Continuing our countdown to this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, we find out more about our sponsors – this time we focus on Monster Energy, who are sponsoring the Forecourt of the Year Category 1 award.

Monster Energy is tearing it up in Northern Ireland, fuelling massive growth and shaking up the soft drinks category like never before!

The energy drinks scene is on fire and Monster is leading the charge with bold innovation and the kind of attitude that gets our fans buzzing to see our product in store.

In Northern Ireland, convenience retailing is king. Local stores and forecourts are the heartbeat of daily life be it a quick stop, top-up shop or refreshment on the go. That’s where Monster comes alive! With a whole host of flavours that hit every taste; from the legendary Monster Green to our Ultra zero-sugar heroes and our full flavour Juiced products, there’s a can for every mission, every lifestyle, every moment.

Convenience is all about immediacy, and Monster delivers. Shoppers want cold cans, big impact, and easy access and we have it covered! From best in class, eye-popping displays to chillers stacked with choice, the brand demands attention and drives serious sales. Retailers know that when Monster’s in the fridge, baskets get bigger, and shoppers keep coming back for more.

But this growth isn’t just about numbers, it’s about our DNA and culture. Northern Irish consumers love energy drinks and Monster offers them a lifestyle in a can. From gamers to students, shift workers to night owls, Monster is the badge brand for anyone ready to go harder, faster, louder. Convenience stores are the frontline of that connection, the perfect stage where brand and shopper collide in the moment.

Northern Ireland is buzzing, and Monster are happy to play their part. With fearless flavours, relentless innovation, and an unbreakable bond with convenience retailing, Monster isn’t just in the game, it’s constantly rewriting the rules! The future is fast, the future is bold, and the future is Monster!

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Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland alongside its partner Monster Energy officially opened the new canning line at its production facility in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn.

World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea, who is a Monster sponsored athlete, was onsite at Knockmore Hill to officially cut the ribbon and celebrate the achievement with employees.

The new £17 million canning line represents the single largest investment since the production facility opened in 2008, with 35 new permanent roles created as part of the expansion. The extension adds an additional 4,597 square metres to the facility, covering manufacturing, warehousing and logistics.

The expansion comes after a competitive tender process where Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland was selected as the strongest location amongst a number of other bottling operators across Europe.

COMMITMENT TO LOCAL ECONOMY

Davide Franzetti, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said the opening signals an “exciting moment” for the business and Monster Energy.

“The expansion is also a further demonstration of the commitment of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland to the local economy with 35 new roles created and opportunity for our own people to grow and develop their own skillset with this new state-of-the-art new canning line,” he added.

“I am incredibly proud to see the line open after many months of hard work and expert planning by all of those involved in the expansion project and my thanks goes to them for their dedication to our business.”

Speaking at the launch of the new canning line, Desmond White, Chief Commercial Officer, Monster Energy EMEA said: “This significant expansion of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland production facility, with a dedicated Monster Energy canning line will unlock new opportunities for us in the Ireland and Northern Ireland markets, and also across other European markets.

“We are very proud of the strategic partnership with Coca-Cola HBC, the success and growth of our brands Monser and BPM, and the increased employment and employee development opportunities this investment brings. It signifies a new milestone in our partnership which we are sure will bring further success.”

HERITAGE

With a heritage on the island of Ireland dating back to 1938, Coca-Cola HBC employs over 750 people across the island with 450 colleagues based at the Knockmore Hill site in Lisburn.

Since 2008, over £127 million has been invested in the facility in Knockmore Hill, a significant proportion of this investment is dedicated to furthering Coca-Cola HBC’s goal of achieving a NetZero carbon position by 2040, including the recent move to 100% recycled plastic across Coca-Cola HBC’s beverage portfolio eliminating, 7,100 tonnes of virgin plastic from circulation annually, in addition to the rollout of innovative and environmentally friendly cardboard packaging solutions and water saving initiatives.

The new canning line is part of the wider expansion of Monster Energy on the island of Ireland, with its syrup production facility in Athy, Co. Kildare also in the process of expansion.

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