Imperial Tobacco’s inaugural Ignite awards – its search for the UK’s best tobacco retailers linked to its Ignite incentive, rewards and training programme – were presented at the scheme’s national final held in Birmingham last month. Winners from five previous regional events were in the running for the national honours.
And the tobacco firm also held its first Ignite expo, a special show for members of the independent retail trade, ahead of the presentations.
Retailers were invited to visit a mock-up of the interior of a corner shop, complete with a tobacco display unit containing only standardised packs (the English cabinet with a door rather than the more restrictive Scottish gantry that has smaller flaps). There was the chance to discuss scheduled changes to regulations and proposed further restrictions under the European Union Tobacco Products Directive 2 and plans for standardised packaging, which are still currently subject to legal challenge by a number of industry companies.
Imperial Tobacco teams also discussed best practice, merchandising and the illicit tobacco trade and there was a presentation by keynote speaker Sahar Hashemi, co-founder of the Coffee Republic chain.
At the awards ceremony trophies were presented to Ignite programme members in categories such as: Most Improved Retailer; Best Merchandising; Best Staff Training; and Ignite Retailer of the Year.
On the night all the awards were taken by retailers from south of the border but the Retailer of the Year went to Tony Venayak of Pauls in Newcastle, which is actually in Imperial Tobacco’s Scotland region.
The event also featured a special Dragons’ Den style award for the Big Idea. Andrew Board of Gulf Robson Garages won 1m Ignite points for his idea that retailers should be able to spend their Ignite points on Imperial Tobacco stock.
Sophie Hogg, head of sales and marketing operations at Imperial Tobacco said: “ignite was a tool built with retailers for retailers, and continues to help us ensure the guidance and support we offer is both relevant and helps drive business success. This event rounds off an amazing first 20 months for the scheme.”
