LONDON — Planet Retail, a global research firm based here, last month unveiled the winners of its first “Innovation Awards” for 2006 to honor retailers and food-service companies that have implemented what it considers to be best new ideas of the year.
Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., won two awards: the Most Innovative New Concept Award in the hypermarket/superstore category for a store in Brazil that caters to female shoppers, and the Greenest Efforts Award for its various energy-conservation initiatives around the globe.
Supervalu, Minneapolis, was a runner-up in two categories: the Most Innovative New Concept Award in the supermarket/neighborhood store category for its Sunflower Market concept, and the Technology Award for its “avenu” system offering customized promotions.
The list of winners follows:
MOST INNOVATIVE NEW CONCEPTS
Hypermarket and Superstore
- Winner: Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brazil — A store for women with a “husband parking” area that includes a cafe and magazines.
- Runner-up: Hypercity in Brazil — One of the first modern hypermarkets in the country.
Supermarket/Neighborhood Store
- Winner: ThreeSixty in Hong Kong — A new concept that focuses on natural/organics and uses recycled materials extensively.
- Runner-up: Sunflower Market in the U.S. — Supervalu's low-cost natural/organics concept built around efficiency.
Discount Store
- Aldi in the U.K. — A new store in Manchester is the largest in the country and blends low prices with convenience foods.
- Leclerc Express in France — A new soft discount store focusing largely on private labels.
Convenience Store/Forecourt
- Winner: Engen/Woolworths in South Africa — A fuel-station concept featuring a Woolworths supermarket section offering prepared meals and fresh fruit.
- Runner-up: Happily (am/pm) and Fork Talk (Uny) in Japan — These c-stores target women with HBC sections as well as convenience foods, and no men's magazines.
Virtual Store
- Winner: Amazon in the U.S. — The online superstore launched its full grocery offering in July.
- Runner-up: Tesco Direct in the U.K. — The British retailer launched a durable-goods website offering 8,000 home products.
Entertainment, Electronics and Office Supply
- Winner: Best Buy Mobile in the U.S. — In a partnership with a British firm, Best Buy launched a mobile phone store.
- Runner-up: PC World in the U.K. — The retailer has modified its merchandising to appeal to women and children.
Food Service
- Winner: Misson Hotels — Rezidor Hotel Group will license the Missoni Hotel name around the world.
- Runner-up: Aramark in the U.S. — Aramark opened its first freestanding restaurants, called Soluna Café & Bakery, in Houston.
PRIVATE LABELS
- Winner: Leclerc in France — Leclerc Equador truffles have removable labels to facilitate gift-giving.
- Runner-up: Lidl in Germany — It has launched three new labels for organic, healthy eating and Fair Trade.
PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
- Winner: Media Markt in Austria — An electronics store that released its own horror film promoting the chain.
- Runner-up: 7-Eleven in the U.S. — Its new sponsorship of the Chicago White Sox will result in all weeknight games to begin at 7:11 p.m.
GREENEST EFFORTS
- Winner: Wal-Mart Stores — Reducing energy use has been a priority at the company.
- Runner-up: Delhaize in the Czech Republic — The chain recycles plastic bottles to make shopping carts.
TECHNOLOGY
- Winner: C1000 in the Netherlands — Ahold is testing a new self-scanner that uses a conveyor belt.
- Runner-up: Supervalu in the U.S. — The “avenu” system uses loyalty cards to customize offers.
SUPPLY CHAIN
- Winner: Marks & Spencer in the U.K. — The chain has implemented RFID tags on clothing at the item level.
- Runner-up: Migros in Switzerland — The chain optimizes use of train transport to reduce costs.
