A Leicester forecourt shop has won a prize at the 12th annual Retail Development Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London.

Kalpesh and Meeta Raja, who run the shop at Parker Drive Service Station in Beaumont Leys, won the category award for beer and cider and £750 in Bestway vouchers. Meeta said Kalpesh had been joint owner of the Texaco petrol station for 15 years but the couple had only taken over running the store about four years ago.

She said they had introduced a wide range of improvements and had been helped by Bestway and suppliers including Coca-Cola and Carling.

The shop now provides a full convenience service including a 24-hour off licence and cash machine. Meeta said: "We attended the Bestway Retail Development seminar earlier in the year, and put into practice what we learned.

"For the entry we had to say what improvements we had introduced and how much sales had increased and the judges were obviously impressed." She said the layout was based on planograms and their display includes lots of offers and price-marked packs. She added: "This was the second year I had attended the seminar and I found it very helpful. Every year we learn something new because things are always happening in retail."

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