Centra plans 300 jobs and 20 stores

Centra has announced it will add approximately 300 jobs and 20 shops to its network in 2012.

Managing director Martin Kelleher told Centra’s National Retailer Conference in Killarney the business had sales of €1.4bn last year.

“Despite a difficult trading environment, Centra has recorded a good sales performance,” he said.

“We will add 300 jobs to the Centra network in 2012 — 150 of which are new jobs through the opening of greenfield sites across Ireland — which means that together with our retail partners we will employ almost 15,000 people.”

Centra refused to reveal the locations of the proposed new stores, citing “commercial sensitivity”.

At the conference, economist David McWilliams presented a paper on the chain’s contribution to the Irish economy.

According to the report, Centra Ireland purchased Irish fresh food to the value of €140m, including €35m worth of Irish meat and poultry, €27m of Irish fruit and veg and €68m of Irish dairy products.

“We take our local stores, such as Centra, very much for granted,” said Mr McWilliams. “However, when you delve into the numbers behind these local, family-owned enterprises and combine the number of stores within the Centra network, the contribution they make to Ireland Inc is really significant. For example, the annual payroll for Centra in 2011 was almost €153m. Centra’s employment of younger and older people is also above the national average, with 40% of staff under 25 years old and 9% over 50.”

The report also reveals Centra retailers spent €15.9m on professional services and almost €40m on products sourced from suppliers within their local community.