LONDON – REWE Group has won the 2017 NACS Insight European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, and Valora has won the 2017 European Convenience Retail Technology Award, sponsored by Verifone Inc. Both awards were presented during the NACS Insight Convenience Summit–Europe awards dinner in London on June 14.
The European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award is given to a convenience retailing company that has pursued a sustainability initiative that has significantly improved commercial performance, competitiveness, customer perception, staff engagement and prospects for continued financial strength.
REWE Group wins the NACS Insight European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award
REWE Group is an industry leader in developing and implementing sustainable strategies and making sustainability a core aspect of the company’s mission. Since implementing its sustainable practices nearly a decade ago, REWE Group views sustainability as both a process and a fundamental attitude that is firmly ingrained in its corporate culture.
Judges agreed that REWE Group is committed to being an industry pacesetter and instilling sustainability into the collective conscious of society. This commitment is based on REWE Group’s 2010 Guidelines for Sustainable Business Practices, which exemplify that sustainability is a fundamental element of its business strategy. As part of its sustainable business practices, REWE Group assumes responsibility for its employees, works fairly with partners and suppliers, promotes more sustainable product ranges, acts in an environmentally and climate-friendly manner and serves as an advocate of biodiversity and a sustainable society.
“Focusing on sustainability not only helps protect our world and resources, it is also good for business, and REWE Group demonstrates its commitment through its four pillars of sustainability: green products; employees; energy, climate and the environment; and social involvement,” said Ern Sherman, vice president of industry affairs for The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola is proud to recognize REWE Group, which shares our passion for making a lasting, positive difference for businesses and communities.”
The European Convenience Retail Technology Award recognizes a convenience retailing company that is pursuing a significant and compelling technology initiative that benefits European consumers, and is making long-term investments in technology innovation.
Valora wins the European Convenience Retail Technology Award
Valora, with more than 2,500 convenience and foodservice stores in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Lux and France, is leading technology innovation in the industry with its k kiosk mobile loyalty application. Valora owns a broad network of kiosk formats across Europe, offering everyday convenience store merchandise, with more than 900 k kiosk locations in Switzerland in highly trafficked areas. Valora’s k kiosk app provides consumers with unique coupons, stamp cards and the highly innovative “share and care” feature. This feature creates a community of k kiosk app users interacting with each other; they have the ability gift treats like coffee, beverages and snacks to friends who also use the app technology.
“The award is a true recognition of our strong commitment to generate added value for our customers through new digital solutions”, said Michael Mueller, CEO of Valora Group. “With about 1.4 million daily customer contacts across the group, we are dedicated to drive customer loyalty through innovation. In order to do so, we are continuously building up digital talent—within our company and with the help of service providers such as Dealini, Liquid Barcodes and Nothing Interactive who supported us in the k kiosk app project.”
“Verifone is committed to
innovative technologies and solutions, and applaud companies that are using
technology to help gas stations and convenience stores enrich the consumer
experience,” said Brad McGuinness, senior vice president of global petroleum
systems for Verifone. “We are delighted to recognize Valora for improving upon
an award-winning software platform with further enhancements, showing that they
are ahead of the curve with mobile technology in Europe.”
At the June 14 NACS Insight International Convenience Retail Awards ceremony, winners were also announced for the International Convenience Retailer of the Year and the European Convenience Retail Leader of the Year Award.
Now in its fourth year, the NACS Insight Convenience Summit–Europe brings together convenience and fuel retailing industry professionals from around the world to discuss new ideas and gain new commercial connections. This year’s event kicked off in Zurich on June 10 with education and store tours and ends on June 15 in London.