CUSTOMER IS KING AT APPLEGREEN

Fuel, food and retail customers are provided with exceptional value and service in convenient, comfortable surroundings at Applegreen Lusk M1 North, which had the distinction of being Ireland’s first motorway service station when it opened in 2010 and is also the busiest. We dropped in and had a word with award-winning manager Michael Feeney to find out more.

Aconvenient and high-quality motorists’ pit stop off the vital infrastructural artery that is the M1 motorway northbound, leaving the city, Applegreen Lusk North is certainly one of Ireland’s busiest and fastest-moving retail settings. Open 24/7, this service station has something for every traveller and the quality of customer service provided is exceptional.

This was duly recognised when popular store manager Michael Feeney – who has 30 years’ experience in retail management working in high volume locations – collected the prestigious Forecourt Manager of the Year (Large) Award at the 2022 Grocery Management Awards, which were held in a packed Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire on Wednesday night, July 6th.

Michael has been a key part of the Applegreen team for 23 years and he agrees that this latest award represents a worthy endorsement of the investment of time and energy made by all team members at Applegreen Lusk North every day to ensure the best possible customer experience.

“It’s really nice to get this recognition,” states the humble recipient, who has been managing the iconic service station since it opened twelve years ago. “I was nominated before, but this was my first time to take the award home. It’s a real honour to get it. I really appreciate the fact that the company put me forward for consideration and winning the award on the night was a welcome bonus.”

Michael has enjoyed an illustrious career with Applegreen, a homegrown Irish success story which began from humble beginnings in 1992, opening their first service station in Ballyfermot, West Dublin. Today, the business – still fronted by founders Bob Etchingham and Joe Barrett - is operating 620 forecourt sites and employing approximately 15,000 people across Ireland, the UK and America.

Up to 90 valued personnel are employed at Applegreen Lusk North during the peak of the summer season and it is fair to say that the place is a true hive of activity. Michael is quick to attribute the enduring success of this outlet to his trusty team:

“In retail, it’s all about the team,” he continues. “This is a vital stop along the motorway and we would see ourselves as a food and convenience company rather than a fuel company.

“We have a huge team here and they are all skilled and customer-focussed people. We have five food outlets, for example, as well as a very busy retail and convenience area, where the traveller can pick up toys and gifts. We were very lucky in that we didn’t lose any of our team during Covid. The key members all stuck with us and they are all wonderful people.”

Offering fuel for both the vehicle and the traveller, the service station is almost like a small compact town square on the side of the motorway, with petrol, diesel and electric vehicle charging stations all available alongside a plethora of other service including an ATM, gift shop, Lavazza coffee, Burger King, Freshii, The Bakewell, Chopstix Noodle Bar, a grocery store, children’s play area, outdoor dining area, showers and toilets, a car wash and much, much more