Gala (supermarket)

For other uses, see Gala.

Gala

A Gala branded shop in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim
Founded	1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Headquarters	Ireland
Number of locations	250[1] (2022)
Area served	Ireland
Key people	Gary Desmond
Website	www.gala.ie

Gala is a convenience shop chain in Ireland. Established in 1998, as of 2021 Gala had approximately 250 shops nationwide,^[1] all under franchise. The symbol group is supplied by a number of independent wholesalers which were formerly part of the National Wholesale group (now known as Stonehouse).^[2][3] In 2008, the brand recognised its tenth year in business.^[4] Gary Desmond is the chief executive officer.^[5]

Gala sponsors the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Gradam Chumarsáide an Oireachtais,^[6] and the Irish Special Olympics Team.^[7]

History

In 1998, the National Wholesale Grocers Alliance, a buying group of independent cash and carry outlets, launched Gala Retail Services Limited. The launch represented an attempt to replicate models operated by the BWG Foods' Spar chain and the Musgrave-owned Centra chain.^{[citation needed]} It followed the entry of Costcutter, a UK-based convenience store group, to the Irish market.^[8]

As of 2005, Gala was operating stores under three brands: "Gala", "Gala Superstore" and "Checkout".^[9] In 2019, the group began the changeover of "Checkout" branded stores to a new facia called "Your Stop".^{[citation needed]}

Gala Retail Services Limited coordinates the franchise services for the retailers such as central billing, store development, fresh food advice, marketing, training and information technology, while wholesale members supply stores with goods.^{[citation needed]}

From 2018 to 2023, BWG Foods acquired three Gala wholesale members, including 4 Aces Wholesale and Tuffys Wholesale,^[10][11] and is now the largest supplier to the symbol group.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Gala Retail". Shelflife Magazine. 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
2. "National Wholesale to launch Gala chain of symbol stores". Irish Independent. 1998-06-25. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
3. "Wholesale grocery merger worth £500m". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
4. Murphy, Mary (2008-10-09). "Ten times the fun for Kerry Gala stores". The Kingdom. Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
5. "Camogie finalists gear up for big day". RTÉ. 2009-09-08. Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
6. "Gala Camogie Championship is launched". RTÉ. 2009-06-10. Archived from the original on 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
7. Byrne, Paul (2024-04-17). "Gala Retail marks a decade of supporting Special Olympics Ireland". Shelflife Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
8. "National Wholesale to launch Gala chain of symbol stores". Irish Independent. 1998-06-25. Retrieved 2024-04-25. [National] Wholesale Co-op [..] is setting up its own chain of symbol group stores called Gala. The move follows an increase in competition in the retail sector, as the UK group Costcutter [..] has entered the Irish market recently
9. "Gala to invest ?48m in 40 more stores". Irish Independent. 2005-10-24. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
10. "Wholesaler BWG Group's expansion continues with proposed Tuffy deal". www.farmersjournal.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
11. "BWG agrees deal to buy 4 Aces Wholesale". Irish Independent. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2024-04-23.

External links

• Gala