Supermarket giant to create 40 jobs

Supermarket giant ASDA has applied for planning permission, in a bid to expand its Ballyclare Store in a £14 million redevelopment project.

The refurbishment would almost double the size of the store, resulting in the creation of around 40 additional jobs.

The application is for a 26,000 sq ft shop at the McClelland Mart site, which would include parking for up to 240 vehicles.

Local suppliers are expected to contribute to building work.

ASDA plan to expand the number of supermarkets in Northern Ireland to 20 and upgrade those it already has.

The company previously bought 12 stores belonging to Safeway in June 2005 in a £73.6 million move.

ASDA aim to challenge supermarket rivals Tesco, which currently owns about a quarter of the UK grocery market and 2,300 stores around the world.

In 1999, ASDA was bought by American firm Wal-Mart.

It now has 281 stores and 24 depots across the UK, where there are 148,000 employees.

(EF)