The Londis supermarket chain has apologised after one of its stores displayed a sign looking to employ only female staff for their deil counter.

The Londis shop on Dublin's Grafton Street this week displayed a sign reading "Staff wanted: Looking for full-time female deli staff. Experience required. Fully flexible".

A picture of the sign was posted on the Londis Facebook page and a number of people criticised the ad on the social networking site.

"I was on Grafton St today and noticed this sign in the window," one woman wrote.

"We went in to ask... why it was that they exclusively required 'female staff' for their deli," she said.

When she wasn't satisfied with the response to her complaint she posted on the Londis Facebook account.

The job advertisement received widespread criticism online, with one Facebook user writing: "That's blatant discrimination, do they employ cavemen?".

Last night Londis apologised for the "genuine yet unfortunate error by a member of staff in the store.

"It was not the franchisee's intention to cause any offence and we apologise unreservedly where people have taken offence," the statement said.

"Londis is an equal opportunities employer... The sign was removed as soon as we were made aware of this issue," the statement added.

Herald