Shops in Newry have laid on extra staff to deal with a growing number of shoppers from the Republic, but Dundalk is quiet
ONE OF the first things Vivienne Nolan saw driving into Newry last Friday morning was a hoarding proclaiming: "You get more for your €uro at Buttercrane shopping centre".
And, having driven up from Donabate, north Co Dublin, with her baby daughter Ava, she is one of its target audience. Her destination this time is Sainsbury's in the Quays shopping centre.
"I've started coming up about once a month, mainly because of the baby," she says loading about 12 orange shopping bags into her car boot. "The milk formula is €12.50 at home. Here it's £6.50. Nappies, I get two packs here for £18. In Dublin they're normally €20 each. Ryvita is 81p here where it's €2.50 at home."
Over half the cars parked here have southern registrations. In one row of 14 cars, three are from Dublin, three from Louth, and one each from Monaghan and Cavan.
David McGee drives up from Dundalk in 10 minutes "because it's much cheaper, especially now the sterling is so weak". Where shops in the smart modern centre were giving 72p to the euro a year ago they're now offering 80p.
Aidan Murray is up with his two sons and wife, from Dublin. Their trolley is overflowing with beer, wine, pizzas, crisps and groceries. Asked what is cheaper, he says straight back: "Everything".
"We've a party this weekend so we're shopping for that but even the kids' school uniforms. The wife reckons she saved over €100 on them. We live in Donabate and we're up in 40 minutes. My wife drinks that Ernest and Julio wine," he says pointing at two boxes of wine. "It's €6.99 in Supervalu. It's £3.45 here."
Cathal Austin, manager of the Quays centre, says more than 40 per cent of the money through the tills comes from Southern shoppers. "That is based on a survey we did last year but anecdotally I can say the numbers have grown over the past year. And not only are more coming but they are coming more often. Where they might have come once a month they're coming twice a month."
Shops here such as Oasis, River Island and Debenhams are the top performers in their chain in their region, he continues. People from the South come mainly for groceries, he says. Sainsbury's has been so full at times that extra security has been needed. "It was so full the doors had to be closed for a while, for safety," he said.
Many of the shoppers' accents hail from the Republic. The wine and beer section is busy with southerners filling trolleys with wines costing over €10 per bottle at home, and £4.50 here.
Ten minutes down the road in Dundalk the modern, attractive Marshes shopping centre can only be described as deserted compared with the Quays.
Patricia McCreesh, from Cullyhana, Co Armagh was passing and had some euro to "get rid of".
"I would come down anyway sometimes for a change of scene but no, it would be crazy to come here to spend a lot of money."
Louth Co Council estimates 10 per cent of the county's shoppers are heading North. Bill Tosh of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce reckons that is a huge underestimation, a sentiment echoed by Harry Traynor, manager of the Marshes centre.
"The reality is there's better value for your euro north of the Border and we can't compete on the same level. People will look at their shopping basket. If they can get better value within a 30 minute drive it's a no-brainer."
Efforts are being made to win shoppers, "It's something everyone in the South has to look at. It would be nice if the Government considered dropping duty on confectionery and alcohol. We need to get sterling-friendly and offer better value."
Back at the Marshes centre, Ms O'Hanlon, on her way into Dunnes, endorses one Government strategy. "I go to Newry for my main shopping," she says. "As Mary Harney told us, if you're want better value, shop around. Well that's exactly what we're doing."
Prices: North and South
BIG DIFFERENCE
Mature cheddar
Sainsbury's: £7.59/kilo (€9.72)
Tesco: €14.95/kilo
Cod fillet
Sainsbury's: £8.97/kilo (€11.49)
Tesco: €14.06/kilo
Ryvita Dark Rye
Sainsbury's: 61p (78c)
Tesco: €3.25
Vina Sol white wine, 75cl
Sainsbury's: £4.49 (€5.75)
Tesco: €9.49
SMALL DIFFERENCE
Whole chicken per unit
Sainsbury's: £3.85 (€4.93)
Tesco: €5.00
Alpro soya yogurt, 4 x 125g
Sainsbury's : £1.49 (€1.91)
Tesco: €1.99
Kellogg's Corn Flakes, 250g
Sainsbury's: £1.29 (€1.65)
Tesco: €1.61
Huggies Super-Dry nappies, size 3, x38
Sainsbury's: £5.98 (€7.66)
Tesco: €7.99
Tesco stores surveyed were in the Republic of Ireland