Local SPAR and EUROSPAR retailers have once again represented Northern Ireland at the highest level of retailing excellence at the 2025 Retail Industry Awards and Forecourt Trader Awards, while dominating the local independent retailing scene at the NR Awards.
From the Retail Industry Awards, 10 awards were brought home by independent SPAR operators, Henderson Retail, and its company owned stores.
Henderson Retail picked up the multiple categories of Food to Go Retailer of the Year, Forecourt Retailer of the Year and Convenience Retailer of the Year, alongside Highly Commended in the Community Retailer of the Year category.
Henderson Retail’s SPAR Malone Road store won the company-owned categories of Forecourt Retailer of the Year, Post Office Retailer of the Year and Store Team of the Year. Sam McCann, Store Manager of the South Belfast store also took home Store Manager of the Year for the third time in recent years.
In the independent categories, McCammond’s SPAR, Abbots Cross in Newtownabbey which opened in May 2024 was triumphant in two categories, Post Office Retailer of the Year and Most Improved Store, while Mullan’s SPAR Monaghan Road in Armagh won Chilled Retailer of the Year.
At the Forecourt Trader Awards, SPAR Mallusk won the Northern Ireland up to 4mlpa category, while EUROSPAR Hillcrest, Portrush picked up the award for Best Forecourt Team across the UK-wide specialist categories. Judges praised SPAR Mallusk’s strong focus on maintaining high standards, while providing diverse shopper experiences. At EUROSPAR Hillcrest, judges recognised the incredible 2,400+ pieces of positive feedback the team received last year, while maintaining high standards through operational efficiencies.
Locally, The Creighton Group were the big success at the NR Awards, with multiple wins throughout their estate of stores: Neighbourhood Store of the Year (Cat 2) for Creightons EUROSPAR of Finaghy, Food to Go Store of the Year for Creightons EUROSPAR of Balmoral, Forecourt of the Year (Cat 1) for Creightons SPAR of Blacks Road, Butcher of the Year for JD Hunter & Co in Armagh, and Alan Gilliland from Creightons EUROSPAR of Finaghy won the Store Manager of the Year award.
Other winners at the gala evening at the Crowne Plaza included Maxol SPAR Belvoir (Forecourt of the Year Cat 2), ViVO Dunamore, Cookstown (CTN of the Year), and Lynch’s SPAR Coalisland (Neighbourhood Store of the Year Cat 1).
Throughout the awards ceremonies, the judges were clearly impressed with each retailer and company’s “commitment to excellence”, investments to meet shopper demands, while also applauding Henderson Retail’s “embedded local values, store innovation and consistent customer service.”
Henderson Retail has also celebrated two more local wins in recent days at the Ballymena Business Excellence Awards, where two company-owned stores were successful. SPAR Broughshane won Best Community Involvement while SPAR Ballymena, Doury Road won Best Business Premises.
George Rankin, Retail Director at Henderson Group commented; “The national awards success is an incredible achievement for Henderson Retail and our company owned stores. We are particularly proud of SPAR Malone Road getting such recognition at the Retail Industry Awards, while Sam McCann also took home the store manager of the year award for the third time in the past five years. SPAR Mallusk and its services and forecourt operation continues to wow on a national stage, none more so than the Forecourt Trader Awards, while we’re delighted EUROSPAR Hillcrest’s team was honoured for their contribution to both the business, their shoppers and their community with the Best Forecourt Team award.
“Henderson Retail has experienced great growth in the past year with our store numbers reaching 114, with investment continuing to create even better stores for our local communities. We will continue to grow and build our business, driven by innovation and with our shoppers ever-evolving needs at the core.”
Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director added; “Stephen and Donna Mullan, and Lucy and Becky McCammond have shown us what independent retail excellence can achieve on the national stage at the Retail Industry Awards. They have displayed a commitment to investing in services that will benefit their community, with judges choosing them as clear winners in their categories.
“Locally, our independent retailers dominated at the NR Awards, sweeping the board with eight awards on the evening. It has been another outstanding year for our independent retailers on all awards stages in GB and at home, and we wish everyone huge congratulations on their continued success.”