RETAIL CORNER
19 SEPTEMBER 2025 ASIAN TRADER 15
here are convenience stores that
simply serve their neighbourhood,
and then there are those that
become part of its identity. Duchy
Stores in Salford falls firmly into the second
category, a shop that combines new product
launches, old connections and year-round
community events to create a loyal following
that stretches far beyond its postcode.
The Patel family has been at the helm of
the store since its takeover in 1992. Today,
under the sharp eye of second-generation
retailer Amit Patel, Duchy Stores is increas
ingly strengthening its mark not only in the
community but also in the wider retail sector
as well.
Speaking exclusively to Asian Trader, Amit
explained how, over a span of more than three
decades, the site has evolved from a basic
convenience store into a community hub as
well as a shopper destination in its own right.
“Over the past 33 odd years, a lot has
happened. Once my parents were settled and
got the hang of customers, their require
ments, what works and what not, they started
introducing little changes in the store, both in
terms of the structure, looks as well as range,”
he says.
Amit has been officially involved in the
store since he was 17, though he remembers
spending his days in the store for what seems
like forever.
Being a part of retailers’ family dedicated
to their business, he recalled visiting the cash
and carry at weekends, learning how to serve
customers and stock shelves, and handling
the till.
“Our childhood revolved around the store.
My brother [retailer Priyesh Vekaria – see this
issue’s Award-Winner Interview], my sister
and I used to spend time at the shop and
helping our parents as soon as our heads could
pop over the counter.
“When a business is open 365 days a year
and is majorly family-run, the only way to
spend time together is to hang around in the
store. As a child, our world was this shop,” he
recalls.
May be that’s what retail life is like.
Listening to Amit, it is clear that this deep-
rooted trust has become the store’s biggest
asset.
It also shapes the way he makes decisions,
from supplier relationships to the events
For this convenience store in Salford, the business
is lighting up its community, whether
through new launches on the shelves or
literally, with fireworks in the sky
calendar that has become the
shop’s biggest USP.
One of those big changes came with
the switch to Go Local Extra. The shop had
long traded under best-one before Amit made
the decision to switch.
“Customers were asking for more value,
more promotions, more range,” says Amit.
“That’s why we joined Go Local and then
stepped up to Go Local Extra last September.”
The move coincided with a full refit that
has given the store a brighter, fresher look.
“It’s made such a difference to curb appeal.
People walk past and want to come in. Inside,
it looks vibrant and that matters.”
Another emerging USP of Salford’s Duchy
Stores is the in-store activations for new
product launches which keep the store
buzzing. Today, it is known for miles around
that if it is something new, it will be at Duchy
Stores.
“We’re often one of the first stores in the
area to get the latest products,” he explained.
“That keeps customers excited, and it means
they come to us knowing there will be
something new on the shelves.
“Through social media, I connect with
national account managers, I get involved in
product launches. Business isn’t just about
trading anymore; it’s about introducing new
products into the sector and keeping
customers engaged.”
The fireworks category has also become a
defining feature of the store. While many
independents have stepped back from the
category due to regulation and compliance,
Amit leaned in.
“Since we are fully compliant, we never
had an issue with licensing. Customers now
come from further afield because they know
we’ll have the complete range and good
quality,” he says.
But where he really goes above and beyond
is in community engagement. Each summer,
the store hosts a festival in its car park,
complete with inflatables, music, and
giveaways.
“Our wholesaler supports us by supplying
the goody bags,” Amit says. “But they are not
just filled with sweets and snacks. They have
toilet rolls, tea, coffee, cleaning products, the
things people use every day.”
Seasonal events have become a fixture, not
only for the store but for the community.
“Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day,
New Year’s Eve – we try to do something for
all of them,” he says. “At Christmas, I dress up
as Santa; on New Year’s Eve, we put on a
bonfire and fireworks display.”
It’s not just the big events that demon
strate Amit’s connection to his community.
The store also offers home delivery, but with a
personal human touch.
“There’s no app, no platform,” he says.
People just call or text with what they need,
and we deliver. In some cases, the children of
elderly customers who live away will pay us
later, after we’ve already dropped off the
groceries.
“It’s built on trust, and that’s something
you can only develop over years.”
The store, which covers 1,000 sq. ft., is
supplied primarily by Parfetts through
delivery, alongside local dairy suppliers.
The range is balanced across value,
mid-tier and premium to meet all budgets.
Services such as PayPoint, parcel collection,
lottery and slush machines round out the
offer.
“We try to cover as much as we can,” Amit
says. “That’s what a convenience store is meant
to do – support everyone who walks in.”
Clearly, for this second-generation
retailer, convenience retail isn’t just about
selling products; rather, it is about lighting up
the community, whether through new
launches on the shelves or fireworks in the
sky.
“This store has been part of my family for
over 30 years. It’s more than just a place to
shop – it’s part of people’s lives. That’s what
convenience retail is really about,” he
concludes.
Lighting up the community