Famous for its in-store bakery, Mulrooney’s Gala in Roscrea has picked up another national award, this time for ‘Ireland’s Best Bakery Offering’ at the National Grocery Retail Awards.
The Co. Tipperary store, which is one of five Galas and Inver service stations operated by the Mulrooney family, saw off stiff competition to receive the prestigious award at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dublin where the best of the Irish convenience sector was recognised for their success and contribution to the industry. Mulrooney’s Gala was also shortlisted for ‘Ireland’s Forecourt Retail of the Year’ and ‘Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Forecourt Store’.
Commenting on the win, Gala Retail CEO Gary Desmond said: “We have a strong network of Gala retailers throughout the country that are delivering excellence in food retailing day in, day out. It’s no surprise that Mulrooney’s Gala received ‘Ireland’s Best Bakery Offering’ as the store’s bakery is second to none.
“In addition, the retail group were acknowledged as a finalist for ‘Ireland’s Forecourt of the Year’, and for the high standard of the store’s fresh food offering with a superb range, incorporating bakery, deli and hot food, being offered daily for those in the local community. The win is testament to the hard work and dedication of all the team and is a well-deserved honour for Mulrooney’s Gala. We wish them continued success.”
Mulrooney’s Gala Operations Manager Shane Mulrooney and Fresh Food & Bakery Manager Gwen Culbert were delighted to receive the award on behalf of the store whose scratch bakery is synonymous with freshness, quality, taste and value-for-money.
“It’s a great achievement for Gwen and her team. They never fail to satisfy our customers’ needs,” Shane enthuses.
“Such is our bakery’s reputation that customers travel from far and wide to pick up their favourite breads, scones, tarts, donuts and fresh cream products such as eclairs and sponges from the store. They are also renowned for their range of occasion cakes that are made fresh every day. Every celebration is catered for with Mulrooney’s Gala occasion cakes! We’ve been lucky enough to have won a number of awards over the years and every one of them is cherished.”
Gwen believes the success was no more than her 30-strong bakery and fresh food team deserved.
“It’s a real team effort,” she stresses.
“Our team are top-class at everything they do and I’m delighted to see their hard work recognised in this way, especially when you consider the calibre of the other finalists they were up against. We’re absolutely thrilled.
“We know what our customers want, and we offer it at an affordable price. We have a very loyal clientele which we’ve built up over the last 20 years. We have our own bakery brands and readymade meals which we distribute to the other four stores within the group. We have 25 bakery staff working day and night shifts, and a further five in fresh food, so in total we have 30 people involved in food production.
“It’s all about fresh produce and living up to our reputation as a fresh food destination.”
Open seven days a week from 6am to 10pm, Mulrooney’s Gala on the Dublin Road, Roscrea is the flagship store of the successful family business which continues to go from strength to strength after almost a quarter of a century. The other stores are located in Nenagh, Portumna, Birr and Templemore. The group employs 127 people in total and is fronted by Shane’s father and Managing Director Sean Mulrooney. Shane’s sister Paula is also involved as HR & Marketing Manager.
“We opened our first Gala in Roscrea in November 2001. That was followed by the opening of Ballywilliam in May 2004, Nenagh in November 2005 and Portumna, which is actually in Lorrha, Co. Tipperary, in October 2008. We revamped Nenagh four or five years ago and plan to do the same in Roscrea in the next year or two,” Shane explains.
“We closed Ballywilliam in January 2015 after business had been badly affected by the opening of the M7 Motorway. We then took out a lease on Birr in June 2016 and have also been leasing Templemore since October 2018. All of our shops are convenience stores offering minerals, snacks, coffee, fresh food produce, hot and cold delis, lotto, confectionery, general groceries, petrol and diesel.
“With every convenience at the customer’s hand, it is the essential grab and go offering.”
The Mulrooney’s Gala Stores were among the award winners when they scooped five Gala Awards for Excellence in Retail at the 2023 Gala Annual Conference which took place in The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. They were also the winners of the 2023 Coffee Junction Award for Best Coffee Offering for their store in Nenagh. Presented to stores that are deemed ‘outstanding’ following a comprehensive and independent assessment process, the Gala Excellence Awards recognise quality in retailing throughout the Gala Group.
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. The Gala Group has enjoyed a successful partnership with Special Olympics Ireland for the past eight years and is also proud to support Ireland’s popular children’s summer camp, Starcamp.
Mulrooney’s Gala would like to take this opportunity to thank their customers and suppliers for their continued support and loyalty, as well as their exceptional team for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Mulrooney’s Gala Roscrea
Dublin Road,
Roscrea,
Co. Tipperary,
E53 F603.Unmute
Telephone: 0505 23866
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 3 No 1, Summer 2024
