The investment, delivered through the North West Business Growth Loan Fund, has supported the development and fit-out of a 4,500 sq.ft retail unit that will trade as SPAR & Cheeky Coffee Co — a modern lifestyle concept combining SPAR convenience retail, a dedicated café area, hot food-to-go, Asian grocery, and essential services including an ATM, PayPoint, Lottery, and parcel solutions.

Behind the store is Xiuwen (Kent) Gu, who has spent more than 13 years building Ejoy Asian Foods into a Liverpool retail institution — a Chinese supermarket and commercial kitchen hub now operating across two city sites. Kent brings not just that operational experience to the new venture, but an established Asian grocery supply chain that will power one of the store’s most distinctive offerings.

The London Road site was identified by SPAR franchise partner James Hall as a high-potential location, with a 14-page Assessment and Strategic Planning Report noting that the street has evolved into Liverpool’s de facto second Chinatown and pan-Asian food hub.

The store’s catchment draws on 258 apartments directly above the unit, the University of Liverpool’s north campus, eight student accommodation blocks within walking distance, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and a large commuter population served by Lime Street station nearby.

The store opened in spring 2026, with an initial team of nine staff expected to grow to 13 jobs during the loan term.

Jim Moore, Investment Manager at River Capital, said: “Kent is an impressive operator with a genuine track record in Liverpool’s retail sector. What struck us was not just his experience, but the quality of the proposition — this isn’t a standard convenience store, it’s a genuinely differentiated concept designed around a well-evidenced catchment. With the backing of the SPAR franchise and the site’s long-term potential as the surrounding area continues to develop, we’re confident this is a strong investment.”

Kent Gu, Director of Spar London Rd Ltd, said: “River Capital understood the vision from the outset. London Road is changing, and this store is designed to be part of that change — offering something genuinely different for residents, students, hospital staff, and the wider community.

ENDS