This was our first experience of the Retail Industry Awards since taking over Spar Abbot’s Cross in May 2024, and it was an incredible night. We are so proud to have won two awards in the face of competition from across the UK. We have worked very hard to transform our store into a community hub for our neighbourhood. We are proud of the updates we have made, and the additional services we have brought to the area, including enhancing our post office, which was also award-winning on the night. It’s been a whirlwind 18 months and we are so happy to be multi-award winning thanks to our store and our fantastic team!

It’s always fantastic to be recognised by your industry, because we strive to make the store as great as possible and we have some incredible, hard-working staff and this is such an amazing credit to them. They work hard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and when we get back and we show them how we’ve been recognised by our industry peers, it’s just huge for everybody. It creates goodwill with our customers too, because we can show them they’re shopping in one of the best stores in the country.

To win was an amazing feeling – surprising but amazing. It’s also really inspiring, not just for me but for the whole team, and will encourage us to build further on what we are doing and be as inclusive and diverse as we can be

To be recognised at the Retail Industry Awards is a real honour and a privilege and I’m honestly overwhelmed and super-proud to be awarded Trailblazer of the Year

Winning Independent Retailer of the Year for the second-year running is an incredible honour for our team and our community. Achieving the highest-ever audit score and being recognised for our high standards, grassroots support and fundraising efforts is a testament to the pride we take in our store.

We are honoured to have been named Independent Retailer of the Year on a landmark evening at the Retail Industry Awards. We'd like to thank our team, our suppliers and our customers for making this possible. So much hard work goes on behind the scenes to make stores like Newby the success you see when you walk through the doors, and we are thrilled to have been acknowledged. Congratulations also to the Retail Industry Awards on 30 fantastic years – we'll be back again! Valerie Aston, director, Proudfoot Supermarkets (Newby), Scarborough, North Yorkshire

To even be shortlisted was a fantastic achievement and to actually win an award, well, we’re absolutely overwhelmed

I am thrilled to have won Post Office Retailer of the Year. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of my incredible team, who consistently go above and beyond to serve the community. It signifies a milestone in our journey, inspiring us to
elevate our standards even further. This recognition motivates us to continue fostering a positive atmosphere where staff feel valued and empowered to deliver the best experience for the customers.

To me, this award signifies validation—it's a reminder that we're on the right path and that our commitment to excellence is paying off. For the business, it’s more than just a trophy; it’s a powerful symbol of credibility and trust, something that resonates with our
 customers and partners. And for the team, it’s a huge morale booster. It shows them that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, and it energizes us all to keep pushing boundaries. Overall, this win isn’t just a moment; it’s a catalyst for future growth and an exciting chapter in our story.