Sainsbury's achieved outstanding success at the Retail Industry Awards 2006, held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Thursday night (28th September). Winning four of the most coveted titles - Sainsbury's swept the board to win Store Manager of the Year, Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year, Supermarket of the Year, and the Outstanding Achievement Award - which went to Chief Executive Justin King.
Julie Morton, won Store Manager Of the Year for her work leading Sainsbury's Hedge End store in Southampton. Julie was commended for changing the culture of the store and increasing performance. Julie said; "I am delighted to receive this award - but it really is a credit to all the colleagues at the Hedge End store who have worked incredibly hard."
It is the second year running that Sainsbury's has won this award. Phil Ronan, store manager at Sainsbury's Archer Road in Sheffield and John Ratcliffe from Sainsbury's in Letchworth were also on the shortlist.
Connor McVeigh, Fresh Produce Category Manger at Sainsbury's, collected the Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year Award on behalf of the supermarket. The retailer collected the award for delivering the most innovation in the category and creating trends. The judges applauded the 'Active Kids' campaign for encouraging children to eat more fruit and vegetable. In addition they commended the 'Try Something New Today' campaign for 'creating a point of difference by encouraging people to eat fresh foods and try their hand at cooking again'.
Connor McVeigh said; "At Sainsbury's we are particularly proud of our produce offer and this award is a credit to the whole produce team who have worked enormously hard. "
Sainsbury's beat Waitrose (winners for the last two years), Tesco, Asda and Marks & Spencer to win the Supermarket of the Year Award. One judge commented, "Sainsbury's has given us permission to enjoy food. It has made good food mainstream - you come out of Sainsbury's wanting to cook." In addition "A sales led recovery and the clearest business turnaround in the industry" which firmly secured Sainsbury's position as the supermarket leader.
The Outstanding Achievement award went to Sainsbury's CEO Justin King. Each year one person in the grocery industry is nominated a special award that marks the outstanding contribution to the retail industry and awarded. The judges cited Justin King as "having taken on one of the toughest jobs in retailing and in a relatively short period of time has put the retailer firmly back on track."
Sainsbury's also made the shortlist for Seafood Retailer of the Year; Fresh Flower Supermarket of the Year and Regional Convenience Chain of the Year (Sainsbury's at Jacksons).
