Double-digit growth success at the Duncrue branch

Earlier this year, Musgrave MarketPlace, Northern Ireland’s leading wholesale supplier, announced a £1.1 million investment in the upgrade of its Belfast-based Duncrue branch. The results of the 52,000 square foot store upgrade, which created three new jobs, were unveiled to hundreds of special guests, retail, foodservice and SME businesses in October, explained Michael McCormack, Managing Director of Musgrave MarketPlace.

“We now employ 182 people at our Duncrue site making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in Northern Ireland. As well as changes cosmetically to the building, which includes a new entrance, we have created specialist roles within our team, including a ‘fresh specialist’, and sourced hundreds of new products for our customers so that they can stay on-trend and have access to the best advice to help drive their business forward”, commented Michael.

The history of the Duncrue site goes back to 1982 when building work first began and 34 years later things are going from strength to strength.

Michael continued: “When Musgrave MarketPlace, known as Musgrave Distribution Limited back then, first opened, it was, for the time, state-of-the-art. Its location within the City’s new ‘enterprise zone’ known as Duncrue, close to the City Centre and the nearly completed final phase of the high-speed road network, the Westlink, was key to its success as it connected the north and west of the country.”

In the early 1990’s, after some further investment in the site, Duncrue continued to outperform all forecasts,” continued Michael: “Today, we are experiencing double-digit growth; no mean feat in an uncertain financial climate. Musgrave MarketPlace has proved to be a huge success and we’re certain that the recent improvements will secure its future and help us increase footfall and revenue for many years to come.”

So what can people expect from the newly revamped Musgrave MarketPlace?

Michael said: “The changes people will see include a range of new speciality areas and state of the art technology to offer retail and foodservice customers a best-in-class shopping experience.

“Our new ‘fresh specialist’ advises on meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables and on the latest culinary trends. We have a greatly extended equipment area featuring many new lines. We also provide online access to the hundreds of new products that people will see when they visit us. Our products have been selected based on extensive research commissioned by Musgrave MarketPlace to help keep our customers on trend and competitive in the market.

“We have three tablets specifically for retailer use where they can place online orders from a comfortable chair and have any questions they may have answered by a member of staff, on the spot.

“Musgrave has a strong commitment to sustainability so we have installed energy efficient fridges, a new heating system and LED lights throughout.

“But the best way to see the results are with your own eyes so we hope to welcome our existing and many new customers”, concluded Michael.

SuperValu is anchor tenant in major new Fairways Retail Development by Dundalk developer Wonderglade

SuperValu, the leading Irish grocery retailer, has announced that 55 jobs have been created at a new SuperValu store in Dundalk, Co. Louth, which opened today. The new 17,600 square foot SuperValu Fairways store, which represents a total investment of €7 million, is located in a new flagship retail development at the former Fairways Hotel Site in Dundalk. The Fairways development also includes a coffee shop, a pharmacy and residential units.

The store is owned by local businessman Richard Tiernan, who has developed a tailored offering for the Dundalk community, with a variety of locally-sourced products available at the new store including SuperValu Food Academy producers such as Kookie Dough, which specialises in making high-quality cookie products, and Sing Li, which produces curry sauce and pastes. Some of the other locally-sourced products available at SuperValu Fairways include Moran Jams, Rafferty’s Fine Foods, Morgans Seafoods and McCloskey’s Bakery.

The SuperValu Fairways store features a sizable Bakery, as well as Butcher and Fish counters, and parking for 150 customers. The new store also features a comprehensive health and wellness section with over 1,600 products to reflect consumer demand for products like nuts, dry fruits, vitamins and supplements.

Commenting at the opening, SuperValu Fairways store owner, Richard Tiernan said: “We’re delighted to be providing an economic boost to Louth, between the 55 people that are employed at the store and the local suppliers who will have their products on sale. Our combination of fresh food leadership, value and a tailored service to the local community makes us the ideal destination in the run-up to Christmas, which will be our busiest trading period during the year.”

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu, said: “As Ireland’s leading grocery retailer, we are delighted to announce the opening of this SuperValu store as anchor tenant in the new Fairways retail development. It will provide consumers in Dundalk with our unique combination of quality and innovative food, complemented by a tailored local offering. Today’s opening demonstrates the strength of SuperValu’s independent community retail model, as local businessman Richard Tiernan invests in his local community with this new store.”

SuperValu serves over 2.6 million customers every week and has 220 stores nationwide. Together with its retail partners, SuperValu employs approximately 14,500 colleagues, making it one of the State’s largest private sector employers. 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced in Ireland. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible which helps to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.

SaveSave

As part of their continued commitment to promote CSR and Sustainability in Ireland, Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) recently launched a new BITCI Membership logo to help members communicate with pride the part they play in what has grown to be a network of Ireland’s largest companies dedicated to CSR and sustainability.

Musgrave is one of 23 companies, to date, in Ireland to have achieved the Business Working Responsibly Mark from BITCI. Audited by the NSAI, the mark is based on ISO 26000 and looks at how we, as an organisation, treat customers, employees, our suppliers, our communities and the environment.

We are very proud to be a member of the BITCI community and to have Chris Martin, our CEO on the board. As a sixth generation family business with a 140-year heritage and a strong set of values that guide our actions, Musgrave genuinely cares for people and for the planet. This is why we became one of the first companies worldwide to embed the UN Sustainability Goals in our strategy and why our purpose is Growing Good Business – because at Musgrave, we don’t believe growth should come at the expense of doing the right thing.

For more information go to www.bitc.ie

Award recognises excellence in food safety and quality standards among SuperValu and Centra poultry producers

SuperValu and Centra today announced Monaghan-based farmer Pat McGuirk as recipient of the inaugural SuperValu and Centra Poultry Grower of the Year Award. A supplier of chicken to SuperValu and Centra for almost 20 years, Pat McGuirk was selected for his outstanding commitment to food safety and quality at farm level.

The SuperValu and Centra Poultry Grower of the Year Award was established to recognise excellence in food safety standards, specifically looking at actions taken by farmers to improve biosecurity and minimise levels of Campylobacter in poultry meat – the most common cause of bacterial food poisoning in Ireland, and throughout the EU. The award builds on the work of the FSAI and Department of Agriculture’s Campylobacter Stakeholders Group – a proactive collaboration to address the challenge of Campylobacter across the Irish poultry meat sector.

Pat McGuirk, a poultry farmer for Manor Farm was selected after a series of inspections and tests of flocks on Pat McGuirk’s farm throughout 2017, showed consistent improvements in Campylobacter levels and biosecurity standards.

Commenting on the award, Ray Bowe, Head of Food Safety & Quality, SuperValu and Centra said, “As SuperValu and Centra continue to push the boundaries in fresh food leadership, ensuring the highest food safety standards throughout the supply chain is core to this agenda. We are pleased to introduce this accolade to recognise industry-leading standards in poultry farming and ensure that our customers are always guaranteed the best in fresh poultry.”

“The award highlights the commitment to food safety and quality shared by long-standing SuperValu and Centra poultry producers such as Pat McGuirk. I would like to congratulate Pat for his efforts, particularly his success in tackling Campylobacter and in the areas of biosecurity and terminal hygiene plans, all of which have been validated through award adjudicators, Manor Farm. His commitment to improving food safety serves as a benchmark for the rest of the producer community.”

Pat McGuirk, recipient of the inaugural SuperValu and Centra Poultry Grower of the Year Award, added, “I am proud to have partnered with SuperValu, Centra and Manor Farm since 2000, during which time I have expanded significantly to meet growing demand. The priority for us is to ensure that customers can have absolute confidence in the poultry they purchase from SuperValu and Centra and we are delighted to have our efforts in this regard acknowledged.”

SuperValu and Centra are the number one supporters of the Irish agri-food industry, sourcing from over 1,800 Irish suppliers – more than any other grocery retailer in the Irish market – equating to an annual economic contribution of €2.19 billion. Together with its retail partners, SuperValu and Centra employ approximately 14,500 colleagues, making it one of the State’s largest private sector employers. 75% of everything on SuperValu and Centra shelves is sourced in Ireland. SuperValu and Centra continue to source locally wherever possible, which helps to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.

SuperValu, the leading Irish grocery retailer, has announced today that it expects to sell 120,000 Irish pumpkins this Halloween. Suitable for both cooking and carving, the hand-harvested pumpkins are now available in SuperValu stores across Ireland, with retail prices starting from as little as €2.

SuperValu’s Irish pumpkins are produced by five local growers, with the very first seeds planted in April to allow for picking by mid-September – just in time for Halloween. Denise Buckley, on her third-generation family farm in Swords, Co. Dublin is one of those growers. Spanning 100 acres, Buckley’s farm harvests over 15,000 pumpkins each year and, together with Keelings, they have supplied Irish pumpkins to SuperValu for the past 2 years.

Denise Buckley, pumpkin grower for Keelings, commented, “We are delighted that our pumpkins will be in homes all across Ireland thanks to SuperValu. We believe in delivering quality to consumers and SuperValu shoppers can expect to see the very best of hand-harvested pumpkins at great value in stores over the coming weeks.”

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu, said, “Pumpkins are extremely popular at this time of year and we are delighted that all pumpkins sold in our stores will be Irish grown for the very first time. As the number one supporter of the Irish agri-food industry, we work with over 1,800 Irish suppliers like Keelings, allowing us to deliver the very best in locally sourced fresh food to SuperValu shoppers.”

The pumpkins will be available in SuperValu stores across Ireland from today, October 5th, retailing at €3 for large pumpkins and €2 for medium sized pumpkins.

About SuperValu

SuperValu serves over 2.6 million customers every week and has 219 stores nationwide. Together with its retail partners, SuperValu employs approximately 14,500 colleagues, making it one of the State’s largest private sector employers. 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced in Ireland. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible which helps to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.

SuperValu Comber has completed a £600k revamp that will help to redefine the local convenience market.

The food market store, which employs 50 local staff, will have many new features, explained Martin Reynolds, Store Manager at SuperValu Comber.

“When customers come through our refreshed foyer area they will see all the same great brands they’re used to but we’ve got some surprises too.

“We are the first SuperValu store in Northern Ireland to have a new sit-in coffee area featuring our excellent coffee brand, Frank and Honest. As well as a Frank and Honest machine, where people can prepare their own take out coffee, the café will have its own barista, free Wi-Fi and a comfortable seating area where locals can catch up”, said Martin.

Musgrave conducted extensive research into the changing needs of the consumer which led to the development of new market leading ranges including a Gourmet Sandwich and a Hot Carvery sandwich range.

Martin said: “We’ll have a fantastic hot and cold ‘Food to Go’ area serving breakfast, lunch and featuring a carvery section with wraps, gourmet sandwiches, baguettes and boxed salads. People will have a lot more choice now including lots of healthy options too.”

The SuperValu butcher area will have state-of-the-art equipment allowing butchers to better serve Comber and surrounding communities.

Martin continued: “All of our beef, which is matured for 21 days, pork and lamb, is from Northern Ireland so the quality is fantastic and it’s something that sets us apart from our competitors.

“Our master butchers are trained to the highest standards providing the quality advice and service people expect from a local butcher. Our meat offering will be greatly enhanced ensuring our customers continue to get access to the freshest, finest quality meat, including hot whole chickens.

“We’ve also improved the fruit and veg area with a better selection and greater choice for our customers. Our Fresh For You own brand ranges will be available at the store as well as fresh bread and evening meal solutions which are all made by suppliers in Northern Ireland.

“The store is environmentally friendly with an extended bank of energy efficient fridges and freezers. We’ve had a very positive reaction from customers and we’re looking forward to welcoming even more people to the area with our new inspiring ranges”, said Martin.

Shauna Hamill, Head of Retail Operations of Musgrave, said: “The retail market has changed rapidly over the past few years and we’ve reinvigorated our offering to match consumers changing needs, by providing a huge amount of choice.

“We are very much committed to the long-term future of the SuperValu brand in Comber,” she added.

The building which now houses SuperValu is an important local landmark in the area, continued Martin.

“We had a great conversation with the Comber Historical Society recently and learned much about the history of the site from the 1700’s to present day.

“It was important to us to ensure the facade and integrity of the building remained as, after all, it has been there since 1956 when Comber Cinema opened. SuperValu took over the site in 1996 and we hope that our considerable investment will secure the future of the building for many years to come”, concluded Martin.

SuperValu is a leading foodmarket convenience brand for independent retailers in Northern Ireland providing real food from the heart of Northern Ireland. SuperValu believes in quality local food that is from here and for here, which is why, every year, SuperValu sell in excess of £105 million worth of products from Northern Ireland in its stores; this helps to sustain jobs in local communities across the province.

SaveSave

SuperValu sweep up a record 124 awards for its SuperValu Signature Taste and Food Academy ranges, cementing its position as Ireland’s quality food retailer.

SuperValu, Ireland’s Leading grocery retailer, announced that it won a record 124 Blas na hEireann awards at the 10th annual awards ceremony held in Dingle, Co. Kerry yesterday. The Irish Food Awards is the biggest competition for quality Irish produce on the island of Ireland and SuperValu’s achievement this year is the most successful since the awards were established over a decade ago. SuperValu picked up 44 awards for its’ own brand and Signature Taste range of products – winning 10 Gold, 13 Silver and 18 bronze awards while SuperValu’s Food Academy producers went home with a unprecedented 80 awards – 30 Gold, 32 Silver and 18 Bronze.

The prestigious food awards received over 2,500 product entries into the competition this year with those nominated hoping to take away a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award in over 100 food and drink categories – not to mention other prestigious awards such as the Supreme Champion 2017 and Best Artisan Producer 2017.

SuperValu is, and has always been committed to supporting local and Irish food suppliers – with 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves sourced in Ireland to the value of over €2 billion helping to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy. Winning these coveted awards at the most prestigious food awards in Ireland is a testament to SuperValu’s commitment to supplying the best quality food products to its shoppers across its award winning own brand and Food Academy range.

SuperValu’s Food Academy is a unique training programme in conjunction with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Board which supports, nurtures and mentors’ small food producers across Ireland. Since it started, The Food Academy Programme has been a huge success winning a European Business Award for Innovation, with more than 350 Food Academy producers now selling their products in SuperValu stores around Ireland. Winning 80 Blas na hEireann awards yesterday is living proof of the success of SuperValu’s Food Academy programme. Some of the award-winning Food Academy products include Absolute Nutrition Chocolate Protein Balls (Gold), Happy Pear Sweet Beet Humous (Silver), Coffee House Lane Fresh Ground Coffee (Bronze) and On the Pigs Back Pork Rillette (Silver).

The 19 Signature Tastes awards for SuperValu this year include SuperValu Signature Taste Raspberry Conserve (Gold), Strawberry Conserve (Silver) and Signature Taste Vintage White Cheddar (Bronze). and. The 25 SuperValu Own Brand awards include SuperValu own brand Smoked Salmon Pate (Gold), SuperValu Ham, Spinach and Brie Quiche (Gold), SuperValu Crème Fraiche (Silver), and in a new award, The Chef’s Larder, SuperValu own brand won two awards for Rib Cowboy Steak and Signature Taste Beechwood Smoked Silverside of Hampshire. Receiving the acknowledgement at the Blas Na hEireann awards yesterday is confirmation that SuperValu’s own brand and Signature Taste range offer consumers the very best quality products at great prices.

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu said, “We are delighted to have won a record 124 awards at the 10th annual Blas Na hEireann awards this year in the Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. It’s a real endorsement for the commitment and the passion that our small food producers and suppliers have for producing innovative, great quality products exclusively for SuperValu. It’s also been our best year since the inception of the awards, winning over 80 awards for our Food Academy range and 44 for our Signature Taste and own brand range – which is proof that we continue to invest in the best quality products at the very best value for our shoppers”.

SaveSave

SaveSave