‘Best Customer Service’: Junee IGA honoured among the state’s best

JUNEE’S town-owned supermarket has been honoured for exceptional customer service at the 2026 IGA NSW/ACT Awards of Excellence in Sydney, reinforcing its standing among the best independent supermarkets in the state.

The recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for the Junee District Co-operative Society’s Broadway store, which has built a formidable reputation for punching well above its weight and delivering the kind of service country towns pride themselves on.

A group of 10 Junee IGA staff travelled to Sydney for Friday night’s awards ceremony after the store was nominated across five categories.

Junee IGA Secretary Manager Shane Willis pictured accepting the award for Excellence in Customer Service with staff on Friday night | Photo: Supplied

Speaking with The Junee Bulletin, Secretary Manager Shane Willis said the recognition belonged to the entire team.

“I’m incredibly proud,” he said. “For a store in a small country town to be recognised alongside some of the best in the state is a huge achievement for us.

“This is a reflection of the pride our staff take in what they do. This isn’t just a win for the store, it’s a win for the entire community that supports us.”

It is the third straight year the Junee store has featured prominently at the awards, having previously won Best Medium Dairy and Freezer Department in both 2024 and 2025.

That success was driven by Nina Seton and Kim Murdoch, the women behind the award-winning department, who then went on to represent New South Wales as national finalists in both years.

Nita Seton and Kim Murdoch pictured with their state awards in 2024 and 2025 | Pictures: Supplied

Mr Willis said this year’s accolade was particularly significant because it recognised the performance of the entire store, rather than a single department.

“What makes this award so special is that it reflects consistency across the whole store,” he said.

“It’s not about one department or one area, it’s a whole-of-store effort. Every single staff member has contributed to this result.”

For Junee, the latest honour is about far more than a trophy or a night out in Sydney. It is another powerful reminder that a century-old, town-owned supermarket continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the business — and beat them.

Junee IGA | Photo: Bidgee/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The result caps another strong chapter for the Junee supermarket, which celebrated its centenary last year and remains one of the town’s most enduring and respected institutions.

“We don’t do it for awards, but it’s certainly nice to be acknowledged.”

Operating since 1925, the Junee District Co-operative has long presented itself as more than just a place to buy groceries, with customer service, local loyalty and community support at the heart of its identity.

READ MORE: Junee Co-op celebrates a century of local loyalty

Founded as a local co-operative and still operating under that model today, the business has weathered generations of change in regional retail while fiercely maintaining its distinctly local character.

Junee IGA staff pictured with Rotary’s Vocational Excellence award in June 2025 | Photo: Supplied

Friday’s win now places the store in contention for national honours on the Gold Coast in July.

“Whoever represents us at nationals will be representing the entire store and the effort that’s gone into this result,” Mr Willis said.

At a time when many country towns have watched once-proud local businesses disappear, Junee IGA’s latest success is likely to resonate well beyond the checkout.

Because for locals, this is not simply about a supermarket winning an award in Sydney.

It is about a Junee institution proving once again that country service, country pride and country loyalty can still stand with the very best in the state.