Superquinn workers seek assurances amid buyout speculation

Superquinn workers have written to the company seeking assurances on job security amid speculation the supermarket chain is to…

Superquinn workers have written to the company seeking assurances on job security amid speculation the supermarket chain is to be sold.

Earlier this month Superquinn chief executive Simon Burke confirmed that several rival retailers had expressed interest in acquiring the supermarket chain. Mr Burke said that while the business has not been put up for sale by its owners, it would “continue in conversation” with the relevant parties.

In a statement today, the Mandate trade union said it had written to Mr Burke and awaited a reply.

“We have received a vast amount of enquiries from Superquinn members regarding recent reports that Superquinn may be for sale. Workers are concerned primarily with any possible threat to their job security,” Assistant General Secretary of Mandate, Gerry Light said.

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“We expect the company to respond in the next few days and are hopeful that the

response will be a positive one which will reassure our members.”

The supermarket’s owner Select Retail Holdings has instructed its advisers to evaluate each approach. The approaches are understood to have come from Irish wholesale groups Musgrave, BWG, and UK supermarket chains Asda and J Sainsbury.

The offers relate to the Supermarket’s operating business only and and not involve the company’s portfolio of properties.