ADM Londis set to open 15 new stores

Convenience store chain ADM Londis plans to open 15 new stores and create 300 jobs before before the end of the year.

The company said yesterday that it had already reached its stated expansion target for 2004. It had predicted that it would open 30 new outlets this year.

However, in the year to date, it has opened 30 stores around the Republic. Joint chief executive Mr Stephen Riordan said yesterday the business was continuing to grow strongly in a competitive market.

ADM Londis said yesterday that it planned to open a further 15 outlets before the year's end and to employ a further 300 people. This would bring the total number of stores in the chain to 345 and increase job numbers to 5,300.

Mr O'Riordan said Londis was the largest growing symbol group in the Republic. "Our strategy has been to grow our market share and business by expanding our presence in the marketplace through increasing the number of franchise stores," he said.

He added that the company was pleased with growth in Dublin, where it has opened seven new stores already this year. It also opened five in Louth, three each in Wexford and Limerick, two each in Kerry, Galway and Laois and one each in Cavan, Cork, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Wicklow.