A new Tesco store has created 100 new jobs in the area, but it is set to become known as one of the most environmentally friendly stores in Ireland. Part of this store's authentic charm is that it boasts a state-of-the-art environmental system, and as well as that local shoppers will know where they are shopping when they see that goods produced within the county, such as Spicers Bread and Tayto Crisps, are be highlighted in the Meath colours of green and gold. The Royal County colours also nestle beside some of the meat and vegetables goods in the store, as several farmers within the county supply the store on a weekly basis. Tesco Bettystown is one of the most environmentally friendly stores in the country and features a number of state-of-the-art environmental initiatives. All staff and store room areas are equipped with a motion detection lighting system with lights turning off automatically once people leave the area. Solar sensitive lighting is used on the shop floor with lights automatically dimming when it's bright outside and brightening up when it becomes darker. These measures will see an estimated 50 per cent energy saving when compared with a store of the same size that does not employ these environmental features. Rainwater will also be recycled and used in the store's toilet systems. It is estimated that enough rainwater to fill 6,500 bathtubs will be collected and re-used. Tesco employee James McNamara was appointed as Manager to the Bettystown division back in June and the store officially opened its doors on September 19, with great response, according to the man himself. "It was excellent," said McNamara. "It was like Christmas time around the store. People from all around were in wanting to see what the store was like and since then it has been very, very steady for us here." Since then, a momentous amount of work has gone in by all 106 of the store's staff to keep the ship steady up until Christmas time, when shoppers' consumption hits into overdrive, and it proves that the orchestrators of this move couldn't have chosen a better time to unveil their new store to the good people of Bettystown. However, one does have to ask the question, why the Meath coast? "Population," explains McNamara. "We get a lot of people coming who would rather shop here than in Drogheda because the parking with us is free. "We have a great food range and then of course there is the non-food aspect of it. We are the only shop in Bettystown to sell non-food products like toys and clothes, and our clothing is good quality and at good prices as well." That seems to be the ultimate difference. Why do your shopping in three or four different stores, when you could do it all in one. With 15 years of experience in the retail business, McNamara knows this better than most. The Galway native was studying marketing at DCU when he took a part-time job with a local outlet in Dublin and since then he has never looked back. He has since worked in Tesco stores in Phibsboro and Monaghan before having to relocate to Knockbridge in county Louth this past summer in order to pursue his position in Bettystown. It's a demanding career to assume, and one that wouldn't exactly suit a Gaelic footballer looking to stay put with his native club, according to McNamara. "I'm a Galway man and would have played with my local club St Cron's in Ballintubber before I went to college. I played Under 14, Under 16, minor and intermediate and would have county medals in all those grades," he explained. "I played county minor and senior for Roscommon, but then I moved to Dublin and it all went pair-shaped," he laughed. "I played with St Pat's a bit when I was there after the manager where I was working at the time got me in there for a while." McNamara's has since hung up his football boots, but has hinted that he would like to get his Tesco unit involved with the local GAA club St Colmcilles in some kind of way. "Yeah, definitely. I think it's important for businesses to become involved with local GAA in some way because at the end of the day all those kids have parents and they are the ones that we are looking to for custom. "As well as that, it's important for young children to get involved in some kind of activity, rather than becoming tele-addicts, which is a growing concern for parents today." However, the usual procedure of sponsoring a set of jerseys for a local club team doesn't appeal to McNamara. "With Tesco, they try and generally help everyone and not single out one club or team in particular," he explained. At present, there are four Tesco branches in county Meath, located in Ashbourne, Bettystown, Navan and Ratoath, and each tries to help out their local clubs without leaving any out. Between the four departments 390 people are employed, while nationwide, Tesco roughly employs 13,000 people through 111 stores. With the country now facing into 'tough times', Tesco still leads the way in customer service on the food retail market, reportedly serving over one million customers on a weekly basis. "We're going to be the biggest discounters in Ireland," says McNamara. "We have very close contacts and relations with the customers to try and meet their needs and our main objective is to try and accommodate every class of shopper." Tweet

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