Over 400 retailers to attend awards ceremony

Business Reporter
MORE than 400 retailers, suppliers and Government officials are expected at the inaugural Retailers Awards 2015 which are meant to celebrate and honour business players in one of the country’s fast growing economic sectors.

The retail sector is estimated to spin about $2 billion in turnover annually.

The inaugural Retailers Awards are the brainchild of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers and will be held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel on November 24.

Some of the objectives of the awards include to recognise and to reward outstanding retailers and suppliers to the retail sector, to reward the retail players for the critical role they have played to sustain the economy and to appreciate the role played by the retail industry in reviving and supporting the local industry.

CZR board member in charge of marketing Mr Alois Burutsa said the Awards will be a calendar event for the retailers’ body going forward.

“Some of the major award categories include Retailer of the year, Wholesaler of the year, Clothing Retailer of the Year, Hardware and Electrical Retailer of the Year, Best Retail promotion of The year, SME Retailer of the year, Retail personality of the year, among others,” said Mr Burutsa.

He said the awards will also serve as a way of raising awareness and the profile of quality home grown goods and services.

“The awards are meant to celebrate the remarkable and outstanding roles played by the retail companies in rejuvenating the economy, creating jobs, generating wealth for the nation among other objectives,” said Mr Burutsa.

An adjudication committee drawn from leading industrialists, consumer bodies and from leading BMOs in Zimbabwe has been set up come up with the winners.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers was established in 2009 as a Trust with the objective of lobbying for the recognition, growth, development and empowerment of all players in the retail space that includes supermarkets, wholesalers, hardware and electrical, stationery, clothing, Information Communication technology, among others.