Top retailers and suppliers are honoured as awards are handed out at virtual Nisa Expo

Guests went online to watch the event which was hosted by comedian Alex Brooker yesterday (20 October) at the end of the first day of the Nisa Expo.

Nisa Local Pinkie Farm in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, was presented with the award for store of the year (over 3,000sq ft) with the M&S Nisa Local in Blidworth, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire scooping the award for a store of between 1,500-3,000sq ft.

The store of the year award for an outlet of under 1,500sq ft went to the Nisa Local in Saint Austell, Cornwall.

Own-brand retailer of the year awards, which celebrate outlets that champion the Co-op own-label range, went to Nisa Local Fitzwilliam, Pontefract, West Yorkshire and Filco Supermarkets – Boverton Road, Llantwit Major, Glamorgan.

This year’s event saw the introduction of the newcomer of the year award, which was won by Nisa partner Amacor for its Nisa Local store in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, which was honoured for its impressive improvement since joining the symbol group last year.

Three awards were made on behalf of Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity “dedicated to retailers who have made a significant difference to their local community through the charity”.

Scarborough-based Proudfoot Group supermarket was awarded the MADL charity champion prize (for outlets of over 3,000 sq ft) whilst S&K in Coventry won the under 3,000sq ft award for its “outstanding charitable efforts”.

Gwilliams of Edington, Bridgwater, Somerset, was rewarded for its dedication to supporting local causes being awarded the fundraiser of the year title. All three MADL award winners were also given £2,500 to donate to local good causes.

A number of suppliers were also honoured at the virtual ceremony for their “exceptional levels” of service to the business over the last 12 months.

The award for best Co-op supplier of the year went to Stateside Foods while the prize for central invoicing/direct to store supplier went to Bobby’s Foods.

Danone Waters won the prize for best service/availability while the best new product of the year award went to Mars M&M’s Block Chocolate.

Dunbia was named fresh and frozen supplier of the year, Unilever UK the grocery supplier of the year and Heineken UK the licensed and tobacco supplier of the year.

Other big winners on the night were Activ Projects (format and store development supply partner) and Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (MADL supplier of the year).