Congratulations to the 2024 Canadian Independent Grocers

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The 62nd annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards ceremony took place on October 30, 2024 in Toronto in front of a gala audience of more than 500 of the nation’s leading grocers, suppliers and distributors. Grocery Innovation Canada Canada’s premier food conference and exhibition.

Each year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) awards program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers and offers insight into innovations that are changing and improving retailer competition.

HERITAGE AWARD – Arnold Rands Award

A premier multi-generational grocery store that is privately owned and operated in the same family for at least two generations and in the same community for at least 35 years.

Robert, Brad and Christy McMullen, Summerhill Market, Toronto, Ontario

NATIONAL AWARDS – GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE in a specialized category.

Gold, silver and bronze awards will go to the best work in the specialty food retail industry.

Specialty category

Bronze Award Joseph Kim and Shane Bay, Galleria Supermarket, Oakville, Ontario

Silver Award Corrado Romanino, Leo Jarman and his team, Summerhill Market – Annex, Toronto, Ontario

David K. Parsons Award Team Maple, Yummy Market, Maple, Ontario

REGIONAL AWARDS – SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE

The best stores from four regions in Canada in the small, medium and large categories.

Regional category of small surfaces

British Columbia/Yukon Pepper’s Team, Pepper’s Foods, Victoria, British Columbia

Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut Don Boos and Freson Bros. Hannah, AB

Ontario Vince Lobuglio and his team, Greco’s Fresh Markets – Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Quebec/Atlantic Canada Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Metro Plouffe, Bedford, Quebec

Regional category of average surface

British Columbia/Yukon Ed Banis, Chris Dixon and staff at Village Food Markets, Sooke, BC

Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut Steve McLeod and team members, Freson Brothers. Fresh Market, High Prairie, AB

Ontario Team Longo Glen Erin, Longo Glen Erin, Mississauga, Ontario

Quebec/Atlantic Canada Metro Plouffe de Farnham, Nutrition DP Plouffe Inc., Farnham QC

Regional large area category

British Columbia/Yukon Team Sunwood, Save-On-Foods – Sunwood, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut Ryan Durney and Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market, Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Ontario Team Longo Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill Longo, Stouffville, Ontario

Quebec/Atlantic Canada Justin Norman, Yvette Snow and team, Coleman’s Gardens Market, Corner Brook, Netherlands

NATIONAL AWARDS – GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE SMALL/MEDIUM/BIG

Bronze, silver and gold awards are given to stores with the highest scores in the small, medium and large size categories.

Small surface category

Bronze Award Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Metro Plouffe, Bedford, Quebec

Silver Award Pepper’s Team, Pepper’s Foods, Victoria, British Columbia

Gold Award Vince Lobuglio and his team, Greco’s Fresh Markets – Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Average surface category

Bronze Award Team Longo Glen Erin, Longo Glen Erin, Mississauga, Ontario

Silver Award Metro Plouffe de Farnham, Nutrition DP Plouffe Inc., Farnham QC

Gold Award Ed Banis, Chris Dixon and staff at Village Food Markets, Sooke, BC

Large surface category

Bronze Award Justin Norman, Yvette Snow and team, Coleman’s Gardens Market, Corner Brook, Netherlands

Silver Award Team Winston Churchill Longo, Winston Churchill Longo, Stouffville, Ontario

Gold Award Team Sunwood, Save-On-Foods – Sunwood, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Platinum Achievement Award

PLATINUM work that has received ten consecutive awards of merit (plate)

John, Mary, Joey, Vincent and Dina Carnevale, Pape Market Foodland, Toronto, Ontario

Hall of Fame

Stores that consistently demonstrate excellence are recognized. To be eligible, a store must win at least three Gold Awards or receive a Platinum Achievement Award and two Gold Awards.

Ed Banis, Chris Dixon and staff at Village Food Markets, Sooke, BC

Team Maple, Yummy Market, Maple, Ontario

About the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards

Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year is the most prestigious award CFIG can bestow.

Each year, independent grocery stores from coast to coast across Canada compete for the coveted title in every specialty category: large, medium and small. Each of the competing stores is personally visited by a respected retail management expert who evaluates the competing stores based on retail excellence and innovation, store team performance, customer service, space utilization, freshness and cleanliness. The awards gala is held annually at Grocery Innovations Canada, the country’s premier grocery event.

For all media inquiries please contact:

Nancy Kwon

Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers

E (email protected)

P +1 (416) 219-0952