Dealz to open first distribution centre in Ireland
Facility will create 60 jobs and provide direct route to market for Irish suppliers
Print16 November 2021
Dealz is stepping up its investment in Ireland, with plans to open its first distribution centre in the Republic at Clonee, Co Meath. The move will create 60 new jobs and providing a direct route to market for suppliers in the Republic of Ireland.
The new facility at The Hub, Logistics Park, which will open this month, will enable Irish suppliers to send their products directly to the retailer for distribution into Dealz’ Republic of Ireland stores and represents a €4.4million per annum investment.
The new site will also become the base for Ireland’s leadership team who are responsible for both the Republic of Ireland and Poundland stores in Northern Ireland.
Dealz says it is confident the new facility will provide additional opportunities for the retailer to expand its Irish supply chain, working in partnership with 3PL and Primeline.
The announcement comes as the company celebrates a ‘Decade of Dealz’ after opening its first Irish stores in 2011 at Blanchardstown and Portlaoise. It now has a portfolio of 79 stores across the country.
Dealz has been transforming at pace to widen its customer offer, investing in new stores, refurbishments and new ranges. The retailer brings customers a selection of over 1,000 well-known brands and established own label products.
For the first time, Dealz also plans to open stand-alone clothing and home stores in 2022 to bring a full range of women’s, men’s and kids’ fashion and homewares to new customers.
Over half of Dealz’ Irish stores now also have Pep&Co ‘shop-in-shops’ with prices starting at €1.50 with almost 60% of items at €5 or less.
This week, Dealz will also be launching its first ever national TV advertising campaign in Ireland, which the group says will “shine a light on its transformation and the range of products now available in-store”.
Poundland and Dealz managing director, Barry Williams said the new Clonee distribution centre and investment in Dealz, and Pep&Co stores is further evidence of the company’s commitment to the Irish retail market and a vote of confidence for the future of the sector.
“Our Dealz brand was born in Ireland and has gone from strength-to-strength over the past 10 years,” Williams said.
“It’s a reflection of that growing importance that we’re now able to invest further in our Irish operations in support of the customers and communities that have supported us over the past decade.”
Earlier this year Dealz unveiled a €20million Irish investment fund for store expansion and transformation which will create around 500 jobs over the next three years.
In the last number of months alone, the retailer has hired over 120 staff including in new or refurbished stores in Carrickmines, Ballymun and Mullingar, with Tipperary set to open in November.
Through a €20m investment fund, the group is actively exploring opportunities across Ireland, particularly within smaller, regional areas including Galway, Donegal, Mayo, Wicklow, Leitrim, Meath, Kildare, Kerry, Clare, Louth, Sligo, Limerick and Waterford, as well as suburbs of Dublin.
Dealz also continues to focus on people development including apprenticeship and degree programmes working with Skillsnet Ireland.
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English welcomed the group’s investment in Irish retail.
“This is an important next step for Dealz as it builds deeper relationships with Irish suppliers, customers and communities,” Minister English said.
“The company’s investment in careers within the retail sector and people development is great to see, with many of their passionate and talented workforce enrolled in programmes supported by Skillnet Ireland,” he added. “It has never been more important for retailers to build supportive environments for people to flourish and the announcement of even more jobs at Dealz today is very encouraging for the sector.”
Across Northern Ireland new chilled and frozen food are being introduced in stores and it’s planned to bring these key new ranges to stores in the Republic of Ireland in 2022.
While the Dealz brand was born in Ireland, in part inspired by its success here, it now operates across Europe, currently trading from over 200 locations in the Republic of Ireland, Spain and Poland.
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