Glittering ceremony celebrates the best in the convenience channel
RETAILERS from across the best of the Scottish convenience channel have once again gathered at the Hilton Glasgow for the return of the industry’s biggest night of the year – the Scottish Grocer Awards 2023.
After months of preparations and judging, retailers, category sponsors and industry leaders came together to celebrate all the hard work that had gone into the sector over the last 12 months and recognise some of its stand-out stars.
Sixteen awards were handed out on the night, acknowledging the strength of the sector and highlighting some key players in the channel that always go the extra mile when it comes to customer service.
Scottish Grocer Awards judges were blown away this year by the impressively high standards presented to them in each and every store visited throughout the summer, showing how the channel has evolved in the space of the last year and how retailers have risen to the challenge each time when faced with new issues.
And these certainly haven’t been in short supply this year, with constant financial fears, questions over HFSS legislation, disposable vape bans and a plague of retail crime that has affected far too many members of the sector.
Despite all of this, it’s clear that the channel’s retailers have never been stronger and this sentiment was echoed on the night by Scottish Grocer editor Giles Blair who helped get the evening started by recognising the resilience of all those involved in the Scottish convenience channel
Following a drinks reception provided by JTI and dinner from the Hilton, host of the Scottish Grocer Awards 2023 Elaine C Smith took to the stage to announce the winners.
But before this, Smith ensured the night started with some laughter with her comedy performance before she turned to the evening’s awards.
• Kicking off the night with some bubbles was the Best Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year Award, recognising those that can fizz up some customer excitement with its range.
And Premier @ DUSA was the first winner of the night, taking home the gong.
• After noting a classic option for c-stores, we turned to the future of the sector with The Innovation Award.
Premier Racetrack Pitstop Bearsden’s digital advancements in staff training and security gave a glimpse into where convenience could be heading and, as such, the store took home The Innovation Award.
• Debates and possible legislation certainly keep vaping a hot topic and the Vaping Retailer of the Year award recognised those retailers who have stayed on top of this sector, with lucrative results, for the past year.
And as a result of this, Day-Today Drylaw took home the gong for the second year running, acknowledging the store’s savvy approach to vape device retailing.
• Arriving at the next stop, we had the Home Delivery Store of the Year award and Scotmid Co-op Uddingston was named the winner for its smooth operation and consistent quality in delivery service.
Along with an impressive 3500 products on its Snappy Shopper service, the store keeps sustainability at the heart of its delivery offer with electric vehicles and Lightfoot tech.
• Next up on the night was the Tobacco Retailer of the Year Award, which aims to recognise those retailers who can ensure a successful gantry while also keeping up to date with all the latest regulations.
For these reasons and more, KeyStore Express Cults was named the Tobacco Retailer of the Year for 2023.
• Opening a new store in the current climate is no small feat and knowing where to do so ultimately counts here.
And in this case, the team at Spar Scourie in Lairg knew exactly what the local area was in need of and, for accommodating to this, bagged the Best New Store of the Year award.
• The next award had plenty of people raising their glasses with the Licensed Retailer of the Year, to recognise those retailers who have built an effective alcohol section that caters for the local population.
Spar Renfrew took home the gong for its expansive and well-built section that customers easily navigate to find just what they are looking for.
• Whether its consumers, brands or stores, green thinking has been on the brain for some time and the next award, Sustainability Champion, celebrates those retailers that keep the planet in mind when it comes to their stores.
Picking up its second gong of the night, Premier @ DUSA took home this prize for its approach to sustainable products in store as well as customer education on the category.
• It was two for the price of one for the next award as we turned to the Symbol Store of the Year Single Store and Multiple Stores.
For both awards, judges looked for those stores that demonstrated good use of the fascia they trade under and how this supports their store.
Symbol Store Single was awarded to Day-Today Bankton, recognising the clever retailing from the store owners and effective use of the United Wholesale Scotland symbol.
And for Multiple Stores, PGNJ Ltd took home the gong for its selection of shops across the Greater Glasgow area that are specifically geared to the needs of the different local residents, providing something new in every store.
• Following this, the night looked to those retailers who truly go the extra mile when it comes to their local area, with the Community Retailer of the Year award.
And going as far as to open up a store in response to the needs of your local community was just what winner Whytes of New Pitsligo brought to the table and, as such, took home the gong to its community.
• Fresh out the oven for this year, the next prize turned to the newest category in the Scottish Grocer Awards with the Bread & Bakery Retailer of the Year.
Proving it can rise to the challenge, Spar Market Crosshouse took home the award, showing they know their dough.
• Next up on the night, we turned to those working on the store floor, with the Employee of the Year award, acknowledging the hard graft that countless workers in the sector put in every day of the year.
And for her dedication to the store and work with its team members, Kerri Usher, of Londis Solo Convenience in Baillieston, took home the award for her outstanding and ongoing contribution to the shop.
• With only three awards remaining, the anticipation in the room was building as we turned to the Independent Retailer of the Year Award.
Recognising those store owners who can stand on their own two feet in a fiercely competitive field, this award highlights some of the strongest retailers in the Scottish convenience industry at the moment who have built up stores that are well equipped to match consumer demands.
For those reasons and countless more, Jaz’s Premier in Grangemouth took home the coveted prize in recognition of its exceedingly high standards found across the store and the level of quality presented to every customer that walks through its doors.
• Finally, the evening turned to its biggest awards of the night, ones that mark some particular retailers who have shined in their field with a constant dedication to the industry.
Both recipients of these awards had been chosen in secret by a panel of judges made up of representatives from the Scottish Grocer as well as award sponsors to find some exceptional members of the channel whose work in the sector deserved such recognition.
First up was the Entrepreneur Award. To choose this winner, Scottish Grocer judges and award sponsor JTI came together in secret to find an individual who demonstrated a true entrepreneurial spirit and displays that they know the Scottish convenience channel inside and out.
For these reasons, Jay Javed, of PGNJ Ltd, won the Entrepreneur Award for 2023, recognising his savvy approach to business, which has led to a host of strong stores across the Greater Glasgow area.
• Finally, the evening turned to the Industry Achievement Award. For the top accolade of the evening, Scottish Grocer judges worked with judges from Republic Technologies to find an individual whose contributions to the sector and its members were endless, and who had made their mark on the sector.
Graham Watson, store owner of Premier Watsons Grocers and current vice-president of the SGF, received the Industry Achievement Award, honouring all he has done for the sector and a seemingly unending level of dedication that remains inspiring for many across the channel.
A well-respected name across convenience, Watson has tirelessly served his local community in Moniaive as well as plenty of retailers across the entirety of Scotland, offering a helping hand no matter the distance or the task.
Watson took to the stage to accept his award, giving thanks to his many colleagues and retail members he has worked with over the years.
Following this, the ballroom stayed alive with entertainment from Rod Stewart tribute act Paul Metcalfe and DJ Pretty Ugly to help bring the Scottish Grocer Awards 2023 to a close.
