Lillooet’s Buy-Low Foods store has received the prestigious Award of Merit at the 49^th Annual Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony, held in Toronto on Oct. 25.

The award is one of the top honours presented at the annual Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) ceremony, held in front of a gala audience of more than 500 leading grocers, suppliers and distributors.

“Each year, the CFIG Awards Program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers and offers insights into innovations that are changing and enhancing the way retailers compete,” said Sam Corea, Director of Retail Operations for Buy-Low Foods and Nesters Market/

The Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year is the most coveted award CFIG can bestow. Each year Independent grocery stores from coast to coast in Canada compete for the coveted title in each of the specialty, large, medium and small surface categories.

Each of the competing stores is visited personally by chief juror Jim Leishman, who evaluates competing stores based on retailing excellence and innovation, store team performance, customer service, space utilization, freshness and cleanliness.

Leishman visited Buy-Low in July. Not only was he impressed by the store, but the customers and the entire community also created a positive impression.

Store manager Bob Sheridan praised Buy-Low’s “excellent staff” for winning the Award of Merit.

“Really, truly that’s what it’s all about it,” said Sheridan. “I’m pretty lucky to be the guy who gets to represent all their hard work.”

WENDY FRASER / Bridge River Lillooet News
November 19, 2014 09:28 AM – See more at: http://www.lillooetnews.net/news/lillooet-s-buy-low-foods-receives-award-of-merit-1.1593174#sthash.Pynk9WDI.dpuf