The new Tesco Extra megastore opened in Dundalk last August
Tesco have confirmed they will not be closing any stores in the Republic of Ireland this year.
The supermarket giant is going through the most difficult trading period of its 95-year history at present and recently announced plans to close 43 unprofitable stores across the UK.
However, group chief executive Dave Lewis said yesterday that there would be no store closures in Ireland this year.
That will be of some relief to local Tesco staff and customers. Speculation over the future of its store in the Long Walk Shopping Centre has raged since the new Tesco Extra megastore opened last August, with many locals speculating the supermarket giant could close its smaller second store to concentrate on its multi-million euro investment in the town.
Yesterday’s announcement means that is now unlikely to happen with Mr Lewis insisting that all 149 stores nationwide would be staying open.
There could even be benefits for local customers. Tesco Ireland will now come under the British division of the company, who plan to use savings from the store closures in the UK to fuel price cuts in a bid to claw back customers from the likes of Lidl and Aldi.
Talk of the Town 