A village shop has scooped a national accolade.

Costcutter at Culverstone Stores, near Gravesend, has been named the Best Impulse Retailer of the Year at the Asian Trader Awards.

This means the branch is the leading seller of impulse goods – products customers were not planning to buy such as chewing gums, snacks and chocolate.

Boss Pete Juty – who took over the running of the store from his parents 16 years ago – said: "This is testament to all the team and the incredibly hard work that has gone into the store in the last year.

"And, not least, to our chosen partner, Costcutter, which is a much-loved fascia brand and whose service, range and features have enabled us to offer the service that we do to our own customers.

"Across the past year, everyone in retail has had stock and availability challenges but we have done better than most, which has been a key factor for our customers who do become concerned when they listen to media reports around serious product shortages.

"In the last year, we also introduced the Cook brand which our customers love. It is a great value-add and a treat for many on a dining in occasion, which has become increasingly popular."

The branch in Wrotham Road, Culverstone, has been open for more than 38 years and Pete has been running around the store since he was a child.

It picked up the national award on Monday night after judges said it was "a beacon of best practice that delivered exceptional services back to its community."

Managing director of Bestway Wholesale, which owns the Costcutter brand, Dawood Pervez, said: "Pete and his team are an exemplar of what a great local store can offer its customers.

"The Culverstone store is at the heart of its community. They are central to it and truly understand their customers and their daily shopper missions.

"I would congratulate them as a team, they are enormously worthy winners of this award."