Centra
Company typeFranchising
IndustryRetail
Headquarters
Cork
,
Ireland
Number of locations
Approximately 560
Area served
Ireland
OwnerMusgrave Group
WebsiteCentra
Centra on Stranmills Road, Belfast

Centra is a convenience shop chain that operates throughout Ireland.[1][2] The chain operates as a symbol group owned by Musgrave Group, the food wholesaler, meaning the individual shops are all owned by individual franchisees.[3]

The chain has three different formats available to franchisees — smaller Quick Stop outlets, mid-sized Foodmarkets, and larger Supermarkets.[4] The majority of the shops follow the Quick Stop format, or are simply branded Centra, as Musgrave also offers the SuperValu format, which is geared towards larger supermarkets. There are currently approximately 480 Centra shops in the Republic of Ireland and approximately 80 in Northern Ireland.[5][6][7] In 2016, Centra posted a 3% increase in sales to €1.59bn.[8] Centra's main competitors are Gala, Spar and Londis, as well as a number of smaller groups such as Costcutter.

Centra in Donaghmore

The chain was originally launched in the Republic of Ireland as "VG" in 1960. In 1979, the VG chain was rebranded SuperValu with the smaller outlets subsequently rebranded as Centra. The company brought both of these brands to Northern Ireland, the latter through the acquisition and subsequent rebranding of Wellworths shops.[9]

Centra on West Road, Portadown

Centra has over 450 shops throughout the island of Ireland.[10] In 2018, plans were announced to open 30 new stores and redevelop 100 others.[11] The business employs over 11,000 people and serves over three million customers per week.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Centra to create 400 jobs as part of €30m investment". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Musgrave trebles its profits in the North". Irish Times. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Musgrave pushes 'Food Island' plan as it targets growth". Irish Times. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Centra eyes 20 new stores as sales near €1.6bn". Irish Times. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  5. ^ "About Us".
  6. ^ "Store Locator".
  7. ^ "About Centra". 3 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Centra in €30m expansion as sales stall". Irish Examiner. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Seamus Scally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Centra in €30m expansion as sales stall". Irish Examiner. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Centra to create 400 news jobs with 30 new store openings". Irish Examiner. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Centra to open 30 new stores, and introduce a Beat the Queue app". RTÉ. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.


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