RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA
Excellence in
Retailing Awards
Awards Gala is next week: June 2, 2026
Celebrate your work.
Acknowledge your team.
Each year, the Excellence in Retailing Awards (ERA) recognize the industry game changers that go above and beyond to serve their customers and push Canada into the future of retail.
Awards Gala: A Night to Celebrate Your Team
Revel in industry-wide recognition of your work, celebrate with your colleagues in person, and make new connections. Guests enjoy a cocktail reception, a delicious dinner, and inspiring awards ceremonies.
2026 FINALISTS
Proudly Canadian Shopping Experience
Well.ca
Proudly Canadian Shopping Experience
Well.ca
In response to a surge in demand for Canadian-made products following economic uncertainty and increased attention on tariffs, Well.ca launched a fully integrated, AI-powered shopping experience designed to make discovering and purchasing Canadian brands seamless. By combining curated landing pages, intuitive on-site identifiers, and AI-driven personalization across web, email, organic and paid social media and more, Well.ca transformed a growing cultural movement into a best-in-class e-commerce experience.
The Orange Apron Recycling Innovation Program
The Home Depot
The Orange Apron Recycling Innovation Program
The Home Depot
In 2025, The Home Depot Canada diverted over 14,000 pounds of associate aprons from landfill when it launched a national apron recycling program to further advance circular innovation in store operations.
The Art of Home
Silk & Snow
The Art of Home
Silk & Snow
In October 2025, in the heart of downtown Toronto, home retailer Silk & Snow showcased its first experiential marketing experience: The Art of Home. In partnership with experiential marketing agency Mosaic, Silk & Snow created an immersive art gallery experience that transformed our thoughtful, intentional design process into sensory-driven installations and invited the city to experience the brand in a new light.
Body Worn Cameras in Retail
Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Body Worn Cameras in Retail
Loblaw Companies Ltd.
A steady, impartial witness to every front-line interaction, Body Worn Cameras capture clear, independent records that cut through dispute and uncertainty. Paired with proven de‑escalation practices, the program protects staff and shoppers, reduces confrontations, and prevents loss through reliable evidence and deterrence.
With All Our Hearts: Turning National Pride into Purpose, Partnership, and Performance
Hillberg & Berk
With All Our Hearts: Turning National Pride into Purpose, Partnership, and Performance
Hillberg & Berk
Through the With All Our Hearts campaign, Hillberg & Berk reimagined how Canadians could show up for Team Canada. With a collection designed to be worn, shared, and gifted, the campaign transformed national pride into personal identity. The result was a powerful blend of storytelling and retail performance, generating over $1M in sales and strengthening Hillberg & Berk’s position as a Canadian, purpose-driven brand.
New Yorkdale Shopping Centre Boutique
Nespresso Canada
New Yorkdale Shopping Centre Boutique
Nespresso Canada
Nespresso Canada opened our newly rennovated boutique in Yorkdale Shopping Centre in March 2025. This elegant space is the latest concept design by the Nespresso global retail design team in Milan, executed by DK Studio Architects. Our in-store experience centers on tastings at the Coffee As An Art (CAAA) bar, where customers engage with coffee specialists while savoring premium blends. This initiative aims to redefine the retail coffee experience, transforming each visit into a memorable event that highlights our commitment to quality and sustainability.
LCBO's Pathways to Success - Transforming the New Manager Experience
LCBO
LCBO's Pathways to Success - Transforming the New Manager Experience
LCBO
Pathways to Success is the LCBO’s onboarding experience that prepares new Store Managers to lead with confidence, connection, and capability from day one. The program combines eLearning, in-person training, hands-on application, mentorship and ongoing reinforcement to create a consistent and clearly structured learning journey. It unifies leadership development, operational excellence, and LCBO values into one experience that supports every new manager across the province. Pathways to Success is building strong leaders who elevate performance, culture, and the customer experience.
Project Phoenix: Modernizing Fulfilment at Best Buy Canada’s Brampton Distribution Centre
Best Buy Canada
Project Phoenix: Modernizing Fulfilment at Best Buy Canada’s Brampton Distribution Centre
Best Buy Canada
Last year, Best Buy Canada accelerated its supply chain modernization by implementing AutoStore at its Brampton distribution centre, a key milestone enabled by the Blue Yonder warehouse management system. AutoStore, a high-density automated storage and retrieval system, maximizes space by storing inventory in a compact grid and using robotics to deliver products directly to associates. This goods-to-person model reduces travel, streamlines workflows, and improves efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
Driving Supply Chain Sustainability Through Iceless Innovation
Sobeys Inc.
Driving Supply Chain Sustainability Through Iceless Innovation
Sobeys Inc.
Verdant Technologies has expanded the adoption of its HarvestHold Fresh® product in Canada to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the North American broccoli supply chain. HarvestHold Fresh is an in-box postharvest technology that enables the elimination of ice in broccoli shipping, which significantly improves sustainability through reducing water consumption, freight savings and improving employee safety. Empire Company Limited, parent company of Sobeys Inc. was the first major grocery retailer in North America to adopt the technology, and has since encouraged growers, retailers, and other partners to join the initiative, collectively expanding its sustainability impact across Canadian food systems.
Support Local
LCBO
Support Local
LCBO
In 2025, the LCBO launched “Support Local”, a comprehensive campaign to address increasing food insecurity across the province. As a Crown Corporation, LCBO returns an annual dividend to the province to help fund healthcare, education, and infrastructure across Ontario. As part of our commitment to supporting the essential needs of Ontarians, we introduced an in-store fundraising campaign in support of food security programs, sold tote bags with proceeds benefiting local farmers, and offered employees with opportunities to volunteer at food organizations. Through these efforts, we raised $2.6M, helping to deliver 6.3M meals to communities in need across Ontario.
Canada's Home Team
Home Hardware
Canada's Home Team
Home Hardware
Home Hardware seized a national moment during the Blue Jays’ playoff run, brilliantly transforming from a familiar brand into “Canada’s Home Team.” Through an authentic campaign featuring their own local Dealers embodying the nation’s underdog spirit, they forged an unparalleled emotional connection. This strategic move ignited widespread engagement, empowered its community, and drove significant, measurable business growth.
Urban Focused Assortment for Small Format Success
Walmart Canada
Urban Focused Assortment for Small Format Success
Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada’s Port Credit store showcases how disciplined merchandising can deliver big‑store capability within an urban format less than half the size of a traditional Supercentre. Through curated assortment, intentional adjacencies, elevated fixtures, and omni‑enabled decision points, the store maintains clarity, confidence, and perceived completeness at Everyday Low Price. The result is a scalable, merchandising‑led model designed for modern urban shoppers.
The ''Be Your Own Breast Friend Campaign'' In Collaboration with the Cancer Research Society
La Vie en Rose
The ''Be Your Own Breast Friend Campaign'' In Collaboration with the Cancer Research Society
La Vie en Rose
Developed in partnership with its Roses of Hope Foundation and the Cancer Research Society, this national, multi-year commitment will contribute $3,000,000 over three years to advance breast cancer research in Canada. The initiative mobilizes customers, employees, and communities through targeted fundraising campaigns, dedicated product collections, and sustained awareness efforts.
Putting the Red in InspiRED Design
Appliance Canada
Putting the Red in InspiRED Design
Appliance Canada
Our Richmond BC showroom redefines appliance retail by blending Canadian warmth with aesthetic function, featuring rich wooden ceilings and thoughtfully curated lifestyle vignettes that transform shopping into an immersive experience. Since 1983, we’ve put the RED in inspiRED design, and this innovative space elevates that legacy through refined flow, enhanced lighting, and wider aisleways that invite customers to explore and envision their dream homes. This is our invitation for British Columbians to “”Turn over a New Leaf”” with a revolutionary retail experience that balances sensory appeal with unparalleled customer comfort.
Iconic Purdys Purple Comes to Save-On-Foods
Pattison Food Group
Iconic Purdys Purple Comes to Save-On-Foods
Pattison Food Group
In 2025, Save‑On‑Foods partnered with iconic B.C. brand Purdys Chocolatier to become the first and only grocery retailer to carry Purdys chocolates on shelf, launching the assortment in 131 locations across Western Canada. The collaboration combined a curated product lineup with bold in‑store merchandising, store‑led creativity, and a coordinated marketing and media campaign to deliver a standout customer experience. The launch generated strong results, with more than 11,000 units sold in the first two weeks, high household penetration and repeat purchases, and widespread media and social engagement, demonstrating the power of thoughtful local partnerships.
SIMU – Transforming Retail & Call Centre Talent Development and Customer Experience
Bell
SIMU – Transforming Retail & Call Centre Talent Development and Customer Experience
Bell
Bell launched SIMU, an AI powered Customer Experience (CX) simulator that generates realistic, back-and-forth
customer interactions for both retail frontline staff and call centre agents. Codeveloped by Bell’s Product Technical team and Internal Learning & Development, SIMU enables safe, repeatable space to practice customer interactions—from greeting and discovery to value articulation and solutioning. This unique experience blends digital microlearning, guided roleplay, and standardized coaching tools based on Bell’s sales and service models. By providing instant feedback, flexible self-serve coaching, and leadership visibility through a Dashboard Tab. SIMU improves morale, accelerates employee ramp-up, and improves customer engagement—driving consistent operational excellence at scale.
Grow With Us
Staples Canada
Grow With Us
Staples Canada
Grow with Us is a national talent development program that opens career pathways for retail associates by turning internal mobility into a real, accessible opportunity. Through practical tools, inspiring career stories, and direct access to hiring leaders, the program makes skills‑based growth visible, achievable, and encouraged across Staples Canada. The result is stronger engagement, increased internal movement, and a more future‑ready workforce built from within.
Holiday TEDDY Campaign
Lindt & Sprungli (Canada)
Holiday TEDDY Campaign
Lindt & Sprungli (Canada)
The Lindt Christmas Holiday campaign 2025 aimed to boost store traffic and sales by spotlighting Milk LINDOR Truffles, Christmas TEDDY, and Champs Elysees Pralines. With immersive décor, giant teddy statues, and creative product displays, the campaign drew both new and returning holiday shoppers. By offering premium chocolates in a festive setting, Lindt established itself as the go-to destination for memorable seasonal gifts and experiences, reinforcing its reputation for quality and holiday magic.
Feast On Love
Pet Valu
Feast On Love
Pet Valu
Feast on Love transformed holiday pet feeding into a shared ritual of love, inviting Devoted Pet Lovers to include pets in the season’s most meaningful moments. Pet Valu inspired pet lovers to elevate holiday feeding rituals with expert guidance, creator storytelling, and a digitally led, social‑first campaign. The result was a warm, culturally resonant idea that connected emotionally while delivering strong commercial impact.
From Storefront to Shoreline: Reimagining Retail Experience Design
Rogers Communications Inc.
From Storefront to Shoreline: Reimagining Retail Experience Design
Rogers Communications Inc.
From Storefront to Shoreline: Reimagining Retail Experience Design introduces a new era of retail by merging physical space with lifestyle experience. Anchored in a waterfront destination, the integrated store and branded patio create a fluid, design-forward environment that extends engagement beyond the traditional footprint. The result is a curated, immersive experience that redefines how and where customers connect and engage with the brand.
We’re All In On Ontario
LCBO
We’re All In On Ontario
LCBO
In a crowded “buy local” moment, LCBO turned Ontario VQA from just another local option to an enticing choice by pairing a bold Ontario rallying cry with guided discovery rooted in the LCBO’s most unique brand advantage: in‐store expertise. The campaign spotlighted real product consultants across multiple channels, lending the category credibility and making the LCBO feel like an approachable destination for local exploration. With a flat budget and a short four weeks, the strategy delivered record results: VQA wine sales rose +60% and new-to-category buyers increased +33% vs. last year. Campaign awareness drove +44% higher LCBO community impact perceptions.
Commited to a Greener Future
Corbeil Appliances
Commited to a Greener Future
Corbeil Appliances
Corbeil Appliances is redefining what environmental leadership looks like in appliance retail through a practical, circular model that combines responsible recovery, refurbishment, refrigerant recycling, lower-carbon logistics, and customer education. Built in collaboration with partners including GoRecycle, GoRéemploi, PureSphera and the Quebec Retail Council, the program reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions while extending product life. By embedding sustainability across operations and the customer journey, Corbeil is helping set a new standard for responsible retail in Quebec.
Love at First Wash
Sephora
Love at First Wash
Sephora
As Canada’s leading beauty retailer, Sephora Canada wanted to generate excitement and discovery around Sephora’s hair wash category in order to drive growth and shift clients from mass to prestige products. Centred on the core message that good hair starts in the shower, the retailer executed an immersive, experiential wash care pop-up across seven locations, featuring tactile educational fixtures, comprehensive staff training and 360-amplification.
Win, Win, Win: Trade-in is Good for Customers, Business, and the Planet
Staples Canada
Win, Win, Win: Trade-in is Good for Customers, Business, and the Planet
Staples Canada
Staples Canada partnered with Allstate to launch Staples Trade-in by Allstate, a nationwide program that turns old devices into instant value. Designed to be flexible and effortless, Canadians can convert the old tech they’ve got stashed away in drawers into Staples e-gift cards they receive in moments. Each device is then securely refurbished or responsibly recycled.
Project Bootleg
LCBO
Project Bootleg
LCBO
Over the course of the investigation, police and LCBO investigators identified multiple individuals involved in trafficking the stolen liquor and connected them to ten distinct organized theft groups. These groups are alleged to have supplied the operation with more than $1.3 million in stolen product. The majority of the liquor was sold directly from the accused’s residence or delivered to buyers throughout the GTA. Individuals associated with this trafficking operation were subsequently arrested and charged.
The Heart of the Home, Reimagined: An Immersive Kitchen Experience
IKEA Canada
The Heart of the Home, Reimagined: An Immersive Kitchen Experience
IKEA Canada
IKEA Canada returned to Canada’s premier design stage, the Toronto Interior Design Show 2026, with an immersive kitchen experience that challenged perceptions of what affordable design can be. Built on insights from IKEA Canada Life at Home research and hundreds of real home visits across the country, the fully functional space invited guests to explore, interact, and rethink the role of the kitchen in everyday living. The result was a standout installation, proving beautiful design can be practical, accessible, and built to last.
Personalized By Design: Delivering Human-Centred Development at Scale
Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.
Personalized By Design: Delivering Human-Centred Development at Scale
Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.
Rooted in 70 years as a family business, Longo’s invests in leadership development that meets people where they are. In partnership with Growthspace, leaders receive personalized support through coaching, workshops, and collaborative problem‑solving experiences aligned to real moments and challenges. The result is confident leaders, stronger collaboration, and lasting organizational impact.
New RW&CO Flagship Store in St-Bruno, Québec
RW&Co.
New RW&CO Flagship Store in St-Bruno, Québec
RW&Co.
Opened in October 2025, RW&CO.’s first-ever flagship store at Primaris’ Promenades St-Bruno marks a key milestone in the brand’s evolution. Designed by Dalziel & Pow, the 7,800-square-foot space brings RW&CO.’s recent rebrand to life through an elevated, customer-centric retail experience. As the brand’s largest store to date, the flagship reflects RW&CO.’s refined positioning as a Canadian fashion authority, blending timeless essentials with occasion-ready fashion.
Enhancing the Mobile Checkout Process
Bikini Village
Enhancing the Mobile Checkout Process
Bikini Village
To address increasing competition and plateauing conversion rates, Bikini Village set out to enhance its mobile checkout experience through a series of targeted CRO experiments focused on reducing friction and improving completion rates.
Get Serious About Sleep
Sleep Country Canada
Get Serious About Sleep
Sleep Country Canada
Sleep Country Canada faced a stagnating retail category where sleep product purchases had become commoditized and easy to postpone. To reignite demand, the brand launched Get Serious About Sleep, a national platform confronting Canadians’ normalized neglect of sleep. “Sleep Daddy” (Eugene Levy) and “Le Sommeil” (Marc Labrèche) interrupted poor bedtime behaviour and challenged consumers to take sleep more seriously. The integrated program spanned TV, digital, social, retail promotions, and owned channels, reinforcing Sleep Country as Canada’s destination for better sleep.
Awards of Distinction
Retailer of the Year
Longo's
Retailer of the Year
Alimentation Couche-Tard
Ambassador of the Year
The Jilly Box
Award Winner
Browns Shoes
Retail Education Scholarship Program
Each year, RCC awards scholarships to students interested in a career in retail or who currently work in retail. In 2025, $62,000 in scholarships will be awarded to students working in retail and who are entering or currently enrolled in a retail-related program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Awards Gala hosted by Taylor Kaye
Guests will hear from a variety of industry leaders, including the 2026 Award of Distinction winners, Michael Brownstein and Jillian Harris. Guests will also enjoy an exceptional dinner, prepared under the consultation of world-renowned chef Mark McEwan.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Excellence in Retailing Awards showcases outstanding innovation in the retail section, gathering retail decision makers for a night of recognition and celebration.
Demonstrate thought leadership, build your brand and make new connections through various ERA Sponsorship Opportunities. Contact sponsorship at rccsponsorship@retailcouncil.org
Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala
June 2, 2026. Toronto Congress Centre. North Building. 1020 Martin Grove Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 1J1.
As The Voice of Retail™ in Canada since 1963, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) represents over 65,000 independent, regional, national mass and specialty retail businesses and online merchants in general merchandise, drug and grocery.
Application Timeline
MARCH 13, 2026
First Submission Deadline
MARCH 27, 2026
Deadline to Upload all Submission Details
APRIL 2026
Judging Period
MAY 2026
Finalists Announced
JUNE 2, 2026
Winners Announced at the 2026 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala
Why Apply?
- Benchmark your work: Compare your projects against the best in retail, with over 50 submissions each year.
- Celebrate achievements: Showcase successful initiatives across 12 comprehensive retail categories.
- Gain expert recognition: Esteemed retail judges evaluate every submission.
- Highlight your team: Reward your team’s hard work by putting their efforts in the spotlight.
Awards Categories
The Excellence in Retail Awards recognize outstanding achievements in twelve distinct categories.
- NEW: Unified Commerce
- NEW: AI Operations Innovation
- NEW: Consumer AI Experience & Marketing Award
- E-Commerce Award
- Environmental Leadership
- Health, Safety & Wellness
- In-Store Experience & Design
- Philanthropic Leadership
- Pop-Up Experience & Design
- In-Store Merchandising
- Loss Prevention
- Retail Marketing
- Supply Chain Innovation
- Talent Development