SPAR Australia celebrated retail excellence through a virtual Awards night on Tuesday, 26 October.
The opening of the virtual event saw $448,000 paid into the Store Development Funds of qualifying retailers. SPAR Australia is committed to rewarding loyalty to its branded stores, and since the inception of the SPAR Loyalty Bonus Scheme nine years ago, the Store Development Fund has grown to nearly $3 million.
“This year we have expanded on our SPAR Better Together theme. At SPAR we make a difference – a difference for the consumer, a difference for the retailer and a difference for the Australian supermarket wholesale sector. At SPAR we are all working better together to make a difference in the industry,” says SPAR Australia Managing Director Lou Jardin.
“Over recent years the focus has been placed on our five key sales strategies, which are present a value statement, implement a focused range, clear the clutter, merchandise for sales, and keep it clean and fresh.
“The execution of SPAR’s key sales strategies is integral in achieving positive results in this extremely competitive retail environment and building a value statement to our customers,” Mr Jardin said.
“We continue to work on improving the network’s performance, growing sales and a stronger bottom line for our retailers. It’s about creating the perfect customer experience through store development, keeping up with the times and re-investing in our stores.
“SPAR’s role in the independent retail landscape is vital, providing choice for retailers and ensuring competition in the sector,” he added.
SPAR Australia’s Retail Awards Program recognises retailers who are excelling in their businesses. The Store of the Year awards were presented by Mr Jardin and SPAR Retail Operations Manager Jeremy Keeffe.
Acknowledging the retailers who partnered with SPAR Australia to drive growth for businesses, SPAR congratulated the retailers on their success:
- SPAR Store of the Year 2021 – SPAR Babinda
- SPAR Express Store of the Year 2021 – SPAR Express Tallebudgera.
“The past 18 months has been a very challenging time,” says Mr Jardin. “We have had to work our way through lockdowns, panic buying, supply shortages, but we continue to see a record number of stores re-investing in their businesses, mainly thanks to the funds that they have received through the SPAR Loyalty Bonus.”
Successful retailers were awarded for Department Awards:
- SPAR Grocery Award – SPAR Babinda
- SPAR Express Grocery Award – SPAR Express Tallebudgera
- SPAR Dairy / Freezer Award – SPAR Bourke
- SPAR Express Dairy / Freezer Award – SPAR Express Lambton (Newcastle)
- SPAR Fresh Food Award – SPAR Babinda
- SPAR Express Fresh Food Award – SPAR Express Tallebudgera
- Food To Go Award – SPAR Express Maryborough.
Additionally, the Store Investment Excellence Award recognises all the stores that have gone the extra mile to improve through refurbishments, hard work, new development, new equipment, or other aspects which improves the perception of the store in the local community.
- Store Investment Excellence Award 2021:
- SPAR Express Maryborough
- SPAR Bourke
- SPAR Coffs Harbour
- SPAR Dorrigo
- SPAR Chevron (Gold Coast)
- 5 STAR Millaa Millaa
- SPAR Express Proston
- SPAR Urunga
- SPAR Express Terrigal
- SPAR Halifax
- SPAR Express Carrington (Newcastle)
- SPAR Express Oxenford
- SPAR Winton
- SPAR Express Gwandalan (Newcastle)
- SPAR Macleay Island
- SPAR Express Morpeth
- SPAR Express Dunwich (Stradbroke Island)
- SPAR Jandowae
- SPAR Palmwoods
- SPAR Jetty Village (Coffs Harbour)
- SPAR Blackbutt
- SPAR Lismore.
The final award was the Community & Customer Service Excellence Award. Stores that were nominated for this award are actively involved in local community activities, undertake local sponsorships, provide a tailored local offer, provide exceptional customer service, and demonstrate ongoing efforts to continually find new ways to better serve their local community and live by both SPAR and family business values.
- Community & Customer Service Excellence Award 2021 – SPAR Southtown (Toowoomba).
SPAR Australia congratulates all retailers who were nominated in the 2021 SPAR Retail Awards.
Since becoming Managing Director of SPAR Australia in December 2010, Mr Jardin has vowed to continue to provide competition at the wholesale level, ensuring independent retailers are able to source deals that allow them to compete in the market and ensure the survival of family businesses in the grocery industry.
Locally owned and operated, SPAR stores are part of the worldwide SPAR family. Over 13,500 SPAR stores in over 48 countries across four continents meet the needs of over 14.5 million customers daily.
“At SPAR our customers can be assured of great service, a great range, low prices every day and specials that will save them money.”