Locals serving locals sweep FreshChoice Awards

From Lake Hāwea to Te Awamutu, locals serving locals were highlighted in this year’s annual FreshChoice Awards.

FreshChoice Lake Hāwea owner-operators Matt and Dixie Gallaher worked hard to understand how best to support their community when the store opened in October 2024, and its role in championing regional producers has helped its success, winning 2026 Small Store of the Year.

“We’ve really focused on how best to serve and support this incredible community, including bringing more local suppliers into our aisles. We proudly stock local products that our community loves,” says Matt.

The annual FreshChoice Awards are held to recognise the dedicated work of FreshChoice stores and their supplier partners. This year, FreshChoice Merivale won the title of the FreshChoice Large Store of the Year for the second year running, along with Meat, Produce, and Deli Department of the year, respectively.

The store, owned and operated by Craig Grant, was recognised for its status as a lively local destination, offering outstanding quality and selection, a highly curated selection of products, along with its award-winning florist and famous espresso bar.

FreshChoice Medium Store of the Year went to Tinwald, with owners Paul and Gaylene Thompson offering the Mid-Canterbury community a 30% larger trading space and an expanded selection of more than 2,500 new product lines when it opened last year.

Supported by their daughter, Tessa, the family is deeply embedded in the local community and champions the ‘locals serving locals’ philosophy, through their active involvement with local schools, sports clubs, and Rotary associations.

Other notable award winning stores include FreshChoice Te Awamutu, which won Bakery Department of the Year, Ready to Eat Department of the Year and the Social Media Award, and FreshChoice Barrington, which won Grocery Department of the Year and Dairy and Freezer Department of the Year.

FreshChoice Executive General Manager, Tim Cartwright says the awards highlight the exceptional commitment from owner-operators to understand and serve their communities and the vital partnerships they have with suppliers.

“All over the country, our FreshChoice stores and their owner-operators are integral to the life of the communities they live in, and serve. They deeply understand their customer base and reflect this in their local offering.

“Not only that, but their support for local suppliers and community groups and events is testament to their dedication. We are thrilled to recognise and celebrate their incredible contributions, and the positive impact they make within their communities.”

The full list of winners is below: