The chief executive of Superquinn Simon Burke confirmed today that several rival retailers have expressed interest in acquiring the supermarket chain.
Mr Burke said that while the business has not been put up for sale by its owners, it would “continue in conversation” with the relevant parties.
The supermarket’s owner Select Retail Holdings has instructed its advisers to evaluate each approach.
The approaches are understood to have come from Irish wholesale groups Musgrave, BWG, and UK supermarket chains Asda and J Sainsbury.
The offers relate to the Supermarket’s operating business only and and do not involve the company’s portfolio of properties.
Select Retail Holdings is said to value the operating business at €250-300 million following a strong turnaround in the trading performance of Superquinn in the past couple of years.
The supermarket generated sales of some €620 million in 2007 and this is expected to rise to about €680 million this year.
The company has been returned to profitability since Select Retail Holdings bought the business in 2005 from Senator Feargal Quinn and his family for some €450 million.