Think most convenience stores are run by older, Asian men? Think again.

A new report by the Association of Convenience Stores reveals the increasingly diverse group of people now in charge of the nation’s small stores.

The sector has become a hotbed for young entrepreneurs, according to The Local Shop Report, which will be published next week. More than 77% of stores are owned by small business owners and 70% are new investors. One in 10 owners are under 30 - like James Brundle, who runs a Spar store and adjacent restaurant in Walthamstow, London - and 17% are between 30 and 39.

The Asian stereotype is also a bit of a myth. While just under half (48%) of business owners are Asian or Asian British, the same number are white British. In London, 89.5% are Asian or Asian British,but this falls to 28% in Wales and 13% in the South West.

And they are not all men: 29% are women. “The report reveals a diverse sector that is proving an attractive career option for a new generation of entrepreneurs,” said public affairs director Shane Brennan.

The report also shows that c-stores provide 372,000 jobs in the UK, 25% of which are held by 16 to 24-year-olds, and that it is family orientated, with 60% employing at least one family member and 27% employing only family.

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