The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Business Correspondent
THE SPAR brand continues to scale dizzy heights after one of its branches – Mutare Spar – scooped the best retailer award in Manicaland at this year’s Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers and Wholesalers (CZRW) awards ceremony held in Harare recently.
The giant retailer was trailed by SAV Wholesalers. Spar Zimbabwe also came out tops in the Community Retailer/Wholesaler of the year while the Spar Hoza Summer won in the Best Promotion of the Year category.
Its parent company, Spar Zimbabwe settled on third position in the Zimbabwe Retailer of the year category.
It ran under the theme – “Retail Sector – Enabling Accelerated Economic Recovery and Industrialisation.”
The awards are aimed at awarding outstanding players in the retail sector for their huge contribution to economic revival as espoused under ZIMASSET (Zimbabwe Agenda for Socio-Economic Transformation) and the 10 point Plan.
In an interview, the SPAR Mutare branch’s general manager, Mr Houston Munyoro said they were encouraged by the recognition and promised to propel the retail supermarket to another level.
“We are elated and humbled by this recognition. We work as a team and I am glad that it is yielding positive results. Our organisation continues to grow because of the excellent customer care and professionalism. This award encourages us to work even harder and we are determined to scoop more gongs in near future. We hope to continue working as a unit and achieve even more come next year,” said Mr Munyoro who has managed to scale the branch to stardom, thanks to outstanding customer care.
SPAR Mutare branch has 89 staff workers. The objectives of the awards are to recognise and reward outstanding retailers and suppliers from the retail sector and to reward retail players for the critical role they have played to sustain the economy.
“The awards are meant to celebrate, appreciate and honour business players in the retail sector which is one of the biggest contributors to the national economy,” said CZRW.
CZRW officials led by its chief executive officer, Mr Willard Razawo, last Friday handed over the trophy and certificate to Mutare SPAR management and staff at the company’s premises.
Addressing management and staff of SPAR Mutare, CZRW marketing and stakeholder relations director, Mr Alois Burutsa said SPAR had the potential to surpass its business prowess.
“Every year we hold these awards to honour outstanding retail companies and this is our second year running. I must say, the SPAR brand did remarkably well.
“They managed to shine and scoop several awards and raised the Manicaland flag high. Spar is on a massive rebound. It is opening up new shops and I know you have huge targets you want to achieve. We believe it is going to be bigger and better. We are happy to be associated with the SPAR brand,” he said.
Added Mr Burutsa: “We asked for nominations from your suppliers and consumers and we would have an adjudication committee that comprises the chairman, Mr Proctor Nyemba. The adjudication process was thorough. Keep it up.”
Other retailers who walked away with awards include Choppies Supermarkets who came out tops in the Best Retailer Branch Network category ahead of Spar Zimbabwe and N Richards Group. N Richards won in the Zimbabwe Wholesaler of the year category and was trailed by Mohamed Mussa and Bhadella.
Leading Motor Spares company, Transerve beat Battery Express and Auto World to walk away with the motor spares retailer of the year award. In the Fast Foods Retailer of the Year category, KFC Zimbabwe came ahead of Chicken Inn and Nandos.
