Ulster Grocer October 2022 by Helen Wright

GROCER ULSTER

OCTOBER 2022

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

The Union Shop, Queen’s University Belfast

THE UNION SHOP A LESSON IN DYNAMIC DESIGN

GROCER ULSTER

OCTOBER 2022

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

50 years at the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry

AGRI-FOOD SECTOR PAYS TRIBUTE FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

HEIR KING CHARLES III IS AN ADVOCATE OF ORGANIC FARMING

The Queen at Balmoral Show 2002.

epresentatives from across the agri-food sector have expressed their condolences following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8 in Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. Britain’s longest-serving monarch, who celebrated her platinum jubilee this year, is succeeded by her son King Charles III, an advocate of organic farming and owner of the Duchy Organic grocery brand in partnership with Waitrose. David Brown, president, UFU, said: “The Ulster Farmers’ Union is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of her Majesty the Queen and extends its deepest condolences to the Royal family. During her reign of 70 years, the UK’s

8-9

STORE FOCUS: A MODERN, SPACIOUS STORE DESIGN, EXPANDED RANGE & SUSTAINABILITY ARE AT THE HEART OF A SUPERVALU BRAND REJUVENATION, DEBUTED IN NI AT ITS PORTSTEWART SITE

longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II gave remarkable unstinting service to the UK and the Commonwealth, she will be a huge loss to the entire country. We stand with our fellow UK farming unions in honour of her memory and the inspirational legacy she leaves behind.” Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI, said: “On behalf of Retail NI, I extend my condolences on the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth. A lifetime of unparalleled service to the UK and Commonwealth - a huge loss which is hard to put into words.” Jason Birks, national president, The Federation of Independent Retailers, said: “Independent retailers are saddened by the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II. She served with unswerving duty, dedication and commitment. May she rest in peace. Our thoughts are with the King and his family.” Statement from the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association: “We would like to express our sadness following the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She dedicated her life to service. On behalf of the Northern Ireland food and drink industry, we offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this time.” Statement from RUAS: “The Royal

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FOOD TO GO: CATEGORY NEWS FROM DELI LITES WINNING PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AT THE IRISH QUALITY FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS TO HENDERSON GROUP’S INNOVATIVE NEW DELISH BRAND

King Charles at St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast on Sept 13.

Ulster Agricultural Society are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II. We join with the entire nation to mourn the Queen and send our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family. The Queen visited the Balmoral Show twice, firstly as Princess on Friday 27th May 1949 and again on Wednesday 15th May 2002 as part of her Golden Jubilee Tour.” Statement from the Henderson Group: “We are among many across our country, the Commonwealth and beyond who are saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We give thanks for a lifetime of dedicated service, for her wisdom and her decency. She embodied so many qualities but her example of reconciliation, her ability to draw communities together and her strong faith, all stand out. Our thoughts and prayers are with King Charles and the Royal Family circle.”

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FEEL THE FORCE: HELD IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019, THE FOOD FORCE IRELAND TRADE SHOW & SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS RETURNED TO THE CULLODEN ON SEPTEMBER 13

IN HIGH SPIRITS: FILLING THE HOT SEAT Q&A THIS MONTH IS MARK PRENTICE, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF COPELAND DISTILLERY, A ROLE HE SAYS IS THE MOST FUN HE’S HAD IN AGES

email: info@ulstergrocer.com Volume 57 Number 10 OCTOBER 2022 Editor: Alyson Magee E: a.magee@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4175 Contributors: Michele Shirlow, Sam Butler 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

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EDITORIAL COMMENT

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A HELL OF A MONTH

elcome to the October edition of Ulster Grocer. It would be fair to say quite a lot has happened in the past month. I saw a comment on social media that someone had a pint of milk in their fridge, still fresh, which had seen two prime ministers and two monarchs. That about hits the nail on the head. Triumphing over Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership race to replace Boris Johnson after his resignation, Liz Truss met with Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral on September 6 and was formally asked to form a government. Two days later, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 as the longest-serving British monarch, and globally second only to France’s Louis XIV who reached 72 years. The Queen’s heir, King Charles III, is well known as an environmental campaigner and advocate of organic farming. He is even, one might say, a stakeholder in the grocery sector through his ongoing partnership with Waitrose in the Duchy brand. As reigning monarch, King Charles will be expected to adopt a more neutral role, but it will be interesting to see going forward what input - if any - he extends towards the agri-food sector. Of more pressing concern for the grocery sector right now, however, is what measures the new UK government and our partially functioning devolved government are undertaking to alleviate inflationary pressure on businesses. Sitting alongside the cost-of-living crisis, the cost-of-doing-business crisis is hitting small companies still struggling to recover from the pandemic particularly hard. A busy first few weeks for the new Prime Minister have included the announcement of an energy cap for firstly domestic households and latterly

the business sector; details of which have yet to be clarified for Northern Ireland. A mini budget unveiled by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, as our October edition went to print, outlined an investment of £60bn in the Government’s energy support scheme for a six-month period from October. As expected, scheduled increases in National Insurance and Corporation Tax, as well as the duty rates for beer, cider, wine and spirits, have been reversed. With further measures including the scrapping of a cap on banker bonuses, the mini budget has been condemned from some quarters as following the flawed capitalist model of trickle-down economics. This label has been strongly refuted by the Government. Whether the measures will be sufficient to prop up beleaguered small businesses, and how rapidly and effectively they are deployed in Northern Ireland, remains to be seen. And just to round up a hell of a month, the Bank of England has declared the UK to be in recession, and contention over the Northern Ireland Protocol appears to be coming to a head. Onto more positive matters, and this edition features the Food Force Ireland Trade Show, held in the Culloden on September 13, back in person for the first time since 2019 after virtual shows in 2020 and 2021. It was great to see familiar and new faces at the event. Also in this month’s edition: the latest innovations in the buoyant food-to-go category, and we cross the province for our profiles, visiting Asda Portadown for A Day in the Life, Copeland Distillery in Donaghadee for In the Hot Seat and SuperValu Portstewart to see its stunning refresh for our store focus. Enjoy!

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NEWS

CLARITY SOUGHT ON SUPPORT MEASURES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

upport measures announced by the UK government to address the costof-doing-business crisis have been welcomed by Northern Ireland grocery sector stakeholders. However, in the ongoing absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive, clarity has been sought on how and when the support will be extended to local businesses. Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled a ‘mini budget’ on September 23, with measures including a reversal in National Insurance and Corporation Tax hikes. Earlier in the week, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg had announced extension of the energy cap, set to apply to household bills, to the business sector. Rees-Mogg said wholesale energy costs were to be cut by up to a half for businesses throughout the winter months, with a parallel scheme to be established in Northern Ireland. “We welcome that the Government is to reverse the National Insurance increase which will provide some relief to local independent retailers who are struggling with the cost of

business crisis,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. “Retail NI will engage with the Secretary of State for NI on how the Investment Zone proposals could apply to Northern Ireland, particularly in town and city centres that have high levels of dereliction and are in need of further support. “We are disappointed that no funding assistance from Treasury has been allocated to allow a business rates holiday to be introduced locally. If we are to stand any chance of saving local high street businesses and protecting jobs, it is vital that a rates holiday is urgently introduced. “Lowering VAT rates should also have been included in this statement, rather than focusing on stamp duty and corporation tax. The UK government needs to go a lot further in supporting our local high streets and we will continue to press for further measures.” Jason Birks, national president of The Federation of Independent Retailers, said: “Although the devil is in the detail, news of support for businesses should give struggling retailers some comfort

and relief. Six months is a starting point, but the Fed and its members need longer term assurances that support will be ongoing. When soaring energy bills are added to falling margins and rising payroll costs, it may only be a matter of time before communities lose access to the groceries and services that local stores provide.” Michael Bell, executive director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, said: “NIFDA members have been striving to keep a lid on prices, trying to absorb as much of this inflation as possible, but, with costs continuing to rise across the food supply chain, there is a real possibility of price increases and reduced availability of certain ranges. “It is vital that the government has plans in place to ensure disruption is minimised for food manufacturers, and to support companies with spiralling energy costs. “Given the fact that the majority of food produced in Northern Ireland is consumed in Great Britain, this is something which requires national attention.”

RISING COST OF ESSENTIALS PUSHES NI GROCERY INFLATION TO 6.3%

oosted sales of chilled drinks, biscuits and frozen food have lifted the local grocery market over the last 12 weeks, according to the latest data from Kantar, despite grocery inflation reaching 6.3%. Kantar figures for the year to September 4 are less positive, indicating a decline of 3.6% in sales with the average price per pack rising by 4.7% and average prices for everyday essentials such as milk and pasta rising by 16.1% and 14.4% respectively. “The picture over the last 12 weeks is very different, as grocery sales rose by 3.5% and the average price per pack increased by 8.5%,” said Emer Healy, senior retail analyst. “Consumers in Northern Ireland prepared for back to school by making an average of 53 trips to stores over the period to get their essentials, spending an additional £592,000 on chilled drinks, £2.5m on biscuits and £2.9m more on frozen food for quick and easy meal solutions.” Kantar’s latest figures also highlight strongest growth by Lidl, at +12.6% over the last two years, to a 7% share of the Northern Ireland grocery market. ‘Other’ multiples, which includes M&S, grew their market share by +1.3% over the same period. Symbol retailers were down -6.4% against their buoyant trading period two years ago during the lockdowns but represent the only category to post year-on-year growth in market share (+0.7%).

Lidl, which has led market share growth in Northern Ireland over the last two years, opened its new Castlereagh Road store on September 15. Pictured are Jonny McConnell, store manager, with team members Gareth Wright, Darren Reid, Matthew Lloyd, Mark Richards, Yolandi Potgieter, Scott Harper, Sean Doherty, Anzhelika Hryshchenko, Lynn Ellis, Sharon Singleton, Stanley Liggett and Holly Carson.

“Tesco maintained its position at the top of the table and is Northern Ireland’s largest grocer with a 35.7% share of the market,” said Healy. “Tesco welcomed an influx of new shoppers in store which contributed an additional £42.7m to their overall performance. “Sainsbury’s holds 17.1% share with Asda just slightly behind at 16.3%, as they each saw over 10,000 more shoppers in store. “Amongst all retailers, Lidl had the biggest boost of new shoppers at 9%, spending an additional £20.9m.” 5

NEWS

PROTOCOL ‘ARGUABLY’ BEHIND BIGGEST EVER ANNUAL SURGE IN OUTPUT FOR NI FOOD & DRINK FIRMS BY MARGARET CANNING

he biggest ever annual surge in output from food and drink firms in Northern Ireland may have been fuelled by the NI Protocol, an economist has said. Figures on the economy from the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (Nisra) show that food and drink firms’ output was up just under 14% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the year before. There had also been growth of 6.2% between the first and second quarter of the year. Food companies such as sandwich makers DELI-LITES and Around Noon in Co Down have benefited from the NI Protocol, the post-Brexit trading arrangement which has ensured trade can continue between NI and the Republic. The agreement has brought restrictions such as checks on trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland — leading companies such as big supermarkets to source products like sandwiches from companies in Northern Ireland instead of shipping them over. Ulster Bank Chief Economist Richard Ramsey tweeted that “the impact of the NI Protocol [is] arguably behind the surge in NI food and beverage output”. The separate index of services showed that private sector services output had fallen in the second quarter by 0.3% compared to the first few months of the year. But there had been growth of 2.7% year on year. And when the most recent four quarters were compared to the previous four, output from the Northern Ireland services sector had expanded by 7.4%, stronger than the 6.9% growth for the UK as a whole. Ramsey said the 0.3% quarterly fall in services could be evidence of a recession. “Given the deteriorating economic conditions and outlook since then, Q2 2022 could well mark the first of a series of quarterly contractions as Northern Ireland enters recession and battles with cost-of-living and cost of doing business 6

The site of DELI LITES in Warrenpoint, one of the local businesses said to have benefitted from the NI Protocol.

crises,” he said. Meanwhile, the index of production, which is mostly manufacturing, increased by 0.5% quarter on quarter, and by 3.9% year on year. In fact, industrial production was at a decade-high in the second quarter, while manufacturing was up 0.6% quarter on quarter and 2.9% year on year. But over the year, there was contraction within the index of production for the sub-section of gas, steam and air conditioning supply, down 5.8%, as well as a 16.3% slump for mining and quarrying. There was also evidence of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on spending in shops. Nisra’s retail sales index reported a substantial 2.4% quarter on quarter decline, which was steeper than a 1.4% slump in Great Britain. The index also fell 2.1% over the year. Ramsey said the trend was unsurprising, given the cost-of-living crisis — and he warned it would intensify in the next few quarters. Retail sales were also 3% below prepandemic levels, he added. And discounting the period of lockdowns during the pandemic, the index had descended to its lowest level in eight years. Ramsey said the findings reflected the slump in Northern Ireland household discretionary income recorded in the latest income tracker from supermarket

Asda. It found there had been a year-on-year fall of one-third in discretionary income for households to £93.50 in the second quarter. Mark Magill, senior economist, Ulster University economic policy centre, tweeted: “The squeeze of what was already relatively low discretionary income starting to come through in the data. Expect this series to post record lows in the coming quarters.” Ramsey said the 6.2% quarterly surge in output for food and beverage companies was eight times the level experienced in the UK. And a 13.9% year-on-year increase was the largest annual increase in the sector to date, when the impact of lockdowns in the pandemic is discounted. Ramsey said: “Northern Ireland’s food producers have benefited from the NI Protocol which came into force at the start of January 2021. “Local firms have experienced increased sales to the Republic of Ireland (EU) at the expense of GB producers. “Since the NI Protocol came into effect, food and beverages output amongst NI manufacturers has increased by 18.3% which is 2.5 times the comparable growth rate amongst UK firms.” Manufacturing output was also 5.5% above pre-pandemic levels in the final quarter of 2019 — a much more favourable performance than in the UK as a whole, where it had shrunk 0.1%.

NEWS

LOCAL SPAR & EUROSPAR RETAILERS BAG 16 WINS AT RETAIL INDUSTRY AWARDS

PAR and EUROSPAR retailers from Northern Ireland have taken home 16 wins at the prestigious Retail Industry Awards held in London last month. Henderson Retail picked up seven awards including Forecourt Retailer of the Year, Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year and Best Use of Technology in the Multiple, Symbol/Franchise categories. Its company-owned stores also picked up Forecourt Retailer of the Year for EUROSPAR Doagh, Post Ofﬁce Retailer of the Year for EUROSPAR Rossdowney, and Store Team of the Year for SPAR Malone Road, while Samuel McCann from the Malone Road store took home Store Manager of the Year. Lynch’s Skeoge and Greysteel EUROSPAR supermarkets in Derry/ Londonderry were the big independent winners on the night, picking up four wins and a highly commended. Michelle Finch from SPAR A29 in Cookstown won Trailblazer of the Year, while Mulkerns EUROSPAR in Newry won two plus a highly commended, and McCullagh’s SPAR, Omagh and JD Hunter & Co in Markethill rounded up the 16 top awards with a trophy each. Northern Ireland’s independent retailers were also named as highly commended in a further ﬁve categories. “To be able to go to London and see our stores being recognised on a national platform for the excellence they bring to their communities, day in, day out, is fantastic,” said Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director, Henderson Group. “We are incredibly proud of our stores and their teams who are the ultimate competition, not only in their local markets but on a national and international retailing platform. They are consistent in their innovation and service, and we send them huge congratulations for bringing home some of the top awards.” Michael Surginor from Henderson Retail picks up one of seven awards won by the company at the Retail Industry Awards 2022.

LIDL NI COMMITS TO REAL LIVING WAGE FOR MORE THAN 1,000 EMPLOYEES

idl Northern Ireland is to increase hourly pay to £10.90 for more than 1,000 employees, approximately 80% of its local workforce, from March 1, 2023. The discount retailer has committed to match the Real Living Wage, as recommended by the Living Wage Foundation, which is increasing from £9.90 per hour. The move represents an investment of more than £1.4m by the retailer into annual wages, and its second pay rise in the last 12

Maeve McCleane, chief people ofﬁcer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.

months, with hourly rates rising by £1 as a result. Lidl Northern Ireland ﬁrst committed to paying the real Living Wage in 2015, and since then has matched the increases year on year.

M&S INVESTS £15M TO SUPPORT COLLEAGUES AMID COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS Nicola Finlay, regional manager for M&S in Northern Ireland.

&S has set out a £15m package to support its front-line colleagues through the costof-living crisis, introducing an additional autumn pay review for the first time and extending its wellbeing benefits. From October 1, over 40,000 colleagues will see their hourly pay increased to a minimum of £10.20, following on from an initial pay increase to £10.00 (from £9.50) in April this year. The combined boost represents an annual uplift of 7.4%, with a full-time customer assistant earning over £100 more per month year on year. In addition, the retailer will also provide its 4,500 salaried colleagues at pre-management levels in its stores and support centres with a one-off £250 voucher to spend at M&S. Base pay for colleagues is supplemented by a 20% M&S discount, pension commitment and colleague share save scheme. M&S said it had used its colleague listening schemes such as Straight to Stuart, and feedback from colleague representatives in its Business Involvement Group, to help shape the update to benefits. Additional benefits and support also include free sanitary products, financial planning workshops, health benefits and affordable meal planning advice. “Whether you’re running a home or running a business, everyone across the country is feeling the pressure of rising costs,” said Stuart Machin, chief executive at Marks & Spencer. “We want to do what we can to help ease some of that strain; that’s why we have invested in price to deliver better value for our customers, and why we are investing in our colleague base pay for the second time this year. “Our colleagues are our biggest asset, and we want to ensure they are fully supported and rewarded for the remarkable contribution they make to M&S.” 7

STORE FOCUS

SuperValu Portstewart A MODERN, SPACIOUS STORE DESIGN, EXPANDED RANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY ARE AT THE HEART OF SUPERVALU’S BRAND REJUVENATION, MUSGRAVE NORTHERN IRELAND HEAD OF RETAIL OPERATIONS CAROLINE ROWAN TELLS ALYSON MAGEE

Steve and Dave Flynn from The Happy Pear with Caroline Rowan, head of retail operations at Musgrave Northern Ireland, at the launch of the newly-revitalised SuperValu Portstewart store.

hen SuperValu Portstewart recently hosted a launch event to unveil its refresh, many regular customers expressed surprise they had failed to notice builders adding an extension. In fact, the site had not been extended but instead creatively reimagined into a new bright, airy and modern space with wide, linear aisles offering easy navigation for shoppers. The first store in Musgrave Northern Ireland’s company-owned portfolio to undergo its new SuperValu rejuvenation, £1.1m has been invested in the Portstewart site with the refurb generating six new jobs and creating space for 400 new products. SuperValu Portstewart is part of a total investment of £3.2m into four stores which also includes Musgrave’s Dairy Farm store in Dunmurry and SuperValu Portglenone and Omagh. Among sites earmarked for the next phase of the rollout are Irvinestown, Fintona, Downpatrick and Dungiven. Pioneered at SuperValu Knocklyon in the Republic of Ireland, the new concept has been adapted to reflect the smaller size and different shopper missions of 8

Musgrave’s SuperValu stores in Northern Ireland. The look is simple and modern with a fresh and innovative range of materials, textures, colours and lighting used to highlight different produce categories. “We’ve just used the space much more effectively,” says Caroline Rowan, head of retail operations at Musgrave NI. “Previously the tills were at the entrance, and it was a somewhat confusing customer journey around the shop. The new layout is not only much simpler, but also more spacious. “Customers are now immediately greeted by our Greengrocer section which has loose produce and compostable bags. The back of the store, where the deli counters are now located, is much brighter and draws the shopper.” EXPANDED RANGE & FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY A small food-to-go offer under the old store format has been replaced with a more comprehensive offering says Caroline, including large hot and cold delis, Musgrave’s healthy salad bowl concept Green Kitchen and rotisserie chicken. The store’s bakery, a key

highlight, has also been expanded, with shoppers able to slice their own loaves on site. A colourful array of prepacked ready meals greets customers in the first aisle, with Musgrave’s own SimpliDish range complemented by new additions - the Co Wicklow plant-based brand Happy Pear and Karri Kitchen Asian-style meals produced in Craigavon. “There is increasing consumer focus on shopping local, and it is one of our key credentials within Musgrave,” says Caroline. “Overall, we spend £160m annually on local food and drink, we support 150 local food and drink suppliers and 3,000 local farmers, and stock more than 3,500 local products. “Our partnership with McAtamneys, who produce our Simplidish range, has really gone from strength to strength across the business and together we’ve been able to invest £200,000 in remodelling their production facilities.” Among the features in the store are the new 2.0 Frank and Honest Gourmet Coffee machine which offers an enhanced range of hot drinks including chai lattes and hot chocolate, as well as Moo’d ice cream with its selection of sweet treats. SuperValu Portstewart also boasts an impressive new look off licence. “The off licence is definitely a callout category in the store, and is larger than before,” says Caroline. Accommodating an expanded range including a premium wines and spirits section housed in classy cabinetry, and a dedicated Zero Zone for the burgeoning no-alcohol category, Caroline says it’s a great North Coast destination off licence for both holidaymakers and local shoppers. Newly located checkouts include self-scan tills and lead into an attractive seating area decked out in a stylish combo of forest green walls and pink terrazzo-effect floor tiles, offering customers free WiFi and USB charging

STORE FOCUS

ports as well as segregated waste bins to encourage recycling. While the carpark has already been relined to aid customer navigation, the team is hopeful a redesign of the forecourt replacing the pumps and canopy with fuel partner Circle K will be completed by the end of the year. Sustainability is a key focus for Musgrave, which recently launched a £2.7m sustainability fund to support its independent retail partners and meet its target to be net carbon neutral by 2040. “Based on the expected uptake of

the fund, it will deliver a 12% reduction in carbon over two years,” explains Caroline. “In Portstewart, we have significantly invested in new energy saving technology including state-ofthe-art CO2 refrigeration, replacing all lighting with energy efficient LEDs, digital screens and electronic shelf edge labels, making the store as efficient and green as possible.” A BUSY COASTAL TOWN With Portstewart a popular North Coast destination boasting a vibrant hospitality

scene, the SuperValu is well located on an arterial route seeing an influx of new housing in recent years. “People often think of coastal towns as only being seasonal, but Portstewart has such a big local community,” says Caroline. “It became really evident when we were working on the store that many people come in on a daily basis. “They really engaged with us throughout the process, and even gave us a few practical suggestions we’ve been able to action. We’re also looking forward to welcoming students back to the store after their summer break.” Planning for the store’s relaunch event back in August, the team quickly realised it was generating a lot of local interest and the celebrations would have to be stepped up. “There was a real buzz on launch day, and we were delighted to welcome a few special guests,” says Caroline. Alongside demos by local celebrity home cook Suzie Lee and the Flynn brothers from the Happy Pear, North Coast bistro Ocho Tapas cooked up paella in the forecourt and Cocktail Keg Company demonstrated the ease of its premixed classics. U105 broadcast live from the event. Community is also important to Musgrave and the store is working closely with the Portstewart Community Association to create a new partnership. “A couple of our store colleagues are involved in the Red Sails Festival, and we’re exploring ways to develop a partnership with this important community group going forward,” says Caroline. As shoppers continue to deal with the increased cost of living, Musgrave’s emphasis is on helping its customers. “Value is so important to customers at the moment,” she says. “We have committed to investing £5.6m in value throughout 2022 and to delivering the best value for our customers across our range. We always have over 200 special offers on big brands every week, 400 own-brand labels which are cheaper than the branded alternative, and in SuperValu 500 of our branded products are price-checked against Tesco. “We are also in the middle of our Shop for Free campaign, which sees SuperValu give three customers a £100 gift card every day until 16th October, to help them with the cost of living. “After two years of Covid, we’re now in a completely different challenge. But as much as there’s uncertainty, there is confidence as well.” 9

RETAIL NEWS – INDEPENDENTS

NEW POTATO BREAD AWARD LAUNCHED IN MEMORY OF CHARLES CAMPION

new potato bread category has been added to the World Bread Awards 2022 in memory of the late Charles Campion, an internationally known food writer from Warwickshire who was a keen supporter of Northern Ireland food. Local artisan and professional bakers are being urged to compete for the best ‘tatty bread’ in the UK’s leading national celebration of bread-baking. Launched in 2013, the prestigious awards are open to professional and amateur bakers, with Food NI proposing the new potato bread category after successfully pushing for introduction of a separate Irish wheaten bread category a few years ago. Entries in the new potato bread category must be made with the traditional ingredients of floury potatoes (boiled then mashed), flour, water and a pinch of salt. “The new award has been created in memory of Charles Campion, a distinguished food writer and devoted champion of Northern Irish foods and is

Krazi Baker Mark Douglas of Dromore is among local artisan bakers welcoming the inclusion of a new potato bread category in the World Bread Awards 2022.

a fitting tribute to his dedication,” said Michele Shirlow, chief executive, Food NI. “We wanted to acknowledge his outstanding commitment to our food and drink. “This competition is an excellent opportunity for our bakers and bakeries to showcase their potato bread and gain recognition throughout the UK and further afield for their talent.” The initiative has been welcomed by local bakers such as Mark Douglas of

Dromore, better known as Krazi Baker, baker/chef Simon Dougan, the owner of Yellow Door catering and retail operation in Portadown, and James Herron of the Cookie Jar in Newcastle, a small bakery which has won awards for its wheaten bread in particular. “Showcasing our potato bread is an excellent idea,” says Douglas, who has won widespread acclaim for his small business producing traditional Northern Irish breads such as potato cakes, soda farls, treacle farls, pancakes and potato apple on the griddle at markets and other food events across the region. He also runs bakery classes for people keen to learn how to bake traditional breads. “Potato bread is among my most popular grilled breads at markets here. People love the distinctive flavour and aroma of freshly baked potato bread. It’s hard to beat, especially with an Ulster Fry.” Before baking their bread for judging, competitors must complete an online entry form via https://www. worldbreadawards.com/how-to-enter/ by Sunday, October 9.

RETAILERS REMINDED £20 & £50 PAPER NOTES EXPIRE AT END OF SEPTEMBER

reminder has been issued to all businesses handling cash that both £20 and £50 paper banknotes will be removed from circulation by the Bank of England on Friday, September 30. No longer legal tender, businesses need to ensure any paper notes are deposited at banks by this date and are not accepted from customers from October 1 onwards. As with the paper £5 and £10 notes, the £20 and £50 notes are being replaced by the new polymer banknotes first issued in February 2020 and June 2021 respectively. Bank of England estimates more than 14 billion paper £20 and £50 notes are still in circulation. While polymer notes are thought to be both more durable and less susceptible to counterfeiting, Volumatic offers a variety of solutions to reduce

cash handling and provide greater security to retailers. Tesco, Morrisons, Wilko and the Coop Food Group are among businesses using its CounterCache intelligent (CCi), an all-in-one unit that counts, detects forgeries and securely stores cash at POS. Volumatic’s Friction Note Counters counts banknotes quickly and accurately while also detecting forgeries. “While businesses continue to face extra demands during the current

cost-of living crisis, we’ve already seen evidence of an uplift in cash usage by consumers, who are now using cash more to help them budget more effectively,” said Mike Severs, sales and marketing director at Volumatic. “With more consumers looking to spend their old paper notes before the end-of-September deadline, it’s really important to remember to deposit any paper notes you either already have within your business or receive throughout this month to your bank before the end of September.”

RETAIL NEWS - SYMBOLS

SUPERVALU & CENTRA REACH FINALS OF FORECOURT TRADER AWARDS

usgrave NIowned SuperValu and Centra stores have been announced as finalists in the 2022 Forecourt Trader Awards, recognising the brands’ excellence in modern convenience retailing. The announcement follows the brands receiving a total of 15 shortlists at the Retail Industry Awards last month. This year’s Forecourt Trader Awards will be held in London on October 13. Regarded as the most prestigious competition in the UK’s petrol retailing industry calendar, the Forecourt Trader Awards have been rewarding excellence and outstanding achievement across a range of specialist and regional categories for more than 20 years. SuperValu Lisburn and Centra Mallusk will battle it out for the title

of Best Foodto-Go Outlet, while Centra Portglenone is up for the Best Design and Development Award. This is the second time SuperValu Lisburn has been a finalist in the category, winning the coveted title in 2021. “We are delighted that SuperValu Lisburn, Centra Mallusk and Centra Portglenone have been recognised at these awards,” said Caroline Rowan, head of retail operations at Musgrave NI. “To be up against the best in the UK and make it to the final three in each category is testament to the teams’ hard work and commitment to provide the best in modern convenience retailing to their customers. “We look forward to the awards ceremony in October.”

EUROSPAR NEWCASTLE STAFF FUNDRAISES TO INSTALL A DEFIBRILLATOR

Pictured at the end of summer fundraiser instore at EUROSPAR Newcastle are Lisa McKee, store manager and Colette Valentine, community rep.

taff at EUROSPAR Newcastle have held an end-of-summer fundraiser, including raffles for customers and door collections, to raise money for an Automated External Defibrillator. The store raised £1,500 and is currently awaiting installation of the lifesaving equipment, which will be

available to the community 24/7, 365 days a year. There are around 1,400 cardiac arrests outside of hospitals in Northern Ireland every year and having a defibrillator outside the store can save lives. The Henderson Group has installed 254 defibrillators outside SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores across Northern Ireland. Each device is registered with the NI Ambulance Service and The Circuit, the largest network of public access external devices in Northern Ireland which has saved 15 lives to date. “It will be amazing to have the defibrillator onsite at our store; all thanks to our great team and generous customers for fundraising for this lifesaving equipment,” said Lisa McKee, EUROSPAR Newcastle store manager. To find out more, including the location of your community defibrillator, visit www.spar-ni.co.uk/heart-of-ourcommunity

RETAIL NEWS – MULTIPLES

M&S IS FIRST NATIONAL RETAILER TO OFFER 100% SLOWER-REARED CHICKEN

&S is laying claim as the first national retailer to sell only 100% slower-reared and RSPCA Assured fresh chicken across its UK stores. The move is in line with the retailer’s stated commitment to supplying great value products without compromise on quality, sourcing or animal welfare standards. A study conducted by YouGov on behalf of M&S highlighted 81% of UK adults as believing it is important for food retailers to focus on the better treatment of farm animals*. In line with the Better Chicken Commitment, the retailer has moved to a Hubbard breed which will also benefit from higher welfare standards.

These include a multigrain diet, designed to support slower natural growth and muscle development, while also ensuring the best flavour for customers. As the birds are slower reared, they will be more resilient and robust, particularly to higher temperatures. Birds will also have 20% more space

SAINSBURY’S AIMS TO SAVE 17M FOOD PRODUCTS FROM GOING TO WASTE

ainsbury’s is rolling out labelling changes on 276 own-brand products in a bid to help reduce food waste in homes, following on from similar initiatives announced by Asda, M&S, Tesco, the Co-op, Morrisons and Waitrose. From the end of August, Sainsbury’s began removal of best-before dates from a raft of fresh produce including pears, onions, tomatoes and citrus fruits across over 100 product lines, and a

further 130 products including potatoes will follow. The move follows work in recent years to remove dates from over 1,500 lines including pineapples, pumpkins, apples and indoor plants. Sainsbury’s said the upcoming changes could help UK households save 11,000 tonnes of food each year, the equivalent of 17 million products.* An on-pack message, no date helps reduce waste, will instead be present

alongside an enhanced environment, with more pecking aids and perches to encourage natural behaviours. “I’m really enjoying farming the M&S Oakham Gold chickens – they are much more inquisitive than other breeds, have more room to dust bath, perch and play with pecking objectives,” said Martin Sweetland, M&S Oakham Gold farmer. “Seeing them exhibit natural behaviours makes me proud to farm these birds and I believe this translates into a more tasty eating bird.” * Figures from YouGov Plc using sample size of 2,063 adults. Fieldwork undertaken between August 22-23, 2022.

across the fresh produce where the label changes come into play. Additionally, Sainsbury’s will switch all ‘use by’ dates on own-brand yoghurts to ‘best before’ dates by the end of this year; a move affecting 46 product lines. The changes are part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to halve its food waste by 2030 and support its work with farmers and growers to reduce food waste in its supply chain. *Figures calculated by WRAP and based on the impact of removal of best before dates on household waste. Sales volumes for products supplied by Sainsbury’s.

REVAMPED CASTLEREAGH LIDL WELCOMES SHOPPERS FROM SEPTEMBER

idl Northern Ireland’s newly transformed store on Belfast’s Castlereagh Road reopened on September 15, welcoming shoppers to enjoy its bright, modern ‘concept’ store design and expanded product range. The discount retailer broke ground in March to relocate its existing store at the junction of Castlereagh and Montgomery Road in Belfast to a new adjacent site on Castlereagh Road. Approval for the new store was sought and granted by Belfast City Council last year. Occupying a much larger area of

11,575 square meters, including a 1,420-square-metre sales floor, the new east Belfast store has been built with a focus on sustainability and style. The expanded store is employing 10 additional staff members, while a further 200 jobs were supported during the build-out and development phase. To celebrate the new store opening, local pupils from Knockbreda Primary School and St Bernard’s Primary School were invited to officially cut the ribbon and receive a cheque donation, while Tiny Life has been selected to benefit from a charity donation.

Chris Speers, property executive, Lidl Northern Ireland, and Gerard Mc Cleland, CEO of Ganson UK.

“Castlereagh Road continues to be an important location for us,” said Chris Speers, regional property director, Lidl Northern Ireland. “This project is part of our strategy and commitment to invest in transforming our existing range of older stores to better serve communities and to future proof our store network in line with our ambitious sustainability targets.”

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

QUALITY OF OUR OUTSTANDING FOOD & DRINK RECOGNISED IN IRISH AWARDS BY MICHELE SHIRLOW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FOOD NI

inning at the annual Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards (IQFDA) is a really noteworthy achievement, especially for artisan and smaller companies here. IQFDA is seen as an endorsement that a brand/product reaches the very highest standards in terms of quality and taste. IQFDA is extremely important, particularly in marketing and sales terms, due to the role of the major food and drink retailers in the whole process. The supermarkets tend to enter food and drink products from their own suppliers, some in Northern Ireland, and also monitor winning products from other producers which they haven’t yet listed. The awards are rigorously judged by food and drink experts from across the island and are, therefore, one of the most effective ways to increase awareness of an individual product; especially in the Republic, still our most important market outside Great Britain, which also hosts the equally influential Quality Food and Drink Awards, the results of which will be announced soon. All the supermarkets here, most in the Republic and several in Britain currently list products from some local companies, 14

mostly the bigger businesses. While we appreciate greatly their current support, we’d still wish to see them explore the opportunities provided, especially by the smaller producers with highly innovative and outstandingly tasty food and drink. I don’t think they’d be disappointed, and the vital support they’d provide would help to accelerate the growth of this most important sector in Northern Ireland agri-food. Buying much more from local suppliers would certainly benefit the environment and sustainability by contributing to a reduction in food miles. IFQDA produced several local winners, most of which, I am delighted to report, are Food NI members. The successful companies at IFQDA were food-to-go specialists Around Noon in Newry and Deli-Lites, Warrenpoint; Bro Coffee, Newcastle; Gilfresh Produce, Portadown; Irish Black Butter, Portrush; sauce maker Latia Juana, Londonderry; Milgro crispy onions, Limavady; Moocha Kombucha, Benburb; and McCracken’s Real Ale, Portadown. There were Product of the Show and Best Drink Product awards for our members Deli-Lites and McCracken’s Real Ale respectively. Several other companies

including Irish Black Butter and Milgro collected gold awards, while Moocha Kombucha won silver and encouraging support for Bronagh Quail’s marketing endeavours. My congratulations to all the successful companies for the well-deserved recognition from a discerning panel of judges. I hope the IQFDA endorsement will yield new business opportunities, especially in the Irish Republic, our biggest export market. I never cease to be impressed and inspired by the determination and professionalism of our food and drink companies and business success here, in the Republic, in Britain and further afield. They continue to operate against a very challenging background in which the costs of doing business continue to spiral, especially energy tariffs which are making life extremely difficult. While margins are under severe pressure, our companies still continue to invest in marketing activities and especially new product innovation. It remains to be seen how Government promises of support for business pan out in the days ahead. I hope the support will really benefit what is our most important and innovative industry. Congratulations are also due to Dunbia and Linden, both based in Dungannon, in the Meat Management Industry Awards. The awards are the most important in the UK for meat processors. And well done to Baronscourt Estate Venison in Tyrone which won the prestigious Northern Ireland Regional Fork in this year’s UK Great Taste awards. Baronscourt deservedly won widespread acclaim for the taste and quality of the meat from its Wild Sika herd that roams the sprawling Abercorn estate near Omagh. The company is well positioned to benefit from the developing market trend towards venison which is perceived to be a healthy meat rich in vitamins. It was also tremendous to see Mash Direct’s market-leading Skinny Fries listed in the highly influential The Grocer New Products 2022, the winners of which will be announced in November. Mash Direct is again the only local company shortlisted.

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

COPELAND DISTILLERY LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE NEW WHISKEY WITH A TWIST

erchants’ Quay ex Bordeaux rum cask blended Irish whiskey is the latest innovation to be launched by the Copeland Distillery, a producer of gin, rum and whiskey. Having launched its first whiskey product in 2020, the Distillery introduced its Merchants’ Quay blend, named in reference to Donaghadee Harbour’s historic quay, last year. The latest blended product features three whiskeys, grain, double distilled and triple distilled malts, which are aged in four different casks to deliver a unique flavour. It is then finished for a further nine months in the Bordeaux Grand Cru red wine casks previously holding Copeland Smugglers’ Reserve rum to offer a unique twist. “We are really excited to bring the Merchant’s Quay ex Bordeaux Rum cask blended whiskey to market,” said Gareth Irvine, founder of Copeland Distillery. “We have ambitious plans for our whiskey range and, since launching Merchant’s Quay, we have been working towards our goal of building credibility and establishing pedigree in the whiskey market. “The Irish whiskey category has seen a huge influx of new distilleries and brands in the past decade. This new product release is another step towards positioning ourselves firmly

within the whiskey market, and also a taste of what is to come ahead of the launch of our single malt and pot-stilled products in late 2023, which are currently being distilled and aged at the Distillery.” The new Merchants’ Quay ex Bordeaux Rum blended Irish Whiskey is available in two different SKUs, 46% ABV and a cask strength option at 57.8% ABV. The 46% ABV product has an enjoyable sweet yet light aroma of rum and raisin ice cream with undertones of dates and dried fruit. On the palate it is refreshing, with custard and rhubarb notes to give it that velvety mouthfeel while its finish is contrasting yet complementary candied fruits with a mild hint of oak. The second new product is bottled at cask strength of 57.8% abv and has a more subtle aroma of toffee with a nutmeg and biscuity grain undertone. On the palate it has a black pepper spice with cream soda and caramel notes whilst its finish is a complementary fresh fruit and fresh pinotage. The new Merchant’s Quay ex Bordeaux rum blended whiskeys are available to the trade in Northern Ireland through Drinks Inc and through Classic Drinks in the Republic of Ireland.

MOY PARK AND PILGRIM’S FOOD MASTERS TAKE TO THE ROAD TOGETHER

reland’s leading chicken brand, Moy Park, is to be stocked and distributed across Food Force Ireland stores through its sister company Pilgrim’s Food Masters (part of the Pilgrim’s Pride business). “This is fantastic news for the Moy Park brand,” said Elizabeth Adair, Ireland commercial manager at Moy Park. “Working in collaboration with the Pilgrim’s Food Masters direct to store team will give us greater shelf presence and increased distribution across Northern Ireland. “We will launch 17 lines from across the Moy Park branded range, including the new Moy Park Ultimate Garlic Kiev, Buttermilk Burger and Tempura Mini Fillets.” Oswaldo Quiros, commercial director for Pilgrim’s Food Masters, said: “We are really excited about adding the Moy Park brand to our direct-to-store offering. Distribution of a branded chicken range will really complement the suite of

Chloe Gill, Moy Park; Paddy Donaghy, Pilgrim; Joe Oxby and Ellen Wright, Moy Park; Brian McNamee, Pilgrim; Conleith Gilligan, Pilgrim; Elizabeth Adair, Moy Park; and Gary Gillespie, Pilgrim.

products we already distribute across NI. “We have fantastic relationships with retailers in Northern Ireland supplying

Denny and other well-known brands and this addition will strengthen our offering of leading brands to our customers.” 15

ADVERTORIAL

Red Bull Four Pack

Gets ItsWings

COMPANY: RED BULL

vailable in over 170 countries worldwide, with more than 7.8 billion cans of Red Bull consumed last year, its expanding range of editions and beyondthe-ordinary marketing strategy see Red Bull continue to wing its way into Irish consumers’ hearts, minds and shopping baskets. 16

Founded in 1987, Red Bull established the energy drinks product category, promising to vitalise body and mind. It is appreciated worldwide by top athletes, students and in highly demanding professions, as well as during long drives. Red Bull Sugar Free serves the no sugar category trend in Northern Ireland, whilst the colourful editions including Tropical,

Red (Watermelon), Green (Cactus Fruit) and Coconut Berry provide wings for every taste. Red Bull Energy Drink is available now in the super convenient four pack, giving you wings for working from home, on the go or the weekend’s get together with friends. Giving wings to people and ideas, Red Bull is ofﬁcial energy drinks partner to Connacht Rugby and the Irish Women’s Hockey Team, also supporting Irish athletes, hockey goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, surfer Conor Maguire, downhill mountain bike athlete Greg Callaghan and drifter Conor Shanahan. Renowned for its breath-taking events, Red Bull will host the most exciting onstage music battle on 21st October in the RDS Arena in Dublin. Iconic hip-hop duo Mango X Mathman head up the ﬁrst crew, and they’ll be duking it out musically with rising Irish artists Abi Coulibaly and Monjola. Red Bull SoundClash is the ultimate roof-raising competition - tickets are €25 including booking fee and are on sale now for over 18s only at RedBull.ie/ SoundClash. Visit www.redbull.ie for more inspiring content and follow @ RedBullIre on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with the latest action and events.

FOOD TO GO

DELI LITES WINS OVERALL PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AT IRISH FOOD AWARDS

plant-based vegan Beets and Spirulina Crunch Pot, created by Irish food-on-the-go brand DELI LITES, has won Overall Product of the Year at the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards. The Warrenpoint-based food manufacturer has won category prizes in each of the last five Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, and this year had products nominated in four categories. The winning product was awarded top prize from more than 1,000 entries. It combines sweet beetroot hummus, chickpea, lentil and quinoa, with a crunchy pickled shredded beetroot and cabbage slaw topped with peppery rocket leaves and finished with a spirulina dressing. DELI LITES develops its own unique dressings through collaboration between its in-house nutritionist and award-winning development chefs. The Crunch Pot product was launched in June across a range of Northern Ireland based retailers including Centra, Mace, SuperValu and independents.

Pictured at the Irish Quality Food Awards in The Mansion House, Dublin are: Cathal McDonnell, technical director; Adrian Fitzpatrick, product development chef; Bronagh Lennon, chief people officer; and Brian Reid, co-founder and CEO, DELI LITES.

As well as winning gold for its Beets and Spirulina Crunch Pot in the Vegan/ Vegetarian Other Items category, DELI LITES picked up bronze awards for its Hoisin Chicken and Spiced Noodle Wrap in the Food to Go category and its Hashbrown Topped Breakfast Tósta in the Food Service category. “To have achieved four nominations and to win the biggest prize on the night at what are acknowledged as

IRWIN’S EXPANDS ITS MUFFINS RANGE WITH INNOVATIVE NEW LINES Bronagh Moore, marketing executive at Irwin’s Bakery.

rwin’s Bakery is expanding its line of family favourite muffins with two new flavours, Veda and Orange and Cranberry, hitting the shelves this week across Northern Ireland. The latest innovations from the Portadown-based bakery, which have already secured listings with Tesco,

SuperValu and SPAR NI, aim to offer families more choice. The family firm, which has been in business for more than 100 years, is aiming for further growth after securing £3.5m in new contracts over the past year. “The new products are packed full of

the Irish food and drink Oscars, is testament to our chef-led new product development team and the insightful grasp they have of upcoming trends in healthy and convenient, food-on-thego lunch options,” said Jackie Reid, co-founder and chief strategy officer, DELI LITES. “The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are renowned throughout the industry for their rigorous and stringent judging process. Using a combination of ranking and discussion, the panel of judging experts identify and award stand-out products using wellestablished IQFDA criteria. “These awards are based on taste, flavour, texture, aroma, ingredients list, provenance, packaging, product appearance, price point, value for money and innovation, so we are particularly proud.” Overall Product of the Year is awarded once all general category judging has been completed and symbolises the product which the panel agree is truly outstanding and worthy of the ultimate accolade.

flavour and will provide consumers with the perfect blend of sweet and savoury for any occasion,” said Bronagh Moore from Irwin’s Bakery. “With the return to school and change in seasons, we felt it was a great time to diversify one of our most popular products. “As a business, we are continually assessing our customer needs and this new range shows our commitment to investing in new product development. We wanted to put a modern twist on a long–established range and give people something to talk about. “Adapting our famous Veda recipe into a convenient muffin is a fun way to do that. We sliced it back in 2011 to much controversy but if that proved anything it was how much the people of NI love Veda, so we’re hoping this new muffin will keep many a breakfast table happy this autumn.” The company has also invested significantly in brand development and a new marketing campaign, including advertising during The Great British Bake Off to bring its message to a wider market.

ADVERTORIAL

HENDERSON GROUP LAUNCHES

new-look food-to-go brand COMPANY : HENDERSON GROUP

enderson Group has launched its new, exclusive food-to-go brand, Delish. The exciting new brand brings together the retailer’s innovative approach to food to go, focusing on fresh, made-in-store hot and cold offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner, from traditional hot food to culinary trends, all made with fresh, quality ingredients. Following extensive research and consumer engagement to develop the brand name, colour palette and overall design, Delish has debuted in a number of stores this year not least at the new, urban format SPAR store at Queen’s University’s new £40m One Elmwood Student Centre and Students’ Union. Neal Kelly, fresh foods director at Henderson Group, explains: “The foodto-go market has recovered since the Covid pandemic restrictions have ended. Its popularity has grown significantly in the past two years, with the pandemic shifting shopper demands to stay local and trust local. This has given us the opportunity to expand our level of services within our stores to meet this changing demand and provide even better services for our 400+ independent retailers across Northern Ireland. “Delish provides an opportunity to bring a fresh offering throughout the day, from breakfast, lunch and hot and cold meals made fresh to order, to grab and go products which are packaged to pick up on the go. Delish is complemented by the growing number of Barista Bar coffee and hot drinks machines within SPAR, 20

EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores here, making these stores food-to-go destinations.” To set this foodie destination standard, a cross functional team including marketing, store design and NPD have created brand new fresh food solutions for Delish. Neal explains: “Alongside our traditional hot food core offering, we have some exciting new trends and concepts including the Delish Burrito Bar, Southern Fried Chicken, Rotisserie Chicken and Ice Cream and Shakes.” Delish Burrito Bar delivers a traditional Mexican street food experience of fresh, high-quality burritos and bowls offering really satisfying portions at great value. The demand for this style of street food, which is full of flavour, customisable and fast, is ever growing, explains Neal. “Our shoppers tell us that they’re looking for something fast and delicious, at a value price, made right in front of them that they can shape to their own tastes, and that is exactly what the Delish Burrito Bar delivers. This is going to be hugely popular amongst our retailers and in turn for their shoppers. It can currently be found at the newly-opened Union Shop at Queen’s University, Belfast, operating under the SPAR brand, and has been trialled at EUROSPAR Brackenvale

on the Saintfield Road in recent months, where it has been delivering fantastic results.” Building further on the strength of the core hot food-to-go offering from SPAR and EUROSPAR, the Southern Fried Chicken concept elevates that offering to even tastier and exciting levels with a menu encompassing burgers, wraps and loaded fries – another food concept which is in high demand. Neal continues: “The Delish Southern Fried Chicken menu provides a takeaway offering that can be brought home for an evening meal or enjoyed as lunch or dinner on the go. It offers huge value for meal deal options, which will be a great draw in these current challenging times.” The family favourite Rotisserie Chicken further complements the Delish brand offering. Neal added: “Cooked chicken is a staple at home for our family-focused shoppers, for lunchboxes, sandwiches and the main dish for Sunday lunches. Shoppers can choose between delicious sandwich recipes and hot boxes, or whole chickens, half and smaller portions, with the whole chicken meal deal bringing even more value.” Rounding off the new, innovative offering from Delish is the Ice Cream and Shakes Bar. Tapping into the demand for indulgent and fully loaded ice creambased treats, the concept makes scoops, shakes, sprinkles and flakes available throughout the year. Neal concluded: “We believe that really good food can also be food that’s made to go. Delish is about providing those traditional hot food and everyday necessities our shoppers have come to know us for, alongside an elevated and exciting array of trends which appeal to our customer base across the board. We’re excited to see the brand and food solutions arriving in stores, and look forward to engaging with even more SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO retailers to develop their food-to-go offerings.”

ADVERTORIAL

EVOLUTION OF SPAR brings

international retail standards to Northern Ireland COMPANY : HENDERSON GROUP

The new Delish deli branding has been exclusively adapted to fit the design of The Union Shop.

t has been over 60 years since the first SPAR store opened in Northern Ireland. Its evolution from corner shop with every day essentials, to becoming the hub of communities, offering international standards of service, has been one that has given independents in Northern Ireland a huge competitive edge. This edge can be seen most recently in the £250,000 urban format SPAR store that has opened within the £40m One Elmwood Student Centre and Students’ Union at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). The University worked with Henderson Group’s SPAR NI team, alongside SPAR UK and SPAR International to design and build the outlet which brings a unique collection of new products, services, food concepts and design features, that will directly serve its customer base of over 27,000 students and staff at QUB. And it’s that collaboration that makes the SPAR proposition so unique for 22

Northern Ireland, says Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director at Henderson Group. “SPAR is an international brand, and

although we operate independently here, we, alongside our independent retailers are able to take advantage of the expertise, plans, innovation and new

ADVERTORIAL product development that comes with being part of that global family. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ with us, we are developing stores for communities with retailers who also live in that community, city, town… who also know what their local areas need.” QUB’s Union Shop is an example of building for a niche demographic. Their local, national and international students and staff will use the store daily, not only for picking up their household essentials like other SPARs across NI, but primarily for food on the go, and that’s what this store showcases exceptionally – including Henderson Group’s new Delish food-togo brand. Paddy continued: “Delish makes a huge impact in-store. It is built within a shipping container, a nod to Belfast’s rich ship building history, with the brand exclusively adapted for that store, and dedicates around 300 square feet to tasty, freshly-prepared hot breakfast and lunch items, made fresh to order or packaged to grab and go. “Exciting, fresh, great value options were a high priority for this store. The staff and students who will be visiting are often in a rush, running between lectures, tutorials and meetings and don’t have the luxury to sit down and enjoy a meal. They need to grab something quickly, but they’re also savvy in that they still demand a high-quality product quickly, which is exactly what Delish provides.” Delish, which has been developed by a cross functional team spanning marketing, store design and NPD at Henderson Group, has debuted at a number of stores throughout Northern Ireland, where its popularity has soared. The concept delivers on demand – an exciting offering for the market, that is made fresh to order, at a value price point. Another first for SPAR NI at the Union Shop is the introduction of the first ever non-dairy self-serve coffee concept under the popular Barista Bar brand, also developed by Henderson Group’s Foodservice team in Mallusk. They believe it is a first for Northern Ireland, in any retail coffee proposition, with Barista Bar Planted providing nondairy options for coffee drinkers, with the same great taste and quality of a

signature Barista Bar brew. “Of course, Barista Bar is another exclusive offering that SPAR retailers can provide for their shoppers. Last year, Henderson Foodservice invested £6m to update machines and refresh the brand and offering across the board. There are now over 500 Barista Bar machines in over 420 SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores in Northern Ireland, with over 11 million cups sold.” Barista Bar Planted is yet another exclusive element that only SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO retailers can avail of when partnering with Henderson Group. Many retailers have such demand for the coffee and hot drinks that they have more than one machine installed, alongside Henderson Foodservice’s range of snacks and treats. SPAR Bakery also complements the hot drink proposition, with its range of fresh pastries, croissants, baguettes and specialty bakes. Paddy continued: “Independent retailers know that their shoppers have relied on them heavily in the past couple of years, and that reciprocated loyalty has helped them develop their businesses to further provide what their shoppers need, and Hendersons invests alongside our retailers. That’s a very important part of our business and our retailer relationships – investing in local communities.” A large part of that investment is

JOIN NORTHERN IRELAND’S

through the technology that has been developed to create an even better shopping experience in-store, from self-checkouts to handless cash systems, providing for all shopper demographics, plus digital screens which bring store offers and services to life. “At QUB’s Union Shop, there are five self-checkouts as we know the dwell time within that store will be low. Students and staff want to pick up and go, as efficiently as possible. Each checkout has both a contactless and cash payment option, all programmed with our own EDGEPoS software, developed by Henderson Technology. “Digital screens throughout the store give management the ability to change daily specials, create localised offers and easily guide and inform shoppers as they navigate the shop floor. In the Union Shop, the screens serve as menus for the Burrito Bar, showing all options available, as well as Barista Bar screens which change throughout the day as the demand for products changes.” This technology not only provides convenience for the shopper, but Henderson Technology has also provided user-friendly systems for stock management and replenishment. Paddy continues: “that back end system provides efficiency across the board for retailers within their business, saving them time and money, and minimising waste.” While SPAR’s dynamic offering at One Elmwood provides standout design, and sits as inspiration for what independent retailers could do with the brand for their own businesses, Henderson Retail has also been investing on a large scale throughout their company-owned stores from refurbishments to extensions, and building new stores on sites which have been acquired by the company. Paddy finished: “This is a really exciting time for our retail development. Alongside our retail partners, we are finding inspiration from every corner of the globe to bring back to Northern Ireland to provide an outstanding local retailer proposition. I would encourage retailers here to check out our latest stores and get in touch to discuss investment options. We’re ready to take the next step with you.”

Contact a member of our sales team on 07881 587711 or email joinus@henderson-group.com www.henderson-group.com 23

My Life in the Grocery Trade NAME: KATE OAKES ROLE: GENERAL STORE MANAGER COMPANY: ASDA PORTADOWN BRIEFLY OUTLINE YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY TO DATE I’m delighted to celebrate my 30 years of service with Asda this year. My career journey started with Wellworth’s on a part-time basis as a student to fund my further education. When Safeway entered the NI market in 1996, I was presented, and accepted, the opportunity to become people manager. Then Asda took over in 2005 and I worked in a variety of roles across our stores, including two years as deputy store manager. 2022 marks my ninth year as a GSM. WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? I oversee the management of every aspect of my store. It’s 44,000 square feet, has 300 colleagues, and is Asda’s largest on-line grocery operation in NI. I’m responsible for achieving KRAs - key results areas - such as sales, costs, service, availability. Local community engagement and support is also part of my role, which is delivered through the great work of our Community Champion. But my priority is to deliver the best shopping experience for my customers while also creating

the best working environment for my colleagues. WHEN DID YOU TAKE UP THIS POST? I’ve had nine years’ experience as a GSM, and I’ve been leading the team at Portadown since June 2022. WHAT ARE THE BEST/WORST PARTS OF YOUR JOB? Best: no two days are ever the same and I always get a buzz from the interaction with my colleagues and customers. Worst: disappointing customers, which thankfully, is rare. BRIEFLY OUTLINE A TYPICAL DAY First impressions count so I start by walking the customer path – including the car park. I walk the store with the operations manager to assess how the store is set up for the day and highlight any opportunities. I then check in with my on-line team, review the pick progress and make sure all vans have departed on time. The fresh food quality review comes next as produce and bakery are a priority for me. After this, it’s time to look at the MI for the previous day, complete newsflash and validate any new modulars/promotions. Aside from that, a ‘typical’ day can include anything from

involvement in customer or colleague listening groups and catching up with our Community Champion on what we’re doing to support local groups and organisations to sales forecasting, team meetings and scheduled coaching time. But as I said before, no two days are the same. WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROUDEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Before moving to Portadown, I was GSM of Shore Road which was the top performing store in Northern Ireland in 2021. I better keep up my track record. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING INVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL RETAIL INDUSTRY? Retail is in my blood; I love being part of such a fast paced, competitive industry that is ever evolving. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND AWAY FROM WORK? Spending time with my family and my dog. And when I’ve time, I like to read and cook. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE MAY KNOW I’ve set myself the challenge of finding every dog-friendly restaurant in Northern Ireland. So far, by favourite is Balloo House.

FOOD FORCE IRELAND

FOOD FORCE IRELAND CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF ITS TRADE SHOW TO THE CULLODEN AFTER A ‘STRESS-TESTING’ THREE YEARS Debra Johnston, trading controller of Food Force Ireland.

rocery retailers have been stresstested in every way over the last three years, said Food Force Ireland Chairman Jonathan Crawford, speaking at the buying group’s annual Trade Show. “It’s been a real rollercoaster,” said Crawford, owner of Crawford’s of Maghera. “Our supplier relationships have been stress-tested, instore colleagues have been stress-tested and consumer relations stress-tested.” Food Force Ireland’s Trade Show and Supplier of the Year awards were held in person for the ﬁrst time since 2019, at the Culloden Estate and Spa on September 13. Many visitors and exhibitors had to replan their trip around the arrival and departure at George Best Belfast City Airport of King Charles III, visiting Northern Ireland as part of his tour of the UK. As well as the awards and exhibition, the day delivered orders to the value of £1m, which was a great boost to suppliers and retailers alike. “After two years of online conferences, it was particularly satisfying to get everyone back together in person,” said Debra Johnston, trading controller, Food Force Ireland. “It’s the best way to do business.” Exhibitors were also encouraged to 26

contribute stock to charity partner, the Simon Community. “The Northern Ireland independent retail sector has always been strong,” said Crawford. “We entered Covid strong, and I think we came out stronger and that’s because of you, our Northern Nigel Johnston, host of the Supplier of the Year Awards.

Ireland suppliers. “When the darkest days of Covid hit, you were there for us. When national supply chains collapsed, you delivered. You gave us products to sell on our shelves when others couldn’t and for that, we as members thank you. “Thank you for taking the late-night calls and making the early morning deliveries, thank you to the reps who delivered in their cars. We’ve proven without a shadow of a doubt that Food Force Ireland works and these relationships work. “But now we enter another crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, a cost-of-doingbusiness crisis but I feel we have to remember there’s a cost of not doing business. Yes, we’re going to have to look at our costs, but losing market share in the next six months will cost us more in the long run. “So, like never before, we have to work closer together, to deliver for the consumer, to give them quality, to give them availability and for us to be there whenever they need us at a price they can afford.” Seven supplier of the year awards were handed out on the day, including two Account Manager of the Year accolades. Announcing the ﬁrst recipient, Claire Wade of Britvic NI, Johnston said: “Their attention to detail in all aspects of account management is exceptional, and they’ve helped introduce new initiatives which are all so important to give us an edge in these tricky times. Everyone should have an account manager like this. As well as being professional, efﬁcient, determined and successful, they are a delight to work with and I’m sure their family will be so proud.” Of the second recipient, Aine Lafferty of Coca Cola Hellenic Ireland and Northern Ireland, Johnston said: “This winner only walked into account management a couple of years ago. All their previous experience on the ground has helped them develop an understanding of our business which is quite exceptional. They’ve pushed boundaries and that approach has brought big returns. This person is bright, bubbly, dynamic, enthusiastic and it has been my pleasure to work with them.”

FOOD FORCE IRELAND

SUPPLIERS OF THE YEAR RECOGNISED BY LOCAL NISA BUYING GROUP  Special Recognition Award: Billy Thompson of Hovis Bakery, who retired this past summer after 37 years with Hovis, was recognised as a great supporter and friend of Food Force Ireland. Jonathan Crawford, chairman of Food Force Ireland, presented the award to Candida Corscadden (accepting on behalf of Billy Thompson).

Soft Drinks Supplier of the Year: Britvic Northern Ireland. Pictured are Aidan McAnerney, director of FFI, and Claire Wade of Britvic.

Bread and Cakes Supplier of the Year: Gallaghers Bakery. Pictured are Ian Shaw, director of FFI, and Steven McCann of Gallaghers.

Ambient Supplier of the Year: Northern Snack Foods. Pictured are Gavin Emerson, director of FFI, and Nigel Morton of Northern Snack Foods.

Chilled and Frozen Supplier of the Year: Dale Farm. Pictured are Ben James, Dale Farm; Colin Conway, Newell Stores; and Jonny Burnside, Dale Farm.

Account Manager of the Year (joint): Claire Wade of Britvic NI, pictured right, with Debra Johnston, trading controller of Food Force Ireland.

Account Manager of the Year (joint): Aine Lafferty of Coca Cola Hellenic Ireland and Northern Ireland, pictured right, with Debra Johnston, trading controller of Food Force Ireland.  27

FOOD FORCE IRELAND TRADE SHOW - EXHIBITORS 

Golden Popcorn.

Thompson’s Tea.

Kennedy Bacon.

Suki Tea.

Brennan’s Bread.

Irwin’s Bakery.

Valeo Foods.

Karro Food Group.

SHS Group.

Hovis Ireland.

ADVERTORIAL

Plenty to talk about W

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innovation in product, packaging and production, we’re ﬁnding ways to be more sustainable as a company. While it’s important we make sure our products are as strong, hygienic, and absorbent as you need them to be, we’re also committed to making them as environmentally sound as possible. Our raw materials are responsibly sourced and most of our products are biodegradable. We’re also ﬁnding ways to reduce waste and improve our reliance on natural resources through product and manufacturing innovations. Our kitchen paper is biodegradable, which means that once you’ve used sheets of Plenty kitchen paper to wipe up food waste or water, you can safely compost them at home! We’re working towards making our packaging more and more sustainable, committing to a goal of 100% recyclability

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and the use of 85% renewable or recycled materials by 2025. One of our key commitments is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2016 base-year. • vs the next best selling brand. Based on laboratory tests (February 2021)

Check out our Plenty website for more on our sustainability journey www.plenty.com/sustainability

ADVERTORIAL

Hub Packaging reach distribution agreement with Thergis,

a leading thermal packaging manufacturer

COMPANY : HUB PACKAGING

ub Packaging is delighted to announce we have secured the rights for exclusive distribution across the island of Ireland for Thergis, a specialist provider of thermal packaging solutions for the food, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors. Based in the East Midlands, Thergis supply a range of bespoke and standard shipping and packaging solutions for temperature-sensitive products. Their thermal packaging solutions range of gel packs, ice packs, insulated box liners, absorbent pads, paper bags and boxes cover a range of packaging items essential for ensuring chilled deliveries arrive safely and in peak condition. At Hub Packaging, we provide a range of tertiary packaging supplies to a variety

of sectors, including the food and retail industry. Our commitment to innovation means we are continuously striving to provide new packaging solutions to our customers, in a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and timely manner. We are one of the biggest suppliers of industrial packaging and consumable products throughout the whole of Ireland, dedicated to providing the very latest packaging products and industry innovations with unparalleled service. Temperature-controlled solutions ensure chilled and frozen goods arrive in prime condition. Products such as gel and water packs can be supplied pre-frozen and are available in a range of sizes and quantities. The gel packs are an easy method of

keeping fresh goods chilled for longer whilst in transit. There are a variety of benefits in utilising thermal packaging to help keep products cool whilst in transit, including: • Reusable with a weight and coolant comparison approximately two times that of ice • High-grade, puncture-resistant film • Clean with no mess – no seepage and no soaking required Greg Brennan, sales manager at Hub Packaging, said: “These are exciting times for Hub as we continue to expand our product offering across the island of Ireland. We’re looking forward to making this range of great products available ‘next day, off the shelf’ to all 32 counties which we believe will be very well received as the alternative for many is to order in full shipments from Europe and further afield due to the lack of local options.” Andrew Ward, managing director at Hub Packaging, said: “We are delighted that Thergis have chosen to partner with Hub Packaging and look forward to supporting old and new customers with this innovative range of flexible gel packs.” If you would like to find out more information about how Hub Packaging can supply your business with a range of thermal packaging, or any other packaging products such as cardboard boxes, strapping or tapes, please contact our sales team who will be happy to provide more information. Email sales@ hub-packaging.com or phone 028 4175 4977. You can also shop online via our online store and buy packaging today, visit: https://www.hub-packaging.com/shop/.

We have recently set up the option to register for an online trade account for businesses to buy their packaging at competitive prices. For more information & to register for an account today, visit this address: https://www.hub-packaging.com/ trade-account-registration/ 30

ADVERTORIAL

Best Label Printing Specialists 2022 COMPANY : ABBEY LABEL SYSTEMS

WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING STUNNING LABELS, THE TEAM AT ABBEY LABEL SYSTEMS HAVE YOU COVERED. OVER THE YEARS, THIS FAMILY-RUN ENTERPRISE HAS MANAGED TO DELIVER THE SAME QUALITY AND COST-EFFECTIVE APPROACH OF LARGER COMPANIES WHILE RETAINING A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH EACH OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. FOLLOWING THEIR AWARDS SUCCESS THIS YEAR, WE THOUGHT IT TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS STUNNING EXAMPLE OF UK ENTERPRISE.

abels are an essential part of many production processes, meaning that those who produce labels are a major element in many supply chains. Finding the right partner, one who can deliver on time, on budget and to the highest quality, is incredibly important. The team at Abbey Label Systems know this better than anyone, offering solutions that are used by companies throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Based in Co Down in Northern Ireland, the team at Abbey Label Systems have always built their business around the idea of excellence. Their products do not compromise in any way, ensuring that the client always finds the labels produced by the firm to be exceptional. When a customer turns to this talented team, they find products which are professionally printed with full colour as swiftly as possible. Thanks to the detailed knowledge and expertise of the team, Abbey Label Systems stand well ahead of the pack. Since opening their doors 30 years ago, Abbey Label Systems has been invited to work with an increasingly illustrious list of clients. Some of the brands which rely on the team to fulfil an essential role in this supply chain include Zebra, BarTender, foodnutrix and NiceLabel as well as household names such as Toshiba, SPAR and Costcutter. These are businesses in a host of different sectors, including meat manufacturing, food processing and retail. For these organisations, labels play a vital role in safety, and Abbey Label Systems is a key part of that safety critical 32

“WHEN A CUSTOMER TURNS TO THIS TALENTED TEAM, THEY FIND PRODUCTS WHICH ARE PROFESSIONALLY PRINTED WITH FULL COLOUR AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE.”

role. To meet the needs of such a host of different organisations, the team have an enormous range of 1,300 die cutters on hand. This incredible range means that the unique requirements of almost any business can be met, and even if they do not happen to have a die cutter to the right speciﬁcation, they have the resources to produce a custom die for a one-off charge. Once the die has been made, clients have a choice of materials on which to print, including but not limited to paper, polyproplene/polyethylene, foil and card. The high standards that the Abbey Label Systems team offer, and that their clients expect, mean that they have become the go-to choice for many in the retail sector. As such, the ﬁrm has specialised in the unique and individual needs of butchers, bakers and local supermarkets. These businesses need partners who can react quickly to their needs, and that’s precisely what the Abbey Label Systems team offer. No matter what the requirements, they deliver impressive results every time. The work of Abbey Label Systems is being justly celebrated in the UK Enterprise Awards, with the team’s hard work, tenacity and commitment to clients allowing them to build a truly exceptional business with a reputation that is second to none. Trusted as a vital part of the supply chain for many, this is a success that deserves to be celebrated! We cannot wait to see what they do next.

AGRI-FOOD NEWS

SUPPORT BELEAGUERED FOOD PRODUCERS, NEW PM URGED

overnment intervention is needed to help food producers survive soaring energy and feed costs, Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is urging new Prime Minister Liz Truss. “Farming and food production must be made an urgent priority by the new PM for the sake of our UK consumers and farmers,” said David Brown, president, UFU. “The Covid-19 pandemic and extreme weather conditions recently stressed just how fragile and crucial local food production is and it must be protected going forward at all costs. “Like many across the UK, our farmers are struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis - they need support to continue feeding the nation. Soaring energy and feed costs are unsustainable and it’s severely impacting farmers’ confidence around food production. “Government needs to intervene,

showing their support for food producers so they can continue to produce high-quality produce farmed to some of the highest animal welfare and environmental standards; the nutritious food that consumers expect on shop shelves. “To fully support domestic food production, trade policy is a vital aspect that needs to be approached with fairness, ensuring we stay true to the world-leading standards our farmers are proud to uphold, and maintain local agriculture at its core. “We need to safeguard our primary producers and support them in becoming competitive food producers, especially at a time when food security is becoming an increasing concern globally. “Locally, the Northern Ireland Protocol is a matter that remains unresolved. Pragmatic solutions need to be found to

LMC COMPLETES REVIEW OF FARM QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEME

review of the Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS) has been completed by the FQAS Standard Setting Committee, which has ratified a number of updates. The documentation sets out in detail updates to eight key areas including husbandry, animal health, animal nutrition, animal traceability, housing and handling, transport, environmental care and farm procedures. “Members will be aware that under the guidance of the FQAS Standard Setting Committee, the scheme rules and standards are reviewed every three years,” said Gillian Davis, LMC FQAS manager. “The changes detailed in the documentation that has been sent to FQAS participants will be effective from 1st November 2022. “The revision of standards should be viewed as a positive action by farmers and industry stakeholders. Routine reviews provide up-to-date support for scheme members in the marketing of their beef and lamb to the widest possible range of industry customers. “It too provides further assurance to customers, (abattoirs, wholesalers, retailers and consumers) that beef and lamb sourced from farm-quality assured producers continues to be produced to the highest standards. “Many of the changes set out are in line with legislative requirements and also ensure that the scheme remains aligned with the other UK beef and lamb quality assurance schemes which are eligible to carry the Red Tractor logo.”

ensure it is workable for every farming sector in NI. We also need to get our Executive at Stormont back up and running so that vital decisions affecting our farming industry can be made going forward. “We look forward to working with the new PM to develop our local agri-food industry to ensure it thrives, becomes more sustainable and profitable going forward.” David Brown, president, UFU.

FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER & BUY LOCAL

armers are being encouraged to support each other and buy local as the sector feels financial pressure from the costof-living crisis. Internal support from others in the agri industry is key to sustaining the arable sector, says the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), as arable farmers continue to step up to the many varied challenges when growing their crops to the highest standard for an ever-demanding market. “Harvest is coming to an end now and this year has been one of many challenges from the rising cost of energy and fertiliser to extreme weather conditions,” said Mark McCollum, UFU seeds and cereals chairman. “However, as always, our farmers have risen to the challenge producing quality assured grain and proteins for the market. Now they need the support of everyone in the agriculture industry, farmers and millers, as well as consumers, to buy local and help sustain the arable sector through the winter months that lie ahead.” Harvest is underway at Mark McCollum’s family farm in Coleraine. Photo credit: Andrew Robinson

MARKETING NEWS

MUSGRAVE NI’S SHOP FOR FREE COMPETITION OFFERS £25,000 OF VOUCHERS

usgrave Northern Ireland has launched a Shop for Free campaign giving away more than £25,000 worth of vouchers in a daily draw across its SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores. As shoppers continue to deal with the increased cost of living, Musgrave NI is giving back to communities with three lucky winners chosen across each brand every day between September 5 and October 16. Across SuperValu stores, there will be three prizes of £100 vouchers per day to be won, while in Centra and Mace stores, shoppers will have the chance to win one of three £50 vouchers per day. Shoppers will be invited to scan a

Desi Derby, director of marketing for Musgrave NI, and Julie Cherry, trading director for Musgrave NI.

QR code in store and fill in their details online to enter the prize draw. “This latest initiative is in addition to our three-point plan to support shoppers at this difficult time,” said Desi Derby, director of marketing for Musgrave NI. “We’re investing £5.6m in over 300 special offers every week across SuperValu, Centra and Mace, including many everyday essentials. “We’ve over 700 own brand products across SuperValu and Centra, up to 33% cheaper than the better-known brands. And, in SuperValu, with more than 500 of our branded products price-checked against Tesco, we are committed to delivering the best value for our customers across our entire range. “With three prizes to be won per

LMC’S GOOD HONEST FOOD CAMPAIGN BOOSTS AWARENESS OF NIFQA BEEF

ost-campaign research has found 93% of consumers viewing the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Good Honest Food campaign are aware of Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) beef, and 88% of these consumers purchase beef regularly. Dr Ruth Price and chef James Devine. Independent omnibus tracking data explored the impact and reach of the LMC’s recent advertising campaign, which was fronted by local chef James Devine and focused on the health and environmental benefits of NIFQA beef and lamb. The campaign relaunched for a second burst in January of this year and ran across TV, radio, outdoor and digital platforms for three months, reaching 98% of adults in Northern Ireland and seen more than 28.3 million times. “This is a strong indication that the important messaging of the campaign is working to counteract sensationalist headlines around red meat consumption and helping promote the truth about beef and lamb,” said Lauren Patterson, marketing and communications manager, LMC. “Our tracking data has returned a 68% campaign awareness rate. “Of note is the rise in awareness across all platforms, with TV up 8 percentage points, radio up 5 percentage points, digital/social up 13 percentage points and outdoor up 14 percentage points.” Meanwhile, LMC has created and published a new recipe book focused on Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured beef or lamb and tailored to complement CCEA Nutrition and Food Science GCE and Food and Lauren Patterson, LMC marketing Nutrition GCSE courses. and communications manager. 34

brand per day, a total of 378 customers across Northern Ireland will benefit from the competition.”

NEW GUM CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE

new global campaign for Extra Gum, Do What Makes You Ding, urges people to forget playing cool and be their fullest selves. Created by advertising agency Energy BBDO and confectionery company Mars Wrigley, the Extra campaign follows its viral For When It’s Time one launched last year. A film and social media programme for the new campaign launched in the UK last month, with award-winning female film director Hanna Maria Heidrich, Energy BBDO and Mars Wrigley teams choosing the song Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen to be featured within the film as an ultimate guilty pleasure track. “Confidence is realising you don’t need to become your best self because you already are your best self,” said Colin O’Toole and Hansel Quintela, creative directors at Energy BBDO. “Embrace your guilty pleasure song. Go all out and do what feels good in the moment. And if you need a little help, you can always grab some Extra Gum.” The Do What Makes You Ding campaign will run in various forms, across television, digital, and social channels. The film will follow up with a social programme featuring influencers from across the globe who have shown they have the confidence to do what makes them ding, no matter what. Similar Mars Wrigley gum video content will roll out in other global markets throughout the year, including Germany and France.

EXPORT NEWS

INTERTRADEIRELAND GRANT BOOSTS EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DRAYNES FARM

n InterTradeIreland grant supporting cross-border trade has enabled Lisburn-based Draynes Farm to export its awardwinning ice cream to the Republic of Ireland for the first time. Draynes Farm originally began delivering milk by horse and cart in 1932, expanding into ice creams and sorbets in 2015. Aiming to build on the local success by expanding into the Republic, but concerned over complications around Brexit legislation and transporting frozen goods over longer distances, Draynes Farm sought help from IntertradeIreland. Funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, InterTradeIreland helps small businesses in Ireland and Northern Ireland explore new cross-border markets and offers a Brexit advisory service. Following a qualifying process, InterTradeIreland awarded Draynes Farm a grant to fund 50% of the services of ROI sales company Salesplus. A number of distributors with expertise in frozen goods have now

Chris Wright, farm manager, and Hugh Moore, a student from Queen’s University Belfast on placement at Draynes Farm.

taken on the Draynes Farm ice cream range, which includes innovative flavours such as Biscoff, Honeycomb & Chocolate, and Milk (‘a traditional old school ice cream, with nothing added and nothing taken away’) made on the farm from their own fresh milk and cream. Among the new distributors are Gortrush Food Services, which specialises in selling ice cream in the UK and Ireland, and Tempka Foods, which has begun selling throughout Leinster

IRISH BLACK BUTTER FOLLOWS UP IQFDA WIN WITH EXPORT SUCCESS

lastair Bell, owner of Irish Black Butter, has won significant business in Scotland for his award-winning core product. The deal follows the success of the Portrush-based company in winning gold at the prestigious Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards (IQFDA) in Dublin. The small company is supplying its sweet and savoury spread to Ochil Foods of Auchterarder, a food wholesaler supplying many high-end locations across Scotland such as restaurants and hotels with artisan and speciality products. “We are thrilled to have won business from such a specialist food operation in Scotland as Ochil, which follows an approach by me a few months ago,” said Bell. “It gives us a platform in an

Alastair Bell, owner of Irish Black Butter.

immensely important market for us.” With major grocery chains such as Dunnes Stores, Aldi Ireland, Lidl and the Musgrave Group involved in IQFD, Bell is hopeful his success at the awards will lead to further business opportunities.

and parts of Ulster this month. “We’re really excited to have partnered with these two distributors and to finally have our ice creams on sale in the Republic of Ireland,” said Owen Drayne, Drayne’s Farm. “We’re looking forward to seeing how they’re received and hope off the back of this we can expand our distribution to other provinces with future partners. We’re extremely grateful to InterTradeIreland and the opportunity they have provided us.”

“I really didn’t expect anything at all from the big event in Dublin’s ritzy Mansion House,” he said. “I dressed in my dinner suit, left my trademark hat in the wardrobe, and went along in the hope that my Irish Black Butter would, at least, be mentioned in the proceedings. “I also saw it as an opportunity to meet top managers of the supermarkets in the Republic, a crucially important market in which we have gained business from a couple of industry leaders. “I am thrilled to have won the gold award. I hope that it will increase awareness of my spread among supermarkets in the Republic. Major retailers play a key role in the awards.” Bell has already won business with both Aldi and Lidl in the Republic of Ireland, and currently supplies Sheridan’s, Ireland’s biggest cheesemonger, and high-end grocers such as Dublin’s Fallon and Byrne. 35

BUSINESS NEWS

GREENER E10 PETROL ROLLING OUT IN NORTHERN IRELAND ON NOVEMBER 1

rivers across Northern Ireland will soon be able to fill up with greener fuel when E10 petrol is rolled out as the new standard grade of petrol from November 1. The rollout of E10, which is petrol blended with up to 10% renewable ethanol, will help Northern Ireland to decarbonise transport, as it is greener than existing petrol. Its use across the UK could contribute to cutting transport CO2 emissions in the UK by potentially 750,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to a forest the size of the Isle of Wight capturing carbon every year. To help raise awareness of the

upcoming switch, the UK government is launching an information campaign for motorists in Northern Ireland including fuel pump labels as well as targeted digital, radio and social media advertising. While 95% of petrol cars will be compatible, the campaign will encourage those who are unsure to check their vehicle can use the fuel using an online compatibility checker tool. As well as playing a part in the UK’s ambitions to decarbonise transport and reach its Net Zero goals, the rollout of E10 petrol could potentially support thousands of jobs throughout the supply chain and boost job opportunities across

NI BUSINESSES URGED TO ENSURE TRANSPORT OPERATIONS ARE LEGALLY COMPLIANT

ey issues for Seamus Leheny, Logistics UK. anyone involved in running vehicle fleets, professional advice, and help for managers to remain compliant and up to speed on the latest legislative developments will be highlighted at the Logistics UK Transport Manager conference in the Culloden Estate & Spa on October 11. Transport managers are legally required to keep their professional knowledge up to date and ensure their operations remain compliant, making this a must-attend event, according to Logistics UK. A line-up of expert speakers at the conference includes senior industry figures and policy makers, including David Mullan, head of the Transport Regulation Unit. The one-day event will include a compliance update from the Driver and Vehicle Agency, while other topics to be covered include managing safety technology, demystifying fleet insurance, technology and the balance of risk, vehicle in-service standards, and preparing your fleet for electrification. “The event will enable busy transport managers to stay up to date with ever-changing legislation and good practice advice and the very latest industry developments,” said Kate Jennings, Logistics UK’s director of policy. For more information, or to book your place, visit: https://logistics.org.uk/transport-manager 36

the country. British ethanol producer Vivergo has created 100 new jobs since E10’s introduction in Great Britain. The introduction of E10 will see renewable ethanol in petrol double, from the current petrol blend E5 containing no more than 5% ethanol, further reducing emissions from millions of cars in line with our climate targets. A small number of older vehicles, including classic cars and some from the early 2000s, will continue to need E5 fuel, with supplies of E5 petrol to be maintained in the ‘Super’ petrol grade.

HENDERSON FOODSERVICE RECEIVES GOLD INVESTORS IN PEOPLE ACCREDITATION

enderson Foodservice has retained its Gold accreditation awarded against the Investors in People Standard. Gold accreditation means Henderson Sam Davidson, human resources director, Foodservice, part Henderson Group, and Cathal Geoghegan, of the Henderson director, Henderson Foodservice, receive the Investors in People Gold accreditation Group, has been plaque for Henderson Foodservice at the recognised by company’s headquarters in Mallusk. Investors in People as not only having significant policies in place, but with the entire workforce taking ownership for making them come to life. Henderson Foodservice employs over 400 people throughout Ireland including at their main distribution centre in Mallusk, alongside warehouse operatives and logistics drivers. “Within Henderson Foodservice we are blessed with a team which is energised, innovative, and resilient,” said Sam Davidson, human resources director, Henderson Group. “The past couple of years have seen the entire industry face significant challenges, and our colleagues are still working closely with suppliers to ensure the longevity of their recovery, and with customers to focus on providing a fantastic level of service. “Henderson Group is one of the biggest employers in Northern Ireland and we ensure every opportunity to develop fantastic careers is afforded to our employees, as is the very culture of the Group to put our people first.”

APPOINTMENTS

LOCAL ETHICAL WATER BRAND APPOINTS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR D avid Hunter, who has been involved with Larne-based ethical brand Clearer Water since it was established in 2014, has been appointed as its managing director. “It is an absolute privilege for me to be asked to lead the Clearer Water team once more,” said Hunter. “Most people will know that I have been involved with the brand since its inception in 2014. “The best part of being involved was undoubtedly the creation of jobs which was achieved during my tenure as chief executive officer of Access Employment. “This focus on creating and maintaining meaningful employment for people with additional needs is still very much at the heart

of everything that Clearer represents.” Earlier this year, investors Ross LazarooHood and Sitki Gelman acquired the brand, which had been struggling from the loss of its main hospitality market during the pandemic. In a joint statement, Lazaroo-Hood and Gelmen said: ‘David Hunter is a recognised and awarded social impact leader and we are delighted that he will manage Clearer Water’s ongoing growth and expansion. David is passionate about job creation for those who need it most and the Clearer Water team are very lucky to have a leader who has helped shape the ethos and values of the company from the outset.’

David Hunter

MOY PARK GROWS ITS TEAM WITH TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS P

oultry processor Moy Park has announced two new appointments, including Chloe Gill as brand marketing manager. Gill is responsible for building and implementing the vision of the Elizabeth Adair Chloe Gill Moy Park brand by activating integrated multi-channel marketing campaigns which deliver sales across UK and Irish markets. She is dedicated to using data and insights to analyse key market opportunities, driving growth and overall brand awareness with key trade and consumer audiences. With over eight years’ experience within Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry, Gill has previously worked for brands including Dale Farm, Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Galberts Foods and Mash Direct. She joined Moy Park in September 2021, progressing from customer marketing executive to brand marketing manager. Also moving into a new role at Moy Park, as commercial manager Ireland, is Elizabeth Adair. Responsible for managing key customer relationships for the Moy Park brand across the NI and ROI markets, her role is integral in driving new growth and commercial contracts for the brand, as well as pursuing new business opportunities across the Island of Ireland. Adair is a graduate in Business Management and joined Moy Park in 2019 on the Commercial Graduate Management Trainee Scheme.

BOOST DRINKS EYES GROWTH WITH TWO NEW TEAM APPOINTMENTS

unctional drinks brand Boost Drinks has appointed two new team members, as part of a wider plan to expand the Yorkshire-based business. Steve Armstrong has been named as sales channel Steve Armstrong Anjna Mistry controller for convenience, a newly created position. Previously with 2 Sisters, AG Barr, Mondelez and Mars, he brings significant convenience experience across a broad range of sectors and categories, including soft drinks. “Steve’s convenience experience will prove invaluable to Boost Drinks and our customers,” said Colin Falconer, sales director, Boost Drinks. “Convenience is a strategically important channel for Boost Drinks.” Boost Drinks has also appointed Anjna Mistry to the position of brand controller. Mistry joins from John Cotton and has worked across FMCG on brands such as Hallmark Cards, Butterkist Popcorn, Wilko, Morrisons and Fox’s Biscuits. She will report to Marketing and International Business Director Adrian Hipkiss and lead the consumer marketing team to deliver strategies across product and marketing communications. The two new appointments mark an exciting next step in Boost Drink’s progression, following on from the hiring of new Wholesale Controller Jon Francis in July. 37

SHELFLIFE To see your product featured in Shelf Life, contact Judith Martin at j.martin@mediahuis.co.uk or Tel: 07765 183176

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR CREATES HEALTHY CHINESE SAUCES Stephen Ellis, innovation manager at Innovation Factory in West Belfast, with Vincent Tsang.

Northern Ireland entrepreneur has created two innovative Chinese bottled sauces which are gluten free, vegan friendly and made with 100% natural ingredients. Vincent Tsang developed his Sweet Chilli and Sweet and Sour sauces aimed at the growing market for healthy alternatives to favourite foods.

Now with the support of Innovation Factory in Belfast, he plans to grow sales throughout the UK and Ireland as well as internationally online. As a member of IF, he is receiving continuous business support and mentoring from Innovation Manager Stephen Ellis. “I developed this sauce because I’m very health conscious and am so

passionate about what I eat,” said Tsang. “The advice and support that I’m receiving is helping me take the business to the next level. “When I was growing up, I had terrible eczema and saw many doctors here and in Hong Kong where my parents are from, but the treatments only worked for a short period of time. What seemed to help me was home cooked food made with natural ingredients.” Tsang, who has a background in banking and finance, had always dreamed of running his own business and during lockdown he created his healthy Sweet and Sour and Sweet Chilli sauce recipes based on popular dishes from his parents’ Chinese restaurant in Moira. He participated in Belfast City Council’s Kickstart Programme, which led to his introduction to mentor Stephen Ellis. With Ellis’ help, he successfully applied for an Innovation Voucher from Invest NI to help develop his business idea and worked with CAFRE at Greenmount to ensure the sauces met all the food safety guidelines and had a shelf life of 18 months. Tsang Sauce is stocked in a number of independent food stores in Northern Ireland.

YEO VALLEY ORGANIC EXTENDS ITS MARKETLEADING RANGE WITH KEFIR DRINKS

eo Valley has extended its popular organic Kefir Love Your Gut range into Kefir Drinks. Launched in September in Sainsbury’s, Ocado and Waitrose, the 500ml bottles will be available in the flavours Natural, Mango & Passionfruit, and Cherry. Yeo Valley’s organic Kefir Drinks boast 14 strains of live Kefir cultures to help consumers Love their Gut. The live cultures help maintain a diverse microbiome and therefore a healthy gut. With consumers increasingly seeking products supporting their gut health, Kefir products are gaining in popularity. 38

Yeo Valley Organic is the market leader in potted Kefir and has grown 33% in the last year to £11m* on the back of new pack formats such as multipacks. “Insight highlights that consumers are looking for products that support their gut health and are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of Kefir products,” said Justin Stanley-Duke, brand manager

at Yeo Valley Organic. “We saw this as an important opportunity to extend our Kefir range to Drinking Kefir that will provide more in terms of taste, affordability and sustainability.” Awareness will be driven through an integrated consumer communications plan with an aim to ensure more consumers become aware of Kefir and its potential health benefits. The Kefir Drinks are part of a series of new product developments by Yeo Valley Organic, with soups, dips, and Little Yeos No Added Sugar pouches also due to launch into stores this September. *Kantar FMCG, Total Market, Total Organic Dairy, 52 w/e 21st Feb 2021

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Q&A

IN THE

Hot Seat NAME: MARK PRENTICE ROLE: COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR COMPANY: COPELAND DISTILLERY

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I’m currently commercial director at Copeland Distillery, having previously operated in senior roles in various large energy companies, retailers and services businesses across the UK and Ireland. I’ve been working with Gareth Irvine, the founder of the business, since the business was set up in 2016, and have been a non-exec director in Copeland for the last five years. WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY INVOLVE? The great thing is that every day is different. Most of my time is focused on developing and supporting our base of distributors both in the island of Ireland, GB and our export markets including the US, Canada and further afield. Given the time differences in dealing with the central and west coast states in the US, some days the working day starts at lunchtime with Zoom calls finishing around 9pm. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? I‘ve been fortunate to work for and lead some great companies – from start-ups such as firmus energy back in 2005 to more established businesses such as Bord Gáis Energy and AA (Ireland) in the Republic – but my current role in Copeland is the most fun I’ve had in ages. It’s great to be part of a small team that’s making big waves in the spirits market. It’s a real buzz to see products you’ve been involved with since inception on the shelves in the US, Canada, Australia and around the world. 42

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The variety – one day I can be talking to major distributors in Africa and the next it’s sleeves rolled up, helping to label and pack gin or whiskey. There’s a great family atmosphere in Copeland and the team are always willing to go the extra mile in making the business a success. WHAT IS YOUR MOST DIFFICULT TASK? Having been used to having teams of people to rely on in a much larger business, I guess it’s getting really hands on and not having subject matter experts on hand to bounce things off. But whether it’s personally doing three-year cashflows or physically setting up social media ads, it’s been challenging but great fun. WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? Probably a Henry Ford quote that my late mother used with my then teenage daughters: ‘whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re probably right’. Great advice for CEOs with imposter syndrome down to students studying for their exams. Staying positive and looking for solutions in the midst of ‘the madness’ is crucial. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST GRIPE? Other than Brexit, lol? There’s not a lot that annoys me but people that ignore emails or texts do frustrate me. It isn’t difficult to respond, even if it’s a ‘no’.

WHAT TALENT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? A back that allows me to play golf more regularly and get my handicap down. Too much rugby in my teens and 20s have put paid to that. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS/ AMBITIONS? Having worked at senior levels in some of the UK and Ireland’s biggest companies, I’m really enjoying being back at a small business which has big ambitions. Hopefully, in the next five years, we can take Copeland into markets around the world and build the business into one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable brands. WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? My late mum. She was an incredible lady and inspired my daughters to become the women they are today. WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE? Anywhere near the sea. I’m really fortunate to live both in Donaghadee, just a stone’s throw from the beach and the distillery, and in Malahide just next to the marina. There’s something calming and relaxing about living beside the ocean. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD PRODUCT? I’ll eat pretty much anything but if I’m in a restaurant I’ll always look for scallops or a Dover sole. And being on the M1 a lot, I do have a soft spot for Haribos. HOW DO YOU RELAX? Other than a gin & tonic? Weekends are generally focused on dinners out, walks on the beach and some time in the gym (when I can motivate myself to get there).