27 February 2023

Nicola Hallett from PAK'nSAVE Whanganui accepting the Women in Retail award

After an incredible effort by so many of the Foodstuffs North Island teams to respond to the devastating impacts of the Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods, last Saturday the cooperative took a well-deserved opportunity to celebrate the talents and dedication of their people at the Foodstuffs North Island Annual Excellence Awards.

The Excellence Awards are a longstanding event on the Foodstuffs calendar which provide recognition for the top graduates of Foodstuffs internal training programmes, as well as the winners of individual categories such as the Women in Retail Award and Checker of the Year.

Held at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on Saturday February 25, this year's event was Foodstuffs’ largest yet with 69 finalists competing for the top prize across 21 categories.

Among the winners were Wendy Self, a PAK’nSAVE Hāwera employee who took home the Baker of the Year Award, Victoria Tupou, a PAK'nSAVE Pukekohe check-out operator who was awarded the Checker of the Year trophy, and Nicola Hallett – a PAK'nSAVE Whanganui team member who received the prestigious Women in Retail award and was awarded 1^st place for Store Mastery Programme.

From L to R: Cindy Chaimowitz, General Manager Wholesale and Customer Services, Foodstuffs North Island; Wendy Self – Bakery Manager, PAK’nSAVE Hawera 1^st winner Baker of the Year; Erin Potter - Bakery 2IC New World Dannevirke, 2^nd winner Baker of the Year; Angela Elliot, Bakery Supervisor, PAK’nSAVE Mill Street 3^rd winner of Baker of the Year.

Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says the awards are a great example of how the 100% locally owned and operated cooperative acknowledges the dedicated work put in by its teams each year.

“This event is always a highlight for me as I get to see the skills and talent of our teams get recognised, as well as acknowledging the effort of our people.   

“Our people are our business, and their success is our success, so to celebrate the brilliant work they do across all aspects of the business from our merchandisers through to our butchers, is extremely special for everyone involved.”   

Foodstuffs North Island congratulate all the finalists and winners from the event.

A full list of winners is below: