Mohan Periyasamy Palani, founder and director of Samy Group, has been named Convenience Chain of the Year at the Asian Trader Awards 2026, following a journey from petrol-station cashier to the head of a substantial independent convenience operation.
Palani arrived in the UK in 2007 with no retail experience and began working as a cashier at a petrol station. He developed his knowledge of the sector from the shop floor, acquired his first petrol station in 2012 and built the businesses that were brought together under The Samy Group, formally established in July 2025.
The group now directly operates or manages 55 convenience stores and forecourts, alongside a further 13 commission-operated forecourts. It employs more than 320 colleagues and forecasts annual turnover in excess of £130m. Its estate stretches from Great Yarmouth to Plymouth, with a strong concentration across the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East.
Rather than impose one fascia across the estate, Samy Group selects from Budgens, SPAR, Morrisons Daily, Londis and Premier according to each site’s size, customer profile, competition and local needs. Palani identifies that flexibility, combined with consistent standards, as central to the group’s model.
The business has grown through a mix of acquisitions and new opportunities, including the conversion of corporate sites where the group believes it can improve the offer and unlock stronger performance. Its stated ambition is to grow to more than 150 stores over the next three to five years.
Asian Trader Awards 2026, held at Westminster Park Plaza Hotel in London, recognised the achievements of independent retailers and businesses from across the country, shining a spotlight on the innovation, enterprise, resilience and community spirit that continue to define the sector.
The evening was hosted by actor Nitin Chandra Ganatra. Minister for Artificial Intelligence The Rt Hon Kanishka Narayan MP graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The Asian Trader Awards 2026 winners
- Responsible Retailer of the Year: Andrew Board, Premier Core Convenience Store, Durham
- Convenience Chain of the Year: Mohan Periyasamy Palani, Samy Group Ltd, Middlesbrough
- Tobacco & Next Gen Champion of the Year: Rajalingam Mathusan, Premier Childers Street, London
- Bakery Retailer of the Year: Roli Ranger, Budgens Ascot, Berkshire
- Next Gen Award: Hamza Hussain, Abu Bakr Supermarkets, Batley, West Yorkshire
- Best Retail Couple of the Year: Bisi and Mayo Osundeko, Go Local Junction Lane, St Helens, Merseyside
- World Food Retailer of the Year: Mohammed Altaf, PAK Foods, Stoke-on-Trent
- Independent Retailer of the Year: George Phillips, TJ’s Late Shop, Londis, Hemel Hempstead
- Best Home Delivery Retailer of the Year: Mandeep Singh, Premier Singh’s Team, Sheffield
- Food to Go Retailer of the Year: Harry and Zoe Archer, Shop & Go, Burstwick Service Station, Hull
- Spirit of the Community Award: Benedict Selvaratnam, Freshfields Market, Croydon, Surrey
- Symbol Retailer of the Year: Kalpesh (Pete) Patel, Zola Ltd t/a Costcutter, Purfleet, Essex
- Off Licence of the Year: Kathleen Campbell and Richard Walker, Campbell’s of Leyburn, North Yorkshire
- Impulse Retailer of the Year: Jas and Michelle Chatha, Go Local Extra, Chathas Retail, Bradford
- Charity Hero of the Year: Jawad and Asiyah Javed, A&J Alloa Spar, Stenhousemuir, Falkirk
- Best Merchandising Store of the Year: Raheem Ali Razaq, Ali’s Nisa Royston, Glasgow
- Businesswoman of the Year: Nathalie Fullerton, Go Local Dumbarton Road, Glasgow
- Asian Trader of the Year: Arul Palaniappan, Premier New Elgin Service Station, Scotland