Sales of the Costcutter and Quickpick retail brands in the Republic hit a record €190 million in its last financial year, figures released yesterday show.

Mallow-based James A Barry and Company Ltd, known as the Barry Group, said profit grew to €1.45 million in the 12 months ended January 31st last, from €1.37 million during the previous year. The group said that sales during the same period grew 5 per cent to a record €190 million.

The Barry Group owns the Costcutter and Quickpick retail franchises in the Republic, which have a total of 220 convenience stores around the State.

Costcutter is a international brand with a presence in Ireland, the UK and Europe. It has stores in 25 of the 26 counties in the Republic. The Barry Group developed the Quickpick franchise itself, and that brand's distribution has a bias towards Munster.

Alongside this, it operates a general wholesale business serving pubs, caterers, hotels and shops. The company employed 227 people last year.

Commenting on the results yesterday, chief executive Jim Barry said the group was happy with the performance. "We put great emphasis in the last financial year on the need for sustained growth across our business," he said.

"We are satisfied with the strong business relationships we have developed with our independent retailers and we will continue to develop a larger customer base through continued investment in this area."

The company bought the Kilkenny Cash & Carry business towards the end of the year. That has been integrated into its warehouse operation in Mallow.

The group did not buy the Kilkenny operator's premises, according to Mr Barry. "We can serve their customers from Mallow, we have plenty of capacity here."