Saints Foodland in Adelaide named world’s best supermarket: Here’s what makes it so good
A modest family business in suburban South Australia has been crowned the best in the world at a glamorous awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
Saints Road Foodland in Salisbury Plains in Adelaide’s northeast beat thousands of competing stores worldwide to be named IGA International Retailer of the Year.
The award was presented at the Independent Grocers Alliance Awards of Excellence ceremony on March 11, where 6,000 IGA partners from more than 30 countries competed for the honor.
The Adelaide store was opened in 2019 as part of the South Australian Foodland chain by the Chapley family, who have been providing ‘world-class’ products since 1951.
Locals quickly rallied behind the supermarket’s emphasis on selling high-quality South Australian products and customer service.
Independent Adelaide supermarket, Saints Road Foodland (pictured), has beaten over 6,000 stores around the world to be named the best in the world
The supermarket’s president, Spero Tsapaliaris, and Foodland’s CEO, Franklin dos Santos, both traveled to Las Vegas to receive the award.
Mr dos Santos said the team was “incredibly proud” of the achievement which “puts Foodland IGA on the world stage”.
“Saints Road Foodland is more than just a grocery store, it’s a destination,” he said.
‘When you think of the best supermarkets in the world, you think of all the bells and whistles of fresh produce of the best quality… (and) an abundance of variety and first-class service.
“This globally recognized store has all that and more.”
Mr dos Santos added that the store’s focus was to provide customers with a “unique shopping experience” and bring a “foodie lover’s paradise” to Adelaide’s north.
“What you don’t necessarily think about are all the details that help make the store extra special,” he says.
“The Saints Foodland store is seamlessly efficient and environmentally friendly, which is a necessity these days.”
The supermarket (pictured) took home the International Retailer of the Year award presented by the Independent Grocers Alliance at an awards ceremony in Las Vegas
Locals gathered around the store shortly after its opening in 2019 as it focused on providing a ‘foodie paradise’ with high quality products and customer service (photo, Foodland employee)
The award was just the latest highlight for the supermarket, after taking home numerous accolades at the 2023 Australian IGA Awards.
The store was crowned National Retailer, National Large Store and National Large Grocery and General Merchandise Department this year.
The international title has long been held by Australian stores, with last year’s prize going to Ritchies IGA in Maclean, on the NSW north coast.
The Chapley family’s other store in Adelaide’s Frewville has previously recorded back-to-back wins at the awards in 2016 and 2017.