There’s never a dull moment at the SPAR Paceville store in Malta, and that suits manager Kanchan Rijal just fine. He thrives at a location that is open 24 hours a day in one of the island’s busiest tourist neighborhoods.

Kanchan, who started as a store assistant in 2019, doesn’t just keep up with the pace of traffic and business. He moves the business forward, continually driving growth in sales, basket spend, and traffic, and ensuring future momentum through innovation.

One example of that innovation is the launch of a food-to-go concept developed in response to the nearby opening of a major competitor. Kanchan oversaw that rollout and also led an expansion that repositioned the store as a destination for convenience, fresh food and “Taste of Malta” local products. Those additions sparked triple-digit weekly momentum and led the retailer to be named a Top 12 finalist for Best Foodvenience Store in the World for 2025.

Described by colleagues as a transformational retail leader, Kanchan strives to enhance the careers of his team members through daily group briefings and regular one-on-one coaching. Seven current store managers and one regional manager started their leadership journeys under Kanchan’s mentorship, and he rotates his presence across the 24-hour schedules to build relationships across the operation. Within the broader community, Kanchan fosters partnerships with area organizations to ensure a welcoming environment.