The 2024 SPAR Australia Trade Show took place from August 15-17 on the Gold Coast, where the much-anticipated Retail Awards were also revealed.
After a highly successful trade show at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the spotlight shifted to the Gala Awards Dinner. This elegant event united retailers, suppliers, directors, and the dedicated SPAR Australia team to honour the remarkable accomplishments of the past year.
The evening was hosted by the charismatic Scott Williams, widely known as “The Doctor.” The festivities kicked off with the presentation of the prestigious ‘Little SPAR Award,’ an honour that pays tribute to its original recipients, Bob and Judith Little of SPAR Maclean.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Miles Hedge, former Chairman of SPAR Australia. His unwavering commitment and strategic foresight years ago ensured a seamless transition to the current ownership model. SPAR Australia clarified that without Hedge’s efforts, the company as it stands today simply wouldn’t exist.
The coveted Store of the Year accolades were awarded to two outstanding locations: SPAR Tweed Heads, which claimed the title of SPAR Store of the Year 2024, and SPAR Express Morpeth, recognised as SPAR Express Store of the Year 2024. Lou Jardin, Managing Director of SPAR Australia, and Dimitri Spyrakis, Deputy Chair of the SPAR Guild Council, presented these prestigious awards.
The Retail Awards Program, designed to spotlight excellence among SPAR retailers, saw Mark McGuinness, Chief Operating Officer of SPAR Australia, proudly present the following awards:
SPAR Grocery Award – SPAR Tweed Heads
SPAR Express Grocery Award – SPAR Express Morpeth
Dairy/Freezer Award – SPAR Ballina
Fresh Food Award – SPAR Malanda
Food To Go Award – SPAR Express Oxenford
Anastacia Riley from SPAR Express Granville was honoured with the Store Manager of the Year award. Over five years, Anastacia has ascended from team member to store manager, and now serves as an area manager. She is a trusted mentor, guiding her store managers with wisdom and support and proving herself to be a pillar of leadership within the SPAR community.
The Community/Partnership/Foundation (CPF) Award was presented to SPAR Bourke, recognising their outstanding work in fostering strong customer and supplier relationships. SPAR Bourke stands as a role model for the network, thanks to its commitment to understanding the community’s needs and building long-term connections that benefit all parties.
Three suppliers were also acknowledged for their exceptional efforts at the trade show. Lou Jardin and Colin Dwyer, National Merchandise Manager, took the stage to express gratitude and present the following awards:
Small Supplier Stand 2024 – Penfield Olives
Medium Supplier Stand 2024 – Calbee Australia
Large Supplier Stand 2024 – Suntory Beverage & Food
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