Irish-owned book and stationary retailer Eason & Son has acquired two retail units in Cork, called Porters, bringing the number of outlets it has in the county up to six.

The two newsagents and book shops are in shopping centres in Wilton and Douglas. Between them they employ 40 people who will transfer to Eason. The acquisition will add about €5 million in turnover to Eason.

Staff in the two units have been told of the sale which is due to close on November 3rd. Eason declined to comment.

Eason recorded a net profit after tax of €2.3 million in its financial year to January 2014, compared with €2.6 million the previous year.

Eason Group revenues were down 7.1 per cent to €227.4 million, in what the company called a “challenging year”.

The decision to buy two more stores will help to reverse this trend. The company is also preparing to offer new products and complete an investment programme in its stores.