South Australia’s McLaren Vale Foodland IGA has bagged an international award, the coveted title of Australian International Retailer of the Year.
The supermarket store is owned and operated by The Romeo Family of the Romeo Retail Group.
“Exceptional customer service has always been key to the store’s great success and the team has worked hard to build great relationships with our local community and our suppliers. The store is very engaged with the local community and we offer a loyalty card to reward our shoppers,” said Joseph Romeo, owner of the Romeo Retail group.
The IGA Global Awards are part of the 2018 IGA Global Rally, held in conjunction with the National Grocers Association’s Show at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, between the 9th and 11th February 2017.
Last year McLaren Vale Foodland IGA was also recognised at the national Metcash Supermarkets and Convenience Expo on the Gold Coast, winning two awards as part of the IGA Awards of Excellence, including National Retailer of the Year and Foodland IGA/SUPA IGA Store of the Year.
McLaren Vale Foodland IGA offers the complete package of modern day grocery retailing. From the
sushi bar with its own sushi chef, the extensive gourmet range of meats, antipastos and glazed fruits, and the vast range of gourmet and locally made cheeses from South Australia, the store has created a unique contemporary shopping experience for its customers. It is in the heart of the wine country in McLaren Vale, and regularly holds cheese and gourmet food tasting sessions for local customers to complement the range of locally available wines.
The company said the Romeo family store’s operational standards are second-to-none with the store fully-faced and ready to trade at any hour of the day. Investment in the team’s development is a key priority for the family, with all team members being put through an in-store training program and external courses to develop and refine their skills.
“We go to extraordinary lengths to ensure we are building strong relationships with our customers,
community and suppliers. This set of values has always been at the core of our family business
success, in addition to ensuring our customer service, local offerings and expert knowledge of our
produce is the best it can possibly be,” said Romeo.
The group is focused on maintaining its independence and providing premium, locally produced food in its stores, and is the largest 100 per cent family-owned company in Australia.
“Growing the business from one store to 40, with more on the way, has meant a constant evolution for our family,” added Romeo.
McLaren Vale Foodland IGA’s produce department has a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, and there is a large range of gluten, health and lifestyle products available. In addition to this, the modern and innovative merchandising techniques have resulted in wide aisles and clear signage, making it very easy for customers to navigate their shop.
“We are extremely proud and honoured to win this highly acclaimed award. We’ve been part of the
independent retail industry for many years and we’re just as enthusiastic and committed to delivering exceptional service as we’ve been since day one. This award is testament to the hard work, commitment and passion of our amazing suppliers and producers who collectively contribute to the success of McLaren Vale Foodland IGA,” concluded Romeo.
