The group had sales of €4.4bn and a profit before tax of €67.5m in 2015, according to company figures released this Thursday.

Supervalu is the biggest-selling supermarket chain in the Republic of Ireland with nearly 25% of market share, according to the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel.

The chain’s sales brought in €2.6bn in sales last year, compared with €1.5bn at Centra stores. Daybreak service station shops and the wholesale business MarketPlace accounted for the rest.

“2015 marked a year in which we brought the business back to profit and positioned it on a path to growth,” commented Musgrave chief executive Chris Martin.

Exit from Britain

The group left Britain last year and consolidated its presence in Ireland. It is also reporting improving trading conditions in Spain.

In its outlook for 2016, the company reports a positive start to the year, especially in Dublin, but warns of a number of risks:

“Although the Irish economy continues to improve, the outlook remains uncertain primarily due to external factors. The economy is vulnerable to potential impacts such as the uncertainty surrounding the referendum on continued membership of the European Union in the United Kingdom and economic adjustment in some emerging market economies that could push the global economy towards recession. In addition to this, the Irish grocery market remains challenging with growing competition.”