SPAR London Road
Liverpool
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Summary
The investment
River Capital has provided a £250,000 loan through the North West Business Growth Loan Fund to support the launch of a new SPAR franchise convenience store at Milliners Yard, London Road, Liverpool.
The investment has funded the development and fit-out of a 4,500 sq ft retail unit trading 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. The store opened in spring 2026.
The business
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 deep operational experience to the new venture, but an established Asian grocery supply chain that powers 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 opportunity
The store’s catchment is exceptionally well-evidenced. The site 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.
The hybrid format — combining everyday convenience with a café, hot food, and a curated Asian grocery offer — is designed to serve the full breadth of that catchment, from students and hospital workers to local residents and the wider pan-Asian community. The store opened with a team of nine, with headcount expected to grow to 13 during the loan term.
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“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.”
Jim Moore, Investment Manager — River Capital
