Morrisons' Delivery Service Seals Fate of Kilchoan Village Shop: A Rural Community Left Struggling.
A small but vital corner of rural Scotland, the 200-inhabitant village of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, is to lose its last remaining shop after a half-century run. The Ferry Stores, which has served as an essential community hub, was closed by its owners, Morag and David Doherty, in their latest move.
The closure will leave residents without access to post office services or grocery goods, forcing them to rely on Morrisons' home delivery service for essentials. According to owner Morag Doherty, "the final straw" that led to the shop's demise was Morrisons' introduction of home deliveries, which effectively priced the store out of business.
For decades, The Ferry Stores has catered to the needs of the local community, requiring a demanding eight-hour round trip to ensure stock levels remained adequate. However, changing shopping habits and the rise of online services have resulted in dwindling footfall and increased competition from home deliveries.
The loss of this shop will undoubtedly strike at the heart of rural community life, where essential services are vital for sustainability. According to Brendan O'Hara, SNP MP for Argyll, Bute, and South Lochaber, such closures "will inevitably further accelerate the depopulation crisis threatening our remote areas."
As news spreads through Kilchoan, residents will undoubtedly miss the bustling hub that The Ferry Stores once provided. Owner Morag Doherty expressed her sadness in closing the shop after seven years of service, stating it was an "end of an era" and a loss not only for them but also for other rural shops facing similar challenges.
In a heartfelt message to customers, David and Morag Doherty thanked their staff and loyal customers for supporting the shop during its time in operation. They acknowledged that although the decision to close came after much contemplation, they felt it was the right moment to bring an end to this chapter of their lives and begin retirement.
A small but vital corner of rural Scotland, the 200-inhabitant village of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, is to lose its last remaining shop after a half-century run. The Ferry Stores, which has served as an essential community hub, was closed by its owners, Morag and David Doherty, in their latest move.
The closure will leave residents without access to post office services or grocery goods, forcing them to rely on Morrisons' home delivery service for essentials. According to owner Morag Doherty, "the final straw" that led to the shop's demise was Morrisons' introduction of home deliveries, which effectively priced the store out of business.
For decades, The Ferry Stores has catered to the needs of the local community, requiring a demanding eight-hour round trip to ensure stock levels remained adequate. However, changing shopping habits and the rise of online services have resulted in dwindling footfall and increased competition from home deliveries.
The loss of this shop will undoubtedly strike at the heart of rural community life, where essential services are vital for sustainability. According to Brendan O'Hara, SNP MP for Argyll, Bute, and South Lochaber, such closures "will inevitably further accelerate the depopulation crisis threatening our remote areas."
As news spreads through Kilchoan, residents will undoubtedly miss the bustling hub that The Ferry Stores once provided. Owner Morag Doherty expressed her sadness in closing the shop after seven years of service, stating it was an "end of an era" and a loss not only for them but also for other rural shops facing similar challenges.
In a heartfelt message to customers, David and Morag Doherty thanked their staff and loyal customers for supporting the shop during its time in operation. They acknowledged that although the decision to close came after much contemplation, they felt it was the right moment to bring an end to this chapter of their lives and begin retirement.
. It's not just a shop, it's like, a community hub! Where are people gonna get their post office services or groceries from now? Morrisons' delivery service is great and all, but it's not the same as having a local shop that you can pop into and chat with people 
. And it's sad that The Ferry Stores got priced out by home deliveries... I mean, I love online shopping too, but sometimes you just need human interaction 
. It's like, this is a loss for rural community life, and I hope the residents of Kilchoan can find ways to support each other through this 
.
. Can't believe Morrisons' delivery service is the reason it had to shut down...it's just another example of how big chains are pricing out our local businesses 
. Kilchoan already feels so isolated and now they're losing their community hub? It's like they're losing a part of themselves 
. I remember going there with my family for holidays when I was younger and it always felt like this little slice of heaven in the middle of nowhere 
. What's happening to our rural communities, though? We need more support like that rather than just big corporate solutions 
. I hope they get some good support from their customers and the gov 
. Maybe this is an opportunity to explore new ways to keep rural shops alive? Fingers crossed 
this is so sad, i cant believe a small village like kilchoan would lose its only shop... i mean its not just a shop, its a community hub where people meet and socialize 
its got to be hard on the residents who have no other place to go for grocery's or post office services... morrisons home delivery is just too much to bear, who benefits from closing down a small village shop anyway? 
. We need more support for rural communities, not less 
. And what about the post office services? How are people supposed to get those delivered? It's like the end of an era, for real 
. What's next? The whole village is gonna be delivered food and groceries? Where's the human touch? 
. I mean, who needs online shopping when you have a community hub that actually knows its customers by name? 
. The Ferry Stores wasn't just a shop, it was a place where people gathered to chat, share news, and support local businesses. Who knows what other shops will follow? 
We need to find ways to preserve our rural communities and support our local businesses, not just for the sake of the village but for our own well-being too 
And now Kilchoan Village Shop is paying the price for it. Seven years of service down the drain because of a business strategy that prioritizes profits over community needs. Not cool, Morrisons 
i mean, who needs online shopping when u hav a lovely village shop in ur backyard? 
not fair that they have to rely on home deliveries now instead of having a proper shop in the middle of their village it's gonna affect the whole community badly 
rural areas need shops like this to keep people connected and stuff 
. It's so sad that Kilchoan Village Shop is closing its doors, it was like the heart of the community there. I feel for Morag and David, they must be gutted to see their shop go after seven years of service... what's next? will we all just be shopping online from our laptops while sitting in our pajamas 
?
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I mean, what's up with supermarkets like Morrisons just shutting down independent shops like The Ferry Stores in these small rural villages? 
Is this what happens when we just click-and-order all our groceries online?