Dealz has confirmed its plans to open its first distribution centre in the Republic if Ireland, at Clonee, Co Meath, creating 60 new jobs and providing a direct route to market for suppliers in this country.
The new facility at The Hub, Logistics Park, which will open this month, means Irish suppliers will be able to send their products directly to the retailer for distribution into Dealz’ Republic of Ireland stores.
The company says that the new facility represents a €4.4 million per annum investment.
Poundland & Dealz managing director, Barry Williams said the new Clonee distribution centre and investment in Dealz and PEP&CO stores is further evidence of the company’s commitment to the Irish retail market and a vote of confidence in the future of the sector.
“Our Dealz brand was born in Ireland and has gone from strength-to-strength over the past 10 years," said Williams.
“It’s a reflection of that growing importance that we’re now able to invest further in our Irish operations in support of the customers and communities that have supported us over the past decade,” he added.
'Decade of Dealz’
The new site will also become the base for Ireland’s leadership team who are responsible for both the Republic of Ireland and Poundland stores in Northern Ireland.
The Irish discount retailer said it is confident the new facility will provide additional opportunities for it to expand its Irish supply chain, working in partnership with 3PL and Primeline.
The announcement comes as the company celebrates a ‘Decade of Dealz’ after opening its first Irish stores in 2011 at Blanchardstown and Portlaoise.
It now has a portfolio of 79 stores across the country.
The retailer brings customers a selection of over 1,000 well-known brands and established own label products.
For the first time, Dealz also plans to open stand-alone clothing and home stores in 2022 to bring a full range of women’s, men’s and kids’ fashion and homewares to new customers.
Over half of Dealz’ Irish stores now also have PEP&CO ‘shop-in-shops,’ with prices starting at €1.50 and almost 60% of items priced at €5.00 or less.
This week, Dealz will also launch its first national TV advertising campaign in Ireland, shining a light on its transformation and the range of products now available in store.
Irish Investment Fund
Earlier this year Dealz unveiled a €20 million Irish investment fund for store expansion and transformation, which will create around 500 jobs over the next three years.
In the last number of months alone, the retailer has hired over 120 staff, including in new or refurbished stores in Carrickmines, Ballymun and Mullingar, with Tipperary set to open in November.
Through a €20 million investment fund, the group is actively exploring opportunities across Ireland, particularly within smaller, regional areas, including Galway, Donegal, Mayo, Wicklow, Leitrim, Meath, Kildare, Kerry, Clare, Louth, Sligo, Limerick and Waterford, as well as suburbs of Dublin.
Commenting on Dealz’ support for its people and investment in Irish retail, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English said, “It’s great to see Dealz mark its tenth year in business with the news of a new distribution centre opening in Ireland and I’m especially pleased to see that it will be located, along with 60 new jobs, in County Meath."
“This is an important next step for Dealz as it builds deeper relationships with Irish suppliers, customers and communities."
Pandemic Recovery
As Dealz enters its second decade in Ireland, the investment will support the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
The company said that it continues to focus on people development, including apprenticeship and degree programmes working with Skillnet Ireland.
“The company’s investment in careers within the retail sector and people development is great to see, with many of their passionate and talented workforce enrolled in programmes supported by Skillnet Ireland," said Minister English.
"It has never been more important for retailers to build supportive environments for people to flourish and the announcement of even more jobs at Dealz today is very encouraging for the sector, ” he added.
Across Northern Ireland new chilled and frozen food are being introduced in stores and it is planned to bring these key new ranges to stores in the Republic of Ireland in 2022.
The Dealz brand now operates across Europe, currently trading from over 200 locations in the Republic of Ireland, Spain and Poland.
2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more retail news click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
