Sector members gathered to celebrate the very best in Scotland
THE very best of Scotland’s convenience retail channel gathered once again to find out who had come out on top as the Scottish Grocer Awards returned for 2026.
Held in the Hilton, Glasgow, on 4 November, the glittering awards ceremony saw the industry’s finest come together to celebrate their hard graft after what has clearly been another year filled with challenges.
Despite this, retailers across the country have shined and showcased just how important the sector truly is for the whole of Scotland.
Indeed, Scottish Grocer editor Giles Blair noted the strength of the entries to the awards and the infectious enthusiasm and optimism of the retailers he and fellow judges had met during their travels across Scotland.
He pointed out that store owners were also having to grapple with soaring costs, sustained inflationary pressures and a raft of legislative changes – from HFSS and nicotine to employment rights.
He told the audience: “Yet, despite all these difficulties, the brilliance of many retailers and staff working in the convenience channel continues to be outstanding.”
The celebrations had started with a drinks reception sponsored by CMB RVM Solutions, which also showcased some of its machines ahead of the DRS, which goes live next October.
Then, before the hundreds of guests enjoyed dinner in the Grand Ballroom, Blair presented a Special Recognition Award to retiring sector stalwarts Dennis and Linda Williams, of Premier Broadway Convenience Store in Oxgangs, Edinburgh.
Blair described the couple as inspirational, saying they were “highly respected and fondly regarded retailers who have excelled in the convenience channel throughout their careers”.
After dinner, the prize draw took place for the GroceryAid charity fundraising raffle.
Then – back at the awards by popular demand – Michelle McManus, one of Scotland’s best-known performers, took to the stage to host the main ceremony.
• Starting the presentation of gongs and ensuring an extra fizz of excitement, the first award up for grabs was the Best Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year, which recognises a store that goes above and beyond to promote its soft drinks range.
Clydebank Co-op KeyStore More Dalmuir took home this first award following a full refit that really showcases the category.
• Opening a new store or undertaking a massive refit in the current climate is a daunting prospect for owners and staff alike.
But a complete overhaul of Pier Garage in Fairlie, Ayrshire, has paid off big time for both local customers and the forecourt operators. As a result, it secured the Best New Store of The Year accolade.
• With so many changes taking place across the nicotine category, both in terms of legislative impacts and products, it takes a savvy owner to win the Smokeless Alternatives Retailer of the Year.
But a store-wide refit has future-proofed the offer at Girish’s Costcutter, Glasgow, which is one of the reasons why judges saw fit to award the trophy to this store.
• Despite the incoming generational tobacco ban and other legislative changes, the market remains a lucrative one for many convenience retailers – who capitalise on their knowledge of both their loyal customers and the sector in general.
And with a category understanding that’s second to none, the owner of Cults Stores – KeyStore, in Aberdeen, ensured he won Tobacco Retailer of the Year for the third time in four years.
• Soaring energy prices and the incoming DRS are just two factors that ensure green thinking remains a priority for a lot of convenience stores – with many taking a forward-thinking approach to cut costs and prepare for changes in the way recycle.
Our Sustainability Champion judges were also looking for stores where eco initiatives had a positive impact on local communities and, considering all the criteria, Spar Market Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, won the day for this award.
• With the celebrations in full swing, plenty of people were raising a glass to the contenders for the keenly contested Licensed Retailer of the Year.
It’s rare to find a sommelier running a corner shop but that’s the case at Premier Dunbar in East Lothian, which is a destination store because of its alcohol offer. So it was a worthy winner for the second year running.
• Offering a two-for-one deal, the Scottish Grocer Symbol Store of the Year dishes out gongs to retailers running either one shop or a number of outlets.
Regarded as something of a flagship store for the symbol in the north-east, as well as having a superb ‘foodvenience’ own-brand offering, Premier Whitehills, near Banff, won the single store award.
Meanwhile, the multiple stores honour went to Aalagii Stores, which leverage the best of the Filshill/KeyStore proposition while achieving operational excellence thanks to the owner’s own hi-tech systems.
• New for this year’s awards was the Forecourt Retailer of the Year category, with judges looking service stations with great facilities and shops that catered to all consumer needs.
And with impressive services for motorists, a great store layout, ranging that allowed for a full shop and a strong ‘foodvenience’ offering, judges found their winner when they visited Ravenspark Filling Station in Irvine.
• The Community Retailer of the Year award always attracts a huge number of entries – after all, interacting with local people and good causes is at the heart of the convenience channel.So, in recent times, Scottish Grocer has split this category into two – with recognition for both city and rural stores.
This year, the urban honours went to Spar Clyne Condorrat, which has introduced more than 30 life-saving anti-choking devices to local primary and secondary schools, nurseries and care homes throughout the Cumbernauld area.
And with the store owner establishing a true community hub that helps local individuals in an array of different ways, Family Shopper Bourtreehill Supermarket, in Irvine, took home the rural stores trophy.
•The anticipation in the room was building as we turned to the prestigious Independent Retailer of the Year award.This highlights some of the strongest retailers in Scottish convenience – store owners who have shown savviness to develop a store that makes more money by catering well to local customer needs.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – including 24-hour home deliveries – Girish’s Costcutter, in Glasgow, places convenience and customer service at the heart of everything it does.
A change of fascia to expand its fresh and chilled offering, clever use of technology and strong staff progression opportunities also helped it achieve the category victory.
• The audience then turned its attention to the two biggest awards of the night, ones that celebrate those particular retailers who have shined the brightest and shown true dedication to their own businesses and the wider industry.
The recipients of both these awards had been chosen in secret by panels of judges and were exclusively revealed at the awards ceremony.
For the Entrepreneur Award, judges were looking to find an operator who had shown vision and initiative, worked with confidence and had sought new opportunities to expand their business.
Moreover, the judges were also on the hunt for a Scottish independent retailer who was a driving force in the industry.
Scottish Grocer judges have watched this retailer steadily grow the number of outlets under his control in recent years, making shrewd use of technology to maintain high standards across the portfolio.
This individual’s stores and teams also demonstrate great community engagement and understanding of local shopper demographics and he has helped former staff develop to run their own businesses.
For these reasons and many more besides, Arul Gnanasundaram, of Aalagii Stores, was named as winner of the Entrepreneur Award for his chain of KeyStores.
•Finally, the time came to announce the Industry Achievement Award recipients.For this top accolade, Scottish Grocer judges worked with assessors from Republic Technologies UK to find stars who have been at the forefront of innovation in the Scottish convenience channel.
They had in mind retailers who have developed destination outlets from which other store owners can take learnings and seek to replicate these successes.Moreover, the judges were looking for a clear commitment to the sector from business leaders who have become true representatives of the industry in Scotland.
Hugely respected by others in the sector, the ballroom erupted when RaceTrack Pitstop retailers Vikas, Shamly, Guna and Rits Sud were revealed as the winners.
Giving her acceptance speech, Shamly reflected on the family’s journey to be at the forefront of the industry in Scotland and thanked judges for the award.
After this, Michelle McManus took up the mic to perform some classic hits and get attendees on to the dance floor.
Then, DJ Pretty Ugly Club rounded out the evening, keeping everyone on their feet well into the night and helping to ensure that the Scottish Grocer Awards went out with a bang for yet another year.
