A MINYIP businessman has been honoured with a national lifetime achievement award.
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IGA X-press Minyip owner John Niewand OAM has received a 2012 IGA X-press Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was also inducted into an IGA Hall of Fame at the 2009 National IGA Retailer of the Year Awards, which recognised his significant contribution to the independent grocery industry.
Mr Niewand is a former Dunmunkle shire councillor and is a past district governor of Lions International.
He said his lifetime achievement award was the first such award in IGA's history.
He has owned the Minyip store since 1988.
Mr Niewand entered the independent supermarket industry for a lifestyle change after years of farming.
He has been on state and national IGA boards for many years and is a former Victorian IGA X-press committee chairman.
"The award was most unexpected," Mr Niewand said.
"Independent grocers must compete against Woolworths and Coles.
"There have been many changes in the industry.
"My wife Ellen and I have been very lucky with the supermarket and ran the business seven days a week."
Mrs Niewand said the couple would need a new room in their house to store all of Mr Niewand's awards.
Mr Niewand plans to display the award in his supermarket, which his son now operates.