With a business spanning generations and one that has witnessed several significant changes over the decades, County Armagh store JD Hunter & Co has long established itself as a reliable retail business across the whole county.

A destination store, it prides itself on catering for not just Markethill, but the wider rural area, with customers travelling some miles to avail of its offers and services.

The current shop, situated on the Mowhan Road, was built in 1999 and had subsequent development works carried out to it in 2012 before an extensive refurbishment was carried out in 2020. A £500,000 investment was carried out at this stage with new fridges and fruit and veg units brought in and new shelving fixtures installed.

The recent work saw fridge capacity updated and efficiency works carried out throughout the store, whilst making use of the most up-to-date equipment in the chill world.

As store manager, Chris McClure told NR, the works to upgrade and improve the store have been very well received by their shoppers.

“The customer response has always been very good, as we are always keen to improve that shopping experience for them. Investment into the local community supermarket breeds positivity,” said Chris.

The store now proudly stands at approximately 30,000 sq ft and employs 129 staff across full-time, part-time and student roles. With a range of USPs, not least their award-winning butchery department, JD Hunter & Co offers some stand-out services in their store, including an extensive hardware and gardening section and an in-store Post Office offering another point of difference.

“I think firstly our level of service to our local community and beyond is second to none, whilst being heavily involved in both social and charitable events,” said Chris.

“Our butchery/deli counter would be a major footfall driver with the vast majority of products being local and produced in-store. A deli/butchery counter the size of ours is quite rare in supermarkets currently and forms one of our unique offerings, with over 75% of our fresh produce being local sourced.”

It was this commitment to local sourcing and using top-quality ingredients which impressed the judges of this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, and they were quick to praise the butchery department for their efforts.

With an “exceptionally curated selection of premium meats and complementary items, all showcased in a sophisticated and organised setting” the judges were bowled over. “The staff were well trained and highly consultative, ensuring customers received great advice and information on the products,” they added.

“We source our meat from a number of suppliers with our biggest being our red meat supplier, Hewitt Meats Loughgall,” said Chris.

“We are also supplied by Pinkterons, Elliots, Rockvale, Carrs Elite Foods, Doherty & Gray, Grange Farm/Sprotts to name but a few. We have placed a massive emphasis on supporting and promoting locally sourced products which can be found throughout the shopping experience in-store.

“We were delighted to be there in person to accept such a prestigious award. We are humbled and honoured and would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards for this incredible recognition.

“Adrian and our dedicated butchery team, with their hard work and dedicated, have thoroughly earned the right to call themselves Butcher of the Year.”

In the days following their win, the team at JD Hunter ran a variety of competitions, thanking customers for their support and celebrating their win.

“Feedback from customers has been excellent, with us even hosting a visit from the Irish Butchers’ Guild on 5^th November” added Chris.

“This was another proud moment for Adrian and our butchery team and a great opportunity for them to network with some of the most experienced butchers in the profession.

“Our social media competitions have been, as always, well supported as our butchery department moves from strength to strength.”

Having been owned and managed by the Henderson Group from 2019, in the summer of 2022 it was announced that South Belfast retailer and family-run business, the Creighton Group had acquired JD Hunter, with the takeover happening during August that year.

A well-known and popular independent retailer, the group is headed by brother-and-sister team Niall Creighton and Gail Boyd and operates three award-winning stores – Creightons of Finaghy, Creightons of Blacks Road and Creightons of Balmoral.

At the time of the takeover, Niall said expanding the company name was part of their business plan.

“We are honoured to have the opportunity to take over a store that has been family-run since the early 1900s, which mirrors our own family business,” he said.

Chris said he and the staff at JD Hunter had been equally delighted to have another family business at the helm.

“We as a team felt that it was important that ‘Hunters’ would remain a family-run independent business and were delighted to learn that the Creighton family would be taking over the business in 2022,” he said.

“The Creighton family have themselves been in business from 1936 and therefore have many similarities to the Hunter family who started their journey in 1920.

“We have been blessed to have been acquired by such a reputable, long-standing business like the Creighton family with Niall and Gail embedding those unique family values throughout the way we do business and serve our customers.”

READ THE FULL FEATURE ON JD HUNTER & CO IN THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE

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The crowded Grand Ballroom erupted into cheers when Milestone Rathfriland was named the 2025 Retailer of the Year at this year’s NR Awards.

For a record-breaking fifth time, Tom and Ann McAvoy and the team at Milestone were awarded the most prestigious title in Northern Ireland retail – a remarkable success and one that goes down in the history books.

Almost four decades in the business, Tom and the whole team at Milestone Rathfriland do not rest on their laurels, continuing to lead the charge on innovation and setting the standards in the grocery industry in Northern Ireland.

Indeed, judges heaped praise on the store, highlighting how it had distinguished itself through its “superior and diverse range”, balancing popular essentials with specialised and bespoke goods, including many crafted on-site.

“This expansive selection is complemented by an unfailingly excellent service culture, which has fostered powerful customer loyalty and guaranteed a positive shopping journey,” said the judges.

“Furthermore, this is a business that takes its role in the community seriously, actively investing in resources that, in turn, fuels the store’s sustained success.”

Milestone Rathfriland secured two more trophies on Friday 17^th October, with a win as Fresh Food Store of the Year and Neighbourhood Store of the Year Category 3, further cementing their status as the retailer to beat. As Tom explained to NR during a visit to the store, they were delighted to win the Fresh Food Store award as this category is where they have focused over the last few years.

“We were hoping to win the fresh food award as we have worked hard on that,” said Tom.

“Fresh is a big sales driver in the store and it’s something we have focused on growing and delivering on for our customers.”

Having opened in 1988, Tom has seen many changes and developments within the industry in the last 37 years, with the growth of fresh food amongst them.

“There has definitely been a big push towards more fresh food offering. It’s a way of hunting for more business – if you do not do that you are limiting yourself in getting people in.”

Milestone Rathfriland started life as a small filling station with a kiosk, bought some 37 years ago by Tom, who was an engineer by trade. He has previously admitted to not intending to stay in the business for long, aiming to get it up and running before moving on. However, once he got immersed into the business he couldn’t leave.

“I really do enjoy it and it’s all-consuming, but it’s rewarding at the same time,” Tom previously told NR. “If I don’t keep pushing, it gets boring, so that’s why we keep trying to innovate and in turn, elevate the business.”

With a background in engineering, it has always ensured he has a great interest in machinery and production lines, experimenting with the latest machines and demonstrating those machines to other retailers.

Over the years, there has been an increasing demand from customers who want restaurant-quality food, ready-made for them to take home and Milestone Rathfriland has been ahead of the curve on this, with the business going from strength to strength with continual investment and development in these areas.

With a plan to continue developing their food to go and fresh food elements of the business, this has been a key focus for the team at Milestone and it has been reaping rewards. Over the last few years they have claimed awards wins in Food to Go, Store of the Year Cat 4 and Retailer of the Year – cementing an already well-established status as one of the top retailers in Northern Ireland.

Renowned across the region and indeed throughout Ireland and GB, Tom has put the success of the store down to their ability to provide several services under one roof, with a comfortable setting, a place to meet, greet, eat and shop all in one exceptional space.

Milestone Rathfriland proudly stands at an impressive 16,000 sq ft, a bright, modern store that works hard to serve the local community as well as enjoying custom from shoppers who travel from further afield.

Following an extensive renovation and expansion, Tom and Ann opened the larger store in 2014, however they continue to move with the times, and over the last 11 years they have continued to upgrade and modernise the store.

READ THE FULL FEATURE ON MILESTONE RATHFRILAND IN THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE

The post Sustaining success at Milestone first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The NR Awards gala dinner was held on Friday 17^th October at the Crowne Plaza Belfast, with Marie Curie the chosen charity partner for the 2025 event.

Hundreds of guests enjoyed the occasion, the biggest night in the industry calendar, with Donna Traynor ensuring the proceedings all with went smoothly as she returned to host the annual awards event.

A vitally important charity, Marie Curie’s work has touched the lives of many people right across Northern Ireland, with the nurses and staff at the hospice in Belfast providing essential care and support for people living with a terminal illness and those close to them, as well as offering a range of community and outpatient services and holistic family support.

Through their hospice care at home, Marie Curie’s nurses, healthcare assistants and other healthcare professionals bring nursing, medical and emotional help to people in their own homes. They offer support to the people looking after patients too, with reassurance and practical information available and some respite time to allow them to have a break.

Following a night which was enjoyed by all, a fantastic total of £3025 was raised for Marie Curie, with Marie Harris, Community Fundraiser at the charity subsequently presented with a cheque by Bill Penton, MD of Penton Media Group.

“I am thrilled to donate this significant sum to this Northern Ireland charity, enabling them to support those affected and their families,” said Bill.

“We are thankful to all those who contributed at the gala awards night to this total and are already looking forward to next year’s event.”

Marie Harris, Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie NI said: “Thanks to the generous support of everyone at the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, your donations will help bring Marie Curie’s end of life care and support to more people across Northern Ireland.

“Every pound raised makes a huge difference in helping the charity to provide expert nursing care as well as emotional and practical support to people living with a terminal illness and their families.”

The post Thousands raised for charity at 2025 NR Awards night first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

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

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Brian Donaldson

Store Manager of the Year:

Winner: Alan Gilliland, Creightons of Finaghy

New Product Launch of the Year:

Winner: McCain Vibes

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Lynch’s SPAR Coalisland

Outstanding Customer Service of the Year:

Winner: Bell’s of Crossgar

CTN of the Year:

Winner: ViVO Dunamore

Bakery of the Year:

Winner: Greens Food Fare

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Creightons of Finaghy

Off Licence of the Year:

Winner: Kenny’s Food Fare, Kilrea

Forecourt of the Year Cat 1:

Winner: Creightons of Blacks Road

Sustainability Champion of the Year:

Winner: Musgrave NI

Community Store of the Year:

Winner: Scotch Street Filling Station

Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 3:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

Butcher of the Year:

Winner: JD Hunter & Co. Markethill

Food to Go Store of the Year:

Winner: Creightons of Balmoral

Newcomer of the Year:

Winner: Nearby Monaghan Street, Newry

Forecourt of the Year Cat 2:

Winner: Maxol SPAR Belvoir

Fresh Food Store of the Year:

Winner: Milestone Rathfriland

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

Ahead of this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we find out more about our sponsors – this time we focus on Suntory Beverage & Food Ireland, who are sponsoring the Neighbourhood Store of the Year Category 3.

At Suntory Beverage & Food Ireland we have some of the nation’s most loved and iconic soft drinks. Innovation and quality have always been at the heart of what we do, bringing people household favourites that fuel everyday moments and inspire healthier, more active lifestyles.

From the instantly recognisable Lucozade Energy and Lucozade Sport, trusted by generations for everyday energy and sporting performance, to Ribena, loved for its rich blackcurrant flavour and known as inspiring feelings of being at home, our brands have been a part of daily life across Northern Ireland and beyond since 1927.

Adding even more excitement to our line up, we recently partnered with Celsius, one of the fastest-growing energy drinks in the US. With its bold flavours and functional benefits, Celsius is fast becoming a popular choice for those seeking a great-tasting, zero-sugar energy drink.

Our commitment goes beyond making refreshing drinks. We are passionate about sustainability, supporting our growers, our communities and encouraging people to live vibrant, active lives.

We’re supporting the Northern Ireland’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards to highlight the difference local retailers make every day in our communities.

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