SPAR Scotland 2022 Award Winners Revealed

Four SPAR stores have been named the best SPAR stores in Scotland by leading Scottish wholesaler and SPAR convenience retailer, C J Lang & Son Ltd.

Celebrating the incredible work stores have been doing throughout the year, SPAR Scotland launched a new awards programme earlier this year which puts SPAR stores, their achievements and positive community impacts into the spotlight. 

The awards, held on Thursday 22 September at the MacDonald Hotel and Resort in the heart of Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park, was hosted by Colin McLean CEO who recognised the very best independent retailers and stores from across SPAR in Scotland. 

The four category winners across independent and company owned SPAR stores all over Scotland are:

Independent Community Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by Brewdog

Winner is Jamie and Denise Howse, SPAR Bellabeg

Judges’ comments:

“Every store that got through to the final judging had a great story to tell, and they all play an integral part in their communities, however the SPAR store in Bellabeg was a lifeline during the storms of last autumn. Husband and wife team Jamie and Denise are true inspirations within their local community.  The whole area around the store was completely cut off from the rest of society, nevertheless the team in-store went way above standard customer service to ensure their customers had all the provisions needed to get through the dark days.”  

“It was a great experience meeting some really passionate people who, genuinely, put the community first. The stores were fantastic and all different but the thing that came through really strongly was the importance they placed on being in the heart of the community and the role that that involves. Having come out of lockdown, the solitude and isolation was harder for some people. Having store staff care so much about these people and their communities, going above and beyond to make sure everyone was OK was inspiring.”

Company Owned Community Store of the Year

Sponsored by Graham’s the Family Dairy

Winner is SPAR Halbeath

Judges’ comments:

“All stores were extremely proud of the central role they play in their local communities, wishing to create a better surrounding and service for their communities. Knowing customer names and seeing them conversing about family and the real duty of care taken, was really pleasing to see. Staff at SPAR Halbeath have an immense amount of pride in their store’s look and feel – making it warm, inviting, clean, tidy, offering easy access to goods that customers want from their local store. It was clear from all the SPAR Scotland submissions that each store manager is committed to doing the best for their community.”

Independent Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by AG Barr

Winner is Michelle & Zak Razzaq, SPAR Blantyre

Judges’ comments: 

“Despite a very close contest and difficult category to judge, there could only be one winner. The SPAR store in Blantyre run by Michelle and her husband Zak isn’t the biggest store in the country, but the standards are impeccable.  As a SPAR store, there is never a case out of place or promotional POS hidden.  With a competitor store right next door, the team go the extra mile to ensure customers choose them over their neighbours and they deliver that every day.

“What stood out was their passion and the hard-working ethic of all the staff throughout the store. They described and demonstrated with passion how SPAR Scotland is more than just a partnership to them, more like a member of the family - something that was evidently clear throughout their store.

“Travelling the length of breadth of Scotland allowed us to see just how much hard work, time, and commitment all the shortlisted independent SPAR retailers invest every day to ensure their stores and business are successful in what is a very competitive and difficult marketplace. The high quality of the shortlisted stores made it a very difficult final decision and all the candidates represented themselves and SPAR with pride and energy.”

Company Owned Store of the Year

Sponsored by Hovis

Winner is SPAR Garthamlock

Judges’ comments:

“It has been a great privilege to be able to visit the nominated SPAR stores, meet the diverse teams and see all the unique locations of stores. Standards have been exceptionally high across all stores, and it was very difficult to choose the overall winner, but SPAR Garthamlock claimed it in the end. All SPAR Scotland stores should be proud of themselves for their presentation, availability, and team enthusiasm.”

Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “We know we have some great retailers and stores, and these four SPAR stores are placing the customer at the heart of their business, working hard to ensure their shoppers have everything they need.

“Our judging panel had an extremely tough job deciding on the winners. Yet with everything that retailers and stores face on a daily basis, they have displayed a willingness to take their businesses to the next level and the dedication shown to their communities is a testament to what it means to be in the SPAR family.

“Huge congratulations must go to our winners.”

Organised by CJ Lang & Son Ltd, the SPAR Scotland Awards 2022 was kindly sponsored by AG Barr, Brewdog, Graham’s the Family Dairy and Hovis.