Curley's Supermarket is a family-run business owned by the Kennedy family.

Hugh "Curley" Kennedy first started serving his customers from a small shop on Glen Road in Belfast in October 1969, when he and wife Deirdre sold fruit and vegetables. Within two years the small shop had doubled in size and in 1980 Kennedy acquired the shop next door, expanding Curley's to 3,000 sq ft.

However, the retailer was hit by a fire in July 1981, making it necessary for Kennedy to move premises to an old Lucozade factory where he invited other traders to join him.

This expansion on the Falls Road became the Kennedy Centre, with a Curley's superstore, and many different traders including fast food outlets and a multiscreen cinema.

It was swiftly followed by The Oaks Shopping Centre, Dungannon, which opened in 1985 with another Curley's supermarket as its anchor store.

In the past few years the Oaks Centre has undergone a £5m refurbishment and a new 45,000 sq ft Curley's supermarket now trades alongside a McDonald's, a multiscreen cinema and numerous high street shop brands.

Kennedy acquired the old Tyrone Crystal plant, which runs along the Oaks Road, and he plans to demolish the factory to accommodate purpose-built units for bulky goods such as electrical, furniture and carpets to create The Oaks Retail Park.

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