Retail NZ has announced the winners of the Retail NZ Awards 2025, which recognise outstanding contributions across the retail industry.
Mary Devine, CEO of Foodstuffs South Island, won the Lifetime Contribution Award, supported by the Retail Academy, for shaping retail practices, elevating industry standards, and inspiring innovation across New Zealand’s commercial landscape.
Devine has been on several boards and in leadership positions across organisations, including Ballantyne’s, EziBuy, and Hallenstein Glassons.
Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young said the calibre of this year’s finalists and winners was exceptional, “and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements”.
“Retailers across Aotearoa continue to inspire us with their creativity, commitment and customer focus,” she said.
Normanby Fine Wine and Spirits won OneMusic’s best new store design award for its Mt Eden store in Auckland, which blended wine retail, a cafe, a tasting room, and curated art and furniture.
Untouched World’s Newmarket store in Auckland was highly commended for its sensory-rich space inspired by the region’s history and Maori heritage.
The Innovation – Best Use of Technology award, sponsored by Finance Now, went to Foodstuffs North Island for its use of facial recognition technology (FRT) to combat retail crime, setting a benchmark for responsible use of FRT in New Zealand’s retail sector.
Palmers’ mobile app, which gamified rewards, had plant ID tools and supplier-integrated promotions, was highly commended in this category.
The Online Store of the Year award, sponsored by Bluestar, went to Timaru-based fashion retailer Preen for its customer-focused approach, achieved through live styling sessions, handwritten notes, and a generous returns policy.
Mitre 10 New Zealand won the Sustainability Leadership Award, supported by Mastercard, for its custom-built sustainability dashboard, which enables stores to track and improve their environmental performance.
Woolworths New Zealand was highly commended in this category for its focus on achieving 90 per cent diversion of food waste from landfill as part of its “Reducing Hunger and Food Waste” goal.
The ServiceIQ Customer Service Experience of the Year award went to The Sleep Store for its “Love Our Customers” project, which provides live chats, sleep advice, fast dispatch, and inclusive product development to its customers.
Normanby Fine Wine and Spirits was highly commended in this category for its people-first strategy, expert staff, and curated offerings.
