Glasgow-based retailer Natalie Lightfoot has won the 2025 Raj Aggarwal Trophy, an award that celebrates exceptional community retailing.
The owner of Londis Solo Convenience was announced as the winner at a parliamentary reception following the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Heart of the Community Conference in Westminster.
Now in its fifth year, the trophy was created to honour the memory of exemplary independent community retailer Raj Aggarwal.
Award-winning Natalie is always building spaces where retailers feel supported, seen, and empowered, said the ACS.
She co-founded retailer support platform Retailers for Retailers and is a strong advocate for women in the industry.
After winning a £50,000 refit for her store in Glasgow, she seized the opportunity to transform and further cement her store into a community.
When asked about the importance of community retailing, Natalie said: “Becoming a community focused store is not only a moral choice but it is a commercial strategy.
“We all can sell the same stock but what sets us apart is the feelings we create in our community to be that of a sense of togetherness and it builds strength that pays back in loyalty. The varying community initiatives and events we build helps reinforce people’s choice to shop with us. They see and appreciate the effort.”
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Natalie is an incredible example of what it means to be an outstanding community retailer and this is demonstrated through her commitment to her customers and to making a positive difference in the area where she trades.
“The competition was extremely close and we would also like to congratulate this year’s finalists, Nathalie Fullerton and Chloe Taylor-Green, who have both shown unwavering commitment to their local communities.”
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