Musgrave Group to create 80 jobs in €8.2m expansion

Wholesale and retail chain Musgrave is to create 80 jobs as part of a multi-million euro expansion of its Fonthill depot on the outskirts of Dublin city. 

Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland — which operates Supervalu and Centra stores — will invest €8.2m in the upgrade of its existing facility which will boost capacity by 60% by 2015.

The 57,000sq ft. expansion will create roles in management, warehouse and driving, and see 335 permanent staff employed.

Musgrave Retail Partners, Martin Kelleher said the expanded facility will give the group greater scope to improve its customer offering in its main retail chains.

“This significant investment in our Fonthill depot is a major milestone for our business in order to ensure we can meet our future capacity needs by strengthening our supply chain and logistics operations.

“The expansion will allow us to reach the site’s full potential, ultimately enhancing the shopping experience at SuperValu and Centra stores by guaranteeing greater availability of produce on a daily basis,” said Mr Kelleher.

The latest accounts for Musgrave Group show a 16% fall in profit before tax and exceptional items to €60m.

The group reported sales of €4.8m in its Ireland, UK and Spain businesses and said all its brands “outperformed the flat Irish grocery market” with SuperValu returning 1.1% growth and Centra rising 3.5%, in 2013, despite difficult economic conditions.

SuperValu recorded sales of €2.1bn in 2013 while sales at Centra’s 465 stores totalled €1.48bn. The acquisition and integration of Superquinn into SuperValu in 2013 resulted in a planned exceptional cost of €12.2m.