Sub-postmasters and mistresses caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal have been honoured at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards, conferring them with the Ramniklal Solanki Editor’s Award.
The Award, instituted in the memory of the founder of Asian Media Group and Asian Trader Ramniklal Solanki CBE, is presented to a person, or group of people, who have made an outstanding contribution the convenience retail sector.
Seema Misra and Vijay Parekh represented the postmasters at the event held on 5 November at London's Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.
Wrongly convicted due to bugs in the Post Office's computer system, both Misra and Parekh were sent to prison in 2010 – Misra while two months pregnant. Their conviction finally overturned in 2021.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds attended as chief guest at the ceremony, which celebrated excellence in convenience retail across the UK. The event marked its 35th anniversary this year, continuing its tradition of recognising outstanding achievements in the sector.
Jonathan Reynolds speaks at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Speaking at the event, Shefali Solanki-Nair, associate publisher of Asian Trader, highlighted the crucial role of convenience retailers in local communities, amidst the many challenges facing the sector.
“With rising energy costs, inflation, and changes in taxation, many retailers are feeling the pinch more than ever. It’s a tough environment for convenience retailers who are already working with narrow margins while striving to offer exceptional service and products,” she said.
“These challenges are daunting, but the ability to adapt and innovate speaks volumes about retailer’s character and dedication.”
Noted impressionist Rory Bremner hosted the event, which also saw 16 retailers being honoured in different categories, including Shaan and Arshan Chaudry of Costcutter, Triple A Foodstore in Nuneaton, who won the top prize, Asian Trader of the Year.
Bestway Sher Depot, Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow won the Wholesale Depot of the Year award. Six new product launches from the last year, voted for by the retailers, were also feted.
The event also raised funds for Lepra, a charity that support people affected by leprosy.
Attendees at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Despite decades of selfless service running businesses that serve as local community hubs, the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal endured extraordinary hardship.
The implementation of a new computer system turned hundreds of conscientious and hard-working retailers into criminals almost overnight. They were accused of theft and fraud, when it was actually the new software that was faulty.
Despite protestations of innocence, they have been slandered, abused, prosecuted, imprisoned, bankrupted and perhaps most hurtful of all, ignored – by the justice system, by the government and by the public, who had been kept in the dark about this greatest miscarriage of justice our country has ever seen.
Asian Trader and a handful of other publications shed light on this injustice, thanks to the bravery of our winners who continued to campaign in a David and Goliath battle as they took on one of the country’s largest organisations and the State itself.
Then, at the beginning of this year, an ITV drama series, Mr Bates versus the Post Office, finally stamped that tragic tale front and centre on the national consciousness, where it has remained.
Winners of the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Winners List
Ram Solanki Award For Excellence in Convenience and Wholesale: Sub postmasters and mistresses caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal
Product and Manufacturer Awards
Snack Brand of the Year: McCoy's Epic Eats (KP Snacks)
Soft Drinks Brand of the Year: Coca Cola Lemon (CCEP)
Confectionery Brand of the Year: Cadbury Starbar Duo (Mondelez International)
Vape and Next Generation Brand of the Year: Blu Bar Pod (Imperial Brands)
Lager, Beer and Cider Brand of the Year: Birra Moretti Sale di Mare (Heineken)
Grocery Brand of the Year: McVitie’s Signature (pladis)
Asian Trader Awards 2024
Responsible Retailer of the Year supported by Imperial Brands: Priyesh Vekaria, One Stop Carlton Convenience, Salford, Manchester
Wholesale Depot of the Year supported by Tilda: Bestway Sher Depot, Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow
Convenience Chain of the Year: Kashif Jaffar, Southern Co-op Bromham Stores, Bromham, Bedford
Best smokeless alternatives Retailer of the year supported by VELO: Prashant and Trupti Patel, One Stop Brockworth in Gloucester
Bakery Retailer of the Year supported by Warburtons: Jess Read and Gary Hunt, Budgens of Holt, Norfolk
Next Gen Award: Harman Puni, HP Convenience Premier, Chesterfield
World Food Retailer Award supported by Tropical Sun: Reji Thomas & Siddique Chenganakattil, Essentials Supermarket, Bedford
Independent Retailer of the Year supported by Booker: Jenarthen Saravanamuthu, Premier Rassau Stores, Ebbw Vale, South Wales
Food to Go Retailer of the Year supported by KP Snacks: Priyesh Patel, Londis, Stoke Newington, London
Spirit of the Community Award supported by Mondelez International: Amarjit Singh Rakhra, Budgens Pomeroy Street, London
Symbol Retailer of the Year supported by Bestway: Kersheaup Vagadia, Costcutter Kearsley, Bolton
Off Licence of the Year supported by Molson Coors (Cobra): Pradeep Thangaraj, Wine Rack, Bicester, Oxford
Impulse Retailer of the Year supported by pladis: Bharat Khunti, Shivom Convenience Go Local, Nuneaton
Tobacco Retailer Award supported by JTI: Suresh Arulanantham, My Costcutter Murco, Rye, East Sussex
Local Hero Award: Nathalie Kaur, One Stop Partick Convenience Store, Glasgow
Businesswoman of the Year supported by Philip Morris Ltd: Sue Nithyanadan, Costcutter, Epsom, Surrey
Asian Trader of the Year: Shaan and Arshan Chaudry, Costcutter, Triple A Foodstore, Nuneaton, Warwickshire