Another record night for Northern Ireland retailers at the 2024 NR Awards!

Glitz and glamour were out in full force again for the 2024 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, where a night of celebration was had for the Northern Ireland retail industry.

The Crowne Plaza Belfast was the setting for another thrilling gala awards dinner, where Northern Ireland’s top names in grocery were in attendance at the most prestigious awards in the industry.

It was a night to remember for South Belfast’s Creightons of Balmoral, who claimed not only the Neighbourhood Store of the Year Category 3 award, but also the coveted Northern Ireland Retailer of the Year 2024 title.

A hugely popular winner, the owners and staff from Creightons were on-hand to collect their awards, marking a hugely successful night for company.

It was a night to remember for well-known County Tyrone retailer, Charlie Hamilton, who was honoured with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 500-strong audience gave Charlie a rousing reception as he appeared on stage to receive the honour, presented by Maxol Group CEO, Brian Donaldson.

Charlie and his wife, Ruth marked their 45^th year in business this year, and Charlie paid a special tribute to Ruth and his children as he accepted the special award.

It was also a record year for McCullagh’s Classic Service Station, Omagh as they made it a hat-trick, winning the Forecourt of the Year Category 2 award for the third year in a row.

Now in their 28^th year, the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards are the annual showcase of industry excellence and hundreds of the country’s leading retailers gathered in the ballroom, waiting with anticipation to find out this year’s winners. This year’s platinum sponsor was Allwyn, the new operator of The National Lottery, and Divisional Sales Manager, Wendy Craig appeared on stage to extend a special word of thanks to NI retailers, as well as congratulate all the finalists ahead of the awards presentation.

Hosted once again by Donna Traynor, the winning stores in 19 categories were announced over the course of the gala awards evening, with store owners and representatives appearing on stage to collect their awards.

With another record year for entries, this year was a fantastic awards evening for winners and finalists on the night – with five business also Highly Commended in their respective categories.

Huge congratulations to all of our winners and finalists on the night – find out the full list of winners below.

Retailer of the Year 2024:

Winner: Creightons of Balmoral

**Publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer, Bill Penton (far right) is pictured with Creightons of Balmoral who were named the 2024 Retailer of the Year**

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Winner: Charlie Hamilton

Store Manager of the Year:

Winner: John Fox, EUROSPAR Greencastle St, Kilkeel

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Centra Annaclone

**Sharon McPolin (centre) and Frank McPolin from Centra Annaclone, with Nicola Kempton, from category sponsor, Nordic Spirit**

Outstanding Customer Service:

Winner: Trainor Bros SPAR Poyntzpass

**David Lavery and James Trainor from Trainor Bros SPAR Poyntzpass with David O’Meara, Sales Director at Glory, category sponsor**

CTN of the Year:

Winner: Simpson’s Nearby Antrim

**Nicola Kempton (right) from category sponsor, JTI is pictured with Gillian Alexander, Sabrina Harte and Leslie Harte from winning store, Simpson’s Nearby Antrim**

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Maxol SPAR Edenderry

**Pictured (from left) are John Bailey, Sharon Bailey, Geraldine Morgan (from category sponsor, Lockton), Stacey Watson and Jamie Hindes**

Bakery of the Year:

Winner: Dougies Goodies

Georgina Warwick (second from right) and Frank Warwick (second from left) from Dougies Goodies are pictured with Chloe Murray, from category sponsor, NI Baker Magazine and Bill Penton, publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer

Off Licence of the Year:

Winner: First and Last, Jonesborough

**Seamus McNamee (centre) and Siofra Hannaway from First and Last Off Licence are pictured with Andrew Hollywood, from category sponsor, United Wine Merchants**

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 3:

Winner: Creightons of Balmoral

**Andrew Porter and Lisa O’Hare (left) from Creightons of Balmoral, with Tori Patterson, Ireland Sales Manager from category sponsor, JustMist Wholesale**

Sustainability Champion of the Year:

Winner: Maxol Braid River

**Nicola Farrell, from Maxol Braid River is pictured with Neville Bell, MD at Solmatix Renewables, sponsor of the Sustainability Champion of the Year award**

Community Store of the Year:

Winner: SPAR Loughbrickland

***Dale Beckett (right) from winning store, SPAR Loughbrickland with Dave Mackay, Retail Sales Manager from award sponsor, Allwyn***

Forecourt of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Moran’s Centra Coleraine

**Donna Moran (left) and Eimear Moran, from Moran’s Centra Coleraine with Stephen Ryan, MD from category sponsor, VaporLinQ**

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 4:

Winner: Fruitfield Service Station Richhill

**Philip Woods, from winning store, Fruitfield Service Station is pictured with Nikki George, representing category sponsor, Biopax**

Butcher of the Year:

Winner: McAtamney’s Traditional Butchers Limavady

**Declan McAtamney (left) from winning store, McAtamney’s Traditional Butchers Limavady with Marty Donnelly, Senior Business Development Manager, Spice O’ Life**

Food to Go Store of the Year:

Winner: Moran’s SuperValu Ballykelly

**Donna Moran (centre) and Eimear Moran from winning store, Moran’s SuperValu Ballykelly with Jamie Thompson, Marketing Manager at category sponsor, Thompson’s Tea**

Forecourt of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: McCullagh’s Classic Service Station Omagh

Fresh Food Store of the Year:

Winner: Springisland Supermarket

**Emma Rice (left) from winning store, Springisland Supermarket with Caroline Rainey, on behalf of category sponsor, Ireland’s Forecourt and Convenience Retailer magazine**

Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year:

Winner: Musgrave NI

**Maurice Cusack, from Musgrave NI is pictured with Julie Boyde, from category sponsor, Ireland’s Wedding Journal magazine**

Newcomer of the Year:

Winner: EUROSPAR Downpatrick

Another record night for Northern Ireland retailers at the 2024 NR Awards!