Supermarket bakery a Victorian winner

Excellence: Victorian IGA state board chairman Jeff Harper, chief operating officer Harrison Zervakis, bakery manager Debra Potter, deli/bakery specialist Shirlene McCloud, area manager Alex Dimitrov and parent company Metcash Food's Victorian general manager Rob Pistritto at the awards event. Photo: SUPPLIED

THE Champions IGA store in Maddingley has won a major company award, just two years after it opened.

The supermarket, at Maddingley Village, took out statewide honours in the large bakery department category at IGA’s annual Victorian awards earlier this month.

It will now vie for the national honour against other state winners at the organisation’s National Awards of Excellence in July.

“We are incredibly excited to have received Victoria’s 2025 Large Bakery Department of the Year Award,” Champions IGA chief operating officer Harrison Zervakis said.

“Our bakery department… has something on offer for everyone. Whether it’s a sweet treat or a savoury option, the range provides great value for the community.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to our local customers for their support and to our dedicated team for all their hard work.”

The store opened in March 2023.

The awards night, held at the Sofitel Melbourne, was hosted by former swimmer and television personality Giaan Rooney. A total of 21 awards were handed out.

Champions IGA was selected from five other Victorian large format supermarket finalists in the bakery category.

Awards are judged on a range of criteria, including customer service, community pride, department excellence, brand values, merchandising, and overall store/department performance.

IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) is a buyer group of grocery stores, with each individual store owned independently.

Champions IGA is one of them, and after beginning with three outlets now operates nine stores with over 700 employees.

Its locations include Maddingley, Darley and five suburbs around Bendigo.