The so-called "symbol" groups are becoming an ever-more powerful force in Irish retailing, with the latest evidence being the decision by British chain Costcutter and the Irish-owned Vantage Wholesale to form a strategic alliance in the Irish market. They hope to woo a significant number of retailers, who are either independent at the moment or are part of other chains, to join the Costcutter franchise.

Vantage already holds the MACE franchise in the South of the country; BWG operates it in the North and the East and has opened three petrol station sites for the new MACE/Maxol venture in Tipperary and Cork.

Vantage is 75 per cent owned by Cork-based Punch Holdings and is run by Mr Richard Broderick, who was appointed in January 1996 having previously been a management consultant in the grocery sector and before that head of operations at Jamont. Vantage is already a substantial player in the market stocking more than 10,000 product lines and the new link-up signals its serious intent to grow rapidly.