BWG Foods has announced plans to open a further 50 Spar outlets across its network by 2016, which will create up to 1,000 new jobs. The group also announced an investment of €100 million in-store development across all its retail brands over the next five years.
BWG Group chief executive Leo Crawford made the announcement at the Spar Retailer Convention in Killarney, attended by more than 200 Irish retailers. “Over the past 12 months Spar has been focussed on adding high quality new stores to the network and this strategy is paying dividends," he said.
"The retail sector makes a hugely important contribution to the Irish economy. Our planned store growth over the next two years and the new jobs that will be created will contribute to the economic recovery especially in the local urban and rural communities in which our Spar stores are located.
“Following six years of recession, we believe the economy is finally turning the corner and this uplift is starting to positively impact the retail sector. The upcoming budget will be a crucial milestone and we urge the Government to include measures such as the reversal in employer PRSI rates in order to maintain the fragile recovery in our sector."
The announcement comes after the recent investment by Spar South Africa in BWG. Over €5 million will be invested in a new Spar store design, launched in Spar Millennium Walkway, which will be rolled out to over 100 new stores.
Also launched at the Spar Retailer Convention was a new 'Spar Select' range of premium quality private label products, making the retailer the first convenience group in Ireland to introduce a premium line to its own-brand category. Spar Select features products from 22 local Irish suppliers and is predicted to generate sales in the region of €7.5 million in its first two years alone.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
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