Spar Parkwest is c-store of the year, again!
At the ShelfLife National C-Store Awards, Spar Parkwest once again took the top award, taking Gold for c-stores 2000 - 4000 sq ft and the overall Platinum award
Print4 July 2009
A Spar store in Dublin’s busy ParkWest Industrial Estate has been named the National Convenience Store of the Year 2009 by industry magazine, ShelfLife. Owned by David Bagnall and managed by Mohammed Chishty, the store also won the Gold Award in its size category of 2,000 to 4,000 square feet. In presenting the award, ShelfLife editor Caroline Byrne said: “SPAR Park West is a consistent performer in the ShelfLife C-Store Awards. The outlet, while almost ten years old looks every bit as good in 2009 as the day it first opened. It’s all about getting the standards right. The right location, the right products and the right people. – And a willingness that borders on the obsessive when it comes to providing excellent customer service”.
Economist Jim Power was presented with the C-Store Industry Champion’s Award for his personal contribution to the many complicated debates and issues that are part and parcel of the Irish grocery trade, and for his part as Chairman of the “Love Irish Food” campaign. In presenting the award to Power, ShelfLife’s editor Caroline Byrne stated: “This year’s c-store champion has been one of the most outspoken supporters of the Irish food and drink industry, both publicly, in the spotlight of the media, and privately. Through his work with the charitable trust Agri Aware, and in his capacity as one of the country’s leading economists, he has highlighted the vital importance of the sector to the Irish economy, and to Irish society.” Earlier this year he became the chairman of Love Irish Food, the campaign to encourage consumers in Ireland to put one more Irish brand in their trolleys to support the Irish industry and Irish jobs.
Speaking at the Awards presentation Jim Power said “We need to recognise the economic and social contribution that the convenience food sector makes at a local and national level. It is essential that Government comes to its senses immediately and provide the citizens of the country and every business in the country the leadership and inspiration that it deserves. I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of Love Irish Food. I am totally passionate about Irish food and drinks industry and believe it is high time that its contribution was fully recognised”. Power also stated that he constantly advises consumers who choose to spend their money shopping in the North of Ireland that they would be better off putting this money in a savings account that they will need in the future to buy airline tickets to visit their children who will by then be living in Australia!”
The Community Initiative Award was presented to Peter Dwan who runs a Spar store in Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Peter won the award because of the “I Love Ranelagh” campaign that he devised for his community. Instead of complaining about his trading environment he decided to see if he could change it. With this in mind, he approached every business in his area and got each one, including his direct competitors, to contribute to an advertising campaign and prize fund. He created a brochure that was distributed to 20,000 homes in his immediate area. There is also a free prize draw worth 15,000 Euro to be won. The results have borne fruit. Not only have the local retailers noticed the benefits, but also the people living in the area are now more community-focussed.
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. “Irish C-Store retailers have invested millions of euros building and running fantastic stores in every corner of Ireland. Now, more than ever these people deserve to be supported by their local communities,” said ShelfLife editor Caroline Byrne.
A full list of winners follows.
Platinum Award Winner – Convenience Store of the Year 2009
Spar Park West Dublin
Gold Award – Stores Less than 2,000 sq ft
Runner Up – Spar Oakpark Tralee, Co Kerry
Winner – Tobins/Gala Port Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Gold Award – Stores 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft
Runner-up – Kilmartin’s Centra, N6 Service Station, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Winner – Spar ParkWest, Dublin 22.
Gold Award Winner – Stores 4,000 to 8,000 sq ft
Runner-up – Centra, Enniskeane, Co. Cork.
Winner – Stafford’s Fine Foods, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Best News Department 2009 – Londis Pearse Street, Kinsale, Co Cork
Best Stationery Offering 2009 – XL Stop & Shop, NUI Library Building, Newcastle Road Galway
Staff Bursary Award 2009 – Nicola Downey C/O XL Stop & Shop Kilberry, Navan, Co. Meath
Forecourt Retailer of the Year. – Topaz Dublin Port, Dublin 3.
Best C-Store Off-Licence 2009 – Morton’s of Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Runners-Up – Spar, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, Co Meath,
The Market, Belarmine, Stepaside, co Dublin,
Cope’s of Castledermot, Co Kildare
Best Food to Go Department 2009 – Spar, Merrion Row, Dublin 2.
Best Frozen Foods Department 2009 – Centra Raheen Roundabout, Limerick
Best Fresh & Chilled Department 2009 – Centra Enniskeane, Co. Cork
Best Community Initiative 2009 – Peter Dwan, Spar, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Irish Language Retailer of the Year – Winner – McClaffertys Centra, Gorta’ Choirce Co, Donegal.
Runner-Up Tigh an Bhreathnaigh, Casla, Co na Gaillimhe.
Best New Format C-Store 2009 – The Market, Belarmine, Stepaside Dublin
Best C-Store Marketing Campaign 2009 – Bulmers Pear
C-Store Product of the Year – Coca-Cola
Best Retail Technology Application 2009 – Leaders Enterprise
Best New C-Store Product Launch 2009 – Nestle Randoms
C-Store Wine of the Year – Jacobs Creek
Supplier of the Year 2009 – Cuisine de France
Convenience Champion of the Year – Jim Power and “Love Irish Food” campaign.
For further information contact Caroline Byrne on 01- 2947768 or mobile 086-8427191
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