Lewisham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Lewisham, Catford businessman Kaual Patel of Torridon Convenience Store features in Coca-Cola’s campaign, highlighting the stories of UK’s unsung corner shop heroes.
Kaual is one of six entrepreneurs nationwide who will be featured in a six-part documentary series that tells the tales of local corner store owners from all around the United Kingdom.
The importance of corner stores and the individuals who work there in their communities is highlighted in this Coca-Cola ad.
After purchasing the store at 189-191 Torridon Road in 1984, Kaual’s parents built a prosperous company until he took over management in 2000. “There’s a space on my shelf for you if you’re a local producer,” is Kaual’s motto.
In the short film, Kaual explains how he has made his family’s convenience shop a vital part of the neighborhood. He supports a variety of community initiatives, such as a painting created by local schoolchildren that now proudly hangs on the street outside his store, and he stocks goods from small, independent local producers in addition to well-known brands like Coca-Cola.
In an effort to improve Catford, Lewisham, Kaual recently donated his free time to repair the roof of the local church.
In addition, he is a shrewd businessman who has developed his own line of goods to provide his clients with a genuine Catford experience that they won’t find anywhere. Among these products is the “Torridon Convenience Store IPA,” which was produced in association with Brockley Brewery.
The campaign is shot by award-winning director Ross Bolidai and National Portrait Gallery photographer Serena Brown.
Kaual 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.”
To commemorate 125 years of Coca-Cola sales in Great Britain, Kaual’s visage will appear on Out of Home commercial spots throughout Catford in addition to being the focus of his own micro-documentary.
How did Kaual Patel get selected for Coca-Cola’s national campaign?
Kaual Patel was selected for Coca-Cola’s national campaign because of his authentic role as a local corner shop owner deeply connected with his community in Catford.
The campaign, titled “The Bosses,” highlights the untold stories of Britain’s corner shop bosses, focusing on their dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and importance to their neighborhoods.
Patel’s longstanding involvement in his family business, Torridon Convenience Store, which his parents bought in 1984 and which he has grown and personalized—including brewing his own beer and making gin—made him a compelling figure to showcase. Coca-Cola sought shopkeepers like Patel who embody community spirit, resilience, and innovation in independent retail.