It’s been a landmark year at Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell as the popular family-run store has undergone a dramatic transformation that further enhances the already-excellent shopping experience at this busy grocery retail destination. We touched base with owner Darren Donohoe to find out more.
For 20 years and counting, Donohoes have been delivering an unbeatable grocery shopping experience to customers through their well-appointed Supervalu Ballyconnell store, which ticks all the boxes when it comes to quality, value, choice, convenience and service.
Across the best part of the current calendar year, Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell has been on the receiving end of a substantial facelift. Going forward, this total transformation of the store – with the emphasis very much on efficiency, sustainability, comfort and performance – will result in an even more enjoyable experience for each shopper who enters the premises.
“The revamp started in February and the new store will be officially launched in September / October,” states Darren Donohoe, who fronts the successful, customer-orientated family business which also incorporates Donohoes SuperValu Ballinamore and Donohoes Centra Belturbet. “It’s a complete overhaul – we put in a 2,000 square foot extension and upgraded all the equipment. What we have now is a modern new store that’s almost unrecognisable from the original one.”
Darren admits that the refurb was both overdue and challenging: “This building is here a long time. It’s the site of the old Star Plastics factory and we’ve had it going back to the ‘40s or ‘50s. In December 2023, we marked 20 years in Ballyconnell with Musgraves.
“When you are carrying out major work like this, it’s always a challenge to remain open for business and continue to look after your customers – a challenge for us, for the staff and for the customers themselves. There has been a big upheaval in the store this year but everybody has dealt with it really well because they all understood that it was for the greater good and that it’s going to benefit everyone in the long run.”
Upgrading supermarkets requires a significant investment of both money and time, but that’s all part and parcel of owning retail outlets these days and there’s simply no way around it… “It’s the same with any business,” Darren accepts. “If you don’t give your customers what they are looking for, then they will go somewhere else for it. If anything, we probably should have done this sooner. The store was long overdue a revamp. We did Ballinamore seven year ago and we’re going to upgrade Belturbet in either 2025 or 2026. You have to stay modern and up to date.”
Donohoes have always been committed to looking after customers. “It’s always been about selling a quality product at a fair price and with good service – that’s what we have always tried to do,” says Darren. “The local community supports us by shopping in our stores and we always try to serve and support them in any way we possibly can.”
Succinctly mentioned above, are quality, service and value the cornerstones of the business? “It’s probably what every supermarket tries to do. Some do it better than others, and we do it very well.”
As part of a long-established a family business, Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell prides itself on consistently providing a personal touch. Today, owner Darren is joined in the day-to-day running of the three stores by his aunt Eilisheen Donohoe (HR Manager) and brother-in-law Michael Millar (Group Manager) as well as an extended team of up to 160 employees.
“For me, the staff are probably the most important part of the business,” Darren continues. “People will say that customers are the most important – and that’s certainly true to a point – but for me you would be lost without your staff who look after the customers when they come in the door. As somebody who runs three stores and works 40-60 hours a week, I don’t get to meet as many of our customers as I’d like, so the staff look after the customers and I look after the staff.
“As a large employer, it’s nice to know that’s you are providing so much employment locally, although with that comes the stress of knowing you are responsible for so many livelihoods. Having said that, I enjoy the pressure of it all … you have to do so to be successful in this line of work.”
Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell has been an inherent part of the local community for two decades and counting (operating under the Centra banner for the first five or so of those years). With the store totally transformed, Darren promises that community will remain at the heart of everything they do going forward:
“It’s what makes my business, really,” he concludes. “Without community support and being actively involved in the community, there is no business. We try to support the local community and all local clubs, charities, causes and bodies as much as we can. Not just financially, but we also try to become involved in those organisations, too. Our managers and senior members are very active in many local events and causes – it’s not just about money, but we put in the man hours as well.”
Immeasurable man hours were invested into transforming Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell in 2024 and the results are simply spectacular!
Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell,
Realta Shopping Centre,
Ballyconnell,
County Cavan
Tel: 049 9526155
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/supervaluballyconnell
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 3 No 3, Winter 2024
Donohoes Supervalu Ballyconnell, featured
