The Romeo family has walked away from the IGA Retailer of the Year Awards with the top honour.

The awards, held this week on the Gold Coast, recognised the leading grocers within the IGA network and were separated into three divisions for each category based on the type of IGA outlet. Supa IGA/Foodland IGA stores represent one division, the smaller neighbourhood stores represent the next division (IGA) and the final division is reserved for IGA X-Press outlets.

In addition to their Supa IGA Retailer of the Year Award, the Romeo Family also received the Supa IGA Grocery Department of the Year for their Mitcham Foodland IGA supermarket.

The top IGA (division two) retailer was adjudged to be the IGA Cleveland store owned by Brad Hopper. The Cleveland store also picked up the IGA award for Produce Department of the Year and Deli Department of the Year. The X-Press Retailer of the Year Award went to Steve Saunders for his Buronga IGA X-press supermarket. Mr Saunders also received the X-press Fresh Department of the Year Award for the same store.

The other multiple award winners on the night were Ritchies Group, who took out three categories with their Supa IGA outlets, and Ed & Jacqui Lauder who received two awards for their IGA outlet in Tumbarumba.

Full list of this year’s award winners (Award/Store/Owner):

Supa IGA Meat Department of the Year – Fairley’s Supa IGA Shepparton: John Gaylard

IGA Meat Department of the Year – Lauder’s IGA plus Liquor Tumbarumba: Ed & Jacqui Lauder

Supa IGA Deli Department of the Year – Pasadena Foodland IGA: Nick Chapley & Family

IGA Deli Department of the Year – IGA Cleveland: Brad Hopper

Supa IGA Bakery Department of the Year – Gwelup Supa IGA: Chris Somas

IGA Bakery Department of the Year – Helena Valley IGA: Peter & Cate Brodie

Supa IGA Produce Department of the Year – Supa IGA Blaxland: The Karellas Family

IGA Produce Department of the Year – IGA Cleveland: Brad Hopper

IGA X-Press Fresh Department of the Year – Buronga IGA X-press: Steve Saunders

Supa IGA Grocery Department of the Year – Mitcham Foodland IGA: Romeo Retail Group

IGA Grocery Department of the Year – Lauder’s IGA plus Liquor Tumbarumba: Ed & Jacqui Lauder

Supa IGA Dairy/Freezer Department of the Year – Bright Supa IGA: Martin Sullivan, David May & Robert DeSauty

IGA Dairy/Freezer Department of the Year – City East IGA: Theo & Anita Vlassis

Supa IGA GM Department of the Year – Ritchies Supa IGA Boambee: Ritchies Group

IGA GM Department of the Year – Nagambie IGA: Mark & Michelle Burgess

Supa IGA Checkout/Service Department of the Year – Ritchies Supa IGA Rutherglen: Ritchies Group

IGA Checkout/Service Department of the Year – Anglesea IGA: Calvert Family

IGA X-press Grocery Department of the Year – IGA X-press Runcorn: Craig Careswell

IGA Liquor Department of the Year – Ritchies Supa IGA Ballina: Ritchies Group

IGA Store Manager of the Year – Darren O’Keefe: Champions Supa IGA Kangaroo Flat

Supa IGA Retailer of the Year – Mitcham Foodland IGA: Romeo Retail Group

IGA Retailer of the Year – IGA Cleveland: Brad Hopper

IGA X-press Retailer of the Year – Buronga IGA X-press: Steve Saunders

Village of the Year Award – Warriors (South Australia)

Hall of Fame – John and Nick Chapley

Local Hero Award – Crutcher’s IGA plus Liquor Grenfell: Mark & Kellie Crutcher