GRAM 2010
Following an extremely high standard this year, ShelfLife has now announced the 2010 GRAM winners - managers who excel in providing first class standards
Print14 July 2010
The GRAMs (Grocery Retail Awards in Management), sponsored by the Irish Daily Mail and KerryFresh, were presented at a gala dinner in The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin on 2 June. Tommy Grimes, manager of Hurley’s SuperValu in Midleton, Co. Cork, was named as the National Retail Manager of the Year 2010.
The fifth year of the national management awards scheme, devoted exclusively to recognising the best managers in the Irish retail, wholesale and off-licence sectors was an outstanding success with Marty Whelan as master of ceremonies keeping everyone entertained as only he can.
In organising the awards, ShelfLife in conjunction with Excel Recruitment set down a clear list of objectives. These were to acknowledge and reward excellence in Irish grocery and drink retail management; to include symbol, multiple, independent, forecourt and off-licence sectors. It was to upgrade the standard of customer service and to increase the service competitiveness of Ireland’s retail industry through excellence in management and to set role models for their retail colleagues, thus motivating and promoting the importance of quality management within the Irish retail grocery industry.
Speaking at the awards presentation, ShelfLife publisher John McDonald said: “You have experienced the substantial shift in the market that was outside your control yet you have made the changes over the things that you do control, changes that will ensure the long-term viability of the businesses you run.
“By embracing change you have marked yourselves out as the people of real value in the retail chain. The owners rely on you to run their businesses; the brands rely on you to sell their products and the consumers rely on you as a key part of their shopping lives”
In-Store Bakery Manager 2010
Winner: Mick Hickey Superquinn, The Pavillion SC, Swords, Co. Dublin
A baker by trade, Mick is passionate about the products he makes and the people he works with. He trained as an apprentice at Superquinn Sundrive and has been running the bakery department in Superquinn Swords for the last year and a half. His easy manner ensures that he gets the most out of his staff and is a winner with customers too.
Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager
Winner: Alan O’Meara Superquinn, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Alan is running arguably the largest delicatessen in Ireland. Superquinn in Lucan is at the pinnacle of fresh food excellence, with the delicatessen at the core of its success.
Fruit & Veg Manager
Winner: Philip Byrne, Superquinn Sundrive Road, Dublin 12
Philip demonstrates a knowledge and passion for fruit and veg developed over his twenty years of working in the business.
Protein Manager 2010
Winner: Tony Brady, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford
Tony has worked for Pettitt’s for the past 24 years. First-class products and outstanding service are what brings customers back time after time. A participation currently running at 14% is brought about through continuously analysing each department and breaking them down to drive sales even further.
Best Team Performance Award
Winner: Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford
If competition be the spice of life, then the team at Pettitt’s SuperValu in Wexford are on fire! Within a little over a mile they have six large supermarkets competing with them, including a Dunnes, Tesco, Lidl, SuperValu and two Aldi stores. Staff service audits are a regular feature with the results used to reward those that deserve it or provide extra training if improvement is required for others. Despite there being 115 people employed, a family atmosphere still pervades. In 2009 the store recorded an increase of 7.44% in what was arguably one of the toughest years in retailing ever. Those kind of results only come through everyone pulling in the same direction – a real team performance.
Customer Service Manager of the Year
Winner: Caroline Cullen, SuperValu Raheny, Dublin 15
Caroline drives customer service at the Kane McCartney SuperValu in Raheny. Whether a complaint or a compliment she wants to know about it! Her catchphrase is “I will get it sorted for you” and she does! It is this commitment to the store’s customers that keep them coming back day after day. In her spare time she is a commited charity activist and has raised money to build an orphanage in South Africa. She has also climbed base-camp Mount Everest for the charity ChildAid.
Symbol Group Manager (Stores 3,000 sq. ft – 6,000 sq. ft)
Winner: Trevor Kearns, manager, The Market, Belarmine, Stepaside, Co. Dublin
Trevor’s infectious good humour and ability to get the job done made him the ideal candidate to launch The Market in south Dublin almost a year ago. A new concept store for the Griffin Group, also meant a huge learning curve for Trevor, who readily adapted to the changes and challenges of this very different retail environment.
Cash & Carry Manager of the Year
Winner: Andrew Dwyer, Marketplace, Musgrave, Airport Road, Cork
Andrew’s drive and commitment to the highest standards is evidenced in everything he does. The last year has been one of the most challenging for the Cash & Carry sector but through sheer hard work, determination and some forensic accounting he has produced savings to the order of €900,000 for the business he operates.
Off-Licence Manager of the Year
Winner: David Nolan, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford
A runner-up in this section of the GRAMS last year David is a very worthy winner in 2010. As a department within Pettitt’s SuperValu, David has managed to increase sales by 1.5% so far this year. He strives to bring variety and value to his customers and believes that flexibility in getting customers what they want as well as unusual and creative merchandising keeps them coming back again and again.
Multiple Supermarket Manager
Winner: Ken O’Toole, manager, Superquinn, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Ken is the consummate supermarket manager. His high-octane approach to retailing and dedicated approach to his store achieve consistent best practice standards that make Superquinn Lucan the company flagship. His thorough knowledge of the trade gives him not only the confidence but the ability to adapt to changing market conditions to ensure consumer expectations are not only met but surpassed at every opportunity.
Forecourt Manager of the Year
Winner: Ian Sexton, Topaz/Centra, Monaghan Town
Ian has spent his entire career working in the retail industry from moving trolleys with Quinnsworth to his current position as site manager for Topaz/Centra in Monaghan Town. Ian has driven this store to continuous growth week on week in one of the most challenging locations in Ireland. Despite his proximity to the border he has managed to grow the store and is consistently scoring 98% in mystery shopper audits and is building sales through exceptional customer service and a consistent offer.
Award winners and runners-up
are as follows:
National Manager of the Year 2010
Tommy Grimes, Hurley’s SuperValu, Midleton, Co. Cork
Symbol Group Manager (Stores less than 3,000 sq. ft)
Winner
Muhommad Sajiad, Centra Eastwall, Dublin 3.
Runners-Up
Peter Dwan SPAR, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Raj Yadev, Jan’s Londis, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10.
Getty Elises, Londis, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8.
Symbol Group Manager (Stores 3,000 sq. ft – 6,000 sq. ft)
Winner
Trevor Kearns, The Market, Belarmine, Stepaside, Co. Dublin.
Runners-Up
Carmel O’Connor, Centra, Fairview Corner, Dublin, 3.
Brian Mohan, Centra Marley Park, Dublin 14.
Mohammad Chishty SPAR ParkWest, Dublin 22.
Symbol Group Manager (Stores over 6000 sq. ft sponsored)
Winner
Tommy Grimes, Hurley’s SuperValu, Midleton, Co. Cork.
Runners-Up
Corinna Bentley Eurospar, Rush, Co. Dublin.
Adrian White, SuperValu, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
John Burke, SuperValu, Loughboy, Kilkenny.
Multiple Supermarket Manager
Winner
Ken O’Toole, Manager, Superquinn, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Forecourt Manager of the Year
Winner
Ian Sexton, Topaz/Centra, Monaghan Town.
Runners-Up
Peter Reilly Topaz, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Noreen McNeely, Topaz Cartron Hill, Sligo
Brian Ferris, Topaz Templeville Road, Dublin 6
Off-Licence Manager of the Year
Winner
David Nolan, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford
Runners-Up
Michelle Doyle, The Market Stepaside, Co. Dublin
David Gallagher, Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2
Cash & Carry Manager of the Year
Winner
Andrew Dwyer, Marketplace, Musgrave, Airport Road, Cork.
Runners-Up
Jacquie Conlon, Value Centre Sligo
John Cribbin, Value Centre, Little Island, Cork.
Customer Service Manager
Winner:
Caroline Cullen, SuperValu Raheny
Dublin 5
Runners-Up
Sharon Land, Superquinn, Knocklyon, Dublin 16
Kate Walsh Centra Fermoy, Co. Cork
Best Team Performance Award
Winner
Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford
Runners-Up
The Market, Belarmine, Stepaside, Co. Dublin
Casey’s Centra, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Fruit & Veg Manager
Winner
Philip Byrne, Superquinn Sundrive Road, Dublin 12
Runners-Up
Mary Kelleher SuperValu Bandon, Co. Cork
Gerry Moore Centra Fermoy, Co. Cork
Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager
Winner
Alan O’Meara Superquinn, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
Runners-Up
Jason Penwell, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford
Chloe Kilbane, Caseys Centra, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Protein Manager 2010
Winner
Tony Brady, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wexford.
Runners-Up
Simon Foran, Superquinn, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
Michael Walsh SuperValu, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
In-Store Bakery Manager 2010
Winner
Mick Hickey, Superquinn, The Pavillion SC, Swords, Co. Dublin
Runner-Up
Syl McGrath Superquinn, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
David Healy Superquinn, Ballinteer, Dublin, 14.
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