Ireland’s Sunday Business Post reports that Superquinn CEO Simon Burke – who has been running the company since it was acquired from the Quinn family by Select Retail Holdings, an Irish partnership – plans to open at least 10 new stores by 2011, which would essentially increase the company’s store count by 50 percent.
When Select acquired Superquinn, one of the advantages cited by company founder Feargal Quinn – who retains an ownership position in the partnership – was that it would have the resources and connections to bid on and obtain real estate deals that he had been unable to make. Burke says that he’s found that numerous developers are anxious to get Superquinn into new shopping center developments, which is creating new opportunities for the company.
When Select acquired Superquinn, one of the advantages cited by company founder Feargal Quinn – who retains an ownership position in the partnership – was that it would have the resources and connections to bid on and obtain real estate deals that he had been unable to make. Burke says that he’s found that numerous developers are anxious to get Superquinn into new shopping center developments, which is creating new opportunities for the company.
- KC's View:
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We find it heartening that Burke also says that the new generation of Superquinn stores will continue to operate as an “A” chain, and that they would continue to live up to the customer service promise traditionally linked to the company and its legendary founder.
We have to admit to having very little objectivity about Superquinn – Feargal Quinn has been too kind to us over the years and too generous with his time and wisdom to pretend otherwise. So we’re happy to see that even under new ownership, there is respect for the tradition he built there.
