SuperValu has announced its shops in Carlow and Clonmel are to close with the loss of 98 jobs.
SuperValu on Kennedy Avenue, Carlow and SuperValu Marketplace, Clonmel will close their doors in January.
In a statement, the company said the retail environment in Carlow and Clonmel has been 'challenging' for a number of years.
The company said it would enter a consultation period with the workers and assist them in finding alternative employment.
Mandate trade union says the loss of these retail jobs will result in a very difficult Christmas for the workers affected.
Mandate said there are 54 workers employed in the Carlow shop and 44 workers in the Clonmel shop.
Bill Kelly, Mandate Divisional Organiser for the Clonmel store said: "These closures are down to the lack of investment and a continued lack of disposable income for workers and unemployed people in the local areas.
"The outcome, of course, will be that the whole region will suffer further as a result,"he said.
The union said it has sought an 'urgent' meeting with the company to discuss redundancies, possible redeployment and other employment options that may be available.
It also called on the Government to step in and provide support for the workers.
Meanwhile, SIPTU has expressed its disappointment at the planned closure of the stores.
In a statement, SIPTU organiser said its members are "extremely disappointed at the timing of this announcement three weeks from Christmas ... We will be meeting with the company, along with other trade unions, next week as part of the statutory 30 day consultation period and we will be trying to save as many jobs as possible through redeployment."
The union represents the butcher staff in Supervalu.
