Tesco to open 7 new stores in Ireland

Tesco Ireland has confirmed that it is to open seven new stores and create almost 750 new jobs as part of a €113m investment in the Republic of Ireland.

The company, which already employs more than 13,000 people in Ireland, says it will create 748 new jobs over the year, the majority of which will be outside Dublin.

The new stores, creating 688 jobs, will be opened in Kinnegad, Westmeath (80 jobs), Oranmore, Galway (110), Swinford, Mayo (90), Ballybeg, Waterford (110), Thomas St, Dublin (16), Kimmage, Dublin (16) and Naas (266). The investment plan also includes a replacement store in Roscrea, Tipperary that will result in 60 additional new jobs.

The company says the new stores will come on stream over the next year, with the Tesco Express in Thomas Street in Dublin, which is already functioning, to be officially opened shortly. This will become Tesco Ireland's 120th store.

Earlier this year, Tesco Ireland said its sales fell in the year to the end of February by 7.5% to €2.9 billion, due to lower prices.

Commenting on the Tesco announcement, IFA president John Bryan said that farmers and primary producers would be paying for the new stores. He said farmers could not afford to take lower prices from Tesco, and that it was not good that one retailer in Ireland would be so dominant in the market.

Source : RTE Business