Australia’s best IGA and Foodland IGA stores were crowned at the 25th National IGA Awards of Excellence at The Star Gold Coast on July 15.
Hosted by Larry Emdur and Mark Beretta, these annual awards recognise, highlight, and celebrate independent retailers across the country.
Grant Ramage, CEO of Metcash Food, said in recognising these individuals, teams, and stores, they acknowledge the true essence of local and what it really means to be an IGA and Foodland IGA retailer.
“Day in and day out IGA and Foodland IGA stores across the country deliver phenomenal experiences to the local shoppers who come through their doors, doing whatever they can to help build thriving local communities.”
West Australia’s IGA Kinross took home the highest accolade of the night – the 2024 IGA National Retailer of the Year. They were also awarded the 2024 IGA National Large Store of the Year and the 2024 IGA National Large Grocery and General Merchandise Department of the Year and will now proudly represent Australian at the International IGA Global Rally in the USA.
“All of our winners have done an incredible job providing great value and exceptional customer service, as well as tailoring their store offer to meet the needs of their local communities. These awards highlight incredible stores, the passion and hard work that goes into running them and are testament to the strength and competitiveness of the independent network,” said Ramage.
Delta Goodrem, Matthew Copley, John Foreman and the IGA Band and the Gold Coast Children’s Choir kept the crowd entertained, while Emdur and Beretta helped present 25 awards to IGA and Foodland IGA independent retailers.
Major award winners:
- 2024 IGA Hall of Fame – Spero Tsapaliaris
- 2024 IGA National Small Store of the Year – IGA Local Grocer Westbrook
- 2024 IGA National Medium Store of the Year – IGA Midway Buronga
- 2024 IGA National Large Store of the Year Award – IGA Kinross
- 2024 IGA National Retailer of the Year – IGA Kinross
Spero Tsapaliaris was inducted into the prestigious IGA Hall of Fame, after a career spanning over 40 years in the independent retail network. Hardworking and community minded, Spero has dedicated his career to championing independent retail, innovating and building world class supermarkets that today proudly employ over 1,200 South Australians.
Tsapaliaris said he was shocked, surprised, humbled and honoured to be acknowledged in this way and be inducted into the IGA Hall of Fame.
“I’m incredibly grateful for what my father John Chapley and my Uncle Nick Chapley have done to establish our family business, and the passion for retail they have instilled in me. I’ve had a long and fulfilling career and my secret to success is being consistent, persistent and treating people nicely.
“Our people are our most important asset and fulfill the promise to our shoppers. If it wasn’t for them – good people doing their best every day I wouldn’t be here tonight, and this award reflects our people’s commitment to supporting our local community.”
Full list of award winners:
- 2024 IGA National Small Fresh Department of the Year – IGA Local Grocer Strathmore
- 2024 IGA National Small Grocery & Perishables Department of the Year – IGA Local Grocer Hawks Nest
- 2024 IGA National Medium Delicatessen Department of the Year – IGA Midway Buronga
- 2024 IGA National Medium Meat Department of the Year – IGA Cockatoo
- 2024 IGA National Medium Bakery Department of the Year – Mount Compass IGA
- 2024 IGA National Medium Fresh Produce Department of the Year – Lovey’s IGA Gillieston Heights
- 2024 IGA National Medium Grocery & General Merchandise Department of the Year – Lovey’s IGA Gillieston Heights
- 2024 IGA National Medium Dairy & Freezer Department of the Year – IGA Creswick
- 2024 IGA National Large Delicatessen Department of the Year – Saints Foodland IGA
- 2024 IGA National Large Meat Department of the Year – IGA Queen St Village
- 2024 IGA National Large Bakery Department of the Year – Saints Foodland IGA
- 2024 IGA National Large Fresh Produce Department of the Year – IGA Mt Evelyn
- 2024 IGA National Large Grocery & General Merchandise Department of the Year – IGA Kinross
- 2024 IGA National Large Dairy & Freezer Department of the Year – Saints Foodland IGA
- 2024 IGA National Customer Service & Experience Award – IGA Creswick
- 2024 National Rising Star Award – Dion Aloi – Ritchies IGA Rowville
- 2024 IGA National Community Award – IGA Woodvale
- 2024 IGA National Small Transformation & Innovation Award – IGA Local Grocer Preston
- 2024 IGA National Medium Transformation & Innovation Award – IGA Russell Island
- 2024 IGA National Large Transformation & Innovation Award – Ritchie’s IGA Fine Food & Wine Tatura
- 2024 IGA Hall of Fame – Spero Tsapalliaris
- 2024 IGA National Small Store of the Year – IGA Local Grocer Westbrook
- 2024 IGA National Medium Store of the Year – IGA Midway Buronga
- 2024 IGA National Large Store of the Year Award – IGA Kinross
- 2024 IGA National Retailer of the Year – IGA Kinross
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