Spar Ireland and its retailers spent €100 million in 2007 adding 52 new stores to its network.

This made it a record year for new openings for the symbol group, which expects its shops to ring up €1.4 billion in sales by the end of this year.

Spar, which is run by the BWG wholesale group, opened two new shops in Dublin yesterday, in D'Olier Street and North King Street.

The openings this year added 1,200 staff to Spar's workforce.

Peter Kealy, Spar Ireland's managing director, said about a dozen of the new stores transferred from other symbol groups, while the balance comprised unaffiliated independent retailers and greenfield sites.

Nineteen of the openings were on forecourts operated by Maxol. "We were surprised by the number of new openings in that sector this year."

Looking to 2008, Mr Kealy said fewer new stores would open, partly reflecting a slowdown in property development.

"We reckon that if we do 40-45 new stores next year that will be a very good year for us."