Musgrave announces expansion plans

Retail chain Musgrave SuperValu-Centra is planning a substantial expansion over the next 18 months with the opening of nearly 50 new stores, it announced today.

Following a successful year which saw it smash through the £230m (€343m) sales mark, it said it planned to open 25 outlets in the coming year with a further 20 by the end of 2005.

Already more than 3,500 people work under its banner and that is set to rise by up to 1,000 with the first 25 new stores.

They will be created by new openings and possibly drawing existing traders into the group.

Over the past year the group has, on average, opened a store every fortnight somewhere in Northern Ireland.

Managing director Nigel Briggs said: “We plan to have more than 150 stores throughout Northern Ireland by 2005. That’s 150 local stores, owned and operated by local people, and providing value, choice, quality and service for local shoppers.”

He said the significant contribution the businesses already made to the local economy would be further developed, with more jobs supported.

They would come through the stores, at the company support and distribution centre and at suppliers as a result of the sourcing of even more produce locally.

Over £15m (€22.4m) will also be spent this year in SuperValu and Centra store development and refurbishment.

Mr Briggs said: “We in MSVC remain extremely confident in the growth potential of our business, in spite of the highly competitive sector in which we operate.”

The group was continually developing and refining its business model to make it more attractive to retailers and consumers alike, he said.

“This focus on continuous improvement will, I believe, underpin our development plans and support our objective of positioning SuperValu and Centra as the premier independent retail formats in Northern Ireland,” he added.

Through the coming year the group plans an expansion of its ‘Own label’ products and an upgrading of its fresh meat and hot foods.

Its retailers will also benefit from a £4m (€6m) investment in marketing with the launch of point-of-sale packages, sponsorship initiatives and TV advertising campaigns.