Tesco Ireland will continue to sell cut-price designer brands

CUT-PRICE designer brands will continue to be stocked on Irish shelves despite a court decision not to allow Tesco in Britain to sell Levi jeans imported from outside Europe.

The case was taken to Europe last year by the clothes manufacturer over Tesco’s importing of their jeans in the US and charging less for them in Britain than other stores.

However, Tesco Ireland said its clothes lines are all bought within the EU and are consequently not affected. The chain’s stores here have previously sold Levi jeans, Donna Karen t-shirts, Timberland clothing and footwear at very competitive prices.

The retail giant is expanding into petrol sales, its first set of pumps expected to open in Killarney early next year. The station was recently approved by An Bord Pleanála despite objections by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry representing other motor fuel outlets.

Yesterday’s British High Court decision reaffirms the European Court of Justice ruling last November, that retailers cannot sell trademarked goods from outside Europe without the consent of the trademark owner, which had the right to control the distribution of its products within the European Economic Area.