Large Format Retail celebrates another successful year at Gala Awards Dinner
After 2 years of lockdown and COVID-19 challenges, the LFRA hosted its second Gala Awards Dinner following the success of its inaugural Dinner in 2019.
More than 450 people reflected and celebrated the strength and leadership of the Large Format Retail sector, particularly during the last 2 years.
“The pandemic presented many challenges across all industries however, despite all odds, during these difficult times Large Format Retail thrived,” said LFRA Chief Executive Officer Philippa Kelly.
“Despite challenges of the pandemic, such as lockdowns, logistics, and labour, the Large Format Retail sector adapted and responded to COVID-19 with new innovations and ways of connecting with customers.
“The industry prospered as a result with the sector employing close to 500,000 Australians and national sales of LFR goods being approximately 26% higher in the year ending June 2022 than in the year before the onset of the pandemic.”
A big congratulations to our award winners for their tremendous achievements:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Reg Rowe
- Emerging Leader of the Year – Vanessa Madden, HMC Capitaland Glen Wright, RE Ventured
- Warwick Shedden Memorial Trophy – Richard O’Brien
- Large Format Retailer of the Year – JB Hi-Fi
- Service Provider of the Year – Leffler Simes Architects
- Developer of the Year – HomeCo
- Agent of the Year – Jeff Klopper, Vend Property
- Centre Manager of the Year – Mel Cusack, CBRE Asia Pacific (Browns Plains, Tweed Heads & Ballina Harvey Norman Homemaker Centres)
- Best Sustainability Initiative – Bunnings
- Best Application of an Innovation –
- Marketing Campaign of the Year (Retailer) – Beacon Lighting
- Marketing Campaign of the Year (Associate Member) – Maroochydore Homemaker Centre
The selection panel consisted of Philippa Kelly, LFRA Chief Executive Officer; Steve Adamson, Former LFRA Vice-President & Director; LFRA 2019 Warwick Shedden Recipient and Real Estate Director, Five Guys International; John Gillam, Chair, CSR Limited & 2017 Warwick Shedden Award Recipient; and Kate Warwick, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting.
Steve Adamson and John Gillam are both past recipients of the Warwick Shedden Memorial Trophy, for their enduring and significant contribution, to the Large Format Retail sector.
As well as celebrating excellence within the Large Format Retail sector, the Gala Awards Night saw the launch of another major initiative, the online auction to support flood-affected communities via GIVIT.
GIVIT is one of the only charities that directs 100% of publicly donated funds straight towards helping people who need it most.
“I was completely moved by the generosity of the LFRA Retail and Associate members and our partners,” said Ms Kelly.
“This was the first time we introduced an online auction to our events in our 23 years and it was a major success.
“We raised close to $24,000 on the night,” added Ms Kelly.
Auction contributors included:
- Adairs
- Amart Furniture
- Amphis
- Anaconda
- Autobarn
- Baby Bunting
- Beacon Lighting
- Costco
- Crown Melbourne and Crown Sydney
- Early Settler
- Freedom
- FTI Consulting
- Harvey Norman
- House
- JB HI-FI
- Kitchen Warehouse
- Mainbrace Constructions
- Major Media
- OZ Design Furniture
- PETstock
- Planet Fitness
- Provincial Home Living
- Revo Fitness
- Road Tech Marine
- Sleepy’s
- Spotlight
- The Calile Hotel
- The Good Guys
- The Meat & Wine Co.
- The National Golf Club
- TK Maxx
- Tribe Travel
And of course, the night would not have happened without the generosity of our Award Night sponsors:
Diamond Sponsors: HomeCo and Planet Fitness.
Sapphire Sponsors: OZ Design Furniture; Harvey Norman, Spotlight Property Group, Revo Fitness and Major Media.
Emerald Sponsors: Centuria, CBRE, Ethos Urban, Re Grow Property, Edgewise, Mainbrace Constructions, Moray & Agnew Lawyers, Beacon Lighting, Bunnings and Super Retail Group.
