STAFF are celebrating after their shop was named England’s top convenience store.

And the achievement is even sweeter for SNA Supermarket as there has been extra competition since a Tesco Express opened nearby.

They made it to a ten-strong shortlist in the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) Awards out of 40,000 entrants and attended the final at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel.

They were named runners-up in the UK’s top News and Convenience Retail Store award, coming second to the Family Shopper in Ayrshire, Scotland, and are therefore the top store in England.

They say their runners-up prize at the awards is down to hard work and long-standing involvement in their community in Midanbury, Southampton.

Yogendra and Madhu Sonchhatla have run the store in Midanbury Broadway since 1985 and have since been joined in the business by sons Sarj and Amit and Amit’s wife Vicky.

They were chosen by a panel which included representatives from giants such as Coca Cola, Wrigleys, Mondial and National Lottery, having been ranked in a number of categories by “secret shoppers” sent to the store over the past year by the awards organisers.

They achieved good or top marks in categories, including customer service, environmental sustainability and merchandising. And they were also recognised for their community involvement, which includes delivering items to housebound residents.

More than £1.4m has also been raised for community projects in the area through National Lottery tickets sold at the shop.

Sarj Sonchhatla says the store’s achievement is even greater considering the opening of the Tesco Express on the Witts Hill site of the former Castle pub 18 months ago.

He said: “It’s nice to have the recognition from such big industry players.

“We couldn’t believe we made the top 100, let alone the top ten and then second in the whole UK.

“It’s a two-way thing – the customers support us and we support them.”

The store has also been nominated for the best layout, availability and merchandising awards at the Independent Achievers Academy Awards in London on November 26.