Saints Foodland in Adelaide named world’s best supermarket: here’s what makes it so good

A humble suburban South Australian family supermarket has been crowned the world’s best at a glamorous awards night in Las Vegas.

Saints Road Foodland, located on Salisbury Plains, north-east of Adelaide, has beaten 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 affiliates from more than 30 countries competed for honors.

The Adelaide store was opened in 2019 as part of the South Australian Foodland chain by the Chapley family, which has been providing “world-class” products since 1951.

Locals quickly rallied around the supermarket’s focus on selling high-quality South Australian produce and customer service.

The supermarket’s director, Spero Tsapaliaris, and Foodland’s general manager, 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 global stage”.

“Saints Road Foodland is more than just a supermarket, it’s a destination,” he said.

“When you think of the world’s best supermarkets, you think of all the highest quality, fresh produce… (and) an abundance of variety and first-class service.

“This world-renowned store offers all of this and more. »

Mr dos Santos added the store’s aim was to provide a “unique shopping experience” for customers and bring a “foodie’s paradise” to North Adelaide.

“What you don’t necessarily think about are all the details that help make the store even more special,” he said.

“The Saints Foodland store is perfectly efficient and environmentally friendly, which is a necessity these days.”

The award is just the latest pinnacle for the supermarket after winning numerous accolades at the 2023 Australian IGA Awards.

The store was crowned National Retailer, National Department Store and National Large Grocery and General Merchandise Department for the year.

The international title has long been held by Australian stores, with last year’s award going to Ritchies IGA in Maclean on the NSW mid north coast.

The Chapley family’s other store in Frewville, Adelaide, has already achieved back-to-back awards wins in 2016 and 2017.