Ulster Grocer July 2022 (50th Anniversary) by Helen Wright

email: info@ulstergrocer.com Volume 57 Number 7 JULY 2022

www.ulstergrocer.com

CONTENTS

Editor: Alyson Magee E: a.magee@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4175 Contributors: James Greer, Brian McCalden, Donald C McFetridge Sales Executive: Judith Martin E: j.martin@mediahuis.co.uk Tel: 028 9055 4260 Art Editor: Helen Wright

Ulster Grocer c/o Mediahuis UK Limited Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/ ulstergrocer/ @ulstergrocer www.facebook.com/ulstergrocer Subscriptions: £27.50 per annum £37.50 per annum (outside UK) Designed & Produced by: Mediahuis UK Limited Tel: 028 9026 4000 Printed by: W&G Baird, Antrim Tel: 028 9446 3911

46 18 6-7

A look back at 50 years of Ulster Grocer

Alyson Magee, editor

14-15

10-11

Thompson’s Tea

Alyson Magee, editor

Boost Drinks

Henderson Food Machinery

Hunky Dorys

Brian McCalden, editor 1994-2000

Henderson Group

James Greer, owner & publisher 1992-2016

THE TEAM BEHIND THE ULSTER GROCER 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Musgrave

McColgan’s

19-34

34th annual Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards

PRM Group

36-37

Donald C McFetridge, long-time contributor

Helen Wright, art editor

Mackle Petfoods

O’Reilly’s Wholesale

Judith Martin, sales executive

Ulster Grocer is a part of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). If you believe you have been unfairly treated, you can contact IPSO in writing via its website for guidance on what to do. The service is free. IPSO can then advise on whether it’s likely you have grounds for a complaint and what to do about it. The normal procedure is for the complainant to then contact the publication’s editor directly. If no agreement is reached, the complainant can go back to IPSO to look for an adjudication, or for it to take over the complaint. Full details are available at www.ipso.co.uk. Alternatively, email complaints@ipso. co.uk, or inquiries@ipso.co.uk, or telephone 0300 123 2220, or the out-of-hours emergency number: 07659 152 656. Or write to: IPSO, c/o Halton House, 20-23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD.

Karen McGarvey, event manager

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS TOGETHER

1972-2022

proudly supported by Mackle Petfoods

PROFILE

50 YEARS OF ULSTER GROCER

aunched as a tabloid in October 1972, the origins of Ulster Grocer date beyond 50 years. Its first edition alludes to the incorporation of Irish Grocery World, published for many years by the late John Little, into the new title. Ulster Grocer was launched by Frank Grennan of Jemma Publications, who remained as publisher until the trade magazine’s sale to James and Gladys Greer of Greer Publications in 1992. The first issue refers to ‘a time of much activity and development in the grocery trade on the eve of the expansion of the European Community’. Fifty years later, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU is a key area of contention for the grocery trade and wider political environment. In 1974, Ulster Grocer converted to its current A4 format, while its masthead has evolved over the years alongside the

trends of each decade. Revolutionary new computerised checkouts using barcodes and scanners were showcased in the magazine in 1976. Many of the issues highlighted in the title across the 1970s and 1980s have returned as news items in 2022, from inflation, shortages and best-before dates on perishable food to bottle deposit return schemes. Fortunately, imagery of bombed out shops during the Troubles has not returned. The last 50 years of the Northern Ireland grocery sector have seen the passage of the Crazy Prices and Stewarts heyday, and the arrival and subsequent dominance of the multiples and latterly discount retailers. Our local symbol groups have, however, stood their ground, and are excelling across convenience

Ulster Grocer stated its mission on the cover of its first edition in October 1972, outlining principles which hold true to this day: ‘A new grocery trade newspaper is born today. We have named it Ulster Grocer and we think it is very special. BECAUSE it is the only publication catering exclusively for the grocery trade in Northern Ireland… BECAUSE we know that Ulster Grocer will provide an exclusive and powerful means of communication for advertisers within all sections of the trade in Northern Ireland. Our aim is to make Ulster Grocer an informative, authoritative and entertaining publication and we invite you, our readers, to become involved with our team in achieving that objective.’

and supermarket formats. In January 2009, Ulster Grocer launched a new website which, in March 2021, was migrated onto the high-traffic site of its sister publication since 2016, the Belfast Telegraph. Ulster Grocer also operates popular pages on Facebook and Twitter, is entering the 35th year of its Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards and is the only local grocery title still publishing in print and digital (issuu.com) formats.

In 2022, grocers are again facing the same issue highlighted on the cover of the June 1973 edition.

ULSTER GROCER COVERS FROM EACH DECADE: February 1976 (and in 2022, the wee corner shops are still hanging on); June 1983; May 1991; January 2004 (the stunning effect of this 3D cover is not fully apparent in this 2D image); September 2017; and January 2022. 6

A government ad in the February 1979 edition advised retailers to get ready for the new metric system. In 2022, government plans to review weights and measures and potentially reintroduce old imperial measurements post-Brexit were branded a waste of time and money by The Federation of Independent Retailers.

The February 1996 edition featured an interview with Sandra McDowell at The Dairyside Stores in Glenoe. Twenty-five years later, Ulster Grocer returned to interview Sandra again at The Dairy, now a popular licensed bistro and artisan food shop.

A last call for table sales to the 1989 Grocers’ Ball.

A 1996 look at the top local grocery companies, since expanded into the Ulster Grocer Top 75 NI Food & Drink Companies.

ULSTER GROCER LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH MEDIAHUIS

eflecting a global trend of media sector consolidation, Ulster Grocer has changed hands more times in the last six years than it did in its first 44 years of print. Created in 1972 by Jemma Publications, the grocery trade title was sold to James and Gladys Greer of Greer Publications in 1992. The Greers sold Ulster Grocer, alongside sister titles Ulster Business, Hospitality Review NI and Northern Woman, to Independent News and Media (INM) in 2016 and the magazines moved into the Dublin-based group’s new site for the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life in Belfast’s Clarendon Dock.

INM acquired Ulster Grocer from Greer Publications in 2016. Pictured are Gladys Greer, Simon Snoddy and Richard McClean of INM, and James Greer.

In 2019, INM accepted a takeover offer by Belgian media group Mediahuis, with rebranding under the new ownership completed in 2021 and Peter Vandermeersch named chief executive of Mediahuis Ireland in 2022.

Richard McClean, publisher of Ulster Grocer from 2016 to 2021, was featured in the October 1997 edition in a previous role as trade marketing manager of Valley Gold.

Congratulations to Ulster Grocer, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, having evolved over the years from a black and white tabloid into a glossy A4 magazine with a strong digital presence. Mediahuis welcomed Northern Ireland’s leading grocery trade title on board in 2019, through its acquisition of Independent News and Media. A privately-owned leading European media group with headquarters in Belgium and offices in Belfast and Dublin, Mediahuis is Ireland’s leading print and digital media publisher with the resources to drive the next evolution of Ulster Grocer over the 50 years to come. Peter Vandermeersch, chief executive, Mediahuis Ireland

EDITORIAL COMMENT

50 YEARS AT THE HEART OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND GROCERY SECTOR

elcome to our souvenir edition marking the 50th anniversary of Ulster Grocer. Sincere thanks are due to our readers and advertisers. We wouldn’t have reached our golden anniversary without you, and your support is never taken for granted. It is a great honour and privilege to celebrate this milestone in my ninth year as editor, and gratitude goes to my current and former colleagues, as well as those preceding us, in editorial, production and sales. Ulster Grocer launched in 1972 as the only local grocery sector trade title and, in 2022, remains the only sector title with every edition still in print as well as digital format. With print media coming under pressure in recent years, this gives us great pride. Another point of pride has been keeping the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards - now entering their 35th year - going throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, with smaller scale in-person events held in 2020 and 2021. We were of course delighted to bring back our full-scale Awards at the Grocers’ Ball on May 27, where a great night was had by all - see ps19-34 for full coverage.

While it’s now available in digital format, active on Facebook and Twitter, and exclusive content such as our Top 75 NI Food & Drink Companies and Top 50 NI Grocery Brands has been expanded or launched in recent years, Ulster Grocer remains true to its mission stated in the first issue (see p6). Looking back over the last 50 years of the magazine has been quite the experience. Bound editions spanning 1995 to 2016 had to be pulled from a storage unit by the magazine’s current owner, Mediahuis, and piled high beside my desk on the news floor of Belfast Telegraph House. Colleagues had to endure days of noisy paper shuffling, interspersed with exclamations, shrieks and occasional groans when another ad campaign inexplicably featured scantily clad women. I tried to keep a lid on my vocal musings in the dignified Main Hall of the National Library of Ireland in Dublin while viewing the older archived editions. These older magazines were a real treat, from the nostalgia of glass Lucozade bottles in crinkly orange plastic to the black humour of ads making light of the Cold War. What immediately struck me, however, was the cyclical nature of news with

many of the leading stories from the early years - such as skyrocketing inflation, food and fuel prices - again leading the news agenda in 2022. Please join me in raising a glass to the next 50 years of Ulster Grocer.

EDITORS OVER THE YEARS 1970s - Hugh Watson, John Caughey 1980s - Eddie O’Gorman, Linda Giles 1990s - Malcolm Brennan, Alan Bailie, Brian McCalden 2000 - Kathy Jensen 2009 - Russell Campbell 2011 - Louise Murphy 2013 - Alyson Magee

FACES FROM THE LAST DECADE OF ULSTER GROCER

Mark Bec kett is pic tured wit Ballantin h Pamela e at the B almoral Sh ow in 1996 .

at the Ulster d Alyson Magee Chris Keenan an 2019. s ard Aw g tin Grocer Marke

Alyson Mage e, Jud McGa rv ith Award ey at the Uls Martin an d s 2022 ter Gr ocer M Karen . arketin g

PROFILE

TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AS PUBLISHER OF ULSTER GROCER FORMER OWNER JAMES GREER FONDLY REMEMBERS THE MAGAZINE’S LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH GROCERYAID, WHICH YIELDED REAL FRIENDSHIPS AMONG THE LOCAL COMMITTEE AS WELL AS RAISING MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS FOR THE CHARITY

lster Grocer was launched in 1972 by Dubliner Frank Grennan as a colourful, high-quality trade magazine. In October 1992, Greer Publications acquired his magazine group, consisting of Ulster Grocer, Ulster Business, Catering & Licensing Review and Specify, based in University Street in Belfast. Ulster Grocer had been welcomed by the food industry locally and was attracting good quality advertising from the many new Belfast advertising agencies which were springing up in the 1990s. The magazine had a long-time involvement with the UK grocery industry charity, bizarrely called Caravan, which ran an annual event in NI, the Grocers’ Ball. Our staff became enthusiastically involved with this and developed the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards which had been running for some years and were a highlight of the evening. One of the features of the event was a well-stocked food hamper for the guests and the Greer Publications staff volunteered to take on the task of filling the hampers in an SHS Group warehouse with products generously donated by local suppliers on the day of the Ball. Over the years the charity organising committee had been run by leaders in the Northern Ireland retail and wholesale food industry, representing some of our major traders, Henderson SPAR, ASDA, Tesco, Food Force, Fane Valley and Coca Cola. The Grocers’ Ball was generously sponsored by the trade and made a huge contribution to the charity under the leadership of the late John Barrett (Coca-Cola) and then Cliff Kells (Tesco), consistently raising around £50,000 for a number of years. At a change to the organising committee, and a change of the name to

Gladys and James Greer were recognised for Ulster Grocer’s contribution to Groceryaid by the charity’s Chief Executive Steve Barnes at the GroceryAid Diamond Ball in the London Hilton on Park Lane.

“OUR STAFF BECAME ENTHUSIASTICALLY INVOLVED WITH THIS AND DEVELOPED THE ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME YEARS AND WERE A HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENING.”

James and Gladys Greer bought four titles including Ulster Grocer from Frank Grennan (right) in 1992.

GroceryAid, I was invited to join the new enthusiastic group and help raise the profile of the benefits of the charity to all in the industry. It was a period when I learned an enormous amount about the great grocery industry and forged some real friendships with the colleagues involved. I was extremely proud to have been able to make a small contribution to the charity effort. In 2016, I was delighted to receive an Achievement Award in recognition of my efforts to expand awareness of the benefits available to employees working in the industry, from the factory to the supermarket. Gladys and I were invited to attend the GroceryAid Diamond Ball at the London Hilton on Park Lane, and to the exclusive Sponsors Reception. During the evening, we were presented with an award by the chief executive of GroceryAid. I am pleased that Ulster Grocer continues to support the work of GroceryAid in Northern Ireland. 9

ADVERTORIAL

TWO CEASEFIRES & A CENTRAL WAREHOUSE BRIAN McCALDEN, EDITOR OF ULSTER GROCER FROM 1994 TO 2000 & ONGOING CONTRIBUTOR, REFLECTS ON THE MAGAZINE’S MEMORABLE MOMENTS

ix weeks after the IRA announced that it was ordering a ‘complete cessation of all military activities’, the loyalist paramilitary groups declared a ceasefire. John Agnew, then managing director of the leading independent grocery wholesaler, Henderson’s, made no secret of his delight when announcing the news. Speaking to the morning session of the VG Symbol Group annual conference in October 1994, he declared that loyalists would end their violence at midnight. Madeira – the venue – suddenly seemed even brighter as the tidings from home sunk in. It was the beginning of the end for decades of bloody violence in which commercial targets, like shops, were regularly bombed by the IRA. Boarded-up grocery stores with ‘Business as usual’ scrawled on hardboard covering their blown-out windows and a universal dogged determination to continue to ‘open all hours’ in the face of terrorism might perhaps, finally, be coming to an end. John Agnew, a devout Christian, who piloted the business through these most difficult and dangerous times, told the Ulster Grocer editor (me) of his delight in person. This was no time to see the negatives, which soon evolved. Even though the multiples quickly began eyeing-up a largely untapped, but lucrative market in Northern Ireland, he celebrated instead the coming of ‘peace’. ➤ INNOVATION After all the previous violence and mayhem, one other businessman had real cause to celebrate too: Frank Grennan, managing director of Dublin-based Jemma Publications. 10

Ulster Grocer magazine was created by his business-tobusiness publications group on foot of previous success for his title, Bakery World. But both he and codirector, Frank Corr, must have had doubts when The Troubles really accelerated the very same year Ulster Grocer was born, 1972, one of the bloodiest years to date in the chaos of an IRA campaign where any business was a target. That it not only survived for 50 years (and counting), rapidly taking its place alongside seminal The Grocer in London and Scottish Grocer in a pantheon of UK trade magazines devoted to food (and later drink) is a testament to both his business acumen and the professionalism of the staff, sales, editorial and production. In the face of trade events and product launches often interrupted by bomb alerts - real bombings included - and all the dangers of operating a business in what had fast become a truly dangerous working environment, the title prospered. But then, it was always an innovative and forward-looking trade sector. ➤ SELF-SERVICE Picking your own products from shelves, rather than being ‘served’ personally has long been universal. It was not always so: provisions stores were small and personal service ‘king’. A quarter of bacon was sliced ‘fresh’ from a whole side as you waited, while the next customer’s cooked ham was delivered by the same machine, after a quick wipe. Sell-by and use-by dates were still to come and were opposed by traders. Bread was served unsliced – and mostly uncovered – vegetables came loose and were weighed into a silver scale before being bagged (brown paper, no plastic).

‘Tick’ or ‘putting it on the Slate’ was a widespread form of credit. But change began on the busy shopping thoroughfare of the Grosvenor Road – then a virtual extension of the equally busy Sandy Row - in the mid-1960s. Roger’s Stores, until then a traditional counter service outlet, quietly ripped out the counter, installing instead, two newfangled ‘check-outs’. Customers were invited to select goods from open shelves, before queuing up to pay. A revolution had begun, and it proved to be the first of many. Interestingly, Stewart’s Cash Stores had previously occupied premises just opposite and as Ulster Grocer was to report, that particular business was key to a fastchanging retailing environment. One of the first major features that I wrote for the grocery trade was based on an interview with Malcolm Lynch, then managing director of Stewarts/Crazy Prices. It concerned a radical change in logistics. He and other members of his senior staff told of a revolutionary concept of warehousing, a Central Distribution Centre (CDC). It was to replace individual deliveries direct from the manufacturer to each store. Instead, a vast warehouse was supplied, which in turn acted as a hub for deliveries by Stewart’s own staff to each outlet. Suddenly, a whole new world began. CDC originally incorporated the concept of one centralised invoice per store, rather than from each supplier - an attractive option in itself. What it didn’t immediately relate to was a store stock system and, ultimately, scanning tills. Much later, (in the new Millennium) this integrated system linked highly advanced tills to store stock, online ordering from the CDC and much more. Ulster Grocer charted it all. ➤ TOP 100 Ulster Grocer’s sister magazine, Ulster Business, was created and joined the group, (along with Catering & Licensing Review) and its annual Top 100 Businesses survey reported just six retailers in the prestigious listing in the late 1990s. By 2008, nine major supermarket groups were in the Top 100 including Curley’s (later to become a Sainsbury’s). But times were indeed changing. With the honourable exceptions of

both the Co-op and Marks & Spencer who traded in the face of The Troubles, the post-ceasefire influx of the GB-based multiples only then began. In 1997, Associated British Foods, owners of Stewart’s, integrated supermarket operations in the Republic and Northern Ireland, with the head office functions of Power Supermarkets, the holding company for Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices in the Republic. Stewart’s head office functions moving to Power resulted in the loss of about 90 jobs in Belfast. Tesco later arrived in Northern Ireland (in 1996) when it bought over the 34 Stewarts and Crazy Prices supermarkets. Stewart’s supermarket in Carrickfergus was the first to be converted into Tesco, which now dominates the local market. Sainsbury’s opened its first store in Northern Ireland soon after, with the opening of the new store in Ballymena. Northern Ireland’s largest independent supermarket Curley’s later sold its two flagship stores in a multimillion-pound deal. Then, among others, Sainsbury’s developed a new superstore on the former Supermac site, (now Forestside), buying a drinks’ licence from Winemark for an undisclosed, but phenomenal sum. Safeway, after acquiring part of the Fermanagh-based Wellworth’s chain in a joint venture with the Fitzwilton Group in the Republic, then took all of Wellworths in 2001. A battle then ensued. Morrison’s opened the bidding at £2.9bn, Sainsbury’s tabled £3.2bn and Wal-Mart/Asda raised the stakes to £3.7bn, which turned out to be the winning bid. America’s Wal-Mart had been expanding since 1991. It swallowed Britain’s Asda in a £6.7bn deal in 1999 and flirted with Dunnes Stores in 2001. In the vacuum created by the companies being unwilling or unable to comment, the Ulster Grocer editor then became a ‘media expert’. I was regularly called upon to appear on both TV and radio to provide some background, even appearing live from the car park of Sainsbury’s Forestside, on camera, interviewed by earpiece from the studio. A supply chain documentary on BBC TV followed, presented by Richard Wright, the then agriculture correspondent.

This exponential growth (predicted in 1994 by John Agnew) saw his John Henderson Group, being “concerned and watchful”, according to then deputy managing director, Ken Mawhinney. They need not have worried, as they have since proved their staying power amidst huge changes. Rival wholesaler, Haslett’s shut up shop in 2009 putting an end to the company’s 26-year presence at The Cutts. The food wholesaler had been operating their warehouse facility in Derriaghy since 1963. However, since the company was taken over by the Musgrave Group in 2007, there has been a gradual integration of the companies, with the long-term plan of moving the warehouse facilities to Belfast. Musgrave/SuperValu/Centra have gone on to be a leading player. ➤ GREER PUBLICATIONS It was a dynamic period. Ulster Grocer didn’t just report but was also proactive. With the blessing of the then new owners, James and Gladys Greer, I undertook to replicate the successful GB Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) in Northern Ireland. With some coaxing, the big independent wholesalers had tentative meetings, chaired by me. Their aim was to match the rise of the multiples with an equally strong voice. It bore fruit and after some complex negotiations, resulted in the establishment of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, a cumbersome title usually shorted to NIIRTA. Today, Trade NI is the alliance of the three largest trade bodies, Retail NI, Manufacturing NI and Hospitality Ulster. ➤ FIFTY YEARS Looking back at 50 years of the Ulster Grocer, the story is one of innovation, courage in the face of multiple challenges – not least of which came from terrorism – and above all, service. Through thick and thin, our grocery sector has continued to put food on the tables. Most recently, in the pandemic, while other sectors self-isolated or ‘worked from home’, our food shops, wholesalers, delivery drivers, shelf stackers and the multitude of ancillary trades worked on. Brexit and the subsequent Irish Sea Border convolute the supply chain, yet only occasionally have there been shortages.

Now things may be changing again. Sainsbury’s will close one of its major stores in Northern Ireland this year, prompting concerns the supermarket may be reconsidering its future in the region. Sainsbury’s said the decision to close its Craigavon store and petrol station was ‘not taken lightly and is based on a range of factors’. Again, showing the vision of familyowned Henderson’s, Sainsbury’s actually partnered with the local wholesaler to help manage post-Brexit disruption. Innovation – as well as change – continues. Now vast increases in our energy and fuel costs threatens even greater mayhem. But grocery will survive and thrive as it always does, and Ulster Grocer will continue to chart that story. ➤ THE CHALLENGES OF PREDIGITAL PUBLISHING Spare a thought for editors in the early years, right up to the late 1990s! Pictures, mostly monochrome, had to be taken professionally before being rushed to process, then prints selected, then delivered before being scanned into the magazine. There was no email. Contributors’ copy and product news had to be retyped for the same reason. Colour ‘separations’ had to be farmed out for the rather cumbersome process of producing full colour pages. Spot colour was still common. Special issues, such as the annual Trade Directory had to be compiled from hard copy posted in with laborious editing and retyping. Deadlines meant deadlines. A courier took both hard copy and discs/ hard drives off to the design studio for layout and final tweak before printing. Adverting and PR agencies employed a legion of cyclists to deliver all their more urgent contributions. Bombs and bomb alerts regularly distributed both events and logistics. We had to use the telephone to communicate, mostly fixed line – and the post. We actually had to talk to one another and meet more face to face… in fact, we had time for each other. No bad thing. But that’s progress folks. 11

ADVERTORIAL

PICKING PUNJANA TEA for over 125 years COMPANY : THOMPSON’S TEA

he story of Thompson’s Tea began in Belfast, in 1896, from a tea warehouse near Belfast docks. Their founder, RS Thompson, trained in the art of tea tasting and soon became known for his uncompromising devotion to quality. In the early 1900s, the Thompson family prided themselves in importing some of the world’s finest teas into Belfast and in supplying the province’s many thousand grocery shops with luxury teas, beautifully presented in their original tea chests. It was in the 1950s that the landscape of tea began to change with the introduction of branded products which were soon to become the order of the day. The challenge was then set for the Thompsons to change with the times and create a brand name of their own. Inspiration came one day from the Gillespie Statue in Comber which carries the inscription ‘Punjab’. They loved this connection with India and its well-known quality tea credentials, and so, with a little creativity and imagination, Jim Thompson and his wife came up with the name ‘Punjana’. So excited were the secondgeneration Thompsons that they 12

decided to feature their new-born brand on UTV’s very first night of broadcasting in 1959, with their catchy Pick Punjana Tea jingle. Since then, with a passion for quality and a dedication to blending a better cup of tea, Thompson’s Tea has grown

to become Northern Ireland’s best-selling brand. Today, as fourth generation Thompsons, they feel very proud and privileged to produce over one million cups of Thompson’s Punjana for Northern Ireland tea lovers every single day. As has been the way for the last 125 years, it is only ever a member of the Thompson family who is entrusted with tasting and approving each and every blend. This is their personal assurance that the tea inside every pack they ever produce will be the same award-winning taste and flavour that Northern Ireland tea lovers have been enjoying since 1896.

“AN INDEPENDENT, FAMILY BUSINESS OF FOUR GENERATIONS, BORN AND BLENDED IN BELFAST SINCE 1896.”

ADVERTORIAL

HENDERSON GROUP BRANDS BRING

golden moments to Ulster Grocer COMPANY : HENDERSON GROUP

t the forefront of the grocery sector for the past 50 years, Ulster Grocer has grown alongside some of Northern Ireland’s most popular SPAR, EUROSPAR, ViVO and ViVOXTRA retailers. Here, some of those retailers share their memories of working with the title, and wish Ulster Grocer and its team a fantastic golden celebration. ➤ PADDY DOODY, SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR, HENDERSON GROUP “Ulster Grocer has been with Henderson Group and our brands at some of our biggest milestones, so we’re delighted to be able to share their 50th celebrations with them, and our retailers.

➤ McCRACKEN’S SPAR PORTADOWN “We are almost birthday twins with Ulster Grocer, recently having celebrated our own 50th anniversary. Joining the Henderson Group and operating under the SPAR brand has been of huge benefit to our business, allowing us to reach such milestones and celebrate alongside our industry peers. “The evolution of the grocery trade here in Northern Ireland over the past five decades has been inspiring, and it’s thanks to relationships with Henderson Group and their various suppliers and partners. We’re very proud to be part of it, and look forward to reaching the next exciting milestone!”

“We’ve just marked 60 years of SPAR in Northern Ireland with a yearlong series of events, fundraisers and celebrations alongside retailers marking their own milestones. With over 500 retailers operating under our brands in Northern Ireland, we may have thousands of years of experience between us, but many have been part of these 50 years with Ulster Grocer and look forward to many, many more.”

“We appeared on the cover of Ulster Grocer, and we were able to shout about the many bespoke advantages to operating a retail business under the ViVO brand and showcase our state-ofthe-art store. “The following year, ViVO experienced accelerated growth with 12 new stores and an uplift of 5% in retail sales making it the fasting growing symbol chain in Northern Ireland. The brand continues to grow, enabling Hendersons to recruit

“ULSTER GROCER HAS BEEN WITH HENDERSON GROUP AND OUR BRANDS AT SOME OF OUR BIGGEST MILESTONES, SO WE’RE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR 50TH CELEBRATIONS WITH THEM, AND OUR RETAILERS.” ➤ VIVO ESSENTIALS TATTYREAGH “In 2020, ViVO Tattyreagh in County Tyrone became the 100th ViVO store to open in Northern Ireland. It was a really exciting time, as retailing for smaller communities and villages was coming into its own. 14

“THE EVOLUTION OF THE GROCERY TRADE HERE IN NORTHERN IRELAND OVER THE PAST FIVE DECADES HAS BEEN INSPIRING, AND IT’S THANKS TO RELATIONSHIPS WITH HENDERSON GROUP AND THEIR VARIOUS SUPPLIERS AND PARTNERS.”

ADVERTORIAL

“WE APPEARED ON THE COVER OF ULSTER GROCER, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SHOUT ABOUT THE MANY BESPOKE ADVANTAGES TO OPERATING A RETAIL BUSINESS UNDER THE VIVO BRAND.”

even more retailers to this robust, trusted brand. Happy Birthday Ulster Grocer! Thanks for including us in your golden moments.” ➤ LECKY’S VIVOXTRA CASTLEDERG “In the past 50 years, we have experienced a huge evolution of supermarkets in Northern Ireland, and no more so than in the past 51 years after opening our first store in 1971. We were fortunate to open the first ViVOXtra store here in Castlederg, and now there are eight bringing a fresh approach to local supermarkets. “We send a big congratulations to Ulster Grocer on their 50 year milestone, and thank all the team for the continued support of our brand in recent years.”

➤ MULKERNS EUROSPAR “Mulkerns EUROSPAR will celebrate its own 50th anniversary in just four years, so we have ‘grown up’ alongside Ulster Grocer over the past 46 years, being part of the growing expertise and innovation of the entire industry, its suppliers, entrepreneurs and wider business communities. “Northern Ireland has a lot to shout about when it comes to community retailing, and the niche operations of our business here. We punch well above our weight and we have a lot to be proud of in our small corner of the world so we need our trade magazines to champion our successes. Thank you for all the support, Ulster Grocer!”

“WE PUNCH WELL ABOVE OUR WEIGHT AND WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN OUR SMALL CORNER OF THE WORLD SO WE NEED OUR TRADE MAGAZINES TO CHAMPION OUR SUCCESSES. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, ULSTER GROCER!”

ADVERTORIAL

O’DONNELLS FURROWS drives further growth for the leading HAND COOKED CRISP BRAND COMPANY : HUNKY DORYS

’Donnells Hand Cooked Crisps are the leading hand cooked crisp brand. Over the last decade, the island of Ireland has fallen in love with the premium quality and great tasting flavours of O’Donnells crisps. Today, O’Donnells is the most awarded crisp brand in the Irish market. O’Donnells Furrows, which launched last summer, have performed exceptionally well within the Crisps and Snacks category and is well positioned to drive further growth of the O’Donnells brand in the future. O’Donnells Furrows deliver crisp perfection in taste and flavour. The deep grooves of the furrows ploughed on the Seskin family farm are the inspiration for this product. The extra deep ridges capture more of the outstanding taste and flavour that O’Donnells consumers know and love. O’Donnells Furrows are available in two delicious options: Mature Cheese & Red Onion and Irish Cider Vinegar and Sea Salt in 50g single serve and 125g share bags which are gluten free with no artificial colours, flavours or MSG. As a testament to the fantastic quality and taste of these new products, O’Donnells Furrows were awarded Gold and Silver awards in the Crisps category at the Irish Quality Food Awards and Free From Food Awards in 2021. In May, O’Donnells launched a new and improved Sweet Chilli flavour which

offers a delicately fused secret blend of aromatic spices with a fiery kick of red chillies to create the spicy and sweet taste. The new and improved recipe has been perfected to our finest Sweet Chilli flavour yet, creating a truly exquisite hand

cooked crisp. O’Donnells will be supported throughout the coming months with the Taste Above All Else campaign. The campaign is live on TV, radio, VOD, social, digital and in-store, driving awareness and mental availability for O’Donnells.

HUNKY DORYS continues to invest in the brand and DRIVE IN-STORE SALES

ynonymous with rugby, Hunky Dorys kick-started the year with their Win a trip to 6 of Europe’s Nations campaign. This campaign coincided with the 6 Nations Championship, a key snacking occasion, and was executed across social, digital, PR and with a vast presence across the trade. Much-loved character, Christy the Crinkler, made a return to our screens 16

recently as Hunky Dorys continues to invest in the brand and drive sales out in store. Through this fun and memorable creative, Christy’s unique personality, and indeed unique skills, feature in his bid to perfectly crinkle each Hunky Dory crisp. The Hunky Dorys campaign featured across TV, cinema, VOD and social delivering a reach estimate of over

3 million*. There’s more to come later in the year for Hunky Dorys so make sure you are stocked up on these perfectly crinkled masterpieces which continue to set the pace in the crisps category.

GO HUNKY DORYS OR GO HOME *Media reach estimate

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MUSGRAVE milestones

COMPANY : MUSGRAVE

AS THE ULSTER GROCER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS SINCE ITS FIRST PUBLICATION, MUSGRAVE, THE NAME BEHIND NI’S LEADING RETAIL AND WHOLESALE BRANDS SUPERVALU, CENTRA, MACE, MUSGRAVE MARKETPLACE AND DRINKS INC. LOOKS BACK AND SHARES SOME OF ITS VERY OWN MILESTONES

ot many businesses clock up 146 years of trading or indeed seven generations of family ownership. Founded in 1876 in Cork by Thomas and Stuart Musgrave, this family name has become the brand behind the island of Ireland’s leading wholesaler and retail partner. What’s not widely known is that the brothers went on to marry the ‘Robert’s sisters’ from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, though it wouldn’t be until 1982 that Musgrave established itself in the Northern Ireland market with the opening of the Duncrue ‘Cash & Carry’ – known today as Musgrave MarketPlace. Branches in DerryLondonderry and Lurgan later joined the brand’s NI stable. The expansion continued in 1996 when the company moved into the retail sector by acquiring five shopping centre supermarkets and rebranded these as SuperValu. This was followed by the acquisition of 21 Wellworths stores dotted across NI, which were in time all rebranded as SuperValu. Kings Square, on the outskirts of Belfast, is the brand’s oldest SuperValu store – serving customers now for over 26 years. It was also in 1996 when the first Centra stores opened in Magherafelt and Belfast City Centre, followed by Moran’s 18

Strand Road in DerryLondonderry in 1997, which is now one of the longest serving Centra stores in NI. In 2007 Musgrave took another step to growing its foothold in the NI market when it bought the food wholesaler J&J Haslett which supplied 200 Mace stores. Mace has long been a fixture in the Northern Irish convenience retail market, operating since 1960. In 2019 Musgrave acquired Drinks Inc, which in the same year celebrated 20 years in business. A drinks distributor, which serves the on-trade and off-trade drinks industry, it boasts a portfolio of almost 2,000 alcoholic and soft drinks products, including a new and extensive range of premium spirits, wines and many exclusive agency brands. In a testament to Musgrave’s continual focus on developing and building its brands, in 2021 SuperValu and Centra achieved the ultimate accolade when they were recognised as the best in the UK at the prestigious Retail Industry Awards. Lilley’s Centra Enniskillen won Independent Retailer of the Year (1,201 to 3,000 sq. ft.) whilst Woods’ SuperValu, Fruitfield won Independent Retailer of the Year (over 6,000 sq. ft). Trevor Magill, Musgrave NI managing director, reflects on some of his own highlights: “Over the last two years, we’ve invested more than £28m in redefining convenience retail for shoppers through our SuperValu and Centra brands. And we’re committed to supporting local; spending £160m on NI food and drink annually, working with over 150 local suppliers and 3,000 local farmers

and having raised over £3.7m for our charity partners Action Cancer and NI Chest Heart and Stroke.” Trevor continues: “Last month we announced a £2.7m investment in a retailer sustainability fund, which will support a 12% reduction in carbon over two years as part of Musgrave’s 2040 net zero carbon target. Working with our retail partners to address one of the biggest challenges facing our planet is something of which I’m particularly proud.” Today, Musgrave has 37 SuperValu, 102 Centra and 80 Mace retail stores across NI, along with three Musgrave MarketPlace branches, together employing over 5,000 people.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS RETURN TO THE GROCERS’ BALL

GROCER ULSTER

MARKETING AWARDS 2022

WITH SMALLER-SCALE EVENTS HELD IN 2020 AND 2021 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE 2022 AWARDS RETURNED TO THE GROCERS’ BALL AT THE CULLODEN HOTEL & SPA ON MAY 27

Entertainment on the evening included String Ninjas (pictured), Kerri Boyles and Goodfellas.

TV presenter Claire McCollum hosted the evening.

Angus O’Neill of Sainsbury’s, GroceryAid NI Committee.

PRM Group packed and delivered the infamous Grocers’ Ball hampers.

Desi Derby of Musgrave, GroceryAid NI Committee. 19

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN SPONSORED BY MASH DIRECT

★ WINNER: SPAR NI - 60 YEARS SERVING NI

lare Forster, head of marketing at Mash Direct, said: “It is amazing to see two local retailers pick up accolades for their marketing campaigns and achievements. Congratulations to SPAR NI, who were awarded and honoured for their long-term commitment serving our local community and donating to local charities by delivering their 60 years serving NI anniversary campaign. Congratulations to Nearby stores for picking up the highly commended; they should be very proud of their achievements after one year of trading. Mash Direct are delighted to sponsor this category again. It is an honour celebrating and rewarding retailers and producers within the food and drink sector for their exceptional marketing campaigns.”

➤ Sarah Murphy and Brenda Mulligan (Henderson Group), Lance Hamilton (category sponsor Mash Direct), Bronagh Luke (Henderson Group) and Judith Martin (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “This two-fold campaign exceeded ambitious objectives, making use of a full suite of assets. Henderson Group celebrated 60 years of SPAR NI across its marketing activities throughout the year and, by the end of 2021, the campaign had delivered a record-breaking year with SPAR ranked the number one convenience brand.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Brenda Mulligan, head of brand marketing, said: “Celebrating the 60th year of SPAR in Northern Ireland was an important milestone for us to share with our shoppers and retailers, who have been integral in the success of the brand over the years. It feels like we’ve only finished celebrating the 60th, so to win this award feels like an extension of those celebrations which drove footfall for SPAR retailers, solidified our brand as much loved in Northern Ireland, and raised vital funds for our charity partner, Marie Curie. Taking home the top award on a special night recognises the quality marketers in our team that are helping our retailers excel under all of our brands in Northern Ireland.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: S&W WHOLESALE - NEARBY ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Nearby, a new convenience brand, has delivered very impressive growth and new store numbers in a very short timeframe on the back of a strong marketing campaign. It used multiple touchpoints and maximised budget, leaving no stone unturned.” ➤ Daniel Comiskey and Maurice Little (S&W Wholesale). 20

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 LORRAINE HALL YOUNG MARKETEER SPONSORED BY KESTREL FOODS

★ WINNER: LUCY MANBY - BOOST DRINKS

ichael Hall, founder and MD, said: “Forest Feast are delighted to again sponsor the Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award, which recognises up and coming talent in the marketing leaders of the future. Lorraine was the inspirational driving force behind the Forest Feast brand, which boasts a state-of-the-art production facility in Portadown. There, our team of foodies create and handcraft all our snacks, which are enjoyed by consumers throughout the world. Congratulations to all the entrants who have demonstrated the wealth of marketing talent we have here in Northern Ireland, but especially to the winner, Lucy Manby, who stood out to the judges through her energy and drive along with a passion for her industry.”

➤ Deirdre Burns (category sponsor Kestrel Foods), Ciara Kinkead (Duffy Rafferty Communications, accepting on behalf of Lucy Manby) and Alyson Magee (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Lucy impressed the judges with her rapid career development. As a brand manager, she has demonstrated expertise across a range of marketing and communications activities including product launches, digital marketing and PR. Lucy has navigated the challenges of the pandemic, still managing to deliver exceptional campaigns.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Lucy Manby, brand manager, said: “I am delighted to have been awarded the Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer award at this year’s Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. There are amazingly talented marketeers in Northern Ireland so I feel incredibly honoured to have been recognised for such a prestigious award. A big thank you must go to the amazing team at Boost Drinks for their continued support and encouragement in my development and progression.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: KERRY GARDNER MXB ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Kerry has demonstrated a tangible impact on her agency MXB and the level of client services it is offering. She is rising to become a real leader in her agency in digital.”

➤ Kerry Gardner (MXB). 21

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 LEADER IN MARKETING SPONSORED BY MXB

★ WINNER: VALERIE THOMPSON - SUPERVALU

aren Carmichael, managing director, said: “MXB, as category sponsor of the Leader in Marketing Award were delighted to see Valerie Thompson of SuperValu take the title this year. Hotly anticipated and arguably the most coveted award of the night, it is always a pleasure to see those leading in this sector acknowledged and recognised. It is these Leaders in Marketing that make success possible every day for their industry leading brands. They raise the bar for everyone and drive the whole sector forward. To see Gail Cook of Mackle Petfoods highly commended further asserts the standard. We congratulate them both wholeheartedly.” ➤ Karen Carmichael (category sponsor MXB), Valerie Thompson (SuperValu) and Alyson Magee (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Valerie has been integral to Musgrave’s marketing function for 34 years, sharing her knowledge and experience, and recognised as a mentor in the business. She has a track record of success, with other managers in the business commending her skill in both creating and delivering campaigns.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Desi Derby, marketing director, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our colleague Valerie Thompson was awarded the Leader in Marketing accolade. Val is an integral and valued part of the marketing team – our constant, our voice of reason and our brand oracle. She is a talented marketeer who has made a significant contribution to SuperValu over many years and our team is all the richer with Val being part of it. She truly deserves this award, and our heartfelt congratulations go to her.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: GAIL COOK - MACKLE PETFOODS ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Gail has very impressively built a very sophisticated marketing function and has implemented best practice strategies including customer service monitoring and benchmarking measuring the impact of all marketing activity. She has also improved internal communications and is to be commended for her additional pro bono work.” ➤ Karen Carmichael (category sponsor MXB) and Gail Cook (Mackle Petfoods). 22

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST DIGITAL CAMPAIGN

SPONSORED BY GREEN FIELD MARKETING SOLUTIONS ★ WINNER: CENTRA - OWN-BRAND RANGE

ussell Johnston, managing director, said: “Green Field Marketing Solutions was delighted to sponsor the Best Digital Campaign award this year. Both were fantastic campaigns I was very aware of as a consumer, so well done to Moy Park and MXB for being highly commended and congratulations to Centra for winning the category.”

➤ Russell Johnston (category sponsor Green Field Marketing Solutions), Jennifer Morton (Musgrave) and Alyson Magee (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Centra used good data to inform its campaign with influencers, ultimately exceeding its targets. Its impressive own-brand campaign made use of various digital marketing tools including zoom at a time when screentime was up, tapping into the zeitgeist with a very creative campaign.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Jennifer Morton, Centra brand manager, said: “To win the Best Digital Marketing Campaign for Centra Own Brand is a fantastic achievement. We relaunched our own brand range in January 2021 with a fun and innovative campaign that not only raised awareness of our product range, but also highlighted the excellent quality and value for money on offer when shopping the Centra range. The true voice of the campaign, our customers, shared authentic product reviews and content on zoom, which resulted in an increase in LFL sales, category growth and phenomenal engagement across our digital platforms.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: MOY PARK & MXB - YAY FOR SUMMER ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Moy Park drilled down into its audience very well to capture what people were doing last summer. We really liked the theme of the campaign, tying into the sentiment of the time with multi-generation family gatherings and separate video segments targeting each member of a family slightly differently.” ➤ Elizabeth Adair, Ellen Wright and Leah Wortley (Moy Park). 23

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST IN-STORE CONSUMER SALES PROMOTION SPONSORED BY AQUA TWIST ★ WINNER: EUROSPAR - OVER 1000 PRICES MATCHED TO TESCO

ary Taylor, director, said: “Aqua Twist is pleased to return as sponsor of Best In-Store Consumer Promotion at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2022. Congratulations to both the highly commended promotion from Musgrave NI with its SuperValu and Centra Cracker Deals, and the 2022 winner, EUROSPAR - Over 1000 Prices Matched to TESCO. Both companies ran exceptional in-store promotions, and we wish them continued success. Aqua Twist and our charity partners, NI Children’s Hospice, would like to thank both Musgrave and Henderson for their continued support, and look forward to future business development with each company.” JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “EUROSPAR researched its campaign, outlined its aims and objectives and achieved them, increasing retail sales and basket spend. It’s quite bold and aggressive to go after a big multiple retailer such as Tesco, and EUROSPAR rotated its offers on a weekly basis with a huge body of work involved in the campaign.”

➤ Sarah Murphy (Henderson Group), Gary Taylor (category sponsor Aqua Twist) and Judith Martin (Ulster Grocer).

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Sara Murphy, marketing manager, said: “As the number of EUROSPAR supermarkets in the heart of communities across Northern Ireland rises, so too does the access to value and choice for our local shoppers. Tesco Price Match drives costs down on thousands of everyday essentials for our shoppers when they’ve needed it the most and the cost of living continues to rise. We have worked hard to communicate this unique selling point to shoppers, and leveraged the initiative as an important standalone campaign as well as part of our overall Smart Shopper strategy to position EUROSPAR as a one-stop-shop for fresh and local groceries, services and unbeatable value under one roof and right at shoppers’ doorsteps. It’s fantastic for our campaign to be recognised at these prestigious awards, and we thoroughly enjoyed being back at the Ball with our industry peers.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: CENTRA & SUPERVALU - CRACKER DEALS ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Centra and SuperValu used good data to inform their impressive campaign, achieving a clear impact on sales delivered directly to their bottom line. The Cracker Deals were activated internally but also externally instore, giving the consumers what they want.” ➤ Carol Marshall, Patricia McIlroy, Valerie Thompson, Jennifer Morton and Desi Derby (Musgrave). 24

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH/ RELAUNCH SPONSORED BY DERRY GROUP IRELAND

★ WINNER: BOOST DRINKS - ENERGY MANGO

atrick Derry, managing director, said: “Congratulations to all the finalists in the category of Best New Product/Product Relaunch. It’s truly inspiring to see local companies pushing forward with new ideas and creating such innovative products in a very competitive market. Congratulations to the winners of the category, Boost Drinks, on the launch of their product Energy Mango! So well deserved. Congratulations also to Linwoods Health Foods who were highly commended for the launch of their amazing new Functional Range. We wish all the finalists in this category the very best of luck with their new product launches, we are so proud as always to support this exciting category.”

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Boost identified a market trend and gap and responded with NPD and a dynamic campaign executed very well amid the pandemic. It’s one of the best campaigns we’ve seen, and its execution was bang on for its audience.”

➤ Sara Callanan (Elevator Promotions, accepting on behalf of Boost), Patrick Derry (category sponsor Derry Group Ireland) and Judith Martin (Ulster Grocer).

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Kim Jacks, senior brand manager, said: “We are completely thrilled to win Best New Product at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2022. We are always looking at ways to grow and develop our product range and reinforce the brand’s commitment to our loyal customers in NI as well as engage with new shoppers. We wanted to create a standout, quality product in what was an already high performing category, and we are happy to say we did that with the launch of Mango Energy. With the help of a targeted PR and marketing plan, Northern Ireland fell in love with Boost Mango Energy which was evident in the phenomenal sales recorded. Thanks to Ulster Grocer for the recognition and to the entire Boost Drinks team and our partners for their constant efforts.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: LINWOODS HEALTH FOODS FUNCTIONAL RANGE ★★★

➤ Patrick Woods (Linwoods), Patrick Derry (category sponsor Derry Group Ireland) and Honour Nethery (Linwoods).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Linwoods successfully launched a new line, achieving UK-wide pick up. Its PR-driven campaign linked in with World Menopause Day, tapping into that very topical conversation. As a functional line delivering immunity support, its launch during the pandemic was very relevant and offered something slightly different.” 25

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

GROCERS’ BALL GUESTS SPARKLE AS THEY SHAKE OFF PANDEMIC

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST EXPORT MARKETING

SPONSORED BY INVEST NORTHERN IRELAND ★ WINNER: FOYLE FOOD GROUP

ohn Hood, director of food and drink, said: “Invest Northern Ireland is delighted to sponsor the Best Export Marketing award. Profitable exports are a key strand of what we do as we strive to grow the local economy. In Northern Ireland, we produce enough food and drink to feed 10 million people, so it is critical that our sector focuses on markets outside of Northern Ireland to generate sales. I was delighted to see the quality of entrants into this year’s award category and would like to congratulate both Mackle Petfoods for achieving highly commended, and Foyle Food Group as the category award winner. Both accolades are thoroughly well deserved – well done to both!”

➤ John Hood (category sponsor Invest NI), Joanne Hughes (Foyle Food Group) and Judith Martin (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Foyle was the first in the UK to break into the US market after BSE, opening the door for others. As a long-established company, it is still pushing ahead and achieving firsts in its field. It has addressed all the quality issues associated with international markets, and also achieved listings with a number of key retailers in Europe.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Naomi Herron, communications and marketing executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Best Export Marketing award. As a business, we have worked really hard to adapt and grow in an ever-changing marketplace. Through the incredible work of our export team, we have been able to showcase the quality of British and Irish beef around the world and show why it is one of the best tasting in the world, as well as most sustainable and with the highest animal welfare.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: MACKLE PETFOODS ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “What Mackle has achieved in GB is impressive. We loved the concept; it was a great PR stunt delivering an exceptional campaign. Mackle achieved what it set out to do, which was increase its export trade.”

➤ Leza Nulty, Colin Ferguson and Gail Cook (Mackle Petfoods). 29

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST CSR INITIATIVE/CHARITY PARTNERSHIP SPONSORED BY HUNKY DORYS

★ WINNER: MUSGRAVE NI & ACTION CANCER

artin McClinton, NI operations manager, said: “We have now reached a decade as sponsor of the Best CSR Initiative/Charity Partnership category at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. Hunky Dorys is honoured to sponsor this worthy award recognising grocery sector businesses reaching beyond commercial gain to benefit local charities and communities. Congratulations to the 2022 winner Musgrave NI for its longstanding partnership with Action Cancer, to highly commended entry SPAR NI for its support of Marie Curie, and all award entrants going above and beyond to help others.” ➤ Desi Derby and Carol Marshall (Musgrave), Martin McClinton (category sponsor Hunky Dorys) and Alyson Magee (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Musgrave raised a fantastic amount of money in a year, supporting its longstanding partnership with Action Cancer. The campaign was impressive in its delivery, but what was truly outstanding was its impact on the charity and the services it delivers to people. Without Musgrave’s support, there would be less breast screenings and services in NI.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Desi Derby, marketing director, said: “We are immensely proud of our long-standing partnership with Action Cancer. Although the pandemic threatened our fundraising, by combining innovative fundraising ideas with existing initiatives, we continued to make a life-saving difference. To raise £190,000 in 2021 in the middle of a pandemic was a fantastic achievement and enabled Action Cancer to deliver 875 health checks and 1,950 breast screenings onboard the mobile detection unit the Big Bus, making a real difference to people across NI. The partnership is at the heart of our business and to date we have raised £3.5m. We are delighted it’s been recognised as the best CSR initiative.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: SPAR NI & MARIE CURIE ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “SPAR NI leveraged its 60th birthday as an opportunity to raise essential funds for Marie Curie. It introduced branded face coverings, with the money from their sale going directly to the charity. Henderson Group has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to charities in NI, including its partnership with Marie Curie.” ➤ The Henderson Group team. 30

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY POWER NI

★ WINNER: FINNEBROGUE

my Bennington, commercial marketing manager at Power NI, said: “Congratulations to both winner Finnebrogue, and highly commended Lidl, in the Best Sustainability Initiative category at this year’s Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. At Power NI and at Energia Group, we’re helping to power a greener future and it’s fantastic to celebrate local business’ sustainability projects.”

➤ Greta Delfino (Finnebrogue), Amy Bennington (category sponsor Power NI) and Judith Martin (Ulster Grocer).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Finnebrogue’s entry told a whole story of its labelling innovation, from conception to execution. It basically created the equivalent of scores on doors for the front of packets to help food manufacturers make behavioural changes and consumers make choices based on environmental criteria.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Greta Delfino, sustainability manager, said: “We are very excited that our eco-labels have been recognised in such a prestigious award. Food labelling is a powerful tool to provide consumers with the information needed to make informed decisions, and food producers with the data required to enact change in their value chains. We hope to see them become the new normal and being celebrated by the Ulster Grocer is a great opportunity to spread the word. Congratulations to all the other finalists on their amazing work towards our common mission for increased sustainability in the agri-food sector.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: LIDL NI ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “It was good to see a big company such as Lidl trying to make a change and make a difference. Judges were impressed with how the retailer viewed sustainability more holistically, with a focus on creating sustainable community.” ➤ Mark Adair (Lidl), Emily Fair (Power NI) and Daniel McCaughley (Lidl). 31

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

 BEST BRAND

SPONSORED BY HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY ★ WINNER: MUSGRAVE - FRANK AND HONEST

avid Henderson, managing director, said: “Henderson Food Machinery was thrilled to sponsor Best Brand for the seventh year running at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2022. Our congratulations go to all the nominees in this category, and especially to Musgrave NI Frank and Honest for its win on the night with S&W Wholesale’s Nearby highly commended. Henderson Food Machinery provides solutions suited to customer requirements and, as our expertise lies in supplying food manufacturers, we feel Best Brand is an ideal category to sponsor at such a prestigious event.”

➤ Jennifer Morton (Musgrave), Alyson Magee (Ulster Grocer) and Patricia McIlroy (Musgrave).

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “For Musgrave, taking forward a coffee brand when there is so much established competition in the market is a bold thing to do. The campaign was executed really well, with accessory products built around the brand. We liked how Musgrave built some of the campaign around insights about the pandemic, and innovation such as replacing paper loyalty cards with an app positions the brand well for the future.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Desi Derby, marketing director, said: “Frank and Honest is a premium, on-the-go artisan coffee brand which began its journey in 2016. It has been fantastic to see it grow from strength to strength to become the leading coffee brand on the island of Ireland, based in 849 locations, with 168 of these in NI. A commitment to being environmentally friendly and sustainable are at the very heart of Frank and Honest, and with the launch of our digital loyalty app, the brand continues to innovate. We are very proud to have this brand within our portfolio of Musgrave brands and are delighted it’s been recognised as the best.”

■ HIGHLY COMMENDED: S&W WHOLESALE - NEARBY ★★★ JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “S&W Wholesale has demonstrated impressive speed and energy to grow its Nearby brand in one year. The campaign saw S&W thoroughly investigate its stakeholders and find multiple ways of communicating with them. In the very competitive convenience marketplace, S&W identified a gap and achieved impressive growth.” ➤ Daniel Comiskey and Maurice Little (S&W Wholesale). 32

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS 2022

£68,200 RAISED AT THE GROCERYAID GROCERS’ BALL 2022

The GroceryAid NI Committee: Bryan Sterling (Holywood Partnership), Kerry Prentice (Prentice PR), Finn Maguire (Richmond Marketing), Angus O’Neill (Sainsbury’s), Micheal Crealy (Tesco), Bronagh Luke (Henderson Group), Desi Derby (Musgrave), Karen McGarvey (Mediahuis), Jonathan McWhinney (Punjana) and Michael McCallion (Asda NI)

Kerry Derry Consumer Foods sponsored the star prize for this year’s Grocers’ Ball, a trip to New York. Pictured are Colleen Donnelly, national account manager, Kerry Dairy and the winner, Patrick Woods, managing director of Linwoods Health Foods.

ith fundraising activities curtailed during the pandemic, the return of the Grocers’ Ball on May 27 represented a welcome return to large scale events. Around 320 guests assembled for the popular gala ball in the Culloden Hotel and Spa, enjoying a pre-dinner drinks reception featuring music by Kerri Boyles. After presentations by GroceryAid NI Committee representatives Angus O’Neill and Desi Derby, guests enjoyed a Champagne toast, followed by a four-course dinner accompanied by entertainment from the String Ninjas. An impressive £68,200 was raised on the evening, across seat sales, a raffle, auction and the star prize of a trip to New York donated by Kerry Derry Consumer Foods. Goodfellas provided the after-dinner entertainment, inspiring some impressive, creative and unique dance moves. Also held during the event was the 34th annual Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. GroceryAid is a charitable organisation, supporting colleagues in the grocery industry with emotional, practical and financial support. Supporting grocery people since 1857, the last few years have been particularly busy with 3,183 people across GB and NI having received financial support, an increase of 209% on the previous year. Calls to the helpline increased by 24%, resulting in a 12% increase in colleagues helped.

PROFILE

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES TIED UP WITH STRINGS INDEPENDENT RETAIL ANALYST DONALD C McFETRIDGE, A LONGTIME CONTRIBUTOR TO ULSTER GROCER, REFLECTS ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE LOCAL GROCERY SECTOR OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS

ecently my parents moved back to live in the village where we lived as a family in 1972, and I must say that it brought back a lot of very happy memories, not least because of the shops which I visited and what was on offer behind the counters. Because everything was behind the counter in those days; self-service had yet to arrive. In 1972, Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Richard Nixon was President of the United States of America. At that time too, inflation was running at 7.1%, which is fairly close to today’s rate, but against a very different backdrop. There was no war in Europe, of course, but oil prices were rising steeply. In fact, they tripled during the decade. Unfortunately, inflation also rose to more than 25% in 1975 – something which we hope won’t happen in the current decade! The price of groceries was completely different too. For example, a pint of milk cost 5p (47p if inflation adjusted); a loaf of bread cost 10p (94p if inflation adjusted); and a packet of 20 cigarettes cost 26.5p (£2.50 if inflation adjusted). A first-class stamp cost 3p, a tabloid newspaper also cost 3p, and a gallon of petrol cost 35p. The average house cost around £4,000 and average weekly earnings for men over 21 were £36.60. How times have changed and how shops and our shopping habits have changed too. A Ford Cortina cost £1,022 (£9,600 if inflation adjusted), a colour television set cost £239 (£2,250 if inflation adjusted), and a colour television licence was £12, while a black and white one was only £7. 36

Interestingly, most people in the United Kingdom at this time were still watching black and white television sets. 1972 was, of course, the year when Ulster Grocer was first published, which is why I find it so very interesting to look back at what was happening at that time, particularly in respect of the retail landscape in Northern Ireland. Historically, there was a much greater concentration of local convenience stores with a much more limited product range than we have available in today’s supermarkets. In those days, there were no supermarkets selling in excess of 50,000 product lines, either in food or in non-food; that was unheard of in 1972.

“THE LOCALLY-BASED CONVENIENCE RETAIL SECTOR DID ITSELF PROUD AND STILL HAS A BOLD AND IMPORTANT PLACE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF CONSUMERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN 2022.” Local village shops had the names of the owners above the doors, not bold fascia labelling multinational companies. Instead, most NI towns and villages had a much wider range of small, locally-owned shops than we have today. For instance, the village where my parents now live, has only one branded supermarket; in 1972, there were four or five small grocery outlets. The 7-11 concept was also introduced

and developed during the 1970s. Owner/drivers with family-owned businesses were keen to develop their retail skills and empires by opening earlier and staying open later, something which is still a very successful retail formula even today. In 1972, the concept of self-service had yet to arrive, let alone self-scanning. Most grocery items like cheese, ham, bacon, potatoes and flour were all weighed, bagged, packed and sold individually - not pre-packed like today. Tinned and ambient goods did, of course, exist but many basic provisions in small grocery shops in towns and villages throughout the region were sold in brown paper packages tied up with strings, after being cut, sliced, weighed and priced by the shopkeeper who was firmly behind the counter while the customer waited patiently in front of it to be served. The concept of popping into a supermarket, collecting a trolley at the entrance and sweeping the wellstocked shelves, picking up whatever merchandise you wanted as a customer was still a long way off. At that stage,

there were no lanes of scanning (and certainly no self-scanning tills) for quite a few decades to come. As the decades passed, customers here in Northern Ireland did benefit, like their counterparts in Great Britain, from the arrival of chains like Liptons before the welcome arrival of locally-operated chains like Stewarts, Crazy Prices, Wellworths and Dunnes. We also saw the arrival of chains like SPAR who championed the cause of the very important convenience sector, followed by Co-op, Mace, SuperValu, Costcutter and Centra over the decades which followed, although not necessarily in this order. But it wasn’t until the post-1994 ceasefires that the British multiples made their forays and initial announcements, in 1995, about their plans for developing extensive store operations in Northern Ireland. Then it became a free-for-all as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Safeway, Morrisons and Asda all followed hot on each other’s heels. This, of course, led to a massive shift in the style and trading patterns of those operating in the convenience sector. Instead of disappearing in the face of such stiff competition from the British

Donald C McFetridge’s longstanding partnership with Ulster Grocer as a contributor includes this January 1996 piece

multiples, the convenience sector rose admirably to the occasion and upgraded their store operations, store formats and product mixes to become the retail success stories they can boast about today. If the British multiples thought for one minute that they were going to divide and conquer the retail marketplace in Northern Ireland, they got that completely wrong. The locally-based convenience retail sector did itself proud and still has a bold and important place in the hearts and minds of consumers in Northern Ireland in 2022. During the late 1990s and beyond, we have seen even more rapid change in how the retail grocery sector has evolved in the region. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost a quarter of a century since Sainsbury’s opened its first store here in Ballymena. Supermarkets with off-licences, 500-plus free car parking spaces and everything the customer could possibly want or need all available under one roof is a far cry from what it was like 50 years ago when Ulster Grocer was published for the first time. Any review, no matter how brief or cursory, could not omit to mention the importance of the arrival of the German

discounters who have since traded-up their retail operations in the region. They too were disrupters and caused considerable concern in the industry at the time of their arrival. However, any industry, whatever the disruption, eventually settles down and consumers have the ultimate power to decide where, and with whom, they wish to shop. One has only to look back over past issues of the magazine to notice the very keen differences in the advertisements included back then and today. The type and price of products on offer in the first issues of Ulster Grocer make for very interesting reading indeed. I’m often asked if the retail landscape is better today than it was in 1972 and, yes, of course it is. Consumers here now have greater choice, and greater competition in terms of price and product/merchandise mix. They have better shopping facilities and options than ever before, not just in the larger supermarket chains and in the extremely competitive discount sector, but also in the vitally important convenience sector which provided customers with such wonderful facilities and trading operations during the recent pandemic. In 1972, I was only a young fella and my interest in shops and shopping was minimal. It was, in fact, focused mainly on confectionery, much to the chagrin of my dentist. However, I still have fond memories of the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Ulster Grocer, with a wonderful evening hosted by the then editor, Brian McCalden, when I had the privilege of meeting with the great and the good from the NI retail grocery sector to celebrate the occasion in Belfast in 1997. It only remains for me to say how very proud I am to have been positively associated with Ulster Grocer over the past 25 of the 50 glorious years it is now celebrating, and to wish Alyson Magee and the current team many more happy years at Ulster Grocer. We’ve come a long way since the days when our shopping was merely ‘brown paper packages tied up with strings’. And we’ve still a long way to go too! 37

ADVERTORIAL

SMOOTH SELLING FOR BOOST DRINKS

Iced Coffee range

COMPANY : BOOST

ced drinks and iced coffee popularity has soared in Northern Ireland and, after launching a RTD Iced Coffee range in 2020, Boost is now the proud owner of the second best-selling iced coffee brand in the region. The Boost Iced Coffee range comprises of Caffe Latte, Double Espresso, Caramel Latte and Mocha SKUs - flavours which make up for 75% of category sales within the independent iced coffee market1. The range uses exclusive production techniques to guarantee a silky taste and a quality product. The flavours offer extended shelf life for retailers compared to other brands, and the £1PMP format provides strong cash margins for retailers. Boost Iced Coffee Mocha was the latest flavour to launch earlier this year and came as the Boost coffee range continued to perform ahead of the category, with Boost Iced Coffee now the number one fastest growing RTD iced coffee brand in unit sales. The addition of Mocha completed the set of popular flavours for Boost with the flavour being the fourth largest flavour segment in the iced coffee category, with a large 11% market share2. The iced drinks market is already worth £200m1 and growing at +34% volume and +36% value YOY1 – making it the current fastest growing category within

“THE ICED DRINKS MARKET IS ALREADY WORTH £200M AND GROWING AT +34% VOLUME AND +36% VALUE YOY – MAKING IT THE CURRENT FASTEST GROWING CATEGORY WITHIN SOFT DRINKS.” Soft Drinks. It is easy to see why the sub-category is an incremental growth opportunity for wholesalers and retailers alike. The success of Boost Drinks is helped in large part due to its exclusive distribution network – managed by Hardy Distribution, and sales are supported by a multi-channel marketing communications campaign across both trade and consumer formats, including PR, experiential, and advertising. The Iced Coffee range is available in wholesale in 12 x 250ml cases. 1 IRI Marketplace Symbols & Independents and NI Convenience 52 weeks unit sales to 20th February 2022 2 IRI Marketplace Data Symbols & Independents 52 weeks unit sales to 31st October 2021 *Wholesale Shipment Sales Out Cases 52 wks to October 2021

ADVERTORIAL

Offering an extensive range of new & used processing & packing machinery COMPANY : HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY

ith eight years serving NI food companies, HFM have grown to be one of the major suppliers of new and used food processing and packaging machinery to NI food manufacturing businesses. Our portfolio is extensive and fits into butchers, bakers, food processors and manufacturers, as well as contract packers. HFM are based in Crossgar, and customers are welcome to visit our factory to discuss the present or future machinery requirements. HFM are also proud to be associated with the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards, every year sponsoring the Best Brand award. It is one of the highlight events acknowledging all that is good about NI food and the quality of food NI has to offer the world. At HFM, we are always here to help 40

“OUR PORTFOLIO IS EXTENSIVE AND FITS INTO BUTCHERS, BAKERS, FOOD PROCESSORS AND MANUFACTURERS, AS WELL AS CONTRACT PACKERS.”

and advise customers what machinery is suitable for their application. We also have a superb back up engineering service run by our Director Rory O’Dwyer, who will help will all your parts service and engineering enquiries. Our range is extensive at HFM. We work closely with over 20 suppliers of new processing and packaging machinery. We also work with many used machinery dealers and suppliers worldwide in sourcing quality used equipment on behalf of customers. We are here to help and only a phone call away, so do not hesitate to get in touch. If you have questions on any of the machines we have on our website or you are looking for a specific machine, give us a call. Why not call us now on tel: +44 (0) 2890 994 202.

ADVERTORIAL

McCOLGAN’S IS DELIGHTED TO CELEBRATE THIS

significant milestone with Ulster Grocer

COMPANY : McCOLGAN’S

n 1972, our family’s business was in its third decade, under the leadership of the founder, our grandfather, Willie McColgan. He had grown the operation from the original Tea Room in Abercorn Square, and were operating a bakery and butcher shop in addition to a café. In the 50 years since, we have grown with the Ulster Grocer into the largest independently owned savoury pastry producer in the country, with major retail and foodservice customers across Ireland, the UK and Europe. McColgan’s Foodhall in Strabane continues to serve the local community with fresh bread, sandwiches, hot food, birthday cakes and more. In 2022. we completed our transition to the third generation of the family running the business, and we are busy growing and preparing for the next 50 years. We continue to modernise and automate our award-winning plant in Strabane. We are developing products for our retail and foodservice customers. Recently developed products include food-to-go offerings in ovenable film, premium foodservice sausage rolls, and several vegan products. Though external political and economic conditions continue to present challenges, the Northern Ireland food sector remains robust, resilient, and competitive. We look forward to what the next 50 years has in store for McColgan’s, for Ulster Grocer, and for everyone in this crucial industry in Northern Ireland.

ADVERTORIAL

Looking ahead to a BRIGHT FUTURE COMPANY : MACKLE PETFOODS

ackle Petfoods turns 50 this year, and what a 50 years it has been! From humble beginnings on the Mackle family farm, we have grown into one of the nation’s favourite pet food manufacturers, with millions of customers who trust us to bring the very best quality food and treats to their four-legged family members. If you read our piece in last month’s issue, you’ll already know what an incredible journey we’ve been on. But whilst the journey so far has been amazing, what lies ahead is even more exciting! As an industry, pet food continues to grow and we have every intention of growing right along with it. Our customers care deeply for their pets and want to give them the very best, and at Mackle Petfoods we want the same. Whilst it’s easy to dismiss pet food as a simple, even boring industry, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Pet food involves an energy- and resource-intensive production process, and the challenge we face in the modern world is creating pet foods that provide a balance of nutrition, deliciousness and value for money, whilst striving for sustainability in every aspect of production. It’s a tall order, we know, but we also know the secret to achieving it – getting the best people on our team, and giving them the best tools to do the job. As far as the tools are concerned, we’ve been continually investing in the best production and packing facilities, expanding our sites and populating them with state-of-the-art robots working alongside our fantastic staff. Each Mackle Petfood recipe is developed in our own laboratories by leading nutritionists, and all our pet foods are made with the finest quality ingredients, sourced as locally as

Some of the team celebrating Mackle Petfoods’ 50th birthday at Todds Leap

possible and fully traceable from farm to bowl. Our people, however, remain the most important part of our business. Mackle Petfoods began as a family business, and that hasn’t changed as we have grown over the last five decades. We’re proud of our reputation as a fair and caring employer and as our business has developed, so have the ways we look after our people. Our business strategy focuses on People, Pets and the Planet, and we firmly believe in doing all we can to ensure the wellbeing of all our staff. A company-paid health benefit programme ensures every member of the team has access to private 24/7 GP services, as well as counselling and advice services if needed, and we firmly believe in finding a healthy work/ life balance, no matter what your role is. We’re proud to be working with GroceryAid to ensure our people have access to financial support, relationship support and legal advice if ever they need it. We have a team of Employee Champions representing all departments

who regularly meet with HR and the senior teams to share thoughts, ideas and feedback, and a strong internal communications channel ensures every member of our team knows what’s happening all across our business. Good people really do make a business better, and as we stride forward into the next 50 years, we’re looking out for more talented people to join the Mackle Petfoods family, across all aspects of our business. As part of the Mackle Petfoods family, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for career progression, and we offer personal development opportunities, with a focus on workrelated education and training for all our staff. Take a look at the next page to find out more about the roles we have on offer, and how to get in touch. As our industry continues to grow, Mackle Petfoods is reaching out towards an exciting future. Now is the perfect time to join our team and see how you could be a part of it!

Some of the team celebrating Mackle Petfoods’ 50th birthday at Todds Leap 44

ADVERTORIAL

PRM appoints new commercial

director and brand manager

COMPANY : PRM Brian Magennis

Karla McAviney

eading sales, distribution, logistics and production organisation PRM has appointed Brian Magennis as its commercial director. In his new role, Magennis will champion the next stage of PRM’s growth strategy along with the experienced team that is in place. Having previously worked for C&C Group and Britvic Ireland in senior commercial roles, he brings with him extensive knowledge and experience from his many years working within the FMCG industry across Ireland. “I am delighted to take on the role of commercial director at PRM at this time and I see it as a great opportunity to grow and evolve the PRM business to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers and consumers,” he said. “Like many other businesses, PRM has navigated the challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit over the past two years, demonstrating great resilience. However, these challenges now present a new opportunity for PRM to offer solutions to the supply challenges many brands and retailers now face. “PRM can offer an effective, efficient and straight-forward route to market for many leading consumer brands throughout Ireland, GB and Europe. This is an exciting time to join the organisation during a time of opportunity and growth.” PRM has also recently appointed a new Brand Manager Karla McAviney, who will drive the strategy for PRM’s own brands Galberts and Cottage Desserts. “I am excited to take on the role of brand manager at PRM and look forward to bringing my marketing expertise to the commercial function and wider business.” she said. Established in 1988, PRM works with over 30 leading brands providing a route to market to the retail, wholesale and food service sectors across the UK and Ireland. 46

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ADVERTISE HERE...

CONTACT JUDITH MARTIN ON 07765 183176 OR EMAIL:

j.martin@mediahuis.co.uk

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HAPPY 50TH

CELEBRATE WITH FANTA