Sheffield store Ozmen International given second chance after under-age knife and vape sales
Ozmen International on London Road was caught out in February, when a police cadet bought a pack of knives in a test purchase operation.
A well-known Sheffield international food store found to have made illegal vape and knife sales to under-age buyers will keep its licence if a plan of action can be agreed.
Ozmen International on London Road was caught out on February 19, when a police cadet bought a pack of knives in a test purchase operation.
A 16-year-old volunteer bought a vape on April 10 in a test purchase for Trading Standards and was not asked for proof of age.
The £1 purchase was also illegal because single-use, disposable vapes were outlawed in June 2025.
A meeting of Sheffield City Council’s licensing sub-committee today (June 30) decided to adjourn the case so that the company can come up with a plan that addresses all issues to the satisfaction of Trading Standards, police and Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership.
Counsel Simon Reevell said on behalf of owner Huseyin Ozmen that the incidents happened when his client had been in Turkey because his father had died.
He told councillors: “This is a long-standing business of some 16 years with an impeccable record.”
Mr Reevell said Mr Ozmen had been very upset by social media comments linking the store with the type of high street business set up to sell illegal items.
“He has come here in the wrong, ashamed to be in the wrong, but asking that you understand the context of that and steps that have been taken since,” he added.
The hearing was told that knives have been taken off sale in the shop altogether. Staff have gone extensive retraining on licensing issues and the Challenge 25 policy, demanding ID from anyone who appears under 25 years old.
A weekly staff meeting has a permanent agenda item on licensing policies.
Mr Reevell said that it was not the type of business that relied on making £60 from the sale of the illegal vapes that were seized from the premises. He said the fact they remained on sale was “human error”.
The issue of a further 149 illegal vapes found on May 26 was raised and the hearing was paused briefly for Mr Ozmen to confer with his legal team.
Chair Coun Peter Gilbert then proposed adjourning the hearing completely in order for the agencies involved and Mr Ozmen’s team to agree a plan of what changes are needed for the store to keep its licence.