GroceryAid charity gets boost from Neighbourhood Retailer Awards

Retail workers charity GroceryAid has benefited to the tune of £3,500 from its partnership with the 2016 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards.

Bill Penton, publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer, presented a cheque for the amount to the charity’s chairman Trevor Magill on Thursday.

GroceryAid was the official charity partner of the 2016 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, which champion Northern Ireland’s best independent retailers. The incredible sum was raised through donations on the night from attendees and finalists.

The awards, which took place in the Ramada Plaza in Belfast in October saw Fiveways Nisa Extra in Newry pick up an impressive three awards, including the overall Neighbourhood Retailer of the Year prize.

The event, hosted by king of the catchphrase Roy Walker, saw almost 500 NI retailers descend on the Ramada Plaza for the glittering contest.

Fiveways took home the Deli of the Year and Neighbourhood Store of the Year Category 4 trophies, as well as the coveted overall prize.

The 2016 ceremony was among the biggest in its 18 year history, and saw the launch of a new category – Community Store of the Year.

Sponsored by Q Radio, it is the first category to have been decided by public vote.

The leading NI radio channel sent along mobile studio, the Q Superbus, to broadcast live from the event, while flagship host, Stephen Clements, presented the Community Store of the Year award on stage.

After receiving over 7,000 votes from the public, the inaugural winner of the award was Crawford’s of Maghera, with the announcement causing scenes of jubilation among the store’s staff.

Also receiving a special award on the night was William Brown, owner of Arcadia Delicatessen in Belfast. William, who turned 70 this year, took home the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.