2014 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Award Winners

TORONTO/September 30, 2014… The 52nd Annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony was presented tonight in Toronto, in front of a gala audience of over 500 leading grocers, suppliers, and distributors at Grocery Innovations Canada 2014, Canada’s premier grocery conference and tradeshow.

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.

CFIG is proud to announce that Dave Hare, Mieke Hare, Dave Hare Jr., Metieke Hare and family of Tofield IGA, in Tofield, Alta., were awarded THE ARNOLD RANDS HERITAGE AWARD, awarded to the year’s best multi-­generational store that is privately owned, and that has been in the same family for at least two generations, in the same community for 35 years. 

This year, CFIG is proud to announce that Oak Ridges Food Market, Richmond Hill, Ont.; Pete’s, Halifax, N.S.; and Qualicum Foods, Qualicum Beach, B.C. were inducted into the CFIG Hall of Fame. To be eligible for Hall of Fame induction, a store must win at least three Gold Awards or receive one Platinum Achievement Award and one Gold Award.

The NATIONAL GOLD AWARD Winners for Top Independent Grocer of the Year for 2014 are:  

Freson Bros. Stony Plain, Alta. (large surface)

Longo Bros.York Mills, Toronto, Ont. (medium surface)

Blind Bay Village Grocer, Blind Bay, B.C. (small surface)

Choices Market Kitsilano, Vancouver, B.C. (specialty category, David C. Parsons award)

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.