Celebrating Excellence in Irish Grocery Retail
Recognising the stores and teams setting the standard for Irish grocery retail
IS YOUR STORE ONE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY?
ENTRIES FOR THE 2026 ARE Now OPEN!
We are pleased to announce that the submission process for this year’s National Grocery Retail Awards is now open.
Celebrating Excellence in Grocery Retail
The National Grocery Retail Awards celebrate excellence across Ireland’s grocery retail sector, recognising outstanding achievement in fresh food retailing, retail innovation, customer experience and in-store standards.
The awards honour retailers delivering exceptional standards in Irish grocery retailing, showcasing the achievements that help businesses stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
Created through the merger of the Checkout Best in Fresh Awards and the National Retail Supplier Awards, the National Grocery Retail Awards have become one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated events in the Irish grocery retail calendar, showcasing the very best in grocery retailing each year.
The National Grocery Retail Awards continue the work of the previous awards in recognising and celebrating best-in-class performance across Ireland’s grocery retail sector, highlighting the stores, retail groups and teams that consistently deliver exceptional service, innovation, fresh food standards and customer experience.
National Grocery Retail Awards
Why Enter
Put your store in the spotlight and gain recognition for the people, standards and service that make it stand out.
Celebrate your team’s hard work, showcase your store’s strengths and position your business among Ireland’s leading grocery retailers.
Entering the National Grocery Retail Awards offers stores a range of valuable benefits, from independent recognition and industry visibility to the opportunity to benchmark performance against the very best in Irish grocery retail.
Success at the awards can help your store stand out from the crowd. Winners and finalists gain valuable recognition, while the Highly Commended initiative celebrates stores that are delivering excellent service, strong standards and real value for their local communities, offering additional recognition to businesses making a positive impact for their communities.
Recognition through the National Grocery Retail Awards can distinguish your store from local and national competition, helping to increase interest and support store footfall.
Success in the awards also sends a positive message to employees, recognising the hard work, dedication and service that contribute to a store’s performance. This recognition can help generate pride among teams, support job satisfaction and contribute to staff retention and recruitment.
Being shortlisted, highly commended or named as a winner is also a cost-effective way to raise awareness of your store and reassure customers that they are choosing a retailer recognised for quality, service and standards.
National Grocery Retail Awards
Winner
Awarded to the category winner, recognising an outstanding entry that impressed the judges for its standards, execution and contribution to Irish grocery retail.
National Grocery Retail Awards
Finalist
Recognises a standout shortlisted entrant that impressed the judges and demonstrated excellent standards, strong execution and clear category merit.
National Grocery Retail Awards
Highly Commended
Presented to entrants that performed strongly during judging and were recognised for high standards, service and positive contribution to their local communities.
National Grocery Retail Awards
Categories
There are a total of 27 awards, 26 of which are store awards and one award for Fresh Food Supplier Of The Year . The awards are open to supermarkets, C-Stores, forecourts and motorway service stations based in the Republic of Ireland.
Store of the Year
Retail Store of the Year – Small Supermarket
This award category is open to all small supermarkets (4,000 to 10,000 square feet), and will recognise and showcase excellence in a wide variety of different areas, including outstanding customer service, commitment to excellence in the provision of high-quality food and superior retail display, and the development of effective sustainability strategies.
Retail Store of the Year – Medium Supermarket
This award category is open to all medium supermarket chains (10,000 to 15,000 square feet), and will recognise and showcase excellence in a wide variety of different areas, including outstanding customer service, commitment to excellence in the provision of high-quality food and superior retail display, and the development of effective sustainability strategies.
Retail Store of the Year – Large Supermarket
This award category is open to all large supermarkets (over 15,000 square feet), and will recognise and showcase excellence in a wide variety of different areas, including outstanding customer service, commitment to excellence in the provision of high-quality food and superior retail display, and the development of effective sustainability strategies.
Convenience Store Retailer of the Year (Smaller Format)
This award category to convenience stores of any size, that provide excellent service to customers through their commitment to customer care, staff development and the provision of an appropriate range of services and facilities. Specific criteria will include a clean and well maintained store area, welcoming and well-presented staff providing efficient service, and a dedication to excellence in the provision of high-quality food and superior retail display.
Convenience Store Retailer of the Year (Large Format)
This award category to convenience stores of any size, that provide excellent service to customers through their commitment to customer care, staff development and the provision of an appropriate range of services and facilities. Specific criteria will include a clean and well maintained store area, welcoming and well-presented staff providing efficient service, and a dedication to excellence in the provision of high-quality food and superior retail display.
Forecourt Retailer of the Year
This award category is open to forecourt retailers of any size, that provide excellent service to customers through their commitment to customer care, staff development and the provision of an appropriate range of services and facilities. Specific criteria will include a clean and well maintained forecourt and store area, welcoming and well-presented staff providing efficient service, and outstanding retail display. Particular emphasis will be placed on food-to-go facilities in terms of choice, quality and value for money to suit customers at different times of day.
Motorway Services Outlet of the Year
Motorway services outlets must deliver speed, convenience, cleanliness and strong food-to-go for shoppers on the move. Judges will be looking for excellent standards across food, drink, facilities, service, merchandising and operations, with a clear understanding of motorway customers’ needs.
Ireland’s Discounter Store of the Year
This award category is open to all discount stores, and will recognise and showcase excellence in a wide variety of areas, including outstanding customer service, commitment to excellence in the provision of high-quality food and superior retail display, and the development of effective sustainability strategies.
Ireland’s New Store of the Year (Major Refurbished Stores Eligible)
This award is open to stores that have opened or have had a major refurbishment opened their doors June of the previous year. So for example for the 2026 Awards they would have need to have been opened by no later than June 2025.
Fresh Food Excellence
Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Convenience Store
What the judges will be looking for in this award category, is a C-Store that really encapsulates the needs of its community and is able to deliver an innovative fresh proposition to distinguish it from its competitors. Entrants must be able to show a clear commitment to excellence in fresh food provision across all areas of the store.
Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Forecourt Store
The level of investment going into forecourt development around the country means that it really is a golden period for the industry, and this is reflected in the standard of entries in past years which has been exceptionally high across all stores. Judges will be looking for quality, seasonality, use of local produce and outstanding retail display. Particular emphasis will be placed on the quality of the fresh food-to-go offering available in-store.
Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Small Supermarket
This category, for supermarkets under 10,000 square feet, measures how well retailers are able to develop a comprehensive fresh food proposition in a relatively confined space. Rather than focus on one category, here the judges will look for retailers that are really able to develop a winning fresh offering, right across the store.
Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Medium Supermarket
This category is all about overall store excellence, honouring supermarkets that not only deliver a consistent quality offering across the entire store but are also focused on developing innovative new concepts. Judges will be looking for quality, seasonality, use of local produce and outstanding retail display. Entrants must be able to show a concerted commitment to excellence in fresh food provision across all areas of the store.
Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Large Supermarket
This award is designed to recognise the best in fresh food retailing. The winner of this award will be a thriving fresh food store offering some or all of the following – fruit and veg, meat, fish and poultry, dairy, and baked goods. Judges will be looking for quality, seasonality, use of local produce and outstanding retail display. Entrants must be able to show a clear commitment to excellence in fresh food provision across all areas of the store.
Department Awards
Ireland’s Best In‑Store Off‑Licence
The in-store off-licence is an important way for retailers to drive basket spend and create a point of difference. Judges will be looking for a well-curated range across wine, beer, spirits, low/no alcohol and local drinks, with clear presentation and a strong understanding of the category.
Ireland’s Best Bakery Offering
This is a category that really enables a store to stand out, in terms of presentation and creativity. And the level of investment being put into scratch bakeries in recent years is an indication of how important this category has become. In addition, the growth in the food to go market reinforces the need to have a well-stocked, reliable bakery offering. Here, the judges will be looking for stores that understand how to use bakery as a unique selling point.
Ireland’s Best Deli Offering
This is an area where retailers really have the opportunity to put their own stamp on things. This category will acknowledge innovation in fresh food retailing and a commitment to Irish goods. Of course, it also goes without saying that getting the simple things right, such as scratch preparation, value for money, range and presentation are also key.
Ireland’s Best Fresh Dairy Offering
The range of cheeses, yoghurts and fresh dairy products in stores has never been greater, and the retailers that enter this category are expected to really understand how to use it as a footfall drive. In particular, when it comes to cheese, retailers really have an opportunity to create a USP, and promote both local products and in-store expertise.
Ireland’s Best Fresh Fish/Seafood Offering
Irish consumers are increasingly willing to try new things in the seafood category, so this category will seek to commend the retailers that are really focused on facilitating this. Also, provided that the range of locally sourced seafood is on the increase, the judges will be looking for retailers that take pride in promoting their local credentials.
Ireland’s Best Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Offering
This is one of the most important aspects of any fresh offering. Every retailer today understands the need to maintain a strong fresh fruit and veg department. In this award category, the judges will be looking for strong evidence of seasonality, local sourcing, and retailers that were open to innovation, while also offering excellent value for money.
Ireland’s Best Fresh Meat Offering
A hugely important category, the award for Ireland’s Best Meat offering, celebrates a core part of today’s supermarket offering. Here, the judges will be looking for high standards in the areas of range, presentation and product knowledge, as well retailers who are trying to do something new with a very traditional category.
Ireland’s Best Food to Go Offering
The judges will be looking for stores with an in-store hot and cold food facility that meets and exceeds the requirements of its customer base. Particular significance will be placed on innovative choices and immediate visual impact in terms of the food offering as well as quality of the food and value for money. Judges will also consider the diversity of the range and how it caters for customers at different times of the day and also how promotional activities help to increase food to go sales.
Special Awards
Ireland’s Most Creative Fresh Food Retailer
This isn’t necessarily about one particular category, or one area of expertise, rather it’s about fostering a ‘culture of creativity’ that is visible in many different elements of the fresh offering and can give a store real personality. To be successful in this category, you need to do more than just think outside the box, you need to demonstrate how the standards you set are unlike anything else seen in the industry.
Ireland’s Best Supporter of Local Community Initiatives
This award is open to a grocery retail store of any size that can show how they have a direct impact on improving their local area and community through employment, environment or charity initiatives. Judges will be looking for evidence of initiatives such as charity events or support of local groups which show a long term commitment to the community they serve. Social media campaigns to engage with the local community and a partnership approach with local groups to enhance the area surrounding the store combined with excellent retail standards will be assessed.
Ireland’s Best Sustainability Initiative
With sustainability and environmental concerns at an all-time high, this award will recognise the retailers and suppliers that are setting the agenda when it comes to making their businesses more environmentally-friendly. Please explain your overall sustainability/environmental strategy and what it has achieved to date. Please ensure that you explain the targets you have set, and the progress you have made towards achieving them. If possible, please include data and statistics demonstrating year-on-year progress.
Customer Service Excellence Award
Great customer service helps stores build loyalty and stand out. Judges will be looking for retailers that create a welcoming, helpful and efficient shopping experience, with strong staff training, customer engagement, problem solving and a clear service culture across the store.
Fresh Food Supplier of the Year
This category is open to providers of fresh produce to the grocery retail sector, including suppliers of fruit and veg, meat, fish and poultry, dairy, and baked goods. Award entries should outline how the supplier in question has delivered cost savings and efficiency improvements for the retailer/supplier(s) that it works with, using examples if possible.
Still have questions?
Store Judging Process
Entries are assessed through a structured process designed to recognise strong standards, customer service and overall store performance. Following an independent mystery shopper assessment, selected stores progress to a second-round visit from a member of our judging team as part of the final evaluation process.
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