Fresh has reportedly taken over the former M&S Simply Food outlet in Dublin’s Heuston Station.
The premium convenience retailer could see it invest up to between €3.5 million and €4 million over the next two to three years, depending on what sites become available, reports the Sunday Independent.
According to the newspaper Fresh was invited into Heuston Station by CIÉ after M&S pulled out of the high-profile location.
Speaking with the Sunday Independent, Noel Smith, founder and managing director said, “M&S is still a very strong brand, and a very good brand. But we were presented with an opportunity because Brexit is really causing them problems when it comes to importing food into Ireland."
Further Plans
Smith noted that he is planning to grow the group to have between 15 and 18 stores, up from the eight it currently has.
“Cork, Galway and Limerick are areas that would have come on our radar in the past, but now they’re certainly in our sights,” he said.
Vast Experience
Smith has over 26 years’ experience as an independent retailer.
In 1990 smith opened his own newsagents in Clondalkin, Co Dublin. A year or so later he won a public tender to open a newsagents/delicatessen at the train station in Dublin’s Tara Street.
Over the next few years he purchased the lease to the retail outlet at Pearse Street train station and a third convenience store on George’s Quay in 1998.
In 2006 Smith established Fresh the Good Food Market in Dublin’s Smithfield and subsequently Grand Canal Square in 2007.
A third store was opened late 2007 in Camden Street, with IFSC and Stepaside following in 2014 and 2016.
The company has recently opened its latest store in Dublin’s Capital Dock.
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.
