Pillars of the local community, retailers Charlie and Ruth Hamilton, exhibited the best of Northern Ireland’s local food producers during a Local Supplier Showcase recently at their SPAR Castlederg store and at two local primary schools.

The showcase and school visits are part of SPAR Castlederg’s 30th anniversary celebrations this year and it is the second time the retailers have engaged in similar events to showcase local suppliers to shoppers and school children.

Among those sampling and demonstrating their tasty fayre in-store were Simply Fruit, Milgro Onions, Donnelly Fresh, Grove Dairy, Mullaghmore Bakery, Nutrilean, Rosie’s Bakery and Kennedy Bacon. All producers gave shoppers the opportunity to sample their products, enjoy exclusive promotions and speak directly to suppliers about the journey of their food from field to fork.

SPAR Castlederg continues to show support to their local community and beyond, as Henderson Group is committed to sourcing local fresh foods from farmers, growers and suppliers, with over 75% of fresh products sourced on the island of Ireland. The company was named Wholesale Fruit & Veg Supplier of the Year at the 2024 FPC Fresh Awards.

The showcase not only highlighted the offering available to shoppers in store, but also the range of local suppliers and quality produce available across the country.

As part of the showcase, Charlie Hamilton and Lynsey Evans, Commercial Manager of Produce & Horticulture at Henderson Wholesale, visited two local Castlederg primary schools; Edwards Primary School and St Patrick’s Primary School. The engaging sessions were designed to showcase the richness of Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry and to help inspire the next generation about the importance of local food and healthy eating, and how they can go hand in hand.

Together, they spoke with pupils about where their food comes from, the importance of supporting local farmers and producers, and how making homegrown, healthy choices benefits both communities and the environment. To bring the message home, each pupil received a selection of fresh, locally sourced fruit and vegetables to enjoy with their families.

Charlie commented, “We are incredibly proud of our local suppliers here in Northern Ireland, and we’re passionate about sharing that with our shoppers, and now with the next generation. As a local business, it’s so important to make a positive impact, not just in our store, but throughout the community.

“We wanted to celebrate our suppliers again and show them off to our shoppers. The instore showcase was a great opportunity for shoppers to speak to the suppliers directly and hear more about where their produce is coming from.”

The event not only celebrated the fresh, local offering available in-store, but also highlighted the value of educating young people on food origins, nutrition, and the importance of buying local.

Charlie and Ruth Hamilton have the local community at the heart of their businesses as they own three stores across Co. Tyrone, first opening Hamilton’s SPAR, Newtownstewart in 1979, followed by SPAR Castlederg in 1995 and three years later, their Tamlaght Road SPAR opened its doors.

Over the years, the Hamilton family has made substantial investments in the local community, with the Castlederg store undergoing two major renovations. The most recent in 2021 transformed the store into a fresh food superstore, becoming the largest SPAR in the UK.

The development allowed the family to provide top quality products and services to their shoppers, as well as introducing more jobs to the community, with their store now employing 65 staff from the local area.

Charlie, Ruth and their family are well known and respected in the community, with their children continuing their legacy. Their son David owns four stores in Fermanagh and their daughter Louise owns Joe’s Chippy in Sion Mills. Charlie and Ruth also celebrated the 45th anniversary of their Newtownstewart SPAR store just last year.

Share this page: