Roches Stores, the privately-owned Irish department store chain, could be sold off. Roches is considering selling off the retail side of the business while keeping its property portfolio. The move would in effect transform Roches from a retailer into a real estate company. Roches has refused to comment on the claims. Roches was valued at EUR 600m in 2005, but the value is likely to have gone up because of Ireland's retail boom. Roches is owned by the Roche family.