Pizza Jobs Boost For NI, But Powerscreen Cuts Back

While a Wicklow-based pizza firm has announced plans to expand its franchise presence in Northern Ireland, creating dozens of local jobs, around 90 are being lost elsewhere.

Four Star Pizza, which already has outlets in Belfast, Londonderry and Newtownabbey, is set to open three new shops as part of an all-island expansion plan.

The firm said it expected to create around 200 new jobs across Ireland this year.

As the recession continues to bite, surveys have pointed to a rise in take-away deliveries compared to restaurant diners.

Four Star's Chief Executive Jason Sheehy said there had been a surge in orders in the evening for larger pizzas.

"It seems sensible to suggest that these are being bought by families with staying in being the new going out," he said.

In addition to its 46 Irish franchises, the firm plans to open further outlets in Cavan, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Leixlip and Wexford town, with bases in the Dublin suburbs of Blanchardstown and Ballymun also planned.

However, the news comes at the same time as a major engineering firm announced that it is to lay off almost 100 employees.

Powerscreen - which specialises in the manufacture of mobile screening equipment - is to make more than 90 workers redundant at its Dungannon plant.

The announcement follows on from 70 job cuts made at the facility last year.

(PR)(BMcC)