Mullan’s SPAR in Armagh, Northern Ireland, has won the top accolade at the 2017 Convenience Retail Awards, the prestigious national awards run by Convenience Store and The Grocer.

The store had much competition from rivals across the UK but clinched the Convenience Retailer of the Year 2017 title at the glittering awards ceremony in London on 16 March.

Store owners, Stephen and Donna Mullan, impressed the judges with high levels of customer focus and interaction, exceptional standards and points of difference such as their own brand of soups, stews and ready meals.

Donna Mullan said: “To win this award means everything to us. We’ve worked so hard for this and we would like to dedicate this to our staff who have been so devoted to us. This means the world to us and it makes all the hard work worth it.

“I think we won because we have been so devoted to our community, our staff and our shoppers, and we put our life into our store.”

Commenting on the awards, Convenience Store editor, David Rees, said: “Donna and Stephen run a tremendously impressive operation focused on high quality fresh food and food-to-go, combined with great service and community engagement. Their knowledge of, and commitment to, their local customers and their requirements is a key factor in their success, along with a relentless drive to constantly improve their offer.”

Other SPAR winners on the night included SPAR Eat 17, Hackney, which won Best Large Store, the Innovation award and the accolade for Best Communication to Shoppers.

More awards included those won by Classic Service Station, SPAR Omagh – Best New Store, and McBride’s SPAR Sligo Road, Enniskillen – Best Chilled Food Retailer.

Manchester-based SPAR retailer, Paul Stone, was named Retailer of the Year, great recognition of the exceptional stores operated by this very professional and passionate retailer.

SPAR UK dominated the awards evening with the biggest number of stores ever to reach the finals. Huge congratulations to everyone who took part!

The winners – Store Awards:

Convenience Retailer of the Year: Mullan’s SPAR, Armagh

Best Independent Store: Mullan’s SPAR, Armagh

Best Large Store: SPAR Eat 17, Hackney

Best New Store: Classic Service Station SPAR, Omagh

The winners – Special Awards:

 Best Chilled Food Retailer: McBride’s Spar Sligo Road, Enniskillen

Innovation Award: SPAR Eat 17, Hackney

Best Communication to Shoppers: SPAR Eat 17, Hackney

Retailer’s Retailer of the Year: Paul Stone, Stone SPAR