100 new stores for Mace

Mace is to boost its presence with plans to open 100 new stores by 2016, creating an estimated 1,200 jobs, reports the Irish Independent this morning.

Willie O’Byrne, managing director of BWG, operator of the Mace brand along with the Maxol Group, said the company was outperforming the market and was the fastest-growing brand in Irish retailing.

He said the company was confident that it could meet the 100 new-store target and get enough independent retailers to link to the Mace brand.

“These are specific plans. It is our aim to drive 100 new stores into the brand by 2016, even to reference 28 new stores in 2012 gives you some comfort that that figure isn’t picked out of the air,” Mr O’Byrne said.

The Mace stores tend to be a mixture of forecourt and neighbourhood store, with an estimated 4,000 employees across the country.

Mr O’Byrne said that its partnership with Maxol, renewed last year, has seen the Mace group establish itself as one of Ireland largest forecourt symbol brands.

“The new strategy will also see additional investment in Mace Own-Brand, with the company predicting a 20pc increase in the range of own-brand products available in Mace stores this year.”