Servo celebrated as nation’s finest

A LOCAL service station has been crowned the best of the best in Australia.

APCO Alfredton owners have won big with three accolades at the Australian Association of Convenience Stores Gala Awards.

The business netted the Overall Store of the Year, and Independent Store of the Year, as well as the Excellence in Food and Coffee Offer Development awards.

Co-retail partner Ivor Riesewyk said he was overwhelmed to receive the recognition.

“We’d only just been one year old when the awards came along in March, so it’s quite significant for us and showing that we’re doing a good job and our team are part of that,” he said.

“What sets us apart is our store is pretty much four businesses in one with the cafe, drive thru, fuel service and IGA supermarket with about 8000 lines of product.

“It’s something of a new model and one big difference.”

Located at 47 to 99 Learmonth Street, the Alfredton-based APCO IGA X-press store was established in March last year as a combined service station, cafe, and grocery offering.

Mr Riesewyk worked for about three decades at Ballarat Base Hospital before making the jump to service station delivery at the suggestion of his partner and co-owner Olivia Bates, who also represents APCO’s human resources department.

“It’s been a big learning curve for both of us,” Mr Riesewyk said.

The pair manage more than 40 staff members, and Mr Riesewyk said the business will continue to grow.

“We’re trying to bring more local produce in. For example, we’ve got Wilson’s fruit and veg here, Carboni’s, Inglenook, and a couple of other Ballarat products,” he said.

“There’s 80 or 90 suppliers but we’re trying to bring more Ballarat people in and sponsor more local business as well.”

Australian Association of Convenience Stores CEO, Theo Foukkare, said APCO Alfredton beat out more than 7000 convenience stores in the country to receive the accolade.

“For Olivia and Ivor to snag both independent of the year and store of the year is just phenomenal and I think their regular customers in Ballarat… all know just how great of an operation they’re running,” he said.

“APCO Alfredton offers a terrific combination of an IGA X-press in-store with very competitive pricing for everyday supermarket grocery items, and there’s also an expanded fresh food offering, including deli and gourmet foods.

“Then you’ve got the APCO Cafe24-7 Barista Coffee bar and cafe quality foods and it’s all within reach of the growing new residential hub of Ballarat.”