BWG, the company which owns the Spar and Mace franchises in the Republic, has reported strong underlying profit growth for last year.
Operating profits were €48.7m when the effect of new stores was stripped out, against €36.2m in 2003. Turnover rose from just under €1.5 billion to €1.6 billion, with Spar sales growing by 11% to nearly €1 billion.
BWG said it surpassed its targets by opening 57 new convenience stores, taking the total number of Spar and Mace outlets to 547.
Chief executive Leo Crawford said 2005 would see the addition of a further 35 new stores across the Spar network, creating 600 new jobs. He added that BWG would be making a submission in support of the Groceries Order which bans below-cost selling, saying it had fostered a 'competitive and dynamic' retail sector.
Enterprise, Trade & Employment Minister Micheal Martin has opened a consultation process on the order.
