Big box retailers dominate as Power Retail introduces new AI, viral and First Nations awards to 11th annual All Star Bash
Power Retail – Australia’s leading resource for retail news, data, and insights – hosted the 11th annual All Star Bash at Crown Palladium, Melbourne. Known as the country’s biggest retail celebration, the event, hosted by Merrick Watts, honoured retailers excelling in service, innovation, and inclusionary campaigns.
This year’s results showed it’s the big box department stores offering strong omnichannel experiences that are leading the sector. Knocking out competitor Big W, who won the top spot last year, Kmart took the #1 Retailer Award proving consumers want it all when it comes to seamless retail experiences across online and in-store channels.
Recognising the changes happening in the industry, the awards ceremony ushered in new and expanded categories, shining a light on the full spectrum of services that are disrupting the space.
Some of the exciting awards given out highlighted social media and AI’s growing impact on retail, some of the newly minted category winners included DECJUBA for Top Viral Moment, Carma for AI Innovation and Adore Beauty for Top Direct Marketing Program.
For the first time, Power Retail teamed up with Aboriginal Retail Australia to launch the Top First Nations Small Business Award, with the purpose of championing First Nations-led enterprises driving both commercial success and impact through e-commerce. The winner of the inaugural award was Yaye, a 100% Aboriginal-owned brand of bath and skincare products.
Liz Liddle, Chair of Aboriginal Retail Australia said, “The Top First Nations Small Business Award sets a new benchmark for inclusion and recognition across the retail sector. For the first time, First Nations retailers are being recognised through an industry award that acknowledges the contribution and entrepreneurship of First Nations brands. Celebrating First Nations retailers alongside Australia’s leading brands helps drive opportunity.
“The winner, Yaye, a Darwin based skincare business utilising bush medicines, demonstrated outstanding commitment over the past 12months to development across ecommerce, data and building wholesale markets. We can’t wait to see how this award creates more visibility and growth for Yaye.”
Looking at the 2026 list of top retailers, last year’s winner Big W dropped five spots to 6th place, with retail giant Bunnings climbing two spots, now placed 3rd overall after Kmart and Myer. Fellow department store Target also maintained a spot in the top twenty, sitting at 18th place. International homewares brand Ikea landed the final spot in the top twenty, bumping out Australia’s own home & living brand Spotlight.
The top twenty in order are: Kmart, Myer, Bunnings Warehouse, Officeworks, Chemist Warehouse, Big W, JB Hi-Fi, THE ICONIC, Dan Murphy’s, Adore Beauty, BCF, rebel, The Good Guys, David Jones, Petbarn, Appliances Online, Target, Bonds, and Ikea.
David Fear, Head of Data at Power Retail said: “We score retailers across five pillars, with the highest weighting on how well they integrate their online and in-store operations. Kmart led the Index because they delivered where it matters most — and where most retailers still have gaps. Less than half show real-time store stock online. Only around 30% have a dedicated app or wish list functionality. Kmart has all of them, backed by a strong returns policy and a cross-channel loyalty program. In a market where shoppers are rapidly changing their habits, that kind of completeness across the entire customer journey is what separates the leaders.”
Power Retail’s Top 100 ranking is based on a rigorous methodology analysing retailer performance across four key consumer lifecycle stages: Acquisition, Conversion, Fulfilment, and Retention. A new pillar analysing a retailer’s omnichannel strategy was added this year, focused on customers prioritising services that save them time and eliminate uncertainty, with real-time stock visibility being the most critical component of a successful omnichannel plan.
Integrating an NPS and CSAT scores as critical overlays to their data, Power Retail’s results this year reflect not just efficiency, but genuine customer satisfaction and loyalty.
With over 300 submissions, these awards were judged by leading retail experts, including: Chairperson of Aboriginal Retail Australia Elizabeth Liddle, Retail Expert Professor Gary Mortimer, Retail Consultant Dean Salakas, SHE-com Founder Lisa Jones, Loyalty Program specialist Adam Posner, E-commerce expert Patrick Rechsteiner, E-commerce coach Kelly Slessor, E-commerce consultant Roger Dunn, The Purpose Agents Co-Founder Anna Forster, Comexposium APAC Ryf Ouail, Goldlight Digital’s Roger Lee, Retail Expert Marieke van Bruggen, and Power Retail’s David Fear, Grant Arnott and Rosalea Catterson.
The list of 2026 All Star Bash winners are:
Top User Experience: INTERSPORT Australia
The Rising Star: KidsOClock
Top Direct Marketing Program: Adore Beauty
Top Viral Moment: DECJUBA
Top Retail Media Initiative: Liquorland
AI Innovation: Carma
Top B2B Retailer: Better Packaging Co.
Best In-Store Retailer: Baby Bunting
Top Loyalty Program: Platypus Shoes
Top Sustainability Initiative: Reebelo
Top Online Only Retailer: THE ICONIC
Fastest Growing Retailer: Jay Jays
Top First Nations Small Business: Yaye
Top Customer Experience: Babybee
Top Travel Retailer: Luxury Escapes
Number One Retailer Award: Kmart
