M&P O'Sullivan celebrate 110 years in business

1st July 2015

Expansion, new services, and significant sponsorship deal for Cork Cash and Carry & Foodservice Wholesalers

One of the leading Cash and Carry & Foodservice Wholesalers in Cork and Munster, M&P O’Sullivan, is celebrating 110 years in business with an exciting new phase of expansion, new services, and, as a member of the Gala group, has announced a significant sponsorship deal with Team Ireland in the Special Olympics.

The independent 4th generation family business is very much focused on the future this year having recently expanded its warehouse and workforce by 20% in what is a tough trading environment. This 46,000 sq ft facility at Sarsfield Road in Wilton now supports 50 jobs locally in Cork.

In addition, M&P O’Sullivan also support an additional 200 jobs locally through its Gala franchise, and the successful Homestead and White Hat brands. They opened two new Gala stores already this year in Bandon and Ballyphehane Cork, and have plans to open a further five stores in Cork in the next 12 months, which will result in up to 50 additional jobs.

M&P O’Sullivan also work with a wide range of independent stores and the Foodservice industry, supplying product to a large number of catering outlets, and are indeed one of the biggest fast food suppliers in Ireland.

The company is a member of the Stonehouse Group, their umbrella buying group who are responsible for the Homestead and White Hat range of products, which as a nationwide network of 25 family run wholesale businesses, employs over 1200 staff and maintains a turnover in excess of one billion per annum. Pat O Sullivan, one of the Directors in M&P O Sullivan, is also a director of Stonehouse Marketing Ltd.

The food distribution wholesaler also recently embraced the digital age by setting up a new online ordering system, and they launched a frozen and chilled distribution service at the end of 2014, which has seen huge growth with business tripling in the first quarter of 2015.

Commenting, Director James O Sullivan, who is a well-known figure in Cork business life, said “Only 5% of businesses in Ireland are believed to be 4th generation, which is an incredible achievement for our business. I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution our founder, my grandfather, Patrick O Sullivan made, and his vision, and also our very loyal team”.

“As one of Cork’s oldest and most established companies, we are of course reflecting on the past this year, but more importantly we have a renewed focus on the future. You can’t survive in business this long without continually re-freshing and developing the business.”

Pat O’Sullivan, co-Director at M&P O Sullivan, said “M&P O’Sullivan is very much focused on a local, personal service, and we do everything in our power to meet the needs and expectations of our many customers. Our customers can pick up the phone and deal directly with one of us. We would very much welcome new customers and can assure them of a warm welcome”.

M&P O’Sullivan has taken a philanthropic approach to celebrating its anniversary. As one of the shareholders of Gala Retail Services – the convenience group with almost 200 stores in Ireland – Gala and M&P O’Sullivan have recently announced that Gala is now one of the official sponsors of Team Ireland with Special Olympics Ireland.
In a six figure deal, that includes sponsorship rights and a significant activation budget, this major sponsorship will help Irish athletes travel to and compete at July’s World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Pat O’Sullivan is joining the team in LA in July as a Director of Gala Retail Services Ltd, and to represent M&P. Commenting he said “Being in a position to assist these athletes in achieving their dreams and experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is something that everyone at M&P O’Sullivan and Gala is committed to and we’re looking forward to an exciting summer, wishing Team Ireland every success at the Games.”
M&P O Sullivan was founded in 1905 by visionary Paddy O Sullivan, who was had entrepreneurial insight to open a retail outlet in Princes Street, Cork and later to expand into a tobacco business called Red Abbey Tobacco factory. As a nod to this chapter of their history, one of the modern day M&P O’ Sullivan’s generic food service brands is today known as Red Abbey.

Founder Paddy was followed into business by his son again called Paddy in the 1940’s who moved the business more into the catering and grocery sector. He had the distinction of being one of the youngest people to have attended UCC, commencing his studies at just 15 he went on to graduate with B.COMM degree at the age of 17.

Today the 110 year old company is headed up by James O Sullivan and Pat O Sullivan, whose leadership and vision has helped the company become one of the leading wholesale distribution companies in Munster. Sons, David, Patrick and Eoin are now responsible for more of the day-to-day running of the business. Eoin heads up the vibrant sales force, Patrick is involved in the Trading / Buying division and David specialises in logistics.

Products supplied by M&P O Sullivan include grocery, health and beauty, stationery, equipment, wines, beers, spirits, fresh and frozen produce, confectionary, snacks, soft drinks, catering, hardware, household, electrical products, cleaning, and hygiene products.

For more see www.mpos.ie

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