Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Asian Trader Awards: Reji Thomas and Siddique Chenganakattil win World Food Retailer Award

Reji Thomas and Siddique Chenganakattil receive World Food Retailer Award at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards

Reji Thomas and Siddique Chenganakattil (third and fourth from left) receive World Food Retailer Award at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards

Reji Thomas and Siddique Chenganakattil, who run Essentials Supermarket in Bedford, have won the World Food Retailer Award. supported by Tropical Sun, at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards ceremony held on 5 November at London's Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.

Thomas and Chenganakattil are spreading their business as well as their ranges with the aim of representing all global cuisines of the world.


Thefirst store opened 12 years ago, with the latest one more recently and extending the floorspace for international selection to 5,000 square feet.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds attended as chief guest at the ceremony, which celebrated excellence in convenience retail across the UK. The event marked its 35th anniversary this year, continuing its tradition of recognising outstanding achievements in the sector.

Jonathan Reynolds speaks at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards

Speaking at the event, Shefali Solanki-Nair, associate publisher of Asian Trader, highlighted the crucial role of convenience retailers in local communities, amidst the many challenges facing the sector.

“With rising energy costs, inflation, and changes in taxation, many retailers are feeling the pinch more than ever. It’s a tough environment for convenience retailers who are already working with narrow margins while striving to offer exceptional service and products,” she said.

“These challenges are daunting, but the ability to adapt and innovate speaks volumes about retailer’s character and dedication.”

Noted impressionist Rory Bremner hosted the event, which also saw 15 other retailers being honoured in different categories, including Shaan and Arshan Chaudry of Costcutter, Triple A Foodstore in Nuneaton, who won the top prize, Asian Trader of the Year.

Bestway Sher Depot, Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow won the Wholesale Depot of the Year award. Six new product launches from the last year, voted for by the retailers, were also feted.

Ramniklal Solanki Editor’s Award, instituted in the memory of Ramniklal Solanki CBE, founder of Asian Media Group, went to the sub postmasters and mistresses caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal. Seema Misra and Vijay Parekh collected the award, representing them.

The event also raised funds for Lepra, a charity that support people affected by leprosy.

Attendees at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards

The Bedford town centre store opened three and a half years ago and is now central in more ways than one, supplying a vast selection of ethnic and regional fare.

They buy from specialists that deliver to the store, such as Wanis International Foods, and they went into World Foods because of the growing population and trends around migration that increased the popularity of foods from overseas.

Among the cuisines he now stocks are South Indian and Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Thai, Vietnamese, Pilipino, Ghanaian, Nigeria, Sout African and Kenyan.

Winners of the 2024 Asian Trader Awards

Winners List

Ram Solanki Award For Excellence in Convenience and Wholesale: Sub postmasters and mistresses caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal

Product and Manufacturer Awards

Snack Brand of the Year: McCoy's Epic Eats (KP Snacks)

Soft Drinks Brand of the Year: Coca Cola Lemon (CCEP)

Confectionery Brand of the Year: Cadbury Starbar Duo (Mondelez International)

Vape and Next Generation Brand of the Year: Blu Bar Pod (Imperial Brands)

Lager, Beer and Cider Brand of the Year: Birra Moretti Sale di Mare (Heineken)

Grocery Brand of the Year: McVitie’s Signature (pladis)

Asian Trader Awards 2024

Responsible Retailer of the Year supported by Imperial Brands: Priyesh Vekaria, One Stop Carlton Convenience, Salford, Manchester

Wholesale Depot of the Year supported by Tilda: Bestway Sher Depot, Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow

Convenience Chain of the Year: Kashif Jaffar, Southern Co-op Bromham Stores, Bromham, Bedford

Best smokeless alternatives Retailer of the year supported by VELO: Prashant and Trupti Patel, One Stop Brockworth in Gloucester

Bakery Retailer of the Year supported by Warburtons: Jess Read and Gary Hunt, Budgens of Holt, Norfolk

Next Gen Award: Harman Puni, HP Convenience Premier, Chesterfield

World Food Retailer Award supported by Tropical Sun: Reji Thomas & Siddique Chenganakattil, Essentials Supermarket, Bedford

Independent Retailer of the Year supported by Booker: Jenarthen Saravanamuthu, Premier Rassau Stores, Ebbw Vale, South Wales

Food to Go Retailer of the Year supported by KP Snacks: Priyesh Patel, Londis, Stoke Newington, London

Spirit of the Community Award supported by Mondelez International: Amarjit Singh Rakhra, Budgens Pomeroy Street, London

Symbol Retailer of the Year supported by Bestway: Kersheaup Vagadia, Costcutter Kearsley, Bolton

Off Licence of the Year supported by Molson Coors (Cobra): Pradeep Thangaraj, Wine Rack, Bicester, Oxford

Impulse Retailer of the Year supported by pladis: Bharat Khunti, Shivom Convenience Go Local, Nuneaton

Tobacco Retailer Award supported by JTI: Suresh Arulanantham, My Costcutter Murco, Rye, East Sussex

Local Hero Award: Nathalie Kaur, One Stop Partick Convenience Store, Glasgow

Businesswoman of the Year supported by Philip Morris Ltd: Sue Nithyanadan, Costcutter, Epsom, Surrey

Asian Trader of the Year: Shaan and Arshan Chaudry, Costcutter, Triple A Foodstore, Nuneaton, Warwickshire

More for you

No Smoking sign in Swedish

A sign in Swedish says No Smoking in Stockholm, Sweden

Photo: iStock

Sweden achieves historic smokefree milestone

Sweden has inched closer to becoming officially ‘smoke free’, government figures released on Wednesday have shown.

Smoking prevalence across the country reduced to 5.3 per cent, according to the health data released by Sweden’s public health agency, but the figure is just 4.5 per cent among the nation’s Swedish-born adults – significantly below the globally recognised benchmark of 5 per cent for smoke free status.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post office shop
Photo: iStock

Post Office unveils plan to add additional £250m annually to postmaster incomes

Post Office has on Wednesday set out an ambitious five-year Transformation Plan to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ that significantly increases their total annual income through revenue sharing and strengthens their role in the direction of the organisation.

The ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ follows a strategic review initiated by Nigel Railton, chair of Post Office Ltd, in May. The Transformation Plan sets out an ambition to deliver a quarter of a billion pounds boost to postmasters’ income by 2030.

Keep ReadingShow less
high street store
Photo: iStock

Businesses to get ‘right to rent’ long-term vacant shops as High Street Rental Auctions set to take effect

Councils will be handed new powers next month in an effort to breathe new life back into high streets and transform long-term empty shops, the government has announced.

High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) will allow local leaders to tackle persistently vacant properties in city, town and village centres by putting the leases up for auction, with businesses and community groups getting a ‘right to rent’ commercial lots.

Keep ReadingShow less
St Neots Rugby Club

Nisa Local St Neots donates £800 to support St Neots Rugby Club

St Neots store supports local rugby club with £800 donation

Nisa Local Longsand Parade in St Neots, a convenience store owned and operated by TYS Retail LTD, has donated £800 to St Neots Rugby Club through Nisa's Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.

The donation will be used to purchase new rugby kits for the club's youth teams.

Keep ReadingShow less
Regulator clears Arla Foods’ acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition

Regulator clears Arla Foods’ acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Arla Foods Ingredients’ acquisition of Volac’s Whey Nutrition business.

The regulator’s go-ahead follows an evaluation that took place after an acquisition agreement was signed in April.

Keep ReadingShow less