Retail in The Republic of Ireland - Convenience Stores and Newsagents

Convenience Stores and Newsagents

Convenience store formats have been gradually displacing the traditional newsagent format in Ireland in recent times. The first convenience store format was the VG format introduced by Musgrave in 1960, becoming Centra (and SuperValu) in 1979. Other major convenience store formats include SPAR, owned in Ireland by BWG, Mace, and ADM Londis. Smaller convenience store formats include XL Stop and Shop, Costcutter, and Vivo. A small number of symbol groups which provide branded goods, but not shop formats and signage, still persist, but are gradually dying out. These include the formerly prominent Homestead brand.

Just as the convenience store groups have been moving into larger supermarket formats, so the supermarkets have been moving into smaller formats to challenge the symbol groups. Tesco operate a small number of Tesco Ireland Local and Tesco Express stores, while Superquinn operates two Superquinn Select convenience stores. Marks and Spencer also operates a small number of convenience stores under the Simply Food banner. While Dunnes Stores does not operate a separate convenience store brand, some of its Dublin city outlets now have an offering more resembling a large convenience store than a traditional supermarket.

Newsagents still exist. The Eason chain of main street newsagents and booksellers is the largest in the country, with its only major rival being the much smaller Hughes & Hughes. In Dublin the two major local chains are Tuthill's and Bus Stop.