Gala Retail, one of Ireland’s leading community convenience retailers with more than 230 Group stores nationwide, has once again teamed up with Virgin Media Television to launch the 2026 search for Ireland’s Best Baker and Junior Baker of the Year.

Following the huge success of last year’s competition, which saw hundreds of entries from talented home bakers across the country, the 2026 search promises to be even bigger, giving Ireland’s most creative bakers the chance to shine on a national stage, win a share of €2,500 in cash prizes and the opportunity to feature on Ireland AM.

A live bake-off final will take place on 28th May, where finalists will be judged by food writer and baking expert Catherine Leyden, alongside TV Presenter Cassie Stokes. The 2026 search is supported by O’Brien Ingredients, Ireland’s leading bakery ingredients supplier, with over 60 years of expertise supporting bakers across the island of Ireland.

Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, said: “Last year’s competition exceeded all expectations, with a remarkable standard of entries from kitchens right across Ireland. It was a true celebration of community spirit and baking talent, and we’re delighted to be bringing it back for 2026. From last year’s winner, Mary Buckley, a grandmother from Cork, to exceptional bakes like junior baker Leah Mallinson’s vanilla cupcakes, the quality spoke for itself. Gala stores are at the heart of local communities, and this initiative gives people of all ages a national platform to showcase their creativity and passion for baking. We’re looking forward to seeing what this year’s entrants bring to the table.”

Rachel Grant, Client Solutions Manager, Virgin Media Television, added: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Gala Retail for the 2026 search. The response last year showed just how diverse and passionate Ireland’s baking community is, and we’re excited to help share those stories once again. Through Ireland AM and across our platforms, we’ll be shining a light on the finalists, their bakes and the talent that exists in every corner of the country.”

The competition will be promoted across Virgin Media Television, with the Bake-Off event filmed for Ireland AM, showcasing the finalists, their bakes and their baking journeys to viewers nationwide.

To enter, participants must submit their recipe and a photo or video of their bake. Entries must fall into one of six categories: cupcakes, muffins, scones, breads, tarts or traybakes. This year, the overall Best Baker will take home €1,500, while the Junior Baker of the Year (aged 12–16) will be awarded €1,000. Entries close on Sunday, 10^th May, with finalists announced shortly after.

Think you have what it takes to rise to the top? Full entry details and terms and conditions are available at www.gala.ie/bestbaker.

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The new focus is on non-fuel sales with expanded Deli offering unveiled alongside new Zambrero, drive-through Burger King and expansion of the Dunnes Stores alliance.

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.

“It took a number of months” said Thomas. “It was a total knock-down and rebuild from scratch. Following demolition, we were operating out of a portacabin for a few months. There’s basically nothing left of the old building.

“A lot of thought went into what is a really good project. I’ve done a couple of revamps with Maxol before, as I’ve been a dealer with Maxol for 16 years. This one was in the planning for a long time, but I’ve been happy with the whole process. There were a lot of people involved – with weekly site meetings and so on – but Maxol always has a great team to work with.”

€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.

“Basically, now it’s a food court that sells groceries. The food court is selling great quality food – we’ve added a lot to the range. The Fresh Food Team  at Maxol came up with the idea for Fresh Irish Breaded Chicken which is going down very well,” said Thomas.

“The whole Deli has been revitalised. Zambreros is particularly well received. Burgen King is trading well as always. There’s now massive sit-down areas, with both open areas and private booths for meetings. It’s all been really well thought through.

“The food complements the space – there’s also a really good offering across grocery with the new partnership with Dunnes Stores.

“It’s been really well received by customers – and staff are also delighted.

A first-class team

“We’re very lucky to have the staff we have. We kept some on the site in the temporary shop, while others were repositioned around the other stores – so that when we re-opened, we still had the same staff.

“We are all about our people – and customers were pleased to see that we have retained out staff.

“We re-opened on 19^th December – which was a great time to open a new shop. It was all hands on deck – but was very exciting and enjoyable. Staff loved being the centre of attention and it was lovely to see their sense of pride – they were really enjoying the moment.

“I’ve been 21 years working for myself and 30 years in retailing. It’s no big secret that if you look after your people and bring them on the journey with you, everyone benefits.

“All the staff were involved from the start. There was strong communication and everyone was excited about the whole project.

“Local customer and visitors are very impressed” said Thomas. “We had a group of overseas visitors in today and it was lovely to see how impressed they were.”

Dunnes Stores Offering

“We’ve not got a big Dunnes Stores offering – the Dunnes Partnership has been great. Both Maxol and Dunnes are two of Ireland’s great family  businesses. The whole experience of dealing with Dunnes has been great – they’re simplified the ordering process and are so easy to work with, so we have plans to do more to expand that relationship.

“We’ve also extended the off-licence with a full chilled wine and beer offering, which is going down well with customers too.”

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.

“Outside we’ve expanded and modernised the parking area, with a new modern car wash. We’ve upgraded all the pumps, added a new canopy – and EV charging points are a work in progress.”

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.”

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.

Brand Loyalty

Thomas highlighted the positive relationship he has had with Maxol going back 16 years.

“I’m very loyal to Maxol, they have been with me every step of the way. We have a great relationship.”

Thomas now has twelve stores and four forecourts, since opening his first store on Merrion Row back in 2005.

Since then he has built the business up into what it is now – employing 320 people – with two more stores coming soon.

“I like to promote from within. Staff retention is very good. You can have all the best shops but without the right mix of people, it’s nothing. Staff are core to success.

“Everything in retailing – and particularly forecourt retailing – is changing. The consumer is more educated, and they want quality food. We can certainly stand over the quality of our food,” said Thomas.

“You have to keep looking out for what’s coming down the road –  but good quality food and exceptional service will always stay the same. You can dip into the trends – but people ultimately want good food, clean facilities, to feel safe and secure in bright surroundings, and to sit down and have good food.

“That’s where the future is – providing good quality food, in clean, bright, safe surroundings. That will always be on trend.”

Upgraded forecourt includes:

• 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

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The Dáil voted that it has confidence in the Irish government. A motion of no confidence had been tabled over its handling of the fuel protests last week, which saw blockades at fuel depots and motorways around the country and caused widespread traffic disruption. Sinn Féin, tabled a motion of no confidence on Tuesday, but the Irish government subsequently tabled a motion of confidence in itself, which has the power to override a motion from the opposition.

The Irish government announced a package worth €505m to support those “most impacted” by rising fuel costs.

Fuel costs have soared globally as a result of the US-Israel war with Iran and demonstrators in the Republic of Ireland have been blocking fuel distribution sites and many major motorways and roads in protest.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Sunday that his government is extending temporary measures to reduce excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil.

Some stations are showing a 10c drop, but industry warns reductions may take days to fully filter through.

The impact of the reduction in excise duty that took effect mid-week has started to be felt on forecourts around the country with the price of diesel falling in some instances by 10 cent, mirroring the tax cut the Government announced over the weekend.

In other cases, the prices remained static, a reflection of what Fuels for Ireland had previously warned might be a staggered approach to the price cuts depending on when a forecourt last received a delivery.

At one point, over 100 fuel stations were out of supply, with some estimates suggesting that could potentially rise to over 500. The blockades at key fuel depots, including the Whitegate Refinery, Shannon Foynes Port, and the Port of Galway, severely restricted movement and caused major traffic disruptions.

FFI chief executive Kevin McPartlan said he understood motorists would want to see the excise reduction reflected at the pump as quickly as possible.

“It’s important to say that this may not happen at every forecourt immediately, and that should not be misunderstood as a failure to pass on the tax cut.”

The reason for some delays was “practical” as excise duty is applied “when fuel leaves a terminal or refinery, not when it is sold at the pump”.

The Government announced a number of measures to help ease prices on Irish consumers amid the Middle East conflict.

This includes extending the temporary measures to reduce excise duty on petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil from the end of May to the end of July; further reducing mineral oil tax rates by 10 cent per litre on petrol, 10 cent per litre on diesel and 2.4 cent per litre on Marked Gas Oil from April 15; postponing the increase in carbon tax from May until Budget in October; enhancing the Transport Support Schemes for some groups; and introducing a Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme for farming and fisheries.

By Wednesday 15^th April the price of a barrel of Brent crude hovered at the $96 mark, as much as $20 less than it was at the height of the pricing crisis in the middle of March.

The Irish Times reported that markets remain volatile and, industry sources have warned if sentiment shifts and traders develop a more negative view of what is happening in the conflict in the Middle East, prices could climb sharply again and quickly wipe out the tax cuts that have been rolled out in Ireland.

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The business community is rightly worried about geopolitical uncertainties and the potential impact on the Irish economy. IFCR asks should they be?

“From the implications of US policy shifts to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, the reality is that businesses are now operating in a global environment of frequent external shocks” said Mr McCoy.

“However, the resilience shown by the Irish economy and the business community in navigating these challenges has been remarkable. This is likely why, in our recent global engagements across North America and Europe, Ireland continues to be viewed as a reliable and stable investment partner”

Rising Fuel Prices

Rising fuel prices ripple across all sectors – how should the Irish Government mitigate the impact?

“Cost competitiveness has been a significant concern for some time. While driven partly by rising labour costs, increases in operating costs – particularly energy – have heightened the pressure on businesses struggling with eroded margins. For example, businesses with transport requirements are reporting a significant spike in overheads. Even small businesses with only one or two delivery vans are reporting cost increases of up to €700 per week. Given the instability in the Middle East, we could see costs remain volatile for some time.

“While recent Government measures rightly targeted oil users, we must look ahead. If natural gas prices rise, electricity price inflation will follow. Ireland must prepare a comprehensive range of options immediately to support users before the situation escalates. As Ibec stressed in our late 2024 reporting, the long-term solution is decarbonisation and grid investment; however, in the short term, we need a reduction in the volume of fixed costs that users are forced to absorb—which can make up nearly half of some commercial bills.”

Engaging with Government

What interactions has Ibec had with Government on these matters?

“Ibec has been intensely engaged on the energy cost issue for some time, which includes advocating for ways to accelerate our journey toward renewable energy. Since the recent escalations in the Middle East and the resulting instability in global energy markets, we have been in constant dialogue with the Government to find ways to support vulnerable businesses and employees most impacted by the energy crisis.”

Government Support Packages

Forecourt and convenience retailers are often small, independent businesses feeling the brunt of these prices. Can anything be done to support them?

“Ibec, through our agri-food and retail trade associations, was instrumental in shaping the most recent Government support package. This was a necessary addition to the previously allocated €250 million in targeted supports designed to assist those experiencing immediate financial pressure. For retailers, we continue to lobby for “cost of doing business” grants that specifically recognise the unique position of retailers who act as essential infrastructure in their local communities.”

Recent Protests

In times of uncertainty, panic buying can take hold. Is there anything that can be done to ensure businesses and consumers ‘stay calm’?

“Ibec is deeply conscious of the pressures facing individuals. However, recent protests and the targeting of essential infrastructure were counterproductive and penalised local communities and retail workers. When the retail sector is already navigating razor-thin margins, such disruptions are detrimental. Our economy is in a strong position to address these concerns while supporting consumer confidence. Through Budget 2027 and other fiscal measures, the State is well-positioned to support the most vulnerable without the need for public alarm or disruption to the supply chain.”

Strength in Diversity

How does Ibec manage to balance representation across so many diverse interests? Do you need to prioritise?

“Our strength lies in our diversity. We represent over 39 trade associations, and while their day-to-day issues differ, their “macro” needs are often aligned. They all require a stable economy, a talented workforce, and competitive operating costs. We prioritise by focusing on the “common denominators” of business success, while also enabling our trade associations to lead on the issues of importance for their specific sectors.”

Priorities

In terms of lobbying and policy work, what are Ibec’s current priorities?

“Ibec continues to work on a broad range of issues on behalf of the business community. Our priorities for the upcoming Irish Presidency of the EU, we are highlighting Resilence and Competitiveness.

“These include ensuring that Ireland delivers on its infrastructure ambitions, continuing to invest in the skills needed for a modern digital economy, and—in an increasingly volatile world – ensuring Ireland makes the necessary investments in security and defence to protect our most valuable assets and ensure businesses have certainty regarding critical infrastructure.”

Net Zero

How is Ireland doing in terms of meeting sustainability and transition targets?

“The transition to a net-zero circular economy presents major opportunities to grow the Irish economy and enhance energy security. In a changing world, investors and talent follow environmental integrity; moving away from high-carbon activities is now an economic imperative. However, Ireland’s ambitious targets are not yet backed by the necessary policies and resources. We lack a clear vision for what a circular net-zero economy looks like in practice. There remains uncertainty regarding the role of different technologies and how the transition will be financed. Along with scaling up investment, we need a speedier roll-out of infrastructure.”

Business Ambition

What successful campaigns and outcomes has Ibec had in recent years?

“The last few years have been shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting markets, and the accelerating pace of AI. Our recent impact has been driven through a number of our campaigns including Our Business Ambition, which focuses on making Ireland more competitive and enhancing productivity, our Work Just Got Smarter campaign explores the opportunities of AI for our economy and businesses and our Open for Business initiative promotes the importance of an open and tolerant society for our economic model. Looking ahead, our EU Presidency campaign is championing the Single Market’s potential, seeking to enhance EU competitiveness, prepare for evolving digital skills, and highlight the growing importance of security and defence for business.”

Digital Frontrunners

Regarding Technology and AI- how do you see the benefits, threats, and opportunities for Ireland?

“Being a leader in AI and digital matters is crucial for our competitiveness. While Ireland is well-positioned as a digital frontrunner, progress is needed to close gaps in digital readiness among smaller firms and meet 2030 targets. The opportunity lies in using AI to solve labour shortages and improve productivity, particularly in the retail sector. The threat, however, is the pace of regulation- Ireland must ensure that we maintain a “pro-innovation” environment so that businesses of all sizes can secure future investment.”

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Eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Kebab House 66 (Service Sector), Moore Street Mall, 58 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Georgian Delight (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 3, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Dailo Nepali Kitchen (Restaurant/ Café), Kitchen 4, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Tiramisu Mania (Manufacturer), Moore Street Mall, 58 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Spicy Bite (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 1, Moore Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1
• Glanmore Foods Limited, Grange Community College (Service Sector), Grange Abbey Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13
• Eskimo Pizza Bandon (Closed area: the potato peeling room at the rear of the premises) (Take Away), 1 St Patrick’s Quay, Bandon, Cork
• Eurospar (Retailer), 25-27 Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3

Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Bruno Gomes (Wholesaler/ Distributor), A food business in operation from a domestic dwelling at Ferndale, Navan, Meath
• Arsh Bazzar (Closed area: Butcher area) (Retailer), 6 Mary Street, Clonmel, Tipperary
• Mars Pizza (Take Away), Coolbeg, Kildimo, Limerick
• Meet Brazil (Closed area: the kitchen area upstairs serving the restaurant and take away. The retail area downstairs can remain open.) (Retailer), Castle Hill, Enniscorthy, Wexford

Two Prohibition Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Al-Eman Halal Shop Limited (Butcher Shop/Retailer), 21 Irishtown, Clonmel Tipperary
• Pinoy Sari Sari (Retailer), 25-26 Mary Street, Dublin City

Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in March are: active cockroach infestation; dead cockroaches noted inside a fridge; evidence of rodent activity; dead mouse in a cockroach trap; rodent droppings under the sink area; meat being air dried in a bedroom; no suitable hand washing facilities available to food workers; no hot water or soap for hand washing; cleaning materials stored in dirty stagnant water; thick waste discharge covering an entire floor in a kitchen; equipment observed to be heavily soiled and in an unclean condition; insufficient traceability information; no food safety management system or procedures in place for food safety; no commercial documents or other suitable records to establish the traceability of the foods.

Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, reminded food businesses of the importance of having proper food safety management systems in place:

“It is disappointing that we continue to see enforcement action being necessary due to fundamental breaches. Inspectors are finding recurring incidents of pest infestations and unhygienic practices in food businesses. These are entirely preventable non-compliances when proper food safety management systems are in place. Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat.”

“If anyone experiences unfit food, poor hygiene standards or notices a breach of food law in a food business, we encourage them to contact us via our online complaint form at www.fsai.ie/makeitbetter. Reporting inappropriate and unsafe food practices provides us with information that we can act upon. We strongly encourage food businesses to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of our free online learning portal, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses,” added Mr Dempsey.

Separately, during the month of March one prosecution was taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to:

• Sheela Palace Foodstall (Trading at Kerala House Carnival, Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ratoath, Co Meath) Vela, Liffey Valley Complex, Dublin 22

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.

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