These are exciting times for O’Meara’s SuperValu which has carried out a €2 million revamp of its Portumna store and was recently named as one of the top 10 SuperValu stores in the country.
From humble beginnings, the family business has grown into one of SuperValu’s flagship stores. This was reflected in its inclusion on the shortlist for ‘SuperValu Store of the Year 2024’ at the SuperValu National Conference in The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. Criteria for finalists was based on product range and quality, customer service and sustainability.
“It was a huge honour for us to be named among the top 10 SuperValu stores in Ireland. There are 223 stores nationwide, so there’s a lot of competition. It’s the culmination of years of hard work. We want to build on this achievement and to continue giving our customers the best possible offering and shopping experience,” O’Meara’s SuperValu owner Yvonne O’Meara proudly states.
The Top 10 recognition comes after O’Meara’s SuperValu launched its new-look store following a significant investment. As well as creating additional jobs, the Co. Galway store now offers an extended range of top-quality produce, including a new Frank & Honest café, Moo’d handcrafted ice-cream, a new instore bakery with Special handmade donuts, new hot food, a new food-to-go range and a new Happy Pear range. The state-of-the-art store also boasts new seasonal offers space, new value offer space and a new own brand area.
Supporting local is of key importance to the O’Meara’s SuperValu team. To this end, customers are now able to try out products from more local producers than ever in store. O’Meara’s SuperValu are also committed to sustainability and have gone to great lengths to be as environmentally conscious as possible, investing upwards of €1.22 million into sustainability with the store’s innovative design. All fridges in store are brand new with doors reducing up to 75% of electricity usage, while 94% of O’Meara’s own brand packaging is either recyclable, reusable or compostable. Their shopping bags and Frank & Honest cups are fully compostable. All of these great initiatives have led to a 45% reduction in carbon emissions.
The independently-owned store’s commitment to creating a vibrant and sustainable environment is further highlighted by the installation of 382 solar panels on its roof to generate electricity, while products are sourced from over 1,800 Irish suppliers, thus further reducing carbon emissions.
“We were delighted to open our new-look store in December 2022 after a substantial investment and much hard work from the team,” Yvonne says.
“We believe in enhancing local communities by caring for our environment, so we are particularly proud of the dedicated eco-friendly technologies throughout the new store. We are delighted to be bringing our new offering to the people of Portumna and are extremely grateful to all our loyal customers who continue to support us.”
The revamp was completed without the need for an extension to the 14,000 sq. ft. store.
“We were happy with the size of the store, but felt it was poorly laid out, with too much space allocated to ambient and frozen foods that we didn’t need. Now each section has the right amount of space and our ranges are even stronger and more reflective of what our customers are looking for.”
O’Meara’s SuperValu has come a long way since Yvonne’s late parents Donie and Marie laid the foundations in 1978. Since then, the O’Meara’s have given over 1,000 local people their first job. “That’s something we’re extremely proud of,” the affable store owner continues.
“It’s heartwarming to see the journeys our part-timers have embarked on since getting their start here. Dad was a wonderful businessman who left an indelible mark over his decades serving the community. He passed away in February 2023, just two months after giving a lovely speech at the opening of our revamped store.”
O’Meara’s SuperValu evolved from a bar and restaurant which Donie and Marie had initially run. Yvonne explains: “It all started in 1978 when my parents bought a small bar and restaurant on the Clonfert Road. They weren’t long in business when six German tourists called in on a Saturday evening looking for six Irish coffees. Dad sent mum into town to get some of the ingredients but there was nowhere open. Dad continued on and made them without the cream and the German tourists said ‘they were nicest Irish coffees they had ever tasted and ordered six more!’ Donie, however, was going to ensure he had all the ingredients for the next time!
“That led to him building a convenience store beside the bar which was one of the first VGs in the country. In 1988, he levelled the old property and built an 8,000 sq. ft. supermarket that subsequently became one of the first SuperValu’s in Ireland. In 2008, he levelled the whole place again and built a 14,000 sq. ft. store to bring it into the 21st century.
“In 2013, I came back to the family business after my mum passed away. I had been working in Manchester with Kelloggs which was a very fulfilling experience. We’ve invested over €2 million in the last couple of years and continue to go from strength to strength.”
Yvonne is full of praise for the O’Meara’s team, many of whom have been on board for years. “Our people are our greatest asset. Our human resource manager Teresa Page, supervisor Peggy
Monaghan, sales assistant Noleen Houlihan and store manager John Daly have been each been part of the team for over 35 years. Our head butcher Mike Daly has been with us for over 30 years. That experience is invaluable,” she enthuses.
“We have a terrific team who all contribute to our ongoing success. Our operations manager Conor O’Riordan continues to bring some great ideas and initiatives to the table. We’ve been nominated for various other awards, including Best Grocery Store and Best Medium Supermarket. Throughout last summer, our NPS (Net Promoter Score) was the highest of any SuperValu store. This wouldn’t be possible without our brilliant staff or the unwavering support of Musgraves.
“We place a strong focus on upskilling and education. We’re passionate about building high-functioning teams that deliver results and customer satisfaction.”
Boasting a 100-space car park, O’Meara’s SuperValu also insists on the freshest foods at the best value. “We’re very big on fresh. We have a strong bakery, deli and butchery. Our bakery team makes over 1,200 handcrafted donuts every week,” Yvonne adds.
The store has been a longstanding supporter of the local community and is a proud sponsor of local sports teams, Portumna Tidy Towns, local national and secondary schools, Cancer Care West as well as local Town Hall events. Part of the fabric of the Co. Galway town for over 45 years, it’s O’Meara’s way of giving back to their customers and community.
Looking to the future, Yvonne says: “We will continue to focus on our Real Rewards programme and on giving customers big savings at the till. We will also continue to listen to our customers and endeavour to give them exactly what they are looking for.”
Passionate about retail, Yvonne would like to take this opportunity to thank her customers and suppliers for their support and loyalty, as well as her fantastic team for their hard work, dedication and expertise. She is also grateful for the support of her brother John and husband Damien who supports in the store. Opening hours are 8am to 9pm seven days a week.
O’Meara’ SuperValu
Clonfert Road,
Portumna,
Co. Galway,
H53 XE40.
Telephone: 090 974 1143
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 3 No 2, Autumn 2024
