Elaine Watson
Tesco Ireland is ramping up store openings this year after a relative lull in 2002.
Six new stores and three replacement stores are planned, taking store numbers in the Irish Republic up to 82 as part of a £66m investment.
The cash will also go towards a state of the art chilled distribution centre in Dublin, scheduled to become operational by the end of 2003, plus the company's first petrol station, which will be attached to the Killarney store. A second forecourt site is planned for Sandyford in 2004.
Last year, Tesco Ireland built no new stores.
Speaking at the Tesco Irish Food Producer Awards in Dublin, which celebrated Tesco's five years in the market, the multiple's chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said Tesco Ireland's store openings would help to create 1,500 new jobs in the next 12 months, taking staff numbers up to 11,500.
Tesco was also increasing its commitment to local suppliers, said Sir Terry. "In just six years, we have increased the amount we buy from Irish suppliers by 64% to E1.44bn a year. As a result, our number of Irish suppliers is over 800."
Own label sales now represent over E400m, he added. "We have met all the objectives we set when we arrived in Ireland."
Speaking at the awards, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern praised Tesco's contribution to the Republic. He said: "Tesco will continue to be a major investor in Ireland and the announcement today of new capital expenditure through this expansion programme is testament to their commitment as well as the future buoyancy of the retail market here."
However, RGDATA, which represents the independent retail grocery trade in Ireland, claimed the announcements represented "old news regurgitated for hype". Director general Ailish Forde went on to claim that Tesco deputy chairman David Reid had confirmed in the autumn that Tesco was only "cash neutral" in the Irish Republic. "No amount of spin can disguise the fact that their investment in Ireland has brought very poor returns."
New jobs created by Tesco would merely cannibalise jobs from other retailers, said Forde. "It's pie in the sky to think that Tesco will be a net generator of employment opportunities here."
TNS data for the 12 weeks to the end of December reveals Tesco's market share was 23.7%, compared to Dunnes' 22%, and SuperValu's 18.8%.
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Tesco Ireland is ramping up store openings this year after a relative lull in 2002.
Six new stores and three replacement stores are planned, taking store numbers in the Irish Republic up to 82 as part of a £66m investment.
The cash will also go towards a state of the art chilled distribution centre in Dublin, scheduled to become operational by the end of 2003, plus the company's first petrol station, which will be attached to the Killarney store. A second forecourt site is planned for Sandyford in 2004.
Last year, Tesco Ireland built no new stores.
Speaking at the Tesco Irish Food Producer Awards in Dublin, which celebrated Tesco's five years in the market, the multiple's chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said Tesco Ireland's store openings would help to create 1,500 new jobs in the next 12 months, taking staff numbers up to 11,500.
Tesco was also increasing its commitment to local suppliers, said Sir Terry. "In just six years, we have increased the amount we buy from Irish suppliers by 64% to E1.44bn a year. As a result, our number of Irish suppliers is over 800."
Own label sales now represent over E400m, he added. "We have met all the objectives we set when we arrived in Ireland."
Speaking at the awards, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern praised Tesco's contribution to the Republic. He said: "Tesco will continue to be a major investor in Ireland and the announcement today of new capital expenditure through this expansion programme is testament to their commitment as well as the future buoyancy of the retail market here."
However, RGDATA, which represents the independent retail grocery trade in Ireland, claimed the announcements represented "old news regurgitated for hype". Director general Ailish Forde went on to claim that Tesco deputy chairman David Reid had confirmed in the autumn that Tesco was only "cash neutral" in the Irish Republic. "No amount of spin can disguise the fact that their investment in Ireland has brought very poor returns."
New jobs created by Tesco would merely cannibalise jobs from other retailers, said Forde. "It's pie in the sky to think that Tesco will be a net generator of employment opportunities here."
TNS data for the 12 weeks to the end of December reveals Tesco's market share was 23.7%, compared to Dunnes' 22%, and SuperValu's 18.8%.
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