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FOOD FOCUS
Joyce’s Supermarkets launches new healthy school lunchbox initiative
Nestlé announces plan to tackle child labour risks Nestlé is introducing a new plan to tackle child labour risks in cocoa production, centered around an innovative ‘income accelerator’ programme. This aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families, while also advancing regenerative agriculture practices and gender equality. A cash incentive will be paid directly to cocoa-farming households for certain activities such as enrolment of children in school and pruning among several others. Nestlé’s new plan also supports the company’s work to transform its global sourcing of cocoa to achieve full traceability and segregation for its cocoa products. As Nestlé continues to expand its cocoa sustainability efforts, the company plans to invest a total of CHF 1.3 billion (€1.25 billion) by 2030, more than tripling its current annual investment. With Nestlé’s new approach, cocoafarming families will now be rewarded not only for the quantity and quality of cocoa beans they produce but also for the benefits they provide to the environment and local communities. These incentives are on top of the premium introduced by the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana that Nestlé pays
Nestlé is incentivising school enrolment for all children in the household aged 6-16 of cocoa-farming families
and the premiums Nestlé offers for certified cocoa. This cocoa is independently audited against the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard. “Our goal is to have an additional tangible, positive impact on a growing number of cocoa-farming families, especially in areas where poverty is widespread and resources are scarce, and to help close the living income gap they face over time,” said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO.
Irish food and drink exports enjoyed a record year in 2021 than €5 billion last year, remains the largest The value of Ireland’s food, drink and element within Irish food and drink exports, horticulture exports increased by 4% to a followed by meat and livestock, which record €13.5 billion in 2021, despite the generated over €3.5 billion in export sales, impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on trading. and prepared consumer foods, which was Ireland exported the equivalent of almost worth more than €2.5 billion. €37 million worth of food and drink every Bord Bia also day last year to published ambitious customers in more new three-year than 180 countries targets to further worldwide, according contribute to the to data from Bord Bia’s growth in the valueExport Performance chain of Irish food and Prospects report and drink exports 2021/2022. as part of the Ireland exports launch of its new about 90% of its food 10-year Statement and drink production of Strategy. The and the performance “The sector’s ability to beat its 2019 plan envisages a of the export sector performance and deliver a record year significant was robust in 2021, for Irish exports is truly impressive, expansion in the given the ongoing and Irish food and drink producers and value growth of Covid-19 pandemic manufacturers deserve huge credit,” said Irish food and and the fact that the Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy drinks exports UK is now operating during the period, including an 11% increase outside of the EU Customs Union. The value in the value of dairy, meat, and livestock of Irish food and drink exports was 2% exports, and a 14% jump in prepared higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. consumer food exports. The dairy sector, which was worth more
Galway-based independent grocer Joyce’s Supermarkets has launched a new campaign to promote healthy eating options aimed at schoolchildren aged 4 – 12 years old and their parents. QR codes are now on display in ten Joyce’s stores across Galway, which provide shoppers with a link to download a healthy recipe book for their kids. In addition to this, Joyce’s Supermarkets will be promoting healthy lunchbox ideas on its social media channels and highlighting in-store savings and offers. Families are invited to share their favourite lunchbox QR codes on creations by tagging the Joyce’s display in-store Supermarkets Instagram and reveal a booklet of lunchbox ideas for Facebook accounts on social schoolchildren media, to inspire others.
Bundle deal launched in Iceland Ireland for Chinese New Year To mark the Chinese New Year, Iceland Ireland celebrated its Chinese takeaway range with an ‘unbelievabao’ deal! From Thursday, The Chinese New Year bundle 27 January until deal was available across all 27 Saturday, 5 Iceland stores nationwide February, shoppers could buy any three items from the retailer’s authentic takeaway range, all for just €5. Following traditional oriental recipes, the range boasts a collection of dishes such as Hoisin Duck and Chicken Curry Noodles, which according to the retailer, each deliver the finest flavours from genuine East Asian ingredients and aromatic spices.
Over 1,100 food and drink acquisitions in 2021: Zenith Global 2021 was another record year for food and drink industry transactions, with 1,116 registered on the Zenith Global mergers and acquisitions database, an average of 21 each week. The total is 34% more than in 2020 and 79% higher than five years ago. The number has risen every year since a dip in 2013. Funding rounds for early-stage businesses have become an increasingly important element. The top 15 sectors saw some significant changes in 2021. Packaging, plant-based and vertical farming deals more than doubled, with plant-based rising nine places to the top five. Meanwhile, meat-free entered the top 10, outpacing meat. ■
Global food and drink acquisitions 2016-2021 Zenith’s data shows the most active sectors for global acquisitions were ingredients on 97, packaging on 96, soft drinks on 56 and dairy on 54
ShelfLife February 2022 | www.shelflife.ie
