Centra’s, Ireland’s number one convenience retailer, community impact study reveals that Centra stores in Mayo sourced €3 million worth of products from local suppliers and contributes more than €117,000 in donations or sponsorship commitments to more than 245 local charities, community groups, schools, and sports clubs. As well as supporting local suppliers in 2013, stores also spent a substantial €688,000 with businesses in Mayo communities where its stores are located in 2013.
Also revealed by the study, Centra is one of the country’s leading employers with 11,280 people employed across its network of stores. In Mayo, Centra employs 513 staff, almost 41 per cent of whom are full time staff. Centra plans to expand its network of stores and to create and sustain approximately 300 additional jobs across the country by the end of the year. Casey’s Centras in Ballina and Castlebar are just two of the 18 stores to contribute substantially to the local community. Speaking about the store’s contribution, Terry McShane commented; “We’re extremely grateful to all our loyal customers in Ballina and Castlebar. Our customers are central to everything we do and it is important to us that we show our appreciation to them. Without the support of our customers we would not be capable of making the donations to charities and community groups that we currently do. Last year we were able to donate €10,000 to charity and community groups and we have our customers to thank for that.
Centra managing director Martin Kelleher commented: “Our study shows Centra is spending almost a quarter of a billion euros in communities all over Ireland, that’s over €524,000 per store. We now have solid data demonstrating the significant economic importance and impact of our stores up and down the country. Unlike some other retailers whose profits leave Ireland, our customers’ hard-earned euros are going back in to the community, like Casey’s Centra in Mayo support of the local community. We value their business and try in every way possible to share our success with them. For the last 35 years, support of communities has and will continue to be, at the very heart of what makes Centra a successful business. We have ambitious growth plans and if performance continues as we expect, €1 billion will have been invested back into communities between 2013 and 2016.”
Earlier this year Centra announced a 3.5 per cent boost in sales in 2013 to almost €1.5 billion. More than €1 billion of goods sold last year were sourced in Ireland, including €130 million of fresh Irish food. As a result of this recent performance, Centra projects €1 billion will have been invested in local communities in the four year period to 2016.
