Musgrave supports Competition Authority’s Grocery Monitor Report

Musgrave supports the publication of the Competition Authority’s Grocery Monitor Report, which we have actively contributed to over the past months, and its efforts to bring clarity to the size and number of players in the grocery market. We also welcome the Competition Authority’s recognition of the significant pro-consumer developments in the sector – for example the doubling of grocery outlets and doubling of floor space since 2001. The report demonstrates Musgrave’s contribution to a highly competitive grocery market.

Commenting on the Report, Chris Martin, Group Chief Executive of Musgrave said; “We acknowledge the findings of the Report, in particular its confirmation of the size of the market in excess of €14 billion and we would like to thank the Competition Authority for its important work.

On the basis of the Report, it can be said conclusively that the grocery sector is highly competitive and that the consumer is clearly the real beneficiary. We, in Musgrave, are proud of the role played by our entrepreneurial retail partners and our brands in bringing real value, choice and service to consumers in both urban and rural communities across the entire Country. We continue to work hard with our retail partners to ensure that this offer remains attractive to shoppers.

The work of the Competitive Authority and the National Consumer Agency whose recent price survey found that SuperValu was providing ‘real competition to the multiples’, demonstrates that we are an important agent for competition in the Irish market. Musgrave and its retail partners will continue to develop its brands, innovate and drive competition going forward.

SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and DayToday local entrepreneurs, who own their own stores, continue to support communities across Ireland sourcing locally and providing local employment opportunities. Last year combined, these entrepreneurial food retailers invested some €200 million in existing and new retail developments, creating more than 2,000 new jobs in towns and communities nationwide and now employ over 35,000 people across Ireland. The Musgrave Group also invests significantly in supporting indigenous Irish businesses with 75% of all products sold in SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and DayToday sourced or manufactured in Ireland. This represents total purchases from Irish suppliers of in excess of €2.9 billion annually at retail level."