It is the first time since the award’s inauguration in 2021 that all three finalists selected are women.

The award was created in honour of Aggarwal (pictured), a leading Spar retailer who died in 2020 from coronavirus. It is presented to those that have demonstrated an ‘exceptional commitment to community retailing’ over the last year.

Finalists for the award include: Sophie Williams, of Broadway Premier, Oxgangs, Edinburgh; Sheela Keshwara, of Spar Priory Road, Boston, Lincolnshire; and Trudy Davies, Woosnam & Davies News in Llanidloes, Wales.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said the body was “delighted to receive so many entries” for the third year of the award marking Raj’s legacy as an “outstanding” community retailer.

Annual Raj Aggarwal fundraising event raises over £30,000

The three finalists have been invited to attend ACS’ Heart of the Community conference on 17 October, where they will discuss their community activity over the last year.

Lowman added: “Congratulations to all three of our finalists, we look forward to hearing from them at our Heart of the Community conference where those in attendance will choose the overall winner.”

The winner will be voted for by retailers and suppliers, and revealed, at a reception on the House of Commons Terrace.

The entries were judged by Sunita Aggarwal, Raj’s wife and owner of Spar Wigston; Jonathan James, managing director of James Convenience Retail; and Avtar Sidhu, owner of Budgens Kenilworth.

Read more ACS news