Scotmid Stockbridge crowned UK's best c-store

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Scotmid Stockbridge in Edinburgh has been named the UK’s best convenience store at the 2015 Convenience Retail Awards (CRAs) - the prestigious national awards run by trade magazines Convenience Store and The Grocer.

The store, which also won the Best Multiple Store award, beat off competition from across the UK to claim the prize at the awards ceremony in London last night (Thursday). Judges were won over by the store’s consistently high standards, commitment to local suppliers and the community.

Stockbridge is the latest model of Scotmid Co-operative’s premium black format, which combines smart design with an upmarket range and strong focus on delicious local produce. Fresh food is to the fore, particularly the feature bakery table that greets customers as they walk in the store.

Store manager Craig McAulay said: “I’m absolutely gobsmacked. It’s been a great achievement for the store, myself and Scotmid as a whole and I think it’s been a big team effort right throughout the whole year. I think we won because we’re trying to give something different to the customers, and we’ve given them what they asked for, such as a high end local bakery.

“Hopefully we’ll get stronger and stronger and develop year on year. There’s a lot of competition in Edinburgh city centre and it gets harder and harder each year, but we’ve got a good focus and we’re going in the right direction.”

Convenience Store editor David Rees said: “It was an extremely closely fought contest in which all the judges had their personal favourites, but it was Scotmid’s commitment to a vision of great food, great service and high standards which saw them triumph.

“The store is a visual delight with a mouthwatering array of goods, and is a genuine force for good in the local community. Well done to the entire team.”

Other winners included Costcutter Bromsgrove for Best Small Store; Spar Oxford Road, Manchester for Best Independent Store; and Budgens Moreton-in-Marsh for Best Large Store.

The winners:

CRA winner 2015: Scotmid Stockbridge

Best Small Store: Costcutter Bromsgrove

Best Independent Store: Spar Oxford Road, Manchester

Best Large Store: Budgens Moreton-in-Marsh

Best Multiple Store: Scotmid Stockbridge

Category award winners:

Best Customer Service: Scotmid Stockbridge

Responsible Retailing Award: Wharfedale Premier, Hull

Excellence in Impulse Award: Nisa Whittlesey

National Lottery Retailer of the Year: Swifts Supervalu, Lisnaskea

Best Chilled Food Retailer: Spar Oxford Road, Manchester