US warehouse club Costco is scouting around for potential sites in Northern Ireland and Continental Europe following successful moves into Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
And market entry is no longer contingent upon finding a suitable partner, claimed Costco UK MD Jim Murphy. "We are interested in a number of sites in Northern Ireland, and are out there talking to people in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland. We're also looking at smaller markets.
"We don't necessarily require a partner. We entered Japan successfully without one. It's just a question of finding the right opportunity  the right sites at the right price."
In the UK Costco has been hampered by the planning regime but has opened 15 depots since it entered the market in 1993, and is still aiming for 45-50.
With sales per depot around the £65-£70m mark, Costco UK is now a £1bn business.
{{NEWS }}
And market entry is no longer contingent upon finding a suitable partner, claimed Costco UK MD Jim Murphy. "We are interested in a number of sites in Northern Ireland, and are out there talking to people in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland. We're also looking at smaller markets.
"We don't necessarily require a partner. We entered Japan successfully without one. It's just a question of finding the right opportunity  the right sites at the right price."
In the UK Costco has been hampered by the planning regime but has opened 15 depots since it entered the market in 1993, and is still aiming for 45-50.
With sales per depot around the £65-£70m mark, Costco UK is now a £1bn business.
{{NEWS }}
No comments yet