South African retailer FreshStop a finalist for the International NACS Awards

South African retailer FreshStop a finalist for the International NACS Awards

BRAND ACTIVITY

Jul 17th, 07:51

FreshStop at Caltex, the fastest growing 24-hour convenience retail brand in South Africa, has been announced as a finalist for the prestigious Insight NACS International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award 2013. FreshStop, the only South African brand represented, was specifically entered for its flagship store, Airport City, located close to the Cape Town International Airport.

Launched in 2009, the International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award recognises excellence in convenience and forecourt retailing on an international stage by celebrating the best convenience retail formats from around the world. This year, 20 entrants from 11 different countries are competing for the Award, and FreshStop is the only brand represented on the African continent. Joe Boyle, Director of FreshStop says, “We are extremely excited to be a finalist alongside the top international convenience retail brands. Also, being the only 24-hour convenience retailer in Africa to be recognised this year, we are very proud to represent our country and we encourage our customers and all South Africans to vote for us online”.

Entrants are required to demonstrate innovation and development in convenience retailing and this year, for the first time, entrants will be shortlisted by how many votes they receive via an international internet vote from 4 June – 16 August 2013. The shortlist will then be judged by a panel of top international convenience retailing executives and consultants and the winner will be announced towards the end of September.

FreshStop has, since its inception in 2009, been focused on developing the industry and creating an innovative convenience shopping experience that meets the needs of its local customers. FreshStop Airport City, launched in November 2012, was a new-to-industry site that allowed FreshStop to come up with a new approach to convenience retailing. Designed with travellers and commuters in mind, the double-storey FreshStop store boasts a full kitchen and bakery, a Steers, Super-Quick Fitment Centre, carwash, sit-down area with free Wifi and parking. There are also conference facilities on-site for business people on the move and in need of a temporary meeting venue, including boardrooms, projectors and screens as well as meals, which can be served on request.

The Airport City store generated around 150 sustainable jobs, of which the majority were given to locals from the adjacent Nyanga area. They have been given an opportunity to gain convenience management and administration skills, as well as retail and production skills in a number of departments.

Online voting takes place between 4 June and 16 August 2013. Please support this proudly South African company by voting for Caltex FreshStop. Visit their website at www.freshstop.co.za or check them out on their Facebook page.

FreshStop is South Africa’s fastest growing 24-hour convenience store brand and has a network of 133 stores countrywide.