As we approach this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we are delighted to share our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. Here, we find out more about our sponsor Spice O’ Life, who is sponsoring the Butcher of the Year award.

In 2000, in the Town of Dunmanway in West Cork, co-founders Denis and Tom set up Spice O’ Life with a clear ambition: to make sauces and seasonings with real flavour, made in Ireland, for the people who cook. Twenty-six years on, that ambition has grown into one of the country’s most versatile food businesses.

It all started with a single product: a Creamy Pepper Sauce. More than a quarter of a century later, it remains the company’s number one seller, proof that the original recipe got it right first time.

From that one sauce, the range has grown to span sauces, seasonings, marinades and dry blends, supplied across four distinct channels: foodservice, retail, industry and the butcher trade. Few Irish producers can claim such breadth, and fewer still have built it from a rural base.

Growth has been steady and deliberate. Spice O’ Life now employs 167 people, making it a significant employer in West Cork. The BRC certification underpins its manufacturing standards, while Bord Bia Origin Green membership reflects a sustainability strategy built on four pillars: reducing waste and resource use, sourcing raw materials responsibly, decarbonising manufacturing, and championing product health and community engagement.

Recognition has followed. At the 2026 Blas na hÉireann awards, the Spice O’ Life Real Burger Sauce took Gold, a strong endorsement from Ireland’s most respected food awards for a product made for everyday kitchens.

What sets the company apart is its reach across the whole food chain. The same expertise that supplies a busy restaurant kitchen also stocks a butcher’s marinade counter and flavours a family’s midweek dinner. In an industry where many brands specialise in a single channel, Spice O’ Life has made versatility its strength.

From one town in West Cork and one pepper sauce, it has built a national presence without losing sight of where it started. With a growing team, a broadening range and award-winning products, the next chapter looks every bit as flavourful as the first.

The post From West Cork to the nation’s tables: the Spice O’ Life story first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

As we approach this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we are delighted to share our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. Here, we find out more about our sponsor RVM Systems, who is sponsoring the Sustainability Champion of the Year award.

For more than 30 years, RVM Systems has been helping shoppers return their empty drinks containers quickly and easily.

Founded in Sweden, the company now supplies reverse vending machines to more than 40 markets, and in 2025 its machines collected over 20 billion containers.

With the UK Deposit Return Scheme launching in October 2027, including in Northern Ireland, that experience is set to make a real difference on the high street. Shoppers will buy a drink, return the empty and get their deposit back, and neighbourhood retailers will play a central part in making that simple.

RVM Systems offers machines to suit stores of every size, from compact freestanding units such as the X2 and the eXtend 200 to modular and bulk feed systems. Every machine is accessible, features a 21.5-inch screen and connects to the MyRVM app, so retailers can check fill levels and faults without being on site.

Northern Ireland also has a useful example on its doorstep. Since Ireland’s Re-turn scheme launched in February 2024, the recycling rate for in-scope containers has risen from 49% to over 90%, with more than 3 billion containers returned. RVM Systems continues to learn from that experience and is keen to share it with retailers here.

“Independent retailers are the heart of their communities, and for many people they will be the first place to return their containers,” said Stewart Vincent, Managing Director of RVM Systems UK.

“Our job is to make that simple, with equipment that is reliable, easy to use and properly supported, so retailers can focus on what they do best, looking after their customers.”

RVM Systems is delighted to support the Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, celebrating the difference local retailers make in their communities every day.

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As we approach this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we are delighted to share our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. Here, we find out more about our sponsor Maxol, who is sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Founded by the McMullan brothers in County Down as a fuel distribution business more than a century ago, Maxol has grown into Ireland’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer.

Now in its fourth generation, the business remains grounded in family values while continuing to innovate and modernise in response to changing customer expectations.

As a progressive business, we’re shaping the future of the forecourt sector and have pioneered the shift from fuel-led to convenience-led retail. Our multi-million-pound investment programme is creating bigger, brighter destination stores with more parking and more reasons to stop, shop, eat and recharge.

Working alongside our local partner, The Henderson Group, we’ve created modern stores packed with grocery essentials for every meal occasion, plus grab-and-go breakfasts, lunch from our Delis, freshly brewed BARISTA BAR coffee, drinks, snacks, and treats. Self-service checkouts and Pay at Pump technology help us to deliver a frictionless customer experience from the forecourt to the store.

As one of Ireland’s most recognised fuel brands, we offer advanced quality fuels while championing more sustainable choices. We’re expanding our network of ultra-rapid EV charging hubs powered by renewable electricity and have introduced lower-emission fuels such as Maxol hvoPRO onto select forecourts.

Our commitment to sustainability remains a priority for the business. We continue to roll-out our innovative and award-winning sustainable forecourt design featuring solar panels, LED lighting, low-energy CO2 refrigeration, and heat pumps – cutting each new site’s carbon footprint by up to 40%.

Innovation is a hallmark of our business, from reimagining our network as destination stores to leading the way on sustainability, our approach has earned us recognition locally, nationally and on the global stage. But some things haven’t changed in four generations: our values, our integrity, our pride in serving local people and always being at the heart of the communities we call home.

Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group said: “We’re incredibly proud to support the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards. This event celebrates the very best of our industry: the innovators, the trailblazers and everyone working to raise the bar, ensuring neighbourhood stores remain at the heart of local communities today and for generations to come.

“That’s why our long-standing partnership with Neighbourhood Retailer is so important to us. It provides a trusted platform to build lasting relationships, demonstrate our commitment to local retail and play an active role in shaping the future of the industry.”

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As we approach this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we are delighted to share our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. Here, we find out more about our sponsor AG Barr, who is sponsoring the Store Manager of the Year award.

Since launching in 2001, BOOST has built its reputation by doing things differently – delivering great-tasting, functional drinks at accessible prices while developing a particularly strong relationship with the independent and convenience retail sector.

In December 2022, BOOST was acquired by AG Barr, joining a portfolio of leading drinks brands and giving the business additional scale and expertise to support its next phase of growth.

Today, BOOST continues to innovate across Energy, Sport, Iced Coffee and, most recently, enhanced hydration, with Northern Ireland remaining an important market for the brand.

BOOST holds a strong position across functional drinks, ranking as the No.3^* brand in Energy and No.3^* in Sports Drinks, while its Iced Coffee range is No. 2^*. Most recently, BOOST has expanded into enhanced hydration with BOOST WATER+, which has proved a successful addition to the portfolio and opened up new drinking occasions for the brand.

Innovation has remained central to BOOST’s strategy throughout 2026. Earlier this year, the brand strengthened its Energy portfolio with the launch of three new 250ml flavours – Zero Sugar Citrus Zest, Zero Sugar Dark Fruits and Limited Edition White Peach – supported by an integrated campaign spanning retail, sampling, experiential activity, radio, PR, influencers and social media.

BOOST WATER+ has also strengthened the portfolio, bringing the brand into the enhanced hydration category. The zero-sugar electrolyte water contains magnesium, chloride, zinc and sodium, alongside vitamins B12, B6 and B3, and reflects BOOST’s focus on responding to changing consumer needs.

Gavan Morris, International Business Unit Director at AG Barr said: “Independent and convenience retailers have always been incredibly important to BOOST and have played a major role in the development of the brand.

“Our focus is on continuing to give retailers exciting products that meet changing consumer needs, whether that is through flavour innovation in Energy or moving into new areas such as enhanced hydration with BOOST WATER+.

“We’re also delighted to support the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards. They are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the retailers and teams who work incredibly hard every day and make such an important contribution to communities across Northern Ireland.”

As BOOST continues to evolve as part of AG Barr, its focus remains firmly on innovation, value and supporting the retailers who have been central to its success.

DON’T MISS OUT ON BEING THERE – BOOK YOUR TABLE AT THE 2026 NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER AWARDS HERE!

^{* Circana, All Outlets Northern Ireland, Value Sales, 52 w.e. 15th of August}

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As we approach this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we are delighted to share our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. Here, we find out more about our sponsor AIR-serv, who are once again sponsoring the Neighbourhood Forecourt of the Year Category 2 award.

AIR-serv is a trusted supplier to retailers and forecourt operators across the UK and Ireland. We deliver reliable air, vacuum and jet wash services that enhance the customer experience and generate consistent revenue.

Northern Ireland is a critical market for our business where operational reliability and customer satisfaction are essential. These retailers are not just clients, they are partners who help us refine our services and keep our standards high.

To strengthen this partnership, we have built a new sales team with the skills and drive to deliver growth. Daithi and Richard, backed by our experienced sales support staff, are in regular contact with customers. They work directly with site operators to identify new revenue opportunities and resolve issues quickly. The focus is on practical solutions that improve efficiency and strengthen the bottom line.

We are introducing initiatives that make a tangible difference on the forecourt. Contactless payment technology reduces queues and speeds up transactions. Upgraded jet wash machines deliver a better clean and use water more efficiently.

We aim to ensure every site we serve runs reliably, meets modern customer expectations, and achieves sustainable revenue growth. Our equipment is built for performance and supported by a service team that responds quickly and effectively.

Our sponsorship of the Forecourt of the Year award at the upcoming Neighbourhood Retailer Awards reflects our focus on supporting excellence in the sector. This award recognises retailers who achieve exceptional operational standards, deliver high levels of customer service and run commercially successful sites. By backing this category, we underline the importance of investment, innovation, and efficiency in keeping the forecourt industry competitive. It is also an opportunity to meet the retailers who are setting the pace in Northern Ireland.

DON’T MISS OUT ON BEING THERE – BOOK YOUR TABLE AT THE 2026 NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER AWARDS HERE!

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