Popular retailer Raj Aggarwal dies

Independent convenience sector is paying rich tributes to popular retailer Raj Aggarwal who has passed away on 9 April.

Aggarwal ran SPAR shops in Hackenthorpe and Wigston and the Insomnia Coffee Shop in Wigston. With almost four decades of experience in retail, he was a leading figure championing the cause of indies.

“We were absolutely devastated to hear the news about the passing of Raj Aggarwal,” the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), which Aggarwal served as a member of its independent board, said in a statement.

“As a businessman, he was everything that we celebrate in our industry: connected to his community, willing to take a risk, totally focused on meeting customers’ needs, and aware that the way to do this was through developing and working with the team around him.”

Aggarwal, 51, leaves behind his wife Sunita and family.

Stuart Reddish, national president of NFRN, said: “I am shocked and saddened. Raj was such a lively character and a legend when it came to retailing.

“In recent months he had expressed an interest in becoming more heavily involved in Federation activities and had so much to offer. His death is a huge loss to the industry.”

Aggarwal’s last Facebook post on 27 March shows him delivering food to NHS staff fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Next stop Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, dropping off Tea, Coffee and Biscuits for our frontline NHS staff who are doing an amazing job #strongertogether,” he wrote on his page.

Aggarwal sprang to action just as the country went into lockdown on 23 March, dealing with colleagues and the public, out with suppliers to get product in and supporting local causes.

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“This is a terrible loss that will be felt personally by many people in our industry, and it should also remind us: there are people putting themselves in harm’s way to help the country through these difficult times, and to lose one of them in Raj is a hard thing to comprehend and accept,” ACS added in its statement.

Julian Taylor-Green, fellow SPAR retailer and vice-chair of Meridian & Welsh Guild, said: “Raj was not only a great friend to many, but also a champion of our sector. He was always ready to challenge his team, suppliers and colleagues and never failed to support us. Continually sharing his honest experiences.

“By working with his fellow SPAR retailers at the Meridian & Welsh Guild, he brought all his industry learning’s with him to challenge and drive our collective business, trying to ensure we were always at the front of independent retailing.

“Always proud of his retail heritage, family and their achievements, Raj was a true gentleman and businessman. A huge influential loss to SPAR and the retail sector.”

Jerry Marwood, group commercial managing director at SPAR wholesaler AF Blakemore, said: “The feeling of sadness that has overwhelmed our team at Blakemore’s since hearing of Raj’s passing is testament to the role that he played in the life of our business.

“Whether as a guild board representative, a customer or friend, Raj was ever present in the world of SPAR and convenience retailing – to say that he will be missed by all of us is an understatement of massive proportion.”

Greg Deacon, chief operating officer at NFRN tweeted: “Raj was a larger than life character, with his booming smile and laughter. He was an incredibly passionate, caring and bright retailer that our industry will dearly miss but never forget. A true gentleman and retail legend.”

Raj was a larger than life character, with his booming smile and laughter. Incredibly passionate, caring and bright retailer that our industry will dearly miss but never forget. True gentleman and retail legend. Thoughts with his family, friends and colleagues at this time. 💔 https://t.co/Bda3KZFpZ0

— Greg Deacon (@gregdeacon) April 9, 2020

Condoling Aggarwal’s death, fellow retailers have called for a ‘clap for shopkeepers’ at 8 pm on 15 April “to thank the incredible shopkeepers, retail staff, and everyone else involved in retailing who are working flat out to ensure that we are able to do our shopping during lockdown.”

I salute all retailers, staff, suppliers, brands our entire industry as well as our communities for playing there part I’ll be clapping 👏🏽 #InItTogether #COVIDー19 #clapforourkeyworkers https://t.co/VwlK7DG0NV

— Atul Sodha (@AtulSodha) April 10, 2020