Celebrating 40 years in business, Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty recently added to its long list of achievements when Michael Walsh pulled off a famous double by winning both the ‘Overall Manager – Supermarket Large’ and ‘Supreme Champion – Manager of the Year Large’ awards at the 2024 Grocery Management Awards.
Attended by 360 guests at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire on Thursday, May 9 last, the National Grocery Management Awards is Ireland’s premier scheme for recognising and honouring individual 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. The event is also the principal event for managers from across all wholesale brands to gather with colleagues, business partners, suppliers and friends.
While the judges deemed Michael Walsh an outstanding winner on account of the true dedication and passion he has demonstrated for the retail industry, the man himself is keen to spread the praise around. “It has and always will be a team effort in Scally’s SuperValu,” he stresses.
“We have won a lot of awards down over the years and it’s all down to the team. It’s all about the team with Eugene Scally (store owner). He actually hates the word ‘staff’. “It’s always nice to be recognised for what you do. To win one award was great, but to win two was special. The second one (Supreme Champion) was totally unexpected. We were delighted and so were our customers.”
Like many of his colleagues at Scally’s SuperValu, Michael has given years of sterling service.
“I began my retail journey with Quinnsworth and then moved on to Tesco before joining Scally’s 25 years ago. I started in the deli and then moved to fresh food which is still a big part of what I do,” says the affable Togher man.
“It’s the people that set us apart. They’re very loyal and passionate about what they do. They pride themselves on delivering excellent customer service. They know the importance of listening to the customer. Again, this comes from Eugene who spends an hour or two every day out on the shopfloor chatting to the customers. A lot of what we do is customer-driven.”
Michael adds: “Many of the team are here 10, 20, 30 years. It would be remiss of me not to mention our meat manager John Coleman who was also up for a Grocery Management Award. He was shortlisted in the Top 5 for Butcher Manager of the Year. This was the first year of the award and celebrates the great people that continue this skill in stores across the country. We’re lucky to have such a top-class butcher running our meat department and delivering the very best each day for our customers.”
From humble beginnings, Scally’s SuperValu has become the go-to destination for shopping in West Cork. It all started back in 1984 when a young and ambitious Eugene Scally arrived from Kilbeggan in Co. Westmeath and acquired a building on the Bandon side of Clonakilty. His plan was to turn it into a supermarket and set the foundations for his business and life in West Cork.
Since then, Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty has gained a reputation as one of the best supermarkets in Ireland and has the awards to prove it. There is no other SuperValu quite like it or that stocks such a wide variety of amazing, fresh quality, value-for-money food and products. It is truly unique and is always ahead of the curve. From ‘The Souk’, which stocks over 100 different spices and the cheese counter which offers over 200 cheese varieties to the mouth-watering cake wall and superbly-presented fruit and veg section, Scally’s SuperValu is in a league of its own. “We like to do things differently,” Michael points out.
“We employ 135 people, so there’s a huge amount going on. There’s a big emphasis on fresh produce. Our fresh areas are front and centre when you enter the shop. We have a full scratch bakery and kitchen that produces fresh doughnuts seven days a week. Our cake wall is a huge attraction. You’d often see customers taking photos of the fantastic cakes on display. They are a work of art! We also have a peanut butter making machine which is a big hit with our younger customers in particular.
“In addition, we have a full-time fishmonger and florist. There are lots of different options for lunch on the go, including Asian street food and steak sandwiches. When we opened our spice counter (The Souk) in 2014, people said it would never take off in a place like West Cork, but it did. We also have our own brand of luxurious Gelato ice-cream which is made from locally produced milk. And not forgetting the general grocery section, off-licence, newsagent, National Lottery etc. There’s something for everyone.”It’s also almost a decade since Scally’s became Ireland’s first Autism Friendly store, leading to Clonakilty becoming an Autism Friendly town.
Today, Scally’s is at the forefront of Irish retailing. In 2004, the store underwent a massive expansion which saw it increase its floorspace from 7,000 sq. ft. to 23,000 sq. ft. It was extended again to 26,000 sq. ft. in 2009, while there is another big revamp on the way. Eugene is joined in the business by his wife Catriona and son Eoghan, who returned to the business a few years ago after practicing as a doctor. Eugene and Catriona’s other children Niamh – who runs Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen – Martin and Fiona have also worked in the family business and contributed to its success.
Scally’s SuperValu sits on a prime site as you enter Clonakilty from Cork / Bandon. It boasts a multi-storey carpark and Top Oil filling station to the rear. It also anchors a TSB bank, coffee shop, pharmacy, nail bar, physiotherapist, Meadows & Byrne homeware shop and HSE office.
supports local jobs, local producers and suppliers as well as a wide range of local clubs, organisations and charities.
“It’s our way of giving something back. We strive to provide the best range, shopping experience and service to our customers, while supporting all things local.” states Michael, who concludes by thanking his colleagues, customers and suppliers for their continued support.
Here’s to the next 40 years of Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty!
Scally’s SuperValu,
Clonakilty
Fax Bridge,
Clonakilty,
Co. Cork,
P85 W620.
Telephone: 023 883 3088.
Email: [email protected]
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 3 No 2, Autumn 2024
