Sollas Co-op store manager scoops prestigious national retail award

27 March 2026

Sollas Co-op store manager, Cathina Maccorquodale, has scooped a prestigious national retail award designed to celebrate excellence and showcase those who have make a significant impact in retail.

The Retail Week Awards 2026 showcases outstanding achievements within the UK retail sector. Judged by 25 of retail’s biggest names, and hosted by musician and TV personality, Myleene Klass, the awards highlight innovative customer experiences and recognise retail’s frontline heroes and hard-working teams – showcasing the very best of UK retail

With the organisers acknowledging that the event is a “benchmark for excellence in the sector” and “dedicated to recognising individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond”, Cathina won the “Store Hero” category of the “Retail Week Awards 2026”

Having worked for Co-op for over 30 years, Cathina was praised for her ‘dedication and commitment to her team and to the Island communities the Co-op serves’.

Seeing her role as a ‘way of life’, Cathina’s fundraising and support for community groups was also recognised.

Cathina, said: “I was completely shocked, surprised and delighted, it really is very special to receive this recognition – I don’t think it has sunk in yet. Something like this cannot be achieved alone, and so it is with a huge thank you to my colleagues at the Co-op and in particular my team here at Sollas, and to the communities of North Uist and Berneray for all their support over the years – they all helped to make this happen. The whole team is absolutely committed to serving the community, it is more than a job it really is a way of life - it is a genuine pleasure to work with and, for, the community. These communities are very special to me, and I look forward to continuing to work together to continue making a difference in the future.”

Winners were announced this month when the Retail Week Awards 2026 celebrated the contributions made within the retail industry at a glittering award ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Co-op achieved a trio of award wins on the evening, in addition to the 'Store Hero' category, Co-op also won the 'Distribution Hero Award' and the 'Head Office Hero Award' which were both awarded for cyber security and IT resilience and response.

Retail Week’s Editor-in-Chief, Charlotte Hardie said of the 2026 Awards: “The Retail Week Awards 2026 have shown the true spirit of British retail. Against a backdrop of stubborn inflation, fragile consumer confidence and the unrelenting pressure of rising labour costs, our 2026 winners proved just how far this industry can go with resilience and imagination. From navigating supply chain volatility to embracing the transformative power of AI, they’ve turned another disruptive year into one of progress. What stood out most was the people behind these achievements; creative, determined teams who continue to deliver for customers in a marketplace that grows more complex by the day. Celebrating them this year has been an absolute privilege.”

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Photo: Co-op’s Cathina Maccorquodale and Andy Baird pictured with musician and TV personality, Myleene Klass at the Retail Week Awards 2026

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Andrew Torr
Lead Press Officer, Co-op

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