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VANCOUVER—April 25, 2022… The 59th Annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony was presented tonight in Vancouver after the event was postponed due to covid last fall. The gala took place with over 300 leading grocers, suppliers, and distributors at Grocery & Specialty Food West 2022, Canada’s premier Western grocery conference and trade show.
Each year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) Awards Program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers and offers insights into innovations that are changing and enhancing the way retailers compete.
The NATIONAL GOLD AWARD Winners for Top Independent Grocer of the Year for 2021 are:
Save-On-Foods – Scottsdale Centre, Delta, BC (Large surface)
Longo’s – Liberty Village, Toronto, ON (Medium surface)
Urban Fare – Mount Royal, Calgary, AB (Small surface)
DAVID C. PARSONS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN SPECIALTY FOOD RETAILING (GOLD): Will & Ingrid Willemsen, Tracy Morrow, and Team, Sunripe Sarnia, Sarnia, ON
SPECIAL AWARDS
CFIG is proud to announce that Wayne, Harmina, Peter and Kathy Richmond, 49th Parallel Grocery Ladysmith, Ladysmith, BC, are awarded THE ARNOLD RANDS HERITAGE AWARD. The award is given to the year’s best multi-generational store that is privately owned, and that has been in the same family for at least two generations, in the same community for 35 years.
CFIG is proud to announce the following grocer into the HALL OF FAME (IGYA): James Inglis, Doug Nakano & Team, Blind Bay Village Grocer Ltd, Blind Bay, BC
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 typically takes place annually in October at Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery event in the country.
Here is the full list of Winners 2021 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year
Large Surface
Gold: Scottsdale Centre Team – Save-On-Foods – Scottsdale Centre, Delta, British Columbia
Silver: Longo’s – Yonge & Sheppard Team – Longo’s – Yonge & Sheppard, Toronto, Ontario
Bronze: Daniel Plouffe –Metro Plouffe de Sherbrooke – boul Bourque, Sherbrooke, Québec
Regional: Darryl Jacques and Team members –Freson Bros. Drumheller, Drumheller, Alberta
Medium Surface
Gold: Longo’s Liberty Village Team – Longo’s – Liberty Village, Toronto, Ontario
Silver: Dave Powell, Adam Powell, John Pritchett and John Mercer – Powell’s – Bay Roberts, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bronze: Arden Fowler, Devon Crane and Team – Stong’s Markets – Northwoods, North Vancouver, British Columbia
Regional: Cam Bowman and Team members – Freson Bros. Hinton Valley, Hinton, Alberta
Small Surface
Gold: Urban Fare – Mount Royal Team – Urban Fare – Mount Royal, Calgary, Alberta
Silver: Joe Greco, Anthony Greco, Rina Virgilio and Michael Abballe – Greco’s Fresh Markets – Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Bronze: Rebecca Stowe and Team – Belbin’s Grocery, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Regional: Nesters Market – Kelowna Airport Team- Nesters Market – Kelowna Airport, Kelowna, British Columbia
SPECIALTY STORE
David C. Parsons Award of Excellence in Specialty Food Retailing (Gold): Will & Ingrid Willemsen, Tracy Morrow, and the Impassioned Team – Sunripe – Sarnia, Sarnia, Ontario
Silver: Market By Longo’s – Imperial Plaza Team – Market By Longo’s – Imperial Plaza, Toronto, Ontario
Bronze: Brad McMullen, Christy McMullen and Robert McMullen – Summerhill Market – Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario
Arnold Rands Heritage Award Winner: Wayne, Harmina, Peter and Kathy Richmond – 49th Parallel Grocery Ladysmith, Ladysmith, British Columbia
Hall of Fame: James Inglis, Doug Nakano & Team – Blind Bay Village Grocer Ltd, Blind Bay, British Columbia
Platinum Achievement (10 years):
Sydney-Anne Porter, Eric Lapointe, Greg Lapointe, AG Valley Foods, Invermere, British Columbia
James Inglis, Doug Nakano & Team, Blind Bay Village Grocer Ltd., Blind Bay, British Columbia
Buy-Low Foods – Oliver and Team, Buy-Low Foods – Oliver, Oliver, British Columbia
Longo’s – Milton Team, Longo’s – Milton, Milton, Ontario
Rob Kerr, Rob Howie and Team, Quality Foods Courtenay, Courtenay, British Columbia
Jim and Vicki Bexis, Peter and Augusta Vacirtzoglou, Sun Valley Supermarket Inc., Scarborough, Ontario
