Centra

{{Short description|Irish convenience shop chain}}

{{Other uses}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Centra

| logo = Centra logo 2024.png

| logo_caption = Logo used since 2024

| image = Centra, Belfast, October 2010.JPG

| type = Franchising

| industry = Retail

| location_city = Cork

| location_country = Ireland

| locations = Approximately 560

| area_served = Ireland

| key_people = Luke Hanlon (managing director){{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/08/19/luke-hanlon-appointed-managing-director-of-supervalu-and-centra/ | title=Luke Hanlon appointed managing director of SuperValu and Centra | newspaper=The Irish Times }}

| owner = Musgrave Group

| homepage = {{ URL | centra.ie|Centra }}

}}

File:Centra logo.svg

File:Belfast (315), October 2009.JPG, Belfast]]

Centra is a convenience shop chain that operates throughout Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/centra-to-create-400-jobs-as-part-of-30m-investment-36573075.html|title=Centra to create 400 jobs as part of €30m investment|work=Irish Independent|date=6 February 2018 |access-date=14 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/musgrave-trebles-its-profits-in-the-north-1.3629705

|title=Musgrave trebles its profits in the North|work=Irish Times|access-date=14 January 2019}} The chain operates as a symbol group owned by Musgrave Group, the food wholesaler, meaning the individual shops are all owned by individual franchisees.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/musgrave-pushes-food-island-plan-as-it-targets-growth-1.3504311|title=Musgrave pushes 'Food Island' plan as it targets growth|work=Irish Times|access-date=16 January 2019}}

The chain has three different formats available to franchisees—smaller Quick Stop outlets, mid-sized Foodmarkets, and larger Supermarkets.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/centra-eyes-20-new-stores-as-sales-near-1-6bn-1.2964524|title=Centra eyes 20 new stores as sales near €1.6bn|work=Irish Times|access-date=14 January 2019}} The majority of the shops follow the Quick Stop format, or are simply branded Centra, as Musgrave also offers the SuperValu format, which is geared towards larger supermarkets.

There are currently approximately 480 Centra shops in the Republic of Ireland and approximately 80 in Northern Ireland.{{cite web | url=https://centra.ie/about | title=About Us }}{{cite web | url=https://centra.ie/locate | title=Store Locator }}{{cite web | url=https://www.centra.co.uk/about-us | title=About Centra | date=3 February 2017 }} In 2016, Centra posted a 3% increase in sales to €1.59bn.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/centra-in-30m-expansion-as-sales-stall-826750.html|title=Centra in €30m expansion as sales stall|work=Irish Examiner|date=7 February 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}} Centra's main competitors are Gala, Spar and Londis, as well as a number of smaller groups such as Costcutter.

File:Centra, Donaghmore - geograph.org.uk - 2413001.jpg]]

The chain was originally launched in the Republic of Ireland as "VG" in 1960. In 1979, the VG chain was rebranded SuperValu with the smaller outlets subsequently rebranded as Centra. The company brought both of these brands to Northern Ireland, the latter through the acquisition and subsequent rebranding of Wellworths shops.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/seamus-scally-26548513.html|title=Seamus Scally|work=Irish Independent|date=4 July 2009 |access-date=14 January 2019}}

File:Portadown (80), September 2009.JPG]]

Centra has over 560 shops throughout the island of Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/centra-in-30m-expansion-as-sales-stall-826750.html|title=Centra in €30m expansion as sales stall|work=Irish Examiner|date=7 February 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}} In 2018, plans were announced to open 30 new stores and redevelop 100 others.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/centra-to-create-400-news-jobs-with-30-new-store-openings-826610.html|title=Centra to create 400 news jobs with 30 new store openings|work=Irish Examiner|date=6 February 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}} The business employs over 11,000 people and serves over three million customers per week.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0206/938711-centra-to-open-30-new-stores-as-part-of-30m-investment/|title=Centra to open 30 new stores, and introduce a Beat the Queue app|work=RTÉ|date=6 February 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}