Well-known retailers, the Ellis family from Arva, have picked up the gold prize at the National Retail and Wholesale Family Business Awards. The fifth generation of the family is now working in the business known as Gerry Ellis and Sons, which was established in 1889 by Michael Ellis' great-grandparents, Arthur and Mary Ellis. Michael Ellis said his family's business has consistently evolved to adapt to the ever-changing retailer landscape and explained what it is the Ellis family do so well that helped them fend off competition from 10 other retailers across Ireland to ensure they scooped the top prize.
The business has operated under many guises. Michael spoke of his predecessors exporting eggs and fowl from Arva Station during the war years, using Pearson's and Johnston's cattle lorries from Arva to pick up oranges the two or three times a year they arrived in Dublin docks; and about opening 60 fruit and vegetable shops locally. Only one of those have survived the "onslaught" of discount supermarkets in Ireland, Mr Ellis said.
Despite this, Ellis' is still going strong with 20 local supermarkets in many locations across the region today. Michael Ellis said teamwork, generations of families working in their shops, personal service including carrying customers' shopping to their cars and the absence of self-service tills is where it's at. Mr Ellis said he and his family and staff have had a great response from well-wishers about the award.
"We've had a great response from our customers and great loyalty from them," he said, "Very importantly, I think - and it's on purpose, we won't do it - we have none of these machines to check yourself out.
"We still like our customers to come into our shops and get served by a nice friendly face at the till and if they want their groceries carried out to the car we'll carry them out for them and if they want their groceries packed we'll pack them for them, too or whatever the case may be," Michael told Northern Sound.
