Raj Aggarwal in store

  • Aggarwal dropped off supplies for NHS workers at Glenfield Hospital just days before he died

  • The 51-year-old owned Spar stores in Wigston, Leicester, and Hackenthorpe, near Sheffield

  • It follows the passing of fellow retailer Krishnasamy Chiyamalan last week, also from coronavirus

 

Tributes have poured in from across the industry for popular Spar retailer Raj Aggarwal, who has died following a short battle with coronavirus.

Aggarwal died from the disease on Thursday 9 April, just days after dropping off supplies for NHS workers at Glenfield Hospital as he continued efforts to support local causes throughout the pandemic.

The 51-year-old owned Spar stores in Wigston, Leicester, and Hackenthorpe, near Sheffield.

Aggarwal was a member of the Association of Convenience Stores Independent Retailer Board.

ACS CEO James Lowman shared a heartfelt statement with members: “We were absolutely devastated to hear the news about the passing of Raj Aggarwal. This is a terrible loss that will be felt personally by many people in our industry, and it should also remind us: there are people putting themselves in harm’s way to help the country through these difficult times, and to lose one of them in Raj is a hard thing to comprehend and accept.”

Spar UK described Aggarwal a “pioneer of the industry”. “We’re saddened to hear that one of our most long standing and experienced retailers Raj Aggarwal has passed away,” said the symbol group in a statement. “We send our most sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

Jerry Marwood, group commercial MD at Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore, added: “The feeling of sadness that has overwhelmed our team since hearing of Raj’s passing is testament to the role that he played in the life of our business. Whether as a guild board representative, a customer or friend, Raj was ever-present in the world of Spar and convenience retailing - to say that he will be missed by all of us is an understatement of massive proportion.”

Hundreds of fellow retailers and members of the food and drink industry have taken to social media to express their shock and sadness at Aggarwal’s passing.

“Devastated to hear of the passing of Raj Aggarwal. A lovely man with a heart of gold and the most amazing smile. Grateful for some wonderful memories and lucky enough to be able to call him a friend. Thinking of his family and friends at this terribly sad time,” tweeted James Convenience Retail owner Jonathan James.

A tweet from Boost Drinks founder and MD Simon Gray added: “Still in shock! A true champion of the independents, and a top quality retailer who always set the standards, and who always told me he sold the first bottle of Boost in the UK! Most of all a charismatic, smart and caring guy who will be sorely missed by all.”

Aggarwal’s death follows the passing of fellow retailer Krishnasamy Chiyamalan from Dartford, Kent, last week, also from coronavirus. They are thought to be the first convenience retailers to die from the disease.

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