Roli Ranger, owner of Budgens Ascot in Berkshire, has been crowned Bakery Retailer of the Year at the Asian Trader Awards 2026 at the Asian Trader Awards 2026 held in London on Wednesday (Nov 4). The award is supported by Warburtons.
Ranger has served the Ascot community for more than 30 years. At the beginning of 2026, he expanded the shop floor by 500sq ft and relaunched the former 2,200sq ft Londis as a Budgens & Co store. Reopened in March, the development was designed around a food-hall concept, giving shoppers a broader choice for full-basket shopping as well as food-to-go and immediate-consumption missions.
Bakery is a key part of the refreshed offer. At the entrance, a self-serve Good To Go display showcases croissants and other baked products, alongside chilled patisseries and cakes delivered fresh each day. The in-store team bakes hot pies, pastries and slices throughout the day, while Costa Coffee provides an opportunity for cross-category promotions.
The store’s Kitchen food-to-go area extends the offer with deli-style sub rolls, flatstone pizzas, samosas, filled croissants and focaccia sandwiches. A bespoke bread fixture adds crusty rolls, bloomers, baguettes, onion bloomers, cheese loaves, tiger breads and organic options.
The investment has delivered a significant uplift. Total weekly sales rose from £25,000 to more than £43,000, while year-on-year fresh food sales, including bread and bakery, increased by 70 per cent. The Kitchen concept was already generating around £2,000 a week at the time of the nomination.
The award recognises Ranger’s investment in freshness, choice and presentation, and the role bakery now plays in giving local shoppers another reason to visit.
Asian Trader Awards 2026, held at Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, 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: Katherine 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