2020 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year winners revealed

The 2020 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards capped off the first day of GSF West Live Retailer Connect--the virtual trade show and conference hosted by Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG).

Held Tuesday afternoon, the annual awards show highlighted some of the best grocers in the country. National Gold Award winners for Top Independent Grocer of the Year are:

• Longo’s—Mount Pleasant, Brampton, Ont. (in the large surface category);
• Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocery, Lively, Ont. (medium surface);
• Vince’s Market, Tottenham, Ont. (small surface);
• Yummy Market-Maple, Maple Ont. (specialty category, David C. Parsons Award).

(Each store was evaluated for retail excellence and rated on its customer service, staff, department management, store layout, merchandising, creativity, cleanliness, and community involvement.)

Village Food Markets in Sooke, B.C. was also a big winner, taking home The Arnold Rands Heritage Award, which is presented to the year’s best privately owned, multi-generational store that has been in the same family for a least two generations and in the same community for 35 years.

And, Brooke and Linda Kynoch and the team at Safety Mart Foods in Chase, B.C., were recognized with the Hall of Fame award.