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Shop up for Best in Britain award
Just a few years after it was threatened with closure, staff at a Wellingborough Co-op are celebrating being nominated as among the best in the UK.
The Co-op in Olympic Way is one of only 18 stores out of nearly 3,000 in the UK to have been shortlisted for the title of Co-operative Food Store of the Year.
The finalists will be judged on criteria, including the ability to demonstrate a high standard of store presentation, produce quality, customer service and team engagement, as well as being able to show commitment to the community, and an impressive business performance over the last 12 months.
Michelle Hole, store manager at the store, said: "My team works really hard all year to deliver a top-class service for shoppers, so it is fantastic that their efforts are being recognised by such a prestigious award.
"I'm already really proud of what we have achieved by getting shortlisted but if we win the overall title then that will certainly be cause for a big celebration."
Julie Wilburn, deputy store manager, added: "All the staff are really pleased because the store was on the verge of being closed down a few years ago but it has turned itself around.
"The big turnaround came after we got a cash machine and a refurbishment. We also try to maintain high standards and we get good mystery shopper reports."
All shortlisted stores will now be visited by a panel of judges before
the winners are announced at an awards ceremony being held in Manchester on November 17.
David Mockford, operations director for The Co-operative, said: "Being shortlisted in the Store of the Year competition is a huge achievement, especially now The Co-operative's portfolio has expanded so vastly to include thousands of stores.
"The standard of the nominations really does go up every year, and this year is no exception, the bar has certainly been raised higher than ever before.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there and visiting the shortlisted stores to see for myself the great work they have been doing and to discover which store is worthy of the overall title in each category this year."
The competition is split into three categories – small, medium and large stores.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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