More expansion for Barry Group ahead
With an impressive goal to increase employment by up to 15% in the next 18 months, the Barry Group shows no signs of slowing down.
Print11 October 2010
Further growth is on the cards for the Barry Group with plans for a 50,000 sq ft extension to the existing warehouse and a move into chilled and frozen distribution.
Speaking to ShelfLife at the Annual Costcutter Conference, managing director of the Barry Group, Jim Barry outlined the significant new investment planned. “We are going for planning permission for a 50,000 square foot extension and I hope to get planning before Christmas and get started early next year”. This extension is in part to accommodate a non-food range for their new discount brand, Buy Lo. “There is opportunity in the non-food market we believe. Buy Lo will be part of that but there’ll also be other opportunities in the non-food market. We are setting up a company importing a lot of product from the Far East. In the long term you need to be buying your product from source. Everytime it passes through someone’s hands it costs money so it’s all about supply chain”.
Only a few months ago the company engaged in a 20,000 sq ft extension of its warehouse to increase capacity by 60%.
“We are now adding another 50/60% on top of that again. I see a lot of opportunity at the moment. I think we should be increasing it again in about 2/3 years.”
Barry said they have also made a strategic decision to get involved in frozen and chilled distribution. “We’re currently examining how we’re going to approach it but we are going to do it. It’s in the early stages of the project but that’s the plan.”
There are further plans to increase employment by up to 15% in the next 18 months. The company currently employs 250.
This year’s conference held in the Ritz Carlton in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow was entitled “Adapt to Survive & Grow Stronger” and was attended by 250 retailers. Jim Barry paid tribute to Costcutter’s ten years under the Barry Group and spoke optimistically about the brand’s approach to the challenges presented by the current economic climate, and the renewed focus on growth for the coming year. He also outlined the group’s active support and advisory system that retailers can avail of.
“I am delighted to report that Costcutter significantly outperformed the symbol group market last year. This is a tribute to the outstanding work of Costcutter franchisees throughout the country, particularly in the midst of this very tough economic climate.”
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