Roches Stores to give up grocery trade

Conor Keane, Business Correspondent

Roches said the jobs of the 350 employed are secure as they will transfer to the new operators. The Caulfield McCarthy Group is to lease Roches’ large Supervalu supermarkets at Patrick Street/Merchants Quay and Wilton, while Marks & Spencer is to develop stores featuring both food and clothing at Roches’ store in Blackrock in Dublin and Galway’s Eyre Square.

The retreat by Roches comes in the wake of stiff competition. Dunnes, Tesco and German discounters Aldi and Lidl are engaged in a fierce battle for market share that also contributed to the decision of the Quinn family to sell the Superquinn chain for close to E350 million.