Fears for local jobs as Eurogiant goes into liquidation

Staff at Eurogiant's three Meath stores are among the 640 workers whose jobs are under threat after a liquidator was appointed to the companies that operate the chain.

Yesterday the High Court appointed a liquidator to Eurogeneral Limited and Bushgrove Limited, which trade as Eurogiant.

Eurogiant has 77 stores across the country, employing around 640 staff, including stores two stores in Navan and one in Ashbourne.

The Eurogiant store in Navan Town Centre has traded since 1995 and in April of last year, the company increased its presence in the town with the opening or a large store on Kennedy Place.

EuroGeneral Limited and Bushgrove Limited, which trade as EuroGiant, have blamed "rising costs" for the decision.

A spokesperson for EuroGiant said after more than 30 years of trading, the company has today entered court-appointed liquidation.

"Rent and day-to-day operating expenses, along with increased competition in the retail sector, mean the business is no longer viable in its current form," the spokesperson said.

EuroGiant stores will remain open and continue trading as normal while a full review of the store network is carried out.

Mark Degnan and Brendan O'Reilly of Interpath have been appointed by the court to manage the liquidation process.

The spokesperson for Eurogiant said the company’s thoughts are with the staff affected, and they wished to sincerely thank them for their hard work and commitment over many years.

EuroGiant founder Charlie O'Loughlin said it was "a very hard day" for him personally.

"I founded this business over 30 years ago and I never imagined it would end like this," he said in a statement.

Mr O’Loughlin has apologised to the workforce following the appointment of the liquidators.

"What matters most to me now is our staff. Many people have given a huge part of their working lives to the company, and I know how worrying and unsettling this will be for them and their families. I am deeply sorry that this is where things have gotten to.

"We did everything we realistically could to keep the business going, but the pressures it faced over time meant that was no longer possible. My focus now is on supporting an orderly wind-down of the business and working with the liquidator to achieve the best possible outcome for employees."

Meanwhile, Meath West TD and Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Johnny Guirke TD, has called for robust action to protect workers’ rights and to secure the best possible outcome for EuroGiant employees.

He said: “We must see workers’ rights and protections prioritised. Any liquidation process and potential redundancies must be conducted in full compliance with workers’ rights legislation, including fair redundancy terms, severance, and access to supports.

“We also insist on exploring sustainable alternatives that could preserve jobs, such as potential sales of stores or a restructuring that protects the workforce, where credible and feasible. Public accountability is crucial, and there must be consideration of the impact on families reliant on these jobs.

“The government, Minister for Enterprise and Employment, and the relevant statutory bodies must now monitor this situation closely and provide a framework of support for workers."

He went on to say that constructive engagement with employees, representative bodies, and the liquidators is essential to identify viable pathways that protect jobs where possible or deliver fair and compassionate outcomes for staff.

EuroGiant was established as a single store on Moore Street in Dublin in 1990 and its store network grew since then to 77 across the country. It has traded in Navan since 1995.