One Stop Franchisee Priyesh Vekaria who runs One Stop Carlton Convenience in Manchester was thrilled to pick up the top award for Community Retailer of the Year – Independent at Retail Industry Awards on Wednesday 18th September, held at The Brewery in London.
Priyesh came into retail through a less than conventional path , previously working 10 years in the police force, which has allowed him to bring a wealth of additional skills into the industry. Convenience retailing took Priyesh back to the heart of the community which is where he wanted to be and where he felt he could implement the most positive change.
Priyesh, together with his store team and young family have helped a huge number of charities and his dedication to the homeless providing empowerment to those on the streets has been changing lives.
In the past year Priyesh has funded a lifesaving defibrillator which is now positioned at the front of his store. Alongside a 24/7 accessible defibrillator machine, they also installed a major bleed trauma kit. From his police background, Priyesh knows these machines can make all the difference and keep someone alive while waiting for emergency services.
Speaking about his win Priyesh Vekaria says: “It’s an honour to have our hard work within the community recognised with such a prestigious award. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped us to create not just any store but an award-winning store, of which we are extremely proud”
John Miller, Head of Franchise, One Stop commented “Community retailers like Priyesh who go the extra mile for those in need and focus on making a difference to their local communities every day are such valued members of our franchise business. We’re delighted to see his efforts celebrated amongst his industry peers.”
Comments are closed.