Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards winners revealed!

The founder of Applegreen and Topaz Dublin Port were among the prestigious list of winners at a major industry awards event in Dublin on Wednesday 6 September.

After undergoing rigorous independent judging ahead of this year’s Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards, Topaz Dublin Post overcame world-class competition from throughout the island of Ireland to win the top prize of Forecourt and Convenience Retailer of the Year.

Set in the fabulous Clayton on Burlington Road, Dublin, and hosted by sensational Irish broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan, the awards – now in their 16th year – celebrated the finest forecourt retailers from across the island.

The Dublin Port site was entered automatically into the running for Forecourt and Convenience Retailer of the Year after winning two other awards earlier that evening – Best Forecourt Facilities and Forecourt Retailer of the year Category 3 (3,001 sq ft and over).

Accepting the award Julianna Murphy said: “A lot of the hard work has paid off, and we’re delighted to win this incredible award.”

Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer publisher Bill Penton with Lifetime Achievement Awards winner and Applegreen CEO Bob Etchingham. Also pictured is Gerry Scully, managing director of category sponsor MTS Security

Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards is a pivotal event for the Irish forecourt industry, acting as a benchmark of excellence for the sector and a key driver of innovation and aspiration.

The local forecourt industry has a significant and growing share of Ireland’s 18 billion Euro grocery and convenience market. While recognised as one of most advanced forecourt markets in world, the sector across Ireland also plays a significant role in local communities, providing support and assistance for many local clubs and charities.

It is this variety of roles played by the sector that is recognised at these important awards.

Another significant winner on the night was Applegreen founder and current CEO Bob Etchingham.

Having spent almost 40 years in the Irish forecourt Industry, Mr Etchingham is now leading the charge of one of Ireland’s biggest and best forecourt companies as they continue their unprecedented rate of acquisitions and openings across the UK and US.

The event’s 450 guests gave a rousing standing ovation for the Applegreen boss as he took to the stage, telling guests of his delight at receiving the prestigious award.

There was also success for Supermac’s founder Pat McDonagh, whose Charlestown Plaza forecourt took the Forecourt Retailer Category 1 prize, while employee Paudie Byrne impressed the independent judges to win the coveted Store Manager of the Year Award.

Paudie, manager of Tipperary Town Plaza, said he was delighted at receiving one of the industry’s most respected prizes.

“I’m delighted for myself and the team at Tipperary Town Plaza,” he said. “It wasn’t just an individual effort, as credit must go to the 56 staff that work so hard at the Plaza.”

Bill Penton, publisher of Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer, welcomed the calibre of support and entries for this year’s awards.

“These awards are an important institution for the industry, and the calibre of entries and people who attended the event is a reflection of the strength of not only the awards themselves but of the industry in general,” he said.

“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to celebrate some of the most significant players in Irish business and see many of them give their support to these fantastic awards.”

Sponsors for the event included a range of local and international success stories in their own right. The full list of sponsors for the event was Philip Morris, Ireland’s Wedding Journal, Suresite Group, Bord Na Mona, Revolution Laundrette, National Lottery, Smooch, Costa Express, MTS Security, Lindt, Cashzone, Parcel Motel, Fifo/Solv-X, Irish Prestige Signs, Petrocourt, and Nestle Professional.

The evening’s awards followed an afternoon of industry talks and exhibitions as part of Ireland’s Convenience Retailer Summit.

The Summit, which involved a conference featuring an array of high profile international speakers along with a focused Trade Exhibition with 40 key exhibitors, welcomed some 400 delegates to hear about ‘The Future of Convenience’.

Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer is Ireland’s number one trade publication for the retail and forecourt industry. Its annual awards are judged by an independent panel from Spotcheck, and regarded as the annual focal point the retailing calendar in Ireland.

 

 

Winners list:

Forecourt and Convenience Store of the Year Category 1

Charlestown Service Station

Pictured here is category winner, Jarlath O’Dwyer from Charlestown Service Station with category sponsor, Kieran Groarke of Philip Morris and Pat McDonagh, founder of Supermac’s.

 

Forecourt and Convenience Store of the Year Category 2

Hanlon’s Gala Service Station

The winners pictured here are Zack Hackett and Patrick Hanlon (right) of Hanlon’s Gala Service Station in Co Longford with category sponsor, Richard Iveson of Smooch (second left) and awards organiser, Bill Penton.

Forecourt and Convenience Store of the Year Category 3

Topaz Dublin Port

The winner here was Topaz Dublin Port. Pictured are Natasha Fox and Julianna Murphy with category sponsor, Walter Angst of Lindt Ireland.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Bob Etchingham, CEO of Applegreen

Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer publisher Bill Penton with Lifetime Achievement Award winner and Applegreen CEO Bob Etchingham. Also pictured is Gerry Scully, managing director of category sponsor MTS Security

Newcomer of the Year

Texaco Spar Fermoy

Conor McElligott and Evelyn O’Connell, Texaco Spar Fermoy are pictured with category sponsor, Paul Murphy of Irish Prestige Signs and Gillian Morris and Sean Heaphy, also from Texaco Spar Fermoy.

Motorway Service Station of the Year (*New for 2017)

Manor Stone Service Station Ballacolla

The victors in this category were Michael Petyt and Felicity Deegan of Manor Stone Service Station in Ballacolla. Pictured here with Michael Dorsch from category sponsor, Solv-X/Fifo.

Best Customer Care

Mulkern’s EUROSPAR

The winner in this category was Thomas Magennis of Mulkern’s Eurospar. He is pictured here with Kelly McKeown, Wynne Penton, event organiser; Patricia Mulligan from category sponsor, Board Na Mona Fuels and Terry Mulkerns.

Community Store of the Year (*New for 2017)

Roches Londis Doneraile

The winner in this category was Roches Londis, Doneraile. Pictured are Majella and John Roche with sponsor, Ronan Neary of the National Lottery.

Best Food to Go

Creightons of Balmoral

George Sloane and Elaine Williams from Creightons of Balmoral claim the prestigious Best-Food-To-Go prize from Suzanne Smullen from category sponsor Parcel Motel

Best Site with Licence to sell Alcohol

Tobin’s Service Station

Eddie Tobin of Tobin’s Service Station (left) is pictured with category sponsor, Paul Hoy of Cashzone.

Best Category Management

SuperValu Ballymoney

Andrew McCallion of Supervalu in Ballymoney, winner of Best Use of Category Management, is pictured here (left) with Beth Mason of category sponsor Ireland’s Wedding Journal and Peter McCool, also of Supervalu, Ballymoney.

Best Forecourt Facilities

Topaz Dublin Port

Pictured are Julianna Murphy and Natasha Fox from Topaz Dublin Port with category sponsor, Niall McMonagle from Revolution Laundrette.

Best Oil Co Initiative

Inver Energy Ltd

Pictured are Chris and Sandra O’Callaghan of Inver Energy Ltd. with category sponsor, Michael Conroy of Costa Express.

Best Training Initiative

Mc Caugheys 24hr Service Station

Pictured are the winners, Ray and Margaret McCaughey from McCaughey’s 24hr Service Station, Broomfield along with category sponsor, Keith Bevan of Suresite Group Ltd. with Aedamair McCaughey and Raylene Tavey.

Store Manager of the Year

Paudie Byrne, Tipperary Town Plaza

Garry McCann, general manager of category sponsor Petrocourt, presents Store Manager of the Year winner Paudie Byrne, manager of the Tipperary Town Plaza, with his prize at Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Awards in Dublin on 6 September.

Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Overall winner)

Topaz Dublin Port

Natasha Fox, Julianna Murphy and Joanne D’Arcy with topaz Dublin Port’s winning trophies at Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards on 6 September