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The awards, now in their ten-year, reward the people who contribute to the success of many local communities across the UK. With a total cash prize value of £35,000, nineteen awards were presented at a glittering event for 400 people at London's Grosvenor House in Park Lane (13th October) to independent retailers from across England, Scotland and Wales. The event is a shining example of the Bestway group's strategy of continuing to help build business for the independents by encouraging the very best standards.

The group also confirmed that the scheme will be extended next year to include Scotland as well as the North and South of England.

The winning independent retailers are judged on a series of improvements that they have made to their stores. These are measured against the following criteria; the range of goods stocked, the POS (point of sale) materials used, sales increases, pricing policy, store layout and space in the store, equipment used and the success of new lines. What is most important is that the store looks, and is, professionally run and that customers receive the very best service.

The top award, carrying the title of Bestway National Retailer of the Year goes to the person who has shown the most outstanding all round performance. This year that winner is, Manoj Patel and his wife Minal of Mannys News, Long Ditton, Surrey, who took the top prize of £10,000 and collected the Bestway trophy, certificate from Zameer Choudrey, Bestway's group chief executive.

Retailer successes have also been recognised from around the country.

• The winners of the Northern (Batleys) region is Ravi Basra, Bierley Superstore and Post Office, Bierley, Bradford.
• The winner of the Southern (Bestway) region is Anjum Pervez Suleman of Food and Wine store, Islington, North London. Both received £3000 in prize money, a Bestway trophy, and certificate.

The runners up (who both won) were:

• from the Northern Region, Thamalingam Gnanachandran of Four Seasons Superstore, Clubmoor, Liverpool and the Southern Region Mr Narinder Devgun; and
• Mrs Satpal Devgun of Heath Hayes Post Office, Cannock, Staffs.

There are two Best-one symbol group awards. James Hall controller of Best-one, presented them with their prizes:

• the winner of the Best One trophy was Zafar Mahmood and Mrs Nusrat Mahmood, Middlesbrough, Cleveland who won £3000
• the Best-one runner up, Alkesh Pankhania of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex who won £2000.

A Community Award that recognises the valuable work carried out by the independents' towards the welfare of the local community is also made during the evening. The winner this year was Alkesh Gadher, Best - one Isleworth, Middlesex and he won £1000 and certificate. This award is sponsored by IRN magazine. (Mr Gadher's phone no. is 020 8560 1958)

Speaking at the awards Bestway's group chief executive, Zameer Choudrey said, "Tonight's event marks the 10th anniversary of these awards. Since its inception in 2001, we have helped to develop more than 3,000 independent retailers and we have recognised and awarded the achievements of over 200.

"The seminars staged have had a tremendous impact on professionalising the retailers, making them stronger and smarter to withstand the competition on the high streets and they are now leading the fight back against the multiples.

"We congratulate all the winners and wish them continued success in the next 12 months."

The awards also recognise top performing retailers who excel in the way they display and promote products across key sectors

Bestway's Cash and Carry group managing director, Younus Sheikh presented these winners with their awards of £1000 each and a certificate.

The full list of remaining category winners is:

The comedy actor and comedian, Chris Addison, who has many successful stage and TV appearances to his name, provided the entertainment for the evening.

The Bestway Retailer Development Awards are staged in association with Independent Retail News magazine, part of Metropolis Media Ltd. The magazine also sponsors the Community Award.

The people who contribute to the success of many local communities across the UK get their just recognition through this scheme. With a total cash prize value in excess of £35,000, eighteen awards were presented at a glittering event for 400 people at London’s Grosvenor House in Park Lane (14^th October) to independent retailers across England, Scotland and Wales. The event is a shining example of the Bestway group’s strategy of continuing to help build business for the independents by encouraging the very best standards.

The winning independent retailers are judged on a series of improvements that they have made to their stores.  These are measured against the following criteria; the range of goods stocked, the POS (point of sale) materials used, sales increases, pricing policy, store layout and space in the store, equipment used and the success of new lines. What is most important is that the store looks and is professionally run and that customers receive the very best service.

The top award carrying the title of National Retailer of the Year goes to the person who has shown the most outstanding all round performance. This year that winner is Mr Shoaib Sheikh Hussain, Metro Local, West Kensington, London who took the top prize of £10,000 and collected the Bestway Trophy, certificate and product credits from Zameer Choudrey, Bestway’s group chief executive. (Mr Sheikh Hussain’s phone no. is 020 7371 4181)

Retailer successes have also been recognised from around the country. The winner of the Northern (Bestway) region is Mr Kumarakulasingam Sathyanatan, Holly’s Mini Market, Liverpool. The winner of the Southern (Bestway) region is Mr Waqar Hashmi, Belmont Food and Wine Ltd, Sutton, Surrey. Both received £3000 in prize money, a Bestway Trophy, certificate and product credits.

The runners up were; from the Northern Region, Mr Aasim Rashid, Rashid PTV, Bolton and the Southern Region Mr Muhammad Nadeem Naz. Elves Ltd., North London. Both win £2000.

There are two Best One symbol group awards; the winner of the Best One trophy was Mr Alkesh Gadher, Best One Isleworth, Middlesex who won £3000 and the Best One runner up, Mr Mohammed Saddique, Eurofood, Leeds who won £2000. Arshad Chaudhary, operations director of Bestway Group, presented them with their prizes.

A Community Award that recognises the valuable work carried out by the independents towards the welfare of the local community is also made during the evening. The winner this year was Mr Hamdy Shahein of Hamdy’s News, North London and he won £1000 and certificate. This award is sponsored by IRN magazine. (Mr Shahein's phone no. is 020 7254 0681)

Speaking at the awards Bestway’s group chief executive, Zameer Choudrey said, “In this, our ninth year of staging these awards, standards continue to improve across most of the independent sector. The pressure on the retailer to deliver excellent service never changes, and it was particularly good, therefore, to see greater numbers of people attending our development seminars in the north and south this year, suggesting that more and more independents want to improve their businesses. We congratulate all the winners and wish them all continued success in the next 12 months.”

The awards also recognise top performing retailers who excel in the way they display and promote products across key sectors that include soft drinks, beer and cider, wines and spirits, tobacco, confectionery, crisps and snacks, general grocery, chilled and frozen goods, household, health and beauty and water.

Bestway’s Cash and Carry group managing director, Younus Sheikh presented these winners with their awards of £1000 each and a certificate.

The full list of remaining category winners is: (Sponsors of prizes in italic)

The comedian, Marcus Brigstocke, who has many BBC TV successful series’ to his name, provided the entertainment for the evening.

The Bestway Retailer Development Awards are staged in association with Independent Retail News magazine, part of Metropolis Media Ltd. The magazine also sponsors the Community Awards.

Date: October 14 2010
Photos available from Peter Cunard
Further information: Peter Cunard PR Advisor, Bestway Group (020 8991 5843 or 07768 555 285)

James Hall, controller of the current 720 member strong Best One symbol group, said at a roadshow to attract new members held at Arith Castle in Falkirk, Scotland,“ On the back of the impressive build up of our premium symbol group, Best One over the past few years, we now feel the time is right to bring the business to Scotland.  We have made a significant appointment with Hazel Smith, as our Scottish business development manager. Hazel and her team will be initially covering the Edinburgh and Fife regions, where we have already signed up thirty new retailers who have joined the Best One ‘family’ since the beginning of the year.”

Best One sent an open invitation to nearly 3000 retailers in Scotland to come and meet the Best One team and thirty five of the very top named suppliers and service providers. Scottish world snooker champion, Stephen Hendry, who is sponsored by Highland Spring – also exhibitors at the show, was on hand to play a few games with retailers to get the launch off to successful start. The day proved to be a great opportunity for retailers who want to drive their business forward, to come and talk face to face with the team behind Best One.

Best One attracts some of the most professional and progressive retailers in the UK and is now recognised as having one of the most comprehensive symbol group offerings. As well as probably being the best priced and value delivered wholesaler on the road, offering over 1400 lines on promotion in any one period. This gives retailers a real edge over their competition.
 
One of the new retailers to join is Mrs Amara Yousaf, who with her husband Irfan, of Best One stores in Kennoway, Fife said, “I heard about the arrival of Best One in Scotland and liked what I saw and heard about them.  Their prices are really good, their people are really nice and our customers benefit well from their very good promotions.  They have a very supportive approach.
“We have built a good business in Scotland, having arrived here from Bristol five years ago and we are pleased to be able to see it grow more in the future with the help of Best One.”

James Hall added, “What we have to offer our retailer members has been enhanced in the past few months with the addition of several new services through our relaunched website www.best-one.co.uk . In particular the on-line ‘you click and we pick service’, where retailers can, with the aid of a hand held web scanner, order direct from the shelf to us, via their own PC’s or laptops, and within 48 hours, the delivery is with them. We have found this to be a really popular and fast growing element of our offering.

“A further much favoured element of what we offer is the hands on support from our team of business development managers and merchandisers who are available to provide on going support with business decisions right across the board including general marketing help and advice.

“We don’t just leave retailers to get on with it – a comment we often hear about the competition. All retailers get regular four weekly visits, ensuring they are kept up to date with all our latest developments and promotional activity. We have made this support aspect an essential point in the offering to retailers and they really welcome it – running a shop alone out there can be one of the most difficult jobs there is and we are really proud to be able to be there and offer all the advice and support needed.”

Elsewhere in the Bestway group, Batleys cash and carry has branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, where a strong business on the wholesale side of the group has been built up over 23 years, with many independent retailer or catering customers buying regularly or having goods delivered to their own premises. In addition, Bestway has recently acquired the Bellevue Cash and Carry group; they have two depots in Scotland in Edinburgh and Stirling.