Christmas blow as SuperValu to close

Christmas blow as SuperValu to close

10 December 2014

BALLYNAHINCH has suffered a major pre-Christmas blow.

It’s been confirmed this week that the town’s SuperValu store is to close in early February and work is currently underway to find the 36 staff who work there alternative employment.

Confirming the closure of the store — which has been trading in the market town for over 15 years — owners Musgrave Retail Partners have blamed the move on declining sales.

The company has also revealed work on a multi-million pound environmental improvement scheme in Ballynahinch town centre this year restricted access to the store with sales “not up to the standard expected or needed.”

Explaining the move to close the store just weeks into the New Year, Musgrave Retail Partners said other factors which prompted the decision included challenging times in the retail market and the impact on town centre trading driven by large-scale out-of-town developments.

In a short statement issued on Monday afternoon, Musgrave Retail Partners revealed that having reviewed the Ballynahinch business for some time, “efforts made to reduce costs and improve trade so the store could become sustainable again were not successful.”

The statement continues: “Unfortunately, these changes have not delivered the required improvements and the store has continued to struggle.

“Therefore, it is with deep regret that the company, having exhausted all strategies in an attempt to rejuvenate the store, is proposing to cease SuperValu’s trading in Ballynahinch in early February.”

Musgrave Retail Partners confirmed it has commenced a consultation process with staff and will be doing everything possible to minimise the impact of the closure, working with them to redeploy them where possible to other areas of the business.

Ballynahinch Post Office is currently located within the town’s SuperValu store but work is underway to identify alternative premises, with the Post Office set to transfer to a new home before next February’s proposed closure.

Down Council chairman Billy Walker said he is “deeply disappointed” a store which has been at the retail heart of Ballynahinch for over 15 years is to close.

“This is a major blow for the town and its residents,” he declared. “At a time when every effort is being made to improve Ballynahinch town centre and attract new shoppers, we are being told that one of the mainstays of the town’s economy is to close.”

Councillor Walker said he plans to contact Musgrave Retail Partners to determine what efforts are being made to redeploy all of the staff currently working at the Ballynahinch store.

He added: “News of the SuperValu store closure coming shortly before Christmas is not what staff or shoppers want to hear. This closure will leave a huge void in the town centre and I hope other retailers will look to invest in Ballynahinch which I believe has the potential to become a thriving retail hub once again.”