Super Valu, the supermarket chain owned by independent grocers, increased sales by 19 per cent to £1.06 billion in 1999. The group said the results represented a significant gain in market share in a competitive environment. Super Valu now claims to have a market share of 17.5 per cent. Mr Eoin McGettigan, chief executive of Musgrave Super Valu-Centra, said last year's growth was a "significant milestone". This year's trading is "already ahead of target". The Super Valu group comprises 204 independently-owned supermarkets in Ireland.