Two news retailers from Harrogate have found themselves making headlines after being victorious at the prestigious 2016 NFRN Awards.
Brian Moses, the owner of The Bookstall at Harrogate station, was announced as the UK’s top newsagent while Yakuta Bhaiji of Harrogate Distribution was recognised for his outstanding effort to develop his home news delivery (HND) business by being awarded the Store2Door Service of the Year award.
Both men received their trophies at a glittering Awards ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London last night (Wednesday 23 November 2016).
More than 400 people attended the event, including newspaper and magazine publishers, news wholesalers, politicians and independent retailers.
Mr Moses received his award from Jim Fox of Coca Cola who sponsored the category, and Awards host, radio presenter Nick Ferrari.
Harrogate Bookstall beat five other finalists from across the UK to scoop the new Newsagent of the Year Award which recognises commitment to the development of newspaper and magazine sales.
The judges praised Harrogate Bookstall for having one of the most extensive newspaper and magazine ranges for miles, with 1,400 weekly and monthly publications, a wide array of collectables, 11local newspapers covering Harrogate, Ripon, Scarborough, Whitby and Darlington, a variety of foreign titles and 31 different railway magazines.
The judges were also impressed with Mr Moses’ commitment and enthusiasm for this important product category and his great customer service.
Meanwhile, no other entry received as many testimonials as that submitted by Harrogate Distribution, with more than 200 from delighted customers.
When it launched in 1998 Harrogate Distribution had 257 customers, but these days it is North Yorkshire’s biggest distributor of news and magazines, with 2,500 residential customers and more than a 100 commercial ones.
It employs 57 youngsters and eight adult staff who deliver punctually 100 per cent of the time and whatever the weather! The business is currently run from a retail unit and a village hall but has grown so much he is now looking out for bigger premises.
Having beaten three other finalists to this prestigious award, Mr Bhaiji is pictured receiving his trophy from Liam Cagliarini, Head of Proximity Sales at epay, which sponsored the category, and Mr Ferrari.
The NFRN Awards are awarded annually to recognise excellence in news and convenience retailing, rewarding those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sector.
