Jewellery chain Pandora outshined its fellow competitors after being awarded the 2012 Visa Australian Retailer of the Year award at the ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast.
Meanwhile, the Realise Group Australian Retail Innovator of the Year was awarded to Lenard’s Chicken.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said Pandora and Lenard’s stood out as worthy winners of the two awards, despite tight competition from the many other submissions considered by an expert judging panel.
"Pandora is a well- established retailer and has used product innovation, concept stores and a watertight marketing strategy to expand its brand offering and stand out from competitors. The plethora of advancements across the board made Pandora the clear winner for this prestigious award,” Zimmerman said.
Other award winners include:
- BDO Australian Retail Employer of the Year awarded to Jeanswest
- eftpos Australian Independent Retailer of the Year awarded to eyeclarity
- Deakin University Australian Retail Graduate of the Year awarded to Jo- Anne Oakeshott (Sunglass Hut/ Luxottica)
The ARA also introduced two new awards: eBay & PayPal Australian Multichannel Retailer of the Year awarded to Oroton and FCB Australian Retail HR Practitioner of the Year awarded to Joanne Ryan, Super Retail Group.
Attendees at the event were also treated to a keynote address from Myer CEO and managing director Bernie Brookes.