County Antrim stores dominate Musgrave NI ‘Store of the Year’ Awards with nine winners recognised

Centra Frosses Road – Exceptional Performance in Food Safety

(L-R) Catherine and Oran McCloskey, owners of Centra Frosses Road with store manager Cathie Carton, Joanne Bertenshaw Musgrave NI Food Safety & Quality Retail Co-ordinator, and host Pete Snodden.

Retailers in Cloughmills, Kells, Ballymoney, Toomebridge and Larne have been placed firmly at the centre of this year’s Musgrave Northern Ireland ‘Store of the Year’ Awards, as nine County Antrim stores were recognised for excellence across customer service, food safety and retail standards.

The strong showing highlights the performance of local stores operating across the SuperValu, Centra and MACE brands, with multiple outlets delivering award-winning standards in high-traffic and community-focused settings.

Cloughmills store earns dual recognition on busy A26 route

McCloskey’s Centra on the Frosses Road in Cloughmills emerged as one of the standout performers, securing a silver award for Centra High-Convenience Store of the Year.

Centra Frosses Road – Centra High-convenience Store of the Year – Silver

(L-R) Owners of Centra Frosses Road in Cloughmills are Catherine and Oran McCloskey with store manager Cathie Carton.

The 3,400 sq ft store, located along the busy A26 main road between Coleraine and Ballymena, was also recognised for Exceptional Performance in Food Safety.

The dual accolade reflects both the scale of its food-to-go offering and the operational standards required to serve a constant flow of passing trade alongside local customers.

Kells store among top SuperValu performers

SuperValu Kells – SuperValu Store of the Year - Bronze

SuperValu Kells store manager Debbie McGall (centre) with Joy Forsythe (left) and Kelly Kernohan (right). 

In Kells, McCool’s SuperValu secured third place in the SuperValu Store of the Year category, placing it among the top-performing stores in Northern Ireland.

The recognition reflects consistent performance across store standards, customer experience and operational delivery within a competitive regional field.

Ballymoney store recognised for digital engagement excellence

Further success for the McCool’s group came in Ballymoney, where McCool’s SuperValu Ballymoney picked up the Excellence in Social Media award.

The accolade highlights the store’s strong digital presence and ability to connect with customers beyond the shop floor, complementing its in-store performance.

Toomebridge stores secure multiple MACE awards

In Toomebridge, Boyd’s Mace delivered a strong performance across two locations.

The Main Street store secured silver in the Large Mace Store of the Year category, while the Roguery Road store achieved bronze in the same category. The dual recognition reflects consistent standards across both outlets, covering customer service, store presentation and product range.

Larne store commended for food safety standards

Lusty’s Centra Townparks in Larne was recognised in the Striving for Excellence in Food Safety category, underlining its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in food preparation and presentation.

The award places the store among the leading performers in food safety across Northern Ireland’s convenience sector.

Additional recognition across County Antrim and Belfast

Elsewhere, McCann’s Mace in Greenisland secured a bronze award, while Belfast stores dominated the top MACE categories.

Nugent’s Mace Mount Alverno on Springfield Road in Belfast was named Large Mace Store of the Year, recognised for outstanding store standards and excellent customer service.

Gracey’s Mace Gasworks in Belfast took gold in the Small Mace Store of the Year category, with judges praising its consistently high standards and quality of range.

Rigorous judging process and industry recognition

The annual awards celebrate excellence across Musgrave’s SuperValu, Centra and MACE brands, recognising the achievements, dedication and hard work of retail partners across Northern Ireland.

Finalists are selected following several rigorous rounds of performance and standards audits, with the overall Store of the Year title representing the highest accolade.

David Higgins, Musgrave NI Retail Sales Director, said:

“Our Store of the Year Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the passion, commitment and hard work shown by our retail partners across all three of our brands.

“I would like to thank every retailer for the effort they put in day in, day out to uphold the highest standards for customers. Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners, who continue to set the benchmark for great service in communities right across Northern Ireland.”

Awards ceremony at Slieve Donard Hotel

The awards ceremony, hosted by radio presenter and DJ Pete Snodden, took place on Friday 17 April at the Slieve Donard Hotel, bringing together leading retailers from across the region.

County Antrim’s strong representation across multiple categories reflects the consistency and quality of retail provision across its towns and villages.

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At a glance

• Nine County Antrim stores recognised at Musgrave NI ‘Store of the Year’ Awards

• McCloskey’s Centra Cloughmills won silver and food safety recognition

• McCool’s SuperValu Kells placed third in Store of the Year category

• McCool’s SuperValu Ballymoney won Excellence in Social Media

• Boyd’s Mace Toomebridge secured silver and bronze across two stores

• Lusty’s Centra Larne honoured for food safety excellence

• McCann’s Mace Greenisland took bronze

• Belfast stores won top MACE awards

• Awards held on 17 April at Slieve Donard Hotel