Two Athlone stores in final 30 for National Store of the Year
Two Athlone stores have been named among the final 30 for the National Store of the Year award.
Fernhill Athlone and Cunningham's Pharmacy, Monksland, have both been announced in the final 30 for the award.
Retail Excellence, Ireland's largest representative organisation for the retail industry, will reveal the winner of the National Store of the Year award during an elegant awards ceremony on Saturday, November 1, at The Galmont Hotel in Galway as part of the AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence Awards 2023.
The ‘National Store of the Year’ award is the focal point of the Retail Excellence annual awards, which were established in 1997 to promote excellence and uphold the highest standards in the Irish Retail Industry. These awards have since become the most significant and prestigious of their kind in Ireland. Past winners of the "National Store of the Year" title include renowned names like Applegreen, Brown Thomas, PetStop, and Fabiani.
Jean McCabe, CEO expressed her enthusiasm, saying: "The AIB Merchant Services Retail Awards mark an incredible journey for all participating stores. Each finalist represents an exceptional retail establishment, and it's a source of genuine delight to witness their progression through our rigorous Awards process.
There were comprehensive awards process commenced last May with over 500 store entries.
"Our judging partner, Matthew Brown of Echochamber, will personally visit and assess each of the finalists who have secured a place among the Top 30 Stores. The competition is fiercely contested, and with the highly coveted title up for grabs, every finalist raised the bar by championing retail excellence within their operations. Consequently, the task of selecting the ultimate winner has become even more challenging."
Hubert O’ Donoghue, General Manager, AIB Merchant Services, said: “The National Store of the Year award represents the zenith of achievement in Irish retail, a prestigious accolade that not only symbolises excellence but also celebrates the tireless dedication, innovation, and commitment that these retailers bring to our dynamic retail landscape, a landscape that is the backbone of our towns and cities."