BWG Foods has been recognised both internationally and nationally for its leadership in retail innovation and sustainability, securing a major European Award alongside multiple honours at the 2026 eir Business Chambers Ireland Awards.
At European level, BWG Foods won the 2026 NACS Convenience Cares Europe Award, presented at the NACS Convenience Summit in Warsaw. The Award forms part of the globally recognised NACS Convenience Retail Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation across the convenience sector.
The accolade recognises BWG Foods’ commitment to sustainability through the development and rollout of Climate Flow, an innovative in-store airflow management system designed to significantly reduce energy consumption while improving environmental performance.
Developed in collaboration with Wirth Research and Anglo Irish Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Climate Flow captures and redistributes existing airflow within stores, removing the need for traditional air conditioning systems and delivering measurable efficiency gains.
First installed at the EUROSPAR Meakstown store in Dublin, the system Wirth Research and Anglo Irish Refrigeration & Air Conditioning has delivered an 80% reduction in energy consumption, alongside measurable environmental benefits, with the rollout continuing across the network. Following this successful implementation, BWG Foods has taken the strategic decision to move away from investing in conventional air conditioning systems across its network, reinforcing its commitment to more sustainable retail operations.
Complementing this international recognition, BWG Foods and its retail partners were also honoured at the eir Business Chambers Ireland Awards, held at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on 26 June 2026.
EUROSPAR received Silver in the Retailer of the Year category, recognising the continued success of its Responsible Retailing Programme. The programme focuses on delivering a consistent, high-quality customer experience while driving operational excellence, innovation and responsible business practices across the network. Across the group, EUROSPAR retailers continue to invest in store modernisation, energy-efficient technologies and community-focused initiatives that support responsible retailing.
BWG Foods was also awarded Bronze in the Team of the Year category for its ESG Operational Committee, which brings together cross-functional expertise to deliver the company’s Responsible Together sustainability programme. The committee has played a key role in advancing BWG Foods’ environmental, social and governance ambitions, helping to drive measurable progress across emissions reduction, renewable energy generation, waste management and community impact initiatives.
In addition, Chris Furey, Managing Director of Furey Smyth Group, was recognised as a finalist in the Business Person of the Year category, reflecting his leadership and contribution to the continued success of the business.
Commenting on the recognition, Suzanne Weldon, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at BWG Foods, said: "The success at the eir Business Chambers Ireland Awards reflects the strength of our brands, our retail partners and our colleagues across the business.
The recognition for EUROSPAR's Responsible Retailing Programme and our BWG ESG Operational Committee highlights the progress being made across multiple areas of the organisation, from customer experience and operational excellence to sustainability and community impact. Congratulations to all of the BWG Team involved and also to Chris Furey on his achievements. It's particularly rewarding to see that collective effort recognised through these awards.
Together, these awards reflect the progress being made across the BWG Foods network in innovation, sustainability and day-to-day operational performance."
Declan Ralph, Retail Development and Retail Key Accounts Director, BWG Foods, added:
" Winning the NACS Convenience Cares Europe Award is a significant endorsement of the work being done across BWG Foods to develop practical, scalable sustainability solutions for our retail network.
Climate Flow is a strong example of innovation delivering tangible results. By rethinking how we manage in-store temperature control, we've been able to reduce energy demand while creating a solution that can be implemented across the network. We're proud to see that recognised on a European stage."
The eir Business Chambers Ireland Awards are among Ireland's leading business awards programmes, celebrating excellence and business performance across a wide range of sectors. Together with the NACS Convenience Cares Europe Award, the honours reflect the work under way across BWG Foods and its retail network to drive innovation, support more sustainable operations and deliver positive outcomes for customers, communities and retailers.
