A south-east London retailer is a star of Coca-Cola’s new advert celebrating the invaluable role corner shops play in local communities.
Kaual Patel owns Torridon Convenience Store in Catford which his parents first bought in 1984.
Now he features in The Bosses a film by multi award-winning director Ross Bolidai revealing how Mr Patel has turned his shop into a cornerstone of Lewisham.
A mural from local schoolchildren takes pride of place on the pavement yards from the business recently named national Convenience Store of the Year and he’s supported a range of community projects, including giving up his spare time to fix a church roof.
Mr Patel stocks freshly made bread, cakes and vegan patties from small independent local producers, alongside big brands like Coca-Cola and there’s a Post Office.
The savvy entrepreneur, who took over running the store in 2000, also created a Torridon Convenience Store IPA - made in collaboration with Brockley Brewery - and his own brand of gin is flavoured with bay leaves from trees planted outside.
National Portrait Gallery photographer Serena Brown has immortalised Mr Patel in a series of images highlighting the commitment, heritage and personalities of those behind the UK’s counters as Coca-Cola celebrates 125 years of being sold in Britain.
Mr Patel - whose face will be proudly displayed on Out of Home advertisement spots across his town - said: “Catford is home, and I’m proud to be in a position not just to provide my local community with their daily essentials, but to give something back too.
“What this campaign with Coca-Cola will show people is that running a convenience store is a privilege, and also a responsibility.
“We’re where we are today because of the loyalty of the people of Catford – and now it’s my job to do everything I can to support the people, the businesses and the community around me.”
According to Coca-Cola, a third of 2,000 adults surveyed by Opinium described their corner shop as an essential resource in everyday life.
Around 23 per cent say they depend on key workers like Mr Patel more than any other retailer.
Dusan Stojankic, Coca-Cola’s vice president and general manager of Great Britain & Ireland, added: “We’re proud to be celebrating 125 years since Coca-Cola was first served in Great Britain, and with 97 per cent of our products sold here manufactured and bottled here, we’re invested in local communities.
“The Bosses series is an ode to that, celebrating the businessmen and women ushering in a new era for the vastly underestimated corner shop.
“We’ll continue to champion and mentor community retailers far into the future, and hope they continue to find a sense of camaraderie through our network.”
Mr Patel is one of six shop owners from the series who get to nominate a local cause to receive a five-figure donation, The Coca-Cola Company said.
