CENTRA and SuperValu stores in the north have been shortlisted in 11 categories at a prestigious UK-wide retail awards.
The stores from across Northern Ireland are in the running at the 2019 Retail Industry Awards, due to take place on September 17.
The awards reward excellence and outstanding achievement across a broad range of categories, recognising independent retailers alongside the large supermarket groups.
In addition to the local outlets recognised through the shortlisting, Centra NI is up for the Convenience Retailer of the Year, as well as the Symbol Initiative of the Year for its Live Well campaign.
Centra and SuperValu, which are both owned by the Musgrave Group, are also finalists in the Symbol/Fascia Group of the Year category.
Michael McCormack, managing director of SuperValu and Centra in Northern Ireland congratulated those shortlisted in the UK-wide awards
"Excellence is second nature to our retailers, whether that’s the customer service they provide or the food and drink they serve," he said.
"This shortlist is testament to the hard work that has been put in over the years by our teams both at a local and national level. We can now turn our attention to the awards night on September 17 and look forward to bringing home some wins for our retailers.”
The Retail Industry Awards are widely regarded as ‘The Oscars’ of the grocery retail sector, which reward excellence and outstanding achievement across a broad range of categories, and the only time of year the whole industry gets together to recognise the smallest independent retailers alongside the largest supermarket groups.
This year's awards ceremony will be held in The Brewery on Chiswell Street, London.
SuperValu and Centra have been shortlisted in the following 15 categories for this year’s Retail Industry Awards:
Convenience Retailer of the Year - Regional - Centra NI
Digital Engagement Award - Bradley’s Centra, Maghera, County Londonderry
Drinks Retailer of the Year - Independent - Lusty’s Centra Larne, County Antrim
Food-to-go Retailer of the Year
Independent - Lilley’s Centra, Dublin Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Multiple convenience - Musgrave NI
Forecourt Retailer of the Year
Independent - Lilley’s Centra, Dublin Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Company-owned - Centra Church Street, Banbridge, County Down
Multiple Community Retailer of the Year - SuperValu
Post Office Retailer of the Year - SuperValu Omagh, County Tyrone
Store Manager of the Year
Independent - Alistair Connor, McCool’s SuperValu, Ballymoney, County Antrim
Independent - Martin McLaughlin, McCool’s SuperValu, Kells, County Antrim
Store Team of the Year - Lilley’s Centra, Dublin Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Symbol/Fascia Group of the Year – Centra
Symbol/Fascia Group of the Year – SuperValu
Symbol Initiative of the Year - Live Well, Centra
