Centra – A Convenient Truth! Who better to comment on the continued growth of Centra than some of the retailers who have been with the group since the very beginning in 1979? Sheila Flood, one of the original Centra retailers, pictured with John, Breda and Mark Flood outside their store in Ramsgrange, Co. Wexford.
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of the most enduring testaments to the longevity of the Centra brand is undoubtedly the fact that many of the retailers who first joined the group back in 1979 are still proud to be part of the Centra family today. Sheila Flood’s Centra in Ramsgrange, Co. Wexford, was one of the first independent stores to sign up to the new symbol group, with Sheila’s son John taking over the reins, as the second generation of Floods to be a Centra retail partner. “I suppose you could say I was a Centra baby,” laughs John today. One of the facets of the partnership with Centra which has remained consistent through its three decades is the level of approachability between retailers and head office, according to Sheila Flood. “The service was always very personal and still is to this day,” she notes. “If you rang somebody, you always got an answer, and it didn’t matter whether you were looking for [former CEO] Seamus Scally or somebody to drive a lorry. The level
of support has always been second to none, from the very start right up to now.” Sheila’s words are echoed by her son John. “Customer service, whether it’s the group with the retailer or the retailer with their customers, is a massive thing for Centra,” he explains, highlighting the “great family feel” to being part of the group, describing it as “professionalism within a family atmosphere. Every retailer feels part of the Musgrave family.”
Centra Council The Centra Council, made up of retailers from right across the country, is a valuable asset for members, who always feel they can access the latest information, trends and statistics, or have their queries answered in a timely fashion. “You can put a query to the group through your Council member, who will then raise it at a meeting, and you will always get a report back from the meeting,” John Flood notes. “You always feel that you’re in the loop. 31
“There are also a series of retailer forums where Musgrave invites retailers and the top managers from the group to not only talk through the plans for the coming year, but also to listen to what retailers tell them. They ask for feedback, which they take on board and act on.” This sense of belonging is not confined to the Floods alone. Every member of the Centra store network is treated as a valued member of the team. “There is a great relationship between the group and its retailers,” enthuses Pat O’Leary, another retailer who has been with Centra since the very beginning, with his store in Tower, Blarney, Co. Cork.
Fantastic Support Levels Highlighting the fantastic level of support and personal service he receives from head office, Pat stresses the professionalism of everyone involved in the Centra group. Five years ago, Pat increased the size of his Centra store considerably,