Centra, the retail group, recorded a combined turnover of £262 million (€333 million) last year, an increase of 16 per cent on the 1997 performance.

The group, which held its national conference in Killarney, Co Kerry yesterday, comprises 275 independently owned stores in both the Republic and the North. In the past year, 32 new stores have been added to the Centra Group.

The franchise to Centra, which now accounts for around 5 per cent of the grocery market, is owned by Musgraves.