Local focus

Our retail partners are passionate entrepreneurs who provide services and employment right in the heart of town. They support local suppliers and work alongside other local businesses to ensure our towns and villages maintain robust local economies.

With businesses that are often the social hub of the communities they serve, not only do our retail partners help drive local employment, they are also best placed to identify the local initiatives and causes that enhance the fabric of communities.

Because they understand how to address the unique needs of their own communities, our retail partners are able to build successful businesses. And these stores have a long track record helping to sustain and build vibrant retail environments in the towns in which they operate.

Store numbers

In spite of tough trading conditions our retail partners continue to invest in their businesses and new partners are continuing to join to Group.

In Ireland, SuperValu & Centra retail partners invested over €30 million in new stores, extensions and refurbishments in 2010. Daybreak continued to gain traction, with 27 new retailers joining the brand in 2010, bringing the total number of Daybreak stores to 155.

In Northern Ireland, Mace opened 20 new stores in 2010 with a joint investment of £1.2 million and the creation of 110 new jobs.

In Great Britain, more than 200 retailers joined the Londis brand in 2010 taking the total to 1,784. The new stores include a broad range of sizes and locations, including neighbourhood, convenience and forecourt formats. In addition, a new store opened every month under the Budgens brand in 2010.

Best in Fresh

A fresh, local approach to range is integral to our offer and SuperValu in particular has been consistently recognised for its dedication to Irish Fresh Food at the annual Checkout 'Best in Fresh' Awards, organised by leading grocery trade magazine Checkout.

Speaking at the awards, John Ruddy, Editor, Checkout magazine said "In a market where indigenous producers are increasingly challenged by cheaper imports, SuperValu's commitment to supporting Irish fresh food suppliers is truly admirable. It is clear that consumers have a preference for Irish-sourced and Irish-produced goods; however, to ensure that Ireland retains a viable and sustainable food industry, this consumer preference needs to be backed up by the retail sector. On this front, SuperValu continues to deliver without sacrificing value for money."

Best in Fresh Award Winners

Sustainability

We look at sustainability differently from other businesses. For a start, we do not think that running a responsible, sustainable business is just for the good times.

For us, sustainability means living up to the core responsibilities that any good business should have: to look after its people and customers, to minimise its impact on the environment, to produce sustainable returns so that it benefits all its stakeholders in the long term – and not just for short term financial gain.

Right now our aim is to help shoppers make more informed choices and in the process save money and feel good about their own purchasing behaviours. Many already associate our brands with provenance, ethics and sustainability, but we want to do more.

We want our brands to become a positive influence on the sustainable living agenda in all the markets in which we operate. Find out more »

Supporting GAA

As part of our ongoing support for community activities we're delighted that SuperValu is now the proud sponsor of the GAA Football Championship and Centra the sponsor of the Hurling All-Ireland Championship.

As with the GAA, we have a long and distinguished history of being at the heart of building thriving and vibrant local communities in all the locations in which we operate. This collaboration brings together in true partnership two of Ireland’s most community focused organisations.

The GAA is a natural fit with our business. Our organizations share common values through focusing our approach on relationships, honesty, hard work, achievement and of course community identity.