General News
30 April, 2026
Innovation leads to elation
A FORWARD-THINKING approach to storewide renovations has seen Bates IGA Mortlake named among the cream of the crop at the 2026 Victorian State IGA Awards of Excellence.
The store took home the 2026 Innovation Award in recognition of the impact its recent store-wide renovations had on service and customer satisfaction.
The judging panel felt Bates had seamlessly blended innovative solutions into its remodel while maintaining the heritage of its bluestone premises on Officer Street.
The full store revamp introduced freshly cooked in-store meals, expanded grab-and-go options and quality coffee to go, which was identified as creating a modern, convenient experience for busy local shoppers.
The store’s vision was described as evident in how staff had reimagined every space, uniting multiple buildings into one cohesive store.
The store was also recognised for its commitment to sustainability, with more than 180 solar panels forming an 89-kilowatt system which generates significant renewable energy to help power the store.
Bates IGA Mortlake manager Ian Mahncke said he could not have been prouder.
“To be nominated for awards is one thing, but to actually win one just reinforces that what you think you’re doing right, you are doing right,” he said.
“You’re getting the powers-that-be saying you’ve done a great job.
“We feel we’re doing things for our customers, to make the store better to give everyone a better experience, so to have that award is really satisfying.
“We don’t do these things for awards, but to have people above us take note of those efforts is really pleasing.”
Mr Mahncke said the response from customers wishing the staff congratulations was appreciated due to the tight-knit nature of the community.
“It takes you back a little bit to see how many people are thrilled for our local little supermarket to do so well,” he said.
“Especially now, with diesel prices and everything, for people to be able to get what they want in town, without having to go out, is really appreciated.
“But this is more than just a customer and a worker.
“We all know each other, we interact on weekends and know everybody’s story, so I think it’s really nice to see the people we know be so happy for us as a team.”
A total of 22 awards were presented during the evening.
The awards are judged on a range of criteria which includes customer service, community pride, department excellence, brand values, merchandising and the stores’ overall performance.
Bates IGA Mortlake will now go on to represent Victoria at the National IGA Awards of Excellence in July, where they will be up against their interstate counterparts from across Australia.
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