A Southowram retailer has helped 100 children from the local primary school enjoy a hot breakfast through his retail connections with Parfetts, setting new benchmark of how a convenience store can impact its community.
Jeevan Chatha, who runs the Go Local Extra store on Law Lane in Southowram, made the donation as part of his broader support of local causes.
Since buying the store in May 2024, Chatha has established it as a key part of the local community. He provided 100 Quaker Oat So Simple Porridge pots to Withinfields Primary School in Southowram to support the school's breakfast club.
Chatha, who attended Withinfields with his older brother and sister, was instrumental in helping to secure the breakfast pots through his retail connections with Parfetts.
He said the store plans to support the school as much as possible in the future. He also recently secured a pallet of Lucozade, which he provided to the local junior football team, Beacon Rangers FC, which plays some of its games at the school’s playing fields.
Working closely with wholesaler Parfetts, Chatha has established a very busy store that is already an integral part of the community it serves. He is on first-name terms with the school's parents and pupils.
Chatha commented, “Being part of the local community is incredibly important to me, and I aim for our store to be seen as more than just a convenience store.
"We aim to serve the community by providing the kind of store that meets all their needs while fostering community spirit by supporting vital local initiatives, such as the school's breakfast club.
“Having attended the primary school myself, I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back and maintain my connection. The school has numerous ongoing projects, and I'm eager to get involved with these as well.
"The support from Parfetts and the Go Local Extra team has been invaluable, as they encourage active community engagement.”
Chatha opened his first Go Local store last year after his father ran an independent convenience store nearby in the village for over 25 years. He worked in the store before acquiring the old village library building and converting it into a Go Local Extra store.
Michael Shanahan, regional account manager - Midland, PepsiCo UK & Ireland, said, “I was very happy to be involved with this initiative not only from a brand perspective but also supporting the local school and the community with the breakfast club, with Quaker being a very strong brand and supports healthy breakfasts which keeps you fuller, for longer.”
Parfetts is an employee-owned business, and its employees play a significant role in the company’s success and its retailers.
Guy Swindell, joint managing director at Parfetts, said, “We've collaborated closely with Jeevan and his team, who have transformed their new store into a thriving success and a vital part of the community.
"As a business, it's crucial for us to connect with our customers on multiple levels and support the causes that matter to them. With Jeevan leading the way, I am confident that this store will achieve even greater success and play an increasingly significant role in positively impacting the local community.”
