The Grocer Gold Awards 2005 are officially launched this week. Here’s a look back at who earned the honours in our 2004 awards

Have you got what it takes to go for gold? The search is now on for the best in the business with the launch of The Grocer Gold Awards 2005, sponsored by Geac, Lawson and KPMG.
We are inviting entries from multiples, independents, symbol groups and wholesalers in the categories for best own label range development, best consumer initiative and best business initiative.
In best own label, we will reward products based on strong concepts that show a clear understanding of market developments. The best consumer initiative could be any customer-facing activity, from store format development to ads, but you must show the impact it has had on your business. The best business initiative could be a supply chain project or a novel wholesaler scheme designed to get retail customers to spend more.
In addition, those independent retailers who feature on The Grocer Top 50 ranking, which we will publish next February, can enter for best independent chain of the year. And we will be launching an award for best wholesaler - which will be open to those companies that feature on a new ranking to be unveiled early next year.
There will be awards for branded and own label suppliers based on research carried out by The Grocer. And we will be looking for the year’s best NPD by a brand and the best own label development.
As always, panels of independent and highly qualified judges will decide our awards. The panel for best independent and best wholesaler will be chaired by Roger Pedder, chairman of Clarks and Silentnight; the panel for best own label and best NPD by a brand will be chaired by Rita Clifton, chair of Interbrand; the panel for best business initiative will be led by Chris Poole, logistics director of Procter & Gamble and co-chair of ECR UK; and the panel for best consumer initiative will be headed up by Keith Weed, chairman of Lever Fabergé.
The awards will be presented during a dinner at London’s Dorchester Hotel on June 15, where we will also announce the winners of The Grocer 33 Awards, reveal the UK’s favourite supermarket and name the grocer of the year.
As you can see from the photos opposite of the 2004 dinner, our awards night has become a must-attend event for everybody in the grocery trade.
Editor Julian Hunt says: “Our awards are proving popular because we have worked hard to ensure they really live up to their name and set a Gold standard.”
At the 2004 awards, Tesco picked up the award for the grocer of the year, while Asda was named Britain’s favourite supermarket. Morrisons won The Grocer 33 award for availability. And Jacksons was crowned independent retail chain of the year. Other winners on the night were Arla Foods, Warburtons, Masterfoods, Boots and United Co-operatives.
Many of the awards were based on exclusive research by The Grocer. Hunt says: “The key strength of The Grocer is its editorial independence and integrity.
“For our 2004 awards, we approached the judging process with the same uncompromising principles.”
This thinking will underpin The Grocer Gold Awards 2005. To find out more, call Emma Wiles on 01293 610282.