2018 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Winners Announced

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - On Wednesday, October 24, 2018, the 56th Annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony was presented in Toronto, in front of a gala audience of over 500 leading grocers, suppliers, and distributors at Grocery Innovations Canada (GIC) 2018, Canada's premier grocery conference and trade show.

Each year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) Awards Program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers across the country. Prestigious Life Member Awards were also presented to Scott Lindsay, Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada, and Brent Battistelli,  Battistelli's Your Independent Grocer, Lively, Ont. (Bio for Battistelli | Bio for Lindsay.)

NATIONAL GOLD WINNERS:
Save-On-Foods – Northgate, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Large Surface)
Longo's – York Mills, Toronto, Ontario (Medium Surface)
Blind Bay Village Grocer, Blind Bay, British Columbia (Small Surface)

DAVID C. PARSONS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN SPECIALTY FOOD RETAILING (GOLD):
Galleria Supermarket – Thornhill, Toronto, Ontario

ARNOLD RANDS HERITAGE AWARD
David Askew and Family -  Askew's Foods, Salmon Arm, Armstrong, Sicamous, British Columbia

HALL OF FAME (IGYA)
Jeffrey Min and Jaeho Park
Galleria Supermarket, Thornhill, Ontario

Eric Wood and Staff
Longo's – Burloak, Oakville, Ontario

HALL OF FAME (MASTER MERCHANDISER):
Carl and Nathalie Dessureault and Rene Larocque – Dessureault Your Independent Grocer, Ottawa, Ontario

Darcy Ginter and The Store Team - Quality Foods, Parksville, British Columbia

Jim and Vicki Bexis, Peter and Agusta Vacirtzoglou and Staff - Sun Valley Supermarket, Toronto, Ontario

About the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards
The Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year is the most prestigious award CFIG can bestow. Each year, independent grocery stores from coast-to-coast in Canada compete for the coveted title in each of the specialty, large, medium and small surface categories. Each of the competing stores is visited personally by a highly respected retail management expert, who evaluates competing stores based on retailing excellence and innovation, store team performance, customer service, space utilization, freshness and cleanliness. The gala awards evening takes place annually at Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery event in the country.

*Complete winners list of 2018 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards, HERE.

*Top 10 in Grocery; Master Merchandiser; Best Booth winners HERE.

*High-res images from GIC 2018 can be accessed HERE.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG)

Media Contacts: Michael Biro, Conversation Agency, [email protected], 647.204.2190; Milka Mili, Conversation Agency, [email protected], 647.404.6454