Centra stores have been commended for excellence at the annual Musgrave Northern Ireland ‘Store of the Year’ awards. The Musgrave awards ceremony celebrates and recognises the achievements, hard work and dedication of its retail partners across its brands.

Centra McPolin’s in Annaclone scooped the Centra Foodmarket Store of the Year award, acknowledged for its outstanding customer service standards, strong sales and continually delivering what the community wants; ‘a store that’s small in size but big on stature’.

In the Centra High-Convenience category, Centra Kavanagh’s Waterloo Place in Derry~Londonderry was awarded Store of the Year for the fourth time due to its excellent teamwork, plus very high standards across range and customer service. Described as a ‘small store that packs a big punch’, the store also picked up the LRQA award which recognises the highest standards in food quality and safety.

The ceremony also saw Centra McCloskey’s Frosses Road in Cloughmills, which opened in July 2024, take the title of Newcomer of the Year. In the charity category, Centra Cuttle’s Deansbridge in Armagh was crowned Fundraiser of the Year for Action Cancer, after raising a fantastic £4,573 in 2024. In the Excellence in Social Media category, Centra Lusty’s Larne clinched the title, while Centra Boal and Martin’s in Holywood was also recognised for continuous improvement in the LRQA food quality and safety category.

Trevor Magill, Managing Director of Musgrave Northern Ireland said: “The Musgrave Store of the Year awards provide us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, hard work and dedication of our retail partners, across our three brands.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all our retailers who work so hard to maintain the highest standards across our brands. Congratulations to all the finalists and award winners who never fail to deliver the best customer service to communities across Northern Ireland.”

The awards ceremony was hosted by radio presenter and DJ Pete Snodden last Friday night in The Slieve Donard Hotel. Finalists are selected following several rigorous rounds of performance and standards audits, with the highest accolade being ‘Store of the Year’.

~ Musgrave NI and Action Cancer celebrate 25 years of partnership ~

SuperValu and Centra retailers have officially raised over £4million in fundraising for Action Cancer, a record-breaking amount achieved by a company for an individual charity in Northern Ireland.

Entering their 25th year of loyal partnership in 2025, SuperValu and Centra stores have worked tirelessly for a quarter of a century to raise critical funds, enabling Action Cancer to provide life-saving services in local communities through the Big Bus as well as the Health Action Programme (HAP).

Focused on cancer prevention, detection and support in communities across Northern Ireland, Action Cancer delivers health promotion and improvement programmes, digital breast screening, health checks, skin cancer detection assessments as well as support and therapeutic services.

Over the last 25 years, Musgrave NI has funded 30,000 breast screenings, 30,000 health checks and 450 skin cancer detection appointments on board the Big Bus. In addition, there have been 2,576 Health Action Programmes delivered face-to-face in schools and 25 online sessions to local children in their classrooms.

The vitalness of Action Cancer’s service continues to be prevalent across NI as 20,000 people engage in the charity’s local services year on year, with the Big Bus making 200 visits throughout NI and 8,000 women screened for breast cancer every year.

Desi Derby, Director of Marketing at Musgrave said: “We’re committed to making a positive impact on the communities we’re part of; and are thrilled to reach such a significant fundraising milestone for Action Cancer. Our retail partners, colleagues and indeed shoppers, across SuperValu and Centra have shown incredible support for 25 years now, we’re extremely proud of this and the difference it has made in aiding Action Cancer’s essential life-saving work. With cancer now affecting one in two people, there is no time to slow down, so we look forward to working alongside Action Cancer for many years to come”.

Gareth Kirk, CEO of Action Cancer added: “The support Action Cancer has received for the past 25 years and which it continues to enjoy today from Musgrave NI through its SuperValu and Centra brands, is both incredible and extraordinary. £4million is an incredible amount of money; money which has ensured that our mobile screening clinic the Big Bus, has year on year been able to deliver its life-saving breast screening, skin cancer detection and health check services throughout the whole of N .Ireland.

“The support received from SuperValu and Centra staff and their customers, has resulted in young women having their breast cancer detected early, young and old a skin cancer detected and others a health check leading to a GP referral.

“Extraordinary, for in the charity world, corporate / charity partnerships rarely, if ever, continue for 25 years. Our enduring partnership is based very much on a mutual respect for each other and our shared Values and Common Goals of making a positive difference to local people living in local communities throughout N.Ireland.

“We look forward to the next 25 years working together and in partnership delivering on our Mission: to save lives, support and improve quality of life for people in Northern Ireland through cancer awareness, prevention, detection and support.”

Making a real tangible and valuable impact, Musgrave, Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company and the parent of SuperValu and Centra brands, began working with Action Cancer in 2001, which has led to life-saving interventions.

Fundraising highlights this year included the Espresso We Care initiative which saw 50p from the sale of every Frank and Honest coffee over 4 days donated, plus Sponsor a Mammogram, which challenged every store to raise £120 – what it costs Action Cancer to provide a free breast screening appointment to women outside of NHS screening age with no symptoms (40-49, and over 70).

Action Cancer Ambassador Nicola Somerville had her breast cancer detected on board the Big Bus when it visited Fruitfield SuperValu store in May 2023 when she was aged 48.

Nicola said: “I have availed of breast screenings on board the Big Bus since the age of 40. I attended every 2 years and was very organised about booking an appointment. I realised the importance of this service and was keen to avail of it. I found the mammograms themselves to be absolutely fine, I had no pain, and I was in and out in twenty minutes.

“I am very thankful for the Big Bus service, coming to towns and villages like mine and making this service more accessible to busy women outside of Belfast. I have encouraged work friends, family and friends to avail of the screening. We’re really fortunate to have this free service as it doesn’t exist anywhere else in the UK or Ireland so it’s really important that you book an appointment, it could save your life.”

In celebration of the 25-year milestone, Action Cancer has release additional breast screenings for women aged 40-49 or 70+ (those who fall outside of the NHS screening service age range), specifically for those who have no breast cancer symptoms (asymptomatic).

Women who are experiencing any breast cancer symptoms are strongly advised to contact their GP immediately.

Breast screening appointments can be booked online at www.actioncancer.org/appointments or by calling 028 9080 3344.

Centra on Main Street in Toome has officially relaunched following a major refurbishment and investment of £300,000.

The store, which supports 22 jobs in the community, was recently acquired by experienced retailer Ryan Cathcart, who operates Centra stores on Roguery Road, Toome and on Castledawson Road in Magherafelt.

The store features a wide range of meal solutions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including an enhanced food to go offering with sandwiches, salads and a hot food counter at the deli.

Commenting at the launch of the refurbished store, owner Ryan Cathcart said:

“We’re proud to unveil a fresh new look in the store which has been a fixture in the community for many years. Feedback so far has been very positive, and we look forward to providing shoppers with an extensive range, great value and excellent customer service for many years to come.”

Centra Sales Manager Norman Bennett added:

“Congratulations to our independent retail partner Ryan on his newly refreshed store – a lot of work has gone into the transformation and it’s clear to see customers are impressed with the changes. It’s a real asset to the community, offering the height of convenience at great value.  We have worked in partnership with Ryan for many years and are delighted to see this new addition to his business; I’d like to wish him and the team all the best with the new store.”

Other features in the store include a Frank and Honest coffee dock, which features 100% compostable coffee cups, plastic free coffee capsules and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee beans. Shoppers can also avail of the coffee brand’s digital loyalty app enabling customers to get a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

As part of Centra’s commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from hundreds of best buys and savings of up to 40% on own brand products.  That’s as well as a Supermarket Price Match on key everyday items with Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, plus the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks.

Centra is also committed to supporting local suppliers, with Musgrave NI spending more than £166m on local food and drink annually, working with more than 3,000 local farmers, over 240 local suppliers and stocking over 4,500 local products across its stores, including the new Good Food Locally Sourced range of meal solutions.

As Musgrave and its brands work to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the updated store features energy efficient LED lighting and refrigeration system, while digital screens and electronic shelf edge labels will be introduced, all to reduce the store’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.

The store team also celebrated the launch with a fun day for customers with exclusive offers, a spin and win wheel, balloon modeller and face painter.

The store’s opening hours are: 6am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, 7am to 9pm on Saturday, and 8am to 9pm on Sunday.

Following a £1m investment, O’Kane’s convenience store and petrol forecourt on the Moy Road in Armagh, has been refurbished and has officially opened under the Centra brand.

The store which supports 67 jobs in the local community, including 15 new positions, has been in the O’Kane family since the 1990s, started by Tom. The business is now run by his sons Brian and Aidan, and daughter Helen. The store, which includes Moy Road Post Office, is a much-valued amenity for the area, and the significant investment has allowed for new and exciting additions.

To mark the occasion the O’Kane family were joined by Musgrave NI’s Sales Manager Norman Bennett and New Business and Acquisitions Manager, Barry Holland.

Commenting on the opening Brian O’Kane: “We are delighted to relaunch our store under the Centra brand. The refurbishment combined with our enhanced offering is proving extremely popular with our customers and we look forward to continuing to serve the local community with a one-stop shop and the best in modern convenience retailing for many years to come.”

The modern store offers a wide range of fresh and chilled foods plus a greater selection of options and meal solutions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including food-to-go from an enhanced hot and cold deli counter.

Coffee lovers can enjoy a hot drink to-go and refreshing iced coffee at the Frank and Honest Coffee dock, which features 100% compostable coffee cups, plastic free coffee capsules and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee beans. Shoppers can also avail of the coffee brand’s digital loyalty app enabling customers to get a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

Inspired by the Frank and Honest coffee brand, the family opened a Frank and Honest café next to the store where customers can sit in to enjoy a hot drink and sweet treats from an ice cream counter.

Barry Holland added: “O’Kane’s Centra in Armagh is a fantastic addition to the ever- growing Centra portfolio, and we wish the family all the best on their new journey. The recent renovation will be a real asset to the community, delivering improved convenience along with great value for local shoppers, while the new café is exceeding expectations.”

In addition to an enhanced product range and as part of Centra’s commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from hundreds of best buys and savings of up to 40% on own brand products. That’s as well as a Supermarket Price Match on key everyday items with Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, plus the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks.

Centra is also committed to supporting local suppliers, with Musgrave NI spending more than £166m on local food and drink annually, working with more than 3,000 local farmers, over 240 local suppliers and stocking over 4,500 local products across its stores, including the new Good Food Locally Sourced range of meal solutions.

As Musgrave and its brands work to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the store features digital screens, energy efficient LED lighting, an energy efficient refrigeration system and electronic shelf edge labels.

The store team also celebrated the launch with a fun day for customers with exclusive offers, a spin and win wheel, balloon modeller and face painter. The store’s opening hours are: 6am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 10pm on Sunday.

For more information on Centra stores in Northern Ireland, visit www.centra.co.uk

Frank and Honest named Northern Ireland’s favourite convenience store coffee

With the coffee you’re carrying saying as much about you as the trainers you’re wearing, latest research* puts Northern Irish preferences under the microscope as the latte is crowned Northern Ireland’s favourite type of coffee.

The findings revealed that more than 28% of respondents pick the milky hot latte, with Cappuccino and Americano both following behind at 17% each. The research was commissioned by Musgrave, Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company and parent of the Frank and Honest coffee brand, which came out as Northern Ireland’s favourite convenience store coffee.

On average, coffee drinkers are consuming three coffees per day, with 13% claiming to have five or more per day – with a third of respondents risking a sleepless night and enjoying a coffee past 6pm.

With the seemingly ever-expanding coffee menu across establishments, a major trend amongst consumers is personalisation, with a third adding flavours, and 54% of those satisfying their sweet tooth with a pump of caramel syrup.

Whether it’s oat, soya or coconut, the alternative milk trends also continue to froth to the top as 1 in 4 will now opt for non-dairy milk, rising to 30% with those aged 18-34 years old.

The results also showed that even though Northern Ireland gets on average 180 days of rain per year, a third of the population drink an iced coffee every week, with one in seven opting for the cool drink no matter the weather.

Sales of the icy beverage are being driven by the Gen Z and younger millennial market with 18–34-year-olds purchasing yet conversely over half of those aged 45+ have never and don’t intend to drink iced coffee.

Desi Derby, Director of Marketing at Musgrave said: “Coffee trends are ever- changing and evolving as more options and alternatives get added to the menu. We have noticed corresponding trends across our stores with syrups being chosen daily, and there has been a clear uptake in iced coffee preferences year-round in many of our stores; we look forward to rolling out the cool alternatives in even more stores soon.

“We’re delighted that Frank and Honest has been crowned Northern Ireland’s favourite convenience store coffee. Not only is it a great tasting coffee, but it also has an environmental pledge at its heart not least with fully compostable cups and lids. We’re committed to providing the injection of caffeine the region needs; in whatever brew they prefer.”

To celebrate the findings, Musgrave teamed up with local personality and radio presenter Melissa Riddell who hit the streets of Belfast with a giant love wall, filled with handwritten notes from the public declaring their love for the perfect cup of Frank and Honest coffee. Frank and Honest Coffee is available exclusively at participating SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores.

Coffee beans are at the ready in Centra and SuperValu stores across Northern Ireland, as the retail brands call on coffee loving customers to buy a coffee and Espresso they care in a fundraising campaign for Action Cancer.

Announced today on International Coffee Day, the initiative will run from this Thursday (3rd October) until Sunday (6th October). 50p from the sale of every Frank and Honest Coffee in participating Centra and SuperValu stores, will go straight to the brands’ charity partner to help it continue to provide its life-saving and support services.

Now in its fourth year, the ‘Espresso We Care’ fundraising initiative has raised £57,000 so far for Action Cancer thanks to caring coffee drinking customers.

These funds go directly to help keep Action Cancer’s mobile clinic the Big Bus on the road, bringing its breast screening service, health checks and skin cancer detection clinic to communities across Northern Ireland.

Director of Marketing at Musgrave NI, which owns the retail brands, Desi Derby, said: “Supporting local is very important to Musgrave and our Centra and SuperValu stores, and we are very proud of our long-term partnership with this local charity. We’re delighted to run this fundraising campaign again for the fourth time and hope our caring customers will pick up a coffee when they’re in-store and help us raise funds for a very worthwhile cause.”

Centra and SuperValu have been partnering with Action Cancer since 2001, and to date have raised more than £3.8million for the charity.

Thanking Centra and SuperValu staff and their customers, Gareth Kirk, CEO of Action Cancer said: “We are delighted that Centra and SuperValu are running their ‘Espresso We Care’ coffee campaign once again this year. We have been able to provide communities throughout Northern Ireland with our life-saving breast screening service and health checks on board the Big Bus for the last 24 years, all thanks to the continued support of Centra and SuperValu customers and employees. Last year, we expanded our list of mobile services available on board the Big Bus to include a new skin cancer detection service.

“From October 3 to October 6, please purchase a Frank and Honest coffee to support this wonderful initiative. Not only will you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, but you will also be helping Action Cancer make a positive difference to the lives of local people.”

Starting at £2.70 for a Frank and Honest coffee, 50p from the sale of each coffee will be donated to the charities over the four-day period.

Leading retail group Musgrave continues its commitment to providing value for money for its customers with the launch of a Big Brand Sale across its Centra, SuperValu, and Mace stores.

The promotion, which sees 50 big brands discounted in Centra stores, and over 30 brands in SuperValu and Mace stores, until 28th September is just one element of a wider £6 million investment in value announced earlier this year by Musgrave.

Shoppers can save over £200 on special offers across Centra, while there are savings of more than £125 to be made across SuperValu and Mace. This is in addition to Centra’s and SuperValu’s ongoing Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products which change every three weeks.

While grocery inflation reached its lowest rate in almost three years in July, data and insights specialists Kantar reported that August saw a slight increase from 1.6% in the previous month to 1.8%*. This, teamed with back-to-school expenses, has placed additional strains on household budgets for many consumers.

Brand manager Jennifer Morton said: “We understand the pressures many shoppers are faced with at this time of year as summer ends and back to school bills mount. To help shoppers, we are committed to offering the best value in convenience through our Big Brand Sale across Centra, SuperValu and Mace, as well as our Epic Deals promotion and our extensive own-brand ranges which are up to 40% cheaper than better known brands, in Centra and SuperValu.

“Our investment in value, alongside an annual spend of £166 million in local food and drink, shows a real commitment to our stores, communities and customers.”

The current offers and Big Brand Sale promotions are in place until 28th September. The full range of offers can be found here:

https://www.centra.co.uk/leaflet

Centra is bringing enhanced convenience to people travelling from the North Coast with the arrival of its highly anticipated brand-new store and petrol forecourt located outside Cloughmills on the A26, the main road between Coleraine and Ballymena.

The bright and contemporary 3,400 sq ft store, which opened its doors to the public today (Tuesday, 23rd July), combines high convenience shopping with an extensive food-to-go offering providing a welcome stop for those travelling in the vicinity.

Operated by experienced retailer Oran McCloskey, Centra Frosses Road is the 108th Centra store to open in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the opening, owner Oran McCloskey said: “I am very proud to have opened the doors of Centra Frosses Road which will provide a convenient shopping and refuelling point for customers on the move as well as a great amenity for the surrounding community. I’d like to thank the team for all their hard work so far in getting the store ready and we look forward to welcoming customers and providing them with a one-stop shop for modern convenience.”

Offering a wide range of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the store has something for everyone whether travelling home in the evening, on the road for work or out for the day with the family.

Amenities include a hot and cold deli counter with freshly made sandwiches and salads, and a selection of hot food to go. The Frank and Honest Coffee dock provides a wide selection of hot drinks and features 100% compostable coffee cups, plastic free coffee capsules and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee beans, while a digital loyalty app offers customers a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps. Sweet treats are also available from the Scoop Ice-cream counter.

The new store features a Solo fuel forecourt as well as a seating area, customer Wi-Fi and customer toilets.

Speaking today, Trevor Magill Managing Director for Musgrave in Northern Ireland said – “We have worked with Oran under the Mace brand for several years and are delighted to continue our partnership as he opens his first Centra store which is a fantastic addition to both the local area and the wider Centra network.

“The store will be a real asset to those travelling the busy commuter route from the North Coast – delivering first-class convenience along with great value for shoppers. We wish Oran and his team the very best.”

In addition to an extensive product range, including the new Good Food Locally Sourced range which supports local suppliers*, shoppers will benefit from over 100 special offer items every week and over 300 own brand products up to 40% cheaper than better known brands. This is as well as the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks.

The store has also been built with sustainability in mind, as Musgrave and its brands work to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Features include solar panels, LED lighting and top-grade energy efficient refrigeration. Features include LED lighting, digital screens and top-grade energy efficient refrigeration.

Run Together aims to raise £30K for Action Cancer

Leading convenience retailer Centra is calling on runners and walkers to take part in its annual fundraising event, Run Together, which is back for 2024, and promises to be another fantastic event at Ormeau Park in Belfast.

Taking place on Sunday 20th October, registration is now open and with both 5K and 10K routes available, the event plans to bring 1,600 participants together to raise vital funds for Centra’s long-term charity partner Action Cancer.

There are 200 early bird registrations open now for each run with the 10K priced at £15 (normally £22) and the 5K available to book for £10 (normally £13). The full registration fee will be donated to Action Cancer. The runs will be staggered with the 10K kicking off at 9.30am and the 5K at 11am.

Commenting on the launch, Jennifer Morton, Centra brand manager, said:

“We are very excited to welcome back our Run Together fundraising event for 2024. Last year’s event was a sellout, with all proceeds going to Action Cancer, and there was a real buzz and feeling of community spirit among the crowd. We’re looking forward to a repeat of that in October and to welcoming 1,600 people of all ages and abilities back to Ormeau Park.

“As part of Centra’s Live Well initiative, our aim as always is to get as many people as we can up and moving. Whether you’re running the 5K with your family or really challenging yourself with the 10K, the run is a perfect opportunity to get outside and have fun whilst raising vital funds for an amazing cause.”

Centra has supported Action Cancer since 2001 and raised a staggering £33,000 at last year’s Run Together. This year, Centra hopes to match the 2023 fundraising target to help keep the charity’s mobile detection the Big Bus on the road, providing its free life-saving services to communities across Northern Ireland, including breast screening, health checks and skin cancer detection appointments. Every £120 raised can pay for a free mammogram or skin cancer detection appointment, while £50 covers the cost of a health check.

As part of Centra’s Live Well initiative, Run Together is designed to motivate people of any ability or age to embrace a healthy lifestyle by taking part in the run. Whether participants are just starting their fitness journey or are looking for something to do with the family, the event is open to everyone. Participants can walk, jog or run through the park, alongside hundreds of others, to raise funds and awareness for Action Cancer.

Lucy McCusker, corporate fundraising manager for Action Cancer added:

“Run Together is always a fantastic event and we are so grateful to everyone who turns out to support it. The money raised makes a real difference to hundreds of people, by enabling us to bring our life saving services directly to communities across NI onboard the Big Bus. Early detection saves lives, so we would encourage people to sign up, take part and help keep the Big Bus on the road.”

Local fitness Trainer, Bubba, is joining again this year to lead a pre-run stretch for all those taking part while Centra brand ambassador and radio presenter Pete Snodden will start the event and welcome participants over the finish line.

Everyone taking part will receive a T-shirt, bespoke Centra Run Together medal, lunch, goodie bag and Frank and Honest coffee, as well as tasty samples courtesy of our Live Well sponsors. There will also be entertainment for all the family on the day.

For further information and details of how to register for the 5K or 10K visit www.centra.co.uk or find out more on the Centra Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CentraNI.

Centra Run Together is kindly sponsored by: Deep River Rock, Boost, Lucozade, Keoghs, O’Donnells, Fulfil, Grenade, Border, Forest Feast, Ferrero, Coleraine, Dromona, PRM, Yazoo, Hartley’s.

Frank and Honest Coffee has been announced as the new sponsor of Belfast Bikes by Belfast City Council.

A Musgrave Group brand, Frank and Honest is available in Centra, Mace and SuperValu stores across Belfast and beyond.

Belfast Bikes was launched in 2015 and currently has 500 bikes at over 59 docking stations right across the city.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray spoke about the announcement and said: “Belfast Bikes is an integral part of city life and since its inception, has helped to create a better connected, low carbon, climate resilient city with a focus on Active Travel.

“The new sponsorship deal with local coffee brand Frank and Honest is great news, as they too share the Belfast Bike scheme’s values including sustainability, convenience and supporting the local community.”

Frank and Honest Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee is served in fully compostable takeaway cups across 24 Belfast retailers.

Councillor Murray continued: “I am really looking forward to seeing the full fleet of branded Frank and Honest Belfast Bikes and docking stations being unveiled later this month including some initiatives to get more people cycling over the summer months.”

Desi Derby, Director of Marketing at Musgrave added: “We are delighted to be the new sponsor of Belfast Bikes through our coffee brand Frank and Honest, which is available in 24 SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores across the city.

“Growing sustainably every day is at the heart of the Musgrave business and our brands; that means we’re always looking for ways to help our customers make more sustainable and healthier choices, therefore our collaboration with Belfast Bikes is the perfect partnership”.

Belfast Bikes recently announced three new docking station locations at Glencairn Park, Drumglass Park and Sandown Road.

The scheme offers annual membership and a ‘pay as you go’ option.

For more information or to register for Belfast Bikes, visit belfastbikes.co.uk

You can also register at any Belfast Bikes docking station terminal or download the Nextbike app.