BT/0615

Safeway pledge after bombing
By Rosie Cowan
Business Editor

SAFEWAY opened a new store in Cookstown today and relaunched it's first Belfast store, creating 350 new jobs. The supermarket chain has reaffirmed its commitment to the province after the Omagh tragedy with a pledge to invest a further £40m on store refits and new stores, with 250 more jobs.
New shops in Omagh and Downpatrick are currently being built and will open late this year and early next, respectively.
Belfast stores - at Dundonald and Shore Road - are to be fully refitted in two phases', the first by Christmas and the second by spring, at a cost of around £12m.
Safeway is also actively pursuing a number of other sites in the province.
Chief executive Colin Smith, speaking in Cookstown, said: "We are pleased to be opening our first brand new store just over a year after entering Northern Ireland."
Safeway in Northern Ireland is' a 50/50 joint venture with Fitzwilton plc.