DCI and CIGBA announce Star Awards nominees

Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) and the Canadian Independent Grocers Buyers Alliance have announced the nominees for the 2026 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards Gala.

The annual Star Awards celebrate retailers, supplier partners and industry leaders. 

Read on for this year’s nominees. Winners will be announced at the CIGBA/DCI Business Summit Star Awards Gala on June 2. The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be announced at the gala.

Retailer of the Year Award

• Bonanza Supermarket 
• Central Fresh Market 
• Farmboy Markets Ltd 
• Greco’s Fresh Market 
• Pino's Get Fresh 
• Rabba Fine Foods 
• Starsky Fine Foods 
• Stong’s Market 
• Summerhill Market 
• Vince's Market 

Partner of the Year Award

• Chapman's Ice Cream 
• Chens Enterprises Corporation
• CJR Wholesale Grocers 
• Covered Bridge Potato Chips 
• Federated Insurance 
• Lassonde Inc. 
• Maple Leaf Foods 
• Sobeys Wholesale 
• Toronto Popcorn Company 

Social Responsibility Award

• Commisso's Fresh Foods 
• Food Fare 
• Galleria Supermarket 
• Goldsmith's Farm Market and Bakery 
• La Mantia's Country Market 
• Maple Leaf Foods 
• Mike Dean Local Grocer 
• Powell's Supermarket 
• Rabba Fine Foods 
• Vince's Market 

Innovation Award

• Cataldi Fresh Market 
• Chens Enterprises Corporation
• Denninger's 
• Food Fare 
• Maple Leaf Foods 
• Rabba Fine Foods 
• RiverCity Innovations 
• Société En Commandite Pasquier 
• Whistler’s Creekside Market 

Leader of the Year Award

• Anthony Battaglia 
• Gary Sands 
• Giancarlo Trimarchi 
• Jordan Schenck 
• Rick Rabba 
• Stephen Carroll 
• Tarik Zeid 
• Tony Cataldi