SuperValu to close ‘loss-making stores’
Efforts to redeploy almost 100 workers are underway after Supervalu announced it will close two “loss-making” stores in Carlow and Clonmel.
Confirming its intentions on Thursday, the retailer’s managing director Martin Kelleher said he regretted having to close the stores.
“It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but the stores have been loss making for almost a decade now and they do not have a sustainable future,” he said.
The union representing workers at both stores said staff are “devastated” at the news.
Bill Kelly, the union’s divisional organiser for the Clonmel store blamed a “lack of investment”, adding that the positions were “comparatively good retail jobs” that provided workers with decent work and secure incomes.
“Unfortunately there are very few alternatives at this moment in time, partly because the southeast of Ireland has become an unemployment black spot,” he said.
The union’s Carlow representative Betty Dillon said an urgent meeting was being sought with the company to discuss redundancies, possible redeployment, and other employment options.
Mandate say there are 54 workers employed in the Carlow store and 44 workers in the Clonmel store.
The news comes only weeks after Supervalu emerged again as Ireland’s largest grocery retailer, with a 24.6 per cent market share. It serves over 2.6 million customers every week and has 223 stores nationwide.
Responding to the Kantar Worldpanel results last week, Mr Kelleher said: “The market continues to be highly-competitive and we remain focused on offering our customers the best combination of fresh quality food, commitment to Irish suppliers and value as we count down to Christmas.”
