New Eltham’s Deborah is top of the shops as she’s named Store Manager of the Year

She was up against shopping’s big guns, supermarket chains and firms such Amazon and, er, Greggs.

But that did not stop New Eltham Co-Op’s manager Deborah Jeyachandran bringing home the bacon.

The Brazilian-born shop floor queen bagged the coveted award of Store Manager of the Year at the 2020 Retail Week Awards in London.

She was presented with the trophy by BBC presenter Clare Balding at a glitzy ceremony at The Grosvenor Hotel, Kensington. And she didn’t have to be pushed home in a trolley.

Deborah was crowned Britain’s champion checkout boss after impressing the judges with her “inspiring leadership skills, her commitment to team care and development, and her credentials as a champion for women in retail”.

Her Co-Op bosses described her as “the lead store manager for her region, following her outstanding achievements and clear display of strong retail skills.”

She credits her successes to her team members, who she ensures are included in important decisions.

The panel noted her genuine care and compassion for her staff – she has visited an ill colleague, and videoed a training session for a staff member who cannot write very well.

She has developed three colleagues into team leaders and a team leader into a team manager,

She is now working towards becoming an area manager. One judge said: “She works to develop herself while inspiring others.”

Deborah also organised an in-store event for colleagues to come in their countries’ colours to “celebrate our differences”. Another judge said: “We can all learn from that.”

Deborah is a member of The Co-op’s Aspire, the grocer’s network for women in business. She champions women in retail. She gave a presentation on the topic of women in leadership at a VIP event last year and headed workshops on the same theme under her own steam.

The judges’ assessment said: “Deborah’s win is very well-deserved. She is living proof that a store manager can be results-focused and a good leader while nurturing, developing and inspiring teams. Surely that’s what every retailer wants of their store manager.”

Poppie Mickleburgh, Retail Week event director, said: “The award for Store Manager of the Year is about recognising the everyday heroes of the retail industry – those who are really making a difference on the shop floor. It’s a really tough category as the retail talent we have here in the UK is so impressive.”

Pictured top: Deborah Jeyachandran, centre, receives her award from, left, Clare Balding and, right, Hanna Jackson from Retail Week