Gala (supermarket)

Gala

A Gala branded shop in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim
Founded	1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Headquarters	Ireland
Number of locations	250[1] (2022)
Area served	Ireland
Key people	Gary Desmond
Website	www.gala.ie

Gala is a convenience shop chain in Ireland. Established in 1998, as of 2021 Gala had approximately 250 shops nationwide,^[1] all under franchise. The symbol group is supplied by a number of independent wholesalers which were formerly part of the National Wholesale group (now known as Stonehouse).^[2][3] In 2008, the brand recognised its tenth year in business.^[4] Gary Desmond is the chief executive officer.^[5]

Gala sponsors the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Gradam Chumarsáide an Oireachtais,^[6] and the Irish Special Olympics Team.^[7]

In 1998, the National Wholesale Grocers Alliance, a buying group of independent cash and carry outlets, launched Gala Retail Services Limited. The launch represented an attempt to replicate models operated by the BWG Foods' Spar chain and the Musgrave-owned Centra chain.^{[citation needed]} It followed the entry of Costcutter, a UK-based convenience store group, to the Irish market.^[8]

As of 2005, Gala was operating stores under three brands: "Gala", "Gala Superstore" and "Checkout".^[9] In 2019, the group began the changeover of "Checkout" branded stores to a new facia called "Your Stop".^{[citation needed]}

Gala Retail Services Limited coordinates the franchise services for the retailers such as central billing, store development, fresh food advice, marketing, training and information technology, while wholesale members supply stores with goods.^{[citation needed]}

From 2018 to 2023, BWG Foods acquired three Gala wholesale members, including 4 Aces Wholesale and Tuffys Wholesale,^[10][11] and is now the largest supplier to the symbol group.^{[citation needed]}

• Gala