Ulster Grocer Summer 2018

GROCER ULSTER

SUMMER 2018

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

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

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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

GROCER

SUMMER 2018

ULSTER

TM

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

MOY PARK REPLACES CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER US TAKEOVER

BY JOHN MULGREW Chris Kirke, newly appointed chief executive of Moy Park.

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orthern Ireland poultry giant Moy Park – number one in the Ulster Grocer Top 30 Local Food & Drinks Companies - has replaced its chief

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MERGER MANIA: DONALD C MCFETRIDGE & ROSS LINCOLN FROM KANTAR WORLDPANEL LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF ONGOING CONSOLIDATION IN THE GROCERY SECTOR.

executive Janet McCollum just months after its takeover by a US firm.

Chris Kirke is taking over as president of the Craigavon-based business, which employs almost 6,300 workers in Northern Ireland.

McCollum, who has headed the business since 2014, was meanwhile appointed as a non-executive director of Glanbia Ireland last month.

“The Pilgrim’s team is excited to have Chris join us on our journey to realise our vision of becoming the best and most respected company in our industry,” said Bill Lovette, president and chief executive of Pilgrim’s Pride.

“His proven track record of delivering results for customers, and driving profitability in the UK and the US, will uniquely position the Pilgrim’s European business platform for its next chapter of

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PICK PUNJANA TEA:

JAMIE & CAMILLE THOMPSON VISIT INDIA, WHERE THEY SOURCE LEAVES FOR AWARD-WINNING PUNANA, NORTHERN IRELAND’S FAVOURITE CUPPA.

accelerated growth and innovation.

“Janet was instrumental in establishing Moy Park as an unquestioned leader in the food industry in the UK. She has accomplished a lot and we are grateful for her more than 25 years of dedicated service and commitment to Moy Park.

“As she hands the reins over to Chris, I want to wish Janet the very best in her next endeavour.”

The company also announced the appointment of Flavio Malnarcic, former executive business director at Moy Park, as chief financial officer.

Moy Park works with over 800 poultry farmers in the UK and processes six million fresh chickens each week.

Although best known for poultry, it is a major European producer of beef products, vegetarian products such as spring rolls and onion rings, as well as desserts including donuts and apple pies — a full range from starters and main courses to desserts.

Last year, McCollum received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank.

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TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES:

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150TH BALMORAL SHOW:

HENDERSON GROUP & M&S RECOGNISE THEIR TOP SUPPLIERS, WHO MADE THE CUT? NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP GROCERY & AGRI-FOOD WHILE SAM BUTLER HIGHLIGHTS AN URGENT NEED FOR SECTOR SUPPORT. BUSINESSES, RANKED BY TURNOVER.

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EDITORIAL COMMENTARY Volume 53, Number 6 Summer 2018 Editor: Alyson Magee E: a.magee@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4175 Contributors: Michele Shirlow, Jason Winstanley, Donald C McFetridge, Ross Lincoln Sales Manager: Chris Keenan E: c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4266 Art Editor: Helen Wright Production Manager: Irene Fitzsimmons Ulster Grocer c/o Independent News & Media Ltd, Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG www.ulstergrocer.com @ulstergrocer www.facebook.com/ulstergrocer Subscriptions: £27.50 per annum

£37.50 per annum (outside UK) Designed & Produced by: Independent News & Media Ltd Tel: 028 9026 4000 Printed by: W&G Baird, Antrim Tel: 028 9446 3911

ABC CIRCULATION: 4,420 YEAR TO JUNE 2017 (6,100-PLUS SINCE JUNE 2017) Independent News & Media Ltd ©2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or stransmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of Independent News & Media Ltd.

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CONTINUED GROWTH FOR THE TOP 30 W elcome to our double summer edition of Ulster Grocer, featuring the Top 30 Local Food & Drinks Companies ranked by turnover. This year, we have slightly expanded the annual listing to include foodservice operators and animal feed suppliers; both of which contribute significantly to the agrifood sector.

The Top 30 makes for an interesting read. Moy Park has a new owner, a new chief executive and again easily steals the top spot, with its turnover almost double that of number two, Dunbia.

Leaving no doubt about the contribution of the meat and poultry sector to Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry, other processors and suppliers represented in the Top 30 include the Foyle Food Group (6), Linden Foods (10) and Cranswick Country Foods (27). Literally feeding into the sector, meanwhile, are John Thompson & Sons (8), Devenish NI (9) and Agricolor (21).

Henderson Group is again in the number-three spot. The leading local retailer, the Group has shown strong growth again this year while inclusion of the foodservice sector has enabled the entire John Henderson (Holdings) figure to be featured for the first time.

Musgrave still reports its results separately and sits proudly at number 7 (Musgrave Retail Partners NI) and 19 (Musgrave Distribution), with both divisions posting growth in turnover.

Other retail groups making the Top 30, which only features companies using a Northern Ireland address to report their financials, include Dunnes Stores (18), Philip Russell (22), D&W Carlisle (23) and Savage & Whitten Holdings (25).

SHS Group has retained its number four spot, while substantially boosting its turnover, as has Dale Farm, again in fifth place.

Alongside meat and poultry, dairy is

one of the strongest sectors with other businesses represented including Lacpatrick Dairies NI (12) – currently considering potential merger proposals - international trading company Lamex Food Europe (14), Lakeland Dairies NI (16) and Strathroy Dairy (26).

Also worth mention is the drinks sector with CocaCola HBC NI (11), James E McCabe (20) and Diageo Global Supply IBC (24).

And, as for the rest, read it yourself on ps30-31, while I’ve leave the expert business commentary to Jonathan Cushley on p29.

Invest NI’s John Hood offers an introduction to the list on p26, highlighting the vital support the agency has been providing to local companies big and small as they seek to expand and create thriving, sustainable businesses.

Invest NI’s remit is, however, focused on the export side of trade and, as agrifood writer Sam Butler highlights on p42, funding support for local producers and suppliers in the domestic market is in short supply with Food NI relying on its membership fees.

And proposals for an agri-food marketing body, which had gathered momentum a few years back, have fallen by the wayside alongside the Stormont stalemate, leaving all the goodwill and profile generated during Year of Food & Drink 2016 to waste away. Shame.

Meanwhile, our producers, processors, suppliers and retailers continue to invest and innovate, and drive the local grocery and agri-food industries forward.

Congratulations to all those making the Top 30, but also to smaller businesses excelling in their own right.

Here’s to a great summer’s trading.

NEWS

RETAIL NI TAKES TO THE SKIES FOR INDEPENDENTS’ DAY

From left, Chris Conway from campaign partner Translink, Lord Mayor of Belfast Deirdre Hargey and Glyn Roberts, CEO of Retail NI.

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etail NI’s Glyn Roberts is to join Steve Turnbull and Eoghan Quigg from Q Radio on a helicopter visiting market towns and local high streets from Ballyhackamore in East Belfast, to Omagh, Newry, Banbridge and Portadown to mark this year’s Independents’ Day. Ahead of the annual July 4 event, supporting local high streets and town centre retailers, Retail NI has published new research conducted by Perceptive Insight in May 2018, revealing 59% of

consumers use local stores for a basket food top-up shop up to three times a week.

The report also indicates the biggest deciding factor for visiting an independent store is to support local businesses (62%), followed by convenience (36%) and better customer service (32%).

“Locality is central to our shopping habits throughout Northern Ireland,” said Roberts. “Whether this is a preference for locally-sourced fresh food or supporting local stores to ensure their money stays in our economy, keeping things local is clearly important to the consumer, as our new research shows.

“Independents’ Day is a unique chance for us to highlight that work and the great calibre of food, fashion, convenience, gift and niche stores throughout Northern Ireland.”

For more information, visit www.retailni.com/independents-day.

TAYTO BECOMES UK’S LARGEST VENDING MACHINE COMPANY AFTER ACQUISITIONS

BY MARGARET CANNING

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ocal crisps and snacks giant Tayto has announced its third acquisition in weeks making it the UK’s biggest vending machine company.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, involves the purchase of Uvenco Vending, franchise business Snack-in-the-Box and Drinkmaster, adding £15m turnover and 200 employees to the Tayto group.

The English firms have been bought from parent company Uvenco UK plc after they

went into administration, and follow Tayto parent company Montagu Group buying the assets of failed Co Londonderry popcorn firm Pot Notch.

Earlier in May, it announced the purchase of Cambridge Vending, while last year it bought another English vending company, Freedom Refreshments.

“This purchase brings us another 12,000 points of sale, giving us a total of more than 25,000 across the group,” said

LOCAL BUSINESS GROUPS ADDRESS POLITICAL VACUUM

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etail NI has collaborated with a number of other local business groups, including the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association and Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, to propose practical solutions to maintain the economy in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive.

The group has written to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to request implementation of special legislative measures to restore stable governance by temporarily empowering senior civil servants to take crucial dayto-day decisions.

Prompting the move was the Belfast High Court judgement on the Arc21 Incinerator, while also thought to be at risk are the North-South Interconnector, A5 upgrade, Belfast Power Station and the £150m ultra-fast Broadband project.

Paul Allen, chief executive of Tayto. “It also broadens our geographical reach as the company has offices in London, Newport, Blackburn, Coventry and Liskeard and franchisees across the UK. Our added scale and geographic growth now places us as the largest British-owned vending company.”

Tayto - number 13 in the Top 30 Food & Drinks Companies - is the biggest UK-owned crisp and snack manufacturer, producing five million bags a day across its six UK sites. The Group’s portfolio includes Portlebay Popcorn, Golden Wonder, Mr Porky, REAL Crisps, Jonathan Crisp and Tayto.

FOOD SECURITY EXPERTS GATHER IN BELFAST

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lobal food security experts converged on Belfast over May 28-31 for a major Summit focused on feeding a growing global population.

Hosted by the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast, along with principal partners safefood and Laval University (Quebec, Canada), the Belfast Summit on Global Food Integrity was chaired by Professor Chris Elliott.

Among speakers were Dr John Bell (European Commission), Dr Amy Kircher (Food Protection and Defense Institute,

Minnesota, USA), Dr Ellen De Brabander (PepsiCo HQ, New York City), Duncan Williamson (WWF UK) and Renata Clarke (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN).

A ‘Super-Panel’ of senior, international female food regulators gave an overview of some of the biggest challenges facing the global food industry: a rapidly growing population, climate change, food fraud and, closer to home, Brexit.

“The need to address the challenge of global food security and integrity is of increasing importance and urgency with a growing world population,” said Prof Elliott.

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NEWS

NEWTOWNARDS STORE MANAGER TAKES HOME INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Joanne Walker, centre, collects the International Store Manager award at the FMI (Food Marketing Institute) Store Manager Awards held during the Future Leaders Summit in Louisville, Kentucky.

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oanne Walker, a Newtownards store manager who was the first finalist from Northern Ireland to make the shortlist for the FMI Store Manager Awards in the US,

has won her category during an event in Louisville, Kentucky.

The international awards ceremony run by the Food Marketing Institute in the US took place during the Future Leaders Summit on May 16, with Walker taking home the International Store Manager gong.

“It is fantastic recognition for a EUROSPAR store manager from Northern Ireland to pick up this global award,” said Mark McCammond, retail director at the Henderson Group. “It shows the level of professionalism our store managers bring to retail in Northern Ireland; Joanne has grown her store, her team and the level of service for her shoppers and that should be celebrated, which we will make sure of when Joanne gets home.”

FIRST CHIPMONGERS OPENS IN BELFAST

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elfast has welcomed its first Chipmongers, the successful chip shop franchise operated

by Musgrave, on University Road. The opening represents an investment of £130,000, creating nine jobs.

“I have a background in printing and brand development so when I saw the Chipmongers colour palate and memorable logo I was struck by how well it looked and I was intrigued to find out more,” said Martin McKeown, owner. “However, it was when I saw the menu and tasted the food that my mind was made up

as the quality of the food, provided by Musgrave, is incredible.

“Our delicious chips are freshly prepared on site and customers love the option to Shake a Flavour on their chips, including Rosemary Salt, Cajun Salt, Spice it Up, or the very popular Chicken Salt. As well as the traditional chip shop options, including curry and gravy chips and our succulent fish in a beautifully light crispy batter, we have something for everyone.”

Musgrave plans to roll out the franchise in Northern Ireland, which is currently home to sites in Lisburn and Ballymena.

Martin McKeown

HK DICKEY CLOSES WITH LOSS OF ALMOST 50 JOBS A long-established Co Antrim chicken processing business has closed its doors after more than 60 years. Throughout the last six decades, HK Dickey built a reputation for its high-quality products and ethical standards, supplying to leading restaurants and retail outlets across Northern Ireland.

It was run by the Dickey family from premises at Granagh Road in rural Cullybackey, close to Ballymena, and employed 48 staff. All have now been made redundant.

Managing Director Wesley Dickey attributed the company’s failure to tightening margins in the sector and difficult trading conditions.

PIG FARMERS CHALLENGE RHI EXCLUSION A pig farming business has won High Court permission to challenge the exclusion of a planned £25m power plant from the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

AA McGuckian was granted leave to seek a judicial review over being told the facility envisaged for its site in Cloughmills, Co Antrim was not eligible for subsidy. Proceedings against the Department for the Economy will now advance to a full hearing before the end of October.

Bosses say they spent more than £500,000 in securing planning permission, employing consultants and obtaining finance for a project with an estimated cost of £20£25m.

LOCAL COMPANIES WIN BIG AT FREEFROM AWARDS

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elkin, distributed by Valeo in Lisburn, was a major winner at the FreeFrom Food Awards held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood last month ahead of Coeliac Awareness Week 2018.

Over 600 entries were judged across 45 categories, with Kelkin picking up awards in the categories of Bars & Snacks, Breakfast Cereals, Confectionery, Crackers, Kids’ Choice, Long Life and Rice Cakes.

Other local companies and suppliers recognised included Magic Rock Brewing 6

distributed by Nelson & Sauvin in Belfast (Beer); Lakeland Bakery in Fermanagh (Cake Mixes/Cakes); and Middleton Foods and Cobbs distributed by Lynas and Natures Oils distributed by Taste of Goodness in Derry (Catering & Foodservice/Condiments).

In the category of Confectionery (Chocolate)/Sweets, Free’ist from GM Marketing was recognised, as was Mash Direct across Kids’ Choice, Parents’ Choice and Ready to Cook.

Further accolades included Oh So Lean

in Meats (Sausages), Meats (Other) and Soups; Crust & Crumb in Pizza; and both Taste of Goodness and Dragon Brand in Sauces (Pour Over).

Lidl, Tesco, Asda and Dunnes Stores were also well represented in the Awards, with Tesco picking up Range of the Year.

“We have been part of the Awards tasting panel since its inception three years ago and are delighted to see Northern companies doing so well each year,” said Derek Thompson of Gluten Free Ireland.

RETAIL ANALYSIS

THE MERGER: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

BY DONALD C McFETRIDGE, INDEPENDENT RETAIL ANALYST

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ecent news that Sainsbury’s and Asda are planning to merge came as a great surprise to many in the retail sector but to me, personally, it was no great surprise at all. The writing had already been on the wall for many years.

By joining forces, Sainsbury’s and Asda will have a formidable position in the retail grocery sector both here and right throughout the rest of Great Britain.

That is, if the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approve the deal.

At the time of the announcement, it struck me as somewhat brash to announce that both companies had every hope that the deal would go through and there would no store closures as a result of the merger. That is simply wishful thinking.

Even though Sainsbury’s has greater market dominance in the southern part of the UK and Asda has a major presence in the north, that is not a good enough reason to announce, or expect, that there will be no store closures. There are certain geographic regions and locations where there is bound to be some degree of overlap and it is, in my opinion, more than likely the CMA will require some stores to be sold off as a result.

Normally, in situations like this, there is always a fair amount of trimming and tinkering at the edges where both store groups are concerned. They are likely to be quietly getting rid of some stores (mainly by sale, to the convenience sector) in anticipation of their store portfolios being examined in great detail by the CMA in the coming days.

It has been well over 20 years since we’ve seen a deal of this size and scale, either here in Northern Ireland or in the rest of the UK and commentators and analysts have been busily examining the consequences of this situation.

In my opinion, there are two principal alternatives, and fairly obvious consequences, of the proposed merger which are as follows: 1: The Competition and Markets Authority could, if they wanted, approve the deal with absolutely no store closures; 2: The Competition and Markets Authority could (and this is much more likely) insist that both companies sell off, or close, a number of stores in regions where the merger would result in a local monopoly.

Whatever the outcome of the scrutiny by the CMA, I strongly believe that there 8

will have to be store closures and this will, inevitably and regretfully, lead to job losses as well.

At present, the retail world is in a state of flux. During the last recession, I pointed out that consumers had learned to shop in different ways than before. I also stressed that consumers would not revert to type when the recession was over, and this has proved to be the case.

Arguably, we have become a nation of discount shoppers, unwilling to pay ‘top dollar’ for anything, whether that be food or non-food merchandise. The recession taught consumers that they didn’t need to pay full price for many food and non-food offerings and that’s

“MANY OTHER LEADING RETAILERS WILL START TRIMMING THEIR STORE PORTFOLIOS AS WE PROCEED THROUGH THE REST OF THIS YEAR, AND WELL INTO THE YEAR 2020.”

Donald C McFetridge, independent retail analyst

a lesson consumers are unwilling to unlearn. In fact, why should they?

As a consequence of this, retailers (both on the high street and in out-oftown locations) have faced considerable pressure from consumers and have been dealing with the situation mainly in terms of price competition. This has led to increased pressure on suppliers and the supply chain in general.

Food retailers, particularly, are now faced with squeezing for tighter and tighter margins and something has to be sacrificed in order for them to retain their market position.

This has led to them having to trim their estates and store portfolios. If, 10 years ago, anyone had suggested that Marks & Spencer would announce that they were closing 100 of their stores, it would have been regarded as laughable.

However, in May 2018, they made public their plans to close said number of stores.

If we take a retrospective look back

over the past few years, the shape of the high street and the changes in fascia above the doors has been astonishing.

We have lost British Home Stores and C&A, to cite only two examples. The business pages of our newspapers are constantly alerting us to the fact that store groups like New Look and the formerly indomitable Marks & Spencer are in troubled times. Even John Lewis, once regarded as the ultimate bellwether of the high street, and Waitrose are not without their troubles either.

The future for both food and non-food retailing looks challenging, to say the very least. Many other leading retailers will start trimming their store portfolios as we proceed through the rest of this year, and well into the year 2020.

Further, we will read many more headlines with announcements that stores are shedding stores. Next and Marks & Spencer (in the middle market of the fashion retail sector) look set to face even more challenging times in the next few years, and I would not be surprised to hear announcements of further store closures with the consequent loss of jobs.

Rumours, of course, abound about other deals which are being discussed at this very minute. Tesco, faced with the challenge of the combined forces of Sainsbury’s/Asda, will certainly not be sitting back and not thinking about their future. It is more than likely that there could be several other big announcements over the coming months when deals have been agreed. It would be foolhardy, if not wholly unpardonable, for Tesco not to be looking at a deal with the likes of Marks & Spencer or another major retailer in order to be able to take on the challenge of Sainsbury’s/Asda.

In fact, it strikes me that the shedding of 100 M&S stores is the first step towards preparing themselves for a sale.

Trimming store estates is seldom a good sign, either for shareholders, staff or loyal customers.

In the beginning (here in Northern Ireland) we had Stewarts, Crazy Prices and Wellworths. In the coming months, we will have a combined Sainsbury’s/ Asda and Tesco scenario. Times have changed, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

However, one thing is certain, no matter what happens, this is just the beginning – not the end. The chess game is not quite over yet!

RETAIL ANALYSIS

A MORE COMPETITIVE RETAIL LANDSCAPE THAN EVER

BY ROSS LINCOLN, KANTAR WORLDPANEL

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he Northern Ireland grocery market is growing over the latest 52 weeks as sales increased by +1.7% versus the previous year. While value sales are strong as shoppers pay slightly more for their groceries, volume is down as shoppers go on less trips. On average, Northern Ireland shoppers go on 254 shopping trips a year, but this is down by nine trips versus the previous year. There are two reasons for the fall in frequency.

1. Lower unemployment has meant more people have less time to shop around as often.

2. The competitive retail landscape encourages shoppers to buy more on each trip in that retailer.

When we look at the retailer landscape, the big news is the merger between Asda and Sainsbury’s, which could create a wider shopper base than either has individually. Over the past 12 months, 48% of Sainsbury’s

sales went to empty nesters and the retired, in contrast to only a third at Asda. Meanwhile, families preferred the Walmart-owned retailer, accounting for 49% of sales, versus 30% at Sainsbury’s.

Sainsbury’s appeals to more affluent and city-based customers, with more than half of its sales coming from Greater Belfast this year compared to Asda’s third.

Current performance for the two shows that Sainsbury’s are just ahead of Asda’s share of 17.1%, with 17.3%. Both retailers are growing but Sainsbury’s are growing just ahead of the market with +2% growth versus the previous year. In contrast to the trends in the total market, Sainsbury’s has encouraged shoppers to go on more trips to the retailer, with the average Sainsbury’s shopper going on one more trip to the retailer than they did last year.

Alcohol, Soft Drinks and Healthcare are three categories driving growth for the

retailer.

Asda has seen more shoppers come through the door, with 81.1% of the Northern Ireland household population having shopped there at least once, up from 79.4% last year. Shoppers are now paying less for their groceries in Asda this year, as average price per item decreases from £1.44 to £1.41.

Frozen, Biscuits and Healthcare are three categories driving growth in the retailer.

Tesco are still the number one retailer, growing by +2.6% and achieving an increase in share from 34.9% to 35.2%. Younger, smaller households have spent more in the retailer, driving growth as they shop more often in Tesco. They also pick up more items on each trip, showing that Tesco is the retailer of choice for this demographic.

Tesco has seen good success come through Alcohol, Frozen and Bakery, three categories which together take up almost a quarter of their sales.

Lidl is the fastest growing take-home retailer, experiencing +5.7% growth year on year, growing share from 4.8% to 5.1%. The German retailer is seeing more shoppers come through the door as just over three-quarters of Northern Ireland shoppers shopped in a Lidl in the latest 52 weeks. On average, shoppers pick up 13 items on each trip and this is up by +1.8% versus 12 months previously, showing that shoppers are more invested in their range. Lidl has done very well with younger families as more of them now shop in the retailer.

Fresh Meat and Toiletries are two categories driving growth.

Overall, the future of Northern Ireland grocery looks interesting. If the merger goes ahead, Asda and Sainsbury’s are set to shake up how the retailer landscape looks. Additionally, with Tesco and Lidl growing strong, the market will be more competitive than ever. The challenge for retailers in Northern Ireland is to continue to show a point of differentiation which will entice more shoppers to come into their store, more often, therefore creating more moments of truth.

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RETAIL NEWS - INDEPENDENTS

HILLSBOROUGH FARMERS’ MARKET RETURNS FOR THE SUMMER

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isburn & Castlereagh City Council has announced the return of its popular Hillsborough Farmers’ Market for summer 2018 with three markets scheduled to take place from 10am–3pm on the last Saturday of May, June and July in the picturesque setting of Dark Walk Lane at Hillsborough Fort.

Visitors can discover a wealthy crop of local, fresh and seasonal produce, artisan foods and a specialised horticultural offering, with over 35 local farmers and artisan producers taking part over the summer. Produce on offer will include speciality rare-breed meats, seasonal and local vegetables, award-winning charcuterie, preserves, chutneys and pickles, Irish artisan cheeses, fresh bread and cakes – and so much more that you would expect from a great farmers’ market. Gourmet street food and coffee can be enjoyed against the backdrop of the sounds of the market.

Local producers attending the first of this summer’s markets include Ke Nako Biltong, which recently featured on BBC2’s Top of The Shop and Ulster Grocer award winner, Mange Tout Artisan Deli, which will be showcasing their fine range of

Pictured are representatives from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and artisans attending Hillsborough Farmers’ Market.

mouth-watering French patisserie.

In addition, popular small batch artisan producers including Mike’s Fancy Cheese, Crumbs Vegan Bakery and Ispini Charcuterie will be there, while Castlescreen Farm will offer their sought after veg roll, burgers, steaks and joints from their grass-fed Dexter beef herd.

NIRC HIGHLIGHTS RETAIL NI WELCOMES COUNCIL REJECTION OF NEED FOR A FAIR SUNDAY TRADING EXTENSION R BREXIT DEAL

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orthern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) has stressed the need for a fair Brexit deal for consumers to be front and centre in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

“It is extremely Aodhán Connolly heartening to know after talking to representatives from the five largest political parties over the past few days that no matter their stance on Brexit, the concerns of the hard-pressed Northern Ireland consumer are uppermost in the minds,” said Aodhán Connolly, director of the NIRC, speaking after meetings at the Balmoral Show.

“However, we need that concern to become action by calling on the government and the EU to put our consumers first.

“The average Northern Ireland household already has less than half of the weekly discretionary spending power of GB households. Any rises in costs such as new tariffs post-Brexit simply can’t be absorbed entirely by retailers and after talking to primary producers and processors, they too would struggle to absorb these costs.”

etail NI has welcomed last month’s vote by Belfast City Council Strategic Policy and Resources Committee against proposals to extend Sunday trading hours by 16-4.

Retail NI repeated its call for a new broader strategy for developing the weekend economy of the city with key strategic partners.

“If the proposed change had gone ahead, it would have placed extra pressure on retail workers and would have had a damaging effect on small independent retailers who trade on a Sunday morning,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI. “We now need to focus on moving forward and agree a broader strategy to grow the weekend economy of Belfast.

Retail NI is committed to seeing Belfast becoming a truly global city with a competitive retail and hospitality offer to

shoppers and tourists.

“Retail NI tabled proposals for a Small Shop Sunday campaign to encourage shoppers and tourists to support the city’s smaller retailers on a Sunday morning between 11am-1pm. Large retailers would continue to trade from 1pm onwards.

“This proposal would offer visitors something different for a Sunday morning and could showcase Belfast’s fantastic independent retailers through a dynamic social media campaign and increased animation. ”Our proposals have the support of the shop workers union USDAW and could provide tourists with something different on a Sunday morning. It does not require any changes to the existing Sunday trading legislation and we believe it could be established in time for this summer.”

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RETAIL NI CALLS FOR CAR PARKING STRATEGY

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delegation from Retail NI met with Infrastructure Secretary Peter May and senior officials in May to discuss problems related to the 150,000 car parking fines issued last year.

“Getting car parking and its enforcement right is absolutely key to the future success of our town and city centres,” said Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI. “Our members have expressed considerable concern with the over-zealous approach of the traffic attendants. “The only winners from this are the large outof-town supermarkets, which have free car parking and no traffic attendants.”

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14647_N

O T D E T T I M M CO

S R E L I A T E R R OU SINCE 1977

“We have three forecourt stores with the Nisa Local fascia and have recently updated our Parkgate store to the Store of the Future 2 Evolution format and are really pleased with how it has gone. We joined Nisa in the year 2000 and it’s great. Being with Nisa gives us a lot of freedom to do what we want with our business and the pricing is also better than many groups.

The great thing about Nisa is that nobody tells us what to do but they do know what they are talking about and the advice and guidance we get from the Nisa team really is fantastic. But at the end of the day I am my own boss and I make the final decision as to what we’ll do with our business – that’s not something you get from most other symbol groups.”

The advice and guidance we get from the Nisa team really is fantastic.

James Knox, Nisa Local Parkgate, Lurgan - Nisa Retail Partner since the year 2000

Join the family... visit www.join-nisa.co.uk 14647_NISA_TradePress_James_Knox_2018_A4_AW02.indd 1

01/06/2018 09:22

RETAIL NEWS - SYMBOLS

CENTRA INVESTS OVER £1.25M TO HELP NI ‘LIVE WELL’

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entra is investing just over £1.25m this year to help inspire the people of Northern Ireland to ‘Live Well’.

This investment includes the Centra 10Week Wellness Plan, an extensive range of healthier food and drinks in-store, an enhanced series of family fun ‘Run Together’ 5K events, a series of summer roadshows across Northern Ireland and participation in the Belfast Marathon and Half Marathon.

“We have listened to our customers who are telling us their health is hugely important to them,” said Jennifer Morton, Centra brand manager. “So, building on the work we did last year, we have created a year-long programme

From left, Jane McClenaghan, nutrition ambassador; Jennifer Morton, Centra brand manager; Bridgeen ReaKaya, mindfulness ambassador; and Johnny Davis, run together ambassador.

of varied events and an incredible online resource, backed up by a super range of healthy foods and drinks available in our stores, that puts health and wellbeing at the top of our agenda.”

As part of this commitment to healthier

living, Centra has enlisted the help of a top team of ambassadors to create the Centra 10-Week Wellness Plan which is available now. The ambassadors’ expert advice on personal fitness, nutrition and mindfulness is worth £600 but Centra is making the advice free to everyone who signs up online.

The team includes Nutrition Ambassador Jane McClenaghan, Run Together Ambassador Johnny Davis and Mindfulness Ambassador Bridgeen ReaKaya.

Centra is also sponsoring Northern Ireland’s first Health and Fitness Awards, to be held on September 22 in the Crowne Plaza Belfast.

FRANK AND HONEST COFFEE GOES COMPOSTABLE

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rank and Honest is delighted to announce its commitment to become the first national coffee brand to move to 100% compostable coffee cups.

Frank and Honest, available in selected SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores, will replace all non-recyclable single-use coffee cups with a new compostable cup and lid from September this year.

This new initiative has the potential to divert millions of coffee cups from landfill annually.

The new compostable cups and lids can be organically recycled in the brown food waste bin and commercially composted locally, typically in a matter of weeks.

“Frank and Honest has a national

geographical footprint with 630 locations across the island of Ireland, so this new initiative will help move towards a more sustainable Northern Ireland,” said Fergal O’Kane, Musgrave.

“Last month, Musgrave and our SuperValu and Centra brands, were named Green Retailer of the Year for the development of our ambitious new threeyear sustainability strategy.

“So, by offering customers only compostable Frank and Honest cups, we are further building on our commitment to sustainability and improving the planet.”

Frank and Honest is available at selected SuperValu, Centra and Mace

From left, Fergal O’Kane from Musgrave and local business owner and passionate recycler, Nicola BryceWard.

stores in over 70 locations in Northern Ireland, including the first sit-in café in SuperValu Comber.

COFEE MORNING RAISES ALMOST £60,000 E UROSPAR and ViVOXTRA staff and shoppers from across Northern Ireland have raised almost £60,000 for Cancer Fund for Children during the stores’ annual coffee morning held

From left, Lauren Cunningham, corporate fundraiser from Cancer Fund for Children accepts a cheque on behalf of the charity for £57,073 from Robert Foster, store manager of EUROSPAR Crumlin and Catherine McAlynn, brand manager at the Henderson Group.

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recently.

“We are absolutely blown away once again by the enthusiasm and generosity of our staff and shoppers,” said Catherine McAlynn, brand manager at the Henderson Group. “They made our second Coffee Morning a huge success and raised even more vital funds to keep this amazing organisation front and centre of children and young peoples’ lives who are going through cancer treatment.

“In one morning, we welcomed almost 85,000 shoppers across 57 EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA supermarkets, who drank around 15,000 Barista Bar coffees and cups of tea, enjoyed about 6,600 tray bakes

and raised a total of £57,078 for such a worthy cause.”

The total amount of money donated

by EUROSPAR shoppers to Cancer Fund for Children is now up to £878,259 since the partnership began in 2011.

The £57,000 raised this year could now provide over 100 families with a Travel for Treatment Grant to help those who need to travel outside of Northern Ireland for treatment or surgery; it will also go towards enabling families to get a short break at Cancer Fund’s therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge and it help deliver 18 months’ worth of residential support for young people living with cancer at the log cabin Narnia in Newcastle, Co Down.

RETAIL NEWS - SYMBOLS

BARISTA BAR TAKES OFF WITH NEW LOYALTY REWARDS AND TREATS N

orthern Ireland’s leading coffee brand, Barista Bar, is accelerating its brand development with the launch of a new, industry-leading loyalty scheme as well as a range of new snacking treats.

The innovative, digital format loyalty scheme includes a card and handy key fob to replace the previous printed cards. The scheme has been developed to enable Barista Bar to provide more offers to consumers, including an introductory free coffee and congratulatory free birthday coffee.

Cards are available in over 340 SPAR, EUROSPAR, VIVO and VIVOXtra stores, and points can be collected straight away after registering cards online at www. mybaristasbar.com, with consumers receiving their first coffee free and then a free drink after every nine purchased.

“Since launching, over 20,000 people have signed up across the Province and

we’re thrilled with the reaction from our consumers,” said Mark StewartMaunder, business development director at Henderson Foodservice. “We’re passionate about delivering consistent quality in every cup and want to reward them with a great loyalty scheme and say thank you for their continued custom.

“This is the first large scale loyalty scheme to be launched by Henderson Group and we’re very excited to offer

our loyal customers with rewards to enhance their Barista Bar experience, with more offers and customer benefits being made available throughout the next 12 months.”

Barista Bar is also launching Treat Slices and Protein Bites aimed at consumers who want a grab-andgo snack with their coffee. The launch of the range enhances the brand development into the growing snacking market. The luxury slice range includes pre-wrapped Rocky Road, Caramel Slice and Granola Bars, whilst the on-trend Protein Bites, include Peanut Butter, Coconut & Goji and Chia & Oat flavours with the added benefit of being gluten free.

Barista Bar is owned by Henderson Foodservice and, since launching in March 2015 has, on average, opened nine new Barista Bar stations every month.

PLOUGHMAN’S PLATTER

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ometimes, the simple things in life are, quite simply, the best. Surely on a cold winter’s day, a Ploughman’s Platter has to be among those simply good things...

Our Ploughman’s Platter is really as easy as it gets. Cookstown baked, crumbed ham sliced, Fivemiletown mature cheddar and Ballyblue, fresh crusty bread and lasings of Edwards mixed pickled, with extra pickled beetroot and cauliflower. All you need now is a cider or pale ale to make the meal complete.

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RETAIL NEWS - MULTIPLES

ASDA STRABANE MANAGER HEADS TO ARKANSAS

From left, Michael McFadden, general store manager, and Mark Barr, grocery section manager, Asda Strabane.

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manager from Asda Strabane has been handpicked for a once-in-alifetime trip to the USA, in recognition of providing a high level of customer service to local shoppers over the past nine years.

Mark Barr, grocery section manager at Asda Strabane, was selected to attend the Shareholders Conference at Walmart, the world’s largest retailer and owner of Asda, at the end of May in Arkansas.

Attended by over 15,000 Walmart colleagues and associates from across the USA as well as from China, India, Japan, Mexico and Brazil, the conference

celebrates the accomplishments of the business and its people and shares new ideas.

Celebrity guests usually make an appearance with the 2017 conference featuring pop superstar Katy Perry and James Corden, while previous guests have included Mariah Carey, Pharrell Williams and Tom Cruise.

“Mark always goes above and beyond to help both customers and colleagues, so we are delighted that he will be a representative for our store at the upcoming conference,” said Michael McFadden, general store manager at Asda Strabane.

“This is a fantastic way for an Asda Strabane colleague to learn more about how Walmart works in other countries by meeting colleagues from around the world and sharing experiences. We also encourage those that attend to share what they learn with their colleagues back home on their return. I’m sure all those that are going will have lots of fun but also find it a really rewarding experience.”

MACKLE PETFOODS IS ‘TOP DOG’ IN ASDA C

o Armagh-based Mackle Pet Foods has secured a new deal to supply 335 Asda stores across the UK with its Naturo Treats range.

The Naturo Treats product range, which includes liver and cranberry biscotti, lamb bones, and liver brownies, are handmade, freshly baked and contain 100% natural ingredients.

As part of the deal, Asda will also list a further six Naturo lines to over 387 stores UK-wide, including Grain Free Trays Variety 6 pack, Grain Free From left, Michael McCallion, buying manager for Asda NI, and Chicken & Potato with vegetables, Lamb & Rice, Senior Turkey for older Colin Ferguson, sales manager for Naturo. dogs, and Duck & Rice varieties.

The Grain Free Trays have been developed to help dogs with digestive problems or requiring additional vitamin and mineral support.

“Mackle Petfood’s expertise, focus on new product development – and quality and variety in terms of product offering is second to none,” said Michael McCallion, buying manager for Asda NI. “I know our customers will love the Naturo range – and it’s excellent to be able to offer pet owners this level of choice in store.”

In addition to the nine lines now available in Asda’s UK stores, the brand is exported to 14 countries, including Europe and the Middle East.

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RETAILER LAUNCHES NEW MY M&S FAVOURITE CAMPAIGN

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&S has launched a new customer engagement campaign harnessing the endorsement power of its 53,000 Foodhall colleagues to shine a spotlight on their favourite M&S Food.

My M&S Favourite, which launched in over 1,000 M&S stores across the country in May, sees M&S colleagues donning new, personalised badges declaring their favourite M&S products. It will also be supported on shelf décor calling out M&S’ colleague recommendations to customers.

The campaign comes on the back of M&S internal research showing that personal recommendations matter more than anything else when it comes to influencing purchases and that 90% of customers are more likely to buy something that has been recommended to them.

SKEA EGG FARMS REACHES MILESTONE FOR M&S

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ungannon-based Skea Egg Farms has reached a milestone of 194 local production units and, from July 2018, will supply over 70% of the eggs sold on the shelves of Marks & Spencer stores across the UK and Ireland, totalling 63 million eggs each year.

The company, which employs 136 people at its Donaghmore packing centre, supplies M&S with Free Range, Organic and Omega 3 eggs.

Since 1997, M&S has only sold freerange eggs and, in 2002, became the first ever food retailer to use only freerange eggs in all its products including prepared meals.

MY LIFE IN THE GROCERY TRADE FRANCK BRÉTÉCHÉ, CHEF/OWNER OF MANGE TOUT CAFÉ, DELI & PATISSERIE that I do if I didn’t enjoy it so much. The worst part is probably the early start. I sometimes have to get up at 4am if we have a particularly busy day ahead. I also don’t enjoy paperwork but am lucky as my wife Tina looks after this.

BRIEFLY OUTLINE YOUR BACKGROUND I lived in Nantes, France until I was 19, where I trained as an apprentice in Patissier, Chocolatier, Glacier, Confiseur (pastry chef, chocolate maker, ice cream maker and sugar work). I moved to Ireland with my parents and brother in 1989.

During this time, I have worked in restaurants, bakeries and hotels in England and Ireland.

I worked in Belfast from 1990 and started in Café Royale in the new Castle Court Complex under Trevor Smylie (former owner of Old Post Office Lisbane).

I then worked for Kennedy’s Bakeries and set up a Continental Bakery for them on the Lisburn Road. Production was then moved to their bakery on Stockman’s Lane before they closed down. I also worked in Antica Roma and Villa Italia before taking up the position of bakery manager for Paul Rankin of Roscoff’s. I then worked for Simon Dougan at the Yellow Door, Portadown for 10 years as head of his pastry section.

WHAT ARE THE BEST/WORST PARTS OF YOUR JOB? The best part is getting to do what I love… bake. I could not put in the hours of work

BRIEFLY OUTLINE A TYPICAL DAY My usual time to get up is at 6am. I start by baking my bread and scones for the day and prepping for the breakfast rush. I then head to Downpatrick to pick up some daily essentials before the café opens at 8.30am. The morning is taken up with deliveries, preparing my display on the deli counter and cooking/ baking. There are 32 seats in our café and lunchtime service is very busy for sit in and takeaway. From 2.30pm onwards, I spend the rest of the day going over what we have on for the week ahead and ordering supplies accordingly and depending on the day it is, I may start baking sometimes until late at night. We supply wholesale baked pies, quiches and patisserie to stores so we contact them for their orders for the week. Most weekends my wife Tina, my daughter Ellie and I work at farmers’ markets up and down the country. I bake everything from scratch so my job is very labour intensive. I could also have a function to cater or an event to attend.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROUDEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? I’m proud all of the awards that we have won which include a Special Recognition award from Newry Mourne and Down Council, and Best Artisan Food Campaign from Ulster Grocer, as well as numerous Taste of Ulster Awards. But

probably my proudest moment of all was the day I took the plunge by going self employed and opened my own shop. That felt good.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE LOCAL RETAIL INDUSTRY? I enjoy interacting with all customers and already knew a lot of them personally before I began supplying them. When I worked in Portadown, I had an 80-mile round trip daily; now I live where I work and have a threeminute commute. With the explosion of artisan markets in Co Down, we are able to pop up lots in our local area and are not restricted to working in our shop. We now attend the new and very successful monthly artisan markets in Downpatrick, Newcastle and soonto-start Portaferry Market, as well as Comber and Hillsborough. We are in an excellent position of being able to bring our products to the public and speak to our customers face to face.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND AWAY FROM WORK? I like spending time with my family and play Petanque (French Boules) with my dad and brother. We played regularly when we lived in France but also play for Ireland at an international level. I also enjoy fishing and am lucky to live near Ardglass and the Quoile River.

Recently I have taken up weight lifting.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE MAY KNOW I used to own a touring racing car and took part in track races at Bishops Court, Nutts Corner and Kirkistown.

FOOD & DRINKS NEWS

DYNAMIC INDUSTRY SETTING THE PACE

BY MICHELE SHIRLOW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FOOD NI

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hat a marvellous occasion the recent Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards proved to be. But then it’s always a great opportunity to acclaim the local industry’s achievements and to network with other attendees. Our industry really is very dynamic and innovative. I congratulate the Ulster Grocer team on organising such a spectacular event that showcased and recognised the industry’s huge contribution to the local economy.

This year, Food NI was delighted to sponsor the first category to focus on the creativity and commitment of our smaller food and drink businesses – the Best Artisan Marketing Campaign.

There’s been an immensely encouraging growth in smaller food and drink businesses, including many start up enterprises, over the past decade, several of which have gone on to win major awards and, much more importantly, sales in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The first winner of the Artisan category was Mange Tout Deli in Downpatrick, an ambitious business run by husband and wife team chef Franck and Tina Brétéché. The business started life as a quality café and has diversified into the production of the delicacies popular with diners, for market shoppers and then for independent retailers.

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The original and premium products are all hand crafted by Franck, a native of Nantes in France who worked in boulangeries and restaurants there before marriage to Tina brought him to Northern Ireland.

He gained experience here with the talented Simon Dougan of Yellow Door, before setting up in business with Tina. As well as delicious French patisserie, Mange Tout has won widespread recognition for the quality and originality of its breads, quiches, pizzas, pies and fruit tarts.

The couple decided to move into the wholesale of the products as a way of growing the business and developed a thoughtful marketing strategy to increase awareness of the brand and products by launching at markets, especially the successful monthly one in Comber. The business has also showcased the products at St George’s, the Twilight markets in Belfast and at the recently launched Saintfield and Downpatrick markets.

Very positive feedback from market shoppers encouraged the couple to pitch for business from local retailers including several symbol shops. They all recognised

ewry-based food-to-go manufacturer Around Noon has picked up two national awards in London for new product development.

The fast-growing company, which now employs over 300 people, won two awards at the Sammies 2018 – the British Sandwich and Food-to-Go Association Awards - Hot and overall New Sandwich of the Year. At the 2017 Awards, Around Noon picked up three Sammies.

New Sandwich of the Year 2018 was won by Around Noon’s Breakfast Toast, which includes black pudding, mushrooms, spring onions, goats’ cheese, cheddar, bacon and spicy house ketchup on sourdough toast.

“We want to position Around Noon as the UK and Ireland’s leading food-to-go manufacturer and to lead the way in innovation and new product development in the industry,” said Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon.

The past year has seen Around Noon named in the Sunday Times Fast-track 100 and acquiring a London-based business, while Chambers was named Young Business Person of the Year at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.

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the quality and originality of Franck’s recipes and listed them. Business has been good in all the shops with the Mange Tout range.

Mange Tout, therefore, is an excellent example of a smaller food producer with innovative and outstandingly tasty products that’s growing its business successfully by implementing a focused marketing strategy that’s within its resources and capacity.

Mange Tout has sought steady progress rather than being tempted to over stretch itself by moving ahead of its capabilities and resources too quickly. As a result, business is growing steadily. This has encouraged the enterprise to explore other expansion opportunities.

Food NI recognises the importance of helping smaller companies develop the capability and capacity for faster growth, and it was great to see other local companies, such as Peppup, Irish Black Butter and Cavanagh Eggs, vying for awards. Proof if it were needed that we have some very exciting and increasingly professional smaller business that are benefiting from the marketing initiatives that we are now developing.

AROUND NOON PICKS UP FIVE SAMMIES IN TWO YEARS

From left, Gareth Chambers, chief executive, and David Graham, executive chef of Around Noon.

FOOD & DRINKS NEWS

CONSUMER INSIGHT AND MARKET UPDATE

BY JASON WINSTANLEY, MOY PARK SENIOR INSIGHT AND RESEARCH MANAGER CHOICES, CHOICES… In an era of mergers and acquisitions between retailers and wholesalers, there is disquiet in some quarters the activity will adversely impact choice available to shoppers. Yet in reality, shoppers have never had as much choice in terms of where, when and how they shop.

Recent research by Moy Park has shown that whilst main shops in large supermarkets remain the most common and frequent form of grocery shopping, shoppers are utilising a multitude of ways to buy groceries. Two thirds of us are using large supermarkets for main shops on at least a weekly basis, and this is the case across the age groups. However, younger shoppers are much more likely to also be using large supermarkets for top-up shopping; 62% of 18-34-year-olds say that they top-up shop in major stores on at least a weekly basis, with this figure falling to 47% for those aged 55 or over.

The youngest shoppers are also the

most likely to be making extensive use of convenience stores, for both main and top-up shops; 39% of 18-34-year-olds are doing main shops in convenience outlets at least once a week, compared to only 16% of those aged 55-plus.

Although there are clear differences in frequency of shop, age differences are most starkly revealed when we consider whether shoppers ever conduct a main shop in a convenience store. Eight out of 10 shoppers aged 18-34 conduct a main shop in a convenience store on at least an occasional basis, yet only three out of 10 shoppers aged 55-plus do so.

Another area which emphatically highlights a generational divide is in the use of home delivery ingredient and recipe boxes and kits. Almost half of the youngest shoppers have made use of delivery services such as Hello Fresh and Gousto, but only 9% of shoppers aged 55 and over have done so, and almost all of these older shoppers are only using

these services on an occasional basis.

Internet shopping in general is more of a leveller, with far more interaction across the age groups.

But it’s not just in the use of channels that shoppers are exercising choice; they are equally comfortable swapping between retail fascias. The research showed that on average, shoppers are regularly shopping in 3.7 different supermarkets, with those on lower incomes over-indexing in their use of multiple retailers. The ‘savvy shopping’ behaviour consumers learned during the recession has clearly become firmly embedded. With more choice available about how and when we can shop than ever before, this behaviour is surely here to stay, and shoppers will continue to make full use of the choices available to them, regardless of how the retail landscape develops and changes.

[Source: Moy Park online survey of 311 shoppers, May 2018]

QUORN DISHING UP TASTY SALES Q

uorn Foods, the market-leading meat-free company, is attracting record numbers of shoppers to Northern Ireland’s meat-free market, backed by its highest ever level of brand investment in 2018.

Quorn is the fastest growing food brand in the UK’s top 50*1, with record sales growth of £19m in 2017*2. The brand plans to invest a further £14m throughout 2018 to continue this strong growth rate.

Quorn Foods National

Account Manager Glenn McCracken says: “Shoppers are actively seeking to reduce their meat intake and are on the lookout for delicious, nutritious products such as Quorn Mince, that are convenient, versatile and can help consumers to make their favourite meals.

“Retailers can increase footfall and sales by reflecting this trend in their ranges as shoppers increasingly expect to find mainstream, meat-free products in both frozen and chilled fixtures.

“This is really good news for Irish retailers, particularly those who have been quick to recognise the rapid growth in shopper demand for chilled and frozen meat-free products and are giving more space to market-leading brands.”

McCracken concludes: “Quorn is consistently one of the biggest media-spending brands which, alongside our significant increase in

distribution, is a driver of record growth in the last 12 months. Retailers should stock up to take advantage of growing consumer demand for meat free.”

For retailers wanting more information on stocking Quorn’s frozen or chilled range, please contact: customer.services@quornfoods.com. *1 The Grocer Britain’s Biggest Brands 2018 report *2 Kantar + IRI MAT Nov 2017 17

ADVERTORIAL

BOOSTING THE MARKET

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oost, as an independent company that supplies only to independent retailers, spotted a gap in the convenience market for a milk-based protein drink that offers great taste and mass-market appeal. We look at trends and what shoppers are putting in their baskets and it was clear there was a huge market for those that are looking for simple ways to include more protein in their diets. Consumer demand for protein certainly shows no sign of slowing but as a business that loves local, we also wanted to find a way to help retailers create a point of difference in their shops. We entered the market with Boost Protein as an on-trend product that’s only available in independent stores.

Boost has enjoyed enormous success in the energy drinks sector; we hold the first, second and third spot for the top-selling soft drinks in Northern Ireland. We took the success we have enjoyed in the energy drinks market, due to our focus on offering great tasting drinks at great value, and successfully applied this to the protein market. Other brands within the category have focused on sport and health messaging whereas Boost focused on creating a product that has a delicious taste that also will help retailers make the most of limited space because of its wider appeal. Boost Protein appeals to several consumer groups, including the consumer looking for a protein hit but also the everyday shopper just looking for an on-the-go snack. Every Boost Protein drink contains 20g of protein and, as the government indicates we need approximately 50g of protein per day, Protein Boost can act as top up for consumers to help them reach their daily recommended intake.

Within Boost’s Protein range is Boost Protein Chocolate and Boost Protein Strawberry. Both options come in a 8x310ml bottle case and Boost also offers the range in a £1.49PMP. Boost is offering a NPM option in recognition of the role they can play in driving customer purchase and increasing basket spend by giving the customer quick, key pricing information at the crucial decision-making point.

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Q&A

FRESH SUPPLIER PROFILE FEATURING GARY MASON, NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER AT IRWIN’S BAKERY, OVERALL SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AT THE HENDERSON WHOLESALE FRESH INNOVATION AWARDS HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED OR HAVE YOU INTRODUCED ANY NEW LINES IN RECENT YEARS? One of the most significant macro trends in the grocery sector is the health agenda. Consumers are more health conscious than ever before. In 2017 Irwin’s launched our Better You range, which is now available across the majority of NI retail outlets. The range includes both white (58 calories per slice) and wholemeal (54 calories per slice) loaves; both of which are low in sugar, fat and deliver one of the lowest calorie breads in the market.

Irwin’s have 15% share of the healthier segment and delivered 52% of all growth. Irwin’s Better You brand is now number two in the healthier breads segment (AC NIELSEN 26 WEEKS TO 27.1.18). Better You is available in 331 Henderson group stores.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS Irwin’s Bakery are a third generation family owned and managed business.

We supply a range of bread and cakes under our Irwin’s, Rankin Selection and Howell’s brands to Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the South of Ireland.

WHEN DID YOU BECOME A SUPPLIER TO THE HENDERSON GROUP? Irwin’s trading history with the Henderson Group can be traced back to 1909 when WD Irwin had a grocery/ bakery store on Woodhouse Street in Portadown and was supplied by John Henderson.

In more recent times, we have rolled out distribution Province-wide and supply 331 stores in the Henderson Group.

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THE HENDERSON GROUP? There are great synergies between our two businesses. Firstly Henderson

Group sources over 75% of their fresh foods locally which Irwin’s as the local baker plays a role in. Another synergy is both businesses are very active in their support to their local communities.

Henderson Group gives local brands the platform and support to showcase your products in some of the leading independent convenience and supermarket stores Province-wide.

HAVE YOU ANY FUTURE PLANS FOR THE BUSINESS AND/OR PARTNERSHIP? Irwin’s will continue to work collaboratively with the Henderson Group to drive the local agenda to NI consumers while continuing to supply local favourites such as Nutty Krust and Muffins.

Winning Overall Supplier of the Year at the recent Henderson Wholesale Fresh Innovation Awards was a fantastic recognition for the entire Irwin’s team. as we supply 331 Henderson Group stores with fresh bread daily. This award has further strengthened the partnership between the two businesses to continue driving the local agenda.

WHAT ADVANTAGES HAS THE PARTNERSHIP BROUGHT? Henderson Group’s Fresh Food growth strategy has delivered Irwin’s sales growth in our last financial year that was double that of the bakery category performance in the marketplace.

Another advantage of our partnership is that Irwin’s also supply Henderson Foodservice, allowing Irwin’s access to both retail and foodservice customers within the Henderson Group.

(Cheque paid to Andrew Millar & Co Ltd in 1909)

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TEA PROFILE

STEEPED IN TEA JAMIE AND CAMILLE THOMPSON OF THOMPSON’S TEA TELL UG ABOUT THEIR RECENT TRIP TO INDIA, WHERE THEY SOURCE LEAVES FOR THE AWARD-WINNING PUNJANA, OFFICIALLY NORTHERN IRELAND’S FAVOURITE CUPPA

Camille & Jamie Thompson learning how to pick tealeaves.

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ur story started in 1896 where, from a tea warehouse near Belfast docks, our founder Robert S Thompson trained in the art of tea tasting and soon became known for his uncompromising devotion to quality.

Since then, four generations of Thompsons have been blending and packing our award-winning range of teas in Belfast for over 120 years. As fourth generation Thompsons, we share a passion for quality and take great pleasure in selecting teas from only the very finest gardens.

So, why travel all the way to a remote part of India called Assam? It’s important to us to know the people and the faces behind the tea we are blending and bagging each day in Belfast. We find that it also helps to give us a feeling of real connection to the product we enjoy creating so much.

ETHICAL TRADING Upon arriving in India, undoubtedly one of the most striking elements is the sheer size of the population. It’s hard to imagine somewhere with a population of nearly 1,000 times that of Northern Ireland, but a few days spent in Calcutta, will give you some idea. Sadly, there is a visible level of income inequality within this 20

major conurbation with, on one hand, high levels of unemployment, and on the other, a luxury Trump Tower offering ‘classically timeless and elegantly modern residences’.

Escaping the hustle and bustle of Calcutta, it was reassuring to experience a very different lifestyle for the workforce in the tea gardens of Assam. The tea industry is particularly labour intensive (with six whole tealeaves required to make just one tea bag) and fortunately, as a result of this, is able to provide employment for a great number of people. This is of real benefit to a country with a population of over 1.3 billion.

The tea pickers are paid a weekly wage, and tea gardens producing high quality leaf are able to provide many facilities and services for the labour force on site. Accommodation is provided free of charge for not just the tea pickers but their family as well, meaning that the whole family can live together, even if only one of them is working in the gardens. They also receive free education for their children and even free healthcare. As a result of this, their weekly wage is largely disposable income.

In short, as we pay a higher price for our leaves, which are sourced from the highest quality tea gardens, these

gardens are in turn able to provide the best conditions for their labour force.

TEA GARDENS Arriving at the tea gardens is like diving into a sea of pure, green leaf. It’s truly astonishing to see the uninterrupted acres of luscious tealeaves growing rapidly in the heat and humidity of Assam.

Growing tea in Assam is a way of life.

In these gardens, we had the pleasure of meeting people who had dedicated their life to learning about tea, and it was inspirational to see the true passion that they had; they are truly steeped in tea.

To make tea, you need sunshine and a lot of rain… and when we say a lot, we mean a lot. We often think of Northern Ireland as a rainy place (and would have to agree, it’s not exactly Barbados).

However, if we tripled the amount of rainfall we have here, it still would fall short of Assam’s annual total – the Camellia Sinensis (the botanical name for this most extraordinary shrub) is indeed a thirsty plant. However, speaking to many of the tea growers, we unfortunately heard that the weather patterns had become very unpredictable in recent years, which is having a direct effect on the yield of the gardens.

It wasn’t long before we were

TEA PROFILE venturing out into the tea gardens themselves and walking amongst the tea bushes. Interestingly these bushes, if left to their own devices, can grow as tall as 20 feet. However, from an early stage, the young stems are trained to grow sideways so that a ‘plucking table’ of around five feet in width and three feet in height can be formed. This paves the way for the perfect pick - just two leaves and a bud, from the very top of the bush.

For most of the year, these tea bushes are producing enough leaf to be picked every 10 days and can continue to produce leaves at this rate for over 50 years.

Witnessing these leaves being plucked is mesmerising. Thousands of acres of the most beautiful countryside, a carpet of tea bushes reaching into the horizon, interrupted only by perfectly spaced shade trees whose job it is to protect the sensitive tea bush from the powerful midday sun. Perfect silence is broken only by the curiously calming sound of many hands plucking tealeaves from the stems of freshly laden bushes.

After trying our hand at tea picking, we soon gained an appreciation for the tea picker’s craft. Next, it was on to something a little more within our comfort zone… tea tasting.

TEA TASTING Since life began for Thompson’s Tea in Northern Ireland in 1896, it has always been a member of the Thompson family who has taste-tested and approved each and every tea blend. Even today, we have a grand total of two tea tasters, Ross and David Thompson, who together taste and select fresh samples of tea every week from some of the most prized tea gardens in the world. Today, Camille and I can also be found in the tea tasting room, slowly but surely doing our best to pick up the art of tea tasting.

During our time in Assam, we learnt how a small sample of each tea is precisely weighed and brewed in special tasting pots for exactly three minutes.

The resulting infusion is then examined for flavour, character, strength and colour, ensuring that the teas are free from any taint and that the withering, fermenting and drying stages have maximised the leaf’s taste potential.

These are the first few crucial steps to ensuring that a superior cup of tea will be produced; one that produces a brightly coloured infusion with an appealing aroma and a rich, rewarding flavour.

BLENDING After tasting many teas, what becomes

It takes six of these tealeaves to make just one Punjana tea bag.

very clear is that a blend of superior quality can only be achieved by selecting teas from the finest tea gardens, and at a time when the tea bushes are producing their best growth. With all things, it is important to start with great ingredients.

This is why our leaves are handpicked when sunshine and rainfall are in perfect harmony. At this time, the leaves grow more slowly and simply produce a finer taste and flavour.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THOMPSON’S TEA? An independent, family business of four generations, born and blended in Belfast since 1896.

Our trip to India gave us both an appreciation for what really are an amazing industry, community, leaf and drink. I think it can be easy to take tea for granted as it is such an ‘everyday’ part of our lives, and it’s remarkable to think that it used to be the most expensive drink in the world… but when you take in the surroundings of any one of Assam’s tremendously scenic tea gardens, it’s easy to see why.

Jamie, Ross, Camille and David Thompson.

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT? A genuine passion for quality for over 120 years. Since 1896, each and every blend we have produced has first been tasted and approved by a member of the Thompson family. Today this responsibility lies with Ross and David Thompson, who taste teas every single day to ensure that the best tea gardens are producing their very best leaf. It takes a certain amount of courage to choose what is best over what is most profitable, but we are devoted to sourcing only the highest quality tea leaves, and simply can’t be persuaded to do it any other way.

WHAT IS TEA? That’s a great question. For such a popular beverage, many people know relatively little about tea. All tea, be it black, green or white, comes from the very same bush… the Camellia Sinensis. We source our leaves from

Assam in India, and Kenya in Africa as this is where some of the world’s finest teas are grown. It is also possible to grow tea in many other countries in the world from Argentina to Australia; however, they don’t taste as good, so we simply don’t go there.

TEA SEEMS TO BE A VERY NATURAL PRODUCT – DOES IT GO THROUGH MUCH OF A PROCESS? Tea is indeed a remarkably natural product. There are no additives, colourants or preservatives and it is naturally calorie free. To make one single Punjana tea bag, it takes about six of these beautiful green leaves, which are simply picked from the very top of the tea bush, dried, and cut into small pieces before being carefully blended and bagged in Belfast.

AND FINALLY, WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING IN A FAMILY BUSINESS? It’s fun, fascinating and rewarding. It can also be stressful and challenging.

A lot like most businesses I suppose, but with the added responsibility of not dropping the baton, first carried by my great grandfather in 1896.

21

SUMMER AT THE HOME OF HARDWORKING FLAVOUR Prephouse, Crossgar Co. Down For more information contact: 028 (048) 44 831 837

PREPHOUSE.CO.UK

SAY HELLO TO SUMMER WITH NEW SINGLE SERVE DRESSINGS FROM PREP HOUSE Prep House, the award-winning sauce manufacturer based in Crossgar are launching three new fresh dressings to market. Gold Blas na hEireann awardwinning French dressing, Sweet Chilli & Lime and Irish Seaweed dressings are all available in perfectly portioned 120g sachets.

As consumers continue to demand convenient meal options, we have responded by conducting research within the Food and Consumer Testing Suite in Ulster University. This new range is perfectly designed to bring instant flavour ideas to every consumer browsing the chiller cabinet aisle. It is a truly multi-functional sauce, making it an ideal go-to for the contemporary home cook.

“WE KNOW THROUGH OUR RESEARCH THAT CONSUMERS STILL BELIEVE CONVENIENCE, SPEED AND EASE OF MEAL PREPARATION ARE IMPORTANT. WITH 77% OF PEOPLE TENDING TO PICK FOODS THAT ARE EASY TO PREPARE AND 69% PICKING FOODS THAT ARE QUICK TO COOK. WE FEEL OUR PRODUCT RANGE MEETS THESE CONSUMER NEEDS WITH THE ADDED BENEFIT OF HELPING THEM BE MORE HEALTHY, WHICH IS ANOTHER TREND WHICH MOTIVATES 67% OF IRISH SHOPPERS, ACCORDING TO THE RECENT BORD BIA RESEARCH.” Barry Fitzpatrick, Prep House

NEW & DELICIOUS SINGLE SERVE DRESSINGS

With a unique, custom-made Shelf Ready Packaging format, this new product range will be an easy sell for retailers. Not only can these new sachets be used for salad dressings, but they can also be used as a marinade or source of instant flavour for meats, veg or fish. They are ready to eat, so can easily add some punch to a meal on-the-go, such as a lunch, picnic or a BBQ. Prep House, previously known as Sauce Works, recently rebranded to emphasise their investment in their new, purpose built Innovation Kitchen, a symbol of their progressive attitude to NPD. Now respected and recognised as the ‘home of hard working flavour’, Prep House has become synonymous with excellent quality, reliably different sauces and dressings.

There are eight sachets per case, and RSPs for each 120g sachet commence at £1.20. All sauces are made from the best available ingredients in our kitchen in Crossgar and are well-established favourites with our food service customers. As well as their delicious taste, the three sachets in the range are also gluten free and the Sweet Chilli & Lime dressing is low in fat.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT PREPHOUSE? ASK ONE OF THE PREPHOUSE VAN SALES TEAM TO COME AND VISIT YOU BY CALLING 028 4483 1837.

LOW FAT

GLUTEN FREE

GLUTEN FREE

FRENCH DRESSING

SWEET CHILLI AND LIME DRESSING

GLUTEN FREE

IRISH SEAWEED DRESSING

ADVERTORIAL

REVAMP FOR BREADED RANGE WITH MOY PARK CELEBRATING ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2018, ULSTER GROCER CAUGHT UP WITH KAREN KELSO, MOY PARK DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY’S PLANS FOR ITS BRANDED PRODUCT RANGE… 2018 IS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR MOY PARK. HOW IS THE MOY PARK BRAND MARKING THE OCCASION? Given our 75th anniversary, we wanted to celebrate from a brand perspective through the relaunch of our Moy Park branded breaded range.

The relaunch included a packaging refresh, featuring a new Moy Park brand logo, and the roll out of an Ireland-wide marketing campaign, which will support the core breaded product range in the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland markets throughout 2018.

Our new Moy Park brand logo centres on the company’s heritage and expertise – with the use of an image of a chicken alongside The Home of Tasty Chicken Since 1943. Further, our campaign strapline - Masterfully Crafted, Marvellously Tasty, which now appears on pack and underpins our marketing communications, really represents what consumers have come to expect from the brand – expertise, quality and taste – as well as the passion that goes into the development and creation of each product.

HOW IS THE MOY PARK BREADED BRAND PERFORMING IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND AND REPUBLIC OF IRELAND MARKETS? The Moy Park breaded range has seen year on year growth of 24%* and is stocked in major multiples and convenience stores in the Republic of Ireland and convenience stores in Northern Ireland.

Our core Moy Park breaded product range includes: Hot & Spicy and Southern Fried Mini Fillets, Cheese & Bacon Sensations, Garlic Kievs and Goujons.

WHAT FACTORS DO YOU THINK HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS GROWTH? The Moy Park brand remains very much focused on value, convenience, and of course taste. Product integrity is extremely important, as is our commitment to quality and excellence in the creation of new ranges. We have a robust new product development process – and we work with our consumer insights team to 24

of our core breaded products, Moy Park Southern Fried Crunchy Coated Chicken Mini Fillets.

Our aim is to capitalise on this growth with continued product development and our planned relaunch marketing activity, to inspire a new generation of shoppers to eat breaded chicken.

Karen Kelso, Director of Business with Briege Finnegan, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Moy Park.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER NPD PLANNED FOR THE BRAND IN 2018?

We have developed a six-strong range of Moy Park branded ready-to-eat chicken products, which are planned for launch to the market in July. The range will include Moy Park Cooked Chicken Fillets – Skinless and Skin On, Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings, Flamegrilled and Barbecue Chicken Chunky Breast Pieces and Roast Drumsticks.

The introduction of these new lines will mean Moy Park will have a branded presence in all fresh chicken categories.

help develop products which are relevant to today’s consumer.

A good example of this is the relaunched breaded range, which uses 100% chicken breast. Quick service restaurants and foodservice dominate the consumption of breaded chicken in the UK, with excitement in terms of product look, feel and taste a key driver of consumption. Furthermore, research revealed that consumers desire coatings similar to those available in takeaways/ restaurants. Armed with this research and coupled with category insight, we recreated the QSR look and taste ‘at home’ through the development of one

A simple, spicy and colourful curry. Easily prepared in minutes, with the help of Moy Park’s Cooked Skinless Fillets, it’s sure to keep the whole table happy!

*Source: Kantar 12 w/e 29th January

•

• •

• • • • • • •

3 Moy Park Cooked Skinless Fillets (cut into strips) 1 tbsp sunflower oil 2 tbsp ready-made green curry paste (shop bought) 400ml tin coconut milk 2 lime leaves 1 tbsp granulated sugar Handful green beans (trimmed) Handful asparagus Salt and black pepper to season Handful of freshly chopped coriander

1. Heat the oil in a pan over a high heat.

When it starts to smoke, add the green curry paste and stir for a couple of minutes 2. Add the Moy Park Cooked Skinless Fillets and stir until coated in the paste. Continue to cook until the chicken is piping hot throughout 3. Add the coconut milk, lime leaves and sugar, stir through. Bring to the boil and then reduce until the sauce thickens 4. Now add the green beans and asparagus.

Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring until the green beans and asparagus are tender 5. Serve with fragrant rice and sprinkle with fresh coriander

NENW GE

RVAAILABLE

NOW

A

Moy Park’s delicious ready-to-eat range makes putting on a summer spread simple.

It’s summer, and no one wants to be stuck in the kitchen while the sun is shining.

Your customers are looking for easy ways to put good taste on the table without fuss.

That’s why we’ve created o u r re a d y-t o - e a t ra n ge. E a c h p a c k i s f i l l e d with versatile great taste that takes minutes to prepare.

Our master chefs have drawn on all of their experience and expertise to create these pre-cooked, mouth-watering morsels.

They can be tossed into salads, stirred into curries, or stacked onto sandwiches.

There’s really no limit to how you use them. That’s why your customers will keep coming back for more.

Contact our commercial team to stock up now: 028 3835 2233 moyparkchicken.com

Star Ren

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

A REPUTATION FOR PURE, NATURAL, QUALITY FOOD AND DRINK JOHN HOOD, DIRECTOR OF FOOD & DRINK AT INVEST NI, INTRODUCES THE TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES John Hood

W

e have an industry of resilient, resourceful companies who have the passion and commitment to succeed no matter what the future holds.

Northern Ireland’s agriculture and food processing sectors contribute significantly to our economy, accounting for over 20% of Northern Ireland’s exports and directly employing around 22,000 people.

Invest Northern Ireland remains focused on driving economic growth and providing the most efficient and effective support to customers in our food and drink sector located right across Northern Ireland.

In line with our Business Strategy for 2017 to 2021, we are working to help ensure that the local agri-food 26

processing industry remains competitive.

We understand that reliable market intelligence and consumer insight is vital in helping companies find potential customers, effectively sell and merchandise products, identify market opportunities and develop the right products to meet the needs of current and new customers.

Businesses must put consumers at the heart of what they do and to achieve this effectively, it is vital that they understand, and have insight into, changing trends and consumer needs. Invest NI’s Business Information Centre holds research covering both consumer and industrial markets. Several of these resources focus on the food and drink sector and provide up-to-date research to help companies

make decisions about their products.

Businesses are also using these resources to explore packaging ideas and help develop marketing messages which will resonate with the consumer.

We want to help those already exporting to sell more, in established and new markets, and to provide practical support and advice to those wishing to become successful exporters.

We have an expanding global network designed to support Northern Ireland businesses who are keen to explore new prospects. That, coupled with the provision of in-market expertise and resources should help drive the local food and drink industry towards further growth in international premium markets.

We want to be regarded by our customers as a trusted business partner and we will continue to help local food and drink producers to position themselves to meet the challenges ahead.

We want to ensure that they are as productive and efficient as is possible and are ready to maximise opportunities.

In the case of many large businesses, we are working to identify where we can provide meaningful support to complement a company’s own internal capability and existing activity. For smaller food and drink businesses, there is practical support and advice available to maximise the commercial opportunities in Great Britain which is often their final market outside Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s reputation for pure, natural, quality food and drink is spreading throughout the world. We are delighted that our food and drink businesses are becoming ever more visible and ambitious in taking their products to growing world markets. Our focus remains on supporting all customers in Northern Ireland’s food and drink sector to maximise their profitability through efficient use of resources, continued innovation of products and considered growth in external and export markets.

Star Rentals A4 Ad Final Hi-res 5mm Bleed 29/05/2018 16:50 Page 1

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

FLEXIBLE AND FUSS-FREE SERVICE FROM STAR RENTALS

Kevin Glackin, fleet co-ordinator at Star Rentals.

S

tar Rentals is one of Northern Ireland’s largest commercial vehicle rental companies. Whether you need extra capacity for your business during busy periods, have vehicles off the road or wish to free up capital through contract hire, Star Rentals can help to keep your business moving.

Star Rentals can supply virtually any make or model of commercial vehicle,

28

starting with small car derived vans to 18T rigids and even tractor units. The fleet also caters for specialised use, such as refrigerated vehicles suitable for transporting both chilled and frozen foods.

Whether you require a vehicle for a single day or 60 months, Star Rentals can provide flexible, tailored packages at competitive prices to suit your company’s requirements.

Kevin Glackin, fleet co-ordinator, explains: “We currently have some great offers including contract hiring a new model IVECO Daily van from only £99.95 per week or a Citroen Berlingo van from only £59.99 per week. All contract hire vehicles include maintenance, tyres, road tax (for the duration of the contract) and ply-lining. If you need short-term hire for one day or more, you can spot hire MWB

vans from £45 per day and tractor units from £75 per day.”

Based in Mallusk, just off the M2 motorway, Star Rentals offers a friendly and reliable service. For more information, or to avail of the summer deals, please contact Kevin Glackin on 028 9083 2232 or email kevin.glackin@star-rentals.com.

Please note, all prices quoted above are plus VAT.

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

TOP NORTHERN IRELAND GROCERY COMPANIES INCREASE PROFITABILITY BY 17.9%

BY JONATHAN CUSHLEY

T

he latest edition of the Ulster Grocer Top 30 companies shows a marked improvement in year-on-year performance for the Province’s largest trade companies.

Both turnover and profitability have shown increases when compared to the companies’ prior-year results, with turnover up 7.8% to £6,939.5m and profits by a phenomenal 17.9% to £172.3m.

The Ulster Grocer Top 30 (expanded from Top 25 in prior years) utilises the results of Northern Ireland-registered or headquarter domiciled companies and all businesses will have filed 2016 or 2017 year-end financial results.

TURNOVER Since the inception of the listing, turnover has been used as the key identifier and benchmark of performance. However, both profitability and shareholder value are also key measures and are imperative when measuring the on-going performance of the companies within the list.

This year’s Ulster Grocer Top 30 listing saw turnover increase to £6,939.5m from £6,435.4m – this figure was slightly distorted as Lacpatrick Dairies (NI) Ltd posted sales of £175.8m during its period of trading which was actually 17 months; as this was the first reported year’s results, no comparatives are available.

Lacpatrick Dairies (NI) Ltd is an amalgamation of the Ballyrashane Co-op and TMC Dairies (NI).

Excluding the Lacpatrick Dairies (NI) Ltd figures would still show an improvement in sales across the Top 30 listing of 5.1%.

Sales growth was driven by a consistent overall performance with 21 of the 30 companies showing year-on-year sales growth.

SHS Group Ltd (#4) showed significant sales growth of £88.3m, John Henderson (Holdings) Ltd (#3) sales growth of £59.8m and Devenish (NI) Ltd (#9) sales growth of £39.4m.

profitability grow from £146.1m to £172.3m – this also takes into account the anomaly created by Lacpatrick, its profit of £0.3m impacts only nominally on profit performance.

Increase in both profitability and sales year on year combined to create a net pre-tax profit margin of 2.48% up from 2.27% on prior year.

Only four of the 30 companies declared a pre-tax loss in their latest years’ filings.

The company which showed the highest profit margin was Agricolor Ltd, the vehicle for Fane Valley Feeds Ltd and Fane Valley Stores Ltd which declared a margin of some 22% £17.3m pre-tax profit on sales of £78m. Moy Park Ltd showed the highest pre-tax profit of £59.7m (4.2%).

Within the Top 30, pre-tax profit per employee sits at £6,221 (with sales per employee sitting at £250,569).

NET WORTH (SHAREHOLDER VALUE) The final measure of a company’s performance which we review is its value to its shareholders. In its simplest form, this can be measured by a business’ shareholder funds (issued capital) + retained earnings – intangibles.

A consistent increase in net worth indicates good financial health; conversely, net worth may be depleted by annual operating losses or a substantial decrease in asset values relative to liabilities. The value of the Ulster Grocer Top 30 companies to their shareholders is £1,025.9m.

Only two companies within the listing show negative tangible net worth.

The shareholders return for the 30 companies equates to profit/tangible net worth as a percentage – 16.79%.

Sales-to-equity ratio defined as turnover/tangible net worth, indicates how many pounds are generated with each pound of investment; for the latest filed results, this equates to 6.76.

READERS’ NOTES • Comparisons have been made utilising the year-on-year financial results of the 30 companies listed.

• A date of 23/5/18 has been used as cut off for inclusion in the Top 30 listing.

• Financial information has been gathered using both Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and UK Companies Registry data.

Ulster Grocer Top 30’s financial performance.

PROFITABILITY The success of a business cannot simply be gauged by its top line turnover; the generation of profit is key to enabling businesses to invest in their future.

This year’s Top 30, as already alluded to, saw pre-tax

1. Agricolor Ltd & Linden Foods Ltd data has been included to represent Fane Valley Co-Operative Ltd results. Fane Valley CoOperative Ltd posted sales of £314m for year end 30/09/17.

2. Musgrave Retail Partners (NI) Ltd and Musgrave Distribution Ltd both file individual accounts in Northern Ireland.

3. Philip Russell Ltd and James E McCabe Ltd are both subsidiaries of Golf Holdings Ltd; Golf Holdings Ltd do not file consolidated accounts.

4. John Henderson (Holdings) Ltd (#3) is the group controlling entities such as Henderson Wholesale Ltd, Henderson Retail Ltd and Henderson Foodservice Ltd; each of which could have entered the Top 30 in its own right.

29

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES RANK

COMPANY NAME

ACCOUNT DATE LATEST (AS REPORTED)

TURNOVER (000s)

TURNOVER (PREVIOUS YEAR)

1

MOY PARK LTD

31/12/2016

1,400.70

1,407.30

2

DUNBIA LTD

02/04/2017

768.3

787.5

3

JOHN HENDERSON (HOLDINGS) LTD

31/12/2017

759.1

699.3

4

SHS GROUP LTD

30/12/2016

467.7

379.4

5

DALE FARM LTD

31/03/2017

341.4

303.7

6

FOYLE FOOD GROUP HOLDINGS LTD

31/12/2016

306.1

297.2

7

MUSGRAVE RETAIL PARTNERS NI LTD

31/12/2016

261

257.4

8

JOHN THOMPSON & SONS LTD

31/07/2017

205.2

183.9

9

DEVENISH (NI) LTD

31/05/2017

186.8

147.4

10

LINDEN FOODS LTD

30/09/2016

182.7

189.4

11

COCA-COLA HBC NORTHERN IRELAND LTD

31/12/2016

176.6

172.3

12

LACPATRICK DAIRIES (NI) LTD

31/12/2016

175.8

13

TAYTO GROUP LTD

01/07/2017

173.9

163.3

14

LAMEX FOODS EUROPE (N.I.) LTD

31/03/2017

153.4

136.7

15

GREENFIELDS IRELAND HOLDINGS LTD

31/12/2016

146.9

137.2

16

LAKELAND DAIRIES (N.I.) LTD

31/12/2016

144.4

96.8

17

LYNAS FOODSERVICE

31/12/2016

115.9

108.1

18

DUNNES STORES (BANGOR) LTD

22/12/2016

99.9

127.6

19

MUSGRAVE DISTRIBUTION LTD

31/12/2016

94.8

93.2

20

JAMES E. MCCABE LTD

31/12/2016

92.7

95.3

21

AGRICOLOR LTD

30/09/2016

78

79

22

PHILIP RUSSELL LTD

31/12/2016

77.4

77.7

23

D & W CARLISLE LTD

31/07/2017

72.9

64.2

24

DIAGEO GLOBAL SUPPLY IBC LTD

30/06/2017

72.9

74.5

25

SAVAGE & WHITTEN HOLDINGS LTD

31/12/2016

72.7

62.9

26

STRATHROY DAIRY LTD

31/07/2017

66.2

46.9

27

CRANSWICK COUNTRY FOODS (BALLYMENA)

31/03/2017

63.9

72.4

28

SKEA EGG FARMS LTD

31/12/2016

63.3

61.7

29

DRINKS INC

31/03/2017

62.7

57.2

30

NORTHWAY MUSHROOMS LTD

31/12/2016

56.2

55.9

30

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES PRE-TAX PROFIT (000s)

PRE-TAX PROFIT (PREVIOUS YEAR)

NET WORTH LATEST (000s)

NO. OF EMPLOYEES LATEST (AS REPORTED)

59.7

35.7

248.7

9,620

11.8

7.2

73.5

3,584

20

20.3

149.3

3,387

24.8

21.1

71.8

781

6.1

5.3

36.7

792

3.5

3

17.2

1,042

0.3

-2.6

12.5

462

4.7

4.6

15.9

165

2.9

3.4

12.9

396

0.8

1.7

32.4

1,079

4.2

9.7

45

499

3.2

176

0.3 1.9

3.1

56.8

1,376

2.2

2.9

9

7

0.8

0.6

2.8

33

-1.4

0.3

-8.5

91

2.7

1.1

22.9

437

-5.1

13.2

75.7

1,289

-0.3

-0.8

-0.7

186

2.5

2.4

46.1

561

17.3

2.8

23.6

181

1.6

1.8

15.7

246

0.1

0.5

3.8

198

3.5

3.1

19.7

145

-2.4

0.5

0.5

195

0.5

0.5

6.5

150

2.9

0.9

5.5

338

3

4

16.4

112

3.3

-0.1

10.7

102

0.1

-0.1

0.3

65

31

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

A PLATFORM FOR GROWTH IN EUROPE GUY WOOTTON, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND INNOVATION AT MOY PARK, TALKS TO UG the environment in which we operate, we are confident that we have a robust business that can continue to innovate, thrive and grow.

MOY PARK HAS EASILY RETAINED ITS TOP POSITION FOR ANOTHER YEAR. WHAT CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES HAVE DRIVEN ITS PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR? We are delighted to retain the top position in this year’s Ulster Grocer Top 30 list, particularly as it coincides with our 75th anniversary celebrations.

Our continued strong performance was driven by factors including growth in fresh poultry sales, a focus on cost control and our ongoing commitment to build our business to the highest standards of food safety and quality. This is reflected in our investment strategy and continues to stand the company in good stead.

The outcome of the Brexit negotiations will have multiple impacts on the industry and, although there will be changes to 32

PILGRIM’S PRIDE TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS LAST YEAR – WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE NEW OWNER AND HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES IN OPERATIONS OR STRATEGY AS A RESULT? Pilgrim’s is one of the leading chicken producers in the world with a strong track record and commitment to driving growth. Both Moy Park and Pilgrim’s have a long heritage in agriculture and poultry production going back over 75 years and we share the same values.

Joining Pilgrim’s gives us the opportunity to accelerate our growth plans, share best practices and leverage Pilgrim’s expertise and operational excellence. Moy Park also provides Pilgrim’s with a platform for growth in Europe as well as access to innovation and increased exposure to prepared foods.

Together with Pilgrim’s, our strategy remains to continue to meet and exceed the needs of our customers and consumers, providing fresh, locally-sourced poultry and top quality, innovative products.

AND LAST MONTH A NEW PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CHRIS KIRKE, WAS APPOINTED – WHAT IS HIS BACKGROUND AND WHAT DOES THE APPOINTMENT MEAN TO MOY PARK? Chris Kirke brings more than 26 years of food industry experience, operational expertise and a strong track record of customer engagement to Moy Park.

He joins the company from the US division of Greencore Group plc where he was responsible for driving growth and innovation across the business.

It’s an exciting time for Moy Park as we continue to expand on our position as a leading European food company and welcome Chris’ expertise to help drive growth and innovation.

ARE THERE ANY RECENT, OR PLANNED, OPERATIONAL INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENTS AT MOY PARK? Moy Park’s ongoing strategic investment programme is focused on enhancing operations across our agriculture and processing facilities and last year we invested over £40m as part of this strategy.

Recent investments include the opening of a state-of-the-art hatchery in Newark, England. The first facility of its kind in Europe, it can hatch 2.5 million chicks per week and employs industry leading technology to ensure the best possible production, animal welfare, hygiene and biosecurity standards. This year we also reached a major production milestone, producing 6 million birds per week for the first time in our history.

IN TERMS OF PRODUCTS, WHICH CATEGORIES ARE PERFORMING BEST AND IS THERE ANY CURRENT OR PLANNED NPD? In the last year, we have seen all four of the chicken cuts we focus on (fillets, whole birds, dark meat and ingredients) grow in volume terms, with all but plain whole birds also seeing value growth.

While dark meat has historically polarised consumers, we are currently seeing some penetration growth as more households buy it for its taste and nutritious properties, not to mention the fact that it is cheaper than the breast fillet, which is traditionally favoured.

From an NPD point of view, we have a number of concepts in the pipeline aimed at meeting the consumer need for healthy, exciting and convenient products. A good example is our recent launch of ‘no touch’ packaging, which means that consumers don’t need to handle raw chicken. Our research shows over a third of consumers have at least some aversion to touching raw product, so this is a great innovation for a large section of the consumer base.

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

LEADING THE DAIRY MARKET NICK WHELAN, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF DALE FARM, TALKS TO ALYSON MAGEE HOW IS DALE FARM PERFORMING? I am delighted that we are looking at another strong set of financial results for 2017/18. Dale Farm has grown substantially within the past financial year, adding c. £100m to our turnover - and profits are strong. It’s our third strong year and we’re forecasting strong growth ahead.

We have had a great year in terms of return on capital we have invested into the business. When I look at that metric specifically, Dale Farm scores very highly versus our peers in the dairy industry.

This is a co-operative, owned by almost 1,300 local farmers, and everything goes back into their hands - back to the people that live and work in rural society.

That’s the Dale Farm story.

WHAT IS DRIVING DALE FARM’S PERFORMANCE? Our split is about 40% of business here in Northern Ireland, 40-45% in GB and 15% in exports.

A lot of current growth is coming from GB. Many major British supermarkets are keen to have UK-sourced product going into the market, hedging against a Brexit risk.

For example, in cheese, the UK is only 60% self-sufficient, with similar figures in yogurt. It imports 300,000 tonnes of yogurt each year from the Continent so if they can source those products locally, it makes more sense against the prospect of a hard border.

Our approach is about building strategic partnerships with retailers and foodservice outlets. With some retail partners, we have five-year contracts, removing volatility and risk for them.

Local provenance continues to remain a priority for retailers and consumers alike, and our stories are authentically local. Here in Northern Ireland, we have local farmers producing milk, which travels within a short radius to our factory where we manufacture, package and then dispatch our products. That product journey is enormously valuable.

HAS DALE FARM MADE ANY OPERATIONAL CHANGES? We have made significant investment in our plants in relation to improving economies of scale and automation. Last year, we spent £10m on those aspects alone and we’ve earmarked a £14m spend this year.

We have also invested heavily into green energy sourcing and I’m proud that we have just completed the development of one of the biggest solar farms in the global dairy industry - a 35-acre solar farm at our Dunmanbridge cheese plant in Co Tyrone.

Across all our factories, we have a programme based on Japanese ‘lean principles’ to eliminate waste and drive cost reductions within the business.

Getting productivity right at factory level has been the initial focus and now we want to move that out to farm level. There’s a big difference between exceptional and average farmers, up to £500-£600 per cow per year, so that’s a key focus for us.

Importantly, Dale Farm is built on great people - and we are committed to attracting and retaining world class talent. We are focused on culture, making Dale Farm a great place to work and instilling pride for the business within every one of our employees.

WHICH CATEGORIES ARE PERFORMING BEST FOR DALE FARM? In ice cream, we are a market leader in Northern Ireland and I believe we can and will penetrate the island of Ireland even further.

In the categories of butter, cheese, yogurt and liquid milk, again we are a market leader and extremely proud of that.

Whilst it’s crucial we maintain focus on traditional categories, innovation is also key for us. About a third of our products have been generated over the last three years, as we stay on trend and follow the changing needs of consumers.

Yogurt is a great example of how we must constantly be in tune with what

the consumer wants and how they use a product. How people are using yogurt now is very different to how it was consumed five years ago. Butter is another example of a category that has undergone great change. Consumers now finally see that butter is a healthy fat and it’s really taking over from oils and spreads again.

ARE YOU INVESTING IN MARKETING? We will continue to invest in marketing considerably going forward. We have recently appointed a new group marketing director, Philip O’Meara, and are developing and adding to our existing marketing team. We will continue to amplify our brand message and connect with consumers in an effective, engaging way.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE DAIRY INDUSTRY? Naturally Brexit is a major issue looming for the entire agri food sector.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of unknowns. On the face of it, Dale Farm is in a relatively good position, as all our milk and factories are in the UK. Having said that, an east/west border would be troubling and any policy opening up the UK to lesser standards of food would be very concerning. Another consequence of Brexit could be food inflation, which is not good for retailers, processors or co-operatives, beyond a certain point.

Those are the key areas we are concerned about around Brexit, but some scenarios show potential to drive the economy here. We remain focused on watching developments closely – for the benefit of our farmers.

Beyond that, I believe we don’t talk about the capacity of the Northern Ireland dairy industry, and the quality of our milk, anywhere near as much as we should.

Our farm husbandry, genetics and grassland management is undeniably world class. We need to shout about that as loudly as we can, and with great pride.

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TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

HENDERSON EXPANSION PLANNING CONFIRMED AS GROWTH FOR GROUP CONTINUES

Paddy Doody

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t has been a bumper year for Malluskbased Henderson Group. With four companies flourishing, the owner of the SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO brands in Northern Ireland has ranked number three in the Ulster Grocer Top 30 Food & Drinks Companies for 2018.

The Group is made up of Henderson Wholesale, Retail, Group Property and Foodservice, all of which posted healthy results for the year 2017, with the entire operation posting a turnover of just over £759m, up 8% on 2016.

The company has invested £47m through its retail network, infrastructure and employment, resulting in the opening of 36 new SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO branded stores in 2017.

More recently, planning permission was granted by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council to build a new Fresh Foods Warehouse and Distribution unit, as well as expanding Henderson Foodservice’s ambient warehouse. The £15m facilities are due to complete in 2020.

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Paddy Doody, sales & marketing director for the Henderson Group, says that 2017 has been a stand out year for their company and brands across Northern Ireland: “There is growth across all companies within the Group as we continue to invest in all areas of the business. We added to our portfolio of stores, supermarkets and forecourts through acquisitions and new store openings, and our 60th EUROSPAR supermarket opened in Dromore, Co Down in June 2018.

“2016 saw the introduction of The Kitchen brand, and 2017 was about bringing our fresh, convenient, value brands and products under one umbrella; Meal Inspirations. We positioned our SPAR and EUROSPAR stores as the place to go for tonight’s tea, where you will find all components for quick and tasty meals for the whole family.

“Our foodservice business is continuing to expand and grow, and this year delivered 17.8% growth on 2016. Henderson Foodservice has continued to diversify in the way it operates for its customers, and recently launched the new Quality is Served digital brand offering online.

“This has given even more flexibility to our busy customers; an order can be made in under 30 seconds and can be tracked 24/7.”

The Barista Bar coffee brand is now available in over 300 sites across Northern Ireland, outgrowing some of the major international coffee shops here. A new Barista Bar loyalty app was launched in Q2 2018 and goes from strength to strength.

Food-to-go is another area in which Hendersons has excelled in the past year. Just recently, the prestigious Retail Industry Awards organised a road trip for UK-wide retailers to visit a range of independently and company-owned EUROSPAR stores here. Focusing on food-to-go, it was a chance for the Group to showcase the new £4m EUROSPAR Donegall Road which offers a range of street foods, burger and

sandwich bars and a loaded fries station under the Daily Deli brand. In addition, UK retailers were given a personalised tour of Creighton’s EUROSPAR at Balmoral.

“Henderson Retail has invested approximately £1m in the development of the Daily Deli operation and brand across its stores in the past year,” says Paddy.

“Our retailers in Northern Ireland have mastered best practice in retailing, as the Awards highlighted last year.”

During the 2017 Retail Industry Awards, 17 SPAR and EUROSPAR stores from Northern Ireland were honoured in categories including Food-to-Go Retailer of the Year and Independent Retailer of the Year.

Other significant award wins include that of Joanne Walker from EUROSPAR Carrowdore in Newtownards winning the International category at the recent Food Marketing Institute Store Manager Awards during the Future Leaders Summit in Louisville, Kentucky.

“We have such a high class of innovative and hard-working retail partners and suppliers who share the Henderson values and vision. We’re exceptionally proud of the award wins, and the differences they’re making in their local communities,” says Paddy.

In fact, EUROSPAR has now reached a fundraising total of almost £896,000 for Cancer Fund for Children; in just one year, SPAR staff and shoppers have raised over £113,000 for charity partner Marie Curie, and the Group recently announced total donations of £2.72m through the ‘Give As You Earn Scheme’, which 33% of their workforce is signed up to.

“In 2018, we have continued to invest in our retail network and work with independent retailers to provide more services to their shoppers. We continue to invest in our property, with the re-build and expansion of sites in Mallusk due to begin by the end of the year,” he says.

“We will also continue to invest to bring the best quality and value products to our retailers’ shelves, ensuring local sourcing and celebration of our passion for all things local.”

Proudly supporting local suppliers for over 50 years.

K&G McAtamney, supplier of SPAR enjoy local meat & added value meats

Clandeboye Estate, supplier of SPAR enjoy local yogurt

Dale Farm, supplier of SPAR enjoy local milk and cheese

William Orr & Sons, supplier of SPAR enjoy local potatoes

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Henderson Group Rated No.

Irwin’s Bakery, supplier of SPAR enjoy local rolls & biscuits

in the Top 30 Local Food and Drink Companies

www.henderson-group.com www.henderson-group.com

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

SAVAGE & WHITTEN WHOLESALE LTD

INVESTMENT DELIVERS GROWTH

STATEMENT END DATE: 31/12/2016 CURRENT TURNOVER: £72,717,938 PREVIOUS TURNOVER: £62,975,706 EMPLOYEES: 200 NET WORTH: £2,540,601 NET PROFIT/LOSS: £1,451,258 TOTAL PROFIT/LOSS BEFORE TAXATION: £1,239,230¹ ¹The profit/loss before taxation for Savage & Whitten is before exceptional items.

S

ustained growth and continued investment has catapulted Newry-based Savage and Whitten from its cash and carry origins back in 1916 to become one of the largest and most technologically advanced independent wholesalers in Ireland.

It is now a key employer in the Newry area with headcount almost doubling over the last few years to 200 employees.

Newly appointed Managing Director Dessie Boyce welcomed Savage and Whitten’s inclusion once again in the Top 30 Local Food & Drinks Companies in NI and paid tribute to the significant role of experienced and dedicated personnel in its continued success: “As the business develops, it is also essential that we invest in our people through a structured programme of training and development,” he said.

Savage and Whitten’s double-digit growth in turnover experienced in recent years has continued in 2017 with the main drivers being strategic investment in warehousing, chill capacity and IT. The strategically-located, state-of36

the-art, ambient warehouse (circa 80,000 square feet) in Carnbane Industrial Estate is ideally placed to the Irish road network, enabling the business to deliver promptly and efficiently to the majority of the island of Ireland without impacting on service levels of an everincreasing customer base.

The launch of Savage and Whitten’s Chilled, Fresh and Frozen Operation in 2016, in response to consumer preferences for fresh food and healthier lifestyles, has been so successful that the chill capacity at the site has had to be more than doubled in 2018 to ensure growth sustainability in these key categories across the customer base in Ireland.

Investment in information technology is, and always has been, core to the growth of the business, with £300,000 being invested in the last two years as part of a continuous programme of development in systems and processes.

Savage and Whitten’s on-line ordering option continues to be a huge success, accounting for almost 80% of all orders received. Customers can access the user-friendly interface to view pictorial and other information on over 6,000 product lines. Not surprisingly, this has proved hugely popular with customers, increasing efficiency as they can access product information, statements, invoices and order histories at the touch of a button at a time convenient to them.

The recent venture into the contract business has been very successful and we are hoping that the proven success of our model with existing retailer customers will attract additional business across Ireland.

A large driver of the phenomenal growth of the company has been the continued success of the Today’s symbol brand, introduced to Ireland by Savage and Whitten nine years ago. Since its inception, 150 stores have been added to the network which operates under the Today’s Local, Extra and Express branding.

Michael Skelton, sales director, told Ulster Grocer: “The Today’s brand continues to grow with 15 new stores added to the portfolio already during 2018. The

TOP 30 LOCAL FOOD & DRINKS COMPANIES

“AS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPS IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT WE INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE THROUGH A STRUCTURED PROGRAMME OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.” package we offer is a proven model and is obviously a very attractive proposition to the retailer.”

The growth of the Today’s symbol is due in no small part to the support and advice service which Savage and Whitten offer to potential store operators and the quality of this service was recognised recently when the company won the 2017 Retail Operator of the Year award at the Today Group’s Annual Awards ceremony. As Michael explained: “The

non-contractual, no fees model has been well received in the market but, more importantly, customers really appreciate the individual support we offer, ie a full store development package which includes EPOS, category management, marketing, and sales support.”

The company has recently appointed a new Managing Director, Dessie Boyce. Dessie told Ulster Grocer: “We are really looking forward to building on the fantastic foundations that have

Managing Director Dessie Boyce

already been established and delivering value to our entire customer base from the national strength of Today’s £6.0bn buying power and partnerships with local suppliers. We cannot rest on our laurels but must continue to innovate in order to boost sales and enhance margins for our customers – there are challenging but exciting times ahead.”

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Seize The D

Seize The Denny_Ulster Grocer_220x307.indd 1

01/06/2018 16:12

Get the Scoop on Mullins this summer

One of Northern Ireland’s most loved family ice cream brands, Mullins, has been enjoying a particularly exciting chapter in its longstanding success story.

That story begins back in Kilrea in 1954, when Walter Mullin Sr and his family began making and selling delicious ice-cream using fresh local milk.

Known and loved for its creamy taste and delicious range of flavours, the business has continued to grow and produce a wide range of high-quality dairy ice cream ever since.

In 2013, Mullins Ice Cream was acquired by Dale Farm Group, the UK’s largest farmer-owned dairy cooperative, combining a team of experienced staff with a long heritage of ice-cream making, and a leading dairy expert with years of industry knowledge, ready to take Mullins to new heights.

Adding Mullins to the Dale Farm portfolio has proved extremely successful, as the brand continues to go from strength to strength, extending distribution to an increasing number of outlets across Ireland.

Ongoing investment into the brand through product innovation, sales and marketing activities, has been delivering impressive results, with Mullins witnessing an average year-on-year sales increase of 15%.

Since Mullins’ entry into the take-home ice cream market in 2012, sales of its 900ml tubs (Strawberry, Raspberry, Honeycomb, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream and Vanilla) have increased by 400%.

Nigel Cairns, Commercial Director Dale Farm Ice Cream said: “In the past four years, Mullins has significantly increased its distribution across the island of Ireland, with now over 900 partners stocking our products.

“We work closely with our retail partners to ensure we deliver a consistently high quality, luxury product and a brand that offers true standout presence at the freezer.

#Mak e My M

ullin s

Pop Up Parlour Vic toria Square

“Whilst remaining true to the core traditional ethos of the Mullins brand, we continually evolve and regularly experiment with new flavour innovations to stay ahead of consumer trends.

New product development has introduced Candyfloss, Toffee Apple and Mississippi Mudslide lines into our range and we are flexible enough to produce special edition, bespoke flavours to offer tailored customer solutions.

“Our offering to retailers provides a one stop shop, with our broad range of ice creams, supplementary sundries, merchandising and point of sale material to create theatre in store. Our retail partners benefit from attractive profit margins, typically over 60%,” Nigel said.

As well as its strength within the retail and foodservice markets, Mullins is developing valuable relationships with leisure outlets, building bespoke Mullins branded ice cream parlours at sites including Pickie Park in Bangor, County Down, and Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, Tayto Park, in County Meath.

Key to Mullins ongoing growth is its heavyweight marketing support, which is focused at driving consumer awareness and trade support. In the summer of 2017, Mullins kickstarted this strategy, hosting a pop up ice cream parlour in Belfast’s major shopping hub, Victoria Square.

/MullinsIceCream

mullins_icecream

Tayt o Park

Ic e C re am

Parlour

The beautifully styled, pastel-coloured parlour combined tradition with innovation, offering customers a limited-edition menu packed full of Mullins ice-cream, served with a cookie or doughnut and a wide range of toppings, from candy floss and caramel popcorn to sea salt fudge and a range of biscuit crumbles.

Local celebrities, food bloggers, retailers and consumers thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience, which drove awareness and sales of Mullins Ice Cream, reinforcing its position as a modern, fun ice-cream brand with tradition and heritage at its core.

So, what’s next for Mullins?

“We continue to drive our retail sales and leisure partnerships, creating bespoke, tailored solutions for our customers and ensuring our delicious ice creams standout at the freezer and deliver real commercial results.

“This said, we are keen to hear from all retailers seeking to add a little Mullins magic to their ice cream offering this summer,” Nigel Cairns said.

To find out how you can scoop up sales from Mullins Ice Cream, contact Peter Lynn on 07711 760780.

BALMORAL SHOW 2018 REVIEW

SUPPORTING SMALLER FOOD PRODUCERS TO LACK OF FUNDING SUPPORT IS THREATENING THE GROW FASTER AFUTURE OF NI’S AGRI-FOOD SECTOR, SAYS SAM BUTLER

Sam Butler

I

magine Balmoral Show without the Food NI Food and Drink Pavilion. It’s become one of the most popular parts of the annual agricultural show, especially with the general public.

What the Food NI pavilion has been doing very effectively is to increase awareness of the quality of our food and drink among the thousands of visitors to the show and to encourage them to buy more local produce.

In addition, Balmoral has become crucially important to dozens of artisan and smaller producers in terms of income from sales and feedback from visitors on their products. Most of the participating companies found the recent show very rewarding.

The show has become a key source

of income for a great many smaller companies, providing cash to sustain the business and to enable investment in new products. They’ve also been encouraged to continue to develop by award schemes, such as the Food NI Awards and Henderson Group’s Fresh Innovation Awards, during the event. Such awards boost confidence and ambition among smaller producers.

The event, furthermore, generates funding that supplements Food NI’s limited budget and enables it to invest in other support for smaller firms. This includes working with local councils on food festivals, markets and other initiatives that offer opportunities to producers to reach out to shoppers.

As well as its developing work with councils, which have significant funding for economic development, Food NI has been successful in promoting local food to chefs here. And the body promotes local produce to national and international food writers, often with Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland. It has also been assisted by Invest NI to showcase local produce in Britain, our most important market.

Support from Invest NI enabled Food NI to arrange successful presentations of local produce at the Speciality and Fine Food Show and Borough Market,

both in London, and BBC Good Food in Birmingham. Furthermore, Food NI has a successful digital marketing platform and supports food and hospitality here in its regular guides. The body’s work is also guided by a group of food sector leaders who contributed to its acclaimed Taste the Greatness strategy.

The scope of its activities, however, is currently limited by the fact that most of its regular income comes from fees paid by its 400 member companies.

What is needed urgently is a structured and properly funded initiative to enable Food NI to build on the momentum generated at Balmoral Show that will enable it to develop its co-operation with other bodies and drive faster growth among smaller companies in particular.

Greater collaboration and concerted action is required by all those involved with smaller businesses, to develop the Food Pavilion and other local showcases further and help in supporting companies for growth in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Food NI has the marketing and promotional experience, the respect and confidence of the industry and a network of international contacts to play the central role in an imaginative collaborative approach for the benefit of our most dynamic industry.

LOCAL PRODUCERS WIN M&S FARMING FOR THE FUTURE AWARDS

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ocal suppliers to Marks & Spencer have been rewarded for their excellence in farming at an M&S Farming for the Future Awards presentation held during the Balmoral Show.

David Irwin from Ballymoney, Co Antrim scooped the Outstanding Producer Award championing forward-thinking individuals whose technical ability or business aptitude promises to make a positive impact on their sector. He farms in partnership with his mother and father, milking 230 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows.

Philip Meade from Co Tyrone scooped the Innovation Award recognising producers pushing the boundaries in their sector.

The Meade family first started selling potatoes in local towns in the Co Meath area in 1977.

Andrew Shanks, farm manager of Tyholland Mushrooms in Co Monaghan, scooped the Young Producer Award championing forward-thinking individuals whose technical ability or business aptitude promises to make a positive impact on their sector.

At Tyholland Mushrooms, 160 staff works to grow, pack

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Philip Meade from Co Tyrone receives the Innovation Award from the Peter Kennedy, agriculture manager at M&S during the Balmoral Show.

and deliver mushrooms supplied to M&S through Monaghan Mushrooms.

John Dobson, who farms in Waringstown, Co Armagh, scooped the category supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund, a charity supporting rural communities.

Building resilience into his business has been a key focus for beef producer, John, who manages a 110-strong Aberdeen Angus suckler herd.

BALMORAL SHOW 2018 REVIEW

IRWIN’S BAKERY TAKES TOP HONOUR AT FRESH INNOVATION AWARDS B

rian Irwin, chairman of Irwin’s Bakery, was presented with a special award recognising Contribution to the Agrifood Industry in Northern Ireland at the inaugural Henderson Wholesale Fresh Innovation Awards.

The revamped awards were held on May 18 at the 150th Balmoral Show to celebrate the Henderson’s fresh food suppliers, farmers and growers rewarded for their product innovation, accessibility of goods and sustainable practices.

Overall Supplier of the Year also, meanwhile, went to Irwin’s Bakery, which has been trading with Hendersons since the early 1900s.

Tim Graham of Graham’s Bakery was the first recipient of the new Young Agri-Food Innovator Award, recognising his collaboration with the wholesaler to produce an exclusive line of celebration cakes for the new Occasions range.

Other winners at the breakfast ceremony included TS Foods (Excellence in Product Innovation) for its Ann’s Kitchen range of fresh and convenient fish meals, and Hovis (Excellence in Regional Delivery) for maintaining a 99.98% service level when delivering over 50 bread and bakery products, six days a week to SPAR and EUROSPAR retailers.

PRM Group took home the Tomorrow Matters Award, a nod to the alignment of the Group’s CSR practices with its suppliers, while Ballyclare pork producer Fred C Robinsons was presented with the Own Brand Supplier of the Year gong, after the SPAR enjoy local range of pork sausages saw a 13% sales boost.

Local Butchery Awards were also presented at the event for the first time, with Henderson Retail honouring four butchery concessions achieving top scores across audits covering quality, range, presentation, innovation, flair, availability and creativity.

Highly commended concessions included McMurray’s Butcher at EUROSPAR Templepatrick, H&J Carnduff Butchers in EUROSPAR Brackenvale on Saintfield Road, and Haye’s Family Butchers, from SPAR Greystone in Antrim, while Quail’s Butchery in SPAR Dromore Road, Banbridge took home the title of In-Store Butcher of the Year.

“With the 150th anniversary of the

From left, Jo Scott, BBC presenter and host of the awards; main award winner Brian Irwin of Irwin’s Bakery; and Neal Kelly, fresh foods director at the Henderson Group.

Jo Scott; Dr Lynsey Hollywood, head of the Agri-Food Business Development Centre at Ulster University; Alvin Donaghy from Fred C Robinson; and Neal Kelly.

Jo Scott; Joy Alexander, head of Food Technology at CAFRE; Darren Hughes from PRM; and Neal Kelly.

Jo Scott; Geoffrey Agnew, managing director of the Henderson Group; Joe Quail from Quails Butchery; and Neal Kelly.

Jo Scott; food writer Sam Butler; Stephen McNeice from TS Foods; Neal Kelly; and Paul Holmes from TS Foods.

Balmoral Show, we also wanted to make our annual celebration of our fresh food suppliers one to remember,” said Neal Kelly, fresh foods director at the Henderson Group. “We strive to ensure we are sourcing locally first and foremost

as we have some of the finest produce in the world on our own doorstep.”

An independent judging panel made up of food, agri and business experts scrutinised over 40 entries from around 20 local companies.

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AGRI-FOOD NEWS

M&S RAISES THE STAKES WITH NEW BEEF TRACEABILITY CAMPAIGN

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rom corned beef to fillet steak, every single piece of beef that M&S sells has two things in common – it can be traced back to the farm and animal it came from and it is British.

A new, summer-long food marketing campaign recently launched by Marks & Spencer shines a spotlight on M&S’ unrivalled beef traceability standards.

As highlighted in the campaign, M&S is the only national retailer in the UK that can trace every piece of beef it sells – whether it’s in a prepared meal, a sandwich or a prime cut – all the way back to every farm and animal from which it is sourced.

The We trace it, so you can trust it campaign is backed by DNA sampling provided by Dublin-based tech company Identigen. Thousands of tests are carried out every year to check that M&S’ unique standards are being followed.

“Since joining M&S I’ve been amazed at the stories behind our products. Our people go to extraordinary lengths to source the very best ingredients and

products and we are not shy of using cutting-edge technology to guarantee our provenance,” said Sharry Cramond, food marketing director at M&S. “Our beef campaign is an important first step in shining a spotlight on our unrivalled food standards – because trusting the food we eat matters to our customers.”

An extensive media campaign will run throughout the summer along with an interactive supply chain map showing every single farm that supplies M&S with beef.

M&S uses DNA sampling to trace its beef back to every farm and animal.

A sample is taken from every animal from every farm that supplies M&S and its suppliers. Thousands of tests are carried out every year on products taken at random from M&S stores and warehouses. The tests check that beef is moving through the supply chain – from farm, to abattoir to processor and to store – correctly and that M&S standards are being followed. In Northern Ireland, M&S works alongside meat processor Linden Foods.

FRICTIONLESS EU TRADE VITAL FOR UK LIVESTOCK SECTOR Representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU, NFU Cymru and NFU Scotland are lobbying the UK government to adopt a trade policy prioritising tariff-free, frictionless access to the European marketplace.

The farming unions met in Edinburgh in May amid on-going uncertainty over the UK government’s policy for post-Brexit trade.

At the meeting the four organisations agreed reports over the possibility of the UK market being opened up to low standard imports from outside of Europe, should the Government not recognise the sensitive nature of beef and lamb, were of concern.

UFU WELCOMES KNOWLEDGE ADVISORY SERVICE The Ulster Farmers’ Union has welcomed the launch of DAERA’s new single advisory service.

“The new service should benefit farmers, not just offering advice on the development of farm and food businesses but incorporating within it ways to be more sustainable such as considering the business’ economic and environmental performance,” said Ivor Ferguson, president of UFU. The service will complement the new Sustainable Land Management Branch based at Greenmount Campus, offering advice and support to farmers on issues such as air quality, biodiversity, land management and water quality.

UK PIG INDUSTRY HALVES ANTIBIOTIC USAGE IN TWO YEARS

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ig industry antibiotic use reduced by 28% in 2017, representing a decrease of over 50% UK-wide over the last two years.

“This is fantastic news for the pig industry in Northern Ireland, having been actively involved since its inception,” said Deirdre McIvor, chief executive of NI Pork and Bacon Forum. “The reduction is testament to our producers who drive incredibly high standards, both here in Northern Ireland, and in Great Britain.

“The pig industry is now leading the way within livestock production with 44

up-to-date figures on actual usage of antibiotics, allowing for realistic reduction targets. The technology demonstrates with complete transparency the progress that is being made – it should inspire confidence across the sector and underpin the quality credentials of Assured Origin pork.”

Norman Robson, pork and bacon chairman at UFU, said: “This demonstrates the hard work and commitment displayed by pig farmers, their vets and other advisors to use antibiotics responsibly.

“There is further work to be done to

reduce antibiotic use, such as improving on-going collaborative efforts to tackle endemic diseases, improving on-farm biosecurity, investing in buildings and infrastructure to improve the growing environment and continuing to move away from in-feed medication towards more strategic water or systemic treatments.”

In late 2017, the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance set a target of a 60% reduction in antibiotic usage in the pig industry between 2015 and 2020.

EXPORT NEWS

WHITEWATER BREWERY BUILDS ITS INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER BASE

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the growing demand for speciality and astlewellan-based Whitewater Brewery craft beer.

Co. has secured new customers in “The new business secured in Spain, Spain, Japan and Russia as part of efforts Japan and Russia is encouraging and to increase traction in international indicative of the appetite for awardmarkets. winning quality from Northern Ireland This success follows an investment to across the globe. Innovation and market build a new, state-of-the-art brewing development remain crucial to the facility to support the company’s growth and survival of the food industry continued growth in the global craft beer in Northern Ireland, as we continue to market. promote the pure, natural, quality of our “Craft beer is a growing segment of local produce.” the global beer industry and Whitewater From left, John Hood, director of Food and Drink, Invest NI and Bernard Sloan, Invest NI supported the development Brewery Co. is a forward-thinking owner, Whitewater Brewery Co. of Whitewater’s new manufacturing family business, driven to maximise new facilities and has offered the company opportunities in export markets,” said assistance towards its market development and job creation John Hood, director of Food and Drink, Invest NI. activities. The business will shortly invest in canning facilities in “The support Invest NI offered towards its new a bid to expand its export offering. manufacturing facility is enabling Whitewater to capitalise on

FOODS CONNECTED TO CREATE 20 JOBS

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recruited over the next two years and once in place, oods Connected is making a £1.7m investment, and will generate over £800,000 annually in additional creating 20 new jobs, to help increase its export salaries to the local economy. sales and keep up with growing demand for its “With this new investment, I look forward services. to seeing it increase its market share in the The Londonderry-based software firm food services sector across the UK, Europe and provides a range of cloud-based software tools beyond.” to help companies in the food industry manage Invest NI has offered Foods Connected processes and information across Supplier support of £157,000 to help create the new Approval, Quality and Trading, resulting in jobs. Roles include systems developers and reduced costs and increased profitability. project management and business development “Foods Connected is an export-focused company, roles. which is making a major investment in the From left, Gary Tyre, co-founder and system Connected currently employs 19 staff and is North West and creating 20 new high-quality development director of Foods Connected located in The City Factory, Londonderry with jobs,” said Des Gartland, North West regional and Des Gartland, North West regional director, Invest NI. additional offices in Belfast and Sydney. director, Invest NI. “The new team will be

EXPORT SUCCESS FOR ANTRIM POPCORN FIRM A ntrim-based manufacturing food firm Golden Popcorn has won a major contract estimated to be worth around €1m with Aldi in the Republic of Ireland.

The contract will see Golden Popcorn manufacture popcorn under the Snackrite brand for Aldi in a new multibag format for their Irish supermarkets.

“This deal is a significant win for Golden Popcorn which has quadrupled its market share in the Republic of Ireland in recent years,” said John Hood, Invest NI director of food and drink.

“The support we offered to help Golden Popcorn purchase new

46

From left, John Hood, Invest NI director of food and drink, and Sean McClinton, managing director of Golden Popcorn.

equipment is helping the company double current production capacity and has enabled it to service a wider range of contracts, particularly in the RoI and

GB markets.

“The company’s increasing export sales is most encouraging and we will continue to work closely with the business as it explores new markets, including the Middle East.”

Invest NI has offered Golden Popcorn support of £93,000 towards the purchase and installation of new equipment, and the company’s growth will see an increase in the number of staff employed to 21.

Golden Popcorn currently sells its award-winning popcorn to cinemas, retailers and the snack food sectors across the UK and Ireland.

MARKETING NEWS

DIETICIAN TEAMS UP WITH FREE’IST IN SUGAR-SWAP INITIATIVE B

elfast-based sugar-free foods company Free’ist has formed a partnership with dietician Gillian Killiner (121 Dietician) to encourage consumers to review their sugar intake.

The collaboration includes a week-long Sugar Swap campaign, featuring in-store activity and a multi-channel marketing support programme across Ireland.

The Sugar Swap Week initiative (May 28 – June 3) followed the recent introduction of the UK’s Sugar Tax on fizzy drinks, and on-going consumer interest in the impact of sugar on health.

Established in 2013 in response to the growing number of consumers seeking sugar free and no added sugar snack options, Free’ist supplies its range of

chocolate bars, cookies, popcorn, jellies and marshmallows into many of the major retailers and health food stores across Ireland and the UK. “We will support our Sugar Swap Week with an integrated marketing campaign, including radio advertising in NI and RoI, blogger engagement across Ireland, online giveaways and in-store sampling at retail level, to create consumer engagement in-store and ultimately drive sales for our retail partners,” said Gerard McAdorey, managing director, Free’ist.

“We have recruited a number of brand partners who will stage their own Sugar Swap Week activity, and our branded vehicle will be out visiting key sites sampling Free’ist product through

From left, Gillian Killiner, 121 Dietician, and Steve McDonagh, marketing co-ordinator, Free’ist.

the week, encouraging the public to get involved.”

DALE FARM SHINES GROCERYAID REFRESHES WITH NEW, SPOTLIGHT ON FARM CAMPAIGN INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS SAFETY D

D

ale Farm has partnered with the Grand Opera House and Belfast theatre company Pintsized Productions to develop a live theatre tour that brings the importance of farm safety to life for primary schoolchildren.

Supported by Arts & Business Northern Ireland, Dale Farm’s Seasons of Safety will tour 21 rural primary schools throughout Co Antrim in May and is the first project of its kind that the Grand Opera House has taken on tour.

Whilst the three-cast production will be open for all ages of primary schoolchildren to experience, a workshop element will follow each performance aimed at P6 and P7 children, exploring themes and learnings emerging from the play.

Following its primary school tour, the play was performed live on May 18 at the Balmoral Show as part of Dale Farm’s presence at the annual farming event.

“Farm safety remains a pertinent issue and major concern amongst the agricultural sector and as Northern Ireland’s largest farmer-owned dairy cooperative, Dale Farm is keen to help educate the next generation of farmers,” said Caroline Martin, head of Marketing, Dale Farm.

Continuing its connection with the arts sector and commitment to supporting family life in Northern Ireland, Dale Farm will be lead sponsor of the Grand Opera House Pantomime for a fourth year.

ebt, Loneliness, Illness and Stress were all items in GroceryAid’s ‘#notbuyingit’ basket last year. Last month, the charity has launched a refreshed range and campaign, with a new Mental Health Coffee Jar and Crisis Ice Cream Carton.

The campaign of press and digital adverts, direct mail and social media activity originally launched last year, successfully raised awareness of the issues affecting thousands of grocery colleagues on a daily basis.

“We’re delighted by the support that the industry and media have given us,” said Steve Barnes, chief executive at GroceryAid. “#notbuyingit phase one had great cut through and provoked much interest. Last year GroceryAid secured 40 new supporting companies that now are attending our events and telling their colleagues about the assistance we can provide.

“Grocery colleagues may feel they have nowhere to turn in these difficult situations and we aim to raise awareness of our Helpline and crisis support services that are available to them.”

Phase two of the counter-intuitive campaign continues with an innovative new press advert with the hero product of a Mental Health Coffee Jar, launched to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week in May. For more information about the #notbuyingit campaign, please contact news@groceryaid.org.uk, call 01252 875925 or visit www.groceryaid.org.uk.

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ADVERTORIAL

Derry Refrigerated Transport announces ÂŁ9m investment O ne of the leading refrigerated transport distributors on the island of Ireland, Derry Refrigerated Transport, is celebrating almost 20 years in business with a substantial ÂŁ9m investment that will see the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility in Co Armagh, as well as the creation of 50 jobs for the local area.

The family-run company, started

by Patrick Derry in 1999, offers a comprehensive 24-hour chilled distribution and warehousing service throughout Ireland and the UK and also includes collection and delivery services, storage and order picking services, in addition to product invoicing services.

This latest significant investment will include the development of a bespoke new hub, designed by J Aidan Kelly Ltd Architectural Technologist and will be the first of its kind for refrigerated transport in Ireland. The new site will span over 10 acres and will be located close to the 48

ADVERTORIAL

“IT IS A VERY EXCITING TIME AT DERRY REFRIGERATED TRANSPORT. THIS INVESTMENT WILL ALLOW US TO BUILD ON THE PLATFORM WE HAVE ESTABLISHED DURING OUR 20 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY AND WILL ENABLE US TO PROVIDE WIDER AND MORE TAILORED SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS.” Patrick Derry, managing director

company’s current site in Portadown.

Already employing 200 people, Derry Refrigerated Transport is hopeful that the 50 new jobs will commence within the first three months of the hub’s opening in October 2019 – the 20th anniversary of the company.

Patrick Derry, managing director, said: “It is a very exciting time at Derry Refrigerated Transport. This investment will allow us to build on the platform we have established during our 20 years in the industry and will enable us to provide wider and more tailored services to our clients.

“We are delighted to be able to create employment for the local area once our new hub is complete and we are looking forward to expanding further into the Irish market.”

Derry Refrigerated Transport has grown exponentially since Patrick’s humble beginnings with one lorry back in 1999.

In 2013, the company experienced

significant growth, followed by further growth in early 2018 with the majority acquisition of Brennan Refrigerated Transport in Waterford – a move that adds a further five lorries to Derry’s already prolific fleet.

Patrick continued: “Our customers have been extremely loyal to us since starting out 20 years ago and we want to continue to enhance our relationship by offering them something extra. We are hopeful that this recent investment will establish Derry as the ‘go-to’ refrigerated transport company in Ireland.”

Speaking about the investment, brand ambassador and Olympic winning boxer, Paddy Barnes said: “It’s excellent to see

the investment that Patrick and the team is making to not only the company, but to the local area. For as long as I have been working with Patrick, his commitment to his customers and employees has been second to none and I’m looking forward to seeing the end result of the team’s hard work.”

Derry Refrigerated Transport has been recognised for their sustainability practices by winning the Greener, Safer Fleet Award at the Export and Freight Awards in 2016 and Fleet of the Year at the 2017 awards and this is something Patrick and the team are passionate about maintaining as the company moves forward.

49

ADVERTORIAL

Discount Commodity Supplies

D

iscount Commodity Supplies are a flourishing business who thrive in a challenge and constantly work to punch above their weight. Founded in 2010, the company was initially set up to manage the opportunity brought forward from the Aqua Twist water brand where they found scope to develop a business template that could be made available to other new and exciting brands. DCS are a platform to leverage and promote new companies in all aspects; primarily a distribution company they have a customer base consisting of large multiple groups (both UK and Ireland), symbol groups, foodserviced, independent retailers, events companies, off trade and wholesalers.

Aqua Twist was the first quality branded 12 pack of water to launch in the Northern Ireland market and it quickly gained a huge following with consumers as a premium looking (and tasting) water which offered real value.

“Eight years later, Aqua Twist still delivers every week for retailers, through its loyal customer base that value this remarkable brand,” said Gary Taylor, brand owner.

This proclivity for launching businesses off the ground can further be evidenced in DCS’s wide range of clients and quick action to meet market opportunities by

following the key developing markets – this includes American confectionary, fidget spinners and loom bands. When speaking of these other brands, John Hamilton, director, said: “We offer brands that compliment the Aqua Twist range that have a simple uniqueness that will appeal to consumers and retailers.”

“Historically a drinks and confectionary distributor, we have now diversified into selected markets via key quality brands that are not ‘me too’ brands, but products that will lead new and old product categories alike. By not overstretching our range, we can focus on distributing all our products professionally to a wide customer base.”

SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR DISCOUNT COMMODITY SUPPLIES? 2018 has seen the expansion of the brand, with the launch of DCS UK under the leadership of David Griffin, a highly experienced and motivated professional with a background as a trading manager for brands such as Co-Op, Makro and Bookers, as well as a seasoned and successful sales manager. Based in Brighton the new DCS UK offers a solid foundation for successful distribution of the DCS portfolio.

The DCS Team OWNER DIRECTORS Gary Taylor and John Hamilton BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR (Trainee Accountant) Stacey McKinstry SALES TEAM Sales Representative Simon Kelly Delivered Sales Rep Adam Kydd.

NEW UK SALES TEAM Owner Director David Griffin Sales Team Josh Keating and James Hunter Office Manager Georgia Pratt Marketing and IT Team Natasha Colyer and Mark Lee-Falcon

Visit the website on: www.dcsupplies.co.uk for more information 50

BREAKING

NEWS F O R

2 0 1 8

FUEL 10K. Fuel 10k are a tasty

breakfast range boosted with extra protein to help you make the most from your day. Designed to be easy in all aspects – easy to eat, easy protein and easy on the go, Fuel 10k is an effortless choice. Each of the unique recipes are made from high quality ingredients and taste as delicious as they look.

The range includes breakfast drinks, porridge pots, chunky granola, wheat biscuits, multigrain flakes and more.

AQUA TWIST.

Aqua Twist is Northern Ireland’s take home water of choice. Smooth on the palette, it is refreshing and offers real value. The hugely successful 12 packs, both 500mls and 330ml ranges, have been the choice of consumers for over 10 years and continue to drive new business for our retail partners. Our branding and packaging offers a premium bottle of water at an everyday affordable price. Aqua Twist have introduced a new 4 pack of flavours (no sugar tax!) Just great tasting, real fruit, thirst quenching flavours, tapping into an emerging market within the water sector. Raspberry & Strawberry and Lemon & Lime. Place your orders today!

WARRIOR CRUNCH.

Warrior Crunch bars are a new and great tasting protein bar, created to ‘bridge the gap between healthy protein snacking and traditional confectionery’. High in protein, low in carbs and packed with taste.

Flavours in the range include Salted Caramel, White Chocolate Crisp, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake and Milk Chocolate Coconut.

Warrior Crunch are the clearly the future of protein bars!

JUST-BE. Exquisite sparkling flavoured wine launched at this year’s London Wine Fair to quick acclaim. Made from a carefully selected blend of two premium Italian wines and infused with fresh ingredients, they are a delicious and refreshing tipple to enjoy all year round. Aluminium bottles keep them cool while a handy rip top negates the need for a bottle opener while keeping them fresh. Flavours include Elderflower & Mint, Rhubarb & Strawberry, Mixed Berries, Orange & Bitter Herbs and of course the traditional sparkling favourite -BeSecco.

AMERICAN FANTA DRINKS.

Enjoy all the best tastes of Fanta with the American Fanta Drinks range. Unique twists on the traditional orange Fanta which is favoured worldwide, the American Fanta Drinks range allows you to try and enjoy all new flavours including Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Fruit punch, Wild Berry, Mango and Apple, all imported directly from the USA.

FREEDOM PAPER.

Freedom paper is a high-quality UK-produced range of toilet rolls. Infused with a subtle scent, it calms, soothes and detoxifies for added cleanliness and is produced in the UK with sustainably-sourced virgin pulp ensuring it looks out for the environment too. Freedom Paper are also affordable, proving that you don’t need to compromise on quality to keep a good price.

BUSINESS NEWS

HEATHROW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO NI

Businesses in Northern Ireland are getting ready to pitch their capabilities to major suppliers at Heathrow Airport, looking for innovative companies across the UK to join their supply chain.

Local, small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) will get a chance to meet with the airport’s biggest suppliers at the first ever Heathrow Business Summit in Northern Ireland, to be held in Belfast on Wednesday, June 20.

In collaboration with NI Chamber, the Summit will help businesses take advantage of the work being spread across the UK both now and during construction of a new runway at Heathrow.

LMC ATTENDS WORLD MEAT CONGRESS

Ian Stevenson, chief executive and Gerard McGivern, chairman, of the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) have travelled to Dallas, Texas to attend the World Meat Congress.

This major global event brings together approximately 1,000 meat and livestock professionals from across the globe and is hosted every two years by the International Meat Secretariat (IMS).

The congress explored a number of important global themes including the global trading system, factors affecting the red meat trade and cutting-edge technologies transforming meat production.

CIM IRELAND AWARDS CELEBRATE 18TH BIRTHDAY Entries are now open for the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Ireland Awards, to be held at Titanic Belfast on November 9, with the number of awards extended to 18 to mark the event’s anniversary.

Moy Park is sponsoring the Not for Profit Campaigning and Ulster University the UU Agri Food category, with a deadline of September 28 applying for award entries.

For further information, visit www.cim.co.uk/events/irelandawards-2018/.

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FOOD INDUSTRY BUSINESS LEADERS HONOURED BY IOD D irectors of three Northern Ireland food manufacturers and suppliers were among 11 business leaders to be honoured at the annual Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoD NI) Director of the Year Awards sponsored by First Trust Bank.

Denis Lynn, of Lynn’s Country Foods/ Finnebrogue Artisan, received Director of the Year – Innovation in recognition of his development of Naked Bacon, a product made without nitrates. Judges said Denis had set his firm on track to generating turnover of £100m with unprecedented demand from across the country.

Joanne Molloy of TS Foods, was highly commended in the Director of the Year – Family Business category. Judges commented that Joanne’s ‘marked improvement’ made it difficult to choose a winner while also reiterating the importance of these family businesses to the economy.

Director of the Year – Young Enterprise NI Alumni was awarded to Maria Dornan,

Denis Lynn of Lynn’s Country Foods/Finnebrogue Artisan, is pictured, second right.

founder of Skinny Sauces. Started in 2017, Skinny Sauces is the first line of sugar-free, gluten-free and naturallysweetened table top sauces.

The awards were presented at a ceremony held in the Merchant Hotel, Belfast, where winners across 11 categories were announced, each of whom will now be considered for the UK Director of the Year Awards, taking place in London later this year.

GM MARKETING ADDS PREMIUM OLIVE OIL BRAND TO PORTFOLIO I conic olive oil specialists Filippo Berio has been added to the growing portfolio of GM Marketing, Gerard McAdorey, which will managing director of GM Marketing is distribute pictured, left. the extensive range of Filippo Berio oil, vinegar and pesto to retailers across Ireland.

The Italian olive oil masters have been producing the finest quality range of olive oils for over 150 years and the unique flavour, versatility and important health benefits of Filippo Berio’s Olive Oil have ensured its lasting popularity through the years, making it one of the leading olive oil brands in Ireland and throughout the world.

“We are delighted to add Filippo Berio

to our portfolio; they are an iconic brand with great heritage and are synonymous with product quality,” said Gerard McAdorey, managing director of GM Marketing.

“There is a great fit between the two companies and they will complement the other foodie brands in our portfolio.

“We see good opportunities for growth for the core Filippo Berio range within the Irish market across retail and foodservice, and there are also some exciting new products that will appeal to Irish consumers.”

To help develop the Filippo Berio brand in Ireland, GM has upweighted its sales team. For more information, visit www.gmmarketing.co.uk.

Charity Golf Day Thursday 2nd August 2018 (Shot Gun start 2.00pm) Our Annual GroceryAid Golf Day will be held once again at Belvoir Park and will be a shot gun start.

The event is very relaxed and is a great opportunity to reward your sales team, entertain customers and friends and play this prestigious championship course.

For more information or to book your place contact adrian.moore@courtneyandnelson.co.uk

APPOINTMENTS

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE...

IN ASSOCIATION WITH...

NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM AT UFU FSDF APPOINTS NEW CHIEF Farmers’ EXECUTIVE Union has Ulster

elected a new leadership team at its Annual General Meeting.

Co Armagh sheep and arable farmer, Ivor Ferguson From left, Victor Chestnutt, deputy president, Ivor Ferguson president, and David Brown, deputy president. was voted in as president for two years, while Co Antrim livestock farmer Victor Chestnutt was re-elected for a second term as deputy president and he will be joined by newly elected deputy president David Brown, a cattle and sheep farmer from Co Fermanagh.

Thanking the UFU council and members for their support, the new president acknowledged there are plenty of challenges ahead with Brexit; establishing a new Agricultural Policy that will deliver for farmers will be one of the biggest challenges in over 40 years.

PLADIS UK&I APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF CUSTOMER TEAM

S

nacking company pladis, owner of the McVitie’s and Jacob’s brands, has appointed Scott Snell as vice president of Customer for pladis UK & Ireland; part of the UK&I Executive Team.

He will lead the Customer team, working to ensure that customers are at the heart of all sales activity at pladis.

Snell brings a wealth of experience in the global FMCG Scott Snell sector, and has a proven track record in delivering strong sales performance and transforming, building and leading winning teams. Prior to joining pladis, Scott worked at PepsiCo and Mondelez, most recently as the sales director of Impulse Sales.

F

SDF has appointed a new chief executive to follow Chris Sturman, who is retiring after nine years at the helm.

Shane Brennan, who joins the Federation in mid July, is an experienced trade association leader and communications professional. He joins the FSDF from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents farmers and Shane Brennan landowners. As external affairs director, he led the media, political, publishing and digital business. Before CLA, he was a longstanding member of the leadership team at the Association of Convenience Stores.

NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED TO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IRELAND

F

eargal McCormack has been elected President of Chartered Accountants Ireland at its 130th Annual General Meeting in Belfast.

Addressing its AGM, McCormack highlighted the current political and economic uncertainty on the island of Ireland and expressed his view that delivering political stability Feargal McCormack is the vital factor in securing a positive economic future on the island.

McCormack, who takes over as president from Shauna Greely, is managing director of PKF-FPM, a chartered accountancy and business consultancy practice with offices in Newry, Belfast, Dungannon, Dundalk, Mallusk and Balbriggan, Dublin.

Unit 2, 1 Edgewater Road, Belfast Harbour, Belfast BT3 9JQ Tel: +44 28 9077 0999 Fax: +44 28 9078 1172

54

SHELFLIFE

To see your product featured in Shelf Life, contact Chris Keenan at c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk or Tel: 028 9026 4267

KP SNACKS INTRODUCES NEW HULA HOOPS FLAVARINGS

K

P Snacks has launched Hula Hoops Flavarings, a new crisp range set to make family sharing occasions even more delicious and fun.

Launched at KP Snacks’ 2018 Insights Day, Hula Hoops Flavarings have been developed in response to consumer preference for bigger, bolder and full on flavour products.

At 51%[1], flavour is the number one purchase driver for Crisps and Snacks

and with the sharing segment growing at 10.7%[2], market demand for flavoursome sharing products has never been stronger.

Hula Hoops Flavarings incorporate the iconic hoop shape and are crispy and light with a melt in your mouth texture. Available in two intense family favourite flavours, Tangy Cheese and Salt & Vinegar, the new product is launching in a 90g sharing format and a 55g pack.

With three packs sold every second,

CAT CLUB CROWN YOUR CAT ON-PACK OFFER

T

his summer Cat Club is launching an exciting onpack promotion, not to be missed by retailers and customers alike. The search is on to crown the King or Queen of Cat Club.To win, customers must share a photo of their cat along with why they deserve the Cat Club Crown. The winning cat will star on packs of Cat Club, receive a cat photoshoot and a supply of Cat Club cat food. The competition runs from July to October on all Cat Club 6 Packs (Chunks in Jelly and Chunks in Gravy). It will be supported by an all-Ireland radio advertising campaign, a strong digital campaign and PR activity.

Customers will be able to enter the competition at www.catclubcrown.com.

“Cats love their Cat Club”

the Hula Hoops brand is currently worth £105.9m, with double-digit MAT growth of +15.6%(2).

Available from May, Flavarings will be supported with a £1m media campaign in 2018 including in-store activation, outdoor media and digital.

Source: [1] Source AC Nielsen: MAT 17.06.17 [2] Nielsen: MAT 24.03.18

BALLYMALOE RELISHES ITS NEW VERSATILE RANGE

A

delicate balance of natural ingredients and gentle spices, our products are wonderfully versatile and liven up the simplest of meals. Widely available across Northern Ireland and proudly supplied by Valeo Foods. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Gluten free.

100% natural ingredients.

Made in Ireland by a family company.

We use the highest quality ingredients.

HÄAGEN-DAZS TALKS TO PEANUT BUTTER AND PORTIONABILITY

H

äagen-Dazs has launched new ontrend Peanut Butter Crunch ice cream, now available across pint and stick bar formats.

Flavour innovation was at the heart of the ice cream’s heavyweight 2017 rebrand and remains key to continue exciting Millennial shoppers.

Sales of peanut butter were up by nearly a fifth in 2017 and are set to

break through the £100m barrier in 2018, according to Häagen-Dazs, with its new variant aiming to tap into this trend; bringing it to life by combining peanut ice cream with a thick swirl of velvety peanut butter sauce sourced from the US and generous crunchy, salted and caremelised pieces of Argentinian peanuts.

“Häagen-Dazs was one of the fastest-growing ice cream brands of 2017 (both in value and unit sales), growing by

+40.3% and outpacing the Luxury Ice Cream category (+13%),” said Arjoon Bose, UK and Northern Europe marketing head for Häagen-Dazs. “We know flavour and format innovation is key to maintaining this momentum and exciting Gen Y shoppers. Peanut Butter is without a doubt a huge global trend and we’ve spent a lot of time at our factory perfecting the ingredients and flavours to deliver an exceptional tasting addition to the range.”

55

CLASSIFIEDS AN EASY REFERENCE TO THE BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS

TO ADVERTISE HERE CONTACT CHRIS KEENAN ON 028 9264 4267 EMAIL: C.KEENAN@ INDEPENDENTMAGAZINESNI.CO.UK

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WWW.ULSTERGROCER.COM

To advertise here contact Chris Keenan on 028 9264 4267 email: c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF After deciding it was time to move on from my long-serving role at a very successful energy drink brand, I was doing research for two interviews - one with a craft beer distribution company and the other with a peanut brand manufacturer. Sitting in my house one Friday night tasting the craft beer while sampling the peanuts, I discovered the peanuts were giving the beer a funny taste. I started searching for peanuts that paired with craft beer and couldn’t find anything. I couldn’t get the idea of paring peanuts with craft beer out of my head and began to research and read more about it. I decided to try and create the product myself and Noisy Nuts was born. I’m now on a mission to Make Some Noise!

IN THE HOT SEAT NOEL ALLEN, FOUNDER & OWNER OF NOISY NUTS

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY INVOLVE? A day in my life can involve anything.

As a start-up business, I wear many hats and can be dealing with one thing to the next such as product production, forecasting, sales, marketing, brand development and of course making some noise. Part of the fun is that every day is different.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? I have been lucky to be part of some fantastic successes in my career to date, but the highlight would have to be agreeing to supply Lidl with my own branded product. I have always held other brands that I worked for close to my heart and really felt part of the team.

Launching my own business was always a dream and now I’m making some noise, it just feels fantastic.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Seeing customers pairing Noisy Nuts with their craft beer and shaking the self-seasoning snack up for fun. It’s a great feeling, as I have always loved beer and nuts.

Noisy Noel at this year’s Balmoral Show.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST GRIPE? Communication… I hate when people say they will contact you and they don’t. How these people ever get sales, I will never know.

WHAT TALENT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? I have always wanted to go on X-Factor.

I even give myself a stage name - Jason Light. I love a bit of karaoke but I’m not the best singer; I think it would be a great talent to have.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST DIFFICULT TASK? Keeping my beautiful wife happy. I’m always working or talking about work and Mrs Noisy has to deal with it all. She keeps me grounded and puts me in my place when I get too far ahead of myself.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS/ AMBITIONS? To build my brand and business offering retailers, bar owners and consumers the opportunity to become part of Team Noisy. Team Noisy will create innovation products that offer a fun experience while elevating the drinking experience.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? Work hard, hustle and ride the wave.

WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? James Watt and Martin Dickie, cofounders of BrewDog. I have read James

58

Watt’s book and follow him through social media and it was one of the drivers that pushed me to launch my own business. BrewDog is a monster of a brand that started in a shed. The brand is about people and great beer and I love how they have created a business with their customers as part of the team.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE? I love the US, and looking at all the strange and wonderful products they have.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD PRODUCT? I’m a huge snacker and love to see new snacking products coming out. I love a Fulfil bar with a coffee and think it’s a great product and brand.

HOW DO YOU RELAX? I like to keep fit and do a lot of HITT training and boxing to clear my mind.

C

IN THE HOTSEAT

CO SO M O ING N !