Profile: Gala Raheen – Going the Extra Mile

When the New Ross bypass disrupted business, Gala Raheen noticed that many customers were actually re-routing their daily commute to still stop and shop with them – proof that with good customer service and the right offering, it means that some customers will literally go the extra mile when you do.

Something to celebrate

The success of the store comes down to a strong team and loyal local customers. Staff play a central role in the store’s performance, consistently delivering great service and keeping standards high. The continued support from the community has also helped the business grow and adapt.

Graham Murphy, one of the owners, is managing director. Liam Murphy oversees daily operations across the group, with Padraig Doran supporting as development manager. On-site, store manager Mark Leacy leads the Raheen team and is closely involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

New Ross Bypass

“We purchased the store in 2011, having leased it for 12 months initially. We could see the potential in the site – even though the New Ross bypass was in motion. We knew it had a really strong offering, and was well established in the local community” explained Liam.

“The New Ross bypass was completed in 2020, and like many businesses along the old route, we were affected during its construction. Thanks to the efforts of our team and the continued support of our local customers, we were able to adapt and keep things moving. We even noticed that some regulars and daily commuters would actually re-route their journey to continue visiting the store. This gave us the confidence to keep investing in the site and plan for the future.”

Navigating new challenges

Just as recovery from the bypass disruption began, Covid hit in March 2020. “We adapted as best we could,” said Liam. “We made use of the space we had, creating indoor and outdoor areas for customers to safely visit and enjoy. With the Greenway still under construction nearby, we saw its potential and began planning ahead.”

An extension followed, adding key facilities including toilets, bike parking, outdoor seating, and the new Wild & Bean Barista Bar. The result was 5,000 square feet of outdoor and covered space beside both the store and the Greenway.

Opportunity knocks

“We saw this as an opportunity to develop the store further. It was clear there was strong demand from both the local community and Greenway users for a broader, fresher convenience offering – the kind of everyday items and services people now expect from a modern store. It showed us just how much more potential the site had.”

“Gala Retail has some fantastic brands and concepts and with our long, historic relationship with the Gala team, we were never going to consider any other brand.

“We believe Gala concepts such as Coffee Junction, Galato, Baker’s Corner, The Deli and Distill all developed by Gala, are best in class – not only through the design detail, but the product offering, quality and price point.”

A busy summer season

“Thanks to the recent spell of good weather, the store has enjoyed one of its busiest weeks to date. The summer footfall has been boosted by the growing number of Greenway visitors and locals stopping by, a sign that the store continues to hit the mark with shoppers.

“The addition of the Wild & Bean Barista Bar, developed under the management of Hilary Rowe, has helped turn the store into more than just a stop-off point – it’s become a go-to spot for people to meet up and our proximity to the Greenway is an added bonus.”

The store remains closely connected to the community, supporting a range of local charities and events, including the Pink Rock Run, as well as partnering with sports clubs, musical groups, and drama groups throughout the year.

Celebrating 25 years of Gala

“Celebrating 25 years of Gala Retail last year coincided with the completion of our store extension and refurb, a major milestone after years of navigating industry competition, economic challenges, changing customer needs and much more. It marked a period of progress and growth, as we continue to invest in the store’s future.

“Under the watchful eye of Mark Leacy, the store manager, we are planning to develop our forecourt this winter. This will be the next stage of our development and reflects our commitment to support our wider sustainability goals, including the installation of solar PV panels, EV charging points, and enhanced forecourt services. We’ve already taken steps such as retrofitting energy-saving appliances and improving our overall environmental performance.

“We’ve been involved with Gala since its formation. Like ourselves, it was formed by a number of family-run wholesale businesses. To this day, Gala still encompasses that sense of being part of a family – in that they listen, support, encourage and also allow us to make independent decisions in how we run and operate a first class offering.

“The Gala team give us a lot of support from both a central office administration perspective and their business development team on the road. They have given us excellent contacts in the trade to see us get to this exciting stage of planning for our future expansions.”