EST. 1973
020 3976 4786
Patel Bros first opened their retail shop in 1973, by the two partners at the time JG Patel & KC Patel.
However, the journey begin a few years beforehand, as in the late 60’s the UK had an influx of Asians from east Africa, as well as Jamaicans from the West Indies, which were British colonies at the time. When these new arrivals turned up to make a new life for themselves, they couldn’t find the foods they were brought up with. You see, in those days, you couldn’t find ginger, coriander, lentils or even green chillies on supermarket shelves. It was only in the early seventies that a very few people would import these items, and one supplier near Brick Lane did so.
So Mr JG use to travel up once a month to see this supplier, for rice, dal and spices. Soon the word want around and people started asking JG to bring stuff back for them, so he bought a small van for his trips. In those days things came in sacks, which he would bring back to the house and pile up in the hallway. Customers would came to the house and purchase their groceries while he kept up a day job. Others wanted him to deliver, which both friends did after work. In 1973, they put an offer on 187 Upper Tooting Road, purchased the property and started selling Indian spices, fresh produce, lentils, rice’s, oils etc, which was the first Indian Grocery Shop In Tooting and South London. And we’re still here today!
Today the business is run by Mr JG Patel, his wife and two children Yoshika & Bhavesh.