Centra plans to open 20 new stores as sales rise

Centra — the stores chains supplied by Musgrave — which will spend €20m this year as part of an investment to open 20 new stores, said it posted a 3% increase in sales to €1.59bn in 2016.

The investment comes as business group Retail Ireland said supermarkets and convenience stores were one of the few retail outlets to tap “steady growth” over Christmas.

With 450 stores, Centra said its investment is partly driven by changing patterns of demand, adding that consumers were buying less carbonated drinks and were opting for much more salads, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, as well as bottled water.