The team from Lynch's EUROSPAR in Derry/Londonderry pick up the Independent Retailer of the Year award at the Retail Industry Awards. Also pictured is David Shrimpton, Editor of Independent Retail News (left) and host, Alex Brooker.
Download imageKim Reddick, Commercial Director of the Retail Industry Awards presents the award for Store Team of the Year (company owned) to Paddy Doody (centre) from Henderson Group for SPAR Malone. The independent Store Team of the Year award was taken home by Mulkerns EUROSPAR, Newry. Also pictured is host, Alex Brooker.
Download imageThis year’s ceremony was back in full force for 2021 and shone a light on how retailers responded in strength and community spirit to the impact of COVID-19.
SPAR Northern Ireland partner Henderson Retail brought home four wins throughout the company-owned categories, plus four highly commended nods. SPAR Malone Road was victorious in the Forecourt Retailer of the Year and Store Team of the Year categories. EUROSPAR Victoria Road in Carrickfergus picked up Post Office Retailer of the Year. Retailer Nigel Walker won the Store Manager of the Year award for his work at EUROSPAR Hardford Link in Newtownards.
Team Mulkerns brought home another hat-trick for the independent retailers, fresh off their previous three wins at the Convenience Awards earlier this month. The Newry-based EUROSPAR Supermarket continued the winning streak at the Retail Industry Awards, picking up Best Use of Technology, Food-to-Go Retailer of the Year and Store Team of the Year.
Mark McCammond, Retail Director at Henderson Group, says the wins show remarkable resilience of their store network in the past year in particular.
“Never has local retailing been more important than when customers trusted our stores to provide not only safe places for shoppers to get their essentials during the lockdown, but also ensure shelves were stocked,” Mark McCammond said.
“Our Henderson Retail stores have worked incredibly hard to provide a benchmark for safety, value, and choice for shoppers. The judges have recognised the lengths we’ve gone to, to provide essential products and services from our forecourts to our post offices. Congratulations to all the winners from this prestigious ceremony.”
Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group, added, “Our independent retailers have once again swept the board at a national, UK-wide awards ceremony, pushing the standards of independent retailing even higher. These retailers have had a very challenging 18-months. None have shown greater support to their communities – as evidenced in picking up both company-owned and independent awards for Store Team of the Year.”
The Retail Industry Award winners were selected by a panel of esteemed and experienced names in the industry.
Source: SPAR UK
The UK became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. There are now five regional partners in the UK. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group.
SPAR has led the highly competitive convenience market in the UK for many years. Always innovative, the five regional partners have continued to grow the brand. SPAR UK comprises independently owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores. These include forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhood stores.
