This interview with Robert Snodgrass was conducted on behalf of Booker as part of the UK wholesaler’s campaign to encourage Scotland fans to shop locally during the Summer of Sport.
With the World Cup set to kick off later this month, the former Scotland international explains why convenience stores are so close to his heart.
What role did convenience stores play in your own upbringing in Scotland?
“Yeah, it was huge. Convenience stores were helping my family. They have been helping families across Scotland. We call it ‘bits and bobs’ in Scotland when it comes to getting the little things.
“We stayed in a tenement block and I always remember trying to make sure that if the neighbours, the elderly, couldn’t get there, we would try to get their food shopping in for them to help out as much as you can.
“Obviously when I started getting into professional football, [I was] getting all the local things I needed from the shop so having local convenience stores was massive for me and my family.”
This campaign is all about encouraging fans to shop local. Why is that message particularly important right now?
“If you’re going to help your local store, it’s something that is great for everybody.
“It helps the community and it helps the people. One thing that we always had was a rapport with the staff in the stores and checking in, it’s just more of a relationship that way.
I think [with] any local store, everything is built off a community. It’s getting everybody together and everybody pulling in the right direction, helping out when you can because it becomes a hub to see people so it becomes more than just shopping.
“I think [with] any local store, everything is built off a community. It’s getting everybody together and everybody pulling in the right direction, helping out when you can because it becomes a hub to see people so it becomes more than just shopping.”
What are your go-to snacks or essentials when watching a football match?
“When I was playing, I’d get a Lucozade and some nuts. Now, I would get chocolates and all the different things that you probably wanted to have over the years but you couldn’t because you had a game.
“I like cereal bars, protein bars, just a mixture of everything really. After matchdays I would usually load up on carbs.”
What made you want to get involved in this campaign?
“The campaign feels huge because [it’s about] giving a bit back and trying to have that relationship with the people that work in the local stores and how vital it was for me in terms of where we were brought up. I jumped at the chance to be part of the campaign and to spread the love.”
