DIY retailer B&Q today opened its fourth Irish store in Mahon Point Retail Park in Cork. The store is the company's first outside Dublin and will create 100 new jobs.
B&Q now employs over 500 people in Ireland. The company said that since opening in Ireland the value of B&Q business to Irish suppliers is over €200m with another €80m planned in 2005.
Currently there are five Cork based companies supplying B&Q's Irish and UK stores. They include Quality Plastics, True Temper, Dosco, Dulux Ireland and Glennon Timber.
B&Q said it is planning to open a further six stores in Ireland over the next three years, the size of which will depend on location and local market environment.
It said that depending on the size of stores opened, the expansion programme will provide an additional 1,000 to 1,600 new jobs.
