Supermarket chain SuperValu plans to open at least 10 new stores during the next 12 months in an investment worth €150m. The new stores will create an additional 650 jobs.
SuperValu stores will open in Watchcross in Limerick, Letterkenny, Sligo town, Clonmel, Navan, Killaloe, Moycullen in Galway and Ballymun and Rowlagh in Dublin in the next year. The company also plans to open new stores in Dublin City Centre, at Talbot Street, Aston Quay, O'Connell Street and North King Street.
Delegates at SuperValu's 25th annual conference today also heard that the supermarket reported a 8% increase in retail sales to €1.67 billion for the year ending December 2003.
€150m will be invested in store development in 2004 and the independent SuperValu retailers will invest another €40m in development and refurbishment of existing stores.
A further €35m capital investment in logistics infrastructure is underway by the franchise operator, Musgrave SuperValu-Centra, on a new warehousing and distribution operation in Kilcock, Co Kildare. This will be finished in September and will create 200 new jobs.
SuperValu was formed in 1979 and this year celebrates 25 years in business. A new national TV advertising campaign was unveiled at today's conference and a marketing spend of €8m was also outlined.
SuperValu is operated by the Musgrave Group retail franchise division, Musgrave SuperValu-Centra, which services over 600 independently owned SuperValu and Centra stores throughout Ireland.
