Ulster Grocer December Issue 2019 by Helen Wright

ULSTER

CER TM

DECEMBER 2019

N O. 1 M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E LO C A L G R O C E R Y S E C TO R

Over 45 years at the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry

HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY: AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF NEW AND USED MACHINERY

GROCER ULSTER

DECEMBER 2019

N O. 1 M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E LO C A L G R O C E R Y S E C TO R

Over 45 years at the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry

STEADY GROWTH IN NI GROCERY MARKET SYMBOL GROUP SALES SURGE SECOND ONLY TO LIDL BY EMMA DEIGHAN

idl continues to fly the flag for budget grocery retail as it tops the charts as the fastest-growing supermarket here, according to new data. The figures from Kantar on market share in Northern Ireland for the 52 weeks to November 3 show the German retailer, which has almost 40 stores here, boosted its sales by 5.8% with a rise in its share of the market of 0.3% to 6.1%. It was only one of two supermarkets

to experience growth in its market share over the past year with Tesco, the largest supermarket here with 50 stores, growing its share by 0.1% to 35.3%. Tesco’s sales for the year also rose by 0.9%. But in contrast, sales fell at its closest competitors Asda and Sainsbury’s. Asda faired worse out of the big four, experiencing a drop in sales of 1.7% and dropping its share of the grocery market from 17.1% to 16.7%. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s sales dropped by 1.5% while its share decreased from 17.4% to 17% over the same period.

Charlotte Scott, consumer insight director at Kantar, said growth in the Northern Ireland grocery market had remained steady at 0.7% over the period. She attributed that growth to the frequency of trips, which rose by 4.3% compared to 12 months ago. Scott said growth at Lidl was “partially driven” by a rise in pack prices - which were up 4.5% - “although the retailer also enjoyed an increased number of shoppers and bigger baskets”. The symbol groups here, including Henderson’s SPAR and EUROSPAR stores as well as Musgrave’s Centra and SuperValu outlets, grew their share of the market by 0.2% to 8.0%. They also experienced a surge in sales of 3.4%, which was the second highest growth next to Lidl.

WOMAN CHARGED AFTER BALLYNAHINCH ATM THEFT

woman has been charged with handling stolen goods by detectives investigating the attempted theft of an ATM machine in Ballynahinch. The 22-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of handling stolen goods and one count each of attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving with no insurance and driving whilst unaccompanied. She is due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates’ court on December 18.

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The charges relate to the attempted theft of an ATM machine at premises on Belfast Road in the town on Monday November 18. Thieves used a shovel/bulldozer-type vehicle stolen from a nearby quarry in a failed bid to rip the cash machine from the wall of Carlisles’ filling station. They struck the forecourt roof with the bucket of the vehicle as they tried to flee the scene.

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COSTCUTTER HAMILTONSBAWN: HOLIDAYS ARE COMING: ONE OF NI’S FIRST STORES TO TRADE UNDER THE COSTCUTTER FASCIA HAS INVESTED IN ITS FOODTO-GO OFFER

COCA COLA EMBARKS ON ITS ANNUAL FESTIVE CAMPAIGN & CONTINUES TO INVEST IN ITS SUSTAINABILITY CREDENTIALS

“Words fail to describe my anger at this disgraceful attempted ATM robbery on one of our members,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. “This has caused extensive damage to one of Ballynahinch’s largest retailers in the run up to Christmas. “We would urge all businesses and organisations who have external ATMs to be vigilant and urge members of the public with any information to contact the PSNI.”

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ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2020:

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT GIVING & A NEW ONLINE PORTAL WILL MAKE ENTERING OUR 32ND ANNUAL AWARDS WHAT BETTER TIME TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE LATEST CSR ACTIVITY EASIER THAN EVER

email: info@ulstergrocer.com Volume 54, Number 11 DECEMBER 2019

Editor: Alyson Magee E: a.magee@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4175 Contributors: Michele Shirlow Sales Manager: Chris Keenan E: c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4266 Art Editor: Helen Wright Production Manager: Irene Fitzsimmons Ulster Grocer c/o Independent News & Media Ltd, Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG www.ulstergrocer.com @ulstergrocer www.facebook.com/ulstergrocer Subscriptions: £27.50 per annum £37.50 per annum (outside UK) Designed & Produced by: Independent News & Media Ltd Tel: 028 9026 4000 Printed by: W&G Baird, Antrim Tel: 028 9446 3911

Latest ABC figures state that Ulster Grocer has an average net circulation of 5,846 per edition (1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018) Independent News & Media Ltd ©2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or stransmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of Independent News & Media Ltd.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

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WISHING YOU A HEALTHY, HAPPY & PROSPEROUS CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

elcome to our last edition of the year. Contrary to promises made, we have yet to Brexit. And a General Election on December 12 offers the potential to unleash an even-greater level of chaos around the process than we have seen to date. Safe to say, it’s been a year of great frustration, uncertainty and unnecessary stockpiling for the grocery sector, with an end no nearer in sight. Merry Christmas everyone… Luckily, our producers, processors and retailers are a resilient bunch, and continue to invest despite the economic uncertainty. Our December edition showcases innovation across the retail sector from small shops through to the multiples. This month’s store focus is Costcutter Hamiltonsbawn, one of the first adopters of the Costcutter fascia in Northern Ireland, which has recently invested in its food-to-go offering with owner Colin Dodds confident he’ll be able to power through Brexit with the positive attitude of ‘whatever it throws at us, we’ll get by’. Wise words indeed. Henderson Group, meanwhile, is seeking to shake up the convenience store ready meal offer with a significant investment in its The Chef range, developed at a new facility by a team of chefs headed up by Carl Johannesson. We’re looking forward to trying out a few dishes. On the multiple retailer news page, M&S has introduced a new food hall format at its Abbey Centre store; the first in all Ireland to undergo the redesign. Shoppers at the location will have been aware of the staged transformation for some time now and, by the time this magazine comes out, the completed project will be unveiled. M&S is hoping to capture more of the

weekly shop with its new format, which will continue to be rolled out to other stores and also focuses on reducing packaging through, for example, a greater emphasis on loose fruit and vegetables. Evolving to changing market needs is vital. And Lidl, the fastest-growing retailer in the Northern Ireland market (according to Kantar data), continues to drive employee benefits with its latest commitment to a wage hike hitting £9.30 per hour. The retailers including Musgrave, and food and drink companies, have also ramped up their CSR activity as the year draws to an end with their fundraising efforts profiled over ps28-31, including forecourt retailer Applegreen’s commitment to its charity Partner, Friends of the Cancer Centre. Kudos to all for their worthy efforts, which will certainly make them worthy candidates for the Best CSR Initiative/ Charity Partnership at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020. Launched in this month’s magazine, with entries now open, the 32nd annual awards will be held as usual during the Grocers’ Ball on May 8, a fundraising event for another great CSR initiative, GroceryAid. We have introduced a streamlined, online entry mechanism this year with the aim of making it more straightforward and less onerous for companies to enter. In addition, we have added a new category – Ulster Grocer Leader in Business – which will require only informal nominations by email. Full details are included inside over ps26-27. May we take the opportunity to thank our readers and advertisers for their support throughout the year, and to wish you all a very merry and prosperous Christmas and New Year.

Alyson Magee

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NEWS

SPAR NI INVESTS £500,000 IN NEW ‘RESTAURANT QUALITY’ READY MEALS S

PAR NI has launched a new high-quality ready meal brand, The Chef, supported by a £500,000 investment in kitchen facilities and 14 new jobs including its first in-house chef. Carl Johannesson, who has over 20 years’ experience at venues such as the James Street South Group, is leading the team of chefs developing the range at its new kitchen in Randalstown. Aiming to redefine the current retail offering of homemade meals, the ‘restaurant-quality’ range is handmade in small batches using quality ingredients. A collaborative effort between Henderson’s Wholesale and Foodservice operations, local suppliers include K&G McAtamney, Bradmount Foods, Elmore Fish, Big Pot Co. and Daily Bake. “For over 120 years, we have been supplying food to the convenience sector, sourcing as much as we can locally,” said Neal Kelly, fresh foods director at the Henderson Group. “We have continued to invest significantly in ranges which bring out the best local food producers Northern Ireland has to offer. “The Chef is a range which is pushing new boundaries for us; producing chef-standard meals of our own using top-quality ingredients, available to pick up in store. “Combining both our consumer and market knowledge, we have developed products with Chef Carl which can be bought when there is a need for a home-cooked meal without the time

From left, Neal Kelly, fresh food director; Carl Johannesson, SPAR NI’s first in-house chef; and John Agnew, chairman of the Henderson Group.

it takes to cook from scratch, or even a midweek treat.” The Chef consists of 35 mains and sides, which includes family favourites such as beef Bolognese, fish pie and lasagne alongside global dishes including risotto, stroganoff, curries and chowders. Sides include cauliflower cheese, roast butternut squash with feta and honey, and garlic mushrooms. Initially available in selected EUROSPAR Community Supermarkets across Northern Ireland, The Chef range will be rolled out further in the coming months.

RETAIL PARK LIVING WAGE PROPOSAL RAISES NEWRY PLANS SHELVED ISSUES FOR NI RETAILERS RETAIL NI HAS ADDRESSED THE LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO, PUBLISHED AHEAD OF THE DECEMBER 12 GENERAL ELECTION

commitment to address climate change, and support for the Post Office network, in the Labour Party Manifesto has been welcomed by Retail NI. A proposed £10 Living Wage has, however, been branded unaffordable for many retailers by the industry group. Labour published its Manifesto on November 21, ahead of the December 12 General Election, with the Conservative Party yet to publish its proposals as the December edition of Ulster Grocer went to print. “This manifesto is a radical and challenging document for the economy,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. “Climate change and the role of the private sector is rightly listed as a central priority in this manifesto. The retail sector wants to play its part in a stronger partnership with the UK

government to address the critical environment challenge. “Retail NI welcomes Labour’s manifesto commitments to banning ATM charges, revitalising the Post Office network and implementing a retail sector industrial strategy. “The Labour Party has also pledged an additional £1.9bn for Northern Ireland which we hope would be largely ring-fenced for economic development and infrastructure investment. “The proposed £10 Living Wage is a very significant challenge and concern for Retail NI members. Our members are paying the highest business rates in the UK and unless we get a big reduction in business rates, this £10 rate may be unaffordable for many of them. “The high cost of doing business in Northern Ireland must be an urgent priority for an incoming Stormont administration and UK government.”

ontroversial plans for a large out-oftown retail park at Carbane Way have been withdrawn just before they were due to go before the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Planning Committee last month. Retail NI, Newry Chamber and Newry BID had urged the Council to reject the Carnbane out-of-town retail application, with the plans said to have been subsequently withdrawn following Department and legal advice. Retail NI described the withdrawn plans as comprising ‘an eye-watering total of 22,653-square-metre-gross retail floor space’ including a food superstore. “This out-of-town retail application is one of the biggest ever and is in fact larger than Sprucefield,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. “It would be a competing city centre, drawing away jobs, retailers, hospitality, shoppers and would cause incalculable damage to Newry City Centre. “It would have a retail impact to Newry City Centre of nearly 30% and is completely contrary to the town centre planning policy and the local development plan.” 5

NEWS

NI FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS URGED TO EMBRACE CHANGE

ood retail around the British Isles is facing “severe headwinds”, according to former Waitrose supermarket MD Lord Mark Price, who delivered the George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture at Queen’s University Belfast. Lord Price, who was UK Minister of State for Trade between 2016-2017, after a long career in business, said costs were rising sharply for food retailers, but the biggest single threat was online shopping which, despite being only 6% of the British market, was set to grow quickly. “We are still in the foothills of what can happen with an aggressive Amazon food-offer entering the market,” he said in his keynote address, UK Food Systems: Adapting to Change. Lord Price was delivering the 61st George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture – an annual event hosted by the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU). He told a capacity audience, including many farmers, that primary producers were also facing tough challenges – global competition, fewer subsidies, rising costs, but with one big potential opportunity, more export markets. The most likely Brexit outcome, in his

From left, James McCluggage, UFU; Alistair Carson, DAERA; Lord Price; Elizabeth Magowan; AFBI; and Nigel Scollan, IGFS, QUB.

view, was a free-trade agreement with the EU, with regulatory alignment in sectors where it “made sense”, such as agrifood in Ireland. “Unfettered” by membership of an EU customs union, the UK would be free to create other trade agreements around the world and to compete on the global stage, he said. None of this suggested an easy environment for farmers in the shortterm, he conceded. “Your competitor will no longer be the farm next door or even in a neighbouring county – it will be a

farmer in Mexico or New Zealand.” But farmers needed to embrace change and could learn lessons from retailers. In recent years, retailers had to quickly become “more efficient and more differentiated” and, he said, embrace new models, particularly digital ones. Collective buying and selling for farmers were key requirements for the future, he said, and organisations such as the UFU would play a “vital role” in galvanising members to look at new ways of doing things.

MOVING THE HIDDEN ROLE OF WOMEN IN FARMING TO THE FOREFRONT

oosting access to childcare and training could potentially enhance opportunities for women in the agrifood sector, delegates heard at a recent Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) event. UFU said its first Women in Agriculture conference, held at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena on November 15, was a great success, attracting over 200 attendees. Jennifer Hawkes, chair of the UFU’s rural affairs committee, said the event recognised the reality that women have always played a key role in farm businesses and the wider industry – often behind the scenes. “With farming seen historically as predominately male-led, the conference raised the profile of women working in agriculture and the valuable contribution 6

they make,” said Hawkes. “The event was a real success and we hope to build on what was achieved; not least how the speakers inspired and motivated women who, despite their contribution, can feel ignored in the farming equation.” The conference also saw the launch of UFU’s new partnership with Women in Business, which will help pave the way for more women from rural areas to take up business and leadership training opportunities. “We want to see more women involved within the structure of the UFU, but we do recognise the barriers,” said Hawkes. “Training is one issue, but there are other barriers such as lack of opportunity, access to childcare and employment responsibilities off-farm.

“There’s a lot of hidden work that women do on farms to keep the farm business going and that will not change. However, there is clearly an appetite to move the role women play in the agricultural industry further up the agenda.” Keynote speakers at the event included Joyce Bannerman-Campbell, co-chairperson of the Scottish government’s Women in Agriculture taskforce, who urged delegates not to be “shrinking violets” and to be proud to work in the industry as a ‘driver of change’, and Hannah Jackson also known as the Red Shepherdess. Other speakers included Tracy Hamilton, brand director of Mash Direct, and Roseann Kelly, chief executive of Women in Business.

NEWS

PLANS UNVEILED FOR £15M WHISKEY AND GIN DISTILLERY From left, Derek Hardy, managing director, Hinch Distillery, and Brian Dolaghan, executive director of Business & Sector Development at Invest NI.

new whiskey and gin distillery and visitor experience is set to open in Co Down, representing a £15m investment expected to create 42 new jobs over the next five years. Plans for the Hinch Distillery, a 30,000-square-foot site located between Belfast and Ballynahinch, were unveiled at a launch event in Belfast last month. Dr Terry Cross OBE, founder of Delta Print & Packaging, is developing the

distillery to produce Hinch Irish Whiskey and Ninth Wave Gin. Invest Northern Ireland has offered £1.9m of support towards construction of the new distillery and investment in plant, machinery and equipment. The distillery, due to be completed between spring and early summer 2020, will span two floors housing the distillery, bottling line, storage facilities and offices. Visitor centre facilities will include a coffee shop, public restaurant, pub, event spaces and retail shop. Drinksology, which created interiors for the award-winning Dead Rabbit and Blacktail bars in New York, is designing Hinch Distillery, which will use local materials and artisan craftsmen. “Irish whiskey has continually been

CRISPS, CHOCOLATE & BISCUITS LEAD FESTIVE FAVOURITES

usgrave MarketPlace has published new figures predicting a 6% rise in its sales of crisps, chocolate and biscuits this festive season. The wholesale supplier is aiming to make the most of the key trading period by launching a new Christmas Made campaign, offering customers everything they need for Christmas from confectionery and Christmas trees to desserts and hampers under one roof. Its Christmas sales forecast includes 20,000 tins of Jacobs biscuits, 2,600 cases of Jaffa Cake Yards, 29,200 bags or tins of Roses, 46,000 units of Milk Tray, 29,728 boxes of Nestlé Dairy Box and 839,682 bags of Tayto crisps. “Christmas is a time for tradition, friends, family and, of course, food,” said Ciara McClafferty, trading director at Musgrave MarketPlace. “As Ireland’s leading wholesale supplier to foodservice, retail and SMEs, we see a sharp rise in demand for traditional Christmas treats like crisps, chocolate, biscuits and fizzy drinks. “In keeping with previous years, we predict a seasonal spike in confectionery sales of 6%. We are fully stocked up on all Christmas treats for 2019 and look forward to welcoming our customers in our branches over the next few weeks.”

the fastest-growing spirit category in the world over the last 10 years, nearly trebling in size,” said Dr Cross, chairman of Hinch Distillery. “This trend is forecast to continue in the future with Irish whiskey beginning to approach and indeed overtake sales of Scotch in many international markets. “The world gin market has also witnessed phenomenal growth in the last few years yet still has huge potential to grow in markets where gin is still a relatively small category. “We are launching the Hinch Distillery to provide visitors with a highly differentiated product and experience that couples the production of our quality spirits with a story and heritage. We hope it will become an attraction in its own right and offer guests a real understanding of the skills and methods needed to produce our spirits.” Derek Hardy, managing director, said: “Hinch Irish Whiskeys and Ninth Wave Gin are already making waves globally. We have a presence in 15 markets including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the US and European countries. Our goal is to double our export markets by the end of 2020 and the timing of the Hinch Distillery opening couldn’t come at a better time for us.”

CONTRACTOR APPOINTED FOR NEW £208M BELFAST TRANSPORT HUB

ork is set to begin on a new £208m Belfast Transport Hub after Northern Ireland construction firm Graham was selected as the contractor. Translink’s new proposed development is set to replace the Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street train station complex. The public transport provider said the ‘flagship project’ will enhance connectivity, transforming the eighthectare city centre site while offering high-quality integrated transport hub for bus, coach and rail links. “This is a genuine good news story for our economy with the very welcome prospect of 400 new jobs,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. “From a retail perspective it is extremely positive as it will improve the City Centre’s connectivity for shoppers and tourists and reduce congestion.” 7

STORE FOCUS

COSTCUTTER HAMILTONSBAWN ONE OF THE FIRST NORTHERN IRELAND STORES TO TRADE UNDER THE COSTCUTTER FASCIA, COSTCUTTER HAMILTONSBAWN HAS RECENTLY INVESTED IN THE SITE TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND ITS HOT AND CHILLED FOOD-TO-GO OFFER. BY BRIAN McCALDEN

amiltonsbawn is a sleepy village in Co Armagh, boasting only around 1,000 residents. It’s no surprise then that the local shop is so central to the rural community. Colin Dodds and his wife Charlene have owned the Costcutter store and petrol forecourt for over 30 years and, as well as supplying such a vital service as the shop and post office, it is also an employer of note. Both Colin and Charlene work long hours in the business along with their team of 16 staff, as well as their three daughters who help out from time to time – although they each have their own careers. The couple lived in a bungalow on the current site, and in 1988 identified an opportunity to develop a small petrol forecourt. They then became one of the first of many stores to trade under the newlyintroduced Costcutter fascia in Northern Ireland in the 1990s and developed the site extensively, including the demolition of their bungalow to make room for the first of many phases of their growth. 8

EXPANSION Most recently, as the only grocery store in the village, the family recognised there was a real need to rethink the store to ensure they continue to address a wider range of needs from the local community, as well as workers from the village-based NC engineering firm. Recognising that food to go, chilled and ‘meal for tonight’ were crucial to driving

footfall and increasing basket spend, they invested in significantly expanding their hot and chilled food-to-go offer, including introducing a Costa Coffee machine and Country Choice, including sausage rolls and Irish jambon pastries.

The Polish food offering also expanded to meet the demand from workers at the local engineering firm and today, half of the bakery goods on offer are Polish products. There is also a significant percentage of the fish, meat and alcohol offering now identified as eastern European produce to cater for this demand. Local is just as important though as the team now source the majority of their butchery offering from a local supplier in Portadown. For example, they have introduced a gourmet range of pre-prepared dishes such as chicken piri piri with peppers and stuffed pork chops and also buy from a local ice cream supplier, Ballydougherty. “We were guided by the CSG team and their BDM and, in September 2018, invested over £110,000 to completely update the store,” says Colin. “The investment has paid off, as sales are up by 20% and our average basket spend in now approaching £9, with the signs looking positive as the festive season approaches.” Colin noted that data from the Shopper

STORE FOCUS First insights proved invaluable when planning the layout and ranging. “It showed that shoppers were mainly ‘habitual browsers’, (who top-up shop every day), those identified as ‘younger tonighters’ (who like to experiment and try new things) and those classed as ‘dynamic later lifers’,” he says. “As a key lifeline for the local community, we also took the opportunity to introduce a Post Office counter which has proved particularly popular, helping drive footfall throughout the day.” CO-OP The store owners have also taken the opportunity to introduce a whole line of the new Co-op own-brand range which has been well received by shoppers thanks to its competitive pricing, extensive range and quality. “Thanks to the Costcutter Supermarket Group and the ownership of Nisa by the Co-op, this has worked with low prices – but not just limited to the own-label brands. “I am able to sell branded products at very competitive prices, such as large packs of Surf, Daz and Ariel at even lower prices than the mainstream supermarkets.” With a nod towards the festive market, a 360g Milk Tray is also priced at under £5, so the store is extremely competitive. “As a direct result of the refit, sales are indeed up by a fifth overall and grocery is currently experiencing the most significant increase, up 44% thanks to a bigger and better-quality offering,” he says. “On average basket spend is now between £8 and £9, which is very welcome.” Of course, things never stand still, and the couple is currently examining ways of bringing their existing stand-alone off sales into the main shop. “We already own a local pub as well as the off sales adjacent to the fuel forecourt – and lease a hot food outlet nearby as well,” says Colin. “Licensing is tricky but with some expert advice and guidance, we hope to bring it all in-store in 2020.” The off sales would be the latest in a varied offering as the existing shop is virtually a scaled down supermarket. Three scanning tills, plus the post office counter are kept busy with the staples of newspapers and magazines as well as their CTN and the busy hot food counter but there is much more. “There is now a whole wall filled with chilled and frozen goods, with upwards

of three chilled/frozen deliveries weekly from Costcutter,” he says. “We also benefit from two weekly ambient deliveries weekly, which is likely to expand as things develop.” FRESH Fresh fruit has its own full display, bread and the new pastry range occupies a prominent position and there is a range of car care products, festive wrapping paper and gifts as well as a large display of greeting cards and of course, a selected range of Co-op own-label goods.

Pet food, hardware and the locallyproduced meat and locally-supplied ice cream are also prominent, which brings Colin to underline his loyalty to Costcutter over three decades. “Despite regular approaches by the other wholesalers, I stayed with Costcutter,” he says. “It allows me a great deal of freedom to purchase from a range of independent suppliers as well as to benefit from the Costcutter

supply lines. I don’t believe I would enjoy anything like that with the others.” The shop is at the heart of this community, as the only such store in the village, with Colin and Charlene also believing they need to continue to support the local economy, providing employment and serving it at the same time, with long hours central to this. “We have two fuel islands and six pumps, the hot food to go as well as the extensive range of butchery products for home cooking all on offer every day,” says Colin. “I am usually in the shop myself to open up at 6.30am and am often still there when we close, at 10pm – (8am to 9pm on Sundays). “Charlene and I – and our daughters on occasion – and our loyal staff, provide a vital service to the people of Hamiltonsbawn. “With the latest developments now firmly established, we have come a long way in just over three decades – with much more to come.” Looking to the less certain future of Brexit and its impact on his business and the overall economy, Colin is stoic. “The community has proved very resilient, taking in its stride the impact of The Troubles in the past and current changes in power – with no Stormont Executive in place for years – and not only survives, but thrives. “We now welcome many foreign nationals such as the hard-working Polish people to the village, and everyone gets on very well. “I don’t see Brexit – if and when it ever happens – upsetting things too much. Whatever it throws at us, we will get by.” 9

RETAIL NEWS - INDEPENDENTS

NATIONAL LOTTERY CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN ‘LUCKY’ NI

n celebration of The National Lottery’s 25th birthday, it has been revealed that Northern Ireland is officially one of the luckiest postcode regions in the UK. Northern Ireland now ranks second out of 121 UK postcodes in the overall league table of National Lottery millionaires, with 133 millionaires created here since the first Lotto draw in November 1994. Interestingly, 34 of Northern Ireland’s millionaires to date have been made in the past three years, making this officially the luckiest period ever for local National Lottery players, with someone from Northern Ireland winning a million pounds or more every 32 days on average. The ‘luck of the Irish’ could not have been better illustrated when, in January this year, Moira couple Frances

Former Miss Northern Ireland Anna Henry celebrates The National Lottery’s 25th birthday.

and Patrick Connolly became one of the biggest ever National Lottery winners after scooping an incredible £114,969,775.70 EuroMillions jackpot on New Year’s Day. Northern Ireland is also one of the luckiest postcodes nationally for big winners of £50,000 or more, ranking third in the UK over the past three years and sixth since 1994. “For 25 years now, The National Lottery has been making amazing things happen for winners and good causes across the UK, and Northern Ireland has certainly enjoyed its fair share,” said Andy Carter, The National Lottery’s senior winners’ adviser. In Northern Ireland, more than £1.2bn has been awarded in National Lottery grants to more than 25,000 individuals, organisations and projects.

TO HEADLINE FIRST DUNDONALD HALLOWEEN BASTILLE BARCODE FESTIVAL 2020 HARVEST MARKET IS A B SPOOKY SUCCESS L isburn & Castlereagh City Council has laid claim to a great success for Dundonald’s first Halloween Harvest Market, with over 1,000 visitors flocking to Comber Road to enjoy the wide range of local artisan produce and family entertainment on offer throughout the day. The market showcased From left, Steph Fulton of Wee ChoCo; Stuart Cordner of Cordner’s SPAR; Valerie Brown, owner of Plumpy Balms; and Linda Murray, over 20 artisan producers tourism information adviser, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. and street food vendors from across the province, a resounding success, and it was great which specialise in home-grown meats, to see so many people from Dundonald fruit and veg, cheesy pizza and artisan and surrounding areas support the coffee. fantastic group of local business and “We are delighted to have had the producers at the market.” opportunity to add another great food Local producers who attended the market to our ever-expanding Food & first Dundonald Halloween Harvest Drink Programme,” said Allan Ewart, Market included local Chocolatier Wee chairman of the Council’s Development ChoCo, Vegan beauty specialist Valerie Committee. Brown and Dexter Beef producer “The Halloween Harvest Market was Castlescreen Farm.

astille is to headline the Barcode Festival stage, performing for 3,500 grocery industry colleagues at the GroceryAid event to be held at Magazine London on July 2. Featuring street food, a variety of bars to suit all tastes, extraordinary activations and entertainment, Barcode Festival is a fundraising event for the grocery charity, which has set a target of £600,000 for the 2020 festival. “Last year numerous organisations used Barcode Festival tickets as a team incentive or reward,” said Steve Barnes, CEO, GroceryAid. “I’m convinced this year’s amazing headliner will encourage even more grocery colleagues to join the industry’s summer party.” Tickets cost £325 plus VAT (including all food and drink). For more information, visit www.barcodefestival.co.uk, email events@groceryaid.org.uk or call 01252 875925.

RETAIL NEWS - SYMBOLS

COSTCUTTER INNOVATES WITH AUDIO MESSAGING TECHNOLOGY

ostcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) is laying claim to another first in the UK convenience sector by using audio messaging to drive store visits. Joining forces with mobile adtech firm, TabMo, CSG has responded to the increasing use of voice-enabled devices and music streaming apps, by adding sound to its extensive programme of mobile advertising for retailers. Shoppers that fit Costcutter’s target audience can be sent an audio ad, together with an on-screen mobile ad banner, while they are listening to their favourite mobile music streaming apps. GPS targeting, combined with the demographics for each individual Costcutter store, also means people are only sent messages when they are in a relevant location and can act on them by visiting a store. “We’re constantly looking at how we can help our retailers thrive,” said Sean Russell, marketing director for Costcutter. “Mobile phones provide

unique opportunities to drive store traffic and business value and by working with TabMo, we’ve been able to create fully integrated multi-channel advertising campaigns that are delivering real results for retailers. “The new technology complements our unique Shopper First: Drive Five to Thrive business growth programme, which provides in-depth shopper insights and data to help tailor every aspect of the store – from range and missions to marketing and in-store execution.” Costcutter also recently launched a nationwide partnership with Uber Eats,

PEOPLE’S PODIUM AWARD GOES TO SCHOOL OF BALLET

winner for Northern ana O’Brien, a former Ireland. prima ballerina who Rana was presented set up a school of ballet in with a cheque for West Belfast over 20 years £2,000 and a trophy by ago, is a regional winner Henderson Group Head of SPAR’s 2019 People’s of Corporate Marketing Podium Award. Bronagh Luke, as part of a First launched in 2018, surprise visit by the SPAR the People’s Podium UK People’s Podium team initiative invites the public during a ballet lesson at to nominate a local De La Salle College in sporting hero they feel has Belfast. made a huge and positive “Using sport and impact on their local team activities to bring community. From left, pupil India Clements, a community together is Following thousands of Rana O’Brien and Bronagh Luke, a huge part of our ethos votes submitted via social Henderson Group. at SPAR NI and Rana is media and shortlisted a fantastic example of how this can be judging by a dedicated People’s Podium achieved,” said Luke. panel, ballet teacher Rana was named 12

introducing last mile delivery to the symbol sector. The partnership will enable retailers to sign up to Uber Eats through CSG, benefitting from a favourable package, including discounted sign up costs and superior margins. Stores participating in a trial at a number of the Group’s stores across London and the South East added £1,500 on average to their monthly sales. The Uber Eats food delivery app is available in more than 100 towns and cities across the UK including Belfast.

‘SHLOER’ TO BE THE FIZZIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR

PAR NI geared up for its fizziest week of the year last month, when bottles of Shloer were retailed at less than half price (89p) for a week as part of the 12 Deals of Christmas campaign. Last year, sales of Shloer across all SPAR and EUROSPAR stores peaked at over £596,000 in just one week, with the exclusive deal shifting over 670,000 bottles in just seven days in over 300 stores. Top consumers of Shloer reside in Ballymena, followed by Ballymoney, Portadown, Kilkeel and Carryduff. EUROSPAR Cullybackey outside Ballymena has been the top selling outlet in the past three years of the initiative, selling 12,279 bottles in just one week in 2018; meaning 1,754 bottles were sold per day and with a population of just over 2,500 in the town*, that’s around 4.8L of Shloer per person. SPAR NI’s 12 Deals of Christmas campaign is a huge footfall and sales driver for retailers across the province. “Our campaign kicked off in the first week of October with half price Coca Cola and will continue right through to the week of Christmas,” said Bronagh Henderson, marketing manager, Henderson Group. “We’ve had a lot of fun with the campaign this year and have even worked with Belfast Ukulele Jam who can be seen singing our deals on a series of ads to announce each deal.”

RETAIL NEWS - MULTIPLES

LIDL NORTHERN IRELAND PLEDGES ADOPTION OF NEW REAL LIVING WAGE L idl Northern Ireland, the first major nationwide employer to commit to paying the real Living Wage in 2015, has committed to matching the latest hourly wage rate of £9.30 recommended by Living Wage Foundation. The move will see wages increase from £9.00 to £9.30 per hour for 300 employees across Northern Ireland. All other employees working in Lidl already earn in excess of the real Living Wage rate. The Living Wage Foundation has recommended the increase to reflect the real cost of living in the UK. Higher than the government-set National Living Wage, the pay level advised by the Foundation serves as independent guidance for employers and is voluntary. Lidl’s continued, proactive commitment to paying the real Living Wage is one of a number of initiatives introduced to all 880 employees across the region in recent years. Other employee benefits include

paid maternity and paternity leave; a guaranteed minimum of 30-hour contracts; an employee assistance programme offering guidance on work or personal issues; paid volunteering opportunities; training and development; pension contributions after one year with the company; and paid health insurance for salaried employees. “Our people are central to our success,” said Maeve McCleane, Lidl Northern Ireland HR director. “They look after our customers, drive our operations and support our communities.

ABBEYCENTRE SITE IS FIRST M&S STORE IN IRELAND TO LAUNCH NEW-LOOK FOODHALL M arks & Spencer Abbeycentre will be unveiling its transformed Foodhall, showcasing a new look and shopping experience for customers, just in time for Christmas. The M&S store is one of three in the UK, and the first in Ireland, to receive the revamp with doors to the new-look Foodhall set to open on December 4. M&S Abbeycentre Store Manager Colin McGreevy and his team of colleagues will be joined by Marks & Spencer’s very own Percy and Penny Pig, while the P3 class from local primary school St Therese of Lisieux will sing for customers. M&S Abbeycentre has recruited 90 colleagues to join its team, which includes offering new roles to existing M&S colleagues as well as creating jobs for the local community. “There is a real buzz locally around the new-look Foodhall opening and I want to thank our customers for being so patient during the refurbishment,” said McGreevy. “The team has been working so hard to get ready for the unveiling of our bigger, better, fresher store in time for Christmas and we hope to see the local community turn out to support us on the day.” The first 200 customers to arrive when the store opens on December 4 will receive Golden Tickets, and be in with a chance to win a £200 gift card. Other prizes include two £100 gift cards, as well as £20 and £5* off vouchers.

It is important for us to reward them, not just with market-leading rates but also by creating an environment where their holistic needs and well-being are prioritised.”

UFU RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT TESCO ADVERT

lster Farmers’ Union has been contacted by a number of members expressing concern regarding a new Tesco advertisement. According to UFU, the TV advert demonises meat as a food group and undermines scientificallysupported public health messages which show that eating red meat is vital to maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. “I am disappointed that Tesco has used their commercial power to spread a negative message around meat consumption, ultimately influencing their consumers to reconsider or stop eating meat altogether,” said Ivor Ferguson, president, UFU. “Tesco is one of the largest retailers in the UK and stockists of Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) red meat, and yet this advert has potentially undermined the UK’s livestock industry.” The UFU has written to Tesco, outlining concerns about the advert in which a child states ‘I don’t want to eat animals anymore’. Meanwhile, the father is preparing a casserole using ‘meat-free’ Cumberland sausages and they agree that the meat substitute tastes just as good as meat if not ‘better’. “The UFU respects personal decisions when it comes to individual diets,” said Ferguson. “However, to single out and demonise an industry through one of the most powerful forms of media broadcast, has the potential to do serious damage to our agriculture industry and the livelihood of our farming families.” 13

GROCERYAID

INDUSTRY TURNS OUT IN STYLE FOR GROCERYAID’S ANNUAL LUNCH

total of £2,175 was raised for GroceryAid at one of the highlights of the social calendar, the John Barrett Sunday Lunch held in Deanes at Queens on November 17. Guests enjoyed a prosecco reception, four-course lunch, raffle and games with entertainment provided by the Ian Hannah Experience and comic Gene Fitzpatrick.

The Grocery Aid Committee at Deanes at Queens.

Jim McAlea (Grocery Aid), Siobhan McAlea, Mark Hewitt and Arlene Hewitt (Kerry Foods).

Julie Maxwell, Kerry Magill and Elaine Hennessy (Musgrave).

Donagh McGovern, Martin and Brenda McBrearty and Orla McGovern.

John Stuart, Wilma McCullough, Dave and Nikki Stuart and Des McCullough (SHS Group).

Adrian and Vivienne Moore and David and Linda Bradshaw (Courtney & Nelson).

Lorraine McAllister, Beverley Davidson, and Pat and Lynne McGarry (Henderson Group).

Jamie Thompson and Glenn McCracken (Thompson’s Tea) and Lance Hamilton (Mash Direct).

Angus O’Neill and O’Neill, Dara Ann Kerrigan and Nigel Macauley (Sainsbury’s).

Elaine Adams, Clyde Adams, Emer Compston and Gillian Hendrick (Sainsbury’s).

Brian Sterling (Holywood Partnership), Simon Fitzpatrick (Coca Cola) and Alan Dorman (Savage & Whitten).

Sandra Gowdy (White’s), JJ McWhinney (Tesco), Mark McCammond (Henderson) and Mark Gowdy (White’s).

Michael and Denise Patterson and Siobhan and Michael McKenna (Laganside).

ADVERTORIAL

SERVING UP TALENT AT IFEX From left, Caroline McCusker, IFEX event manager; Paul Cunningham, head chef, Brunel’s; and Soraya Gadelrab, IFEX event director.

ext March, Northern Ireland’s premier food, drink and hospitality event – IFEX 2020 – will open its doors at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast and celebrating its 25th anniversary, there’s set to be even more ingredients for a successful show than ever before. Taking place from Tuesday 24th to Thursday 26th March, IFEX will be home to thousands of visitors and over 100 exhibitors, including the biggest names in foodservice and food manufacturing, such as Henderson Foodservice, Lynas Foodservice, Hugh Jordan, BD Foods and Matthew Algie. Central to IFEX is Salon Culinaire, Ireland’s largest and most prestigious chef competition programme, headed up by Salon Director, Sean Owens. As the stomping ground for student and industry chefs, Salon Culinaire is hotly anticipated as the place where the ‘best of’ culinarians in Northern Ireland are formally acknowledged. Sean Owens, Salon director, comments:

“Playing a role in helping the industry’s rising stars and talented professionals battle it out in the kitchen, Salon Culinaire has always been at the heart of IFEX, and plays a key role in creating the electric atmosphere at NI’s biggest foodservice and hospitality event. “Next year, IFEX is celebrating 25 years, so we wanted to introduce new elements to our competitions to ensure that they’re reflective of today’s changing and vibrant hospitality sector. From student chefs and kitchen trainees to celebrated, leading chefs within the industry, we have a programme for all at IFEX 2020.” Salon Culinaire, supported by Stephens Catering Equipment and Flogas, is a major part of IFEX due to its long-standing commitment to nurture talent within the industry and the cooking competitions will sit alongside a number of other exciting features at the event. These include 100s of exhibitors showcasing the very latest in new products and services, an impressive

display of Edible Art and the return of Street Food International, where rival teams from Northern Ireland catering colleges will compete to produce and serve a range of exciting modern street food-style dishes. Added to this mix is a huge number of networking opportunities, a melting pot of new products and ideas, and a ‘one stop shop’ for discovering and tasting some of the best food and drink products that NI has to offer – including a new Drinks Zone, supported by Hospitality Ulster - IFEX 2020 is not to be missed. To keep updated on new features, exhibitors and partners, follow the show on social or visit www.ifexexhibition.co.uk. If you would like to be a part of IFEX, please contact IFEX Event Manager Caroline McCusker at caroline.mccusker@freshmontgomery.co.uk or call Fresh Montgomery on +44 (0)28 9043 1000. 15

FOODPAGE & DRINKS TITLENEWS

FOOD FIRMS SHOWING SOCIAL CONSCIENCE BY BACKING LOCAL CHARITIES BY MICHELE SHIRLOW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FOOD NI

ith Christmas fast approaching, it is cheering to see Holmes Bakery in Portadown form a partnership with the Santa Claus foundation in Finland. It’s a significant business opportunity for the enterprising local company and one that will bring wider benefits for the foundation, which is an international charity, supporting children in need. Holmes is just one of a number of local companies that have combined business with societal benefits. Companies like Refuge Hot Chocolate, Clearer Water, The Good Little company, Wee Choco and Noisy Nuts are just some of our members which combine a love of good food with a desire to do good for society. These are just some of the products which make a great gift this Christmas; there is a clear trend for food and drink which serves a wider purpose. The breadth, variety and outstanding taste of food and drink being produced locally by smaller processors in particular never

ceases to impress me. There is a clear step change year on year of the choice and variety available and it is heartening to see the industry grow both in scale and in diversity. A tremendous opportunity to see and sample many of the quality products now available for retailers and shoppers here was showcased in a recent Meet the Buyer event led by Invest NI’s Food and Drink Division. Around 70 companies, mostly smaller enterprises and many of them Food NI members, showed hundreds of original food and drink products to buyers from Britain, Ireland and the Middle East who were impressed by the producers and what they had to offer. The quality of the buyers and journalists present was testimony to the contacts which Invest NI has built over many years and a compliment to the progress of the industry. I welcomed the opportunity to talk to the buyers about the advantages in terms of the authenticity and quality of the products and the dedication and talent of the people who make them so diligently. Food NI is delighted to have been involved in supporting Invest NI in such an important showcase that should yield tangible results in sales in Britain and further afield. We’ve already supported other Invest NI food and drink division initiatives this year through our role as the delivery agent in their imaginative Small Business Programme and hope to combine our expertise and knowledge to other promotional activities to enable a great many more retailers and consumers taste the greatness of our food and drink. Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and many councils across Northern Ireland now recognise the important role food and drink plays in economic development and especially in making the region attractive to tourists. Such close collaboration is essential if the industry is to benefit from Tourist NI/Tourism Ireland’s Embrace a Giant Spirit, an exciting promotional programme for Northern Ireland tourism, now a £1bn industry and becoming a significant employer. Local food and drink has become a key element in the visitor ‘experience’. The hugely successful Year of Food & Drink in 2016 laid the foundations for this completely integrated approach and yielded worthwhile benefits for the industry and wider economy. We all need to work even closer together to ensure that internationally Northern Ireland remains the World’s Best Food Destination. It’s important that local food and drink features prominently in supermarkets and other stores across Northern Ireland. And we need to see our food and drink being presented and labelled in many more restaurants, hotels and cafes close to visitor attractions. We should be proud of the variety and quality of our fabulous food and drink and grasp every opportunity to promote its excellence in 2020. 16

ADVERTORIAL PAGE TITLE

THOMPSON’S PUNJANA GETS FESTIVE FLOURISH

hompson’s Tea, the fourth-generation family business blending Northern Ireland’s best-selling tea, is giving their iconic Punjana pack a festive makeover this Christmas. The Thompsons’ state-of-the-art blending and packing facility in Belfast has been quietly producing a special limited-edition Punjana pack with a festive flourish that is due to hit the shelves of supermarkets across the province before the end of November. “The launch of our limited edition Punjana packs coincides with a time of year associated with a drop in temperatures and a subsequent rise in tea consumption as people come together to spend time with their families over Christmas. The fact that our particular ‘Punjana red’ ties in seamlessly with Santa’s festive suit is a happy coincidence, and we hope our new designs will put a smile on the face of our customers at this time of year,” said Jamie Thompson. The launch of these exciting new packs will coincide with Thompson’s 12 Days of Christmas, their annual festive social media campaign which will see 12 daily giveaways celebrating fantastic locally-produced products as well as some other exciting aspirational brands.

As fourth generation Thompsons, they share a rare passion for quality and take great pleasure in selecting teas from only the very finest gardens in Assam, Kenya and beyond. These tea leaves are highly prized and command a greater price. These are the leaves which find their way into the Thompson’s blends. Even today, as has been the way for the last 120 years, it is only ever a member of the Thompson family who is entrusted with tasting and approving each and every blend, their assurance that the tea inside will be the same award-winning Punjana taste and flavour that Northern Ireland tea lovers have been enjoying since 1896. Joint Managing Director, Ross Thompson, comments: “For generations of Thompsons, tea has been our obsession. We care about every single pack of tea that we produce and select teas only from growers who share our passion for making something special. These teas are grown

The Thompson’s range of awardwinning black teas

in exotic climates, far from home, but our frequent visits to tea gardens in Kenya and Assam have helped us forge trusting relationships with growers, based on our mutual love of great tea.” AN AWARD-WINNING CUPPA Their considerable success in the prestigious Great Taste awards is undoubtedly due to their obsessive love of quality and the fact that they personally taste-test each and every blend they produce. Thompson’s hero brand, Punjana, most recently winning two stars maintains its position at number one, having won more stars than any other tea brand in the all-important Blended Tea Bag category. It takes a certain amount of courage to choose what is best over what is most profitable, but the Thompsons stay focused on sourcing only the highest quality tea leaves, and simply can’t be persuaded to do it any other way.

David, Camille, Ross and Jamie Thompson.

FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY BUSINESS Thompson’s Tea, from their tea blending and packing facility in Belfast, now produce tea for more than one third of Northern Ireland’s tea drinking population, with over one million cups of Punjana enjoyed each and every day. 17

ADVERTORIAL

THE COCA-COLA SYSTEM INTRODUCES INNOVATIVE KEELCLIP™ PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY ON MULTIPACK CANS IN EUROPE NORTHERN IRELAND WILL BE ONE OF FIRST MARKETS FOR PACKAGING TO BE INTRODUCED • KEELCLIP™ TO INITIALLY ROLL OUT IN IRELAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, THE NETHERLANDS AND POLAND EARLY NEXT YEAR • KEELCLIP™ WILL ELIMINATE 250 TONNES OF SHRINK WRAP PLASTIC ACROSS ISLAND OF IRELAND • MINIMALIST RECYCLABLE PAPERBOARD TOPPER REPLACES PLASTIC SHRINK FILM • MOVE SUPPORTS COCA-COLA’S GLOBAL GOALS TO WORK TOWARDS A WORLD WITHOUT WASTE, WHERE ALL PACKAGING IS COLLECTED, RECYCLED AND REUSED

oca-Cola and its strategic bottling partners Coca-Cola HBC and Coca-Cola European Partners have today announced that they will begin rolling out the KeelClip™, an innovative, minimalist paperboard packaging solution, on its multipack cans across Europe, with Northern Ireland being one of the first markets to go live. This move, representing a first for the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink industry, underscores the Coca-Cola system’s commitment to reduce the use of plastic by using solutions that are more sustainable in terms of recyclability and overall environmental footprint as it works towards its global goals for a World Without Waste. As part of this initiative, Coca-Cola HBC will remove shrink wrap from all of its can multipacks in all European Union markets by the end of 2021. In total, Coca-Cola HBC will invest €15m in KeelClip™ and will begin the roll-out in Ireland and Poland early next year, followed by Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Romania in 2020. All of Coca-Cola HBC’s European Union markets will have KeelClip™ by the end of 2021. The KeelClip™ will be used on all can multi-packs of up to eight cans; larger can multi packs will be bound by a carton pack, saving 2,000 tonnes of plastic and 3,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Two hundred and fifty tonnes of plastic will be saved in Ireland alone as a result of the move. Marcel Martin, Group supply chain director, Coca-Cola HBC, said: “KeelClip™ is our latest investment in innovative, sustainable packaging solutions. Alongside the four water brands we 18

introduced this year in 100% recycled PET bottles, the increased use of recycled PET and continued lightweighting across the portfolio, KeelClip™ is another demonstration of our commitment to

delivering our World Without Waste goals.” Miles Karemacher, general manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “At Coca-Cola HBC, we are committed to minimising our impact on the environment and we’re delighted to introduce KeelClip™, our latest investment in sustainable packaging to the Northern Ireland market. KeelClip™ is a further demonstration of our commitment to delivering our World Without Waste goals, eliminating 250 tonnes of shrink wrap plastic across the island of Ireland each year.” The three system partners, The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola HBC and Coca-Cola European Partners, have worked closely with Graphic Packaging International - developer of the KeelClip™ technology - to bring this sustainable packaging solution to market. This new type of packaging not only replaces the plastic wrap, but also minimises the amount of paper/card required. Steve Gould, Graphic Packaging International’s new product development and marketing director, beverage division, Europe, said: “The KeelClip™ technology is effective for can multi-packs of various diameters and heights. This means that we can provide a safe, effective package with no need for secondary plastic. When businesses such as CocaCola HBC and Coca-Cola European Partners invest in these technologies, we can really make a difference to the way we package goods and drive the industry to continue to change too.”

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

GENESIS BAKERY UNVEILS NEW BRANDING

agherafelt bakery Genesis has undergone a rebrand, dropping the ‘Crafty’ from its name and introducing a sleek new look and strapline, Genesis Baking it better since ’68. New products and recipes have also been introduced, with the rebrand following recent news Genesis is investing over £750,000 in the business and recruiting an additional 35 staff. “We have been listening to customer feedback and have introduced a fresh, bold contemporary new look for the Genesis brand range,” said Paul Allen, executive chairman, Genesis. “Our customers love our products’ traditional credentials and, with new eye-catching packaging, they will be able to see exactly what they are getting.

Paul Allen, executive chairman, Genesis.

“A revamped cake range is also planned for the New Year, which will see new lines sitting alongside the company’s established favourites.” JP Lyttle, commercial director, said: “We are committed to maintaining our

high-quality standards and developing innovative product ranges. It is this strive for excellence that has assisted us in winning a range of significant new contracts over the last 12 months. “We have successfully reasserted Genesis’ position as an established industry leader and this refreshed identity, supported by an extensive sampling campaign, new creative point of sale, digital, consumer and trade PR, will undoubtedly build market share.” Genesis is currently trialling recyclable film across the range with a view to having 100% recyclable packaging by early 2020, said Lyttle. Belfast design agency Thought Collective was commissioned to manage the rebrand.

ORGANIC PORRIDGE FROM WHITE’S SHORTLISTED IN UK’S TOP-QUALITY AWARDS O rganic porridge from White’s Oats is the only branded product from Northern Ireland shortlisted in the UK Quality Food Awards, to be held in London at the end of November. The company, based in Tandragee in Co Armagh, has been shortlisted for its Jumbo Organic Oats, which recently won a Great Taste award with White’s Oats collecting four gold stars in total. “We are thrilled by the shortlisting of our porridge oats by the panel of food experts in such a quality-conscious competition which is closely monitored by major retailers especially in Great Britain, an important market that we are

targeting for faster growth,” said Danielle McBride, brand manager at White’s. “We already supply leading retailers in

this market and are keen to increase our profile and business. We recently supplied another of our award-winning products, Toasted Oats, to over 800 Aldi stores throughout Britain.” White’s Oats has, meanwhile, recently introduced a new line, Organic Fine Oats. “Our latest addition uses the same quality organic oats as our jumbo oats, which are grown by our 30 GB organic oat farmers but milled thinner for a smoother texture without compromising on taste,” said McBride. “The recent launch of Organic Fine Oats will complement and enhance our already successful organic offering.”

COCA COLA SHOWCASES SUSTAINABILITY AT VISITOR EXPERIENCE

ayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Alan Givan was joined by the Head of Sports Services Brendan Courtney to attend the official opening of the recently-renovated Visitor Experience at Coca-Cola HBC last month. During the Mayor’s visit, he was invited to cut the ribbon to the recentlyrefurbished Interactive Zone to relaunch and recognise the update it has undergone. The launch also celebrated the Visitor Experiences’ recent grading from the NI Tourism Board, in which it maintained a 4-star rating. The Coca-Cola HBC Visitor Experience

From left, Peter Martin, Coca-Cola HBC, and Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Alan Givan. Photo credit: Darren Kidd/PressEye

was originally opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2010, and welcomes groups from school and youth organisations through to retirees. Visitors are provided with the opportunity to explore and learn about the past, present and future of the world’s most popular soft drink and one of the island’s leading businesses in a fun and interactive way. Coca-Cola HBC is proud to open its doors and showcase its work, particularly in terms of sustainability and supporting local communities. The Visitor Experience is free of charge.

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

MOY PARK AND BELFAST COOKERY SCHOOL ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP M

oy Park, Ireland’s leading chicken brand, has announced a new partnership with the Belfast Cookery School. The award-winning food company previously introduced Andy Rea, chef and proprietor of Belfast Cookery School and Mourne Seafood Bar, Belfast, as chef ambassador at the 2019 Balmoral Show. “We are delighted to support Andy and the team at Belfast Cookery School,” said Ellen Wright, brand marketing executive, Moy Park. “As a partner that shares our values and ethos, we are very much looking forward to developing the relationship. “For the remainder of this year, our Masterfully Crafted, Marvellously Tasty campaign will come to life through outdoor advertising and engaging social media content to support the core breaded, primary and ready-to-eat ranges across the island of Ireland.” Rea said: “A simple roast whole chicken is still my go-to meal, it graces my family table on Sunday lunch, with comber spuds, seasonal vegetables and plenty of gravy.”

From left, Andy Rea, chef and proprietor of Belfast Cookery School and Mourne Seafood Bar, Belfast and Ellen Wright, Moy Park brand marketing executive.

GALBERTS LAUNCHES CONVENIENT READY-ROLLED PASTRY AND COOKIE DOUGH PRODUCTS

alberts has secured listings with NI convenience formats for their new range of convenient ready-rolled pastry and cookie dough products. The four-strong range has been developed to fill a gap in the market for chilled home baking products. The range comprises of a Flaky Puff Pastry, Shortcrust Pastry and Ready to Bake Cookie Dough Product. In addition, there is also a Gluten Free Puff Pastry product which completes the range. Plans are already underway to extend the range in 2020 with some very exciting new products. Stephen Colgan, NI senior national

account manager for PRM Group, comments: “Our passion for quality food and consumer convenience continues with the addition of the Galberts Pastry range to our growing portfolio of PRM brands. “As we enter the festive season when family and friends gather around to enjoy Christmas, the art of home baking and making it fun again can certainly be found through our new range.” Launching in November, the new range

will be available to Henderson Wholesale and Food Force Ireland retailers just in time for the lead up to Christmas with a RRSP of £1.75 for Puff and Shortcrust Pastry and £2.25 for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. If you are interested in finding out more about Galbert’s complete range of chilled dessert and home baking products, please call on +44 28 92620200 or email sales@ prmgroup.co.uk. 21

HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY

A YEAR OF CONTINUED GROWTH FOLLOWING EXPANSION INTO NEW SITE

t has been an exciting year for the team at Henderson Food Machinery, having recently moved to a brandnew purpose-built 9,000-square-foot factory at Crossgar, Co Down. This has David Henderson given the company an opportunity to showcase new and existing customers a wide range of new and used food processing and packaging equipment to meet the needs of a wide range of customers from local artisan food producers to global food corporations. Led by Managing Director David Henderson, the business is now in the fifth year of operation with a dedicated team including Debra Henderson, accounts director,;Karen McRobert, PA to the managing director; and Shauna Killen, operations, health & safety manager. The team also includes maintenance and

SUPPLIERS OF HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY INCLUDE: Apple Depositors Deighton Equipment FPE Grinders Havantec Food Equipment Henkelman Vacuum Packers Infra Baker Jay Craft Food Machinery Keymac Packaging Systems Metalbud Nowicki N&N Food Processing Equipment Orange Freezing Peboeck Group Porlanmaz Bakery Machinery PPM Bag Sealers RATIONAL Robot Coupe Rotech SIAT Thompson & Stecher Cooking Vessels Thompson Machinery Mixer Grinders Treif Dicing & Dicing Equipment

warehouse staff. Recently HFM have partnered with EMC Maintenance, who offer a complete range of engineering solutions within the food sector and specialise in engineering, maintenance and installation of machinery from standard to bespoke machinery solutions. This has been another busy year for Henderson Food Machinery. David strongly puts the emphasis on his team to focus on customers and price, and realise the industry and marketplace is constantly changing. While supplying into sectors such as meat, poultry, fish, fruit, dairy, brewing and pet food, the last year has seen particularly strong growth within the ready meals, vegetable processing and

bakery sectors. Henderson Food Machinery works with big brands including, Deightons, Havantec, Apple Food Systems, Jaycraft and N&N Nadratowski and have recently become agents for Rational, Orange Freezing and Infra Baker. “We are driving the market forward,” says David. 75% of all trade would be in new equipment with the remainder ex-demo and used equipment, while 65% of the business would be in Ireland and 25% would come from Great Britain and 10% exported globally to markets such as Europe, the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Australia and New Zealand. BREXIT With a cross-border business, Henderson Food Machinery is keeping a keen eye on the Brexit negotiations – or lack of. “iIf the hard border comes, what do you

HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY

a bold marketing strategy, from vehicle do?” says David. “We have a couple of branding to strong social media activity suppliers based in the UK and the rest to producing and distributing a monthly come from Europe, I don’t know what is newsletter and, in 2020, Henderson Food going to happen and you do worry. We are stilling growing business and turnover Machinery will again have a presence various trade exhibitions. has increased but it is difficult as you “Branding has been so important to us don’t know from one day to the next and we have worked hard over the last five what the euro exchange rate is. years and will continue to move forward in Naturally with Brexit uncertainty, labour our marketing strategy is a great talk point to move us to the next within the industry level,” he says. and we have seen “BRANDING HAS BEEN SO We have a cracking more and more IMPORTANT TO US AND WE team here at Henderson customers asking HAVE WORKED HARD OVER Food Machinery and us for advice THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND we hope 2020 will see on equipment continued success for efficiency and WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE automation; this FORWARD IN OUR MARKETING the company, and we aim to be your first will help keep their STRATEGY TO MOVE US TO choice for new and businesses going THE NEXT LEVEL.” used food processing forward. David Henderson and packaging machinery, so why MARKETING not give us a call to STRATEGY discuss your present or future machinery Always one for thinking outside the box, requirements. David attributes its success in part to

Call us today +44 (0) 2890 994 202 or visit: www.hendersonfoodmachinery.com 23

MEAT & POULTRY NEWS

LMC’S ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN CONTINUES FOR A THIRD YEAR

SHEEP FARMERS HIT BY FALLING PRICES

ivestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) is hoping to build on the success of previous advertising campaigns with the launch of a third year of activity supporting Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb. The campaign, running from October 2019 until March 2020, will focus on TV, radio, online, outdoor and digital advertising alongside partnerships with the Daily Mail ‘Femail’ section and social media activity. “We’ve been working hard over the last few years on our advertising campaigns and, according to our research, they have proven very successful,” said Colin Smith, industry development manager, LMC. “Off the back of last year’s campaign, consumer awareness of NIFQA beef and lamb stood at 84% and 79% respectively with awareness of beef products rising by five percentage points and lamb by four. Impressively, an estimated 95% of adults across the country saw or heard the campaign at least once during its

Colin Smith, industry development manager, LMC.

duration. “The industry is currently facing very uncertain times, making it paramount that Northern Irish consumers support NIFQA products. That’s the message we have been promoting over the last number of years and this campaign is no different. We’ll be encouraging consumers, through various platforms, to look out for the logo when shopping and educating them of the benefits of incorporating beef and lamb into a healthy, balanced diet. “Promoting our world-class quality assured beef and lamb has always been, and will remain, a top priority for LMC going forward.”

UFU RESPONDS TO CABINET MINISTERS’ LIVE EXPORT COMMENTS

lster Farmers’ Union says comments made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Theresa Villers, and Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Steve Barclay, undervalue the importance of live exports to the farming sector in Northern Ireland and highlight a lack of agricultural knowledge. The government officials expressed their intention to stop the live export of sheep and restrict transport journeys by requiring farmers to sell stock to local abattoirs post-Brexit. The UFU and NSA (National Sheep Association), have written a joint letter to Villers outlining their concerns. “Live exports are an integral part of 24

Northern Ireland’s livestock sector and any additional controls or changes to regulations, post-Brexit, are unnecessary,” said David Brown, deputy president, UFU. “More than 500,000 sheep per annum cross the Irish border for processing in the Republic of Ireland and it is crucial that this trade can continue without any friction. “Government officials are making these claims, but I would question if they really understand how our livestock industry operates in the UK. We welcome a meeting with them to discuss just how valuable live exports are to family-run farming businesses in Northern Ireland.”

Farmgate prices for lamb continue to fall at an alarming rate and, together with rising costs of production, are placing sheep farmers in an unsustainable situation, says UFU. “Income for sheep farmers has taken a huge hit over a number of weeks,” said Ivor Ferguson, president, UFU. “Prices are down approximately 23p/ kg from this time last year, working out to roughly £4.83 less per lamb. Lambs sold at market are struggling to make around £3.00-3.20/kg, which doesn’t even come close to covering the cost of production. “Sheep farmers are beyond frustrated and are doing everything they can to keep their businesses financially viable. Low prices, market uncertainty, and Brexit are all contributing to this serious situation and they are taking their toll on producers as they try to keep businesses profitable. “Now many sheep processors in the Republic of Ireland are paying up to 21.5/22kgs. Our local factories should move in line with this which would create some extra income for many NI sheep producers.” UFU has met with government officials and the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association, and is working on proposals to help provide some future certainty for sheep producers.

FULL CHINESE MARKET ACCESS WELCOMED BY NI BEEF FARMERS

Ulster Farmers’ Union says it is good news for beef farmers that the UK has been granted full access to the Chinese market, estimated to be worth £230m in the first five years. DAERA has announced the Chinese market is opening to beef farmers for the first time in 20 years since the BSE outbreak in 1996. “Four sites in the UK have been cleared for approval and it is crucial that DAERA works swiftly to get as many sites approved in Northern Ireland as quickly as possible so that farmers on the ground can gain a benefit from this,” said Sam Chesney, beef and lamb chairman, UFU. “NI beef farmers produce beef to some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world with a high focus on traceability. “At a huge time of uncertainty for the NI beef sector, the government must continue to work hard on securing market access to global markets.”

MY LIFE IN THE GROCERY TRADE SAM BUTLER, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, FOOD NI & FOOD JOURNALIST

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE? There are two sides to my role. First of all, I operate as communications manager for Food NI, the region’s industry-led food and drink promotion body, which is now working with Invest NI under the Small Business Programme to boost local food and drink sales in Britain and the Irish Republic. I look after most of Food NI’s written communications. In addition, I continue my longstanding role as a freelance food and drink journalist, writing good news stories about our companies in newspapers and magazines here and further afield. BRIEFLY OUTLINE YOUR BACKGROUND I began as a news reporter with US news agency UPI before moving on as a news journalist and becoming editor for seven years of the News Letter. I then worked as business editor for Today in London. I was then involved in export promotion coverage for the Industrial Development Board and then Invest NI before working for Invest NI on food promotion. I then went freelance specialising in local food and drink before helping in communications with Food NI.

WHEN DID YOU TAKE UP THIS POST? I’ve been writing food and drink news stories about local companies for upwards of 20 years for newspapers and magazines here and abroad and been assisting Food NI for around five years. I was also involved with Invest NI in promoting local food and drink for around 15 years.

Business Programme. I will also issue other success stories and draft my own features in the News Letter and Farm Week.

WHAT ARE THE BEST/WORST PARTS OF YOUR JOB? I can’t say I have any worst parts. I enjoy working closely with artisan and smaller companies in particular. I am always inspired by the dedication of these enterprises and their determination to grow sales. I’ve been fortunate to develop close friendships with a great many of them.

BEST THING ABOUT THE LOCAL INDUSTRY? It’s such a vibrant and fast-moving industry. I enjoy looking at what’s on the shelves in supermarkets but especially delis and farm shops, talking to managers and staff. This enables me to keep abreast of products, packaging and merchandising. It’s also a great way to discover new products from local sources.

BRIEFLY OUTLINE A TYPICAL DAY I generally start the business day with a call to Michele Shirlow at Food NI. She’s an inspirational leader who is devoted to the local food and drink industry and is determined to see it grow profitably. I’ll then ring or visit smaller companies to see how they are getting on. I then draft any material needed by Food NI and shape stories on smaller companies I’ve spoken to. Food NI also tables some of my company success stories to Invest NI’s Food and Drink Division to issue to national publications under the Small

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND AWAY FROM WORK? I watch rugby when there’s a chance and also enjoy holidays and short breaks in the sun…. but usually end up in a spot with great food such as San Sebastian and other parts of the wonderful Basque Country.

PROUDEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Being awarded the MBE in 2003 for my work on industrial development and especially exports for the Industrial Development Board.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE MAY KNOW My weakness is sports cars, especially Jaguars. As a result, I love driving.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

32nd ANNUAL ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SET TO BENEFIT FROM A STREAMLINED ENTRY PROCESS NEW SIMPLIFIED ONLINE APPLICATION EXPECTED TO BOOST ENTRY NUMBERS FOR THE 2020 AWARDS

ntering the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards has become easier than ever before, thanks to a new streamlined application form and online-only entry mechanism. Recognising the time constraints faced by busy producers, processors, retailers and service providers to the grocery sector, and in response to competitor feedback, the entry process has been revamped to make the process as easy as possible. Entry is now open until March 6, 2020 for the 32nd annual awards, which will be held at the GroceryAid Grocers’ Ball in the Culloden Estate & Spa on May 8, 2020. Awards include Best Digital Marketing Campaign, Best Sustainability Initiative and the Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award, recognising up and coming stars in memory of the co-founder of Forest Feast. Further categories include Best Marketing Campaign, Best Brand, Best In-Store Consumer Sales Promotion, Best New Product Launch/Relaunch, Best CSR

Initiative/Charity Partnership, Best Artisan Campaign and Best Export Marketing. While the 10 core awards require entry through the new online portal, a new award added for 2020 – Ulster Grocer Leader in Marketing – will require only informal nomination by email (see below for details). The Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards are an opportunity for companies operating in the Northern Ireland grocery sector to shine a light on their successes and achievements. The awards are held during the annual GroceryAid Grocers’ Ball, the highlight of the sector’s social calendar attracting upwards of 400 guests and serving as the main fundraiser of the year for the

grocery charity. Awards entry is open to all grocery stakeholders from producers, suppliers, wholesalers and independent retailers to retail groups. And the diverse range of award categories allows both wellestablished and up-and-coming companies to enjoy valuable media exposure and branding at the Grocers’ Ball, and across the print copies, websites and social media of Ulster Grocer magazine and its sister titles at Independent News & Media. Widely regarded as the highest marketing accolade Northern Ireland grocery stakeholders can achieve, the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards are recognised as a mark of professionalism, raising awareness for companies shortlisted, highly commended and winning each category.

INTRODUCING A NEW AWARD: ULSTER GROCER LEADER IN MARKETING

new accolade, the Ulster Grocer Leader in Marketing, will be recognised at the 32nd Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards in addition to the 10 categories listed to the right. Unlike the 10 other categories, there will not be a formal entry mechanism for this award. Instead, nominations for Leader in Marketing will be invited informally by email and can be made by anyone, including the nominee.

This new award will aim to complement the prestigious Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award by recognising individuals at a more advanced stage, or the end, of their career; having made a notable contribution to the field of sales and marketing within the wider grocery sector. To nominate a potential Ulster Grocer Leader in Marketing, simply email the name of your nominee along with

anything from a few lines up to 300 words outlining why they should be recognised – for example, companies, brands, roles and campaigns on which they have worked and any additional contribution of note from mentoring to CSR work. Nominations should be sent to Ulster Grocer Editor Alyson Magee at a.magee@independentmagazinesni. co.uk by a deadline of March 6, 2020.

OVERALL AND INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE 32ND ANNUAL ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS – FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, EMAIL ULSTER GROCER SALES MANAGER CHRIS KEENAN AT C.KEENAN@INDEPENDENTMAGAZINESNI.CO.UK.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

AWARDS CATEGORIES ✶BEST DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN

While digital is well established as part of the media mix considered by judges across the awards categories, this award exclusively focuses on online marketing activity, looking at campaigns which have successfully utilised tools such as social media, email, influencer engagement, content marketing and apps. Open to all grocery sector stakeholders (and both in-house and agency marketing teams), judges will consider results achieved in relation to the size of the business with the onus on applicants to demonstrate a clear link between their digital campaign and any subsequent boost in sales.

BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

✶

This category is open to all grocery industry stakeholders from food and drinks producers and other service providers to retailers. Entries should quantify green gains they have made, such as reductions in water, energy or their overall carbon footprint, highlighting the eco measures behind those gains from local sourcing to LED lighting, solar panels and any other energy and waste reduction systems. In particular, companies should demonstrate how they have communicated their green programmes and gains to clients and consumers.

✶LORRAINE HALL YOUNG MARKETEER AWARD The Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award will seek to recognise passion and drive among the up-and-coming marketing stars of the future; those who show they have already, in their short careers, made significant contributions to their respective company and industry. The judges will look for evidence of a candidate’s success across a variety of marketing challenges, their on-going desire to learn and innovate, and their understanding of the ever-growing array of marketing tools and channels at their disposal.

IN-STORE CONSUMER SALES ✶BEST PROMOTION

Best In-Store Consumer Sales Promotion could be a standalone promotion by a retailer or supplier. Equally, it could potentially involve a joint promotion between two companies; for example, two manufacturers/brand owners running a crosspromotion on complementary products or a retail group and a manufacturer working together on a promotion. Entries are welcome involving both exclusive single-store promotions and activity running across a group of stores.

✶BEST NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH/RELAUNCH

For Best New Product Launch/Relaunch, entries are invited from brand owners outlining their marketing activity to launch any new grocery product (not limited to, but including, food and drink) into the marketplace. This may include any of the following: press, TV, radio, outdoor, in-store POS/ merchandising, PR, website, leaflet, digital and SMS activity. Pre-existing products which have been relaunched with new branding, and a complementary marketing strategy, are also eligible for entry. Please note: this category covers the marketing of new or relaunched products, rather than the new product development process.

✶BEST CSR INITIATIVE/CHARITY PARTNERSHIP

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative or Charity Partnership is focused on the strength and commitment shown by retailers, producers, wholesalers and suppliers to CSR/charity initiatives and partnerships rather than the marketing of such activity. Open to any business operating in the retail grocery sector, from small producers and independent retailers through to large suppliers and multiple retailers, this category will also be judged on tangible results from the partnerships.

✶BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN

✶BEST ARTISAN CAMPAIGN

✶BEST BRAND

✶BEST EXPORT MARKETING

Best Marketing Campaign could potentially involve a corporate, brand or project campaign with food and drinks suppliers, grocery wholesalers and retailers all eligible to enter. While the subject matter of the campaign may be any aspect of grocery retailing, the marketing campaign should include some or all of the following elements - press, TV, radio, OOH, in-store POS/merchandising, PR, website, leaflet, digital and SMS activity.

Among the most prestigious and tightly-fought categories, Best Brand welcomes entries outlining marketing activity aimed at building a brand of any size in the Northern Ireland grocery market. The brand could be, but is not limited to, food and drink, and equally could be a retail brand from independent stores through to multiple and discount retailers. Judges will examine the effectiveness of any brand-building activity in relation to PR, advertising and marketing campaigns, brand equity, visibility and customer loyalty, and take into account the results achieved in relation to the size of the business.

Introduced to recognise a buoyant category in the local grocery sector, Best Artisan Campaign recognises that small producers often have limited marketing resources at their disposal but can make clever use of them. This category is open to producers, manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers marketing artisan food and drink, and entries should outline any press, TV, radio, outdoor, in-store POS/merchandising, PR, website, leaflet, digital and SMS activity.

Exports are a vital part of the business mix for Northern Ireland producers, and this award recognises efforts to successfully market, gain access and launch local products into international markets (from the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain to the other side of the world). Any local food, drink or other grocery product which has successfully gained access to new markets or grown their export sales/market share, secured new customers in existing markets or boosted existing export contracts is eligible for entry.

ENTRY IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 32ND ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS, AND WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE VIA WWW.BELFASTTELEGRAPH.CO.UK/ULSTERGROCER. ENTRY WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 6, 2020.

CSR NEWS

HOLMES BAKERY SUPPORTS SANTA CLAUS FOUNDATION H

olmes Bakery in Portadown is partnering up with the Santa Claus Foundation in Finland, an international charity lauded for its charitable donations and initiatives throughout the world to support children in need. The official Santa Claus, Finland logo will be featuring on products from the award-winning bakery as a result of a European franchise agreement with the Santa Claus Foundation. The Santa Claus Foundation aims to spread Santa’s universal message of love and good will to the children of the world and features Finnish President Sauli Niniinisto as its patron. Holmes has been awarded a licence to

Gillian Castles of Holmes Bakery.

produce three products under the Santa Claus, Finland brand for the UK and EU markets; Christmas pudding, mince pies and shortbread biscuits. “We were thrilled when Des Campbell chose our company from the profiles provided to him from the Invest NI food marketing team and approached us about working with the foundation to provide premium bakery products,” said Gillian Castles, sales manager of the family-owned and managed Holmes Bakery. “As a result, we have been working with the foundation’s team on developing three products and on shaping our packaging in line with the foundation’s specific requirements. “It’s an exciting business opportunity for us to engage with what is probably the world’s best-known and most-loved brand. What’s even better is that we are also supporting the foundation and its charitable works. That’s what Christmas is all about.”

SUPERVALU & CENTRA REACH MILESTONE £3M FUNDRAISING TARGET FOR ACTION CANCER

From left, Desi Derby, marketing director of SuperValu and Centra and Gareth Kirk, CEO of Action Cancer are joined by local school pupil Elle Woods.

uperValu and Centra retailers have reached a landmark fundraising target of £3m for Action Cancer, one of the largest amounts ever raised by a company for an individual charity in Northern Ireland.

innebrogue Artisan is donating £25,000 to provide lunch to deprived children in the school holidays, it has been announced. The holiday hunger scheme, which is run by the Children in Northern Ireland charity, will ensure 250 children from deprived families will be given a nutritious lunch throughout the school holidays over the next 12 months. A recent report revealed that thousands of children in Northern Ireland suffer a lack of nutritious or consistent meals in the school holidays. The report, commissioned by Detail Data, shows that over 100,000 children rely on school meals during term time. The absence of this during the school holiday means 28

Thanks to the commitment of SuperValu and Centra retailers in Northern Ireland, Action Cancer is able to provide life-saving services in local communities through the Big Bus as well as the Health Action Programme. “Our retailers and colleagues have worked tirelessly over the years to raise money and this impressive result is testament to their dedication,” said Michael McCormack, managing director of SuperValu and Centra. “The Health Action Programme is all about championing health promotion and empowering local children to make the right choices when it comes to their health and lifestyles. The programme

has worked with nearly 500,000 pupils across Northern Ireland and Michael McCormack stresses the importance of delivering a healthy lifestyle message to today’s younger generation.” The Big Bus, which now visits both SuperValu and Centra stores, is a mobile resource centre, providing digital breast screening for women as well as offering MOT health checks for men and women aged 16 and over. In the first half of 2019, the Big Bus has travelled to over 151 locations, providing over 1,963 MOT Health Checks and over 3,624 breast screenings, with an average of six women diagnosed with Breast Cancer per 1,000 women screened.

FINNEBROGUE ARTISAN PLEDGES £25,000 TO LIFT LOCAL KIDS OUT OF HOLIDAY HUNGER over one in four children in Northern Ireland will go hungry on a daily basis. Children in Northern Ireland kickstarted a project two years ago to combat this issue in rural areas. Get Active NI aims to support parents by providing educational and practical activities for children during term time and ensuring those children still benefit from a substantial breakfast and lunch. The most recent project to open its doors to local children is in Downpatrick, where over 100 4-17-year-olds benefited

from the initiative this summer and approximately 100 attended this October half term. As well as funding the Downpatrick project for the 2019/20 school year, Finnebrogue will supply meat products to CiNI’s Get Active NI projects across Northern Ireland, including Portadown and Carrickfergus. Each location will receive Finnebrogue’s revolutionary nitrite-free Naked Ham, as well as sausages from its Good Little Company brand.

CSR NEWS

SHOPPERS GET SET TO BAG A FREE CHRISTMAS SHOP AS LIDL TROLLEY DASH RETURNS L idl Northern Ireland is gearing up to give away thousands of pounds worth of free shopping this December with the return of its major festive fundraiser for charity partner, NSPCC Northern Ireland. The Lidl Trolley Dash gives customers the chance to take part in their very own supermarket sweep and win their entire ‘big Christmas shop’. For just £1, shoppers can purchase Trolley Dash tickets in all 38 stores across Northern Ireland up to December 1. One winner from each store will be selected from a draw to go wild in the aisles and bag their Christmas shop entirely free of charge. The 38 lucky contestants chosen for the dash will have two minutes to stock up on as many Christmas goodies as possible on December 14. Lidl’s Trolley Dash is the flagship event to raise vital funds for charity partner, NSPCC Northern Ireland. Over the past

From left, Simon Magowan and Esther Rantzen.

two years, Lidl has raised over £340,000 for NSPCC with £103,975 raised through Lidl’s Trolley Dash last year. “The Trolley Dash initiative is a fantastic way for us to reward our customers whilst raising money for our charity

partner, NSPCC,” said Deirdre Ryan, head of corporate social responsibility at Lidl Ireland. “Every penny raised from ticket sales goes directly to charity to support the important work carried out by NSPCC across Northern Ireland.”

GLENS OF ANTRIM DIGS DEEP IN CLOSE TO 30 LOCAL HEROES SHORTLISTED FOR SUPERSTAR STATUS NEW THREE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH

lmost 30 inspiring individuals from across Northern Ireland have been shortlisted for the SuperValu SuperStars awards and will attend a prestigious awards From left, host and judge Pamela Ballantine with ceremony at Titanic Hotel fellow judges Peter McVerry, U105 and Louise Tolerton, communications manager, SuperValu NI. in late November. Returning for a third year, the popular initiative recognises those who had gone beyond the call of duty to help people and communities in need. The campaign launched in June and received an incredible number of inspiring nominations from across Northern Ireland. Local heroes have been shortlisted within the categories of Young SuperStar, Fundraising SuperStar, Unsung SuperStar, Community Group SuperStar and Social Enterprise SuperStar. From life-saving kidney transplants offered over the Christmas dinner table to inspiring caregivers, volunteers, community activists and fantastic fundraisers, the shortlist shines the spotlight on the people that have gone above and beyond to make a difference in communities across Northern Ireland. An overall winner will walk away with £1,000 for themselves and a £1,000 donation to a registered charity of their choice. All other finalists will receive SuperValu vouchers. “The intention of SuperValu SuperStars is to uncover and recognise remarkable individuals, including adults, children, community groups and people working in the social enterprise sector, who have gone beyond the call of duty,” said Brendan Gallen, head of Marketing, Musgrave NI. “We are certain that all of our winners will be extremely deserving of their titles.”

CHILDREN’S LAPLAND CHARITY

lens of Antrim Potatoes has teamed up with the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days To Remember Trust in a three-year partnership to help the charity bring hundreds of local children with From left, Colin Barkley, chair, NI Children terminal illnesses and to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust; life-limiting conditions Michael McKillop, managing director, Glens of Antrim Potatoes; and Fiona Williamson, to experience the charity co-ordinator. festive magic of Lapland. The new collaboration adds to the support Glens of Antrim Potatoes has already given the charity since they joined forces in 2012. Over this time, the potato producer has raised approximately £35,000 for the NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICTLT). The new three-year partnership between Glens of Antrim Potatoes and NICTLT is a bittersweet announcement for Michael McKillop, managing director of Glens of Antrim Potatoes, who was a close friend to the founder of the charity, the late Jack Rodgers MBE, who passed away earlier this year. The charity’s next trip to Lapland will take place on December 17, when over 100 children, nominated by health workers throughout all the paediatric departments in hospitals here, will travel to Lapland. 29

ADVERTORIAL

APPLEGREEN’S £97,000 COMMITMENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CANCER

ward-winning forecourt retailer, Applegreen, has revealed that they have raised over £97,000 for their charity partner, Friends of the Cancer Centre, thanks to staff fundraising and the Applegreen Charitable Fund. The incredible total raised to date has provided 3,891 hours of specialist nursing care for local families affected by cancer. For almost 35 years, Friends of the Cancer Centre has been making a difference to thousands of lives through its life-saving and life-changing work and Applegreen has proudly announced their continued support in 2020. ENHANCING CARE & SUPPORT Money raised by Applegreen staff and customers has been vital in supporting young people from across Northern Ireland who make the nervous journey to the Cancer Centre in Belfast every day. In order to support young people with cancer, Friends of the Cancer Centre funds two clinical nurse specialists who form part of a team of 10 specialist nurses funded by the charity. A young patient who is supported by the charity’s 30

nurse, Renee Reid (pictured left) , said: “Friends of the Cancer Centre is a lifeline to patients and my specialist nurse Renee was a huge support to me and my family. The charity made my appointments at the Bridgewater Suite that bit better, with small acts of kindness such as a cup of tea when you’re anxious or a magazine to try to take your mind off what is to come.”

“FRIENDS OF THE CANCER CENTRE IS A LIFELINE TO PATIENTS AND MY SPECIALIST NURSE RENEE WAS A HUGE SUPPORT TO ME AND MY FAMILY. THE CHARITY MADE MY APPOINTMENTS AT THE BRIDGEWATER SUITE THAT BIT BETTER, WITH SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS SUCH AS A CUP OF TEA WHEN YOU’RE ANXIOUS OR A MAGAZINE TO TRY TO TAKE YOUR MIND OFF WHAT IS TO COME.”

ADVERTORIAL FUNDRAISING & AWARENESS RAISING Applegreen employees have been the driving force behind the partnership. Thanks to their support, they have maximised their fundraising opportunities through in-store Family Fun Days to engage their customers and holding their own events which promote cross-site teambuilding. Colleagues also take part in the charity’s events and each September join hundreds of Friends of the Cancer Centre supporters to climb Slieve Donard. Throughout the year, Applegreen employees engage in cancer awareness initiatives such as Talking Balls and Breast Bud which provide guides to self-checks for testicular and breast cancer. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP The charity partnership between Applegreen and Friends of the Cancer Centre is a great example of a partnership working for mutual benefit. As Margaret

“IN RETURN, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ENGAGING WITHIN THEIR OWN TEAMS AND ACROSS ALL OF OUR SITES IN TEAM-BUILDING, CANCER AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. THE PARTNERSHIP IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW COMPANIES AND CHARITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT.” Margaret Gallagher, regional manager Northern Ireland for Applegreen

Gallagher, regional manager Northern Ireland for Applegreen, explains there are benefits for Applegreen employees too: “Working alongside Friends of the Cancer Centre gives our colleagues the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to young people with cancer in Northern Ireland. In return, our employees are engaging within their own teams and across all of our sites in team-building, cancer awareness and fundraising activities. The partnership is a great example of how companies and charities can work together for mutual benefit. We initially planned a two-year partnership with Friends of the Cancer Centre, but it has been so successful that we are proud to extend our support throughout 2020 to help the charity celebrate its 35th anniversary.”

COULD YOUR BUSINESS HELP FRIENDS OF THE CANCER CENTRE TO PROVIDE HOURS OF SPECIALIST NURSING CARE IN 2020? IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT ANA WILKINSON, CORPORATE FUNDRAISING MANAGER, FRIENDS OF THE CANCER CENTRE ON 028 9069 9393 31

AGRI-FOOD NEWS

ANTIMICROBIAL USAGE TRAINING TO BECOME MANDATORY FOR NIBL FQAS MEMBERS M embers of the Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS) will be expected to undertake mandatory training on the responsible use of antimicrobials from February 2020. The change follows recent agreement to amend NIBL FQAS standards at the scheme’s Standard Setting Committee. A pilot programme, facilitated by CAFRE, is currently underway with the training due to be implemented into the NIBL FQAS Standard and Rules upon its completion to encourage the responsible use of antimicrobials, specifically antibiotics, among beef and sheep farmers.

“Industry has already made great strides in the overall reduction of antibiotic usage; however, there is no room for complacency,” said Colin Smith, industry development manager. “We hope that through this mandatory training, we can build the knowledge of our NIBL FQAS members and encourage them to enhance their herd health planning in relation to antibiotic use. “We’re doing this to ensure that the industry moves forward and to build resilience for the future sustainability of the sector. “Antimicrobial drugs have played an important role in managing the health of humans, animals, marine life, plants and

crops for over 60 years. Since Lord O’Neill published his report entitled, Tackling Drug- Resistant Infections Globally in 2016, the UK agriculture industry has set targets to help tackle AMR. Locally, part of this response has been to set up mandatory training under NIBL FQAS. “The new Standard received final sign off from the NIBL FQAS Standard Setting Committee in October 2019 and full details of this will be communicated to scheme members via the FQAS winter newsletter.” Training will be free of charge. To register, contact AI Services on: 028 9083 3123 or email: amr@ai-services.co.uk.

FARMERS COMMENDED FOR FURTHER ANTIBIOTIC REDUCTION F armers are to be commended for the work they are doing to reduce antibiotic usage and for hitting the 2020 industry target two years early, according to UFU. The comments were made after UFU attended a RUMA conference, at which Defra announced a 53% reduction in antibiotic sales for food producing animals in the last four years. “Farmers have really taken leadership and ownership of the challenge,” said David Brown, deputy president, UFU. “A 53% reduction in antibiotic sales for food producing animals in just four years, bears testament to the excellent work by industry, the veterinary profession and government in antibiotic stewardship without the need for legislation.” The Defra report also highlighted

use of high-priority, critically-important antibiotics (HP-CIAs) to treat UK farm

“WE ARE PRODUCING FOOD TO SOME OF THE HIGHEST ANIMAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS IN THE WORLD. FARMERS IN THE UK RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE LIFESAVING ANTIBIOTICS AND ARE PLAYING THEIR PART IN THE FIGHT TO CURB ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE.” David Brown, deputy president, UFU

animals is less than 1% of the total usage and overall there has been a 68% reduction in HP-CIA usage since 2014. “We are moving in the right direction,” he said. “We are producing food to some of the highest animal health and environmental standards in the world. Farmers in the UK recognise the importance of these lifesaving antibiotics and are playing their part in the fight to curb antibiotic resistance. “The onus is now on government to defend the UK’s high production standards and protect the industry from the threat of cheaper, lower standard food imports in any postBrexit trade deals.”

FARM SAFETY REMAINS A PRIME CONCERN F arm safety remains a prime concern with farmers encouraged to make their own health and wellbeing a priority when working, says UFU. Fatal injuries increased by one in the workplace, with the majority of deaths in working environments in NI due to agricultural-related accidents, according to the latest annual report of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. Seven people lost their lives in 2018-19 as a result of a farm accident.

“It is a heart-breaking reality that seven people lost their lives in Northern Ireland last year due to serious on-farm accidents, having a devastating impact on their families, friends and local communities,” said Victor Chestnutt, deputy president, UFU. “UFU cannot stress enough how important it is for farmers to stop and think about what they’re doing because, when working with slurry, unpredictable livestock and high-powered technology, it only takes a spilt second for a life-changing injury or fatality to happen.”

AGRI-FOOD NEWS

UFU PUBLISHES GENERAL ELECTION MANIFESTO

Ivor Ferguson, president, UFU.

lster Farmers’ Union is calling on politicians to ‘back farming’ as it launches its 2019 General Election manifesto, highlighting agri-food industry as the UK’s largest manufacturing sector valued at an annual £122bn. In Northern Ireland, agriculture and agri-food employs over 100,000 people and is worth almost £5bn to the local economy. “The success of UK farming matters to the UK electorate – especially at this time of unprecedented change,” said Ivor Ferguson, president, UFU. “The UK’s decision to leave the European Union may dominate the political agenda but now is also the time for long-term planning. “There are new opportunities with a growing UK population, and opportunities too with a new relationship with the European Union. Plans are needed to counter the threat of climate change and global concern over food and energy security.

“We want the next government to have confidence in UK farming and that enables us to deliver for our country, our countryside and the vast majority of people who want to buy UK food. The UFU has a vision of a productive, profitable and progressive farming sector which can deliver for the environment, for the consumer, and for the economy.” UFU’s manifesto covers five key policy challenges: Navigating Brexit for UK farming; Developing a framework for a more competitive and sustainable farming sector; Building a thriving countryside and rural communities; Securing a long-term Government food strategy; and Placing science at the heart of policymaking. To view the manifesto, go to www.ufuni.org.

DAERA CONSULTS ON SCIENCE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK

ith DAERA consulting on a proposed Science Strategy Framework for Northern Ireland, Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has supported its necessity while calling for adoption of a more balanced approach. “With the UK preparing to leave the EU, the importance of the scientific evidence DAERA uses to support policy development and underpin statutory requirements has increased,” said Ivor Ferguson, president, UFU. “Their consultation enables the UFU, and other stakeholders, to voice our opinion on whether we consider the Science Strategy Framework to be relevant and appropriate for the agriculture sector in Northern Ireland. “The strategy that DAERA has proposed needs to have a finer balance. The remit within the document appears

to be extremely broad which could cause high levels of bureaucracy and become an administrative burden. We would encourage that any science strategy going forward be more proactive.” UFU is concerned that the document does not mention what DAERA wants the Northern Ireland agri-food industry to look like in the future, regarding scientific needs. “There needs to be a greater focus on innovation within the agriculture industry, not a major concentration on DAERA policy objectives,” he said. “It does deliver DAERA strategy objectives, but it needs to go further, to be pioneering and informative whilst delivering for the farming industry and the department’s vision. DAERA’s strategy should be stakeholder led.”

MILK PRICE DROP COMES UNDER CRITICISM

ocal dairy processors have been condemned by the Ulster Farmers’ Union for cutting the base milk price. “We have issued eight press releases since January voicing our concern at the pricing policy of local dairy processors and these have been met with appalling apathy,” said Victor Chestnutt, deputy president, UFU. “Local processors have ignored dairy commodity indicators and instead used Brexit as an excuse not to pay the true price for milk, leaving farmers angry and frustrated.” In August, UFU highlighted a 1.5p per litre gap between Northern Ireland and Great Britain milk prices, which has since increased. “The latest government statistics show that the difference between milk prices in NI and GB is now over 3p per litre, which is scandalous,” said Chestnutt. “The reality is, many dairy farmers are struggling to cover their overheads, specifically animal feed bills.”

MARKETING NEWS

MAKING CHRISTMAS SIMPLE

enderson Group has published its first consumer Christmas magazine, Festive InSPARation; the result of a £285,000 investment by the company to further communicate and connect with its shoppers and position its retailers against the multiples for the festive season. The theme of the magazine is Christmas Made Simple, with 40 pages dedicated to original recipes using the fresh, local produce available in-store to create delicious meals, with more than a few shortcuts. Throughout the features, readers will find recipe hacks and timing tips from SPAR NI Executive Chef Carl Johannesson, as well as an entire festive spread suitable for vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free eaters. And the most wasteful time of the year is tackled with cost-effective ways to make money and meals go further

From left, Sara Murphy, Henderson Group, and Carl Johannesson, executive chef, SPAR NI.

and how to have the most recyclable Christmas ever. Furthermore, shoppers can enter a competition to fly a loved one home for Christmas. The retailer has worked with Golden Cow to give one lucky person the opportunity to win flights up to the value of £2,000 to bring a friend or family member home for the most wonderful time of the year. “The magazine will be the founding pillar of a fully-integrated in-store POS, out-of-home marketing and digital campaign,” said Sara Murphy, Henderson Group. “Retailers will also have POS and shelf cards for products which feature in the magazine, while consumers can see videos for recipes across our social media platforms and 48-sheets across the country. It is a fully immersive campaign.”

DALE FARM ENJOYS ICE-CREAM SALES BOOST AT GRAND OPERA HOUSE

From left, Paddy Jenkins as Mr Potts; May McFettridge as Mrs Potts; Georgia Lennon as Belle; Caroline Martin from Dale Farm; and Ben Richards as the Beast.

ale Farm has announced record ice cream sales at the Grand Opera House, home of the country’s most loved pantomime.

The official ice cream supplier to the venue, Dale Farm has reported an ice cream sales boost of 20% in 2019 compared to last year. This is Dale Farm’s fourth consecutive year as sponsor of the annual festive pantomime. A record 60,000 tickets have already been sold for Beauty and the Beast starring May McFettridge, who celebrates her 30th Christmas season taking to the stage. “Dale Farm is delighted to return as sponsor for this year’s pantomime, a star-studded performance of Beauty and

the Beast,” said Caroline Martin, head of corporate marketing at Dale Farm. “Northern Ireland has a special place in its heart for ice cream which, like the pantomime, holds nostalgic memories for many, such as enjoying a Dale Farm Vanilla Cup at the interval. “Our ice cream category is a hugely important part of our business and sponsorships such as the Grand Opera House, help us promote our brand to more than 90,000 people and ultimately drive sales for our business, owned by 1,300 hardworking farmers.”

KP SNACKS INVESTS £2M IN PLAYFUL CREATIVE FOR BUTTERKIST

Snacks has invested £2m in a new TV and billboard campaign aimed at driving sales of Butterkist during the final quarter of the year; a core period for big night in occasions. The TV advert takes on a playful creative, featuring animated Butterkist popcorn kernels constructing their destiny to become Butterkist popcorn, while out of home advertising with the strapline get things popping supported the campaign throughout October and November. With 79% of snackers doing so at home, watching big sporting occasions such as the Rugby World Cup at home[1] or settling down with Netflix with the family[2], the big night in occasion is experiencing growth of +10.3%[3], and 45% of consumers say snacks are a musthave for an evening in[4]. Sources: [1] HIM 2018 [2] Netflix October 2018 [3] Nielsen Scantrack 07.09.19 [4] Mintel 2018

EXPORT NEWS

CLASSIC MINERAL WATER DOUBLES PRODUCTION CAPACITY I reland’s oldest water bottling company has invested significantly in its manufacturing facilities to more than double output capacity of its premium quality mineral water products. The Classic Mineral Water Company plans to return a five-fold increase in sales by expanding its presence in Ireland and entering the GB market over the next three to four years. In September, the company launched its new five-litre product to the market and now supplies this product to both Aldi and Tesco stores in RoI. With funding facilities provided by Ulster Bank and asset finance specialist

From left, Gerard Watters, director, and Liam Duffy, CEO and owner, Classic Mineral Water Company; Caroline McKeown, senior relationship manager, Commercial Banking NI at Ulster Bank; and Declan Napier, relationship director at Lombard.

Lombard, it has completed a multimillion-pound investment in the purchase and commissioning of two new cuttingedge automated production lines. When fully operational, the new lines will enable the Lurgan-based company to boost production capacity from 8,000 units per hour to a maximum 20,000 units per hour. “We have an excellent, qualitydriven proposition compared to other competitors in the marketplace,” said Liam Duffy, CEO and owner at The Classical Mineral Water Company. “As the only company in Northern Ireland with certified natural mineral water status, we are well positioned to capitalise on opportunities in the soft drinks and beverage sector with a locally-sourced and premium product.”

ABERNETHY BUTTER SECURES FORTNUM AND MASON OWN-LABEL DEAL N orthern Ireland’s multi-award-winning Abernethy Butter is now supplying a novel range of flavoured butters under the prestigious Fortnum and Mason brand. Based at Dromara in rural Co Down, the family-owned company specialises in handcrafted butters, and is now producing bespoke butters for the iconic retailer in London including Smoky Chipotle, Date and Rum and Miso and Seaweed varieties. “We were approached by the product development team at F&M to use our expertise and skills in creating the three

unique butter flavours about 18 months ago,” said Allison Abernethy, who runs the business with her husband Will. “We’ve been doing business with F&M for seven years now and have developed a tremendously important business relationship. As a result, F&M has become an immensely valued customer and a great company to do business with. “We’ve worked very closely with them over the past year in the development of the new flavours and also benefited from the input from Paul Clarke, a respected chef which runs En Place Foods in Cookstown.”

COSTA COFFEE CUSTOMERS CZECH OUT HEALTHY FRUIT CRISPS

ustomers at Costa Coffee stores in the Czech Republic are now enjoying healthy Pinkfinch fruit crisps from Food Stories in Northern Ireland. The deal to supply 50 Costa cafes in the Czech Republic is the latest in a string of significant export successes signed by Michael Heaslip, managing director of Food Stories, which is based in Belfast. It follows an agreement to supply Pinkfish crisps to Hungary’s Wizz Air in Budapest. Costa is the world’s second biggest coffee chain. “I attended a meet the buyer event

All the new butters are now on sale in the impressive F&M food hall in London, along with the established Abernethy’s award-winning Black Garlic butter. at the British Embassy in Prague in September 2018 run by the British Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic,” said Heaslip. “Following from the event we made a number of retail and foodservice contacts that we have been developing over the past 12 months. “The deal with Costa Coffee is a particularly exciting development for our business. The Costa Coffee brand in Czech Republic is run by Lagardère Travel Retail, one of the largest operators of foodservice and convenience retail outlets in the country.” Food Stories is now supplying Pinkfinch Apple Fruit Crisps and Banana Fruit Crisps directly to the Costa network. 35

BUSINESS NEWS

PRL PICKS UP FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS

eading NI field marketing agency PRL was honoured with four awards at this year’s Field Marketing & Brand Experience Awards held recently in London’s Syon Park. These awards mark the biggest event in the industry calendar, rewarding best in class leaders in field, retail and experiential marketing. PRL’S WINNING CAMPAIGNS WERE: BRAND AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR – GOLD Winning one of the most sought after awards of the evening, Neil Gill was rewarded for his tremendous results on

Neil Gill collects his award for UK Brand Ambassador of the Year.

behalf of GSK in NI’s convenience and impulse market. Neil is a stalwart within PRL, having worked for teams within the business for over nine years. Not only has Neil grown indirect distribution by over 60%, but he has exceeded direct sales value targets by 140% driving key brands such as Sensodyne, Aquafresh, Beechams and Panadol. MOST EFFECTIVE SMALL SCALE CAMPAIGN – SILVER PRL’s KP sales team came second in the Most Effective Small Scale Campaign award, for their exemplary work on the launch of Muchos. Despite lofty KPIs being put in place, the team surpassed all expectations, achieving 140% of strike rate target and 150% of volume target. Despite only being launched in April, Muchos Nacho Cheese is already the 15th best-selling NI sharebag. MOST EMOTIVE EXPERIENTIAL EXPERIENCE – SILVER PRL’s Pladis team in RoI won silver in the Most Emotive Experiential

Experience award for their work on the #getbacktoreal campaign which successfully helped re-establish the connection between McVities and the consumer through a targeted sampling campaign. MOST EFFECTIVE STAND OR DISPLAY – SILVER PRL’s Custodian Department were rewarded with a Silver in the Most Effective Stand or Display award for their design of Uncle Ben’s Chinese New Year FSDU. This high-level tactical retail activation took place in grocery multiples nationwide. PRL’s General Manager in NI Russell Johnston said: “The FMBE awards have become increasingly important to PRL, and to come away with four awards on the night is testament to the hard work that goes on both in the field, and the office. Our investment in market leading training helps push us a level above our competitors, and getting this recognition further proves what PRL can do for brands throughout Ireland.”

STRONG PARTNERSHIPS: WORKING WITH THE RIGHT ADVISORS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO YOUR BUSINESS EXPANSION PLANS

oday’s retail industry is moving faster than ever before. With constant changes in systems and processes, it’s imperative that business owners keep up with new ideas and trends – or risk being left behind. That’s why it’s so important to work with the right advisory firm. This month, we talk to business owners Graham Johnston, and Andy and Jenny Davis. THANKS FOR SPEAKING WITH US, PLEASE WOULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS Graham: We own five SPAR shops and a restaurant in the Belfast area, including a number of post offices, a petrol station and off-licences within the SPARs. They’re busy hubs of activity and we’re lucky to have great teams and customers at each. In fact, our SPAR business is one of the biggest groups within the SPAR franchise network, which is something we’re very proud of.

field so knowing we have them to rely on is a huge asset to us.

Andy Davis, Stephen McConnell and Graham Johnston at SPAR Titanic Quarter.

WITH A BUSY NETWORK OF SHOPS HOW DO YOU KEEP ON TOP OF IT ALL? Jenny: Well, it goes back to not trying to do everything yourself. Yes, Graham, Andy and I will set the strategic direction of the business but we can’t do it all. You have to be able to rely on a brilliant team and the right partners. That’s why we work with Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, who manage all of our payroll and annual accounts. They’re a reliable team and experts in their

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK WITH A FIRM LIKE BAKER TILLY MOONEY MOORE? Andy: We’re a progressive and growing business; and we want to expand further. The only way to do that is to have trusted partners who can help you navigate the course. Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has a reputation for being reliable, professional and innovative – knowing that we’re tapping into solid information and advice is a huge positive for us. Baker Tilly Mooney Moore provides accountancy and business advisory services to clients in the private, public and voluntary sectors including Audit & Assurance, Taxation, Restructuring & Insolvency and Consulting. Visit www.bakertillymooneymoore.co.uk to find out more.

APPOINTMENTS

BOOST DRINKS APPOINTS NEW MARKETING DIRECTOR

drian Hipkiss has been appointed as marketing director of Boost Drinks, bringing a wealth of experience to the company’s leadership team. His career includes 15 years of commercial experience working for FMCG brands across marketing and sales (UK and international) divisions. Hipkiss joins from Tangerine Confectionery, owned by Valeo Foods, where he held leadership positions that include head of marketing and most recently international sales director. Working alongside Simon Gray, who founded Boost in 2001, he will be responsible for enhancing brand

Adrian Hipkiss.

engagement, driving insight into the heart of the planning and decision making process and fuelling the

innovation pipeline to build a sustainable long-term growth strategy. Northern Ireland will continue to be a key focus for the business. “His appointment as marketing director marks an important milestone in our evolution and by working as part of the leadership team he will help shape the future growth strategy and steward the brand positioning,” said Gray. “I look forward to working together to build upon our strong foundations and ensure we have a robust brand strategy and infrastructure to deliver Boost’s growth ambitions in Northern Ireland, the UK and overseas.”

RH AMAR NAMES BURBAGE PLADIS APPOINTS MARIO REIS AS CHIEF SUPPLY CHAIN OFFICER AS SALES DIRECTOR

ladis, the snacking company behind global brands including McVitie’s, Godiva and Ulker, has appointed Mario Reis as chief supply chain officer. He will be responsible for leading the global supply chain agenda across all pladis markets and serve as a member of the pladis Leadership Team.  “Mario brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to pladis,” said Salman Amin, CEO. “His vast experience leading the end-to-end supply chain in large, global businesses means he will be a great asset to our team as we build on our excellence across our markets.” Reis has more than 30 years of international supply chain, procurement and management consulting experience. He joins pladis from COTY, a leading multinational beauty company, where he was the chief global supply chain officer leading the supply chain agenda during a period of transformation. Prior to his role at COTY, he held senior positions with leading FMCG companies including Danone and Mars. Mario Reis.

ine food distributor RH Amar has appointed Justin Burbage to the role of sales director. Burbage joins the company – which distributes Monte, Crespo, Kikkoman and Ella’s Kitchen among other brands – from Bayer Consumer Healthcare, where he spent almost five years as the company’s UK and Ireland sales director. Prior to that, Burbage – who has Justin Burbage. spent all of his 24-year career in FMCG – was in commercial roles during a seven-year spell at Birds Eye, rising to grocery trading director. He started his career at PepsiCo, where he spent a decade in key sales roles, before moving to Kettle Foods as head of impulse. At RH Amar, Burbage will be tasked with helping the company – which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2020 –continue its long track record of growth. The role will also include helping to develop new sales opportunities for RH Amar’s company-owned brands, including its successful Mary Berry’s Foods sauces and condiments range, and its popular Cooks&Co foodservice and retail ingredients portfolio.

SHELFLIFE

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BOOST CHRISTMAS SALES WITH MCVITIE’S

ladis UK&I is gearing up for the festive season with a number of new launches and traditional Christmas favourites from McVitie’s, which it hopes will help retailers capitalise on a £207m incremental opportunity. The McVitie’s 2019 Christmas selection taps into the enduring popularity of giftable tins and sharing formats, comprising consumer favourites such as McVitie’s Victoria, McVitie’s Family Circle, McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole, and McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Tin. Furthermore, the brand has added some new products for 2019 to drive excitement around alternative consumption occasions. NPD includes: McVitie’s Gingerbread Men Decorating Kit and McVitie’s Luxury Chocolate Biscuit Selection. “Christmas is the time of year when being with loved ones is at the top of the agenda, and every product in the McVitie’s Christmas range has been carefully crafted as the perfect sharing treat for these moments,” said Jonathan Bull, head of McVitie’s Commercial & Seasonal Brands at pladis UK&I. “So, whether consumers are gathering with friends and family, work colleagues or neighbours, there’s something for every occasion in our latest seasonal range. “By combining long-standing favourites – such as the iconic McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole – with enticing NPD, we’re not only delivering the festive products loyal McVitie’s fans know and love, but also appealing to a new generation of Christmas shoppers – and giving retailers the chance to grab their slice of the £207m seasonal sales opportunity.”

KP SNACKS LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR McCOY’S MUCHOS K P Snacks has announced a further £1m investment to drive sales of new sharing product, McCoy’s Muchos, which launched in January this year. The campaign continues to drive awareness of McCoy’s Muchos through striking out-of-home advertising appearing on 6 sheet advertising nationwide and also in-store displays which encourage consumers to choose McCoy’s to ignite the fiesta at home in the run up to key sharing occasions. In addition, the above-the-line activity will run alongside a social media campaign in partnership with Twisted, the home of unserious food. Mouthwatering recipe posts and videos will run across Facebook and Instagram, giving an estimated 15m viewers across the UK 38

new and exciting ideas on how to create show stopping snacks using McCoy’s

Muchos to share with family and friends. “McCoy’s Muchos has experienced phenomenal growth since we launched the product in January and is already worth £9.4m RSV,” said Claire Cooper, McCoy’s marketing manager at KP Snacks. “This second wave of advertising activity will drive further appetite for Muchos, with our partnership with Twisted attracting new consumers as well as keeping it front of mind with existing consumers to drive repeat purchase.” Launched by KP Snacks to capitalise on the growing trend for Mexican flavours and provide an exciting flavourful alternative within the tortilla market, McCoy’s Muchos is a unique half-moon shaped crisp with a blend of six beans and spices locked into the base.

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AN EASY REFERENCE TO THE BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Q&A TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF? I’ve worked for PRL in various sales roles for nearly 10 years, and moved onto the GSK outsourced sales contract in July 2017. I had a retail background prior to this, managing a SPAR store for eight years. I’ve been with my partner Rachel for four years, and have a beautiful 18-month-old daughter Lucy, and 5-year-old stepson Mason. I’m a huge sports fan, and have represented Ireland in cricket at various age groups, including the U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

IN THE HOT SEAT NEIL GILL, SALES DEVELOPMENT REP, PRL IN-MARKET SOLUTIONS (GSK)

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY INVOLVE? Each day is carefully planned the night before in terms of objectives for each call, and time plans for agreed manager meetings. I cover all of Northern Ireland, so there can be a lot of travel involved, particularly on days in the North West and Fermanagh areas. I’m in regular contact each day with the team in PRL, as well as directly with Stuart, GSK’s NI business manager. My core objectives revolve around selling in GSK’s market leading brands including Beechams, Panadol, Sensodyne and Aquafresh to convenience and impulse stores throughout NI. Working closely with PRL, each day is targeted towards achieving weekly and monthly KPIs. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? It has to be winning UK Brand Ambassador of the Year at this year’s FMBE Awards in London in September. The shortlist was filled with representatives from all over the UK working with some of the biggest brands around, so to come out on top was a phenomenal feeling. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I love being on the road, meeting people and building relationships. Having always enjoyed a challenge, I really enjoy the target driven nature of the job, always looking to surpass last week/ month’s sales achieved. I’m constantly trying to improve myself as a rep, and PRL help drive this through the insights they provide, regular field visits and training days with their training partners FXL. WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? My dad always told me, ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. This applies across all 42

aspects of my life, be it work, sports or family. WHAT TALENT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? I’d love to play the acoustic guitar. I’m determined to learn some day. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS/ AMBITIONS? In the short-term, I love the work I’m doing at the minute, and want to continue to grow the business and develop myself. PRL drive me to improve day by day, and through field visits or bespoke training sessions, they help actively build my skillset. Long-term, I’m looking to continue to progress my career and move to the next stage, be that in account management or working directly with brands. WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? This might sound strange, but Joe Wicks. His motivation, and the way he can

drive others through social media and his books is astonishing. This morning he was up at 6am, swimming in the sea in Sunderland. His energy and desire to improve himself and others is a real inspiration. WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE? It would have to be Mexico. It’s a superb holiday destination where you’re treated like royalty from the moment you arrive. As well as this, the weather is outstanding. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD PRODUCT? I try and eat healthy most nights, but love Indian food as a weekend treat. HOW DO YOU RELAX? Spending time with the family, be it at home or days out. I also still play a lot of sports, particularly football and cricket as well as going to the gym.