New sponsor announced for International Convenience Retailer Award

Insight and NACS are delighted to announce Baro Lighting is sponsoring the 2010 International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award.

It joins Imperial Tobacco, sponsor of this prestigious award for the second year running.

The Award is open to all convenience retailers and forecourt retailers that operate a convenience store format.

Retailers are required to demonstrate innovation and development in convenience retailing in six key areas and provide photographic and/or video evidence.

The deadline for entries is 16 July 2010, giving retailers 10 more weeks to put forward their submissions.

For further details, including detailed entry criteria, please download the PDFs from insightreport.co.uk.

Entries will be shortlisted by an international panel of leading convenience retailing executives comprising:

• Joe Bona, president, retail division, CBX
• Simon Chinn, retail analyst, Verdict Research
• Peter Kealy, former managing director, Spar, BWG Group
• Sheryle Moon, executive director, Australasian Association of Convenience Stores
• Don Longo, editor-in-chief, Convenience Store News & Single Store Owner
• Jon Arnold, consultant and interim manager, Retail Focus, and former head of convenience trading, Sainsbury's
• Dan Munford, partner, Insight Research
• Ramon Kuijpers, international key accounts manager, Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, an Imperial Tobacco Group company

A representative from Baro Lighting will also join the elite judging panel.

Readers of Global Convenience Store Focus will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite international convenience retailer online from a shortlist selected by the judges.

Spar China won the inaugural International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award in 2009. As part of the prize, Insight and Airplay filmed the winning Hongtu store, run by Mr Hu in Dongguan city, Guangdong province.

Commenting on the video, Gary Harris, head of design, Spar International said: “The feedback from Mr Hu has been one of great satisfaction. He is very pleased with the video and the way it portrays both his business and himself. He has asked me to pass on his thanks to you. He is not alone in this reaction: I have received a lot of very positive feedback from both inside and outside of the Spar organisation, commending yourself and Peter [Peter Knott, managing director, Airplay] on a most professional piece of work. Your presentation is extremely focused, the editing is perfect as it cuts from store to interview in a way that maintains the interest, and the overall picture that it portrays of Spar International and the Spar organisation in general is extremely positive.”

Commenting on its sponsorship in 2009, Ramon Kuijpers, international key accounts manager, Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, an Imperial Tobacco Group company, said: "Being part of last year’s International Convenience Retailer of the Year award was great and inspiring.

"By using various challenging benchmarking criteria, the judges truly raised the bar for all entries and finalists. The online voting process – received a great response – and was successful in creating a high awareness.

"The level of professionalism, quality and consumer commitment, as displayed by all of the entries, was impressive. Accordingly, the Spar China video shows us all you need to know and raises the bar for entries in 2010. Imperial Tobacco is proud to support our key international retail partners.

"We recognise and value the efforts that are provided within a competitive environment. Therefore we are happy to continue our sponsorship and support regarding this award."

The 2010 award will be presented on 21 September during the Insight NACS Future of International Convenience & Petroleum Retailing 2010 event in London.

Dan Munford, partner at Insight Research, said: “Insight and NACS are delighted to welcome Baro Lighting, alongside Imperial Tobacco, as sponsor of this unique Award. Their involvement in the International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award reflects the growing significance and dynamism of the global convenience market and provides an opportunity to reward the very best in class. We will all look forward to receiving the retail entries.”

Dan Munford: delighted to welcome new Award sponsors