Sainsbury’s buys two Northern Ireland stores

Sainsbury’s has bought two supermarkets in Northern Ireland from independent Irish retailer Curley’s for an undisclosed sum.   The stores are a 95,000 sq ft unit in Andersonstown, west Belfast and a 48,000 sq ft store in Dungannon, County Tyrone.   Both supermarkets are located within shopping centres owned by the Kennedy family, also owners of the Curley’s supermarket brand.   The Dungannon store will be re-branded in the coming weeks and will open again in May following a refurbishment.   Curley’s will continue to trade in Andersonstown while a comprehensive overhaul of the Kennedy Shopping Centre takes place – the new Sainsbury’s will be open by August 2009.   Ken McMeikan, Sainsbury’s director of retail, said: “We are pleased to increase our presence in Northern Ireland from nine stores to eleven through this acquisition. Sainsbury’s is in the business of investing in its local operation and increasing the offer we provide to Northern Ireland shoppers and producers.”   Osborne King and Mentor advised Sainsbury’s; Ardmore Commercial acted for Curley’s.     joanne.payne@rbi.co.uk