September 2002 was a big year for Armagh and for Crossmaglen. The successes of that year helped to bring even more successes. Our SuperValu store opened on 15December 2004. The building of the store was the easy part. Building our customers and our staff never stops.

After we first opened the store there were a few things that we were unhappy with.  When we approached a few members of staff with our concerns their reply was ‘Well what do you expect.  We’re from Cross’? However we focused on the positives and bit by bit there were improvements with the primary focus being on what they wanted from the company, attention to detail and what job you do today you can do better tomorrow.

The Neighbourhood Retailer Awards are now in their ninth year. The primary aim is to promote excellence and professionalism among stores along with improved customer care and community involvement.  These awards are split into 17 categories and are for all retailers in Northern Ireland to take part in.  Well over 500 stores took part this year.  The awards are independently judged by Spotcheck UK and concentrate around the management of the store and more importantly the management of the staff within the store and community involvement and value every day.  We were nominated to enter.  There is a process for nomination for these awards.  An application form has to be filled out and there are a number of mystery shopper visits and exit polls also there are questionnaires and interviews.

After all Spotcheck’s work was completed we were then asked to the awards ceremony which was held this year on 19 October in the Ramada Hotel in Belfast.  This is a very prestigious black tie event and was attended by 500-600 guests.   With our supermarket undergoing some building work over the summer we did not hold out any hope of getting an award maybe a certificate for taking part.  In keeping with our policy of bringing young people on Eddie Senkus attended the awards ceremony along with manager Damien Johnston and Michael and Brigid Quinn.  When it came to our category of neighbourhood store and SuperValu Crossmaglen was announced as the winner it was amazing and Eddie collected the award on behalf of the staff and management.  The texts soon started to fly to and back from Crossmaglen. 

It came to the last category of the evening which was Northern Ireland Retailer of the Year, 2007.  We listened to the hostess talking about the winner of this award.  It sounded a little like the policies that we have in our store and the fundraising and sponsorship in the local community.  Then a pause like in the X Factor.  When SuperValu Crossmaglen was announced as the Overall Winner the entire audience rose to their feet and lifted the roof of the Ramada Hotel with their cheers which was a great feeling and seemed to go on forever.  It was something else to hear so many people from other counties in Northern Ireland cheering on Crossmaglen in a positive note. 

What this award means to us. 

We had Crossmaglen Rangers getting 12 club championships in a row this year and SuperValu Crossmaglen getting two awards in one night, one the best of the best and to us this was like winning the All Ireland all over again.  Brigid had to assist Eddie in collecting this second award as his hands were already full. 

Nothing happens overnight and you have to make it happen.  We have been in the grocery business almost twenty years on other sites and this is the first time that we have received any award of this stature.

We have many staff coming though the ranks and taking on more responsibility and becoming more and more valued every day.  Our business is such that our staff have to relate to the customer 100% of the time.  Damien Johnston, Gary Marks, Elaine Murray, Eddie Senkus, Michelle Mc Eneaney, Martin Marron are key people within our management team.  It is their focus to give you the customer the ultimate shopping experience.  When you enter the store the theatre begins in different areas to give you value every day.

We are all here to attend to your every need and it is the culture within this business that we have the time to speak to our customers, listen to their concerns and the issues within our community where we can assist and encourage in a world where time is so important and no one has any spare time.  This is where your neighbourhood store can be so different from other multiples as it is not operated on the conveyor belt approach and it is not all about price or profit. 

Eddie Senkus.
With the make up of Ireland changing and the cultural diversification experienced throughout the country Crossmaglen is also changing.  Eddie Senkus is from Lithuania and has worked with the company for two years.  Eddie has many strengths and his greatest asset is his smile and the nickname that has been bestowed on him in the store – steady Eddie.  We welcome the changes that his culture brings to our community.  Eddie has taken over a section in the store and he is solely responsible for sourcing and displaying a wide range of products from his homeland.  He collected the awards on behalf of all of us and totally got into the spirit of things at the awards ceremony and was shaken not stirred by the beautiful model at his side. 

Finally from Michael and Brigid Quinn, there is not really much more that we can say only that tomorrow we have to do it better.  For today and over the past few years there are many people who we feel we owe thanks to who have helped us to reach this pinnacle but we cannot mention them all.  These achievements would not have been possible without networking people together and companies.  There are two companies that against all the odds took the risks with us which are Northern Bank, Crossmaglen and the Musgraves group in Belfast.  These two companies are key to our success.  The next group of people we need to thank is our staff and management team in SuperValu Crossmaglen and finally you the customer.  We hope that we are giving you what you want.