Curley's Makes Way For Sainsbury's

Curley's is now officially gone from west Belfast.

It's the end of an era in west Belfast today as UK retailer Sainsbury's opens its largest supermarket in Northern Ireland with the launch of a new 69,000 sq ft store at the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast.

Taking on the mantle of the family-owned Curley's, which grew from a small greengrocers in the 1970s into a major shopping complex today, the newly built store will employ 350 people.

The opening represents a significant economic investment by Sainsbury's in west Belfast and brings to an end months of construction and fit out work at the Kennedy Centre site.

David Davidson, Regional Operations Manager said: "This is a landmark day for Sainsbury's and for west Belfast.

"Since announcing our plans we have had a great response from the local community and we have listened to what they want from a local supermarket. We are looking forward to being part of this community, offering great choice and value to our customers new and old.

"We are delighted at this difficult economic time to be able to offer employment to more than 350 people in a range of jobs from management level and check out assistants to skilled butchers and counter staff," he said.

Sean Largey, Store Manager comented: "I come from the local area and therefore it is a proud moment for me to see my employer showing real commitment to west Belfast by opening the biggest Sainsbury's supermarket in Northern Ireland."

He also said there will be over 100 Northern Ireland suppliers' products on the shelves and a number of these new Sainsbury's suppliers will have previously stocked products in Curley's.

But one other unique feature of the new store will be the old style butchery counter, staffed by Curley's original butchers. They will cut and pack all the meat sold in the Andersonstown store.

John Dunne, Counter Manager said: "I am delighted that I can bring my butchery skills and experience to the new Sainsbury's store.

"We always prided ourselves on providing an individual service to our customers and that is something we will keep on providing for all of our customers, old and new," he commented.

See: Curley's Sells To Sainsbury's - But Continues As 'Landlord'

(BMcC/KMcA)