Barry Little of SuperValu Rathgar named ShelfLife National Grocery Retail Manager 2023
ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards 2023 honour the grocery retail industry’s finest managers and more
Print19 May 2023
Ireland’s grocery retail industry gathered at Dublin’s Royal Marine Hotel last night, Thursday, 18 May, for the 2023 ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards, recognising individual management excellence in the sector.
Led by MC Shay Byrne of RTE Radio One’s Rising Time, the prestigious, independently judged awards ceremony is supported by platinum sponsor Bank of Ireland and carried out in association with Excel Recruitment.
With 350 guests in attendance. 21 awards were presented, honouring the best in the many departments that make up local convenience stores and supermarkets, culminating in the grand prize of ShelfLife National Grocery Retail Manager of the Year.
Barry Little of SuperValu Rathgar, Dublin 6, was named National Grocery Retail Manager of the Year 2022. He was presented the award by Owen Clifford, head of Retail Sector at Bank of Ireland, the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards’ platinum sponsor.
The judges praised Barry Little for his positivity and excellent communication style, which motivates his team to continually deliver their best, through valuing the contributions of every individual.
Commenting on the factors which made him a first-class manager, Nikki Murran, director of Grocery Recruitment at Excel Recruitment, said on the night: “Barry Little is an outstanding, passionate, and positive manager. He has seen his store go through a massive revamp this past year and take on a new identity of ‘premium retailing’. He did all this through determination and staff communication.
“Our Supreme Champion 2023, Barry Little treats his team with respect and values employee suggestions that can drive business growth along with providing a fun and welcoming environment in-store. He has worked extremely hard over the years to grow and change with the needs of customers. The judges noted that Barry places maintaining great staff relationships as a top priority in order to achieve excellence.”
The theme of this year’s ceremony was ‘Helping Hands, Build Great Stores’, chosen to reflect the importance of superb teamwork, inspired by an encouraging and motivational manager, in driving excellent in-store results.
Commenting on the standard of 2023 entrants, John McDonald, ShelfLife publisher said: “The quality of the participants in this year’s ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards programme is a true reflection of the calibre that delivers some of the best convenience stores and supermarkets in the world to Irish consumers. Irish retail grocery managers are exceptional and would measure up to any global standard.”
Owen Clifford, head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland, the event’s platinum sector, likewise spoke of the importance of supporting and recognising the managers who deliver the world-class standards of Ireland’s grocery sector, noting: “Bank of Ireland are delighted to once again be lead sponsor of the Grocery management awards. These awards showcase the excellent standards and service delivered by the Irish grocery sector. They also celebrate the significant contribution made by personnel within the sector to their local communities nationwide. Personally, it remains a privilege to support and recognise all that’s great about the internationally renowned Irish grocery sector.”
The full list of awards, winners and sponsors:
Hero of the Year – Sponsored by Muller – Spar Ireland
Cash & Carry Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Keith Browne, 4 Aces Wholesale, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Customer Service Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Samantha Lanauze, Donnybrook Fair, Morehampton Road, Dublin 4
In-Store Bakery Manager of the Year – Sponsored by ShelfLife
Sinead Dodd, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Southern Cross Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
C-Store Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Bunzl Ireland
Sonya Carolan, Mace Blackbull, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Forecourt Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Bunzl Ireland
Helen Taylor, Daybreak Dungarvan, Youghal Road, Co. Waterford
Supermarket Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Bunzl Ireland
Dominic Kelleher, Herlihy’s Centra, 36-40 Patrick’s Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork
Off-Licence Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Barefoot
Gavin O’Leary, SuperValu Pavilion Swords, Co. Dublin
HR Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Patrick Shanny, Centra/Pelco Group, Blanchardstown Corporate Park, Dublin 15
C-Store Manager of the Year (Small) – Sponsored by Salescare/Promate
Ben Chambers, Nearby Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
C-Store Manager of the Year (Medium) – Sponsored by Salescare/Promate
Simon Champ, Clifford’s Centra, 91 Shandon Street, Co. Cork
C-Store Manager of the Year (Large) – Sponsored by PepsiCo
Rebecca Murphy, Herlihy’s Centra Bishopstown, Cork City
Forecourt Manager of the Year (Small) – Sponsored by Nomadic
Stephen Clifford, Londis KCR, Terenure, Dublin 6W
Forecourt Manager of the Year (Large) – Sponsored by Nomadic
Brian Joyce, The Galway Plaza, Athenry, Co. Galway
Supermarket Manager of the Year (Small) – Sponsored by Bank of Ireland
Barry Little, SuperValu Rathgar, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Supermarket Manager of the Year (Mid-sized) – Sponsored by Glenhaven
Shane Mellett, Aldi Limerick, Castletroy, Co. Limerick
Supermarket Manager of the Year (Large) – Sponsored by Glenhaven
Doug Thompson, SuperValu Knocklyon, Knocklyon Shopping Centre, Dublin 18
Retail Team of the Year – Sponsored by Velo Coffee
Caseys Londis Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Brand Marketing Team of the Year – Sponsored by BWG Foods
Tayto Ireland
Trading Team Award – Sponsored by Shopper Intelligence
Aldi Ireland
ShelfLife National Grocery Retail Manager of the Year 2023 – Sponsored by Bank of Ireland
Barry Little, SuperValu Rathgar, Dublin 6
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