The company said that there were now almost 300 stores trading under the Londis brand in Ireland, and that 2004 would see the group launch a new brand identity with a campaign costing €1 million in a bid to attract more independent retailers to its portfolio.Like its unrelated namesake in the UK, ADM Londis provides sales and marketing services to stores owned by independent operators or franchisees which trade under its brand name.
As part of the new brand identity, the company is to launch a new store format called Londis Plus, which will be used for stores with a floor space in excess of 5,000 square feet. These stores compete with the larger supermarket outlets and need a different fascia to distinguish them from the more traditional Londis stores which compete most closely with other convenience store operators.
Stephen O'Riordan, executive director of ADM Londis, said that he was pleased with the good sales performance in what had been a very competitive year for food retailers. "Our rapid expansion demonstrates that our franchisees recognise the quality of the service we offer. We plan to open a further 30 stores in the coming year with the creation of 600 new jobs," he said.
ADM Londis claims to be Ireland's fastest growing premier symbol group. The group employs over 4,500 staff throughout its stores nationwide.