Kevin Morgan

Store Manager

SuperValu, Togher Cork

I began my career in retail, working part-time while I was studying at college. I liked retail because I made friends, liked being on my feet and feeling space around me in the store. At this time I worked in the grocery department and learnt how to merchandise, order, stocktake, manage compliance and deliver great customer service. I also learnt some key behaviours that have stuck with me throughout my career - the importance of showing up on time, looking the part, being part of a team and having each other's back.

After finishing my college diploma in financial management, I started in a management position with a fashion and homeware retail store, in the drapery/hardware department. However, after a period of time I realised that my real passion was food retailing and I wanted to return to this.  I took up a position with the Nally’s SuperValu in Kildare as a Trainee Manager, where I received great training and experience and worked in a fantastic team who really supported each other. In this role I spent time working across all departments and had regular reviews and feedback on how I was doing. I learnt about the key performance indicators of a store and how to manage and grow sales, margin, waste and developed my business acumen.

I then moved to join the Ryan’s SuperValu in Togher as I wanted to move back to Cork.  Two years later, I was promoted to Assistant Manager in their flagship SuperValu Glanmire store and remained there for five years. I was then promoted to Store Manager in SuperValu Togher in Cork City.  This store has now gone through a large revamp, doubled in size and is due to be relaunched this year.

I continue to learn and develop myself and this is critical for me as a manager and a person - it's so important to keep refreshing my skills and learning new techniques. People's expectations of you as a manager are always changing and it is your responsibility to meet them. I got a lot of personal development and this was very important to me. Among other things, I completed a Bachelor of Business Studies in Retail Management at DIT (now Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)), achieved a Professional Diploma in Strategic Human Resources Management with the Irish Management Institute (IMI) and attended other management training programmes with the support of my managers. I learnt the importance of detail in merchandising, right through to treating everyone fairly and with respect, keeping to commitments, taking the time to get to know your team, developing them and thinking critically. The managers I worked with have shaped and influenced me as well. My managers taught me the importance of knowing what you stand for, your work ethic and building a strong team. I always sought my own personal values that I grew up with throughout my career - "Treat people the way you would like to be treated"