Gold Coast's Supercheap Auto Bundall store employee Alex Oldfield has been awarded the 2013 National Retail Association Young Retailer of the Year at the NRA’s 40th anniversary award ceremony in Melbourne.
NRA chief executive Trevor Evans said the store manager outshone almost 100 award entries and 25 finalists from across the country in a gruelling five-stage judging process.
“Miss Oldfield’s passion and drive to help grow the Super Retail Group brand and inspire her staff will ensure she is a strong role model with a promising retail career ahead,” Evans said.
The 24-year-old has won a place on Westfield’s 2014 World Retail Study Tour, which will see her take a two week world trip alongside a number of retail executives looking to gain knowledge in the latest retail trends and management techniques.
Oldfield said this year was her third attempt at the title is excited to be a part of the study tour.
“A few years ago I was working part time at Supercheap Auto whilst studying education, and it was then that I realised retail was my calling and my passion,” she said.
Other winners of the night included, runner-up Jordann Oliphant from Woolworths Limited; Medina Cicak from Yum! Restaurants Australia who took out the Innovation Award; and Brendan Nelson from McDonald’s in Queensland’s Mermaid Waters won the Scholarship Award. Meanwhile, People’s Choice Award went to Target Australia’s Joanna Zurzolo.
Head judge and Westfield Group retailer relations Jack Hanrahan said he was honoured to support career development in the retail sector for the third year running.
“The decision is never easy. The pool of talent this year made it exceptionally difficult although we were pleased to be able to reward the top five candidates with mentoring and leadership courses with the addition of award categories,” he said.