07/01/2003

Safeway reveals massive jobs boost for NI

It has been reported that Safeway will create 1,000 jobs in the province as part of an expansion programme to be phased in over the next three years.

The move will see the retailer increase its headcount by nearly half as it rolls out a £100 million expansion programme – at the end of which there will be around 3,500 people employed locally. The group intends to open three new stores in Belfast, Bangor and Antrim and upgrade existing outlets.

A Safeway spokesperson said: "We are fully committed to developing our business in Northern Ireland. We are currently the number two food retailer here and plan to invest heavily to develop our market share."

Safeway is one of the leading grocery retailers in the UK, with annual sales of £8.7 billion, over 92,000 employees and nearly 480 stores nationwide.

The retailer sources over £235 million worth of product from Northern Ireland annually, stocking own-brand ranges of locally produced breads, eggs, produce and bacon, in addition to many recognised Northern Ireland brands.

(GMcG)

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