Musgrave to expand Budgens chain in 2004

Cork-based Musgrave group is set to add 27 new stores to its UK-based Budgens grocery chain this year.

The Food and grocery distributor acquired the UK-based Budgens grocery chain in 2002 for £175m (€252 m).

Budgens employs over 6,000 staff and currently has 235 stores, of which 61 are independently owned by the retailer. Like-for- like sales increased by 3.7% in the year to 28 December, and the company's turnover rose to £545 m (€788m).