Double joy for Cork companies
Two Cork winners took home major prizes at the 25th annual AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2023. The event, held at the Galmont Hotel in Galway, saw 550 of Ireland's retail industry leaders and executives come together in celebration.
EZ Living Interiors won the prestigious Large Online Retailer of the Year category. The judges noted their beautifully designed website which was an excellent example of an Irish retailer excelling in the online space.
Cork’s Studioforty9 won the prestigious Supplier of the Year Award, which recognises the best company that assist retailers in taking their business to the next level. Studioforty9 have been instrumental in helping retailers develop their ecommerce sites and assist with their digital marketing needs.
Other notable winners included the Guinness Storehouse which was honoured with the title of National Store of the Year. Faerly secured the Small Online Retailer of the Year award and Wardrobe Plus won Medium Online Retailer of the Year. Boots was celebrated as the Sustainable Retailer of the Year.
Following the announcement, Jean McCabe, CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland, said: “I am thrilled to reveal the winners of the AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2023 as we mark the momentous 25th anniversary of Irelands' largest retail awards ceremony. The judging panel was blown away by the exceptional quality of retailers throughout the country, making the process of selecting our final winners an exceptionally challenging task.
“Our awards ceremony holds a prominent position in the Irish retail calendar, and we take immense pride in recognizing the industry's finest talents once more this year. Despite the current challenging trading conditions, the determination and aspirations of retailers across Ireland provide us with a renewed sense of optimism as we eagerly anticipate 2024.”
Hubert O’Donoghue, General Manager of AIB Merchant Services, commented: “As the main sponsor of the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards, AIB Merchant Services is immensely proud to be a part of this extraordinary event, celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Irish retail community.
“These awards not only highlight the exceptional standards within the industry but also underscore our commitment at AIB Merchant Services to champion and support the growth and success of our retail partners. Congratulations to all the winners and participants at this year's awards; your hard work and dedication continues to inspire us.”
Established by Retail Excellence in 1997, the awards stand as the marquee event in the Irish retail industry's annual calendar. Their mission is to foster best practices and elevate standards within the Irish retail sector.