Centra is to open 18 new stores.
The convenience store chain, which is part of the Musgrave Group, is to invest €23m in its store expansion programme.
The new stores will employ at least 468 people, bringing the number of people employed by Centra to 12,000
Sales at Centra nationwide surpassed €1.98bn in 2022.
Speaking about the announcement, Centra Managing Director Ian Allen said: “At Centra, we strive to deliver the best value and exceptional quality Irish products to customers. Our in-depth understanding of the role of convenience in shopping decisions saw us adapt to the schedules of our time-poor shopper, meeting their needs at each hour of the day. Today’s customers are shopping little and often and Centra is the perfect solution to meet this trend.
"With nearly 500 stores, Centra is Ireland’s leading convenience retailer operating in every community across the country and is well-placed as a destination for top-up shopping. The breadth, scale and value offered through our Centra stores ensures that we can continue to meet the changing daily needs of our customers on their doorstep.
“We are also cognisant that these are challenging times, with increased living costs and rising inflation. We’re continuously adapting to meet our customers’ needs and I would like to thank them for their loyalty, as well as our retail partners in every community across Ireland for the role they have played in."
