Published: Wednesday, 16th September, 2009 5:00pm

SuperValu's John Foy celebrates ten years in Cootehill

Promotion launched to mark occasion

Well-known Cootehill businessman John Foy is this week celebrating ten years in the thriving market town, and to mark the occasion he is launching a voucher bonanza at his SuperValu store. The promotion will be worth thousands to shoppers in the town as other businesses link up with the scheme over the next six weeks.

The tenth anniversary celebrations begin tomorrow (Thursday), September 17, as Northern Sound's roadcaster broadcasts live from the premises. Spot prizes galore will be given out and the activities include in-store tastings, as well as goody bags and face painting for the kids.

"It's going to be a great day of celebrations. It's our way of saying a big 'thank you' to all our loyal customers for their support over the last ten years," Mr. Foy explains. The birthday bash will continue over the next six weeks with the vouchers giveaway, starting in SuperValu itself with a €5 voucher for every €50 of purchases. Similar €5 voucher promotions, in some cases for every €20 or €30 worth of shopping, will be launched in other local stores over the six weeks including E&M Stores, McDonagh Shoes, Escape Beauty Salon and Foy's Arro Home & Garden.

Thanks

John readily acknowledges that it is thanks to the support of customers that his business has grown from 12 employees to 55 over the last ten years. During that time he has invested substantially in expanding and upgrading his premises, transforming what was a 6,500 square-foot shopping area into a state-of-the-art 11,500 sq. ft. facility, well laid out and fully in keeping with what today's customers expect.

"Our customers have been very loyal to us over the last ten years and I want to give something back. So we are launching a campaign, linking in with some of the other businesses in the town," John reiterates. Placing a very strong emphasis on supporting other traders, he feels that Cootehill as a whole can be looked on a "shopping centre", and that the more people who stay in the town to shop the better it is for everyone.

The celebrations are also a way of saying thanks to the staff. "Our team of people are our most important asset and the main reason we have become so successful," he said, pointing out that no one has been let go despite the recession.

Another issue for SuperValu in Cootehill is to support local suppliers like Cootehill Farms, Barry John Sausages, Violet Vale Eggs, Carleton Cakes and indeed many others. "It's important to play a part in the community and keep shelf space open to these local producers," is how John sums it up.

Meeting the challenges

He accepts, however, that the economic difficulties have presented great challenges. Indeed, he himself is in a high profile position as president of RGDATA, the body representing over 4,000 independent retail grocery outlets, and is well aware of problems like cross-border shopping.

But Mr. Foy believes the answer is to entice consumers back by competition. SuperValu is engaged in a campaign to match sterling prices and he believes more and more people are shopping locally again as suppliers and retailers alike are taking a cut in their margins to narrow and eliminate any price differential. People also realise that it's important to support local shops and employment, he feels.

Happy in Cootehill

On a personal level, John says he is very happy to have settled down in Cootehill. He and his wife Sharon have five children, aged from 22 down to seven years. They are Kelly, Ashley, Daniel, Samuel and Kate and they are delighted to have become firmly involved in all aspects of life in Cootehill.

He gives thanks to his family for all their support and commitment and wishes good luck to his oldest daughters in particular as they set out on their own careers, Kelly as a hairdresser in Mullingar and Ashley as a Garda in Dundalk.

Having left school at 15 and worked his way up in the supermarket business, where he was a manager at one of the bigger multiples for ten years, Mr. Foy knows the value of having a solid foundation - and also of being willing to roll up the sleeves.