This award rewards the brains who pique consumer interest in what they have created and make sure everyone wants to have a look – and a taste – for themselves.

Independently judged by Spotcheck, the awards were judged to exacting standards over a three-month period – and there was one clear winner in this category.

Judges said: “This campaign was effective in reaching the target audience and was innovative and engaging, yielding a significant uplift in website traffic, social media growth and increased sales.”

Jennifer Morton, who is Brand Manager for Centra NI, collected the award at the Crowne Plaza Belfast on Friday 20^th October, and said she was “delighted to have won” for their epic deals campaign.

The Neighbourhood Retailer Awards reward excellence, recognise achievement, raise industry standards, and reward entrepreneurial spirit and are Northern Ireland’s most prestigious retail awards.

The post ‘Effective campaign’ helps Musgrave NI win Digital Marketing award first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

A stalwart of the grocery industry in Newry, Murphy’s Greenbank has been serving the local community and further afield for almost 35 years.

Having enjoyed a long tenure at the helm, founders Seamus and Madeleine Murphy led the shop and forecourt business for over 20 years before leasing to Musgrave, when they joined the symbol group’s Centra family.

Formerly a greenfield site, Seamus and Madeleine built and opened a 2500 sq ft shop and forecourt in 1988-1989; carrying out various renovations over the years, at one point they added a 500 sq ft extension.

In July 2021, their son Declan and daughter Niamh came on board and they recently oversaw a £650,000 revamp of the shop, modernising and growing the store.

Making significant changes to the store, they have created a more seamless and modern shopping environment for their customers.

“We have had a lot of local people returning to the shop as they see we have increased our offering and offers available and they see that we’ve invested in our store, so this has brought a lot of repeat custom,” said Niamh.

STORE DEVELOPMENTS

Situated at Greenbank, close to the industrial estate and the main Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway, Murphy’s Centra is ideally located to cater for an impressive passing trade, with breakfast and lunchtime trade a key area for them.

As part of that, within their recent revamp, they carried out significant work to their deli section, moving its position within the store and entirely new deli equipment installed. This has allowed the store to increase their offering and introduce many new lines.

A new Frank and Honest Coffee dock offers shoppers a greater selection of hot drinks to takeaway and has an environmental pledge at its core, featuring 100% compostable coffee cups, plastic-free coffee capsules and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee beans.

Shoppers can also benefit from the digital loyalty app, which offers a free coffee after earning 10 digital stamps.

As part of the extensive renovations of the store, all-new refrigeration was brought in, with a whole new chilled section introduced, allowing them to increase the range offered in the store. Additionally, they have increased the range of other products available, including a bakery section.

“We have been able to increase our Musgrave offerings as well and we’ve introduced the Moo’d ice cream bar,” said Niamh.

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Along with new flooring and new LED lighting, the store has introduced more innovative and modern technology, with new tills, two self-serve checkouts and digital screens behind the counters increasing both the experience and convenience for all their customers.

These advancements also assist the flow of traffic in-store and creates efficiencies among employees.

In addition to lighting and refrigeration, the new store aligns with Musgrave Group’s sustainability goals, featuring Electronic Shelf Edge Labelling (ESELs) to reduce the store’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. In 2022, Musgrave Group announced its target of reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2040 and has committed a £3.6 million fund to support retailers to upgrade their stores to achieve this goal.

With work beginning in January of this year, Niamh said they were delighted the scheme went to plan overall, allowing them to complete ahead of their official relaunch date in May.

“Of course, the shop was open throughout the works, which was intense at the time, but when it’s complete and you look back at what you have achieved, you appreciate what you went through to get to this stage,” said Niamh.

“We have had a very positive response from our customers,” she added. “The renovations were needed and have made a huge difference to the store.”

Their hot and cold food deli counter is one of their key profit centres, with sandwiches, salads and hot foods all available, while Niamh said the new Frank and Honest Coffee dock has also been an attractive draw for consumers.

“We also sell a lot of confectionery goods and our food to go is a big success for us. Since we relaunched, we have seen an encouraging uptake in the grocery offering too, with people browsing more.

“Impulse buys and our epic deals are also great, and we have been developing our social media, so customers are aware of our services and deals.

“The growth of the store and our facilities has meant we have been able to increase our staffing levels too and we now employ 30 staff here. Once staff are brought on, we bring them in for training for a few days before they start.

“Musgrave also have their online Learning Academy, which allows us to encourage staff to get and update their training when they can. We update staff training regularly, and it’s something we’re actually doing at the minute.

A COMMUNITY STORE

While a mainstay of the city, Murphy’s Centra is first and foremost a community store, working to enhance and support the local area where it can, including fundraising for charity.

“We had the Action Cancer Big Bus at the store for a day recently and it was fully booked. We also organised a fundraising event ourselves to be held on the same day, when we held a spinathon,” said Niamh.

“All the staff got involved and took shifts in the spinathon. It was a great event and raised £1000.”

On the day of their relaunch, they also invited Damien Hillen from the Southern Area Hospice, based in Newry, to the store and presented him with a donation of £1000.

“Customer satisfaction is something we like to focus on and it is very rewarding to see people come into the shop and seeing what we have done to the store and being able to provide that customer satisfaction, it’s showing that what we have done here is paying off.

“A big part of it is chatting to customers and building on those relationships, being a friendly and welcoming store for everyone.”

TO VIEW THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MURPHY’S CENTRA GREENBANK IN THE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER, CLICK HERE

The post Murphy’s Centra Greenbank – fuelling the community for generations first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Their most recent success saw the 7500 sq ft store take home the Overall Store of the Year at this year’s Musgrave Group awards, which Marie described as being a “wonderful surprise to win”.

Crediting her “fantastic staff” and their commitment to and enjoyment of their respective roles, Marie said they wouldn’t be able to “open the doors” without them.

“The most important part of the job for me is looking after the team we have here,” said Marie. “I would be the one who deals with the staff in relation to their job role. I have team leaders, but I like to get to know the staff themselves, what problems they might have and so on.

“With 85 staff, it can lead to some challenges, but I do feel we are very very lucky. We have some who have been here a long time with us. We know how each other works and it’s a good team environment. “I just love the people, I enjoy chatting and meeting people, it’s a great part of the job.”

STORE MANAGER ROLE

Marie said she “fell into retail by mistake” after completing a HND at technical college and was offered a supervisor role in local store, Curleys in Dungannon.

“I worked there for 10 years. It was a family-run business and I really enjoyed working there.

In 2003, Damien McGleenan was in the process of buying a small shop with a forecourt in Keady and knew Coalisland woman, Marie as they had both attended Texaco conventions over the years.

“He got in touch with me, saying he was looking for a store manager for the Keady shop and invited me for an interview. He took over the business on 1st July 2003 and I came on board as manager then,” said Marie.

The first shop renovation was carried out in 2007 with a hot food counter and butchery introduced. The store was extended with an off sales also brought in. More recently an extensive store renovation was completed, at a cost of £2.5 million and included a complete overhaul of the forecourt, with new pumps and tarmac added.

Marie described the last few years as “challenging” but ultimately worth it.

“It was a tough few years, obviously with covid and then before we were fully out of that we undertook another extensive renovation, which was a 10-month plan,” explained Marie.

“We have our hot food provision, which is open from 6am to 10pm, we brought in a new seating area, a butchery deck, new shelving, new refrigeration, freezers, new flooring, the works. It was a tough three years with all that was going on. When the renovation was completed, I could look back and see just how great it was.

“The staff were all on board with the work and renovations and we brought in new staff at that stage too. You can spend all the money in the world, but if you do not have the right people with you, it means nothing.”

AWARD WINS AND RECOGNITION

The hard work and difficulties encountered over the last three years were made worthwhile with McGleenan’s Centra Keady winning the Gold Award in the Centra Foodmarket category at brand owner Musgrave Group’s annual Store of the Year Awards, before going on to scoop the overall Centra Store of the Year title. The store was recognised for its high customer service standards and strong sales, driven by a hard-working team.

“We were hopeful, but it was a wonderful surprise to win, especially when there were other great stores that we were up against too.

“I was delighted we won and also for the staff. We work hard but they work as hard as we do, without them we could not open the doors.

“We would touch base with other Centra stores in Musgrave’s network and help each other out as best we can. It adds to the family feel of the stores and you get a lot of ideas from them too. There are other retailers who have come to the shop and it’s good to get ideas from each other. But of course, things that work in one place won’t always work in another shop.

“Our hot food and deli counters are our big draws, especially with the seating area. When our hot food counter closes, the chippy runs into the evenings. We have the offering of hot food from morning to night. The seating area is fabulous since it’s been done up and we see it growing. It currently seats 50 and is always busy.

“We have a production kitchen out the back, and all our dinners, including our Sunday dinners, are freshly made for our customers and at a fraction of restaurant prices.”

STAFF FOCUS

With 85 staff, including four or five who have been there “from day one”, Marie’s job centres on the smooth running of day-to-day activity while also ensuring staff are managed and supported. Staff training is a key part of this, with colleagues’ training regularly updated and new staff trained in the main aspects of the store.

“A lot of the staff are from Keady and the local area. It’s good for the customers as well as they see local and familiar faces when they come in.

“When staff start, we provide an induction, manual handling training, age-related training and a food hygiene course for deli staff. We also provide basic food training. Musgrave supports us with this through its online Learning Academy and we have a room dedicated for staff undergoing courses.

“We have a room here dedicated to online training through Musgrave and their learning academy.

“I have about 30 hot food staff and previously it was hard if I had to take away a number of them at one time for training or to update their training. Now we can do it here in the office, they can do it one at a time or if they want to do it at home, I can send them a link.

“There is also first aid training and indeed, one of our managers is also a first responder.”

Describing her job as “a bit of a mix”, Marie divides her time between paperwork in the office and spending time on the shop floor.

“I’m hands-on and if I’m there with the team on the shop floor, I feel you get more out of them and you can let them know they are doing a good job. As I say to Damien, it costs nothing to say to somebody that they’re doing well but it means something to them.

“They go home with a bit of job satisfaction and feel like they’re appreciated and valued. I have to say I love it and I have seen how the business has grown over the 20 years that I’ve been here. With the awards and all, it’s nice to know you are a part of that and what we have achieved.”

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Marie is also quick to praise owners Damien and Frankie on what they have achieved.

“Damien said he wanted to create a community hub and that is what he has done. The customers know that if they go to Damien or Frankie that they will help and support them where they can. From charity events to team sponsorships, they are awfully good at supporting the community.”

In the current climate, shopping is now driven by convenience and Marie adds that the whole team at McGleenan’s Centra is trying to “cater for everybody”.

“Shoppers’ habits have definitely changed, I have noticed that, and we change to meet their needs. I find now more people are buying as and when they need to, and it also means they are cutting back on their waste.

“It’s all about convenience, shopping is now more focused on chilled and convenience. We would have a lot of commuters and passing trade also. We have got a good name for our hot food, as people have heard from others and they come along and try it out for themselves. It’s good to know that what we are doing is working.”

TO VIEW THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MARIE O’NEILL IN THE JULY ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER, CLICK HERE

The post Satisfaction is key for store manager Marie first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The 1,700 sq ft store and petrol forecourt is a welcome addition to the area supporting 12 jobs and combines convenience retail with an extensive food-to-go and grocery offering.

Bright and contemporary, Centra Trackside which officially launched with a family fun day on Saturday 24^th June, is a fantastic amenity for the local community and on the go customers.

The comprehensive range includes a deli counter offering customers freshly made sandwiches and salads, or a selection of hot food to go. Shoppers can also enjoy a hot drink to go with the Frank and Honest Coffee 2.0 coffee dock, which provides a wide selection of hot drinks and features 100% compostable coffee cups, plastic free coffee capsules and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee beans, while a digital loyalty app offers customers a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

Store owner Gareth Beacom said: “We’re delighted to have opened the doors of our second Centra store. It will provide a convenient shopping and fuelling point for customers on the move as well as a great amenity for the local community.

“The team and I are looking forward to welcoming customers instore and providing them with a one-stop shop for modern convenience.”

The new store also features a Nicholls fuel forecourt with a 24/7 pay at pump service, along with car washing and laundry facilities and extensive parking, while EV Charging points will be installed. In-store services include PayPoint, Lottery and an ATM.

Aligning with Musgrave Group’s, (owners of the Centra brand) sustainability goals, the new store also features new LED lighting, energy-efficient refrigeration, and digital screens to reduce the store’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Musgrave NI’s Retail Sales Director, Paddy Murney said: “The new Centra store in Newtownabbey will provide the height of convenience and value for local shoppers. With the cost of living continuing to affect our communities, it’s clear that keeping household costs down is important to our customers.

“As part of Centra’s commitment to value, our shoppers will benefit from over 200 special offer items every week and over 300 cheaper own brand products. That’s on top of our Epic Deals on four big brand products every three weeks.”

Centra is also committed to supporting local suppliers, with Musgrave NI spending more than £160m on local food and drink annually.

Paddy added: “We work with more than 3,000 local farmers, partner with over 150 local suppliers and stock over 3,500 local products across our stores providing shoppers with the freshest produce and range of choice.”

The post New £1m Centra store opens in Newtownabbey creating 12 new jobs first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

AT-A-GLANCE…

Special articles and analysis

* Cost of energy crisis facing retailers – top NI retailers reveal the bills burden they’re having to conquer.

* Baking battles as staffing issues give cause for concern – shortage of qualified bakers leaving bakeries and retailers searching for staff.

* PRA Business Breakout Belfast.

* The latest trends in the tobacco and vaping sector – see our in-depth feature inside.

* Time to get entering the 2023 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, as the entry deadline is fast approaching!

* All the latest news and information affecting the grocery industry.

STORE PROFILES

* Lynch’s Foodstores SPAR Clonoe have enjoyed growth and development in their store and staff, as Area Manager Danielle Johnston tells NR.

* New £0.5m Centra Foxes Glen, Stewartstown Road store opens after acquisition of the former Mace store by Musgrave NI.

* Carnbrooke go for Wagyu Gold as they expand their reach, bringing their top-quality meats to even more customers across the province.

READ THESE EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES AND MUCH MORE IN THE MAY ISSUE BY CLICKING HERE

The post Neighbourhood Retailer May issue is out now! first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.