IRELAND: 18 new stores; 468 new job opportunities; Centra to invest €23 million in store expansion plan

Indians Daily 📧: newsindiansdaily@gmail.com February 02, 2023 0

There are around 500 Centra shops across the country and Centra is now part of Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland. Convenience retailer Centra has announced a €23m investment in its store expansion program across the country.

The new investment will see the opening of 18 new stores. The new shops will create at least 468 new jobs across the country, bringing the total number of jobs in Centra to 12,000. As part of the investment program, 35 existing stores will be renovated and refurbished this year, it said.

The current investment program is in addition to the €25 million the company spent last year, including the renewal of 33 outlets across its store portfolio. Centra reported record sales of €1.98 billion in 2022 through 167 million customer transactions.

Central said its brand has shown strong resilience in the face of mounting economic challenges, resulting in a 17% increase in sales compared to 2019. As the final Covid-19 restrictions were lifted last year, employees returned to offices in urban locations across the country. This trend has seen a significant increase in demand for Sentra's products, with sales of on-the-go breakfast and lunch options increasing 13% in 2021. Lunchtime deli sales rose 10.9% compared to 2021, while its Frank & Honest coffee sales rose 7%. Its bakery sales also grew by 8% as scones, pastries, rolls and baguettes proved popular with customers.

But Centra also recorded challenges during the year as the cost-of-living crisis began to take hold for consumers. Shopping trends show that by the end of 2022 consumers have made a shift and focused more on dining, with the newly minted range growing at 10% year-on-year.

As consumers continue to look for value, demand for Sentra's own brand range has grown significantly, driving sales up 10.3%. Centra's managing director, Ian Allen, said the retailer strives to provide customers with Irish products of exceptional quality and value.