ERT AWARDS 2025
Best Independent Domestic Appliances Retailer – Large Winner: RDO Kitchens & Appliances
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RDO Kitchens & Appliances has been named Best Independent Consumer Electronics Retailer – Large at the ERT Awards 2025, a win that recognises both the scale of the business and the quality of its retail operation.
The team described the award as a tremendous honour, noting that
recognition in the Large Retailer category is particularly meaningful. It reflects not only the breadth of the business today but also the progress it has made in recent years. The award marks a major milestone, with turnover now five times higher than it was pre-Covid, highlighting the strong growth and resilience of the business.
What sets RDO Kitchens & Appliances apart is its ability to blend the personal service of an independent retailer with the range, systems and capability typically associated with national chains. Customers benefit from an extensive product selection, specialist expertise and a hands-on experience both in-store and online. Significant investment in staff development, customer service, warehousing, back-end e-commerce systems and showroom innovation has played a key role in supporting this hybrid model and elevating the overall customer journey. The ERT Awards event itself was another highlight for the team. They praised the evening for being well organised, energetic and full of positivity, providing a welcome opportunity to connect with others who share a passion for retail excellence and customer experience. Looking at the wider industry, RDO Kitchens & Appliances believes
awards like the ERTs play an important role in supporting independent retail. By shining a spotlight on best practice, they help raise standards, encourage innovation and remind customers of the unique value independents bring to the marketplace. Celebrating excellence, the team says, inspires the entire sector to keep evolving and improving.
Highly Commended: Wellingtons Electrical
December/January 2026
ertonline.co.uk
Best Industry Distributor Winner: Bluestem Group
Bluestem Group has been recognised with the Best Industry Distributor Initiative award at the ERT Awards 2025, celebrating its commitment to delivering seamless, flexible and customer- focused distribution solutions for retail partners. The team described the award as a real honour, noting that it reflects the hard work invested in building an operation that supports both retailers and end consumers. By offering a wide product portfolio alongside multiple delivery options, Bluestem Group aims to remove friction from the buying journey and ensure a smooth, hassle-free experience.
What set Bluestem Group’s initiative apart is the scale and breadth of its offering. The distributor supplies products across SDA, cooling, heating, refrigeration and floorcare, supported by its in-house brands Igenix, Statesman and Ewbank. In addition, Bluestem Group holds an exclusive UK distribution partnership with the De’Longhi Group, covering brands including De’Longhi, Kenwood, Braun and Ariete. Fast and flexible delivery was another key factor recognised by the judges. With consumers increasingly demanding rapid fulfilment, Bluestem Group provides strong product availability for quick delivery to store, alongside direct-to-consumer shipping options. This allows retail partners to meet demand without the need to hold excessive stock. Behind the scenes, dedicated customer service and warehouse teams work to ensure accurate order fulfilment and short dispatch times, despite the complexity of managing multiple delivery providers. A customer-centric mindset underpins all Bluestem Group’s initiatives. The business focuses on building long-term partnerships rather than transactional relationships, offering bespoke solutions, collaborative support and dependable service to help retailers succeed. Reflecting on the ERT Awards event, the team praised the atmosphere and the opportunity to celebrate achievements across the industry. Looking ahead, the recognition provides fresh motivation to keep evolving, whether through expanding product ranges, forming new distribution partnerships or exploring alternative logistics strategies to meet changing consumer and retailer needs.
Highly
Commended: AWE Europe
23
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