M&S continue Irish expansion

Marks & Spencer's Irish expansion plans continued today with the opening of a new Simply Food store in Clarion Quay, in Dublin's IFSC, creating 38 jobs .

Early in August the company opened a Simply Food store in Dún Laoghaire and another is scheduled to open in Naas at the end of December. In spring 2005,a full scale Marks & Spencer outlet is planned for the new Dundrum shopping centre in South Dublin.

Announcing results last month M&S reported a 7.4% rise in first half profits to £311.5m( €444.96m) in the six months to September 27 from £290.1m(€414.39m) a year earlier.A separate breakdown of Irish sales was not released althought the company said that the Irish shops were performing well.