Mairtin Kelly
A DONEGAL retailer is celebrating being after being names as a finalist in Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards (IFCR) 2014.
Mairtin Kelly from Kelly’s Centra at Mountain Top in Letterkenny will now battle it out at the 8th annual Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards to be held in Dublin.
Set in the fabulous Ballsbridge Hotel on Friday September 12, and hosted by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan, the IFCR Awards will play host to the finest convenience retailers from across Ireland.
With more than 400 individual award entries received from throughout Ireland, reaching the final of these awards signifies a major achievement for independent retailers, symbol groups and oil companies.
The retail sector in Ireland employs more than 275,000 people – that’s almost 15 per cent of the total jobs in Ireland. The sector also accounts for more than 10 per cent of Ireland’s GDP – that’s €16 billion. This highlights why retail is such a crucial sector in our economy.
Bill Penton, publisher, Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer, was delighted with the calibre of entries: “Now in their eighth year, the IFCR Awards continue to grow. They are a fantastic example of how Ireland’s forecourt and convenience retailers continue to play a vital role in their communities and set industry standards higher each year. Continuous investment in new forecourts has resulted in much needed jobs and support for Irish suppliers, growers and manufacturers.”
He added: “This unique event helps to raise industry standards in the forecourt and convenience retailing industry throughout Ireland by recognising excellence and rewarding professionalism in the retail sector.”
Innovation, new ideas and new developments are an essential part of successful retailing in today’s ultra-competitive, fast-moving retail environment. Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards are the country’s only specialist awards for the forecourt industry and provide an essential showcase for our very best retailers. This year they are also helping to raise much needed funds for the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund.
This unique event helps to raise industry standards in the forecourt and convenience retailing industry throughout Ireland by recognising excellence and rewarding professionalism in the retail sector.
Said Mairtin: “I want to pay tribute to our staff and customers. This is a tremendous achievement. We’re looking forward to the final.”
