The 2011 C-Store Awards

Lil Courtney, owner, and Carmel O’Connor, manager of the winning Centra store in Fairview, Dublin 3

Over 320 guests attended the 11th Annual ShelfLife C-Store Awards to celebrate the retailers who set the highest standards within the convenience industry

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The 11th Annual C-Store Awards took place on Wednesday 30 November at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. Over 320 guests attended on the night from across the industry with Marty Whelan acting as MC for the night and bringing his usual cheer and wit to the proceedings.

Lil Courtney’s Centra store in Fairview Dublin was named as the National Convenience Store of the Year 2011. The store also won the Gold Award in its size category of 4,000 to 8,000 sq ft.

In presenting the award, ShelfLife editor Fionnuala Carolan said: “Delivering real value in a convenience format in an increasingly competitive market is what makes this store a winner. Two years of stealth planning and creative local marketing shows exactly what can be done to satisfy customers and keep them coming back. When the Celtic Tiger left Ireland the rule book for c-stores had to be re-written, it’s no longer just good enough to be convenient, in 2011 value is the name of the game,” she said.

Store owner Lil Courtney has spent her life working in the retail sector. She commenced her career with Dunnes Stores and worked her way through the ranks to become a senior buying manager with the company, before leaving to open her own store in Fairview.

Londis, The Racecourse, Phoenix Park, won the Gold Award for stores in the less than 2,000 sq ft category. Of this store the judges said: “Small but perfectly formed. This winning store caters beautifully to the needs of the discerning residents of this high-end apartment complex.”

Spar on Merion Row won the Gold Award for stores in the 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft category.  The judges were impressed with the store’s overall level of product presentation, price promotion and personal service.

The judges commented that the standard of entries this year was extremely high and commended retailers for maintaining high standards in such a tough, competitive market place.

Lil Courtney, owner, and Carmel O’Connor, manager of the winning Centra store in Fairview, Dublin 3

Winners

National C-Store 2011 – Centra, Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3

Gold Award Winner – Stores > 2,000 sq ft – Londis The Racecourse, Phoenix Park Dublin
Runner-Up – Maxol/Mace, Clonakilty, Co Cork
Runner-Up – Amber Costcutter, Dublin Road, Fermoy,
Co Cork

Gold Award Winner – Stores 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft – SPAR, Merrion Row, Dublin
Runner-Up – SPAR, Clane Road, Celbridge,
Co Kildare
Runner-Up – SPAR, Dominick Street, Mullingar,
Co Westmeath

John McDonald, publisher, ShelfLife

Gold Award Winner – Stores 4,000 to 8,000 sq ft – Centra Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin
Runner-Up – Centra Merrymeeting, S/C Rathnew
Co Wicklow
Runner-Up – Londis Plus, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan

Forecourt Retailer of the Year – Tobin’s Topaz Service Station, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

Runner-up – Topaz, Cashel, Co Tipperary
Runner-up – Junction 14 SPAR/Esso, Mayfield Monasterevin, Co Kildare

Best Food to Go Department 2011 – Amber Costcutter Dublin Road, Fermoy, Co Cork

Best News Department 2011 – SPAR Parkwest, Dublin 12

Alan Gilson, Cuisine de France

Best C-Store Off-Licence 2011
Winner: SPAR Rathcoole, Co Dublin
Runner-Up – The Market, Belarmine, Co Dublin
Runner-Up – Londis, The Racecourse, Phoenix Park, Co Dublin

Best New Format C-Store 2011 – Junction 14, SPAR Express Mayfield, Monasterevin, Co Kildare

Convenience Champion of the Year – Benny Gilsenan, Retailers Against Smuggling

Miondioltoir Gaeilge na Bliana 2011 – McClafferty’s Centra Gortahork, Co Donegal

Staff Bursary Award 2011 – Kate Walsh, Centra Fermoy, Co Cork

Gavin O’Leary, The Irish Daily Star

Best Confectionery Display 2011 – Topaz, Finglas Dublin 11

Best Stationery Offering 2011 – Centra Foynes, Limerick

C-Store Product of the Year – Benson & Hedges

C-Store Wine of the Year – Blossom Hill, Gleeson Wines

Best New C-Store Product Launch 2011 – Mountain Dew, PepsiCo

Best Retail Technology Application 2011 – CBE

Best C-Store Marketing Campaign 2011 – Hunky Dorys – GAA Campaign

Supplier of the Year 2011 – Cuisine de France

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