Healy’s 4Homes to roost

Franchising has played little part in the Irish DIY sector, until now. Agribusiness Correspondent RAY RYAN reports on the man trying to mix the best of traditional hardware stores with the range and choice offered by big business.

THE franchise concept has been part of the retail grocery business for decades and stores countrywide are now allied to large groups with huge purchasing power and a central distribution system.

But it is now set to become a feature of the €500 million-a-year Irish DIY and homeware sector following a decision by Dairygold Co-op to open 30 new stores countrywide.