Centra to create 500 jobs in €27m expansion

Convenience retailer Centra says today it plans to open 20 new stores across the country, which will create 500 new jobs this year.

The new jobs and shops are part of a €27m expansion programme by the Musgraves franchise brand. 40 existing stores will also be revamped as part of its new investment plan.

The convenience store network currently has 496 stores across the country.

Centra said today it recorded sales of €2.1 billion across its network last year, an increase of 6% on 2022.

It said its growth was underpinned by a strong performance in its core categories, including areas like on-the-go breakfast and lunch, convenience meals and Frank and Honest coffee.

It noted that deli and food-to-go sales were up 11%, while bread and cake sales increased by 7%, ready meals rose by 17% and its own brand range increased by 12%.

Frank & Honest, its coffee offering, also saw year-on-year growth increasing by 9% in 2023, while Moo’d ice cream, its own ice cream brand, saw 8% growth in sales last year.

Centra Managing Director Ian Allen said that the retailer is continuously evolving its offering in order to meet customer needs and stay ahead of the market.

“We are continuing to invest in creating innovative and more convenient experiences for our customers, giving them the solution they want for every occasion, whether that is on-the-go breakfast and lunch, or dinner for tonight,” Mr Allen said.

“Our Centra retailers are at the heart of every community in Ireland, and I want to pay tribute to them for continuing to deliver to the highest standards of convenience retailing and taking caring of our communities in what remains a very difficult trading environment, with the cumulative cost of business continuing to rise across multiple areas,” he added.