Courtney’s Centra Fairview named National C-Store of the Year 2011
Lil Courtney's Centra on the Annesley Bridge Road in Fairview, Dublin 3 scooped the top award at this year's ShelfLife C-Store Awards 2011
Print30 November 2011
A Dublin city centre Centra store, employing 50 people has been named as the National Convenience Store of the Year 2011 by industry magazine, ShelfLife. Owned by Lil Courtney the store also won the Gold Award in its size category of 4,000 to 8,000 sq ft.
In presenting the award, ShelfLife editor Fionnuala Carolan said: “Delivering real value in a convenience format in an increasingly competitive market is what makes this store a winner. Two years of stealth planning and creative local marketing shows exactly what can be done to satisfy customers and keep them coming back. When the Celtic Tiger left Ireland the rule book for c-stores had to be re-written, it’s no longer just good enough to be convenient, in 2011 value is the name of the game” she says.
Store owner Lil Courtney has spent her life working in the retail sector. She commenced her career with Dunnes Stores and worked her way through the ranks to become a senior buying manager with the company, before leaving to open her own store in Fairview.
Londis, The Racecourse, Phoenix Park, won the Gold Award for stores in the less than 2,000 sq ft category. Of this store the judges said, “Small but perfectly formed. This winning store caters beautifully to the needs of the discerning residents of this high-end apartment complex.”
Spar on Merion Row won the Gold Award for stores in the 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft category. The judges were impressed with the store’s overall level of product presentation, price promotion and personal service.
The Forecourt of the Year Award was presented to Tobin’s Topaz Service Station in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Of this store the judges said, “The standards at this store are second to none. Every detail of every department is examined on a daily basis to ensure that the highest standards are maintained from the 1st of January to the 31st of December”.
The Best New Format C-Store 2011 is Junction 14, Spar Express, Mayfield, Monasterevin, Co Kildare. This is a new independently owned motorway service area that is the culmination of eight years work and a €7m investment. The franchises in place include Supermac’s, Insomnia and Spar Express. Free WiFi; a dedicated truck fuelling area; eCars charging facility; 120 car park spaces as well as dedicated truck and bus-parking areas are just some of the facilities on offer.
While Hunky Dory’s GAA campaign might have raised the hackles of lots of people, Irish retailers loved it and voted it the best marketing campaign of 2011.
The ShelfLife C-Store Awards, now running for ten years, were set up to recognise retailers and retail outlets that set the highest standards in the retail industry.
For more photographs from the ShelfLife C-Store Awards 2011, please visit our Facebook page here.
The full list of winners is:
National C-Store 2011 – Centra, Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin3
Gold Award Winner – Stores under 2000 sq ft- Londis, The Racecourse, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Runner-Up – Maxol/Mace, Clonakilty, Co Cork
Runner-Up – Amber Costcutter, Dublin Road, Fermoy, Co Cork
Gold Award Winner – Stores 2000 to 4000 sq ft – Spar, Merrion Row, Dublin
Runner-Up – Spar, Clane Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare
Runner-Up – Spar, Dominick Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Gold Award Winner – Stores 4000 to 8000 sq ft – Centra, Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin
Runner-Up – Centra, Merrymeeting S/C, Rathnew, Co Wicklow
Runner-Up – Londis Plus, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan
Forecourt Retailer of the Year – Tobin’s Topaz Service Station, Port Road, Letterkenny Co Donegal
Runner-up – Topaz, Cashel, Co Tipperary
Runner-up – Junction 14, Spar/Esso, Mayfield, Monasterevin, Co Kildare
Best Food to Go Department 2011 – Costcutter, Dublin Road, Fermoy, Co Cork
Best News Department 2011 – Spar, Parkwest, Dublin 12
Best C-Store Off-Licence 2011
Winner: Spar, Rathcoole, Co Dublin
Runner-Up – The Market, Belarmine, Co Dublin
Runner-Up – Londis, The Racecourse, Phoenix Park, Co Dublin
Best New Format C-Store 2011 – Junction 14, Spar Express, Mayfield, Monasterevin Co Kildare
Convenience Champion of the Year – Benny Gilsenan, Retailers Against Smuggling
Miondioltoir Gaeilge na Bliana 2011 – McClafferty’s Centra, Gortahork, Co Donegal
Staff Bursary Award 2011 – Kate Walsh, Centra, Fermoy, Co Cork
Best Confectionery Display 2011 – Topaz, Finglas, Dublin 11
Best Stationery Offering 2011 – Centra, Foynes, Limerick
C-Store Product of the Year – Benson & Hedges
C-Store Wine of the Year – Blossom Hill, Gleeson Wines
Best New C-Store Product Launch 2011 – Mountain Dew, PepsiCo
Best Retail Technology Application 2011 CBE
Best C-Store Marketing Campaign 2011 – Hunky Dorys – GAA Campaign
Supplier of the Year 2011 – Cuisine de France
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