For nine years, the prestigious TOP RETAILER awards for those traders who have scored the most points with customers have been handed out as an integral part of the Retail Summit’s Gala Evening. And this year was no exception.

As for previous years, the main basis for the awarding of prizes was the results of the SHOPPING MONITOR survey, the largest representative investigation of shopping habits in the Czech Republic. With this survey, INCOMA GfK has been mapping the shopping preferences and motivation of Czech households and their relationship to retail chains every year since the 1990s.

The TOP RETAILER award for the most customers on the Czech market was taken, as it was last year, by Kaufland. Kaufland stores are the main destination for purchasing fast-moving consumer goods for more than 18 % of Czech households.

Traditionally, a TOP RETAILER award is also received for the chain with the best customer assessments. This indicator arises from comprehensive customer assessments of a whole range of factors (store price perception, its range of products, the freshness and quality of its goods, the quality of the shopping environment, and the professionalism and helpfulness of its staff). Among food chains, Globus hypermarkets successfully defended their top position from last year. The SHOPPING MONITOR survey confirmed the chain’s excellent position in terms of breadth of products, freshness and quality of goods offered and a pleasant shopping environment. Among non-food stores, IKEA won among customers, who were impressed by its range of products, prices and quality of staff.

Another TOP RETAILER award was given out to the trader who most impressed with a successful concept or activity. The Tchibo shops concept was voted ‘Retail Vision’ winner by an expert panel of managers for its ‘unique application of a ‘seasonal’ category approach – the product range and its continuous rotation demonstrate how even the sale of predominantly non-food goods can be based on impulse purchasing and generate frequent return visits of shoppers.’

This year, the special TOP RETAILER – Trader without barriers award was announced for the first time. Our survey, carried out in conjunction with KONTO BARIÉRY, discovered which stores most facilitate shopping visits by disabled shoppers, and in which stores the disabled come up against obstacles. Tesco hypermarket came out best in an overall comparison.

Contact for further information: Tomáš Drtina, INCOMA GfK (tomas.drtina@gfk.com, tel. 251117541)