Convenience retailers shine in the New Year’s Honours List

By Éilis Cronin in Industry News 4th January 2022

Convenience retailers featured strongly in the New Year’s Honours list this year, reflecting the industry’s hard work in keeping the nation fed through the pandemic.

Those honoured included Hardip Singh Atwal, who runs Atwal convenience store in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.

Atwal was given the British Empire Medal (BEM) with he and his staff commended for “going the extra mile for customers during the pandemic”.

Also in Dumfries and Galloway, Debbie Murdoch, who until last year ran Balmaclellan Store, was similarly awarded the BEM.

In a strong showing for Scotland the mother and daughter team of Lynsey Cargill and Helen Ramsey won the same aware for their services to the community at the Ancrum Pantry, Ancrum, Roxburghshire.

The Co-op was acknowledged with a CBE awarded to Steve Murrells, its chief executive, the same award that was given to former Asda chief executive Roger Burnley.

Murrells has led the Co-op Group since 2017, having previously been the chief executive of its retail arm for five years.

In Essex, Claire Saunders, a volunteer rep of shopworkers union Usdaw received a BEM for her services to retail along with her campaign to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw’s general secretary, said he was very proud of Saunders and added: “Claire has often been a voice from the frontline in the media as part of Usdaw’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign, talking about what life is like working in a convenience store.

“Regrettably during the pandemic, abuse of retail staff became much worse and shamefully Claire has been spat at, threatened, pushed and far too often abused.”