Burke completes whistle-stop tour of Superquinn stores

SUPERQUINN chief executive designate Simon Burke has completed his whistle-stop tour of the group’s retail outlets, which were barely profitable last year.

According to market sources, Mr Burke, who is former executive chairman of Hamleys toy stores in Britain, will have discovered that close to half of the stores were loss-making last year.

One source said some stores have been “shipping water heavily” in recent years. It is understood that overstaffing and excessive wage costs have been a major factor for the group, which has shed about 400 jobs in the last two years in an effort to become more competitive.