XL stores in Mayo have been recognised for achieving high standards in retailing at the annual Store of the Year Awards, held recently at the Castleknock Hotel and Country Club in Dublin and hosted by comedian Alan Shortt.
The awards are now in their second year and seek to promote and reward high standards in retailing. There were 19 category winners, with Staunton Stores XL in Ballyheane taking home the award for Best Bakery while Peter McDonnell, Killala Motors XL in Killala, was awarded the Best Delicatessen. Bobby Byrne’s XL on O’Connell Avenue in Limerick won the overall title of XL Store of the Year.
At the presentation of the awards, managing director of BWG’s Wholesale Division (operators of the XL brand ) John Moane said: “This is the second year that we have been running these awards and already they are proving to be extremely popular among XL retailers who take extreme pride in operating their stores to the highest standards. I want to thank everyone who made the effort to partake in this important scheme and I congratulate the award recipients in Mayo who can display their achievements with pride.”
Retailers who achieve a Store of the Year Award must comply with a strict set of criteria which involves stores being rigorously assessed by a mystery shopper. This year 105 stores from across the country took part in the scheme.
Operated by independent retailers, XL neighbourhood stores now total some 160, providing employment to approximately 2,000 people in 24 counties across Ireland.
