No stranger to receiving prestigious accolades, Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty was among the winners once again at the National Grocery Management Awards 2026 when Gabriel Leahy was named ‘Large Supermarket Manager of the Year’.
Attended by almost 320 guests at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire on Wednesday, May 13 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.
A valued member of the Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty team for the past 29 years, Gabriel dedicated his success to his colleagues at the multi-award-winning West Cork store. It was a national double of sorts for Gabriel whose local GAA club Kilbrittain were crowned All-Ireland junior hurling champions at Croke Park in January.
“It’s recognition for everyone that works in the shop,” the affable grocery manager proudly states.
“I’m delighted as it was a great honour to be nominated in the first place. But this isn’t about the individual – it’s about the whole team and that has always been the ethos at Scally’s.”
Gabriel is thankful to the Scally family – Eugene, Catriona, Eoghan and Martin – as well as management colleagues Michael Walsh, Pat Griffin, Kurt Ponton, Luke O’Regan and Boris Calic for all their support and encouragement. He works closely with Michael who won ‘Overall Manager – Supermarket Large’ and ‘Supreme Champion – Manager of the Year Large’ at the same awards two years ago.
He is also grateful to his wife Margaret, children Anna-Eve (10), Sean (nine) and Grace (five) along with his mother Frankie, brother Connie and sister Kathy for their support.
Like many of his colleagues at Scally’s SuperValu, Gabriel is a home-grown talent who has given years of sterling service.
“I’ve spent all of my working life here,” he explains.
“I started as a youngster in the fruit & veg section packing bags. I worked my way up to trainee manager, duty manager, assistant manager and now grocery manager. There’s lots of opportunities for progression. One of the reasons why we love this store is because the owners encourage and challenge us to try new things. Change is usually a good thing”.
“Scally’s SuperValu is considered the benchmark for every other supermarket in Ireland. It leads the way on so many fronts and is something we pride ourselves on. The store underwent a major revamp last year which shows that we don’t stand still.
“We’re all about driving sales and standards and giving our customers the best possible shopping experience. Our team is very passionate about what they do. They are committed to delivering unrivalled customer service. They know the importance of listening to the customer. Again, this comes from Eugene, Eoghan and Martin spending time out on the shopfloor chatting to the customers. A lot of what we do is customer-driven.”
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 local and international 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.
“There’s a big emphasis on fresh produce,” Gabriel continues.
“Our fresh areas are front and centre when you enter the shop. We have a full scratch bakery that produces fresh doughnuts daily and an in-store kitchen producing award winning, restaurant-style meals. 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 machine which is a big hit with our younger customers in particular”.
“When we opened our spice counter (The Souk) in 2017, 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 which is made from locally produced milk. And not forgetting the general grocery section, off-licence and flower department – there’s something for everyone.”
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, followed by another facelift last year. Eugene and Catriona’s other children Niamh – who runs Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen – 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 car park and Top Oil filling station to the rear. It also anchors a PTSB bank, coffee shop, pharmacy, nail bar, physiotherapist, Meadows & Byrne homeware shop and HSE office.
Embedded in the community that it serves, Scally’s SuperValu 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,” the latest Scally’s SuperValu award winner concludes.
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 5 No 3, Autumn 2026
Clonakilty, featured, Scally’s SuperValu
