IGA and Foodland IGA stores from across Australia were formally acknowledged at the National IGA Awards of Excellence held at The Star Gold Coast on 17 July.
This year’s awards were hosted by triple Gold Logie award-winning comedian, television and radio presenter, producer, and media personality Rove McManus, who helped present 25 awards to IGA and Foodland IGA independent retailers, with Bob Cybula, proud owner of North Road IGA, being inducted into the prestigious Dr Thomas S Haggai IGA Hall of Fame.
South Australia’s Saints Foodland IGA was awarded the highest accolade of the night – the 2023 IGA National Retailer of the Year as well as the 2023 IGA National Large Store of the Year and the 2023 IGA National Large Grocery and General Merchandise Department of the Year and will go on to become the Australian representative at the International IGA Global Rally in the USA.
Metcash Food CEO Grant Ramage said: “As independent family-owned businesses, IGA and Foodland IGA retailers pride themselves on providing their customers with exceptional customer service, products tailored to their community and local know how. It is fantastic that we can highlight their incredible stores, the amazing people who own them and the integral role that they play in their local communities.”
“Our retailers have and always will go above and beyond for their local communities. These awards are a testament to their passion, hard work, and commitment to delivering a unique shopping experience for their local customers and are truly well deserved.”
The four major award winners were:
- Hall of Fame – Bob Cybula
- 2023 IGA National Small Store of the Year – Lovey’s IGA Xpress Hawks Nest
- 2023 IGA National Medium Store of the Year – Romeo’s Food Hall IGA South Eveleigh
- 2023 IGA National Large Store of the Year Award – Saints Foodland
- IGA 2023 IGA National Retailer of the Year – Saints Foodland IGA.
Award winners
- 2023 IGA National Small Fresh Award – Lovey’s IGA Xpress Hawks Nest
- 2023 IGA National Small Grocery & Perishables Award – Lovey’s IGA Xpress Hawks Nest
- 2023 IGA National Medium Delicatessen Department of the Year – White’s IGA Mt Coolum
- 2023 IGA National Medium Meat Department of the Year – IGA Creswick
- 2023 IGA National Medium Bakery Department of the Year – Blair Athol IGA
- 2023 IGA National Medium Fresh Produce Department of the Year – IGA Myaree
- 2023 IGA National Medium Grocery & General Merchandise Department of the Year – Romeo’s Food Hall IGA South Eveleigh
- 2023 IGA National Medium Dairy & Freezer Department of the Year – IGA Midway Buronga
- 2023 IGA National Large Delicatessen Department of the Year – Teitzel’s IGA Tully
- 2023 IGA National Large Meat Department of the Year – Hasting Co-Op IGA Plus Liquor Sovereign Place
- 2023 IGA National Large Bakery Department of the Year – Ritchie’s Fine Food & Wine IGA Taren Point
- 2023 IGA National Large Fresh Produce Department of the Year – Kilkenny Foodland IGA
- 2023 IGA National Large Grocery & General Merchandise Department of the Year – Saints Foodland IGA
- 2023 IGA National Large Dairy & Freezer Department of the Year – Everfresh IGA Capestone
- 2023 IGA National Customer Service & Experience Award – White’s IGA Baringa
- 2023 National Rising Star Award – Mitchell Naylor, Mannum IGA
- 2023 IGA National Community Award – IGA Local Grocer Domain Central
- 2023 IGA National Small Transformation & Innovation Award – IGA Xpress Laburnum
- 2023 IGA National Medium Transformation & Innovation Award – Seasons IGA East Brisbane
- 2023 IGA National Large Transformation & Innovation Award – Ritchie’s Fine Food & Wine IGA Taren Point
- Hall of Fame – Bob Cybula
- 2023 IGA National Small Store of the Year – Lovey’s IGA Xpress Hawks Nest
- 2023 IGA National Medium Store of the Year – Romeo’s Food Hall IGA South Eveleigh
- 2023 IGA National Large Store of the Year Award – Saints Foodland
- IGA2023 IGA National Retailer of the Year – Saints Foodland IGA.
Full coverage will feature in Retail World August issue.