Gotherington Stores, Cheltenham at a Glance
- Symbol Group: One Stop
- Size: 1,200 sq ft retail | 300 sq ft storage
- Customer Base: Affluent households, young families, retired couples
- USP: Fresh food-to-go and dessert range, Customer service
- Future Focus: Expanding food-to-go, sharper store marketing, and driving footfall
Not every village has a store like this. Perhaps it should.
Drifting aroma of freshly fried donuts, spiced curries and warm pastries signal that this is no ordinary village shop. It is something considerably more ambitious.
That ambition belongs to 21-year-old Arshpreet Sohal, who took over the 1,200 sq ft One Stop Gotherington Stores four years ago and since reshaped it into something the convenience sector rarely sees, which is a genuinely destination-worthy food offer, rooted in a community, run with professional discipline.
Asian Trader sat down with Sohal to know more about his retail journey so far and future plans.
“While the location of the site had strong potential, it had never fully functioned as a dedicated convenience store,” he said.
“When I took over the business, I recognised a gap in the village for a modern convenience store that truly meets everyday needs.
“My vision was to bring together the services the community relied on and present them in a fresh, familiar, and accessible way.”
One of the youngest convenience store owners and postmasters in the UK and probably the youngest one in the One Stop franchise, Sohal marked his 21st birthday last week, a fact which is hard to believe considering his deep and practical approach to the business.
"I moved to the UK from Italy in 2015 and am now commencing my 11th year here. Retail has always been part of my family background, as my family has been involved in the retail sector for many years.
“I believe anyone stepping into retail should understand that it is a tough and demanding business that requires constant adaptation and thinking outside the box,” he said.
What set the store apart
That vision is now visible across the store. Alongside a strong core of grocery and household essentials, the business places clear emphasis on locally sourced produce, including fresh fruit, vegetables and meats, adding both quality and distinction.
But what sets this store apart from anything else in the postcode is its food-to-go and proprietary freshly made food.
Sohal revealed, “Our key differentiator is our homemade food range, which includes authentic curries, samosas, onion bhajis, and spring rolls prepared in-house.
“Our food-to-go section features freshly prepared Indian meals and desserts, and we continue to grow this range with hot options such as paninis and toasties, as well as desserts including cookie pies, freshly baked cookies, hot crumbles, and custard pies.”
More recently, made-to-order items — freshly fried donuts, waffles, milkshakes — have been added and have quickly become a draw in their own right. Bakery lines including Danish pastries, croissants, and dippers are currently supplied by a local partner, but Sohal's plan is to transition to full in-store production.
None of this happens casually. All staff are trained to food safety and service standards. A digital task management system ensures consistency across daily operations. The store uses a digital task management system to ensure consistency, quality, and smooth daily operations.
“This combination of value, local sourcing, and freshly prepared food sets our store apart from a typical convenience store,” Sohal added.
The store primarily relies on a small number of key wholesalers for its core range, complemented by a few specialist suppliers for premium food lines. “In addition to mainstream wholesalers, we actively work with local suppliers.
"These are essential for certain products not available through our main supplier and play a major role in differentiating our store, particularly across fresh and locally sourced items,” he said.
Another key USP of the store, as Sohal sees it, is customer service due to which shoppers like to return to the store.
“We also maintain excellent relationships with local businesses, who regularly recommend the store and help drive new customers through word of mouth,” he said.
More than retail
From supporting food banks to engaging with local schools and nurseries on healthy eating, the store is positioning itself as more than just a retail outlet.
“What makes our store truly memorable is that it was the first and only shop in the village to transform into a modern convenience store with long opening hours, offering exactly what the local community needed,” Sohal added.
Beyond the shop floor, Sohal is building a more rounded retail model. Home delivery now contributes “10–15 per cent of sales”, while tools like Store Angel underpin daily operations and staff consistency.
Despite running a busy store, Sohal is well attuned to the challenges facing British convenience sector, be it legislative changes such as the disposable vape ban and the proposed generational smoking ban.
“These changes directly impact high-turnover categories while, at the same time, operating costs continue to rise.
“In addition, traditional revenue streams such as newspapers continue to decline, while changing consumer habits—such as a greater focus on healthy eating and reduced impulse purchasing—are reshaping buying behaviour.”
Looking ahead, Sohal is determined to strengthen the store’s position as a destination convenience store by focusing heavily on marketing and the continued growth of food-to-go offering.
By creating a modern convenience store with freshly made food being its biggest pull, this young retailer is showing the rest of the sector where the future of the convenience sector lies.
And for a 21-year-old retailer, this is only the beginning of a much bigger play.