Retail Council of Canada Honours Excellence and Innovation at STORE Conference

TORONTO, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Retail Council of Canada presented 19 prestigious industry awards at last evening's Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala Dinner in Toronto including five Awards of Distinction and fourteen Excellence in Retailing Awards. The awards recognize the Canadian retail industry's top achievers in a variety of categories and were presented as part of STORE 2014 — Canada's Retail Conference. This year's submissions came from a wide range of retailers and highlighted new and creative innovations in areas ranging from Technology to Corporate Social Responsibility to Marketing & Communications.

The 2014 Awards of Distinction and Excellence in Retail Award winners are: 

2014 Distinguished Retailer of the Year sponsored by MasterCard Canada
Presented to Larry Rosen, Chairman & CEO, Harry Rosen in recognition of his outstanding achievement and leadership in retail.

2014 Distinguished Retail Founders Award for Lifetime Achievement
Presented to Michael Budman and Don Green, Co-Founders, Roots Canada, Ltd. in recognition of their dedication to the Canadian retail industry and their commitment to community service, to their customers and their employees.

2014 Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented to Bob Peter, President & CEO, LCBO in recognition of his outstanding business success and contribution to the Canadian retail industry.

2014 Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by Chase Paymentech Solutions
Presented to Don Sheehan, owner of Amos Pewter, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to the community of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

The 2014 Excellence in Retailing Award winners are:

Corporate & Social Responsibility, sponsored by Chase Paymentech Solutions
Mid-Size Retailer - Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Large-Size Retailer - Hudson's Bay - Hudson's Bay Gives a Hand to Canadian Athletes: Olympic Red Mitten Campaign

e-Commerce
Mid-Size Retailer - Henry's - Click and Collect: How Henry's Camera Delivers Omni-Channel Excellence

Large Size Retailer (tie)

• ClearlyContacts.ca - The Better Way to Buy Eyewear - Try Before You Buy
• Walmart Canada - Walmart Canada: Envisioning the future of shopping for an omni-channel world

Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Staples Canada Inc. - Staples - Making Energy Efficiency Happen

Health, Safety & Wellness
Sleep Country - Sleep Country 2013 Back Safety Campaign

In-Store Merchandising
Mid-Size Retailer - Mission Hill Family Estate Winery - Enter A Different World…
Large-Size Retailer - Holt Renfrew - Holt Renfrew's Northern Noel Shop

Loss Prevention
Cineplex Inc. - Cineplex LP Hunger Games: 'Prevention Catching Fire'

Marketing Communications, sponsored by KPMG LLP
Canadian Tire Corporation - Igniting the Olympic Movement Across all Banners/ We All Play For Canada / What It Takes / Ça prend quoi

Store Design, sponsored by Miller Zell
BLACKS - BLACKS Playground for Photography

Talent Development
The Beer Store - Champions of Beer Love Everyday

Technology, sponsored by PwC
Roots Canada Ltd. - Roots 360

About Retail Council of Canada (RCC)
Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org), founded in 1963, is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association.  RCC represents more than 45,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, grocery, independent merchants, regional and national specialty chains, and online merchants.

SOURCE: Retail Council of Canada

For further information:

Colin Asuncion 
Retail Council of Canada
416-467-3782
[e-mail]