WRC announces World Retail Awards 2016 shortlist

The World Retail Congress (WRC) – the tenth edition of which will be held in Dubai, for the first time outside Europe, from April 12-14 at Madinat Jumeirah under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai and in partnership with Majid Al Futtaim and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry – has announced the first shortlist of retailers selected as finalists for the 2016 World Retail Awards.

The World Retail Awards form a key part of WRC. Here are the seven categories of the awards:

• Retailer of the Year
• Best Cross Channel Consumer Experience
• Best Holiday Season Advertising Campaign
• Responsible Retailer of the Year
• Store Design of the Year
• The Rodney Fitch Award for Innovation and Creativity
• Young Retail Entrepreneur of the Year

This year the World Retail Awards sees two special categories being added, the Responsible Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Majid Al Futtaim and the Rodney Fitch Award for Innovation and Creativity to honour the legacy of Rodney Fitch CBE who passed away in 2014. The second award will be given to a team or individual from within either a retailer or a creative agency demonstrating through their work Fitch’s philosophy and mission ‘to deliver to ordinary people better places to shop’.

The World Retail Awards are recognised as a showcase for retail excellence. The awards attract entries from hundreds of retailers from over 50 countries across the world. Like previous years, the shortlisted finalists have been drawn from an extremely competitive standard of entry reviewed by a Grand Jury comprising senior retailers and sector experts, including:

• Bernie Brooks, CEO, Edon
• Andrew Jennings, chairman, Hema, NED, Ted Baker
• Richard Simmonin, chairman and CEO, Group Vivarte
• Paul Charron, chairman, American Apparell
• Rick Darling,executive director, Li & Fung
• Nisreen Shocair, president, Virgin Megastores MENA
• Jodie Fox, co-founder, Shoes of Prey

The Grand Jury will hold a final judging meeting on April 12 to provide commentary on the winning entries. This year the shortlisted finalists under seven categories include the following:

Responsible Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Majid Al Futtaim

• Woolworths Holdings Limited
• Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
• AB VASSILOPOULOS
• The Good Guys
• Aldi
• Spinneys Dubai

Retailer of the Year, sponsored by IBM

• Amazon
• Central Retail
• Hudson’s Bay Company
• Ted Baker
• Tiger
• TJ Maxx/The TJX Companies Inc.

Best Cross Channel Consumer Experience, sponsored by jda

• House of Fraser
• Argos and eBay
• MATCHESFASHION.COM
• GOME Electrical Appliances Holding Limited
• Continente
• Bolia.com

Best Holiday Season Advertising Campaign

• Burberry
• SM Supermalls
• Myer
• Macy’s
• LIDL UK
• John Lewis

Store Design of the Year, sponsored by Global Rich

• Camper
• TRYANO, Chalhoub Group
• kikki.K
• Fang Suo Commune Chengdu Store
• Charming Charlie
• Hyundai Department Store
• Fenwick, Newcastle
• Virgin Megastore
• Adventure HQ

The Rodney Fitch Award for Innovation and Creativity, sponsored by Dubai Chamber

• Shoes of Prey
• MR PORTER
• mymuesli founders (Hubertus Bessau, Philipp Kraiss, Max Wittrock)
• Eight Inc.
• Adventure HQ
• Harbour City Estates Limited
• Magrabi

Young Retail Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Magrabi

• Gary Bravard & Morgan Hermand-Waiche, co-founders, Adore Me
• Julie Stevanja, founder, Stylerunner
• Trushar Khetia, founder, Society Stores
• Andreas Borgmann-Mark Carroll, founders, Kcal
• Mehmet Fatih Karaca, Karaca Group

“Every year we are delighted at the number of entries in each category and this year marking our special 10th anniversary is no exception. Once again the calibre of finalists is exceptional with fantastic representation across the retail world,” says WRC chairman Ian McGarrigle. “We are excited to have introduced some new categories this year championing retail talent in innovation and responsibility. It is always a difficult decision choosing the best of the best in each category and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has entered.”

“The World Retail Awards have set the benchmark for excellence in the retail sector and we are proud to be hosting them in Dubai this year. These awards are recognition of the hard work, dedication and innovation by retailers in offering the best and the latest to their customers,” states Hamad Buamim, president & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The inclusion of Dubai brands in the shortlist is an accomplishment and will definitely encourage and motivate other brands. We are also pleased to sponsor the Rodney Fitch Award for Innovation and Creativity as the Chamber is a firm supporter of innovation, which has become a necessity in today’s dynamic world and reinforces our commitment to the private sector. I am sure in the coming years we will see more local brands in the shortlist, which is in line with our aim to be the most important retail market in the world,” he adds.

“It is a great pleasure for Majid Al Futtaim to sponsor the ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year’ award at this year’s World Retail Awards. As an organisation that has embedded corporate responsibility at its heart, it is important for us to highlight the role the private sector has to play in promoting and protecting the wellbeing and prosperity of society, as well as the preservation of the natural environment. We are delighted to see a fellow UAE company nominated for this year’s award. We wish all nominees the best of luck and look forward to unveiling the winner at the event,” concludes Alain Bejjani, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding.