South Longford store manager beats 6,000 colleagues to win top prize at national awards
Katalin Laszay of Lidl Ballymahon won the Impact Award at the National Achievement Awards
A South Longford store manager has been named the winner of a Lidl Impact Award at the supermarket giant's 2026 National Achievement Awards
Lidl Ireland said the 25 awards presented to 'outstanding winners' recognise and celebrate the 'extraordinary efforts of colleagues and shine a spotlight on exemplary team members from every corner of the business' across the island of Ireland.
Taking centre stage was Katalin Laszay, the dedicated Store Manager for Lidl's Ballymahon branch, who emerged victorious from a workforce of over 6,000 colleagues to win the 'prestigious' Lidl Impact Award for Most Inspirational Leader.
The gong is one of the top six awards of the night.
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The Most Inspirational Leader accolade honours a colleague who consistently motivates their peers and unites their team around a shared, purpose-driven vision.
During the ceremony, Katalin was highly praised for cultivating a deeply positive, inclusive, and empowering workplace where colleagues feel completely respected.
By leading with authenticity and contagious passion, she actively guides her team members to build resilience, develop their skills, and reach their absolute full potential.
Reflecting on her win, Katalin remarked: "This award really belongs to the whole Ballymahon team as they make my day to day job so much easier.
"My goal has always been to create an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to contribute, and seeing my team succeed is what inspires me the most."
Hosted at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin 4, the annual National Achievement Awards provide an opportunity to reflect on what Lidl said are the 'immense contributions of colleagues across the entire business'.
Lidl said the event, hosted by comedian Andrew Ryan, 'highlights phenomenal individuals who stand out through their daily actions, infectious passion, and dedication to company values'.
Lidl currently employs a workforce of more than 6,000 people across the island of Ireland within its 235 stores, four regional distribution centres, and its Head Office in Tallaght.
The company was recently recognised as a ‘Top Employer’ by the Top Employers Institute for the sixth consecutive year, and also earned the title of Most Reputable Retailer in the 2025 RepTrak Ireland study.