National Portrait Gallery photographer Serena Brown and multi-award winning director, Ross Bolidai, have unveiled a new portrait and docu-series – ‘Local Bosses’ – celebrating the most British of all retailers – the local corner shop Boss.
Inspired by the unique character and cultural importance of Britain’s beloved corner shops, the series brings the people behind the counter into the spotlight, revealing the local bosses as you’ve never seen them before. Through powerful visual storytelling, it celebrates their resilience, personality and pivotal role in community life.
Whilst the high street has dwindled in recent years, corner shop owners have thrived, with over a third (34%) of Brits saying their corner shop is an essential resource in their everyday life, according to research by Coca-Cola. Almost a quarter (23%) of Brits said they depend on corner shops more than any other retailer, and despite only recently being recognised as ‘key workers’, corner shop owners have been embedded at the heart of British communities for over a century.
But despite their long-standing heritage, the current boom in locality is actually being driven by Gen Z shoppers, who are spending more than any other generation at their local shop with a spend of £926.40 per person on average a year.
The content series
The ‘Local Bosses’ portrait series is unveiled as Coca-Cola marks 125 years of operating in communities across Great Britain, in collaboration with these celebrated local entrepreneurs.
Six entrepreneurial bosses and their families have been immortalised by talented Gen Z photographer Serena Brown, known for her work on subverting perceptions of the working class. Brown produced a gallery of photos celebrating the commitment, heritage, know-how and personality of the owners by giving her subjects a modern, high-fashion treatment, juxtaposed brilliantly with the nostalgic feel of a classic corner shop.
Meanwhile, director Ross Bolidai produced the moving mini-documentaries following the family dynamics, personal bereavement and community spirit felt by the retailers, pulling the curtain back on the people we see every day, but perhaps don’t really see.
The Bosses
The film and photography series, entitled The Bosses features:
- Sunita Aggarwal, Spar, Leicester
- Bobby Singh, BB Superstore & Post Office, Pontefract
- Keith Tomes, Costcutter, Swanage
- Sophie Williams, Premier Broadway, Edinburgh
- Kaual Patel, Nisa Local, Catford
- Bay Bashir, Go Local Extra, Middlesbrough
From raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, acting as an unofficial department of the Citizens Advice Bureau, fixing church roofs, launching Women in Retail groups, to running for mayor, the series’ protagonists have proven themselves pillars of the local community.
With the local bosses featured in the series having overcome recessions, a global pandemic and even world wars in some cases, their resilience bodes well for the future of the local high street, proving themselves true business elites within the UK.
Docu-series director, Ross Bolidai (Earthling Films), said:
“Shooting these documentaries with Coca-Cola was a real pleasure. We got to the heart of British communities and were honoured to be trusted with stories like the challenges of immigrating to the UK and grief, but also the triumphs of their businesses and communities. The films are raw, emotive and stunningly honest. We think we know our local convenience shop owners, but do we really know them? We hope this series gives the nation a glimpse into the people behind the counter.”
Photographer, Serena Brown, said:
“Each of the families I captured in this portrait series had unique stories to tell and I wanted to present them as they’ve never been pictured before. It’s so important for global brands to focus on the people who ultimately make them successful – those often overlooked or taken for granted. A lot of my work is around lifting the veil on marginalised groups or vilified working class subcultures, and burning through stereotypes of corner shop owners by making them the centre of a visual story felt like an act of rebellion.”
Dusan Stojankic, Vice President and General Manager of Great Britain & Ireland at Coca-Cola said:
“We’re proud to be celebrating 125 years since Coca-Cola was first served in Great Britain, and with 97% of our products sold here manufactured and bottled here, we’re invested in local communities. ‘The Bosses’ series is an ode to that, celebrating the businessmen and women ushering in a new era for the underestimated corner shop. We’ll continue to champion and mentor community retailers far into the future, and hope they continue to find a sense of camaraderie through our network.”
With a legacy spanning 125 years in Great Britain, The Coca-Cola Company is committed to supporting the local ‘bosses’ at the heart of our communities – with each boss from the series nominating a local cause to receive a five-figure donation.
For more information or to view the content, please visit: https://www.coca-cola.com/gb/en/social/uk-local-stories
