Roches Stores is to withdraw from supermarket retailing as it says it wants to focus solely on the non-food side of its business. 'The move is consistent with Roches Stores' strategic focus on its fashion and homewares business in recent years,' a statement from the company said.
Roches Stores currently operate SuperValu franchised food operations in Blackrock, Co Dublin and in Eyre Square in Galway city. These two locations will now be taken over by Marks and Spencer.
Roches also have supermarkets in Cork at Patrick Street and at Wilton. These will remain as part of the SuperValu franchise and will be operated by the Caulfield McCarthy Group, one of Musgrave SuperValu Centra's largest retail partners.
All the workers from the existing supermarkets will be transferred to the new Marks and Spencer stores in Blackrock and Galway and to the Caulfield McCarthy Group in Cork.
The closure of the existing supermarkets will take place in Blackrock and Cork will take place in March, with Marks and Spencer expected to be operational by June. The Cork changeover will take place in May.
