Tobin’s Topaz/Spar Express crowned supreme winners at C-Store Awards 2015
Led by master of ceremonies, Marty Whelan, the country's best convenience stores were rewarded for their dedication and commitment to delivering excellence at the ShelfLife C-Store Awards 2015
Print26 November 2015
Dublin’s Ballsbridge Hotel was a buzzing hive of celebration last night as this year’s ShelfLife C-Store Award winners were announced, with the supreme accolade of National Convenience Store of the Year scooped by Tobin’s Topaz/Spar Express in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Commenting on why they felt Tobin’s was such a deserving winner, the judges said: “Spotlessly clean, this convenience store boasts exceptional standards across every department. The staff, including the forecourt operators are superb and it’s clear that quality reigns uppermost within this store’s deli, a fact which certainly has not gone unnoticed among the locals!”
Owned and run by Eddie and Annette Tobin, the store on the Port Road in Letterkenny was originally opened by Eddie’s father Pat, back in 1980 when it consisted of just two pumps and a kiosk. Today it is a pristine example of the best in convenience retailing, incorporating a first rate store and forecourt, a 93 seat diner and ample free parking, with 37 people employed by the business. The store was also named as Ireland’s Forecourt of the Year at last night’s ceremony and is clearly on a winning streak as it recently claimed the overall National Q Mark winner across all businesses as well as winning the Q Mark Best Forecourt Award for the past five consecutive years.
Meanwhile, this year’s C-Store Champion Award was presented to Leo Crawford, president of Spar International. Heading towards 20 years’ service at managing director level within the convenience store business, this is an individual who has thoroughly demonstrated his entrepreneurial drive with management buy outs, acquisitions and recently though the introduction of a new investor in the convenience sector.
Another honourable mention on the night must go to Seamus Kelly of Londis Milltown, Co Kerry, who upon collecting the Cuisine de France Bakery Award 2015 and gentle persuasion from our MC Marty Whelan, treated us to a stirring rendition of Raglan Road from the stage!
The ShelfLife National C-Store Awards, now in its 15th year, was set up to acknowledge stores and individuals that set the standards for the industry. Congratulations to all this year’s hard-working and deserving winners, the full list of which can be seen below. To check out more photographs from the ceremony (and maybe even spy yourself!) head over to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShelfLife.ie.
Full List of Winners ShelfLife C-Store Awards 2015
Supreme Champion: National Convenience Store Winner 2015
- Tobins Topaz/Spar Express, Letterkenny
Best Convenience Store (stores under 1,500 sq. ft.) 2015
Sponsored by Cuisine de France, National Lottery, The Irish Daily Mail
- Gala Topaz Patrickswell, Limerick
Best Convenience Store (stores 1,500-2,500 sq. ft.) 2015
Sponsored by Cuisine de France, National Lottery, The Irish Daily Mail
- Spar, Parkwest, Dublin
Best Convenience Store (stores 2,500-4,000 sq. ft) 2015
Sponsored by Cuisine de France, National Lottery, The Irish Daily Mail
- Centra Lahinch Road, Ennis, Clare
Best Convenience Store (stores 4000+ sq. ft) 2015
Sponsored by Cuisine de France, National Lottery, The Irish Daily Mail
- Mace Topaz Lissycasey, Clare
Forecourt Retailer of the Year 2015
Sponsored by Seachange
- Tobins Topaz/Spar Express, Letterkenny
Best Food to Go Department 2015
Sponsored by Cuisine de France
- Junction 14 (Spar/Texaco), Kildare
Best New Convenience Store Format 2015
Sponsored by Postpoint
- Store by Topaz
Irish Language Retailer of the Year 2015
Sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge
- Durkin’s Costcutter, Baile na hAbhann, Contae na Gaillimhe
Solid Fuel Retailer of the Year 2015
Sponsored by Bord na Mona
- Amber Costcutter, Fermoy, Cork
Best News Department 2015
Sponsored by Irish Mail on Sunday
- XL Eyre Square, Galway
National Lottery Retail Store 2015
Sponsored by National Lottery
- Costcutter, Birr, Co. Offaly
Best Off-Licence Section 2015
Sponsored by Orchard Thieves
- Londis KCR, Dublin
Best Fresh & Chilled Department 2015
Sponsored by Kerry Foods
- Morton’s of Ranelagh, Dublin
Best Confectionery Department/Display 2015
Sponsored by Ferrero
- XL NUI , Galway
Best Community Initiative 2015
Sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland
- Spar, Moneygall, Offaly
Staff Development Award 2015
Sponsored by Payzone
- Centra Bishopstown, Cork
Convenience Champion of the Year 2015
Sponsored by EIQA
- Leo Crawford, BWG
C-Store Product of the Year 2015
Sponsored by XL
- Coca Cola 500ml
C-Store Wine of the Year 2015
Sponsored by Barry Group/Costcutter/Carry Out
- Blossom Hill (C&C Gleeson)
Best Retail Technology Supplier 2015
Sponsored by shelflife.ie
- CBE
C-Store Supplier of the Year 2015
Sponsored by Gala
- Cuisine de France/Aryzta
Best New C-Store Product Launch 2015
Sponsored by Spar
- Aero Mousse
Best C-Store Marketing Campaign 2015
Sponsored by Leaders Enterprise
- Cadbury ‘I Can Boogie’
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