Tennant Creek IGA Excellence Award Winner
Photo (courtesy of Metcash): Matthew Roberts (General Manager Metcash SA), Gabriella Kilpin (IGA Tennant Creek store manager), IRAM CEO Jacqueline Graham, IRAM Retail Operations Manager Shaun Whisson.
Tennant Creek’s IGA strong relations with the region’s Aboriginal people has been acknowledged in the South Australia and Northern Territory IGA State Awards of Excellence.
The Tennant Creek store won the prestigious Community Award which recognises community support across the best independent supermarkets in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The award recognises the Tennant Creek store’s significant community impact, particularly contributions to local charities, sponsorship of butcher’s apprenticeships in its meat section, and work experience for prison inmates in a bid to help with rehabilitation. “This is well-deserved recognition for the whole team in Tennant Creek IGA. It makes us proud of our store in Tennant Creek and I really think we are moving forward towards a unique relationship with our community”, said Tony Miles, Chair of the Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, which is part-owner of the Tennant Creek IGA
The award also recognises the Tennant Creek store’s health promotion efforts, by limiting highsugar products and offering affordable meals, and community education through clear in-store communication and digital displays.
“The award is great recognition of our local team,” said IRAM Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Graham. “It is our second award in three months, following our Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Customer Service Award in the medium and large business category last December.”
The IGA SA and NT winners were announced last Friday, with 23 awards to independent IGA stores acknowledging their support of local communities. The awards were judged on criteria such as customer service, community pride, department excellence, brand values, merchandising and the stores’ overall performance.
Winners now progress to the National Awards of Excellence in July.
The Tennant Creek IGA and BP service station are owned by the Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (JCAC) and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and managed by IBA Retail Asset Management (IRAM), a subsidiary of IBA.