TORONTO — The 61st Annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony was presented tonight (Wednesday, October 25, 2023) in Toronto, in front of a gala audience of over 500 leading grocers, suppliers, and distributors at Grocery Innovations Canada, Canada’s premier grocery conference and trade show.
Each year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) Awards Program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers and offers insights into innovations that are changing and enhancing the way retailers compete.
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.
| Carmen and Giancarlo Trimarchi, Vince’s Market, Sharon, ON |
NATIONAL AWARDS – GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE in Specialty Category
Gold, silver and bronze awards to the top-scoring entries in specialty food retailing.
Specialty Category
| Bronze Award | Longo’s Brookfield Team, Longo’s Brookfield, Toronto, ON |
| Silver Award | Joseph Kim and Shane Bae, Galleria Supermarket, Oakville, ON |
| David C. Parsons Award | Longo’s Imperial Plaza Team, Longo’s Imperial Plaza, Toronto, ON |
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 | Management and Team, Pepper’s Foods, Victoria, BC |
| Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut | Don Boos and Team Members, Freson Bros. Hanna, AB |
| Ontario | Rebecca Perna and Team, Denninger’s, Burlington ON |
| Québec/Atlantic Canada | Melanie Powell and Team, Colemans St. Anthony, NL |
Regional Medium Surface Category
| British Columbia/Yukon | Management and team of Country Grocer Royal Oak, Country Grocer (Royal Oak), Victoria, BC |
| Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut | Austin Jessome and Team Members, Freson Bros., Barrhead, AB |
| Ontario | Joseph Kim & Derek Jun, Galleria Supermarket – York Mills, Toronto, ON |
| Québec/Atlantic Canada | Métro Plouffe de Farnham, Alimentation D.P. Plouffe inc., Farnham, QC |
Regional Large Surface Category
| British Columbia/Yukon | Lynn Valley Team, Save-On-Foods – Lynn Valley, North Vancouver, BC |
| Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut | Ryan Durnie and Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market, Fort Saskatchewan, AB |
| Ontario | Longo’s Stouffville Team, Longo’s, Stouffville, ON |
| Québec/Atlantic Canada | Kay LeRiche, Tina Macdonald, Chris Williamson, Colemans on Newfoundland Drive, St. John’s, NL |
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 | Melanie Powell and Team, Colemans, St. Anthony, NL |
| Silver Award | Pepper’s Team, Pepper’s Foods, Victoria, BC |
| Gold Award | Rebecca Perna and Team, Denninger’s, Burlington, ON |
Medium Surface Category
| Bronze Award | Métro Plouffe de Farnham, Alimentation D.L. Plouffe inc. Farnham, QC |
| Silver Award | Joseph Kim & Derek Jun, Galleria Supermarket – York Mills, Toronto, ON |
| Gold Award | Management and team of Country Grocer Royal Oak, Country Grocer (Royal Oak), Victoria, BC |
Large Surface Category
| Bronze Award | Kay LeRiche, Tina Macdonald, Chris Williamson, Colemans on Newfoundland Drive, St. John’s, NL |
| Silver Award | Lynn Valley Team, Save-On-Foods – Lynn Valley, North Vancouver, BC |
| Gold Award | Longo’s Stouffville Team, Longo’s, Stouffville, ON |
Platinum Achievement Award
PLATINUM-entry that has won ten consecutive Awards of Merit (Plaque)
| Chris DeLima and Team, Colemans, Port aux Basques, NL |
| Sherry Rowsell and Team, Colemans, Springdale, NL |
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About the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards
The Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year is the most prestigious award CFIG can bestow. Each year, independent grocery stores from coast-to-coast in Canada compete for the coveted title in each of the specialty, large, medium and small surface categories. Each of the competing stores is visited personally by a highly respected retail management expert, who evaluates competing stores based on retailing excellence and innovation, store team performance, customer service, space utilization, freshness and cleanliness. The gala awards evening takes place annually at Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery event in the country.
