Local winners at top Retailer awards
October 27, 2009
By Brónagh Murphy
Four local retailers scooped top accolades at the annual Neighbourhood Retailer Awards recently. Forty-five of Northern Ireland’s top independent retailers went head-to-head at the gala awards ceremony in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast for the Bank of Ireland-sponsored event.
The Neighbourhood Retailer Awards are Northern Ireland’s longest running and most established trade awards specifically for in the independent grocery industry. Supported by manufacturers, wholesalers and symbol groups, this annual event, now in its eleventh year, celebrates the crème de la crème of Northern Ireland retailers.
The local winners were Mulkerns Eurospar, Cloughoge, who won Forecourt of the Year with C-Store 1751sq ft plus; Hughes Costcutter, Camlough was awarded
Neighbourhood Store with C-Store 3,501 – 7,000sq ft; SuperValu, The Good Food Shop, Newry took top place in the won Neighbourhood Store of the Year 7001sq ft plus category, while Spar Ward’s Rockmount, Newry won CTN (Confectioner, Tobacconist and Newsagent) of the Year.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Terry Mulkerns from Mulkerns Eurospar said: “I’m delighted to collect this award on behalf of all the staff who deserve this accolade for all their hard work, I feel blessed to have such a great team. My father Paul Mulkerns is in his 56th year of retail this year, so this is for him.”
Grainne Hughes of Hughes Costcutter, Camlough said: “We are stunned, thrilled and delighted to win this award. We are celebrating 25 years in business this year and have always tried to maintain high standards. This award is a great way to celebrate the hard work of the team at Hughes Costcutter.”
Ciaran Lowery, Store Manager, Supervalu and The Good Food Shop exclaimed: “We are ecstatic, this is the one we wanted to win! This award recognises not just the manager; but everything and everyone that is involved within the business and that’s why this win is particularly special for us. At the end of a tough year, this is the best reward.”
Store Manager of Ward’s Spar Rockmount, Eamonn McCorry, said: “It’s first class to win this award and justifiably so. We have excellent staff who look after the store exceptionally well, particularly during the difficult period of changing suppliers. This is an incredible win for the team.”
Bernard Rooney, Regional Manager, Commercial Banking of Bank of Ireland – the event’s main sponsors – said his company is delighted to be the overall platinum sponsor for the fourth year of these prestigious awards and added that the awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of local retailers who are ‘fundamental in the creation of a vibrant regional economy.’
Bill Penton, Managing Publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer, said the awards are ‘a celebration of all that is good in the Northern Ireland grocery industry.’
“With over 500 independent retailers entering each year, The Neighbourhood Retailer Awards are the largest, most prestigious and longest running trade awards and I would like to congratulate all our winners on their achievements and also to thank our many sponsors including our platinum sponsors Bank of Ireland for their generous support,” he said.
