Shropshire retailer Julie Kaur Duhra has won the first ever Raj Aggarwal Award with Edinburgh’s Sophie Williams also recognised.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has announced that Julie Kaur Duhra is the first winner of the Raj Aggarwal Award, a new trophy celebrating exceptional community retailing. Sophie Williams, daughter of Edinburgh retailers Dennis and Linda Williams, was also recognised as a finalist at the Awards.
Julie was announced as the winner following a panel discussion on exceptional community retailing at ACS’ Heart of the Community conference. Julie runs a convenience store just north of Telford in Shropshire with her husband Joey. Julie has played a vital role in her local area, providing home deliveries to customers, leading local fundraising efforts and supporting other retailers.
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Throughout the pandemic, Julie has gone above and beyond to support her customers and fellow retailers, Julie has made the local community feel like her family and friends. This is a well-deserved award and we would like to congratulate Julie for the outstanding contribution that her store has made to the local community.”
ACS also congratulated this year’s finalists: Nico Ali from Tasa Shops in Jarrow, and Sophie Williams from Broadway Convenience Store in Edinburgh.
- Sunita Aggarwal, Raj’s wife and owner of Spar Wigston
- Jonathan James, Managing Director of James Convenience Retail
- Avtar Sidhu, owner of Budgens Kenilworth
- James Lowman, Chief Executive, ACS
