SuperValu, Castlebar, has undergone a €500,000 revamp with customers reaping the rewards of a new generation shopping experience. The investment by the Kavanagh Group is a significant vote of confidence in the retail sector in the county town. Since opening 24 years ago the store has undergone numerous upgrades but this is the most radical to date. There has been a strong focus placed on energy efficiency, with the most up to date refrigeration system and the latest in environmentally friendly lighting. Shopping efficiency, too, is evident, with widened aisles, a brand new checkout area, and defined in-store areas, such as the off-licence, baby/toiletries, and newspaper/cards departments, where you tend to forget you’re actually in a supermarket.
Speaking at a day of celebrations held at the store on Thursday, managing director Noel Kavanagh commented: “This €500,000 investment has given us a state-of-the art store to match any in the country in terms of the whole shopping experience. “Our store in Castlebar is a very important one and we are very happy to be able to make this investment in it at this time. “It is an absolute commitment to the business in Castlebar.” It is also a commitment to the store’s loyal customers, many of whom have been shopping there since it opened in 1990. “What we want,” says Noel “is for them to have a shopping experience that is unrivalled.” And not forgetting the 80 staff, some of whom are also there since day one – Padraig Moran, Mary McDonnell and Rosaleen Noonan.
Manager John Page has a keen eye for what his customers want. A colourful new fresh foods aisle leads into an inviting baked goods section, en route to the new butcher and fishmonger’s counters and deli. Along the way you can order cakes for all occasions – communions, birthdays, etc – at the bakery, which boasts a great range of breads and confectionary, before browsing the very visible selection of locally-sourced produce – jams from Westport, scones from Bohola, the list goes on. “The refit,” says John “has made shopping more comfortable. The flow of the shop is easier.” The new refrigeration system – a first for a local supermarket – is particularly eye-catching. All fridges, from frozen goods to chilled produce, are closed, saving energy and meaning customers no longer complain of feeling cold while shopping in the chilled aisles. And with such a strong fresh offering, it’s a positive to be able to stop and shop instead of trying to make a hasty exit to a warmer aisle.
The most advanced technology and science was employed in the refrigeration design and the whole shop now has significantly reduced its carbon footprint. So much so, that you would need to plant 560 trees or boil 3,780 less kettles to make the same impact on the environment – and that’s a lot of tea!
Customers have been voting with their feet at SuperValu, which is now Ireland’s second largest supermarket chain with 25.4 per cent of the market. And it’s little wonder with savings of up to 33 per cent to be made in-store. The SuperValu own-brand range is expanding all the time. It offers high quality produce with prices to match any of the discount retailers. The own-brand range is prominent across the Castlebar store so the savings are easy to find. As Noel notes: “We recognise the need to give customers value for money and we are value focused right across the store.” Having acquired Super Quinn, customers in Castlebar can now enjoy some of the bespoke products that the chain was synonymous with, including their sausages. The new off-licence, too, has benefited from the acquisition with a fabulous new range of French wines. The complete range of Superquinn wines is available in SuperValu so the discerning palate now has the very best of old and new world. And every department, from its meats to wines or the bakery, has an expert team dedicated to it so the best advice is always at hand. Staff are well trained and are only too happy to help in any way they can.
Special offers
SuperValu’s butcher’s department in Castlebar has a long established reputation for excellence. Its quality, Bord Bia approved fresh, red meat is famous and all this week you can buy SuperValu Fresh Irish sirloin steak for half price. The Prepared by Butcher Range is a very popular range of ready to cook meal options prepared in-store daily by the butchers and offer the customer an easy and convenient choice for dinner. Some new additions to the store include a wide range of quality Irish made ready meals, called Prepared for You. All meals are pre-cooked and the range caters for every taste, from traditional carvery roast dinners to the popular Asian and Thai dishes. Freshly made pizzas are another new addition to the store, and starting from €3 they are fantastic value. There’s also a French food and wine event running all this week so drop by for the best in continental cheeses, breads and wines. The new store caters for a bigger and wider range of the famous French classic wines, fresh deli cheeses, and continental breads.
Community focus
All Kavanagh SuperValu stores are deeply rooted in their communities. Supporting local suppliers and producers is always a key concern. It is an internationally recognised fact that for every euro spent with an independently owned store like SuperValu, three times more money stays in the local community. They also work with community and sporting bodies, such as the GAA and Tidy Towns, but the Mayo Roscommon Hospice is unique to Kavanaghs. Staff have taken the charity to their hearts and with the support of the Mayo public are raising €100,000 this year to purchase a site in Castlebar for their hospice care facility. They are nearly there with their fundraising efforts and hope to present the cheque for €100,000 at the end of Easter.
Deirdre Kelly
The Connaught Telegraph
