The SLR Awards has always prided itself on the robustness and transparency of its judging process. The entire process has been built to be fair, independent and open.
Antony Begley
Publishing Director, Scottish Local Retailer
Jamie Buchanan
Go Local Programme Director, SGF
Walter Bryson
Retailer, Brysons Londis Prestwick
Sam Coldbeck
Retailer, Wharfedale Premier, Hull
Luke McGarty
Policy and Public Affairs Officer, SGF
John Murray
Founder and CVO, Highland Food and Drink Club
Kathryn Neil
Director, SGF Healthy Living Programme
Chris Noice
Comms Director,
ACS
Karen Peattie
Convenience retail journalist
Peter Steel
Joint Chairman, GroceryAid Scotland
The paper judging will take place early in March and the shortlist will be announced shortly thereafter.
- The first step in the judging process for the SLR Awards is the paper judging.
- Every entry received will be read, analysed and scored by our experienced judging panel made up of retailers, wholesalers, industry bodies and other independent experts from across the UK.
- The judging panel will be chaired and led by SLR’s Publishing Director Antony Begley, assisted by SLR Sales & Marketing Director Helen Lyons.
- Each judge allocates scores to all entries received and the combined scoring totals dictate the shortlist for each Awards category.
- A team of judges will then visit every store on the shortlist to personally and collectively assess every entry in each category.
- In the majority of categories, store visits are unannounced – to ensure that the judges see the store in exactly the same way as customers see the store.
- Judges will assess the store itself and will speak to managers or owners (where possible) and to store staff.
- Judges score every store against set criteria, making extensive use of the paper entries for each store.
- Judges will take photographs and video footage for use in both the judging process and in marketing materials before, during and after the Awards ceremony.
- Winners (and Highly Commended Awards where the judges deem them appropriate) will be chosen in each category based on a combination of the final scores, judges’ top preferences and in-depth judging panel discussions.
A number of Awards are made at the discretion of the Judging Panel and are not open for entry. These include:
- Scottish Local Retailer of the Year
- Young Scottish Local Retailer of the Year
Every category winner will be eligible for consideration (subject to criteria) for the Scottish Local Retailer of the Year and Young Scottish Local Retailer of the Year Awards.
Additionally, we will accept nominations for the following two Individual Awards:
- Unsung Hero of the Year
- Outstanding Achievement Award
Winners will be chosen at the discretion of the Judging Panel.
Chair: Antony Begley
Publishing Director, SLR
Antony launched SLR back in 2003 and has run the title for the past 17 years. SLR is Scotland’s only award-winning magazine in the sector, having won the PPA Business Magazine of the Year Award, among other accolades. Antony is also on the Scottish committee of GroceryAid.
Helen Lyons
Sales & Marketing Director, SLR
Helen is the former Publishing Director of Independent Retail News (IRN) and TalkingRetail.com. She also managed the Retail Industry Awards and the Quality Food Awards at Emap.
David Rees
Editorial Manager, SLR
David worked at William Reed Business Media for 20 years, spending the last 15 of these as Editor of Convenience Store magazine before it was taken online last year.
Jamie Buchanan
Go Local Programme Director, SGF
Jamie has spent 33 years at senior management and Director level in Foodservices, Cash & Carry, Wholesale and Retail channels in Scotland. Overlapping with his retail career, he has spent 10 years as a Director for the Scottish Grocers Federation. He has also raised over £200,000 for charity.
Sam Coldbeck
Retailer, Wharfedale Premier Convenience
Samantha Coldbeck is co-owner of Wharfedale Premier Convenience, a busy Premier convenience store in Hull. A community retailer at heart, she also works closely with Tesco/Booker on the Premier Development Group, helping to build a symbol model that works well for all Premier retailers.
Tom Fender
Development Director, TWC
Tom has worked in the convenience and wholesale sectors for over 20 years. Alongside Mike Greene, he led a management buyout of HIM before selling the business after a decade of rapid expansion. At TWC, he helps wholesalers and convenience retailers improve their performance through a better understanding of data.
Blake Gladman
Strategy & Insight Director, KAM Media
Blake has over 15 years’ experience delivering shopper and consumer insight. He started his career at Kantar before joining HIM in 2009. He left his Director role at HIM in 2018 to help KAM Media drive forward its expertise in delivering market-leading research products.
Lesley Ann Gray
Strategic Insight Director, Kantar Worldpanel
With over 30 years’ experience in the Scottish food and drink industry Lesley Ann has worked in roles across marketing, category management, new product development and in commercial positions for branded, licensed and own-label businesses, supplying retail and food service sectors.
John Murray
Founder & CVO, Highland Food & Drink Club
With 30 years’ experience in the region’s food and drink industry, John founded the Highland Food & Drink Club to celebrate the great food and drink produced in the Highlands of Scotland. He also founder of a chain of Scottish convenience stores and served on the SGF’s executive committee.
Chris Noice
Comms Director, ACS
Chris joined ACS in October 2009 and is responsible for all of ACS’s external and internal communications, media relations and a growing research portfolio which includes the industry-leading Local Shop Report. Chris is also an official spokesperson for ACS.
Karen Peattie
Freelance Journalist; SLR contributor
Karen, an honorary member of the SGF and contributor to SLR, is a highly respected freelance journalist, editor and PR consultant with almost 40 years’ experience. Specialising in the retail, wholesale, food & drink, and travel sectors, she is a recognised industry expert.
Jon Rons
Co-Founder, C-Store Collective
Jon has worked for almost 30 years in convenience retailing, wholesaling and shopper understanding, including spells at Conoco, Musgrave and HIM. With vast experience in store development, store operations, buying and other support functions, he co-founded C-Store Collective to helps retailers grow sales, increase margins and add efficiencies into their business.
Peter Steel
Joint Chairman, GroceryAid Scottish Branch
Peter started his career in convenience retail, moved to B&Q then spent 30 years with Glasgow-based field marketers McCurrach, sitting on the company’s operating board for 20 of these before heading up its Irish operation. Now semi-retired, he is actively involved with industry charity GroceryAid.
David Visick
Director of Communications, FWD
Formerly Deputy Editor of Convenience Store magazine where he worked for four years, Visick joined FWD in 2010 as Director of Communications, a newly created role to help publicise the Federation’s work in promoting the interests of its members and their customers.
Kathryn Neil
Director, SGF Healthy Living Programme
Kathryn has over 20 years’ experience managing and supporting operations within independent businesses. Since 2014 she has worked to promote the SGF Healthy Living Programme. As its Director, Kathryn is responsible for developing the Programme and works with the government, NHS and retail industry to help Scots lead healthier lives.
Stephanie Rice
Director, Rice Marketing
Stephanie has spent over 35 years at senior management and Director level in the Wholesale and Retail channels. She has an in-depth understanding of the independent convenience sector and her consultancy helps local authorities, the GLA and charities to improve the local food environment. She is a non-exec Board member for Newtrade Media.