The best in retail rewarded at the 2026 Spark Retail NZ Awards
For the first time, Retail NZ offered the Spark People’s Choice Award, which was nominated by and voted for by the public. The inaugural winner was the book retailer, Book Hero.
“Voters raved about Book Hero’s exceptional service, knowledgeable staff, and speedy delivery times when ordering online, with one customer simply describing it as ‘the best store ever’. This is clearly a business that is going above and beyond for its customers, and obviously means a lot to its community,” Ms Young says. The Grimoire Bookstore was also a runner up.
Book Hero also came runner up in the IconicAI Online Store of the Year Award, which was won by fellow book retailer The Nile New Zealand for delivering best-in-class digital capability, customer experience, and commercial performance.
“The Nile also won the Annexa Technology Innovation Award for the reworking and relaunch of its website, making the online book seller the only double-winner of the night,” Ms Young says, “The way The Nile connects emotionally with customers and helps them discover books has really resonated with both the judges and their customers.”
Book sellers really made their mark on the awards this year, with Unity Books also among the winners. It took home the Mastercard Most Improved Store Award for the overhaul of its online store to properly reflect the magic of its in-store shopping experience.
“This year’s Spark Retail NZ Awards has been an amazing opportunity to look back and recognise all the achievements and successes of the sector over the past 12 months, despite the challenges being faced by the sector, and we look forward to bringing back the event in 2027.” —Carolyn Young, Retail NZ CEO
WINNERS LIST
Annexa Technology Innovation Award
This award recognises retailers’ exemplary use of technology in their business.
WINNER: The Nile New Zealand
RUNNER-UP: Mitre 10 & Team Circle
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Appetise
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Woolworths New Zealand
Mastercard Most Improved Store Award
This award recognises a physical or online store that has made a clear and positive impact on customers, the community, or the wider company.
WINNER: Unity Books
RUNNER-UP: Spark, Lynn Mall
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Homestead
OneMusic Best New Store Design Award
This award recognises innovation and creativity in store design that will contribute to long-term profitable growth for the retailer.
WINNER: Rebel Sport, Mount Wellington
RUNNER-UP: Renaissance, Christchurch
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Normanby Fine Wines & Spirits, Wellington
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Spark, St Lukes
IconicAI Online Store of the Year Award
This award recognises an e-commerce retail manager or team that has significantly and positively impacted customers, the community or the broader company.
WINNER: The Nile New Zealand
RUNNER-UP: Book Hero
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Normanby Fine Wines & Spirits
ServiceIQ Customer Service Experience of the Year Award
This award recognises an e-commerce retail manager or team that has significantly and positively impacted customers, the community or the broader company.
WINNER: Container Space
RUNNER-UP: Goody Goodness
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Paulas Home & Living
Kora Oustanding New Talent Award
This award recognises the most promising new talents in the New Zealand retail sector. Entrants must have worked in the retail sector for less than five years.
WINNER: Daniel Tollenaar, Nutrition Warehouse
RUNNER-UP: Trinity Ries, Shopology
KNAPP Sustainability Leadership Award
This award recognises retailers who are advancing their sustainability efforts through a specific green initiative from the past year.
WINNER: The Warehouse Ltd. – The Good Drop
RUNNER-UP: Foodstuffs North Island – EV Heavy Vehicles
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Woolworths New Zealand – 100% Cage-free Eggs
NZ Post Young Retailer of the Year
This award recognises outstanding young talent in the New Zealand retail sector and is open to people aged 25 and under.
WINNER: Brooke Elliott-Forster-Clampitt, Normanby Fine Wines & Spirits
RUNNER-UP: Esther Cai, JoyLato
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mya Chaitika, Spark
Spark People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award is nominated by and voted for entirely by the public.
WINNER: Book Hero
RUNNER-UP: Wally
Visa Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is the most prestigious accolade and recognises someone whose career has profoundly shaped and advanced the retail sector.
WINNERS: Rod Duke, Briscoe Group Managing Director; Anne & David Norman, James Pascoe Group founders; Sir Michael Hill, founder Michael Hill Jewellers