The supermarket chain Centra says it has invested almost €37 million in Cork communities last year.
According to a study carried out by the group it shows that contributions were made through a number of payments to local business services, wages, charitable donations and local sponsorship.
The supermarket giant sourced €9.1 million worth of products from local suppliers in Cork last year.
The company gave over €441,000 in charitable donations and sponsorship to over 1,000 local Cork charities, community groups and sports clubs in 2013.
The group who employ 11,280 people across its network of stores says it hopes to expand its numbers by employing a further 300 by the end of the year.
Currently centra employ 1,807 staff in cork county, almost 45% of which are full time staff.
Centra managing director Martin Kelleher commented “our study shows Centra is spending almost a quarter of a billion euro in communities all over Ireland, that’s over €524,000 per store. We now have solid data demonstrating the significant economic importance and impact of our stores up and down the country. Unlike some other retailers who’s profits leave Ireland, our customers hard earned euros are going back into the community, like O’Leary’s Centra in Cork. For the last 35 years, support of communities has and will continue to be, at the very heart of what makes Centra a successful business. We have ambitious growth plans and if performance continues as we expect, €1billion will have been invested back into communities between 2013 and 2016.”