Enter
Entries for The Grocer Gold Awards 2021 are now closed.
To register your interest for next year's entry period, please complete our registered interest form.
How to Enter
The Grocer Gold Awards has a range of categories to recognise and reward the achievements of individuals, colleagues and companies of all shapes and size within the sector.
The awards are judged by industry experts, at the personal invitation of The Grocer. Great care is taken to avoid conflicts of interest, and The Grocer requires all judges to sign a non-disclosure form.
Below is a list of the categories that are available for self-entry, while also noting special awards based on independent research conducted by or on behalf of The Grocer. When you click on the category you want to enter you will find more details on criteria for each award.
To enter an award, you need to create and activate an account. Once you’ve activated the account there will be a set of questions to answer for each category. This will make it easier for you to formulate your answer with the information that we require from you.
Please note the period under consideration for judging is from 1 January 2020 to 28 February 2021.
Self Entry Categories
Product & Range Awards
Whether it’s a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by an alcohol and low/no alcohol brands in response to changing trade or consumer needs.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
This award is open to UK-based grocery suppliers who have, in the opinion of the judges, done the most to grow their business outside the UK, either through product or sales channel development or both.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the partnership in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed?
- How has the plan been executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement figures, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
Whether it’s a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by a chilled, ambient or frozen food brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
Whether it’s a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by a household goods brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
Whether it’s a new range, an enhancement to a range, or a complete relaunch/redesign, this award is for a single or multi-category own-brand proposition developed by a grocery retailer or wholesaler that has achieved outstanding performance in the period in response to changing trade or consumer needs and opportunities.
Entry Questions
- A brief overview of the history of the range (where appropriate). For example, when it launched, how big it is, how many categories it operates in
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the range in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the range in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed? • What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
Whether it’s a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by an established personal care brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
Whether it’s a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by a petfood brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
Whether it's a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by an established fmcg brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs. Entrants for the SME Brand of the Year must confirm that the parent company's UK sales do not exceed £50m.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
- If entering the SME category, please confirm the total sales (in £) of the parent company
- Entrants for the SME Brand of the Year must confirm that the parent company’s UK sales do not exceed £50m.
Whether it’s a relaunch/reformulation/brand extension, or simply via a new or better commercial or marketing approach, this award recognises outstanding performance by a soft drinks brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs. Soft drinks include hot beverages.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details/changes, how big it is
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the brand in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics
This award is for a new venture that is already capturing the imagination of consumers and the trade, and successfully meeting a marketplace need or problem, through an innovative new product or approach. Entrants must be product-based and founded within the past 24 months.
- A brief overview of this brand’s history. For example, when it launched, ownership details, how big it is, how many employees it has etc.
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the startup?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the startup?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales, growth, market share, profits, consumer and customer engagement, and other useful KPIs and metrics.
- Please also confirm the date on which the business was established.
Initiatives
Open to multiples, symbol groups, independent retailers, wholesalers, or suppliers working in partnership with the grocery trade. The entry must be business facing (eg. a new sales and marketing partnership, in-house training programme, recruitment drive, B2B loyalty/membership scheme, or supply chain development).
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
The judges will be looking for the retailer, supplier and/or manufacturer who has done the most to capture the imagination, earn the admiration, and win the loyalty and business of shoppers. Examples might involve a promotion, a loyalty card, a new store format.
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
This award is for the retailer, wholesaler or supplier that has brought the most tangible and meaningful improvements to the e-commerce operations in the past year. Entries can be submitted by the companies themselves or via third-party suppliers or consultants.
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
Whether you’re a major multiple, a multinational manufacturer, a wholesaler, distribution centre, independent store, SME supplier or otherwise, if you operate in FMCG and you have a captivating story around sustainability to tell – that features impressive results – enter this award.
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
This award is for an initiative that has brought the most tangible and meaningful improvements to the supply chain operations and offer of a retailer, manufacturer or wholesaler in the 12-month period covered by these awards. Entries can be submitted by the companies themselves or via third-party suppliers or consultants.
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
It could be a mobile app or a traditional software or hardware solution. It could be consumer facing or B2B. We want to reward the technology solutions delivered either in-house or with the help of third-party suppliers or consultants that has most meaningfully boosted the sales, profitability, effectiveness and/or reputation of a grocery/FMCG retailer, supplier or wholesaler.
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
This award was introduced in 2017 in support of the major food waste campaign launched by The Grocer. It’s open to retailers and manufacturers whose innovative and collaborative approaches and/or exhaustive investigation of their own supply chain has delivered the most compelling results.
- A brief overview of the initiative. What is it, when did it launch, and who is it for?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the creation and/or development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the initiative in the past 12 months?
- How was the plan executed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible in terms of growth, share, consumer or customer engagement, efficiency gains or any other metrics.
- Are there any future plans?
Retailer, Supplier & Wholesaler Awards
Open to convenience, forecourt, supermarket, specialist food and drink retailers and multi-format chains. A chain must comprise at least three stores and be 50% owned by the family and/or management.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
Open to supermarkets and online-only operators who sell a comprehensive range of products across multiple grocery-related categories in at least five counties.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
This award is for online or mail order-focused retailers who specialise in a particular or small number of grocery-related categories or services.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
Open to suppliers with multiple brands and/or operations in multiple categories.
Entry Questions
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, what facilities does it have, what categories does it operate in, what clients does it have?
- Insight into the thinking/insight/problem/opportunity/objectives that have driven the development of the business in the period
- An outline of the strategy/solutions that have been employed to drive the development of the business in the period, with a focus on customer relations
- Details of how the plan has been executed? Please include information (where relevant) of employee programmes and deployment, customer collaboration, use of research, consumer and business initiatives, and investment in innovation, R&D and the supply chain
- What results were achieved? Please include as much numerical information as possible, on areas like sales and profits growth, market share and share price gains, but also new customer wins, category and value creation, and industry leadership
Open to suppliers with multiple products and/or operations in multiple categories.
Entry Questions
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, what facilities does it have, what categories does it operate in, what clients does it have?
- Insight into the thinking/insight/problem/opportunity/objectives that have driven the development of the business in the period
- An outline of the strategy/solutions that have been employed to drive the development of the own-label business in the period, with a focus on customer relations and (where relevant) how the relationship between branded and own-label work has been handled
- Details of how the plan has been executed? Please include information (where relevant) of employee programmes and deployment, customer collaboration, use of research, consumer and business initiatives, and investment in innovation, R&D and the supply chain
- What results were achieved? Please include as much numerical information as possible, on areas like sales and profits growth, market share and share price gains, but also new customer wins, category and value creation, and industry leadership
Open to symbol group operators, franchise owners and fascia groups operating in the convenience/forecourt retail market.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
This award is open to multiple retailers whose grocery sales must exceed 30% of total sales.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
Open to cash & carry, delivered or foodservice wholesalers with operations across the UK.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
Open to cash & carry, delivered or foodservice wholesalers who operate in a limited number of regions within the UK.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
Open to cash & carry, delivered or foodservice wholesalers who operate in a single or specialist category or whose service is hyper local.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many outlets does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the development of the business in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (including new customer, business or employee initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
People Awards
Open to retailers, wholesalers and grocery manufacturers, this award is for the employer who, in the past year, has done the most to create a positive working environment, motivating, redirecting and training its people, and improving the company's reputation and performance in the process.
- A brief overview of the business. For example, when did it first start trading, who is it owned by, what does it do, where is it based, how big is it, and how many employees does it have?
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the company’s development as an employer?
- What strategy/solutions have been employed to drive the company’s development as an employer in the past 12 months?
- How has the plan been executed (new initiatives, innovation)
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of retention and recruitment rates, sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
This award is for a leader in grocery/FMCG retail, wholesale or supply who has recognised an opportunity or met an unsatisfied demand and shown the necessary commitment, leadership and self-belief either to create a new and successful business, or to radically improve or turn around the performance of an existing one.
- A brief overview of the entrepreneur. For example, age, history in business, name, size and employee count of businesses under his or her ownership.
- What thinking/insight/problem/opportunity has driven the development of the entrepreneur’s business/es in the past 12 months?
- What strategy/solutions have driven the development of the entrepreneur’s business/es?
- How has the entrepreneur executed his/her plans? What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible, where relevant, in terms of sales growth, market share, profits, customer or employee engagement ratings, efficiency gains, share price or any other metrics or KPIs.
This award recognises an outstanding contribution by a factory manager in any type of UK-based grocery supply operation, including finished goods (branded and own-label), non-food and packing facilities.
Entry Questions
- A brief overview of the factory this person runs, such as size, location, number of employees, type of factory, sector or category
- A brief summary of the factory manager’s career
- Insight into the thinking/problems/opportunities that underpinned the candidate’s development of the factory in this period.What strategy has the factory manager employed to deliver this
- How has the factory manager executed the plan? What solutions has the factory manager employed?
- What were the objectives and what have been the results? Please include as much numerical information as possible on sales and profits growth, utilisation and efficiency metrics, health and safety figures, and other useful KPIs
Special Categories
This award is based on proprietary consumer research conducted by Nielsen.
Awards for price, service and availability are based on proprietary mystery shopper research conducted by The Grocer.
A store manager selected by each of the leading retailers from winners of The Grocer 33 Store of the Week competition are asked to present their case and answer questions on their case to a panel of distinguished judges.
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