Mace Bettystown, Co. Meath named ShelfLife National Convenience Store of the Year 2023
Exceptional standards of Ireland’s convenience store sector celebrated at national industry event
Print23 November 2023
Mace Bettystown in Co. Meath has been named Supreme Champion – National Convenience Store of the Year 2023, beating off stiff competition to scoop the ultimate accolade at the ShelfLife National C-Store Awards 2023.
Ireland’s top retailers and brands gathered at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire last night to attend the prestigious ceremony. Now in their 23rd year, the C-Store Awards are the only comprehensive and independently judged business accolades for the convenience store sector.
Together with returning master of ceremonies Marty Whelan, ShelfLife welcomed the highest ever attendance at the prestigious event, with more than 440 guests present from across the retail industry. A total of 41 awards were presented, celebrating the industry’s finest stores and people in a diverse range of categories.
Platinum sponsors, Stuart Meikle, commercial director, Aryzta Ireland (Cuisine de France) and Jim O’Connor, national field sales manager, National Lottery, presented Mace Bettystown with the Supreme Champion Award.
The judges said of the national winner: “Situated in the middle of a fast-growing new estates area with a young commuting population, Mace Bettystown is hugely involved in organising local events and activities. Customers benefit from a bright, modern, well-stocked clean store with a super range of products creating a real destination for the local time-hungry clients.
“The store’s range includes a very well stocked off-licence, a fantastic hot and cold deli with a self-service option, Bewley’s coffee, superb range of fresh in-house breads and cakes, excellent fruit and vegetables; all complemented with an impressive selection of ethnic foods.
“The friendly staff show how much they love their jobs by greeting every customer with a friendly greeting and smile. Indeed, they truly embrace the retail brand’s motto, ‘Going the extra Smile’,” the judges added.
The Convenience Champion of The Year accolade was awarded to the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF), a charity which reflects the generosity of spirit within the FMCG trade. The IGBF consistently supports those in need who may have fallen on hard times, and always with compassion and discretion.
Commenting on the standard of entrants this year, ShelfLife publisher John McDonald said: “Once again, our judges were extremely impressed with the calibre of entrants right across the country. Ireland’s convenience store retailers and their teams continue to outdo themselves by offering outstanding standards and service within their local communities – all our finalists and winners truly are the beating heart of convenience retail. Indeed, it is little wonder Ireland’s convenience store sector is internationally regarded as the gold standard to which other countries aspire. You should all be extremely proud of your achievements.”
The full list of awards and winners:
CONVENIENCE CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Nordic Spirit
Winner: Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund
FOOD TO GO RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Cuisine de France
Winner: N17 Plaza Group, Tuam, Co. Galway
PROTEIN SECTION DISPLAY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Fulfil
Winner: Donovan’s Centra, Co. Kildare
BEST PHONE ACCESSORY DISPLAY AWARD
Sponsored by Smart Bits Phone Accessories
Winner: M3 Services Maxol, Navan Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin
BEST C-STORE OFF-LICENCE AWARD
Sponsored by Powerscourt Distillery
Winner: Cosgroves Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo
BEST FRESH & CHILLED RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland
Winner: Kelly’s Centra, Mountain Top, Co. Donegal
STAFF DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Payzone
Winner: Lee’s Centra, Charleville, Co. Cork
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE AWARD
Sponsored by Nomadic
Winner: Dowling’s Gala, Killenard, Co. Laois
NATIONAL LOTTERY RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by the National Lottery
Winner: Centra Summerhill, Co. Meath
BEST IMPULSE OFFERING AWARD
Sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Winner: Mace Sandymount, Dublin 4
CUISINE DE FRANCE BAKERY AWARD
Sponsored by Cuisine de France
Winner: Spar Little Island, Little Island, Cork
RETAIL TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Bank of Ireland
Winner: Retail Solutions
FORECOURT RETAILER OF THE YEAR (SMALL)
Sponsored by PCS
Bronze winner: O’Brien’s Costcutter Service Station, Bishopstown, Cork
Silver winner: Maxol Service Station Clonakilty, Cork
Gold winner: Lee’s Centra, Limerick Road, Charleville, Cork
FORECOURT RETAILER OF THE YEAR (LARGE)
Sponsored by PCS
Bronze winner: The Plaza Mallow, Costcutter, Cork
Silver winner: N17 Plaza/Spar Plaza Group, Tuam, Co. Galway
Gold winner: Spar Coolquay, The Ward, Co. Dublin
BEST NEW C-STORE PRODUCT LAUNCH 2023 AWARD
Sponsored by Spar
Winner: Cadbury Mint Twirl
MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Mace
Winner: Lucozade
C-STORE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by XL
Winner: Coca-Cola
BEST WINE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Barry Group/Costcutter/Carry Out
Winner: Santa Rita
BEST NEW FOOD & DRINK START-UP AWARD
Sponsored by Centra
Winner: Food Adventures
BEST SUPPLIER AWARD 2023
Sponsored by Gala
Winner: Aryzta Ireland
BEST NEW C-STORE CONCEPT/OFFERING 2023
Sponsored by: StockTaking.ie powered by RGIS
Winner: Londis Castleknock
SUSTAINABILITY/ENVIRONMENT BRAND OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Nearby
Winner: Bunzl Ireland
CONVENIENCE STORE OF THE YEAR (MINI)
Sponsored by Cuisine de France & The National Lottery
Bronze winner: XL Donegal Town, Orchard Park, Co. Donegal
Silver winner: Daybreak Williamstown, Co. Galway
Gold winner: Spar Waterloo Exchange, Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4
SMALL CONVENIENCE STORE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cuisine De France, The National Lottery
Bronze winner: Harkins Raphoe, Gala, The Diamond, Co. Donegal
Silver winner: Cahills Centra, Ballinteer, Dublin 16
Gold winner: Gala Keel, Achill, Co. Mayo
BEST MEDIUM CONVENIENCE STORE
Sponsored by Cuisine De France and The National Lottery
Bronze winner: Casey’s Londis Balla, Co. Mayo
Silver winner: Centra Cross’ Centra Roseberry Hill, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Gold winner: Mace Bettystown, Whitefield Hall, Co. Meath
BEST LARGE CONVENIENCE STORE AWARD
Sponsored by Cuisine De France, and The National Lottery
Bronze winner: Tesco Express Spencer Dock, North Dock, Dublin 1
Silver winner: Dohertys Costcutter, Ballybofey, Main Street, Co. Donegal
Gold winner: Casey’s Londis Castlebar, New Westport Road, Co. Mayo
SUPREME CHAMPION: NATIONAL CONVENIENCE STORE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cuisine De France, and The National Lottery
Winner: Mace Bettystown, Whitefield Hall, Co. Meath
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