Leading UK health food retailer Holland & Barrett has crowned Julie Standing from its Cardiff Queen Street Store as ‘Manager of The Year’ at a prestigious national awards ceremony.
Standing beat more than 320 entrants to win the coveted title, plus a five-star, all-expenses paid trip to New York later this year.
The national final was the result of months of regional heats which had narrowed down the candidates to the last 60.
Holland & Barrett’s Managers, supervisors, and “store-associate” sales staff from around the UK were given a range of live tasks to perform in front of a judging panel, which tested their knowledge on a huge range of health conditions, ailments and products – as well as testing their customer skills through role play scenarios.
Standing, manager of the Cardiff store, has worked for the business since 2003 said:
“I’m passionate about my job and pleased to be rewarded for doing something I love. Being able to offer advice to customers means there’s always something new every day, and this prize is the icing on the cake.”
Martin Moran, Chief Operating Officer of Holland & Barrett’s parent company NBTY Europe, said:
“Our staff are at the front line of the business and deserve recognition for the amazing work they do. We have invested heavily in our Natural Health Academy which provides a Government backed qualification upto the equivalent to an A Level, rewarding ambitious people who want to work for Holland & Barrett.”
• Photo shows Julie Standing, centre, receiving her award from Jeff Nagel (left, from Holland & Barrett’s Parent Company NBTY) and Peter Aldis (right, CEO of Holland &Barrett)
