Convenience store group to open 40 stores in 2006
Convenience store business Spar is to open 40 stores and create 500 jobs in the Republic of Ireland this year, in a Eu90 million (£62 million) expansion push.

Franchise owner BWG Foods will invest in the stores drive, but the majority of the funding will come from retailers in the group. Spar sales topped Eu1.1 billion (£757.3 million) in the country last year and BWG chief executive Leo Crawford expects double-digit growth to continue this year.

Spar is also linking with Irish coffee chain Insomnia and Canadian coffee and doughnut brand Tim Hortons to add premium food and beverage products to the stores.

The strategy is part of a wider focus on healthy food, new choices and prepared meal options for shoppers. A new store format is being piloted at Spar stores in Dublin and County Mayo. The layout will include fresh juice bars.

'Consumers are doing a lot more shopping on the day, for the day and concentrating on cooking less in the home,' said Crawford. 'The convenience store is historically good at offering breakfast and lunch solutions and I think there is a significant opportunity for evening meal solutions.'

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