GMAs: Ray O’Callaghan is manager of the year 2018

The 2018 Retail Manager of the Year title was awarded to Ray O'Callaghan of M&s Cork City, here with Owen Clifford with Owen Clifford, head of retail convenience, Bank of Ireland

The annual ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards 2018 took place at Dublin's Citywest Hotel, recognising excellence in management across Ireland's entire grocery retail industry. A total of 22 awards were announced on the night, with Ray O'Callaghan of Marks & Spencer, Cork City, named the overall winner on the night, Retail Manager of the Year 2018.

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Ireland’s grocery retail industry gathered at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel this week for the 2018 ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards, recognising individual management excellence in the sector.

Now in its 13^th year, ShelfLife welcomed 400 guests from across the FMCG industry. A total of 22 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.

Ray O’Callaghan of Marks & Spencer on Patrick Street, Cork was named Grocery Retail Manager of the Year 2017. He was presented the award by Owen Clifford, head of retail convenience at Bank of Ireland, the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards’ platinum sponsor.

The applications and judging process has been ongoing for several months, and reflecting the high standard of this year’s applicants, ShelfLife publisher John McDonald described the finalists as “exceptional individuals”.

Commenting on the awards scheme and its importance within the grocery industry, John McDonald said: “ShelfLife Magazine, with support from Bank of Ireland, hosts the Grocery Management Awards programme to measure and honour excellence in the trade. Professional management is the key to success in any business. In the retail trade, it is even more crucial.

“This Grocery Management Awards Scheme also recognises that behind every great retail team there are professional suppliers and buyers. The strength and professionalism in Irish grocery retailing is a combination of facility, staff and service at store level; delivering relevant product and range from the brand owners.

“In the city and suburban centres there is huge competition for retail staff and the standard and selection of potential staff applying for roles is considerably reduced. This increasingly important issue is reflected across a variety of other sectors, particularly the hospitality industry.
“The Grocery Management Awards recognises excellence in the managers that run departments and stores across Ireland. It reinforces that retail careers are just that, careers, not simply jobs. In judging the managers in these awards, particular attention is given to those who develop junior staff to take more responsibility and progress their careers.

“The ethos of the Grocery Management Awards might well serve as a pointer on how to turn the staffing challenge into an opportunity. We must, as an industry, put more effort into training, developing and recognising staff which in many cases is equally as important as financial reward.

“At ShelfLife, we encourage the development of staff and the concept of showing them a career path. We have to compete not just with other shops for staff, but with other industries. The finalists in the Grocery Management Awards Programme are exceptional individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and from all corners of the country. They are to be congratulated and revered for their skills and the hard work and dedication to their roles, and for their contribution to the ultra-high quality Irish grocery and convenience retailing landscape.”

The Master of Ceremonies at this year’s Grocery Management Awards was RTÉ Radio 1 presenter Shay Byrne.

For hi-res images of the awards winners, click here.

The full list of awards, winners and sponsors:

HR Manager of the Year Ezolda Chambers, right, with Nikki Murran, head of grocery, Excel Recruitment

HR Manager of the Year, Sponsored By Excel Recruitment: Ezolda Chambers, Caulfield’s SuperValu, Loughboy Shopping Centre, Kilkenny

Cash and Carry Manager of the Year Garry O’Callaghan with Gillian Hamill, editor, ShelfLife magazineCash & Carry Manager of the Year, Sponsored by ShelfLife Magazine: Garry O’Callaghan, Value Centre, Lower Carey’s Road, Limerick city

In-Store Bakery Manager of the Year Madhvee Gooljar with Eamonn Farrell, Country Manager Ireland, Nordzucker, left, and Hugh Long, Retail Sales & Marketing Manager Ireland-UK, Nordzucker

In-Store Bakery Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Siucra: Madhvee Gooljar, Griffin’s Londis, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2

Fruit & Veg Manager of the Year Jack Hartnett of SuperValu Lucan, right, with Michael Kennedy, director, K&K Produce

Fruit & Veg Manager of the Year, Sponsored by K&K Produce & Kennedy’s: Jack Harnett, SuperValu Lucan, MOPI, Co. Dublin

Customer Service Manager of the Year Ray O’Callaghan, Marks & Spencer Merchant’s Quay, with Nikki Murran, head of grocery, Excel Recruitment

Customer Service Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Excel Recruitment: Ray O’Callaghan, Marks & Spencer, 6-8 Merchant Quay, Patrick Street, Cork

Supermarket Delicatessen/Food-to-go of the Year, Sponsored by Kepak: Denise Cummins, Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Fermoy, Cork

Convenience Delicatessen/Food-to-go of the Year, Sponsored by Kepak: Mayara Malavazzi, Griffin’s Londis, College Green, Dublin 2

Off-Licence Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Gilbeys: Robert  Mooney, Supervalu Sutton Cross, Baldoyle, Dublin 13

Protein & Provisions Manager of the Year Kevin Caldwell, SuperValu Donabate, with Irene Collins, managing director, EIQA

Protein & Provisions Manager of the Year, Sponsored by EIQA: Kevin Caldwell, SuperValu Donabate, Dublin

Brand Sales & Merchandising Team of the Year, Sponsored by Clear Channel: Diageo, accepted by Gillian Hamill of ShelfLife magazine

Field Marketing Team of the Year, Sponsored by Clear Channel: LR Suntory, Mark Aherne, centre, and Nigel Bramley, with Bairbre Drury Byrne, sales & marketing director, Clear Channel

Brand Marketing Team of the Year, Sponsored by BWG Foods: Heineken Ireland, accepted by Lauren West and David Farragher, right, with Peter Donohoe, group HR director, BWG Group

Small C-Store Manager of the Year, Sponsored by The Irish Times: Niamh O’Grady, with Liam Kavanagh, managing director, The Irish Times

Medium C-Store Manager of the Year, Sponsored by The Irish Times: Sandra Nicholson, Gala, Louisburgh, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo

Large C-Store Manager of the Year, Sponsored by The Irish Times: Edwina Donnellan, Donnellan’s Centra/Texaco, Ennis, Co. Clare, with Liam Kavanagh, managing director, The Irish Times

Small Forecourt Store Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Seattle’s Best: Patrick Hanlon, Hanlon’s Gala Service Station, Co. Longford, with Mark Hargadon, sales director, Seattle’s Best

Large Forecourt Store Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Seattle’s Best: Brian Joyce, Galway Plaza, Spar, Athenry, with Mark Hargadon, sales director, Seattle’s Best

Small Supermarket Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Bank of Ireland: Anthon  Russell, Iceland Tralee, The Horan Centre, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Medium Supermarket Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Bank of Ireland: David Murphy, Tesco Park Pointe, Glenageary Road Upper, with Owen Clifford, head of retail convenience, Bank of Ireland

Large Supermarket Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Bank of Ireland: Ian Lynam of SuperValu, Lucan, right, with Owen Clifford, head of retail convenience, Bank of Ireland

Best Team Performance of the Year, Sponsored by PRL: Harte’s Spar, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

Supreme Champion, Sponsored by Bank of Ireland: Ray O’Callaghan, Marks & Spencer, Merchants Quay Shopping Centre, Patrick Street, Cork, with  Owen Clifford, head of convenience retail, Bank of Ireland

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