Gala Retail has just launched its 2026 consumer promotion, Spring Stays with Gala, offering shoppers the chance to win unforgettable Irish hotel breaks just in time for the spring season.

Running across participating Gala stores nationwide, the promotion will see each participating Gala store give away a €300 Go Anywhere gift card, creating a total prize pot of almost €40,000.

Running in Gala stores from 2nd March until 29th March, the campaign reinforces Gala’s commitment to rewarding customer loyalty while supporting Irish tourism by encouraging consumers to explore and enjoy hotel stays across the country.

Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, said:“At Gala, we’re always looking for meaningful ways to reward our customers while supporting Irish businesses. ‘Spring Stays with Gala’ does exactly that, it gives shoppers an opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break while showcasing the fantastic choice of hotels available across Ireland.

“We’re delighted to partner once again with IrelandHotels.com on a promotion that delivers genuine value at a local level.”

The Go Anywhere Gift Card is a hotel gift card from IrelandHotels.com, the consumer booking platform of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF). It’s one of Ireland’s best known travel gift cards and is accepted in hundreds of hotels and guesthouses nationwide.

The Spring Stays with Gala promotion will be supported by in-store point of sale, digital activity, and social media throughout the promotional period, and runs until the end of March 2026.

Customers are encouraged to visit their local participating Gala store for full promotional details and entry information.

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Maxol, Ireland’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer, officially unveiled its redeveloped Maxol Long Mile Road in southwest Dublin today, following a €4.5 million investment.

Located at a prime position at the junction of the Naas, Long Mile and Nangor Roads, Maxol Long Mile Road already occupied a key arterial route between Dublin and Cork and Dublin and Limerick. Now, it has been completely transformed into a modern, sustainable roadside retail destination at the heart of the commuter belt.

€4.5 million redevelopment

The redevelopment of Maxol Long Mile Road, marks one of Maxol’s most significant single-site investments in recent years. It forms part of Maxol’s five-year, €175m investment strategy for growth, further strengthening the Irish forecourt and convenience retailer’s portfolio in Dublin.

The project involved the demolition of the former 340 sq. metre shop and the construction of a brand-new 547 sq. metre retail facility, significantly enhancing the customer experience and overall offering. The flagship store now features an expanded Maxol Deli, global Mexican restaurant Zambrero and a new Burger King restaurant complete with a drive-thru, as well as new digital ordering screens in-store for commuters and locals on the go.

In an extension of Maxol’s exclusive alliance with Dunnes Stores, Long Mile Road now offers premium meal solutions from the Simply Better and Dunnes Stores food range, as well as a range of premium wines.

The shop also includes 100 sq. metres of dedicated general retail space, Maxol’s signature coffee, ROSA Coffee, an off-licence, seating for 48 customers, ATM and modern washroom facilities.

Upgraded Forecourt

Upgrades have also been delivered on the forecourt to provide additional services including a state-of-the-art car wash and increased customer parking to improve traffic flow and customer convenience:

• The adjacent former Beechlawn Motors site has been integrated into the overall footprint, allowing for expanded parking and a relocated car wash facility.
• Parking capacity has increased from 23 to 37 spaces.
• Fuel pump islands benefit from a redesigned canopy layout.
• Dedicated motorcycle and bicycle parking

A Maxol Milestone

“This redevelopment marks an exciting milestone for Maxol,” Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group, said. “The new-and-improved Maxol Long Mile Road is a testament to the company’s commitment to investing in high-quality, future-focused roadside retail destinations.

“Maxol is committed to setting the standard in modern roadside retail. At Long Mile Road, we have focused heavily on enhancing our food offering, introducing new and expanded brands to serve customers at every time of day. From breakfast through to dinner, we provide high-quality food to go and a wide variety of options for every customer.

“The redeveloped site is indicative of Maxol’s repositioning as a leading convenience retailer, with food, coffee, grocery and car washing services driving growth, while ensuring our sites meet the changing needs of our loyal customers. Our Licensee Thomas Ennis and his team excel at delivering a brilliant customer experience and we wish him and his store team every success.”

Thomas Ennis, Licensee at Maxol Long Mile Road, said: “This redevelopment has been all about our customers, the commuters who rely on us every day, and the local community who have supported this site for years. We wanted to create a space that’s welcoming, easy to use and genuinely adds value to people’s day, whether they’re grabbing a coffee or sitting down for food. The new store gives us the ability to offer more choice, better flow and a more relaxed experience, and we’re incredibly proud to open the doors and welcome customers into a site designed with them firmly in mind.”

Energy-efficient

Maxol’s latest sustainable forecourt design has been fully implemented at Long Mile Road, incorporating:

• CO₂ refrigeration with energy-efficient doors.
• High-performance glazing to reduce heat loss.
• Heat pump technology for low-carbon heating.
• LED lighting throughout.
• Rooftop solar panels with inverter system to offset energy demand.

These measures significantly reduce the site’s environmental footprint while lowering long-term energy consumption. The redevelopment comes as the surrounding area continues to evolve under the City Edge Project, a joint initiative between Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council aimed at delivering up to 40,000 new homes and substantially increasing employment across the corridor.

Over the last decade, Maxol has invested more than €225 million in expanding and upgrading its service station network, including the acquisition of 23 freehold properties, the large-scale development of 25 sites and around 50 smaller projects.

The launch of the new Long Mile Road site was marked with a high-profile customer event – Lunch in the Bag. Delighted Maxol customers were treated to delicious food sampling from right across the in-store range, an FM104 live broadcast with Graham and Nathan and prizes galore.

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New car registrations for February were up 7.4% (15,033) compared to February 2025 (13,994). Registrations year to date are up 4.3% (49,557) on the same period last year (47,493).

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 15% (3,635) compared to February last year (3,160). Year to date LCVs are up 19.3% (11,201). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 4.8% (277) in comparison to February 2025 (291). Year to date, HGVs are down 12.1% (669).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 36.5% (7,639) rise in February 2026, when compared to February 2025 (5,596). Year to date imports are up 40% (15,679) on 2025 (11,200).

In February 2,871 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was 14.4% higher than the 2,510 registrations in February 2025. So far this year, 10,172 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 36.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 7,433 electric cars were registered.

In the new car market share by engine type, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) leads at 27.26% as the most popular engine type, followed by Petrol 21.84%, Electric 20.53%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.51%, and Diesel 13.27%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting:
“The positive start to the new car market this year has continued into February with 15,033 cars registered, a 7% increase compared to February last year. Year-to-date registrations increased by 4% on last year, with a total of 49,557 new cars registered. 

The move towards electric and hybrid cars is also reflected in the figures; Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) reached 2,871 units in February, a 14% increase on the same month last year, while year-to-date 10,172 new BEVs have been registered. Private consumers account for 75% of BEV sales and remain the main driver of sales, a trend seen across all counties. New Hybrid electric (HEV) and Plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) registrations have also seen continued growth for February. Battery technology cars (BEV, PHEV, HEV) combined market share now accounts for over 62% of registrations.

The commercial sector continues to experience mixed results. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) saw an increase in February of 15%, while Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations saw a decrease of 5% on February last year.” 

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It was an incredibly successful evening for BWG Foods at the Irish Logistics & Transport Awards (ILTA) where they received the top prize in categories such as the Green Impact Award, Green Supply Chain Excellence, along with being selected as the Sustainable Team of the Year. The highlight of the industry’s annual gala event though, which was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin, was Joanne Mellon been awarded the prestigious Logistics & Transport Leader Award 2026.

The award recognises Joanne’s significant leadership, her contribution to the advancement of Ireland’s logistics sector along with her role in guiding one of the country’s most sophisticated FMCG logistics networks. Joanne has been part of BWG Foods for almost 14 years and has served as Logistics Director since 2016, overseeing nationwide operations that support more than 1,000 independently owned SPAR, EUROSPAR, Londis, MACE and XL stores. A respected industry leader with more than three decades of experience across retail, aviation, publishing and high-tech distribution, Joanne has played an instrumental role in shaping BWG’s logistics strategy, ranging from operational transformation and digitalisation to talent development and sustainability initiatives.

Speaking following the award announcement, Joanne Mellon, Logistics Director, BWG Foods, said: “I would like to thank the Irish Logistics and Transport Association for this honour. I am proud to accept it on behalf of the teams I have had the privilege to work with and lead over the years. Their commitment and professionalism make achievements like this possible. I am especially proud of the BWG Foods logistics teams who deliver for our retail partners and customers every single day. This is reflected in the series of awards for the business in relation to environmental impact, sustainability initiatives and supply chain excellence. As we continue to evolve our operations and drive innovation, from sustainability programmes to the development of next generation logistics talent, this recognition shows the progress we are making together.”

Commitment to People and the Future of the Industry

A champion of skills development and inclusion within the sector, Joanne and her HR colleagues, have helped advance BWG’s involvement in logistics education, including the company’s next‑generation talent programmes developed in collaboration with third‑level institutions. Her leadership has been widely recognised for helping to build strong, resilient teams and for supporting greater representation of women in supply chain management.

Driving Logistics Innovation in Ireland

BWG Foods operates one of Ireland’s largest national logistics networks centred at its National Distribution Centre in Kilcarbery, Dublin. The company continues to invest in technologies and fleet innovation that enhance supply chain performance, sustainability and service to retail partners. Recent logistics advancements include the rollout of biogas and fully electric delivery vehicles, building on BWG Foods’ long-standing commitment to reducing carbon intensity across its transport operations. This is also evident in BWG’s position as the current holder of the SEAI Energy Award for Transport, which celebrates excellence in sustainable and renewable energy across Ireland. BWG Foods’ Logistics Division has also been recognised for exemplary performance and innovation in low emissions transport based around its extensive Transport Decarbonisation Project, which delivered a superior sustainable distribution operation in servicing its nationwide network of SPAR, EUROSPAR, MACE and Londis and XL convenience stores and supermarkets. BWG has also been commended for introducing Compressed Nation Gas (CNG) and biogas vehicles, providing a 90% CO2 reduction, to its fleet. A number of Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel alternatives have also been added to its fleet, providing a 70% CO2 reduction. Another recognition came late last year when the BWG Foods’ logistics-and-transport team won Gold in the Transport and Logistics category at the Green Transformation Awards. BWG Foods’ investment in electric transport is part of a wider sustainability programme across the Group which is contributing to the country’s broader climate action strategy.

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Among the athletes arriving home were alpine skiers Anabelle Zurbay and Cormac Comerford, cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgård and freestyle skier Ben Lynch who was fresh from making history on Friday, being the first Irish skier to qualify for a final at the Winter Olympics. This was in addition to Anabelle Zurbay also making history as the youngest Irish athlete to ever compete in Alpine Skiing at the Olympics.

This homecoming event continues SPAR and EUROSPAR’s support for Team Ireland through their role as Official Retail Partners to the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland. The partnership was launched last year and reflects the brands’ long-term commitment to Irish athletes and local sporting communities as the team looks further ahead to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. It is all part of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s legacy in championing local and elite sportspeople and teams, including its sponsoring of the European Athletics Championships for the last 30 years. That has extended to supporting over 80 competitions and promoting healthy living through sport and a balanced diet, along with contributing to local community groups and charity programmes.

Team Ireland Chef de Mission, Nancy Chillingworth, said: “It’s great to come home with some superb performances across our small but impressive team. The support from the Irish public over the last few weeks has been fantastic and it is great to see our Winter Olympians receiving the support and recognition they deserve.”

Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director, said: “Our team was proud to welcome the athletes home today after representing their country and reaching the biggest stage in each of their disciplines. Their dedication reflects the spirit we see in communities across Ireland every day. It is a privilege to support them on their sporting journey and to celebrate their achievements with our customers and colleagues.”

Peter Dwan, EUROSPAR Sales Director said: “Meeting the athletes this afternoon was a reminder of the hard work and commitment behind every performance at this level. We are pleased to play a small part in their homecoming and to continue supporting Team Ireland through our partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland.”

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