National winners of AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2024 announced

• Diamond Furniture named as National Retailer of the Year
• ‘The drive and ambition of retailers across Ireland ensure we can look forward to 2025 with renewed optimism’

Monday, November 4th, 2024. Retail Excellence Ireland, the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, has announced the winners of each of the 21 categories at the AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2024.

Over 500 executives from the retail industry attended the ceremony at the Galmont Hotel in Galway on Saturday night. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Hildegarde Naughton also attended.

Dublin-based Diamond Furniture won National Retailer of the Year and was commended by the judges for an impressive store design, a high level of attention to detail, and having an overall five-star customer experience.

Windyridge Garden Centre won the inaugural Independent Store of the Year Award.  The judges were impressed by the excellent visual merchandising and creative flair in transforming a store into an immersive retail experience.

Ecommerce continues to play an important part in every retailer’s journey to attract new customers and showcase your offering to the world. Cogs Toys & Games was named as Small Online Retailer of the Year, Chupi was named Medium Online Retailer of the Year, while EZ Living Interiors was named as Large Online Retailer of the Year. McCabes Pharmacy won Ecommerce Team of the Year

Speaking following the announcement, Jean McCabe, CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland, said: “I am delighted to announce the winners of the AIB Merchant Services Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2024. The judging panel has been so impressed by the high standard of retailers across the country and it was extraordinarily difficult to whittle our shortlists down to the eventual winners.

“Our awards night is a marquee event in the Irish retail calendar, and we are proud to honour the best and brightest in the industry once again this year. We also want to extend our thanks to Minister Naughton for her attendance and support. Of course, we are experiencing a tsunami of increased business costs at present, but the drive and ambition of retailers across Ireland ensure we can look forward to 2025 with renewed optimism.”

Hubert O’Donoghue, General Manager, AIB Merchant Services, said: “AIB Merchant Services is delighted to sponsor the 2024 Retail Excellence Ireland Awards, marking our ninth year celebrating the exceptional achievements of Ireland’s retail community. Our partnership with REI underscores our commitment to empowering retail businesses nationwide. With over 50 years of dedication to retailers, AIB Merchant Services proudly delivers reliable, secure payment and acquiring solutions to thousands of customers every day. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the finalists and winners of this year’s awards, who continuously strive to deliver exceptional customer experiences.”    

Established by Retail Excellence Ireland in 1997, the Awards is the biggest event in the Irish retail industry calendar and aims to promote best practice and encourage high standards in the Irish retail industry.

Full list of winners

Click here to access selected photos from the event.