Cork-based wholesale grocery group Musgrave is close its distribution depot in Galway city with the loss of 143 jobs.
In a statement this afternoon the company said it was reducing the number of depots from five to four and that the Galway unit would close by June.
Much of the work carried out in Galway will be transferred to the Musgrave depot in Kilcock, Co Kildare, where the company plans to create 55 jobs.
Musgrave said its Galway employees will have “first option” on these roles. Kilcock is more than 180kms from Galway.
The company explained its decision by saying it needed to be as competitive as possible because it was operating in an “extremely difficult” market, which had contracted by 7 per cent.
Donal Horgan, managing director, with Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland said the decision would result in a net job loss of 70 full-time jobs.