Shop workers across south London and Surrey are among those celebrating receiving a Retail Week Award at a glittering ceremony last night (5th March 2024). Homebase’s Catford store and Team Fusion from Ann Summers (based in Whyteleafe, Surrey) were both rewarded for their work over the last year.

Team Fusion from Ann Summers (based in Whyteleafe, Surrey) won the SAP Head Office Hero/Heroes Award which recognises those who have delivered tangible value to their business over the last 12 months.  

Hanna Jackson, Managing Director at Retail Week, said: “Team Fusion took on and successfully completed a company-wide transformation project that pioneered the most significant change to their Direct Selling Channel in 40 years. They delivered effective change by bringing the business together, ensuring that it stays relevant in future years for consumers and consultants. Congratulations to Team Fusion for this remarkable achievement.”

Winners at the 2024 Retail Week Awards. Picture: submitted

placeholder image — Winners at the 2024 Retail Week Awards. Picture: submitted

Commenting on the Retail Week Award win, Maria Hollins, CEO at Ann Summers said: “I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the Fusion team. Evolving has never been more important to retail brands than it has over the last few years. Ann Summers has always prided itself on being at the forefront of change and a trendsetter in the retail space and, across 2023, the Omni-Channel business put this in practice once again as it was faced with some important decisions around the future of our Direct Selling Channel.”

“From reimagining our operations and technology to fostering inclusivity, every step of our journey was guided by our shared vision. This recognition validates our collective efforts and reaffirms our belief in the power of innovation and teamwork. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this remarkable achievement, and here's to continuing our journey of evolution and success together."

Homebase’s Catford team won the coveted Community Heroes Award for their work supporting local schools, fire brigades, police, and parks across south London.

Other big winners on the night included Lidl - beloved for its ‘midl’ aisle, ironically cool own-brand socks and sliders, and top-notch in-store bakery, who became the UK’s best supermarket after taking the top gong at the glittering awards ceremony – the first time it has beaten fellow German grocer Aldi. Lidl’s win comes hot on the heels of an amazing year for the supermarket when 1.4 million more UK customers entered its doors and it reported an 18.8% increase in sales, to £9.3 billion. It’s now the third-largest supermarket in London, overtaking Asda and gaining ground on Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

And, after years of failing to impress fashion-focused customers, Marks and Spencer – which saw its holiday clothes and jeans fly last year – impressed the critics enough to reclaim its ‘Fashion Retailer of the Year’ crown.

The Retail Week Awards have been recognising and rewarding the efforts of retailers and retail workers for nearly 30 years and this year’s London winners were selected by judging panel made up of some of the most respected names in the industry, ranging from WHSmith’s chief executive Carl Cowling to White Stuff’s chief executive Jo Jenkins.

The full list of Retail Week Awards 2024 winners includes: 

THE AMERICAN EXPRESS INCLUSION & DIVERSITY HERO/HEROES AWARD - Lucy Bains, regional operations director, Pets at Home

THE BEST NEW STORE AWARD – EE

THE BEST RETAILER OVER £250m - Tesco

THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE GAMECHANGER AWARD - Holland & Barrett

THE CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD - Amazon

THE COMMUNITY HERO/HEROES AWARD – Homebase, Catford

THE DELIVERY HERO/HEROES AWARD - Bobby Storey, ScS

THE FASHION RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Marks and Spencer

THE GREEN INITIATIVE – Currys

THE INTERNATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR - Primark

THE MICROSOFT AWARD FOR THE HAPPIEST PLACE TO WORK IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RETAIL TRUST - Majestic Wine