Hook & Ladder, Limerick receiving their Restaurant/Coffee Store of the Year Award at the Retail Excellence Awards 2017 presented by Andrew Johnston of Johnston Shopfitters, Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Colm Carroll, Chairman Retail Excellence Ireland and Richard Varrier of Barclaycard. Picture: Jeff Harvey
Limerick retailers continue to be at the forefront of driving customer excellence in Ireland with 2 of the county’s leading stores winning accolades and being recognised at the Retail Excellence Awards 2017 in association with Barclaycard.

Matthew Stephens Jewellers receiving their Jewellery/Gift Store of the Year Award at the Retail Excellence Awards 2017 presented by John Golden of Willis Tower Watson, Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Colm Carroll, Chairman Retail Excellence Ireland and Richard Varrier of Barclaycard. Picture: Jeff Harvey
Following hundreds of entries Retail Excellence Ireland awarded the best in class winners in key sector groups with the Limerick stores at the fore of customer excellence Matthew Stephens Jewellers, O’Connell Street won Jewellery Store of the Year 2017 and Hook & Ladder, Sarsfield Street won Restaurant/Coffee Store of the Year 2017.
Reaffirming Limerick as a growth area in retail, with vacancy rates falling, Lynn Drumgoole, Director of Communication at Retail Excellence Ireland said ‘Limerick has become a real centre for retail and we are delighted to award those who are at the fore of delivering superb service and retailing standards. All of the finalists and in particular the winners displayed the highest standard of service, customer engagement, display and levels of investment which made choosing this year’s winners particularly difficult.’
Linda Barry, Manager at Holland & Barrett, Parkway Shopping Centre was also shortlisted for Manager of the Year Award.
The Awards were presented on Saturday evening by Hector Ó hEochagáin. The sell-out event was attended by more than 500 Irish retail industry executives. The Awards are the biggest event in the Irish retail industry calendar.
The award winners of the Retail Excellence Awards 2017 are –
NATIONAL STORE OF THE YEAR
National Store of the Year & Specialist Food/Wine Store of the Year 2017 – Greenacres, Selskar, Wexford Town
SECTORAL AWARDS
Forecourt of the Year 2017 – Applegreen, Wicklow Service Area, N11 Cullenmore, Wicklow
Supermarket of the Year 2017 – Smith’s SuperValu, New Road, Kinsale Road, Cork
Restaurant & Coffee House 2017 – Hook & Ladder, Sarsfield Road, Limerick
Pharmacy of the Year 2017 – Mellerick Pharmacy, Fermoy Cork
Home, Interiors Store of the Year 2017 – TileStyle, Ballymount Retail Centre, Dublin 24
Garden Centre of the Year 2017 – Arboretum Home & Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Carlow
Electronics & Tech Store of the Year 2017 – Three, Shop Street, Galway
Footwear Store of the Year 2017 – ECCO Shoes, Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Dublin
Jewellery Store of the Year 2017 – Matthew Stephens Jewellers, 8 O’Connell Street, Limerick
Lifestyle Store of the Year 2017 – Tony Kealys, Boucher Crescent, Belfast
PEOPLE AWARDS
Rising Star of the Year 2017 – Agata Chelminiak, IKEA
Store Manager of the Year 2017 – Colin Curtis, Harvey Norman, Rathfarnham & Carrickmines
WEBSITE AWARDS
Digital Campaign of the Year 2017 – Inglot, Pro Team Roadshows
Best New Website of the Year 2017 – Compu b
Website of the Year 2017 – Carrolls Irish Gifts
IRELAND’S FRIENDLIEST PLACE AWARD
Ireland’s Friendliest Place 2017 – Navan, Co. Meath
CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD
Consumer Choice 2017 – Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty
SUPPLIER AWARD
Supplier of the Year 2017 – StudioForty9, Lower John Street, Cork
For more information about Retail Excellence Ireland, visit their website here.
To read more on Retail Excellence awards, click here.