The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) recognized grocers for their success during the Grocery & Specialty Food West trade show and conference at a gala dinner on April 25.
Independent grocery stores from every region in Canada compete for awards in the Specialty, Large, Medium and Small surface categories. Each store entered is evaluated for retail excellence and rate on its customer service, staff, department management, store layout, merchandising, creativity, cleanliness, and community involvement.
HERITAGE AWARD – Arnold Rands Award
The Heritage Award is for the best multigenerational grocery store that is privately owned and has been in the same family for at least two generations and in the same community for a minimum of 35 years.
Winner: Wayne, Harmina, Peter and Kathy Richmond, 49th Parallel Grocery Ladysmith, Ladysmith, B.C.
49th Parallel team was the Arnold Rands Heritage Award recipient
NATIONAL AWARDS – Specialty Category
Gold, silver and bronze awards to the top-scoring entries in specialty food retailing.
SPECIALTY CATEGORY
David C. Parsons Award (GOLD)
Will & Ingrid Willemsen, Tracy Morrow, and Team, Sunripe Sarnia, Sarnia, Ont.
Specialty Gold award: Sunripe Sarnia, Sarnia, Ont.
Silver Award
Market By Longo’s – Imperial Plaza Team, Toronto, Ont.
Bronze Award
Brad McMullen, Christy McMullen and Robert McMullen, Summerhill Market – Bathurst Street,
Toronto, Ont.
NATIONAL AWARDS
Large Surface
Gold: Scottsdale Centre Team
Save-On-Foods – Scottsdale Centre, Delta, B.C.
Gold Large Surface award: Save-On-Foods, Scottsdale Centre, Delta, B.C.
Silver: Longo’s – Yonge & Sheppard Team
Longo’s – Yonge & Sheppard, Toronto, Ont.
Bronze: Daniel Plouffe
Metro Plouffe de Sherbrooke – boul Bourque, Sherbrooke, Que.
Regional: Darryl Jacques and Team members
Freson Bros. Drumheller, Drumheller, Alta.
Medium Surface
Gold: Longo’s Liberty Village Team
Longo’s – Liberty Village, Toronto, Ont.
Gold Medium Surface award: Longo’s Liberty Village team, Toronto, Ont.
Silver: Dave Powell, Adam Powell, John Pritchett and John Mercer
Powell’s – Bay Roberts, Bay Roberts, N.L.
Bronze: Arden Fowler, Devon Crane and Team
Stong’s Markets – Northwoods, North Vancouver, B.C.
Regional: Cam Bowman and Team members
Freson Bros. Hinton Valley, Hinton, Alta.
Small Surface
Gold: Urban Fare – Mount Royal Team
Urban Fare – Mount Royal, Calgary, Alta.
Gold Small Surface winner: Urban Fare, Mount Royal team, Calgary, Alta.
Silver: Joe Greco, Anthony Greco, Rina Virgilio and Michael Abballe
Greco’s Fresh Markets – Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Bronze: Lorraine Coleman and Team
Belbin’s Grocery, St. John’s, N.L.
Regional: Nesters Market – Kelowna Airport Team
Nesters Market – Kelowna Airport, Kelowna, B.C.
REGIONAL AWARDS
Top-scoring stores from the four Canadian regions in the small, medium
and large size categories.
NATIONAL AWARDS
Bronze, silver and gold awards are presented to the top-scoring stores in
the small, medium and large size categories.
HALL OF FAME
The award recognizes a store that has demonstrated consistent excellence. A store must win at least three gold awards or one platinum achievement award and two gold awards.
James Inglis, Doug Nakano & Team, Blind Bay Village Grocer Ltd, Blind Bay, B.C.
Hall of Fame: James Inglis, Doug Nakano & team, Blind Bay Village Grocer, Blind Bay, B.C.
PLATINUM ACHIEVEMENT (10 YEARS)
Sydney-Anne Porter, Eric Lapointe, Greg Lapointe
AG Valley Foods
Invermere, B.C.
James Inglis, Doug Nakano & Team
Blind Bay Village Grocer Ltd.
Blind Bay, B.C.
Buy-Low Foods – Oliver and Team
Buy-Low Foods – Oliver
Oliver, B.C.
Longo’s – Milton Team
Longo’s – Milton
Milton, Ont.
Rob Kerr, Rob Howie and Team
Quality Foods Courtenay
Courtenay, B.C.
Jim and Vicki Bexis, Peter and Augusta Vacirtzoglou
Sun Valley Supermarket Inc.
Scarborough, Ont.
