NR Awards - Neighbourhood Retailer

A five-star night at 30th Neighbourhood Retailer Awards!

Caroline Rainey — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:17:42 +0000

It was a night to remember at the 2026 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, as the event returned to the venue where it all began three decades ago.

As Northern Ireland’s top retailers came together at the Europa Hotel, there was a real sense of celebration, as finalists, sponsors and guests looked forward to an exciting night.

It was a very special night for County Down store, Fiveways Newry which was named as Northern Ireland’s Retailer of the Year, winning the coveted title for 2026.

The family-run store, which is well-known and widely respected right across the region, enjoyed a hugely successful night as they also claimed the Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 3 title and Off Licence of the Year award.

In a particularly special part of the night, the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Debra Johnston, the formidable force behind FFI.

A very deserving recipient, the audience took to their feet, giving Debra a standing ovation as she received her award on stage. With decades of service given to the grocery industry here and 25 years with Food Force Ireland, Debra is set to retire next January and so this special accolade was a fitting celebration of her lengthy career.

The night was also a notable success for Creightons of Balmoral, which claimed the Food to Go Store of the Year award for the second consecutive year, as well as winning the Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 2 award. Meanwhile, Milestone Rathfriland also enjoyed repeated success, claiming the Fresh Food Store of the Year title for the second consecutive year and securing this year’s Bakery of the Year award.

There was also a great buzz in the room with the return of the New Product Launch of the Year award, with an impressive 12 finalists in the running. This year the title was claimed by Boost for their Water+ Electrolytes.

The category was a very competitive one, with two Highly Commended titles handed out respectively to Swizzels for their Triple Dip Sour and Britvic Ireland for their Pepsi Zero Sugar Cream Soda and Strawberries & Cream.

Hosted by Pamela Ballantine, the winning stores across 18 categories were announced over the course of the gala awards evening, with store owners and representatives appearing on stage to collect their awards.

It was another record year for entries, culminating in a fantastic awards evening for winners and finalists on the night.

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

Retailer of the Year 2026:

Winner: Fiveways Newry

Helen Meehan (centre) manager of Fiveways Newry is pictured with (from left) Dominic O’Hare, Olivia Meehan, Declan Byrne, Noel Loughran, Yvonne Carr and Matt Mclean, Symbols Manager at category sponsor, BAT UK

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Debra Johnston

Debra Johnston (second from right) is pictured with (from left) Bill Penton, MD of Penton Media Group, Wynn Penton and Kevin Paterson, Retail Manager NI at category sponsor, Maxol

Store Manager of the Year:

Winner: James Kelly, Lynch’s EUROSPAR Trench Road

James Kelly (right) is pictured with Gavan Morris, International Business Unit Director at AG Barr, category sponsor

New Product Launch of the Year:

Winner: Boost Water+ Electrolytes

Gavan Morris, International Business Unit Director at AG Barr (left) is pictured with Daniel Comiskey, Head of Marketing at S&W Wholesale, category sponsor

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Maxol Hilden

Nicola Farrell from Maxol Hilden is pictured with Ben Lyons, Assistant Vice President at Lockton, category sponsor

Outstanding Customer Service:

Winner: Nearby Monaghan Street, Newry

Jennifer McQuillan (right) from Nearby Monaghan Street is pictured with Dawn Cartmill, on behalf of category sponsor, Ireland’s Wedding Journal

CTN of the Year:

Winner: Simpson’s MyDaily

Leslie Harte, store manager at Simpson’s MyDaily (left) is pictured with Iain Levy, Director UK Field Force at category sponsor, Philip Morris International

Bakery of the Year:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

Katie McAvoy from Milestone Rathfriland (left) is pictured Caroline Rainey, Editor at NI Baker Magazine, category sponsor

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Creightons of Balmoral

Jack McCullough from Creightons of Balmoral (left) is pictured with Michael Flannigan, partner at category sponsor, FEB Chartered Accountants

Off Licence of the Year:

Winner: Fiveways Newry

Dominic O’Hare is pictured with Nikki George, on behalf of category sponsor Diageo

Forecourt of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Centra Lake Road

Tom Greene (right) from Centra Lake Road is pictured with Eddie Devine, Head of Symbol & Independents BAT UK from category sponsor, Velo

Sustainability Champion of the Year:

Winner: Musgrave Northern Ireland

David Higgins (left) Retail Sales Director at Musgrave Northern Ireland is pictured with Oliver Rowntree, who leads Business Development at category sponsor, RVM Systems

Community Store of the Year:

Winner: Kelly’s EUROSPAR Maghera

Tiarnan Kelly (left) from Kelly’s EUROSPAR Maghera is pictured with Dave Allwyn, Retail Sales Manager at category sponsor, Allwyn

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 3:

Winner: Fiveways Newry

Helen Meehan and Declan Byrne (right) from Fiveways Newry are pictured with Jamie Thompson, Director at Thompson’s Tea, category sponsor

Butcher of the Year:

Winner: JC Stewarts EUROSPAR

Andrew Scott (right) from JC Stewarts EUROSPAR is pictured with Marty Donnelly, Senior Business Development Manager at category sponsor, Spice O’ Life

Food to Go Store of the Year:

Winner: Creightons of Balmoral

Frank Place (centre) from Creightons of Balmoral is pictured with Bill Penton (left) and Patrick Graham, Senior Regional Sales Manager at category sponsor, Stephens Catering

Newcomer of the Year:

Winner: EUROSPAR Moira Road

Szandra Pap from EUROSPAR Moira Road is pictured with Michael Flannigan (right) partner at category sponsor, FEB Chartered Accountants and Bill Penton, MD of Penton Media Group

Forecourt of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Bells SuperValu Crossgar

Gabriel Bell, from Bells SuperValu Crossgar (left) is pictured with Richard Sweet, Sales & Marketing Director at category sponsor, AIR-serv

Fresh Food Store of the Year:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

Noel Hadden, store manager at Milestone Rathfriland, is pictured with Gail Courtney, sales manager at category sponsor, Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer

The post A five-star night at 30th Neighbourhood Retailer Awards! first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

ARE YOU AN AWARD WINNER?

Caroline Rainey — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:34:16 +0000

It’s time to get entering the 2026 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards!

There is no time like the present to start your entry process and we can reveal that we have already received some fantastic entries, highlighting the importance of this annual event each year.

A recognition of the continued ambition, innovation and dedication of independent retailers throughout Northern Ireland, the NR Awards celebrate what is a very special industry.

An exciting development for the 2026 gala awards dinner is the return to the iconic Europa Hotel – seeing the event return to the venue where it all began three decades ago.

Renowned for welcoming famous faces and hosting a plethora of prestigious events, we are delighted that the NR Awards will once again be held at this stunning venue.

A core part of the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards is the independent judging process and we are delighted to once again be associated with Spotcheck NI, a relationship that has been going for as long as the awards themselves. With mystery shoppers and independent judges, the process is committed to finding the best retailers across the region, guaranteeing integrity and quality.

With a host of unique categories, the NR Awards draw entries from more than 500 retailers here, all vying to be the best at what they do. Since the awards were launched, they have become an absolute must-attend on the annual calendar, the perfect place to meet and greet as well as network and celebrate with your colleagues in the industry.

The 2025 gala awards dinner was a night of glitz and glamour as the best in the business from across the region gathered together, while host Donna Traynor ensured the special occasion went smoothly.

Milestone Rathfriland was named the 2025 Retailer of the Year

The top award – the 2025 Retailer of the Year went to Tom McAvoy, owner and director of Milestone Rathfriland, who made history claiming the title for a record fifth time.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been named Northern Ireland Retailer of the Year 2025. It is a real honour to be recognised among the very best in the industry once again,” said Tom.

“This award is testament to our incredible team at Milestone Rathfriland, their passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence drive everything we do.”

Meanwhile, sponsor of the Forecourt of the Year Category 1 award, Monster Energy spoke of their delight at being involved with the awards.

“Monster Energy was delighted to attend and support the NR Awards. It was our first year partnering with the event and it proved to be a fantastic night enjoyed by all,” said Brian Connolly, Business Director Island of Ireland at Monster Energy.

“The awards provided a brilliant opportunity to connect with the very best in Northern Irish retail and celebrate their success.”

We are thrilled to have Allwyn back on board as our platinum sponsor for the 2026 NR Awards, we look forward to working with them in the months ahead as we count down to this year’s event.

Now is your chance to be part of the biggest night in Northern Irish retail – start entering today!

The post ARE YOU AN AWARD WINNER? first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Another Milestone marked at the 2025 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards!

Caroline Rainey — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:51:27 +0000

The 2025 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards was another record-breaking night, as the top stores across Northern Ireland came together at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Belfast.

The night proved to be another hugely successful one for County Down retailer, Tom McAvoy who scooped the coveted Northern Ireland Retailer of the Year 2025 title for his noted Milestone Rathfriland store.

One of Neighbourhood Retailer’s most successful winners, this is a record fifth time they have taken this prestigious award home.

Another successful year for the team at Milestone Rathfriland, they also scooped the Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 3 title and Fresh Food Store of the Year award.

In a particularly special part of the night, the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to CEO of Maxol Group, Brian Donaldson.

A deserving recipient, the 500-strong audience took to their feet, giving Brian a standing ovation as he received his award on stage. Approaching almost 40 years with Maxol, the award is a testament to Brian’s dedication to Maxol and the McMullan family.

A hush descended on the Grand Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as all those present listened intently to Brian, who paid tribute to everyone at Maxol as well as the third generation of the McMullan family. He also had a special word of thanks for his wife, Alyson and daughter Jessica for their continued support over the years.

The night was a rousing success for another notable Northern Ireland retailer, as all four Creighton Group stores claimed titles, with Alan Gilliland from Creightons of Finaghy securing the highly regarded Store Manager of the Year award.

There were wins for Creightons of Blacks Road in Forecourt of the Year Cat 1, Food to Go Store of the Year for Creightons of Balmoral, Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 2 for Creightons of Finaghy and Butcher of the Year for JD Hunter & Co, Markethill.

There was huge excitement in the room for our new category, New Product Launch of the Year as everyone waited with bated breath to find out which company would take home the award – and a huge round of applause for the winners, McCain Vibes.

Swizzels Squashies Tropical were Highly Commended in this category and their representatives were also present on the night to collect their certificate.

Hosted once again by Donna Traynor, the winning stores across 18 categories were announced over the course of the gala awards evening, with store owners and representatives appearing on stage to collect their awards.

It was another record year for entries, culminating in a fantastic awards evening for winners and finalists on the night.

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

Retailer of the Year 2025:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

Retailer of the Year winner, Tom McAvoy (centre) is pictured with Brian Donaldson (left) CEO Maxol Group, award sponsor and Bill Penton, publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Brian Donaldson

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Brian Donaldson is pictured with his wife Alyson and daughter, Jessica

Store Manager of the Year:

Winner: Alan Gilliland, Creightons of Finaghy

Store Manager of the year Alan Gilliland (left) was presented with his award by Gavan Morris from AG Barr (right) on behalf of category sponsor, Boost and Wynn Penton, Penton Media Group

New Product Launch of the Year:

Winner: McCain Vibes

Lucy Smith from McCain Vibes was presented with their award by Daniel Comiskey, from category sponsor S&W Wholesale

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Lynch’s SPAR Coalisland

Darren Given, from Lynch’s SPAR Coalisland is pictured with Geraldine Morgan, from Lockton, category sponsor

Outstanding Customer Service of the Year:

Winner: Bell’s of Crossgar

Gabriel Bell pictured with Alison McCluskey from Richmond Marketing, category sponsor

CTN of the Year:

Winner: ViVO Dunamore

Clare and Raymond Loughran from ViVO Dunamore are presented with their award by Matt Taylor, from Philip Morris Ltd, category sponsor

Bakery of the Year:

Winner: Greens Food Fare

Robert Houston, from Greens Food Fare is presented with his award by Caroline Rainey, editor of NI Baker, category sponsor

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Creightons of Finaghy

Alan Gilliland (left) store manager at Creightons of Finaghy pictured with Michael Canning, from category sponsor, VaporLinQ

Off Licence of the Year:

Winner: Kenny’s Food Fare, Kilrea

Liz Galloway (right) from Kenny’s Food Fare, Kilrea pictured with Karen Watson, from category sponsor Drinks Inc./Musgrave MarketPlace

Forecourt of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Creightons of Blacks Road

Pauline Elliott, store manager at Creightons of Blacks Road pictured with Gareth Kelso (left) and Brian Connolly from category sponsor, Monster Energy

Sustainability Champion of the Year:

Winner: Musgrave NI

David Higgins (centre) from Musgrave NI pictured with Michael Flannigan (left) from category sponsor FEB Chartered Accountants and Bill Penton, publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer

Community Store of the Year:

Winner: Scotch Street Filling Station

Don Woolsey (centre) is pictured with sons Gordon (far left) and James (second right) as they’re presented with their award by Dave Mackay (second left) from category sponsor Allwyn and Bill Penton, publisher of Neighbourhood Retailer

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 3:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

Tom and Ann McAvoy (centre) pictured with store manager Noel Hadden (far left), daughter Katie and Gary Crory (far right) and Richard Horwood-Barrett (second left) from category sponsor, Suntory

Butcher of the Year:

Winner: JD Hunter & Co. Markethill

Adrian Boyd (right) from JD Hunter & Co. with Marty Donnelly from category sponsor, Spice O’ Life

Food to Go Store of the Year:

Winner: Creightons of Balmoral

Andrew Porter (left) was presented with his award by James Widdowson from category sponsor, Point Four

Newcomer of the Year:

Winner: Nearby Monaghan Street, Newry

Jennifer McQuillan is pictured with Michael Flannigan from category sponsor, FEB Chartered Accountants

Forecourt of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Maxol SPAR Belvoir

Brendan Taggart was presented with their award by Manuela Zimmerman from category sponsor, AIR-serv

Fresh Food Store of the Year:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

Tom McAvoy (centre) and Noel Hadden are pictured with Gail Courtney from category sponsor, Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer magazine

The post Another Milestone marked at the 2025 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards! first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Ensure your spot at the biggest night in Northern Irish retail!

Caroline Rainey — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:04:08 +0000

As we leave summer behind and look ahead to autumn, here at Neighbourhood Retailer we are in the midst of planning for the 2025 gala awards dinner!

Renowned across the region as the pinnacle of retail success, the NR Awards have been recognising excellence in retail here for almost 30 years.

It has been another impressive year for entrants to the awards, and with some exciting category updates, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of the curve and reflecting the ever-changing developments in the market here.

We would like to thank Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, which has returned as our platinum sponsor for the 2025 NR Awards, and category sponsor for the Community Store of the Year award.

Divisional Sales Manager at Allwyn, Wendy Craig spoke of how important it was for Allwyn to highlight and champion the importance of independent retail, describing local retailers as the life and soul of high streets and local communities across Northern Ireland.

“Independent retailers are a vital part of high streets in Northern Ireland and have huge value at the heart of their communities,” said Wendy.

“The majority of Allwyn’s 1500 retail partners in the province are independent stores, many of them in rural areas. Selling National Lottery tickets not only creates footfall and associated sales, but it also generates millions in retail commission each year.

Divisional Sales Manager at Allwyn, Wendy Craig (left) with Meagan Green and Bill Penton, MD of Penton Publications

“Independent retailers are also crucial to the enormous good that The National Lottery brings to society through funding to Good Causes,” added Wendy.

The National Lottery recently celebrated the landmark achievement of £1.6 billion being distributed to over 35,000 Good Causes in Northern Ireland, contributing and making a significant difference to the lives of people across the region since funding began in 1994.

From grassroots sports, heritage projects, and arts initiatives to vital health and well-being services, The National Lottery funding has made an impressive difference to the lives of people across Northern Ireland.

Grants big and small have been awarded across the region in every single community. Some of the largest grants ever awarded here include the Odyssey Trust, which was awarded £45 million for entertainment and educational facilities and the construction of the SSE Arena, and the Ulster Folk Museum, awarded £10 million to help preserve history for future generations.

One of the first National Lottery grants was awarded in Northern Ireland back in April 1995 to Belfast City Council, when they were awarded £195,000 for the construction of a pavilion at the Mary Peters Athletics Track.

Meanwhile, we are thrilled to announce that Donna Traynor will return to host this year’s proceedings and look forward to welcoming everyone to the Crowne Plaza Belfast for the biggest night for the Northern Ireland grocery industry.

We will soon begin revealing some of the fantastic finalists shortlisted for this year’s awards – keep your eyes peeled!

DON’T MISS OUT – BOOK YOUR TABLE AT THE 2025 NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER AWARDS HERE!

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Rewarding innovation and success – the 2025 New Product Launch of the Year

Caroline Rainey — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:24:47 +0000

An exciting addition to the 2025 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards is the New Product Launch of the Year, an opportunity to acknowledge the product with the most exciting launch, reaching new as well as loyal consumers, and which has created a buzz about the product and the company itself.

Innovation is one of the keys to success and for food producers and manufacturers across the region, getting ahead of the competition is critical to ensuring the success of your products.

New product launches, product innovation and new concepts are essential for the ongoing success of a business.

Following trends and staying ahead of the competition are a sure-fire way of ensuring the success of your products and realising the profit potential.

Now in their 29^th year the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards are Northern Ireland’s most prestigious awards for the grocery industry with a captive audience of over 500 top retailers at the Gala Awards dinner.

The Neighbourhood Retailer Awards recognise the best of the best, celebrating and championing the innovation and dedication of retailers, food producers and manufacturers, and provides you with the perfect opportunity to network with the top names in the industry here.

Independently judged, the NR Awards are a benchmark of success and are highly regarded in the industry, while attending the NR Awards enables you to increase awareness of your brand, putting you front and centre of the biggest and best retailers from across Northern Ireland.

We will be revealing our shortlist for this exciting category in the next issue of Neighbourhood Retailer – stay tuned!

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