Together with his wife Oonagh and their daughter Ellen, Pearce will take on Rory’s Miles to Mayo Challenge for Cancer Fund for Children from 12^th to 20^th  September. Irish Rugby legend, Rory Best, will lead a team of business leaders, including the Kellys to walk nine marathons in nine days, covering the equivalent of 235 miles around Ireland.

Additionally, as one last fundraising push, Kelly’s stores will host coffee mornings this weekend on Friday 4^th and Saturday 5^th September.

On Saturday 26^th September, his EUROSPAR store in Maghera will host a ‘finale’ coffee morning to celebrate their return from the nine-day challenge, inviting the whole community to join together over a cuppa and a treat in exchange for a donation to the charity which supports children, young people and their families through cancer from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

In total, Kelly’s Supermarket’s have raised over £300,000 for Cancer Fund for Children, with the family’s local community the main inspiration to continue to support the charity.

“I had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the 102 EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA supermarkets in Northern Ireland at a celebration event at Cancer Fund for Children, where we were marking £2,000,000 raised by the stores since 2011, and 15 years of the partnership,” said Pearce.

“I commented that every single retailer has their reasons to go above and beyond for this incredible charity, and ours is because our community lost a beautiful little 3-year-old girl in Dympna Cassidy 15 years ago.

“Dympna was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in 2011, a three-year-old girl who truly left her mark. Dympna lived in Slaughtneil, only a couple of miles from home. I knew her parents. I saw the devastation that losing a child brings to a family and to an entire community.

“At the time I was a father raising a young family myself and it hit me deeply. We all wanted to do something practical, and so we created several events for Cancer Fund for Children in Dympna’s name.

“During previous fundraising for the charity I had the privilege of meeting a young man named Ozzie Rogers from Knockloughrim, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2020, at just 17 years old. When things get tough during the challenge I will think of Ozzie’s courage and that will drive me on.”

So far, over £85,000 has been raised through Pearce’s JustGiving page.

“I cannot thank both the individuals and businesses enough for their generosity and kindness,” he added.

“I’m hoping to raise as much money as I can for this challenge. It means the charity can do so much more to ensure children and young people, and their families, do not have to face cancer alone.”

Kelly’s Store Coffee Mornings: 

• Kellys SPAR Fresh, Maghera: Friday 4^th September 10am-2pm
• Kellys ViVO XTRA, Castledawson: Friday 4^th September 10am-1pm
• Kellys SPAR, Castledawson: Friday 4^th September 10am-1pm
• Kellys SPAR, Toome: Saturday 5^th September 10am-1pm
• Kellys SPAR Rainey Street, Magherafelt: Friday 4^th September 9am-1pm
• JC Stewarts, Magherafelt: Friday 4^th September 10am-3pm
• Kellys SPAR Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt: Saturday 5^th September 8am-2pm
• Kellys SPAR Lawford Street, Moneymore: Saturday 5^th September 9am-1pm
• Kellys EUROSPAR, Moneymore: Friday 11^th September 10am-4pm
• Kellys SPAR, Cookstown: Friday 4^th September 8am-2pm
• Kellys EUROSPAR, Maghera: Saturday 26^th September 10am-4pm Return from Mayo Celebration

Donations to Pearce’s Miles to Mayo challenge can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/page/pearce-kelly-2

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Continuing the countdown to 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 S&W Wholesale, who are once again sponsoring the New Product Launch of the Year category.

As one of Northern Ireland’s most established wholesale businesses, S&W Wholesale continues to build on a proud legacy spanning more than a century. The Newry-based business has grown to become one of the leading FMCG wholesalers, serving over 2,500 customers across the island of Ireland.

Today, the business is entering an exciting new chapter with the development of a state-of-the-art 180,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution facility. Representing one of the most significant investments in the company’s history, the new site will enhance operational efficiency, increase capacity and strengthen S&W Wholesale’s ability to support retailers even further. This move reinforces S&W Wholesale’s long-term commitment to the wholesale and retail sectors, with the customer always remaining at the heart of the business.

Daniel Comiskey, Head of Marketing at S&W Wholesale said: “Independent retailers are the backbone of communities across Northern Ireland and the wider island of Ireland. Their ability to adapt, innovate and serve their local customers is what makes the sector so resilient.

“As a wholesaler, our role is to ensure retailers have the products, support and services they need to thrive, both now and in the future. This new warehouse investment demonstrates our commitment to helping our retail partners and customers to succeed for generations to come.”

Comiskey also highlighted the value of strong industry relationships and the role they play in driving growth across the sector.

“Partnership is central to everything we do. Our relationships with suppliers allow us to bring the best possible value, innovation and category opportunities to our customers, while our longstanding association with Neighbourhood Retailer helps us stay connected to the challenges, achievements and ambitions of customers. Together, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers and the industry media all have a role to play in supporting our vibrant FMCG sector.

“As S&W Wholesale looks ahead, the combination of a deep-rooted history, significant infrastructure investment and a continued focus on partnership positions the business strongly for the next phase of growth. Sponsoring the New Product Launch of the Year with Neighbourhood Retailer simply reinforces S&W’s commitment.”

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

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Our cover story is a special interview with new Managing Director of Henderson Wholesale, Noel Hegarty. NR spoke to Noel to find out his main aims and plans for the business amid a changing of the guard.

Inside this issue, it’s our annual Top 100 brand footprint, in association with Worldpanel by Numerator. Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Worldpanel talks us through the movers and shakers this year and which brands are excelling at the point of purchase.

There is also reaction to the planning approval for a brand-new Sainsbury’s store in Omagh. The supermarket’s first store in the town has attracted attention due to the planning process behind it – we speak to representatives to find out more.

Elsewhere, the owner of Nearby Curran Road, William Noble tells NR about his desire to bring something into his local community and outlines his aims for the new business.

As well as all the latest news and exciting NPD, don’t forget to check out our exclusive feature focusing on the work carried out by dedicated store managers across Northern Ireland.

YOU CAN READ ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE IN THE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER ISSUE HERE!

The post Read the latest issue of NR! first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The UK convenience sector may be experiencing slower overall growth, but one category continues to outperform – food-to-go.

According to Lumina Intelligence, their latest data identifies increasing consumer demand for convenient meal solutions, healthier snacks and immediate consumption occasions. As households remain under financial pressure, shoppers are increasingly trading down from eating out. Nevertheless, they are still seeking quality, convenient meals.

Retailers are responding by transforming store layouts and investing in destination food-to-go zones. Leading fascias including Costcutter, Best-One, Premier and SPAR are expanding their foodservice offers. These expansion plans include hot food counters, bakeries, barista coffee stations and meal deal propositions.

The opportunity is particularly strong among “Grab-and-Go Families”, an affluent customer segment that now accounts for a growing share of convenience spending. These shoppers value speed, quality and convenience, making them highly receptive to premium meal solutions and healthier grab-and-go options.

Health trends are also reshaping the category. As demand grows for protein-rich foods, nutrient-dense meals and functional beverages, convenience retailers have an opportunity to move beyond traditional sandwiches and snacks. Consumers increasingly expect healthier options that deliver both value and convenience.
Technology is supporting growth too. Self-service coffee machines, smart vending solutions and digital loyalty programmes are helping stores improve efficiency while enhancing customer experience.

With convenience shoppers making more frequent top-up trips and seeking quick meal solutions throughout the day, food-to-go is rapidly becoming a core growth driver that retailers can use to increase footfall, basket spend and customer loyalty.

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The partnership brings together two brands with strong growth momentum, rooted in fitness and community and united by a shared belief in the power of everyday achievers – from first-time competitors to seasoned athletes.

Through the partnership, CELSIUS will bring its LIVE.FIT.GO. platform to life by creating experiences at the intersection of fitness and culture that celebrate movement, progress, and the ambition to own your goals. CELSIUS will connect with ATHX participants through a premium branded zone experience and product sampling across select competitions.

ATHX Birmingham, held on 22^nd and 23^rd August 2026, marked the start of the partnership, bringing CELSIUS to the heart of the ATHX community. The ATHX Games will arrive in Dublin on 12^th and 13^th June 2027 at RDS Dublin.

Julien Scheubel, Head of Brand – Europe at Celsius said: “CELSIUS® is built for people who are motivated to keep moving and make every day count.

“We are excited to become the Official Energy Drink Partner of ATHX, a brand that shares the belief in the power of community and in making fitness more welcoming, rewarding, and relevant to everyday achievers.

“We can’t wait to bring our LIVE.FIT.GO. platform to life together, supporting participants as they take on their goals.”

Founded in the UK in 2023, ATHX has experienced threefold growth in competitor numbers over the past three years and expects more than 40,000 participants across its events in 2026. CELSIUS plans to expand alongside ATHX as it looks to bring its competition beyond Europe.

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