A BELFAST retailer has become the first from the north to win the top prize at a prestigious all-island industry awards.
Creightons Eurospar, Balmoral, was named Overall Forecourt Retailer of the Year at Ireland’s Forecourt and Convenience Retailer Awards held in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin on September 19.
Hosted by broadcaster, Miriam O’Callaghan, the awards celebrated the finest convenience stores and forecourts throughout the island of Ireland and were attended by hundreds of retailers from across the island of Ireland.
Creightons Eurospar, Balmoral was also named Forecourt Convenience Store of the Year in the 2,751 sq feet plus category and won the ‘Best Food to Go’ category. It was a finalist in the ‘Fresh Food Store of the Year’ class, while sister stores, Creightons of Finaghy was shortlisted in the category for ‘Best Customer Service’ and the Blacks Road outlet was a finalist in the ‘Food to Go’ category.
Since the development and completion of this flagship Balmoral site in 2016, fresh food has accounted for more than half of the store’s total sales and continual improvements to the deli over the past year have helped boost sales by more than 25 per cent.
Creightons general manager, Andrew Porter described it as a proud moment to become the first store from the north take home the top prize.
“It is a tremendous honour for Creightons of Balmoral to have been named Overall Store of the Year and I’m immensely proud of all our staff, suppliers and customers who have contributed to our success.
“To be the first store from Northern Ireland to win the top prize makes it all the more rewarding for our team and I’m pleased to see the exceptional standards of convenience stores in Northern Ireland getting the recognition they deserve.”
Ireland’s Forecourt and Convenience Retailer Awards have been running for over 15 years and celebrates excellence in the island’s retail industry
Retailers are recognised through 17 categories, including Best Forecourt Facilities; Food to Go Retailer of the Year; Store Manager of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement award. For a full list of winners, visit www.forecourtretailer.com.
