Tesco launches new store in Virginia
With Tesco opening a new store in Virginia, in the premises formerly occupied by McEvoy’s supermarket, the Celt catches up with the team to learn more about the people, the products and the services to the community...
MEET THE TEAM
Q: Conor, Tesco is now in Virginia and you’re refitting the shop to get ready to re-launch in the coming weeks. What can the community expect?
Firstly, we’re thrilled to come to Virginia and are really looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming part of the community. The store at the Virginia Shopping Centre has undergone a major multi-million-euro transformation, so we can bring the very best of Tesco to the town. We know there’s been some disruption for customers over the past weeks while we’ve completed this work, and we thank everyone for their patience – it will be worth it! The store is open, and we’re already getting great feedback about the new-look fresh food departments in the store, our promotions and offers, and of course our Clubcard, with much more to come before we officially launch at the end of July.
Q: Tell us about your team.
I’m proud to be leading a fantastic team of over 50 colleagues in Virginia. What’s extra special is that 43 of them are familiar faces who worked in the store previously, so customers will see many people they already know such as Catherine Geoghegan, Robbie Watson, and Martin Moynagh. We have six new colleagues also joining the team who have been undergoing training in recent weeks. I’m also joined by Deputy Manager Philip Cullivan, a Bailieboro native, along with our strong management team, which includes Sheena Smith, Pádraic McPartland, John Walsh, Ciarán Fitzpatrick and Georgina McConnon.
Q: Will local products be featured in the store?
Definitely. Supporting local producers is a big part of what we do at Tesco. Customers will find a great selection of Cavan-based brands like Moran’s jam, Manor Hill Tarts, McCloskey’s bread, Crust & Crumb pizzas, and Champion Milk. Plans are in place to take on even more local suppliers over the next weeks and months, so keep an eye out. We’re proud to highlight these brilliant producers and to help promote local businesses across Co Cavan.
Q: How is Tesco engaging with the local community?
We love to be actively engaged with the people who live and work close to our stores, and we’re continuing our commitment through the blue token Tesco Community Fund, which donates up to €1,500 every 12 weeks to three local causes. The three causes in the first round are Virginia First Responders, Virginia Rugby Club and St Vincent De Paul. Local schools, when they are back in September, will also have the opportunity to take part in our Stronger Starts programmes, supporting children’s health. We are also excited to announce that we have signed up as the title sponsor of this year’s Virginia Agricultural Show. It’s a wonderful way to connect with the community, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Q: Any final thoughts before the grand relaunch?
Just that we can’t wait to get to know everyone and look forward to becoming part of the Virginia community in the same way as our stores in Cavan Town and in Bailieborough have really embedded into the local fabric of County Cavan over the years.
Tesco is a significant contributor to the Irish economy and the development of the Irish food and agriculture sectors through its support of Irish suppliers. There are over 500 Irish suppliers in the Tesco supplier network, with almost three quarters of these estimated to be small- or medium-sized enterprises. Most of these SMEs have fewer than 250 employees.
By buying locally produced food, Tesco is supporting employment on farms throughout Ireland. These farms provide the raw materials to the food and drink companies that supply Tesco Ireland and the wider Tesco Group.
Independent economic consultants Indecon estimate that almost 13,000 farm families are supported every year by Tesco Ireland’s purchases of Irish-produced food and drink products, as well as through the facilitation of exports of Irish-produced food and drink products to the wider Tesco Group.
About Tesco
Tesco is one of Ireland’s largest grocery retailers having operated in the Irish retail market since 1997. With 183 stores nationwide, it employs over 13,500 people in cities and towns around Ireland, supporting almost 45,000 jobs directly and indirectly. Tesco is the biggest retail buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, totalling €1.6 billion a year.