Centra’s €23 million store expansion programme

CENTRA have announced a €23 million investment in their store expansion programme for 2023, which will see the opening of 18 new stores, creating at least 468 new jobs across local communities, bringing the total employment figure at Centra to over 12,000. As part of the programme, Centra will also revamp and refresh 35 existing stores in 2023, with their bespoke award-winning store design. Centra’s store expansion and investment programme is in addition to the €25 million deployed last year, which included the refresh of 33 outlets across their retail estate.

Sales of €1.98 billion in 2022

2022 saw sales of over €1.98 billion achieved for the first time across 167 million consumer transactions. The brand has demonstrated strong resilience in the face of the ever-increasing economic challenges, which has resulted in a 17% increase in sales compared to 2019, the last non-Covid-19 impacted retail year.

As 2022 saw the final lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, employees returned to offices in urban locations around the country, with a corresponding uplift in demand for Centra’s convenience offering, with on-the-go breakfast and lunch options increasing sales by 13% on 2021. Lunchtime deli sales alone increased by almost 11% (10.9%) compared to 2021 as the need for convenience lunch topped the agenda for consumers. Frank and Honest coffee sales were up 7%. In addition, Centra’s bakery also continued to grow in popularity, with sales increasing by 8% yearon-year.

However, 2022 was not without its challenges as the cost-of-living crisis began to take hold. Shopping trends showed that consumers made a shift in the latter part of 2022 and were focused more heavily on dining in, with the Centra Freshly Prepared range enjoying a 10% growth year-on-year. As consumers continued to pursue value and shop ‘smarter’, Centra also saw demand for their own-brand range increase significantly, with sales growing by 10.3%.

“At Centra, we strive to deliver the best value and exceptional quality Irish products to customers,” noted Centra Managing Director Ian Allen. “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.”

The MD revealed that Centra are “cognisant that these are challenging times, with increased living costs and rising inflation”, and noted how Centra are “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 delivering this relentless value and service.”

Plans for 2023

Centra have a number of innovations planned for this year and beyond.

In Q1 2023, Centra expect to expand their trial same-day delivery partnership with Just Eat & Deliveroo to six further locations. Customers have shown significant interest in the delivery service, which was rolled out across 34 locations in 2022.

Moo’d ice cream, Centra’s exclusive ice cream brand, enjoyed a 13% increase in sales in 2022, with growth fuelled by the installation of a further 34 new Moo’d ice cream counters across the retail estate in 2022, and new flavours set to launch in 2023. In addition, Centra’s partnership with The Happy Pear continues to go from strength to strength, with a 21% growth in sales recorded in 2022.

Sustainability will continue to be a leading priority for Centra, with 96% of ownbrand product packaging now recyclable, reusable or compostable, which positions the business ahead of targets to achieve 100% green packaging by 2025. Having launched the Musgrave Sustainability Fund in 2022 to the tune of €25 million, Centra stores across Ireland are undergoing sustainable upgrades. So far, 200 Centra stores in the Republic of Ireland have availed of the fund, which has achieved a reduction of 1,714 tonnes of carbon to date. Through the fund, Centra stores can avail of funding for LED lighting, refrigeration and freezer upgrades, electronic shelf edge labels (eSELs), solar panels, and electric delivery vans. This fund is part of the company’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon by 2040.

Centra stores continue to play an active role in their communities, making significant financial contributions through employment, sponsorships and supports to a number of charities. Last year, Centra stores raised over €105,000 for the Irish Cancer Society, while Centra also launched their in-store fundraiser in March 2022 to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine. This funding, combined with the Musgrave Group fundraising appeal, contributed over €1 million to these efforts.