Waterford staff make a plea for more customers

It was announced last Thursday that  EuroGeneral/Bushgrove Ltd, trading as EuroGiant, has entered court-appointed liquidation, putting 640 jobs at risk.

In a post on social media, Eurogiant Waterford said: "It has been made clear to us that all jobs are at risk and that stores may close in the coming weeks.

"From next week, liquidators will be assessing stores based on factors such as sales, stock levels and footfall, and decisions will be made about which locations remain open and which will close."

In a heartfelt message, staff members implored the public to consider purchasing everyday items in Eurogiant in the coming days and weeks. 

"For some of our staff, remaining open a little longer could also make a crucial difference in terms of qualifying for statutory redundancy entitlements. Even a short extension could have a significant impact on people’s livelihoods."

They continued: "This is not an easy message to write. Our immediate goal is simply to ask for the public’s support in helping us stay in employment for as long as possible. If you need something that we stock, please consider shopping with us."

 EuroGiant first opened in Waterford in 1999 and has been a part of Michael Street ever since. 

The founder of EuroGiant, Charlie O’Loughlin, said the situation 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 told RTÉ News.

“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.”