The judges said: “In only a little more than a decade, David’s Kitchen has turned local retailing on its head. Predicting the spectacular rise of food-to-go, long before it was obvious, the chain continues its laser focus on food-to-go and locally-sourced produce to deliver high margin, high turnover stores with the new Bo’ness store a further huge step forward.”
The judges said: “David’s Kitchen practically invented food-to-go in convenience retailing and, more than a decade later, the chain continues to lead the way. Bo’ness takes the unique offer to an entirely new level with a thoroughly stunning range of hot and chilled food-to go.”
The judges said: “While the multi-million pound investment in this breath-taking store is impressive in itself, it’s the quality of the thought behind the store that really makes it so special. Spectacular visually, the business truly sets itself apart with a superb food-to-go offer and a huge focus on locally sourced products.”
The judges said: “Certainly one of Scotland’s most beautiful forecourts, Highland Fuels’ Balfron store is a huge asset to the community it serves and is shopped more as a small supermarket than a standard convenience store. The Morrisons-supplied fresh and chilled range is expansive and great quality meaning shoppers needn’t travel miles to a supermarket.”
The judges said: “A relentlessly ambitious retailer, Girish Jeeva has achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time, creating a truly outstanding store that is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. The first UK store to offer 24-hour delivery, Girish’s now achieves weekly home delivery sales on a genuinely epic scale.”
The judges said: “With a stunning view over Loch Lomond, this store demonstrates quite clearly how there’s plenty of profitable mileage left in news, magazines and collectibles with a mind-boggling range and a laser focus on working the category as hard as possible. Where else can you buy a set of Topps cards for seven and a half grand?”
The judges said: “Despite being a relatively new store, a recent refit has further enhanced the unique experience that is shopping a Racetrack store. A stunning beer cave features all the essentials plus a vast range of imported spirits, beers, RTDs and more. There’s even a ‘reverse chiller’ in the cave that keeps the red wine at ambient temperature!”
The judges said: “Two USPs sit at the heart of the David’s Kitchen business: food-to-go and locally sourced products. From butchers to bakers, crisp manufacturers to ready meals, David’s Kitchen Bo’ness is packed with local, regional and national products, all flagged up to customers with POS. A store that truly puts local at its heart.”
The judges said: “Featuring what could only be called a vape-store-within-a-store, Racetrack Strathclyde has an unbelievable range of vaping and pouch products that brings customers from many miles away. Fantastic pricing, great staff knowledge and one of Scotland’s only chilled pouch cabinets make this a real destination store.”
The judges said: “A comprehensive but focused core range takes care of the every days of customers at this store but a unique range of high margin imported drinks from everywhere from Korea, the US and Japan to Nigeria and Thailand help elevate the soft drinks category to an entirely different level.”
The judges said: “As if serving the local community wasn’t enough with major scale projects like helping fund and run a permanent free Community Kitchen for the local needy and lonely, Shiva Kandaswamy also spends months of his year running a school he helped set up for underprivileged children in Tamil Nadu in India.”
The judges said: “With three successful stores already trading, David’s Kitchen Bo’ness had a high bar to reach but the latest store to join the group has moved the dial once again. The store takes everything that is fantastic about David’s Kitchen stores and adds its own unique modernising twists to create a masterclass of a store.”
The judges said: “Premier New Elgin is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious and visionary stores to open in Scotland in a long time. A stunning refit has created an exquisite shopping environment where every customer need is taken care of in style. Immaculately maintained, it is the jewel in the crown of SRJ Convenience’s fast-growing portfolio.”
The judges said: “Against a challenging backdrop of financial collapse in the university and a terrifying spike in-store crime, Moira Dean and her team have somehow managed to hold tight to their core principles of placing sustainability at the heart of every decision taken. A remarkable achievement and one that other retailers can learn from.”
The judges said: “The team at Spar Kincaidston is more of a family than a team and they approach every opportunity and challenge the same way: one for all and all for one. Despite a series of personal and work challenges, they have come out fighting and continue to demonstrate the remarkable resilience of a fantastic team.”
The judges said: “The biggest and boldest Racetrack yet, Wishaw continues to set the pace with a store that is simply indescribable. Innovation and creativity are evident at every turn and the business continues to push the boundaries on every front, including the introduction of a non-food range and a class-leading customer app.”
The judges said: “A retail giant that has long gone under the radar, SRJ Convenience has recently burst into the spotlight and is now rightfully acknowledged as one of the biggest, fastest-growing and most progressive local retailing chains in Scotland. The jewel in the crown is Premier New Elgin, a game-changing store that offers an insight into the future of the sector.”
The judges said: “For more than four decades, Dennis and Linda have set the pace in community retailing in their store in Oxgangs in Edinburgh. Tireless advocates for their local community the pair have raised funds, organised events, provided free breakfasts, worked with local schools and so much more. A retail career they can both be proud of.”
