Retailer Ashok Pothugunta has taken over the KeyStore Express store in Eastgate, Peebles.
Pothugunta started his retail career as a shop assistant in Mayfair, London, and rose to be area manager before opening his own store in Clanfield, near Portsmouth, 10 years ago.
He runs the chain through Ashco Investments and recently opened his first Scottish shop at Selkirk’s Spar.
Pothugunta told Peeblesshire News that he plans to bring back online delivery with Snappy Shopper, bring in some Co-op fresh food lines, and hopes to extend the opening hours from 6am to 10pm.
The store will be managed by Ganesh Poemudi, who moved from Coventry to work in Selkirk, and the existing staff of three will remain with a further worker to be recruited.
The KeyStore Express store was previously run by Stewart and Patricia Robb who spent the past 31 years in four different shop locations in Peebles and who will now retire.
