Winners of Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards revealed
The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) held its 62nd annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony on Wednesday (Oct. 30) evening.
The gala, which took place at the Grocery Innovations Canada exhibition and conference in Toronto, was attended by more than 500 grocers, suppliers and distributors.
CFIG’s awards program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers.
Giancarlo Trimarchi, president of Vince’s Market, and Tim Berman, a former Kraft Heinz exec, were presented with CFIG’s 2024 Life Member Award in the independent grocer and industry builder categories, respectively.
The organization also recognized Will and Ingrid Willemsen of Ontario grocer Sunripe with its inaugural Life Partners Award, while former CFIG head Tom Shurrie is the recipient of the Spirit of the Independent Award.
READ: CFIG reveals 2024 Spirit of the Independent, Life Member and Life Partners Award winners
See below for the 2024 winners of the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards.
Heritage Award – Arnold Rands Award
For the best multigenerational grocery store that is privately owned and has been in the same family for at least two generations and in the same community for a minimum of 35 years.
Winner: Robert, Brad and Christy McMullen, Summerhill Market, Toronto
National Awards – Gold, Silver, Bronze in Specialty Category
Gold, silver and bronze awards to the top-scoring entries in specialty food retailing.
Bronze Award: Joseph Kim and Shane Bae, Galleria Supermarket, Oakville, Ont.
Silver Award: Corrado Romanino, Leo Jarman and Team, Summerhill Market – Annex, Toronto
David C. Parsons Award: Team Maple, Yummy Market, Maple, Ont.
Regional Awards – Small, Medium, Large
Top-scoring stores from the four Canadian regions in the small, medium and large size categories.
Regional Small Surface Category
British Columbia/Yukon: Pepper’s Team, Pepper’s Foods, Victoria, B.C.
Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut: Don Boos and Team Members, Freson Bros. Hanna, Alta.
Ontario: Vince Lobuglio and Team, Greco’s Fresh Markets – Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Quebec/Atlantic Canada: Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Métro Plouffe, Bedford, Que.
Regional Medium Surface Category:
British Columbia/Yukon: Ed Banys, Chris Dickson and Staff, Village Food Markets, Sooke, B.C.
Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut: Steve McLeod & Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market, High Prairie, Alta.
Ontario: Longo’s Glen Erin Team, Longo’s Glen Erin, Mississauga, Ont.
Quebec /Atlantic Canada: Métro Plouffe de Farnham, Alimentation D.P. Plouffe inc., Farnham, Que.
Regional Large Surface Category:
British Columbia/Yukon: Sunwood Team, Save-On-Foods – Sunwood, Coquitlam, B.C.
Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut: Ryan Durnie and Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
Ontario: Longo’s Winston Churchill Team, Longo’s Winston Churchill, Stouffville, Ont.
Québec/Atlantic Canada: Justin Norman, Yvette Snow and Team, Colemans Gardens Market, Corner Brook, N.L.
National Awards – Gold, Silver, Bronze in Small/Medium/Large
Bronze, silver and gold awards are presented to the top scoring stores in the small, medium and large size categories.
Small Surface Category
Bronze Award: Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Métro Plouffe, Bedford, Que.
Silver Award: Pepper’s Team, Pepper’s Foods, Victoria, B.C.
Gold Award: Vince Lobuglio and Team, Greco’s Fresh Markets – Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Medium Surface Category
Bronze Award: Longo’s Glen Erin Team, Longo’s Glen Erin, Mississauga, Ont.
Silver Award: Métro Plouffe de Farnham, Alimentation D.P. Plouffe inc., Farnham, Que.
Gold Award: Ed Banys, Chris Dickson and Staff, Village Food Markets, Sooke, B.C.
Large Surface Category:
Bronze Award: Justin Norman, Yvette Snow and Team, Colemans Gardens Market, Corner Brook, N.L.
Silver Award: Longo’s Winston Churchill Team, Longo’s Winston Churchill, Stouffville, Ont.
Gold Award: Sunwood Team, Save-On-Foods – Sunwood, Coquitlam, B.C.
Platinum Achievement Award
Platinum-entry that has won ten consecutive Awards of Merit (Plaque)
Winner: John, Mary, Joey, Vincent, and Deanna Carnevale, Pape Market Foodland, Toronto
Hall of Fame
Stores that have consistently demonstrated excellence are recognized. To be eligible, a store must have won at least three Gold Awards or have received a Platinum Achievement Award and two Gold Awards.
Winner: Ed Banys, Chris Dickson and Staff, Village Food Markets, Sooke, B.C.
Winner: Team Maple, Yummy Market, Maple, Ont.
