Image by iamPatrick via Flickr

Around 150 jobs have been lost with the closure of seven 4-Home DIY and homeware stores around the country. The retail chain closed their outlets in Killarney and Ballincollig last week, on the back of earlier closure in Portlaoise, Carlow, Monaghan, Ashbourne and Macroom.

There are also fears for the future of outlets in Fermoy and Mitchelstown as Reox Holdings, a Dairygold Co-op spin-off company, implements a major restructuring plan. Talks between Reox and Dairygold about the possible acquisition of some of the nine remaining 4-Home stores in Munster by the Co-op are ongoing.

Earlier this year Reox announced that it was reviewing the performance of each of its stores as a result of a significant downturn in the sector. According to a company spokesman the recession had caused consumer confidence to plummet and they were spending less on home improvement products. Central Statistics Office figures bear out that statement, showing a huge drop in home-related sales over the past year.