Retail News Update

 Nisa-Today’s has been named Symbol Group of the Year at the 2007 Retail Industry Awards, held last night at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

Nisa fascia

Judges were impressed by the group’s “highly focused and pragmatic range of offers to meet entrepreneurial retailers’ needs” as well as its offering of “substantial incentives to encourage retailers to source stock from its centralised distribution operation”.

John Heagney, Nisa Symbol Group director said: “In only four years, we have created the fastest-growing symbol group in the UK with stores that really are the cream of independent retailing.

“That is a huge achievement and the fact that it’s a joint effort between independent retailers in the group and Nisa-Today’s is all the more pleasing.

“By combining our brand and buying expertise with the retailing knowledge and personal service only an independent retailer can provide, we’re offering the consumer a tailored and truly credible alternative to the major multiples. We’re absolutely delighted.”

But it was Spar stores who dominated the remaining award categories for independent retailers, walking off with a total of seven accolades, including the Outstanding Achievement Award for Spar UK.

Spar retailers also triumphed in the categories:

• Independent Newsagent of the Year
• Independent Training Initiative of the Year
• Independent Store Manager of the Year
• Independent Forecourt Manager of the Year

Northern Ireland-based Henderson Retail, Spar won Regional Convenience Chain of the Year, while Eurospar scooped Global Convenience Format of the Year.