During 2008, SuperValu had another year of growth with sales of €2.3 billion, up 3.4 per cent. Eight new stores opened. There were also 37 major revamps to SuperValu stores.

The SuperValu 'Real Food, Real People' brand promise remains at the heart of all the developments around our retail offering. Our retail partners know they can rely on us. We offer them our innovation, passion, scale and long-term relationships with suppliers. They offer their customers real value, quality and service at affordable prices.

Throughout the year SuperValu has delivered thousands of long term price cuts across the entire store, from fresh meat to frozen products, fruit and vegetables to household, as well as healthcare and baby products.

Our market knowledge coupled with the closeness of our retail partners to their consumers and communities has fuelled many strong initiatives this year - initiatives like our 'power of free' offerings - eg, buy steak and get your vegetables free - €7 meal deals and big brands for €1 and €2.

We've also launched the new SuperValu Real Rewards customer loyalty programme, which operates at a national and local level.

Throughout all this activity, however, the SuperValu focus remains the same - to deliver good, honestly priced food for today's consumers, directly into the hearts of the communities in which they live.