Derek Ritchie, 49, Costcutter store owner, Ellon and Mintlaw, gives an insight into his busy working day
My morning
I wake up just after 5am and I am showered, dressed and ready to go within 20 minutes. I usually have cereal and a coffee for breakfast – I can’t function unless I have eaten.
I own two Costcutter stores – I normally spend the first part of my day at the Ellon store, the bigger of the two stores. I took on this store 12 years ago, prior to that I was the manager for 12 years. Some time later in the day I’ll go to my Mintlaw store – a smaller shop which I have owned for 24 years.
I get to work for around 5.40am and I have regular morning tasks such as taking in the newspapers and filling the coffee machine with fresh milk as well as daily deliveries to check in. We will have a number of simultaneous deliveries including bread, and morning goods from various local bakeries and fruit and vegetables from another local supplier.
