Centra sales booming in 2003

Centra has said that Irish sales for the year ended December 2003 were up 13% to €850m, well ahead of the current single digit growth in the supermarket sector.

During 2003, Centra increased its chain by another 21 stores and it now has a total of 347 franchised outlets in the Republic, employing over 8,000 people.

The company expects to open 40 new stores this year with the creation of 600 additional jobs.

Centra's franchise operator, Musgrave SuperValue-Centra, is also set to open a new €35m warehousing and distribution operation in Kilcock, Co Kildare in September to meet its growing market share.