COMMENTS on winners:

* My Favourite Coffee Shop — sponsored by The Oracle —Quantum Internet Cafe: “Staff are always helpful and welcoming. Giving great service — I love this place”

*The Lovely Lunch — sponsored by Broad Street Mall — Zest: “The staff are always on hand when you need anything but also give you enough space to enjoy your meal.”

*Trainee of the Year — sponsored by Reading College — Lewis Floyd (Mya Lacarte): “Successfully managed to balance training at college alongside work experience.”

*Shooting Star — sponsored by Winkworth — Jacqui Miles (The Oracle): “An excellent ambassador for their business, an outstanding member of the team and a customer service star.”

*The Shop I Can’t Live Without (independent) — sponsored by Jacobs of Reading — T&T Nails: “A really friendly, great service shop I visit regularly, couldn’t be without them.”

*The Shop I Can’t Live Without (Multiple) — John Lewis Partnership: “They never fail me in terms of customer service, efficiency and the highest quality merchandise. They are a true accolade of commerce.”

*Service With A Smile — sponsored by Reading Buses — Specsavers: “With an incredible number of individual entries, positive customer comments, and overwhelming testimonials, the judges felt unable to identify one individual from this short-listed retailer.”

*Promotional Initiative of the Year — sponsored by Reading BID — Caversham Traders Association: “The scheme is going from strength to strength and is a great example of collaborative marketing able to demonstrate a measureable impact on shopping behaviour”

*Independent Retailer of the Year — sponsored by John Lewis — Wordplay: “With a small team of local part-time staff and little funds for advertising, they pride themselves on delivering a great bespoke service and line of products.”

*Multiple Retailer of the Year — sponsored by Gowrings Ford Reading and City Peugeot Reading — John Lewis Partnership: “They have changed their store over the last few years to ensure that they continually deliver the best shopping environment to their customers.”

*Visual Design or Display of the Year — sponsored by Cherubs — Smiggle: “The ultimate creator of colour and fun, with products and a store layout that is all about great design and innovation.”

l*Manager of the Year – sponsored by Hammerson – Richard Larsen, Jamie’s Italian – “With staff he can be cheeky and funny as well as informative and passionate, providing the necessary information in a way that makes others want to learn.”

*Retailer of the Year - Eclectic Games - “Part of the community.”