Irish newsagent wins top retail award

Joe Sweeney and his wife Margaret are pictured receiving the award from Mike Mitchelson, chairman of Newtrade Publishing, who sponsored the category

NFRN awards top honour to the president of its Irish branch, Joe Sweeney

Print

Print

News

Joe Sweeney and his wife Margaret are pictured receiving the award from Mike Mitchelson, chairman of Newtrade Publishing, who sponsored the category

Dublin newsagent Joe Sweeney has been crowned National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) Member of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contribution to supporting and promoting the interests of independent retailers.

Joe Sweeney was honoured at the glittering NFRN Awards which were held at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel on 15 October.

He was chosen from the NFRN’s 16,000 membership across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The 300 strong audience were told of his "boundless energy", particularly for public affairs.

Since becoming President of NFRN Ireland in 2011, Sweeney has worked tirelessly to press the independent retail trade’s case for action against a host of issues that impact on their businesses, including the illicit tobacco market and proposals for plain packaging.

In the past year he has taken members’ concerns to the Oireachtas in Dublin, in the House of Commons in Westminster and in the European Parliament in Brussels, engaging with politicians across the political spectrum.

More recently he has taken part in panel discussions on the illicit tobacco trade in Letterkenny, Kildare, Limerick and Galway and has made presentation to the Oireachtas Committees on Jobs and Justice.

Sweeney also appears regularly on radio and television to put the case for independent retailers.

In addition to serving as NFRN Ireland’s president and dispensing help and advice to fellow members, he still has time to run the busy and successful Newscentre in Donaghmede Shopping Centre.

Now into their tenth year, the NFRN Awards recognise excellence in news and convenience retailing, rewarding those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sector.

Related Articles

Mars Ireland partners with PRL to launch Net Zero warehouse in Dublin →

Avonmore launches ‘Vitamins and More’ beverage →

Centra ‘lights up’ stores nationwide with simple savers offers →

Korean consumers eye Irish beef for health boost →