EVERFRESH IGA TAKES TRANSFORMATION TITLE
Queensland and Northern NSW’s finest independent supermarkets proved they’re anything but “aisle-ing” around, taking centre stage at the 2026 QLD and Northern NSW State IGA Awards of Excellence.
A night where the competition was as fresh as the produce and the wins were well-earned.
Held on Thursday 19 February 2026 at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, the awards were hosted by Aussie favourite Shane Jacobson, who kept the crowd entertained and the laughs rolling smoother than a brand new shopping trolley.
Among the standout winners, Everfresh IGA North Bundaberg took home the coveted Transformation Award.
The store has undergone a major glow-up, swapping out old refrigeration for sparkling new freezers, dairy and meat cases, and giving customers a shopping experience that’s anything but half-baked.
The deli has been sliced and diced into a modern foodie haven, complete with new display cases, hot boxes, and dedicated sections for cheeses, smallgoods, and ready-made meals.
Meanwhile, the Produce department is looking fresh, with fruit displays and bakery bunks, making it that much easier to find what you’re looking for, whether it be gluten, wheat, seeded or white.
Behind the scenes, upgraded prep areas are helping the team work safer, more effeciently and faster than ever.
A total of 22 awards were presented during the evening which celebrate the incredible work that many IGA stores across the region do every single day.
These awards are judged on a range of criteria which include customer service, community pride, department excellence, brand values, merchandising, and the stores’ overall performance.
Next stop for Everfresh IGA North Bundaberg: the National IGA Awards of Excellence this July, where they’ll go head-to-head with the best stores across Australia.
No doubt they’ll bring their A-game, and maybe a few more a-peel-ing upgrades as they represent the region on the national stage.
Graham Booysen, Chief Executive Officer of Everfresh Food Market responded to the win:
“We are so proud that Everfresh IGA North Bundaberg has been recognised with the Transformation Award at the 2026 QNN Awards of Excellence.
We were up against some amazing IGA stores in the state and to be chosen for this award is a real testament to the significant upgrades that we have done at the store.
Feedback from our local community on the upgrades have been incredibly positive and we’d like to thank them for their ongoing support.
We would also like to acknowledge our team for their hard work; this award means a lot to them.”
Chitchat Newspaper. April 2026.