2025 Independent Categories

Entry Deadline: Friday 16 May 2025

Best Use of Technology – Independent

This award recognises operators who can demonstrate best-in-class use of technology within their business, whether that be online grocery retailing, digital marketing and social media, or in-store technologies such as shelf-edge labelling, self-checkout, media screens and payment apps.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Successful introduction of new systems that have worked for the benefit of the business
Innovation in the application of technology that has helped the retailer stand out from the competition
A strong return on investment, clear targets and demonstrable results

Chilled Retailer of the Year – Independent

This award recognises excellence in the retailing of chilled produce in-store, creating an offer that helps the business stand out from the crowd.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

A chilled range that is tailored to the needs of customers
Good use of promotions and best-in-class merchandising solutions
Innovations and improvements to the category over the past 12 months
Operational excellence within the chilled category, including availability, hygiene and food safety
Best practice in waste management

Community Retailer of the Year – Independent

The Independent Community Retailer of the Year accolade recognises and rewards independent convenience retailers who are actively involved in their communities, looking at how a business works within the community for mutual benefit.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Support for charities and good causes
Staff education and involvement
Innovative ideas for community engagement
Strong communication of initiatives

Sponsored by:

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award – Independent

The Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Award recognises the work or project a retailer has undertaken over the past year to promote equality, inclusion, diversity and fairness in their business.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

The award covers all aspects of diversity, including, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.

Judges will look for evidence of structures in place to promote diversity.

Initiatives and policies may be employee or customer-facing, or both.

This award will be judged based on the time period of April 2024 to March 2025.

Drinks Retailer of the Year – Independent

This award recognises excellence in the area of beers, wines and spirits retailing – either within a stand-alone off-licence or an independent convenience store. The winner will be a retailer that can demonstrate strong progress across the off-licence category.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Strong sales growth in alcoholic drinks
A clear strategic plan for developing the category
A stand-out offer in the off-licence category
Innovative and creative measures to grow sales
Well-trained and knowledgeable staff

Food-to-go Retailer of the Year – Independent – under 3,000 sq ft

This award recognises retailers who can demonstrate excellence in the field of food-to-go (including hot and cold drinks) within an independent convenience store setting. Entries must be for a single store.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

A food-to-go offer that meets customer needs and makes the retailer stand out
A clear strategy for developing the food-to-go offer
Innovation in new product development, marketing and promotions
Category development and operational excellence

Food-to-go Retailer of the Year – Independent – over 3,001sq ft

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

A food-to-go offer that meets customer needs and makes the retailer stand out
A clear strategy for developing the food-to-go offer
Innovation in new product development, marketing and promotions
Category development and operational excellence

Forecourt Retailer of the Year – Independent – under 3,000sq ft

This category is open to independently owned forecourt stores that are either standalone or form part of a chain of 10 stores or fewer. Entrants must own the freehold/lease of the site, not just the franchise.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Improved year-on-year financial performance
Great customer service and excellent site standards
Improvements to the business, differentiating it from the competition
Innovation and business development

Forecourt Retailer of the Year – Independent – over 3,001sq ft

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Improved year-on-year financial performance
Great customer service and excellent site standards
Improvements to the business, differentiating it from the competition
Innovation and business development

Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year – Independent

The winner of this category will demonstrate success, innovation and creativity in the fresh produce category over the past 12 months.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

A clear strategy for developing sales and offer in fresh produce
Strong relationships with growers and suppliers to achieve company objectives
Range innovation, in-store theatre and cross-merchandising
Differentiation from the competition

Independent Retailer of the Year – up to 1,500sq ft

This is the blue-riband award for independent retailers, recognising the best of the best in the small stores sector. Entrants may be either members of a symbol/fascia group or non-affiliated.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA:

Successful development of the business over the past 12 months
Understanding the needs of shoppers
Technological and sustainability initiatives
Support for the local community
Standing out from the competition

Sponsored by:

Independent Retailer of the Year – 1,501sq ft to 3,000sq ft

This is the blue-riband award for independent retailers, recognising the best of the best in the small stores sector. Entrants may be either members of a symbol/fascia group or non-affiliated

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA:

Successful development of the business over the past 12 months
Understanding the needs of shoppers
Technological and sustainability initiatives
Support for the local community
Standing out from the competition

Sponsored by:

Independent Retailer of the Year – over 3,001sq ft

This is the blue-riband award for independent retailers, recognising the best of the best in the small stores sector. Entrants may be either members of a symbol/fascia group or non-affiliated.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA:

Successful development of the business over the past 12 months
Understanding the needs of shoppers
Technological and sustainability initiatives
Support for the local community
Standing out from the competition

Sponsored by:

Most Improved Store

This award is open to all independent convenience retailers, affiliated or non-affiliated. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of positive developments over a maximum two-year period to 1 April 2025

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA:

Understanding the needs of customers
Improvements and innovations undertaken
Measurable success in terms of sales, profits, footfall, basket spend
Return on investment

Sponsored by:

Post Office Retailer of the Year – Independent

This category is for owners of independent convenience stores, including those belonging to a symbol/franchise group, whose outlet includes a post office counter or combination till.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

The winning stores will be those that can clearly demonstrate how they integrate the two elements – post office services and grocery/impulse retail – to make a success of the overall business.
Judges will be looking for entries that show how each element works in tandem with the other to mutual benefit.

Responsible Retailing Award

With public concern around under-age vaping running high and further changes to tobacco legislation on the horizon, it is more important than ever that independent retailers remain vigilant when it comes to selling age-restricted products such as cigarettes, vapes, alcohol and lottery tickets.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Evidence of policies to ensure best practice in responsible retailing across the store
Staff training initiatives to prevent under-age sales
Working with police, local authorities and other community organisations

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award is designed to recognise some of the brightest rising stars in the independent convenience sector. The award is open to any individual who has joined the sector within the past two years (to 1 April 2025).

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA:

The winner will demonstrate innovation and enthusiasm and show how they have made a real impact on the business.
Judges will be looking for individuals who are regarded as outstanding talents in their field, have great business acumen and are seen as an inspiration to their peers.

Store Manager of the Year – Independent

This award is open to store managers of independent convenience stores. Applicants should be employees rather than business owners. Managers may nominate themselves, or store owners may submit an entry on behalf of their store manager.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

How managers have handled their teams to help make the business a success
A management approach that helps differentiate the store from its competitors
Innovations introduced over the past 12 months and how these have helped the business
Communication skills and staff motivation

Store Team of the Year – Independent

This award is open to teams working in individual, independently owned convenience stores

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

This award is designed to recognise store teams that go beyond the call of duty to deliver outstanding customer service and make a real difference to the business and the community they serve.
Judges will be looking to reward a team that can demonstrate how its hard work, expertise and enthusiasm have contributed significantly to the success of the business over the past 12 months.

Tobacco Alternatives Retailer of the Year

This award recognises excellence in the retailing of tobacco alternative products – including vaping and heated tobacco products but not traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes or cigars – creating an offer that helps the business stand out from the crowd.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

This category is open to retailers for whom grocery products make up at least 50% of sales. It is not open to stand-alone vape shops.

Key criteria:

A range of products that is tailored to the needs of customers
Best-in-class merchandising solutions
Innovations and improvements to the category over the past 12 months
Operational excellence within the tobacco alternatives category, including availability and legal requirements

Sponsored by:

Trailblazer of the Year

The Trailblazer of the Year award recognises up-and-coming talented individuals or pioneering businesses operating within the UK grocery retail sector.

Please read the general criteria before completing your entry.

KEY CRITERIA

Nominees must show evidence they have made a significant contribution to the industry during the past 12 months to 1 April 2025
Judges will look at the introduction and implementation of new ideas, original thinking and shopper understanding
They will also consider how an individual’s contribution has benefited the business financially