A local retailer is celebrating a successful 50 years serving the local community as a SPAR store.

Kieran and Margaret McCann officially opened their local convenience store in Belcoo in 1971 before beginning to trade under the SPAR brand just two years later in 1973.

Kieran and Margaret McCann owned the store until passing the family business to son and daughter-in-law, Eugene and Brenda McCann.

The store now employs 20 people from the area.

The family has made major investments into the store and SPAR Belcoo has undergone three refurbishments over the years, expanding to bring a wider offering to the community, including an extensive range of fresh food and locally sourced produce.

The most recent refurbishment in 2022 saw new refrigeration and an overall modernisation of the store, enhancing the shopper experience.

The store has been central to the community for the past 50 years, often supporting local charities, events and sports teams including the sponsorship of the local Belcoo GAA club.

To show their appreciation for the community, the store have been giving away exciting prizes to their shoppers every month, including an air fryer, a Karcher power washer, a barbeque and in-store shopping vouchers.

Eugene McCann, store owner, said: “We are so happy to be celebrating this milestone anniversary of our store and are so appreciative of our local community, which has supported our family business for over 50 years.

“We love being part of such a great community, seeing friendly faces in store and knowing everyone by name.

“We have an immense community factor in-store and it has always been important to us to give back through local groups and charities as well as to our shoppers.

“I also wish to extend a huge thanks to Henderson Group for their support over the past 50 years.”

Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group, said: “We want to congratulate the McCanns for a fantastic 50 years and being such an integral part of their local community through their SPAR store.”