Olympic gold medallist rower Fintan McCarthy, Olympic 100m hurdler Sarah Lavin, world silver medallist boxer Aoife O’Rourke, Double Paralympic medallist swimmer Róisín Ní Ríain, World Champion para-rower Katie O’Brien and table tennis Paralympian Colin Judge help launch Major Partnership

Leading retail group SPAR and EUROSPAR have been confirmed as Official Retail Partners to The Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland. The partnership will see SPAR and EUROSPAR support Team Ireland as they build towards and compete at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

On hand to launch the partnership were double Olympic Champion rower Fintan McCarthy, two-time Olympic 100m hurdler Sarah Lavin, two-time Olympic boxer Aoife O’Rourke, two-time Paralympic swimming medallist, Róisín Ní Riain, former World Champion Para Rower Katie O’Brien and two time Paralympian and former European Para Table Tennis Champion, Colin Judge.

This partnership builds on SPAR and EUROSPAR’s heritage of supporting local and elite sports which includes sponsoring the European Athletics Championships since 1996, supporting more than 80 competitions and promoting healthy living through sport and a balanced diet.

SPAR and EUROSPAR have a long-standing track record of serving local Irish communities since the first store opened in 1963, giving back and investing significantly in community and charity programmes to support local causes, community clubs and groups.

Between now and the Los Angeles Games, SPAR and EUROSPAR Retailers will offer exciting opportunities for communities to show their support for their local athletes.

Officially launching the partnership, John Moane, Group Chief Executive, BWG Group (owners and operators of the SPAR and EUROSPAR brands) said; “We believe strongly in the positive impact of sport for all ages and abilities, and in the adage that it takes a village to raise an athlete. With a family of more than 450 community Retailers across Ireland, it is a natural fit for SPAR and EUROSPAR to become Official Retail Partners to Team Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland.

“This is a huge opportunity for SPAR and EUROSPAR to support and showcase the talents of Ireland’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they build towards the LA Games in three years’ time. Over the course of the partnership, we’ll be providing opportunities for our customers and our 14,000 colleagues to get involved and show their support too.”

Commenting on the partnership, OFI CEO Peter Sherrard said; “We are delighted to welcome SPAR and EUROSPAR as official partners of Team Ireland. The Olympic and Paralympic journey is never travelled alone, but it is supported by coaches, families, volunteers, and local communities all over the country.

“SPAR and EUROSPAR are at the heart of those communities, and their support reflects the spirit of togetherness and pride that defines every Olympic and Paralympic athlete’s journey. This partnership is a celebration of the countless people who stand behind our athletes as they prepare to represent Ireland on the world stage, and we are looking forward to working with the team at SPAR and EUROSPAR as we focus on the road to Milano Cortina 2026 and LA 2028.”

Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara said; “‘Paralympics Ireland is delighted to welcome SPAR and EUROSPAR as our newest partners. Para sport is continuously growing and improving both nationally and internationally so it is fantastic to be joined by brands like SPAR and EUROSPAR that will help us to drive that growth throughout our country.”

“I look forward to working closely with our new colleagues in SPAR and EUROSPAR along with our friends in the Olympic Federation of Ireland as we look towards Los Angeles in 2028.”

Olympic gold medallist rower Fintan McCarthy said; “Athletes work incredibly hard to achieve their dreams of participating in an Olympic or Paralympic Games, but nothing would be possible without the support of their local communities. Every athlete has their own story, whether it’s the club they started out at or the teacher that encouraged them to keep going.

We’re grateful for the support of SPAR and EUROSPAR, whose longstanding commitment to both grassroots and elite sport highlights the vital role communities play in helping athletes progress from local beginnings to the world stage.

Double Paralympic medallist swimmer Róisín Ní Ríain said; “It’s hugely positive news that SPAR and EUROSPAR are partnering with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland between now and the 2028 Games. SPAR and EUROSPAR Retailers are known for their support of communities across Ireland, and I can’t wait to witness the exciting ways they engage with the Irish public to support Team Ireland all the way to Los Angeles.”

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The latest 12-week period to 4 August saw another small rise in grocery inflation levels after 15 months of consistent decline, and now sits at 2.8%. However, this is still the lowest inflation level since March 2022, and down a massive 9.7% compared to August 2023.

“Although grocery inflation is lower now, shoppers are still looking for value in the market and spending on promotions rose by 10.8% compared to the same time last year, with 24.5% of all value sales going through on promotion.,” comments Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar. “Shoppers will always look for the best value and make the most of the wide range of promotions offered by retailers to help manage household costs.”

Own label ranges

Own label ranges are also encouraging Irish shoppers into supermarkets. Consumers spent an additional €59.2 million year-on-year on own label products helping to grow the market by 4%. Premium ranges performed strongly, up 9.4% compared to the same time last year, with shoppers spending an additional €13.5 million on these products. Brands grew ahead of the total market up 7.7%, with shoppers spending an additional €111 million on branded products versus last year.

Going for gold – or at least a glass or two

Emer Healy, adds: “Despite ongoing financial pressures on consumers, this month gave us a reason to celebrate. While we enjoyed some long-awaited good weather, we also cheered on our Olympic athletes. Bringing home four gold medals and with our best games ever, it gave us a reason to raise a glass or two and enjoy the sporting spectacle, with shoppers spending an additional €8 million on alcohol and €5 million on take-home confectionery and savouries combined.”

Irish shoppers also enjoyed their BBQs spending an additional €367k on sausages and burgers and grills, €254k on ice cream and €416k on mineral water compared to July 2024. With back-to-school looming, some lunchbox staples also saw growth over the last month, with cheese, bread and morning goods up 5.6%, 3.8% and 3.3% respectively. 

Irish retailer performance update

Online sales were up 11.5% year-on-year, with shoppers spending an additional €18.9 million on the platform. With a boost in frequency and new shoppers, online saw an additional €14.4 million in spend.

Tesco holds 23.3% of the market, up 8.6% year-on-year. Tesco’s growth stems mainly from more frequent trips contributing an additional €36.3 million to overall performance year-on-year. Dunnes hold 23.2% market share with growth of 8.3% year-on-year. Dunnes growth stems mainly from more frequent, up 6.2% year-on-year, which contributed an additional €43.2 million to overall performance.

SuperValu holds 20.2% of the market with growth of 2.4%. SuperValu shoppers make the most trips in store when compared to all retailers, an average of 21.9 trips a year.

Lidl holds 13.8% share with growth of 5.4% year on year. More frequent trips contributed an additional €35.2 million to overall performance. Aldi holds 12% market share growing 0.6% year on year. More frequent trips contributed an additional €6.9 million to its overall performance.

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A dream held since first lacing up a pair of boxing gloves aged 8, the Northern Irish sportsman typifies the characteristics needed to succeed on the grandest stage of them all through his strong work ethic, modest attitude and a desire to be the best – all traits learned and instilled on the shop floor of his father’s Nisa Local store over many years.

Jude’s father John Gallagher has been in the retail industry since 2011 having opened a 3,000 sq.ft Nisa Local store in Newtownstewart, Northern Ireland.

John, an influential role model for Jude whilst growing up, has gone on to make a substantial success of the retail store whilst balancing other ventures and raising a young family including the future Olympian.

Although boxing now comes first for Jude, John admits he is still a hit with the customers when he does return from his training camps.

“His brother and his cousins are involved in the butchery section of the store and Jude has been in and around the store since he was 13 or 14 years old,” said John.

“Jude has always had the work ethic you need to be successful. A lot of kids at that age don’t work part time and spend much of their time on their phones and on video games. If Jude wasn’t training then he’d be working and if he wasn’t working he’d be focusing on his education so he’s always lived a busy life and always worked hard.

“He’s held responsibility in the store for many years and he’s brought that into the boxing world with how he carries himself and having the motivation to go out and achieve great things.

“Jude trains full time with Ireland now and has done since he won the Commonwealth gold medal so we don’t see as much of him at the moment with all his other commitments but whenever he is back he will still help out around the store if he’s needed and certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots. His background has been the store and the various roles and responsibilities that comes with that and he’s always a hit with the customers when he is back home.

“Jude’s success has been a great feel-good factor for the whole community. Many of our regular customers do come in and ask about Jude and ask to meet him so the local support has been great and I know it is something Jude is very grateful for. It really has brought the whole community together regardless of backgrounds and that has been great to see also.”

Jude acknowledges years spent on the Nisa Local shop floor taught him many of the basics needed to succeed in any profession and admits his father’s work ethic across the store was the role model he required growing up.

“Working in the store has helped me in so many ways,” said Jude. “It has made me responsible, accountable and has taught me to be adaptable. There are many challenges you can face from day to day in the store and you need to be at your best to provide the best level of service for your customers. I’ve always had a strong work ethic and that is massively down to me upbringing and my time spent on the store floor.

“My Dad has been a huge driving force in my career since I started in boxing. He always made sure I stayed on the right path growing up and always made sure I was doing the correct things inside and outside the boxing ring. Having come from a farming background, he has an admirable work ethic which he has instilled in me and my brothers and sister from an early age.”

Peter Batt, managing director of Nisa, added: “Stories like Jude’s are fantastic and goes to show the work ethic it takes to make a success of both his boxing career and his father’s Nisa store. Everyone at Nisa wishes Jude the very best of luck in France and fingers crossed it will be a very special Games for him.”

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The new three-year partnership will see SPAR support Kellie every step of the way on her journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics Games.

To celebrate this new partnership, SPAR and Kellie Harrington have launched the SPAR Christmas Community Fund, a new initiative that will see SPAR reward 10 local community mentors by giving them the opportunity to win €1,000 each for their local club or community group.

The company says SPAR retailers are proud to serve the communities in which they are embedded, and this initiative is indicative of their ongoing commitment to their customers.

Newly announced SPAR Brand Ambassador Kellie Harrington said: “I am delighted to be announced today as a new Brand Ambassador for SPAR and to be working with them on my journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“SPAR have a presence in every community around Ireland and the importance of community is something that I am very passionate about and really resonates with me. The SPAR Christmas Community Fund is a great initiative and I am pleased to be associated with it. I look forward to seeing the local hero nominations that will be entered and hearing each inspiring story.”

Commenting on the partnership, Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director, said: “On behalf of our SPAR Retailers, I am delighted to be here today launching our new partnership with Kellie Harrington. Kellie is one of Ireland’s most successful and inspiring athletes. The fantastic scenes of celebration in Kellie’s community this summer after her gold medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Games were special and Kellie truly embodies what community is all about.

“We are so pleased to have her here with us today, supporting the new SPAR Christmas Community Fund, which shines a light on and rewards local community heroes. We look forward to working with and supporting Kellie over the course of the next three years.”

To find out more about the SPAR Christmas Community Fund and nominate your local community mentor, visit www.spar.ie

Caption: Olympic Gold Medallist and SPAR Brand Ambassador Kellie Harrington joins Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director at St Mary’s Boxing Club, Tallaght, Co Dublin.

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