'There’s a real opening for it’: Cork discount store eyes rollout after early success

Owner of Cork discount retail warehouse plans store rollout

Bulk Buy in Ballincollig. The discount warehouse store opened in Cork six months ago and now plans to roll out the concept thanks to its booming success.

The owner of a discount warehouse store opened in Cork six months ago plans to roll out the concept thanks to its booming success.

Kieran Cuddihy opened Bulk Buy, a discount store in Ballincollig Commercial Park on the town’s Link Road in September, offering branded retail goods to shoppers at discounted prices, sometimes in larger sizes or quantities.

The produce on the shop floor changes from week to week, says proprietor Kieran Cuddihy. “Our initial concept was to have 200 lines on the shop floor at all times. That's now gone up to 2,000 lines,” said Mr Cuddihy.

"We have contacts in wholesale who might need to move a product or a certain pack size. We sell anything we come across of value that we can pass on to end users and still make a margin.” 

There’s no minimum price and it’s aimed at the public but Bulk Buy is attracting custom from smaller businesses like cafes and hairdressers. 

“Our intention was to open Monday to Friday but we’ve had to go to seven days a week – it’s a good complaint,” said Mr Cuddihy.

“It’s a concept that’s very big in England, and we have a lot of things like branded confectionery, minerals, ready meals, and ambient products which people are buying for occasions like confirmations and communions. We have core lines every week but others may just be there for a month. I know it’s an expensive time for everyone, so if people can save €40 to €60 on a week’s shop, that’s the name of the game.” 

Mr Cuddihy hopes to replicate the success at the store in Ballincollig in other places. “Location is key. Once we can find the right place, we will roll more out – there is a real opening for it.” 

The Cuddihy family has extensive experience in retail, running retails stores in Cork. Cuddihys operates in Cloughduv and opened three weeks ago in Rochestown. The Cuddihys Daybreak in Ovens has traded successfully for more than a decade but is closing on Sunday, April 19 “due to circumstances beyond our control”. 

“We’ve been in Ovens for 10 years and have built up a great business but unfortunately we're not getting another lease from the landlord there.” 

The Ovens business also operates fuel pumps and Mr Cuddihy recognises the challenges and concerns of consumers. 

“We were selling on a commission basis; you’re working on a commission of about 2c a litre and it’s competitive to sell the volume. I saw it myself: my own jeep took €120 to fill and now takes €165 - that’s a big chunk of change to ask from people, and most families these days have two vehicles so that’s doubled.”