ShelfLife Magazine - October Issue 2022

Best of ireland

often goes

and why

Shine a light on reduced energy costs of up to 80%

energy

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Words cannot convey the fathomless grief over Creeslough blast: Taoiseach

Following the tragic explosion in Creeslough earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin summed up a nation’s feelings when he said: “Words on their own cannot comfort the fathomless grief that so many will feel in the weeks and months ahead but what we can do and what I know we will do is to be there for them.”

People from all corners of the country and further afield have expressed their sadness and shock following the devasting events of Friday, 7 October 2022, which rocked the close-knit Co. Donegal village. In an industry where community is at the centre of independent retailers’ daily lives, it is hard to contemplate an otherwise ordinary, bustling Friday afternoon taking such a dark turn.

At the funeral of one of the ten victims, Martina Martin (49), who worked in the village shop, was described by parish priest Father John Joe Duffy as “a beautiful person” and “the ultimate mammy bear” who always put others first.

He gave a simple example of kindness from Martina’s working life which will undoubtedly resonate with many readers: “If you picked up a bar of chocolate somebody said to me, they remember fondly and there was a bigger bar of chocolate available at the same price or a better bargain, she would say ‘You know you can get a bigger one?’ And that was Martina looking out for people.”

Father Duffy told mourners: “Creeslough is a village, yes, a small village, but it is now more than just that. It is now a word for determination, for resolve, for togetherness.

“And how important togetherness is. This tragedy has reignited within all of us, myself included, that each one of us are only as strong as the family we have around us, only as strong as the community that surrounds us.”

NEWSGRID

The top news stories in FMCG and retail from across Ireland

Arán Bakery & Bistro named Supreme Champion at Blas na hÉireann 2022

Blas na hÉireann, the Irish food awards, returned to their spiritual home in Dingle for the first time in three years in September Arán Bakery & Bistro was crowned Supreme Champion for its Arán spelt sourdough while Ten Watch Chocolates received the Best Artisan Product award for its PB&J Bar

Bartlomiej Pawlukojc of Arán Bakery & Bistro, Kilkenny

Musgrave announces acquisition of Italicatessen

Musgrave has announced the acquisition of Italicatessen for an undisclosed sum, subject to approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Italicatessen is a leading importer and distributor of premium quality, authentic Italian food and wines directly from Italy Based in Wicklow, Italicatessen, employing 75 people, was founded in 2002 as a small family-run business and has since grown to service over 900 customers.

Circle K Ireland opens newly redeveloped site in Arklow

Circle K officially opened its newly redeveloped companyowned site on the Dublin Road in Arklow, Co Wicklow earlier this month.

Circle K Safeway is the first Circle K company-owned site in Arklow and will be open seven days a week. Circle K has invested €1.9 million in redeveloping the site, where it will employ a total of 11 staff from the local Arklow area.

Ireland’s Consumer Sentiment Index to continue

From this month onwards, the Irish Consumer Sentiment Index will be produced through a partnership between the Irish League of Credit Unions, and Core Research. Economist Austin Hughes will continue to oversee the development of the index and will provide monthly analysis and commentary

The index was first published in 1996, produced jointly by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the IIB/KBC Bank.

Dealz launches major charity partnership with Barretstown

Dealz will launch a major fundraising partnership with children’s charity Barretstown, which has already brought the magic of its specially designed camps and therapeutic programmes to 85,000 children since 1994.

As its new charity partner over the next year, Dealz will make Barretstown the main focus of its community fundraising, aiming to raise €150,000

Mr Price and The Rehab Group win at Charity Excellence Awards

Mr Price and The Rehab Group won the People’s Choice award at this year’s Charity Excellence Awards, after they entered a partnership to change the job landscape for people with disabilities nationwide

Their initiative strives to make an impactful change by offering placements and jobs to students of the Rehab Group Its success is measured in real job outcomes where people with disabilities get paid employment.

Aldi Ireland signs new corporate communications consultancy

Aldi Ireland has appointed 360, A Finn Partners Company, as its new strategic corporate communications agency in Ireland on a three-year contract.

The appointment will see 360 partner with Aldi to advise on, and manage all corporate communications for the retailer, with a specific focus on delivering Aldi’s ‘Value for Ireland’ strategy its renewed commitment to delivering value for shoppers, its people and the communities in which it operates.

24% have already started their Christmas shopping

New research has revealed that a quarter (24%) of people in Ireland had already started their Christmas shopping in September

A new consumer survey from Talon Ireland, conducted by its research partners Spark Market Research, also revealed that a quarter (23%) plan to shop for Christmas in October and 22% in November

Builín Blasta predicts record €1.2m turnover in 2023

Having recently launched a range of artisan products nationwide and been named as one of this year’s ‘Grow with Aldi’ programme winners, Builín Blasta the Spiddal-based Irish language café and bakery is predicting a record turnover for the business in 2023 of more than €1.2 million.

This news follows Builín Blasta being handed a seasonal contract by Aldi to supply its multi award-winning Smoked Onion Mayo to all 152 of Aldi’s Irish stores. If the product performs as well as is expected, there is an opportunity to receive a permanent listing with Aldi in the near future.

■

Inspired

Lidl teams up with RollerCoaster.ie to launch Lupilu Baby Bundle

RollerCoaster.ie, Ireland’s leading online pregnancy and parenting destination website, has launched the Lupilu Baby Bundle in partnership with Lidl Ireland

The Lupilu Baby Bundle is a box filled with award-winning Lupilu by Lidl new-born essentials that will be available completely free to those who subscribe to Rollercoaster.

Lupilu by Lidl is Lidl’s own-brand range of award-winning baby products, with accolades including a recent Gold win for Lupilu nappies at the Pregnancy & Baby Fair Awards. The expansive range features high-quality items at low prices including nappies, wipes and toiletries, paediatrician-approved baby lotion

and organic food products made with 100% fruit.

The bundle has been carefully curated by an expert team to include award-winning products such as nappies, soothing creams and bathing products. There is also a Lidl Plus coupon for a packet of Lupilu biodegradable wipes redeemable in Lidl stores nationwide along with lots of other essentials.

Head of RollerCoaster.ie, Liz Doyle said she was delighted as “the leading and trusted pregnancy and parenting platform in Ireland” to be the chosen partner for Lupilu’s Baby Bundle campaign throughout 2022, a leading choice for Irish parents for “great quality and even better value”.

Visit RollerCoaster.ie to subscribe

Spar teams up with Fatti Burke for Spar National Tree Day Colouring Competition

As part of Spar National Tree Day 2022, Spar and the Tree Council teamed up with award-winning Irish illustrator Fatti Burke to launch the Spar National Tree Day Colouring Competition.

Monster talk! MiWadi launches ‘Trick or Treat for Sick Children’ 2022

MiWadi is launching the ‘Trick or Treat for Sick Children’ campaign, the Children’s Health Foundation’s annual fundraising initiative, with the help of broadcaster Alison Curtis and Children’s Health Ireland patients Joy Harper (7), Luke Staunton (11), and Noah Daly (3).

Proudly supported by MiWadi, Trick or Treat for Sick Children raises vital funds to support patients and their families in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly

The initiative is calling on everyone from individuals to community groups to host your own Trick or Treat party and help raise funds, with free party packs available

Celebrating the ten-year partnership that has helped to raise over €3.2 million to date, MiWadi has also created a podcast mini-series of fantastical Halloween-inspired short stories, fuelled by the imaginations of Joy, Luke and Noah.

Perfect for little ears, the series will be available from all podcast streaming platforms from 7 October right up until Halloween.

For top party tricks and tips, check out www.instagram.com/ miwadi_ireland/ and MiWadi’s TikTok.

Register for a ‘Trick or Treat for Sick Children’ party pack at www.childrenshealth.ie/trickortreat or call 01 709 1700

Children can pick up a Fatti Burke illustrated colouring sheet in any Spar store nationwide and, by uploading a photo of their completed colouring sheet on Treeday.ie, can be in with a chance of winning a Linkilonk activity tube, Eco markers and a €15 Spar voucher

“We’re delighted to be collaborating with Fatti,” said Spar sales director Colin Donnelly “Her eye-catching illustrations for the colouring competition offer children another way to engage with the campaign, connect with nature and understand the value trees bring to our communities.”

The Tree Council of Ireland, supported by Spar, has encouraged primary school children across the country to take part in Spar National Tree Day and plant one of 2,000 free Native Irish Holly tree saplings on Thursday, 6 October 2022.

To claim a free native Irish Holly tree, visit www.treeday.ie

Bananas still top choice for babies and toddlers

Bananas are still the top choice of parents when it comes to picking a baby and toddler snack food, according to the results of the National Parenting Product Awards competition.

For the eighth time in the competition’s nineyear history, Freddy Fyffes the popular prepacked bananas from Irish banana producer Fyffes were the chosen winner in the ‘Feeding and Weaning’ section based on research conducted amongst parents and industry experts.

Accepting the award at a prize-giving ceremony held at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin recently, Fyffes head of marketing, Emma Hunt-Duffy thanked competition organisers, adding: “It’s fantastic to see parents continue to choose Freddy Fyffes bananas; families tell us they love their versatility as an on-the-go snack or as part of their breakfast or healthier desserts. Bananas are soft, easy for little hands to manage and full of natural goodness.”

The Lupilu Baby Bundle will be available completely free to those who subscribe to Rollercoaster.ie

Eanna Ní Lamhna, president of the Tree Council of Ireland, Colin Donnelly, Spar sales director and Irish illustrator Fatti Burke alongside Lila Rice (6) from Swords and Robert Brady (7) from Clontarf

Mighty monster Joy Harper (7) from Rathfarnham is pictured with Caroline Hyde, marketing manager, MiWadi, broadcaster Alison Curtis and Terri Reynolds, campaign manager, Children’s Health Foundation

 Fyffes head of marketing Emma Hunt-Duffy and marketing executive Áine McElroy, receiving the Best Baby and Toddler Snack Award from host Megan Cassidy at the National Parenting Product Awards

Gala Retail Services Limited appoints PCS as a nominated supplier of cash management solutions

Gala Retail Services Limited has appointed PCS (Premium Cash Solutions) as a nominated supplier for the supply and installation of cash management solutions to its network of stores throughout Ireland. Gala Retail is one of Ireland’s leading premium convenience retailers, with over 250 Gala and Your Stop stores affiliated to the Gala group

PCS in partnership with Gunnebo Cash Management (a Sesami Company), the global leader in automated cash handling solutions, provide cash management solutions to the retail and hospitality sectors across Ireland. As a preferred supplier for many leading brands including Circle K, Maxol, BWG and Musgraves and as a nominee for the ‘Best Technology Award’ at this year’s upcoming ShelfLife C-Store awards, this new appointment with Gala Retail cements PCS’s position as the fastest growing leader of cash management solutions in the Irish market.

“We are delighted to be chosen as a nominated supplier to the Gala Retail brand,” said Thomas Desmond, head of Business Development, ROI & NI at PCS. “We have over 550 closed cash management solutions installed throughout Ireland and a proven track record with helping retailers to reduce the time spent on daily cash management by delivering

SuperValu producers celebrate another year of success with 119 wins at Blas na hÉireann Awards

Producers for SuperValu, Ireland’s number one award-winning supermarket, enjoyed huge success at this year’s Blás na hÉireann awards, taking home an impressive 119 awards.

As Ireland’s largest grocery retailer, SuperValu is committed to sourcing the best of Irish and local food and has long-standing relationships with more than 1,800 Irish food and drinks producers.

SuperValu’s own brand and its Irish brand producers won 46 awards, made up of 13 gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze awards. A special prize for best new product was awarded to Kepak for its SuperValu Irish Beef Dry Aged Striploin.

Meanwhile, SuperValu’s Food Academy food and drink producers picked up a total of 73 awards, made up of 19 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze as well as five Chef’s Larder’s, five best in county and the Rogha na Gaeltachta award

These wins included gold and best in county for Clare Jam’s new product Doolin Mustard while newcomer Zingibeer, run by father and daughter Kevin and Rachel Byrne, won gold for its all-natural Ginger Beer

Impressively, new producers who started with Food Academy in May this year won 13 awards.

“We are delighted that the Blas na hÉireann awards are once again taking place in person after two years of virtual awards and that once again it was a winning year for SuperValu’s producers,” said Ian Allen, managing director SuperValu.

“At SuperValu we are committed to supporting more Irish food producers than any other retailer and in delivering both the best quality and value for our customers. Working with more than 1,800 Irish food producers, we are immensely proud of our award-winning brands and it’s wonderful to see the local suppliers and producers receive the recognition they richly deserve.”

solutions that automate their cash processes and simplify operations to provide greater efficiency and control.”

The PCS SafePay system combines intelligent algorithms and cuttingedge technology to offer a secure payment solution. With SafePay, cash is never handled manually, and correct change is always given; therefore unexplained cash differences and the task of dealing with them are a thing of the past. Cashiers no longer need to have responsibility for cash at the till or back-office administration, eliminating cash shrinkage, discrepancies and reconciliations from the daily cash process. Closed cash handling establishes a single, secure, controlled routine for the whole store and automates counting and checking, requiring minimal administration.

For more information, visit www.pcsgroup.ie and www.gala.ie

Centra producers win 22 awards at Blas na hÉireann 2022

Convenience retailer Centra’s Irish producers have claimed 22 awards at this year’s Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards.

Celebrating and rewarding the very best tasting Irish food and drink products, the Blas na hÉireann awards are the biggest blind tasting of produce in the country

Ireland’s number one convenience retailer, Centra’s producers took home six gold, nine silver and seven bronze awards. The big wins include five products from the premium Inspired by Centra range, expertly created to bring shoppers value without compromising on taste or quality

Award-winners within the Inspired by Centra range include Inspired by Centra Angus Sirloin Steak with Peppercorn Butter (Kepak Ltd.), Inspired by Centra Salmon Sensation (Dunn’s of Dublin), Inspired by Centra Lamb Tagine (Ballymaguire Foods), Inspired by Centra Mexican Style Sweet Potato and Bean Salad (Wonderfoods) and Inspired by Centra Cold Pressed Ginger Shot (Sunshine Juice Ltd.).

Other key award winners from the Centra range include Centra Crème Fraiche (Clona Dairy Products), Centra Chicken with Garam Masala Soup 400g (Ballymaguire Foods) and Centra Gold Blend Tea Bags (Bewley’s)

“Blas na hÉireann are the largest food awards on the island and we’re very proud to have taken 22 accolades at the 2022 awards,” said Ian Allen, managing director, Centra.

“We work closely with our high-quality Irish suppliers, and we are delighted that so many of our local producers and their products have received the recognition they deserve at these esteemed awards,” he continued. “We’re delighted to see five winners from our Inspired by Centra range which uses the highest quality home grown ingredients to deliver the very best tasting products to our customers at stores nationwide.”

Gala Retail CEO Gary Desmond and Thomas Desmond, head of Business Development, ROI & NI at PCS

Killua Castle Foods won gold for its Killua Castle Signature Venison Sausages

Pictured with Centra products are: Back row (l-r) Majella Moynihan, Andrew O’Donnell, Sarah Donnelly, Dermot Skehan, Edward Spelman, Jack Rogers, Gerry Sheridan, Abigail Collins, Niamh Barber, Louise Welland. Front row (l-r) Liz Skehan, Ciara O’Gorman, Gillian McGowan and Lisa Clarke

Niamh Scally of Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen, won gold for its Gluten Free Multigrain Loaf, silver for its Gluten Free White Bread Rolls, and bronze for its Gluten Free White Loaf

CSNA NEWS

JOHN PAUL LONERGAN National President,

Tobacco companies elect to withhold the majority of ‘Big Box’ increases

Budget 2023:

The devil is in the detail

For those members anxious to learn the extent of supports that the government is prepared to provide, we will have to wait a little longer to get the full details from Revenue on how the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme will operate.

The CSNA welcomes the scheme if it is sufficiently responsive to the very real problems that the current crisis has exposed. We understand that every sector is negatively affected by the unprecedented increases but need to remind both the Finance and Enterprise Departments that our convenience sector uses a considerable amount of electricity in the course of our business; an amount that is disproportionate to other business sectors.

You will be aware that the association has long held the view that the tobacco companies are incapable of ignoring the smallest of market advantages. While most observers would have considered that when Minister Donohoe announced a 50 cent (inclusive of VAT) increase on the pack of 20 cigarettes, and pro rata increases to other tobacco products, that would have indicated that such increases would be made across the full range of tobacco products sold by the companies to the retail trade. This was once again not the case, as retailers noted the new price list showed each of the four brands that have ‘Big Boxes’ had held off on any increase and continue to supply existing stock at the current wholesale price.

In turn retailers will (because the law forces them to) adhere to the tobacco companies’ RRP, continue to give “value” to their

The CSNA reports the new tobacco price list shows each of the four brands that have ‘Big Boxes’ have held off on any increase following Budget 2023

customers buying the promoted ‘Big Box’. In our opinion, there is no other word to use other than promoted. B&H 27s and 34s, the Silk Cut Blues and Purple 27s and the Mayfair 33s will continue to be sold at pre-Budget prices, tempting

CSNA responds to Budget 2023

The announcement by the Minister for Finance that the government had agreed to introduce a Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme must be seen as a welcome acknowledgement that viable businesses need assistance in these difficult times. It is also a significant victory for those retailers that lobbied vigorously to be heard and heeded.

CSNA had expended considerable resources in appraising the Cabinet and all elected representatives that we were justifiably fearful of what the future would hold for our retail members if the Budget ignored their very real needs for direct aid.

removed and in its place, we have the Revenue-organised TBESS which will be, we hope, relatively easy to understand and access.

CSNA will provide our observations to Revenue as was the

those customers that ordinarily buy the 20s pack or the 23s (which have increased) to migrate to the Big Box. In the CSNA’s view, can anyone with our retail experience believe that this migration does not risk additional personal consumption?

case for the previous support schemes, leading to over 10 different amended versions to the original scheme. We will be happy to make enquiries on your behalf (anonymously) if you contact us.

The convenience sector uses a disproportionate amount of electricity in the course of our daily business compared to other sectors

Initially there was a lack of understanding from both the TDs and Department officials on the scale of the increases that we had begun to see early in the year, and it wasn’t until dozens of retailers showed their electricity and gas bills (and comparative previous bills) that the penny dropped. There was an attempt to bring in a loan scheme, but this was, thankfully,

Fine Gael Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Fianna Fail Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath ahead of speaking with RTE presenter Claire Byrne

when

As retailers, we service the requirements of our customers and would be very foolish to pass judgement on adults who choose to spend their money in our stores. That does not mean that we don’t have responsibilities to manage the access to age-restricted products in accordance with both the law and common sense.

There would appear to be a surge in popularity for vaping products and even though there is not at this time any age control on selling these products, we would have to urge you to give a clear direction to your staff to ensure that only people over 18 are permitted to buy these products

NEWS

age-restricted products

that contain nicotine.

We would also urge you to remind your staff that they can be prosecuted if they sell any tobacco product (including cigarette papers, filters and tubes) to a person under 18. Such a prosecution would prevent them from travelling to many parts of the world and would need to remain on their criminal record for several years.

Magazines should also benefit from 0% VAT

While there is currently no age control on the sale of vaping products, the CSNA advises they should only be sold to those aged 18+ because they contain nicotine

Update from Alliance of Insurance Reform (AIR)

The Alliance for Insurance Reform’s (AIR) ongoing one-minute survey* continues to confirm what it has from the beginning in May 2021. Motor insurance is dropping while liability cover continues to increase in cost by an average of 16%. So, despite all the ongoing progress on insurance reform, it remains to be seen whether we will get affordable liability insurance now or in the long-term.

According to AIR director Peter Boland, there are plenty of significant reforms happening at the moment, but they are all subject to terms and conditions.

Damages for personal injuries as assessed by PIAB have been reduced by an average of 42% by the new Judicial Guidelines. But the guidelines have been subjected to a raft of constitutional challenges. The two lead challenges have been rejected by the High Court, but both have been appealed to the Court of Appeal with judgements expected in the first half of 2023.

Additionally, we have no clear view of how individual judges will implement the guidelines, although the first few cases to reach the Circuit Court have reportedly seen damages well in excess of the judicial guidelines being awarded. We expect insurers to appeal these decisions to the High Court and await developments.

Positive legislation to rebalance the duty of care** has been proposed by Minister McEntee. We have welcomed this proposed legislation but asked that the responsibility of parents and guardians be specifically written into it and that an indictive list of sectors in which a voluntary assumption of risk might be applied be included. Ultimately, speed is of the essence in getting this legislation enacted and commenced and we expect this to happen before the end of 2022.

The reform of PIAB*** is being progressed through the Personal

Your policy of preventing access by minors relies entirely on your staff being vigilant and aware of the negative outcomes, not just for you but also for them remind them frequently of your prevention policy.

Injuries Resolution Board Bill, now being managed by Dara Calleary as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise. This will broaden the type of claims PIAB can handle and will allow for mediation, to avoid cases progressing to litigation. The bill was recently at the second stage in the Dáil and we expect it to be commenced before Christmas.

In addition, the Garda Insurance Fraud Coordination Office is up and running, the Perjury Act has been commenced and the Insurance Ireland claims database is now on a new, more openly available footing. And we expect ongoing progress on the capping of legal fees and defamation legislation. But none of this will benefit us in the long term unless more competition is brought into the Irish insurance market, premiums are reduced, and affordable cover becomes more widely available. The Minister of State responsible for this, Sean Fleming, reports that he is working with the IDA to attract additional insurers in order to make the liability market competitive now and in the long term, but we have not seen any results from that process as yet.

*(https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AIRRenewa

**(Source:

Ultimately, speed is of the essence in getting ‘duty of care’ legislation enacted and commenced, says Peter Boland, director of the Alliance for Insurance Reform

***(Source:

The CSNA proposes that news and magazines should be treated the same for VAT purposes

The CSNA has sought clarification from the Department of Finance on its intention to reduce newspapers both national and local to the zero VAT category but continue to apply the existing rate of 9% to magazines.

We do not accept that children’s comics, educational magazines and current affairs periodicals should be viewed as being any less worthy of having a very valuable societal content when compared to newspapers.

It is much more desirable that people reading published magazines obtain their information from a trusted source rather than from anonymous social media sites.

We would have to suggest that news and magazines should be treated the same for VAT purposes. ■

A community in mourning

“Words on their own cannot comfort the fathomless grief that so many will feel in the weeks and months ahead but what we can do and what I know we will do is to be there for them,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin of the tragic explosion which occurred at Aplegreen/ Nearby Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday, 7 October 2022.

“It is important that those struggling to make sense of the enormous and heartbreaking loss now confronting them, know that the entire nation is with them in spirit,” An Taoiseach added.

Message from Applegreen

Commenting the day after the horrific incident, Joe Barrett, founder and chief executive of Applegreen, described it as “a very dark day for Creeslough, for Donegal, for Ireland, and for all of us in the wider Applegreen family This is a hugely tragic event, and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased, and to the entire community in Creeslough. We are utterly shocked and saddened at what happened yesterday. I would also like to offer our thanks to the emergency services, and first responders, who are dealing with the incident.

“We have been working with our local partners in Creeslough since 2014. We are providing them with assistance and support locally at this very difficult time The Applegreen in Creeslough is at the very heart of the village and contains the local post office and supermarket.”

“Our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Creeslough,” Barrett added. “Today we mourn those who have lost their lives alongside the entire country We will continue to assist and support our partners, and the wider Creeslough community, in the days and weeks ahead.”

Message from Nearby

Michael Skelton, MD of S&W Wholesale also offered his sympathies: “To the community of Creeslough, Co Donegal, we are deeply saddened and shocked by the devastating news,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers turn to the families and friends of those injured and those who have sadly lost their lives. I would like to offer our thanks to the emergency services and first responders for their rapidness and tireless work. This store is very much at the heart of Creeslough and this tragic incident will be felt in everyone’s today and beyond.

“We have no doubt that this close-knit community of Creeslough and surrounding areas will come together in this time of hardship,” Skelton continued. “We want you to know that the entire S&W Wholesale and Nearby teams will stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

Ten people lost their lives in the blast, with several more injured in hospital. The victims include five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her dad Robert Garwe, 50, as well as Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13. Leona Harper, 14, Jessica Gallagher, 24, James O’Flaherty, 48, Martin McGill, 49, Martina Martin, 49 and Hugh Kelly, 59, also lost their lives in the explosion.

An Garda Síochána is continuing its investigation into the cause of the blast. Garda Supt Liam Geraghty said the victims were “all local people” who were “very much involved in the local community”.

Community rallies together

Just last month, ShelfLife profiled the Creeslough store and owner Annette Lafferty, who runs the store alongside her brother Danny, emphasized the stop’s “very loyal customer base”; a connection further strengthened during Covid when they mutually relied on each other

After the village lost its only shop in the

explosion, people from across Donegal have been donating items to St Michael’s Church in Creeslough. The supplies, which include essentials such as milk, tea and bread, have been helping to keep the village of Cresslough going.

Meanwhile, Asda staff members also delivered supplies of everyday items such as condiments, toiletries and cereals to the village, where they are being distributed by the Creeslough Community Day Centre. People can visit the centre from 9am-4pm to collect items.

Gerard McFadden, who lives in Brisbane, Australia but is originally from Creeslough, set up a GoFundMe to help the community In response to the catastrophe, the Creeslough Community Support Fund has also been established by the Irish Red Cross in collaboration with An Post and Applegreen to “provide rapid and long-term assistance to the Creeslough community”.

Books of condolence have opened across the island of Ireland for the victims of the Creeslough tragedy

ShelfLife’s thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this tragic event.

To donate to the Irish Red Cross’ Creeslough Community Support Fund, visit https:// www.redcross.ie/latest-appeals/creeslough/ ■

Pictured are crowds of mourners as the coffins of explosion victims Catherine O’Donnell and her son James Monaghan leave St. Michael’s Church, Creeslough, after their funeral

Left to right: Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father Robert Garwe, Leona Harper, Hugh Kelly, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O’Flaherty, Martina Martin, Catherine O’Donnell and son James Monaghan

Dan’s Digest With Dan White

Big boys gobble up pharmacy

Last September’s sale of the Sam McCauley chain for a reputed €50m is merely the latest in a series of big-money transactions that have transformed the retail pharmacy sector from mainly mom-and-pop businesses into a handful of transnational giants.

On 19 September, Stock Exchange-listed pharmaceutical services group Uniphar announced that it had agreed to purchase the Sam McCauley Group, which operates 37 retail pharmacies, from the eponymous founder and private equity group Carlyle Cardinal. No price was disclosed but the “usual sources” briefed a figure of about €50m.

This is Uniphar’s second major acquisition in the retail pharmacy space in recent years. In 2020 it paid up to €60m for the 36-strong Hickey pharmacy chain.

As the man once said: “€60m here, €50m there. Pretty soon you’re talking serious money!”

When the Sam McCauley outlets are added to Uniphar’s existing owned pharmacies, franchised outlets and symbol pharmacies, it will control almost 420 retail pharmacies. These include Allcare, a mixture of owned and franchised outlets, which Uniphar claims is the largest Irish-owned pharmacy brand, the LinkUp Gold buying group and the 80-strong Life symbol pharmacy group.

And Uniphar is not alone. UK pharmacy chain Boots has been in Ireland since 1996 and now has 90 Irish stores. Boots isn’t the only foreign-owned chain in the Irish market. Fellow UK pharmacy chain Lloyds has also set up shop in this country where it now has 89 outlets.

irish pharmacy Union figures

According to figures compiled by the Irish Pharmacy Union, there are currently 1,841 retail pharmacies in the country No fewer than 341, 18.5%, of these are owned by chains with more than 20 outlets. Throw in chains with 10 or more outlets and this rises to 27.3%. Meanwhile the proportion of

pharmacies belonging to groups with three or fewer outlets stands at just under 61%.

The IPU figures almost certainly understate the true dominance of the big players as they appear to count symbols, franchisees and members of buying groups as being “independent”. Uniphar alone will have some sort of relationship with close to 420 pharmacies, 23% of the total, when the Sam McCauley deal is completed.

This consolidation in the retail pharmaceutical sector is not unique to Ireland. Lloyds purchased Sainsbury’s 281 pharmacy outlets for £125m. Lloyds itself was then acquired by private equity group Aurelius for £477m in April of this year

action at Boots

Boots has also been the subject of plenty of corporate wheeling and dealing in recent

years. In 2006 it merged with Alliance UniChem to form Alliance Boots. The following year Alliance Boots was purchased by a consortium of US private equity outfit KKR and Italian entrepreneur Stefano Pessina. This pair in turn flogged it to US retail pharmaceutical giant Walgreens in a series of deals between 2012 and 2014 to form Walgreens Boots Alliance.

As if that wasn’t enough buying and selling to be getting on with, Walgreens announced in January that it was concentrating on its US operations and conducting a “strategic review” of Boots, i.e. putting Boots up for sale. With rising interest rates making highly leveraged deals much more difficult to finance, it turns out that Walgreens had got its timing all wrong.

Walgreens was originally touting a Boots sale price of up to £11bn. No-one was biting

VieWs on the latest eConomiC & politiCal neWs

After failing to receive the asking price, Walgreens pulled the sale of Boots at the end of June

With corporate wheeling and dealing a-plenty, Dan White reflects on the health of Ireland’s pharmacy sector

at that price. By May Boots could have been yours for a mere £7bn but still the buyers refused to deal. Even a further cut in the asking price to £5bn failed to smoke out any buyers and Walgreens pulled the sale at the end of June.

So, what happens now? Despite the

Soaraway milk prices

As inflation has soared to levels not seen for more than a generation, most of the focus has been on runaway energy prices. But other prices, including those of that grocery staple milk and dairy, are also rocketing.

While most of us have been left punch drunk by a series of gas and electricity price increases in 2022, Irish dairy farmers will have far fonder memories of this year

In summer of 2021, the processors were paying their farmer suppliers approximately 40-41 cent a litre for milk. Twelve months later most farmers were receiving well over 60 cent a litre while most of the processors were posting headline milk prices of 56-57 cent. This was based on a 3.6% butterfat content compared to the 4%-plus most dairy farmers are now achieving.

Sainsbury’s sale of its pharmacy outlets in 2015, it must surely be only a matter of time before one of the big UK supermarkets moves to bring pharmacy in-house once again. All the major US supermarket chains, including Walmart, dispense their own prescriptions.

If, or more likely when, this happens, my

This 50% increase in the prices paid to dairy farmers had fed through into the retail price of dairy products. The price of a litre of ownlabel supermarket milk has risen from 75 cent to €1.05, an increase of 40%, while the price of a pound of own-label butter has risen by 55% from €2.19 to €3.39.

Wheat and barley

And it’s not just the price of dairy products that are set to rocket. Poorer-than-expected wheat harvests in North America and Europe due to drought conditions late in the growing season have dashed hopes that other producers could make up for the shortfall in Ukrainian and Russian grain entering world markets between them Ukraine and Russia accounted for a quarter of global wheat exports and almost a third of world barley exports before Russia’s invasion of its neighbour

As a result of this supply shortfall, global

money is on Tesco to make the first move. Before he became Tesco chief executive, Corkborn Ken Murphy was chief operating officer at Boots, so he knows the company backwards. With Boots now available at a bargain basement price there will never be a better time for Tesco to pounce.

The price of a litre of own-label supermarket milk has risen from 75 cent to €1.05, an increase of 40%

wheat prices are up over 20% and barley prices by 25% over the past year This is going to result in dearer bread, flour, pasta, cakes, biscuits and beer in the months ahead.

About the only piece of good news is that this year’s soya bean harvest has been an absolute cracker As this is the main feed for chicken and pigs this will reduce the price pressure on pork, bacon, chicken and eggs in the coming months. ■

AND HEARD

Alan Crawford of BWG Foods with Mike Sutton of Ishka: the water firm will become the exclusive provider of bottled water to Spar (Picture: Naoise Culhane)

Ishka signs three-year supply contract with Spar worth €12m

Ishka, the Limerick-based bottled water company, has signed a threeyear supply contract with retail chain Spar that’s valued at €12 million. As part of the deal, Ishka will become the exclusive provider of bottled water to the retailer, which is part of wholesale group BWG Foods and operates approximately 400 stores across the country

The Limerick drinks company has been supplying bottled water to Spar for a number of years, where retail sales of Ishka branded water have grown to more than €9 million. The company estimates the new supply contract will increase business volumes with Spar by at least 40%.

Mike Sutton, managing director of Ishka Irish Spring Water, said the company has been working with Spar for a long time, originally providing some of its private label bottled water. However, he said the Ishka brand has achieved double-digit growth over recent years.

“A lot our business used to be private label sales, but we’ve really grown the brand in recent years,” he said. “Last year it saw growth of 32% year-on-year And we’re gearing up for more growth.”

As part of the deal with Spar, the water company will provide bottles made from 100% recycled plastic that are fully recyclable

Chef Kwanghi Chan appointed Brand Ambassador for Meade Farm’s Irish Potato Starch

Exciting chef and restauranteur Kwanghi Chan, a devotee of Irish ingredients, has been named as a Brand Ambassador for the new Irish Potato Starch by Meade Farm

The winner of the Irish Quality Food Gold Award in 2022, Irish Quality Foodservice Product of the Year Award 2021 and numerous sustainable supply chain awards, the potato starch is now available in a 250g resealable pack in selected Tesco stores, Evergreen stores and evergreen.ie It is a gluten-free, sustainable, Irish alternative to imported corn starch/flour

“I enjoy using wholesome Irish ingredients to make Asianinspired dishes,” said Chan. “Potato starch is the go-to thickening agent and frying medium for Asian cuisine, myself and many other chefs use it every day.”

Made using surplus potatoes from Meade’s growing and packing business, the starch is extracted at the Meade family farm and food production facility using renewable energy, further adding to its sustainability credentials.

“Once consumers try it, I’m confident they will be repeat customers because it’s so easy to use and versatile,” Chan added.

For more information about a retail listing, contact clionacostello@meadefarm.ie ■

Chef Kwanghi Chan champions Irish Potato Starch by Meade Farm

Switching to Bank of Ireland

Supporting the Irish SME community

While the pandemic, Brexit and the continuing inflationary cycle have brought significant challenges and uncertainties for businesses across Ireland, they have responded and adapted at pace and in a proactive manner Recent macro-economic events are likely to be the catalyst for enduring changes in business trade and investment activity such as the prioritisation of digital capabilities, changes to work practises and working locations, and an increased focus on responsible and sustainable business.

Bank of Ireland remains firmly focussed on supporting customers (existing and new) through these challenging times by continuing to provide operational funding supports and new lending facilities for investment and growth.

We continue to proactively engage with our retail sector customers and their advisors nationwide and indeed have supported the investment plans of Irish SMEs across a range of sectors to date in 2022.

Our dedicated teams will continue to support Irish SMEs over the coming months as they adapt to changing customer preferences, navigate an inflationary environment and innovate in response to new business opportunities.

Re-emerging successfully from the pandemic/inflationary cycle may mean significant longer-term adjustments to operating models, supply chains, digital processes and workforce structures. SMEs need to be planning not just for short-term requirements, but also for a longer-term reshaping and rebuilding of their businesses’ strategy and vision.

In switching to Bank of Ireland, retailers will

benefit from 200 years of experience, a comprehensive range of business accounts and services, multi-channel banking including a network of over 1,000 locations where you can do your everyday banking, relationship support model and advice from our team of sector specialists. We are committed to supporting Irish businesses to thrive.

Our relationship structure

Throughout Bank of Ireland Business Banking there are dedicated teams of relationship managers and business advisers who can visit businesses and advise on the types of products to help get businesses up and running and sustain their operations e.g. working capital, term lending, invoice discounting, asset finance and leasing. We also offer advice regarding safe and secure foreign currency services to support businesses trading abroad, as well as longer term financial planning for your retirement.

Our small and micro businesses and medium sized business customers are supported through our digital end to end channels and our branch network. Our medium sized business customers are also supported by Business Banking Client Services who are a dedicated services and loan

fulfilment team. All our business customers also have access to our Sectors team recognised specialists recruited directly from their respective industries/sectors.

Our Asset and Commercial Finance segment primarily includes financing for asset purchase and debtor financing. The bank provides asset finance to SME clients for the purchase of vehicles, tractors, buses, trucks, farm machinery, business equipment etc. on a hire purchase basis. A dedicated mobile team is in place to support these customers locally There are also telephone-based specialists available for these customers.

As Ireland’s leading business bank and through ongoing engagement with customers, intermediaries and industry bodies, we are strongly positioned to give well rounded advice along with being able to offer appropriate debt or credit solutions to our business customers.

Switching to Bank of Ireland

As two prominent banks exit the Irish market we have commenced a proactive consumer awareness campaign to support both personal and business account holders moving banks. The campaign directs account movers to a

Owen Clifford, head of retail sector, Bank of Ireland

A dedicated Bank of Ireland team is in place to support SME customers in their local area

As two prominent banks exit the Irish market, Owen Clifford, head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland, outlines the range of supports Bank of Ireland provides for SME clients

“In switching to Bank of Ireland, retailers will benefit from 200 years of experience, a comprehensive range of business accounts and services, multi-channel banking including a network of over 1,000 locations where you can do your everyday banking, relationship support model and advice from our team of sector specialists.”

range of useful supports including step-by-step guides, a dedicated phone line and an online hub to help them with the move.

Our new dedicated online hub ‘The Big Move’ includes a step by step guide for customers on how to close their existing current account, open a new account, make changes to regular payments, and apply for credit products such as overdrafts. Templates for letters to SEPA direct debit originators, payroll change instruction letters to employers, and credit payment redirection forms have also been developed to help consumers navigate the process. All of this information can be accessed at the following link: Big Move Current Account Bank of Ireland. https://personalbanking.bankofireland.com/ thebigmove/

Dedicated retail sector support

Our Sectors team continue to proactively engage with our customers and their advisors nationwide. As our customers reposition their business to reflect the current trading environment, our sector specialists are keeping them informed on relevant trends and developments within their respective sectors. A comprehensive publication “Sectors

Developments and Insights” is issued by our Sectors team to our customers, their advisors and industry stakeholders on a monthly basis.

As the head of the Retail Sector, I am meeting and engaging with Irish retailers on a daily basis. I am a strong advocate for the Irish retail sector, and it remains a privilege to support family-owned retailers nationwide with their growth ambitions and banking requirements. In Bank of Ireland, we recognise that we have a unique opportunity to support our customers and to enable Irish

businesses and the communities we jointly serve to thrive. We understand the investment cycle, including the need for regular expenditure to maintain growth and profitability in this dynamic sector, and we have a strong appetite to support progressive, innovative retailers in the further development of their businesses in 2022 and beyond. For further information on switching accounts, funding requirements or to receive our monthly update please e-mail me directly at owen.clifford@boi.com

Ann-Marie Sheehan is the founder of Aspire

& Marketing, specialising in marketing and communications for lifestyle, food, health and drinks brands both internationally and locally

1. Best place for coffee?

Anywhere in Spain!

2. Favourite movie?

Good Fellas / A Clockwork Orange / Dumbo… the list goes on yes I have an eclectic cinematic taste.

3. Top book recommendation?

Bonkers My Life in Laughs by Jennifer Saunders; the audiobook is even better as she reads it.

Aspire PR & Marketing

4. Which social media platform do you use most?

Best ad on telly?

Bank of Ireland’s ‘Welcome Home’ advert with the granny moving in with her son and his family gets me every time.

Worst ad on telly?

can’t possibly say…

7. Favourite grocery shop?

Superquinn of days gone by; the service was exceptional. Feargal Quinn knew how best to treat his customers: it was customer service at its best.

8. What would you cook if you were to compete in ‘Come Dine With Me’ and would you win?

My carbonara is second to none.

9. First thing you would do if you were Taoiseach?

I would firstly remove the gender pay gap but I would have a very long list of other things to change also.

10. If you had to live in another country, where would you choose?

I have a list all depending on budget. I had a year of adventure in my late teens in San Francisco and I lived in London for a few years in my early 20s and I adored it. I have visited Paris more times than I can remember I would love to revisit and live in any of these as a ‘grown up’ but also would be very happy living in Barcelona or Torre del Mar in Spain as two places I also regularly visit. Honestly if I had the money I would buy homes in them all just need to win the Lotto!

11. Greatest achievement to date?

Has to be my daughter Katie, she is the most amazing human.

12. Best website?

I have a lot of favourites for different things but for global news it would be theguardian.com

13. Most annoying public figure?

Boris; isn’t he everyone’s?

14. Best piece of advice you ever received?

My mom, Martha, always told me to treat people the way I would like to be treated, I try my best to live by this.

15. Biggest fear?

Spiders yes arachnophobia is alive and well in my house. It’s ridiculous they are so tiny (in Ireland), but they scare the bejaysus out of me.

16. City or beach break?

I spend a lot of time in cities with work so when it’s time to relax, it has to be in the sunshine on the beach.

17. Top restaurant recommendation?

Liath in Blackrock Damien Grey is a food genius and his team are amazing.

18. Pop or rock?

A mixture of both along with jazz Steely Dan is a firm favourite along with anything from 80s.

19. Favourite time of the day?

Last hour of my night when I can get to spend time within my head and reflect on the day. I enjoy a nice sunset too.

20. What’s the last compliment you received?

Your passion for your work shows in these results came from a client in an email just today when I sent them their coverage book which was pretty nice. ■

Bank of Ireland’s Owen Clifford - pictured here presenting the National Grocery Manager of the Year Award 2022 to Mark Byrne of Blake’s Centra, Blarney Filling Station, Co. Cork meets with Irish retailers on a daily basis

Ann-Marie Sheehan

Ban introduced on HFSS displays in UK: Are we next?

As the UK government implements a national ban on prominent displays of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products, what is the likelihood of retailers here facing the same fate? Fionnuala Carolan reports

Every major supermarket in the UK, including Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S, has been forced to implement a ban displaying products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) in prominent locations such as shop entrances, till areas, ends of aisles and specialist bin displays

The restrictions came into force from the beginning of October The rules are focused on 13 categories of food. These are essentially soft drinks, savoury snacks, breakfast cereals, confectionery, ice cream/ice lollies etc, cakes and cupcakes, sweet biscuits and bars, “morning goods” such as croissants, desserts and puddings, sweetened yogurt, pizza, crisps/ chips, ready-to-heat meals and pastry products.

Failure to comply with regulations may result in a business being issued with an improvement notice and subsequently a fixed monetary penalty if compliance is not achieved as required.

However it is important to point out that these restrictions only apply to medium and large businesses (with 50 employees or more) including online retailers and retailers who do not primarily sell food or drink and stores that are a member of a symbol group or franchise

Obesity epidemic

On the back of this news the UK Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said it is delaying a ban on multi-buy deals on HFSS foods, such as “buy one, get one free”, until October next year in response to consumers facing cost-of-living pressures.

There has been no confirmation over plans for a crackdown on junk food advertising, which had also been delayed for a year Reports have emerged that plans to tackle junk food could be scrapped by Prime Minister Truss amid fears it would increase pressure on consumers already struggling with soaring costs.

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation chief executive Karen Betts said: “The implementation of the delay to the ban on

volume promotions is welcome news, including for hard-pressed shoppers at a time of rapid food price inflation. Our industry looks forward to continuing to work with government to help tackle obesity and poor diets. Food and drink businesses know we play a critical role in this, and we have worked hard over many years to redevelop the recipes of our products to make them healthier while retaining their delicious flavours. This has included work to help people choose appropriate portion sizes.”

The National Health Service data shows that childhood obesity rates in the UK soared during the pandemic and now 28% of children are overweight and 41% of 10 to 11-year-olds are overweight.

Ireland

Here at home we have gone some way to tackle rising obesity levels when in 2021 the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) unveiled new rules relating to the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products which will be incorporated into the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Section of the ASAI Code

The rules restrict marketing communications for HFSS foods and beverages from being directed or targeted at children under the age of 15. They say the rules are in response to changing media habits among young people, as well as wider concerns in society about public health challenges for this age group Thresholds for non-broadcast media will reduce the overall exposure to HFSS products’ marketing communications.

Locations primarily used by children are prohibited to run any form of marketing communication for HFSS including registered

crèches, pre-schools, nurseries, family and child clinics, paediatric services, schools, dedicated school transport, playgrounds and youth centres.

No nanny state please

Despite this move against advertising such products, the Irish retail trade has not yet been hit with restrictions on product placement in store.

RGDATA director general Tara Buckley told ShelfLife that the group’s initial reaction is that given the extremely challenging times for retailers, it is not the right time to try out these types of initiatives.

“We do not need Ireland to try and ‘out nanny state’ the UK at this time and start introducing confusing, arbitrary and hard to enforce regulatory measures such as this,” she said.

She questions how effective the UK ban will be on reducing consumption of HFSS products. “A lot of experts in the UK are predicting that it will have limited or negligible results. Throughout history we have examples of how bans/prohibition or “hiding” products has just made them even more coveted.

“Given that the benefits of such regulations are extremely difficult to quantify, will it have any impact whatsoever on obesity or eating habits? In the UK they are extremely cynical about the impact or benefits, if any, that this measure will have,” she explained.

She also questioned the issue of policing such a move “Given all of the other issues that our health and environmental inspectors have to investigate will checking if the donuts or the chocolate biscuit cake is on the wrong shelf be a priority?” ■

The new high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) restrictions in the UK focus on 13 food categories

Lunchbox essentials up 19.5%: Kantar

In the four weeks to 4 September 2022, the price of lunchbox essentials (bread, ham, cheese, yoghurt, cereal and milk) rose by 19.5%, making a basket of these staples €2 more expensive, according to Kantar

Shoppers spent an additional €17m on lunchbox essentials compared to the same period last year

The most basic items saw some of the biggest jumps with bread up 20%, ham up 12%, milk up 26% and yoghurt up 17%. Collectively, shoppers spent an additional €17m on these products compared to the same period last year, driven entirely by price as volumes were down 6%.

Greggs holding its own, despite unsavoury cost outlook

Greggs, the leading UK food-on-the-go retailer, has announced a third quarter trading update for the 13 weeks to 1 October 2022.

This showed total sales were up 14.6% with like-for-like sales rising by 9.7%. However, there was no change to its inflation outlook, with costs still seen rising by circa 9% this year Overall, despite “considerable uncertainty” in the economy, full year expectations are unchanged.

“Greggs is holding its own in an extremely challenging economic environment, with little sign so far of consumers cutting back on sausage rolls and pasties,” said Charlie Huggins, head of Equities at investment services company, Wealth Club

Greggs’ Q3 trading update showed total sales were up 14.6% with like-for-like sales rising by 9.7%

‘The Odlums Big Book of Baking’ goes on sale in Dunnes Stores nationwide

Ireland’s number one home baking brand is launching the Odlums Big Book of Baking a collection of over 100 Odlums recipes that have been carefully selected to bring the joy of baking to every home

On sale since 4 October, the beautifully presented, hardback book is available online and in-store nationwide in Dunnes Stores, as well as on JackandJill.ie

Retailing at €25, the Odlums Big Book of Baking literally bakes a difference, with every cent going directly to the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation to provide and fund vital home nursing care across the country

Tesco is world’s single largest purchaser of Irish food and drink: Indecon Analysis

Tesco is the leading retail buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, with purchases totalling €1.6 billion a year In fact, the company is now a bigger buyer of Irish produce than any country in the European Union.

That’s according to the latest figures from an independent socio-economic assessment of Tesco’s activities on the Irish economy by international economic consultants Indecon, which was completed to mark the 25th anniversary of Tesco coming to Ireland in 1997.

According to Indecon, exports of Irish food and drink to Tesco represented almost 6.5% of the total value exported during 2021 which Bord Bia recorded as €13.5 billion, with Tesco accounting for €0.87 billion of the export total. The exports to Tesco stores in the United Kingdom and Central Europe have grown by more than 47% in 15 years.

The figures show Tesco purchases of Irish food and drink remained robust during the pandemic and throughout supply chain challenges following Brexit.

Irish suppliers continued to innovate for Tesco over the last year, replacing imports in certain areas, such as family-owned Cork business Silver Pail which secured a contract to supply the Tesco Ireland own-brand ice-cream range Country Crest, Keelings and Lir Chocolates continue as long-standing suppliers, with Folláin, the Gaeltacht-based jams and preserves company, the latest to join the 500-strong Irish firms supported by Tesco in the past year

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, congratulated Tesco and wished the retailer well for the next 25 years.

Independent socioeconomic assessment states Tesco’s value to Irish economy tops €3 billion

Aldi signs two new deals with Irish confectioners worth €8.5m

Aldi Ireland has agreed two new deals with Irish-based suppliers Broderick’s Handmade Cakery and Cookie Dó, worth a total of €8.5m.

The new deal with Dublin-based Broderick’s, worth €7.5 million, will see the company continue to supply all Aldi’s Irish and UK stores, while the company will now also supply 300 Aldi stores in the US, with its Irish-made quality desserts.

The new deal means Broderick’s Slices will be available as a Specialbuy in 300 of Aldi’s US Stores, while the company’s new Pouches product will also be available in the US as part of an initial trial. Broderick’s products will go on sale in Aldi’s US stores from October 2022.

In Ireland, Broderick’s Specially Selected Hand Finished Slices, Specially Selected Tubs, and Brownies will be on sale in Aldi’s 152 stores while 970 UK stores will continue to stock the brand’s Specially Selected Hand Finished Slices, Tubs and Mini Bites. Established in 1983 and based in Dublin 24, Broderick’s currently employs 105 people in its family-run business.

Aldi has also extended its contract with Cookie Dó in a deal worth approximately

€1m, which will see the company continue to supply Aldi into 2023. Based in Tallaght, Cookie Dó’s Classic Chocolate Chip and Triple Chocolate cookies, as well as a brandnew White Chocolate Chip flavour, will be available at Aldi’s 152 stores in Ireland. ■

Niall O’Connor, group managing director, Aldi Ireland, Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Bernard Broderick, joint managing director, Broderick’s and Ciarán Fitzpatrick, managing director, Cookie Dó

Odlums ambassadors Catherine Leyden and Adrian Martin with Ella and Ben Hogan

marketing expert

A hundred years later and all the same

One hundred years ago, a P&G employee Neil McElroy wrote a memo which went on to form the foundation of modern marketing. Following the group’s latest investor call, it’s refreshing to see marketing remains at the heart of strategies today, writes Colin Gordon

As we leave summer and enter autumn and all the uncertainties that seem to be surrounding us, it’s encouraging to see that there is evidence of good results coming from doing the ‘right’ thing. There have been several reports in recent weeks of big, branded house players doubling down on their engagement with consumers. Diageo has been open on its determination to talk to the consumer, to deliver more premiumisation and it is seeing positive results.

One of the original ‘founders’ of what we now call marketing, P&G is also not backing away from supporting both its brands and consumers. In a recent investor call, widely reported (but most pertinently for us in the FMCG world) in Marketing Week, P&G’s CEO Jon Moeller was very clear: “We are committed to keep investing to strengthen the superiority of our brands across innovation, supply chains and brand equity to deliver superior value for consumers.” And he went on to say more specifically that P&G as an organisation invests “to deliver truly superior value and [the right] combination of price, product and performance to earn their loyalty every day.”

marketing mix pillars

‘Marketing is in trouble: How we got here and 10 steps to get us out’ by Colin Gordon is now available to purchase, published by Orpen Press. www.orpenpress.com It’s also available on Amazon (UK & US) and at Rakuten Kobo Ireland: www.kobo.com/ ie/en/ebook/marketingis-in-trouble.

What’s encouraging here is not just P&G’s commitment to its brands, not just its way of managing price by introducing innovation and not just that sales revenues are rising in the face of multiple challenges. What struck me forcibly was the explicit calling out of the various pillars of the marketing mix. Moeller highlights price, product, supply chain, innovation, brand equity and the communications mix. In the same investor call, P&G’s CFO was as fluent on aspects of its marketing programmes as the CEO.

Both talked about doubling down on (these) strategies. They didn’t just focus on the challenges and balance sheet issues (at least not in the articles I read!). They talked ‘marketing’ and showed it to be at the heart of P&G’s strategies. All these strategies were focused on the consumer and how to help or support them in the face of their own personal challenges of inflation, hybrid working and so much else. I’ve said before that I see marketing as operating at the centre of business operations. With the consumer first and foremost, how is an organisation best structured to pick up on and reflect the dynamics that are, collectively, the market? It has to be through some part of the business that is able and empowered to direct all other parts of the operation to best deal with the market and the consumer It certainly won’t be done alone by production or distribution colleagues. Not likely to be done either by finance or human resources. It does not have to be a separate department in many cases it definitely should not be (such as within smaller businesses or organisations that essentially have no departmental structures, etc) but it, marketing, has to at least be a way of giving real recognition to the primacy of the consumer

Consumer loyalty

P&G mentions in the report from Marketing Week, the issue of loyalty. How often do you hear CEOs talk so passionately about the consumer and what his (or her) organisation is doing to increase or protect the loyalty of its consumers? Bank covenant covers, bad debt provisioning, capex and depreciation demands are not unimportant. Nor are cash flow projections and cost efficiency measures. But none would exist as a topic to focus upon if there wasn’t a sale in the first place.

Almost a hundred years ago, an employee of P&G (then Procter & Gamble) named Neil McElroy wrote a memo. What he proposed became the foundation of modern marketing. His famous memo suggested the creation of brand teams. From his idea, such ‘innovations’ as brand plans and market segmentation and a whole load else sprouted. Isn’t it wonderful to see the same company continuing his legacy and remaining true to the principle of planning for the consumer? With so much of life and society now being treated as disposable, it’s reassuring to see the centrality of marketing is still solidly held by one of the world’s most prestigious companies. ■

P&G is investing “to deliver truly superior value and [the right] combination of price, product and performance to earn loyalty every day,” says CEO Jon Moeller

& Cool

Drinks

Ger Walsh and Graham Carroll, directors, The Blink Group & withA

A 2006 start-up founded by couple Ger Walsh and Graham Carroll in the box room of their home, The Blink Group is now moving into a new HQ, a bespoke 10,000 sq ft warehouse, showroom and office on Dublin’s Long Mile Road.

Re-branded from Thinknblink, The Blink Group incorporates Wow Marketing, Propbox, Robot Networks, Blink Digital, Blink Christmas and Blink Staffing. The move allows The Blink Group to further expand on its already extensive range of services.

“Over the past few years retail has taken such a hit with a big move towards online shopping but what online shopping can’t offer the customer is the live experiences,” says Graham Carroll. “We have been able to show our retail customers such as Ikea, Tesco, The Square Town Centre, and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre to name just a few, that if you connect with your shopper, entertain them with fun, fashion and engaging experiences, they will come back for more.”

With busy times on the horizon, ShelfLife caught up with directors Ger Walsh and Graham Carroll to learn more about the business.

Q: What is it specifically about your events that makes them stand out within the events and marketing space?

A: The Blink Group has a unique approach to events. Once we understand the short-term and long-term objectives of our client, we focus entirely on understanding what will deliver an emotional response amongst the specific target audience. This is developed in part through consumer psychology and, in a large part by our own experiences over years. We focus on delivering a highly creative response that will have impact and will really hit our client’s objectives on the nail.

A great example of this is our recent work with a shopping centre in Dublin. In doing a site recce, we were able to build a profile of the shopper We noticed there were a lot of young mothers, so we created an entertainment piece (toddler group) and a rewards scheme for shoppers. It proved incredibly successful and resulted in increased footfall and spend. Another example

during Covid, was that we worked with Aldi to offer a number of free Santa Online experiences for their shoppers it was a feel-good offer at the end of a challenging year and was much appreciated by the families that won the experience.

Q: To what extent have you succeeded in driving footfall within retail stores/centres?

A: The Blink Group handles the marketing requirements of numerous centres across the island of Ireland. Our long engagement with the management of centres large and small, has given us great insight into what really works to drive footfall. There is no one answer to developing a footfall generator for shopping centres. The key factors involve having an understanding of the “mood of the people” as well as clearly understanding the prevailing state of household economics. For example, our Shop, Spin and Win promotion is one of The Blink Group’s most successful retail promotions in years. This promotion has generated huge footfall and spend for leading shopping centres across the island of Ireland and delivers measurable increases in footfall and spend for every participating retailer

Q: What were your key goals for growth and brand awareness in 2022 and to what extent have you reached these? What are your further goals for 2023?

A: At this stage of 2022, we are driving hard to fulfil the needs of our customers in the vital

last quarter. The business is back in aggressive growth mode post-pandemic, and we are working night and day to fulfil the needs of our retail customers at this critical time. We know that 2023 is going to present us with a unique set of challenges, driven by higher interest rates, the energy crisis and a significant threat to consumer confidence. However, we are well positioned for growth, with an amazing team and a solid track record of delivering footfall to retail customers, even in challenging economic times.

Q: With business costs on the rise, can you provide a value for money offering for retailers? How have you demonstrated your ability to deliver a return on investment?

A: For many marketing companies, this is the difficult question. However, we understand that our activities, particularly in times of economic stress, must deliver value for money. At times like these, retail promotions and activities tend to be very tactical in nature. Our customers measure the value we deliver by two key metrics: footfall and money in the till. Many marketing companies shy away from such measurement. We welcome it because we know that we can and do deliver great promotions that are focused on results.

For more information, visit www.tbg.ie and email hello@tbg.ie

Directors Ger Walsh and Graham Carroll

A full-service marketing and event agency, The Blink Group prides itself on creating and activating retail experiences which deliver in-store magic. This approach is paying off with turnover across the group standing at €2.1m, with the aim of hitting €4.5m within the next three years

Reactions to Budget 2023 from the retail sector

From energy supports to a 50c increase on cigarettes and zero-VAT rated newspapers, we take a look at how Budget 2023 will affect the retail sector in the months and year ahead

There was a lot riding on Budget ‘23 so it is easy to see why the government made it the biggest giveaway budget in years. Designed to cushion voters against the cost of living crisis, Budget 2023 saw €4.1 billion in one-off measures turbocharge a €6.9 billion ordinary package alongside €300 million from the Covid reserve fund.

Significant news for retailers included the announcement of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme and that cigarettes have gone up by 50c per pack, raising €54 million in taxes.

Alison McHugh, partner, Tax and head of Private Client Services, EY Ireland said there are limits to the scheme

“The scheme will only apply to those businesses that are tax compliant and who are experiencing a 50% or greater increase in the average unit price of electricity in 2022 compared to 2021 prices,” McHugh said.

“The relief will be calculated based on 40% of the increase but subject to a cap of €10,000 per month. Interestingly the Minister for Finance referred to ‘case I’ trades in his speech which would indicate that those businesses carrying on a profession under ‘case II’ may not be in a position to participate in this scheme, even if they would otherwise meet the criteria with regard to the substantial increase in the cost of electricity per unit. We await further details on this,” she added.

Zero VAT for newspapers

Meanwhile, newspaper sales will be zero rated for VAT, following a recommendation made by the government-appointed Future of Media Commission in its report, which was published in July

The measure is not expected to be passed on to consumers in the form of lower cover prices or subscription charges.

In its pre-budget submission, Newsbrands Ireland had called VAT on newspapers a “tax on information, learning and democracy”. The existing 9% rate on print newspapers and digital subscriptions is one of the highest in

Europe, with 22 European states having lower or zero rates.

David McNamara, director Economic Advisory Services, EY Ireland, described Budget 2023 as “one of the most substantial interventions announced by the government outside of the Covid-19 period”.

“Today’s budget is about the here and now by supporting households and businesses through what could be a very volatile period ahead. It is therefore vital that these once-off supports will be rolled out immediately in many cases, including the new Business

Energy Support Scheme

“However, we also need to be cognisant of the current significant global growth risks, and in that context, it is also welcome that the government outlined its plan to transfer some of the excess corporate tax revenues to the National Reserve Fund. As we move into a new era of higher interest rates, prudence must be the watchword in the coming years, which will enable us to sustainably meet the long-term challenges and opportunities facing the Irish economy and society.”

The Budget’s once-off and permanent or longer-lasting measures are outlined below:

Once-off measures

• Excise reductions on petrol (21 cent per litre), diesel (16 cent) and marked gas oil (5.4 cent), and the VAT rate on electricity and gas have been extended until the end of February This will cost €163 million.

• The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme will pay up to €10,000 a month to businesses to cover up to 40% of the increase in their bills. It will compare the average unit price for electricity between 2022 and 2021. If it is more than 50%, the threshold will be passed. It will need approval from the EU commission.

• A lump sum of €400 will be paid to fuel allowance recipients before Christmas, costing €149 million.

Patrons

Fianna Fail Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath and Fine Gael Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe outside Government Buildings before presenting Budget 2023 to Cabinet

Permanent/multiyear measures

• Income tax package of €1.1 billion. The standard rate cut-off point has been set at €40,000 Tax credits for personal employees and earned income credit will increase by €75. The home carer tax credit will increase by €100 These changes will cost €1.2 billion in a full year

• The second USC rate ceiling will increase by €1,625 to account for the rise in the minimum wage, costing €77 million in a full year

• As legislated for, the carbon tax will increase by €7.50 per tonne to €48.50 from 12 October This will increase petrol and diesel costs by 2c per litre. This will, however, be offset by a reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency levy of 2c per litre basically cancelling out any impact at the pump The carbon tax increases will raise €151 million in a full year

• Employers can give up to €1,000 in a tax free payment in voucher form to workers, up from €500, costing €2 million.

• From 1 January, the qualifying income threshold for the fuel allowance will increase to €200 from €120 above the relevant rate of the State Pension, and €500 or €1,000 (couples) for the over 70s.

• €337 million in capital funding for energy efficiency.

• 4,800 additional apprenticeship places, 11,000 upskilling and reskilling opportunities and 2,000 Skillnet places.

Other

• The 9% VAT rate for hospitality is not being extended, and will end at the end of February

• Newspaper sales will be zero rated for VAT, as will some period products, defibrillators and nicotine replacement products. The cost of the newspaper VAT measure is €39 million in a full year

• Cigarettes are going up by 50c, raising €54 million.

How retail groups have received Budget measures

Retail Ireland, the Ibec group, has welcomed measures in Budget 2023 to offset spiralling energy costs and bolster household finances as we enter the crucial Christmas trading period. The group however cautioned that more supports would be needed if the energy crisis continues into 2023.

“The new energy support scheme will offset the worst excesses of recent price hikes, but more help will be needed into next year Without ongoing support the energy crisis will push many vulnerable retail businesses to the wall,” said Retail Ireland director Arnold Dillon.

“Reducing personal tax and childcare costs will help those struggling with bills and support consumer spending in the run up to Christmas. It is crucial that people see a way through the current period of high inflation. Budget 2023 provides important relief for individual and households budgets and will hopefully support a recovery in consumer sentiment.”

He said it was disappointing to see the reduced VAT rate for hospitality withdrawn.

“The measure contributed to the development

of vibrant town and city centres. Planned labour market reforms, which will significantly increase employment costs, remain a concern.

It is crucial that businesses are provided with more support as they work to manage and implement these far-reaching and costly reforms.”

“Crime and anti-social behaviour remain a major challenge in town and city centres,” Dillon added. “Funding for extra Gardai is welcome and should be used to ensure a more visible presence on the streets.”

Food Drink Ireland (FDI), the Ibec group representing the food and drink sector, has also welcomed the energy supports announced in Budget 2023 as a step in the right direction but called for larger supports over a longer time period.

FDI director Paul Kelly said: “Energy supports are now central to the sustainability of many food and drink businesses as they will determine their ability to remain competitive in export markets like Great Britain where they also face the headwinds of a weakened sterling exchange rate.”

FDI also called for the energy supports for businesses to match those in other key EU export markets so that food and drink businesses can maintain their valuable market positions.

Following intense lobbying by RGDATA and many of its members, the group was pleased to see the introduction of the Temporary Support Scheme to assist businesses with energy cost increases. “RGDATA has lobbied hard to make sure that independent food retailers were supported in this budget we will shortly re-survey our members to find out how the Budget is impacting them and if the government has made the right decisions,” said RGDATA director general, Tara Buckley.

The CSNA, which also engaged in intense pre Budget lobbying on the issue of energy supports, has also agreed that the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme is a welcome addition so that businesses will receive assistance in these difficult times.

The CSNA said it will provide observations to Revenue as was the case for the previous support schemes, leading to over 10 different amended versions to the original scheme ■

Fianna Fail Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien at a press briefing in Government Buildings after the announcement of Budget 2023

Government scrapped VAT on newspapers in Budget 2023: Pictured are the front pages of newspapers at the stand on O’Connell Street on Budget Day morning

Spot the difference

Your eyes are not deceiving you. You are just being confused by a copycat product!

Fionnuala Carolan looks at the phenomenon of copycat products and why this practice often goes unchallenged

How many times have you walked around the discounters and had to do a double take at a product, thinking that a well-known brand must now be sold there (as indeed, more brands currently are), only to realise that it’s just a copy of that brand? It’s happening more and more and seems to have become quite an acceptable practice across the industry but are there any legal implications when you copy an established brand?

Just a few weeks ago, Lidl was ordered to destroy its chocolate bunnies by a Swiss court after Lindt and Sprüngli won a legal victory when the court ruled that it deserves protection for its recognisable and muchloved chocolate bunny. The federal court in Switzerland ordered Lidl to stop selling its version of the chocolate bunny and to destroy all its remaining stock. Explaining its decision, the court said that the Lindt and Lidl rabbits were likely to be confused by consumers, even though there were some differences between them.

In another victory for the famous Lindt bunny back in 2000, the chocolatier applied for a trademark on the three-dimensional shape of its bunny which was granted the following year This came after a legal battle between Lindt and Austrian rival chocolate maker Hauswirth, which also made goldwrapped chocolate rabbits. Hauswirth was later ordered by a Vienna court to stop producing its bunnies.

M&S has three trademarks relating to its famous Colin the Caterpillar cake, including the words “Colin the Caterpillar” and the packaging. Last month the British retailer reached a deal with Aldi after it took legal action to protect its bestselling cake against Aldi’s Cuthbert, chocolate sponge roll. Details of the deal have not been revealed, but it is understood that Cuthbert’s appearance may be changed. Marks & Spencer said: “The objective of the claim was to protect the [intellectual property] in our Colin the Caterpillar cake and we are very pleased with the outcome.”

However an Aldi spokesperson has

A selection of branded products and similar items available at Lidl. According to the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, supermarkets often get around mimicry by choosing a different brand or product name, while still hinting at the branded version of the product with certain packaging ‘cues’

indicated that Cuthbert will be back saying: “Cuthbert is free and looking forward to seeing all his fans again very soon!”

We’ll have to wait to see how they navigate this one

Products that go unchallenged

Both the Lindt bunny and Colin the Caterpillar are two very well-recognised brands and it is not surprising that their owners are trying to protect them but there are so many other products we see every day that seem to go unchallenged. For example it’s hard to spot the difference between Aldi’s hazelnut spread Nutoka and the original Nutella. Also Lidl’s Snaktastic crisps are shaped just like the Pringles tube and Aldi’s Seal bars seem to differ from Penguin bars mostly in name

Even beauty products are being duped. For example Aldi’s No 1-5 candles are a dead ringer for the Jo Malone ones, Essence from Lidl is similar to Light Blue perfume from Dolce & Gabbana and Aldi’s face cream Lacura is a fraction of the cost of high-end brand Sisley but some find it hard to tell apart.

Active monitoring

According to Anne-Marie Bohan, partner and

head of Technology & Innovation at law firm Matheson, most large brands actively monitor for copycat branding, and do frequently take action where the copycat brand is impacting their own brand and earnings, through diversion of business and therefore earnings to the copycat, but also where there is a disparity of quality which could indirectly damage a luxury brand.

“The steps taken by the big brands do not necessarily lead to court proceedings some may be managed through prelitigation correspondence, others through trade mark opposition or revocation proceedings. Those approaches often lead to an agreed resolution. So there is more activity in protecting against copycat brands than would necessarily be public knowledge,” says Bohan.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved commercially taking court action to enforce trademark and IP rights is the ultimate recourse for a brand, she says “There are numerous factors which go into a decision to take legal action, including whether the action is based on infringement of a registered trademark, or “passing off”. A claim for “passing off” requires the brand owner to show, among other things, that

the copycat brand is capitalising on the goodwill of consumers toward the original brand, and that they would be confused into thinking that there is some kind of link between the two. This can be a harder standard to meet than the standard in registered trademark cases, may not be an available action in all countries, and is the hurdle on which established international

brands like Moroccanoil have stumbled in recent years.”

Bohan says that for bigger brands, any decision to initiate formal proceedings will generally be part of a wider brand protection strategy “For all brands the owner needs to take into account the value of the brand, its key markets, the impact which the copycat is having, the available

The market research expert’s view

Tara Moran, senior research executive at Spark Emotions Limited, a global market research agency, based in the UK with a team of experts in consumer and shopper psychology spoke to ShelfLife about the practice of copycat branding in grocery retailing

Q: Why do the discounters continually copy the well-known brands?

A: Well-known brands have already done the difficult task of gaining popularity and trust from consumers which can be expensive and takes time When discounters adopt the well-known brand’s distinctive assets for their own label lines by making only minor adaptations, they are sidestepping the hard work and cost of building a brand’s reputation, and instead are reaping the benefits of one already established and recognised by shoppers.

By then sticking a lower price tag on the product, they encourage shoppers to trial, as shoppers will automatically associate the own-label brand with the performance and reputation of its wellestablished counterpart, making the switch to own label appear less of a jump for shoppers, and a risk worth taking for the more attractive price point.

Q: Why do the brands not challenge this behaviour more often?

A: Discounter brands are really clever about being on the right side of the fine line that separates coincidental similarities from trademark infringement. Previous brands have taken legal action against some discounters, but ultimately, if it is deemed that a consumer could not mistake the copycat for the real thing then the court will rule in the discounter’s favour This costly process often isn’t worth it for brands, so they

are cautious of taking legal action.

Q: Do you think it’s confusing for consumers when own brand products emulate a wellknown brand? Is the quality the same?

A: Our brains take in and analyse enormous amounts of information every day, so we often use mental short cuts (also known as heuristics) to make that analysis easier and faster Our brains switch to a more instinctive, faster mode of processing that is similar to being in autopilot (known as system 1 processing). When we go to buy our well-known product, we don’t need to inspect it fully as we know we just need to look out for its distinctive assets such as its logo or signature colour or bottle shape etc. If a discounter places a copycat product in a place where a shopper would expect to find their branded product, it could lead to confusion. However, while most copycats share key distinctive assets, there are usually still enough cues on the product for consumers to identity that it’s a copycat. That initial confusion while still in system 1 processing mode would soon fade after the shopper switches to a more considered, slower processing mode (system 2).

Q: Do you know if there are any guidelines on what is acceptable when launching a new product in terms of its likeness to an established brand?

A: Intellectual property partner Jeremy Hertzog, of law firm Mishcon de Reya, says: “Brands are cautious about taking legal action in situations like this. The brand would need to prove that the copycat product is deliberately out to

legal actions and remedies, the costs and timing of proceedings, and whether and how strongly any overtures to the copycat to resolve the issue commercially have been rebuffed. All of the relevant factors, including the risk of losing in court, will play into any decision around how, when and what action to take to protect a brand,” she

confuse the buyer into believing that the similar-looking product is actually connected economically to the original in some way.”

Since there is an awareness amongst consumers around the approach and offerings of discounter supermarkets, this is rarely incited. Similarly, as discussed by the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA), supermarkets often get around their mimicry by choosing a different brand or product name, while still hinting at the branded version of the product with certain packaging ‘cues’. This underpins their marketing strategy of taking inspiration from leading brands while still (mostly) falling on the right side of the law.

Q: Aside from the Lindt bunny and the M&S Colin the Caterpillar case, do you know of any other cases where a brand took legal action against a product they deemed had copied them?

A: When Aldi launched in Sydney in 2001, legal action was taken by US snack food giant Frito-Lay who sued Aldi over its ‘Twisties’ copycat, ‘Cheezy Twists’. Although the court found Aldi’s copycat product deliberately targeted the same target market of Twisties, they concluded that it did not infringe trademark laws because the name of Aldi’s ‘Cheezy Twists’ was not ‘deceptively similar’ to Frito-Lay’s brand, therefore consumers were unlikely to confuse the two. ■

Tara Moran, senior research executive at Spark Emotions Limited

The best way to achieve collaboration while operating under a hybrid working model is to discuss strategies and techniques to further boost connectiveness across the team, writes The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy

Making hybrid working work for your business

Post-pandemic, hybrid working is here to stay for many employees who have found greater flexibility allows them to thrive. With that in mind, The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy outlines how to overcome the challenges and achieve greater productivity

How can an organisation effectively manage hybrid/ blended working?

Essentially, the term hybrid working refers to the arrangement between an employer and an employee, where the employee works, interchangeably, at home and in the office.

Hybrid/blended working is defined as a flexible working model where employees can spend a certain amount of their time working remotely and a certain amount of time in their place of work. Blended working can be managed together with other forms of flexible working such as flexitime, compressed hours or job sharing. It can deliver the benefits of work-life balance whilst still allowing social and collaborative advantages of working together with colleagues in the workplace. Every company can develop a blended working model based on their needs and the needs of their employees.

introducing a policy

It is important that employers introduce a ‘Blended Working Policy’ that is relevant to their company and their values. A hybridworking policy should aim to ensure fairness, collaboration, and productivity as workers move freely back and forth between the office and their desired remote environments. A successful policy will provide the basic outline of the expectations of each role and how it will function. It will also ensure the policy is a cultural fit for the company.

It is likewise important that employers carry out health and safety assessments. These assessments help ensure that employees working from home can carry out their work in a safe environment. It is also important that employers ensure their employees working at home are receiving adequate rest breaks in line with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

the right to disconnect

CONTACT THE HR SUITE:

If you are an organisation based in the Republic of Ireland and require further information or advice relating to HR, please do not hesitate to contact The HR Suite’s office on (066) 7102887.

Employers also have the responsibility to emphasise and encourage the importance of the ‘right to disconnect’. This allows employees to not be disciplined for failing to attend to work matters outside of their normal work hours and requires that all employees respect one another’s right to disconnect e.g., not regularly calling or emailing outside of work hours.

What works well? Clear lines of communication are vital for a hybrid working model to succeed. It is important that managers mix the communication mediums in a blended work environment. There are many ways of improving communication in this environment such as scheduling a weekly task meeting with all employees together and a

weekly task meeting with each employee individually, to review and assess employees’ progress on tasks. Another way to improve communication is to use shared calendars; these calendars outline when people are in the office, provide clarity to the team and can also help with social interaction.

achieving collaboration

Collaboration in a hybrid working environment is important to have but can be difficult to achieve. The best way to achieve collaboration is to discuss strategies and techniques to further boost connectiveness across the team. A great way to promote collaboration within a blended working team is to introduce brainstorming sessions, to implement trust building exercises, to embrace a diverse team, to respect one another and to clearly establish everyone’s role and responsibility within the team.

Planning for the future in a hybrid working environment can also be challenging. Doing the most important tasks first, planning for readjustment, anticipating issues and leaving free time on your schedule is the best way to deal with any problems that might arise in a blended working environment. advantages and disadvantages

There are many advantages to having a hybrid/blended working model in an organisation such as happy and engaged employees, improved company culture, more efficient workplaces and lower operational costs. There are also disadvantages too, including that it’s harder to collaborate with remote employees. There can also be faster employee burnout, difficulty keeping up with hybrid schedules, and it’s not suitable for all industries.

However, having a key awareness of these points will help employers assess the needs of both the company and their employees which will enhance collaboration in achieving the best possible outcome for both.

Creativity thrives

A Harvard Business School study this year found that employee outputs and creativity thrive in hybrid working environment. It discovered that the hybrid group performed better, and got better ratings from managers, than those who were primarily at home or mainly in the office.

The paper’s findings were based on an experiment in the summer of 2020 where 130 administrative workers were randomly assigned to one of three groups over nine weeks. Some spent less than 25% of their workdays in the office, some were in more than 40% of the time, while a third “intermediate” cohort landed in the middle, translating to a day or two per week.

According to the study, just one or two days in the office is the ideal setup for hybrid work, as this provides workers with the flexibility they crave, without the isolation of going fully remote.

NAME HAS CHANGED,

QUALITY PRODUCTS

THE SAME.

Symbol solutions!

Ireland has one of the most highly developed convenience sectors anywhere in the world, with thoroughly impressive standards and innovative in-store concepts. Here we speak to the leading players to help you choose the right brand for you

Centra

FACTFILE:

Number of stores nationwide: 485+

Typical store size: Format specific; High-C 2,000sq ft, Convenience 4,000sq ft, Neighbourhood 7,000sq ft

Head office: Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, Tramore Road, Cork

Wholesale partner: Musgrave Retail Partners

Type of distribution network: National Website: www.centra.ie

Social media: https://twitter.com/CentraIRL https://www.instagram.com/centra_irl/ Tagline: Live Every Day

Q&A with… Cormac Dawson, Centra sales director

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: Firstly, we have to commend and thank our retailers for their efforts and commitment in making Centra a world-class convenience brand.

Musgrave’s purpose is growing good business, which means working with all retail partners to create sustainable profitable businesses that benefit staff, local communities, and the wider economy.

We worked with our retailers during the global pandemic which impacted every Centra store differently Our retailers were fantastic throughout this period in the way they looked after their local communities. After little time to regroup post Covid-19, we are now facing into another period of uncertainty with the energy crisis and cost of living concerns evident across the economy.

We are confident that our partnership approach will guide us through this challenge We recently met with all our retailers face to face to outline how we can reduce our energy consumption and upweight our value offering to our customers. Over the coming weeks we will provide every retailer with a store specific action plan to reduce their energy consumption

by up to 30%; we are confident this approach, designed to mitigate immediate cost inflation, will reap rewards for the long term.

Centra is also focused on leading the way with in-store technology to help manage the cost base; including electronic shelf labels, self-checkouts and a cost effective in-store IT programme

At the same time, we are offering a combination of great value and top-quality products for our customers whilst driving profitable sales for our retailers and supporting local producers.

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: We launched our freshly prepared meals in September 2021 prepared with the freshest ingredients to provide choice, quality and convenience to our customers.

As well as dinner options, we provide consumers with healthy choices for breakfast and lunch including snackable fruit pots, our award-winning Inspired by rotisserie chicken and freshly made salad ‘on the go’ offerings.

In terms of our store design, Centra stores are renowned for their very high-quality standards.

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: We have significantly increased our own brand alternatives this year with new products added to baby, bakery, biscuit, sauces, and ice-cream ranges. Centra currently has over 2,000 own brand products across 50% packaged, 50% fresh items. Customers can make up to a 30% saving by switching to own brand products.

A lot of work has been done to make value easy to find and standout for customers

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: Centra’s programme is extensive, between the material we create centrally and the marketing generated by our retailers locally for their stores.

Earlier this year we aired a brand campaign, ‘Choices’ which reinforced our core belief which is to Live Every Day as well as our commitment to local communities. Specifically, through our marketing communications, both above and below the line, nationally and locally, we highlight the many benefits of shopping at Centra including convenience, value, award-winning own brand ranges, Frank and Honest coffee, a standout off-licence and an amazing deli offering.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: Centra is one of the largest supporters of Irish produce in the industry, sourcing products from over 1,000 Irish suppliers. According to a recent economic impact report by leading economist Jim Power, the financial contribution of Centra stores to Ireland’s economy is valued at an estimated €646.7 million.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: Our primary goal is supporting both our retail partners and their customers through the current inflationary issues.

Aside from this we will be adding 18 new stores through a mixture of new builds and acquisition. Our trajectory is upwards, and we will be close to 500 stores by year end.

Together with our retail partners, Centra is relentless in the pursuit of offering the best quality, price and food & beverage experience and is proud to be a world-class convenience retailer

in-store and through online advertising.

Cormac Dawson

Centra is relentless in the pursuit of offering the best quality, price and food & beverage experience and is proud to be a world-class convenience retailer,” says Cormac Dawson

Centra is Ireland’s leading convenience retail group, with over 485 bright, accessible stores throughout the country

The Centra brand is owned by Musgrave, Ireland’s leading food retail and wholesale company Musgrave is 145 year-old family-run business, with strong values and a commitment to supporting vibrant communities.

The Centra franchise model offers independent retailers the opportunity to own their own business with the support and knowledge of dedicated, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, IT and Store Design Teams. Stores are independently owned and operated by local people who are rooted in their communities. Centra retailers benefit from the buying power of being part of Ireland’s leading wholesaler group.

GROWING YOUR PROFIT

BRAND STRENGTH

WORLD CLASS INNOVATION

PASSIONATE PEOPLE

Daybreak

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Daybreak

Number of stores nationwide: 290

Typical store size: 1,500 2,000 sq ft

Head office: Musgrave, St Margaret’s Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11

Type of distribution network: Central distribution and access to seven Musgrave MarketPlace branches. Website: www.daybreakireland.ie

Social Media: @DaybreakIreland (Facebook and Instagram) Tagline: ‘Real Fresh, Real Fast’

Q. Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: We pride ourselves on our excellent relationships with Daybreak retailers and on providing an attentive and personalised service to suit their individual business needs. Each Daybreak store has an experienced business development manager (BDM) who works collaboratively with them to create custom business plans and provide hands-on practical support, helping them to grow their sales, cut their costs and increase their overall profitability

We are very responsive to the challenges retailers are currently facing, with the key issues including the energy crisis, wider inflationary pressures, and staff recruitment difficulties. Right now, these are three areas where we are especially focused on providing retailer support.

Q. How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: We focus strongly on customer insights and we introduced a new store design and brand identity a few years ago which dialled up our focus around food-to-go This included introducing three new Daybreak exclusive brands: 9 Grams (coffee), Munch & Co (deli), and Lickety Split (ice cream).

We also work with partner companies such as AIL, where appropriate for specific sites, to introduce concessions like Abrakebabra that broaden the appeal of a store.

Off-licence is another big focus for us. Right now, we are encouraging many retailers to introduce a full off-licence to their store, or increase the space devoted to alcohol where they already have an offlicence.

Q. As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: By partnering with Ireland’s largest retail and foodservice wholesaler, Daybreak retailers benefit from the Musgrave Group’s buying power. The current Musgrave MarketPlace ‘Price Cuts’ campaign is ensuring that customers enjoy unbeatable value on the key lines important to their business. In terms of promotions, we have an extensive range of offers that are refreshed every four weeks, plus regular deep-cut Wow deals.

Q. How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: Daybreak has a comprehensive brand communications programme that helps drive retailer sales. This includes a strong focus on advertising value for money. We have 13 promotional cycles per year, supported with separate flyers tailored to Hi-C and Convenience formats and a comprehensive POS pack, plus shorter-term consumer offers at key periods. Keeping a store’s offer interesting to consumers is key to driving repeat visits, which is why we also run regular seasonal NPD activity, again supported with effective POS material.

We place a strong emphasis on digital marketing, including display advertising and social media. An example of this was our recent ‘Daybreak the Code’ Halloween campaign which won Social Media Campaign of the Year at the Digital Business Ireland Awards.

Our strong seasonal focus also includes radio advertising at key periods. In addition, the Daybreak marketing team works closely with retailers to create local marketing plans tailored to each store’s individual needs.

Q. How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: Supporting local Irish suppliers is at the very core of Musgrave. In Musgrave MarketPlace we work with 680 Irish suppliers and stock over 3,500 Irish products. We are also proud to say that 100% of our fresh beef and lamb is Irish.

Q. How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: Our brand has been growing at an exceptional pace in 2022 and we expect this to continue over the next 12 months. To date this year, we have opened 10 new stores, plus we’re delighted to say an additional 21 Top Oil sites have recently joined the Daybreak brand. We have also been rolling out our store of the future brand identity at pace to existing stores, with 14 revamps this year alone A key focus for us over the next 12 months is to extend our new brand offer to existing retailers.

Another key focus will be to support Daybreak retailers to manage their costs, continue to trade profitably, and help them get through the challenging trading period ahead.

Q&A with… Thomas Morrison, head of Retail & Musgrave MarketPlace

Thomas Morrison Daybreak has been growing at an exceptional pace in 2022 and the brand expects this to continue over the next 12 months

Seriously

We listened to what our customers want and designed a completely new shopping experience.

This is about surprising and delighting shoppers with a fresher, healthier, more innovative offer. It’s also about bringing independent retailers a dynamic, cost effective retail offer, that delivers above average returns.

Succulent rotisserie-

Costcutter

Q&A with… Edwina Lucey, Barry Group sales director

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: The support service that Costcutter retailers are provided with is quite comprehensive, and this is something we pride ourselves on. Firstly, each of our customers is visited by their account manager on a three-weekly cycle During this visit, our account manager reviews all aspects of running a retail store in a partnership mindset which assists the retailer to enhance their local offering.

Our team of fresh food advisors also have a regular call schedule, offering training and support across all elements of deli and hot food to ensure that the deli offering remains best-in-class. Outside of these call schedules, we also offer training and support through our regular Cluster sessions where members of our accomplished team train our retailers on best-in-class business practice. In the next year we will also be launching our Retailer Excellence Academy which will build on this platform.

for us since their introduction and are continually expanding and adapting. At present, we have Urban Sips coffee, Market St Deli and Freezi Licks. In the coming months, we are adding in a pizza offering to optimise the deli space for the evening trade and have more great additions being launched in the new year Additionally, we are working on range extensions for our existing concepts to offer more reasons for customers to shop at Costcutter

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: We are aware of how difficult it is for consumers and retailers alike with the rising costs of living and doing business. Both are feeling the pinch from rising costs of not only food but also commodities like electricity which have fallen victim to extreme price hikes. Firstly, we have enhanced our promotional campaigns. From a value for money perspective for consumers, we have identified a range of products consisting of both secondary brands and private label products with savings of up to 30% compared to leading brands which will be marketed as our ‘price fighter range’. Additionally, with the price of fuel and electricity rising to unforeseen levels, we have a focus on our range of winter essentials which will offer value for products including solid fuels.

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Costcutter

Head office: Barry Group, Upper Quartertown, Mallow, Cork

Type of distribution network:

Central distribution (chilled, ambient & alcohol) from 150,000sq ft central warehouse in Mallow, Cork Website: www.costcutter.ie

Social media:

Facebook: @CostcutterIreland

Instagram: @Costcutterire

Tagline: ‘Proud to be Local’

produce is delivered to our stores daily through two different methods. Firstly, for established Irish brands, we stock them in our national distribution centre from where we deliver to our Costcutter stores three times a week. However, we are conscious that there are many smaller Irish suppliers that deserve shelf space and we work with them on a different model where they deliver straight to our customers’ doors. It is great to be able to spotlight these businesses, big and small, and see them performing.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: The Costcutter store image and offering have been constantly evolving over the past six years and will continue to do so for the year ahead. Our store design offers an economical and long-term affordable option for retailers who are looking to appeal to the modern consumer Our key focus here is on customer experience and ensuring that anyone who walks through the doors of a Costcutter nationwide, has an immersive and memorable experience that they will continually return to

Speaking specifically on our range of in-store concepts, these have delivered well

A: We make a considerable investment into our brand marketing programme, one which is growing year on year as our retail footprint expands. From a sales activation perspective, we have a three weekly promotional cycle which is accompanied by POS at store level and both local and national marketing initiatives. While this is important, we also have a keen focus on brand building campaigns and in the past year have partnered with Movember as our charity partner and are the primary sponsor of Triathlon Ireland’s Youth Series. Supporting local communities is in our DNA and we are delighted to be involved with both of these organisations. We have also had successful partnerships with influencers including chef Daniel Lambert who has featured on Ireland AM, making delicious meals using ingredients that are available in our retail outlets nationwide From a local perspective, our retailers also activate campaigns which tie into what we are executing at a national level.

For us, our brand messaging is quite simple because it is genuine As previously stated, supporting local communities is in our DNA and this resonates with our customers deeply We always stay true to our roots and our retailers live the brand ethos incredibly well.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: Supporting Irish is key for any business today. Historically, we have always been flying this flag and it is great to see this now being recognised as an industry standard. Irish

A: While our focus for 2022 was redefining the baseline of the business after the past two years which was landmarked by Covid and Brexit, for 2023, we are energised by the opportunities that lie ahead. From a recruitment perspective our aim is to grow the group’s footprint by excess of 10%. We have a strong pipeline of stores that will open over the coming months in our strategic growth locations. We will also be making key additions to our store offering through the introduction of new concepts to our portfolio for retailers to avail of Lastly, we will be utilising digital to further enhance our customer experience and look forward to being able to share more on this in the coming months.

On an overall basis, we expect to grow the Costcutter brand by double digit growth for 2023 via 2022 and look forward to the future trajectory of the brand.

A recent store opening in Costcutter Grenagh as the retail group expands its national footprint

Costcutter’s immersive store spec offers a fresh new identity to the Irish convenience trade

Edwina Lucy

Gala Retail

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Gala Retail

Number of stores nationwide: 250 in Gala Group Gala and Your Stop stores

Typical store size: 1,750sq ft

Head office: Gala Retail, Summit House, Embassy Office Park, Kill, Co Kildare

Wholesale partner: Gala wholesaler members

Type of distribution network:

Ambient depots, central billing, chilled distribution

Website: www.gala.ie

Social media: Facebook.com/Gala Retail, @Gala_Retail on Twitter

@Gala_Retail on Instagram

Gala Retail Services on LinkedIn

Q&A with… Gary Desmond, CEO, Gala Retail

Gala Retail is continuing to build on the success of the Gala brand through the development of new products and concepts

the ability to adapt store layouts and create a bespoke offering has been instrumental in creating a space that showcases what our retailers have to offer

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: At Gala, ensuring that our retailers are supported is key to the success of our stores and the Gala Group as a whole The team at Gala HQ and our network of retail operations executives have a wealth of experience in the Irish convenience-retailing sector, providing support, advice and assistance to retailers for every facet of their business. Each Gala store has the support of a dedicated retail operations executive who along with the team at Gala HQ and the Fresh Food team, support retailers with everything from delivering team training, establishing store layouts to maximise sales, the activation of marketing and promotional initiatives and the implementation of fresh food concepts in-store In addition to this, the Gala GROW network (an online resource for retailers) and our weekly internal newsletter to retailers provide regular updates of key information for our retailers on everything from upcoming offers and promotions, marketing support and industry and group news and developments.

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: The latest Gala branding is what modern convenience retailing is all about and provides a positive shopper experience with a vibrant and contemporary colour palette and innovative store layout options that cater to the differing requirements of customers of each Gala store. Gala Retail stores are tailored to the communities in which they operate and

As the convenience retail sector has evolved, with fresh food offerings emerging as a key driver for consumers, food to go options have proven to be huge factor in driving footfall and increasing basket spend over the past few years and Gala has responded by making fresh food innovation a key area of focus.

Gala’s Coffee Junction and Baker’s Corner offerings are a cornerstone of Gala stores, and the addition of the ‘New Street Deli’, ‘Distill’ and ‘Galato’ offerings in recent years has proven to be beneficial for retailers in driving sales and footfall. We continue to build on this success through the development of new products and concepts that enhance the Gala offering.

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: The cost-of-living crisis is a major concern for retailers and consumers alike.

We understand that our retailers are facing rising costs within their businesses, and this puts pressure on retailers to absorb these costs and avoid passing them on to shoppers. With inflation hitting 11% in the latest reports, we are working with our network of wholesalers and suppliers to ensure we are competitive and as streamlined as possible, not just for our customers but for our retailers through affinity group deals.

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: At Gala, we have a year-round marketing plan designed to elevate the Gala brand and reflect our fundamental brand values of community and Irishness. Our brand marketing each year incorporates a number of in-store

promotions designed to reward customers and drive footfall in Gala stores; sponsorships that reinforce Gala’s commitment to communities across Ireland, such as the Gala Inspiration Awards, which recognise individuals who go above and beyond to support and improve their communities and our sponsorship of Starcamp Summer Camps with Gala Retail which take place in over 250 locations across Ireland, as well as our CSR activity with our charity partner of seven years, Special Olympics Ireland.

These activities highlight to consumers that Gala Retail is committed to rewarding the loyalty of our customers and to supporting Irish organisations, on a national and local level, through our sponsorships and brand partnerships. Our brand marketing activities are underpinned with a year-round calendar of social media activity that further promotes our marketing activations, sponsorships and partnerships to consumers online

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: As a leading Irish convenience retail group, supporting local Irish suppliers is of paramount importance to Gala Retail. It has always played a key part of our strategy and has helped us to continue to grow We actively encourage and support our retailers in their commitment to source and stock products from local suppliers, and we encourage Irish producers to reach out to us as a group, so that we can maximise these opportunities for all.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: Our main goal for the next 12 months is for the Gala Group to grow as one working together to expand the footprint of the Gala brand across the country by continuing to offer our retailers innovative concepts, unparalleled support and the tools they need to build a store offering that gives consumers the value, choice and top-quality customer service with which Gala retailers are synonymous.

Gary Desmond

Five reasons to join the Gala Group

Nearby

Name

www.always-nearby.com

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: By joining the Nearby family, our retailers can leverage all the benefits of a symbol brand while maintaining total control of their business. From day one, we will work with them to fully understand what makes their store unique We don’t ask for that long-term contract or marketing fees; what we do is work with the retailer; for the retailer Our Business Development Managers are an award-winning team who have an understanding of all aspects of retail and adopt a hands-on approach to continue to help our retailers. Our Facilitation team always places the retailer first and ensures we provide cost effective fit outs that suits the needs of the store and their customer base

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: Nearby launched only last year and we have already delivered on our promise of opening 100 stores around the country in that timeframe The Nearby brand is a new, modern and eye-catching concept that really lifts the look and feel of each store. Retailers can really see the benefit of the new window graphics and overall design both inside and out with many commenting on the increase in footfall to their store as a direct result. Nearby has also launched our Always Fresh deli concept throughout our stores. This concept focuses on freshness and localness from each store’s deli. The signage is impactful and has a real stand-out message with the graphics flowing across onto fresh salads and sandwiches. The delis all have local suppliers bespoke to their area with seasonal menus and NPD that keep

Launched

consumers coming back. Exclusive to Nearby is the Cuppa Coffee concept. Combining a blend of Central American, Indonesian and African origin beans means the coffee-to-go offers a nutty, smooth taste finished off with a sweet profile on the palate It’s causing quite a stir amongst Irish consumers with over 40 sites now live.

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: Nearby’s parent company S&W Wholesale continues to offer an excellent value proposition for retailers with superb everyday pricing across all the vital categories to households. We also offer competitive promotional pricing, including deep-cut offers and Nearby exclusives. We have recognised the cost-of-living crisis and that households across Ireland are going to feel the squeeze this year so we are going to launch ‘Bring Home The Value’; a value concept offering consumers savings across a wide range of their favourite lines. This should help our shoppers feel more confident in our stores that they are receiving the most competitive pricing. They can literally ‘bring home the value’ from our stores.

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: Our industry award-winning Marketing team are constantly investigating ways to

on its promise of opening 100 stores

reach and engage with new audiences. There has certainly been more of steer towards the digital space with investment from S&W Wholesale to support Nearby retailers at a local level through digital. Opening up new channels and showcasing the latest deals and offers to customers in the comfort of their homes has proved key to this success The Nearby brand very much focuses on local evolving our strapline of never too far from home across all consumer touch points and showcasing the value proposition in stores. The team are very much on trend and are constantly striving for ways to reach new audiences and help our retailers in their marketing efforts.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: S&W Wholesale purchases a full range of chilled, fresh and frozen products; 80% of which are local brands. Our fresh and chilled ranges are ordered on a pick to zero basis which ensures products are delivered to stores fresh and with their maximum shelf life; ensuring the highest taste and quality for our shoppers. With us being able to offer full island of Ireland coverage; we have secured local regional suppliers access to our nationwide customer base

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: Exciting. To think what the Nearby team have achieved in the past year or so has been astronomical. It’s been very positive to be a part of and there have been many proud moments watching it grow from strength to strength! We want to continue evolving Nearby and rolling out the brand across the country It is important to us to continue to strengthen our relationship with our retailers and open up doors to our new ones that join the Nearby family As well as this our parent company is constructing a multi-million purpose-built warehouse that will position us even better to service all our customers across the island of Ireland. There is an exciting 12 months ahead for both S&W Wholesale and Nearby Ireland. Watch this space!

Q&A with… Jason McSteen, Nearby Ireland sales manager

A

Jason McSteen

XL

Q&A with… Paul Bealin, sales director, XL Retail Group

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: XL Retail Group offers our retailers a flexible, market-leading package which enables them to tailor their shop to consumer needs and react quickly to changing market conditions and help grow their business. What helps set XL Retail apart is our true dedication to our retailer base Our team is passionate about retailing and that manifests itself in the service we provide our retailers. They know that one of the team is never more than a phone call away and every member of that team is solution focused. Strategically positioned with 21 Value Centre and cash and carry outlets located around Ireland, every XL retailer is never far from one and has the full support of their branch.

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: Being part of the BWG Foods family means that we are constantly innovating and availing of the supports that come with a larger wholesale partner BWG Foods has a dedicated Food & Beverage Innovation team and under the direction of head of Innovation, Orla Jordan, she and her team are constantly seeking ways to grow and evolve the XL offering, such as Háo Chi Bar, The Local Tea Company, Popsicle, Pazza @ Home and I-Scream, the exclusive ice cream offering on offer for all XL retailers.

FACTFILE:

Name of group: XL Retail Group Sales director: Paul Bealin

Number of stores nationwide: 230+

Typical store size: 110 sq m

Head office: BWG Foods UC, BWG House, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Wholesale partner: Value Centre

Type of distribution network: 21 Value Centre and cash & carry branches nationwide and chilled distribution Website: www.xlstores.ie

Social Media: www.facebook.com/XLIreland/

Tagline: A great deal more at your local store

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: XL retailers are also passionate about providing value to their customers, while not compromising on quality, which is at the forefront of the XL offering. XL Retail Group is just as passionate about delivering for our retailers as well as ensuring they deliver the best value they can for their customers. We hold regular seasonal Trade Show events for all our retailers to avail of exclusive offers and deals from a network of 650+ suppliers.

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: XL has a loyal online community of local advocates whereby we engage with them on Irish focused content, fun facts, helpful everyday life hacks and exclusive consumer competitions. These consumer competitions run up to five times a year both on social and in-store, aiming to celebrate consumer loyalty as well as encourage it. The campaigns will often involve a fun or a local community engagement element and with prizes that

“We see areas like alcohol, deli and coffee sales as key areas where we can thrive,” says XL sales director Paul Bealin, who is “excited about delivering great value, choice, service and exciting consumer promotions to our customers”

often support Irish businesses, which is at the heart of XL’s ethos. XL’s support of Irish Music Month, which is shortlisted for an award was a really timely and extremely positive one, strengthening XL’s ambition to continue to support Irish industries and home-grown talent.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: At its core, XL Retail Group passionately believes in supporting Irish. This manifests itself in how the group does business and, indeed, who we do business with through engagement with suppliers. Sourcing products locally is hugely important as all XL retailers pride themselves in supporting Irish suppliers in every way they can when possible As part of BWG Foods, the XL Retail Group is able to leverage industry-leading expertise, knowledge and insight into what customers want. For example, the emergence of foodservice within our retail estate and our offering enables retailers to provide a diverse and appetising deli menu in environmentally friendly compostable packaging. It is through initiatives such as this that XL Retail Group and our retailers continue to serve customers’ needs.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: We have worked hard over the last number of months and years to grow the XL offering and brand and we have ambitious and, critically, achievable plans for not only consolidating that growth but also enhancing it. We see areas like alcohol, deli and coffee sales as key areas where we can thrive, and I am very excited about delivering great value, choice, service and exciting consumer promotions to our customers.

Paul Bealin

Spar

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Spar

Sales director: Colin Donnelly

Number of stores nationwide: 400+

Typical store size: varies Head office: BWG House, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 Y722

Wholesale partner: BWG Foods

Type of distribution network: BWG National Distribution Centre (NDC) servicing fresh, ambient and alcohol to all Spar stores nationwide Website: www.spar.ie

Social media: Facebook.com/Spar Ireland; Instagram: @spar_ireland; Twitter: @SPARIreland Tagline: ‘Under the Tree at Spar’

Q&A with… Colin Donnelly, Spar sales director

A: We are cognisant of the financial strain amongst many Irish consumers and there is no doubt that value is a key priority for many shoppers. Spar own brand forms an integral part of any Spar retailer’s assortment. Offering a value driven range focusing on providing shoppers with ‘As good as the best for less’ across a variety of products and categories, significantly improves the overall Spar offer and is paramount to our success

marketing programme, Spar holds at its core the positioning that ‘We’re always changing, under the tree at Spar’, and this is evident through the varied marketing campaigns executed throughout each year Spar reaches its wide consumer base through key sports sponsorships as well as its Spar Better Choices healthy lifestyle initiative fronted by Irish football captain Seamus Coleman. More recently, Spar pivoted to resonate with even more consumers through the announcement of a three-year partnership with brand ambassador and Olympic Champion boxer, Kellie Harrington, who fronts the Spar Community Fund which has seen Spar and Kellie award €20,000 since December 2021 to deserving community clubs and groups around the country

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: For Spar it certainly is a partnership with our independent Spar retailers, we work tirelessly to provide consumers with the most innovative award-winning in-store offering and shopping experience they could wish for. The cornerstone of our relationship is two way communication and mutual respect. Our retailers provide an excellent service to their local communities and we support and champion their needs in every way possible

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: As a recognised leader in retail foodservice within the market, Spar is very proud of our rich heritage in food and beverage innovation built up over many years. Through our dedicated Food & Beverage Innovation team, Spar takes great pride in being innovators and trendsetters. This is particularly evident in Spar’s fresh food offering. Spar Deli has consistently been a stand-out offering for customers who are used to purchasing only the finest quality fresh food, either food-to-go or food to buy and consume in-store Spar proved itself a market leader and innovator this year through responding to changing consumer trends via the introduction of many hot and cold counter concepts which are scalable according to store size and local customer demographic.

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

We have also introduced an additional value range called Spar No.1 This new range extends across many categories and strengthens our commitment to support our retailers at a time when value will be more important than ever Through our continuous investment in our promotions, we will work closely with our suppliers to provide the best value possible for our retailers and, in turn, for the consumer

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: For the last six decades, Spar has developed strong relationships with its valued independent retailers, and this ensures the brand has a direct link with the consumer through its network of over 400 independent stores. The strength of these partnerships allows Spar as a brand to stay close to consumers, understanding their needs and wants. As a brand, Spar is positioned to suit all consumers, no matter the time of day, week, month or year This positioning is carried through the brand’s marketing programme that taps into the varied interests and needs of Spar’s wide reaching customer base

Through an extensive and always-on brand

Laterally Spar reaches other corners of its consumer base through four weekly appearances of Spar Carrigstown on RTÉ’s much-loved soap Fair City, while the brand flexes across the generations to engage in quirky activations around chicken fillet rolls and their plant-based counterparts amongst a younger demographic. As the brand gets ready to celebrate its 60th birthday, there will be much evidence of its ‘always changing ethos’ with a big year of celebrations planned ‘under the tree at Spar’.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: Every year, through Spar’s parent company, leading retail and wholesale group BWG Foods, we provide unique platforms to Ireland’s indigenous suppliers and emerging Irish businesses to showcase their goods and offerings to a wide array of retailers.

We have grown our traditional Trade Show (the biggest one-day sale of its kind in Ireland) to more strategic “seasonal” trade show events for our retailers to avail of access to offers from our suppliers. As one of Ireland’s largest wholesale and retail companies, BWG Foods has dedicated relationships with a significant number of Irish suppliers. Our commitment to Irish produce is a key strategic element of our buying and we have a strong track record of supporting Irish suppliers both large and small across the country through BWG’s partnership with independent Spar retailers.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

Spar Deli has consistently been a standout offering for customers who are used to purchasing only the finest quality fresh food

A: To continue to support our Spar retailers and partners is the number one priority for the brand. We all face what will inevitably be very challenging and somewhat uncertain times ahead that are beyond our control. Spar retailers are very resilient and all are entrepreneurs in their own right and this is what has continually been the success of the Spar brand. It will be more important to work strategically together to overcome these challenges together Spar has a special birthday coming in the year ahead and we have very ambitious plans to deliver as part of this.

Spar is always addressing shopper needs through staying up to date with the latest trends

Colin Donnelly

Eurospar

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Eurospar

Number of Stores nationwide: 51

Managing director: Malachy Hanberry

Typical store size: 800-1300sq m Head office: BWG House, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 Y722

Wholesale partner: BWG Foods

Type of distribution network: BWG National Distribution Centre (NDC) servicing fresh, ambient and alcohol to all Eurospars nationwide Website: www.eurospar.ie

Social Media: Facebook: @eurosparireland, Instagram: @eurospar_ireland Tagline: The Supereasy Supermarket

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: Eurospar’s SuperEasy Supermarket estate is built upon the mutual desire to develop true partnerships between brand owner and independent retailer, working together to develop a community-based network of supermarkets that cater to those communities in which Eurosar supermarkets are embedded. The success of the network is underpinned by the shared ambition of a unifying shopper proposition encompassing: Fresh food, great value, exceptional service, unrivalled availability, compelling rewards and enjoyable shopping experiences. Eurospar Ireland places a huge emphasis on retailer relationships and, as a result, guarantees that its retailers get the best individual service, advice and support from every member of the Eurospar Retail Operations Advisors’ team.

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: Through BWG’s Food & Beverage Innovation team, Eurospar is constantly developing new ranges exclusively for Eurospar retailers and their customers. For example, because of this innovative spirit, sales of in-store prepared meal solutions and freshly baked goods across Eurospar stores have jumped significantly in recent years, which has also led to even further expansion of their fresh and chill selling space in stores. Bakery is another area where Eurospar retailers have really grown with scratch bakeries now in 35 Eurospars nationwide with demand for freshly baked breads and confectionery products making us the go-to destination each day of the week.

A: Eurospar supermarkets have always been competitive on price. Our promotional offers remain best in class and our SuperEasy Rewards exclusive member offers add a further dimension to value in Eurospar Eurospar offers a three-week promotional cycle of offers, overlaid with regular week-long tactical activity that is featured heavily across traditional and social media formats. Shoppers are exposed to our offers via handbills, in-store POS, in-store radio, national press and radio as well as national and targeted social media. Our Price Match or Better and Price Check programmes also provide reassurance to shoppers that our pricing across the store is competitive in the supermarket sector

We are also very proud of our unique ‘Famous for Great Value Wines’ commitment, which delivers a vast range of exclusive BWG Foods’ agency wines to suit all pockets, and our unique price-point merchandising structure ensures simplicity in the wine shopping experience.

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: Eurospar’s marketing strategy is based on six pillars designed to cement our position as the Supereasy Supermarket; namely, Freshness, Choice, Value, Rewards, Service and Experience.

The Eurospar marketing programme establishes the brand as the Supereasy Supermarket and communicates this position through:

• Driving value by giving shoppers the best value for money on everyday products and special offers;

• Driving value through the Spar own brand range, which consists of various ranges from the Spar Eco Range to Spar Natural, providing our shoppers an easy and affordable alternative;

• Our SuperEasy Rewards programme enabling shoppers to avail of rewards and

member-only pricing on certain offers as well as offering customers the chance to collect points which can then be used against their shopping;

• Our Famous for Great Value Wines offering and our Famous for Fresh commitment;

• Our Eurospar Supereasy Supermarkets also commit to providing the best possible shopping experience for our customers as well as providing exceptional customer service: what our shoppers need when they need it.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: As one of Ireland’s largest wholesale and retail companies, BWG Foods has dedicated relationships with more than 100 Irish suppliers. Our commitment to Irish produce is a key strategic element of our buying and we have a strong track record of supporting Irish suppliers both large and small across the country through BWG’s partnership with independent Eurospar retailers.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: The next 12 months are very exciting for the Eurospar brand as we will be finalising and launching a refreshed strategy for our retailers, featuring a significant number of new initiatives designed to help grow the brand and further strengthen the position our Eurospar retailers enjoy in the communities they serve.

Q&A with… Malachy Hanberry, managing director, Eurospar

Eurospar retailers have achieved impressive growth within the bakery category, with scratch bakeries now in 35 Eurospars nationwide

Eurospar’s ‘Famous for Great Value Wines’ commitment delivers a vast range of exclusive BWG Foods’ agency wines to suit all pockets

Malachy Hanberry

Symbol Groups

Mace

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Mace

Sales director: Peter Dwan

Number of stores nationwide: 150

Typical store size: 135 sq m

Head office: BWG Foods, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 Y722

Wholesale partner: BWG Foods

Type of distribution network:

BWG National Distribution Centre (NDC) servicing fresh, ambient and alcohol to all Mace stores nationwide Website: www.mace.ie

Social media: https://www.facebook.com/MACEIreland www.youtube.com/MACEIreland www.instagram.com/mace_ireland www.twitter.com/MACEIreland Tagline: Going the extra smile

out-performing the market consistently every year since 2020

Johnny in conversation with then Meath footballer Vikki Wall. Staying healthy has become more of a priority for today’s shopper, particularly since the pandemic. Mace has been supporting communities across Ireland for years now and the Mace Unsung Heroes Community Awards also fronted by Sexton lent to the brand’s popularity throughout 2022 as it gave consumers the opportunity to nominate an unsung hero in their local community, an initiative which particularly resonated with Mace shoppers.

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: Mace is very proud to always have its retailers and their staff at the heart of its mission. Testament to this is the ongoing investment in training and upskilling tools available from the Mace U-Learning Academy. This helps educate new and existing staff on all the relevant policies and procedures when working in a Mace store, ensuring best-in-class customer experience.

To be the longest established convenience retail brand in Ireland is evidence that the Mace team fully understand the need to evolve and adapt to ensure we meet the needs of shoppers and retailers. Backed by the buying power of BWG Foods; Mace retailers have access to an unrivalled range of house brands of foods and hot beverage solutions, an award-winning distribution service and innovative in-store ordering technology

Our Retail Operations Advisory team is complemented by our dedicated Fresh Food and Alcohol teams, who combine to provide our retailers with a best-in-market support system designed to support them and help them maximise profitability, which is backed up by our robust Standards’ Programme covering all elements of the shop

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: We revealed and launched our Mace Strategy in 2020 to great effect and success We based our strategy heavily on the consumer trends of the day and we have been

In terms of retail development, the response of customers to the new Mace store design in locations across Ireland has been very positive and well received by the industry The new image is reflective of the shift convenience and forecourt stores have been experiencing in recent years. Optimisation of fresh food displays and the mouth-watering foods on offer are designed to entice a peckish local or passer-by. The off-licence has seen a true transformation with new feature ceiling design and lighting. In an innovative design feature, spirits are in open-flow presentation and while retaining crucial functionality, the separated design of the off-licence space is proving very popular with shoppers.

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: Value is a hugely important facet of the Mace offering. As Ireland’s longest serving symbol group 62 years we have built up a reputation for offering value to our customers while not compromising on quality and, now more than ever, retailers need to offer their customers a relevant range while remaining cognisant of pricing.

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

A: It is exciting times for Mace, Ireland’s longest established symbol retail convenience brand. From a marketing perspective, the launch last year of a fantastic multi-platform advertising and social media campaign created huge stand-out for the brand by featuring Mace ambassador and Irish rugby captain, Jonathan Sexton. The Mace brand proposition, Going the extra smile, is central to all that the brand delivers on to shoppers. The innovative ad campaign, which is proving extremely popular amongst viewers and, crucially, Mace shoppers, is a contemporary take on Mace’s marketing legacy of ‘Going the Extra Smile’.

In-store and digital campaigns to promote Mace’s healthy eating and exercise programme, Mace Right Options, featured

Of particular note for Mace is our charity partnership with Down Syndrome Ireland, partners since 2017 A large number of Mace retailers showed their support for the charity by hosting unique Tour de Mace events this summer These static cycles proved a hit with local shoppers and were a great way of not only raising much-needed funds for the charity but also help raise awareness for Down Syndrome Ireland.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: As one of Ireland’s largest wholesale and retail companies, BWG Foods has dedicated relationships with a significant number of Irish suppliers. Our commitment to Irish produce is a key strategic element of our buying and we have a strong track record of supporting Irish suppliers both large and small across the country through BWG’s partnership with independent Mace retailers.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: Looking forward to the next 12 months, Mace has a very busy year ahead as we continue to roll out the new strategy and assist retailers to grow and evolve their businesses, while continuing to promote the friendly and welcoming shopping environment for which Mace is renowned. It is an increasingly challenging environment in which to operate and we will be rolling up our sleeves with a suite of programmes in place to continue to drive the Mace brand forward while helping our retailers keep a close eye on sales, margin and overheads within their stores.

Q&A with… Peter Dwan, Mace sales director

Mace’s off-licence section has seen a true transformation with new feature ceiling design and lighting

Optimisation of Mace’s fresh food displays and the mouth-watering foods on offer are designed to entice a peckish local or passer-by

Peter Dwan

Londis

FACTFILE:

Name of group: Londis

Number of stores nationwide: 140 Sales director: Conor Hayes

Typical store size: Varies Head office: BWG House, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 Y722

Wholesale partner: BWG Foods

Type of distribution network: BWG National Distribution Centre, (NDC) servicing fresh, ambient and alcohol to all Londis stores nationwide Website: www.londis.ie

Social media: @LondisIreland on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Tagline: Local like you

has become even more important. How are you ensuring you provide the best value and promotions possible for your retailers?

A: Londis stores serve local communities right across the country, supporting local jobs and local suppliers. Across our forecourt, neighbourhood and urban store formats, we are proactive in communicating our value offering to our customers. We achieve this through regular cycles, tactical offers, weekly special offers and a robust benchmark pricing strategy, which amplified our ‘Best Value Promise’ across our network of stores. This initiative is to ensure we are price matched against competitors to ensure that our customers are benefitting from the best value the market has to offer

We are committed to promoting this value offer through our TV and radio advertising, through our consumer flyers that are published every three weeks. We continue to work closely with our Trading and Promotions teams to ensure that shoppers at Londis stores are benefitting from the best price and value in the industry

Q: How extensive is your brand marketing programme and how do you ensure your messaging resonates with consumers?

Conor Hayes

Q: Working in partnership with retailers, what support and advice do you provide to enable them to run their businesses more successfully?

A: Londis Ireland works very closely with our retailers and this symbiotic relationship is critical to improving retailers’ effectiveness in targeting customers of their particular store.

Our Retail Development Managers’ (RDM) team remains in constant contact with retailers to help improve profitability and deliver margin, while simultaneously maintaining and, indeed, increasing customer satisfaction levels.

In response to the current energy challenges brought about by external events, we are working closely with our retailers in identifying how they can go about saving on their energy costs and keeping their overheads as manageable as possible

We are also advising them on how best to maximise their business across every department while maintaining their margin.

Q: How have you innovated to deliver in-store concepts and a store design that consumers are drawn towards?

A: Londis is well established as a brand renowned for innovation; for example, the introduction to the estate of a new branded self-serve tea offering, The Local Tea Company. The in-store Local Tea Company is one of a number of new food-to-go concepts we will be rolling out across the Londis estate in the coming months, all of which are designed to help them increase profits while keeping overheads and costs down.

Working closely with the BWG Foods’ IT department, Londis has introduced various innovations to immeasurably help our retailers with their administrative and logistical needs.

Q: As the cost-of-living-crisis continues to affect consumers’ budgets, value-for-money

A: Our brand marketing programmes centre around sponsorship partnerships and a strong TV, social and digital advertising campaign ‘Overheard in Londis’.

Ireland’s Fittest Family provided the perfect platform for Londis to grow its already stellar community-based reputation. The geographical spread of competing families offered the ideal opportunity to engage local retailers and shoppers. We have strategically been able to secure in-show branding for Londis; of particular note is our brand featuring on ‘The Wall’, one of the most iconic obstacles. Throughout the season, our Londis logo also appears on the sleeve of all of the families’ jerseys

The Londis advertising campaign launched in September 2021 and is a modern take on the Londis strapline ‘Local like you’ and focuses on how ‘Londis Listens’ to its shoppers and tailors in-store offerings to reflect the needs of Londis shoppers. Liam and Des are key characters in the campaign as they listen to customers’ interactions and stock the store shelves accordingly We aspired to reinforce how Londis is centred on being ‘Local like you’. The ads demonstrate how Londis retailers always have the locality

Londis is one of Ireland’s most established community retail brands and caters to a wide and diverse base of customers through its forecourt, neighbourhood and urban store formats

and community at the heart of their businesses.

We introduced Liam and Des’ story to Irish shoppers in 2019, when they appeared in Londis stings, as part of our TV sponsorship of Ireland’s Fittest Family These performed superbly on social media, gaining compliments and strong interactions. Londis analysed the results of our stings and following positive feedback, we launched Liam and Des, played by actors Alex Hannigan and Bryan Quinn, in our Londis brand advertising campaign in 2021.

Q: How are you working to support local Irish suppliers and deliver quality Irish produce for your retailers?

A: Londis has very strong links to Irish suppliers across our range of goods from fresh to ambient. Through our relationship with BWG Foods, we have dedicated relationships with a significant number of Irish suppliers. Our commitment to Irish produce is a key strategic element of our buying and we have a strong track record of supporting Irish suppliers both large and small across the country through BWG’s partnership with independent Londis retailers. Londis retailers are also strong supporters of suppliers in their locality because an integral part of the Londis model is to be a part of the local community and supporting local initiatives in any way they can.

Q: How would you sum up your main goals for the next 12 months?

A: Our immediate priority is to work closely with our Londis retailers to help them navigate this latest challenge we are all facing as a result of the energy crisis. For the last twoplus years, Londis retailers have been utterly magnificent in rising to the challenges they have faced. Through it all, I continue to be exceptionally proud of our Londis retailers and how they continue to serve the needs of their customers during these times. Away from that immediate need, the longer-term ambition of the Londis brand is to continue to push boundaries, to grow and evolve while continuing to provide the excellent service Londis retailers are renowned for in their communities in which they are embedded.

Q&A with… Conor Hayes, sales director, Londis

Londis has very strong links to Irish suppliers across its range of goods from fresh to ambient

From Ireland with love!

Recent research shows 81% of people think it is important to buy Irish products, with 64% making a conscious decision in the past year to buy more Irish and local products. Thankfully, due to the excellent quality standards of Irish produce, there’s no sacrifice involved, and Irish brands are more than proactive on the innovation front as these pages aptly demonstrate, writes Gillian Hamill

It’s never been more important to support homegrown Irish brands. Fortunately, the taste credentials, quality standards and continual innovation by Irish brands make supporting them a no-brainer Since the pandemic began, Irish consumers have been making a conscious effort to support local convenience stores, and supermarkets and buying the Irish products they stock in huge numbers.

SuperValu and its Food Academy Programme conducted research as part of their ‘Taste of Local’ initiative earlier this year, which showed 81% of people think it is important to buy Irish products*. The research revealed that the main reasons people buy Irish is to support local jobs (59%) and Irish businesses (54%). More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) said they agreed that the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of buying more Irish products. Some 77% of respondents said they prefer to buy local whenever possible, while nearly two-thirds (64%) said they have made a conscious decision in the past 12 months to buy more Irish and local products.

In September Ifac, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional

services firm, published its fifth annual Food and Agribusiness Report 2022 titled ‘The big SME squeeze’ the only report focused exclusively on the pulse of Irish food and agribusiness SMEs.

The report, conducted once again by Amarach Research during June and July 2022, includes the views of those that run some of the most innovative agritech companies and many of the food brands that Irish consumers love all a vital part of our rural and regional economies.

After living through a global pandemic and following the onset of a war in Ukraine, resulting in the highest levels of inflation for nearly 40 years, the level of optimism among Irish food and agribusiness SMEs has plummeted to a five-year low. This is a drop of 23 percentage points and a significant departure from last year’s findings, which showed a marked rebound in optimism levels in 2021 to a four-year high of 77%.

The findings of this report cement what businesses and consumers are now feeling that the coming year will be much more difficult. Again, this research shows the importance of supporting Irish brands and by extension, Irish jobs and livelihoods. There are several key factors why Irish food and

agribusiness SMEs are disillusioned including 36% of businesses experiencing a 21% or higher increase in input costs (84% reported an increase in costs this year). In addition, the cost of stock management has risen dramatically because of disrupted supply chains. Also, salary expectations are increasingly becoming a barrier, with two in three businesses finding it difficult to recruit the right people Brexit likewise continues to impact them with travel disruption, tariffs, regulatory changes and reduced access to raw materials from the UK, as well as lead times and cost increases.

Despite the vast list of challenges, Ifac’s report also tells the story of the responsiveness and resilience of many of our food and agribusinesses, as 82% of companies have maintained or increased their turnover in the past 12 months. Many companies focused on the future and the huge potential for the sector, are proactively managing these turbulent times by taking cost-saving steps, implementing price increases, managing contracts with both buyers and suppliers and actively focusing on cash flow management.

*(Source: The local and Irish survey was conducted by ShopTalk in April 2022. A total of 444 people responded to the survey)

Oat so good for you AND the planet.

We are super excited to share the news that our new Organic Oat M*lk has landed in store! With a choice of Organic Oat M*lk or Organic Oat Barista all your oaty needs are answered!

You know oats are not just for porridge, they’re also for pouring over your porridge, or cornflakes or for putting in your tea or coffee or drinking straight from the fridge, ice-cold, in a glass! Our Organic Oat M*lk is made with wholesome oat goodness. Plus because it comes from a plant, it’s great for the environment and a delicious dairy alternative for those following a plant based lifestyle or who just love the taste!

ORGANIC

NO ADDED SUGAR

DAIRY FREE

Oat so wonderful!

Wicklow-based twin brothers, The Happy Pear have just launched an organic oat drinks range in partnership with Musgrave. The new range consists of two new organic oat drinks and marks the Irish company’s entrance into the plant-based non-dairy milk market. Given the growing demand for non-dairy products in Ireland with Kantar Worldpanel reporting a 40% increase in sales of plant-based milk alternatives, the choice of a local brand should appeal to consumers’ purchasing behaviours over global alternatives.

The new organic oat drinks range is available in two varieties Organic Oat and Organic Barista All products are plant-based, vegan-friendly, made with 100% organic oats and have no added sugar They’re part of a wider range of 70 award-winning products across multiple categories which suit an expanse of consumer shopping occasions for all day parts including snacking.

“We want more people to experience our healthy foods and Musgrave is a like-minded partner with a team of retailers who believe in

helping people to live healthier lives,” say founders Dave and Steve Flynn.

The Happy Pear range of retail food products is available in SuperValu, Centra and select high-end independent stores across Ireland.

Fabulous fruit treats

At this time of year, families are looking for easy and healthy snacking options to load up kids’ lunchboxes or for a mid-day treat to get through the workday. Eating well and making good choices should be easy and accessible for everyone and The Happy Pear is always looking for simple ways to incorporate more plant-based goodness into people’s diets. Its new Fruit Bites are the perfect grab-and-go option when shoppers are craving something sweet.

The Happy Pear make food that’s good for you and its new Fruit Bites are no exception.

The Happy Pear Fruit Bites are full of fibre, made from all natural ingredients and have no added sugar ideal as guilt-free treats for

little ones. Made with 96% fruit, each pack comes in under 100 calories and like all The Happy Pear range, are plant-based and delicious. In fact, each pack of Fruit Bites contains one of an individual’s five-a-day. They’re available in two tasty flavours, Blueberry & Raspberry and Strawberry & Beetroot.

“At The Happy Pear, we’re passionate about making delicious plant-based food easy and accessible for everyone,” say founders Dave and Steve Flynn. “We love a treat as much as the next person and wanted to create something that was a quick, easy option to reach for, for the whole family Our new Fruit Bites are a wonderful snack when you want something sweet, and as one of your five-a-day, they’re the ideal choice for loading up lunch boxes.”

The Happy Pear Fruit Bites are available in a single 30g pouch, (RRP: €1.20) and four-packs, (RRP: €3.29), available exclusively in SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide

For more information, visit Instagram: @supervalu_irl @centra_irl @thehappypear #TheHappyPear #eatwellfeelgoodlivebetter

Russell Walsh and Garrett Walsh, co-founders of VivaGreen & withA

Q: With sustainability becoming an even greater concern for consumers in recent years, how has this impacted your range? How have you grown your number of stockists?

A: Consumers know sustainability is the right thing to do and are driving the green movement. We see a significant increase in consumer demand for our eco-friendly refill range and consumers are contacting us directly to stock product in their local stores. Our Tru Eco range of Irish-made refillable, eco-friendly laundry and household cleaning products is stocked in all SuperValu stores and over 70 health stores and eco shops throughout Ireland. Dunnes Stores is also trialling the product in two flagship stores. We predict a strong growth of Tru Eco stockists in 2023 to meet the rising consumer demand and we are working with

our distribution partners in Ireland, the UK, and Europe in response to this.

Q: What achievement(s) are you most proud of in 2022 so far and why?

A: VivaGreen won the Home, Beauty & Lifestyle Award at the inaugural Guaranteed Irish

Business Awards. We were shortlisted at the Small Firms Association Awards, and the Green Awards events as well as proud finalists at the recent Circular Economy Leadership Award category at the IMR Manufacturing and Supply Chain Awards. These award nominations demonstrate our dedication, innovation, and commitment in creating a circular economy range of products. The greatest reward for us is seeing consumers buying into the circular economy and receiving the calls directly from customers actively looking to purchase our products and pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle

Q: How are you continuing to support Irish jobs and fly the flag for Ireland’s green credentials?

A: VivaGreen is committed to being involved in local community and helping local projects drive the message of sustainability and building

Made with 96% fruit, The Happy Pear Fruit Bites have under 100 calories per pack

The Happy Pear’s drinks shown above are made with 100% organic oats and have no added sugar

The Tru Eco range of Irish-made refillable, eco-friendly laundry and household cleaning products has achieved strong growth

Russell and Garrett Walsh

The Happy Pear’s organic oats drink range are available in both Organic Oat and Organic Barista varieties

a circular economy. Research with customers, communities, and environmental experts is vital to us as this uncovers problem areas sparking the development of new, green solutions. We also partner with local eco stores, such as ‘Small Changes’ in Dublin for e-bike deliveries. We are actively looking at new ways to develop circular economy communities around the country

For us, it is important to look at legislation, such as the EU’s 2030 Climate Target Plan, to drive innovation, leadership and sustainable production development to fight climate change and help put Ireland on the map for innovative sustainable solutions. Our award-winning Moss Off Chemical Free product is the first of its kind in the world.

Q: How has the brand grown within the export sector?

A: In 2022, VivaGreen exhibited at three of the largest trade shows in the UK, France, and Germany and received significant interest in the Tru Eco range Key distribution partners have been selected to represent VivaGreen in these countries. New Anti-Waste legislation in France

Liquid gold

Your shoppers can give the gift of pure, Dublin born liquid gold to the whiskey lover in their life this Christmas from the award-winning Teeling Whiskey collection. It’s available at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, teelingdistillery.com, SuperValu, Dunnes, Tesco, O’Briens, Molloys and select independents nationwide Gift vouchers for a distillery tour of the award winning Teeling Distillery are also available online at teelingwhiskey.com

The Teeling Trinity gift pack (RRP: €18) consists of three expressions of the Teeling award-winning whiskeys, each with their own personality created through innovative maturation techniques that impart extra flavour making them unique within Irish whiskey This pack contains three 50ml mini bottles of the Teeling Small Batch, Single Grain and Single Malt whiskeys, each of which are bottled at 46% with no chill filtration.

Other gifting options include:

• Teeling Small Batch gift pack (RRP: €40)

• Teeling Wonders of Wood Single Pot Still Portuguese Oak (RRP: €80, launching November 2022)

• Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt (RRP: €60)

• Rising Reserve Series 1 (RRP: €225, launching November 2022)

• Teeling 30-Year-Old Single Malt (RRP: €925)

Sunshine in every drop!

MiWadi is a truly iconic Irish brand and continues to grow from strength to strength in the marketplace. From humble beginnings in 1927, MiWadi has been a fruity and flavoursome part of childhood in Ireland for 94 years and has always remained relevant to Irish families with a wide range of flavours in

Regular, No Added Sugar, 0% Sugar and Drops ranges. MiWadi is still produced in Dublin to this day and is a proud member of Love Irish Food.

This summer, MiWadi was delighted to announce that its single concentrate and double concentrate ranges are now fortified with Vitamin D which supports the immune system*.

has led to retailers needing innovative solutions such as Tru Eco.

Q: How have you marketed the Tru Eco range and any plans for the coming year?

A: Marketing is key to the success of any product. A targeted PR and digital media plan led to robust editorial coverage in national and local print, broadcast, and digital channels, including The Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Irish Daily Star, RTÉ 1 television’s Today show, and Newstalk FM’s Down to Business radio show. Digital and social media also plays a key role, achieving coverage in Mummypages,ie, MyKidsTime.ie, the RTÉ Guide, Evoke.ie, Her ie, and SHEmazing.ie We continue developing our PR plans to promote the existing VivaGreen range and to launch new products with plans to work with a well-known TV broadcaster for the launch of the new Tru Eco range in 2023.

For more information about VivaGreen’s full range of eco products and bespoke Tru Eco refill stations, visit vivagreen.ie or call Sean O’Haire on (01) 9059909

Go-to thickening agent

Exciting chef and restauranteur Kwanghi Chan, a devotee of Irish ingredients, has been named as a Brand Ambassador for the new Irish Potato Starch by Meade Farm

The winner of the Irish Quality Food Gold Award in 2022, Irish Quality Foodservice

Product of the Year Award 2021 and numerous sustainable supply chain awards, the potato starch is now available in a 250g resealable pack in selected Tesco stores, Evergreen stores and evergreen.ie It is a gluten free, sustainable, Irish alternative to imported corn starch/flour

“I enjoy using wholesome Irish ingredients to make Asian-inspired dishes,” says Kwanghi

MiWadi maintains its number one position in the squash category

Vitamin D is very important in our diets to help support every family’s general health, growth and development but it can be difficult to achieve the recommended daily intake of 5 µg. It has been reported that Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in Ireland**.

MiWadi continues to grow year-on-year maintaining its number one position in the squash category***.

*(Excludes MiWadi Regular Blackcurrant 1L)

**(Source: Department of Health Article Reporting on Vitamin D Deficiency in Ireland, April 2020)

***(Source: Nielsen Value Share MAT Total Squash Category Sept 2022)

(Vitamin D contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system and maintenance of normal bones and teeth)

Chef Kwanghi Chan champions Irish Potato Starch by Meade Farm

A SuperValu Refill Station which allows customers to refill their Tru Eco products in-store to save money and resources by reusing packaging

Certified quality

Hale has been to the forefront of the vaping industry since 2016. Hale e-liquids are the only vaping brand to carry the Guaranteed Irish symbol of quality Now Hale is Ireland’s number one vaping brand by volume*.

Made with the Irish consumer and Irish tastes in mind, manufactured locally in Carlow. All of Hale’s e-liquids are

manufactured using only four core ingredients, all of which carry full CoA (certification of analysis) and QA certification. These core ingredients are sourced only from certified and approved ISO suppliers. Hale e-liquids are fully TPD and HSE compliant, the result is simply better liquids for the consumer

With a much lower carbon footprint than many of its imported rivals, Hale has reduced its carbon impact by manufacturing here in Ireland and its packaging comes from ethically sourced raw materials that have low environmental impact.

A smoother more local supply chain ensures Hale products offer the highest margin available in the e-cigarette category The company’s nationwide team of representatives are available to provide support, information, point of sale material, and to organise stock replenishment.

Chan. “Potato starch is the go-to thickening agent and frying medium for Asian cuisine, myself and many other chefs use it every day.”

Made using surplus potatoes from Meade’s growing and packing business, the starch is extracted at the Meade family farm and food production facility using renewable energy, further adding to its sustainability credentials.

With a higher viscosity than corn starch, consumers can use less for the same effect when it comes to thickening sauces, soups and stews. Similar to corn starch, you make a paste with a little cold water and blend it in at the end of the cooking process to produce instant thickening.

Potato starch features throughout Kwanghi Chan’s forthcoming Blasta Books cookbook Wok, due out in November

“Once consumers try it, I’m confident they will be repeat customers because it’s so easy to use and versatile,” adds Chan.

For more information about a retail listing, contact clionacostello@meadefarm.ie

Made with respect

The folks at Goodfella’s Pizza continue to feed the nation with tasty pizza. The homegrown Irish brand which boasts the branded market leader position in Ireland* bolsters a strong portfolio with its range of thin, deep pan, snacking, dietary and takeaway pizzas, that take pride of place in every household freezer.

In the wake of the past unprecedented year where flexible work models and working from

home have become the norm, Goodfella’s has tapped into consumer needs by providing a quick and tasty lunchtime solution. This has come in the form of its Mini Pizzas which successfully launched last year

Goodfella’s Pizza continues to have something for everyone and is always ‘Made with respect!’

*(Source: YTD YoY

More fruit, less sugar

Hale’s expert team have helped tens of thousands of people make the change and continue to do so year-on-year *(Source: Nielsen June 2022)

For more information, telephone 087 2763434 or email hello@thejampeople.ie

Curious Mind in California

The drinks industry was out in force for the global unveiling on 27 September of the latest curious creation from Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin at Nolita Dublin.

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with California Orange Citrus didn’t fail to surprise and delight and guests were thrilled to meet the world-famous mixology stars and TikTok sensations, Johnny Drinks, who flew in especially from New York for the occasion.

A host of well-known faces from the world of Irish media, social media and special guests from the top bars and venues across the country turned out for the celebrations hosted by The Shed Distillery and Dalcassian Wines and Spirits. >>

The Jam People’s Cherry Jam was awarded a Blas na h’Éireann Gold Award 2022, making its jam the best in the category this year Why?

By using more actual fruit than any other brand, The Jam People get the most intense flavour into every jar of jam.

The Jam People only started making and selling jams, marmalades and spreads in January 2022, so the award means a huge amount to the business. The Jam People are convinced that using less sugar not only is better for you but also improves the taste experience. Unlike other brands, it doesn’t substitute sugar with (concentrated) fruit juices or artificial sweeteners. Instead, it simply uses more fruit. In fact, its jams are made with up to 90% fruit, which seems to be one of the highest actual fruit contents of jams and spreads in Ireland and Europe All the jams are handmade in Killinick, Co Wexford.

Hale e-liquids are the only vaping brand to carry the Guaranteed Irish symbol of quality

New gin features exotic layers of fresh citrus, oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea with added subtle hints of California orange citrus

The Jam People’s Cherry Jam received a Blas na h’Éireann Gold Award 2022

All Hale e-liquids are fully TPD and HSE compliant

Goodfella’s Mini Pizzas have tapped into consumer needs by providing a quick and tasty lunchtime solution

Biscuits Fuel NoLo Alcohol Irish Products Symbol Groups

PJ Rigney, the Curious Mind behind Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and The Shed Distillery brands made a rare appearance with wife Denise (co-founder and owner of the family business) with daughters Roisin and Maeve and their son Brian.

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with California Orange Citrus is the result of the Curious Mind’s journey through California and features exotic layers of fresh citrus, oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea with added subtle hints of California Orange citrus.

Bags full of potential

Flahavan’s doesn’t just pack every bag with the highest quality locally sourced wholegrain oats, it packs every bag full of potential…the potential to be breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner The potential to provide healthy and

nutritious meals to families every day.

This month, Flahavan’s is celebrating the versatility of oats with its ‘Bags Full of Potential’ campaign showcasing all the wonderful ways to incorporate wholesome Irish oats into every family’s weekly meal plans, such as cinnamon oat pancakes or a savoury oatsotto.

With a strong support campaign planned incorporating video on demand (VOD), radio and out-of-home (OOH), as well as digital and social advertising, the campaign encourages consumers to re-assess how they use Flahavan’s Progress Oatlets and explore new ways to enjoy oats.

There will also be an on-pack promotion running in stores, with 15 weekly €1,000 prizes to be won in promotional packs of Flahavan’s Progress Oatlets until 22 January 2023. ‘Bags Full of Potential’ floorstands and POS will be utilised in-store to bring the campaign to life.

Flahavan’s is Ireland’s favourite porridge brand, with more than three million portions consumed each week across the country The Waterford-based family food business sources all of its conventional oats from within a 60-mile radius of its Mill in Kilmacthomas and it sources all of its Organic Oats from within Ireland since harvest 2021. The company employs more than 100 in its Mill and Bakery, while it has a network of more than 250 farmers supplying the business each harvest.

Flahavan’s is a proud member of Love Irish Food and was recently awarded Gold Member status by Origin Green, for the second year in a row, for its sustainability achievements.

Learn more at Flahavans.ie

Fercullen Falls is Powerscourt Distillery’s first blended whiskey containing malt distilled on-site in Powerscourt

Whiskey falling into a glass

Powerscourt Distillery recently announced a brand-new release, Fercullen Falls, which is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys. Fercullen Falls has a high malt content highlighting the unique style of the Powerscourt Distillery The malt whiskey has matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, and the grain is in a combination of ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks, making it an excellent 50/50 blend (RRP: €38).

“With this release, The Powerscourt Distillery is heralding the start of a new era for the distillery with the inclusion of malt whiskey distilled right here in Powerscourt,” said head of whiskey for the distillery, John Cashman.

“The 50% malt content in the blend adds to the complexity and depth of flavour, which is very different to what other blended Irish whiskeys are offering,” added Powerscourt Distillery’s Paul Corbett, head distiller and blender

Drawing from its unique location, the name refers to the Powerscourt waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall at 121 metres. >>

Catch of the day

Donegal Catch Ireland’s leading frozen fish brand and family favourite for over 30 years, has launched new Chunky Irish Hake Fillets Made with 100% Irish hake and responsibly caught in Irish waters, the new chunky hake fillets are perfect for tasty midweek dinners and help families eat the recommended two portions of fish per week.

Donegal Catch works closely with Irish fish suppliers and supports local communities to bring great tasting fish such as haddock, whiting and now hake to Irish households across the country The

company procures 100% of its Irish haddock, whiting and hake from Irish co-ops and fishermen who are members of the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) backed Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), which focuses on improving the sustainability of Irish fisheries.

“As part of our ongoing new product development and extension of our Irish fish range, we have recently launched a Chunky Hake product across the Irish market,” says Aisling Twomey, Donegal Catch marketing manager “We are also thrilled that our Salt & Vinegar Irish Haddock Bites, won silver at the Irish Quality Food & Drink awards which is testament to the quality of the Irish fish we use in our Donegal Catch range.”

Donegal Catch’s Chunky Irish Hake Fillets are made with 100% Irish hake which is responsibly caught in Irish waters

Denise Rigney, John Rondi (Senior) Patrick Rigney and John Rondi (Junior) pictured at the global launch of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with California Orange Citrus at Nolita Dublin

Flahavan’s Progress Oatlets will feature an on-pack promotion running in stores, with 15 weekly €1,000 prizes to be won

Its contemporary design evokes thoughts of whiskey falling into a glass and shared amongst friends.

The whiskey is bottled at 43% ABV, and with its higher than standard malt whiskey blend, it’s perfect for enjoying straight or as a base for a favourite cocktail.

Follow Fercullen Falls on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Joy of life’s simple pleasures

Iconic food brand Denny has been at the heart of Irish family homes for more than 200 years.

The brand’s new campaign ‘Grand, Dad’ reminds us that, sometimes, the most comfort is derived from comforting others particularly when they need it most.

The emotive campaign is a beautiful portrayal of a new grandad trying to find his place in the whirlwind of a new baby’s arrival home which perfectly illustrates how the simplest of things can be just what you, or indeed someone else needs, in that moment.

By using strong and emotional storytelling, this new campaign aims to help us all rediscover the joy and comfort of life’s simple pleasures. And what’s simpler and more pleasurable than a delicious ham and cheese toastie

“Denny is the first campaign launch under our new owners Pilgrims Food Masters. Our emotive ‘Only Denny Will Do’ platform campaign has been created through the pursuit of the best for the Denny brand by Droga5 Dublin, part of Accenture Song,” said Julie Ann Twomey, marketing & innovation controller at Pilgrims Food Masters.

Survey results

Spurred on to find out what makes the ultimate toastie, Denny conducted a survey which revealed that 38% of people think ham & cheese is the number one combination when it comes to toasted sandwich fillings, followed closely by ham, cheese, tomato & onion.

70% of people chose white bread over brown bread, with 57% of people always enjoying their toastie with a packet of crisps.

A toasted sandwich maker is the preferred method of making the perfect toastie (46%), followed by popping it under the grill (28%), frying it on the pan (26%) and finally using a regular toaster (10%).

58% of people enjoy their toasties between 1pm and 4pm, with only 3% choosing to have one after midnight as a snack.

Treating yourself to a toastie after a long day at work was a top choice (62%) when people were asked the ideal time/moment they’d like to be handed a toastie This was followed by returning from living abroad (16%), and as portrayed in Denny’s new ad, bringing home a new baby (8%).

Ireland’s freshest spring water

Ishka Irish Spring Water, the Limerick-based bottled spring water company, is constantly looking for new ways to innovate and stay one step ahead of a rapidly changing retail environment.

The Ishka team are committed to protecting the environment around them, the home of their natural-source water, and ensuring that everything they do is helping to build a sustainable future. Ishka Spring Water filters naturally through the Ballyneety landscape at a pace that only nature can set. It is as refreshing and invigorating for the mind, body and soul as spending time in the wild outdoors of County Limerick itself

As well as their water itself, the team also put just as much care and consideration into the packaging of it and the ways in which consumers can purchase and enjoy it. All plastic bottles are 100% recyclable and their EcoBottles are made from 100% recycled plastic. Ishka also has been a pioneer in introducing tamper-proof tethered caps, three years ahead of an EU deadline, becoming the first bottled water company in Ireland to implement such a measure. It is one of several ways in which Ishka argues that a strong business model can co-exist with environmental responsibility

Ishka Irish Spring Water’s EcoBottles are made from 100% recycled plastic

Now a strong, recognisable brand on the retail landscape, family-run Ishka continues to increase its market share, largely because it can lay claim to being Ireland’s freshest spring water bottled from five, 200m-deep certified wells, untouched by human contact and not stored prior to bottling. Last year it saw growth of 32% year-on-year And the company is gearing up for more growth. Ishka is working towards commissioning a new glass bottle line in the fourth quarter so it can move into the foodservice and on-trade market from next year The company is also exploring a flavoured water product next year as well as a new water energy drink.

Trade enquiries welcome to info@irishspringwater.com or by calling

Denny’s new ad campaign is a beautiful portrayal of a new grandad trying to find his place in the whirlwind of a new baby’s arrival home

Alcohol Irish Products Symbol Groups

Loco for NoLo!

The growing popularity of no and low alcohol (aka ‘NoLo’) products is really making waves within the market. While beer and cider brands lead the trend here, Drinks Ireland reported in July that the no and low spirits category has started to emerge with sales up by 313% last year, while NoLo wines are also a popular choice for consumers who want to enjoy a fruity, flavoursome and fuss-free treat

Whether a consumer is driving home after a night out; limiting their alcohol intake for health or personal reasons; or simply looking to try something new, a low/no alcoholic beverage holds wideranging appeal. And with an equally expansive array of drinks to choose from, there’s never been a better time for retailers to embrace the trend. In fact, the annual Drinkaware Barometer published in September 2022 showed that 30% would like to drink less often

and 35% agree they have already made small positive changes to their drinking habits in the past 30 days The Drinkaware Index 2019 also found that 23% of Irish adults abstain from alcohol and 2022 saw Dry January reach record breaking engagement with 7.6% of households purchasing a non-alcoholic alternative, up almost 2% on 2018. Another poll from a popular news outlet suggested that over 30% of respondents took part in Dry January in 2022.

and non-alcoholic wines to the Santa Rita 120 range could not have come at a better time

Two non-alcoholic wines, a Santa Rita 120 0% Sauvignon Blanc and a 0% Cabernet Sauvignon, were launched into the Irish market in March 2022, with three new low alcohol wines also scheduled to launch on the market in the coming month: 120 Reserva Especial ‘De-light’ Pinot Grigio at 9% alcohol and 80 calories per serving, a De-light Moscato at 8% alcohol and a De-light Cabernet Sauvignon at 9% alcohol and 80 calories per serving. The RRP is €12.50

Indeed, research from Drinks Ireland|Beer

estimated that non-alcoholic beer sales in Ireland grew by 129% between 2017 and 2020, from 1.79 million to 4.12 million litres.

Meanwhile, the market share grew by 175% during that time, from 0.4% in 2017 to 1.1% in 2020 This figure increased again last year, with sales up from 1.1% in 2020 to 1.5% in 2021. With such strong growth in the segment, it is important for retailers to know where the trends lie

liquid. The process is repeated until the desired level of alcohol is reached. This is a very gentle and sympathetic technique which works well in reducing alcoholic content yet retains the delicate aromas and flavours of the wines. The final wines are a blend of full alcohol and dealcoholised wines.

Pink perfection

The Doña Paula Estate Malbec is made by renowned winemaker and viticulturalist of the year Martin Kaiser

Malbec must-have

For those seeking the pleasure of a warming glass of red, the Doña Paula Estate Malbec from Argentina is a must. This elegant, refined yet very approachable Malbec is made by renowned winemaker and viticulturalist of the year Martin Kaiser using grapes grown at 1,350 metres in the foothills of the Andes. The range also includes Doña Paula Estate Blue Velvet, a seductive blend of Malbec, Pinot Noir and Bonarda and the Estate Black Edition which is a complex and full-bodied blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. A single varietal Doña Paula Estate Sauvignon Blanc due in stores this month completes the line-up

Dealcoholised with full-on flavour

With consumers more conscious of the negative effects of alcohol, and regular wine drinkers reducing their alcohol intake over the last couple of years, the introduction of low

Each wine is made according to traditional winemaking practices, with the Pinot Grigio and Moscato picked early to achieve lower alcohol and the spinning cone method used to reduce the amount of alcohol in the Cabernet Sauvignon. The spinning cones gently and repeatedly spin the wine out into thin liquid films, simultaneously a cool vapour created from the wine itself rises from below and carries off all the lightest molecules in the

RTM Beverages is a Dublin-based drinks innovation company that is shaking up the fast growing NoLo categories. The company originally launched the Noki & Co 275ml range of pre-mixed alcohol-free Gin & Tonic flavoured drinks.

‘The reaction to our 275ml alcohol-free G&T range has been extremely exciting, there has been a real gap out there for authentic alcohol-free solutions when people are out socialising but not drinking alcohol for any number of reasons,” says Stephen Dillon, founder of RTM Beverages.

“Noki & Co tastes like a real Gin & Tonic so

Santa Rita 120’s non-alcoholic and low alcohol wines are made according to traditional winemaking practices

The Noki & Co. Juniper Pink Edition is distinctly Juniper forward but is also complemented by other classic gin botanicals and fruit aromas

N

Excellent Taste

F ALCO

designated drivers and non-drinkers can join in on a night out without the side effects of alcohol.”

The latest innovation from the company is the Noki & Co Juniper Pink Edition a 50cl distilled non-alcoholic Irish spirit.”

“As the name suggests our Juniper Pink Edition is distinctly Juniper forward but is also complemented by other classic gin botanicals and lovely summer fruit aromas,” Dillon says “Some people prefer to mix their own drink and our 50cl range is ideal for this.”

Noki & Co has enjoyed considerable success and is widely available in numerous shops, bars and restaurants throughout the country

The Noki & Co 50cl ‘Juniper Pink Edition’ is now available to both the on and off-trade in Ireland.

For sales enquiries, contact RTM Beverages Ltd (01 9618922), e-mail: Info@Rtmbeverages.com or visit www.RTMBeverages.com

Quiet revolution taking place

Introducing Quiet Noise Brewing!Ireland’s only dedicated alcohol-free craft beer brewery

Leading drinks innovation company RTM Beverages is proud to launch Ireland’s only dedicated alcohol-free craft beer range, Quiet Noise Brewing. Stephen Dillon, founder of RTM Beverages is one of Ireland’s only qualified craft beer sommeliers and has been involved in the Irish craft beer scene since 2007. “Having previously launched my own craft beer I am very excited to take my experience and passion for great beer into the alcohol-free beer category,” he says

“As we all now know the demand for alcohol-free drinks is in rapid growth and we are proud to be pioneers in this category,” Dillon continues. “As a craft beer lover l am very proud to launch Quiet Noise and what I believe are the best tasting alcohol-free beers available These are the beers I love to drink when choosing not to drink alcohol; cutting back on alcohol shouldn’t mean compromising on taste!”

The name Quiet Noise is a reference to the quiet revolution that is taking place as more and more people look to reduce their alcohol intake for a wide variety of reasons. The Quiet Noise range comes in three initial styles a crisp and refreshing craft lager, a more fullbodied and flavoursome pilsner and a hoppy pale ale

Quiet Noise Brewing is available via The Celtic Whiskey Shop, online and from leading retail stores nationwide

For sales enquiries, contact RTM Beverages Ltd. (01 9618922), e-mail Info@RTMBeverages. com or visit www.RTMBeverages.com

A compote of tart blackberries, redcurrants, and raspberries at its base, Atopia’s Hedgerow Berry has floral undertones and a hint of spice

Delectable new arrival

Atopia, the premium non-alcoholic spirit, launched in Ireland with its delicious flavour, Hedgerow Berry Your customers can enjoy this delectable new arrival with total freedom as it transports them to a world of flavour, without the alcohol.

Expertly curated by award-winning, master distiller at Hendrick’s Gin, Lesley Gracie, the new non-alcoholic spirit has won top honours in The Spirits Business’ 2022 Low & No Masters competition. Gracie wanted to create an accessible yet unique liquid that would elevate the moderated drinking experience.

As people in Ireland are increasingly looking to substitute alcohol for their busy lifestyles, Atopia fits in perfectly as a delicious alternative. Crafted to elevate mindful drinking moments, the new addition to the market is the ideal accompaniment to any occasion, whether hosting friends at the weekend, or enjoying a mid-week wind down at home

Atopia’s Hedgerow Berry spirit base is a compote of tart blackberries, redcurrants, and raspberries, with floral undertones of rosehip and pomegranate and just a hint of spice.

Atopia does not compromise on flavour, so drinkers do not have to compromise on taste The distillates have been selected and combined with care and precision, meaning each flavour can be picked out separately whilst no one flavour dominates over the other Available now in SuperValu for €26 RRP in-store or online, it’s distributed in Ireland by Richmond Marketing

Italian flair!

For your customers who are observing ‘Sober October’ this month, a great option is to do as the Italians do and enjoy a Birra Moretti Zero which can be matched perfectly with food, such as a delicious pasta dish or favourite pizza.

Perfectly balanced, Birra Moretti Zero has fresh, hoppy and citrus notes

Birra Moretti is a quality beer made in the traditional way It is the result of a production process that has remained almost unchanged since 1859.

Brewed with Italian passion and the finest quality ingredients, Birra Moretti Zero is perfectly balanced with fresh, hoppy and citrus notes. Its flavour is loved by many and it’s the perfect match for any meal: ‘66 calories. 0% alcohol. 100% Moretti’.

It’s the perfect time to take up the challenge of adopting the Italian tradition of enjoying an afternoon pre-meal drink and make it your own this October

Mondello Park

This Sober October, Birra Moretti Zero is also headed for Ireland’s most famous race track, Mondello Park with two famous faces.

Mondello Park doesn’t just sound Italian. It is. It’s named after a suburb of Palermo, where the famous Targa Florio race was held.

Birra Moretti Zero wants to bring a taste of Italian racing culture to Ireland by hosting the country’s first Piaggo Ape competition at Mondello Park. This day on the track offers a new way to enjoy Birra Moretti...one with zero alcohol.

Watch this space for the final video as two famous faces will go head-to-head in Ireland’s first Piaggio Ape competition at Mondello Park.

A homage to Scottish whisky

Lyre’s, the leading award-winning nonalcoholic drinks company, has just announced one of the most innovative drink launches of the year, Highland Malt, a non-alcoholic whisky style beverage

Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Highland Malt has been crafted to capture the essence of a blended malt whisky, one of the world’s most revered spirits, with flavours that are distinct and contemporary Whether enjoying a highball, shaken in a sour or simply on the rocks, customers can delight in the same delicious experience of their favourite serve, without the hangover.

Showcasing an inviting light honey hue Highland Malt leads with a soft earthiness and bouquet, featuring light grain cereal, stone fruit and almond, rounding out every sip The subtle additions of sea spray and lightly charred oak, further add to the complexity A lovely and rewarding depth in flavour, can be found with a natural influence of seasoned oak, nutty grain, and warm spices. In addition, the welcoming smoke contributes lift to the soft palate

The 700ml bottle is now available at www.lyres.eu For more information follow @LyresSpiritCo on Instagram and Facebook.

Made with top quality ingredients, Birra Moretti Zero’s freshness and subtle taste make it an ideal choice

Finished with a restrained dry hop, Kinnegar’s Low Tide has a fresh, citrusy aroma resulting in a crisp, refreshing American style pale ale

The rise of Low Tide

Low Tide, Kinnegar’s 1% low alcohol pale ale, is quietly muscling its way into an important position in the independent Donegal brand’s core range

For a brewery such as Kinnegar, technical options used by big breweries aren’t an option. A de-alcoholiser is not only prohibitively expensive, it also goes against the grain of Kinnegar’s brewing ethos. “The challenge,” explains Kinnegar’s head brewer Rick LeVert, “is in producing a traditionally fermented low alcohol beer that we’d be happy drinking ourselves.

“To do this, we had to strip down the process and rethink how we brew, looking at everything from malt and yeast selection, to mashing and sparging techniques. To be honest, Low Tide took more than a few runs on our pilot system to get dialled in and is still one of our more difficult beers to make.

“Pitching it at 1% ABV gives us the allimportant bit of extra body we want to carry the hops.”

Strykk your night

Introducing Strykk the distilled nonalcoholic spirits brand with all the spirit but none of the alcohol. Stryyk was launched in 2018 to satisfy the increasing demand for a quality, modern and stylish alternative to alcohol. Distilled and bottled in the UK, the Strykk range features non-alcoholic spirits which make switching out a favourite spirit for an alcohol-free option easier than ever Meticulously developed over two years in collaboration with top bartenders, the expert Strykk team carefully reconstructed flavours of spiced rum, London dry gin and traditional vodka.

Up to 50% of 18-34s have opted for a no/ low drink on a night out according to recent research, so Strykk gives a real, unpretentious alternative just Strykk your night and party with all the spirit, but none of the alcohol!

Created by drinks industry entrepreneur and founder of Funkin Cocktails, Alex Carlton in recognition of the growing demand from Gen X’rs, Strykk is predominantly targeted at 25 45-yearolds.

Strykk is proudly distributed by Barry &

brewed using the traditional Paulaner Weissbier technique and the alcohol is carefully removed after a thorough maturing process. A complex procedure removes all the

Fitzwilliam the five lines available are:

Strykk Not Gin: a distillation including hints of coriander, sage and basil and the classic juniper notes that mark this as a derivation of a London Dry Gin.

Strykk Not Vodka: a distillation combining the warming spice of capsicum and the cooling notes of cucumber and menthol to emulate the characteristics of a classic pure vodka.

Strykk Not Rum: a distillation that blends sweet sugar cane and raisin notes with the characteristic vanilla and oakwood tones that create a perfectly balanced spiced rum alternative.

Strykk Not Vanilla V*Dka: infused with Madagascan vanilla beans. A sweet toffee and buttery aroma with a warming capsicum finish. It’s 100% natural with no sugar, no fat and no artificial flavours.

New Strykk Not Aperitivo: Strykk Not Aperitivo is the world’s first non-alcoholic apéritif to blend sweeter prosecco-like notes with the sharper flavours of bitter orange, quassia and wormwood, designed to create the perfect spritz. The serve is just 25 calories, five times less than the fullstrength alcoholic version.

alcohol from the beer, without losing any of its refreshing flavour

At 1% ABV, Low Tide has an all-important bit of extra body that allows it to carry hops

Low Tide is finished with a restrained dry hop, giving it a fresh, citrusy aroma that results in a crisp, refreshing American style pale ale Perfect for early risers or those simply keeping an eye on the units.

The icon of weissbier

The number one weissbier in Germany, and one of the world’s favourites, Paulaner is renowned as the icon of weissbier

A non-alcoholic option is now available: Paulaner Weissbier 0,0% Thanks to its balanced combination of fine malt aromas, refreshingly fruity weissbier flavours and a pleasing hint of sweetness, this non-alcoholic Weissbier 0,0% can be enjoyed on any occasion. This isotonic thirst-quencher is

The popularity of Paulaner beer has always extended beyond the city limits of Munich. The special enjoyment of beer, the highly skilled brew masters and the famous Bavarian way of life are just a few factors contributing to Paulaner’s success locally and internationally More than 2 million hectolitres leave the brewery each year travelling from Munich Langwied to over 70 countries.

“Good, better, Paulaner” is the well-known slogan of Paulaner Brewery The name Paulaner has stood for the highest quality and Munich beer culture since 1634.

Paulaner is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

A true trailblazer

Unrivalled taste with zero alcohol, McGuigan Wines pledges to make great quality wine accessible to everyone around the world for every occasion. The company has subsequently been named IWSC International

The Strykk range makes switching out a favourite spirit for an alcohol-free option easier than ever

Paulaner Weissbier 0,0% is brewed using the traditional Paulaner Weissbier technique and the alcohol is carefully removed after maturation

Winemaker of the Year a record breaking fourtimes and its commitment to alcohol-free wines is no different.

McGuigan Zero is a trailblazer in its category The range offers an unparalleled alcohol-free experience both on the nose and palate, launching with shiraz, chardonnay, rosé, sauvignon blanc and sparkling. It’s created using state-of-the-art spinning cone technology By drawing the wine into super fine layers for efficient vaporisation, alcohol

may be removed at lower temperatures than ever before, thus resulting in a truly beautiful tasting product. The fruit has been sourced and selected specially for McGuigan Zero from premium vineyards in South Eastern Australia.

The quality of the fruit and its adaptability to the alcohol removal process ensures that customers are drinking the best possible alcohol-free wines. McGuigan Wines, Ireland’s number one Australian wine brand, is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam

Punked-up flavour

No-alcohol just got punked up And BrewDog Punk AF lives up to its billing, with all the flavour but none of the alcohol. Brewed with eight different hops from North America, New Zealand and Europe: juicy tropical fruit mixes it up with grassy and pine notes. All sitting on a solid malt bassline The bitter finish belies its ABV, rolling in at 35 IBUs to provide the perfect retort to those who push alcohol-free beer devoid of character

BrewDog is on a mission to prove that alcohol-free does not equate to taste-free And now the brand has delivered a new alternative to the mainstream. A beer for those seeking a point of difference at 0.5% ABV that brings all the attitude of the flagship, Punk IPA.

Punk IPA was the beer that kick-started the craft beer revolution and Punk AF is the next step in the brand’s desire to brew beer for every taste, for every occasion.

Distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam >>

At 35 IBUs, Punk AF provides the perfect retort to those who push alcohol-free beer devoid of character

OF KOPPARBERG

The McGuigan Zero range uses fruit selected specially from premium vineyards in South Eastern Australia

Belle of the ball!

Belle & Co is an innovative 0% alcohol free sparkling wine with less than half the calories of a typical sparkling wine Belle & Co is zero alcohol, lower sugar, vegan and gluten free It’s available in 75cl Brut and Rosé formats in recognisable sparkling wine bottles with a mushroom cork.

A carefully crafted alternative to traditional alcoholic sparkling wine, the best part is it’s only 22 calories per 100ml one of the lowest available in the market for zero alcohol.

How is it made? Belle & Co is a fermented grape juice produced by a specialist, state-ofthe-art producer of fermented products. This innovative new bacterial fermentation of grape juice reduces sugars by 30% and produces the same acid bi-products of a yeast fermentation without the production of alcohol or carbon dioxide The reduction in sugars and the production of acid bi-products ensures Belle & Co tastes like a wine and not like a soft drink.

The fermented grape juice is transported to a specialist sparkling wine producer where green tea and dried tannin are added to create the mouthfeel of sparkling wine CO2 is trickled in very gently The bubbles of Belle & Co achieve a streaming effect and elegant mousse It is excellent value for money and proudly distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam

Ultimate fruit refreshment

Kopparberg Alcohol-Free is an extension of the premium fruit cider’s current offering. The range meets the evolving attitudes of consumers towards health, which has led to increasing demand for low alcohol and nonalcoholic drinks. Kopparberg has taken its most popular flavours, Strawberry & Lime & Mixed Fruit and made them alcohol-free The variants may be free from alcohol but there’s no compromise to the taste Kopparberg is the number one alcohol-free cider brand representing 64.6% in volume

The ‘Lidl Farm’ opens for free school tours

Lidl has opened a new farm experience where schools can visit and children can learn important lessons about growing fruit and vegetables. Using lands at its Newbridge distribution centre in County Kildare, supported by Agri Aware and one of its key suppliers Meade Farm, the retailer has turned 8.5 acres of land into a free educational resource

Visitors will be brought into a specially made facility to learn about how the retailer sources local produce, how crops grow and then will get a practical demo of crop growing. Additionally tours of the Lidl distribution centre will also be offered which will provide children with some insight into how the retail supply chain works.

The Lidl Farm was officially opened by former Irish president Mary Robinson.

To learn more and for schools to register an interest in visiting the Lidl Farm, go to www.lidl.ie/thelidlfarm

terms, an increase of +1.6 percentage points year-to-date (YTD)*.

Kopparberg Alcohol-Free Strawberry & Lime, like its original equivalent, delivers a splash of fresh strawberries and a squeeze of tangy lime, minus the ABV. Kopparberg Alcohol-Free Mixed Fruit captures the same unique taste of bursting blackcurrants and raspberries.

The range offers a refreshing alternative for people looking for an alcohol-free alternative without compromising on experience and taste It gives the ultimate fruit refreshment with 0% alcohol. ■

Bellingham Capital acquires Independent Irish Health Foods

Bellingham Capital has announced the acquisition of Independent Irish Health Foods (IIHF), owner of the True Natural Goodness brand.

IIHF is a leading distributor and wholesaler of health foods and related products to over 1,000 customers across the island of Ireland and continental Europe The company, which is headquartered in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, had a turnover of €25 million in FY21 and employs 89 people

The day-to-day operations of IIHF will continue as normal and the company’s co-founders Richard Wilkins and Henry Bartlett will be remaining with the business to support it in consultancy roles.

Part of the Bellingham Group established by Mark Goodman and headquartered in Castlebellingham, County Louth, Bellingham Capital is a food investment fund founded in 2021. Operating across the farming, hospitality and retail food distribution sectors, Bellingham Group companies currently have a combined turnover of €80 million.

IIHF was founded in 2008 and today offers over 10,000 different health food products to its international customer base This includes leading vegetarian, vegan, organic, free-from and fair-trade

brands sourced from highly rated suppliers across the globe, many of which are unique to IIHF The company also offers its own range of products under the True Natural Goodness brand.

In 2021, Bellingham Capital acquired National Organic Products Ltd, owner of the Bunalun brand. ■

*(Source: Collated ROI EPOS DATA (c.60% of Total ROI Scantrack) to week 36 2022)

Kopparberg Alcohol-Free is the number one alcohol-free cider brand

The Belle & Co range has only 22 calories per 100ml

The True Natural Goodness brand is produced by Independent Irish Health Foods Former(IIHF) Irish president Mary Robinson opening

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Cosy and warm

As major energy price hikes have consumers dreading the onslaught of colder weather, it is likely we will see a greater number of households using a fireplace to heat their homes this winter Cosying up in front of a roaring fire is one of the great comforts of the season, and this year, it might also prove itself to be a great way to reduce energy bills. Firelighters, coal, briquettes, and other innovations are a key part of any retailer’s winter stock, and it’s important to deliver the right selection to suit your store and your customers’ needs.

High quality, reliable range

Zip has been around since 1936 and one of the key reasons is, that the brand innovates and invests in consumer research and in the category to keep ahead of trends. Zip listens to consumers and knows that the next generation are looking for more sustainable solutions, which Zip launched this winter

The weather forecasters have hinted that this winter will be a cold one after the

amazing summer heat of 2022. Standard Brands has been working around the clock to ensure it can deliver a wide range of firelighters and fuels that are high quality, reliable and easy to use

The range now includes both a coal fire in a bag and 100% natural fire in a bag, ideal for time poor families always on the go In addition to the fire in a bag, Zip offers a range of winter fuels which include Zip Kiln Dried

Wood, Kiln Dried Kindling and Smokeless Coal This combined with Zip’s world-class firelighters means not only does Zip have something for everyone, but its customers can buy their entire fire solution from a brand they trust.

You will find the market-leading brand Zip in eye catching displays across multi retailers linking the brand’s marketing campaign #theresalawayszip

Zip’s wide range of firelighters and fuels are high quality, reliable and easy to use

Frank Cahalan, trading controller Ireland, Standard Brands & withA

Q: How has Zip as a company strengthened your overall sustainability credentials and those of your products?

A: We are still at the start of our sustainable journey in Ireland but the response from the Irish retailers and consumers has been very encouraging. The new sustainable winter range consists of the Zip 100% Natural Fire Bag and Zip 100% Natural Firelighter Cubes We have seen a positive impact on our overall Zip sales since the launch of this range We continue to grow our natural offering and have plans to launch further NPD to this range in 2023.

Q: How will you share this messaging about the value you offer throughout your marketing and communications?

A: This winter Zip will continue with the #theresalwaysZip campaign. We will utilise social media advertising to promote the efficiency and reliability of the Zip range We will be sharing tips and tricks on how to make your firelighters go further to support keeping costs down this winter. This will play alongside creative lifestyle focused video content, recipe ideas, and competitions to give back to our consumers. Make sure to follow us on our social media accounts; Facebook @zipfiresireland, Instagram @zipfiresireland and TikTok @zip_fires.

Q: How has Zip strived to develop a suitable product for every consumer need within the home heating space?

We know that everyone lights the fire

This winter, Zip will continue with the #theresalwaysZip campaign, uaing social media advertising to promote the efficiency and reliability of its range

differently and has their own specific needs. Utilising consumer research we have identified individual needs, from coal lovers to eco warriors. Our technicians here at Zip have been working hard to develop a range of products that suit these varied requirements. Ranging from our Zip Wrapped Firelighters, Zip Original Block Firelighters, Zip Firelogs and the recently released Zip 100% Natural Fire Bag. We also have a range of winter fuel products including the Zip Kiln Dried Firewood, Zip Kiln Dried Kindling and Zip Coal.

All Zip products comply with current and new Solid Fuel regulations. Zip is a one stop shop to keep your home cosy and warm this winter. For more information, email Enquiries@zipfires.com.

As the cost-of-living crisis and potential electricity shortages continue to dominate the headlines (indeed, rising energy costs featured as ShelfLife’s cover story last month), finding cost-effective, safe and convenient ways to heat homes has never been more important for your shoppers

Instant heat wherever you are

Calor portable gas heaters deliver instant heat for your home wheneve and wherever you need it. Powered by Calor gas cylinders, they’re easy to move around and because you can choose to heat only the room you’re using, they’re cost-effective too.

Calor gas heaters for your whenever wherever you Calor gas

Instant cosy workspace

As customers look set to divide their working lives between the office and home this winter, Flogas Superser heaters are the perfect solution to spot-heat the homeworking space. Cosy, portable and convenient, Flogas Supersers remove the need to turn on the entire heating system while working from home

Retailers are always seeking cost-effective solutions to help their customers to control their home heating bills and Flogas portable gas heaters are recognisable and proven bestsellers. The contemporary and stylish heaters are also fit with easy glide castors for trouble-free moving from room to room.

“Flogas Superser heaters are extremely useful as an instant, economic and portable way to ‘spot-heat’ a room quickly, as many customers find it far cheaper than turning on the central heating for an hour or two,” says Peter Brogan of Flogas Ireland, the exclusive

distributor for Superser in Ireland and the UK.

Flogas retailers benefit from complete access to its range of cylinders, from butane, propane and patio gas, to exclusive Gaslight cylinders. Contact Flogas today on 041 214 9600 to speak to your local cylinder representative and arrange a no-obligation meeting to discuss your needs.

Cylinder safety at the core

As temperatures drop and the long evenings begin, many homeowners are turning on their home heating systems for longer periods of time Homeowners need to be well prepared for the winter months; they want energy that is reliable affordable and safe to use Calor retailers can be confident in recommending Calor cylinders to their customers, because of Calor’s commitment to safety

Calor has earned a reputation for delivering the highest standards of cylinder safety

At Calor, safety and trust are paramount for its retailers and their customers. Over the past 80 years, Calor has been meeting the energy needs of homes and business across the island of Ireland. Throughout this time, Calor has earned a reputation for delivering the highest standards of cylinder safety in the products it offers, and those available through its extensive retailer network.

All Calor cylinders are filled by Calor, so the company is sure of every one Every Calor cylinder goes through a substantial and detailed seven-point mandatory safety check before it is delivered to a Calor retailer

Calor is proud of its extensive product offering that allows customers to see the benefits of using gas, including Calor BioLPG, its 100% renewable energy, which offers customers a sustainably conscious fuel option.

Every Calor cylinder goes through

detailed seven-point mandatory safety check

For more information on becoming a Calor retailer or to see the company’s range of mobile heaters, check out www.calorgas.ie ■

substantial

A bounty of biscuits

Shopper Intelligence research shows ‘biscuits’ is a highly impulsive category where cravings can be triggered in-store with displays and strong brand visibility. Biscuit shoppers are more open to spending more or buying extra to try something new or different, so it’s important to keep up to date with all the latest NPD and category development, writes Gillian Hamill

Irish people are serious about their biscuits.

In fact, Euromonitor found that Irish people consumed 35,709 tonnes of sweet biscuits and snack bars in 2020 that’s 7.2kg per person per year

There are two major trends in the highly innovative category; health and indulgence. Some of the most popular snacks in Ireland

Ambitious growth plans

Having established a very strong position across chocolate, sugar confectionery and spreads, Ferrero has ambitious plans to become a major player in the sweet packaged foods sector Biscuits naturally form a key pillar of those growth ambitions.

With Nutella B-Ready already a firm favourite in the category, the high-profile introductions of Kinder Cards, Duplo and Nutella Biscuits represent the logical next step in this journey following the successful performances of these brands across Europe Each of the products in the biscuits range are available in single-serve and multipack formats, helping to meet changing shopper needs and offering the right balance between on-the-go and at-home consumption.

are sweet biscuits. Despite growing public interest in healthy eating, many responsible Irish consumers enjoy biscuits in moderation as occasional or semi-regular indulgences. Meanwhile, the manufacturers that excel within the savoury biscuits sector are those that have adapted to suit consumer demand for healthier options, such as wholegrain

Nutella Biscuits are already worth over €1.3m after just over a year in the market

versions or products containing ancient grains. Flavour varieties, brand variations and limited-edition offerings are all regular occurrences, among new brands and family favourites alike. With that in mind, here ShelfLife examines the top trends and brands in the category today.

attention of existing shoppers as well as attracting new ones to a widely recognised and trusted family brand. The single-serve packs also provide shoppers with an ideal treat for the whole family to enjoy on-the-go during afternoon activities.

*(Source: Kantar WPO Spend Penetration | Total Market | Total Size | 52 w/e Dec 2022)

**(Source: Nielsen Scantrack ROI Convenience (Biscuits) L12wks data to 02.01.2022 €ROS)

***(Source: Nielsen Scantrack 4wks to 20/02/2021 vs PCD YA)

****(Source: Ranked 35th RSV MAT to 27/02/22 Subbrands Total Scantrack ROI Nielsen)

*****(Source: Nielsen Scantrack Retailer data)

A taste of bliss

With 98% of shoppers buying sweet biscuits*, and one in six of those shoppers purchasing biscuits in convenience stores**, it is vital to have the right range on the shelves to maximise sales in the sweet biscuit category Nutella, the nation’s favourite chocolate hazelnut spread*** brings excitement to the biscuit category with its Nutella Biscuits The golden baked crunchy biscuit, enclosing a creamy heart of Nutella, has already had an initial positive consumer response since its launch in Ireland at the start of 2021. In a category of over 300 brands, Nutella Biscuits has secured itself in the top 40 biscuit brands*** and is already worth over €1.3m after just over a year in the market*****. Expanding Ferrero’s presence in the biscuit category, Kinder Cards brings the distinctive milk and cocoa taste that the brand is loved for to a new aisle By expanding Kinder’s presence in-store, the range will grab the

Pladis, the global snacking company behind some of Ireland’s most loved and iconic brands, has ramped up its offering in the special treats sub-category of biscuits with innovation in the form of McVitie’s Blissfuls

Comprised of an expertly baked McVitie’s biscuit, encasing a melt in the mouth Belgian milk chocolate cream centre flavoured with either hazelnut or caramel then topped with a crunchy and golden baked biscuit lid, McVitie’s Blissfuls promise a decadent new snacking experience.

The latest trailblazing treat from Ireland’s biggest sweet biscuit brand* is available in a 228g sharing pouch. Recognising the important role biscuits play in social connection, this format will also enhance relevance for sweet biscuits during the evening snacking occasion.

This launch is currently being supported with a 360° marketing campaign including outdoor, PR, sampling, social media and an engaging consumer text to win competition to win a games night bundle suiting the social night-in occasion.

Single-serve packs of Kinder Cards provide shoppers with an ideal treat for the whole family to enjoy on-the-go

McVitie’s Blissfuls is available across most major retailers throughout Ireland. There are two variants, McVitie’s Blissfuls Belgian Milk Chocolate & Caramel, and McVitie’s Blissfuls Belgian Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut. Packaging will be recyclable through Pladis’ partnership with Terracycle (www.terracycle.co.uk

All-natural, stripped-back ingredients

At the height of lockdown in 2021, 26-year-old baking entrepreneur Aisling Tuck created Naked Bakes Cookie Dough to fill a gap in the market for a natural, more sustainable plantbased food product that doesn’t sacrifice taste

The handmade fresh cookie dough quickly developed a cult fan following among vegans and non-vegans. In April, Naked Bakes secured listings in stores nationwide, including select SuperValu and Centra stores, Donnybrook Fair, and independent retailers. Since then, the young Irish brand has reported a 25% increase in sales.

Now, Naked Bakes has invested in a new brand identity featuring bold colours and a fun twist on the classical illustration of Adam and Eve giving into temptation. The new look highlights Naked Bakes’ all-natural, strippedback ingredients list and reflects what the brand stands for: just because something is natural doesn’t mean it has to be bland.

The design refresh is perfectly timed with Naked Bakes’ launch at the exclusive Raye the Store pop-up on Regent Street, one of the world’s most prestigious shopping streets at the heart of London’s West End. The brand refresh also includes slick new website, nakedbakesireland.com

The plant-based cookie dough is handmade in Dublin using Irish, sustainable ingredients of the highest quality

The Naked Bakes range includes Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Choc-Chip, Red Velvet, Salted Double Choc-Chip Brookie, and the latest release, Triple Chocolate, the perfect blend of vegan white, milk and dark chocolate chips.

Naked Bakes Cookie Dough is available in select SuperValu and Centra stores, Donnybrook Fair, independent retailers and

Tempt with

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online at nakedbakesireland.com Follow @weare_naked on Instagram for updates and recipe inspiration.

Hot results!

The Dunnes Stores Simply Better range has a well-deserved reputation for award-winning food and drink. Behind the scenes, it also champions small Irish producers, helping them to grow while doing what they do best.

Dave McSharry of the award-winning Hot Chip cookie dough company is one such producer McSharry always planned to set up

expanda

his own business and his time living in Australia and travelling around South America and Canada proved to be inspirational.

Fast-forward to September 2020 a time when home baking was flourishing amidst Covid lockdowns and the Hot Chip cookie dough brand was born. It quickly won awards and soon came to the attention of the Dunnes Stores Simply Better team via another Simply Better producer, as it happens. Which is testament to the collaborative environment the Simply Better brand is nurturing.

“We were supplying cookie dough to a lot of coffee shops around Dublin, including Two Fifty Square Coffee, who provide coffee to the Simply Better range,” McSharry explains. “When the team was in the store, the Two Fifty Square Coffee guys told them the cookies sell out each day and go great with their coffee That was how it first came about.”

Today, the new products have launched into over 90 Dunnes Stores and there are two exclusive flavours: a caramel, sea salt and dark chocolate and a bourbon vanilla and white chocolate Flavour has been at the heart of the brand from the beginning, and the main ingredient is Irish butter “We have the best butter in the world,” McSharry notes, “and we wanted to make an authentic Irish cookie dough.” Using local ingredients where possible, Belgian chocolate is one ingredient they were willing to go abroad for as it has such a good name

Dave McSharry is understandably thrilled with the reaction the products have received in Dunnes Stores so far. It’s clear that this partnership with Simply Better is going to be a sweet one indeed.

Smart cookie!

Aryzta has just launched a pair of delicious Cuisine de France wrapped cookies.

Generously filled with Belgian milk and white chocolate chunks, these cookies are chewy, crunchy and the perfect pairing with a coffee or tea.

Not only are they a tasty treat, but for retailers they offer a fantastic thaw and serve solution with a six-day shelf life. This allows for better waste management and makes it easier to meet sales demand in-store

The cookies are available in two flavours, Belgian Milk Chocolate Chunk and Belgian Triple Chocolate Chunk.

To find out more about stocking these cookies, contact afsordering@aryzta.com

Tuck’s Irish baking brand has reported

Aryzta has introduced scrumptious new Cuisine de France wrapped cookies

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Cookie Dough is available in two flavours; a caramel, sea salt and dark chocolate and a bourbon vanilla and white chocolate option

Souper wholesome!

Chilled soup is projected to remain the fastest-growing soup category in Ireland in both retail volume and current value terms, according to Euromonitor. Read on to find out more about the brands that are continuing to innovate and successfully meeting the latest consumer trends within this most heartwarming of meal occasions

The ultimate winter warmer, it’s hard to beat soup when looking for a nutritious, convenient meal. The chilled format is the one to watch, according to a 2021 Euromonitor report, which said that chilled soup would remain the fastest-growing soup category in Ireland, thanks to its perception as a healthy, convenient, fresh, tasty food choice. Meanwhile, the uptick in workers returning to the office is also expected to positively impact chilled soup sales.

Published in December 2021, Euromonitor’s latest report is aptly titled ‘Soup in Ireland’. This found that in general, soup categories are expected to see improved retail volume and current value growth performances, compared with the early-to-mid-review period, albeit that a slowdown is anticipated compared with the highs of 2020

Convenience drives sales

Euromonitor notes that convenience continues to drive sales of soup as some consumers tire of cooking. According to the analyst, while a preference for home-made soup has consolidated, a return to more hectic lifestyles as the pandemic eases has increased or renewed interest in the purchasing of ready to-eat products. Moreover, some consumers became fatigued with home cooking and experiments in the kitchen, as lockdowns and home seclusion remained a factor during 2021.

Chilled soup is projected to remain the fastest-growing soup category in Ireland in both retail volume and current value terms in 2021, Euromonitor adds. The chilled format is perceived to combine health and wellness, with freshness (chilled soup usually has a very short expiry period), flavour and the convenience of consuming already prepared, low calorie products.

Local players

Euromonitor also reports that smaller and local players are expected to invest in unique solutions and innovations to compete with transnational leaders. The competitive landscape may see smaller and local players and brands make some gains at the expense of the largest multinational/international players and brands, Euromonitor adds. Smaller and local players are expected to invest in their brands to widen their range and appeal through unique solutions and innovations.

Innovation souper stars!

Ireland’s number one soup maker, Cully & Sully now has a range of delicious Risottos, perfect for that filling lunch or evening dinner There are three flavours in the range: Tempting Tomato & Roast Red Pepper Risotto which is gluten-free and suitable for vegans, Moreish

According to Euromonitor, local players are also likely to increase their focus on e-commerce due to strong results via the channel at the end of the review period

Supermarkets are expected to remain the leading distribution channel for soup in Ireland over the forecast five-year period. Economies of scale, extensive portfolios of available brands and strong logistics allow supermarkets to remain highly competitive, Euromonitor writes.

Below, we outline bestselling products and trends impacting the category

Mushroom Risotto, also gluten-free and suitable for vegans and Charming Chicken & Leek Risotto, also gluten free The range is stocked in all good retailers, with a RRP of only €3.49.

Check out www.cullyandsully.com/ rockingrisottos for more information.

Cully

Sully offers a range

Risottos

Avonmore Soups are showing the highest growth of the category, at +27% volume MAT YOY

The feel-good factor!

The Avonmore Feel Good Soup range is available in three flavours; Feel Good Tomato & Basil, Feel Good Mediterranean Vegetable and Feel Good Garden Vegetable

The Feel Good range does not contain any dairy or animal produce, making each soup suitable for the growing vegan market. Each 400g carton also contains less than 100 calories and uses fully recyclable packaging.

The Feel Good range will be supported in-store with POS this winter, as well as extensive digital advertising. Avonmore Soups are showing the highest growth of the

category, at +27% volume MAT YOY*. A sure reason to stock up on Avonmore Soups this winter!

Sustainable packaging champions

Award-winning broth company, Sadie’s Kitchen which is stocked in multiples and independents nationwide, is making changes to its packaging.

2022/2023 will see the young health food brand enter into the chilled ready meal and sauces categories in new more sustainable packaging.

Sadie’s Kitchen will continue with its outer sleeve packaging which is 100% recyclable and made with cardboard from sustainably sourced forests but will now have a recyclable tub format, departing from single use plastic pouches. The move will coincide with the brand’s Tesco rollout later this month. ■

Sarah Kiely, founder & creative director of Sadie’s Kitchen, is excited to introduce new more sustainable packaging

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BARRY WHELAN managing director of

Is the promise of ‘work from home’ causing high attrition?

With constant media coverage highlighting the cost-of-living crisis and how this will inevitably lead to a recession, it is any wonder that ‘The Great Resignation’ continues unabated with Irish workers continuing to decide to move jobs in higher numbers than ever?

Despite months of doom and gloom economic coverage, the Irish worker is still on the move.

The novelty of high turnover is becoming the ‘new normal’ says Anthony Klotz, an organisational psychologist and UCL management professor who coined the term ‘Great Resignation’ in 2021.

At this point, it is clear workers are not just walking away from jobs that do not meet all their needs but are instead choosing and building new ways of working. Work from home, particularly for the Dublin commuter, has given people a glimmer of hope that work can look different than it did pre-Covid with ‘work from home’ a sought-after option.

huge demand for flexibility

Looking at the demand our recruitment consultants are receiving for both ‘work from home’ and ‘agile working’ positions, there is reason to believe remote work is a big reason why we can expect to see high turnover become a permanent fixture of the labour market.

A desire for remote work, and the ease of taking new work in a remote setting, are the reasons we can point to for the churn in the labour market. As remote work has become a more enduring and consequential element in the future of work, we may see more churn in the labour market permanently than we would have without the pandemic and an increase in remote work.

This is because there is such an ongoing appetite for it with up to 60% of our permanent employment job seekers hoping to find remote

opportunities, with a willingness to quit an in-person job to land one. 8% of our job seekers said they had quit an in-person job to look for a workfrom-home position.

Furthermore, the ease of moving jobs and the cost of switching jobs is lower when remote work is an option.

Changing jobs is less disruptive when you can make the shift to home with the opportunities and benefits being much higher Workers can make big life changes, like moving location, without having to find a new job or, on the flip side, people can take up new work for a company based anywhere, without having to physically move or indeed commute. With remote working options, workers can now be based anywhere.

Creative benefits on the rise

Employers have responded to high turnover by raising pay and offering new benefits, but so far, it hasn’t been enough to temper disruptive turnover.

Persistence in the level of churn is a big head scratcher for employers who keep expecting people will go back to normal. Instead, they’re confronting higher staff turnover every month compared to before the pandemic.

Employers are facing enormous pressure to give way to employee demands and in response are getting

creative with other incentives that improve the work experience. In particular, tools that make employees’ lives easier are taking off like wildfire without significantly raising costs for employers.

Employers are also offering many more benefits that help support employees outside of the workplace: sabbaticals; fertility assistance and new baby benefits; pet insurance; mental health and wellness benefits; holiday stipends, and birthdays off, to name but a few.

Could quitting confidence cool?

As for employee turnover, the coming months will be a test as to whether employees still feel confident about quitting. We have all been told there is a tough winter ahead. Will that make employees cautious about moving, or will they still have the confidence to do so?

If trends in the US reflect the Irish situation, then employers better keep on focusing on their retention strategies. According to the department of labour statistics, some one in four workers are so confident that they would quit their job without a new one lined up, and about one in three job seekers expect wage growth to keep accelerating. ■

With 60% of permanent employment job seekers hoping to find remote opportunities, employers need to keep focusing on their retention strategies, writes Excel Recruitment’s Barry Whelan

Blind-tasting conducted for Irish Wine Show - Star Awards 2022-2023

The Irish Wine Show ‘Star Awards’ is an initiative of the National Off-Licence Association (since 2001), representing 315 independent off-licences throughout the country, which is intended to be of practical assistance to customers in making wine choices. With more than 600 wines to select from in a typical off-licence, the specialist

knowledge and assistance of staff in these outlets is of particular importance to customers. Fortunately, such a service is readily available in most offlicences, which have developed into specialist wine retailers. However, in addition to this service and taking into account the busy sales periods when it might not be practicable to spend very much time in helping customers to make individual choices, or when customers might prefer to browse for themselves, the identification of award-winning wines in a range

Leslie Williams

B

The Irish Wine Show Star Awards make it easy for shoppers to pick up quality wines across all price points

of categories and at various price levels is a very useful option.

The Star Award wines are clearly visible in-store and in the weeks from now to Christmas

Maureen O’Hara

will be prominently promoted in the outlets nationwide that are members of the National OffLicence Association. This range of wines will be promoted exclusively in these outlets.

Judging panel of qualified experts

The Star Award wines have been selected by a panel of qualified experts and their endorsement means that customers have a specialist recommendation and an expert reassurance that they will enjoy excellent quality and value when they select one of our award winners. On the other hand, our member retailers have an exclusive range which has the distinction of being unique in Ireland, which puts them further to the forefront as leaders in the Irish wine market.

The judging panel was led by the following four experts:

• Leslie Williams

• Maureen O’Hara

• John Wilson

• Jean Smullen

Leslie Williams is freelance journalist specialising in wine, food and travel. Williams writes the weekly wine column and a weekly beer, cider and spirits column in the Irish Examiner where he also writes fortnightly restaurant reviews and occasional feature and travel articles. As a wine educator, he teaches spring and autumn wine courses for the VEC and frequently conducts wine tastings for consumers and the trade

Williams writes regularly for the trade magazine FFT, primarily as drinks correspondent, but also on food trends and issues. He is also a contributing editor to the McKenna Guides to Ireland.

A former treasurer of the Irish Food Writers Guild, Williams has been published in many publications over the years including the Evening Herald (where he wrote food features and had a number of columns cookery, consumer and restaurants), The Irish Times, Food & Wine Magazine, various trade press, newspapers and magazines. In fact, he has written features on everything from potatoes to parties to Parisian bread.

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Management, specialising in Marketing, and was fortunate to work as marketing manager for 20 years in Findlaters and Gilbeys Alongside

this, O’Hara has been lecturing wine courses for the WSET since 1998, on a part-time basis, having achieved the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits a couple of years earlier

In 2010, she left full-time employment and started her own wine education business, Premier Wine Training. O’Hara’s school offers WSET wine courses up to Level 3 (both classroom-based and online) and a French Wine Scholar programme, as well as wine appreciation courses.

As a FETAC-certified trainer, O’Hara also conducts in-house training programmes which are created to reinforce skills in selling wine in the workplace, in a relevant and measurable way

O’Hara has been writing a weekly wine column since 2012 for The Daily Star She also works as a part-time wine consultant for the Molloy Group She has been a

wine judge previously for the NOffLA Gold Star Awards, at VinItaly, and also at IWSC in London.

John Wilson

John Wilson has been writing about food and drinks for over two decades. He has written wine books, contributed to magazines, and appeared on television and radio He is drinks correspondent for The Irish Times, and writes Wilson on Wine, his annual wine guide Despite all of this, he retains an unquenchable thirst for a glass of something nice, preferably with a plate of good food and a few friends.

Jean Smullen

Jean Smullen is a wine journalist and broadcaster, and has been a co-presenter of Newstalk’s wine slot, ‘Movies & Booze’ with Sean Moncrieff since 2007. She also writes a weekly wine column for the Sunday World

Smullen has worked in the wine trade for 28 years. She began her wine career in 1991 with the Wine Development Board where she was instrumental in the development of a countrywide

Leslie Williams

John Wilson

Jean Smullen

wine education programme

Since 1999, she has been working in a freelance capacity offering a unique consultancy service to the wine trade

As well as her work in Ireland, Smullen is an international wine judge

In 2013, she was one of six finalists in the International Wine

& Spirit Competition’s (IWSC’s) prestigious ‘Communicator of the Year’ award; a title which recognises an exceptional contribution to increasing awareness of wine and spirits. Smullen was awarded the runnerup prize at a reception in Palazzo Verita Poeta in Verona on 6 April 2013. Previous winners include Jancis Robinson, Olly Smith, Susy Atkins, Oz Clarke and Tim Atkin.

Participating members

Alongside the panel of four expert judges, the following NOffLA members also participated in the morning session on the day and leant their considerable experience to the blind-tasting

process. They included WSET Diploma and WSET Level 3 holders along with members of the Champagne Academy:

Lynda Coogan (Wine consultant)

Julie Dupouy (Wine consultant)

Frank Haughton (McHugh’s Off-Licence)

John Shiel (Shiel’s Londis, Malahide)

David Lonergan (The Vintry)

Judith Boyle (Boyle’s Off-Licence, Kildare Town)

Amy Hemphill

(Mitchell & Son, CHQ)

Ann Moran (Gibney’s, Malahide)

Always serve responsibly!

As Halloween draws near, retailers may expect an increase in attempts by underage customers to buy alcohol and tobacco products. NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan explains the risks of not checking IDs properly, and why it’s vital that staff should attend the Responsible Trading Certificate course

Risks

NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan is adamant that having unprepared staff who could potentially fail to check IDs properly is “not worth the risk”

It’s an issue every single person working in the off-trade deals with on a weekly basis, that of underage individuals seeking to make alcohol and/or tobacco purchases. It’s no laughing matter; the law clearly states it is an offence to sell these products to people under 18, with heavy fines for both the business and the individual for those found in violation.

For many years, this was something of a pitfall for retailers, with the vague threat of secret shoppers and undercover gardaí visits looming without any solid information on how best to remain in compliance. Eventually NOffLA retailers grouped together to formulate the Responsible Trading Certificate programme, a training course for

the off-trade

The RTC course is carried out online, can be completed by staff in one day and includes a grant from the association.

“Serving an individual without asking for ID we call that the

€10,000 mistake,” quips NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan. “The same goes for selling tobacco products. That’s how much it might end up costing a retailer if a member of staff gets it wrong.”

The RTC training programme covers all you need to know about running a responsible and professional store. Trainees are made aware of their legal obligations, advised on how to avoid illegal sales and handle difficult situations that could arise and put the licence at risk.

For all further information, email elaine@noffla.ie

Some of the areas the course covers include how to be diplomatic and polite in these situations, not raising one’s voice or being confrontational, not standing too close to someone and so on. It’s an online course that is completed in around one to two hours, followed by a test and a certificate for successful participants.

We suspect that everyone reading this has fallen foul of the law or come close to it during their time; Gary O’Donovan agrees that it’s an occupational hazard and therefore something that all businesses should engage with for their own benefit.

■

The Responsible Trading Certificate (RTC) training programme covers everything staff members need to know in order to ensure a store trades responsibly and professionally at all times

There are heavy fines for both the business and the individual involved in allowing sales to under-18s

B Corp certified Minor Figures expands barista-favourite Oat M*lk range

B Corp certified company Minor Figures was founded by a group of baristas and coffee fanatics with roots in the specialty and independent coffee industry

Its signature Oat M*lk range, Barista Oat, wasn’t designed to replicate the taste of dairy, but to perfectly complement specialty coffee from texture to taste By striking the perfect balance of sweetness and fidelity in the cup, Barista Oat allows the complex notes of the espresso it’s paired with to shine through, and it’s also easy to foam.

One of less than 5,000 B Corp companies worldwide, Minor Figures was the first plant-based milk company to go carbon neutral in 2018.

The brand recently launched Everyday Oat and Everyday Oat Light variants. While Barista Oat has been formulated for specialty coffee, Everyday Oat is adaptable to every occasion. Boasting a thicker mouthfeel, it’s a tasty dairy-free milk alternative. Non-GMO and 100% vegan, it contains only naturally occurring sugars and is fortified with calcium, iodine and vitamins B2, B12, and D.

Made with less oil, resulting in a lower fat content and lighter product, Everyday Oat Light is meeting the demand for an alternative to semiskimmed and skimmed dairy products.

They’re available at minorfigures.com and in stockists nationwide

Clonmel Healthcare launches new formulation Caldebaby Teething Gel

Clonmel Healthcare is launching a new formulation teething gel with the addition of sodium hyaluronate

Caldebaby Teething Gel* cools and soothes baby’s gums and provides gentle care to the baby’s mouth.

All parents or carers have to do is gently massage baby’s gums 2-3 times a day with the teething gel. The best times are after meals and before sleeping.

With a pleasant honey flavour, Caldebaby Teething Gel is both alcoholfree and sugar-free

For more information, visit www.caldebaby.ie

*(Alw ad the eadlabel)

Lucozade is Ireland’s number three FMCG brand

At over 95 years old, Lucozade continues to grow from strength to strength and is now Ireland’s number three FMCG brand. Lucozade Energy is Ireland’s number one impulse energy brand*.

Alongside a flavour portfolio that includes Orange, Apple, and Citrus Clear, it is Lucozade Original that continues to drive growth and remains the firm favourite for Irish energy consumers over the lifetime of the brand.

Originally created in 1927, Lucozade was for “aiding recovery” when you weren’t feeling great, which famously became “Replaces Lost Energy” and now, with glucose and Vitamin B3 to help reduce tiredness, “It’s On!”

Over 95 years the brand has adapted and evolved to grow into what is now the number three FMCG brand in Ireland through consistent investment delivering ‘always on’ consumer comms in particular with its new brand platform “It’s On”. With a rich history in the gaming world, Lucozade is now back in the game via a summer partnership with XBox and will be the headline sponsor of Gamerfest 2022, taking place in the RDS in October

As Lucozade goes from strength to strength, the brand believes one thing consistently rings true “You can’t beat the original!”

*(Source: Nielsen IQ Total Scantrack MAT Value Sales w/e 14 August 2022)

Lucozade Ottimo

Pasta lovers rejoice! Introducing Ottimo: the ultimate in pasta perfection!

Pasta lovers rejoice! New product Ottimo is the ultimate in pasta perfection, taking fresh pasta and freezing it, and it’s made right here in Ireland. With three varieties to choose from, it’s ready in four minutes.

Fantastico Four Cheese Ravioli are filled with a mouth-watering creamy mix of four cheeses. Meanwhile, for those looking for a hint of veg with something indulgent, Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni ticks all the boxes. And for mushroom fans, the Non Quadrato Mushroom Ravioli are scrumptious, simply seasoned with salt and pepper

Research has shown that many people purchase fresh pasta and later freeze what they do not use This Italian inspired frozen filled pasta is the perfect answer for busy people who want a tasty, convenient meal without the effort. The fresh frozen production process allows Ottimo to maintain the fresh pasta texture and keeps all the nutrients locked in. It cooks straight from frozen in four minutes and doesn’t leave any waste shoppers can simply use what they need and put the remainder back in the freezer.

Ottimo is stocked in selected supermarkets nationwide priced at €3.50 for a 300g pack; brought to you by Green Isle

For more information, visit www,optimopastas.com, Instagram.com/ ottimopastas/ and Facebook.com/optimopastaperfection.

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