Bestway Wholesale News

Tuesday 14th October 2008

The top award to a Batleys Cash and Carry customer

One of the industry’s top award schemes – the Bestway group’s Retailer Development Awards – has made 18 awards and given away £70,000 in total prize value.

The prize fund consists of £35,000 in cash and £35,000 worth of free stock and other benefits and was awarded to independent retailers entering from across England, Scotland and Wales when nearly 400 attended a glittering event at London’s Grosvenor House.

The winning independent retailers are judged on a measured series of store improvements set 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. The key judging criteria include requiring the store to have a professional look to it, be well managed and give customers the very best service.

The top award and title of National Retailer of the Year goes to the person who has shown the most outstanding all round performance. This year that winner is a Batleys Cash and Carry customer Mr Harinder Khela of Khela Food and Wine, Rotherham, Yorkshire who takes the top prize of £10,000 and collects  a trophy, certificate and product credits presented by Zameer Choudrey, Bestway’s group chief executive.

Retailer successes have also been recognised from around the country and included a number of Batleys customers. The winner of the Northern (Bestway) region is Harry Haran of Fairways, Anfield, Liverpool and the winner of the Southern (Bestway) region Daljit Athwal of Shop Around The Clock, Tenterden, Kent. Both these winners received £3000 prizes and the Bestway Trophy, certificate and product credits.

The runners up were; from the Northern Region, Zahir Rasul and Khalid Hussain of Pak Supermarket, Washerwood Heath, Birmingham and the Southern Region Hussain Ordu of City Road Supermarket, Hackney in London. Both win £2000 each.

There are two Best One symbol group awards; the winner of the Best One trophy is Bulent Demirci of Best One Charminster, Bournemouth who wins £3000 and the Best One runner up Steven Robinson of Best One Hillside Food and Wine of Streatham, London who wins £2000. They were presented with their prizes by Younus Sheikh, managing director of Bestway Cash and Carry group.)

The presentation of a Community Award to recognise the valuable work done by the independents for the general contribution to the welfare of the local community. The winner this year is Lisa Jones of Best One Stop ‘n Shop, Sholing, Southampton and she wins £1000 the trophy and certificate. This award is sponsored by IRN magazine for the first time.

Speaking at the awards (9th October), Bestway’s group chief executive, Zameer Choudrey said,

“In this, our seventh year of staging these awards, I am very pleased to say that standards continue to improve across most of the independent sector. The pressure on the retailer to deliver excellent service never lessens, and it was particularly good, therefore, to see greater numbers of people attending our development seminars in the North and South this year, suggesting that more and more independents want to improve themselves and their businesses.

“We honour our champions, who relive day in day out the David and Goliath story. Bestway strongly believes that a vibrant independent sector adds to the rich tapestry and the quality of what is life in Britain today. Independents’ provide an invaluable service particularly to those who are unable to travel to buy their groceries such as senior citizens and the disabled.

“Unfortunately, the unchecked expansion of multiples on the high street is leading to the destruction of market towns all over the country. The independent retail sector has to compete much harder than before against the mighty buying power and sometimes, less than fair tactics of the major multiples. 

“All of you know – even more than me – what the pressure of that means but in spite of the inhospitable business climate you will see, from the winners of these awards, how success is achieved and hard work rewarded.

“We are very proud to be able to link up with all our supplier friends in the industry to make this one of the most special and important events of the year.”

The awards also recognise top performing retailers who excel in the way they display and promote products across the key sectors including; soft drinks, beer and cider, wines and spirits, tobacco, confectionery, crisps and snacks, general grocery, chilled and frozen goods, household and health and beauty. This year a new category for water has been added, recognising the impact of this product line.

Bestway’s Cash and Carry group director of operations, Arshad Chaudhary presented the remaining winners with their awards of £1000 each and a certificate.

The full list of remaining category winners is: (Sponsors of prizes in italic)

The entertainment for the evening was provided by the comedian, Alistair McGowan.

The Bestway Retailer Development Awards are staged in association with Independent Retail News magazine. part of Nexus Publications Ltd. The magazine has also sponsored the Community Award for the first time this year.