Gala Conference Killarney 29/9/15

D41 0215 Repro Free REPER FREE - Gala Conference Killarney Co Kerry - 29/9/15 Gala Retail invests €300,000 in creating more choice for its shoppers through Your Choicehealth & wellness strategy. Pictured L/R are: Gary Desmond, CEO, Gala Retail , Fiona Gratzer, Managing Director, Unislim and Photo By Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD - www.dwalshphoto.ie Tralee Co Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone : 00353 87 26 72 033 Land Line : 00 353 66 71 22 981 E/mail : info@dwalshphoto.ie WEB Site : www.dwalshphoto.ie ________________________________________________ PRESS INFO Embargoed: 11am, Tuesday, 29th September, 2015 . “We’re not here to tell our shoppers how to live their lives…instead it’s all about helping to deliver choice and promote healthier lifestyles,” adds Mr Desmond. Commenting on becoming the first commercial sponsor of parkrun Ireland, Gary Gala Retail invests €300,000 in creating more choice for its shoppers! -Your Choice with Gala health & wellness strategy launched -DELIVERING choice for consumers was the central theme at Gala Retail’s annual conference, which is taking place today, Tuesday 29th September, at the Malton Hotel in Killarney. Attended by Gala retailers, Gala CEO, Gary Desmond was joined by former Rugby International and TV Pundit, Brent Pope, to announce the Group’s new health and wellness strategy which will deliver more choice for its shoppers – Your Choice with Gala. The Group has pledged to invest over €300,000 in Your Choice with Gala, which includes both in-store activation through an initiative with Unislim Ireland, and a major sponsorship with parkrun Ireland. Commenting on the six figure investment in ‘Your Choice with Gala’, CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond says: “At Gala, we’re all about offering consumers choice and that’s why we’re investing significantly in our new strategy to ensure it really delivers for our shoppers – both in-store and in their lives.”“Research shows that 1 in 10 adults in Ireland are thought to be on a slimming plan* with over 1 in 2 trying to lose weight. Therefore our new product development with Unislim will deliver meal options that are convenient, healthy and don’t compromise on taste for our busy shoppers,” The Gala healthy choices range with Unislim - Ireland’s longest-established slimming and health organisation - will initially include a range of healthier offerings for Gala’s in-store deli bars that will have a wide-appeal, and will work within Unislim’s meal plans. Fiona Gratzer, Managing Director from Unislim adds: “Unislim are thrilled to be working with Gala on this exciting and new initiative which is a real opportunity to introduce innovative and exciting healthy options at Gala deli counters. Our members lead busy lives and having convenient yet healthy food choices for lunch, endorsed by Unislim, in Gala stores across Ireland will be hugely beneficial.”The range will be launched in the New Year and over 10,000 Unislim members will be amongst the first to taste Gala’s Healthy Options with Unislim. In a three-year deal, Gala will become the first commercial sponsor of parkrun Ireland – the free, weekly, 5km runs that have grown to almost 40 locations nationwide – and of junior parkrun, which is soon to launch. Gala’s sponsorship of parkrun Ireland embraces ‘Your Choice with Gala’ as parkrunners can choose to walk, run or jog at the weekly parkruns and there’s no age limit on participationDesmond continues: “parkrun Ireland events are community run and as they’re free, they remove cost as a barrier to participation. It’s this sense of community and helping our communities to become healthier that appealed to us, and as Gala is recognised throughout Ireland as the community convenience retailer, sponsoring parkrun Ireland was the perfect fit.” With almost 70,000 registered parkrunners in Ireland, parkrun Ireland has grown significantly since the first Irish parkrun in Malahide Demense Castle and Gardens on the 10th November 2012. parkrun now stretches across 17 counties in Ireland, with three further counties – Donegal, Limerick and Roscommon - introducing parkruns over the coming months.“We’ve ambitious targets for parkrun in Ireland and hope to have at least 70 events by the end of 2016. The three-year deal with Gala Retail is incredibly important to parkrun, in order to help us achieve our growth via Gala’s network of stores and to ensure that we always maintain the ethos of parkrun, which includes free participation for everyone,” concludes Matt Shields, Country Manager with parkrun Ireland. Also taking place at the Gala Group’s annual conference tonight is the Gala B.E.S.T store awards, which will see a host of awards presented to retailers for excellence in convenience retailing. -ends-* Source Nielsen Global Health & Wellness Survey 2014For further information please contact:RNN Communications | jolene@rnncommunications.com | 048 9521 3621 About Gala: • Gala was established in 1998 and is a wholly Irish-owned convenience Group. There are almost 200 stores in the Gala Group, including Gala and Gala express stores. The stores are locally-owned and are renowned for their commitment to the local communities in which they operate. • Gala Retail was one of the official sponsors of Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, and helped to fund 88 athletes’ travel and participation at the Games in LA during the summer• Gala is the headline sponsor of the first-ever IFTA Gala Television Awards, which are taking place on Thursday 22nd October at the Double Tree Hilton. • In addition to its commitment to Special Olympics Ireland, Gala has raised over €150,000 for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.www.gala.ie | www.facebook.com/GalaRetail *****

Gala Conference Killarney 29/9/15