For Yogesh and Mukta Patel, the route to their “dream” convenience store began with two different ambitions. Mukta had always wanted to run a restaurant. Yogi wanted a bigger and better shop. When the unit next door to their long-established Londis Merton Park became available, the couple decided they did not have to choose between the two.
They invested more than £170,000 in the transformation, knocking two units together to more than double the shop floor to 1,500 sq ft. Building work began in January 2025 and the revamped store opened in May, creating an open-plan environment designed around better visibility, customer flow and a series of distinctive footfall-driving concepts.
The results have been dramatic. Weekly sales have risen from around £11,000 to more than £30,000 and continue to grow, turning what had been an old Post Office and CTN, formerly Nelson News, into a much more ambitious community convenience proposition.
At the heart of the transformation is Mukta’s deli counter – perhaps the clearest expression of the couple’s decision to combine their respective ambitions. She cooks eight different curries every morning, including vegetarian and chicken options, alongside freshly prepared samosas, spring rolls, bhajis, rotis and naans.
The menu has since expanded to include Indian-inspired sandwiches such as Bombay Grilled Cheese and Indian Masala chips.
It is not simply an add-on to the grocery offer. The bespoke deli has become a significant footfall driver, giving the store a proposition that is difficult to replicate through a conventional convenience range.
Around it, Yogi’s vision for a more cutting-edge store takes shape. Londis Merton Park combines a comprehensive fresh and chilled range, including local products, with frozen food, Cook ready meals, a Treat Stop zone and a 130 sq ft beer cave.
Then there is The Cooler – 12 metres of shelving dedicated to chilled beer, wine and other BWS. The concept turns a traditionally functional category into a destination in its own right.
Technology is woven through the operation. A modern EPOS system supports transactions and back-office management, alongside Retail AI. Five media screens above the Post Office promote local events, services, special offers and Meal Deals. LED lighting and energy-efficient chillers with doors improve product visibility while reducing energy consumption.
Home delivery has also been added, with Scoot launched in February 2026.
But for all the investment and innovation, the couple’s strength lies in how their individual ambitions fit together. Mukta has found an outlet for her passion for cooking, while Yogi has created the larger, more progressive convenience business he envisaged.
The result is a store where the couple’s personalities are visible in the proposition – from homemade food to chilled BWS, technology and services. And customers appear to have noticed.
One describes it as a shop with everything from groceries and wine to homemade meals, while another praises the friendliness and willingness of the team to help customers, including a new mother managing a pram and parcels.
After 16 years of trading, the Patels have effectively turned a long-established local shop into a new business without losing its family character. The judges gave them 202 points, with full marks for the written entry, welcome, checkout experience and enthusiasm