13 October 2011
Bestway Retail Development Award Winners for 2011
One of the retail industry’s top award schemes, the Bestway Retail Development Awards, has this week made renewed recognition to the owners of the UK’s convenience store movement
The awards, now in their ten-year, reward the people who contribute to the success of many local communities across the UK. With a total cash prize value of £35,000, nineteen awards were presented at a glittering event for 400 people at London's Grosvenor House in Park Lane (13th October) to independent retailers from across England, Scotland and Wales. The event is a shining example of the Bestway group's strategy of continuing to help build business for the independents by encouraging the very best standards.
The group also confirmed that the scheme will be extended next year to include Scotland as well as the North and South of England.
The winning independent retailers are judged on a series of improvements that they have made to their stores. These are measured against the following criteria; the range of goods stocked, the POS (point of sale) materials used, sales increases, pricing policy, store layout and space in the store, equipment used and the success of new lines. What is most important is that the store looks, and is, professionally run and that customers receive the very best service.
The top award, carrying the title of Bestway National Retailer of the Year goes to the person who has shown the most outstanding all round performance. This year that winner is, Manoj Patel and his wife Minal of Mannys News, Long Ditton, Surrey, who took the top prize of £10,000 and collected the Bestway trophy, certificate from Zameer Choudrey, Bestway's group chief executive.
Retailer successes have also been recognised from around the country.
- The winners of the Northern (Batleys) region is Ravi Basra, Bierley Superstore and Post Office, Bierley, Bradford.
- The winner of the Southern (Bestway) region is Anjum Pervez Suleman of Food and Wine store, Islington, North London. Both received £3000 in prize money, a Bestway trophy, and certificate.
The runners up (who both won) were:
- from the Northern Region, Thamalingam Gnanachandran of Four Seasons Superstore, Clubmoor, Liverpool and the Southern Region Mr Narinder Devgun; and
- Mrs Satpal Devgun of Heath Hayes Post Office, Cannock, Staffs.
There are two Best-one symbol group awards. James Hall controller of Best-one, presented them with their prizes:
- the winner of the Best One trophy was Zafar Mahmood and Mrs Nusrat Mahmood, Middlesbrough, Cleveland who won £3000
- the Best-one runner up, Alkesh Pankhania of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex who won £2000.
A Community Award that recognises the valuable work carried out by the independents' towards the welfare of the local community is also made during the evening. The winner this year was Alkesh Gadher, Best - one Isleworth, Middlesex and he won £1000 and certificate. This award is sponsored by IRN magazine. (Mr Gadher's phone no. is 020 8560 1958)
Speaking at the awards Bestway's group chief executive, Zameer Choudrey said, "Tonight's event marks the 10th anniversary of these awards. Since its inception in 2001, we have helped to develop more than 3,000 independent retailers and we have recognised and awarded the achievements of over 200.
"The seminars staged have had a tremendous impact on professionalising the retailers, making them stronger and smarter to withstand the competition on the high streets and they are now leading the fight back against the multiples.
"We congratulate all the winners and wish them continued success in the next 12 months."
The awards also recognise top performing retailers who excel in the way they display and promote products across key sectors
Bestway's Cash and Carry group managing director, Younus Sheikh presented these winners with their awards of £1000 each and a certificate.
The full list of remaining category winners is:
| Category | Prize | Store | Winner | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chilled & Frozen | £1000 | Pure Convenience Viaduct Street Manchester |
Mr Azeem Siddiq | Birds Eye Kepak Muller Wiseman Dairies |
| General Grocery | £1000 | Ospringe Food and Wine Lower Road Faversham Kent |
Mr Rajvinder Bains & Mrs Sandeep Bains | H J Heinz Kelloggs General Mills Nestlé Grocery Premier Foods Unilever Cow & Gate Baby Nutrition (Danone) Tate and Lyle |
| Household & Health and Beauty | £1000 | Ceiber Local Penrhiwceiber Road Mountain Ash South Wales |
Mr Dyl Singh and Mrs Rima Sohal | Procter & Gamble Kimberley Clark Reckitt Benckiser |
| Tobacco | £1000 | Pure Convenience Viaduct Street, Salford |
Mr Azeem Siddiq | Imperial Tobacco |
| Confectionery | £1000 | Much Hoole Village Shop Smithy Lane Much Hoole, Preston |
Mr David Leak | Nestlé Confectionery Cadbury Wrigleys |
| Crisps & Snacks | £1000 | Ashton Stores Ashton Road Luton, Beds |
Mr Aravinthan Jeyasingam | K P McVities PepsiCo International |
| Soft Drinks | £1000 | Pallion News St. Lukes Terrace Paillion Sunderland |
Mrs Hinnah Akhtar & Mr Raja Waqas Yaqoob |
A G Barr Britvic Boost CocaCola GlaxoSmithkline Red Bull |
| Water | £1000 | The Post Office - Your Convenience Store Florian Avenue Sutton, Surrey |
Mr Jagdish Patel | Nestlé Waters |
| Wines & Spirits | £1000 | JJ Booze Express Windsor Road Neath Swansea, Wales |
Mr Jagjit Johal | Accolade Wines E J Gallo Pernod Ricard Diageo |
| Beer & Cider | £1000 | Avenue Food and Wine St Georges Avenue Sheerness Kent |
Mr Baljinder Kaur Cheema | AB Inbev Nestlé Purina Molson Coors Masterfoods Heineken Magners Cider Muller |
| Pet Food | £1000 | Llanrumney Stores Llanrumney Avenue Cardiff, Wales |
Mr Ishtiaq Qureshi | Nestlé Purina Masterfoods |
The comedy actor and comedian, Chris Addison, who has many successful stage and TV appearances to his name, provided the entertainment for the evening.
The Bestway Retailer Development Awards are staged in association with Independent Retail News magazine, part of Metropolis Media Ltd. The magazine also sponsors the Community Award.