Centra announces plans to invest €27 million in new stores
The move will see the convenience retailer create over 500 jobs nationwide in 2026
Print28 January 2026
Centra has announced plans to invest €27 million in its store network and create more than 500 new jobs nationwide in 2026, as part of its continued expansion and long-term growth strategy.
The investment and expansion programme will support new store openings, the refurbishment of 25 stores and the revamp of a further 40 locations during 2026.
The move will ‘strengthen’ Centra’s presence in communities across the country and enhancing the customer experience, alongside continued investment in digital innovation and the evolution of store design and technology.
The announcement comes as Centra reports record sales of €2.2 billion for 2025, representing growth of 4.6% year-on-year.
As Ireland’s undisputed market leader in convenience retail, performance was driven by organic growth, continued expansion of the store network and targeted investment in store upgrades and our continuous evolution of our fresh food, own-brand and on-the-go offerings.
In a statement, Luke Hanlon, managing director, Centra, said: “As Ireland’s leading convenience retailer, we are pleased to be investing in the continued growth of store network and the communities we serve.
“In 2026, we will invest €27 million in new and upgraded stores across the country and create over 500 new jobs nationwide.
“This builds on a strong performance in 2025 and reflects what sets Centra apart, locally owned retailers delivering great service at the heart of communities, supported by a relentless focus on evolving our offer and enhancing the customer experience.
“Looking ahead, our ambition is to grow our store network to 600 locations by 2030, enabling us to have a Centra in every community in Ireland.
“This reflects our vision for shaping the future of convenience retail in Ireland through innovation, fresh food leadership and investment in our stores and people. This will ensure we continue delivering a best-in-class convenience experience for customers nationwide.”
Future of convenience
Centra highlighted that looking ahead, it will continue to invest in the future of convenience retail by evolving its food and beverage offering.
Already over the past year customers have taken to offerings including the newly introduced high-protein Egg Muffin which was a standout success, with over one million sold in its first year, while Centra’s deli section experienced 7.4% growth as nearly 10 million chicken fillet rolls were prepared across Ireland in 2025, it noted.
Moo’d ice cream also performed strongly, with sales increasing by 15% during the summer months.
Frank & Honest coffee continued to lead the market as Ireland’s number one on-the-go coffee brand, with sales growth of 10.9% year-on-year and more than 26 million cups now sold annually, underlining the strength of Centra’s fresh food and food-to-go proposition, it added.
Frank and Honest is growing its on-the-go coffee offering to meet increasing demand for choice from house or dark roast options to dairy or oat alternatives, hot or cold formats and new brewing styles.
Matcha is now also available in selected stores.
Centra continues to expand its range of functional beverages with the introduction of The Happy Pear gut health soda range, alongside continued growth in high-protein, high-fibre and nutrient-dense meal options such as Clean Cut Meals.
Community impact
In 2025, Centra raised €450,000 for the Irish Cancer Society between Centra’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Charity Partnership and the Big Pink Breakfast campaign and Centra’s support for Hurling for Cancer Research.
The DRS initiative, now available across 352 Centra stores nationwide, allows customers to donate their deposit when returning cans and bottles, highlighting the collective impact of customer participation and community action.
Centra has been a ‘proud partner’ of the Irish Cancer Society for 16 years, supporting vital care services and life-saving cancer research.
Read more: Centra tops Blas na hÉireann Awards
© 2026, ShelfLife by Donna Ahern
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