1st October 2013, Tuesday
By TheCork.ie
news@TheCork.ie
Topaz, Ireland’s largest convenience and fuel retailer has announced
details of an €8m investment in two new motorway sites on the Dublin
Cork and Dublin Waterford motorways.
One of the stations will be located at Junction 3 on the Dublin Cork
motorway (M8) near Ballacolla in County Laois. The other will be
situated at Junction 5 on the Dublin Waterford motorway (M9).
Topaz says both sites, which will be among the most modern and best
equipped in the country, will provide badly needed services and
facilities to motorists using the M8 and M9.
Work on the 600 square metre site in Co Laois will begin in January
2014 and is expected to be completed by July 2014. A planning
application has been submitted for the Co Carlow site and if granted
permission work is expected to begin next Summer. Two hundred people
will be employed during the construction phase of both sites while 50
people will be employed full-time once the 24/7 stations are fully
operational.
The site in Co Carlow will include a quick serve restaurant and this
will lead to the creation of an additional 50 jobs.
Paul Candon, Marketing and Corporate Services Director at Topaz said
both sites were key parts of the Company’s expansion plans.
“We have an excellent motorway network in Ireland now but there is a
shortage of service areas and we want to address that. We see both
these sites as being a vital rest and refueling stops for motorists
travelling between Dublin and Cork and Dublin and Waterford. It’s
estimated 10,000 motorists use both motorways every day and we want to
provide them with the best services available.
These sites will set the bar in terms of the services available to
customers and will include wi-fi internet access, a top quality hot
food buffet and cafe, EV charger, children’s play area, toilets and
showers”.
Mr Candon also said that Topaz is actively looking for new sites and locations.
“We are in expansion mode and are constantly looking at sites with
good potential near motorways. Our site at Cashel has been extremely
successful and we expect these new sites to be likewise. In addition
if any dealers would like to join Topaz or hear more about the
benefits of being part of our nationwide network we would love to hear
from them”
