FROZEN FOOD retailer Iceland is to open its first store in Dublin city centre. The company is currently fitting out the former Dunnes Stores outlet on the Moore Mall in the Ilac centre. Dunnes closed around a year ago when it relocated its food operation to a four-storey retail building on Henry Street which is also linked into the Ilac.

Iceland is likely to be paying around €322 per sq m (€30 per sq ft) as well as 10 per cent of turnover for the premises which extend to 3,251sq m (35,000sq ft). Boots and TK Maxx had previously considered moving into the vacant shop.

Dunnes is currently trading out of another store in the ILAC which has a floor area of 5,574sq m (60,000sq ft) over two floors. It sells mainly textiles on the ground floor.

The Iceland franchise in Ireland is held by the AIM Group which operates stores in Finglas, Ballyfermot and Navan Road in Dublin. Iceland, which previously operated its own stores in Ireland, had a turnover of £2.2 billion last year from 780 stores in the UK and Ireland.

Carol Maccartney of the AIM Group said they were looking for further stores in the Republic.

The operators of the Ilac claim that it is now attracting 14 million visitors a year since it was upgraded and enlarged. Its retail area of 27,870sq m (300,000sq ft) is producing a rent roll of around €20 million per annum.

Other recent arrivals in the Ilac include Quigley’s Cafe, Ermano Jewellers, Benoit’s Chocolate Factory and Click, the computer retailer. The letting agents are Bannon and HWBC.