ShelfLife January 21

LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED GROCERY TRADE CIRCULATION IN IRELAND

January 2021

Industry inspiration Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu Blanchardstown named National Grocery Manager of the Year 2020

+

Brexit complications A look at how complicated postBrexit ‘rule of origin’ regulations are affecting supply chains

Christmas in review Dan White reports on a record-breaking year for festive sales

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OPINION 3

ShelfLife January 2020 Vol. 28 No. 1

Early vaccination essential for retail and food logistics workers on the frontline

Editor GILLIAN HAMILL (01) 294 7776 gillian.hamill@mediateam.ie Staff journalist JULIA O’REILLY (01) 294 7709 julia.oreilly@mediateam.ie Contributors CAROLINE MCENERY FIONNUALA CAROLAN BARRY WHELAN COLIN GORDON Head of business IAN MULVANEY (01) 294 7766 ian.mulvaney@mediateam.ie Account manager MARK MORGAN (01) 294 7767 mark.morgan@mediateam.ie Circulation subs@mediateam.ie Publisher JOHN McDONALD (01) 294 7744 john.mcdonald@mediateam.ie Printing W & G Baird Ltd

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hen news emerged last year that scientists had worked around the clock to produce Covid-19 vaccines, it gave us all a collective boost. A sense that 2021 could be a year of hope, one where we might finally emerge from the devastating Covid crisis. However, high case numbers and ICU admissions have left many people now more fearful and anxious about the possibility of contracting coronavirus, than they have been at any stage since March.

It is more crucial than ever that the vaccine rollout is administered as quickly and efficiently as possible. The public need to be kept informed with facts and figures about the number of vaccinations carried out, alongside the daily bulletins on rising Covid cases.

In the UK, the availability of the AstraZeneca jab is one factor is the quicker vaccine rollout currently happening there. The good news for Ireland is that the European Medicines Agency is expected to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine for use on 29 January. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said this would pave the way for 100,000 weekly vaccinations here in February (up from 50,000 vaccinations during the second week in January).

All positive news – yet retail staff on the frontline must receive early vaccination. According to Gerry Light, Mandate trade union general secretary, the HSE’s listing of priority groups published on 6 January for vaccination was “ambiguous” and did not explain where retail workers stood in its listing of priorities. Groups including RGDATA are also calling for early vaccination for essential retail and food logistics workers.

As Stephen Collins aptly put it in The Irish Times: “The 100,000 or so people who staff our supermarkets and essential shops are the unsung heroes of the pandemic. They have been risking their health and working away without complaint since it started, regardless of the danger.”

Gillian Hamill, Editor, ShelfLife magazine

ShelfLife is a controlled circulation magazine, available to selected individuals with interests in the retail and wholesale grocery trade, who fall within the publisher’s terms of control.

For those outside these terms, annual subscription is €98.00 including postage & packing.

Contents January 44

21

17

36

COVER STORY 21

Broadcasting the stars of our industry!

After a challenging year, the 2020 Grocery Management Awards were an excellent occasion to celebrate our industry’s hard-working retail managers who have shown tremendous dedication throughout Covid-19

NEWS&ANALYSIS 4 6 10 43 44 Managing Director JOHN McDONALD; Sales Director PAUL BYRNE Operations Director BILLY HUGGARD Published monthly by Mediateam Ltd., 55 Spruce Avenue, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

A94 RP22 Telephone (01) 294 7776 Fax (01) 294 7799 ISSN: 1393 0753

News grid Seen and heard CSNA news Off-trade news Stark realities of Brexit hit retail sector Following the finalisation of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, reports of empty shelves in supermarkets and complete confusion at ports have already surfaced, writes Fionnuala Carolan

ADVISOR Circulation audited by Audit Bureau of Circulations.

ShelfLife is a member of Magazines Ireland

16 Recruitment Setting healthy boundaries around our online connectivity can benefit our mental health

and emotional lives, writes Excel Recruitment’s Barry Whelan 17 HR As 2021 begins, The HR Suite’s Caroline McEnery outlines the latest regulations and practices which all HR departments should be aware of 18 Marketing To be a real marketer, really get to know the business, writes Colin Gordon

GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 22 Interview: GMA Supreme Champion 2020 Shelflife catches up with the GMA Supreme Champion for 2020, Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu Blanchardstown, Dublin

24 GMA 2020 winners Fifteen awards were presented at the ceremony held on 10 December 2020, honouring the best in the many departments that make up local convenience stores and supermarkets 33 Building for the future Alan O'Donnell of Daybreak Cahir was the winner of the Medium C-Store Manager Award at the 2020 GMAs. He tells Fionnuala Carolan about the business he manages and what the win means to him

MARKETING& CATEGORY FOCUS 36 Bottled Water 40 Cooked Meats

4

NEWS

NEWSGRID The top news stories in FMCG

and retail from across Ireland

Record grocery sales for Christmas 2020 The latest figures from Kantar show that take-home grocery sales in Ireland rose by 17% in the 12 weeks to 27 December 2020.

A record-breaking €1.2 billion was spent on groceries in December, making it the busiest month ever as families navigated evolving lockdown restrictions and prepared for Christmas.

According to Emer Healy, retail analyst at Kantar: “The average shopper spent €134 more on groceries in December than they did last year. Wednesday 23 December was the busiest shopping day of the year when almost half of the Irish population hit the supermarkets.”

Fewer guests to host meant a smaller scale feast and shoppers spent €1.2 million less

on whole turkeys over the four weeks to 27 December compared with the same period last year.

Lidl stood out among the retailers as the fastest growing grocer this period, with its success starting in the alcohol aisles where sales grew by 70% in the three months leading up to Christmas. Overall Lidl gained 0.9 percentage points of share this period.

Rounding out a strong year for online grocery, Irish households spent €133 million through digital channels over the past 12 weeks. “The popularity of online grocery shopping is no flash in the pan, and digital orders accounted for 4.1% of all grocery sales in December,” Healy said.

Bolstered by their strong online presence,

Valeo Foods Group acquires German confectionery business

RGDATA seeks early vaccines for essential retail and food logistics workers

Subject to regulatory approvals, Valeo Foods Group is set to acquire Schluckwerder Holding GmbH, a leading specialist producer of confectionery products popular throughout Germany and internationally, from German mid-market private equity firm Novum Capital.

Established in Ireland in 2010 as a portfolio business of CapVest Partners LLP, Valeo Foods has expanded significantly in recent years through acquisition-led growth and is the producer and distributor of leading brands including Kettle crisps, Rowse honey and Jacob’s biscuits.

RGDATA has urged the government to ensure that essential retail workers get vaccinated against Covid-19 with essential frontline workers in Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout programme.

Tara Buckley According to RGDATA director general Tara Buckley: “The independent shops that RGDATA represents are essential in communities throughout the country and they must be given every support to allow them to remain open and trading in the best interest of all.”

Reminder: NMW rises to €10.20 As of 1 January 2021, the national minimum wage (NMW) now stands at €10.20 per hour for experienced adult workers. It is vital for all employers to ensure they are complying with the NMW requirements, as well as maintaining records that clearly demonstrate their compliance.

The under 18’s minimum wage now stands at €7.14 per hour, at €8.16 per hour for 18-yearolds and at €9.18 for 19-year-olds.

Dunnes Stores (Bangor) Ltd reports £1m deficit for 2019 Dunnes Stores’ Northern Ireland business lost €1.1 million in 2019, according to financial accounts filed by Dunnes Stores (Bangor) Ltd, which owns the group’s stores in the north.

The directors’ report stated that Covid19 has exerted a material impact on the group’s business, but that its balance sheet is robust with strong cash flow and no external financing.

Shoppers spent €1.2 million less on whole turkeys

Tesco and SuperValu are neck and neck for the position of Ireland’s second biggest grocer and both hold a 22.1% market share this period. Dunnes holds the largest portion of the market at 22.5%. Shoppers spent more per trip in Dunnes than in any other retailer, helping the grocer to grow its overall sales by 11.4%.

New rules on sale of alcohol introduced Regulations on the sale of alcohol have come into effect under new legislation. Since 11 January, alcohol sales have been disallowed from supermarket voucher schemes. Popular multi-buy deals have also come to an end.

For further details on what the new regulations entail, turn to page 43.

Aldi to recruit 1,050 new store staff in 2021

Minister Damien English with Niall O’Connor, group MD

Aldi has announced it is seeking to recruit and train more than 1,050 new store employees throughout 2021, to support its ongoing growth and expansion in Ireland.

The new roles include 700 permanent positions and 350 temporary jobs to support the current trading period.

Aldi will open four new stores in the coming months at Dunshaughlin, Douglas, Newbridge and Bayside, Dublin 13, adding to its existing network of 145, with additional stores in Cahersiveen and Killarney to follow later this year. ■

For more details on all the above and the latest grocery-related news as it happens, visit www.shelflife.ie.

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

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6

SEEN AND HEARD

New So.Beer launch features local social media stars and music talent So.Beer, a non-alcohol lager, just launched in Ireland in perfect time for Dry January.

So.Beer created DAP (Dry Ass Pinty), a rap video, which calls on Irish people to go on the dry this January and start 2021 in a healthy way. DAP is a fun, energy-filled tune featuring the amazing Irish rap talent, Evans Junior and Celaviedmai, along with some special performances from Irish dancers, comics and social media stars, Fabu D and Michael Fry. According to the brand, what makes So.Beer unique is its health enhancing benefits. It is packed with complex B vitamins (B2,3,6,7, 9 and 12) amongst other natural minerals. In addition, it has built-in immune support, with

250mg of beta glucan. This special So.Beer formulation has been proven to boost the immune system, improve energy levels and help combat stress, as proven in over 50 scientific studies. In addition, it’s vegan, low in sugar and calories (40 per can) So.Beer was created to provide a delicious and healthy alternative for those who choose to not to drink. It doesn’t compromise on taste, on health or, most importantly… on tomorrow!

“It’s a ‘Beer with Benefits’,” says So.Beer joint CEO Catherina Butler, “so if you’re going on the dry, or just cutting back, it’s your best bet to help get you through a Dry January!”

So.Beer is available to purchase online and

So.Beer, from Irish start-up The Naked Collective, offers a unique, health enhancing lager to the non-alcohol market

in local stores, while the DAP music video is currently live on YouTube.

Anyone interested in becoming a stockist, should contact the head of sales, Ger Corkery, by emailing letstalk@tncdrinks.com.

Rapid electric vehicle charging station launched at Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty

Brian Hurley, Cork footballer, with Eugene Scally, owner, Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty

Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty has launched a Rapid electric vehicle charging station, enabling shoppers to charge their electric vehicle in as little as 20 minutes.

The new facility further strengthens the town’s credentials as one of the world’s top 100 sustainable destinations and helps Clonakilty achieve its aim of becoming Ireland’s first carbon neutral town.

The EasyGo.ie Rapid charger forms part of a SuperValu trial of electric charging stations for its store network, with the charger at Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty, the first in a series of other installations.

Store owner, Eugene Scally, made the decision to incorporate the EasyGo.ie Rapid charger as part of Clonakilty’s sustainability strategy “CoolClon”.

He is confident the charging station will attract an increasing number of shoppers making the switch to electric vehicles, based on the growing preference of drivers to opt for electric vehicles.

The EasyGo.ie Rapid charger – the Tritium 50 – is the most advanced electric vehicle charging station in Ireland, with the ability to add up to 100km to the average electric vehicle in as little as 15 minutes. The charging station also benefits from being part of the EasyGo.ie network, which uniquely offers access to the two other main electric vehicle charging networks, giving drivers the ability to find and use chargers from different network providers without having to sign up for multiple accounts.

“Sustainability is a huge focus for Clonakilty,” Eugene Scally said, “and we are on a journey to become the first carbon neutral town in Ireland.

As a locally owned store, community has always been a huge focus for us and now shopping at Scally’s is even more convenient, thanks to being able to charge your electric vehicle while picking up your groceries.”

introduces new sustainable alternative for retail signage Print Solutions is currently offering new varieties of Dispa, the eco-friendly paper board.

In addition to the well-known 3.8 mm board, Dispa is also available in 2.4 mm thickness.

Another impressive option is the Dispa Canvas, featuring high-quality covering sheets on both sides in a “canvas” look.

Meanwhile, Dispa Outdoor is the ideal display board for short-term outdoor applications.

All products in the Dispa range are made of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper (FSC C127595) and are 100% recyclable.

Dispa delivers everything you would expect from a sign and display board – a paperboard

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

with optimal flatness, homogenous surface, excellent printability, rigidity and stability.

DISPA provides a perfect solution for: • Indoor promotion campaigns • Hanging, ceiling-mounted signs • Display and POS/POP applications

• DISPA Outdoor – for short-term outdoor applications and signage Contact Print Solutions about how the company can help you with Dispa board for your next indoor and outdoor campaigns at info@printsolutions.ie or call +353 1 409 8000.

Made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, the Dispa paper board range is 100% recyclable

8

SEEN AND HEARD

Ireland’s kindest moments of 2020 revealed!

New social data has revealed the milestone moments in 2020 and beginning of 2021 that have had a direct impact on how Ireland has exercised kindness online. Kind Snacks identified a collection of phrases that repeatedly came up in tweets where people had spread kindness, or positively commented on another individual’s act of kindness.

Using these terms, Kind Snacks was then able to track how they had been used throughout the year, noting significant peaks and troughs against ongoing conversation for key calendar events or cultural moments, from Covid-19 announcements to Matt Damon being spotted in Dalkey!

Surveying Ireland’s tweets from the entire year and start of 2021, the index has revealed that moments such as The Late Late Show Charity appeal campaign, Clap for Carers and #SaveDublinZoo all significantly swung online

chat for the better, whilst national lows included new announcements of Level 5 restrictions.

Commissioned by Kind Snacks, the index, coined the ‘Kind Curve’, shows how we have come together as a country at key The ‘Kind Curve’ index shows how we have come together as events throughout 2020. a country at key events throughout 2020 Remarkable acts of kindness have dominated news stories 3. Global Covid cases pass 1 million (15,952) alongside rolling Covid-19 updates and now 4. GAA’s community focus announced (15,508) Kind Snacks is calling on the people of Ireland 5. Matt Damon locks down in Dalkey (13,240) to ensure this wave of kindness continues for 6. Leo Varadkar quotes Mean Girls during 2021.

Covid-19 briefing (13,096) Top 8 moments that sparked kindness in 2020 7. Joe Biden announced as the next US 1. Government coronavirus plans call for President (12,891) extraordinary measures (22,484) 8. Tony Holohan steps back to care for wife 2. Clap for Carers launches (17,164) (12,850)

Open To Better: Coca-Cola’s campaign for hope and optimism in 2021 Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke cans will feature 25 limited edition uplifting resolutions to encourage the nation to be ‘Open To Better’ in 2021

2020 has been a year like no other. And while we’re still facing difficulty and uncertainty in this new year, we can begin 2021 with a resolution to better embrace change and a pledge to do things differently. This is the message behind Coca-Cola’s new campaign, ‘Open To Better’.

Coca-Cola wants to inspire people to find hope and optimism in the new year and encourage Coca-Cola fans to look ahead to how we can all be ‘Open To Better’ in 2021.

This is why Coca-Cola will turn each pack into an opportunity to admit what we can improve upon, reach out for help or commit to lasting changes.

The campaign sees its iconic Coca Cola logo removed from packaging for a limited time and replaced with a series of empowering and uplifting resolutions. Coca-Cola is also giving people the opportunity to design their own unique Coca-Cola cans with personalised resolutions online.

Limited-edition Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero

Sugar and Diet Coke cans, now available in stores across the island of Ireland, include 25 positive, inspiring messages such as “I promise to listen more just for you” and “I will never watch our series without you again”. For the first time, people can also express themselves by creating unique personalised cans via coke.ie/opentobetter, emblazoning their favourite Coca Cola beverages with personal pledges to share with family and friends.

Personalised cans will cost €3.50 plus postage and packaging.

Your customers can then share their limitededition or personalised Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Diet Coke can on social media using the hashtag #OpenToBetter.

DCU research shows progress is being made by food manufacturers to improve public health New research carried out at Dublin City University shows that food manufacturers are making progress in their efforts to improve public health with reductions in the levels of salt, sugar and saturated fat across breads, milks, cereals and spreads sold in supermarkets in Ireland.

Led by Dr Mary Rose Sweeney from DCU’s School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, the study looked at how successful food industry-led reformulation efforts have been in addressing the key targets - salt, sugar, saturated and total fat in everyday food staples.

By analysing the nutrient labels on products

ShelfLife Month 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

in retailers with the leading market shares in Ireland in 2014 and again in 2017, the team at DCU found that the composition of salt and sugar in cereal, bread, spreads, and milk available had declined during that period by 12% and 7% respectively.

It also found that saturated fat had declined in cereals by 7% but had increased in breads by 12%, spreads by 1% and milks by 5%. The analysis also shows that manufacturers increased the recommended serving sizes in nine cereals and one milk.

“Dietary factors pose a profound threat to health,” said Dr Mary Rose Sweeney. “From a population health perspective, the results from

this study are encouraging with reductions in salt and sugar observed across all the food groups examined,” she added. “However, salt remains higher than recommended in cereals, breads and spreads and sugar remains higher than recommended in cereals so we have a way to go yet in improving the nutrient profile of these foods.”

The study, ‘An exploration of food industry led reformulation on fortified food staples in Ireland’ has been published in the Journal of Public Health. Authors include Daragh McMenemy, Frances Kelly and Mary Rose Sweeney from DCU’s School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health. ■

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10

CSNA NEWS

CSNA NEWS Looking forward to 2021:

CSNA Stockbook:

Have you received yours?

A message from the CSNA national president

CSNA national president Peter Gaughan says he is “enormously proud” of how local retailers met the challenge of Covid-19 and continually supported the most vulnerable in our society

Looking forward to 2021, we would like to hope that it couldn’t possibly get much worse than 2020.

It seems however that 2021 so far is showing itself up to that challenge.

As I write this, we have positive rates of over 6,000 per day and Capitol Hill in Washington is under attack by the American people and Brexit has finally arrived but thankfully seems to be limping in rather than crashing around us.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, the vaccines (plural) have arrived and every day that we can vaccinate the most vulnerable means that we are a day closer to the end. New direct shipping routes are already up and running to facilitate direct import/export to Europe, so we are at least taking baby steps to the end of this nightmare.

2020 will be remembered as the year of Covid, it has affected all our members

in many ways. Some have had to close, and some are stretched to breaking point; either way it has been hard on all retailers without exception.

As president, I was enormously proud of the way that the local retailers in Ireland stood up to the challenge and ensured that the most vulnerable in our society were looked after. Without you there could have been a lot more pain and suffering for the weakest in our communities.

Now more than ever you need to know that you, the retailer, have someone in your corner, someone that will answer your call and you won’t be found wanting.

Whether it is a big problem or a small problem or just that you want to chat to someone that understands what you’re going through, we in the CSNA are there for you.

It’s still going to be a hard slog ahead for another few months, but we’ve come so far since last year and I know that you can dig in once more and get through this.

To quote Seamus Heaney: “If we can winter this one out we can summer anywhere.”

May the summer come soon and, in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call us in the office with your problems, big or small. We are always here to help!

The CSNA newspaper and magazine stockbook was delivered to all retailers in December. If you have not received yours, please contact Laura in the CSNA office on 045-535050.

National Minimum Wage increase: January 2021 The NMW rate changed on 1 January 2021; a new rate of €10.20 per hour will apply as the lowest hourly rate an adult (20 years and over) can be paid.

The sub minima rates are therefore; Under 18 (70%) €7.14 per hour 18-year olds (80%) €8.16 per hour 19-year olds (90%) € 9.18 per hour Experience is no longer material, once a worker is 20 years of age, they must be paid the full NMW, even if they had never previously been employed for a wage anywhere.

Similarly, but in reverse, a 19 year old that has worked since they were 15 is only entitled to 90% of the NMW.

New Year’s resolutions Contracts of Employment – Ensure that all contracts are up to date and compliant with current legislation.

Age-restricted products – ensure that you have policies in place for age-restricted products (Alcohol, Tobacco, Lottery products).

Repak – Are you paying too much? Avail of the free CSNA Repak Audit.

Ensure that you are receiving the weekly CSNA newsletter.

Check new employment incentives from the Department of Social Welfare.

Worried about your shop insurance? Contact the CSNA today.

Covid-19 employment supports – Contact the CSNA for more information.

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Ensure you get 2021 off to the best possible start by caring care of the tasks listed here

CSNA launches Wellbeing and Digital Support App for members CSNA are delighted to partner with Spectrum.Life to provide valuable mental health and wellbeing supports for CSNA members nationwide in 2021.

Spectrum.Life is the largest provider of employer health and wellness services in Ireland, looking after the health and wellness needs of over 1 million users.

Spectrum.Life recognises that the uncertainty and mental health challenges posed by the coronavirus and the need to support employees’ wellbeing has never been more important.

At times of stress or uncertainty, it’s better to talk as we all work better with support. The Spectrum.Life Employee Assistance Programme team are here to help manage employees’ mental wellbeing during these times while also providing them with information and resources to make their day-to-day lives a little easier.

The new app will offer a wealth of mental wellbeing content, including guided mindfulness and meditation courses, alongside wellbeing videos, podcasts and ebooks

Digital platform and app • 100s of home fitness plans + tracking • 200+ nutrition recipes + calorie tracking • Wellbeing videos, podcasts and ebooks • Mental wellbeing content • Guided mindfulness and meditation courses • Covid-19 support podcast with high profile guests • Covid-19 specific content - Parenting, mental wellbeing, sleep

Employee Assistance Programme • 24/7 access to counsellors for mental health support • Unlimited free-phone support for employees and managers • Access to six sessions per issue via face-to-face, telephone or video • • • •

counselling (30+ languages)

Access to legal, financial, life coaching and other lifestyle supports for employees All services available to employees, their partner/spouse and children over 16 Digital EAP access: Live chat and digital wellbeing content Anonymous usage and outcome reporting

These supports will be available for CSNA member stores to sign up to, with the service launching in January 2021.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks, but for further details, contact the CSNA office on 045-535050 or email info@csna.ie.

The Employee Assistance Programme offered within the app will include a live chat function

Access to legal, financial, life coaching and other lifestyle supports for employees will be available

Keep updated on the Covid-19 situation on the CSNA website: www.csna.ie

CSNA CONTACT DETAILS

If you have any queries regarding CSNA services or membership please contact the office in Naas, Co. Kildare on 045-535050 or by email to info@csna.ie/www.csna.ie

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

12

OPINION

Dan’s Digest

With Dan White VieWs on the latest eConomiC & politiCal neWs

Supermarkets hit the Covid jackpot

2

020 was a dreadful year for most retailers as repeated lockdowns sent sales plummeting. The grocery sector was one of the few exceptions with supermarket groups on both sides of the Irish Sea reaping the rewards of literally having a large captive market.

Christmas sales Morrisons, the fourth largest UK supermarket group, kicked off the Christmas reporting season on 5 January.

It revealed a massive 9.3% increase in likefor-like non-fuel sales over Christmas and New Year and by 8.1% for the 22 weeks to 3 January 2021. This compares with a 1.2% fall in like-for-like non-fuel sales for the 22 weeks to the end of 5 January 2020, a turnaround of over 9%.

Next out of the traps was Sainsburys, the UK’s second largest food retailer, on 7 January. It unveiled a 9.3% increase in Christmas like-for-like non-fuel sales and an 8.6% sales increase for the final three months of the year. This was a huge improvement on the previous Christmas when like-for-like sales fell by 0.7%.

Marks & Spencer released its Christmas sales figures on 8 January revealing an 8.7% increase in non-hospitality, like-for-like food sales in the four weeks to Christmas and a 5.7% increase in the three months to the end of December. This compares to a 1.4% increase in like-for-like food sales at M&S in the last three months of calendar 2019.

The other big UK supermarket group, market leader Tesco, had not published its Christmas sales figures at the time that this article went to press. However, if the recent strength of its share price, up almost 20% over the past two-and-a-half months, is any guide, it too is likely to have had a very happy Christmas.

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Alcohol sales jump On this side of the Irish Sea, grocery sales increased by €164bn to over €1bn in November, according to market research firm Kantar. The strongest increase was in alcohol with booze sales up by a third as customers stocked up for Christmas and substituted home drinking for trips to pubs and restaurants during the November lockdown.

Overall grocery sales are running 14% ahead of the previous year.

So after a bumper 2020, what does 2021 hold for the grocery sector? With the country back in lockdown after the Christmas Covid19 surge, it seems reasonable to expect a very good first quarter as the country remains in lockdown.

Vaccination timeline Further out the outlook is less certain. It’s all down to how quickly the Covid-19 vaccines can be rolled out. If the experience of the United States is any guide, vaccination could

prove to be easier said than done.

The problem with the first two vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, is that they need two doses to be fully effective and must be stored and distributed at extremely low temperatures, Pfizer’s at -70 degrees Celsius and Moderna’s at -40 degrees. While these hi-tech vaccines might do the trick for health care workers and such narrowly-defined groups as the over-80s and younger people with serious underlying health conditions, they will never be mass market.

To be effective, 80% or more of the population will have to be vaccinated. With a double-dose vaccine that would require 8 million shots to be administered in this country. The notion that such large volumes of a vaccine requiring ultra-cold distribution and storage could be delivered in the space of a few months strikes me as being fanciful.

Far more likely is that we would continue to yo-yo in and out of lockdown for the foreseeable future.

Morrisons emerged as a festive winner in the UK, after reporting a massive 9.3% increase in likefor-like non-fuel sales over Christmas and New Year

OPINION

If we are forced to rely on these vaccines, then the vaccination process could stretch well into 2022 or even beyond.

Single-dose solution The situation would be transformed if a single-dose vaccine that could be distributed and stored at or close to room temperatures became widely available.

We may be closer than we think. Already the Astra-Zeneca vaccine can be stored at between 2 and 8 degrees, basically a domestic refrigerator. While the Astra-Zeneca vaccine is, at least for now, still double-dose, a number of the other vaccines in development will be single-dose.

Such a vaccine could be quickly pushed out to the entire population, through pharmacies, GPs’ surgeries, GAA clubs, church halls, community centres and any other suitable public spaces. This would allow the entire population to be vaccinated in the space of a few months.

This would allow us all to be released early from de facto house arrest and flood into pubs and restaurants where we would spend some of the money we are currently spending in the supermarkets.

Great news for most of us but maybe not quite so good for the grocery retailers who have been among the main beneficiaries of Covid-19.

13

Percy Pig’s Brexit woes Percy Pig found himself in the Brexit frontline this month as he became the latest victim of the UK’s ill thought-out and poorly-executed departure from the EU. For those of you who don’t know about these things, Percy Pig is an in-house Marks & Spencer brand of sweets, that in its own small way illustrates the complex pan-European supply chains that were ripped apart when the UK indulged its Greta Garbo – “I want to be alone” – Brexit fantasy.

The Percy Pig sweets are actually made in Germany. In the pre-Brexit era they were then exported to the UK and in turn re-exported to Ireland. Since the UK formally left the EU on 1 January, the pink sweets have fallen foul of the EU’s complex rules of origin.

M&S chairman Archie Norman has said that trying to understand the rules of origin makes the task of unravelling the Covid-19 genome sequence simple by comparison.

This means that, despite being manufactured in Germany and thus within the EU, M&S faces the prospect of having to pay EU tariffs when it ships the sweets

Marks & Spencer’s Percy Pig Sweets, which are actually made in Germany, have fallen foul of the EU’s complex rules of origin

from the UK to Ireland. What can a poor pig do!

Of course M&S isn’t alone. Courier firm DPD announced on 8 January that it was “reviewing” deliveries to EU addresses, including those in Ireland, while the UK’s Road Haulage Association has warned the British Government that the supply chain between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is “only a boat breakdown” from collapse due to the regulatory border that has run down the middle of the Irish Sea since the beginning of the year.

And it’s still only January. Expect things to get a lot worse with Boris Johnson’s ”oven ready” – half-baked would be more like it - EU withdrawal deal before they get better. ■

APPOINTMENTS Ian Allen

Musgrave appoints Ian Allen as managing director of SuperValu and Centra

Musgrave has appointed Ian Allen as managing director of SuperValu and Centra.

A 23-year Musgrave veteran, Allen served as SuperValu sales director before taking up his new role on 1 January.

With over 30 years’ experience in the grocery industry and a proven track record of delivering significant brand growth, Allen has been responsible for significant commercial outcomes for Musgrave since joining the business in 1997.

He has served in a variety of roles including Centra sales director, head of trading strategy & planning and director of Frank and Honest Coffee, which is now the number one on-the-go coffee brand in the country.

Musgrave CEO Noel Keeley said Ian Allen’s appointment “reflects the success he has had across multiple roles, most recently as sales director of SuperValu, which has performed strongly this year”.

Keeley also thanked Ray Kelly who “served as interim managing director over the past number of months, stepping into the role in the midst of a global pandemic and steering our retail brands through Covid-19”.

Ciara Gibney

Andrew Shannon

Kinetic appoints new marketing manager

New general manager at JTI

Kinetic, the specialists in innovative out of home (OOH) communications for brands, recently appointed Ciara Gibney as its new marketing manager.

In her new role, Gibney will be responsible for implementing Kinetic’s external digital communications strategy, utilising the latest market and industry trends. Working closely with senior management, she will take an active role in the company’s overall communications strategy and will utilise her traditional, digital marketing and social media skills to actively engage with key audiences and brands.

Ciara Gibney joined the Kinetic team in 2016 as an operations executive, where she developed her skills in traditional and digital marketing. She was promoted to senior account executive on the marketing team in 2019.

She holds a degree in Marketing, Digital Media and Cloud Computing from Dublin Business School.

JTI Ireland, the country’s leading tobacco manufacturer, has announced that Andrew Shannon has taken over as general manager. Shannon joins JTI’s Irish business after successfully leading operations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark since 2016, prior to which he held senior roles in the UK, Switzerland and Canada over the course of his 20-year career with the company so far.

He takes over as general manager with JTI continuing to lead in the tobacco category and perform strongly in e-vapour with Logic, and having launched a brand new, first-to-market tobacco-free nicotine pouch product – Nordic Spirit – in late 2020, which Shannon successfully pioneered during his time in Scandinavia.

He succeeds Andy Reay who has moved to another leadership role in JTI after almost five years as general manager in Ireland. ■

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

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ADVERTORIAL

is proud to renew sponsorship of Ireland’s Fittest Family Hit show airs each Sunday evening on RTÉ One in a new 6.30pm slot for its eighth season

The benefits of sporting events and occasions as a healthy outlet for escapism and entertainment stretch all the way back to ancient times with even the earliest of civilisations clearly understanding the power of influence and feel-good factor that can be derived from success or failure in sporting endeavours and events. It is universally accepted that healthy competition in any field is known to enhance motivation and generate increased effort from those competing.

That is why Londis is pleased to celebrate its continuing association with, and sponsorship of, the phenomenally successful Ireland’s Fittest Family, Irish television’s hottest ticket. The popularity of this show and concept has soared year-on-year with an audience of more than 500,000 tuning in for the first episode of the 2021 season, which represents a whopping 28% increase in audience figures.

Perfectly in harmony This truly is an exciting and innovative partnership, which sees two of Ireland’s favourite family brands brought together for a sporting entertainment bonanza. It is also a fabulous vehicle by which to reinforce the blossoming reputation of Londis retailers as being perfectly in harmony with the communities they serve.

At its core, Ireland’s Fittest Family is a competitive sports entertainment television pleasure encouraging families to come together to view and experience collectively and imbuing a feel good factor that is almost impossible to replicate. It is also an exhilarating

The Londis double act of warehouse operators “Liam and Des” feature in the witty stings that precede every episode of Ireland’s Fittest Family

physical challenge like no other, pitting competing families against each other in the equivalent of a modern-day gladiatorial arena. The opposing families do battle with each other for the honour and glory of winning the right to progress to the next round and, hopefully, the final. This year’s series was filmed in Kilruddery Estate in Wicklow and brought together 16 of Ireland’s fittest, fastest and strongest families from across all four provinces to compete over the eight weeks for the title of Ireland’s fittest family in a series of challenges designed to test their physical and mental endurance.

Family-oriented brand It is a truism that family supports family, which is the premise of this phenomenally successful television show. Londis stores are predominantly family-run operations with different generations working together in harmony for the betterment of the group. The

The eighth season of Ireland’s Fittest Family airs on RTÉ One at 6.30pm every Sunday

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

ADVERTORIAL

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best kept secret of Ireland’s Fittest Family is that contestants only progress if they work together in harmony, which is also the reason behind the continuing success of Londis stores.

Londis retailers, their families, staff and teams work together.

Londis is a family-oriented brand that operates at the heart of communities across Ireland and this sponsorship gives the brand an exciting platform from which to promote its healthy lifestyle messaging while also encouraging everyone to be more active. As community-based retailers, who pride themselves on being local just like their customers, Londis retailers are passionate about celebrating that sense of community the show promotes.

This is Londis’ second year sponsoring the show, emphasising a clear association between Londis and the show’s content and messaging.

Health and wellbeing When it came to selecting the right sponsorship, Londis was discerning about creating the right energy around the brand and ultimately opted for a partnership that fits perfectly with the brand’s ethos. The sponsorship also complements Londis’ focus on health and wellbeing by offering healthy choices in stores and helps to maximise the reach to target markets driving long-term brand awareness amongst consumers. Critically, this sponsorship affords Londis a perfect proof point as a brand for health-conscious consumers, with a local spirit.

The hugely popular show features presenter Mairead Ronan and a star-studded line up of coaches including hurling icon Davy Fitzgerald, Olympian and World Champion hurdler Derval O’Rourke, All-Ireland camogie winner and Dancing with the Stars finalist Anna Geary and legendary Ireland, Munster and British and Irish Lions rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan. Filmed during August and September this year, every precaution and the utmost care was taken to ensure the safety of all the families, crew and coaches with the first episode airing on Sunday, 3 January.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Conor Hayes, Londis Sales Director said: “We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of RTE’s Ireland’s Fittest Family. The show is a perfect fit for Londis; it’s a family show that gives local people a chance to represent their families, parishes and counties on the big screen in a healthy, fun and competitive way. Londis is a family-oriented brand that operates at the heart of communities across Ireland; this sponsorship gives us an exciting platform to promote our healthy eating options and to encourage everyone to be more active.”

A very important facet of all Londis sponsorships is retailers’ buy-in. Their enthusiasm for this sponsorship is absolute and they have adopted the new Londis double act of “Liam and Des”, two warehouse operators who were introduced to the television audience for the first time during last season, as members of the extended Londis family! The witty stings that proceeded and preceded every episode captured the attention of viewers from the off and their return to the screen for this season has been greeted with delight by all viewers.

The Mahoney family are one of 16 of Ireland’s fittest, fastest and strongest families who feature in the series

The sponsorship is augmented by additional activity, including TV spots running in every break during the first and last episodes of the series, ensuring the Londis brand is prominent in the audience’s mind throughout the broadcasts. These spots also drive home the local and community messaging for the most prominent episodes of the series.

This coveted sponsorship is a huge coup for the Londis brand and this season in particular emphasises the convenience of the Londis network of stores as Londis local retailers continue to provide a safe shopping environment for their customers’ essential needs close to home.

Londis retailers and the Ireland’s Fittest Family contestants know local because, ultimately, they are ‘Local like You’. ■

Bringing sponsorship to life Londis’ Ireland’s Fittest Family sponsorship has also been recognised and lauded at various prestigious marketing awards, including placing second in the Best Content Marketing Award - Retail Consumer category at the Irish Content Marketing Awards 2020. Crucially, it is also well established that television sponsorships’ impact is long lasting and Londis has amplified that impact with complementary marketing activity at store level that included a competition for customers and engagement with show founder Davy Fitzgerald. Point of sale and digital and social media assets promoting the show and amplifying Londis’ health and fitness message have also been created and play a crucial role in bringing the sponsorship to life for retailers and customers in-store.

The O’Rourke family do battle for the honour and glory of being named Ireland’s Fittest Family in the feel-good family series

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

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ADVISOR: Recruitment

Digital detox

During lockdown, our devices and screens are omnipresent throughout the day, yet setting healthy boundaries around our online connectivity can benefit our mental health and emotional lives, writes Excel Recruitment’s Barry Whelan

BARRY WHELAN managing director of Excel Recruitment

www.excelrecruitment.com

I

n lockdown, digital is taking over our lives. We are living on our phones, social media, news sites and Netflix. Maybe it is time for a digital detox.

We often don’t realise the stress that constant connectivity can create. A digital detox is simply a period of time where you are offline completely. No smartphones, TVs, computers, tablets or social media. It is time to focus on real-life social interactions without digital distractions.

A digital detox will help you better understand your relationship with online, your devices and in particular social media. Whilst you may find it uncomfortable at times, boring and even stressful, you will be so much more mindful of the other activities and experiences in your life.

can’t imagine life without their devices, research and surveys have found that technology use can also contribute to stress.

In the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress Survey, a fifth of American adults cited technology use as a significant source of stress in their life. Another Swedish study found that heavy technology use among young adults was linked to sleeping problems, depressive symptoms, and increased stress levels.

For many, it is the ever-present need to be digitally connected and constant need to keep checking emails, texts, and social media that accounted for the majority of this technology stress.

Digital devices are proven to disrupt sleep. Constant connectivity affects work life balance and perhaps worst of all, social comparison keeps us from being content with ourselves.

A ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) created from the digital world finds us always wanting to be connected.

How to digital detox?

An ever-present need to be digitally connected and keep checking emails, texts, and social media causes stress for many of us

Why digital detox?

It may be hard to believe, but recent research by the Nielsen company has shown that the average adult spends around 11 hours each day listening to, watching, reading, or interacting with media. Think about how much time you spend on your phone without making a call. What would happen if you could take this time back? How productive would you be? What would this time add to your life?

While people often feel that they

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Some might suggest that a true digital detox would involve timebound abstinence from all digital devices and social media connections, but it is important to make your device usage work for your own life and demands.

Detaching from your devices can benefit your mental health, but doing a digital detox does not have to involve a complete separation from your phone and the internet. The process is often more about setting boundaries and making sure that you are using your devices in a way that benefit, rather than harm.

Let’s be realistic, examine if you really do rely on staying connected for work, school, or other obligations. For a lot of people, completely forgoing all forms of digital communication might not be possible. If you can do a complete digital detox for a certain amount of time, it might be something you want

to try. Being completely disconnected can feel liberating and refreshing for some people. The key is to make disconnecting something that works for your schedule and your life.

If you need your devices during the day for your job, try doing a minidetox at the end of the workday. Pick a time when you want to turn off your devices, and then focus on spending an evening completely free of things like social media, texting, online videos, and other electronic distractions.

Setting boundaries Set limits; some digital intrusion may be welcome, for example, you might want to use your phone to play your Spotify or Apple Music playlist while you are working out. However, setting it to airplane mode will make sure that you aren’t distracted by phone calls, texts, other messages, or app notifications during your workout.

Setting boundaries on the type and timing of connections you’ll attend to helps ensure that you can enjoy real-world activities completely free of digital diversions.

Other times when you might want to limit your digital device usage include: • When you are eating meals, particularly when dining with other people • When you are waking up or going to bed • When you are working on a project or hobby • When you are spending time with friends or family • Before you go to sleep each night Restricting your mobile device usage immediately before you go to sleep may also be helpful. One review of the research found that using media devices was linked to poor sleep quality.

Some people find giving up their devices fairly easy. Bear in mind that others will find it much more difficult and even anxiety-provoking at times. ■

ADVISOR: HR

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Strategic HR in 2021

As 2021 begins, The HR Suite’s Caroline McEnery outlines the latest regulations and new practices in the pipeline which all HR departments should be aware of

CAROLINE MCENERY

managing director, The HR Suite

HR professionals need to be aware of new EU directives and impending bills which aim to change current practices. Whilst not all will be enacted in 2021 or in their current form, there are some important learnings for the preparation and strategic management of the HR function.

Working From Home (Covid-19) Bill 2020 This bill aims to provide employees who are working from home with the following measures; the right to switch off from work-related electronic communications after or before the employees’ working hours, require employers to provide a workstation and a flat rate payment to meet the additional expenses of working from home due to Covid19 and to provide an appropriate policy to communicate measures regarding the same.

Organisation Of Working Time (Amendment) (Right To Disconnect) Bill 2020 This bill, whilst similar to the above, intends to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 to establish practices which allow an employee to disconnect from work-related emails, texts, and calls outside of their working hours. This bill also proposes protection against penalization if an employee does not respond to a workrelated communication after their working hours.

Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 and it will supplement the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2018 Act. The key important updates are as follows;

Terms of employment At present an employee should be issued with their ‘core’ terms of employment within five days of their start date under the Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2018 and all other terms must be provided within two months.

However now, under the directive, employers will be obliged to provide the employee with the more extensive terms of their employment within seven days from the commencement of their employment.

Probation The directive restricts a contract of employment from providing a probation period which exceeds six months.

Additionally, in fixed term contracts, the employer must pay consideration to the proportionality of the probationary period, taking into account the expected duration of the contract and nature of the work involved. However, there is a provision to allow probation periods to be longer than six months, provided that it is justified by the nature of employment or the interest of the worker.

Limitations on outside employment An employer, under this directive, will no longer be able to prohibit the employee from taking up employment outside of their normal work schedule, nor can the employee be penalised for doing so, except where there are circumstances of incompatibility. This may arise in circumstances relating to; ‘health and safety, the protection of business confidentiality, the integrity of the public service or the avoidance of conflicts of interests’.

Minimum predictability on work The Working From Home (Covid-19) Bill 2020 aims to give employees the right to switch off from work-related electronic communications outside of their working hours

EU Directive On Work-Life Balance/ Family-Friendly Changes

CONTACT THE HR SUITE:

If you require further information or advice on HR, please do not hesitate to contact The HR Suite’s consultants on (01) 9014335 or (066) 7102887 or email the company at info@thehrsuiteonline.com.

Ireland is a step ahead of this proposed directive in many ways, however, the most significant impact of this Directive for Irish employers, will be the introduction of the right of parents and carers to request flexible working arrangements, such as; A. Reduced working hours B. Flexible working hours C. Remote working options

EU Directive On Transparent And Predictable Working Conditions The aim of this directive is to enhance the transparency of ordinary working conditions. It will improve the existing standard for contracts of employments provided under the

Article 10 of the directive provides protection to unpredictable working where the working week is entirely or mostly unpredictable. The employee shall not be required to work unless the following conditions are met; • The work takes place within predetermined reference hours and days referred to in the contract.

• The worker is informed of the work assignment within a reasonable notice period.

Where one or both of these conditions are not adhered to, the worker will have the right to refuse the work without any adverse consequences.

Work related training Where training is provided for by the employer for work carried out by the employee, this should be provided free of cost, shall count as working time, and where possible, take place during working hours.

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. ■ www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

18

ADVISOR: Marketing

A real need to know To be a real marketer, really get to know the business, writes Colin Gordon

COLIN GORDON

marketing expert

With thousands of SKUs for consumers to choose between, marketing needs to cut through a swathe of noise to attract consumers’ attention

3

0,000 individual items in the ‘full range’ supermarket just down the road. And the other one in the retail park with a different name over its door but mostly the same items on similar shelves. And so on for dozens and dozens of stores all claiming more or less to be doing the same thing, with mostly the same range and the same message - ‘value’ (for which read cheaper than something else).

It’s not much different for the smaller so-called convenience stores - albeit with a smaller number of items - and even the two main ‘limited range’ stores seem to be both offering the same ‘save loads with us’ message as each other. All very confusing and it all begs the question...where is marketing in all this? Marketing, either as practiced by suppliers or retailers, seems to have allowed itself to become intoxicated and defined by ‘communications’, price discounting, endless line extensions and range proliferation, store openings (even if less so nowadays than up to very recently) and a particular emphasis on data and ‘efficiency’!

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Single most important activity Marketing was never meant to be this way. Marketing was always and only ever meant to be about where demand meets supply and leads to the transaction; where demand can be identified or created and a winning supply ‘system’ is built; where the customer (consumer) makes a choice to buy your brand or product/service to the detriment of his/her wallet and all other options. This focus on the transaction means marketing is the single most important activity (I hate the word ‘function’ for marketing) in an organisation. Everything else can be and often is farmed out. You can’t contract out owning the relationship

with the buyer or the achievement of the transaction. Only marketing can own the customer. And I don’t mean taking an order, or negotiating a deal with a trade customer. These sales are purely operational. Marketing is core to the business strategy and to see it reduced to (often) inane discussions about clicks and followers, or TVRs and CPTs, or continually putting on price discounts, is a poor representation of what it was meant to be and what it can still be.

Based on my own research, marketers are more focused on external activities than the workings of the company. But there’s no point in an award-winning ad or new on-pack promotion if the production

Marketing is core to the business strategy and to see it reduced to (often) inane discussions about clicks and followers, or TVRs and CPTs, or continually putting on price discounts, is a poor representation of what it was meant to be and what it can still be.

ADVISOR: Marketing

or logistics people are not doing all they can to help make selling the product as good as possible and easier and easier all the time. A superbly produced product with a stand-out pack design and a great comms programme is not worth much if the retailer has no guidance (or care) as to where it should be displayed and just puts it on any old shelf. What if your order intake system is not briefed or is unmotivated? Or your pristine product is delivered in shoddy, dirty, trucks? Or if you are a store operator where the staff seem to care more about their mobile than your customers, or where product is not stocked out on shelves or is mispriced?

Common purpose Who in the organisation is best placed to bring all the elements of the supply side together and at the same time creates or maintains the demand, recognising that the two need to be always optimised if the first and all subsequent transactions are to occur?

Business is about obtaining and retaining the customer and that doesn’t happen if there isn’t a common purpose - making the selling (of the product) easier. The customer or consumer have enough

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to be doing than trying to fix ‘your’ shortcomings! In a world of so many choice options for what you’re trying to get them to buy, and so many messaging systems (TV, radio, social media, etc.), and messages, along with ordinary life struggles, why should they ever spend their hard-earned cash on your product? They are trying to cope and marketing can help.

True businessmen and women Making selling easier is at the core of business and what marketing is all about.

If selling is easier, it’s corollary, buying, is also easier.

Marketers need to stop being obsessed about communications and price promotions and become the businessmen and women that the likes of Drucker, Packard and others envisioned them to be.

For a real New Year’s resolution, it would be no bad thing at all for marketers to look at what they and their colleagues might see anywhere in the business that might make selling a bit easier, either by being removed or enhanced. Working these ‘touchpoints’ are what can really get marketing to really be at the core of the business. Really know the whole of the business and make selling easier! ■

‘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.

To get your hands on a copy, visit the following: www.orpenpress.com UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08M9XY6HF US: www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9XY6HF Ireland: Marketing is in trouble eBook by Colin Gordon - 9781786051127.

Rakuten Kobo Ireland - www.kobo.com/ie/en/ ebook/marketing-is-in-trouble.

NEWS

Three in five online customers are lost at the checkout New research commissioned by GeoDirectory demonstrates the importance of providing a seamless e-commerce service in order to not lose out on potential sales

Recent research to determine online shopping behaviours uncovered that a whopping three in five customers would abandon the cart if they experienced difficulty at checkout, highlighting the importance of a seamless e-commerce service for both customers and retailers alike.

The research, carried out by IPSOS MRBI’s Omnipoll service on behalf of leading Irish data service provider,

GeoDirectory, was conducted among 1,002 participants aged 15 years and over at the end of 2020.

It was discovered that three in five participants shop online on a monthly basis with one quarter stating that they shop online weekly. A large proportion of them (63% female) are under the age of 55, with those aged 35 to 55 taking the lead at 75%.

Asked about their experience when placing orders: • Four out of 10 often or sometimes have difficulties in providing their address in the required format • One in three will abandon the cart due to frustration experienced when completing address fields • Eight out of 10 have experienced longer than expected delivery delays to their home • A quarter claim they have experienced deliveries that do not show up at all • Over half would stop shopping with the retailer if they experience delays or no delivery Retailers hoping to build trust should be aware of the significant impact this has on repeat custom with three in five (60%) online shoppers claiming they would stop shopping if they experienced difficulties in completing their address at the checkout. On a positive note, if the address was automatically populated as they begin to type it in, 82% would be very confident with the online ordering process.

For further details on how you can deliver seamless e-commerce, visit www.geodirectory.ie ■

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

20 FOOD FOCUS

Eight Fifty Food Group buys Carroll Cuisine Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) has sold Carroll Cuisine to Eight Fifty Food Group, the multi-protein food group owned by CapVest Partners LLP (CapVest), an international private equity investor. The acquisition is expected to be completed during Q1 2021.

Tullamore-headquartered Carroll Cuisine produces branded and private-label cooked meats, deli hams, chilled ready meals and other chilled food products to supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Ireland. In 2015 CCI acquired Carroll Cuisine, backing the management team to complete a carve-out of the company from Aryzta AG. Carroll’s saw turnover increase by 50% in recent years, due to investment in manufacturing capacity, innovation and new product development.

Kieran Carolan, CEO, Carroll Cuisine said: “Our company has gone from strength to strength in the past five years. It has been an exciting journey and we have achieved our ambitious growth targets with the fantastic support of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland. Jonathan Cosgrave and John Dolan strengthened our board and their advice and counsel was very valuable to us. We look forward to continuing to grow our company as part of Eight Fifty Food Group.”

Eight Fifty Food Group’s acquisition of Carroll Cuisine is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

First rebrand for Burger King Ireland in over 20 years

Food Drink Ireland welcomes Brexit trade deal Food Drink Ireland (FDI), the Ibec group representing the food and drink sector, has welcomed the agreement reached between the EU and the UK on a future trading relationship.

“The agreement is welcome as disastrous tariffs have been avoided but the agreement reached is still very much a hard Brexit,” said Paul Kelly, FDI director. “Food and drink companies will face substantial non-tariff barriers to trade between Ireland and Great Britain with customs, SPS and other food safety requirements.”

FDI is now also calling for measures to support Irish food and drink companies to maintain their valuable UK market position and diversify into new markets, including; a state-backed export credit insurance scheme, increased investment in innovation, skills, enabling technologies and market development.

Slimming World meal options launched at Iceland Ireland Slimming World members can now pick up their favourite Slimming World dishes in Ireland’s Iceland stores. The new and exclusive Free Food Slimming World dishes can be cooked directly from frozen, in the oven or microwave, offering a hassle-free way for Slimming World members to stay on track when following the organisation’s Food Optimising plan, or new options for anyone simply wanting to eat more healthily this new year.

The new additions to the Slimming World range are now available across all 27 Iceland Ireland stores nationwide.

Subway launches new products in support of Veganuary 2021 Subway has unveiled new additions to its plant-based menu for 2021 – the vegan T.L.C. (Tastes Like Chicken) Sub and Vegan Double Choc Cookie.

The plant-based T.L.C. Sub is made with a bespoke recipe designed to mimic Subway’s roast chicken breast strips. Subway is also expanding its existing cookie range to include a vegan offering for the first time.

Angelina Gosal, head of marketing UK & Ireland at Subway said: “With our new additions, we now have one of the biggest and tastiest plant-based menus on the high street, to offer you even more choice.” ■ Burger King says its new rebrand signals recent improvements to taste and food quality, as well as an ambitious pledge to ensure environmental sustainability

Burger King is introducing a completely new visual design and brand identity that signals the brand’s evolution in food quality, sustainability and digital. The modern redesign marks the first complete rebrand in over 20 years. The announcement signals recent improvements to taste and food quality, through the removal of colours, flavours and preservatives from artificial sources from menu items, as well as an ambitious pledge to ensure environmental sustainability.

According to Burger King Ireland, the brand will be rolling out a new brand logo, packaging, restaurant merchandise, menu boards, crew uniforms, restaurant signage and decor across all its Irish branches.

“Design is one of the most essential tools we have for communicating who we are and what we value, and it plays a vital role in creating desire for our food and maximising guests’ experience,” said Raphael Abreu, Restaurant Brands International head of design. “We wanted to use design to get people to crave our food; its flamegrilling perfection and above all, its taste.”

The public will start seeing the new visual identity starting at the beginning of 2021.

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020

Broadcasting the stars of our industry!

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ShelfLife publisher John McDonald, MC Karina Buckley, Excel Recruitment’s head of grocery recruitment Nikki Murran and ShelfLife editor Gillian Hamill on stage with this year’s winner, Jamie Caffrey, who joined us via a live link from her home

Virtual ceremony celebrates frontline heroes who in the words of Minister Simon Harris, “got up every morning and looked after us”

MC Karina Buckley found out more about what made all the winning managers of 2020 stand out during a year like no other, via a live online link

Now in their 15th year, the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards have once again recognised individual management excellence in the grocery sector. A total of 15 awards were presented at the ceremony held on Thursday, 10 December 2020, honouring the best in the many departments that make up local convenience stores and supermarkets. The event culminated in the grand prize of ShelfLife National Grocery Retail Manager of the Year.

Supported by platinum sponsor Bank of Ireland and carried out in association with Excel Recruitment, the National Grocery Management Awards scheme is independently judged and seeks out best management practice among those who carry responsibility without ownership in the grocery retail sector.

While the standard of entrants was as high as ever, this year’s ceremony marked a break from tradition. Broadcast virtually, live from the RDS, our audience tuned in from work and home to watch MC, RTE’s Karina Buckley, announce all the winners and find out more about them and their teams via the online event broadcast on www.shelflife.ie.

After a challenging year like no other, the virtual event was an excellent

occasion to celebrate our industry’s hardworking retail managers who have shown tremendous dedication to their customers and colleagues during the outbreak of Covid-19.

The nation’s gratitude to our retailers for their huge efforts every day to keep local convenience stores, forecasts and supermarkets running smoothly and safety was expressed at the ceremony in a special foreword by Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

“I wanted to congratulate you on your achievement but I also wanted to thank you,” Minister Harris said. “Thank you for all that you have done throughout 2020.

This year has been one like no other. It has been a year full of challenge, full of stress, full of uncertainty. But at a time when many of us stayed at home to keep ourselves and our families safe, you got up and you went to work. You and your staff continued to stock our shelves, continued to provide us with food and supplies.

“So I want you to know when we thank the frontline heroes throughout 2020, that includes the people working in grocery, that includes the people working in our

Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, gave a special foreword within the online ceremony

petrol stations, in our convenience stores, in our supermarkets. The people who got up every morning and looked after us.

Thank you so much for all you have done.”

The Minister also commented on the importance of promoting the retail sector as one which offers real career progression and fulfilment.

“As Minister for Further and Higher Education,” he said. “I also want to work with your sector to make sure that we can promote it as a sector in which people can have a very promising, rewarding and fulfilling career. I’m really excited about how we can engage on that in the weeks and months ahead.”

Our Supreme Champion for 2020, Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu Blanchardstown, Dublin, also commented on her love for her job and her pride in how her colleagues and the wider grocery retail industry coped with all the many daily challenges presented by the Covid pandemic.

“I think it’s great that our industry is now being shown for what it is,” she said, speaking from her home via a live link.

“We were able to cope with what we had to cope with; it was just completely out there, it was like an out-of-body experience some days but we coped with it all because that’s what we do best as retailers – we cope under pressure. I think everyone around the country can see that now.”

On behalf of all the team at ShelfLife, we would like to thank everyone who entered the awards this year, and say a huge congratulations to all 15 deserving winners, outlined on the pages overleaf.

We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our platinum sponsor Bank of Ireland and all the sponsors involved, without whom the ceremony simply would not have been possible. ■

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

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GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020 INTERVIEW

Supreme standards

Since 1977, SuperValu Blanchardstown has benefited from its excellent location in the heart of Blanchardstown village surrounded by local businesses

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trailblazer in the world of grocery retail,” is how the judges described our National Grocery Manager of the Year 2020, Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu Blanchardstown. And no wonder; having started in the retail trade at just 16, by the tender age of 23, Caffrey had already been promoted to the position of store manager.

“In the 90s, this was a very male dominated business but I was determined to prove I could do this and this is where my drive began,” she tells ShelfLife. “I worked my way through the ranks and at the age of 23, I got my first appointment as store manager and this was my first and biggest personal achievement.” “

New learning experiences Since then, plenty more accolades have followed for both Caffrey and her team

Our National Grocery Retail Manager of the Year, Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu Blanchardstown, is a trailblazer within the industry whose passion and enthusiasm for her role is immediately apparent

members. A number of her team have won awards under her management and guidance and last year Caffrey’s store won the EIQA award. Despite these successes, our winner is adamant that there’s always more to learn and improve on in this business. When asked about her future goals by our MC Karina Buckley at our online awards ceremony, it’s clear she won’t be content to rest on her laurels.

“As much as I love this award and appreciate this from ShelfLife, I really just want to meet more people and learn more,” is her honest appraisal. “I’ve worked in many shops now over the last few years and each shop is a new learning experience. I learn something new in every single shop. I just want to continue to do that; continue to move around stores, take on new challenges and meet new people and just keep going.”

Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu Blanchardstown, who was named National Grocery Retail Manager of the Year 2020, featured from a live link from her home at the virtual ceremony, which was broadcast live from the RDS on 10 December 2020

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Caffrey’s enthusiasm for her job is undeniable. “I love that I love getting up for work every single day,” she says. “I really enjoy my work and I love the people I work with. I’ve always known the people I work with are special, but this year to the whole country they’re seen as heroes which is great, they’re now the frontline workers.”

Teamwork In fact, her colleagues’ experience and the expert advice they are able to deliver in-store, is what she feels truly sets SuperValu Blanchardstown apart from other supermarkets. “Although I feel there are many things that set our business apart from our competitors, the most important ones are our colleagues, our service, our environment and our drive,” she tells ShelfLife. “I am very lucky in the Blanchardstown store to be surrounded by so much knowledge and experience and passion for our business. We have over 133 years of service in our bakery collectively and 167 years in our protein department along with years of experience in our other departments. You could shop any department in our store and enjoy the expert advice from cheese experts to wine specialists, craft butchers and bakers.

“Since 1977, SuperValu Blanchardstown has benefited from its excellent location in the heart of Blanchardstown village surrounded by local businesses,” she continues. “The store has 110 colleagues and a very experienced management team that consists of five duty managers, four team leaders, a café manager, a HR manager and an assistant manager. We have a vast level of experience and long serving colleagues who along with our management

INTERVIEW GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020

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team help to deliver the great service that the store has always been known for.”

Coping during Covid During our online ceremony, Caffrey stresses the importance of having the right team who put customer service first. “It’s completely about the people,” she says. “I always say my job is 80% people, 20% knowledge and it really is because the people, they put us all on this screen today; they’ve given us [today’s winners] all these awards; we couldn’t do our jobs without them.”

“I think it’s great that our industry is now being shown for what it is,” she adds, speaking about the challenges retail teams faced while continuing to work during the pandemic and provide a vital service for the community. “We were able to cope with what we had to cope with; it was just completely out there, it was like an out-of-body experience some days but we coped with it all because that’s what we do best as retailers – we cope under pressure. I think everyone around the country can see that now.

“We’re not just somewhere that you can get your peas and beans from,” she continues.

“I really think that during Covid, although all my colleagues, all my company, and support office worked really hard, we all worked together and got things done. We worked really hard under a time that none of us will ever see again please god, so I’m proud of how we got through it.”

In-store success In fact, SuperValu Blanchardstown actually achieved 132% growth in-store in certain weeks during the pandemic and has managed to maintain a lot of the new business to the store. The GMA judges noted that Caffrey has made the store more customer friendly, more profitable and a more enjoyable place to work. When she joined the Blanchardstown store, she spent two weeks in every department getting to know her colleagues and their challenges and then set about doing everything she could to increase morale across the business.

“I am a big believer in working together with a one team approach and colleagues can really relate to my passion to succeed for us all,” Caffrey says. “My biggest quality is I am honest, grounded and I believe in my colleagues. Team morale is highly important to me and creates the right atmosphere for both colleagues to work in and customers to shop in. I feel I am a good coach; I like to develop and empower colleagues.”

These traits have led to incredible successes in-store, including growing the on-site cafe’s turnover by 500%, increasing product sales by 20%, and growing and keeping an increase of 30% sales across the entire business.

What’s more, Jamie Caffrey has made a positive contribution to every store she has

Jamie Caffrey first became a store manager at only 23

worked in during the past four years. “I have worked in four stores in the past four years,” she says, “and I can confidently say I have left a lasting contribution and improvements to each store. I am happy I was able to do that for the business.

“I am so grateful and honoured that someone within my business has recognised my contribution and work ethic to nominate me for this award,” she adds. Indeed, the standard of entrants for the Grocery Management Awards was exceptional this year, and considering the unprecedented challenges that 2020 brought for store managers and their colleagues, it was more important than ever to recognise and celebrate their dedication. The judges

therefore felt that Jamie Caffrey, a manager who has improved both sales profitability and store morale, was a fitting ambassador for the Grocery Management Awards. ■

“Team morale is highly important to me and creates the right atmosphere for both colleagues to work in and customers to shop in.”

ShelfLife publisher John McDonald, MC Karina Buckley, Excel Recruitment’s head of grocery recruitment Nikki Murran and ShelfLife editor Gillian Hamill on stage with Jamie Caffrey, who joined us via a live link from her home

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Retail Team of the Year 2020

Retail Team of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: The team at Londis, St. James Hospital, Dublin 8 What the judges said: The Retail Team of the Year for 2020 goes to a store that is at the heart of its community with each occasion throughout the year marked by something special in-store for staff and suppliers alike. The team here at Londis, St James Hospital has worked together for a long time and this is evident in the fantastic atmosphere and in-store theatre and of course high standards that are always present in this store.

Award sponsored by Brand Hub

Seamus Griffin, CEO, Griffin’s Londis, representing the winning team at Griffin’s Londis, St James Hospital

Tony McMullan, customer development, Brand Hub, appeared on screen to declare the winner

Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager of the Year 2020

Delicatessen/Food to Go Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Linda O’Sullivan, Eurospar Cobh, Co. Cork What the judges said: The winner of the Deli/Food to Go Award has seen 25% growth on last year.

Linda O’Sullivan has worked in tandem with the store manager in driving standards and developing innovative initiatives in her fresh food departments.

The judges said that she challenges and motivates her staff to deliver exceptional quality and customer service on a daily basis. This dedication has resulted in fantastic standards and a consistent offering.

Award sponsored by ShelfLife magazine

Linda O’Sullivan of Eurospar Cobh, Co. Cork, was named Deli/ Food-to-go Manager of the Year 2020

Gillian Hamill, editor of ShelfLife magazine, announced the winner on stage

Cash and Carry Manager of the Year 2020 WINNER: Tom Ryan, Value Centre, Hebron Road, Co. Kilkenny

What the judges said: The judges noted that Tom Ryan’s ability to manage his direct team and his customer relationships in an increasingly competitive market while delivering consistently on KPIs, sets this manager apart.

Award sponsored

by Vype

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

• XL Shop at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 • Daybreak Dungarvan, Co. Waterford • Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork • SuperValu Castletroy, Co. Limerick • Griffin’s Londis, St. James Hospital, Dublin 8 • SuperValu Walkinstown, Dublin 12 • SuperValu Blackrock, Co. Dublin • SuperValu Northside, Dublin 17

Tom Ryan of Value Centre, Hebron Road, Co. Kilkenny, was named Cash and Carry Manager of the Year 2020

Robert O’Connor, wholesale channel manager at PJ Carroll (BAT) announced the winner

• Helen Taylor, Daybreak Dungarvan, Co. Waterford • Eoin Crosbie, Crosbie’s Daybreak Irishtown, Athlone, Co. Westmeath • Annah Yesayan, Herlihy’s Centra, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork City • Zlata Vacova, Herlihy’s Centra, Grand Parade, Cork City • Jason Plazo, Griffins Londis Grafton Street, Dublin 2 • Tina Delaney, Daybreak, Portlaoise, Co. Laois • Aiden Sheahan, Spar Corrib Oil, Tralee, Co. Kerry • Claire Direen, Daybreak Clerihan, Co. Tipperary • Lestor Valencia, Griffin’s Londis Carmnhall Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18 • Tomislav Dobrijeviclinda, Griffin’s Londis, Parkwest, Dublin 12 • Joe Canning, SuperValu, Sundrive, Dublin 12 • Linda O’Sullivan, Eurospar Cobh, Co. Cork • Aoife O’Hara, Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork

Congratulations to Griffin’s St James’s Hospital

Pictured (L to R) are Seamus Griffin, Chief Executive Officer Griffin Retail Group, David Bridgette, Operations Director Griffin Retail Group and Martina Menton Store Manager Londis St James’s Hospital.

Retail Team of the Year 2020

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Off-Licence Manager of the Year 2020

Off-Licence Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Shane McNulty, SuperValu Ballinteer, Dublin 16 What the judges said: In a highly contested category, the winner of this category, Shane McNulty, was an inspiration. Displaying an unsurpassed passion for his off-licence, the product offer in it and above all his loyal customer base, Shane McNulty sets himself apart from his competition through this passion, keeping his finger on the market trends, and a real love for his business.

Award sponsored by Bibendum Ireland

Shane McNulty of SuperValu Ballinteer, Dublin 16, was named Off-Licence Manager of the Year 2020

Duncan Millar, sales director, Bibendum Ireland, announced the winner

Protein and Provisions Manager of the Year 2020

Protein and Provisions Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Jason McDonagh, SuperValu Lucan, Co. Dublin What the judges said: We all know Irish meat is the best in the world and our Protein and Provisions Award winner, Jason McDonagh, is an ambassador for the meat industry in Ireland with massive participation in store sales. Employing a team of four fully qualified butchers, his butcher counter is kept to the highest of standards both with freshness and hygiene.

Award sponsored by EIQA

Jason McDonagh of SuperValu Lucan, Co. Dublin, was named Protein and Provisions Manager of the Year 2020

• Dominic Kelleher, Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork • Jason McDonagh, SuperValu Lucan, Co. Dublin • Alan Curley, SuperValu Sutton Cross, Dublin 13

Soraid McEntee, general manager, EIQA, announced the winner

HR Manager of the Year 2020

HR Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Carley Dennan, SuperValu, Blackrock, Co. Dublin What the judges said: The winner of this award, Carly Dennan, made a very impressive submission.

Despite having spent the last two years in a site undergoing work, she has kept staff morale high. An ability to coach staff and management and Dennan’s direct and approachable management style made her a worthy winner.

Award sponsored

by Excel Recruitment

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• Shane McNulty, SuperValu Ballinteer, Dublin 16 • Denise Cummins, Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork • Robert Mooney, SuperValu, Sutton Cross, Dublin 13

Carley Dennan, SuperValu, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, was named HR Manager of the Year 2020

Sean Thomas, senior recruitment consultant from Excel Recruitment, announced the winner

• Louise Kelly, Asia Market, Ballymount, Dublin 12 • Carley Dennan, SuperValu, Blackrock, Co. Dublin • Jessica Maher, SuperValu, Lucan, Co. Dublin • Susan Doherty, Kelly’s Centra, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal • Nichola Deere, SuperValu Castletroy, Dublin Road, Co. Limerick • Janine McCormack, SuperValu Sundrive, Dublin 12

Your Local Wholesaler For Over 50 Years

For a third year in a row the Value Centre team take home this prestigious award!

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Brand Marketing Team of the Year 2020

Brand Marketing Team of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Premier Lotteries/The National Lottery

What the judges said: For continually pushing the boat out in terms of innovative and exciting brand activations, it is no surprise that Premier Lotteries/The National Lottery has been highlighted by retailers in the Irish grocery industry. We have come to expect exciting campaigns from this brand and the team never disappoints.

Award sponsored by BWG Foods

Maebh Gleeson, senior brand and marketing communications manager from The National Lottery, represented the company as this year’s winner

Caitriona Cousins, head of shopper insights and Mace marketing manager at BWG Foods, announced the winner

Small C-Store Manager of the Year 2020

WINNER: Rebecca Murphy, Herlihy’s Centra Grand Parade, Co. Cork

What the judges said: Rebecca Murphy manages an extremely fast-paced city convenience store situated in a busy city centre location. This convenience shop is well known locally for the best fresh deli and high-quality meals. There is also a health food and gluten free choice within the store that attracts a broad range of customers.

Award sponsored by PepsiCo UK & Ireland

Rebecca Murphy of Herlihy’s Centra Grand Parade, Co. Cork, was named Small C-Store Manager of the Year 2020

Robert Beehan, field sales controller, PepsiCo UK & Ireland, announced the winner

• Premier Lotteries/ The National Lottery • JTI/Logic • Fulfil • Heineken • Coca-Cola HBC Ireland

Small C-Store Manager of the Year Finalists: • Eoin Crosbie, Daybreak Rustic Castlerea, Co. Roscommon • Raj Kodali, Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Cork City • Martina Webb, Londis St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8 • Lucia Fitzpatrick, Spar Rathangan, Co. Kildare • Tony Geelan, Geelan’s XL, Waddington, Cleariestown, Co. Wexford • Rebecca Murphy, Herlihy’s Centra Grand Parade, Co. Cork • Jane Mooney, Smyth’s Daybreak, Williamstown, Co. Galway • Abdullah Saghir, Griffin’s Londis, 49 Grafton Street, Dublin 2 • Imran Ishfaq, Griffin’s Londis, 14/15 Lower O’Connell Street, Dublin 2 • Christopher Lane, Hanrahan’s Londis, The Faythe, Wexford town, Co. Wexford • Liam O’Brien, Kernan’s XL, Drumboy, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Medium C-Store Manager of the Year 2020

Medium C-Store Manager of the Year Finalists:

What the judges said: Alan O’Donnell, the winner of the Medium C-Store Manager Award, spent the last year revamping his store and really shifting the focus of the business towards a more fresh approach. This hands-on manager keeps his team motivated in a family-run store through leading by example.

• Colum Browne, XL Clogheen, Co. Tipperary • Aivars Mezapuke, Spar Capel Street, Dublin 1 • Alan O’Donnell, Daybreak Cahir, Co. Tipperary • Grainne Keating, Scully’s XL Daingean, Co. Offaly • Dean Hand, Daybreak Clerihan, Co. Tipperary • Simon McCarthy, Londis Fonthill, Dublin 22 • Ger Kelly, Delaney’s Mace Tuam Road, Co. Galway • Deirdre Stoneham, Londis Top Oil, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

WINNER: Alan O’Donnell, Daybreak Cahir, Co. Tipperary

Award sponsored by PepsiCo UK & Ireland

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Alan O’Donnell of Daybreak Cahir, Co. Tipperary, was named Medium C-Store Manager of the Year 2020

Robert Beehan, field sales controller, PepsiCo UK & Ireland, announced the winner

GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020 29

Large C-Store Manager of the Year 2020

Large C-Store Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Briege O’Kane, Spar Top Oil Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare

What the judges said: Briege O’Kane, this year’s Large C-Store Manager of the Year 2020, manages a busy 24-hour site with a team of 30 staff who she keeps motivated through great communication and in her own words – plenty of banter! Offering excellent standards, outstanding customer service and a wide food range 24/7 – Briege O’Kane is indeed a worthy winner!

Award sponsored by PepsiCo UK & Ireland

Briege O’Kane of Spar Top Oil Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare, was named Large C-Store Manager of the Year 2020

• Sean Hennessy, Spar Corrib Oil Tralee, Co. Kerry • Nick Ye, Londis DCU Glasnevin, Dublin 9 • Martin Rodgers, Kelly’s Centra, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal • Briege O’Kane, Spar Top Oil Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare

Robert Beehan, field sales controller, PepsiCo UK & Ireland, announced the winner

Small Forecourt Manager of the Year 2020

Small Forecourt Manager of the Year Finalists:

What the judges said: David Martin has seen his store go from strength to strength, with increases across sales and margin through the last year. He strives to ensure his customers’ loyalty through engagement and ensuring they are offering a pleasant shopping experience for all. David Martin continually encourages new ideas from staff in terms of product ideas, layouts, deli concepts, product merchandising and is not afraid to try new things.

• Pedro Gamelas, Daybreak Castletownbere, Co. Cork • Kevin Forde, Daybreak Dungarvan, Co. Waterford • Daniel Gherca, Daybreak Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath • Matthew Monaghan, XL Salthill, Co. Galway • David Martin, Mace, Glanmire, Co. Cork • Ela Oczachowska, Brackens Gala, Stradbally, Co. Laois

WINNER: David Martin, Mace, Glanmire, Co. Cork

Award sponsored by Seattle’s Best Coffee

David Martin of Mace, Glanmire, Co. Cork, was named Small Forecourt Manager of the Year 2020

Eric Nolan, head of retail food solutions at Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland, announced the winner

Large Forecourt Manager of the Year 2020

Large Forecourt Manager of the Year Finalists:

What the judges said: Ian Leahy has progressed rapidly through the business with his current company; constantly striving for excellent customer service, highest standards and driving sales across the business, this winner is an outstanding retailer. He has worked extremely hard over the years to grow and change with the needs of the customers, delivering the highest standards of hygiene, food safety and quality.

• Denise Farrell, Mace Headford, Co. Galway • Brian Joyce, Galway Plaza Spar, Athenry, Co. Galway • Ian Leahy, Maxol Ballincollig, Co. Cork

WINNER: Ian Leahy, Maxol Ballincollig, Co. Cork

Award sponsored by Seattle’s Best Coffee

Ian Leahy, Maxol Ballincollig, Co. Cork, was named Large Forecourt Manager of the Year 2020

Eric Nolan, head of retail food solutions at Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland, announced the winner

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Small Supermarket Manager of the Year 2020

Small Supermarket Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Tanya McGarry, Charlesland SuperValu, Greystones, Co. Wicklow What the judges said: Tanya McGarry is a true advocate of the SuperValu brand, her store and people in that store. Over the last year, this winner has grown the margin in Charlesland SuperValu in Greystones through product focus, standards and customer engagement. Our winner is a real hero of the community, and spent a number of days calling door-to-door in a new housing estate to introduce herself and the store to the new neighbours.

Tanya McGarry, Charlesland SuperValu, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, was named Small Supermarket Manager of the Year 2020

Owen Clifford, head of retail sector, Bank of Ireland, announced the winner

Award sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Large Supermarket Manager of the Year 2020

Large Supermarket Manager of the Year Finalists:

WINNER: Doug Thompson, SuperValu Sundrive, Dublin 12

What the judges said: With some impressive achievements under Doug Thompson’s belt during the last year, it is no surprise he is this year’s winner! His store has seen a 40% increase over the past year in sales and Thompson has taken his store to the next level in terms of availability, quality, freshness and customer service.

Award sponsored by Bank of Ireland

• James Brennan, SuperValu Ranelagh, Dublin 6 • Jonathan Mooney, Eurospar Dungarvan, Co. Waterford • Tanya McGarry, Charlesland SuperValu, Greystones, Co. Wicklow • Tommy Murphy, Burkes Eurospar, Kinvara, Co. Galway • Shane Jones, Eurospar, Cobh, Co. Cork • Fintan Battles, Liddy’s Eurospar, Ennis, Co. Clare • Simon Champ, Herlihy’s Centra, Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork

Doug Thompson, SuperValu Sundrive, Dublin 12, was named Large Supermarket Manager of the Year 2020

Owen Clifford, head of retail sector, Bank of Ireland, announced the winner

• Chris O’Driscoll, SuperValu Castletroy, Co. Limerick • Doug Thompson, SuperValu Sundrive, Dublin 12 • Edgaras Stanius, SuperValu Walkinstown, Dublin 12 • Jamie Caffrey, SuperValu, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 • David Howell, SuperValu Lucan, Co. Dublin

Supreme Champion 2020

WINNER: Jamie Caffrey, SuperValu, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 What the judges said: The standard has been exceptional this year.

Jamie Caffrey, our Supreme Champion 2020, has seen 132% growth in-store in certain weeks during the pandemic and has managed to maintain a lot of the new business to the store. Caffrey has dedicated considerable time to making the store more customer friendly, more profitable and a more enjoyable place to work. When she joined this store, she spent two weeks in every department getting to know her colleagues and their challenges and then set about doing everything to increase morale across the business.

She is described by staff as safe, reliable, fair and someone who takes time to connect with them. These traits have led to incredible successes in-store, including growing the on-site cafe’s turnover by 500%, increasing product sales by 20%, and growing and keeping an increase of 30% sales across the entire business. Jamie Caffrey started in the retail trade at only 16 and at only 23 was promoted to store manager; a trailblazer in the world of grocery retail.

Award sponsored by Bank of Ireland

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Jamie Caffrey of SuperValu, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, was named Supreme Champion 2020

Nikki Murran, director of grocery recruitment at Excel Recruitment and chairwoman of the judging committee, announced the winner

Congratulations to our Award Winning Managers

SUPREME CHAMPION Jamie Caffrey, SuperValu Blanchardstown, Dublin SUPERMARKET MANAGER OF THE YEAR (Mid-Large) Doug Thompson, SuperValu Sundrive Road, Dublin SUPERMARKET MANAGER OF THE YEAR (Small) Tanya McGarry, SuperValu Charlesland, Greystones, Wicklow SMALL C-STORE MANAGER OF THE YEAR Rebecca Murphy, Herlihy’s Centra, Grand Parade, Cork HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR Carley Dennan, SuperValu Blackrock, Co. Dublin OFF-LICENCE MANAGER Shane McNulty, SuperValu Ballinteer, Dublin PROTEIN/PROVISIONS MANAGER Jason Mc Donagh, SuperValu Lucan, Dublin

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GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020

‘Irish grocery is the best in the world because of you’ Bank of Ireland was once again delighted to be the main sponsor of the Grocery Management Awards for 2020, and Owen Clifford, head of retail sector at Bank of Ireland shared his appreciation for the dedication demonstrated on a daily basis by retail managers and their teams throughout this uniquely demanding year.

“Retail is the heartbeat of the local community,” Clifford said. “The turbulent events of 2020 have seen the Irish grocery sector really stand up. You have all been wonderful ambassadors for your sector and beacons for your local community.

“The foundation of retail is knowing and understanding your customer,” he continued. “As Roosevelt said: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. Irish grocery is the best in the world because of you, the nominees, and how much you all care for

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

your customers, stores and communities.

“These are challenging days and you may understandably struggle at times to keep going at what is an unrelenting pace.

Concentrate on the positives; do your best. In the words of Brendan Kennelly: “Though we live in a world that dreams of ending/That always seems about to give in/Something that will not acknowledge conclusion/Insists that we forever begin.”

“It’s a great honour to be nominated, congratulations and wishing you all continued success,” Owen Clifford concluded.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris also sounded a positive note in his foreword to this year’s virtual ceremony. “There are so many reasons to be hopeful and optimistic about 2021,” he said. “I genuinely believe with

Owen Clifford, head of retail sector, Bank of Ireland, praised our finalists and winners as “wonderful ambassadors for your sector and beacons for your local community”

all the positive developments we see with vaccinations and the more we learn about this virus every day, that 2021 will be a year of hope, it will be a year of vaccination, and I think it will be a year of recovery. So thank you so much for all you have done; congratulations again on your awards.” ■

All of our Grocery Management Award finalists have maintained stringent hygiene measures in-store to protect their customers and staff from Covid-19

ADVERTORIAL GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020 33

Building for the future

Alan O’Donnell of Daybreak Cahir was the winner of the Medium C-Store Manager Award at the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards 2020. He tells Fionnuala Carolan about the business he manages and what the win means to him

Open 16 hours a day, Daybreak Cahir has earned a solid reputation for offering tasty food-to-go, featuring Munch & Co and Chipmongers offerings

Alan O’Donnell is the manager of Daybreak in Cahir, Co. Tipperary. The shop and adjoining Texaco forecourt has been owned by his parents Noel and Mary O’Donnell for over 30 years and he spent time working in the shop when he was younger. He later qualified as an engineer and worked in insurance for a time but two years ago he returned to manage the family business.

He explains the changes that have taken place since his return. “I came back to the business in 2013,” he says. “We were with another symbol group at the time. We decided that it needed a new lease of life.

My parents had been considering a new build for some time. Firstly we hired a chef and started offering a carvery dinner in the old shop. That really changed the dynamic of the business. On the back of that success we decided to go ahead with a new build and we demolished the old existing shop.”

Alan and his wife Patricia oversaw the rebuild and have transformed the shop into a business of the future with great

fresh food, meeting rooms for rent, top class toilet facilities and a state of the art forecourt.

Extension to premises The new store is a two-storey building with the shop, disabled toilets and a small bit of seating downstairs and then a larger sit down area upstairs with two meeting rooms and generous toilet facilities. The meeting rooms are a novel idea but have been really successful. “People rent them out for courses or birthday parties even,” explains O’Donnell. “We even had an enquiry for a wedding but we had to turn that down due to alcohol licence issues,” he says.

Aside from the raft of passing traffic O’Donnell explains that they have a huge amount of local trade, both business and community. “We have a lot of industry like ABP Food Group just around the corner from us. And because of that there is a lot of knock-on industry so we’re very lucky in that respect.”

Situated just off the M8, the shop is turning into the worst kept secret with business people travelling between Dublin and Cork having it sussed as the place to stop, refuel, enjoy some good food and maybe do a bit of work. “What we wanted was to create a destination for both locals and travellers,” he explains.

Healthier food offering O’Donnell admits that the food offering had been quite limited and maybe even quite male focused before the revamp. “It was your traditional small grocery with a deli offering chicken fillet rolls and coffee.

We needed to broaden the offering.”

They moved to Musgrave under the Daybreak brand and started to implement major changes. “With Musgrave we were able to bring in the Chipmongers brand, which is your fish, chip and burger offering. This was something new for the area but we still have our carvery and our traditional deli with breakfast rolls and chicken fillets too. But we started to focus

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34 GROCERY MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2020 ADVERTORIAL

was surrounded by family and staff in one of the meeting rooms of the shop when he was presented with the award of Medium C-Store Manager of the Year. He says that he has been receiving congratulations from across the industry since the awards night.

“I know there is huge competition there so I am proud and really shocked to have won,” he says. “We have a very strong, core group of people here that are dedicated to the business and of course my mum and dad have worked so hard in the business all these years and this is the first time we’ve been acknowledged with an award so I’m delighted for us and it gave us all a lift.” ■ Alan O’Donnell of Daybreak Cahir is hugely appreciative of the team at the store, noting that there is a “very strong, core group of people here that are dedicated to the business”

more on healthy options too. We make our own salads in-store and we started our own bakery, which is really down to my wife Patricia’s vision. She knew what healthy options would work. There is an awful lot of extra labour in it but to be honest it has developed very well and we’re delighted with it.”

There are 50 staff working across the

business and they are open 16 hours a day, opening at 6am and closing at 11pm.

Awards O’Donnell was delighted to be shortlisted for the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards this year and even more delighted to be announced as a winner on the day.

Due to the nature of the virtual event, he

Daybreak Cahir is a bright and spacious store with plenty of natural light

FEATURE

Five key actions needed to deliver insurance reform in 2021

The Alliance for Insurance Reform (AIR) has claimed that the insurance crisis can be sorted in 2021 but only if five key actions are fully completed

“Insurance has been unsustainably expensive now for over five years,” said Eoin McCambridge, managing director of McCambridge’s of Galway and director of the alliance.

“If government expects Ireland to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic through SMEs, or for Irish society as a whole to recover through voluntary and community groups, then insurance must and can be sorted in 2021,” he added.

Meanwhile, Peter Boland, director of the Alliance pointed out: “In the last four years we have had the Oireachtas Finance Committee Report on Insurance Costs, two Cost of Insurance Working Group (CIWG) reports and 11 CIWG Updates; the reports of the Personal Injuries Commission, two National Claims Information Database reports from the Central Bank, the CCPC Market Study on Liability Insurance and the Government’s Action Plan on Insurance Reform. What is abundantly clear from these is that if insurance costs are to be brought under control, there are five key issues that must be actioned this year:

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

1. General damages for minor injuries must be dramatically reduced to reflect international norms and norms already established by the Court of Appeal: We await the new personal injuries guidelines to be adopted and published by the Judicial Council, due by 31 July of this year at the latest. But we have no idea what the new guidelines will look like or when we will get to see them, if at all, before they are adopted by the courts.

2. Redefine and re-balance the “common duty of care” to require occupiers to take a duty of care that is reasonable, practical and proportionate: We await action from the Minister for Justice that will address the situation where many policyholders find themselves 100% liable for accidents regardless of the circumstances.

3. Establish a formal Garda response to insurance fraud: Four years after the Cost of Insurance Working Group first addressed this issue and despite commitments from An Garda Síochána in 2019 to a division-led approach, we are no closer to having a formal Garda response to insurance fraud.

4. Reform of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board: If PIAB is not radically reformed, it will be irrelevant within a decade and the compensation of people injured due to the negligence of others will be a process managed and controlled by the legal profession, for the benefit of the legal profession, with dire consequences for the cost and availability of insurance cover in Ireland.

We await urgent proposals for reform and enhancement of PIAB from Minister of State Robert Troy.

5. Produce a schedule of forecast reductions for reforms: We need commitments from the insurance industry that all the reforms being worked on will actually lead to substantial reductions in insurance costs. We await an assessment of the expected impact on premium levels of the reforms being introduced, from Minister of State Sean Fleming.

“There are 66 actions in the Government’s Action Plan on Insurance Reform,” Boland added, “but unless these five issues are addressed this year, then 2021 will go down as the year insurance could have been sorted, but wasn’t.” ■

With modern alchemy and old world magic, a new era of spirits is born.

Lyre’s are alcohol free homages to the greatest tipples of all time.

These meticulously crafted non-alcoholic spirits are an homage to timeless classics, an exquisite mélange of the finest f lavours, evoking notes of fruits, spices and botanicals.

They’re also rather delish. Libations!

Awarded 8 medals. Lyre’s Amaretti is the best and highest-scoring non-alcoholic spirit in the world and overall categor y winner in the 2020 Low or No Alcohol Spirits

10 medals including Gold medal for Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso

3 awards and overall category winner in the Best No & Low Dark Spirit category

11 medals including Gold medal for Lyre’s Orange Sec

LYRES.EU

ENTHUSIASTICALLY PEDDLED BY

Richmond Marketing

11 medals including Gold medal for Lyre’s Italian Orange

Cooked Meats

Bottled Water

36 CATEGORY FOCUS Bottled Water

Hydration nation A major driver of in-store sales, the bottled water segment has continued to innovate with flavoured and added-value variants, while manufacturers have been working hard to improve their sustainability credentials.

This all adds up to refreshing news for your impulse growth, writes Gillian Hamill

W

e all know few drinks are healthier than bottled water. In recent years, bottled water sales have benefitted from increased healthconsciousness on the part of consumers, coupled with a spike in people playing sports. As the new year rolls in, Irish consumers will once again turn to the bottled water market to stay healthy and hydrated during their daily exercise.

Not all bottled water is the same, and retailers can benefit greatly from discerning Irish consumers becoming more attracted by products positioned as “smart water” or added-value waters.

According to Euromonitor

research from December 2019, these products could see record value sales growth as consumers become increasingly brand aware. Just as single use plastics and waste produced in the category have become a topic of contention, brands have responded in kind and have begun to produce more environmentally friendly products.

The category has also developed the number of options available to consumers, offering a variety of flavoured waters. Don’t get caught without the top products – make sure you are stocking the brands and new innovative formats outlined here.

How has COVID changed the way we buy Bottled Water?

Water?

All categories average

’I don't want to run out of it’ 41%

29%

48%

56%

Pre-Covid 2020 During Covid ‘I’m usually willing to consider own label products’ 46%

44% 65%

57%

Pre-Covid 2020 During Covid ’I’m often persuaded to buy extra Bottled Water, e.g. by special offers’

45%

36% 35%

23%

Pre-Covid 2020 During Covid

i

Availability at home Fear of running out has increased largely since COVID. Change in strategy: Focus on supply chain and on-shelf availability to minimize OOS anxiety. Get on the shopping list.

Less Private label appeal

Ballygowan, a proud Irish brand, is Ireland’s number one water brand and is tapping into the continuing growing consumer demand for healthier options.

Key to the success of Ireland’s original and most popular water is firstly its product quality, its local Irish heritage, a strong consumer communication plan and its product innovation.

With 750 years of heritage and purity filtering through mineral rich limestone, Ballygowan is hydrating the nation, helping consumers look and feel their best inside and out.

With sustainability an increasing consumer concern, Ballygowan is committed to helping to create a more sustainable future and believes that packaging should never become waste and the recycling process should be as easy as possible

for consumers. All Ballygowan bottles are 100% recyclable and encourage consumers to recycle with ‘recycle me’ printed on all caps. The bottling plant in New Castle West has reduced manufacturing emissions by over 90% since switching to renewable energy and in September 2020, Ballygowan launched its 500ml range in bottles that are now made from 100% recycled plastic.

This is just the beginning of the journey for the brand.

Ballygowan leads the market with the broadest pack offering in the water sector. The brand is available in still and sparkling across a variety of PET and glass formats..

Openness to Private labels increased in many categories, but it decreased in Bottled Water.

Shoppers shift towards brands.

Change in strategy: Talk about health benefits and quality.

Less promo sensitivity Water is more on the shopping list. Unlike most other categories, quantity is less affected by promotions since Covid.

Change in strategy: Focus less on promotions and more on product benefits and availability.

Pre-COVID: Data from survey of 16,492 Irish shoppers, carried out Nov 2019March 2020. Reports available for 91 FMCG categories in 2020.

2020 During Covid: data from survey of 1,793 Irish shoppers in September 2020.

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

750 years of heritage

Colm Rooney, Country Manager Ireland colm.rooney@shopperintelligence.com www.shopperintelligence.com

All Ballygowan bottles are 100% recyclable and encourage consumers to recycle with ‘recycle me’ printed on all caps

Available in still and sparkling across a variety of PET and glass, Ballygowan has the broadest pack offering in the water sector

m ad e f ro m

100 1rec0yc0LABLE %

r e c y c l e d p l a s t ic

%

38 CATEGORY FOCUS Bottled Water

Cooked Meats

Bottled Water

who care about what they put in their bodies and comes with no nasty additives, so is therefore risk free.

To learn more about the brand, check out www.defiantwater.com for some big colourful pictures and a guy in a white coat telling you all about the science! Seriously (and Defiant is very serious about its water), details of the brand’s story, where Defiant is currently stocked and other cool stuff is there. Also check out the brand’s social media platforms; Facebook @drinkdefiant, Instagram defiant.water and Linkedin Defiant Water.

Big citrus taste

Fitness entrepreneur Aidan Roche developed the new Defiant brand

Safe, satisfying and 100% Irish

market for a completely pure water brand after researching the sector and being unhappy with what was on offer. Defiant is a water your customers can trust and enjoy. It’s for people

Defiant is a new bottled water: Pure, plain water.

That’s it. Filtered seven times.

No carcinogens, no metals, no arsenic, no mercury, no aluminium, no pesticides, no fluoride, no bacteria and no calories. So, just water. Safe, satisfying and 100% Irish.

Defiant has been developed by fitness entrepreneur Aidan Roche who not only has a background in sport and business but is also a strong advocate of being healthy and well. Aidan Roche says he spotted a gap in the

After a full month of indulging which peaks at Christmas, most consumers start the new year with committing to a healthier lifestyle and cleaner diets. However, great taste and enjoyment still remain their top priorities when shopping for drinks.

As consumers are looking for meal accompaniments and alternatives to alcoholic drinks, fizzy drinks continue to be hugely popular but are seen to be a less healthy “guilty” choice, particularly as most are high in sugar.

At Danone, the team doesn’t believe shoppers should have to choose between enjoying a refreshing tasty fizzy drink and being health conscious – why not have both? That’s why Danone created L’mon – to give consumers a tasty,

low sugar alternative without compromising on taste.

L’mon, from the makers of Volvic, is a new range of zesty sparkling drinks, made in the UK, that combine sumptuous citrus blends, with at least 25% real fruit juice and British spring water.

Each 330ml can of L’mon delivers the taste experience of a soft drink but without the nasties, with less than 38 calories per can.

All the products are low in natural sugars, with no added sugar*, free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and only use naturally sourced ingredients.

L’mon is available in three citrusy variants: Lemon & Orange, Lemon & Lime and Lemon & Grapefruit.

When tested with consumers, L’mon scores ‘Outstanding’ as a product proposition and sits at the top 20% of non-alcoholic beverages in terms of purchase intent.** Adding L’mon to your product repertoire, can help you meet consumers’ needs for tasty and healthier beverages in ‘Dry January’, while it will boost your category growth!

The brand’s website www.sparklinglmon.co.uk/ provides information on the products’ ingredients and nutritionals, and has answers to many questions that consumers usually have. ■ *(Contains naturally occurring sugars from the fruit juice) **(Source: Bases research September 2020)

Different shopping mindsets for Plain vs Flavoured Bottled Water Ranks: out of 91 FMCG categories

’I sometimes buy it just because I feel like it at the time’ 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Rank: #61

Rank: #18

63% 24%

Plain BW

’I’ll probably buy a different brand if my favourite is OOS’

Flavoured BW

Rank: #38 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

33%

Plain BW

Rank: #83

19%

Flavoured BW

Impulsivity

Brand loyalty

Flavoured BW category is one of the most impulsive to shop in-store (ranked #18 of 91 categories), whereas plain water is very much planned.

Action: More in-store POS, secondary displays and promos in Flavoured BW

Plain BW shoppers are more likely to switch brand if needed, but there is more brand loyalty in Flavoured BW.

i

Action: prioritise brand at shelf for Flavoured BW.

Data from survey of 16,492 Irish shoppers, carried out Nov 2019-March 2020 Reports available for 91 FMCG categories in 2020

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

‘I planned to buy it because someone in my house asked for it’ 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Rank: #84

Rank: #4

33%

7%

Plain BW

Flavoured BW

Shopper vs. consumer

Flavoured BW is more impulsive, but when it’s planned, the shopper and the consumer are likely to be different.

Action: Get on the shopping list prestore. Consider catalogue/ pre-store marketing.

Colm Rooney, Country Manager Ireland colm.rooney@shopperintelligence.com www.shopperintelligence.com

DEFIANT water is 7x filtered.

That means no carcinogens, no metals, no arsenic, no mercury, no aluminium, no pesticides, no fluoride, no bacteria and no calories.

Aidan Roche, Owner of DEFIANT

defiantwater.com

@drinkdefiant

linkedin.com/company/defiant-water

@defiant.water

Cooked Meats

Bottled Water

40 CATEGORY FOCUS Cooked Meats

A meaty topic!

As Ireland’s third-wave lockdown continues, convenient and nutritious cooked meats which make it quick and easy to prepare a plethora of snacks, salads and scrumptious stir-fries will remain in strong demand writes Gillian Hamill

I

reland’s leading cooked meat brands, as highlighted below, have continued to innovate with distinctive new flavours and seasonings, as well as new on-the-go formats which make it even easier for your shoppers to prepare nutritious snacks in just minutes. Ease and convenience have become ever more important for those who are now juggling their home and family lives while working from home during lockdown. Many of these consumers are doing just one big weekly shop, and are keen to enjoy healthy meals and snacks they can quickly rustle up with what’s in the fridge, while also delivering on the value-for-money front.

As analyst Euromonitor stated in a new report published in December 2020, the segment saw a positive boost in 2020, thanks to the increased rate of home cooking due to foodservice closures as a result of Covid-19.

2021 is set to be an exciting year for the Carroll’s brand with new targeted consumer campaigns and investment in innovative new product launches. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Carroll’s sponsorship of Offaly GAA, from 1991-2021, well known as one of the longest standing county sponsorships within the GAA. Carroll’s has led the way in the development of the grab-andgo segment – premium quality deli meats are now available sliced and pre-packed for the convenience of the customer. A great solution also for retailers who don’t have a deli counter in-store.

Flavour in every bite Carroll’s of Tullamore continues to be one of the leading brands within the cooked meats category, with a wide range of products which appeal to a broad range of consumers. During 2020, the brand jumped six places in the rankings to reach number 29 in the ‘ShelfLife 100 Master Brands at Home’, as measured by Kantar.

Carroll’s of Tullamore Crumbed Ham is now available in a 38% bigger pack

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

Made from 100% chicken breast with no added water, Carroll’s Signature Roast Chicken Pieces are available in four tasty flavours

Carroll’s Signature Roast Chicken Pieces are made from 100% chicken breast and with no added water. Available in four tasty flavours; Rotisserie Style, Honey & Chilli, Smokey Barbecue and Fajita Style, this range of chicken pieces unlike others are fully coated, ensuring the succulent chicken delivers on flavour in every bite. The chicken pieces are perfect for spicing up sandwiches and salads, or even as a cooking ingredient.

Carroll’s New York Deli range

continues to go from strength to strength. This range inspires the consumer to make premium, delicious stacked sandwiches that are going to meet the needs of their taste buds as well as fuelling them in their busy lives. The range delivers the premium taste and quality of New York Deli, brought to you by a trusted Irish brand.

Carroll’s of Tullamore shows no signs of slowing down in 2021 and is a must-stock in your cooked meats range.

Renowned for quality From its home in Timahoe, County Kildare, Brady Family Ham continues to grow within the cooked meats category and is now firmly established as the number one cooked meats brand for Irish consumers, holding its category leading position for the third year running, according to Nielsen Scan Track Data from April 2018 – April 2020.

Brady Family Ham is made from 100% Irish pork, carved from a single pork joint and contains no added water. First established in 1978, the brand is renowned for its high quality, having built up a strong reputation with consumers and retailers over the years through its awardwinning delicatessen range. This leading ham brand consistently carries the Bord Bia Quality mark, which provides reassurance for consumers that Brady Family products are 100% Irish and meet the highest quality standards.

With a strong focus on innovation, the brand continues to stay relevant and attract new shoppers. In addition to its delicatessen hams, the Brady Family pre-packed range includes premium carved topside ham, a Just Add shredded range which is ideal for a convenient dinner solution, its Master Butcher Edition range which includes premium whole muscle sliced

Brady Family 7 Day Dry Aged Ham has a unique meaty texture and flavour profile

delicatessen ham products and a Christmas range which includes award-winning pre-cooked Christmas hams that are a firm favourite with consumers.

2020 was an exciting year for Brady Family as it launched a 7 Day Dry Aged Ham range under its premium Master Butcher Edition tier. This range offers something truly unique to the category as it brings the skill and craft of Ireland’s top cooked meats brand into the continental meats section in-store. Its unique meaty texture and flavour profile makes it the perfect accompaniment to any charcuterie board.

Brady Family Ham is the number one cooked meats brand for Irish consumers

A NEW ERA GUARANTEED FRESHNESS | DELI COUNTER QUALITY | HAND CRAFTED

WWW.CARROLLSOFTULLAMORE.IE

Our range of your favouritedeli counter cooked meats, now sliced & pre-packed for convenience.

Cooked Meats

Bottled Water

42 CATEGORY FOCUS Cooked Meats

The Green Farm range contains no artificial artificial flavours flavours or preservatives The Green Farm On the Go range of 100% natural, protein powered chicken bites makes it easy for consumers to snack smart

Naturally nutritious Green Farm is a tasty, cooked meat choice that is always 100% natural. The Green Farm range of chicken, turkey and beef is naturally high in protein so provides a nourishing addition to any sandwich, salad, stir fry or snack.

Green Farm has a rich heritage of keeping the health and wellbeing of the consumer as a key focus. A marked milestone on this journey was the removal of artificial flavours and preservatives from all Green Farm products in 2011. Since then, the brand has consistently delivered innovation in chicken, turkey and beef products, supported by recipe inspiration, to make eating well easy for the consumer.

The latest development on the Green Farm brand is the recent launch of a new snacking range, Green Farm On the Go. This range of 100% natural, protein powered chicken bites helps consumers to snack smart with

The future of meat A recent report on ‘Tomorrow’s Meat’ compiled by Bord Bia Thinking House in conjunction with Jump, and published in January 2020, highlights a number of key insights for the future of the meat category.

Key innovation opportunity areas are outlined, which include the following:

Lean and clean According to Bord Bia’s report, people want to live lean and also eat lean. The Ketogenic diet is on the rise and the Paleo diet is forecast to endure. Both recommend eating lean meats.

Bord Bia also states that global data surveys report an increase in demand for hormone-free and anti-biotics free - ‘clean meats – as well as the growing importance of meats with reduced fat and salt content. This is especially prevalent in APAC countries.

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

23g of protein per pack. Each pack contains a handy skewer making it the perfect on-thego snacking option. This range is stocked in selected Tesco, SuperValu and convenience stores nationwide.

Naturally high in protein, the Green Farm range makes a nourishing addition to sandwich, salad, stir fry or snack

How do we shop for Cooked Meat Meat? ?

3 insights in a nutshell

’I would buy a different product if my preferred one was out of stock’ 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Rank: #5

65%

53%

’I don't mind paying a bit more for better quality’

‘I’m usually willing to consider own label products’ 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Rank: #35

58%

44%

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Rank: #18

58%

45%

Cooked Meat Total Store

Cooked Meat Total Store

Switch easily

Open to Private label

Premium opportunity

If shoppers want to buy Cooked Meat, they will. They rather switch from their preferred choice than leave empty handed (#5 highest out of 91 FMCG categories).

Action: Low risk of lost sales for retailers, but brands need to ensure availability.

Substantial openness of shoppers to private label products (ranked #35 of 91 categories) – especially in discounters.

Shoppers don’t mind paying more for high quality/premium (#18 highest of 91).

i

Action: Important roles for both Brands and Private Label within this category.

Data from survey of 16,492 Irish shoppers, carried out Nov 2019-March 2020 Reports available for 91 FMCG categories in 2020

360˚ wellness We’re likewise seeing the emergence of a 360˚ wellness mindset where people seek all round body, mind and spirit wellbeing as prerequisite in their lifestyle, not as an extra.

Meat contains naturally occurring Vitamin B3 and Tyrosine Amino Acids associated with mood uplift. Meat makes us feel good.

Energy boost We’re facing an energy deficit

Cooked Meat Total Store

Action: A big opportunity in being a ‘trade up to premium’ category.

Communicate quality credentials.

Colm Rooney, Country Manager Ireland colm.rooney@shopperintelligence.com www.shopperintelligence.com

in how we live our daily lives.

Factors such as urban congestion, light pollution and stress levels make daily energy an even more critical need.

Meat is the natural energy boosting food. Vitamins D and B12, zinc, iron, creatine and taurine, all naturally produced in meat, deliver an array of energy, strength and immunity benefits to the body.

people seek out more refined eating experiences through more tender meats and rediscovered meat types such as game.

Eclectic discernment

Bord Bia’s report highlights how as tastes in discernment grow and broaden, the need for clear, distinctive brands increases as consumers seek to understand and justify any premium. From harissa to gochujang to Peruvian peppers, flavours originated from diverse areas of the globe are spicing up meat jerky, snacks and burgers, as well as menus in upscale dining establishments. ■

The Bord Bia Thinking House report also looks at ‘eclectic discernment’; an area defined as “contemporary everyday food experiences that are both elevated and experimental”.

Opportunity areas within eclectic discernment highlight a number of key points:

New refinement People are seeking out new levels and new takes on quality. Bord Bia’s report states we’re seeing

New provenance As tastes in discernment grow and broaden, the need for clear, distinctive brands increases as consumers seek to understand and justify any premium.

New frontiers

*(Source: www.bordbia.ie/globalassets/ bordbia2020/industry/insights/ new-publications/the-future-of-meatjanuary-2020.pdf)

OFF-TRADE NEWS 43

New rules on sale of alcohol introduced Regulations on the sale of alcohol have come into effect under new legislation. Since 11 January, alcohol sales have been disallowed from supermarket voucher schemes. Popular multi-buy deals have also come to an end.

This is part of government efforts to reduce the consumption of alcohol under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. Over the past year, gradual moves to introduce the act have been made, i.e., though the introduction of offlicence barriers. However, the latest measures affect consumers more directly.

The act prohibits grocers and off-licence outlets from awarding loyalty card points on alcohol sales.

Alcohol sellers are also banned from selling alcohol at a reduced price on the basis of the purchase of another product or service. This means that popular deals, such as “buy six

bottles for €50”, or “buy six and get 25% off”, will be disallowed.

Alcohol Action Ireland, an advocate for reducing alcohol harm, welcomed the new restrictions. Eunan McKinney, head of communications with Alcohol Action Ireland said “ending of short-term promotions, so evident throughout the supermarket multiples, will bring some reason to what have been truly reckless price reductions on alcohol”.

The main goal of the act is to reduce alcohol consumption by measures such as minimum unit pricing, regulation of advertising of alcohol products, and reduced visibility of alcohol products in supermarkets.

Another change relates to minimum pricing, which would set a floor on alcohol prices.

However, the government said this will have to wait until it can be introduced on both sides of

Multi-buy deals and alcohol voucher schemes are no longer allowed

the border at the same time.

Alcohol Action Ireland is calling for “the immediate implementation of minimum pricing of alcohol products, which has been interminably delayed by government inertia”.

Innis & Gunn and C&C Group announce long-term partnership

Ireland’s beer sector has been hit harder than its EU counterparts

Draught sales fell 57% between January and September Ireland’s beer sector has been significantly impacted by Covid-19, as a result of the extended closure of the hospitality sector, according to Drinks Ireland|Beer.

The Ibec trade association, which represents beer producers in Ireland, released figures from Revenue which show that sales of beer were down by 15% between January and September 2020, compared with the same period last year.

Draught beer sales were particularly hard-hit, as they take place in the on-trade. They fell by 57% during this period (Q1-Q3), compared to 2019. From April to June, draught beer sales fell by 93%.

Ireland’s beer sector has been hit harder than its EU counterparts.

According to Drinks Ireland|Beer, around 63% of beer is usually sold in the on-trade in Ireland. This compares to a European average of 30%.

“These figures show that despite some commentary to the contrary, consumption declined as a result of Covid-19 and the closure of pubs,” said Jonathan McDade, head of Drinks Ireland|Beer. “Ireland’s beer sector has been hit particularly hard by Covid-19, because of the large proportion of beer usually consumed in the on-trade in Ireland.

“This data demonstrates the knock-on impact that closures have had,” he added, “not only on hospitality venues, but also on their many suppliers and the wider business ecosystem in which they operate, including beer producers.”

Craft beer business Innis & Gunn has partnered with C&C Group, a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded beer, cider, wine, spirits, and soft drinks.

Under the deal, C&C will sell and distribute Innis & Gunn’s range of beers across the on-trade in the UK and Ireland. Innis & Gunn’s beers will continue to be produced and packaged at C&C’s Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow as part of a renewed agreement, as well as at Innis & Gunn’s Brewery in Perth.

This partnership will be formalised through investment in Innis & Gunn which will give C&C an equity stake of 8%. A long-term incentive scheme is also in place, which will make a number of additional shares available to C&C based on performance targets being met.

Under the new partnership, as Innis & Gunn starts to significantly increase brand presence and investment in England, C&C will use its position as the largest independent beverage-alcohol distributor in the UK and Ireland to increase the distribution and availability of Innis & Gunn beers in the on-trade, wholesale and free-trade channels, through its distribution businesses Matthew Clark in the UK and through Bulmers Ireland and Tennent’s NI in Ireland. Innis & Gunn will continue to be responsible for all brand marketing and for sales and distribution to national pub chains, the off-trade and current international markets.

“C&C is the right partner with the right platform to help us accelerate our growth into these channels and seek to replicate the success the brand has enjoyed in Scotland,” said Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder of Innis & Gunn. “We are retaining our independence and gaining a new distribution partner which can help us to introduce our brand to a much wider audience.” n

New agreement builds upon decade-long manufacturing relationship between the two companies

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

44 FEATURE

Following the UK’s exit from the EU trading bloc, there is now a border in the Irish Sea and checks have been introduced on goods entering Ireland from the UK (Photograph: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie)

Stark realities of Brexit hit retail sector

The UK and the EU only finalised the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement on Christmas Eve 2020, leaving companies virtually no time to prepare for a major change to how goods move between states from 1 January 2021 so it is absolutely no surprise that reports of empty shelves in supermarkets and complete confusion at ports have already surfaced just a few weeks into the new year. Fionnuala Carolan reports ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

A

s we write, it’s only two weeks since the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU was agreed and yet Irish retailers’ worst fears about Brexit are being realised. Already the excess red tape and customs issues have resulted in empty shelves in some supermarkets both north and south of the border, not to mention the many issues being reported by hauliers at ports.

Twitter was lighting up with reports of food shortages in Marks & Spencer stores during the first few weeks of January. One such tweet read, “Food shelves left bare at Dublin Marks and Spencer store after Brexit. Fridges at the British retailer’s outlet in Dundrum found empty in first week of post-Brexit trading after similar scenes reported in Paris.”

Another Twitter user said: “We saw the same in the M&S in the Blanchardstown Centre.

Many empty shelves. Aldi (which used a lot of Irish produce) was fully stocked next door.”

For balance, M&S said, “Due to a systems issue, some of our products are unavailable,” but didn’t directly refer to #Brexit.”

Tweets from those residing in France indicated that they were experiencing the same empty shelves we have here. One Twitter user said: “Empty shelves in M&S food shops in Paris. No deliveries.”

Marks & Spencer has several dozen food stores in Paris and since the beginning of January shoppers have reported virtually empty shelves, with some stores closing their doors altogether due to a lack of stock.

As pictures of empty shelves were being generously posted online, a spokesperson for Marks & Spencer said that the issue arose

FEATURE 45

Gerry Harrahill, director general of Customs at a recent multi-agency media briefing for the operation of Dublin Port port following the end of the Brexit transition period (Photograph: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)

because of new processes following Brexit.

“Following the UK’s recent departure from the EU, we are transitioning to new processes and it is taking a little longer for some of our products to reach our stores,” he said.

The spokesperson added that the problem is expected to be resolved “soon”.

Although a trade deal between the EU and the UK has avoided additional tariffs on food, goods travelling between Great Britain and Ireland are now subject to customs checks and red tape that did not previously exist, which can only mean delays and shortages.

Fresh products with a short shelf life are most likely to be affected by supply problems.

UK retailers such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer have struggled to move stock through supply chains from distribution networks in Britain to Ireland. Other major supermarkets like Dunnes, SuperValu and even Lidl and Aldi avoided such shortages as they have a higher ratio of Irish suppliers.

Managing director of Retail Excellence, Duncan Graham said that M&S is particularly susceptible to facing issues because it sources the vast majority of its products in the UK and transports them to Ireland daily.

Percy Pigs Irish shoppers were especially disappointed to hear that the supply of one of M&S’s most well-known products, Percy Pigs, could soon be discontinued here.

The supply of Percy Pigs to Ireland is now posing a problem for Marks & Spencer as they are made in Germany and brought to the UK before being re-exported here – a journey that would now be subject to import taxes.

Percy Pigs are among thousands of products facing new tariffs due to the “rules of origin” regulations set out in the trade deal the UK struck with the EU. Marks & Spencer chief executive officer

Steve Rowe told the media: “About a third of the products in our food business are subject to complex rules of origin around componentry and how much has been altered in the UK”, he said.

“Depending on that, there is a variable rate of tariff on goods. Tariff-free does not feel like tariff-free when you read the fine print.”

The complexity of rule-of-origin regulations means that businesses such as M&S will have to find a way around this in order to avoid paying new duties on products such as Percy Pig sweets.

Not one to miss a good marketing opportunity, Lidl Ireland shared an article on the new tariffs facing Percy Pigs on their official Twitter page and wrote: “Rest assured, Henry Hippos remain unaffected.”

Rules of Origin While we might lament the loss of some popular products such as these, this is small fry compared with how the overall retail landscape could be affected. Brexit negotiations from the start focused on avoiding the need for a hard border between north and south of Ireland.

However one of the most pertinent problems that existed was the issue of transportation of fresh food products from Britain into Northern Ireland.

Following the EU/UK trade deal most products can move between the British and Irish markets free of tariffs, or import duties, provided they meet the rules of origin requirements.

If goods are not manufactured in Britain but just transiting through it and the loads are not broken up, then there is no tariffs problem.

However, typically they would be reloaded and redistributed from the major hubs and under current rules this means tariffs would apply if they go onward to EU markets such as Ireland, even though the goods originate in the EU. The British government in December used ham and cheese sandwiches as an example of a food that could not cross to the continent after Britain formally abandoned European Union trade rules on 1 January.

Making the news over the last couple of weeks were scenes of customs officers confiscating ham sandwiches from drivers arriving by ferry from the UK under post-Brexit rules banning personal imports of meat and dairy products into the EU. The new postBrexit regulations say that bringing foods that contain meat or dairy into the EU, even for personal use, is forbidden.

Flour power Another sector that is affected by the rules

of origin is the baking sector. This is because much of the flour used for bread baked in Ireland includes Canadian wheat and as this comes from outside the EU, but comes through the UK, it means tariffs will apply.

About half the flour used by Irish bakers comes from or through Britain with the other half sourced from three mills in Ireland. These mills have limited capacity to substitute for supply from Britain.

Under no-deal Brexit contingency planning, Irish bakeries have been trying to source new lines from continental Europe, sourcing flour from Germany and France directly.

These issues highlight the risk that despite the Brexit trade deal, consumers will face higher prices and possibly some shortages for a period as supply chains are rebuilt and new customs requirements are bedded in.

Supply chain at risk of collapse Meanwhile the UK’s Road Haulage Association has warned the British government that the supply chain between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is in danger of collapse as a result of the post-Brexit regulatory border.

The trade body warned that introducing complex customs processes with next to no training, implementation time and insufficient capacity left industry “one storm/Covid event/boat breakdown” away from having serious supply issues and also cautioned that the Covid-19 lockdown is “simply masking a crisis in the supply chain to food service and hospitality”.

However Revenue in the Republic has come out and said that 76% of goods being imported through Dublin Port from the UK are now being given green clearance, which is up from 45% one week previously.

Speaking at a Brexit briefing, Tom Talbot, head of customs operations at Dublin port, said that the remaining 30% are being routed to orange or red channels where further documentation and checks are sought before leaving the port.

“The majority of those are documentationrelated - so it is the wrong documentation or lack of documentation, and it is a quick call, we sort out the documentation and they move on their way,” Talbot said.

If we chose to believe that this is the case, it will mean that the food shortages and delays at ports are simply Brexit teething problems.

Unfortunately we fear it’s not that simple and it will be a case of things could worse before they get better. n

Sparse shelves in a Dublin city centre Marks & Spencer outlet on the evening of Friday, 8 January 2021

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife January 2021

46 HOTSPOTS Aldi shopper’s unconventional method for keeping safe while shopping has caused a stir

Easy on the sprouts Shoppers have been taking to Twitter to share their delivery fails, after one user explained how he mistakenly ordered just one Brussel sprout for his dinner.

It all started when Twitter user @jamesmurden posted a cautionary tale to the platform. Alongside a photo of a solitary Brussel sprout, he wrote: “Please note: when ordering sprouts from @Tesco online, quantity 1 does not mean 1 bag of sprouts. It means 1 sprout. Thank you and good night.”

The post quickly went viral, receiving thousands of likes, retweets and comments from other shoppers who found the incident hilarious. One user even made the exact same mistake, sharing a photo of a singular sprout alongside the caption: “You are not alone.”

The mishap sparked users to share their similar gaffes, including one who had a major issue with bananas. “Earlier this year the 6 bananas I *thought* I ordered turned out to be 6 bunches of bananas. Full credit to the @Tesco delivery driver who kept a straight face when asking whether I meant to order that many as I unpacked all 43 of them.”

Shoppers have been taking to Twitter to share their delivery fails

Following the Twitterati ■ Cybbo @CybillLiberty I was just praised by the lady on the Aldi till at how fast my packing was. This is the equivalent of being told by Usain Bolt that you’re ‘quite good at running.’

■ Seán Keany @SeanKeany_ I’m after eating an entire cheeseboard that I got in SuperValu for a fiver and lads I am READY for these lucid dreams.

■ Alison Spittle @AlisonSpittle Lockdown daydreams. I want to go to a supermarket in Spain or Portugal and marvel at the crisp flavours and cheap wine.

■ Anne Marie Murphy @annemariemurphy My mam has a supply of shopping bags for each shop in the boot of the car. Wouldn’t dream of going to Lidl with a Dunnes bag. The shame, they might ask her to leave.

■ Dominic Minghella @DMinghella If we use social media to complain, we should also use it to thank. @Tesco delivery driver was just great about a really bad error on my part. Cheers.

Give him some space!

At this stage, we’re all well accustomed to wearing face masks when we’re out and about, but one man from Durham in England has taken mask-wearing to the next level.

The man was seen strolling through Aldi donning a large blue and white astronaut helmet.

Of course, the unusual accessory attracted some attention from shoppers. One woman could not believe her eyes and stopped to take a picture of the man. “I’ve seen it all now,” she said, before adding that she can see where he’s coming from: “It’s actually a good idea though! Hopefully no Covid is getting in there!”

Tsop the presses!

When a spelling blunder on one of its products was spotted and shared online recently, Lidl Ireland was able to see the funny side and joined in the conversation on social media.

While doing his Christmas shopping, customer Sean Mulvihill caught a clear spelling error on a sign in his local shop. While the sign should have read ‘Santa Stop Here’, according to the tweet sent out by Mulvihill, it said ‘Santa Tsop Here’ instead.

Mulvihill quickly snapped a pic and tweeted it out to the masses with the caption, ‘Lidl you had one job.’ Plenty of people found the mix-up Lidl responds after amusing, and even Lidl itself responded, jokingly customer spots funny adding ‘Tsop the lights’. error in Irish store

Connecticut consumers fight robots for space amid pandemic Shoppers in Massachusetts have been complaining of a very niche hindrance throughout the pandemic – contending with bulky, aisle-roaming robots while doing their shopping.

The robots, collectively known as ‘Marty’, are a staple of the US supermarket giant Stop & Shop’s retail experience. Marty is no stranger to media attention, but made headlines last year for potentially clogging up valuable space and impeding social distancing efforts.

Officials with the supermarket have repeatedly defended the presence of Marty, and when the stores saw unprecedented customer traffic in March and April of last year, the programme was temporarily shelved.

Grocery across the globe China

While Irish retailers have been adjusting to social distancing and embracing digital tools during the pandemic, Asian retailers have been looking into redesigning their stores in a bid to make consumers feel safer, and experience a sales boost at the same time.

According to the South China Morning Post, wider aisles, bigger entry and exit points, and contactless payment technology have been attracting investment. The goal is for consumers to feel safe and comfortable when shopping in-store, while also encouraging shoppers to spend more time and money in the store.

Norway

Norway’s top three food retailers may have landed themselves in some seriously hot water. The trio may be facing fines totalling a

ShelfLife January 2021 | www.shelflife.ie

record 21 billion-Norwegian crowns (€2 billion) for breaching antitrust rules, Norway’s competition authority said. The watchdog announced that Norgesgruppen, Coop and Rema 1000 may have cooperated in ways that resulted in inflated prices. If confirmed, the combined fine would be the largest ever sought by the regulator in any antitrust case.

Australia

Social distancing driving you stir crazy? You’re not alone. A single Australian man headed to his local supermarket in a last-ditch effort to find a wife. In a video posted to TikTok, the man can be seen wandering through supermarket Coles in a desperate attempt to find love. His match may be out there, as just a few weeks prior, videos of an Australian woman trying to find her match in the supermarket surfaced on the platform. ■

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