Bestway announces winners of Retail Development Awards

The winners of Bestway Wholesale’s Retail Development Awards 2019 were announced last night at the London Marriott Hotel.

The event saw a 400-strong audience of independent retailers, members of the best-one symbol group and Bestway Wholesale’s Xtra Local retail club, as well as key industry suppliers, gather together to recognise outstanding achievements and business successes.

Retailers in contention for the awards had previously attended a seminar offering guidance on how best to meet their customers’ needs. They were then given six months to implement the learnings in their stores to help drive sales before being considered for the awards, which have a total prize fund of over £50,000.

Dawood Pervez, managing director at Bestway Wholesale, says: “Independent retailers are facing heavy competition from the multiples and other high street rivals; by no means are the achievements we see at these awards easily done. They are the result of hard work, dedication and unwavering vision on each retailer’s business goals.

“For many, making bold decisions, investing in their stores and keeping their shoppers and local communities at the heart of what they do, has seen their businesses transform in just a year. Every year, I am inspired and in awe of what some of our retailers manage to achieve.”

2019 winners:

National Winner
Asif Sardar, best-one Coltness, Wishaw, Motherwell

best-one National Winner
Barry and Alison Thomas, BJ Thomas Newsagents, Doncaster

Southern Winner
Gareth Jones, JJ’s Convenience Store, Gilfach, Bargoed

Northern Winner
Hardeep Singh Nahal, Pedmore Convenience Store, Pedmore, Stourbridge

Scottish Winner
Donna and Bruce Morgan, Brownlies, Biggar

Community
Shad Saleem, Plessy News and Poets Corner, Blyth

Soft Drinks
Hitesh Karsan, Hathershaw Mini Market, Oldham

Beer & Cider
Asif Sardar, best-one Coltness, Wishaw

Confectionery
Bobby Mann, best-one Stainbeck, Leeds

Crisps & Snacks
Ijaz Ahmed, Falcon Food Express, Bethnal Green, London

General Grocery
Sivananthan Kandasamy, best-one Ongar Supermarket, Ongar

Household, Health and Beauty
Alkesh Pankhania, best-one Sunbury, Sunbury-on-Thames

Pet Food
Sagir Hasham, Mr Booze Express, Derby

Baby Food
Tony Openshaw, Masefield News, Stanley, Durham

Wines & Spirits
Donna and Bruce Morgan, Brownlies, Biggar

Water
Mr Lewis Prager, Wakefield

Chilled Provisions & Dairy
Manish Patel, best-one, Leeds

Tobacco
N Soni, Thrifties, Broughton

Tel: Bestway Wholesale 020-8453 1234