Happy smiles all around! From left to right: Adam Reader, Managing Director of Grace Foods (UK), Tony Howard, Director for Food and Retail Strategy (Warwick Retail), Vicki Boyd, Head of Retail Operations (Warwick Retail), Fabio Finocchiaro, Store Manager (Rootes Grocery Store), Mark Potter, Head of Service Delivery (Warwick Retail).

Following the annoucement in early August that Rootes Grocery Store had been shortlisted for two Retail Industry Awards, the Retail and store teams are celebrating after winning the World Food Retailer of the Year and receiving Highly Commended in the Food to Go Retailer of the Year category at last night's (28 September) Retail Industry Awards ceremony. Congratulations Fabio and the team! There's more information about the awards here.

Understanding customers is key

These awards are highly valued within the Retail Industry and winning is a testament to the team’s innovation and hard work. The World Food Retailer of the Year award is particularly important demonstrating the team’s focus on listening to customers and adapting ranges according to the needs of our international students. With 40% international students on campus, the store team have worked closely with their suppliers to stock a large selection of authentic, international food and drink from around the world as well as catering for dietary and lifestyle choices such as Halal, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and "free from".

Celebrating over 20 years of excellence, the Retail Industry Awards are widely regarded as ‘The Oscars’ of the grocery retail sector and reward excellence and outstanding achievement across a broad range of categories. It is the only time during the year when the whole industry gets together to recognise the smallest independent retailers alongside the largest supermarket groups.

And there's more...another win!

The store also picked up Fresh Food Retailer of the Year at the Costcutter Supermarkets Group Retailer Awards 2017. The ceremony was held at Ricoh Arena last night (4 October).