THREE Gala convenience stores from Tralee have been awarded the ‘Gold Standard’ for excellence in retail at the 2017 Gala Annual Conference and B.E.S.T Awards, which took place this week at The Malton Hotel, Killarney this week.

The three stores that received the gold award at the Gala B.E.S.T Awards were Gala, Oakpark in Tralee;  O’Shea’s Gala, Blennerville (which also received the Brand Champion Award) and Gala Mounthawk.

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In addition to the gold standard award, Gala Mounthawk received the award for Best Alcohol offering and its store manager, Mandy Maguire, received the award for Manager of the Year. Holly’s Gala, Moyvane also received a gold award.

The ‘Gold Standard’ is awarded following a comprehensive and independent assessment process under the Gala Business Excellence Standards Tool programme. The awards ceremony was MC’d by TV personality and ‘mentalist’, David Meade.

The Gala annual conference brings together all of the retailers in the Gala Group for an inspirational day of motivational speeches, a trade fair and an update on the Gala business and new initiatives. The Gala Retail conference was opened by a panel of Irish sporting greats, including Tracey Piggott; former Munster player, Frankie Sheehan and journalist, Billy Keane.

There are almost 200 stores in the Gala Group, including Gala and Gala express stores, and over 2,500 people are employed by Gala stores, wholesalers and at the company’s head office.

Gala stores are locally-owned and are renowned for their commitment to the local communities in which they operate.