Business

Musgrave is the 'Marketplace' to be as Duncrue base reports double digit growth

Cutting the ribbon to mark the Musgrave MarketPlace expansion at Duncrue is Michael McGovern, who was one of its first customers when it opened in 1983. Included are Garry Williams (left), general manager and Michael McCormack, managing director. Photo: Darren Kidd/PressEye
Cutting the ribbon to mark the Musgrave MarketPlace expansion at Duncrue is Michael McGovern, who was one of its first customers when it opened in 1983. Included are Garry Williams (left), general manager and Michael McCormack, managing director. Photo: D Cutting the ribbon to mark the Musgrave MarketPlace expansion at Duncrue is Michael McGovern, who was one of its first customers when it opened in 1983. Included are Garry Williams (left), general manager and Michael McCormack, managing director. Photo: Darren Kidd/PressEye

WHOLESALE retail giant Musgrave MarketPlace has completed a £1.1 million refurbishment of its Belfast-based Duncrue branch, which has led to the creation of three jobs.

The 52,000 square foot store upgrade, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in Northern Ireland, was formally unveiled to guests drawn from the retail, foodservice and small business sector.

Musgrave MarketPlace (previously known as Musgrave Distribution) is among the island's leading wholesale suppliers with more than 12,000 retail and foodservice lines covering confectionery, soft drinks, grocery, chilled, frozen and dry catering food, alcohol, non-food and equipment.

As well as Duncrue, where 182 staff are employed, it also has Northern Ireland operations in Derry and Lurgan as well as branches in Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Managing director Michael McCormack said: “As well as making cosmetic changes to the building, which includes a new entrance, we have created specialist roles within our team, including a ‘fresh specialist’, and sourced hundreds of new products for our customers so that they can stay on-trend and have access to the best advice to help drive their business forward.”

He added: “When we first opened in 1983 we were state-of-the-art and outperformed all forecasts. And today, even in the current uncertain financial climate, we are experiencing double-digit growth.

"We’re certain the recent improvements will secure Musgrave MarketPlace's future and help us increase footfall and revenue for many years to come.”