David’s Kitchen was named Scottish Local Retailer of the Year last month among a host of outstanding winners at this year’s SLR Awards.
It was another night to remember last month as the cream of the Scottish local retailing sector gathered to recognise and celebrate some of the best retailers and businesses in the country at the SLR Awards 2024.
Despite an unfortunate diary clash – the awards fell on the same night as the Scotland v Switzerland Euros match! – the room was full to overflowing with retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and many others from around the sector.
Unsurprisingly, given the awards and the football match, the atmosphere was electric and, thanks to some carefully scheduled event planning, the start of the awards was delayed slightly to allow the audience to see the final moments of the match.
While Scotland disappointed, as they so often do, the retailers on the shortlist shone bright, as they so often do.
The big winner on the night was David’s Kitchen, the food-to-go-driven convenience business that has gone from strength to strength since opening its first store just 10 years ago. David’s Kitchen claimed two category awards – Food To Go Retailer of the Year and Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year, sponsored by PGMA – before going on to claim the outright Scottish Local Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by Britvic.
David’s Kitchen was one of several Spar Scotland stores hitting the heights this year with CJ Lang’s company-owned Crosshouse store claiming the Bread & Bakery Award, sponsored by Hovis, and the company-owned Spar Erskine claiming the Refit of the Year Title, sponsored by Buckfast.
Also on stage was Gerry Haughey, currently manager of Spar Garthamlock, who was rewarded for his years of top-drawer performance with an Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by MHouse Solutions.
It was a great night for Premier too with Jaz’s Premier at Grangemouth securing the Off-Trade Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by Diageo; Premier Whitehills adding the Scottish Brands Retailer of the Year Award to its trophy cabinet, sponsored by AG Barr; and Premier Leuchars claiming the Team of the Year Award, sponsored by Bestway Wholesale.
Meanwhile, Premier Girish’s of Barmulloch walked away with the ThinkSmart Innovation Award, sponsored by PayPoint, and Premier DUSA claimed a double by winning the Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by CCEP, and the Sustainability Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by Business Energy Scotland.
Nisa Rutherglen was named New Store of the Year, sponsored by Christie & Co, while Nisa-supplied Whytes of New Pitsligo won the Community Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by Booker.
Londis also tasted victory with the Forecourt Retailer of the Year title going to Londis St Michael’s Services in Dumfries, sponsored by Four Loko, while Day-Today Bourtreehill grabbed the Confectionery Retailer of the Year award.
Unaffiliated independent JP Pozzi in Buckie claimed the Newstrade Retailer of the Year prize, sponsored by News Scotland.
Finally, AG Barr Commercial Director Jonathan Kemp was handed an Industry Achievement award, and he begins to wind down for his imminent retirement in September after 21 years of fantastic service to the Scottish local retailing sector.
SLR Publisher Antony Begley commented: “Last year we saw a significant increase in investment and, remarkably, this year we seem to have carried on where we left off. During the six weeks of judging we witnessed the effects of truly impressive levels of investment in the form of sparkling refits, stunning new stores and, more generally, just amazing store standards more or less across the board.
“We were delighted to once again be able to put Scotland’s local retailers front and centre for the evening and celebrate the unbelievable commitment, effort and resilience that this sector is rightly renowned for. Congratulations to all our winners and, indeed, to everyone who made the shortlists. The standards are so high in local retailing these days in Scotland that to make it to a shortlist is a commendable achievement in itself.”
Visit the SLR Awards website to see all of the winners.
