Putting the customer first at Cosgrove’s SuperValu

Customers around Cavan Town and beyond can now enjoy an enhanced shopping experience in the newly revamped Cosgrove’s SuperValu on the Dublin Road.

The supermarket was recently relaunched under the new ownership of father and son, Des and Matthew Cosgrove, to ensure that shoppers can easily avail of their full range of products and services.

Des, who has been working in retail since he left school at just 15 years of age, has been operating Musgrave stores for the past 25 years, including SuperValu Bundoran, Centra Letterkenny and Centra Maugheraboy in Co Sligo. This is their first time venturing into the Cavan market.

EXTENDED HOURS

Since taking over 12 weeks ago, the Sligo-based duo have made a number of changes to the shop, including a redeveloped checkout area, a larger butcher’s counter, better value for money and extended opening hours. The changes have been made in line with a number of recommendations made by customers.

“We put a lot of work into the last 12 weeks in reorganising the shop, getting the range right, getting the pricing right,” Des says.

The checkout has been rebuilt and redesigned to better direct customers, and to declutter and decongest one of the store’s busiest locations. The shop floor has also been reorganised to ensure better accessibility for customers and a greater flow between aisles.

PERMANENT BUTCHER IN STORE

Going forward, a qualified butcher will be permanently installed at the butcher counter to make sure that shoppers are always receiving the best possible service. Another local butcher has recently been hired, and has brought his own wealth of experience to the role.

A real emphasis has been placed on supporting local suppliers, a number of whom form part of the SuperValu Food Academy Programme for small businesses, making sure that their products are clearly visible on shelves. Some of their local suppliers include Drummully Boxty, Moran’s Mega Jam, Rafferty’s Ham and Barry John’s Sausages.

To suit customers seeking convenience, the coffee dock is now suitably located beside the front door, next to a range of convenience foods.

As well as supplying a range of European food, the Cavan Town store stocks a wide variety of seasonally available fresh food.

REAL REWARDS

The Real Rewards ‘Yes You Scan’ programme has also been recently launched in the store, which will provide customers with a number of exclusive discounts when shopping in-store.

Ensuring that customers are well looked after is the “backbone” of their business.

“If we look after our customer, they’ll look after us,” says Des.

“We don’t pay the wages - the customer does.”

SUPPORT LOCAL

The new owners are eager to support local GAA clubs at the heart of local communities through their designated ‘Kits for Kids’ initiative, which helps to tog out young members.

Over the next couple of weeks, once customers have completed their shopping, they can put their receipt into one of four bins for participating clubs, located right beside the checkout. The club with the most amount of receipts will win the well-deserved funds for their club. Similar initiatives will run each year to ensure ongoing support for as many local clubs as possible.

The pair are also keen to work with those making efforts to keep their towns and villages clean as part of SuperValu Tidy Towns.

“If you’ve a clean community it says a lot about your area,” Des says, praising the work of numerous local volunteers.

STAFF

As some of the largest employers in Ireland, SuperValu and Centra employ around 44,000 staff nationally.

Across their stores, Des and Matthew have a positive track record of staff retention, and expect their new Cavan store is no different.

There is a “fantastic” team of staff in Cavan, a number of whom have worked there for many years, including Store Manager Daniel Drwal, who has been employed there for 21 years.

“We would like to thank the staff who have come on the journey with us. The changes would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication,”said Matthew.

There are currently 52 people employed in Cosgrove’s SuperValu. The store’s headcount has so far increased by four under the new owners, and there are plans to hire a further three people in future.

Across their other stores, Des and Matthew employ 18 people through the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS), which provides financial support to employers who employ people with disabilities. The pair are keen to recruit additional staff under the scheme in their Cavan store because “everybody deserves a chance.”

Des and Matthew are very grateful to the staff and the local community that have gotten behind them since they took over, and are looking forward to the future.

“We’ve been very well received,” Des says.

“Looking out the lens, I think there’s a great future for the shop.”

Cosgroves’ SuperValu is open 7am-10pm, Monday to Friday and 8am-9pm on Sundays.