Retail Council of Canada Celebrates the Industry's Top Achievers at 2017 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala

Award of Distinction Winners Clockwise: Clint Mahlman (London Drugs), Bonnie Brooks (formerly Hudson’s Bay Company), Allan, Anita and Lisa Malbranck (Diamond Gallery) (CNW Group/Retail Council of Canada)

TORONTO, May 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Twelve of Canada's most innovative retailers took home top prizes tonight at the 2017 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala (ERA), a highlight of Retail Council of Canada's STORE 2017   conference in Toronto. In addition to the ERA honorees, three Awards of Distinction were also presented,  and seventeen Retail as a Career Scholarships were awarded at the gala dinner attended by Canada's retailing elite.

The Excellence in Retailing Awards program is recognized as the pinnacle of achievement and industry recognition in a variety of categories that include in-store, online and omni-channel retail operations. This year saw 61 finalists from 35 exceptional retail companies competing for the coveted trophies.  KPMG is the Presenting Sponsor. 

This year, as a direct reflection on how critical the customer experience is for retailers, the most competitive category was In-Store Experience and Design with a total of 19 finalists vying for top spot. In addition, two companies have won the highest honours in their respective categories for a second year in a row demonstrating how the most outstanding retailers in Canada are great because they are continually pushing to exceed both customer expectations and help their staff excel in meeting these ever increasing demands.

"The winners of the Excellence in Retailing Awards are true exemplars of Canada's retail best," said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. "Each of these retail organizations is driven to deliver superior customer service, innovative business solutions and leadership in store operations. We are inspired and improved as an industry by their many accomplishments."

Ms. Brisebois added: "I join the industry in also saluting the recipients of this year's prestigious Awards of Distinction. All of them have made game-changing contributions and leave a lasting, positive imprint on their employees, customers, peers and the communities they serve. Retailing in Canada is better because of them and their vision, passion and business acumen."

2017 Excellence in Retailing Awards Winners:

• E-commerce Experience
• Mark's
• A Next Generation Website
  Sponsored by:  Interac Association

• Environmental Leadership
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• MEC's Packaging Strategy
  Sponsored by:  Call2Recycle

• Health, Safety and Wellness
• Sears Canada
• #WeHaveChangedSafety

• In Store Experience & Design (two winners tied for first place)
• Sport Chek Women
• Designed by women for women
• IKEA Canada
• The IKEA Pop-Up Experience
  Sponsored by:  The Look Company

• In-Store Merchandising
• PetSmart Canada
• PetSmart Brings Pinnacle Pet Nutrition to Kamloops

• Marketing and Communications (two winners tied for first place)
• Loblaw Companies Limited
• Maxi, ben oui Maxi.
• Toys R Us
• Employing the Most Sought After Position, Chief Play Office
  Sponsored by:  KPMG LLP

• Omni-Channel (Best Buy receives this top honour for the second consecutive year)
• Best Buy
• Total Retail Revolutio
  Sponsored by:  Interac Association

• Philanthropic Leadership
• Sobeys
• Making Better Food Possible On and Off the Field for Special Olympics Canada
  Sponsored by:  Chase Paymentech

• Supply Chain Innovation
• Hudson's Bay Company
• A Canadian First: New State-of-the-Art Fulfillment Technology, Hudson's Bay Company Scarborough Distribution Centre
  Sponsored by:  CN Rail

• Talent Development
• H&M
• Developing Future Leaders: H&M's Sales Coach Program (H&M wins this honour for a second consecutive year)

2017 Awards of Distinction recipients: 

• 2017 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award
  Presented to Clint Mahlman, Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer and London Drugs, in recognition of exceptional achievement and leadership in retail.
  
  
• 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
  Presented to Bonnie Brooks, former Vice-chairman of the Hudson's Bay Company for demonstrating outstanding business success and community service throughout her career.
  
  
• 2017 Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year Award
  Presented to Allan and Anita and Lisa Malbranck of Winnipeg's Diamond Gallery for embodying the true spirit of entrepreneurship and community service.
  Sponsored by:  Chase Paymentech

2017 Scholarship as a Career Scholarship  – Interac Association and Retail Council of Canada top award winners

• Sarah Bennett: Interac Association Scholarship ($5000.00)
  
  
• Kristy Wong: Canadian Retail Hall of Fame Scholarship Winner ($3000.00)

About Retail Council of Canada:

Retail is Canada's largest employer with 2.2 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates payroll of $60 billion and approximately $350 billion in sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline). As of 2016, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members represent more than two thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit industry-funded association and represents small, medium and large retail business in every community across the country. As the Voice of Retail™ in Canada, we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants. www.RetailCouncil.org

SOURCE Retail Council of Canada

Branka Stavric, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, [email protected] | 416.467.3772, Retail Council of Canada, www.RetailCouncil.org

Related Links

http://www.retailcouncil.org