GROCER ™
At the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry
OCTOBER 2013
ULSTER
CONTENTS
email: info@ulstergrocer.com
34-36
Volume 48, Number 9 October 2013
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PageS 12 & 13 – GRANT THORNTON: Introducing the first in a series of articles and interviews from this leading financial advisor for the food and drink sector. Page 17 – Company profile: Laura Hyland, who recently enjoyed a visit to Willowbrook Foods in Killinchy, reports back on her meeting with Managing Director John McCann. PageS 22-23 – STORE FOCUS: This month Brian McCalden visits a thriving Day Today store in Antrim. PageS 24-32 – TESCO TASTE NI FESTIVAL: Includes a special foreword by Cliff Kells, the Commercial Manager for Tesco NI. Page 33 – HOT SEAT: Featuring Brian McErlain, the Managing Director of Genesis Crafty. Pages 34-36 – BIG NIGHT IN: With night’s closing in and cashstrapped consumers opting to socialise at home, we look at ways local convenience store retailers can maximise their sales through this market. Page 42 – PHOTOCALL: Pictures from this year’s Candy Ball at Belfast’s Culloden Hotel.
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Contents
Ulster Grocer is published by Greer Publications 5B Edgewater Business Park, Belfast Harbour Estate, BELFAST BT3 9JQ Tel: 028 9078 3200 Fax: 028 9078 3210 Web: www.ulstergrocer.com
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ULSTER GROCER
Acting Editor & Advertising Manager: Karen Graham E: karengraham@greerpublications.com Contributors: Laura Hyland and Brian McCalden Senior Accounts Manager: Michelle Kearney E: michellekearney@greerpublications.com Art Editor: Karen Donnelly Deputy Art Editor: Catherine Mercer Production Manager: Stuart Gray Accounts: Gerardine Carson Publishers: James and Gladys Greer
www.ulstergrocer.com
John Barrett, former chairman of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, passed away peacefully at home on October 13th. Cliff Kells, chairman of GroceryAid NI, paid tribute, saying: ‘It is with immense sadness that we hear that our longstanding colleague and friend John Barrett has passed away. John was one of the original founding fathers of Caravan, now GroceryAid, in Northern Ireland. He was a consistent and energetic fundraiser and advocate for our industry charity right up until this year, responsible for some of our most innovative and profitable events. His commitment was unsurpassed. More recently John faced his situation with huge courage, and a spirit that set an example to all. I will miss him for his massive contribution to our charity, but even more for his enthusiasm, friendship, and sheer love of life.’ The directors and staff of Ulster Grocer extend our sympathy to his wife Joan and the family.
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Linden Foods share their success with Lidl at the inaugural Irish Quality Food Awards
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Pictured (L-R) in the new Lidl Omagh store celebrating their success at the recent at the Irish Quality Food Awards are Lucia Christy, Project Manager, Lidl Northern Ireland and Rita O’Kane, New Product Development Manager, Linden Foods
inden Foods, one of the UK’s leading fresh meat processors and supplier to supermarket chain Lidl, is celebrating its win at the inaugural Irish Quality Food Awards in the Ready to Cook category for its Italian Meatballs with Arrabiata sauce, part of Lidl’s Heat Eat and Enjoy range. The first ever Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards were presented by renowned chef Neven Maguire on Wednesday, 17th September, at the Mansion House, Dublin. The awards recognise excellence in product development for food and drink producers, retailers and catering companies in Ireland.
ABANDONED DOGS SET TO BENEFIT FROM SPAR SUPPORT
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ocal people are being urged to support a campaign to help abandoned dogs across Northern Ireland to make a good recovery. By supporting a campaign running in SPAR stores in Northern Ireland they can donate food to rehoming centres here including the local charity, the USPCA. The Henderson Group, which owns the SPAR franchise across Northern Ireland, is supporting Pedigree’s ‘Buy One, Feed One’ promotion which will help the dog food company make the largest ever donation of food to rescue dogs across the UK. Until November 3, every time shoppers buy a special pack of Pedigree dog food, a meal will be donated to a rehoming centre. David Wilson, of USPCA, said: “We have a great number of dogs that come into our care that unfortunately have not had the best start in life. A good quality diet will greatly aid their recovery, reduce their stress levels and improve their overall quality of life. “We are grateful to the Henderson Group and its SPAR customers for their support.”
Bleak Outlook as NI Families Face Five More Years of Financial Squeeze O ver the next five years, the average Northern Ireland household is set to face a further 20% (£600) decline in their spending power, a major new report by Asda projects today. Slow income growth combined with increases in the cost of living have contributed to the erosion, as has the region’s high dependency on state support and employment, both of which are expected to fall. As a result, Northern Ireland remains one of the hardest hit regions across the UK – and the outlook to 2018 shows little sign of improvement for local families. The report examines how families/people 4
have been affected by the economic climate over the last five years, as well as looking ahead to the next five years. The research has been carried out by the Centre for Economic and Business Research and finds that in 2013, the average UK household is £868 a year worse off, in real terms, than they were in 2009. Furthermore, the level of household discretionary income – what is left after essential items are paid for – is likely to stand at or below the current £160 a week mark until the last quarter of 2018, when it will begin to rise above this level once more. However, when the effect of price rises
in non-essential items is also considered, the spending power of the average UK household will fall further (this £160 a week will buy less each year). By 2019, the average UK household will have just £147 a week of real disposable income in 2012 prices, down £25 a week on the levels seen in 2009. Continued weaknesses in the labour market will also add to the squeeze. Wage growth is unlikely to top pre-recession levels (4%) in the next five years. Although private sector job creation is expected to help bring down joblessness, further public sector cuts are forecast to prevent the unemployment rate from falling beneath 7% over the next five years.
Worth its weight in gold without the price tag. **
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Toat’ly Oaty Easi-Cook Jumbo Oats Packed in convenient sachets, Toat’ly Oaty is the “Double Gold” Award winning microwaveable Porridge. We believe our 100% wholegrain jumbo oats are worth their weight in gold and we’re sure you will too. A truly “Great Taste!” Toat’ly Oaty is also available in Apple & Cinnamon, Wild Fruit and multi seed varieties. * Toat’ly Oaty Original ** Toat’ly Oaty with added Multi Seeds
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NEWS
Musgrave Stores win National Q Mark Titles P oole’s SuperValu Moira and Long’s SuperValu Strand Road have both been named Best Supermarket for Hygiene & Food Safety in Northern Ireland for 2013, in the Sapphire and Emerald Categories, and McDade’s Centra Ballygawley has been named Best Convenience Store for Hygiene & Food Safety in Northern Ireland for 2013 at the National Q Mark Awards in Dublin. The National Q Mark Awards are widely referred to throughout the country as being the ‘Oscars’ of business excellence and each year thousands of companies apply to be considered, but only the best of the best are short-listed to compete. To be announced as a winner on the night is considered to be one of the greatest accolades that any company or team can receive. The Q Mark Award for Best for Hygiene & Food Safety in Northern Ireland is known to be one of the most difficult categories to win at the annual awards ceremony, as all nominees must prove that they review 100% of their processes and procedures 100% of the time, thereby guaranteeing the highest standards of quality and excellence available in Ireland today. Managing Director of The National Q Mark, Irene Collins said “Collective responsibility for high operational standards has yielded a fantastic result for all these teams…increased footfall and a much coveted Q Mark Trophy. A fantastic result for all involved.”
Minister supports health drive to reach 500,000 young people
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ducation Minister John O’Dowd recently joined representatives from Action Cancer and sponsor of the Health Action programme, Centra, as the partners launched a drive to reach half a million children with healthy lifestyle messages. Health Action was launched ten years ago and has since delivered health sessions to more than 400,000 young people at nurseries, schools and colleges across Northern Ireland. By June 2014 Action Cancer hopes to have reached 500,000 young people with cancer prevention sessions. Health Action has been fuelled over the past decade by more than £860,000 of funding raised by Centra stores. Stores benefit from high levels of positive publicity generated by the initiative. Minister O’Dowd said; “I welcome the work Action Cancer is doing in local schools, as I believe, as they do, that this will have a long-term impact on the health of the children and young people involved, and the community as a whole. The Health Action programme helps schools provide a rounded education, which covers not just academic topics, but also lifestyle elements, helping young people become healthier grownups. Good luck to the Action Cancer and Centra team in reaching their target for Health Action.”
Musgrave Retail Partners raises £2m for Action Cancer
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usgrave Retail Partners NI, the company that supports over 200 independent SuperValu, Centra and Mace retailers across Northern Ireland, has reached a massive fundraising milestone – having raised more than £2million for its charity partner Action Cancer. The donation, believed to be one of the largest amounts ever fundraised by a company for an individual charity here, has been raised by SuperValu and Centra stores, along with Musgrave head office staff over the past 12 years. The funds have gone towards the Action Cancer Big Bus screening and health promotion unit, which is supported by SuperValu, and the charity’s health promotion programme for schools, whose main sponsor is Centra. Musgrave’s managing director Nigel Briggs, left, met with Action Cancer chief executive Gareth Kirk to make the announcement. 8 366• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
The leading supporter of entrepreneurial independent retailers Our best in class model, enabling progressive supermarket and convenience store owners to optimise their returns, is now even better than before… DRIVING SALES – by making our retail brands even more competitive. Over £1 million invested in lower retail prices, with retailer margins maintained.
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NEWS
Foster and Hamilton announce agri-food loan scheme
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nterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Finance Minister Simon Hamilton, MLA have announced that a new Agri-Food Loan Scheme will be open for business in November. The Scheme will be delivered jointly with a number of Northern Ireland’s banks. It will help local food producers, who form part of an integrated supply chain, to access the finance they would need to invest in the farm buildings necessary to increase supply of the primary produce for processing. Arlene Foster said: “Over recent months, several major retailers have decided to sell only UK sourced meat products. This presents major opportunities for the local Agri-Food industry and that is why we have been working with the banks to explore the potential for an Agri-Food Loan Scheme which would enable businesses to take advantage of the opportunities that exist.” Simon Hamilton said: “The scheme we have announced today will see the Northern Ireland Executive, working proactively with a number of our banks, to provide significant finance in the form of loans to local food producers who form part of an integrated supply chain. Discussions with the banks have been very positive and highly constructive, and we are pleased to announce that we have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding, setting out our joint commitment to deliver the Scheme.” The first phase of the Scheme will be open to broiler producers in Northern Ireland. The
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Department of Finance and Personnel and Invest Northern Ireland are also working with the banks to roll out subsequent phases of the scheme to other Agri-Food sectors over the coming months. Commenting on the roll out Simon Hamilton continued: “The Agri-food Loan Scheme will roll out on a phased basis and the first phase of the Scheme will open for applications next month.
This first phase will be open to broiler producers and we are already working to develop subsequent phases of the scheme in respect of, pig meat, egg production, red meat and dairy.” Arlene Foster added: “Difficulty in accessing finance was one of the issues identified in ‘Going for Growth’, the Strategic Action Plan developed by the industry led Agri-Food Strategy Board. “Our co-operation with the banks demonstrates that we are not only listening to, but acting on, the concerns of industry. It is also an example that the Executive is working together to provide support for local businesses. “We have worked hard to ensure that this Scheme is as straightforward as possible for producers – essentially we have created a onestop shop. Processes within the Banks and Invest NI will be coordinated to ensure that applicants will only be required to submit one application for finance using the normal channels within the Banks.” Simon Hamilton concluded: “Initiatives such as this are crucial as we, in partnership with our local banks, work to create a better environment for business and as we strive to ensure that local companies can make the most of opportunities for growth that arise. “£10 million has been allocated to Invest Northern Ireland to facilitate the first phase of the Scheme this year, and the Executive has agreed to commit further funds to the Scheme should there be significant demand.”
UFU welcomes NI Executive’s Agri-Food Loan Scheme
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lster Farmers’ Union President Harry Sinclair has welcomed the launch of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Agri-Food Loan Scheme saying it will provide the help needed to access finance for farmers looking to invest in their businesses and expand production. £10million pounds has been allocated to facilitate the first phase of the scheme with the Northern Ireland Executive agreeing to commit further funding for this scheme, which is expected to operate for the next two years, should there be significant demand. Harry Sinclair said; “This Agri-Food Loan Scheme is sending a very clear message from the Northern Ireland Executive that they are committed to making a real and tangible investment in the Agri-Food industry. It has been a tough couple of years for farmers and this scheme presents a much needed opportunity for farmers to invest in their businesses, enabling them to take
advantage of the opportunities for growth that exist. The difficulty for farmers to access finance was one of the issues highlighted within the AgriFood Strategy Board ‘Going for Growth’ report and I am pleased to see Government stepping up to the mark and working with industry to provide the support local farmers’ need to expand their businesses. “The first phase of the scheme, which is intended to help develop integrated supply chains to increase the supply of primary produce for processing, will initially be opened to broiler producers in Northern Ireland next month with subsequent phases of the scheme being rolled out to the other Agri-Food sectors over the coming months. What is important now is that the scheme is extended as quickly as possible and is made available to all sectors. We also acknowledge the efforts that have been made to keep the application process for the scheme as straightforward as possible.”
Barclay’s response to launch of Agri-Food Loan Scheme
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Adrian Doran
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arclays, chair of the lenders’ working group for the new Agri-Food Loan Scheme, responds to the announcement by Finance Minister Simon Hamilton and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. The new Agri-Food Loan Scheme, which opens for business in November, will be delivered jointly with a number of Northern Ireland’s banks. It will help local food producers, who form part of an integrated supply chain, to access the finance they would need to invest in the farm buildings necessary to increase supply of the primary produce for processing. Welcoming the initiative Adrian Doran, Barclays Head of Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland, and Chair of the
working group of banks facilitating the Agri-Food Loan Scheme, said:“Barclays was asked to chair the working group of banks tasked with responding to the Ministers and ultimately delivering the Agri-Food Loan Scheme. This is an important initiative, which is designed to boost lending to Northern Ireland’s increasingly important Agri-Food sector. Barclays is one of the largest banks in the UK agricultural sector, and has over 300 years of experience of lending to the sector, the success of which is founded on offering farmers flexible financial solutions. We are keen to play our part and help stimulate lending to this important sector in Northern Ireland.”
Willowbrook Foods New Winter & Salad Range
Fresh and Very Tasty
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Willowbrook Foods Ltd, 50a Whiterock Road, Killinchy, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 6PT Tel: 028 9754 1603 Fax: 028 9754 2280 E: info@willowbrookfoods.co.uk W: www.willowbrookfoods.co.uk
Q&A
‘A Day in the Life’ James Mathers, General Manager, White’s Speedicook Ltd What is your current role? General Manager, White’s Speedicook Ltd. When did you take up this post? July of this year. A brief outline of your employment history to date? After graduating from Queen’s in Belfast with a degree in Agriculture, I joined the Department of Agriculture where I was focused on supply chain development, working with growers’ groups and small food businesses and advising on best routes to market. After two and a half years, I moved to Finnebrogue in Downpatrick and took a supply chain development role where I got great exposure to the entire business from supply, through to production as well as dealing with customers, which was great experience for me. In 2008 I joined White’s in Production & Procurement before moving to Operations Manager and I am now in the role of General Manager. It’s exciting to be working in a growth business. Porridge is enjoying a real surge in popularity at the moment – it’s a delicious, versatile, healthy and economical way to start the day. Its popularity is set to grow even further so we want to maximize this opportunity and get White’s products into the hands of even more consumers. What does your role involve? I’m responsible for the day to day running of the business including sales and marketing, overseeing production, food safety as well as delivering on the supply chain and contributing to growth plans and the overall direction of the business. In recent years White’s has invested in research and development, identifying more innovative processing and packing solutions and we have added to our workforce enabling us to meet the demands of the growing market. We’re particularly committed to developing our team here as they are integral to delivering standout, award-winning products for our consumers.
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In recent years White’s has enjoyed great success and we have achieved some great accolades for the businesses.” What are the best/worst parts of your job? The best part of my job to date has been leading and developing the management team and creating a clear plan to identify where we want to take the business in the next few years focusing on innovation and being as consumer focused as possible and growing in our domestic and export markets. I also enjoy working with local growers such as Tim McClelland from Tandragee who won the RSPB Nature in Farming Award for Northern Ireland and was runner up in the UK. Tim is very passionate about what he does so it makes my job even more rewarding. In recent years White’s has enjoyed great success and we have achieved some great accolades for the business. At the Great Taste Awards 2013 we picked up 12 Gold
Stars across our range of products, with our Organic Jumbo Oats recognised for the sixth successive year! It’s achievements like these that continue to motivate our people about what we can achieve and it’s great to work with a team who share this vision. A downside to my busy job is balancing my work and family life, particularly with two young kids. Give us a brief outline of what a typical day involves? No two days are the same – from working with the sales team and meeting customers, working on new product launches and design concepts, in production evaluating capital equipment, discussing production line changes to meeting with local oat growers to discuss next year’s crop – it’s a very varied role, but an enjoyable one!
NEWS Grab a Gadget at Mace: Mace Newton Park, Belfast, staff members Christine McGarrigle from Four Winds, Anna Gracey, Lisburn, and Layla Hanna, Four Winds get into the swing of things for the Mace Grab a Gadget competition, which offers shoppers at the 145 Mace stores across Northern Ireland the chance to win a multitude of high tech gadgets over the coming weeks. iPads, iPods, Kindles and Dr Dre Beats headphones are among the gadgets up for grabs in the competition, which runs until the start of December. Entry details are available in-store and online at www.maceni.co.uk <http://www.maceni.co.uk> The competition is the most recent marketing campaign launched by Musgrave to help drive footfall and sales at Mace stores. Picture: Darren Kidd/Press Eye.
Irish Saxon Potatoes Land in M&S Stores M
arks & Spencer is delighted to introduce new season Irish Saxon potatoes to their shelves. The delicious potatoes have been grown by Jamie Rankin in Donegal and are available in all M&S Food stores. The Saxon variety of potato is a pre-packed grocery favourite and is best eaten boiled, to bring out the unique flavour of the potato. The Saxon potatoes are packed and supplied by Co. Antrim based company Glens of Antrim Potatoes. Conrad Digan, Marks & Spencer Head of Selling & Marketing for Ireland said: “We are delighted to be introducing another local product to our shelves from yet another terrific potato grower. The Saxon is a popular choice for our customers and we are confident that they will be pleased to see the new potato in our stores.” Pictured at the launch of the Saxon potato, from left to right, are potato grower Jamie Rankin, David Morrow and Michael McKillop from Glens of Antrim Potatoes.
£50K Investment brings a fresh approach to Children’s Fruit
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Anna Baird (4) from Ballygowan; David Hague, Managing Director, Global Fruit; Jacob White (4) from Lisbane and Iain Dickson, Fruit and Vegetables Trading Manager, Henderson Wholesale, sample some Disney fruit. Over 4.5 million pieces are expected to be sold in Northern Ireland following the business deal.
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PAR stores across Northern Ireland are encouraging children to eat their five a day by launching a new range of fruit in a £50,000 investment. Mallusk-based Henderson Wholesale has partnered with Dublin-based Global Fruit, to offer the new range of Disney fruit packs. The investment, which includes packaging, price promotions and ATL advertising, will see fruit products including Mini Easy Peelers, Mini Apples and Mini Pears, sourced from growers across Ireland where available. Iain Dickson, Fruit and Vegetables Trading Manager of Henderson Wholesale, said: “We are committed to helping our customers make healthier choices by offering a wide range of convenient and innovative products. The new Disney fruit packs are obviously designed to appeal to children but we think parents will approve too!” The launch is also supported by a competition to win Disney prizes on SPAR NI’s Facebook page – see http://www.facebook.com/ sparnorthernireland for further details. 11
Help is at hand for Northern Ireland food and drink businesses aiming for ambitious growth targets T
he food and beverage (F&B) sector remains one of the most dynamic of all Northern Ireland’s businesses. Its contribution has been critical given the challenges for the wider economy. The Invest NI ‘Growing for Growth’ strategy, released earlier this year by the Agri Food Strategy Board, identified the huge potential that this sector has to contribute to the country’s economic recovery, including a large increase in exports, as well as job creation in areas spanning from agricultural skills to major manufacturing roles. The strategy set out ambitious targets for the F&B sector to become a £7bn industry by 2020 – an increase in sales by some 60%. In order to meet these targets, businesses will need all the help they can get to support their progress. One team aiming to be at the forefront of that help and advice in NI is the F&B specialist team in the Belfast office of Grant Thornton UK which is led by Charlie Kerlin, Head of Corporate Finance in NI. With over 14 years in the firm, Charlie has established himself in the market as a leading advisor through a number of strategic deals and a client focused attitude to enable the business to grow successfully. His own extensive knowledge and a multi-disciplinary UK team of over 60 people has led Grant Thornton to be the no.1 financial advisor in the Food & Beverage sector. (Source: Thomson Reuters. Deals announced ‘07-’12) Grant Thornton has extensive experience in the sector locally, nationally and internationally advising on anything from acquisitions, due diligence and strategic reviews to tax, sustainability, profit improvement, and audit for a range of clients from SMEs to large corporates. Grant Thornton UK audit over 250 of the largest Food & Beverage companies in the UK including many household names such as Andros UK, EAT, Whyte & Mackay and Bargain Booze. Local corporate finance assignments which have been lead directly by Charlie include supporting the recent acquisition of Duncrue food processor by Fane Valley Corporative and the purchase of Crucial Sauces by SHS group. These transactions show the strategic moves which companies in NI are prepared to take and demonstrate an appetite for growth by 8 • •Ulster 3612 UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
acquisition. As the leading advisors in this sector, Grant Thornton play a crucial role in providing expert advice and a professional service which stands out from the crowd. At a recent annual Food & Beverage dinner hosted by Grant Thornton at The Merchant Hotel, Charlie gave some insights into the sector in NI and details how expert advice can help businesses grow and flourish. The potential for the sector to contribute widely to job creation and economic recovery in NI is also a key message which was conveyed. “These are really exciting times for the sector in NI, which contrasts somewhat with other sectors in our economy at the moment. Conversations I’ve had with some key players indicate that the past year has been a good one in terms of sales and profits and several are looking to invest now to secure additional contracts. “The good summer had a positive effect – with more barbecues and salads consumed – as well as plenty of drinks. We have, however, seen the impact of the horsemeat scandal with some significant food supply chain confidence issues to be addressed. “The Growing for Growth strategy
something we are seeing more frequently in NI as owners cope with the choice of the next to taking on the business or do they prepare to sell. Real issues, like succession which can be challenging, is something we can offer professional and sound advice on through our own extensive experience.
To support our local clients with international business opportunities, we have held various seminars in Belfast focussing on doing business in the BRIC nations.” recognised significant challenges to be overcome to realise its ambitions. It emphasised the importance of securing efficiencies in all parts of the value chain to remain globally competitive, ensuring the industry has a sustainable supply chain, dealing with relatively high energy costs, skills development and the on-going concerns in relation to funding. For all of these areas there needs to be innovative thinking applied to overcome these challenges. “Our conversations with industry leaders highlight the confidence they have in their ability to secure future growth and that they are ready to make the necessary investments, be it in new product development, skills resources, infrastructure development including energy efficiency and in acquisitions. There are always new issues though – research and development tax, for example, is one area I believe NI businesses are not fully aware of what’s available to help them. Concerns such as succession planning is a huge stress to many companies and it is 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
“For Grant Thornton the F&B sector has been a core focus for a number of years both in the UK and as an international focus sector. Indeed, our position as leading advisors in the market has been strengthened by recent policy informing work for the UK’s Food and Drink Federation and with Defra identifying barriers to exporting. We are ambitious to do even more in the sector and help our local businesses exploit growth and deal with challenges. To support our local clients with international business opportunities, we have held various seminars in Belfast focusing on doing
business in the BRIC nations. Recently our Grant Thornton colleagues from China were over to meet and update local food companies in relation to how to effectively exploit the huge opportunity in that export market. One of the key themes that arose from this was significant upfront planning. Local companies find seminars on export market such as these invaluable as without succinct knowledge on a specific market they can find the shift to exporting in the global arena a daunting task. “We believe that there are huge opportunities for businesses in NI and although there are challenges, these can be overcome with the support of key sector stakeholders including Grant Thornton.” To find out more about how Grant Thornton can help your business, contact Charlie Kerlin, Head of F&B, Grant Thornton on 028 9031 6510 or email charlie.kerlin@ uk.gt.com.
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NEWS
Nisa scoops three top accolades at the Retail Industry Awards Constructive meeting with newly appointed Finance Minister
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he Ulster Farmers’ Union has described its recent meeting with newly appointed Finance Minister Simon Hamilton as “constructive and encouraging.” Representatives from the Union met with the new Minister to highlight a number of key issues that are concerning farmers. UFU President Harry Sinclair said; “Our agri-food industry is a significant contributor of the Northern Ireland economy, both in terms of revenue and jobs, and I believe the Finance Minister recognises this. I wanted to raise a number of important issues with the Minister such as the implementation of the NI Agri-Food Strategy Board; the roll out of the new CAP in Northern Ireland; bank lending; land vesting compensation; and renewable energy potential on farms to ensure that they are all firmly on his radar. “I feel confident that the Finance Minister has a good grasp of both the importance of the agri-food industry and its potential for growth. Farmers are the foundation of this vital industry and decision makers cannot afford to forget about them.”
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isa is delighted to announce that it scooped three top accolades at the Retail Industry Awards which were held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London on the 24th September. Firstly Nisa was awarded Symbol Group of the Year for its burgeoning symbol group, which incorporates both the Nisa and Loco fascias. The group was acknowledged for its commitment to developing benefits for independent retailers and for its innovation and drive in the retail sector. Nisa also picked up the award for Most Sustainable Retailer of the Year following the enhancement of its green credentials within its supply chain, in conjunction with DHL. The company was rewarded for its Go Green initiative which is a commitment to reducing landfill, carbon emissions, energy and noise in the community. John Heagney, Nisa group symbol director, commented: “We are extremely proud to have once again been awarded the accolade for Symbol Group of the Year as well as picking up the award for Most Sustainable Retailer of the Year. As a company we are run purely for the benefit of our retailers so it is extremely humbling to be recognised by industry experts, and retailers of other symbol groups, for the strides we are making to develop our company to ensure we provide the best possible service to independent retailers.”
WIN A FANTASTIC STENA LINE TRIP FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CAR & YOUR DOG!
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randy, Ireland’s number one Irish made dog food brand, is delighted to announce that we have teamed up with Stena Line, offering your customers the chance to Win 1 of 50 Stena Line Trips. Each prize consists of a return crossing for the winner, their car, up to 3 passengers and of course their family dog! Each competition winner can choose to travel on any of the five Stena Line Irish Sea Routes. There are also 300 runners up prizes of Brandy Travel Sets to be won. This on pack competition offer will run from August to the end of December on all Brandy 6 Packs, including Traditional Loaf, Chunks in Jelly and Chunks in Gravy 6 packs. It will also run on Brandy Complete Original 2.5kg and Brandy Complete Chicken & Rice 2.5kg bags. This on pack promotion will also be supported by a radio campaign running in October. As well as giving your customers the chance to win, we are also giving you the chance to win a fantastic return trip for you, your car, up to 3 passengers and of course your family dog!
To be in with a chance of winning this trip, please answer the following question:
Q. How many varieties of Brandy 6 Packs are there? Please send your answer to Mackle Petfoods Competition, Ulster Grocer, 5b Edgewater Business Park, Belfast, BT3 9JQ or email info@ulstergrocer.com. Closing date for entries is 15th November 2013. Terms and conditions apply. Judge’s decision is final. No cash alternative will be offered. Restrictions may apply to travel dates.
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www.macklepetfoods.com/brandy
www.stenaline.co.uk
FOOD FORCE IRELAND
Food Force Ireland
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Macmillan Coffee Morning D
ebra Johnston invited friends and colleagues round to the Food Force Ireland offices for a cuppa, cake, and a chat on Friday 27th September in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and was delighted with the generous support from the grocery trade for this worthy cause, raising £640.
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1. Debra Johnston pouring a coffee for Rowan Black of Greens Lisburn and FFI Director. 2. Roy Wilkinson, McColgans; David McLaughlin, Craig Foods and Melvyn Bacon of Genesis, who supplied the scones. 3. Gill, Ruby and Nigel Johnston. 4. Ian Blemmings, CCHBC; Gary Mason, Irwins and Kerry Maxwell, Premier Bakeries. 5. Gary Hopkins, PRM; Nigel Cairns, Dale Farm and Jason Hempton, Dale Farm, who supplied the cream and milk. 6. Glenn McCracken of Punjana, who supplied and made the tea, with Maria Losty and Grace Bosket from Robert Roberts, who supplied and made the coffee, all overseen by Gwen Rafferty of Mackle Pet Foods. 7. Sam McCormack, Muller; Michael Stewart, Doherty & Gray and Paddy Donaghy, Kerry Foods. 8. Peter Doherty, Johnny Burnett and Peter Horwood Barrett of Britvic with Debra.
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15
NEWS
PayPoint urges retailers to get involved in ‘Small Business Saturday’ P
ayPoint has added its support to ‘Small Business Saturday’ and is urging all its independent and symbol-affiliated retailers to get involved. Taking place on 7 December 2013, Small Business Saturday is intended to highlight the positive contribution made by small businesses to their communities throughout the UK. “For us, Small Business Saturday is all about supporting the 16,000 independent and symbol-affiliated shops in our network,” said Andrew Goddard, Retail Director at PayPoint. “They play a hugely important role in their communities, often adding to the unique character and economy of each locality, and we see our role as providing the products and services that their customers want and which help to boost their bottom line. ” Originating in the USA four years ago, Small Business Saturday is designed to encourage consumers to spend their money at small businesses on a particular day in December. In 2010, Barack Obama showed his support by taking his daughters to an independent book store in Arlington, Virginia. “Being a Saturday, the campaign is very
focused on retail,” added Andrew Goddard, “and we are encouraging our retailers to get involved so they can get the recognition among their local communities that they richly deserve – and benefit financially by encouraging local people to spend their money in their shop, not just on 7 December but throughout the year. Small Business Saturday
offers independent retailers a great sales and promotional opportunity – so we hope they’ll make the most of it!” Events will be planned throughout the UK in the run-up to and on Small Business Saturday, including a nationwide bus tour, and there are many ways that independent retailers can get involved in specially-created events of their own, including: Communicating – by placing a poster in their window, articles on their website if they have one, or on a local community website, and leafleting customers. Promoting – by having a promotion specific to Small Business Saturday, such as 10 per cent discount, free wrapping or delivery. Sharing – on Small Business Saturday’s Facebook and Twitter pages. PayPoint will be promoting the day through its various communications channels and has pledged to put any news about their plans and activities sent in by its retailers on its own Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information visit: www.facebook. com/SmallBusinessSaturdayUK and twitter. com/smallbizatuk
NIIRTA & NIRC call For radical change to Carrier Bag Levy R
etail organisations representing large and small traders have jointly called for Stage Two of the Carrier Bag Levy to be dropped and for the DOE Minister to consult with their members on what environmental projects will be funded from the levy. The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) and the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) both made the call in a presentation to the Assembly Environment Committee. In a joint statement NIIRTA Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and NIRC Director Aodhan Connolly said: “Both our organisations welcome the reduction in Carrier Bag usage since the levy was introduced and are pleased that Minister Mark H. Durkan has listened to our concerns and capped it at 5p.” “However we believe a number of changes are needed. In our
evidence to the Committee we recommended that the DOE does not proceed with Stage 2 of the levy which includes a levy on renewable bags as such an extension will undermine the environmental objectives of the levy.” “We are also concerned about reports from our members that basket sales and impulse buying have been reduced following the introduction of the levy.” “Since our members have worked hard to administer and collect this levy and given that retailers in other parts of the UK have a big say in how it is spent, we would call upon Minister Durkan to consult local retailers.” “Ideally we would prefer that the proceeds of the levy are used to fund sustainable town centre regeneration projects.”
McGuigan Wines celebrates sale of millionth case of wine in Northern Ireland M cGuigan Wines, winner of six global wine accolades since 2006 including three International Winemaker of the Year titles, has sold one million cases of its world-famous wine through United Wine Merchants.To mark the occasion, McGuigan Wines Chief Winemaker Neil McGuigan paid a visit to Belfast from his vineyard in Australia to present a commemorative certificate to Lurgan-based United Wine Merchants, the brand’s distributor in Northern Ireland since 2008. United Wine Merchants Managing Director Martin McAuley added: “United Wine Merchants has worked with McGuigan brothers Neil and Brian for many years and we’re thrilled to have played our part in helping them achieve the landmark sale.”
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United Wines team with Neil McGuigan
COMPANY PROFILE
Willowbrook Foods Ltd Willowbrook Foods Managing Director and founder, John Mc Cann, tells the Ulster Grocer why his company is a “complex type of operation”.
W
ith the launch of Willowbrook’s new Food Innovation Centre opened in 2011 and more recently their effluent handling project, it is clear why founder and Managing Director, John Mc Cann, was voted as Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the year in 2012. Brought up on his father’s farm in Killinchy, John has lived here all his life. His father was a livestock farmer but John preferred growing vegetables and this is how Willowbrook Foods, as we know it today, came about. John said: “I helped out on my father’s farm but didn’t enjoy farming livestock. It was too much hard work. In my naivety I thought if I grow vegetables I can have a Saturday or a Sunday off, unfortunately it doesn’t work out like that. I loved biology at school and was fascinated with growing vegetables; I am a vegetable farmer primarily.” John went on to study Business Studies at Magee University in Londonderry/Derry and followed this with a job in industry. He returned to Killinchy and believed that: “the old way of selling vegetables and taking them to the market with a horse and cart really wasn’t the way forward due to poor prices and having to take unsold stock back to the farm.” John continues: “at this time the supermarkets were just beginning to use self-service so I grew soup vegetables, washed them and packed them. That was really the start of it. We gradually expanded with a couple of fields in the farm and our first breakthrough was ‘Wellworths’ who we supplied to for nine years. This gave us a great foundation to move forward.” “Since this, we have grown to be the biggest fresh food processor in Ireland, with markets in North and South Ireland and in the UK. We have three factories, one in Newtownards and two in Killinchy where we employ 250 members of staff.” The Willowbrook Food Innovation Team - l-r: Alice Marks, Technologist; Ashley Neill, Technologist; Wendy Sterritt, NPD Manager; Tanya Neilson, Technologist and Anna Szoldrowska, NPD Assistant
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Currently the firm is Ireland’s leading producer of prepared vegetables and salads, mash, steamed vegetables and cooked noodles. The company has 300 different products in all making an annual turnover of £20 million. John continued: “I feel that there is a great future in convenience and value for good quality vegetables and salad products. With the amount of innovation we have put in throughout the years, I believe this is how we have arrived at where we are today as a successful company.” In 2008 John began plans for a new factory, he said: “the old factory had progressed and at the time we needed a state of the art food processing factory fit for the highest standards possible. We opened the new factory in 2011 and coupled with this came the Food Innovation Centre.” John added: “Are we innovators? Yes, big time. If you ask our customers are we good at innovating, they will say yes and this is very true.” “The Food Innovation Centre resulted in us being pro-active with product development. We have a vast wide range of food from salads, vegetables and cooked products that there is so much new product development we can do.
Our factories have great ability to do virtually anything for our customers so long as there is volume in it. “It starts with product development and for this you need separate, committed people and not just the factory, you need a separate entity who have been trained in that specific area which encompasses all sorts of disciplines, from cooking to nutrition to food safety to the design of packaging, labels tasting, focus groups and presenting to our customers. “Part of our innovation is watching what is happening in the world. By continually benchmarking the leading retailers, not only in Europe but also in America where we benchmark ‘WalMart’ and ‘Safeway’. Willowbrook Foods have recently set up their own effluent handling investment from their factory in Killinchy. This project cost over £350,000 and took around five months to complete. While there is some return on the investment from reduced effluent treatment costs, the main driver for this project was to ensure Willowbrook Foods meets its environmental and compliance obligations for effluent handling. John believes that it is the willingness to ‘think outside the box’ that has made Willowbrook Foods such a success in the past and will ensure its continuing success in the future. 17
NEWS
NI Chamber conference delivers a ‘brilliant’ response O
Coca-Cola & NI Hospice lay the foundations for charity partnership C
oca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland has announced Northern Ireland Hospice as its employee charity partner. The partnership will see staff engage in a series of fundraising activities to contribute towards the building of a new £11m hospice facility on Somerton Road in Belfast. Speaking about their choice to help Northern Ireland Hospice with the rebuild of Somerton House, Gillian Shields, PR Executive at Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland says, “At Coca-Cola, we are committed to supporting initiatives which enhance life in our local community and our employees chose Northern Ireland Hospice, which cares for over 3,000 terminally ill patients and their families each year, as our charity partner for exactly that reason. The local charity has touched the hearts of our employees, many of whom have experienced the care provided by NI Hospice for themselves, and we have an exciting fundraising plan in place’. Somerton House has been in use for thirty years and is in urgent need of redevelopment. The new £11m hospice facility will be constructed on the current Somerton Road site in North Belfast and will provide 18 single ensuite rooms with modern facilities and space for families and loved ones.
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ver 500 members of the local business community recently came together at Titanic Belfast for one of Northern Ireland’s biggest and most unique economic conferences. ‘Growing Something Brilliant’, hosted by Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Airtricity, aimed to inspire more businesses to set up, grow and export whilst helping smaller companies move successfully and profitably into export markets. (l-r) David Manning, Airtricity; Mark Nodder, NI Chamber of Commerce; Leigh Meyer, Citigroup and David Dobbin, Dale Farm The Conference also took the business (12%), and business regulation (6%). opportunity to question the 500+ delegates on Concluding the conference, NI Chamber a number of questions surrounding business of Commerce Chief Executive Ann McGregor growth using local company Qwizdom’s MBE said: “It became very clear that we need Audience Response System. It was revealed that to address access to the necessary skills, access out of the 500 businesses in the room: to finance (long and short term costs) and - 68% believed that the Northern Ireland overcome very practical barriers to exporting, economy will grow in the next year with 15% including knowledge gaps of the socio, legal and believing it will stagnate and only 1% believing cultural issues faced by new exporters. it will worsen. “What we ask of businesses is that you take - 77% of businesses were either very confident the energy and dynamic here today and maintain or quite confident that they can grow their a commitment to working with your colleagues business over the next year. in business in Northern Ireland. If you are a - The number one barrier to business growth company who needs advice or support, make was identified as lack of demand (20%) followed the phone call to someone you have met or closely by access to finance (19%) along with heard speaking today, be proactive in seeking inadequate management skills (13%), ability assistance from your fellow business people.” to find the right staff (12%), costs of running a
Foster boosts NI Connections in South Africa N
orthern Ireland people living abroad can play a key role in helping to build a brighter economic future back home, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has said. Speaking after attending a NI Connections event in Johannesburg, Arlene Foster said it was important to build a global network of people with Northern Irish roots. The Minister added: “People from Northern Ireland are making a difference all over the world. Indeed, it’s often said that no matter where you are in the world, you will inevitably meet someone from Northern Ireland – and I have certainly found that to be the case. “Northern Irish Connections is all about reconnecting with that ‘extended family’ and harnessing their goodwill with a view to making a big difference to our economy at home. “We want to tell the world why it is such a great place to invest and visit. One of the ways in which we are doing that is by taking every
possible opportunity to ‘spread the word’ on the international stage. “I have been hugely impressed by the opportunities that exist for Northern Ireland companies in South Africa, and I know that the NI Connections network will continue to help build our reputation as a good trading partner.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Montgomery Food Consulting: Counting for its clients H
eaded up by Rhonda Montgomery, a food safety & food quality consultant and trainer, since its launch in 2010, Montgomery Food Consulting has been successfully building up an extensive client portfolio both in the North and South of Ireland. Montgomery Food Consulting ‘counts for its clients.’ Delivering expert advice for food manufacturers, producers, butchers, retailers, delis, restaurants, hotels and all of those in the food sector, Montgomery Food Consulting specialises in food safety & quality management systems. The company also delivers food legislation, food labelling, nutritional breakdowns, calories of food, front of pack labelling and various training packages. Rhonda Montgomery, Director and Principal Trainer with Montgomery Food Consulting, explains: “Our mission is to be one of the leading food consultancy providers in food safety, quality management, training and interim technical support services, and with hard work and dedication to our clients, we’re on track to achieve this.” Through expertise, the latest technology, research and practise, Rhonda and her team have helped multiple companies achieve
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the very highest standards in food safety, hygiene and quality including the Hilton Meat Group in Ireland, Island Salads, Rosderra Irish Meat Group, Annaghmore Mushrooms, Simply Fruit (Ireland) Ltd and Salads to Go (Florette). Montgomery Food Consulting has just launched a number of new and very current services including ‘Allergen food control training in food manufacture’, ‘Allergen risk training in catering & retail’ and ‘allergen risk assessment services’, ahead of the forthcoming changes to the EC 1169/2011 legislation. As of 13 December 2014, food labels on processed foods and labelling of loose foods must stipulate all allergens contained in products. Another service that is increasingly growing in demand is ‘Food Nutrition’, which saves companies money by offering clients an alternative to expensive analytical costs. Rhonda and her team break down the nutritional value of foods and meals per 100g, and this helps companies to ensure that they are compliant for the additional requirements to EC 1169/2011 that must be implemented by 13 December 2016. Montgomery Food Consulting specialises in BRC, Tesco TFMS, SALSA and ISO 22000 in food manufacture and offers
Rhonda Montgomery, Montgomery Food Consulting
additional Irish Republic Standards: NSAI IS 340:2007 in catering and NSAI IS: 341: 2007 in retail and wholesale and National Q Marks in EIQA Quality Standard and Hygiene & Food Safety. For more information and to find out how Montgomery Food Consulting can ‘Count for you’, please log onto www. montgomeryfoodconsulting.com or contact Rhonda on 07766 395 738/028 855 49906 or via rhonda@montgomeryfoodconsulting.com
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NEWS
Moypark Consumer Insight: Roast Dinners
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o paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the demise of the roast dinner may have been exaggerated. In an era when received wisdom would suggest that the sit-down family meal is fast becoming a thing of the past, the roast dinner may be the exception to a general rule. A recent Moy Park survey of 500 respondents1 showed that only 5% of people never eat a roast dinner, with a staggering 78% eating one at least once a month, and four in ten people eating a roast at least weekly. Whilst the age demographic amongst the most committed is skewed towards older consumers, the roast is also extremely popular with younger age groups, with approximately three-quarters of all age ranges eating a roast on a monthly basis.
Chicken is the favoured protein for roast dinners, with 35% citing it as their favoured meat, followed by beef, which is favoured by 27%, and lamb, preferred by 15%. Chicken performs particularly strongly amongst younger consumers, although, conversely, beef performs better amongst older age groups. As well as being a particular favourite, chicken is also perceived to represent value for money, with 90% rating it as at least reasonably priced, compared to 59% for beef joints and 47% for lamb joints. In fact, there is a general perception amongst consumers that roasting meats in general represent good value for money, with only duck and game meats tending to be viewed as particularly expensive. This perception of value for money may go a long way towards explaining the current popularity of the roast dinner, in what are still difficult economic times for many. Another factor influencing the popularity of the roast dinner is the growing availability of convenience food solutions to help with the preparation of the meal. Only 26% of
consumers resolutely refuse to ever use “shortcuts” such as pre-prepared frozen Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes. For most people, these types of items are an occasional supplement, with almost half using them “sometimes”, although 28% have come to rely on them, and use them for most of their roast meals. But convenience solutions are not just restricted to accompaniments, with the centrepiece of the meal, the meat itself, also being reinvented with convenience for the consumer in mind. Take whole chickens as an example; in the latest year, the sector has seen respectable value growth of 4.4%2. However, breaking this growth down further, it becomes apparent that it is largely being driven by sales of added value whole chickens – those which have been pre-basted, sprinkled with herbs, or stuffed. This sub-sector has seen phenomenal annual growth of 40%, adding £21m to the value of the category2. So, three factors are combining to drive the success of the roast dinner as an occasion; near universal popularity amongst all age groups, a strong perception of value for money across the protein range and the increasing availability of convenience short-cuts; offering such convenient tweaks to a traditional occasion certainly appears to be a recipe for success. Moy Park / Toluna survey of 500 respondents, July 2013; Kantar Worldpanel 52 weeks to 7th July 2013 v previous year, using attributes maintained by Moy Park
1 2
From the North to Alaska... Fermanagh fisherman lands biggest ever catch (with just one scratch!)
A
keen fisherman from County Fermanagh has his sights set on a fishing expedition to Alaska after reeling in a cool £100k from a National Lottery Scratchcard. Mark O’Donoghue from Enniskillen fishes every weekend in Lough Erne and was definitely in the right plaice at the right time when he called into his local Mace store on Riverside to purchase a £2 Money Multiplier Scratchcard. Now Mark, who has just turned 41 and originally hails from Dublin, is squids in after hitting the jackpot by matching three cash amounts of £100k. Mark has been playing National Lottery Scratchcards since they were first introduced in 1995 and despite a number of small wins along the way, he never dreamt he would net a prize this big. “I would normally buy a couple of Scratchcards every week,“ said Mark, “and I’ve had a few wins of maybe £20 or £50 here and there, but I never imagined I’d win a massive prize like this!
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“When I matched the three big cash numbers I couldn’t believe my eyes. After checking it a few times and asking myself if this was really happening, I started jumping and shouting around the place like a madman,” he joked. Now things are going swimmingly for fisherman Mark whose full time job is as a pipe layer for Fermanagh-based civil engineering company Campbell Contracts. He plans to buy a new house with his winnings and fulfill a lifelong dream to go on a fishing trip to Alaska, the most northerly state in North America which is world famous for its fishing. “Fishing has been a real passion of mine since I became hooked from an early age,” said Mark. “I’ve always dreamed of going fishing in Alaska and now, thanks to The National Lottery, that dream is about to come true.” Mark isn’t going to be shellfish with his winnings either and plans to share some of his new-found fortune with his sister, who also lives in Fermanagh, and his two brothers.
personal focus
Brian McErlain, Managing Director of Genesis Crafty is this month’s guest...
In the Hot Seat Tell us about yourself? McErlain’s Bakery opened when I was six years old so from a very early age I learned about kneading and chaffing. I can vividly recall the weekend before opening with all the tradesmen working to get the shop ready for our first day’s trading. As a child, there were times when I had to skip school if the bakery was short staffed. I did however, go on to university and spent five years in financial services before returning in 1990 to join my five brothers in the family business. All six of us have a role to play in the dayto-day running of the bakery, whether it’s business development, dispatch, operations, bakery management or new product development. Have you always had a passion for food? When Mum and Dad opened the bakery in 1968 they were passionate about using age old recipes and traditional methods, and I take great pride in the fact that, 45 years on, we still have that passion and continue to handcraft every single product. I love food, and anyone who has spent a day with me knows that I like to eat often. Sometimes the simplest meals are best, like a juicy tomato with some Genesis Crafty award winning wheaten. What does a typical day involve in your role at Genesis Crafty? My days are typical in that they are always varied. For example, we’ve recently rebranded our Genesis Crafty range because we felt it was important to let our customers know who we are and why the way we make our products make them taste so good. 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
The whole process has taken up a lot of time over the last few months and it’s really exciting to see it all come to fruition. The one constant in my day is that I stay close to our sales and operations directors to ensure that we continue to take good care of our customers. Our customers are, after all, our business! What has been the highlight of your career to date? There have been a few. The first was the move to our custom built bakery in 1993, followed by the rebrand to Genesis Crafty in 1998 and in the last few years, we’ve put together a management team that is totally committed to always putting the Genesis Crafty customer first. We’ve just recently won three gold stars in the Great Taste Awards 2013 for our Genesis Crafty branded Oven Wheaten, Honey and Yoghurt Wheaten and Madeira Cake. The awards are judged by a 400-strong panel of fine food retailers, chefs, restaurant critics and food writers, so I’m extremely proud of our achievements. What can the local grocery trade expect from Genesis Crafty in the near future? As I mentioned we’ve just relaunched Genesis Crafty so we’re working hard to promote the new look product range. We recognise the need to further expand our sales beyond Northern Ireland and have focused on developing new innovative products and enhancing our branding, sales and marketing in a bid to secure new business both here and throughout the UK. We plan to put additional sales vans on the
We continue to take good care of our customers. Our customers are, after all, our business” road and to improve the overall service we give to our customers. We’re also launching a couple of new pancake varieties before the end of the year so it’s all systems go! What is the best advice you have ever received? This is simple, my mother drilled total respect for the customer into all six of her sons with her mantra, “Don’t try to sell what you wouldn’t eat yourself”. This has encouraged us to instil excellence and ethical values in everything we do. Whom do you most admire? In business my current favourite is Hamdi Ulukaya who founded the yogurt company, Chobani Inc., in 2005 which has a turnover of 1billion US dollars, achieved whilst retaining 100% equity. Respect for the customer is at the core of his values too! How do you relax? With five children of school age, home life is hectic but it makes for some good diversion therapy and includes a second job as a taxi driver. On a Saturday morning my wife Justine and I would enjoy an hour long walk which is a great way to catch up on the week. We also have many friends and great neighbours which make for a healthy social life. 21
STORE FOCUS
Traditional grocery retailing is alive and well and living in a DayToday store in Antrim, as Brian McCalden reports
Last bastion of full grocery service continues to thrive S
upermarkets often leave customers to their own devices when shopping, with staff interaction usually being limited to the check-out. But, when I visited the DayToday Store in Church Street, Antrim I saw firsthand the focus that the owners put on customer service. Anita Byrne, son Darren, daughter Catherine and their team will go the extra mile, by pumping fuel for their customers and fetching items from the store to their car. Often the subject of pictures taken by passing tourists, the original stone façade and old fashioned pavement-mounted petrol pumps, are a local landmark on what was once the main route from Belfast to the North West. The fact this approx. 200sq ft. DayToday shop is thriving despite the presence of a Tesco Extra (with petrol forecourt) a short distance away is testament to the hard work, long hours and long established customer service ethic in this family business. The store closes only a few hours daily as it operates 365 days a 8 • •Ulster 3622 UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
year, from 6.30am to 10.30pm daily, with a range of products on offer that belies the tiny interior. It goes back a long way, to war time, when present owner Anita’s father-in-law, Edward Byrne moved from operating a small kiosk in the RAF station at Aldergrove to the opening of a small electrical store on the current site in what was then the busy eastern end of the main road through Antrim town to Londonderry. The late Edward was an entrepreneur of entrepreneurs who would, it seems, have Lord Sugar on the ropes, such was his versatility. He opened for business in 1943 in the current location selling everything from fuses to fuse boxes and soon branched out to grocery items, operating at first from a small tin Nissen Hut at the rear and in 1944 signed up for petrol pumps. These were installed on the pavement, where their successors sit today and still attract enough trade to require a tanker load once a week of unleaded and twice a week for diesel.
Prices are competitive, but higher than neighbouring Tesco, with the reason being simple: convenience and service. Anita Byrne explained: “I don’t take holidays, I just love time away from the shop walking my dog around Antrim Castle grounds and the rest of the time is at work. I get a half-day off on Saturdays, but outside that I’m in the shop from 6.30am when we get a busy trade in newspapers as well as essentials like milk and bread from the very start. We are not quite ‘open-all-hours’ but it’s not too far off it, as the shop opens every single day, even at Christmas.” Of course, Anita has got to know her many faithful customers and greets them all personally, handing one man his daily newspaper before fetching his favourite packet of biscuits, while a taxi rolls up for fuel. She tops up the taxi and then gets his paper and cigarettes, all handed to the customer who remains in his vehicle, which is why even normally cynical taxi drivers don’t mind the few pence more on fuel.
STORE FOCUS Cars are also part of the Byrne heritage as the original Nissen hut grocery store was later to form the basis of a vehicle workshop which operated behind the shop for many years. The original electrical retailer also developed too, with Edward Byrne’s sister opening a hairdressing salon upstairs. Even that wasn’t enough though as Edward then opened a taxi firm squeezed in beside the hairdryers and combs and his sister expanded into a toy shop in premises opposite the store too. As the grocery trade grew, it moved to the front and the rear became a very busy garage which remained in business throughout many decades. Anita has been running the business, with her children, since 1993 and has been providing a range of products that would only usually be seen in a much bigger store. There are two chilled displays, a chest freezer for ice cream and two large drinks cabinets. She also sells the original staples of the forecourt trade, fan belts, oil and other vehicle accessories as well as a small range of hardware and pet foods and (given the good weather this summer) even manages to squeeze in some small BBQ packs. Then there’s the bread, snacks, tinned goods, biscuits, hot drinks from a dispenser and of course tobacco products and a wealth of other goods. Price though is important, especially as much of the walk-in trade is from the local Townparks housing estate. Anita said that she was with Holmes for years, as an XL Stop and Shop and only converted relatively recently to Musgrave’s DayToday and is absolutely delighted with the result, support and service she has received. “Being a member of DayToday has given me a number of additional benefits. They are part of the Today’s Group and part of an all-Ireland company therefore Musgrave can offer great prices and promotions that a stand-alone independent never could match,” Anita said. Together with the merchandising support, refreshed point of sale and strong promotional activity, there is now the opportunity to order on-line which of course saves time and is available 24/7. “Also, Colin Martin, our Musgrave Business Development Manager is very good to us. He is very professional and attentive. We get a delivery on Wednesday and a top-up order on a Friday, so there’s no longer any need to go to the Cash & Carry. Musgrave MarketPlace and the DayToday team work ‘with people’ and that’s important to our business” Anita concluded. It is obvious to any visitor that Anita, Darren and Catherine Byrne also ‘work with people’ with their excellent style of personal customer service and that is why their established business continues to thrive, no matter what the supermarkets do and in the face of the trunk road long since being routed away from the main street. 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
23
TESCO
Tesco Taste Northern Ireland 2013 showcases our great local food industry FOREWORD by cliff kells, commercial manager tesco ni
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t seems like no time at all since we started planning this year’s Taste NI Festival and now it is behind us and we’re staring autumn in the face. What a fantastic festival it was! Each year I am filled with an enormous sense of pride in our food & drink industry. It is inspiring to see so many companies, big and small, gathered beneath one roof, meeting customers, networking with each other, sharing ideas and bringing fabulous products to the people of Northern Ireland. There is no other single event like the Taste NI Festival. It is a truly unique opportunity for the makers, bakers and growers to meet the people who make the all-important buying decisions – the customer. Many of you spend your days on a farm, in a production plant, or on the road selling your product to retailers, but rarely do you get the chance to tell your story and to share your passion with your customers. This is what I really love about the Taste NI Festival – the shared passion for great local food. This year, with the support of Invest Northern Ireland we were also thrilled to be able to bring some of our senior commercial
l-r: Cliff Kells, Commercial Manager Tesco NI; Gerry Lavery, Deputy Secretary DARD and Brendan Guidera, Operations Director, Tesco NI
colleagues from Tesco GB for a two-day supplier networking opportunity, culminating in the opening of the Festival. They were incredibly impressed with what they saw and heard, and we, as the local team, were very proud indeed to use the Festival as an unbeatable showcase for the whole local industry.
We know you all work incredibly hard. You have much to be proud of. We can’t wait to start planning next year’s event. All the best for a busy run-up to the festive period and wishing you all a prosperous way forward.
Cliff
Tesco Outstanding Supplier Award for Belfast Ad Agency B elfast advertising agency, RLA Group, has been named as Outstanding Supplier of the Month by its client, Tesco NI. The award is in recognition of its Taste NI campaign and the recent launch of a new Switch to Local initiative. Both projects involved through-the-line advertising and digital activity, as well as all the design and production of supporting in-store marketing and point of sale. The campaigns, which are aimed at educating Northern Ireland shoppers about the array of local food & drink products available in Tesco, highlight the people and places behind the products. These range from a carrot and parsnip grower in Comber to a soup-maker in Magherafelt and fresh meat pies made in Pomeroy. Switch to Local and Taste NI are obviously unique to Tesco Northern Ireland but they have also caught the eye of senior Tesco execs in GB too. Caoimhe Mannion, Tesco NI Marketing Manager said, “Since the beginning of this year, we have awarded an Outstanding Supplier of the Month award to one of our 90+ local food & drink suppliers. It’s not always easy working with a large commercial entity like Tesco and it can be very demanding. We wanted to recognise their hard work and commitment in helping us to deliver an industry-leading breadth of fresh, locally-sourced produce. Previous award winners have included Moy Park, Wilson’s Country and Fivemiletown Creamery. “This month, in the wake of the hugely successful Taste NI festival in Belfast and a high profile launch of the Switch to Local campaign, we wanted to recognise the company behind these successful achievements and that is RLA. “Every time we present RLA’s creative campaigns and their results to
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l-r: Julie McCarthy, Media & Account Manager; Barry Maddox, Account Manager; Jackie Cullen, Creative Director; Chris McKeown, Senior Art Director and David Mackey, Deputy MD
our senior colleagues in Tesco in GB, they are really impressed - which is very encouraging. “RLA’s team works tirelessly to meet very tight deadlines and produce a collossal amount of superb work in a very short time. They go above and beyond and they are an invaluable support to the work of the Tesco Northern Ireland marketing team, and in turn, to our suppliers. We think they are outstanding!”
TESCO
Dale Farm toasts dairy partnership with Tesco NI N
I’s leading dairy business, Dale Farm, has announced it is set to strengthen its existing relationship with retailer Tesco. The partnership, which comes as part of Tesco’s new ‘Switch to Local Campaign’, means that all Tesco own-brand milk in Northern Ireland will be supplied by Dale Farm, and marks the launch of a widespread in-store consumer engagement campaign coordinated by Tesco. Jason Hempton from Dale Farm said, “We have enjoyed a successful relationship with Tesco for many years and we are delighted to take our partnership to the next level. As a business, we work closely with over 1,600 local dairy farmers, who take great pride in producing the highest quality milk which goes into the Dale Farm range of products including milk, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt and ice cream. He went on to say, “Every time a customer reaches for a bottle of own-brand milk at their local Tesco store they will be choosing milk supplied by Dale Farm – 100% sourced from Northern Ireland dairy farmers.” Sandra Weir, Fresh Food Buying Manager at Tesco NI, commented, “This is another landmark stage in the Tesco Taste Northern
8 • •Ulster 3626 UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
Jason Hempton, Dale Farm, and Sandra Weir, Tesco NI, raise a glass to toast the announcement that Dale Farm has become the official dairy supplier for Tesco stores in Northern Ireland
Ireland campaign to switch to sourcing as much as possible from local farmers, growers and suppliers. With Dale Farm as our dairy partner, shoppers in Northern Ireland can be assured that 100% of Tesco own-brand milk is now sourced from
local dairy farms. All our locally sourced products are marked with the Tesco Taste NI logo, so it’s easy for customers to seek out local food & drink and support the local industry: we can all do our bit to Switch to Local.”
TESCO
20,000 people celebrate at Taste NI with Premier!
Joe O’Hagan, Tesco Commercial Support NI, Jackie Kirk, Ireland Brand Manager, Tommy Adamson, Tesco Merchandising Manager NI, Trevor McCrum, Business Unit Manager and Gillian Moore, Business Unit Manager.
N
orthern Ireland’s biggest FREE food and drink festival, Taste Northern Ireland 2013 hosted by Tesco, took place in midSeptember, and Premier Bakeries was among the top local companies exhibiting at the event.
This was the fifth year of the event and over 60 local food and drink brands took part, showcasing all that’s great about Northern Ireland’s food and drink companies. The event was free to the public and this year marked another bumper year with almost 20,000 people flocking to a specially erected marquee in Customs House Square in Belfast over the weekend. Premier Bakeries had a purpose built stand located in a prime spot, which created huge impact, as visitors made their way round. There was great interaction with the public, with Premier staff manning the stand the whole weekend, and special demonstrations by guest chef, Brian McDermott on all three days of the event. Jackie Kirk, ORMO Brand Manager said, “The versatility of our products really shone through, with Brian making amongst other things, delicious recipes using the ORMO
products, banana banoffee pancakes and ham and cheese muffin pizza, to name just a couple. The public got a chance to taste these great recipes and other products in the HOVIS and ORMO ranges,and we also gave out recipe cards so they could try them at home. “Brian was an excellent brand ambassador for us, building on and reinforcing our key attributes to the visitors, such as our local fresh ingredients and our health credentials. The event was a perfect complement to our brand building strategy.” Trevor McCrum, Business Unit Director said, “The event was a great success for us, thanks to the great team work and enthusiasm demonstrated by our staff over the entire weekend. The interaction with the public was superb, and no detail was forgotten to ensure a great weekend promoting one of Northern Ireland’s best known brands.”
‘We’re feeding local industry...to feed YOU’ A
t the Tesco ‘Taste NI’ Show at Custom House Square in Belfast Roy Lyttle Ltd highlighted that buying local produce creates jobs, not only in horticulture but in many other industries in the Province as well. With the economic downturn consumers are spending more time eating at home and becoming more interested in the food they eat. Roy said, ‘We are members of Food NI and their slogans, ‘Grown Here, not Flown Here’ and ‘Picked Here, not Shipped Here’ certainly apply to our products! The blue ‘Grown in The Ards Peninsula by Roy Lyttle’ stickers on all our packaged products in Tesco stores clearly states that we have sown the seeds, tended the crops, maintained the machinery, harvested, prepared, washed, packed and labelled the vegetables on our own site, here on the Ards Peninsula in County Down before delivering the crates of finished produce to the Depot. This creates and sustains jobs from machinery engineers, work wear and laundry providers, packaging, labelling, technologist and IT services.” Roy’s main crops are Leeks and Scallions with a range of Organic Potatoes, Leeks, Cabbage Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Swede crops also grown. “Sales of our products are very strong at the moment because consumers keep coming back for the good flavour and consistently high quality of our fresh produce. They appreciate our straight talking approach because at the minute there is a definite commitment to support local producers here in Northern Ireland”.
Daughters of Roy Lyttle, Susannah and Lindsay promoting locally grown vegetables at the recent Tesco Taste NI event
White’s put local cereal production on the map N
orthern Ireland’s only oat miller and breakfast cereal producer, White’s, was delighted to be one of a host of local producers taking a stand at this year’s Taste Northern Ireland Festival. Visitors were warmly welcomed to the stand and were invited to sample White’s products so that they could taste for themselves why the company has achieved so many accolades for their cereals in recent years. On offer were White’s Toasted Oats including the Apple & Cinnamon Crunch, a Great Taste winner for the second year running and the recently launched Toat’ly Oaty with added Multi-Seeds. White’s produces its award-winning range of cereals in Tandragee, County Armagh and has been doing so for over 170 years. White’s is proud of its close working relationship with local farmers to produce the finest quality oats and the best possible porridge products so joining the team at the stand for a day was Tandragee oats farmer Tim McClelland, a trusted supplier to Whites for seven years and a recent finalist in this year’s (RSPB) Nature of Farming Award, joined the White’s team at the event. 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
Pictured at the Whites Oats stand at Taste Northern Ireland is Tim McClelland, local supplier to White’s Oats and RSPB Nature of Farming Award Northern Ireland Winner, Cliff Kells, Commercial Manager, Tesco Northern Ireland and Esther Ruddell, Marketing Assistant, White’s Oats.
27
TESCO
Robert Roberts get a ‘coffee break’ with retail giant L
ocal tea and coffee company Robert Roberts has secured a deal with Tesco to supply the retail giant with its new Dark Roast ‘Shipyard Strength’ coffee. The deal will see the product being distributed across 38 Tesco stores province-wide and the Lisburn-based company expects to see annual sales rise by at least 20%. Following in the tradition of the Robert Roberts’ coffee range which features local landmarks on each of its packs, the new Dark Roast features the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes and is a strength six coffee, a fairly limited coffee option in the Northern Ireland marketplace. Steven Murphy, Buying Manager of Tesco Northern Ireland, believes the new coffee will be very popular with customers. “Stocking local products is very important in Tesco and we have a team dedicated to buying the best products from Northern Ireland to offer our shoppers,” said Steven. “The Robert Roberts brand fits this bill perfectly as it is known for its quality so we are only too happy to stock the new coffee in our stores, offering even more local choice for consumers,” Steven added. In addition to the new Dark Roast ‘Shipyard Strength’ coffee, the Robert Roberts coffee range also includes a strength four Morning Roast, a strength three All Day Roast and a strength five After Dinner
l-r: Mark Austin, Business Manager, Foodservice; Maria Losty, Sales Manager and Joanne McCracken, Brand Manager
coffee which are all available in Tesco and other leading retail outlets in Northern Ireland. Robert Roberts coffee’s retail in Tesco for £3.19 for Morning, All Day and After Dinner & £3.49 for the new Shipyard strength 6 variant.
Every little sparkle helps... W
ith the Tesco Taste Fest 2013 promising thousands of customers over three jam-packed days, West Coast Cooler took the opportunity to target this food and drink-savvy consumer base. Over the weekend, Brand Ambassadors distributed 5500 samples and informed the public of fabulous product offers, such as the 250ml Cluster Packs which are available in all Tesco NI stores. The 250ml and 750ml Cluster Packs will be available for a promotional price during the festive season. l-r: Megan Brown, Kellyleigh Anderrson and Frankie Hutchinson Braniff
Sunblest showcase best of local, quality products L
ocal bakery favourite, Sunblest was among top food suppliers from across Northern Ireland who recently attended the Taste NI Festival at Custom House Square in Belfast. A Northern Irish favourite since 1956, the Sunblest stand put a smile on the face of consumers by treating them to some tasty pancake samples across the three day show. Elva O’Connor, Sunblest Brand Manager, said: “We are delighted to have been a part of the Taste NI Festival for the fifth consecutive year. Sunblest is intrinsically woven into the lives of local people so it is fitting that we were able to showcase our product at this popular event that highlights the best suppliers from across Northern Ireland.” For more information on Sunblest products check out facebook.com/ sunblest. l-r: Gerry Cassidy and Eugene Wallace, National Account Managers at Allied Bakeries with Sarah McDonald at the Sunblest stand at this year’s Taste NI Festival
Punjana: Ross Thompson and Lindsay Skinner
Avondale Foods: David Mackey, RLA Ireland; Dawn McCann and Nathan Spiers
28
TESCO
Johnsons Coffee, Ireland’s oldest family-owned coffee J
ohnsons Coffee, Ireland’s oldest family owned coffee company, has been celebrating 100 years as a coffee roaster in 2013. When the family first roasted coffee back in 1913, Robert Johnson said “We realise the responsibility of roasting, we have to father the coffee into every cup”. This dedication to product quality is still evident with the current Johnson family who blend and slow batch hand roast 100% Arabica coffees in their modern roasting facility in Lisburn. The quality in the cup has been recognised by the Great Taste Awards who gave Johnsons Kenya blend a gold star in the 2012 awards, and this year this was upgraded to a rare 2star award, and in addition Johnsons Costa Rica was awarded a gold star too. Philip Mills, Group Sales Director, said “we are delighted to have been awarded three gold stars in At the recent Tesco event, Johnsons coffees were enjoyed by visitors, many of whom made a charitable donation for their coffee to the SOS Bus raising over £200. This was the first opportunity for many of Tesco’s customers to taste the recently launched Bellagio Espresso blend.
the 2013 great taste awards, especially in this our centenary year. Our single minded approach to producing coffees of true excellence has not wavered throughout our 100 years of coffee roasting, and it is very fitting that the judges, who blind taste products and are therefore only concerned with objective quality, have recognised the uniqueness of our blends. We have now won Great Taste awards for our product quality, a Chartered Institute of Marketing award for our branding and earlier this year won the Institute of Hospitality Supplier of the Year award meaning that every area of the business has been recognised” In addition to the retail grocery sector locally, Johnsons coffee is also exported to the USA and UAE and the company’s brands are also prevalent in the foodservice sector both at home and in the UK.
Shauna’s Heavenly Tasty Tesco deal
Shauna McCarney Blair, founder and Managing Director of Omagh-based Heavenly Tasty Organics, is thrilled that her range of innovative frozen organic baby food has been listed in Tesco. Shauna is pictured with James Blair and Steven Murphy, Tesco NI Buying Manager.
8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
29
TESCO
Clandeboye Estate In the lead-up to the festival, Invest NI hosted a two day local supplier showcase for a delegation of senior commercial representatives from Tesco GB. Ben Farmers of Tesco GB was impressed when he visited the production facilities of Clandeboye Estate, which has just launched a selection of new flavours of yoghurt into Tesco NI and was trialling a new smoothie at the festival. Ben is pictured with Christine Curran from Clandeboye Estate.
Doherty & Gray Sandra Weir, Fresh Food Buying Manager for Tesco NI is pictured with Michael Stewart of Doherty & Gray, which has just launched the new range of locally-produced Tesco Butcher’s Choice sausages. The local partnership and production of Tescobrand products is an exciting business development for the Ballymena-based family business.
Pictured calling on the public to become Forest Feast tasters is Esmee Hall from Dromore. Picture: Phil Smyth
Are you a fruit and nut case? E
xperts in exotic dried fruits and nuts, Forest Feast called out for local people with a discerning palette to join its team of top notch tasters at this year’s Tesco Taste NI Festival. The Forest Feast ‘Tasters Team’ got to sample and review the latest products before they hit the market. Everything from luxurious Belgian chocolate cherries to sensational sour mango and hot and spicy Moroccan nut mix have passed the taste test to date. If you’re interested in trialling the next Forest Feast product contact taster@ forestfeast.com
Willowbrook Foods The Food Innovation Team, Andrea Nelson, Production Director & MD, John McCann, showcase Willowbrook Foods fresh & tasty products at the recent Tesco Taste NI Event. The stand had an endless flow of hungry consumers tasting and purchasing their brands. John McCann said: ‘The show gave us a unique opportunity to promote our new Broccoli & Cheese Mash which is not even in-store yet! Also whetting appetites was our curry coleslaw, Asian Prawn Noodle Salad, Shredded Hoisin Duck Salad, Carrot & Parsnip Mash & our Traditional Mash and Champ’
Scotts: Gerard Lowe and Andrew Lyttle
Dale Farm: Jason Hempton, Commercial Manager and Margaret Sherrard, Business Devlopment Manager, Dale Farm
Pictured at Tesco Taste is Deidre Burns, Marketing Manager at Forest Feast
30 36 • Ulster Grocer | JANUARY 2011
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TESCO
Genesis Crafty launch new packaging at Tesco Taste NI Festival G
enesis Crafty was delighted to showcase their range of bread, pancakes, scones, farls, rolls and cakes at the recent Tesco Taste Northern Ireland Festival. Produced by family-owned McErlain’s Bakery, Genesis Crafty has just taken on a brand new look and Tesco Taste NI provided the perfect platform to showcase the brand’s complete packaging redesign. Brian McErlain, Managing Director of McErlain’s Bakery said: “The bakery was started in 1968 by our parents with a focus on baking using age old recipes, traditional methods and high quality ingredients to bake award winning products. As we enter our 45th year of making quality homemade products, we feel the time is right for us to give the Genesis Crafty brand a complete refresh. “Following some soul searching, we decided there was a big opportunity to develop the branding in such a way that would really accentuate our core attributes – passionately handmade so a better taste for the consumer. The end result is summed up nicely in our new strapline, ‘Six Brothers Making Baking Amazing’.” Launched in stores last month, the new packs also feature clear information for each product in the range, explaining to customers how it’s made and why this makes it taste so good. Brian continued: “For us, baking is the perfect mix of creativity and science and we take great pride in baking the truly traditional way. We felt it was important that our new packaging reflects our commitment to handcrafting every product, so we’ve explained how we bake everything in small batches and that we still knead every roll, flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand.
“We’re still producing the same great products, with the same great taste – just with a brand new look. The relaunch will be supported by an up-weighted marketing campaign in NI and the UK to encourage more shoppers to try the range as once they buy, they keep coming back for more!” The Magherafelt based business, run by the six McErlain brothers, is going from strength to strength having recently announced plans to invest £1.4 million to help drive sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Kerry Foods: Jean Trimble and Florence Montgomery
Irwins: Stefan Szymura and Harriet Moore Linwoods: Karla McAviney and Emma Gribben
Mash Direct: Lance, Jack and Sam Hamilton Moypark: Jill Nutt and Alison Forester
Tayto: Bob Brown and Hannah Semple
32 36 • Ulster Grocer | JANUARY 2011
NEWS
Centra Retailers take to the skies for Price Drop T
he owner of the Centra store in Ballymoney, Glenn Biesty, and the manager of the Stranmillis store Paul McGrath, took to the skies recently to mark the launch of Centra Price Drop, which sees the price of thousands of product lines dropped permanently in Centra stores across Northern Ireland. Now, that’s what we call commitment to your business!
Glenn and Paul (right) are pictured mid air during a sky dive from 13,000 feet at the Wild Geese centre near Garvagh, with instructors from the centre.
Northern Ireland scores a hat trick at Great Taste O n the back of two consecutive years when producers from Northern Ireland took the top award at Great Taste, a galaxy of stars and awards have been presented for 2013 – to Hannan Meats of Moira in Co. Armagh, to Simon Dougan, chef at Yellow Door Deli in Craigavon, Co. Armagh and to En Place Foods of Cookstown, Co.Tyrone. Hannan Meats of Moira in County Down was this year awarded the Golden Fork for Best Speciality from Northern Ireland, sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland, for its 3-star Salt-Aged Rack of Glenarm Shorthorn Beef. This was just one of five Hannan Meats’ products that reached the Great Taste Top 50 Foods and judges were abundant
with their praise for the Rack of Shorthorn which was described as “A revelation. Sweetness in the meat and absolutely right there.” A new Golden Fork Award for 2013 – for Best Deli & Farm Shop Signature Dish was presented to Simon Dougan of Yellow Door Deli in Craigavon. Judges felt that Simon’s Braised Irish Beef Cheek and Smoked Potato Pie was an outstanding dish which showed “provenance, regionality and expertise in a perfect pastry crust”. The Golden Fork for Ambient Product of the Year (sponsored by Petty Wood) was presented to En Place Foods for its 3-star Sea Salted Caramel with Fennel Pollen – making it a hat trick for Northern Ireland.
ge Eggs n a R e e r rm & F Fresh Fa
Suppliers to the wholesale, catering & retail trade
BALLYEAMON EGGS LTD
93 Ballyeamon Road, Cushendall, Co. Antrim, BT44 0SN T: 028 2177 2710 E: niall@ballyeamoneggs.com W: www.ballyeamoneggs.com 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
33
BIG NIGHT IN
Southern Comfort unveils new character in latest TV advert encouraging consumers to own
‘Whatever’s Comfortable’ S
outhern Comfort, part of Bacardi BrownForman Brands, is continuing to inspire the awesome attitude of people who are completely comfortable with themselves, with the second instalment of its popular TV advert. Building on the brand’s irreverent sense of humour, the new advert once again features a distinctive male lead. Set in a salon, the advert shows the man, who is clearly confident with his own unique sense of style, reclining in his chair as he has his long hair washed. As his hair is shampooed he catches the attention of a female onlooker who is drawn to his self-assured attitude. Reaffirming his nonchalant manner, he simply gives her a little nod and continues to enjoy his rinse whilst also enjoying the taste of Southern Comfort. The final frame shows the man holding a glass of Southern Comfort with the flag bearing the campaign strapline; ‘Whatever’s Comfortable’. Driving seasonal sales Southern Comfort Marketing Manager Gwen Ridsdale, comments: “We’re really excited to showcase the next instalment in our successful ‘Whatever’s Comfortable’ campaign. Along with the advertising creative, our flavoured variants have helped to drive relevancy amongst a younger demographic of drinkers and we see it only right to highlight Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry. Don’t forget the whole family! Boost profits further in the lead up to Christmas and stock up on the entire Southern Comfort family. Including Southern Comfort Original, Southern Comfort Lime, Southern Comfort STAY COMFORTABLE. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Bold Black Cherry and a selection of premix variants, the range is perfect for a variety of for the facts occasions, serves and cocktails. drinkaware.co.uk
big night in
Looking good Sunny Jim S
unny Jim, the leading ‘Value’ firelighter in Northern Ireland has recently undergone a packaging makeover. It now has a new brighter and more modern look and feel. New, bigger packs have been introduced to capitalise on the increasing trend, by consumers in Northern Ireland, for larger packs. Northern Ireland’s leading brand, Sunny Jim, is currently seeing growth of 29% in volume sales (1.5 million packs) YoY to June 2013* and can bring real growth to the ignition category when stocked as a range. Firelighter consumers are actively seeking midrange, branded, products at exceptional prices and this new Sunny Jim range is an essential listing for these price conscious consumers. The new packaging features a more prominent, trademarked Sunny Jim logo with the product benefits clearly featured on the front of all the packs. This new livery allows for increased shelf stand out for Sunny Jim firelighters. The Sunny Jim range:• Block firelighters now come with improved efficiency, compact cubes and an increased pack burn time. The new range now has blocks of 18, 36, 60 and an extra fill pack–
8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
80 for 60, giving sufficient choice of pack sizes to meet all consumer’s needs and budget. • Wrapped firelighters have a new size cube with an improved formulation for superfast lighting. They come in packs of 16. • Firelog, a natural high performance firelog which provides an instant cosy fire with a burn time of up to 2 hours. Standard Brands, the manufacturer of Sunny Jim, invented the domestic kerosene firelighter back in 1936 and today Sunny Jim is a recognised value brand within the ignition sector. Sunny Jim’s comprehensive range not only offers a wide range of fire lighting solutions including cubed and individually wrapped, it also includes firelogs to fulfil all home fire requirements. Sunny Jim firelighters are quick and easy to use giving a focussed flame where it’s needed to make a warm and toasty fire or barbeque.
Sunny Jim firelogs are the quickest and most convenient way to enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a real fire without starting from scratch. Sunny Jim are available nationwide. Please contact David Harrison at: david. harrison@jaymark.ie for more information or merchandising support for the complete Sunny Jim range. *Source – Johnson Brothers sales to retailer.
35
big night in
Big Night In A
WKD Autumn Nights In “T
he big night in is now firmly engrained in the consumer psyche and plays a major part in at-home socialising,” says Debs Carter, marketing director for WKD, Northern Ireland’s no.1 RTD brand1. “Switched-on retailers should give focus to providing offerings for fun evenings indoors over the autumn months. Our consumers love a good excuse for a get-together and stockists of WKD can really benefit from such opportunities, especially as the nights draw in. “With more adults drinking mainly at home (63%) than drinking mostly out of home (28%) and the spend on alcohol to drink at home increasing by 10% over the last year (to £32 a month)2, we expect the big night in to continue to be an area of growth for retailers. At home, guys get the chance to focus on the things that are dear to them: gaming, gadgets, new technology, music and watching sport together on TV. Some 49% of WKD consumers meet up at least once a week with friends for a night in3, with Fridays, as the launchpad for a great weekend, being the most popular day for such events.
1. Source: Nielsen Scantrack NI Take Home RTD volume (L) MAT to 17.08.13 2. Source: YouGov Omnibus Panel Aug 2013, Wilson Drinks Report analysis 3. Source: Beverage Brands consumer research 2011
S
ccording to Jonathan Smith, Birds Eye Fusions Brand Manager The ‘Big Night In’ has been very important to retailers, especially convenience store retailers, during the tough economic times. The ‘Big Night In’ is a chance for people to take back time for themselves and their families and many will find that at home dining is the natural place to start. Shoppers are looking for a great home taste experience without any hassle and complexity and as a result there is great scope for quality and exciting frozen food products to meet this need. But the ‘Big Night In’ is more than just about food, it is also about spending quality time with friends and family and making more of your midweek by taking the time to see a film, catchup on news from friends and family etc. As a result, shoppers are keen for great tasting food that can be prepared quickly so they can spend their extra time doing interesting activities in the evening. Within the frozen category the main ‘Big Night In’ winners have been ranges such as; Bake to Perfection Fish, Fish Fusions, Rice Fusions and Peas & Petits Pois. Products that perform well are those that offer the shopper an exciting variety of flavour combinations. ‘Big Night In’ shoppers are most likely to be ‘pre’ and ‘post’ family groups, such as young couples with no children or empty nesters. These shoppers look for great tasting food that is quick and easy to prepare so they can make the most of their midweek evenings together by starting with food
Italian Range BBQ Chicken Pizza
PAR’s Italian Range just got better with the introduction of the new BBQ Chicken Pizza. The Own Brand range, which includes fresh and affordable Italian favourites including fresh pasta and pasta sauces, pizza, garlic bread and ready-made meals, has extended to include the BBQ Chicken Pizza and is perfect for a great night in. With customers often opting for a take away pizza, the Italian Range BBQ Chicken Pizza is an alternative at a fraction of the price with a special offer of 2 for £4 and is full of flavour – perfect for a big night in!
8 • •Ulster 3636 UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
(which tends to be bought by the female shopper). In the frozen category we see ‘Big Night In’ meals bought around two to four days in advance due to the ability to store the product in the freezer until it is required. This type of shopping is ideal as it results in less need for top-up shopping trips and allows more planned purchasing. Alternatively, in the chilled category the trend centres around more impromptu shopping trips to convenience stores.
INTERVIEW
Talking tobacco
with JTI
A year on from the introduction of the Tobacco Display Ban Ulster Grocer speaks to Jeremy Blackburn, Head of Communications at JTI to hear how this has impacted on their business... Tell us about your current role at JTI? “As Head of Communications at JTI, I’m responsible for all UK media relations activity in the national, regional and trade media. Our objective is to ensure that JTI has a voice across all media, our viewpoints are shared in a public forum and we give our customers as much knowledge and support as we can about the tobacco industry. I’m also responsible for internal communications, which provides a great platform for sharing our successes, motivating our employees and communicating with the JTI team in the UK. I’ve worked in the tobacco industry for 26 years - 12 years in my current environment and the rest of the time I have been involved in many different commercial areas of the business from retailer to wholesaler.”
store to their choice of where they buy tobacco from. Queue times have also increased as people buying tobacco will often question staff about availability and price; questions that would not usually be asked where the tobacco display unit and price barkers are visible. “Consistent with many FMCG products, there are a number of variables which define the purchasing behaviour of adult smokers when making their tobacco purchases. These typically include the availability of their preferred brands and range of SKUs, convenience to them of visiting a store, their disposable income and tobacco price. What is clear following the introduction of the display ban in ‘large’ retail stores across the UK, is that these variables still apply whether the tobacco display unit is covered up, or not.”
How has the local tobacco market been performing over the past 12 months? “Worth over £460 Million a year in Northern Ireland1, tobacco is the biggest FMCG category by sales value. It is also the number one contributor to store turnover2, with existing adult smokers spending more per trip than the average shopper3. The growth of tobacco is largely driven by cigarettes. More specifically Value cigarettes such as Sterling, with Value currently the biggest price segment in Northern Ireland, accounting for 41%4 volume share of the total cigarette market and growing. “The roll your own market is currently the biggest sector of the tobacco category by volume, growing 10.6% year-on-year5. JTI’s RYO portfolio accounts for 48.3%6 volume share in Northern Ireland and includes Amber Leaf – the No.1 tobacco brand in the UK7. “Cigars are another important and profitable category for retailers, with miniature cigars, such as Hamlet Miniatures, continuing to grow share as adult smokers demand greater choice and convenience.”
What steps has JTI taken to support local retailers this last year since the introduction of the Ban? “JTI is advising retailers to maintain full range and availability. It sounds obvious but it’s so important to monitor and respond to sales at a local level and ensure the basics of category management are continuously put into practice. With this in mind, JTI has developed ‘ARTIST’, which stands for Availability, Range, Training, Innovation, Sales and Technology, to advise retailers about the key principles of category management and how to maximise profits from tobacco. “Our team of 12 sales personnel in Northern Ireland are trained to give advice to help retailers make the most of the tobacco category. They visit retailers on a regular basis and are committed to keeping them up-to-date on latest tobacco trends, products and legislation, as well as imparting invaluable merchandising advice to help maximise sales. Retailers can get in touch with their local JTI representative today by calling 0800 163 503.”
The Display Ban came into force last October for large Stores. How has this impacted your business in Northern Ireland? “It’s too early to draw any firm conclusions, but early indications in England suggest that there has been a minimal shift in sales but a tangible impact on in-store operations. “For example, we believe up to 10% of existing adult smokers have now added the convenience 8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
What are your plans for the year ahead? “We have lots of plans lined up for the next 3-6 months and beyond, and will continue to develop our strong portfolio of brands in line with national trends, but with a strong regional focus. The ability to plan on a local level is the key to JTI’s success in Northern Ireland, where our brands perform particularly well and we have a market share of over 50%8. Take for example Amber Leaf 12.5g, 25g and 50g, currently the top three selling RYO SKUs in NI with a combined 30% SOM9 and
Sterling, Northern Ireland’s top-selling cigarette brand.10 “Celebrating a year at the top spot, JTI has most recently introduced a limited edition pack design for Sterling to underpin its status as the UK’s No.1 selling cigarette brand. The design will be printed on the film wrap and will be available nationally until the end of October, helping retailers benefit from the continuing growth of the value cigarette segment.” What challenges do you foresee (specifically for NI) and how will JTI continue to prosper in spite of these challenges? “Northern Ireland, like the rest of the UK, has high levels of tobacco smuggling and crossborder shopping. The Organised Crime Task Force’s report, published in June, noted that HMRC’s priorities in Northern Ireland are ‘tackling oils fraud, tobacco fraud and tax evasion’11. The report also notes that ‘as fuel and tobacco become increasingly expensive commodities to purchase legitimately, organised crime groups continue to be involved in laundering and smuggling’. “JTI’s message to retailers and their customers in relation to tobacco fraud is simple: don’t be tempted into selling ‘cheap cigs’ in your shop and always buy your stock from a reputable cash & carry or wholesaler; be warned if you do sell ‘cheap cigs’ you will be caught and face heavy fines, you could also lose your lottery terminal and alcohol licence and even face prison. “JTI welcomes the fact that the Northern Ireland Department of Justice has recently consulted on plans to include cases of tobacco excise evasion to the list of offences that can be referred to the Court of Appeal if the Director of Public Prosecutions considers the sentence to be ‘unduly lenient’, and we’ll continue to work with the Government, HMRC and other tobacco manufacturers to help stamp out smuggling and eradicate the illegal tobacco market. “If anyone reading this article is aware of or knows of anyone selling illegal tobacco, they should call Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000.” www.tobaccoretailing.com JTI’s UK trading company is Gallaher Limited 1. Nielsen Market Track MAT August 2013 2. 24% - IGD Research 3. him! CTP 2012 4. Nielsen Market Track August 2013 5. Nielsen Market Track YTD August 2012 vs. 2013. Retail sales value 6. Nielsen Market Track August 2013 7. Nielsen Market Track August 2013 – Cigarettes & RYO (RYO converted at 0.4g per cigarette) 8. Nielsen Market Track August 2013 9. Nielsen Market Track August 2013 10. Nielsen Market Track August 2013 11. Annual Report & Threat Assessment – available from www.octf.gov.uk
37
appointments
People on the move
in association with
Unit A4, 17 Heron Road, Sydenham Business Park, Belfast, BT3 9LE. Tel: 028 9045 5040 • Fax: 028 9073 9058
Willowbrook Foods Ltd new appointments Name: Colin Edgar Position: Head of Sales for UK & Ireland
CBRE Belfast strengthens Retail Team
Colin Edgar has been appointed as Head of Sales for UK & Ireland at Willowbrook Foods Ltd where he will be responsible for managing the Sales Operation and further expanding the firms client portfolio. Colin has 20 years of management and sales experience both working within the public and private sectors throughout the Island of Ireland and the UK.
Name: Stuart Best Position: Sales Manager NI Retail Stuart Best has been appointed as Sales Manager NI Retail at Willowbrook Foods Ltd where he will be responsible for managing key symbol and multiple accounts. Stuart has eight years retail experience gained working within commercial roles across ambient, chilled and fresh product categories.
Name: Eddie Connor Position: Sales Manager Eddie Connor has been appointed as Sales Manager at Willowbrook Foods Ltd where he will be responsible for managing Food Service. Eddie has over 30 years experience gained working within commercial roles across the Retail and Pharmacy sectors.
Name: Maurice Johnston Position: Operations Manager Maurice Johnston has joined Willowbrook Foods Ltd as Operations Manager. With over 30 years in the Food & Drink industry, Maurice has held Senior Manager and Director positions.
Name: Alana Coyle Position: Associate Director, Head of Retail of CBRE Belfast CBRE, the international commercial real estate firm, today announces the appointment of Alana Coyle to Associate Director of CBRE Belfast. Alana, who takes up the position of the Head of Retail for the Belfast office, joins CBRE from Osborne King. With ten years experience in the Northern Ireland commercial property market, Alana’s appointment strengthens the CBRE team and reflects the growing demand for CBRE’s services in an increasingly active property market in Northern Ireland. Alana’s new role will see her responsible for a wide range of Retail work, including acquisitions and disposals in Shopping Centres and High Street locations throughout Northern Ireland. In her ten years in the industry, Alana has been involved in a number of large retail consultancy projects including shopping centre development proposals and retail master planning projects for major towns across Northern Ireland.
RECRUITMENT, CONTRACTING & FIELD MARKETING CONSULTANTS 3O YEAR’S RECRUITING IRELAND’S TOP SALES & MARKETING PERSONNEL Unit A4, 17 Heron Road, Sydenham Business Park, Belfast, BT3 9LE. Tel: 028 9045 5040 • Fax: 028 9073 9058
47
INTERVIEW
trade
This month, trade people speaks to Nigel Dugan, Fresh Foods Trading Controller, Henderson Group.
PEOPLE
Can you give me an outline of your personal background and how you came to be involved with Henderson Wholesale? After leaving Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards I joined our family Market Garden Business where we grew around 60 acres of potatoes and vegetables. We also bought and sold vegetables in the Balmoral Market on Boucher Road, Belfast and had a Fruit & Veg Shop in Comber. After eight years I joined Stewarts Supermarkets as a Produce Manager and worked in a number of their stores. I was also involved in the opening of Bloomfields in Bangor. While in Bloomfields I would also spend time in the buying office in Apollo Road, Belfast. I then joined the Henderson Group in 1992 as Produce Manager for the Company Owned Stores Division where I spent time working with the store management teams to grow produce sales before moving into a trading role after one year. What do you enjoy most about your career? I enjoy all aspects of my role at the Henderson Group, from sharing the knowledge and experience I have with the Fresh Foods Team to dealing with our extensive supplier base both locally and nationally. My current role allows me to be involved in a wide variety of exciting projects such as the recent SPAR summer eating campaign, as well as overseeing the day to day running of the trading and telesales teams within the Fresh Foods Department. There is nothing more satisfying than exceeding the targets we are set! I have a great team and like me some have been with the Henderson Group for over 20 years and some for less than one year. The important thing is we all work well together and appreciate the ethos that exists within the Group. I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of trying to satisfy our retailers’ needs and requests which is, of course, easier some days than others!
What was the first lesson you learned in business? Always be honest and fair, anything else will catch up with you eventually. With Northern Ireland being fairly small the chances are you will meet people in different roles over the years that have changed company or retailer group.
And what frustrates you most about your daily work life? There will always be occasions when influences outside my control impact on the department’s performance. This can
What are the plans going forward at Henderson Group? We have made substantial investment within the Fresh team and facilities over the past 18 months and this investment
8 36• •Ulster UlsterGrocer Grocer| JANUARY | JANUARY2011 2011
be anything from the weather to suppliers’ vehicles breaking down which can all result in a frustrating situation for both us and our retailers. However, I prefer to stay positive and help to encourage an optimistic and problem-solving moral in the workplace which in turn helps to build and sustain good working relationships with both my colleagues and our retailers.
has proven successful. We are all very committed to sourcing as much of our product as locally as possible, we currently source over 75% of our Fresh Foods products on the island of Ireland. Freshness, quality and innovative products are what we aim to deliver with full tractability. These products will help our retailers to be recognised as the best local retailer in their areas. How do you see the local convenience sector changing over the next five years? As we are all aware, convenience is the fastest growing sector within retail as a whole, which means there is great potential to grow further. Due to changing shopper habits, little and often is becoming more of the norm. This also leads to a reduction in food waste. The next five years will be very exciting for us and with the team we have we are best placed to realise these opportunities. 39
email. lauragirvan@greerpublications.com email: karengraham@greerpublications.com
SHELFLIFE SHELFLIFE
shelf life
INsee ASSOCIATION to your product featured on shelflife, contact LAURA GIRVAN at WITH lauragirvan@greerpublications.com or call 028 9078 3245
Fang-tastic! - Unilever resurrects Dracula lolly
W
all’s, the leading ice cream brand from Unilever UK1 is bringing back its much-loved Dracula lolly as a result of huge consumer demand. Available to retailers for the In Home channel, it taps into the current trend for retro products. As a family favourite, the iconic ice cream looks to strengthen the current Wall’s Kids range, worth over £41 million and growing at a rate of 3% YOY2. With its cola coating, blood-red strawberry jelly and vanilla ice cream centre, Wall’s Dracula will drive sales for retailers in time for the Halloween promotional period as well as into the winter season. Florence Howell, Brand Manager for Wall’s Kids at Unilever UK says: “Retro continues to be a huge trend and our Dracula lolly has an instant connection with parents who remember it from their childhood. Mums are looking for fun products to share with their kids and with its red jelly centre that changes the colour of your tongue, Dracula is a must stock, especially for Halloween.” The spooky new packaging brings the brand up-to-date and includes Dracula and the Wall’s Kids Lion, Max. Wall’s Dracula RRP* is £1.99 per multipack of six and are available in cases of six. 1. IRI Data 6th July 2013 - Value Sales 2. IRI Data 6th July 2013 - Value Sales * Retailers are free to set their own prices
www.ulstergrocer.com
For more information visit www.hunkydorys.ie
Flora launches biggest ever marketing campaign with £12m investment F
lora, the number one Spread brand from Unilever1, has announced a heavyweight £12 million marketing campaign and rebranding exercise for 2013, its biggest ever marketing investment into the brand - to drive value growth back into the Butters and Spreads category. The campaign will highlight the great taste of Flora and will see the return of the iconic Flora sunflower – modernised for today’s shopper – which will remind consumers of the natural goodness of sunflowers2 throughout the Flora range. The campaign will run until the end of November, with the new packaging flowing into supermarkets from late August. The RRP of 500g tubs of Flora Buttery, Original Light and Lighter than Light is £1.70nwith an RRP £3.00 for 1kg tubs. 1. IRI Data Mat Latest, Volume Sales and Volume Share, w/e 6th July 2013 2. Sunflower oil naturally contains omega-6. Flora contains omega-3 & 6 that helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels.
Kittensoft shakes up market with major relaunch K
ittensoft is firmly established as one of Ireland’s favourite family toilet tissues. Recently acquired by the Intertissue Sofidel Group, KittenSoft has been redesigned to be longer and even softer than before. The current re-launch of the much-loved KittenSoft brand, which is exclusive to the Irish marketplace, involves a packaging re-design and heavyweight TV and press advertising, with TV airing from mid-October. The re-launch is also supported by a comprehensive PR and social media campaign as well as strong promotions in-store. The new softer and longer KittenSoft is available in Irish supermarkets nationwide in 4 roll, 9 roll and 16 roll packs, making it the perfect choice for Irish families, big or small. In the coming months KittenSoft will also introduce new 18 roll and 24 roll Winter Limited Edition packs, which are sure to add some festive fun for your consumer to your home! Confirming its commitment to Irish market, KittenSoft will soon launch a cat and kitten welfare initiative with leading animal charities to raise awareness of cat welfare in Ireland. In addition, KittenSoft are teaming up with RTE star and celebrity interior designer Karl Fradgely, to launch the ‘KittenSoft Best Bathroom Awards’ - encouraging consumers to vote for their favourite residential, hotel, bar or restaurant loos! The campaign will be supported by a strong digital platform including Facebook, website and an exciting new android App, which will be unveiled in the coming months. For more information follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.ie/ KittenSoftIreland. Katherine Collins, KittenSoft Marketing Manager commented: 40
“We’re delighted to be breathing new life into the KittenSoft brand, which has such a fantastic legacy in the Irish market. The re-design and supporting marketing campaign represent a significant investment in the brand and we’re confident that we’ll see a very positive result from both consumers and retailers. This is a very exciting time for the KittenSoft brand.”
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CANDY BALL
The sweetest night of the year The Candy Ball was held on October 4th in the Culloden Hotel.
T
he Annual Candy Ball is one of the highlights of the GroceryAid fundraising calendar of events for Northern Ireland. The night proved to be as enjoyable as always with a great line up of entertainment and fun. As always the event was strongly supported by local manufacturers and suppliers. The main sponsors of the evening were Mondelez, Mars, Nestlé, KP Snacks, JTI, Danone and Richmond Marketing who got the evening off to a great start with the customary ‘Champbulls’ reception. The GroceryAid committee were also grateful to the numerous other local companies who generously donated prizes for the special draw and product for the tombola and goody bags. The GroceryAid charity currently looks after more than 5,000 current and former industry colleagues who have fallen on hard times. Close to £3m will be spent on welfare support in the coming twelve months with a wide ranging and varied offer of welfare assistance. To find out more about GroceryAid, our work, our events, the Achievement Awards and how you can become involved, please log onto www.groceryaid.org.uk, email us on events@groceryaid.org.uk or call 01252 875925.
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1. Tim McAuley and Alison and Dave Cutler, with United Biscuits. 2. Artie and Donna McDonald, Michael Cunningham, Sarah and John Templeton and Jenny Montgomery, all with Mars. 3. Lloyd Graham, UB Foods; Ricky Watts, KP Snacks; Jonathan Burnett, Costcutter and Drew McKnight, Cadbury’s. 4. Andrea and Norman Savage and Joanne and Barry Duffy, with Savage and Whitten. 5. Gillian Barker, Director General of GroceryAid, with Mairead Catterson, Vice Chairman of GroceryAid N.I. 6. Seb Willis, Hannah Willis, Derrick van Rensburg and Tracy van Rensburg, with Nestlé.
• Heavyweight TV campaign, launching the brand nationwide throughout October, November and December • Mainstream coverage on all major channels across NI • TV coverage supported by instore marketing, strong promotional calendar, PR, online and social media
Retailers stock up today:
Contact Tennant & Ruttle Distribution Limited Unit 2A, Allied Industrial Estate, Kylemore Rd, Dublin 10, Ireland Phone: 00 353 1 623 1610
For more information, check out www.kittensoft.ie or follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.ie/KittenSoft
SEPTEMBER OUTSTANDING SUPPLIER Tesco Northern Ireland is proud to announce RLA advertising agency as its Outstanding Supplier for September. Belfast Advertising agency, RLA, has been named as Outstanding Supplier of the Month by its client, Tesco NI. The award is in recognition of their outstanding work in helping to promote the Tesco local sourcing message. In particular, the recent, hugely successful Taste NI Festival and the high profile Switch to Local initiative. Caoimhe Mannion, Tesco NI Marketing Manager said, “RLA’s team works tirelessly to meet very tight deadlines and produce superb work in a very short time. They go above and beyond - we think they are outstanding!” Congratulations to everyone at RLA.
BARRY MADDOX ACCOUNT MANAGER, RLA GROUP
www.tasteni.com
tastenorthernireland
www.switchtolocal.info