Catford businessman Kaual Patel stars in major Coca-Cola campaign revealing the untold stories of Britain’s corner shop bosses

Transcript

00:00Small independent businesses in London have faced many challenges over the years.

00:10The only way we will survive is if we work together.

00:30Catford is home. It's community driven. And being at the heart of it, I witness human kindness in its finest.

00:55I love my local independent community.

00:59How's business?

01:00Well, the sun is shining. But we need more than the sun shining.

01:07My parents purchased a shop in 1984. Dad was a great retailer and he just understood the community.

01:16Dad's ethos is very simple. Work never stops.

01:22Everyone that walks through that door is sir or madam. Because without any of them, we don't exist.

01:30We stop the big brands, but also we champion as many local producers and suppliers as we can from pickles.

01:40Freshly made. That hits the spot. Give us ten.

01:44Freshly baked cakes to freshly baked bread to vegan patties.

01:49Hi Natasha. How are you doing?

01:51Splendid. See you soon. Thank you.

01:53We'll give any local business a shot on our shelves.

01:57Even Coca-Cola, a local, bottled five miles away.

02:01I've worked in the store my whole life. I was always trying to find that recognition from my dad.

02:10There was one time when he was selling the customer and he was saying, he's done a really good job. I'm proud. And I just went and hugged him.

02:18We understood the power of community. Everybody together. The stronger we are as a community, the stronger every independent business will be.

02:30My name is Cael and I've been serving my local community for 25 years.