Bidding is underway at the first ever Retail Auction with 12 of the UK’s leading convenience retailers up for grabs.

The auction seeks to raise vital funds for key charities including The Retail Trust whilst promoting best practice in the convenience store industry.

Anyone, from suppliers to other retailers, can bid for the chance to win one of the 12 retailers for the day.

Suppliers who place successful bids for retailers could choose to put them to work in their warehouses or head office or get advice on products and launches.

Other less experienced retailers can also bid for a chance to spend the day learning from one of the industry stalwarts.

The auction will “bring people together, promote best practice, and raise lots of money for charity”, lead organiser Susan Connolly, who is also one of the retailers up for auction, told Convenience Store.

Half of all the funds raised will be given to the Retail Trust while 25% will be donated to the Sikh charity Khalsa Aid. A further 25% will be put towards a fund for Sienna Elizabeth Riley, a little girl with a rare illness.

The bidding kicked off today and will be open until 24 April. Bids can be pledged on the Retail Auction website www.retailauction.org and via Twitter, quoting the name of the retailer and @retailauction.

The 12 retailers up for action are:

  • Susan Connolly (Connolly Spar Wiltshire)
  • Raaj Chandarana (Premier Tara’s News - High Wycombe)
  • Harj Dhasee (Nisa Mickleton, Gloucestershire)
  • Paul Cheema (Malcolm’s – Coventry)
  • Ramesh Shingadia (Londis Southwater)
  • Raj Aggarwal (Londis Wigston)
  • Mehmet Guzel (Simply Fresh Bethnal Green, London)
  • Binny Amin (Londis Blean)
  • Shane Thakrar (HKS Retail Leicestershire)
  • Dennis Williams (Broadway Convenience Store, Premier, Edinburgh)
  • David Knight (Knight’s Budgens, Sussex)
  • Dean Holborn (Holborn’s, Surrey)