02/09/2009

Jobs Boost As Curley's Becomes 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)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 May 2009
Jobs Boost As Sainsbury's Expand Curley's Site
Sainsbury's is to create 100 jobs in its west Belfast store, it has been announced. It's supermarket in Andersonstown will be its largest in Northern Ireland when it opens on the former Curley's site in late summer.
27 March 2013
Tesco To Recruit 200 New Staff
Tesco has announced that it is recruiting over 200 new staff for its new store which will open in Newry on 6 June 2013. The announcement was welcomed today by Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry as recruitment opened for the new store. The Minister described the jobs boost as good news for jobseekers in the Newry area.
02 June 2003
Sainsbury's announce 2,000 UK jobs
Sainsbury's is to create 100 new convenience store outlets at Shell petrol stations. The programme, to be rolled out by Sainsbury's over the next three years, is anticipated to lead to the creation of up to 2,000 jobs. The announcement follows the successful trial of six convenience stores based on petrol retail forecourts in southern England.
09 September 2011
Sainsbury's Gets New Property Boss
Sainsbury's has announced the appointment of Philip Bell-Brown as Director of Property Development. Philip joins Sainsbury's from Dixons Retail where he was Group Property Director. In his new role Philip will have responsibility for all site acquisitions, town planning and property communications.
16 January 2008
Hundreds Of New Jobs As Curley's Sells To Sainsbury's
Around 200 new jobs are expected to be created over the coming months with news that Sainsbury's has concluded a deal with local independent retailer Curley's to acquire its two stores in west Belfast and Dungannon.