The finalists for the 37th Asian Trader Awards have been revealed, with 53 finalist places now battling it out for the honours at a much-awaited ceremony in Central London on Nov 4.
Spread across 18 categories, the Asian Trader Awards 2026 finalist list is the clearest snapshot yet of a convenience sector that is competing hard, adapting fast and refusing to stand still.
The year saw record number of nominations, with established names competing alongside emerging retailers and businesses making their mark on the sector.
The finalists span independent retailers, multi-site operators and family businesses, reflecting the breadth of the UK convenience sector and the different ways businesses are responding to changing shopper needs and trading conditions.
From single-store owners who have built fierce local loyalty to growing groups expanding their footprint, the list shows what it takes to succeed on the high street, in the village and on the forecourt right now.
The Asian Trader Awards 2026 finalists:
Responsible Retailer of the Year, supported by Imperial Brands
- Andrew Board, Premier Core Convenience Store, Durham
- Bay Bashir, Go local Belle Vue Stores, North East Ltd, Middlesborough
- Shiv Misra, Kindly, Brighton
Convenience Chain of the Year
- Kopinath Kalanathan, Costcutter, Kirk Sandall, Doncaster
- Mohan Periyasamy Palani, Samy Group Ltd, Middlesborough
- Rajalingham Mathusan, Premier Childers Street, London
Tobacco & next Gen Category supported by JTI
- Dilmeet Singh Gaba, Londis Fulmer Corner, Buckinghamshire
- Guna Sud, RaceTrack, Wishaw
- Rajalingham Mathusan, Premier Childers Street, London
Bakery Retailer of the Year supported by Warburtons
- Mike Sohal, Nisa Dallam Stores, Warrington
- Roli Ranger, Budgens Ascot, Berkshire
Next Gen Award
- Alpesh and Priyesh Patel, Fountayne Road Londis, Greater London
- Hamza Hussain, Abu Bakr Supermarkets, Batley
- Samreeta Kaur, One Stop Talgarth, Liverpool
Best Retailer Couple
- Bisi and Mayo Osundeko, Go Local Junction Lane, Merseyside
- Charlotte and Tom Dant, Morrison Alford, Lincolnshire
- Yogesh and Mukta Patel, Londis Merton Park, Wimbledon
World Food Retailer Award supported by Tropical Sun
- Hassan Supermarket, Dudley Road, Birmingham
- Mohammed Altaf, PAK Foods, Stoke-on-Trent
- Tony Okoruwe, Dizz Foods, Northfleet, Kent
Independent Retailer of the Year supported by Booker
- George Phillips, TJ’s Late Shop Londis, Hemel Hampstead
- Lewis Woodward, Nisa Colleygate, Halesowen
- Sudesh Patel, Londis Coulsdon
Best Home Delivery Retailer of the Year
- Craig Warren, Costcutter Bargain Booze The Corner Stores, Suffolk
- George Phillips, TJ’s Late Shop Londis, Hemel Hampstead
- Mandeep Singh, Singh's Premier, Sheffield
Food to Go Retailer of the Year supported by KP Snacks
- Arul Palaniappan, Premier New Elgin Service Station, Scotland
- Harry and Zoe Archer, Shop & Go Burstwick Service Station, Hull
- Venkatesh Raja, Karvins Budgens, Thetford
Spirit of the Community Award supported by Mondelez International
- Benedict Selvaratnam, Freshfields Market, Croydon
- Manpreet Singh, Go Local Stoke Orchard, Cheltenham
- Pratik Patel, Jay's Budgens, Brockley Road, London
Symbol Retailer of the Year supported by Bestway
- Girish Jeeva, Girish’s Costcutter Barmulloch, Scotland
- Kalpesh (Pete) Patel, Costcutter Purfleet, Essex
- Richard Walker, Campbells of Leyburn, North Yorkshire
Off Licence of the Year supported by Molson Coors
- Katherine Campbell and Richard Walker, Campbells of Leyburn, North Yorkshire
- Paul Cheema, Malcolm’s Store Costcutter, Coventry
- Thiyanamany Kemananthan and Subhas Sivalillai, Go Local Extra High Road Store, Whitehaven
Impulse Retailer of the Year supported by pladis
- Arshpreet Singh, One Stop Gotherington, Cheltenham
- Jas and Michelle Chatta, Go Local Extra Chathas Retail, Bradford
- Naveed Amjed, Day-Today, Airdrie
Charity Hero Award
- Jawad and Asiyah Javed, A&J Alloa Spar, Stenhousemuir, Falkirk
- Rupa Keshwara, Keshco Stores Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire
- Shiva Kumar Kandaswamy, Premier Dunbar, Haddington
Best Merchandising Store of the Year
- Kaual Patel, Torridon Convenience Nisa Local, Catford
- Navinder and Manjinder Uppal, Fixby Stores Go Local Extra, West Yorkshire
- Raheem Ali Razaq, Ali's Nisa Royston, Glasgow
Businesswoman of the Year
- Asiyah Javed, A&J Alloa Spar, Stenhousemuir, Falkirk
- Charlotte Dant, Gill Marsh Forecourts, Lincolnshire
- Nathalie Fullerton, Go Local Dumbarton Road, Glasgow
Asian Trader of the Year
- Arul Palaniappan, Premier New Elgin Service Station, Scotland
- Catherine Campbell and Richard Walker, Campbells of Leyburn, North Yorkshire
- Roli Ranger, Budgens Ascot, Berkshire
The shortlist now moves the awards into their final stage, with the Asian Trader Awards 2026 set to bring together the who’s who of convenience and grocery retail, from leading retailers, symbol groups and wholesalers to the brands, suppliers, experts and decision-makers shaping the sector.
And, of course, it will settle the biggest question of the night- who will take home the coveted Asian Trader Awards trophies?