On-the-go couples fuel Centra sales increase

Changing lifestyles have been good news for convenience shop chain Centra, which today announced a 14% increase in sales to €1.035bn for last year.

The company saw a 9.5% increase in retail turnover in 2004.

Centra MD Donal Horgan announced the results at the group’s national conference in Killarney today.

"The lifestyle shift, with both partners in half of all households now working outside the home, continues to create demand for convenient stores, with ready-meal solutions and food to go," he said.

"The once-a-week household shop is being replaced with multiple visits to convenient stores. The food-to-go market now accounts for a significant proportion of food sales."

Centra opened 43 new stores during the year, bringing the total number of stores to 382. About 11,000 people are now employed in Centra stores in Ireland.

During 2005, Centra introduced juice and smoothie bars to some outlets in response to consumer demand for healthier options.

Services such as “touch-screen” automated ordering of food-to-go are also being introduced.

Centra plans about 40 new stores this year, creating about 900 jobs, as a result of greenfield development and transfers from other retailers. This will see Centra store numbers in the Republic of Ireland exceed 400.

Founded in 1979 in Munster, Centra is backed by the Musgrave Group retail franchise division.