Grocery chain Centra today reported 9.5 per cent increase in sales to €930 million for 2004 in the Republic.
The group, which has 353 outlets and employs 10,000 in the Republic, said retail turnover increased 13 per cent during the previous 12 months.
At a national conference in Killarney today, the retail chain said it would open another 35 new stores this year, creating 750 new jobs.
The group's managing director, Mr Donal Horgan, said Centra is operating in a market that is growing modestly and where retail prices declined in 2004.