2021 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year winners revealed

The 2021 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards capped off the first day of Grocery & Specialty Food West--the annual trade show and conference hosted by Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG).

Held in-person during a gala event Monday evening, 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:

• Save-On-Foods — Scottsdale Centre, Delta, B.C. (in the large surface category);
• Longo’s — Liberty Village, Toronto, Ont. (medium surface);
• Urban Fare — Mount Royal, Calgary, Alta. (small surface);
• Sunripe Sarnia — Sarnia, 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.)

49th Parallel Grocery Ladysmith in Ladysmith, 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, James Inglis, Doug Nakano and the team from Blind Bay Village Grocer Ltd. in Blind Bay, B.C. were recognized with the Hall of Fame Award.