Mayo supermarket owner takes over another store

Ballyhaunis retailer Jeff Nolan has put the Centra name over the door at the former Londis supermarket on Abbey St.

Mr Nolan is taking over a store operated by the Cunningham family for nearly a century. He is spending €1.7m on acquiring and refurbishing the shop as a Centra convenience outlet. The businessman already runs a SuperValu outlet in the East Mayo town.

Speaking to the Western People about his investment, Mr Nolan is keen to commend Pado and Nora Cunningham for building up a loyal customer base, one that he hopes will continue to shop with Centra. A major refurbishment is planned in the first six months of 2025 which will see an enlarged deli and seating area completed, explained Mr Nolan, adding that the store will continue to trade while the work is ongoing.

Mr Nolan said he hopes to increase sales in the store and in the past six months engaged architects for a makeover of the shop.

“Frank and Honest coffee will be going in from day one. We’re looking to build on the strong deli business that the Cunningham’s had built up, we’ll add a sit-down area,” he explained.

The businessman said he hadn’t been seeking out a new store before purchasing Cunningham’s.

“It’s not an opportunity I was looking for, but it came to us. We are delighted to continue the tradition of serving the community from Abbey St. The Cunninghams were three generations serving Ballyhaunis and we are delighted to continue that.

“There is a great team in place with huge experience. They’ve thirty or forty years some of them. The team will evolve... We’ll get under the bonnet now and see what’s working and what’s not working.”

Before purchasing his own store in Ballyhaunis several years ago, Mr Nolan spent 15 years as a regional manager at Musgraves, the owners of the SuperValu and Centra franchises.

Mr Nolan doesn’t expect the Centra will impact SuperValu’s business and has secured planning permission for an extension to his SuperValu store.

“The shopping mission for SuperValu and Centra is very different,” he said. “Customers go to SuperValu for a trolley shop whereas Centra is more convenience based, people looking to get in and out quickly with a small number of items.”

Mr Nolan gives credit to his general manager Karen Kilbane whose knowledge of Musgrave’s IT systems will be key to the takeover.

“She’s really experienced in the systems and processes and she’ll be overseeing operations on a day-to-day basis.”

Mr Nolan said 2024 has been a less volatile trading year than 2023, with a drop off in inflation reducing volatility in prices charged by suppliers. Lower oil prices have meant less upward pressure on prices in general due to more benign fuel and transport costs, Mr Nolan explained.