This significant redevelopment forms part of Circle K’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its retail network and reinvesting in local areas across Ireland. Located along the Enniskerry Road, the newly revamped Kilternan store has been carefully designed to meet the evolving needs of a growing local community.

As part of the refurbishment, Circle K has invested €380,000 in EV infrastructure, reflecting its commitment to meeting evolving customer needs while supporting the transition to lower‑emission transport in Ireland. The new forecourt in Kilternan will have four EV chargers including two high powered EV chargers.

The Kilternan site now offers a brighter, more intuitive store layout and an expanded food experience, featuring a full hot and cold deli, an extended grab‑and‑go selection, and an enhanced in‑store bakery. Customers can also enjoy a broader off‑licence range, alongside improved coffee service with additional machines designed to keep queues moving smoothly, even during peak times.

The transition to the new Circle K store has been completed with no disruption to customers or staff, with all existing roles retained. The store continues to be managed by its experienced local manager and team, ensuring continuity and familiarity for the community.

Ciara Foxton, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland, said: “Today’s official opening of our newly refurbished Kilternan store marks an important milestone for Circle K. This €1.4 million investment demonstrates our commitment not only to enhancing our retail network but also to reinvesting in local communities like Kilternan. With significant development taking place in the area, this upgraded store will better serve the needs of local residents, both long‑established and new. We are delighted to formally welcome Kilternan into the Circle K network and to continue supporting customers with excellent service, improved food offerings, and enhanced facilities.”

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• Research shows strong sector progress, with compliance now largely embedded across supply chains.
• Only 8% of businesses report being offered banned items by suppliers.
• MyWaste’s Self-Audit Checklist produced to support final step to full compliance.

Retailers across Ireland are being encouraged to take the final step in fully eliminating banned single-use plastic (SUP) items for sale and supply, as MyWaste launches a new national awareness campaign aimed at supporting full sector compliance.

Running from 26th April to 10th May 2026, and backed by key retail industry bodies including Retail Ireland, part of the Ibec group, Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA), Retail Excellence Ireland and Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA), MyWaste’s Single-Use Plastics campaign is designed to support retailers in completing the final phase of compliance by fully removing any remaining banned SUP items from stock and supply chains, while driving nationwide engagement and reinforcing a unified, sector-wide commitment.

The research, conducted by Empathy Research on behalf of MyWaste, Ireland’s official guide to managing your waste, highlights the Irish retail sector that has already made significant progress. The vast majority of businesses report that banned items have now been significantly removed from circulation, with just 8% of businesses saying they have been offered banned single-use plastics by suppliers, and only 4% reporting recent purchases. This indicates that the transition away from these products is well advanced across the Irish market.

While purchasing and stocking behaviours of retailers are largely positive, awareness of the EU regulations, transposed into Irish law in 2021, remains low, with close to 50% of retailers being aware that certain SUP items are banned. However, the findings also show that sustainable alternatives have become standard practice in retail operations. More than seven in ten businesses (71%) now provide non-plastic alternatives to straws, while two-thirds (66%) offer alternatives to plastic cutlery, demonstrating widespread adoption of compliant, environmentally friendly options across the sector.

At the centre of the campaign is a newly developed and free to download Retailer Self-Audit Checklist, a practical guide designed to help businesses review existing stock, identify any non-compliant products, and take straightforward steps towards full compliance. Retailers are also encouraged to show their commitment to eliminating Single Use Plastics by displaying the campaign pledge badge in-store and online.

Patrick Stratynski, Retail Manager at a EUROSPAR outlet, said; “This campaign is an important step in supporting retailers to fully comply with the ban on 10 single-use plastic items. It not only raises awareness of the specific products affected, but also provides a practical, easy-to-use solution through MyWaste’s self-audit checklist, enabling businesses to quickly review their stock and ensure they are meeting requirements with confidence.”

Samira Nicolo, Senior Executive, Retail Ireland, part of the Ibec group, said; “Retail Ireland is happy to partner with MyWaste authorities on this national awareness campaign focused on the elimination of the 10 banned Single-Use Plastics items. Sustainability is a key priority for retailers, and this campaign is an important opportunity to raise awareness and continue the sector’s commitment to reducing waste.”

Vincent Jennings, Chief Executive Officer at CSNA said; “Convenience retailers across Ireland have made significant progress in removing banned single-use plastic products, and this campaign is about supporting them to complete that transition fully. The findings show that compliance is largely embedded but also highlight that awareness of the specific regulations still needs to improve. That’s where this initiative adds real value — it provides clear, practical guidance that retailers can act on immediately. CSNA is pleased to support this campaign, which will help ensure all retailers are aligned, compliant, and confident in meeting their obligations.”

“The evidence is clear that the majority of Irish retailers have made excellent progress in transitioning away from single-use plastics”, said Will Mitchell, Waste Prevention Officer at MyWaste. “While most retailers are already providing sustainable alternatives to banned single-use plastics, awareness of the regulations is still relatively low and this campaign will ensure that relevant companies have the information they need, as well as the support, to see the elimination of these banned items from Ireland. This campaign is about making that final step as simple and straightforward as possible, supporting businesses with the tools and guidance they need to complete the transition with confidence.

“While Ireland, along with many other countries, has taken important steps to restrict and ban a range of single-use plastic items, our research shows that prohibited products still persist within parts of the supply chain. That’s why MyWaste is calling on retail businesses in particular to take shared responsibility — to refuse illegal, single-use plastics and support the shift towards compliant, sustainable alternatives. By doing so, we can help protect our environment and create a cleaner, healthier future for generations to come,” Will Mitchell added.

Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers are being encouraged to take three simple actions as part of the campaign:

• Download and complete the self-audit from MyWaste.ie (Link to download toolkit)
• Identify and remove any remaining banned single-use plastic items
• Demonstrate participation by displaying the campaign digital badge

Retailers are reminded that it is illegal[1] to place the following single-use plastic items on the Irish market:

• Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)
• Plastic chopsticks
• Plastic plates
• Plastic straws
• Plastic drink stirrers
• Plastic balloon sticks/rods
• Plastic cotton bud sticks
• Expanded polystyrene food and drinks containers (“Styrofoam”)
• Oxo-degradable plastic products

By supporting retailers to complete the final step in this transition, the campaign aims to ensure consistent compliance across the sector and further strengthen Ireland’s move towards more sustainable retail practices.

Retailers can access the Self-Audit Checklist and campaign resources via www.mywaste.ie/sup. Download our handy checklist! HERE

Social media! Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn or contact: https://mywaste.ie/contact/

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Through this partnership, Musgrave will activate across its portfolio of leading brands, including Musgrave MarketPlace, SuperValu, Centra, Donnybrook Fair, and Frank and Honest Coffee, engaging communities, customers and colleagues across the island of Ireland.

An important part of the partnership is the inaugural SuperValu Community Day which will give our customers the opportunity to be part of the occasion and experience the Ryder Cup first hand.

The Ryder Cup 2027, golf’s most iconic team tournament, is expected to be one of the largest sporting events ever held in Ireland, attracting a global audience. With its long-standing commitment to supporting Irish producers and delivering exceptional food experiences, Musgrave will help showcase Ireland’s food, culture and hospitality through its brands, which includes a network of more than 1,200 outlets across the Island of Ireland.

Luke Hanlon, Managing Director SuperValu & Centra, said:

“We are incredibly proud to become an Official Supporter of The Ryder Cup 2027. This is an historic event for Ireland, and one that we know will capture the imagination of our customers, colleagues and indeed the whole nation. Through our brands, SuperValu, Centra, Donnybrook Fair, and Musgrave MarketPlace, we look forward to bringing the spirit and excitement of the Ryder Cup to life in towns and neighbourhoods across the Island of Ireland. This partnership is also a fantastic opportunity to connect a global audience with the quality of Irish food and the producers behind it. A key element will be the SuperValu Community Day on the Tuesday, which will give our customers the chance to be part of the action and experience this iconic event. We’re looking forward to unveiling more in the coming weeks.”

David Brookes, Senior Commercial Director, European Tour group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Musgrave as an Official Supporter of the 2027 Ryder Cup. As a trusted and well-established Irish business with strong community connections, Musgrave is ideally placed to help us bring the Ryder Cup to communities right across the country. Their portfolio of brands will play an important role in building anticipation and enhancing the overall experience as we look ahead to hosting a historic Ryder Cup in Ireland.”

Pictured at the announcement of Musgrave Group as an Official Supporter of the Ryder Cup 2027 are Luke Hanlon, Managing Director SuperValu & Centra, Yvonne O Meara, O’Meara’s SuperValu Portumna, Jim Garvey, Garvey Group and David Brookes Senior Commercial Director, European Tour Group.

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Bord Bia Bloom returns to Phoenix Park, Dublin Thursday May 28th – Monday June 1st, 2026

Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s leading gardening, food and sustainable living festival, celebrates its 20th year in 2026 and organisers are putting the finishing touches on its most appetising programme yet.  Bloom will showcase the very best ofI rish food and drink across the festival’s 70-acre site. From inspiring chefs and artisan makers to hands‑on discussions and sustainable food showcases, there are countless opportunities to grow, taste and learn at this year’s event.

Food Highlights at Bloom 2026

 The Dunnes Stores Quality Kitchen Stage will play host to some of Ireland’s top chefs and cooks. Among those showcasing the best of Irish, seasonal produce across 25 live cookery demonstrations will be chefs Eva Pau, Donal Skehan, Neven Maguire, Rory O’Connell, Catherine Fulvio, Shane Smith, Aisling Larkin, Edward Hayden, and Brian McDermott. New for this year; Donal Skehan will be joined by special guests chefs Sham Hanifa (The Cottage restaurant), and Rupa Dewan (Jaipur Restaurants) to cook up exciting dishes with bold flavours. Chef Trisha Lewis will return at the helm of the Seafood Kitchen, sharing tasty seafood recipes for all to enjoy, and will be joined by a special guest (to be revealed!).

The Sustainable Living Stage, sponsored by Certa, returns with a packed programme hosted by journalists Jo Linehan, Caroline Hennessy, Aoife Carrigy, and Suzanne Campbell with plenty of lively sessions that explore Ireland’s journey toward a sustainable food future. Highlights include a panel discussion on Hot School Lunches hosted by GIY Ireland, featuring Ruth Hegarty (Policy expert) and Michelle Darmody (food literacy and education expert); talks on foraging for wild Irish foods with Feebee Foran (Forager.ie), and how to fuel the whole family with Aileen Cox-Blundell (best-selling author and Registered Nutritionist). Attendees can also hear from growers and producers at the heart of Ireland’s veg sector, learn how to navigate food choices with GIY Ireland’s Mick Kelly and build strong communities through food with Food Cloud.

The bustling Food Village and Bloom Inn will again be home to +100 of Ireland’s finest artisan food and drink producers. From farmhouse cheese to blueberry wine, there will be an opportunity to sample some newly launched products with something to suit every taste. Between demos, journalist Helen Carroll will again host short interviews and talks on the Dunnes Stores Quality Kitchen stage with leading craft producers exhibiting in the Food Village, spotlighting local, quality ingredients and the people behind them.

Growing inspiration

At the Horticulture is Life exhibit in the Food Village, Bord Bia, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Teagasc will demonstrate how each of the agencies works to support the Irish horticultural industry and growers to deliver top quality, local, sustainable produce and plants. Horticulture is Life is located next to the Eat Well Garden which will showcase a range of fruit, vegetable and amenity plants. Here attendees can participate in regular walk ‘n’ talk sessions to learn about a range of topics, from organic production to managing key pests. In addition, a series of ‘Polytunnel Talks’ will take place over the five days of Bloom covering all aspects of kitchen gardening. Chefs Kwanghi Chan, Maria Harte, Jeeny Maltese and presenters Colm O’Driscoll and Kitty Scully (RTÉ 1’s Home Grown) are among the line-up.

Also new this year is Bord Bia’s Make your Mark feature, which will celebrate the very best of Ireland’s fresh horticultural produce. Bord Bia quality assured clients will have the opportunity to showcase their seasonal produce on the Make Your Mark stand, offering attendees the chance to discover the quality, innovation and sustainability of the sector

Located beside the Picnic Area, the Meaghers 360° Wellness village is a key destination for attendees interested in the relationship between food, nutrition and long‑term health. The new area will host keynote talks and expert‑led panel discussions with leading Irish voices including Miriam Hussey, Oonagh O’Hagan, Clare McKenna and respected medical specialists.

Dining at Bloom

There is much to tantalise tastebuds at this year’s festival, with three indoor restaurants (Garden View restaurant, Country Crest restaurant, Seafood Terrace) and three outdoor catering areas on offer, including BBQ Bliss, and the Picnic Area. All vendors will be serving Bord Bia Quality Assured produce which guarantees that foods have been produced to the highest quality and sustainability standards.

‘A Taste of Bloom, curated by Neven Maguire’ is returning to this year’s festival in the flagship Garden View Restaurant, featuring a three-course menu showcasing some of the finest ingredients from quality Irish producers. Much of the produce selected will be on display in the Food Village at Bloom, providing attendees with an opportunity to meet the producers after their meal and purchase ingredients to enjoy at home. The ‘Taste of Bloom’ package is available to purchase on Ticketmaster.

Tickets

Bord Bia Bloom will take place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin from Thursday, May 28th to Monday, June 1st from 9am-6pm each day. Head to bordbiabloom.com to book your tickets and start planning your visit.

Tickets are priced at €35 per adult, €30 for concessions (plus booking fee). Up to two children aged 16 and under can enter for free with every adult ticket (additional child tickets €5 (plus booking fee)) making Bloom a great day out for all the family.

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Maxol has announced the launch of a new online meal and grocery delivery service in partnership with Copenhagen-based food-tech company Noahs, marking a significant evolution in the forecourt retailer’s foodservice strategy.

From 22^nd April, the new service is live at the first three Maxol stores – Newbridge (Kildare), Ardbrae (Wicklow) and the Long Mile Road store (Dublin), where cooked-to-order meals and a selection of groceries are available for delivery via aggregate partner, Just Eat.

This is the first phase of a planned rollout to over 60 locations and more home delivery options (Uber Eats and Deliveroo) will soon be available nationwide.  The initiative reflects the growing demand for high-quality, digitally accessible food beyond traditional breakfast and lunchtime occasions.

Exclusive

Under an exclusive 18-month agreement marking Noahs’ entry into the Irish market, the company is helping digitise Maxol’s fresh food operations. In a first for the forecourt convenience sector in Ireland, the service enables customers to order from multiple food concepts alongside a range of Maxol’s grocery lines within a single digital journey.

As a result, freshly prepared meals including pizza from Pizza Nova, Mexican-style bowls from Bowly, taco and burrito options from La Taqueria, and Cheeky Chicken can be combined with items such as snacks, confectionery, soft drinks, alcohol and everyday essentials in one order.

Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group, said: “At Maxol, we are continuously evolving our foodservice and convenience offering in line with changing customer behaviour. With more meals being consumed outside the home, this partnership represents a natural extension of our fresh food proposition allowing us to move beyond our traditional breakfast-to-lunch focus and offer high-quality, cooked-to-order meals later in the day.

“We wanted to go further than meal delivery by integrating grocery and convenience items into the same digital journey. As customers look for greater simplicity, this approach allows them to combine freshly prepared meals with everyday essentials in a single order.”

The partnership brings together Maxol’s established retail footprint with Noahs’ omnichannel food-tech platform and smart kitchen infrastructure, enabling multiple food brands to operate from a single kitchen using existing resources. Noahs also supports menu development, kitchen design and operational systems, working with professional chefs to create delivery-optimised menus designed to maintain quality in transit. Additional cuisines and brands will be introduced over time.

In-store kiosks

Maxol has also introduced in-store digital kiosks at selected stores to enhance speed, efficiency and choice. Using the kiosk will allow customers browse menus, customise meal orders and choose how they order in-store, helping to reduce wait times while creating a more flexible and intuitive experience within the forecourt environment.

Brian Donaldson added that while Maxol’s new digital kiosks will make for a more seamless meal order experience, they will be complemented by the friendly, personal service for which Maxol stores are known.

Digital food economy

Noahs has rapidly expanded across Europe, developing modular kitchen solutions that allow retailers to participate in the digital food economy through a single operating system managing menus, pricing, orders and kitchen workflows.

Daniel Baven, CEO and co-founder of Noahs, said: “Maxol’s commitment to its customers and its willingness to rethink the role of the forecourt is what makes this partnership so impactful. Together, we’re showing how convenience retail can deliver high-quality, digital-first food experiences at scale –  without adding operational complexity.  Our technology turns a service station into a fully digital food operation – one ordering experience, one kitchen, one delivery – so customers can get a freshly cooked meal and their everyday essentials without juggling apps.

“Partnering with an Irish-owned company like Maxol for our entry into Ireland is exactly the right fit. It’s a model that’s already working at scale across Europe, and I’m confident Maxol customers across Ireland are going to love it.”

All-day Maxol Deli

Today’s announcement forms part of Maxol’s broader transformation into a leading convenience food retailer and with food now as important to Maxol customers as fuel, the company has also taken the decision to extend the opening hours of its instore Maxol Delis beyond the traditional 3pm close to 10pm. According to Brian Donaldson, this helps reinforce the businesses’ objective of being the go-to convenient food destination for communities and commuters at all times of day.

Non-fuel sales account for approximately 40% of gross profit, as the business continues to expand its food offering alongside other services, including car wash.

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