Shivakumar Kandaswamy's retail story has travelled a long way from his first career at sea. Born in Bangalore, he studied hotel management, worked on cruise ships and trained as a sommelier before coming to Britain 30 years ago.
In 2009, he and his wife Shanthi opened their first convenience store. Since then, retail has become the platform for a much wider mission.
One of the earliest projects was born from a desire to improve educational opportunities for children in India. In 2011, the couple adopted a village school where there were just four pupils. That number has since risen to 86.
Kandaswamy's interests have also moved beyond education and into environmental sustainability. He established The Rainwater Literacy Foundation, focused on promoting rainwater harvesting and water security. Its work includes water-literacy workshops for schoolchildren and college students, rejuvenating water bodies and delivering rainwater-harvesting projects for homes, schools and commercial establishments.
The connection between education and sustainability is particularly visible at the village school. Children learn about sustainable farming, collect and separate waste plastic for recycling, use the proceeds to buy native seeds and grow vegetables using water pumped through solar energy. They have also grown low-glycaemic rice for sale to the public.
Back in Scotland, Kandaswamy's love of wine led to another business venture: Haddington Wines & Whiskies, an upmarket off-licence in East Lothian. But the focus on community quickly followed.
The family began working closely with Our Community Kitchen in Haddington, which supports people who are socially isolated, those with suicidal tendencies and people living alone. That relationship has grown into a long-running commitment involving fundraising, food and practical support.
In 2024, Kandaswamy and Shanthi organised an Indian Cultural Event, bringing together more than 100 people for an evening of food, traditional dancing and sari draping. Dance Beatz, a local Bollywood dance group they support, also performed. The event raised more than £5,000 for Our Community Kitchen.
The couple subsequently marked their 25th wedding anniversary by asking guests to donate rather than give gifts. The event raised £1,140 for Our Community Kitchen and £1,110 for Sai Krupa Special Needs Children's School in India.
That same philosophy is now embedded in their retail operation. In November 2024, Kandaswamy invested just under £300,000 converting a former hardware store into a 2,500 sq ft Premier in Dunbar. The store combines a beer cave and soft-drinks cave with food-to-go and a comprehensive convenience range. It is one of three stores operated by the business, which has traded since 2009.
The business also supports the Lammermuir Larder Group through food donations and raffle prizes, while Kandaswamy and his team visit local primary schools to talk about culture, entrepreneurship and business.
For Kandaswamy, the common thread is clear. Whether it is a village school in India, rainwater education, a vulnerable person in Haddington or a new convenience store in Dunbar, the underlying ambition is the same: build something useful, then use it to give something back.