Centra, the retail grocery chain, has announced a 9.5 per cent increase in sales to €930 million for 2004.

The company, which is part of the Musgrave Supervalu chain, will announce its full financial results later this year. The latest sales figures, for the year ending December 31st, were disclosed during a Centra national conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, yesterday.

Delegates at the conference were told that the retailer wanted to add 35 new stores this year, creating 750 jobs. At present it has 353 stores.

Commenting on the sales performance, Mr Donal Horgan, managing director, Centra, said the company was operating in a market that was growing "modestly" and where retail prices declined in 2004.

"In this market, Centra retailers continue to innovate and offer choice, quality and value in every county in the country," he said.

He said changes in consumer lifestyle, shopping habits and preferences were taking place and the Centra brand would be able to take advantage of these.

"Centra has embraced these changes with the development of a number of new in-store convenience offerings, including its very successful 'Good to Go' proposition," he said.

The Centra group was formed in 1979 and celebrated its 25th anniversary in the business last year.

The group currently employs about 10,000 people directly, while 1,600 staff provide distribution and retail support to its outlets. These support staff are employed directly by the Musgrave Supervalu Centra group.