Evergreen Healthfoods are true natural pioneers. They opened their first store in Galway back in 1992, and have since become a highly regarded health store brand, well-known for their dedication and expertise. In our Summer 2021 issue, we spoke to co-founder Aideen Hurley to learn more!
In our Spring 2021 issue, we had the chance to speak with one of the proprietors of Nature In, a Wicklow-based health store that has developed in leaps and bounds since opening their first outlet in Enniskerry back in 2019. They’ve since opened a second store in Newtownmountkennedy. Read on to learn more about their story!
We have long been fans of Down to Earth, a health food store and homeopathic dispensary, on Dublin’s South Great George’s Street. It is always a joy to speak with them when they appear on the pages of our magazine. In our Summer 2020 issue, founder Jack Irwin shared an amazing historical link between the present-day store, and an old homeopathic dispensary which existed on the very same spot during the 1850s!
We were excited to feature the popular Evergreen health food store in the Short and Sweet section of our Winter 2019/20 issue. Read on to learn all about their top tips for fighting off the winter cold!
By Elva Carri
Evergreen, a chain of six health food stores in Galway and an online store, was founded by Kieran and Aideen Hurley with their first shop opening in 1992. According to Therese Hyland, the manager of their latest store in Oranmore, their aim was simply to provide foods for special dietary requirements. The business has grown a lot since then, expanding into beauty care, eco-friendly cleaning products, sports nutrition, supplements and more.
I asked Therese if she thinks interest in natural and holistic approaches to health has grown and she explained how much more educated and empowered even the customers have become, “People are taking a more preventative approach with their health and looking to avoid taking medications if they can help it. There is much more awareness of the impact diet and lifestyle can have on our health and wellbeing.”
Staff like to be able to help the customer even more and that ethos is manifested with weekly staff training provided and further study actively encouraged. Creating a positive impact on the communities local to their shops and building great relationships with the people around them is another really important day to day element for them.
Therese’s top tip for summer health is to take a good probiotic, “Generally there is a shift in people’s routine and eating habits come summertime and this can disrupt our digestion system and leave us feeling a bit bloated and out of sorts. A good probiotic will help balance the gut flora and protect our immune system.”
They’ve also got a super slick online store for anyone wanting to shop with Evergreen but not based in Galway. evergreen.ie
This is taken from our summer 2015 issue. Subscribe to have each issue of Positive Life delivered direct to your door.
This is taken from our Spring 2015 issue. Subscribe here to receive our summer issue.
By Elva Carri
Rosemarie got into healthy eating as a teenager. Attending a boarding school where she said the food wasn’t great and there was never enough of it, she says she developed a love for home economics and biology and really got into food and nutrition. Later, when she trained as a yoga teacher and studied reflexology, the nutrition part of things kept coming up as important components.
So when someone suggested that a health food store would be a great asset to Newcastle West, she jumped at the opportunity to open one with support from Aileen Dinane. She said there was no business plan and she’s had to learn on the job and continues to educate herself on anything helpful for people coming into the store. GAPS (Gut and Psychology/Physiology) nutritional protocol is her latest big passion. “I would be in school constantly if I could,” she says laughing.
When I asked about her favourite things in the shop she listed coconut oil for its taste and its health benefits, and some nut butters they stock. She also said she’s finding the use of chia seeds very interesting, mentioning using them instead of eggs in baking and as a thickener. And what keeps her going running her own business? Trying to remind herself of a little mantra, “May I be open to what comes my way today.”
Sonas moved to a new premises at No. 9 The Square, Newcastle West this spring, just in case you thought you’d lost them!
This is taken from our Spring 2015 issue. Subscribe here to receive our summer issue.
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