A Historic Sweep: All 7 of Our SPAR and EUROSPAR Stores Honoured at the Customer First Awards!

At The Ralph Group, our core philosophy has always been simple: put the community and the customer at the heart of everything we do. Today, we are absolutely thrilled to share a monumental milestone that proves that dedication is shining brighter than ever across our entire store portfolio.

On Wednesday, 10th June, representatives from across the Irish retail sector gathered at the stunning Killashee Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare, for the prestigious SPAR and EUROSPAR Customer First Awards. It turned out to be an unforgettable, historic evening for The Ralph Group family. For the very first time in our history, all 7 of our SPAR and EUROSPAR stores were awarded the coveted Customer First accolade!

A Monumental Milestone for The Ralph Group
While we have been incredibly proud to see our individual stores recognized in the past, achieving a perfect clean sweep across all 7 of our grocery locations is a massive milestone for us. This historic achievement stands as a powerful testament to the unwavering consistency, passion, and hard work that our retail teams bring to the shop floor every single day.

Whether you are catching a flight and grabbing essentials at SPAR Terminal 2 Dublin Airport, doing your weekly shop at EUROSPAR Dunboyne or EUROSPAR Feltrim, or stopping by our beloved community hubs in Clonee, Holywell, Longwood, or Donacarney, you are officially walking into an award-winning environment. This sweep proves that no matter which of our doors you walk through, you are guaranteed the absolute highest standard of retail excellence.

What Are the Customer First Awards?
For our customers who might wonder what goes on behind the scenes, the Customer First Programme Awards—orchestrated by BWG Foods (owners and operators of the SPAR and EUROSPAR brands in Ireland)—are among the most respected and strictly judged accolades in the Irish retail industry.
These awards are not handed out lightly. To achieve Customer First status, a store must successfully navigate a grueling, year-long evaluation process. This includes:

• Intensive, unannounced retail audits checking for operational excellence.

• Strict food safety and hygiene inspections to guarantee top-tier quality.

• Rigorous mystery shopper visits that grade everything from store cleanliness and retail innovation to the friendliness and helpfulness of customer interactions.

To win this award means a store doesn't just meet industry benchmarks—it consistently exceeds customer expectations day in and day out. Having 100% of our SPAR and EUROSPAR stores hit these exacting standards simultaneously is a feat we are incredibly proud to celebrate.

A Massive Thank You to Our Teams and Our Communities
An accolade of this magnitude doesn't happen by accident. It is built on early mornings, late nights, meticulous attention to detail, and a genuine smile at the cash register. This historic win belongs entirely to our incredible store managers, supervisors, deli teams, floor staff, and every single team member who represents The Ralph Group with pride. Thank you for your relentless dedication to keeping our customers first.

Most importantly, we want to say a massive thank you to you—our loyal customers and local communities. As a family-run business serving Leinster for generations, we never take your support for granted. You trust us to supply your homes, feed your families, and be a reliable part of your daily routines. Serving you is our absolute privilege, and these awards only strengthen our promise to continue delivering the best possible shopping experience.
Next time you pop into one of our 7 award-winning stores, be sure to congratulate the team on the floor—they’ve truly earned it!

A Hero’s Welcome: The Ralph Group Celebrates Team Ireland’s Return at SPAR Dublin Airport

There is always a unique buzz in the Arrivals Hall of Dublin Airport Terminal 2, but this week, the atmosphere reached new heights. At The Ralph Group, we were incredibly proud to host a very special homecoming at our SPAR T2 Arrivals store for the history-making athletes of Team Ireland.

As the official partner of Team Ireland, SPAR has been cheering our Winter Olympians on every step of the way. After their incredible performances in Italy, our store was the very first stop for the team as they touched down on Irish soil.

Coffee, Chats, and Champions
Before the glitz and glamour of the official homecoming ceremonies, we wanted to give the athletes what they needed most after a long journey: a warm Irish welcome and a great cup of coffee.

Our SPAR T2 Arrivals team had the absolute pleasure of greeting the athletes for a coffee and a chat. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear firsthand about their experiences on the world stage before they headed off to the official reception at the Department of Culture, Communications, and Sport.

Meet the Olympians
We were honored to be joined by four incredible athletes who have done the country proud:

• Thomas Maloney Westgaard (Cross-country skier)

• Anabelle Zurbay (Alpine skier)

• Ben Lynch (Freestyle half-pipe skier)

• Cormac Comerford (Alpine skier)

Seeing these athletes in-store was a moment of immense pride for everyone at The Ralph Group. Their dedication, resilience, and spirit represent the very best of Irish sport.

Proud Partners of Team Ireland
At The Ralph Group, we take great pride in our role within the Dublin Airport community. Being the "first face" people see when they return to Ireland is a responsibility we love, but being able to welcome home our national heroes is a memory that will stick with our team for a long time.

As SPAR continues its journey as the official partner of Team Ireland, we look forward to many more moments of celebration and support for our athletes.

To Thomas, Anabelle, Ben, and Cormac—welcome home, and thank you for inspiring us all!

Celebrating 60 Years of SPAR Ireland and The Ralph Group Heritage

This year marks a truly special diamond anniversary: 60 years of SPAR in Ireland. While it is a landmark year for the brand nationally, it holds an even deeper significance for us here at The Ralph Group.

60 years ago, our founder, Gerard Ralph Snr, alongside his brother Anthony, opened their very first store on Maryfield Avenue in Artane, Dublin. That single storefront was the beginning of a journey that has spanned six decades, multiple generations, and a deep-rooted commitment to serving our local communities.

A Legacy in the Making
From that first day in Artane to our current presence in locations like Dublin Airport Terminal 2, our family’s story has been inextricably linked with the growth of the SPAR brand in Ireland. We are incredibly proud to have maintained that family-run ethos for sixty years, evolving alongside our customers while staying true to the values Gerard Snr and Anthony established in the early days.

Featured in Checkout Magazine
We are delighted to share that our 60-year milestone and the history of The Ralph Group have been featured in Checkout Magazine. The piece, titled "Keeping the SPAR Brand in the Family for 60 Years," takes a closer look at our heritage, our growth, and what it means to be part of the SPAR success story in Ireland since the very beginning.

It is a proud moment for the entire Ralph family and our dedicated team members across all our stores.
You can read the full feature on Checkout.ie here:

Keeping the SPAR brand in the family for 60 years

Thank you to all our customers who have been part of our story over the last 60 years. We look forward to many more years of serving you!