Maxol M3 Mulhuddart in Co Dublin is Ireland’s best forecourt

Maxol M3 Mulhuddart in Co Dublin has been hailed as the best forecourt on the island of Ireland, it can be revealed.

After undergoing rigorous independent judging ahead of this year’s Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Awards, the Mulhuddart site overcame world-class competition to be crowned Forecourt of the Year.

Set in the fabulous DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Dublin, on Thursday September 15, and hosted by Irish Broadcaster Gráinne Seoige, the awards – now in their 11th year – celebrate the finest convenience retailers from across Ireland.

Also winning awards on the night was Monaghan man Ray McCaughey, who took home the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. Ray, who founded the McCaughey’s 24 hour Service Station in Bloomfield, Castleblayney, was presented with his crystal trophy by last year’s winner of the award, Supermac’s founder Pat McDonagh.

And there were gongs for Northern Ireland too, with Ian Elliott, manager of McCool’s SuperValu Ballymoney in Co Antrim taking home the Store Manager of the Year prize.

Ian had led his supermarket staff to earning a Gold Award in the world-wide Investor’s In People Awards during 2016, an unprecedented achievement for Northern Irish businesses.

This year’s awards followed Ireland’s biggest retailing conference of the year, which took place in the same venue earlier that day.

All Black’s legend Sean Fitzpatrick, now a leading business consultant, lead the action-packed programme of inspirational speakers throughout the day.

The daylong conference, also organised by Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer, was hosted by Irish broadcaster Matt Cooper.

Also speaking on the day was international retail design guru Joe Bona, founder of Massachusetts based company MoseleyBona Retail. He was joined by Mike Murphy, Senior Vice President of New York and New Jersey retail chain, QuickChek; Euro Garages Commercial Director Ilyas Munshi; IGD Director Ben Miller; BBC behavioural expert David Meade; and RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley.

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

“These incredibly successful awards reflect the strength of Ireland’s forecourt and convenience industry,” he said. “The sector has truly made a quantum leap in terms of standards and ideas,  and is clearly one of the most innovative and exciting industries to be involved in at this time.”

Overall sponsor of the awards and conference was Nestle Professional, while the award’s category sponsors included Dairyglen, Philip Morris Limited, FIFO, JTI Ireland, Revolution, Costa Express, Lindt, PetroCourt, Supermac’s, Bord Na Mona, MTS Security, and Eurotank.

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 a key event in the retailing calendar.