Eight Mayo retailers named as Gala Award winners

Eight Mayo Gala Retail stores have been named as amongst the best Gala Retail stores in Ireland, at the 2025 Gala Retail ‘Delivering the Difference’ annual conference.

Held in the Great Southern Hotel, Killarney, Nicholson's Gala, Keel, took home the top honour of Chilled Retailer of the year and was also recognised as a runner-up in the Brand Champion category. Tuffy's Gala, Louisburgh, was a worthy runner-up in the Bakers Corner category. McGloin's Gala, Foxford, was named runner-up in the Off-License category, and Mangan's Gala, Ballina, was acknowledged as a runner-up in the Coffee Junction category.

All four stores were also celebrated as Gala Retail Excellence Award winners, joined by Mulhern's Gala, Crossmolina; Murphy's Gala, Ballyhaunis; Walsh's Gala, Kiltimagh, and Tuffy's Gala, Ballina, who each achieved Gala Retail Excellence Awards.

Sports broadcaster Jacqui Hurley was MC for the Gala celebratory evening event, and guest speakers Bernard Jackman and Geoff Ramm featured at the morning conference.

The Gala Excellence Awards are presented to Gala stores that are deemed ‘outstanding’ following a comprehensive and independent assessment process.

More retailers than ever before achieved the standard, which is reflective of the group’s focus on quality, community-centric and innovative retailers.

“Gala Retail stores in Mayo consistently feature as some of the best performing stores across the group,” explains Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail.

Mr. Desmond added: “I’m delighted to see our Mayo retailers getting the recognition they deserve and would like to thank each of the Gala store owners and their teams for their loyalty, hard work and dedication to quality convenience retailing.

“Our theme at this year’s conference was ‘Delivering the Difference’ and these stores make a difference to their shoppers and communities every day.”

At the Gala Retail conference, it was announced that over €100,000 of Gala Greener Grants have been gifted to retailers by the convenience retail group – part of a €500,000 fund that’s been created to help retailers transition to energy-efficient and sustainable retailing of the future.

As one of the most progressive convenience groups in Ireland, Gala stores benefit from national expertise, coupled with local wholesaler support and a store model, which ensures that every Gala store is designed to deliver to its local community’s requirements.

To find out more about Gala Retail visit here.