Irish supermarket Superquinn will open its first national distribution centre in Co Dublin in January. The centre will enable Superquinn to introduce centralised distribution of ambient and chilled products to 18 outlets. The supermarket currently receives the majority of supplier deliveries direct to store, and expects to cut delivery journeys from 400,000 to 100,000 a year. Central distribution is new to the Irish Republic and oppnents claim it will threaten jobs in the manufacturing sector as retailers take over distribution systems. There are also concerns among suppliers that central distribution will lead to the multiples sourcing more products from overseas. {{NEWS }}