RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA
Excellence in
Retailing Awards
Stay Tuned: Submissions Open Soon!
Celebrate your work.
Acknowledge your team.
Each year, the Excellence in Retailing Awards (ERA) recognize the industry game changers that go above and beyond to serve their customers and push Canada into the future of retail.
Why Apply?
- Benchmark your work: Compare your projects against the best in retail, with over 50 submissions each year.
- Celebrate achievements: Showcase successful initiatives across 12 comprehensive retail categories.
- Gain expert recognition: Esteemed retail judges evaluate every submission.
- Highlight your team: Reward your team’s hard work by putting their efforts in the spotlight.
Awards Categories
- E-Commerce Experience
- Environmental Leadership
- Health, Safety & Wellness
- In-Store Experience & Design
- Omni-Channel
- Philanthropic Leadership
- Pop-Up Experience & Design
- In-Store Merchandising
- Loss Prevention
- Retail Marketing
- Supply Chain Innovation
- Talent Development
Application Timeline
MARCH 13, 2026
Deadline to Register your Submission
MARCH 27, 2026
Deadline to Upload all Submission Details
APRIL 2026
Judging Period
MAY 2026
Finalists Announced
JUNE 2, 2026
Winners Announced at the 2026 Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala
Past Winners
Revolutionizing Retail with Best Buy Express
Best Buy Canada
Revolutionizing Retail with Best Buy Express
Best Buy Canada
Best Buy and Bell launched Best Buy Express, renovating 167 The Source stores from July to October. This innovative format blends modern design with a seamless shopping experience, enhancing convenience and accessibility.
Completion of $15 Million BC Children’s Hospital Pledge
Pattison Food Group
Completion of $15 Million BC Children’s Hospital Pledge
Pattison Food Group
In 2016, Save-On-Foods made a pledge to donate $15 million to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation over 10 years. With the support of its passionate team members, suppliers, business partners and customers, the team went to work to make it happen and completed the pledge two years ahead of schedule.
Transforming Loss Prevention through our "Safety Paw"
Pet Valu Canada
Transforming Loss Prevention through our "Safety Paw"
Pet Valu Canada
Pet Valu launched the Safety Paw initiative, by integrating security and trust into its core operations. As the first “Paw” of its 4-Paw customer service model, it combines advanced technology, team development, and strategic partnerships to enhance security, support employees, and improve the customer experience.
Enhanced Apparel Shopping Experience at Square One Mall
Walmart Canada
Enhanced Apparel Shopping Experience at Square One Mall
Walmart Canada
The “Supercharge Apparel” initiative boosted sales by enhancing in-store visibility and engagement, organizing shops by style, and featuring high-excitement brands and mannequins. This dynamic approach converted browsers into buyers and set a new standard for in-store merchandising.
Holiday Memories Start Here
Le Groupe Aldo Inc.
Holiday Memories Start Here
Le Groupe Aldo Inc.
ALDO’s Holiday 2024 campaign invited customers to step into the season with style and comfort, positioning the brand as the ultimate destination for holiday dressing and gifting. Anchored by the message “Holiday memories start here”, the campaign blended festive storytelling with the unmatched comfort of ALDO Pillow Walk™ technology.
Markville Mall
Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Markville Mall
Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Indigo is committed to providing a best-in-class retail experience. The 16,000-square-foot Markville Mall location serves as a testing ground for innovative design, new construction techniques, and the next evolution of Indigo stores.
Beauty at The Bentway
Sephora Canada
Beauty at The Bentway
Sephora Canada
To mark its 20th anniversary in Canada, the retailer unveiled Beauty at The Bentway, transforming 6,500 sq.ft. into a community hub and green space inspired by the principles of Clean and Planet Aware at Sephora.
Celebrate Pride to Help LGBTQI + Refugees Find Home
IKEA Canada
Celebrate Pride to Help LGBTQI + Refugees Find Home
IKEA Canada
IKEA Canada partnered with Rainbow Railroad to support LGBTQI+ refugees through the launch of the IKEA Rainbow Cake. The initiative helped resettle over 150 refugees and supported 5,400 individuals facing persecution. It raised awareness of Rainbow Railroad’s work at the intersection of LGBTQI+ rights and the global refugee crisis.
Talent Development as a Way of Life
Purdys Chocolatier
Talent Development as a Way of Life
Purdys Chocolatier
At Purdys, guided by the value “We Make Ourselves Better Every Day,” the company invests in talent development to enhance culture, upskill the workforce, and achieve business goals. Key initiatives include leadership development workshops, and a performance and development system.
SHT (Second-Hand Tax)
IKEA Canada
SHT (Second-Hand Tax)
IKEA Canada
In response to Canada’s affordability crisis, IKEA launched SHT (Second-Hand Tax) campaign, eliminating double taxation on second-hand items in the IKEA as-is marketplace. This reinforced IKEA’s commitment to affordability, sustainability, and business growth.
Leveraging AI to Transform Online Experience
RONA
Leveraging AI to Transform Online Experience
RONA
RONA’s AI-powered search engine enhances the online shopping experience by delivering personalized and relevant search results based on customer behaviour. This innovative system improves search accuracy, streamlines operations, and reduces manual tasks.
Supply Chain Transformation
Staples Canada
Supply Chain Transformation
Staples Canada
Staples Canada’s Supply Chain Transformation is a bold initiative revolutionizing fulfillment operation to enhance speed, accuracy, and sustainability. By implementing cutting-edge technology such as a new Warehouse Management System, Transportation Management System, and real-time inventory tracking, we’ve streamlined processes and improved customer satisfaction.
The SQDC Strengthens Its Mission with 90-minute Delivery Service
Société québécoise du cannabis
The SQDC Strengthens Its Mission with 90-minute Delivery Service
Société québécoise du cannabis
The Société québécoise du cannabis is continuing to expand its 90-minute delivery service via SQDC.ca. The initiative combines speed, efficiency and security, and is supported by an interdisciplinary team dedicated to the omni-channel project.
Feeding Families Not Landfills
Sobeys Inc.
Feeding Families Not Landfills
Sobeys Inc.
Sobeys’ stores are putting more food on tables and less in landfills by donating surplus food to local organizations. The Sobeys Food Rescue program enables stores and non-profits to easily connect, schedule, and track food donations.
Retail Education Scholarship Program
Each year, RCC awards scholarships to students interested in a career in retail or who currently work in retail. In 2025, $62,000 in scholarships was awarded to students working in retail and who are entering or currently enrolled in a retail-related program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Excellence in Retailing Awards showcases outstanding innovation in the retail section, gathering retail decision makers for a night of recognition and celebration.
Demonstrate thought leadership, build your brand and make new connections through various ERA Sponsorship Opportunities. Contact sponsorship at rccsponsorship@retailcouncil.org
Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala: A Night to Celebrate Your Team
Revel in industry-wide recognition of your work, celebrate with your colleagues in person, and make new connections. Guests enjoy a cocktail reception, a delicious dinner, and inspiring awards ceremonies.
Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala
Toronto Congress Centre. June 2, 2026.
North Building
1020 Martin Grove Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 1J1
As The Voice of Retail™ in Canada since 1963, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) represents over 45,000 independent, regional, national mass and specialty retail businesses and online merchants in general merchandise, drug and grocery.