Athlone store among winners at National Grocery Retail Awards

An Athlone shop has picked up an accolade at the Checkout Magazine National Grocery Retail Awards for 2022.

Brennan and McNally’s Centra, on Castlemaine Street, Athlone, won the award for 'Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Small Supermarket'.

The local premises was selected for the honour ahead of two other finalists, Quish’s SuperValu in Ballincollig and Herlihy’s Centra in Fermoy.

Rochfortbridge man Darren Brennan and his partner Julianne McNally from Kildare, took over the management of the Athlone shop from its previous proprietor, John Croughan, in 2020.

The award winners were revealed today (Tuesday) in an online ceremony at 12 noon.

"The individual stores, retailers and suppliers that have excelled in these awards are those that have demonstrated innovation and responsiveness to key consumer trends," said Maev Martin, editor of Checkout magazine.

"These are the hallmarks of a leading grocery supply and retail operation. Our winners, finalists and highly commended stores have set new standards because they bring their passions and dreams of what a store can be to life to create the perfect shopping experience."

The National Grocery Retail Awards were launched in 2021, and are an amalgam of Ireland's premier awards for fresh food retailing, the Checkout Best in Fresh awards, and the leading awards for suppliers to the industry, the Checkout National Retail Supplier awards.