Tandy to close 69 stores

Tandy, the electrical retailer, is to close 69 of its stores with the loss of 230 jobs. The decision is part of a plan to weed out the more poorly located and under-performing stores in its portfolio. Tandy will still have 269 shops in the UK.

Separately, Birds Eye Wall's, the ice cream and frozen food group is to cut 200 jobs at a plant in Grimsby as it reorganises its production facilities in Humberside. However, Ireland yesterday secured another hi- tech investment coup. US computer giant Dell is to create 3,000 new jobs at its European production base in Limerick and its sales centre in Bray, County Wicklow.