The owner of a local convenience store in Pembrokeshire has revealed that he has donated £5000 and is set to sponsor Haverfordwest Football Club.
Retailer Kishoore Manikonda runs Annanya Stores in on Haverfordwest High Street in Pembrokeshire, an off-license shop that he to help the Indian and Filipino community. The store was opened in October last year.
Now, the father of two from India, wants to make an even bigger difference.
Manikonda said, “We are going to sponsor Haverfordwest Football Club. We donated £5000 for a one-year contract. Whatever we give the club, we hope they can also help the community.
“I am the first business owner to sponsor the football club for a long time. No one has done this for many years.”
Haverfordwest Football Club facilitates football sessions for school pupils through the Fit & Fed programme which also provides a healthy meal for pupils and hosts walking football sessions, making the game accessible for everyone regardless of age or ability.
Meanwhile, Manikonda’s store in Haverfordwest has made other changes.
He continued, “Things have been going alright. Business has been picking up. We actually changed our store name to ‘Shop Locally.’
"But we are still offering Indian and Filipino groceries which many locals are appreciating. There is also a pay point at the shop, so locals don’t always have to go to the bank.”
Manikonda was inspired to open the store because he became aware of Indian and Filipino people struggling to find the products they wanted. Hence why he introduced the business with a focus on affordable prices.
Manikonda and his wife Saritha Ravilla have lived in Haverfordwest for over three years, and their children go to school in the area.
He previously revealed he moved to Haverfordwest because of the quietness and beauty of the town.
Apart from his shop on Haverfordwest high street, Manikonda took over the Premier Express store at Merlins Bridge in January, a store which has been established for over 40 years and runs another store on Market Street.
Overall, Manikonda has three shops in Haverfordwest and one in Pembroke Dock.
When Manikonda is not running his convenience stores, he is a member of Haverfordwest Town Council and serves the Garth Ward.
