A family-owned business has scooped a prestigious award ahead of retail giant Tesco.

In a David and Goliath-style contest, Steamer Trading cookshop - which has seven shops in Sussex - won the Excellence in Multiple Retailing category of the 2005 Excellence in Housewares Awards.

Steamer Trading, now 20 years old, was the smallest business on the shortlist.

Others included supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury's and retailers Lakeland and Robert Dyas.

In 2000 and 2003 Steamer Trading was named Independent Housewares Retailer of the Year in the same awards, the only company to have ever won the same category twice.

Since opening its 10th branch earlier this year Steamer Trading had to be judged in the larger multiples category for chains with ten or more branches. Managing director Ben Phillips received the trophy at a gala black tie dinner at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel, attended by more than 500 guests from the UK retail industry.

The Steamer Trading success story began when David and Liz Phillips opened the first branch in Alfriston in a 15th Century former inn called The Steamer.

The shop, which sold a wide range of innovative kitchen equipment and accessories, much of it available in the area for the first time, became a massive hit with customers.

In 1993 the couple opened a second branch in Lewes, followed by shops in Eastbourne, Brighton, Battle, Heathfield and Horsham, as well as shops in Surrey and Kent.

Ben Phillips said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won the award, particularly when we were up against such huge well-known names that dwarfed us in terms of size.

"It is a credit to our 120 staff and I also believe it reflects the fact, highlighted in the recent study, that shoppers like stores that are different and where they receive the highest levels of customer care.

"We have always placed a big emphasis on opening shops in premises that are historic and individual, often waiting years for the right building and location to come up.

"We employ local people, place a great importance on staff training and play a key role in events to become part of the community. We also concentrate on carrying a wide range of stock, with many products not available anywhere else in the area."

In recent years Steamer Trading has also won awards for its innovative window displays and been UK finalist in the Global Innovator Awards.

Organised by Progressive Housewares magazine, the Excellence In Housewares Awards are open to thousands of cookshops and houseware stores nationwide.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005