SuperValu, Ireland's leading independent supermarket network, has announced that it now employs 1,040 people in Galway. The figures were revealed by Donal Horgan, Managing Director of SuperValu, at its national conference in Killarney, which was attended by over 600 delegates.

At the conference, SuperValu also announced details of job creation, investment and new store openings for 2007 and 2008. SuperValu and its retail partners created 1,300 jobs in total across Ireland in 2007. The job creation coincided with a record sales performance of €2.2 billion in the Republic of Ireland, a ten per cent increase over its 2006 performance. Key highlights included:

According to the retailer, in 2008 €25 million will be invested in the opening of eight new stores, with a further €39 million to be invested in the revamp and extension of a further 41 existing stores; and 700 new jobs will be created bringing to over 13,000 the total number of people employed across the SuperValu network.

Speaking at the Conference, Mr Donal Horgan, Managing Director of SuperValu said; "SuperValu's sales performance in 2007 was as a result of significant investment on the part of our retail partners and also as a result of our focus on delivering the best quality, value and choice to Irish consumers."

"SuperValu's brand positioning is 'Real Food Real People' which differentiates the brand from its competition with its focus on fresh food, customer service and involvement in the local community. We believe the combination of this unique offering, alongside the SuperValu focus on price and value is what is delivering a different and better offer to consumers and contributing to its above-market share growth. In fact, on release of the recent National Consumer Price survey, when SuperValu stores were in the number one, two and three cheapest positions across a basket of 67 common items, Ann Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of the NCA commended SuperValu for providing real competition to the multiples in the Irish market."

"Though operating in a more uncertain economic climate, we are confident that as a result of the focus on developing the brand and our offer to consumers, SuperValu is positioned to compete and to continue to develop its store network in 2008. We have responded to consumer demands for fresh quality products, value for money and convenience and have developed our offer around these demands."