SuperValu plans new store openings as part of €30m investment

New openings could create up to 210 jobs, grocery retailer says

SuperValu said it planned to roll out new shopping concepts including vegan and vegetarian zones. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
SuperValu said it planned to roll out new shopping concepts including vegan and vegetarian zones. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

SuperValu intends to open three new stores this year as part of a €30 million investment programme although it wouldn’t disclose where those openings are planned.

The grocery retailer’s new store openings could create up to 210 jobs, it said on Monday, while it also plans to revamp 30 stores.

Musgrave-owned SuperValu flagged a new sales “milestone” of €2.7 billion in 2018, helped by 25 per cent growth in online sales with 26,000 new customers using the service.

Martin Kelleher, the company's managing director, said it planned to roll out new shopping "concepts" including "vegan and vegetarian zones, new salad bars and health and wellness aisles," as part of the revamp of its stores.

READ SOME MORE

In line with a growing trend toward vegan diets, SuperValu added more than 340 vegan products last year.

SuperValu is the Republic's third most popular grocery chain, behind Dunnes Stores and Tesco, with a 21.6 per cent market share, according to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel. With 219 stores, it attracts more than 2.6 million customers each week.

Peter Hamilton

Peter Hamilton

Peter Hamilton is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in business