Pivotal time for Superquinn

One More Thing:Superquinn boss Simon Burke is set for a busy few weeks. At some stage over the next 10 days, staff in its Dundalk store will to vote on a restructuring plan that would involve about 20 voluntary redundancies and a downsizing of its shop floor.

Burke hopes that by cutting the wage bill, renting out some of its space to other companies and a modest face-lift and renewed marketing push, that he can put the Louth supermarket on the road to profitability.

A similar plan was recently agreed with employees in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. The two stores were the last remaining on a "sick" list drawn up after he took over in August 2005.

Equally important for Burke and his fellow investors in Select Retail Holdings, which bought the chain from Feargal Quinn and family, will be the opening of a new supermarket in Rathborne, near Ashtown in Dublin.

The new shop is set to begin trading in mid-May and will be the first opened by Burke. It will be a useful barometer for the group's future prospects.

When Burke took the reins, he quickly identified the need for a strong pipeline of new shops to revive Superquinn's flagging fortunes. In the latter years of Quinn's stewardship,Superquinn had fallen well behind Tesco and Dunnes in terms of store numbers. It had even been overtaken by German discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Other new stores are planned for Carrickmines, Bray, Rathmines, Rathgar and Walkinstown. Ringsend and the site occupied by the Montrose hotel could be added to that list.

Burke can be satisfied with Superquinn's progress to date. A new in-store format has been well received, various costs have been reduced and Burke is trying to tempt shoppers back with an improved range of fresh foods. Even its rivals are privately acknowledging that Superquinn is gaining ground.