Broderick’s SPAR in Croom, Co. Limerick is one of the leading large convenience stores / small supermarkets in the country and has the awards to prove it, with the latest coming at the annual Checkout National Grocery Retail Awards.
The south Co. Limerick store saw off intense competition to win the Retail Store of the Year Small Supermarket Award at the 2023 awards ceremony which took place at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin on November 10 last. The National Grocery Retail Awards highlight best-in-class performance in retailing and honour those who help Ireland’s pioneering stores and retail outlets to achieve levels of service and product excellence that set them apart from their competitors.
Broderick’s SPAR proprietor Padraig Broderick was delighted to accept the award which he dedicated to his team in Croom.
“It meant an awful lot to win that award. It’s a super achievement for the team and great recognition for all our hard work,” he says.
“Our goal of making Broderick’s SPAR Croom a fresh food destination is becoming a reality. Our fresh meat business has always been the backbone of the shop, but now it’s very well complimented with our new bakery. We were very proud to see Croom in the national final. It was also heartwarming to hear the reaction of all our customers.”
Paying tribute to Padraig and his team, SPAR Sales Director Colin Donnelly commented: “I want to offer my wholehearted congratulations to Padraig and his team on this prestigious award and national recognition. The whole team is so very deserving of this accolade and they are great champions for the SPAR brand.”
It’s the latest accolade to come the store’s way, following on from its successes at the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards in 2020 and ’22 where it was presented with the coveted Retail Team of the Year Award. The store was also recognised for its excellence with a Silver Medal at the ShelfLife C-Store Awards in 2022.
In addition, Broderick’s SPAR was honoured at the National Q Mark Awards for Hygiene and Food Safety in 2018 and ’19, while it was also shortlisted in the ‘Best Food-To-Go Offering’ category of last year’s Checkout National Grocery Retail Awards.
Furthermore, the store was elevated to a global stage in 2022 when it was presented to 48 nations at the 65th annual SPAR International Congress in Amsterdam as a shining example of what is possible when innovative design is met with true community retailing ambition.
SPAR Croom has been serving the people of the picturesque town for more than 40 years, with Padraig Broderick at the helm for over 20 years. The Castleisland native started his career in retail in 1992 before taking over ownership in Croom in 2003. “I worked with the Garvey Group from the age of 13 to 30, being based mostly in their former Newcastle West SuperValu store for most of that time,” he explains.
Providing employment for 45 people, Broderick’s SPAR is at the epicentre of the local community. About 25% of the team have been on the books for 20 years or more, including store manager Mikey Mackessy who has worked there for 32 years.
“We’re proud to be local and to support local jobs and community groups. I cannot stress enough the importance of having a good team. Our team is our greatest strength. We’d be nothing without them or our fantastic customers who have supported us through thick and thin,” the affable shop owner points out.
The store on Main Street underwent a major revamp two years ago and is now an impressive 6,725 sq. ft. The acquisition of the old Ulster Bank building next door allowed it to increase its floor space by 2,500 sq. ft. The other existing three buildings where the store sat are up to 200 years old, so there was a substantial amount of structural work to be done as well.
The new-look store is fresh and modern with high ceilings. It incorporates the local post office, while Padraig also added a craft bakery, revamped and expanded the deli to offer more fresh offerings, and enhanced the range of the meat counter to offer more over-ready products.
The store also features the latest SPAR ‘Better Together’ design in-store layout and flow. The flow and ambience from the dialling up of the SPAR colour palette is seamless and exudes a warmth to the store that has been very well received by its valued customers.
“I’m delighted with the changes to the flow of the shop and, in particular, the off-licence and SPAR deli sections. The benefits to our customers are also very evident as they can spend more time browsing and making their choice of what to purchase,” Padraig says.
“What was the old Ulster Bank building now houses our checkout area, off-licence and impulse area. It has a high roof which lends itself to the spacious and clutter-free feel you get when you’re in the store. The nice wide aisles add to the whole shopping experience. Like our people, the shop has a lot of character.”
He adds: “The in-store post office and scratch bakery have led to a significant increase in footfall. The scratch bakery was the one fresh food element we were missing. Our red meat counter was one of the first in the country to offer oven-ready products. We now have over 200 lines of oven-ready products bearing the Broderick’s logo.
“It goes without saying that we’ve always placed a strong emphasis on freshness. That is evident in everything we do, from the fruit and veg section to our delicious deli and ‘grab and go’ area which offers protein meals and drinks, and is a big growth area for us. We have something from everyone.”
Business has also been driven by strong and witty social media campaigns. “We embraced social media from an early stage and are renowned for our funny, humorous and catchy posts.”
As the multi award-winning Croom store continues to go from strength to strength, Padraig would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their support and loyalty, as well as his top-class team for their hard work, dedication and expertise. Opening hours are 5.30am to 10pm Monday-Saturday and 6.30am to 10pm on Sundays.
Broderick’s SPAR
Main Street,
Croom,
Co. Limerick.
Telephone: 061 397 740
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 3 No 1, Summer 2024
