Former winner of the SLR Community Retailer of the Year Award, Sinclair General Stores in Sanday, Orkney, has been put in the market.
The 300sq m store is being offered for sale due to the impending retirement of its owners. The store’s mainstay is grocery, supplied chiefly by Costcutter, which enables shoppers to access Co-op produce at supermarket prices. This subsidised contract enables all stock to be shipped to the island free of freight charges. Food-to-go and outdoor seating has recently been further developed and is popular with tourists, workmen, and residents.
The shop sells vehicle fuel and benefits from a government rebate scheme of 5p per litre. It also boasts an extensive hardware, homeware, stationery, gifts and souvenirs, and farm smallholder and gardening supplies stock.
Sinclair General Stores has a strong track record of supporting its community, particularly during lockdown, and sponsors the community garden, junior football team and multiple events. It also hosts a Christmas party with a gift for every child on the island and has a community pantry providing free groceries for anyone in need.
The shop has outgrown its building and now includes container cabins – the “Potting Shed” for gardening supplies, tools, furniture and plants and the “Knocking Shop” for hardware stock. The business also delivers domestic fuel and building supplies with further scope to expand agricultural and building supplies.
Plans have been drawn to double the floorspace to broaden further popular non-food ranges to compete more effectively with mainland and online retailers.
The shop stands in around 1.5 acres of its own ground, leaving space for building owners’ accommodation, with electricity provided by the hosted turbine.
The store has been put on the market at an asking price of £400,000.
