Two Kildare retailers named as finalists in Retail Excellence National Awards

Kildare-based retailers ECCO in Kildare Village and Michael Murphy Home Furnishings in Newbridge have been named as finalists in the AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence National Awards 2024.

In total, 30 store finalists from around the country have been named. These finalists will be vying to be crowned Ireland's ‘National Retailer of the Year for 2024’. The overall winner will be announced on November 2nd in the Galmont Hotel, Galway.

In addition to the store finalists, Retail Excellence also announced the top five Independent Store of the Year finalists today.

The Store of the Year competition is the central part of the AIBMS Retail Excellence Awards, which were established in 1997 to promote best practice and encourage the highest standards in the Irish retail industry. They are now the largest and most prestigious of their kind in Ireland. Former "National Retailer of the Year" winners include Brown Thomas, Applegreen, Arboretum, Guinness Store House, Fabiani and PetStop.

Commenting on the announcement, Jean McCabe, CEO of Retail Excellence, said: "I am delighted to announce the finalists for these national awards. We are experiencing a particularly tough trading environment at present and as such we must celebrate the positives even more so now. Even though there are just 35 finalists announced today, the reality is that the entire industry is working so hard and we are proud to be there to support them in every way we can."

National Retailer of the Year finalists:

1. Applegreen, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin
2. Barnhill Stores, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
3. Butlers Chocolate Café, Blanchardstown Red Mall, Co. Dublin
4. Carraig Donn, Golden Island Shopping Centre, Athlone Co. Westmeath
5. Carrolls Irish Gifts, College Green, Co. Dublin
6. Chupi, Powerscourt Townhouse, Co. Dublin
7. Diamond Furniture, Longmile Road, Co. Dublin
8. Dublin Airport Duty Free, Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
9. ECCO, Kildare Village, Co. Kildare
10. EIR, Blanchardstown Town Centre, Co. Dublin
11. Eurospar, Hartstown, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin
12. EZ Living Interiors, Belgard Retail Park, Tallaght, Co. Dublin
13. EZ Living Interiors, Sandyford, Co. Dublin
14. Garvey's Centra, Adare, Co. Limerick
15. Garvey's SuperValu, Convent Street, Listowel Co. Kerry
16. Insomnia, Harbour Road, Howth Co. Dublin
17. Kilkenny Design, Shanagarry Design Centre, Co. Cork
18. Love Cherish, Charleville, Co. Cork
19. McCabes Pharmacy, Citywest Shopping Centre, Co. Dublin
20. McCauley Pharmacy, Douglas Court Shopping Centre, Co. Cork
21. Michael Murphy Home Furnishings, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
22. Sienna Home Furnishings, Tramore Road Business Park, Co. Waterford
23. Sky Retail, Dundrum Shopping Centre, Co. Dublin
24. Stonechat Jewellers, Westbury Mall, Co. Dublin
25. SuperValu Graydon Road, Newcastle, Co. Dublin
26. Tempted, Howth, Co. Dublin
27. Three Store, Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Co. Cork
28. Tirlán CountryLife, Clifton, Athboy Co. Meath
29. Topline Murtaghs, Ashbourne, Co. Meath
30. Wardrobe Plus, Ashford House, Co. Wicklow 

Independent Store of the Year finalists:

1. Beo - The Well, Ennis, Co. Clare
2. Joyces Expert, Clonard Retail Park, Co. Wexford
3. This is Knit, Powerscourt Townhouse, Co. Dublin
4. Topline Murtaghs, Ashbourne, Co. Meath
5. Windyridge Nurseries & Garden Centre, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.