Retail group Musgraves has purchased two Supervalu stores in Thomastown, Kilkenny and Clonmel, Tipperary.

Both outlets had gone in receivership in 2011 and Musgraves had been working with the receiver to keep the stores open.

In a statement today, it was announced that Musgraves had now completed a deal to buy the stores. Under terms of the deal, all 86 employees will now transfer to Musgraves.

"This is an extremely positive result for the employees and management of the two supermarkets as the local employment is protected," Receiver Declan Taite of RSM Farrell Grant Sparks said.