Superquinn has given in to market pressures and opened some branches on Sundays.
Superquinn's flagship store in Lucan, Co Dublin, and its Kilkenny branch opened on Sunday for the first time. Its new Waterford branch has been open on Sundays on a trial basis since October and the Sundrive branch in Dublin opened on Sunday a few weeks ago.
Superquinn's competitors, Dunnes Stores and Tesco, have built up a steady Sunday trade. "I had always hoped that we would never have to open on Sundays," said Mr Feargal Quinn, executive chairman of Superquinn. "I've always thought that most people would be well able to adjust themselves to get their shopping done on days other than Sunday, particularly with late-night opening. But it's fairly clear that people working on Saturdays find it impossible and if we are not open, they go elsewhere."
He said customers had told him they admired him for not opening on Sundays but admitted they did their shopping elsewhere on that day.
"We held out for 10 years and I have to say that we made the decision to open very reluctantly. We've been quite busy on Sundays. I think it's here to stay," he said.
Working on Sunday is voluntary for Superquinn staff who earn bonus payments for Sunday work. Superquinn has 18 branches, with a new store opening in Limerick later this year.
