Retailers who took home trophies at the recent Excellence in Housewares Awards are continuing to celebrate their achievements.
As guests recovered from the celebrations, and the trophies found their new homes in stores across the UK, words of joy, thanks and excitement continued to flood in.
Sue McCarthy, senior buyer at Charlies, winner of the Multiple or Small Group Retailer of the Year category, commented: “It was a lovely surprise to win the award and was testament to the effort made by all of our housewares teams in each of our stores. We are part of a small family-owned business and it was really special to be in a category against such strong competition; all of whom are all well-known and respected names in the housewares industry. We were very happy and proud winners.”
Harts of Stur took home the Independent Cookshop of the Year accolade. Graham Hart, managing director, told us: “Winning the Independent Cookshop of the Year Award was an exhilarating moment that filled our team with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. The feeling was a mix of joy and gratitude, knowing that our hard work and dedication to providing exceptional kitchenware and customer service had been recognised.
“This award means the world to our staff as it validates their commitment to creating a space where cooking enthusiasts can find the finest equipment for their culinary adventures. It’s not just an acknowledgment of our store’s quality but a testament to the passion and expertise of our team. Winning this award serves as motivation to continue striving for excellence and to keep delighting our customers with the very best in kitchenware.”
Winner of the Best Department Store – Multiple or Group, was Fenwick. Helen Miller, cook & dine buyer, said: “Wow! The team and I were absolutely thrilled to have won. To be nominated is a privilege, to reach the final was incredible, but to go on and win the award is amazing and great recognition for all.
“Thank you to all the suppliers for voting for us, and to the brilliant team at Fenwick for all their hard work. Apologies to Jake Lambert for correcting him on his pronunciation of Fenwick – luckily, he took it well and we laughed together.”