Dunnes Stores Sold?

[James]

http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/1104/dunnes.html

Tuesday, 4 November 2008 17:50

Dunnes Stores workers have been inundating the Mandate union with calls relating to concerns over reports that the company may be sold in the near future.

There are reports circulation that a meeting of all store managesr will take place on Thursday with a view to making a significant announcement.

According to a statement released by Mandate, its Assistant General Secretary Gerry Light said that the union has written to Dunnes asking for clarification on the matter.
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The union, which represents workers in the retail trade, wants assurances on job security, terms and conditions of employment and has also requested that workers be kept informed of any potential takeover and the consequences such a deal would have.

'Our members expect that they and their chosen representatives, this union, will be fully informed of the potential consequences of a sale in sufficient time prior to the completion of the transaction,' Mr Light said in the statement.

'Mandate members also expect that some of the proceeds arising from the sale will be set aside in order that a goodwill payment be made to them in recognition of their collective efforts through the years in sustaining Dunnes Stores to the successful position it currently enjoys within the Irish retail sector.

'It has been through hard work and dedication of Dunnes Stores workers that the company has continued its profitability, a factor which obviously has attracted potential bidders to tender for the business,' he added.



Word on the street is that Asda have bought the company.

[south]

it was only about a month ago i heard storys that asda were looking to buy superquinn so maybe they've moved onto a bigger chain.

[JOE]

Certainly won't help things on the jobfront if asda want to close stores...i'd be interested to see how much it goes for considering the amount of properties they have...

[bobby benitez]

I heard Dunnes Bought Super Quinn thats tomorrows news

[maloneavic]

Yeah there is gonna be an anouncement from dunnes in the morning as mandate asked them to clear the while issue up as staff etc wanted to know what was goin on with all the stories going around etc.

I worked for Dunnes for over 5 years overall and they where very good to work for i thought, would be very suprised to see them sell up tho unless they got an offer to good to reject.

Credit crunch and all but all in all they still make a massive profit, might be feeling the pinch a little bit but nothing major id have thought.

The shops feeling the pinch will be the smaller independant shops and they will struggle to stay afloat during this time.

[emc2]

Words has it that they are not selling up, there has been no offical approach from ASDA and they will make a statement to that effect today at some stage.

[Pimboli]

Words has it that they are not selling up, there has been no offical approach from ASDA and they will make a statement to that effect today at some stage.

Arent ASDA part of the Walmart chain or is that one of the other chains as one of them is owned by Walmart as Walmart were stopped from opening in the UK.

[Judas Souness]

Dunnes Stores, the difference is, we're irish

{and import apples and stuff from Apartheid South Africa and Ask our staff to wait on unpaid standby etc etc etc}

[maloneavic]

Dunnes Stores, the difference is, we're irish

{and import apples and stuff from Apartheid South Africa and Ask our staff to wait on unpaid standby etc etc etc}

What would you do in a situation where you can get irish strawberries and other fruit n veg for a high price from the suppliers in ireland or import pretty much the same thing for half the costs?.

It is just the way things are going at the mo.

Suppliers in this country have higher bills, labour costs, overheads etc and are been priced out of there business so they have to charge the dunnes stores and other companies high prices for stock.

Where as foreign countries have cheaper business costs etc and can afford to sell there stock for a much lower cost.

[Judas Souness]

What would you do in a situation where you can get irish strawberries and other fruit n veg for a high price from the suppliers in ireland or import pretty much the same thing for half the costs?.

It is just the way things are going at the mo.

Suppliers in this country have higher bills, labour costs, overheads etc and are been priced out of there business so they have to charge the dunnes stores and other companies high prices for stock.

Where as foreign countries have cheaper business costs etc and can afford to sell there stock for a much lower cost.


I would do exactly what Dunnes did. I just wouldnt tell everyone what a great guy I was at the same time.

[emc2]

Arent ASDA part of the Walmart chain or is that one of the other chains as one of them is owned by Walmart as Walmart were stopped from opening in the UK.

Yea Walmart own ASDA. I think Walmart are the biggest group in the world. ASDA were looking to get into the Irish market before they were bought out by Walmart.

I know when ADSA moved into the North they basically took over another chain (can't remember the name at the minute) and keep all the staff etc.

[Niall]

Dunnes Stores has again declined to comment on reports that it is convening senior managers for a significant announcement today.

On Tuesday, the Mandate trade union, which represents around 5,000 of Dunnes' 18,000 employees, called on the company to clarify whether there were plans to sell the company.

Rumours had circulated that the retailer, which accounts for around 25% of the Irish grocery market and also has significant clothing and home furnishing operations, might be sold.

AdvertisementSpeculation has focused on the Walmart-owned chain ASDA as a potential purchaser.

On Tuesday, ASDA dismissed the suggestion as 'market speculation and rumour'.

Some market observers have also greeted the reports with scepticism, saying they have seen such stories come and go before.

[emc2]

Dunnes Stores has again declined to comment on reports that it is convening senior managers for a significant announcement today.

On Tuesday, the Mandate trade union, which represents around 5,000 of Dunnes' 18,000 employees, called on the company to clarify whether there were plans to sell the company.

Rumours had circulated that the retailer, which accounts for around 25% of the Irish grocery market and also has significant clothing and home furnishing operations, might be sold.

AdvertisementSpeculation has focused on the Walmart-owned chain ASDA as a potential purchaser.

On Tuesday, ASDA dismissed the suggestion as 'market speculation and rumour'.

Some market observers have also greeted the reports with scepticism, saying they have seen such stories come and go before.


I think this is similar to the stories that were floating around about Superquinn earlier in the year. The big players in the UK are interested in getting into the Irish market but would rather buy in that start from scratch.

[Dub13]

Yea Walmart own ASDA. I think Walmart are the biggest group in the world


Walmart are the biggest company turnover wise in the world.

[MrsStevieG]

I hope this doesn't happen, don't like the idea of it at all. Something definitely brewing though cos Dunnes are still declining to comment. Surely if it wasn't happening they would just come out and say it.

[robbie st leger]

guys as far as i am aware it's a done deal with just the announcement to come - they were looking at SQ first

[corkkopite]

Dont know if anyone's seen the inside of walmarts superstores in the US but I can tell you they are very impressive and generally have very good prices. If they can bring prices down in this country then you would think it has to be good for the consumer but I know Dunnes workers will be a bit cautious about this as I know they have come in for a lot of criticism in the States http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/

[maloneavic]

After first saying that i doubt Dunnes would sell up, now i think they will or have and it will be announced this week.

Margaret heffernan has no one to pass the company onto and no one in her family etc are really qualified to takeover so id say they will sell up.

[RedWally]

Dont know if anyone's seen the inside of walmarts superstores in the US but I can tell you they are very impressive and generally have very good prices. If they can bring prices down in this country then you would think it has to be good for the consumer but I know Dunnes workers will be a bit cautious about this as I know they have come in for a lot of criticism in the States http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/

Was in a UK Asda last week - almost a twin of Tesco from the inside.

[carpe diem]

in the current climate is anyone surprised by this?? perfect opportunity with the whole world running scared.

[RedWally]

in the current climate is anyone surprised by this?? perfect opportunity with the whole world running scared.

Very true - like the boss of an airline close to all of our hearts who began ordering new planes after 9/11 due to drop in prices.

[emc2]

Very true - like the boss of an airline close to all of our hearts who began ordering new planes after 9/11 due to drop in prices.

He mentioned last week that he's about to do the same thing again, this time for longhaul routes! (sorry off-topic I know!).

[RedWally]

He mentioned last week that he's about to do the same thing again, this time for longhaul routes! (sorry off-topic I know!).

Fair play to him - proper businessman. If he was running the likes of the HSE here it would be better....a lot better.

[AthloneScouser]

What would happen the blue sh*t if Tesco was closed, Would love for them to go bust

[CHARMAC]

The likes of Lidl and Aldi must be having some effect on profit as you clearly see that more and more people are shopping there, a couple of years ago their car parks were empty now it's quite the opposite

[bobby benitez]

After first saying that i doubt Dunnes would sell up, now i think they will or have and it will be announced this week.

Margaret heffernan has no one to pass the company onto and no one in her family etc are really qualified to takeover so id say they will sell up.

She is surrounded by her family. They hold all the top positions and her brother is a main player too.

[Garrett]

Hey

The difference now is, people are not "embarrised" to be seen shopping in both Aldi & Lidl, a few years ago - everyone in Ireland was too busy being a big wealthy property owner to be seen dead, coming out of either of the shops by the neighbours etc lol :D

I did the run to Sainsbury's in Newry there a couple of weeks ago - straight up the M1, easy journey, stuffed the boot of the car wtih cheap beer and a good grocery shop, well pleased.

Was chatting with a few of the mates on the Sainsbury's run the following Monday in Work & they were suggesting:

* check the Sainsbury's website each week, there's always good promotions on and if you get the right week, you can pick up the likes of a 24 x 330ml bottles of Miller for £5 etc.

* they also tell me, you can register for a "nectar" card if your live in RoI, despite nectar requiring a NI address. Simply do it at the customer services desk before you shop and put your address as c/o their shop - then you can go collect your nectar points on your shop and get your cash discount against your next purchase.

Nice.

[Garrett]

Sorry, appreciate we wen't right off topic there, so back on now ;) :D

.....


I'm amazed there's been no announcement yet, after all the hype, Dunnes really need to complete the deal, tell their staff etc quick.

[stamullenredmen]

i reckon asda coming in would be an awful kick in the teeth for tesco.i work in tesco's fresh food depot and its very quiet for this time of year,lads getting days off and holidays all over the shop and little or no overtime when once you could get all you wanted.plus there is more shops than 12 months ago but our daily volumes are smaller.