Published: Wednesday, 24th March, 2010 4:30pm

Kilmartin's receives top hygiene award

Kilmartin's Centra, Athlone has been awarded the top award for Excellence in Food Safety and Hygiene, in a tough competition which saw fierce opposition from 474 Centra stores throughout the Republic of Ireland.

The Excellence in Food Safety and Hygiene Award was presented at the Centra National Conference to store owner Rachel Kilmartin by Donal Horgan, Centra Managing Director and Michael Morgan, Centra Sales Director.

All 474 Centra stores throughout the republic of Ireland are consistently audited throughout the year. The audit focuses on, hygiene and food safety systems, fresh food offering, product range and customer care.

Located on the Dublin Rd in Athlone, Kilmartin's extensive range of products, with a concentration on hot-food, deli, fresh bread, bakery and an exceptional selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, all combine to provide an exceptional store for both local shoppers and passing trade.

Delighted with the award, store owners, Damien and Rachel Kilmartin paid tribute to the team at Kilmartin's and their consistent attention to detail. "Winning the Centra Excellence in Food Safety and Hygiene Award in addition to the Excellence Ireland National Hygiene and Food Safety Award two years in a row is a great achievement for the store. Everyone on the team plays a huge part in striving for this accolade and the award is the pinnacle of achievement and hard work throughout the year in ensuring we maintain the highest of standards in everything we do. Our customers are entitled to the best quality and hygiene standards from the time they enter our forecourt and, as we continuously raise the bar for excellence, the team respond by ensuring we achieve the results and excel in all areas," he said.

Congratulating Kilmartin's Centra, Donal Horgan, Centra Managing Director, said that stores like Kilmartin's demonstrate the commitment of independent retailers to maintaining the highest of quality and hygiene standards in their stores on a daily basis.

"It is a tremendous achievement for Kilmartin's store to win this award amid stiff competition from our network of Centra Stores across the country, and to win this in addition to the Excellence Ireland National Hygiene and Food Safety Award two years in a row, is indeed an endorsement to the dedication of the team, the quality of the food offering and the systems put in place to ensure their store is the best in the country. "