Leading Independent Grocers of Australia (IGA) stores were honoured at this year’s IGA Awards, held on the Gold Coast yesterday.
The IGA Awards of Excellence acknowledge the efforts of IGA stores and their teams in their local community. There are 1400 independent supermarkets across the IGA retail network.
The national awards were judged on a range of criteria. These included: customer service, community contribution, department excellence, brand values, sales, profits, merchandising, shopper experience, and the store’s overall performance.
Metcash CEO of Supermarkets and Convenience Scott Marshall and Chair of the IGA National Retailer Council Ian Ashcroft presented the awards.
Mr Marshall said, “These awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the dedication, passion and excellence that IGA stores have demonstrated over the past year.
“IGA retailers go above and beyond to deliver a tailored and stand-out customer experience for their local shoppers. We’re delighted to recognise their outstanding achievements and contribution to the independent retail-grocery industry.”
The IGA Awards of Excellence take place at a gala dinner during the Metcash Food and Grocery Expo, which is visited by more than 6000 retailers and suppliers every year.
Twenty-one category awards were presented. The major winners were:
National Retailer of the Year
- Ritchies SUPA IGA Dromana, Victoria – The Ritchies Group.
SUPA IGA Store of the Year
- Ritchies SUPA IGA Dromana, Victoria – The Ritchies Group.
IGA Store of the Year
- Romeo’s Food Hall IGA MLC Martin Place, NSW/ACT – Romeo’s Retail Group.
IGA X-press Store of the Year
- IGA X-press Bowen Hills, Queensland – Shikhil Nagpal.
Hall of Fame inductees
- Oliver and Roseanne Bertoncini, Pearsall IGA – Pearsall, WA.
Summary of winners announced during the evening:
Ritchies SUPA IGA Dromana, Victoria – The Ritchies Group
- National Retailer of the Year.
- SUPA IGA Store of the Year.
- Retail Transformation and Innovation Award.
- SUPA IGA Bakery Department of the Year.
Romeo’s Food Hall IGA Summer Hill, NSW/ACT – Romeo’s Retail Group
- SUPA IGA Delicatessen Department of the Year.
- SUPA IGA Dairy-Freezer Department of the Year.
Romeo’s Food Hall IGA MLC Martin Place, Sydney CBD – Romeo’s Retail Group
- IGA Store of the Year.
- IGA Bakery Department of the Year.
- IGA Fresh Produce Department of the Year.
Other IGA Awards of Excellence winners include:
- John David Team Member Award: Katherine Nadwie-Smith, Sensory Insights Manager – Macquarie Park, NSW.
- IGA Community Award: Ashcroft’s Group, Orange NSW/ACT – Ian and Rochelle Ashcroft.
- IGA Customer Service Award: Frewville Foodland IGA, SA – Commercial Retail Group.
- IGA X-press Small Format Store Innovation Award: Swanbourne Market IGA X-press, WA – Steve Carre.
- IGA Delicatessen Department of the Year: Ritchies IGA Mount Eliza, Victoria – The Ritchies Group.
- Foodland IGA/SUPA IGA Grocery and General Merchandise Department of the Year: Ceduna Foodland IGA, SA – Geoff Boettcher.
- IGA Grocery and General Merchandise Department of the Year: Supamart IGA Rose Bay, NSW – Karellas family.
- SUPA IGA Fresh Produce Department of the Year: North Road SUPA IGA, WA – Bob Cybula.
- SUPA IGA Meat Department of the Year: Queens SUPA IGA, WA – John Rigter.
- IGA Meat Department of the Year: IGA Mount Cotton, Queensland Tyrone and Leanne Jones.
- IGA Dairy-Freezer Department of the Year: Dysons IGA Numurkah, Victoria – Colin Dyson.
- Rising Star Award: Mark Pettit – IGA Tweed Valley Way, Queensland.