short call rather than pitching to whoever is on the till.
Why do only about half the convenience store records have a named contact?
Many small shops are listed under the shop name only, so no person is recorded. The numbers still reach the shop; your callers ask for the owner and note their name for next time.
Are supermarkets and newsagents included?
No, they're separate categories: 10,127 supermarkets and 3,558 newsagents. You can add either to your convenience store list.
Can I call symbol-group stores?
Yes. Most are independently owned, and the owner is the person to speak to. Ask early what the group supplies, so you only pitch what the owner can choose.
How much does a list of convenience store phone numbers cost?
You pay per record: £295 per 1,000 for orders under 2,500 records, falling to £170 per 1,000 for 50,000 records or more (excluding VAT). Tell us which convenience stores you want and we'll send a free count and an exact price.