The finalists for the Convenience Awards 2026 have been revealed!
With the ceremony due to take place at the Rum Warehouse at Titanic Hotel, Liverpool on 11 March, this is one of the highlights of the industry calendar and celebrates the entire convenience community.
Commenting on the finalists, Convenience Store editor Aidan Fortune said:
“This has been a tremendous year for entries and the judging panel had to work hard to whittle them down to finalists. It’s particularly heartening to see our new category, Store Team of the Year, gain so much interest from retailers. They rightly want to celebrate their hard working staff in stores, and we look forward to announcing the winners in Liverpool in March!”
Click on the category link to find out the finalists!
Small Convenience Store of the Year
This category recognises any store smaller than 1,500sq ft in selling space, regardless of ownership or retail brand.
Large Convenience Store of the Year
This category celebrates any store larger than 3,000sq ft in selling space, regardless of ownership or retail brand.
Multiple Managed Convenience Store of the Year
This celebrates sites that are rart of a group of 10 stores or more under the same ownership, or any store trading under a retail brand as part of a franchise programme; (1,500 – 3,000sq ft in size).
Independent Convenience Store of the Year
This category celebrates a single store or part of a group of nine stores or fewer under the same ownership, trading under a symbol or retailer’s own brand; (1,500 – 3,000sq ft in size).
Food to Go Store of the Year
Convenience stores have a big opportunity to satisfy customers and build sales with a compelling food to go offer, including sandwiches, hot food, impulse items and drinks to go, with solutions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day. This award celebrates the leader in tha field.
New Store of the Year
This award is open to stores that have opened from scratch between May 2024 and May 2025. This award will be given to the store which, in the opinion of the judges, is the best example of a modern convenience store and is open to stores of all sizes, and any ownership structure.
Refit of the Year
This award is open to stores that have undergone a significant remodelling, during the period between May 2024 and May 2025. This award will be given to the store which, in the opinion of the judges, is the best example of a modern convenience store and is open to stores of all sizes, and any ownership structure.
Rising Star of the Year
The Convenience Rising Star Award is open to retailers of all ages who have opened their first store or become manager in the past three years (between May 2022 and May 2025). As well as examining sales results and customer engagement, the judging panel look for examples of innovation from entrants, particularly around taking a new approach to any retailing challenge.
Store Team of the Year
New for 2026, this award celebrates teams that go above and beyond, and produce a collective effort to make their store stand out from the competition.
Sales Colleague of the Year
This category celebrates the fantastic work achieved by team members who go the extra mile to help their local communities, raise money for national/local charities, and demonstrates impressive entrepreneurial spirit by suggesting profit-generating ideas.
Community Retailer of the Year
The Community Retailer of the Year celebrates all retailers who care about their local areas and want to use every resource at their disposal to help it.
Community Initiative of the Year
This category celebrates an individual idea that has been created by a retailer to help their community
Retailers’ Retailer of the Year
Who do retailers look up to? Decided by online and on-the-night voting, this category celebrates the people who drive the industry forward
Outstanding Contribution to Convenience
Who has helped elevate the sector over the past year? The winner of this category will be unveiled at The Convenience Awards 2026
Convenience Retailer of the Year
The winners of the Small Convenience Store of the Year, Large Convenience Store of the Year, Multiple Managed Convenience Store of the Year and the Independent Convenience Store of the Year categories will all have a chance to be crowned Convenience Retailer of the Year.
Research Categories
Britain’s Favourite Managed Convenience Group
Britain’s Favourite Convenience Symbol Group
Britain’s Favourite Convenience Store Group
Retailers’ Favourite Symbol Group
The Convenience Awards 2026 takes place on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at the Rum Warehouse at Titanic Hotel, Liverpool.
Book your tickets now!
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