THE MANDATE trade union has said it has “increased concern” about the future of its members in the Superquinn-owned supermarket in Dundalk. The store, which employs 32 people, is not among those being purchased by the Musgrave group.

“We need clarification on whether this store will continue trading as a going concern while it is on the market,” said the chairperson of Dundalk town council, Cllr Marianne Butler.

The assistant general secretary of Mandate, Gerry Light, said, “we are concerned for all our members but there is increased and additional concern because it appears Dundalk is not in the plans for the future of the Superquinn group”.

He said the union “will try and do the best we can for our members in Dundalk and won’t leave any stone unturned”. Superquinn closed its store in the Carroll Village shopping centre in January 2009 as a result of a number of factors including cross-Border shopping but it re-opened as the Carroll Village Supermarket in January this year on foot of a court order.

“When it was in full swing, before it was first closed, there was a great crew working there. I had a few friends working there. Now the town is saturated with supermarkets but I would like it to stay open,” said Brian Finnegan (27) who shopped in it yesterday.

“When I first came here I couldn’t get over some of the good deals they had and I think more people go into it now compared to when it first re-opened,” added Vickie Gallagher (26).

A spokesperson for Superquinn said: “Carroll Village Supermarket in Dundalk is owned by the Superquinn Group (but) is not a Superquinn outlet and is not part of the transaction.

“This will be marketed by the joint receivers as a going concern. Carroll Supermarket will remain open for business until a suitable buyer is identified.”