White’s IGA recognised for company culture and community spirit
Roz & Michael White celebrate with their team at the February 17 awards.
Whites IGA has once again proven that excellence in local grocery retailing isn’t just about stocking the shelves, it’s about passion, commitment, and an unwavering dedication to team culture and community service. The 2025 QNN IGA Awards of Excellence celebrated these very qualities on Monday February 17, with Whites IGA taking home some of the most coveted honours of the night.
The Whites IGA Forest Glen store proudly secured the prestigious “Store of the Year” title, recognition which is a testament to the store’s commitment to quality, customer service, and innovation in retail. This wasn’t the only accolade for Forest Glen, which also took home awards for Medium Delicatessen Department of the Year, Medium Bakery Department of the Year and Dairy Freezer Department of the Year.
In addition, Whites IGA Baringa was awarded Large Bakery Department of the Year, further cementing the Whites IGA brand as a leader in fresh, high-quality offerings.
Another particularly special moment was the recognition of Karen Baker, Manager at Whites IGA Forest Glen, who was awarded the Rising Star Award.
“This honour highlights Karen’s dedication, leadership, and the positive impact she has on both her team and customers,” said store owner, Roz White.
“Karens achievement is a reflection of the core values that White’s IGA stands for, hard work, integrity, and a love for serving the community and all things locavore.
“Michael and I are incredibly proud of our entire team, 30 of whom were with us to celebrate on the night,” she said.
“Obviously we were very excited about the awards, but the bigger picture is the depth of the camaraderie amongst our teams. Across our entire business, our team is like family. We care for and support each other and everyone makes a contribution that collectively has an enormous impact on the culture of our business and the communities we serve. Our teams serve our community tirelessly with smiles on their faces, and we are often blown away by the feedback of this nature that we receive from our customers.
“After 32 years in this business, we know that taking care of your people is absolutely vital. This is a people business and every one of our policies, procedures and internal structures is about listening to, respecting, developing and appreciating our staff. We know that a small amount of kindness goes a very long way towards a positive and thriving work culture.”
The QNN IGA Awards of Excellence showcased the incredible talent and commitment within the independent grocery industry, reinforcing the importance of local supermarkets in communities across Queensland.
“Now we look forward to representing IGA at the National IGA Awards on the Gold Coast in July, where we proudly showcase the best of what White’s IGA has to offer on the biggest stage.”