The Best in Fresh Awards
The Checkout Best in Fresh Awards, held in association with Glanbia Consumer Foods, reward, encourage and promote excellence in fresh food retailing in Ireland, with retailers of all sizes and formats recognised for their high standards in this area. The Awards are open to all retail groups and independent retailers, including multiples, symbols, discounters and non-affiliated stores.
In the overall store categories, stores are judged against their equivalent counterparts – a forecourt store is compared with a forecourt store, and a large supermarket with a large supermarket. In the departmental categories, a department is judged against its competitors in the category, however the store's size and format is also considered – for example a superb bakery category in a small convenience store will outperform an average bakery category in a large supermarket, even if the large supermarket dedicated twice the space to the category.
The Best in Fresh Awards are aimed primarily at mixed-traders or non-specialist retailers such as supermarket or c-store operators. For example, the fruit & veg category judges excellence in fruit & veg retailing within a mainstream format, not in a specialist greengrocer. However, in categories where specific cross-category strengths are being assessed (ie best organic retailer), mixed-trader specialists will be considered.
There are a total of 20 categories being judged this year. Retailers can enter as many categories as they like, but should indicate their store's appropriateness and relevance to each category entered.
The level of detail contained in each entry form is at the discretion of the retailer, however the more information that is provided, the greater the level of understanding that judges can have of the store and its commitment to fresh food retailing.
Areas that judges will consider and that entrants should address include:
- Range – what makes it different, what makes it better?
- Sourcing – is there a commitment to Irish and local suppliers?
- Value for money – does your store offer good deals in the fresh food categories?
- Hygiene – What policies does your store have in place?
- Presentation – How do you showcase your fresh offering to the customer?
- Replenishment – What are your replenishment policies?
- Consistency – How do you ensure that your store is always good, not just at peak times?
- Uniqueness and individuality – How have you set about to make your store different?
- Scratch preparation – Do you prepare products in-house?
- Training and knowledge – Do your staff really understand the fresh food categories?
- New developments – How have you improved your store’s fresh food categories?
For updates on the judging process, check out our Facebook page