Stores shine at Q Mark awards

SEVEN Kerry shops have been nominated for awards at the Q Mark awards.

The National Q Mark Awards 2017 nominations were announced this week and shops from across Kerry will be flying the flag for The Kingdom at the awards ceremony next week.

The Kerry nominees are Fitzpatricks Spar Express Cahersiveen; Keanes SuperValu Killorglin; Byrne’s Spar outlets in Monavalley, Oakpark and Caherslee in Tralee; Spar Express Bridge Road Listowel and Spar Market Street Listowel.

The coveted Q Mark is awarded only to companies who achieve the highest standards of quality and excellence. The Q Mark awards celebrate the success of businesses over a range of sectors that review 100 per cent of their processes and procedures 100 per cent of the time so that they continually operate best practice standards.

The glitzy, black tie ceremony, which will take place on Friday September 29, will see over 450 people representing 135 companies converge at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in Dublin 4 to battle it out for the prestigious National Q Mark Awards.

To qualify for the awards each businesses had to undergo a rigorous audit which was carried out by Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA).

Only businesses that achieved the highest scores at audit were shortlisted in their relevant category.

Once Shortlisted, all companies then had to complete a very detailed submission document which was presented to an expert panel of independent judges from the areas of food safety, employment law, academia, business and quality assurance.

“To be nominated for The Q Mark Awards is an enormous achievement. Companies who achieve the Q Mark provide their own customers with added confidence in their products and demonstrate that the highest standards of quality and excellence are at the heart of their business,” said Managing Director of the EIQA Irene Collins..