2019 Canadian Independent Grocers of the Year Announced

The 57th Annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony was presented on October 23, 2019, in Toronto, in front of a gala audience of over 500 leading grocers, suppliers, and distributors at Grocery Innovations Canada 2019, 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.

The NATIONAL GOLD AWARD Winners (pictured in gallery) for Top Independent Grocer of the Year for 2019 are:

Freson Bros. Fresh Market, Fort Saskatchewan, AB (Large Surface)

Safety Mart Foods, Chase, BC (Medium Surface)

AG Valley Foods, Invermere, BC (Small Surface)

DAVID C. PARSONS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN SPECIALTY FOOD RETAILING (GOLD):

Choices Markets – Yaletown, Vancouver, BC

FULL LIST OF WINNERS HERE

SPECIAL AWARDS

CFIG is proud to announce that Mike Coleman, Frank Coleman and the Coleman Family of Colemans, Corner Brook, NL, were awarded THE ARNOLD RANDS HERITAGE AWARD. The award is given 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.

CFIG is proud to announce the following grocers into the HALL OF FAME (IGYA):

Justin Norman and Team, Colemans Garden Market, Corner Brook, NL

Choices Markets Kelowna Team, Choices Markets, Kelowna, BC

Aaron Coutts and Staff, Freson Bros., Barrhead, AB

Shelley Keim and Staff, Freson Bros., Manning, AB

Daniel Giroli and Team, The Market By Longo’s – HBC, Toronto, ON

John, Mary, Joey, Vince, and Deanna Carnevale, Thorncrest Market Foodland, Etobicoke, ON

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.