The Cork Business Association along with main sponsor Heineken Ireland and media sponsor the Irish Examiner, are pleased to announce that Penneys, Munster Arcade Patrick Street are the first quarter winner of the Cork Business Association / Heineken Ireland, Business of the Year Awards 2010.

Penneys opened in Cork in the Queens Old Castle in 1971and moved to the Munster Archade in 1979.  Since their arrival Penneys have attracted a very large and loyal customer base into its store and hence to the City Centre. The store was nominated for its long standing trading relationship with Cork City and for the continuing investment in the business and the preservation of an old city building. 

In 2009 the company won a number of major retailing awards including for the 4^th time, the GMTV Award for Best Budget Store on the High Street and the British Council of Shopping Centres, Retailer of the Year for the last three years.  Readers of the fashion magazine, Prima, voted Penneys the Comfort High Street Fashion Award for 2009. This award specifically honours the store on Patrick Street.

Chair of the Judging Panel, James O’Sullivan, said “Penneys have been on Patrick Street for over  30 years and the store attracts a very large and loyal customer base into its store and hence to the City Centre.  It is an integral part of retailing in Cork and continues a long tradition of retail on the site which from the early 1900’s was the Munster Arcade.”

The awards which are sponsored by Heineken Ireland and the Irish Examiner recognize the value and achievement of Cork Businesses and acknowledges those that have contributed to or promoted the enhancement of the commercial, cultural or civic life of Cork. There are four quarterly awards and the overall winner is announced at the CBA Annual Dinner in November.

Accepting the award, John McCarthy, Manager of Penneys said; “ Penneys are proud to receive this award – and it’s a great vote of confidence in our business both in Patrick Street and in Wilton, particularly in the current economic climate.  This award, of course, would not be possible without the input and support of everyone working in Penneys and is also, of course, due to the great customer loyalty that we enjoy in Cork.”   On the night he also paid tribute to Mr Arthur Ryan, Chairman and Founder of Penneys who has recently won a Lifetime Achievement Award.