Musgraves boss to retire

Seamus Scally (aged 61), the mastermind behind building the SuperValu and Centra chain of stores is to retire as boss of the Musgrave Group, owner of the franchises.

He is to be succeeded as Group Managing Director by Chris Martin who joined the company 18 months ago from Mothercare. Previously he worked with Pizza Hut and ASDA.

There were 25 stores in the SuperValu and Centra chain a quarter of a century ago. Now today thanks to Seamus and his predecessor Hugh MacKeown there are 550 such stores, north and south of the border.

In addition the firm own the 227 chain of Budgen supermarkets in the UK and earlier this year acquired the Londis UK chain which consists of 1,600 stores for 60m.

Musgrave also has extensive interests in Spain.

Next month work will finish on the company’s new 35m. Ware housng and distribution centre in Kilcock, Co. Kildare.

Between them the Musgrave Group and its partners, franchise owners and suppliers, are responsible for the creation of 30,000 jobs.

The Super Valu and Centra chains have put the company in the big three of supermarket groups in this country.

Mr Scally who began at the bottom of the leader also pioneered many other initiatives at the Cork owned family firm.

The company has a long standing share holding scheme through which staff own shares valued at millions of in the company.

Seamus who retires in April is to stay on as a non-executive director.

Company chairman Hugh Mackeown paid tribute to Seamus today and said Chris Martin would be a worthy successor.