Aldi plans 460 new jobs over next three years
Discount supermarket chain Aldi is to create another 300 jobs nationwide on the back of a massive employment boost at a new distribution facility.
The German-owned grocer followed its announcement of 160 positions at its regional supply centre in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, with details of plans for 20 new stores.
The first outlets to open over the next three years will be Douglas and Macroom in Cork, Tipperary and Wexford towns, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, and Terenure, south Dublin.
Others stores include Greystones, Co Wicklow, Charleville, Co Cork, Mulhuddart, north Co Dublin, and a second store in Tralee, Co Kerry.
Aldi said up to 15 people will be employed in each shop, and combined with the Cork distribution hub, the company said it is on course to boost its workforce by 460 over the next three years.
The Mitchelstown facility, just off the M8 in north Cork, will have capacity to service 100 shops. It will primarily supply stores in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Clare, Mayo, Galway, Kilkenny and Wexford.
Giles Hurley, managing director for the Mitchelstown region, said the new centre will provide the basis for growth and new stores.
“The locations we have chosen all serve a strong hinterland and have a range of complementary services and retail choices for consumers,” he said.
“Overwhelmingly the people in these towns all want top quality products at the lowest possible prices. We continue to seek locations right around the country so we can bring our offering to more consumers, and support more Irish producers and suppliers as we grow.”
Aldi has been the fastest growing supermarket chain in Ireland since July 2008.
Latest figures from the research group Kantar Worldpanel show that the company had 26.6% growth in sales for the 12 weeks to August 18 and has taken a 7.4% share of the Irish grocery market.
The Mitchelstown distribution hub is Aldi’s second in Ireland.
Its state-of-the-art centre has been built on a 13-hectare site and covers 59,535 square metres with 70 loading bays for trucks to travel across Munster and into Leinster and Connacht.
