Welcome to My Shop Is Your Shop 2009

My Shop Your Shop Creator Wins National Award

The man behind an innovative scheme to promote independent newsagents and convenience stores has been honoured with a prestigious national award.

Alan Toft, the creator of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors My Shop is Your Shop campaign, was presented with the Fellowship of the NFRN Award at a glittering ceremony at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, London on Tuesday October 20.

The Fellowship is a very special honour bestowed on an individual who has made a unique contribution to the interests of Federation members - independent newsagents and convenience store owners. It is awarded annually by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, a trade association that represents 18,000 shopkeepers.

The award was made to Mr Toft of Eastbourne for his tireless efforts in championing the cause of the independent retailer.

Awards host Paul Zenon said: "Alan brings to his work a missionary zeal and enthusiasm and has recruited many of the country's leading suppliers and wholesalers to the My Shop is Your Shop initiative, making it an established feature in the independent retailers' year. It is also now the focus for a huge amount of local activity and promotion by local shops."

Alan Toft is pictured with Steve Fox of Booker, who sponsored the award and with Paul Zenon.

Thanking the NFRN for the award, Alan Toft said:" I am so proud to receive this award but, in turn, the industry should recognise the huge contribution made to the MSYS campaign by thousands of individual NFRN independent retailer members since the initiative launched in 2004.

"The Federation recognised the positive values of MSYS from day one and typically threw its weight behind the activity on behalf of its members," he added.

Now into their sixth year, the NFRN Awards are a widely respected industry accolade, which focus on the news and convenience retailing sector and recognise those who have made a real contribution to its success and future.