Michael McCormack, managing director, Musgrave NI; Peter McCool, McCool’s SuperValu, Ballymoney; Andy Boyd, Boyd’s Centra, Junction One; Frank Boyd, Boyd’s MACE, Toomebridge and Eamonn Holmes at the annual Musgrave Store of the Year Awards at the Culloden Estate & Spa. Pic by Brian Thompson
THREE local SuperValu, Centra and MACE stores have clinched the coveted title of ‘Store of the Year’ at Musgrave’s annual awards event on Friday night (22nd March).
McCool’s SuperValu in Ballymoney claimed the title of SuperValu Store of the Year for a second year.
The store, known as the ‘heart of the community’, was recognised for championing local suppliers and causes and consistently keeping local at the forefront.
Boyd’s Centra, Junction One picked up this year’s Centra Store of the Year award.
Consistently high standards and a strong sales growth, driven by a strong team, have all contributed to the store’s recent success.
It was a family affair for the owners, who pride themselves on high store standards across all of their sites, as the team also picked up MACE Store of the Year for Boyd’s MACE, Toomebridge.
The store underwent a substantial development last year, transitioning into a Store of the Future, recently recording its highest week of sales since opening.
Lilley’s Centra, Dublin Road in Enniskillen was announced as this year’s Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by Cushelle.
The awards also saw SuperValu Limavady clinching the crown for Fundraising Store of the Year for Action Cancer for a fourth year and McDonald’s MACE, Lurgan winning Fundraiser of the Year for NI Chest Heart and Stroke, both Musgrave’s charity partners.
For the first time, winners of the Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA) Q Mark Awards were also revealed at this year’s Store of the Year Awards, with two stores being recognised this year: Long’s SuperValu Woodburn and Bradley’s Centra, Maghera.
This year’s awards were hosted by TV presenter Eamonn Holmes, taking place at Culloden Estate and Spa.
The annual awards showcase and recognise all of Musgrave’s 240 independent retailers in Northern Ireland across the SuperValu, Centra and MACE brands.
Finalists are selected following several rigorous rounds of performance and standards audits, with the highest accolade being ‘Store of the Year’.
A shortlist of 31 finalists competed in 13 categories, sponsored by Irwin’s, Britvic, Coca-Cola, Denny and Cushelle.
Categories included Fundraising Stores of the Year across all three brands, as well as MACE Store of the Year under and over 18,000 sqft, whilst Centra stores battled it out for Foodmarket and High Convenience retailer awards.
SuperValu and Centra finalists competed in the Company Owned categories before the coveted ‘Store of the Year’ titles were awarded.
Speaking at the event, Musgrave Northern Ireland Managing Director, Michael McCormack, said:
“Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners at this year’s Store of the Year Awards.
“We are proud to be able to recognise those retailers who are breaking new ground and who are redefining convenience.
“Our stores and our retailers are at the very heart of their communities, right across Northern Ireland.
“They deliver a unique customer offering, setting themselves apart from their competitors with a pioneering approach to retail and their commitment to delivering best-in-class customer service.
“The Musgrave Store of the Year Awards are a part of a continuous drive to maintain the highest possible retail standards across the company, with the judging process getting more and more rigorous each year.
“A huge thank you to each and every one of our retailers who work tirelessly to set themselves apart from competitors through hard work, passion and commitment to excellence.”
Musgrave Store of the Year Winners 2019:
EIQA Q Mark Special Recognition Award
Winner: Long’s SuperValu Woodburn
EIQA Q Mark Award
Winner: Bradley’s Centra, Maghera
Musgrave Fundraising Store of the Year for Action Cancer
Winner: SuperValu Limavady
MACE Fundraising Store of the Year for NI Chest Heart and Stroke
Winner: McDonald’s MACE, Lurgan
MACE Store of the Year (under 1800 sqft), sponsored by Irwin’s
Winner: McFarland’s MACE, Newmills
Finalists:
Quinn’s MACE, Castle Street
McKenna’s MACE, Sion Mills
MACE Store of the Year (over 1800 sqft), sponsored by Irwin’s
Winner: Boyd’s MACE, Toomebridge
Finalists:
Dolan’s MACE, Gortin Road
Wilson’s MACE, Coleraine
Centra Foodmarket Store of the Year, sponsored by Coca-Cola
Winner: Lusty’s Centra, Larne
Finalists:
Martin and Boal’s Centra, Holywood
Cuttle’s Centra Deansbridge, Armagh
Centra High-Convenience Store of the Year, sponsored by Coca-Cola
Winner: Boyd’s Centra, Junction One
Finalists:
Martin and Boal’s Centra, Great Victoria Street
McGoveran’s Centra, Malone Road
Newcomer of the Year winner, sponsored by Cushelle
Winner: Lilley’s Centra, Dublin Road
Finalists:
Scallon’s MACE, Armagh
Martin and Boal’s Centra, Carryduff
Lilley’s Centra, Dublin Road
O’Neil’s Centra, Greencastle
Greene’s Centra, Lake Road
Wilson’s Centra, Limavady
Kavanagh’s Centra, Waterloo Place
SuperValu Company Owned Store of the Year, sponsored by Denny
Winner: SuperValu, Irvinestown
Finalists:
SuperValu, Downpatrick
SuperValu, Lisburn
Centra Company Owned Store of the Year, sponsored by Denny
Winner: Centra, Banbridge
Finalists
Centra, Buncrana Road
Centra, Moira
MACE Store of the Year, sponsored by Irwin’s
Winner: Boyd’s MACE, Toomebridge
Centra Store of the Year, sponsored by Coca-Cola
Winner: Boyd’s Centra, Junction One
SuperValu Store of the Year, sponsored by Britvic
Winner: McCool’s SuperValu, Ballymoney
