Centra The Barbican officially launches in Newcastle following £1.4m investment

Centra The Barbican has officially opened in Newcastle following a £1.4 million investment, marking a new chapter for a store that has served the local community for more than 40 years.

Originally opening as a convenience store in the 1980s and trading as SuperValu since 1998, the much-loved Barbican store has now joined the Centra brand, bringing together SuperValu’s strong food heritage with Centra’s modern convenience offer.

To celebrate the launch, pupils from local primary schools who had won a colouring competition, led the ribbon cutting ceremony. Each school will also receive a £200 donation to support school funds. Shoppers enjoyed a family fun day, with food samples, cookbook giveaways from Centra brand ambassador, food blogger and BBQ specialist Jim Moore (@Only Slaggin’), prize giveaways and a live broadcast from Cool FM with presenter Pete Snodden.

Commenting on the refurbishment, Oliver Martin, Head of Musgrave Northern Ireland’s Company Owned Stores, said:

“This £1.4 million investment represents an exciting new chapter for The Barbican and underlines our commitment to providing local shoppers with great food, modern convenience and strong value.

“Every element of the refurbishment has been carefully planned to reflect how people shop today – making it easier, faster and more enjoyable. And with standout food-to-go, quality meal solutions, a premium alcohol range and all the everyday essentials – value remains at the heart of the offer. We’re proud to continue serving the Newcastle community and look forward to welcoming shoppers to experience the new store.”

The store has been completely transformed, introducing more than 400 new product lines, including a dedicated local section showcasing Musgrave’s strong commitment to local supplier partnerships.

A key feature of the refurbishment is the Dinner Made Easy zone, offering an extended range of fresh foods, quality meat, sides and convenient meal solutions. Shoppers will also find a new hot and cold deli, including a baked potato station and pizza by the slice, alongside an in-store bakery providing freshly baked goods and handcrafted patisserie throughout the day.

For customers on the go, the upgraded offering includes new Frank and Honest coffee machines, with a range that includes dark roast and iced coffee, breakfast and lunch options, and local favourite Nugelato ice cream.

The store also boasts a premium and expanded alcohol selection, featuring wines, beers and spirits curated for both everyday occasions and special celebrations, alongside a dedicated zero-alcohol zone.

Additional enhancements include self-serve tills, a refreshed store layout designed for quick and easy shopping trips, and a strong focus on sustainability with digital screens, energy-efficient LED lighting, upgraded refrigeration and freezers, electronic shelf-edge labels and solar panels.

Value remains a key focus for Centra customers, with hundreds of best buys available, savings of up to 40% on own-brand products, Supermarket Price Match on key everyday items with Tesco, and Epic Deals on four big-brand products, refreshed every three weeks.

The investment and new store format mark an exciting new era for The Barbican, combining modern convenience, quality food and strong value with a continued commitment to serving the local community.


MUSGRAVE CROWNS ‘STORE OF THE YEAR’ WINNERS

Centra stores have been commended for excellence at the annual Musgrave Northern Ireland ‘Store of the Year’ awards.

The Musgrave awards ceremony celebrates and recognises the achievements, hard work and dedication of its retail partners across the three brands – Centra, SuperValu and Mace.

Claiming the Centra Foodmarket Store of the Year was McPolin’s in Annaclone, scooping the title for the second consecutive year, praised for its consistent high standards and customer service alongside its focus on community retailing.

In the Centra High-Convenience category, Curry’s Centra on Curr Road, Beragh, was crowned winner, recognising its strong offer in food to go, and the exceptional work and dedication of the local team.

The ceremony also saw Wilson’s Centra Carn in Portadown, which opened in September 2025, take the title of Newcomer of the Year.

In the charity category, Moran’s Centra Strand Road in Derry~Londonderry was crowned Fundraiser of the Year for Action Cancer, raising £3,039 throughout 2025, while Toland’s Centra in Waringstown was the Excellence in Social Media category.

In the area of food safety and quality, McCloskey’s Centra Frosses Road in Cloughmills won the Exceptional Performance award while Lusty’s Centra Townparks in Larne won the Striving for Excellence title.

David Higgins, Retail Sales Director for Musgrave Northern Ireland said: “The Musgrave Store of the Year awards provide us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, hard work and dedication of our retail partners, across our three brands.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all our retailers who work so hard to maintain the highest standards across our brands. Congratulations to all the finalists and award winners who never fail to deliver the best customer service to communities across Northern Ireland.”

The awards ceremony was hosted by radio presenter and DJ Pete Snodden on Friday 17th April night in The Slieve Donard Hotel. Finalists are selected following several rigorous rounds of performance and standards audits, with the highest accolade being ‘Store of the Year’.


CENTRA DONEGALL SQUARE WEST UNVEILS NEW LOOK FOLLOWING MAJOR £530,000 REVAMP

Centra on Donegall Square West in Belfast has officially relaunched following a significant investment of £530,000 to refurbish the store.

Run by experienced retailer Peter Jez, the busy city centre store supports 17 jobs including three new positions and has been totally transformed to offer customers a modern new layout and more seamless shopping experience.

The investment has allowed for new and exciting additions including a wider range of meal solutions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including an enhanced food-to-go offering at the new hot deli and fresh sandwich and salad bar, plus a ‘grab and go’ hot food counter.

Coffee lovers can enjoy a hot drink-to-go at the popular Frank and Honest coffee docks, which offer a range of coffees including iced as well as oat milk options. Shoppers can also avail of a digital loyalty app and get a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

Commenting at the launch of the refurbished store, owner Peter Jez said:

“We’re thrilled to reveal the transformation of our Centra store right in the heart of Belfast. This transformation offers city centre workers and shoppers a brighter, more convenient experience, packed with quality, choice, good value and great service. Known for our excellent food-to-go options, we’ve made sure the new store delivers even more of what our customers love – fresh, tasty choice, ready when they are.”

David Higgins, Retail Sales Director for Musgrave NI, which owns the Centra brand, added:

“Congratulations to our retail partner Peter on the newly refreshed store – a lot of work has gone into the transformation and it’s clear to see customers are impressed with the changes. It’s a real asset to the city centre, offering the height of convenience at great value. I’d like to wish Peter and his team all the best with the new look store and look forward to working with him into the future.”

In addition to an enhanced product range and as part of Centra’s commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from hundreds of special offer items every week.

Centra is also committed to supporting local suppliers, with Musgrave NI spending more than £240m on local food and drink annually, working with more than 3,000 local farmers, over 250 local suppliers and stocking over 6,000 local products across its stores, including the Good Food Locally Sourced range of meal solutions.

Supporting Musgrave’s ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the store has been refitted with energy saving technology to make operations more efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. This includes energy efficient LED lighting, top-grade energy efficient freezers and refrigeration, as well as electronic shelf edge labels which reduce paper usage.

The store also supports Centra’s charity partner Action Cancer, a local charity which delivers life-saving breast screening, health checks and skin cancer detection services to communities across Northern Ireland on its mobile detection unit the Big Bus.


Centra Culcavy unveils new look following major revamp

Musgrave NI has invested £470,000 in revamping its Centra store in Culcavy, which unveiled its fresh new look on Friday (5th December). The store, which will celebrate 20 years of serving the local community next February, supports 26 local jobs, including three new positions.

It has been transformed to offers its customers a bright and contemporary new layout and more modern shopping experience. To celebrate, the store team hosted product sampling and a spin-to-win wheel with prizes, including vouchers for five local businesses.

The major investment has allowed for new and exciting additions in store, including an increased range with more than 200 new lines, a new hot deli and fresh sandwich and salad bar, plus a ‘grab and go’ hot food counter, while a new bakery offers a wide selection of in-store baked breads and pastries.

Coffee lovers can enjoy a hot drink-to-go at the popular Frank and Honest coffee dock, which offers a free coffee after earning ten stamps on the digital loyalty app. In addition, the off licence has been revamped and now features a zero-alcohol section.

Customers can also look forward to a new Post Office service in store early next year.

Store manager Liam Houston said:

“We’ve been pulling out all the stops to get our store ready and are very proud to unveil its new look. We have been serving Culcavy village for almost 20 years, and it’s been fantastic to receive so much positive feedback from our customers. We’re looking forward to continuing to offer a great range and value, plus exceptional service for many years to come.”

Oliver Martin, Head of Musgrave’s Company Owned stores added:

“Centra has been a part of this community for many years and this investment in the store reflects our commitment to the area, and to giving our customers an enhanced shopping experience.

“Supporting local is at the heart of what we do – we spend more than £240m on local food and drink annually, and we work with more than 3,000 local farmers, partner with over 250 local suppliers and stock over 6,000 local products across our stores. We’re also committed to our partnership with Action Cancer, a local charity that visits communities across Northern Ireland with its life-saving early detection services.

“I’d like to thank our shoppers for their valued custom over the years, and we look forward to continuing to serve the community with a one-stop shop and the best in modern convenience retailing into the future.”

In addition to an enhanced product range, including the new Good Food Locally Sourced range, and as part of Centra’s commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from over 100 special offer items every week and over 300 own brand products up to 40% cheaper than better known brands. This is as well as the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks, as well as weekly deals in the run up to Christmas.

Supporting Musgrave’s ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the store has also been refitted with energy saving technology to make operations more efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. This includes energy efficient LED lighting, top-grade energy efficient freezers and refrigeration, as well as electronic shelf edge labels which reduce paper usage.


CENTRA MOIRA UNVEILS NEW LOOK FOLLOWING £200K REVAMP

Musgrave NI has invested £200,000 in revamping its Centra store in Moira, which celebrated its fresh new look today (Thursday, 2nd October). The store which supports 22 jobs in the community has been transformed to offer its customers a bright and contemporary new layout and more modern shopping experience.

The investment has allowed for new and exciting additions in store including an increased range with more than 125 new lines, an improved hot deli and fresh sandwich and salad bar, alongside a new ‘grab and go’ hot food counter, plus a greater range of fresh products and meal solutions.

A new Moo’d Ice Cream counter offers a wide range of sweet treats including scoop and whippy ice cream, while the Frank and Honest coffee dock now offers the option of oat milk. Shoppers can also benefit from the digital loyalty app which offers a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

Store manager Emma Wray said: “We’re incredibly proud of our newly rejuvenated store – it’s a real reflection of the team’s hard work and commitment. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, and it was fantastic to celebrate with a fun-filled day for our shoppers. From food tastings to spin-to-win prizes, it was a great way to say thank you. We look forward to continuing to deliver great range, value, and exceptional service to our customers for many years to come.”

Lead operations manager David Thompson-Lyons added: “Centra is a community retailer, and we’re proud to have served the Moira community for many years. This latest investment reflects our commitment to delivering an enhanced shopping experience, with a more modern environment for our customers.

“Supporting local is at the heart of what we do – Musgrave NI invests over £240 million annually in local food and drink, working with more than 3,000 local farmers, partnering with over 250 suppliers, and offering over 6,000 local products across our stores. We’re also deeply committed to our partnership with Action Cancer, helping bring life-saving early detection services to communities across Northern Ireland.”

In addition to an enhanced product range and as part of Centra’s commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from hundreds of best buys and savings of up to 40% on own brand products, plus the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks.

Supporting Musgrave’s ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the store has also been refitted with energy saving technology to make operations more efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. This includes energy efficient LED lighting, top-grade energy efficient freezers and refrigeration, as well as electronic shelf edge labels which will reduce paper usage.


ESPRESSO WE CARE – COFFEE CAMPAIGN BREWS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CHARITY

Centra and SuperValu to donate 50p from sales of Frank and Honest Coffee to Action Cancer Coffee lovers across Northern Ireland can make a difference with every cup as Centra and sister brand SuperValu stores launch a charity initiative in support of charity partner Action Cancer.

Starting on Wednesday, 1 st October – International Coffee Day – the campaign will run until Saturday, 4th October. During this period, 50p from every Frank and Honest Coffee sold in participating stores will be donated directly to the brands’ charity partners to help fund life-saving services and health programmes.

Now in its fifth year, the ‘Espresso We Care’ campaign has raised over £81,000 for Action Cancer, helping to keep the charity’s Big Bus mobile clinic on the road, delivering breast screenings, health checks and skin cancer detection services. Maurice Cusack, Senior Marketing Manager at Musgrave NI, which owns the retail brands, said:

“Supporting local is very important to Musgrave and our Centra and SuperValu stores. We’re proud of our long-standing partnerships with Action Cancer and we’re pleased to bring back the ‘Espresso We Care’ campaign for a fifth year. We hope our caring customers will pick up a coffee when they’re in store and help us raise funds for a charity doing vital work in communities across Northern Ireland.”

Centra and SuperValu have been partnering with Action Cancer since 2001, and earlier this year reached a landmark £4 million in fundraising for the charity. Thanking Centra and SuperValu staff and their customers, Gareth Kirk, CEO of Action Cancer said:

“We are delighted that the Espresso We Care charity fundraiser is back again this year. Thanks to the continued support of Centra and SuperValu and their generous customers, we can bring our life-saving breast screening service, skin cancer detection and health checks to communities across Northern Ireland on the Big Bus.
“Please purchase a Frank and Honest coffee to support this fantastic initiative. Not only will you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, but you will also be helping Action Cancer make a positive difference to the lives of local people.”

Starting at £2.90 for a Frank and Honest coffee, 50p from the sale of each coffee will be donated to the charity over the four-day period.


NEW WILSON’S CENTRA OPENS ON CARN ROAD WITH £4M INVESTMENT

The new store has created 50 new jobs in the local area

A brand new Centra convenience store and petrol forecourt has officially opened today on Carn Road, Portadown marking an investment of £4 million. The store will be a welcome addition to the local community creating 50 new jobs.

Ideally located next to the Carn and Seagoe industrial estates, the new store boasts a large hot deli and fresh salad and sandwich bar alongside extensive hot and cold, grab and go options – perfect for those working nearby.

Owned by local Portadown family and experienced retailers, Eamonn, Peter and Andrew Wilson, who also own the SuperValu store on Garvaghy Road, the new Centra will also feature a wide range of fresh and chilled foods and meal solutions, freshly made in store each day, alongside meat products from Wilson’s Butchery.

Peter Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Centra Carn, said,

“We’re delighted to welcome customers to our new store on Carn Road in Portadown. With a wide range of everyday essentials, our own ready meal selection, and butchery range, we’re here to serve the needs of those who both live and work in the area. Whether it’s a quick bite, a family dinner, or the weekly shop, we’re committed to offering quality and convenience to the local community.”

The new store features the popular Frank and Honest coffee with three docks which include a range of coffees including iced as well and oat milk options. Shoppers can also avail of a digital loyalty app and get a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

With an off licence, an instore bakery offering pastries, breads and scones, and a Moo’d ice cream counter, the store offers a bright and modern shopping experience with convenience at the heart of the concept.

To mark the occasion and officially open the store, the Wilsons were joined by Musgrave NI’s Managing Director Trevor Magill and Retail Sales Director, David Higgins, while customers availed of exclusive offers, food sampling and spot prizes.

David Higgins, Retail Sales Director at Musgrave Northern Ireland, said,

“Musgrave has a long-standing relationship with the Wilson family through SuperValu Portadown, and we’re excited to further develop our partnership with the opening of Wilson’s Centra Carn.

“The new store will be an asset to the community, delivering convenience and great value across a wide variety of everyday products. The modern store is an excellent addition to our network and we wish the Wilson family the best of luck.”

In addition to an enhanced product range and as part of Centra’s commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from hundreds of best buys and savings of up to 40% on own brand products. That’s as well as a Supermarket Price Match on key everyday items with Tesco, plus the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks.

Musgrave Northern Ireland, which operates SuperValu, Centra and MACE brands, supports the employment of over 5,000 jobs, working with 250 local suppliers and investing significantly in local communities, as well as in sustainability and affordability initiatives.

The company recently deepened its commitment to supporting local suppliers launching the campaign ‘Love Local? So Do We’ spotlighting the fantastic range of local products available from the brands across the region.

The campaign followed the publication earlier this year of Musgrave’s economic and social impact report which set out a £1.2 billion contribution to the Northern Ireland economy by Musgrave NI.


Centra and SuperValu recognised with 18 shortlistings at prestigious UK Awards

Centra and SuperValu stores across N. Ireland in the running for esteemed retail accolades 

Centra, SuperValu and their independent retail partners have been announced as finalists with 16 shortlists at the highly esteemed 2025 Retail Industry Awards, highlighting the excellence in modern convenience retailing across both brands. Centra has also received a further two shortlists at the Forecourt Trader Awards, viewed as the most prestigious competition in the UK’s petrol retailing industry calendar. 

The Retail Industry Awards, which are widely recognised as the ‘Oscars’ of the grocery sector, sees Centra shortlisted in the Symbol/Franchise Group of the Year category while SuperValu NI is a finalist in the Community Retailer of the Year category. Musgrave NI, which owns the brands and operates 43 company owned Centra and SuperValu stores, has also achieved finalist status in the Convenience Retailer of the Year category – a title it won last year.  

The Retail Industry Awards reward excellence and outstanding achievement across a broad range of categories, recognising independent retailers alongside the large supermarket groups. 

Commenting on the shortlists, Musgrave NI Retail Sales Director David Higgins said:  

“I’d like to congratulate all the Centra and SuperValu stores which have been shortlisted at the Retail Industry and Forecourt Trader Awards. There was a substantial number of entries this year, so to make it to the finals is a fantastic achievement, demonstrating the dedication and commitment of our retail partners to serving their local communities with the best in modern convenience retailing. We are also delighted to be finalists in the Symbol Group of the Year and Community Retailer of the Year categories and wish all the finalists good luck.”   

The Retail Industry Awards take place in London on 30th September, and the shortlists are:  

  • Symbol Group of the Year – Centra NI  
  • Community Retailer of the Year – SuperValu NI  
  • Convenience Retailer of the Year – Musgrave Retail Stores NI 

Independent categories:  

  • Best Use of Technology 
    • Bradley’s Centra, Maghera  
  • Drinks Retailer of the Year  
    • Bradley’s Centra, Maghera
    • Conway’s Centra Dunman, Cookstown 
  • Food to Go Retailer of the Year  
    • Bradley’s Centra Maghera (under 3,000 sq ft)  
    • Kavanagh’s Centra Waterloo Place (under 3,000 sq ft) 
    • Conway’s Centra Dunman, Cookstown (over 3,000 sq ft)  
    • Moran’s Centra Strand Road (over 3,000 sq ft)  
  • Forecourt Retailer of the Year  
    • Bradley’s Centra, Maghera (under 3,000 sq ft)  
    • Conway’s Centra Dunman, Cookstown (over 3,000 sq ft) 
  • Independent Retailer of the Year  
    • McPolin’s Centra, Annaclone (up to 1,500 sq ft)  
    • Moran’s SuperValu, Ballykelly (3,001 – 6,000 sq ft)  

Company Owned categories:  

  • Forecourt Retailer of the Year 
    • Centra Prince Andrew Way  
  • Store Team of the Year 
    • SuperValu Lurgan 

Forecourt Trader Awards are on 9th October in London. The finalists are:  

  • Northern Ireland over 4mlpa (million litres per annum)  
    • Conway’s Centra Dunman  
  • Best Community Engagement  
    • Centra Prince Andrew Way, Carrickfergus 

MUSGRAVE NI LAUNCHES ‘LOVE LOCAL? SO DO WE’ CAMPAIGN

Food and drink retail brands Centra, SuperValu and Mace, plus wholesale brands Musgrave MarketPlace and Drinks Inc., all part of Musgrave Northern Ireland, have today launched their latest campaign ‘Love Local? So Do We’ which will spotlight the fantastic range of local products available from the brands across the region.

The campaign follows the recent publication of Musgrave’s economic and social impact report which was unveiled at a special event at St George’s Market in Belfast earlier this month and set out a £1.2 billion contribution to the Northern Ireland economy by Musgrave NI.

Supporting the findings and celebrating the brands’ commitment to local, ‘Love Local? So Do We’ is live in stores, branches and online now, with customers encouraged to enjoy the very best local products.

Director of Marketing Desi Derby said: “Our commitment to local is evident not least in our £240m annual spend on local food and drink, our relationships with over 250 local suppliers and our support for our local charity partners Action Cancer and Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, for which we have raised a combined total of £4.4 million.

“We’re excited about our new campaign which will spotlight everything local, from food and drink to people and partnerships, testament to the positive impact we’re committed to making in local communities here.”


NEW CENTRA STORE FOR WARINGSTOWN FOLLOWING £500,000 INVESTMENT

Following a major £500,000 investment, the Mace store and Post Office in Waringstown has converted to the Centra brand. This is the second Centra store to officially launch this month, following the opening of Centra Scotch Street in Portadown on 9th May.

The store, owned by Leon and Deirdre Toland, supports 21 jobs in the local community, including five new positions, and is a much-valued amenity for the area. Significant changes have been made to the store to create a more seamless and modern shopping environment for customers.

Owner, Deirdre Toland, said: “We have been serving the local community for 18 years and are delighted to relaunch our store under the Centra brand, continuing our long partnership with Musgrave. The refurbishment combined with our new offering for customers is a welcome addition to the local area and will provide a more modern shopping experience. Feedback from our shoppers has been extremely positive and we look forward to continuing to serve the local community with the best in modern convenience retailing for many years to come.”

The modern store offers a wide range of fresh and chilled foods plus a greater selection of meal solutions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including food-to-go from a greatly enhanced hot and cold deli counter, and a new range of freshly baked items from the in-store bakery.

Honest Coffee lovers can enjoy a hot drink to-go at the upgraded Frank and Honest Coffee dock which features 100% compostable coffee cups, plastic free coffee capsules and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee beans. Shoppers can also avail of the coffee brand’s digital loyalty app enabling customers to get a free coffee after earning ten digital stamps.

To celebrate, the store team hosted a family fun day with a spin to win wheel, goodie bags, balloon modelling, face painting, ice cream and more. Leon and Deirdre were also joined by Musgrave NI’s Retail Sales Director David Higgins and Sales Manager Norman Bennett.

David Higgins commented: “Musgrave has worked with Leon and Deirdre for many years, and we are delighted to continue this valued partnership with them as they move to the Centra brand. “The recent renovation will be a real asset to the community, delivering improved convenience along with great value for local shoppers. As part of our commitment to value, shoppers will benefit from hundreds of best buys and savings of up to 40% on own brand products. “

“This store is also a fantastic addition to the growing Centra portfolio, and we wish the Tolands all the best on their new journey.”

Centra also offers shoppers a Supermarket Price Match on key everyday items with Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, plus the Epic Deals promotion on four big brand products, which change every three weeks.

Committed to supporting local suppliers, Musgrave NI spends more than £166m on local food and drink annually, working with more than 3,000 local farmers, over 240 local suppliers and stocking over 4,500 local products across its stores, including the new Good Food Locally Sourced range of meal solutions.

Significant investment has been made in sustainability measures, as Musgrave and its brands work to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Features include LED lighting and top-grade energy efficient refrigeration.

For more information on Centra stores in Northern Ireland, visit www.centra.co.uk