Independents recognised at IGA Awards of Excellence

Australia’s leading Independent Grocers of Australia (IGA) stores are celebrating after winning awards at the prestigious annual IGA Awards of Excellence held on the Gold Coast on July 18, 2016.

The IGA Awards of Excellence recognised the dedicated efforts of the stores and their staff in their local community and heralded the winning stores as the benchmark for the 1455 independent supermarkets across the IGA retail network.

The national awards were judged on a range of criteria including what the store is famous for, customer service, community contribution, department excellence, brand values, sales, profits, merchandising, shopper experience and the store’s overall performance.

The awards were presented to the store teams by Steven Cain, Metcash CEO of supermarkets and Ben Ryan, chairman of the IGA Retailer Council.

Mr Cain said: “We’re extremely proud to formally acknowledge and celebrate the hard work, commitment and excellence that stores in the IGA network have demonstrated throughout the year.

“Congratulations to all of our winning IGA stores, who have delivered an outstanding shopping experience tailored to their customers in their awarded categories. Our network of 1455 independent stores continue to do an incredible job in supporting their local communities across Australia.

“We are delighted to acknowledge their outstanding achievements, and contribution to the independent retail grocery industry and the Australian economy.”

IGA Awards of Excellence take place each year at a gala dinner during the Metcash Food and Grocery Expo on the Gold Coast to celebrate the success across IGA’s network of stores.

This year the awards also recognised the supplier partners and the role they play in supporting the IGA network.

More than 6000 retailers and suppliers visit the expo from across the Metcash business to experience retailing best practice and latest products and food trends to bring to shoppers at their local IGA.

Twenty-one category awards were presented, with the full list of winners below:

National Retailer of the Year – joint winners
Frewville Foodland IGA – Adelaide, South Australia and Taylor Rd IGA – Perth, Western Australia

Foodland/SUPA IGA Store of the Year
Frewville Foodland IGA – Adelaide, South Australia

IGA Store of the Year
Taylor Rd IGA – Perth, Western Australia

IGA X-press Store of the Year
IGA X-press Arthur Street (Hill St Grocer) Hobart, Tasmania

Hall of Fame: Fred Harrison, Ritchies IGA
Leading retailer, business identity and CEO of Ritchies Supermarkets, Fred Harrison, was inducted into the prestigious IGA Hall of Fame, which recognised outstanding achievements and contributions to the Australian independent retail grocery industry.

Full list of award winners announced during the evening:

IGA Bakery Department of the Year: Ritchies IGA Mt Eliza, VIC
IGA Grocery & General Merchandise Department of the Year: Ritchies IGA Mt Eliza, VIC
IGA Delicatessen Department of the Year: IGA Marketplace Wises Road, Qld
IGA Meat Department of the Year: Riverton Fresh IGA, WA
IGA Produce Department of the Year: Taylor Rd IGA, WA
IGA Dairy-Freezer Department of the Year: IGA Beerwah, Qld
SUPA IGA Meat Department of the Year: SUPA IGA Atherton, Qld
SUPA IGA Dairy-Freezer Department of the Year: White’s SUPA IGA Bli Bli, Qld
SUPA IGA Grocery & General Merchandise Department of the Year: Ashcroft’s SUPA IGA Summer Centre, NSW
Foodland IGA Produce Department of the Year: Frewville Foodland IGA, SA
Foodland IGA Bakery Department of the Year: Frewville Foodland IGA, SA
Foodland IGA Delicatessen Department of the Year: Frewville Foodland IGA, SA
Service Department of the Year: Wonthella SUPA IGA, WA
Retail Transformation & Innovation Award: IGA Thornlands, Brisbane, Qld
Community Award: Ashcroft’s Group Orange, NSW Rising Star Award: Paul Scott, Cornett’s IGA Cooktown, Qld

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