18 Nov 2024
The inaugural winners of the revived St Albans Retailer of the Year competition have been officially announced.
A packed audience at the Maltings Arts Theatre waited with baited breath as hosts Richard Marrett and David Jenkins revealed who the judges had selected as their award winners for 2024.
The St Albans Retailer of the Year Awards are a joint initiative by The Maltings Shopping Centre, the St Albans Times and Mix 92.6FM – showcasing all that is great about our city centre.
After months of voting, and approximately 700 nominations, the shortlist of finalists for this year’s St Albans Retailer of the Year Awards was unveiled last month, leaving nominees on tenterhooks ahead of tonight’s ceremony.
A secret panel of expert judges have spent the past few weeks determining who would walk away with the trophies.
This year’s winners are:
Customer Service
Winner: Theresa Kennedy of Up We Pop
Highly Commended: Jez Levy of EYES on St Albans
Entertainment and Lifestyle
Winner: Empire Records
Highly Commended: The Pioneer Club
Fashion and Lifestyle
Winner: Chloe James Lifestyle
Highly Commended: I’m Fine
Food and Drink
Winner: Kat’s Cuisine
Highly Commended: The Fleetville Larder
Hair and Beauty
Winner: Barbone
Highly Commended: Eve and Adam
Independents
Winner: Andy Shoesmiths
Highly Commended: Nadya Giffen Therapies
Market Stall
Winner: Hannah Sessions Design
Highly Commended: Asli – Creartive By Design
Restaurant
Winner: Toast
Highly Commended: L’Italiana
Champion of the Year
Theresa Kennedy
Richard Marrett, centre director of The Maltings Shopping Centre, said: “In reviving the St Albans Retailer of the Year competition for the first time since 2018, we had no idea what sort of response we would receive from the local community.
“As it happened, the public and retailers alike were eager to see it return, and we were inundated with nominations, which made the judges’ task that much harder.
“My sincere congratulations to our winners, highly commendeds and everyone who made the shortlist!”
St Albans Times editor Matt Adams said: “Having seen the incredible response the awards received this year, we’re already planning to go bigger and better in 2025, so watch this space!”
Faye Penford from Mix 92.6FM added: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to get involved with this year’s Retailer of the Year awards, and we’re delighted to be featuring extracts from the night and special interviews with winners and hosts on the Morning Show this Wednesday – so don’t miss it!”
More photos and extended coverage from the event in this week’s St Albans Times.
