Since opening the doors of its brand-new store in June 2021, Pettit’s SuperValu Bray has become part of the fabric of the bustling Co. Wicklow town. The store has increased its workforce from 80 to 126 and is home to the newly-crowned In-store Bakery Manager of the Year, Sinéad Dodd.
Sinéad made the short trip to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire on May 18 last to receive the coveted and richly-deserved award at the ShelfLife National Grocery Management Awards. Sinéad and her team have been instrumental in the growth of the bakery which is now the third busiest in the SuperValu chain. Her passion for producing the highest quality of breads, cakes and other treats, along with her amazing customer service skills and the relationships she has built with customers, is second to none.
The National Grocery Management Awards are Ireland’s premier scheme for recognising and honouring management excellence. To win one is a high point in the career of many of Ireland’s best performing managers from across a variety of categories and at various levels of career progression. This unique scheme is independently judged and seeks out best management practice among those who carry responsibility without ownership in the Irish retail sector.
Sinéad was delighted to bring home the award which she has dedicated to her colleagues.
“It’s all down to teamwork. We have a great team,” the affable Scratch Bakery Manager stresses.
“We have a top-class team of 19 people made up of bread bakers, confectioners and bakery assistants. We’re all about encouraging team members to be the best they can be, especially when they clearly have the potential and interest.
“We have a huge regular daily customer base which reflects well on us and our fresh produce. Our celebration cakes have become a firm favourite, while our sourdough bread flies out the door. We’ve moulded into the community and they’ve moulded into us. It’s important to look after your customers because we wouldn’t be here without them.
“I’m thrilled to win this award and would like to thank our customers, my work colleagues and our Store Manager Aidan Doyle for all their help and support. It’s very much appreciated.”
Offering a wide selection of delicious fresh breads, cakes and celebration cakes, the scratch bakery at Pettitt’s SuperValu Bray has helped to establish it as the supermarket of choice for many in Ireland’s longest established seaside town.
“It has surpassed all expectations. We’re already the third busiest bakery within the SuperValu chain and are aiming for number one,” Sinéad smiles.
Congratulating Sinéad on her accolade, Store Manager Aidan Doyle says: “When it comes to consistent high quality, friendliness, cleanliness and keeping staff motivated, Sinéad is in a league of her own. She’s also an outstanding baker who we’re very lucky to have. When a customer enters our store, the first thing they see is the bakery. It’s very important that it gives a good impression. That’s why the customers keep coming back.”
There is no doubt that Pettitt’s SuperValu has been warmly embraced by the people of Bray since opening two years ago. Located on the Southern Cross Road, just off the N11 and close to the M50, DART and Dublin Bus routes, the €4 million 20,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art store became the sixth SuperValu for the long-standing Wexford family business which also has outlets in Wexford, Enniscorthy, Gorey and Athy, and employs over 700 team members in total. To coincide with the opening, the Pettitt family announced a partnership with Wicklow GAA which sees them sponsor the Wicklow minor hurling and football championships, highlighting their support for grassroots development, while also providing weekly Protein Packs for the Wicklow senior hurlers and footballers. SuperValu is all about supporting local producers and local communities.
Pettitt’s provides Click & Collect dedicated car parking spaces for city commuters in addition to SuperScan technology which allows customers to track their spend and pack as they go. The store boasts 170 car parking spaces and also offers a bag packing and carryout to car service as well as toilets / baby changing facilities and online shopping – home delivery or Click & Collect. It is located next door to a doctor’s surgery, pharmacy, creche and veterinary surgery.
Pettitt’s are delighted to have brought their renowned customer service and quality food produce to the locals in Bray. The new store features many of their award-winning in-house brands such as Pettitt’s Bakery, a Blás na hÉireann award winner for its amazing sourdough bread, partnered by their other Blás na hÉireann winning brand, Pettitt’s Kitchen, which scooped four awards at last year’s event. Store owner Cormac Pettitt says: “Since 2015, our Pettitt’s Kitchen and Pettitt’s ‘Cook at Home’ ranges have included home-made traditional and ethnic meals, also made from scratch by our dedicated team of chefs and butchers, six days a week using natural and wholesome ingredients. We also have our very own Pettitt’s Florist creating bouquets for all occasions. It’s about using high quality, fresh produce and ensuring we have outstanding service and value, to cater for customers of all ages and ethnicities with a wide variety of multicultural cuisines”.
Speaking at the opening, SuperValu Head of Store Development Operations Michael Twohig highlighted the store’s commitment to sustainability.
“At SuperValu, we believe in making communities better by caring for our environment. From a sustainability perspective, Pettitt’s new store in Bray is a shining example of the best that SuperValu has to offer and has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The store is fully equipped with eco-friendly LED lighting, using 60% less energy than standard lighting, while its refrigeration units will run on naturally occurring gases, saving 500 tonnes of CO2 per annum, the equivalent of planting 25,000 trees, compared to standard refrigeration gases. These measures will complement SuperValu’s ambitious sustainability targets which are focused on packaging and carbon emission reductions as part of our ambition to positively impact the world we live in.”
Since the opening, the store’s focus on sustainability has been enhanced with the installation of 600 solar panels.
Mr Twohig added: “As Ireland’s leading food retailer, SuperValu is wholly committed to supporting the local communities in which it operates, and as such, is proud to support two of Ireland’s best loved competitions in SuperValu TidyTowns and the GAA Football Senior All-Ireland Championship. In addition, we believe in inclusive communities and work closely with AsIAm to make our stores, towns, and villages more Autism Friendly.
“As a community retailer, we take great pride in making a lasting positive impact everywhere we have a presence. With our new position at the heart of the locality, SuperValu looks forward to playing its role in contributing to the thriving community in Bray through the new Pettitt’s store.”
Opening times at Pettitt’s SuperValu Bray are 7.30am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 10pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Store Manager Aidan Doyle would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support to date.
Pettitt’s SuperValu Bray
Southern Cross Road,
Bray,
Co. Wicklow.
Telephone: 01 661 9664
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.pettitts.ie
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 2 No 1, Summer 2023
