This article is from page 21 of the 2012-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
UP TO 100 jobs, including work in construction, are to be created in the West Clare town of Miltown Malbay in the coming weeks.
Within a six-week timeframe, ground will be broken on the Ennis Road to build the € 4 million SuperValu supermarket and community development for the town.
Included in the development will be the town’s first ever playground.
The much-needed community facility will be provided by the new supermarket owners, John and Claire Jones, as well as a commercial astroturf pitch.
In addition to the 50 to 60 permanent jobs created by the supermarket, further construction jobs will also be created in the next few weeks.
The new development will consist of a 10,000 square supermarket, 140-space car park, relief road for the town, a children’s playground and an astro-turf facility with associated dressing rooms and lighting.
The family behind the plans have 175 years of business experience in the West Clare town.
The Joneses, who currently operates a Centra supermarket at Church Street, Miltown Malbay, are the seventh successive generation of the family to operate a business in the town since 1838.
The new SuperValu supermarket is expected to be open by the end of the year.
Yesterday (Monday), SuperValu announced that it would add approximately 400 jobs over the next year nationally, as five new stores are added to its network over the next 12 months.
The stores will be opened as part of a € 20 million investment programme, which includes the refurbishment and revamping of 30 further stores.
“Despite a tough trading environment, 2011 was a good year for SuperValu, with two billion in retail sales and achieving market share of almost 20 per cent. We serve over two million customers per week and we believe it is our value proposition, our Irish sourcing policy and shoppers’ desire to shop locally in order to support their local communities and local jobs that are driving this success,” said Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu.
“SuperValu has 195 stores and is the only retailer with a store in every county. SuperValu remains committed to local employment and sourcing from Irish producers.
“In 2011, the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu was worth over € 1.5 billion to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector,” he said.