Gala to set up 40 new shops

THE Gala retail group is to set up 40 new shops and create 500 jobs involving an investment of €48 million over the next 12 months.

The group has 200 shops nationwide and sales have been rising rapidly since it started business in 1998.

Turnover has risen from less than €1m in 1998 to an annualised figure this year of €420m while year-on-year sales were ahead by 27%.