By C&I Week 

Leading IGA stores in New South Wales and South Australia are celebrating after winning at each state’s annual IGA Awards of Excellence.

The IGA awards represent the highest example of retail excellence and demonstrate the store’s ability to grow in challenging competition driven environments

Keenly contested between the stores in each state, the awards are a chance to formally recognise and celebrate the achievements of independent retailers.

Not only the IGA stores but also the team who work in the stores who put the heart and soul back into supermarkets, and set the benchmark for other IGA supermarkets across the retail network.

In New South Wales, where 16 department awards were presented, three exemplary stores, IGA Ainslie, Ashcroft’s SUPA IGA Summer Centre and IGA X-press Circular Quay Plus Liquor, were recognised after taking out the key awards for IGA Store of the Year, SUPA IGA Store of the Year and IGA X-press Store of the Year, respectively.

New South Wales general manager of Metcash Food and Grocery, Mark Garwood, said: “We’re proud to support independent supermarkets across the state that deliver a great retail experience to our local community. We acknowledge the hard work and commitment our stores have demonstrated throughout the year across all categories awarded tonight.

“Congratulations to IGA Ainslie, Ashcroft’s SUPA IGA Summer Centre and IGA X-press Circular Quay Plus Liquor for being recognised as leaders in independent retailing. These stores and their teams represent retail excellence – going above and beyond to demonstrate excellence in teamwork, customer service and quality in their respective store offerings.”

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This story first appeared in C&I Week.