The supermarket’s 2019 IGA Victorian Store of the Year trophy was delivered to the supermarket yesterday, along with individual state awards for the store’s fresh produce and dairy sections.
The awards are usually presented at a gala ceremony, but because of Coronavirus restrictions they were instead announced in a virtual ceremony.
IGA Victoria state sales and operations manager Jim Kavanagh travelled to Deniliquin yesterday to make the presentations in person.
‘‘The sales and growth of the business over the past 12 months, the mix of business, customer support and the standard and quality of the store overall is why Deniliquin won,’’ Mr Kavanagh said.
‘‘For us, IGA stores are all about community and all of the things they can do and already do for our communities, particularly in regional areas.
‘‘With COVID-19, we have actually grown considerably because we are about communities and this is what we will continue to do.’’
Deniliquin Central IGA co-owner Corina Beames said she is proud to see her staff recognised for the extra effort they continuously put into making the store what it is today.
‘‘It is a real buzz to receive these state awards, but I must thank store manager Wayne Elliott because he has been instrumental in winning these awards,’’ she said.
‘‘Wayne has helped us get a fresh outlook on things at the store and has been great with the staff. We appreciate everything he has done for us since coming on board 15 months ago.
‘‘Without the people of our town and our staff, we wouldn’t be here, so it is encouraging to know we are here because the town supports us.’’
As the winner of the Victorian Store of the Year, Central IGA is automatically a finalist in the national award to be judged later this year.
The local store last won the national title in 2000, after two consecutive Victorian wins.
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