It's time to get your talents recognised at this year's Convenience Retail Awards

Do you run the best convenience store in your area? If your answer is yes, now's the time to get recognised for your talents - in the Convenience Retail Awards 2008. The search is on to find the convenience industry's best retailers so if you run a store to be proud of, we want to hear from you.
It couldn't be easier to enter. Just call our dedicated awards hotline or log on to the website to request an entry form, fill it in, and send it back by November 9.
Staged jointly with our sister magazine The Grocer, the Convenience Retail Awards will culminate in a glittering ceremony at London's Marriot Grosvenor Square on March 13, 2008. You could be there too.
The awards are open to everyone, whether you're independent, are part of a symbol group, or manage a multiple store. And this year we have a new category for large stores from 3,000sq ft to 10,000sq ft. There are now four categories - independent, independent symbol, multiple, and large convenience store.
Each of these categories is sub-divided by trading location:
Village/neighbourhood
City/town/high street
Each of these winners will be considered for one of four national titles:
Best Independent Store
Best Independent Symbol Store
Best Multiple Store
Best Large Convenience Store
From these, one overall winner will be crowned CONVENIENCE RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2008.
On top of that, we have eight other sponsored awards recognising excellence in specific areas of the store - in ambient grocery, batteries, chilled, food to go, laundry & homecare, soft drinks, technology, and tobacco. Batteries and soft drinks are both new special category awards for 2008. Read on for sponsors' comments, or see the official entry form for more details.
In addition, there are five other special awards - the Zero Tolerance Award for Crime Prevention, Wholesale Business Initiative, Product of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and new for 2008, Best Independent News Trader. For information on these, call the awards hotline.
March 13 is sure to be a night to remember, so if you want to be a part of it, make sure you get your entry pack now.


Best Ambient Grocery Display Sponsored by: Premier Foods



Premier Foods is delighted to be sponsoring the Convenience Retail Awards.
Subsequent to the RHM integration, Premier Foods' portfolio includes great brands such as Hovis, Mr Kipling, Branston, Ambrosia, Sharwood's and Batchelors.
The convenience sector is of great importance to the ambient grocery market and Premier Foods works closely with retailers to drive growth. Whether customers are making a distress purchase or topping up, ensuring you have the right range is key to extra sales. From spreads to soups, cakes to cooking sauces, Premier Foods is well positioned to help you build sales.

Best Battery Merchandising Sponsored by: Energizer



As the world's leading battery manufacturer, Energizer is committed to promoting best practice merchandising and to helping convenience retailers maximise battery sales. It is delighted to be involved with the Convenience Retail Awards and is excited to introduce this important new category.
If you are already operating at best practice when it comes to merchandising batteries Energizer looks forward to receiving your entry. Who knows, it might be you who wins this prestigious award on March 13, 2008.

Best Chilled Products Display Sponsored by: Müller Tropicana



Müller Tropicana has, for the past few years, supported the Convenience Retail Awards and it is proud to be associated with this prestigious event.
Shoppers today expect high standards from their local c- store and from the chilled offering made available. Ensure the range, merchandising, promotions and operations are second to none and keep in mind that chilled yogurts, desserts and not-from-concentrate chilled juice continue to show healthy grow within the c-store market.
Müller Tropicana would like to thank all participants in the Best Chilled Products Display award.

Best Food to Go Offer Sponsored by: Country Choice



Country Choice is passionate about food to go, so who better to sponsor an award that recognises the very best in this category within the convenience retailing sector?
As a leading supplier to the food to go sector, Country Choice feels it is its responsibility to promote excellence and recognise the very best in the category, which is why it is delighted to associate its Bake & Bite brand with the Convenience Retail Awards 2008. We wish all entrants the very best of luck and look forward to receiving their entries.

Best Laundry and Homecare Display Sponsored by: Procter & Gamble



P&G recognises that thriving and efficient c-stores are an essential element of the UK's dynamic retail environment. As part of its commitment to convenience retailers across the UK, P&G helps retailers through its ShelfHelp programme. The programme offers advice on ranging, merchandising and in-store display, as well as ensuring that staff are not only well trained, but also knowledgable about the products they stock.
P&G says the UK convenience channel is a vital part of the retail landscape and well-run stores are key to the channel's success. It wishes all the entrants the very best of luck.

Best Soft Drinks Merchandising Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline



The soft drinks market is a highly dynamic and vital component of the convenience retailing offer. Many local retailers are geographically at the heart of their communities. GSK, with its range of leading brands - Lucozade Energy, Lucozade Sport, Lucozade Hydroactive and Ribena - is committed to supporting and helping them make their sales profitable while providing the highest level of service for their customers.
GSK is delighted to be involved in the Convenience Retail Awards 2008.

Best use of Technology Sponsored by: Torex Retail



Torex Retail - the leading provider of epos across all retail sectors - is pleased to be sponsoring the Best Use of Technology award at the 2008 Convenience Retail Awards. Torex Retail's aim is to encourage the use of technology by retailers to develop their businesses, saving them both time and money and enhancing profitability.
Torex Retail is pleased to support this growing sector of the market, which it believes is key for the future of grocery retailing, and demonstrates its commitment to all independent retailers by delivering market-leading solutions and services.

Best Tobacco Merchandising Sponsored by: Imperial Tobacco



Imperial Tobacco is proud of its long association with the Convenience Retail Awards having been involved since their inception over 20 years ago. Convenience retailers are extremely important to the UK tobacco market with adult smokers currently spending over £6.1bn per year on their preferred tobacco brands in c-stores. Imperial Tobacco remains hugely committed to the convenience channel and it is extremely rewarding and gratifying to recognise those retailers who provide a first-class service to the public.