Sainsbury’s has bought two supermarkets from independent, Northern Ireland family retail business Curley’s in a multimillion-pound deal.

The sale is understood to comprise the Curley’s stores in Belfast and Dungannon.

The retailer, set up by Hugh Kennedy in 1969, started out with a small shop on the Glen Road in west Belfast. It now employs 557 staff. Curley's will retain ownership of its off-licences.

Curley’s prides itself on its local identity and traded on the slogan: “Buy local – we do”.