Sheraz’s Westerhope: Small store, big heart [Exclusive]

In a time when retailers, both big and small, are facing multiple mounting challenges, a small convenience store nestled in the village of Westerhope stands proud as a living epitome of hope, resilience, and generosity. Through his unwavering spirit of giving back, retailer Sheraz Awan, the man behind Sheraz’s Westerhope Convenience Store, has exemplified the best of what a convenience store can be — a retail hub that goes beyond business to touch lives to create lasting change.

Since its opening in 2006, this 540-square-foot Premier Express store has been a vital part of the village, reflecting Awan’s acute understanding of the needs and requirements of the community of which he has been a part of for over four decades.

Speaking with Asian Trader, Awan shared his store’s story, which is one of passion and essence of mankind as well as a powerful reminder that even a smallest business can make the biggest of difference.

“I was brought up in retailing,” he shared, fondly recalling the influence of his father, who opened a shop in the village in 1984. “My father owned a shop since long before I was born.”

Awan’s father, an entrepreneur who bought, refitted, and sold shops for profit, eventually settled in Westerhope, where his store became a family anchor.

Continuing the family tradition, Awan in 2006 took the leap to open a store of his own on a site that once housed a car parts shop, thus laying the foundation of Sheraz’s Westerhope Convenience Store.

A bustling retail hub catering to a community of almost 9000 residents, what makes this store stand apart is its big heart.

Every week, Awan’s store gives away over 2,000 loaves of bread, bakery products, huge quantities of milk, baby food, and other essentials completely free to those in need.

Since starting this initiative during Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, Awan has maintained the routine without failing for a single day.

Every morning by 7:00 am, the store front gets lined up with stacks of free giveaway bread packets. People in need are free to pick up whatever they need without any judgement.

Retailer Sheraz Awan's Sheraz’s Westerhope Convenience Store

Last year on Christmas morning alone, the store managed to giveaway about “300 loaves of bread” by lunchtime. By Boxing Day, about “1600 loaves of bread” were given away by the store to the community.

“No other shop in the UK does this,” Awan stated with quiet pride. “I have more traffic of those in need than what most food banks get nearby.”

This remarkable generosity stems from Awan’s deeply personal philosophy of giving back. He recounted stories of families struggling to make ends meet, like a woman whose children had gone without proper meals for weeks.

“The lady, who has three small children including toddler twins, took away a huge number of essentials. A few days later, her 12-year-old son came to the shop, hugged me, and cried his heart out,” he shared.

The store’s generosity also touches the lives of pensioners in the community.

“We have a high proportion of elderly in the Newcastle upon Tyne region in Westerhope ward.

“It’s heartbreaking speaking to them and hearing their struggles. I am glad I can help them by keeping some food on their table,” he said.

Apart from giveaways at the store, Awan also donates a generous number of essentials to food banks every week, usually on Wednesdays.

Beyond its generosity, Sheraz’s Westerhope Convenience Store is also a treasure trove of variety and unique products.

Alongside mainstream grocery essentials, the store has carved a niche by offering a huge selection of hanging sharing bags of American sweets—an impressive feat achieved in a compact space.

“We have one of the largest selections of hanging sharing bags of sweets in the UK in a just 540 sq foot shop,” Awan told Asian Trader.

The store also champions fresh produce and locally-sourced goods, ensuring that quality and community remain at the heart of its offerings.

Awan’s store is deeply woven into the fabric of Westerhope.

From sponsoring five local football teams to organizing a Santa meet-and-greet for local children, where sweets and drinks are generously distributed, the store fosters a sense of community that extends beyond its walls.

Collectively, Awan has spent over 30 years in retail. His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

In the past year alone, his store has won multiple accolades, including three from Newcastle City Council. He was also named one of the regional winners at Allwyn’s inaugural Local Retail Champions awards.

The store’s online presence is equally impressive, with over 36,000 followers on TikTok and 11,000 followers on Facebook.

Remaining focused and determined on his mission, Awan is calling for a systemic change, urging the government to provide more funding to food banks and wholesalers to pitch in more.

Expressing gratitude for their support, Awan said, “Without my local wholesalers, I wouldn’t be able to purchase bread in such quantities to give away.”

He hopes more suppliers, including major brands like Warburtons, will join his mission to fight hunger.

“I keep appealing to all the wholesalers as well as suppliers to give me with extra stock so that it can be distributed to those in need. I want to try and get my local Bookers cash carry on board in helping me and of course Warburtons too.

“Food (within consumption date) should better reach the needy than the waste bin,” stated the retailer.

Awan’s aspirations for the coming years are simple yet profound- to continue improving the shop and expanding its charitable efforts.

“All I can do is to keep improving the shop and work harder on the charity side of things,” he concluded.

Sheraz’s store is living proof that sometimes, the smallest spaces hold the greatest hearts.

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