Retailworld has recognised New Zealand’s top retailers in employment branding – the Future of Retail Awards – which featured a showdown between three giant telcos, Spark, One NZ, and 2Degrees.

All were finalists in the big category (for companies with more than 500 employees) and up against Mitre 10 and Chemist Warehouse. Spark won out.

The annual Retail Employer of the Year Awards, organised by career advising and recruiting consultants Retailworld Resourcing, honour retail enterprises that promote strong employer brands and career paths for their employees.

Winners are determined by the votes provided by employees, retail workers, and members of the general public who rank the company they believe is the best retail place to work.

“The most common themes amongst voters were the importance of team culture and having future career prospects,” says Retailworld’s Auckland-based agency director, Danielle McFadyen.

“Spark’s culture was a massive driving force for them taking the win, with its employees feeling supported and valued. The company really looks after its people with staff benefits, well-being initiatives, and an induction and training process setting new employees up for success.”

Plus-size clothing company Taking Shape, which competed against A&C Homestore and Partridge Jewellers in the small business category (less than 100 employees), was another winner. Gilmours, the FMCG wholesaler owned by Foodstuffs, won the competitive medium category (between 101 and 500 employees) against DFS NZ and Overland Footwear Group.

McFadyen said all of the finalists place a great value on community and camaraderie among their retail staff. She added that the awards demonstrate how retail is much more than being ‘just a shop worker’.