Neil Gibson, Budgens category manager, Steve Normington, Budgens trading manager and Paul Morgan, Budgens trading manager collect the award from QV's Simon Martin and Quentin Willson (either side)

Neil Gibson, Budgens category manager, Steve Normington, Budgens trading manager and Paul Morgan, Budgens trading manager collect the award from QV's Simon Martin and Quentin Willson (either side)

Budgens has won the QV Fresh Approach Convenience Retailer of the Year Award at this year's Re:fresh awards.

The Re:fresh judges were particularly impressed with Budgens' philosophy of working with entrepreneurial food retailers to provide shoppers with a food offer that is different and better.

Willie Hamilton, Budgens trading director, said: “We're delighted to have our hard work recognised. The trading teams spend a great deal of time and energy developing relationships with our suppliers and growers. This award is testament to the great work that has been achieved. We are developing our business in partnership and we’re delighted that this has been recognised in this award.”

It combines its own experience, expertise and heritage with the flair and passion of local retailers to cook up a retail recipe that has fresh produce as a key ingredient.

Produce is a category for which Budgens wants to be renowned and it is committed to providing its independent retailers with the relevant range and environment, strong communications and high levels of ongoing support and training to enable them to thrive in a competitive high-street marketplace.

Budgens has worked more closely with its key fruit and vegetable suppliers in the last three years, on joint business strategies that focus on everything from the development of closer ties with growers to the ultimate goal of driving sales through stores.

Nisa-Today's and Londis were runners up in the category. Re:fresh judges stated: ‘‘Budgens combines convenience, expertise and heritage with the flair of a local shop."