Ten Minnesota's Retail Champions Named For 2025-2026

St. Paul (October 1, 2025) -- Join Minnesota Retailers as we recognize ten leading retailers and industry partners with the announcement of the 2025-2026 Minnesota’s Retail Champions awards. Winners will accept their awards during Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Brookview in Golden Valley.

“We are proud to recognize ten innovative retailers, communities and partners that are leading the way in connecting with consumers and today’s trends following a vigorous process to identify Minnesota’s Retail Champions,” said Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers president. “The retail industry has a deep impact on Minnesota communities, and these award recipients are truly representative of what is great about retail across the state, how the industry is changing, and what it takes to attract customers today.”

The following is a complete list of the 2025-2026 Minnesota’s Retail Champion award recipients:

Lifetime Achievement
Christine Ward and Rick Haase, Patina, various locations
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Community Retailer of the Year
Benders, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Duluth
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Retailer of the Year
SCHEELS, various locations
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Retail Community of the Year
Waconia
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Advocate of the Year
Scott Fares and Darin Rinne, Wet Paint, St. Paul
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Vendor Partner of the Year
Aguilar Productions, St. Paul
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Customer Experience
J.H. and Sons, Edina
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Social Responsibility
Heti, Minneapolis
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Retail Innovation
Gamezenter, Roseville
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Best Place To Work
Chuck & Don’s, various locations
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Minnesota Retailers started the awards process by putting out a statewide call for nominations early in the year. A panel of peer judges reviewed nearly ten dozen nominations and selected the top nominee in each category. 

Retail Rally is changing the way retailers and their key business partners engage with today’s consumer. This year's event features an insightful keynote presentation from business growth advisor Tamara Prato, titled “Driving Retail Growth: People, Planning, and Your Best Customers.”  Tickets to Retail Rally are available at www.retailrally.com. Media is welcome.

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631