The industry’s leading recognition and development programme for independent retailers, the Independent Achievers Academy, has revealed their top 100 independent retailers in the UK & Ireland, for 2011.

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Retailers who entered the academy were assessed against 12 best practice principles including shop layout, merchandising and retail innovation. Mystery shopper visits were made to all of the entrants and IAA project manager Kate Dickenson was impressed with the standard this year. “We have seen a huge increase in standards this year,” she said, “demonstrating the commitment of local store owners to continuously improve and do a great job for shoppers.”

For the second time, Better Retailing has plotted this interactive map for you to look at all 100 retailers. See if your shop is in the list, or failing that, if there’s any top 100 stores near you that you can visit and benchmark yourself against.

The finals for this year’s IAA will take place on 17 November at the Grange Hotel at Tower Bridge, London. For more information visit www.iaacademy.co.uk or call Caroline Cronin on 020 7689 0600