LONDON, 2014-6-9 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kate Walsh, store manager of Herlihy’s Centra Fermoy in Ireland, has won the 2014 NACS Insight International Store Manager of the Year Award, sponsored by TCC. The awards was presented during the 2014 NACS Insight Convenience Summit – Europe in London on June 4.
Walsh has worked at the Herlihy Group for more than seven years and has progressed through the ranks as grocery manager to assistant manager, and then from fresh food manager to her current role, which she assumed in April 2013.
She studied food business and completed a trainee management program with Musgrave as part of a work placement opportunity. A diploma in human resources, meanwhile, has provided insight into people management and the skills to motivate and lead a team.
Judges found that Walsh’s knowledge and training in the fresh food arena has given her the key skills to develop the business.
In addition, award nominee Serena Guihen was highly commended for her performance at Centra Moycullen, Ireland. Guihen was appointed store manager in February 2009 on a three-month trial after eight years in the supermarket business. During her tenure store sales have grown by 43% and Guihen has turned around a loss making business, transforming an unhappy workplace into an enthusiastic, energetic and willing team.
Commenting on the entries for the 2014 Store Manager of the Year Award, David Ringer, regional director, TCC Global, said: “Retail is a people business and what unites all of these entries is the fantastic, positive impact that these managers have upon their colleagues, their communities and their store. All managers are facing pressure on margins, increased competition and less loyal shoppers. What differentiates this year’s nominees is their ability to tackle these issues and achieve so much more by bringing together their teams to fulfill their local community’s needs.”
Note to editors: Images available upon request.
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About Insight Research
Insight Research (insightresearch.co.uk) is a U.K.-based strategy, publishing and events business specializing in the international convenience and fuel retailing industry. It offers international retailers strategic advice in developing effective and profitable convenience retail concepts and new store formats, based upon international benchmarking. Insight Research also publishes Global Convenience Store Focus, a monthly industry newsletter, and broadcasts television programs on the sector through its Retail Vision video platform (retailvision.tv).
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Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS (nacsonline.com) is the international association for convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 151,000 stores across the country, posted $696 billion in total sales in 2013, of which $491 billion were motor fuels sales. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,600 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.