It was a big night for Booker at the HIM Awards (23 May) with its Premier symbol group winning three of the 16 trophies up for grabs, including the evening’s main award for the Shoppers’ Favourite Convenience Retailer for 2019. In addition, the wholesaler’s Budgens fascia claimed a further two awards.
Besides the top gong, Premier also collected awards for Shoppers’ Favourite Symbol Group and Shoppers’ Favourite Small Format Retailer.
Budgens was named Shoppers’ Favourite in the Convenience Retailer For Healthier Choices and Forecourt Retailer categories.
Other Shoppers’ Favourite winners included the Co-op (Convenience Retailer For Fresh Foods and Managed Convenience Retailer), Bargain Booze (Convenience Retailer for BWS) and best-one (Convenience Retailer For Snacks).
Spar was named the Retailers’ Favourite Symbol Group.
The award winners are decided using HIM research, with its annual Convenience Tracking Programme consisting of over 20,000 shopper interviews used for the shopper awards and thousands of retailer interviews used to determine the winners of the retailer-focused categories.
The Shoppers’ Favourite Convenience Retailer award is based on shopper ratings across all aspects of the store, including availability, ease of shop, range of products and staff friendliness.
HIM’s research found Premier scoring consistently highly on the core ratings that are very important to shoppers. These included 9.57 out of 10 for staff friendliness and helpfulness, 9.37 out of 10 for speed of service and 9.11 for product availability.
It is the second year running that Premier have won the award.
Thanking Premier retailers for their hard work and dedication, Martyn Parkinson (pictured with award), the symbol group’s Brand Director, said: “These awards are particularly special as they are voted for by shoppers and are a true measure of Premier retailer’s commitment to serving their communities every day. I am delighted to have won three awards which shows the value that shoppers hold for Premier stores nationwide.
“With our 25th birthday celebrations just starting, our new TV advert and our plans to give £25,000 back to communities nationally, I am confident we will be able to build on this success and drive more footfall, sales and profits for our retailers.”
A full list of winners can be found on the HIM website.
