Retail Council of Canada Honours Retail’s Top Achievers at the 2018 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala.

Recognizing and celebrating the best retailer leaders in Canada in 2018

 

TORONTO, May 29, 2018 – Twelve of Canada’s most innovative retailers took home top accolades tonight at the 2018 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala (ERA), a highlight of Retail Council of Canada’s STORE 2018 conference in Toronto. In addition to the ERA honorees, three Awards of Distinction were also presented and seventeen Retail as a Career Scholarships were awarded at the gala dinner attended by Canada’s retailing elite.

The Excellence in Retailing Awards program is recognized as the pinnacle of achievement and industry recognition in a variety of categories that include in-store, online and omni-channel retail operations. This year saw 73 finalists from 39 exceptional retail companies competing for the coveted trophies.

This year, as a direct reflection on how quickly retail is transforming and adjusting to customer demand for unique experiences, a new category was introduced, Pop-Up Experience and Design. Furthering this trend, the most competitive category was Retail Marketing with a total of 16 finalists vying for top spot.

“The winners of the Excellence in Retailing Awards are true exemplars of Canada’s retail best,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. “Each of these retail organizations is driven to deliver superior customer service, innovative business solutions and leadership in store operations. We are inspired and improved as an industry by their many accomplishments.”

Ms. Brisebois added: “I join the industry in also saluting the recipients of this year’s prestigious Awards of Distinction. All of them have made game-changing contributions and leave a lasting, positive imprint on their employees, customers, peers and the communities they serve. Retailing in Canada is better because of them and their vision, passion and business acumen.”

To view the complete list of this year’s winners, visit: www.retailawards.ca

Excellence in Retailing Awards Winners
E-commerce Experience
o Well.ca
Sponsored by: Interac Association

• Environmental Leadership
o Sobeys
Sponsored by: Call2Recycle

• Health, Safety and Wellness
o Groupe Dynamite
Sponsored by: HASCO

• In-Store Experience & Design (two winners tied for first place)
o Mark’s
o Samsung
Sponsored by: Innovative Displays

• In-Store Merchandising
o Canadian Tire Corporation

• Mobile Experience
o RONA, a Lowe’s Canada Company

• Omni-Channel
o Roots
Sponsored by: Interac Association

• Philanthropic Leadership (two winners tied for first place)
o Federated Co-operatives Ltd
o The Body Shop Canada

• Pop-Up Experience and Design
o IKEA Canada

• Retail Marketing (two winners tied for first place)
o Kitchen Stuff Plus
o Thrifty Foods (Sobeys Inc.)
Sponsored by: KPMG LLP

• Supply Chain Innovations
o Canadian Tire Corporation

• Talent Development
o IKEA
Sponsored by: Morneau Shepell

2018 Awards of Distinction recipients:
• 2018 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award
o Presented to Jeff Kinnaird and The Home Depot Canada are recognized by their peers in the Canadian retail industry for their continued business success, their customer focused approach to store and online operations, their ongoing commitment to the communities they serve, and living their values every

• 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award
o Presented to Robin Lee, President and CEO of Lee Valley, for his outstanding contribution and unwavering 40-year commitment to Lee Valley.

• 2018 Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year Award
o Presented to Birch Hill Studio, a family-run lifestyle boutique and gift shop, founded by Sierra Harris for true spirit of entrepreneurship and community service.

• Also recognized at the Gala were the 17 Retail as a Career Scholarship winners. Top two awards when to:
o Conner Combdon: Interac Association Scholarship ($5000.00)
Sponsored by: Interac
o Kelsey McHugh: Canadian Retail Hall of Fame Scholarship Winner ($3000.00)
Sponsored by: Retail Council of Canada

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About Retail Council of Canada:
Retail is Canada’s largest employer with 2.1 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates over $76 billion in wages and employee benefits. Core retail sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline) were $369 billion in 2017. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members represent more than two thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association that represents small, medium and large retail businesses in every community across the country. As the Voice of Retail™ in Canada, we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants. RetailCouncil.org