ShelfLife July 2023

Under the tree since ‘63

Spar sales director Colin Donnelly discusses the continued evolution of a brand at the centre of Irish communities for the past 60 years

Celebrating Ireland’s 100 most chosen brands

Resilience of Ireland’s leading brands shines through

Plant-based sensation

Nobó’s Brian and Rachel Nolan blazing a trail within plant-based and dairy-free sectors

Don’t get left in the dark

From September 2023, the EU will phase out fluorescent lighting. This may directly affect your business, so why not beat the rush and apply for a fully funded lighting upgrade from Energia? You can get your old fluorescent lighting replaced, while also reducing your lighting consumption by up to 80%. We’ll make it easy by managing the entire process from start to finish.

Find out more at energia.ie/lighting

Editor GILLIAN HAMILL (01) 294 7776

gillian.hamill@mediateam.ie

Staff journalist

JULIA O’REILLY (01) 294 7709

julia.oreilly@mediateam.ie

Contributors

CAROLINE REIDY

FIONNUALA CAROLAN

NIKKI MURRAN PAUL DOYLE

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

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.

Extreme weather preparation shouldn’t be left ‘til a rainy day

Have you seen the latest meme on Irish weather doing the rounds? You know; the one where the skeleton peeks out his window blinds with the tongue-in-cheek caption “Irish people waiting for the rain to stop…”

While it’s a memorable image, some of us may well be feeling rather lucky not to be over in mainland Europe right now. As ShelfLife headed to print, Italy had put 23 cities on red alert as temperatures were set to reach 46°C, one of the global hotspots as a wave of extreme heat, wildfires and flooding wreaked havoc from the US to China.

Earlier this month, Greek authorities were also forced to shut the Acropolis. “Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heatwave with air temperatures expected to climb to 48 degrees Celsius on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia,” the European Space Agency said in a statement.

Undoubtedly, it’s an incredibly serious issue, and one which hasn’t left Ireland unaffected either. In April, forecaster Met Éireann published a series of technical reports and maps aimed at informing how future Irish buildings and infrastructure should be designed to withstand extreme weather events.

In more positive news, many may well consider foregoing their traditional European break for a more “tolerable” holiday at home, which has obvious benefits for Ireland’s tourist hotspots. Across the board, this is an issue worth seriously considering now to ensure the correct infrastructure is in place.

Gillian Hamill, editor, ShelfLifemagazine

Contents July

COVER STORY

28 Under the tree since ‘63: Spar sales director Colin Donnelly meets up with Gillian Hamill to reflect on the past 60 years of Spar

36 100 Master Brands at Home: Resilient brands standing their ground and thriving in challenging times, says Kantar’s Emer Healy

18 Sourcing supremos: USSi founder Seamus Greaney tells Gillian Hamill how the company confidently tackles sourcing challenges

20 Mace Store profile: Paul Doyle chats to regional manager Trevor Kennedy of Mace Ballinrobe about investing in the future

22 Simplicity at the heart of good food: Gillian Hamill catches up with the couple behind the plantbased pioneer that is Nobó to learn more about their next moves

ADVISOR

32 HR: The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy delivers an overview of redundancy procedures

34 Recruitment: Excel Recruitment’s Nikki Murran shares her top tips on how to ensure you create a positive impression online

16 Centra Store profile: Gillian Hamill speaks to retailers Fiona and Ken O’Connor about the newly renovated Centra Enniskerry store

74 NOffLA news: Molloy’s Liberties’ Paddy Burke explains his personalised approach to customer service to Julia O’Reilly

36 100 Master Brands at Home

62 Summer Wines

68 Pet

NEWSGRID

The top news stories in FMCG and retail from across Ireland

Ireland surpasses all EU recycling targets in 2022

Repak has released a new report, titled ‘Packaging Today. Reimagined for Tomorrow’, which confirms the group surpassed all EU mandated recycling targets in 2022 and delivered on all key compliance, communication and financial objectives. However, despite significant positive progress being made, Repak also announced that current projections forecast Ireland’s plastic recycling rate will fall short of the 2025 50% target set by the EU

Re-turn confirms take-back exemptions

In preparation for going live on 1 February 2024, Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for empty bottles/containers, has announced the takeback exemptions for deposit return. Retailers operating from stores with a retail area of less than 250 sq m will be able to apply for a takeback exemption. This is to facilitate smaller retailers with limited retail and storage space. For further details, turn to page 10

M&S and Applegreen introduce new Click and Collect service

Marks & Spencer and Applegreen have commenced a pilot of M&S Click & Collect in four Applegreen stores, in Celbridge, Co Kildare, Kinsealy, Co Dublin, Mountgorry, Co Dublin and at the M11 service station at Cullenmore, Co Wicklow. Shoppers will now have the option to collect orders placed online at M&S.ie free of charge at any one of the four trial Applegreen locations. This latest initiative between M&S and Applegreen represents Ireland’s first roadside retailer click and collect service from a major retailer The service will be available for all items across the M&S clothing as well as selected home and beauty ranges.

Pepco opens new store in Tralee

Pepco is celebrating the opening of its seventh store in Tralee, Co Kerry this month. The latest opening comes after Dealz completely revamped six of its Irish stores, and converted them to the Pepco brand. Pepco’s other stores in Ireland are at Omni Shopping Centre, Finglas Main Centre, The Park at Carrickmines, The Courtyard at Newbridge, Galway Shopping Centre and The Square Tallaght.

Drinks Ireland says calls to increase price of alcohol are ‘out of touch with reality’

Ibec trade association Drinks Ireland has said Alcohol Action Ireland’s claim that alcohol prices should increase are ‘out of touch with reality’. “Recent Eurostat data, looking at the cost of living in Ireland indicated that Ireland has some of the most expensive alcohol prices in the EU,” said Cormac Healy, director of Drinks Ireland. “This is driven by extremely high levels of excise duty on alcohol, which is the second highest in the EU, as well as Minimum Unit Pricing, introduced in January 2022.”

Unemployment rate remains at all-time record low of 3.8%

The latest CSO data shows Ireland’s main unemployment rate was 3.8% in June, remaining steady from 3.8% in May and down from a level of 4.2% 12 months ago The unemployment rate was 105,400 in June, and fell by 6,000 in the past 12 months. Since January of this year, when unemployment stood at 4.3%, the monthly unemployment rate has fallen steadily each month, according to CSO data.

Green light for €11.5m Ennis regeneration project

Clare County Council has received government approval to proceed with a €11.5m regeneration of Ennis town centre. A funding allocation totalling €8,576,920 has been approved for the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration Project under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), with 25% match funding from the council. Significant enhancements will be made to the streetscape of O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street, High Street, Bank Place, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square.

An artist’s impression of O’Connell Street following the completion of the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration Project

CSNA highlights scam hitting Payzone retailers

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) has been made aware that there are individuals visiting or phoning stores claiming to be a Payzone representative asking staff members to print prepaid vouchers and cards. In a statement, the CSNA said: “Please inform all staff that Payzone will never phone or visit a store and ask you to print a voucher If you are asked to do this, please notify Payzone on 0818 882 600.”

High Court challenge stalls Supermac’s motorway plaza plan for Ennis

A High Court challenge is delaying plans by Supermacs’ Pat McDonagh to open a €10 million Barack Obama Plaza-style Supermac’s motorway plaza outside Ennis off the M18 motorway A chartered civil engineer is seeking to challenge An Bord Pleanála’s permission saying the planning is flawed due to its proximity to special areas of conservation, and that as a result, planning permission should not have been granted. A preliminary hearing is scheduled this month to determine if he has an arguable case ■

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

Cormac Healy

M&S unveils new Irish ‘Farm to Foodhall’ campaign

M&S is launching its inaugural ‘Farm to Foodhall’ campaign, fronted by chef and M&S brand ambassador Mark Moriarty Through the campaign, M&S and Mark Moriarty will take shoppers on a journey to explore the lengths Irish farmers embark on to deliver the highest quality M&S Irish produce, from ‘Farm to Foodhall’.

The exciting new multimedia campaign will showcase Mark Moriarty meeting with the M&S Select Irish farmers behind the retailer’s top quality 100% traceable Irish beef and fresh Irish berries. Moriarty heads to where M&S’ Irish berries are sourced and learns that great quality, fresh strawberries are specially picked using a specific technique that involves twisting them from the stem. They look at the deep red colour and size before deciding whether or not the produce is M&S ready All M&S Select Farms encourage a natural eco system in their greenhouses and use bees to pollinate the fruit for extra freshness and great taste

In the second phase of the campaign, during a visit to the M&S Select beef farm, viewers will experience why M&S is passionate about sourcing quality Irish beef that assures complete traceability, working to the highest animal welfare standards and sustainability

This campaign further showcases M&S’ commitment to using Irish suppliers and expanding upon its existing range of Irishsourced products, which includes everything from dairy products like artisan cheeses to fresh fruits and vegetables. It will appear across TV, social, out-of-home, customer emails and in-store

“By prioritising sustainability and responsible sourcing, we can make a positive impact on our communities and the environment,” said Mark Moriarty “I look forward to working with Marks and Spencer to promote these values and inspire customers to embrace high-quality Irish ingredients.”

Irish food suppliers secure lucrative opportunity with Musgrave MarketPlace

Representatives from SuperValu and Centra stores across Ireland are celebrating success after the Musgrave Food Safety Awards, held at the Killashee Hotel in Naas earlier this month.

Musgrave has the largest store network in the country with food safety as a key priority The Musgrave Food Safety Standard and Independent Audit Programme provides the basis for maintaining safe food for all SuperValu and Centra customers every day.

Five SuperValu stores and five Centra stores were recognised at the awards for their outstanding ongoing commitment to excellence in food safety and consistently high standards of leadership in food safety

Global assurance provider Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) completed a series of store audits to measure performance against the Musgrave Retail Food Safety Standard. The results of these audits were used to carefully choose the winners of this year’s awards.

The winners of the ‘Exceptional Performance in Food Safety’ awards were:

• SuperValu Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick

100% Irish owned national foodservice wholesaler, Musgrave MarketPlace has announced five new partners following the first round of its Green Shoots programme In collaboration with Bord Bia, the Dragons Den style initiative invited pitches from local Irish businesses with the opportunity for their product to be promoted and sold across Musgrave MarketPlace branches and online platforms.

Companies presented to a panel of foodservice experts spanning the areas of culinary, purchasing, sales and marketing with five providers selected – Vanilla Bean Patisserie in Cavan, Uneek Functional Cheese Company based in Limerick, West Cork natives, The Cultured Food Company and Spice of Life as well as Builin Blasta from Galway

The businesses will now be listed in three Musgrave MarketPlace branches as well as online There will be the opportunity to host monthly sampling events in-branch and an extensive promotional campaign will now begin across Musgrave MarketPlace social media and digital platforms as well as in foodservice brochures.

“At Musgrave MarketPlace we are committed to providing our customers with the most extensive range of products and supporting local Irish suppliers is extremely important to us. Green Shoots brings these two commitments together,” said Mark Moriarty trading director of Musgrave Wholesale Partners, congratulating the successful businesses.

• SuperValu Ballincollig, Cork

• SuperValu Charlesland, Co Wicklow

• Centra North King Street, Dublin

• Centra Batterstown, Co Meath

• Centra Toomevara, Co Tipperary

The winners of the ‘Continuous Improvement in Food Safety’ awards were:

• SuperValu Deansgrange, Co Dublin

• SuperValu Clane, Co Kildare

• Centra Forster Street, Galway

• Centra Ballinagh, Co Cavan

“We are delighted to recognise these retailers for their efforts in food safety,” said Ian Allen, managing director of SuperValu and Centra.

“We think it is important to recognise exemplars of excellence in this area, which is vital to everything we do at SuperValu and Centra,” he continued. “We want to thank the store owners, managers, and staff for their ongoing hard work and dedication to food safety.”

The winners celebrating their success at the 2023 Musgrave Retail Food Safety Awards

Five

Ten SuperValu and Centra retailers recognised for commitment to food safety

The M&S campaign will follow chef Mark Moriarty as he visits M&S Select farms across Ireland

Desi Derby, marketing director, Musgrave Wholesale Partners; with the successful businesses selected by a panel of foodservice experts

No polyethylene layer or adhesive coating required

Piranha™ is our patented, pioneering, lightweight, mono-material Modified Atmospheric Pack (MAP) rPET tray that heat seals the film lid for greasy contents like meat, fish and poultry using a series of raised teeth around the flange.

Piranha™ eliminates the need for additional polyethylene or adhesive layers, as its unique design channels greasy residue between the raised teeth. This ensures that there is no risk of contamination in the recycling stream, allowing Piranha™ to be easily and fully recycled back into food-grade rPET.

That’s why we do more than simply excel at packaging.

We take packaging personally.

PiranhaTM burst tests performed better than standard flange trays

Standard shape that fits into existing packing and filling lines

All products available in up to 100% rPET and fully recyclable

Dunnhumby launches Relevant Sponsored Search on Tesco.ie

Dunnhumby has announced the launch of Relevant Sponsored Search on Tesco.ie, allowing brands to improve visibility and supercharge conversions by showcasing their products at the top of Tesco.ie’s online grocery shopping search results.

With retailers’ sites used more than ever in the run-up to making a purchase, 37% of shoppers say that information on retailer-owned websites and apps helps them make up their mind on what to buy Getting products seen in the right place at the right time can have a significant impact on sales, both online and in-store

Relevant Sponsored Search allows advertisers to specify relevant keyword sponsorship to promote their products to the top of a customer’s search results listings when they search on Tesco.ie The first retailer in Ireland to offer this product, the Tesco site will display the

ads natively within the page in slots one and two, ensuring that the customer journey goes uninterrupted.

Via an easy-to-use self-serve online portal, CPG brands and their advertising agencies can create and manage auction-based campaigns using programmatic bidding with customisable parameters such as budget limits, specific keywords and wallet management. Near realtime reporting dashboards allow advertisers to observe featured product sales impact and adjust as necessary

Eoin Maguire, head of Commercial Media, Dunnhumby Ireland says: “Customers are much more likely to buy the products they see first in the search results. Relevant Sponsored Search enables you to boost your products into these highly visible positions at the top of the organic search results, improving the discoverability of

Novolex introduces new innovative recyclable tray

Leading European thermoforming packaging specialist Waddington Europe, a division of Novolex, with a key manufacturing site in Arklow, ROI, has introduced an innovative mono-material recyclable tray for meat, fish and poultry products.

The container, called Piranha, is sealed using a series of raised teeth that run around the sealing flange instead of applying a layer of polyethylene or adhesive, which are typically used to seal the lid of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The raised teeth maintain the seal’s integrity even if the flange becomes contaminated by animal fat, which can interfere with closure on traditional packaging for meat, fish and poultry (MFP) products.

With Piranha, greasy contaminants are forced into the channels between the raised teeth, leaving the peaks clear and clean to contact the PET top web. Under the same sealing temperatures and dwell time, the top web adheres to the peaks, creating the seal despite the presence of contaminants. During filling-line trials of Piranha, the problem of burst seals due to grease contamination on mono-rPET sealing was cut to almost zero

As a mono-material package, the tray is capable of being fully recycled back into food-grade rPET. Piranha can also be made with up to 100% recycled PET (rPET).

To learn more about Waddington Europe and how it helps customers promote circularity through innovative and more sustainable packaging solutions visit www.waddingtoneurope.com or contact info@waddingtoneurope.com

Dunnhumby has announced the launch of Relevant Sponsored Search on Tesco.ie. 37% of shoppers say that information on retailer-owned websites and apps helps them make up their mind on what to buy

your product and growing your brand sales.”

Learn more about how Relevant Sponsored Search can help you maximise conversions with Ireland’s biggest online grocery retailer Speak to your media lead or visit go.dunnhumby.com/ RelevantSponsoredSearch-Ireland

Create a ‘destination’ experience with Stacked

In the ever-competitive retail landscape, capturing and retaining customers is a constant challenge To succeed, retailers must strive to become a ‘destination’ for their customers, offering an experience that sets them apart. One powerful tool that can help achieve this is digital signage Digital signage incorporating things like kiosk advertising, shelf edge displays, self-service kiosks, video walls and in-window high-bright displays provide you with a dynamic and engaging way to communicate with your customers. These eye-catching displays can be used to showcase product information, promotions, and even create a personalised shopping experience when used in conjunction with a smart content management system. By capturing the attention of passersby (from an impressive distance), in-window displays can even help drive significantly higher footfall into your store.

Stacked, a leading provider of digital, workplace and managed print services, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Fitting Image, an Irish system integrator with over 30 years’ experience in the digital and AV sector This acquisition will help fuel Stacked’s growth ambitions and widen the portfolio of solutions it can offer

Paul Sweetman, CEO of Stacked, said: “We are excited to welcome Fitting Image to the Stacked family We believe that this acquisition will allow us to provide even more value to our customers and further strengthen our position in the market. It marks a new chapter for Stacked and we couldn’t be happier to welcome the Fitting Image team onboard.”

Liam Walsh, managing director of Fitting Image adds: “We are thrilled to be joining the Stacked Group and look forward to working together to deliver exceptional digital and AV solutions.”

For more on this visit https://www.stacked.ie/stacked-digital/ or get in touch on 0818 409 988 or at hello@stacked.ie ■

Stacked is delighted to welcome Fitting Image onboard; an Irish system integrator with over 30 years’ experience in the digital and AV sector

Novolex has introduced an innovative mono-material recyclable tray for meat, fish and poultry products called Piranha

Stores with a retail area of less than 250 sq m will be able to apply for a take-back exemption

Re-turn confirms takeback exemptions for plastic bottles and containers

In preparation for going live on 1 February 2024, Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for empty bottles/containers, has announced the takeback exemptions for deposit return.

Retailers operating from stores with a retail area of less than 250 sq m will be able to apply for a take-back exemption. This is to facilitate smaller retailers with limited retail and storage space.

The news has been welcomed by retailers’ organisations CSNA and RGDATA, which say it was an issue they had sought on behalf of non-producer retailers.

Retailers will also need to display a QR code locator – visible to all customers in-store – to find the nearest Deposit Return Point.

According to Re-turn, the exemption will alleviate the take-back pressure on smaller retailers and will result in a large number of takeaways, mobile vans, vending machines and a range of other small venues being able to apply for a take-back exemption.

Spar Millennium Walkway in Dublin 1 sells winning scratch card worth €100,000

Celebrations were afoot at Spar Millennium Walkway in Dublin 1 recently as it was announced that the store had sold a winning Lotto Money Multiplier scratch card worth €100,000 Owner of the store, John O’Neill was ecstatic to get the call that one of his customers won the incredible prize.

“Ah I’m just absolutely delighted for that customer,” he said. “I hope it brings them lots of happiness and I hope they get to really enjoy it. This is definitely the biggest scratch card win we’ve ever had to date I hope we get a roll of them to keep the excitement going!”

The winner of the €100,000 prize is from Co Dublin and has already collected their chunky cheque at Lottery HQ.

Residential space above commercial premises must be exploited to confront housing crisis, urges business lobby group

Staff from Spar on Millenium Walkway on Abbey Street, Dublin 1, are pictured celebrating after it was announced their store sold a winning Money Multiplier scratch card worth ¤100,000

Dublin Town, the collective voice of businesses in the capital, wants a reduction in red tape, combined with financial supports, to bring tens of thousands of empty spaces above businesses back into circulation.

According to 2022 data from the Central Statistics Office, there are more than 37,000 empty homes in Dublin.

In its pre-budget submission, Dublin Town also warns Ireland’s key infrastructural deficits must be urgently addressed at this time of budget surplus if environmentally friendly economic progress is to be maintained.

The surplus should be devoted to addressing shortcomings in housing, transport, water infrastructure, green energy generation and electrical infrastructure.

“Living over the shop should be advanced,” said Dublin Town CEO, Richard Guiney.

“A sensible approach to fire and disability access as in other EU states, and financial supports, would help unlock the potential for productive use of upper floors of commercial premises in many Irish towns.”

The organisation also says commercial rates are an obsolete and often unfair tax, which do not take into account a business owner’s ability to pay.

“Underlying rateable valuations are based on an arbitrary assessment which may now not be relevant. A discussion of structural reform of local authorities and their funding is long overdue,” added Guiney. ■

Dublin Town CEO, Richard Guiney is calling for a reduction in red tape and financial supports to exploit residential living capacity above commercial premises

(Pic: Photocall Ireland)

WINTER EDITION

Richard Collins

Mike Greene

Mandy Hickson

Former Ro

Steven Bartlett

CSNA NEWS

CSNA: REPRESENTING OVER 1,500 RETAILERS NATIONWIDE

PRESIDENT’S OPINION

CSNA retail members are among the most community-oriented businesses in the country. They understand what it really means to be part of their hometown and never shirk in promoting initiatives that are designed to make their area a better place.

CSNA represents members’ interests on Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) exemption rule

The CSNA is pleased to note that as a result of urgings from the association the exemption rule has been moved from 150sq m to 250sq m. This will reduce the cost of compliance for smaller retailers.

In preparation for going live on 1 February 2024, Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for empty bottles/containers, has announced the take-back exemptions for deposit return.

Retailers operating from stores with a retail area of less than 250sq m will be able to apply for a take-back exemption. This is to facilitate smaller retailers with limited retail and storage space.

That is why the association has given much consideration to the ‘Latte Levy’ in terms of its objectives. We find it to be an unfair and unreasonable tax on our customers and will support the calls from the IPPCA to stand down the implementation of this poorly considered legislation.

We are sceptical about the accuracy of the figures supplied to

the Department and used by them in their Regulatory Impact Analysis, something that the renowned economist Jim Power was able to debunk. We are concerned that our sales will suffer and that the levy will make coffee an even more expensive commodity. We do not accept that currently 25% of our customers use Keep Cups (as stated in the RIA) and are furious that the State has never invested in technology to recycle compostable material.

Sensible, scientifically robust environmental arguments will always find favour with us; this levy has none of these hallmarks. Scrap the idea please Minister.

Vaping matters: Some new developments

CSNA members are very aware of their societal obligations regarding the sale or supply of any items containing nicotine such as tobacco and vaping products but there are, unfortunately, some outlets that are allowing their greed to run ahead of them.

We have previously alerted you to the difficulties that a number of very large supermarkets encountered with Trading Standards in the UK regarding the sale of vaping devices that contained amounts in excess of permitted levels. Judging by the reports we are getting from retailers around the country, at least some of this stock is finding its way back into Irish retail outlets through the “white van” supply chain at unrealistic wholesale prices - be advised that buying from a nonreputable source will not bode well.

Disposable vapes contain electronic parts, toxic chemicals and nicotine; they are regulated in Ireland through a number of laws and regulations and compliance is carried out by officers from the Environmental Health service (EHOs). We noted the response from the Minister for Health to a Dáil Question recently advising the querist that he had asked his officials to “examine options” towards a restriction of flavours in

nicotine inhaling products.

It is equally likely that there will be an increased clamor for additional restrictions such as display bans, plain packaging and applying excise duties to deter youth purchasing; the growth of the

sector has not gone unnoticed and when the hammer comes down, the CSNA believes it will have an impact on margins being achieved in the tobacco category, which is where many retailers choose to place these products.

Disposable vapes are regulated in Ireland and compliance is carried out by officers from the Environmental Health service

Following representation from the CSNA, the DRS exemption rule has been increased to apply to stores with a retail area of less than 250sq m

The CSNA has given a great deal of consideration to the ‘Latte Levy’ and its objectives

“Latte Levy is an unfair and unreasonable tax for customers”: Gus O’Hara

CSNA NEWS

CSNA NEWS

GUS O’HARA National President, CSNA

CSNA welcomes delegation of retailers from CEDT to Dublin

CSNA is a member of the European Federation of Tobacco Retailers which is an organisation based in Brussels that is funded entirely by retailers from eight countries in the European Union.

In Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Hungary, retailers are licensed to operate a monopoly of sales of tobacco products in a devised area and have varying degrees of restrictions on what they can or cannot offer for sale, how many outlets they can operate (in most cases it is only a single store) and their hours of opening. While all of them sell Lottery products and many sell alcohol, they were all very

impressed with the range of offerings that our forecourt/ convenience sector is able to provide to our customers. Belgium is similar to Ireland while the Greek retailers are primarily kiosk-holders with exclusivity on a number of products.

Following a very busy meeting, we took the opportunity to provide guided tours to a number of members’ stores.

Many thanks to CSNA member Thomas Ennis who made himself available for almost an hour answering an array of questions from the delegates in his fabulous Merrion Row shop.

We are also most appreciative to Emma George for offering us the opportunity to visit the stunning shop situated at The Point where once again the delegates were offered every opportunity to seek explanations on layout, design, technical specs, etc. A big “thank you” to Olga who displayed a great level of knowledge of the sector.

We concluded the tour with a visit to the ever busy and impressive Applegreen forecourt on the Naas Road near Rathcoole, where site manager Andrieu was more than willing to provide his insights into a variety of sitespecific questions.

The Irish convenience sector can more than hold its own in any company throughout the world in terms of innovation, standards, marketing and merchandising and was able to prove it once again this month.

Be alert: New scratchcard scam reported in Galway

In compliance with employment legislation, and in order to demonstrate that employees are receiving their proper entitlements, an employer is obliged to maintain certain statutory records. The list below sets out the main records required:

1. Employer registration number with the Revenue Commissioners

2. Full name, address and PPS number for each employee (full-time and part-time)

3. Terms of employment for each employee

4. Payroll details – i.e. gross to net, rate per hour, overtime, deductions, shift and other premiums and allowances, commissions and bonuses, service charges, etc.

5. Copies of payslips

6. Employees’ job classifications

7. Dates of commencement and, where relevant, termination of employment

8. Hours of work for each employee (including starting and finishing times, meal breaks and rest periods). These may be recorded using Form OWT1 or in a

All employers are required by law to maintain detailed employment records

form substantially to like effect

9. Register of employees under 18 years of age

10.Whether board and/or lodgings are provided and relevant details

11. Holiday and public holiday entitlements received by each employee

12. Any documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with employment rights legislation

Additional records may be required to be held depending on the sector/business involved.

We have been made aware by a member in the Galway area of a recent scratchcard scam. A man enters the store and begins to confuse staff by filling the counter with multiple products that he has no intention of buying and then asks for 10 x €10 scratchcards, and next asks the staff for a bag. When the staff place the scratchcards on the counter or in the bag, he then asks the staff for a product behind the till and once the staff member turns their back, he grabs the scratchcards and runs out the door. Sometimes he may have someone else with him.

We would encourage you to ensure that all your staff members are aware of this scam.

If this happens in your store, contact the National Lottery immediately as the Lottery can freeze the scratchcards before the winning scratchcards can be cashed. ■

The CSNA is extremely grateful to the retailers who facilitated a guided visit from CEDT retailers to their stores

Reminder: Ensure your statutory employment records are fully up-to-date and correctly maintained

CSNA ADVICE

CSNA

IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE CSNA, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSOCIATION ON 045 535050

CSNA NEWS

SOCIAL DIARY: CSNA AGM & ANNUAL DINNER

CSNA National Vice President and Outgoing National President John Paul Lonergan with Dubco Credit Union

Catherine and Shelia Clarke (XL, Mayo)

Back L- R Amy Stafford, Sara Orme, Flora Crowe Front L-R Emma George, Laura Kelly, Ann Martyn, Catherine Gaughan, Caroline Mannion and Marcella O’Neill

Charlie Grendon (GET Solutions), Marcella O’Neill (Mace, Limerick) and Ciaran Hanrahan (Mace, Limerick)

Amy Stafford (CSNA), Laura Kelly (CSNA), Flora Crowe (Gala, Clare), Sara Orme (Daybreak, Delvin) Emma George (Centra, Dublin)

Business in bloom!

Since revamping Centra Enniskerry in March, retailers

Fiona and Ken O’Connor have seen their 1,600 sq ft store located at the gateway of County Wicklow aka “The Garden of Ireland” flourish. Gillian Hamill reports

self-serve unit, which Fiona says has proved a real hit with customers stopping off for dinner on their way home As she enthusiastically affirms:“They’re delicious chickens I have to say!”

Centra’s salads have proved another success for the store, with customers able to pick up tasty combinations ranging from Butternut Quinoa Salad to Strawberry, Wild Rocket and Goats Cheese Salad and Thai Chicken Salad, to name just a few – from the ready-to-go fridge “People are getting more health conscious,” says Fiona,“so it’s great to have that option for them, and Centra are always bringing out new combinations.We get a lot of cyclists in at the weekends, so they’d be popular with them We’ve got picnic benches outside on the forecourt, so they can grab-and-go and enjoy a tasty and healthy lunch option.”

Indeed, with Enniskerry being known as the gateway to Wicklow,‘The Garden of Ireland’, the O’Connors are keen to showcase everything this charming village and its surrounds has to offer tourists.“We created a map on one of our noticeboards, highlighting all the local points of interest such as the Powerscourt Waterfall, Powerscourt Golf Club, and Avoca, and their distance from the store, ” says Fiona.“I know Google Maps is there, but sometimes it’s nice to just have an oldfashioned point of reference” – a nice, personalised touch within the shop!

Best sellers in-store

Feel-good factor is at the core of Centra’s brand ethos, encapsulated in relatable messaging such as“Feel Good, Choose Community” and“Shop Smart, Feel Good”. It’s also very much the vibe of retailers Fiona and Ken O’Connor, who radiate warmth and optimism, speaking to ShelfLife after carrying out a full revamp of Centra Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow – one of three stores within the O’Connors’ portfolio - earlier this year.

At the time of our interview in late May, the O’Connors who joined Centra in September 2022, had yet to introduce their final new addition to the store; a Donnybrook Fair concept offering a premium range of ready-to-go meals and treats. Nevertheless, the overall refurbishment, which showcases Centra’s latest design concept, had already generated impressive results, with

total store sales up 15% since its completion in March. This is despite major waterworks having been underway beside the store for months, with the result that one of Enniskerry’s entry roads had been closed since February; making the store’s double digit increase all the more impressive.

Deli delights

The Deli is currently the strongest performing category within the 1,600 sq ft store, with sales up by 40% since March. By expanding the Deli and introducing a selection of hot self-service foods, this has capitalised on the evening-time opportunity; allowing customers to purchase hot food options later in the day after the Deli has closed By installing a rotisserie oven, scrumptious Irish chicken can be purchased from the

Other popular additions to the store include Frank and Honest Coffee; with the store’s two-machine unit proving continuously busy Moo’d Irish Ice Cream is another strong performer:“It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or not, the Irish love their ice cream!” attests Fiona. Friday afternoons are particularly busy and the O’Connors have their own theory on why this is case: “We think maybe it’s the parents deciding on a little afternoon treat for their kids; as a special Friday treat. ”

The Off-Licence is another high performer in-store During the revamp, the O’Connors expanded this department and installed an entire wall of fridges so that all beers and refreshing summer drinks such as Aperol are all chilled and truly ready-to-go for ultimate refreshment – which as Fiona rightly points out, is a particularly important consideration as BBQ season well and truly gets into full swing.“With a dedicated area, people have space to browse,” she adds, and

Sales at Centra Enniskerry’s Deli have increased by 40% since March

Frank and Honest Coffee sources 100% Arabica beans from Brazil and Colombia

Karl O’Connor, Iwona Pietruszka and Pawel Kopecki

feedback has been positive about Centra’s‘Wines We Love’ selection, a bespoke wine collection created by wine experts, with prices of bottles starting from just from €8.

Support from Musgrave

With the revamp taking just three weeks to complete, and the shop trading throughout the entire process, efficiency was truly the name of the game. Ken and Fiona attribute this result to Centra’s support throughout, particularly that of its Regional Manager and Store Development teams.“They really helped us every step of the way, ” says Fiona.“We wanted to fit a lot into a reasonably small space, and they helped us achieve that. We’ve been involved in several revamps down through the years and I have to say this was by far the easiest.”

Revealing more about the work involved, Fiona says the Deli area was sealed off and completed first and then the flooring was installed overnight.“Everything was very smooth and Centra had fantastic signs up that a new store was coming soon, so people were excited about what was coming.” Hands-on support from the Musgrave team throughout the refurbishment also reassured the O’Connors that everything was on track. Not only did they ensure that the planograms were followed correctly but they“rolled up their sleeves and stocked the shelves themselves, and they’ve given invaluable advice”. All of which combines to reassure the retailer, that as Fiona puts it,“you never feel as if you’re on your own; the support is there. The other great thing about Centra is that they’ve given us great support when it comes to the Deli in making sure that our food safety and quality standards are being implemented and adhered too. When the HSE calls for an inspection, it gives you great peace of mind because you know the right systems are all in place.”

Next generation of retailers

This support extends to the next generation of retailers joining their family businesses.“Our son Karl has come into the business which is great, ” says Fiona.“He’s looking after Centra Foxrock and he’s in Enniskerry two days a week as well, so it’s good to know that the next generation is coming on board, and actually, with that in mind, Centra were excellent this year at bringing the younger generation of retailers together. We attended their annual retail conference in Killarney, where they facilitated an engagement session for the next generation that were going into the family business. Karl, who is 23, had a great opportunity to meet other future generation retailers in a similar position For example, he met a retailer in his 30s who is currently taking over the family business, who shared his number and useful advice “It’s great because it just means that Karl has his own contacts who he’ll feel comfortable to give a ring and say,‘should I be doing this?’,” says Fiona.“I thought it was a great initiative by Musgrave and Karl found it very informative.”

Karl is the latest retailer to carry on the family tradition which began when Ken’s parents bought a Texaco service station in Foxrock back in the seventies. Ken subsequently took over that store in the nineties

with Foxrock now celebrating 50 years in business this year “We hope to do a revamp in Foxrock very shortly along with Centra,” says Fiona,“and especially as Enniskerry has gone so well, we’re very excited to do Foxrock next.”

Future-proofing the business

This is particularly important at the present time when customers in general are conscious of cost-of-living increases. On this front, the O’Connors feel they have “future-proofed” the store to“keep prices at a reasonable level”“We have introduced electronic shelfedge labels with weekly specials highlighted in red, selfservice tills for customers who don’t want to queue, energy-efficient fridges, and are introducing solar panels,” explains Fiona. They have also implemented a “point of sale cash recycling system ” which provides greater security for staff in-store Next, they will introduce segregated recycling bins to encourage shoppers to recycle where possible, including disposing of Frank and Honest’s fully compostable cups. By joining Centra’s energy price plan, they were also able to see in fine detail where electricity was being used and cut back usage where possible

“Overall, we try to make each visit as nice an experience as possible for the customer, ” sums up Fiona. While the O’Connors are“the first port of call” for customers coming from the Dublin direction, they are likewise happy to have a cohort of loyal customers who regularly visit the store from the village.

“While our store is located in a service station, we very much see ourselves as a neighbourhood Centra,” says Fiona.“We would have a lot of regular customers who we would know by name; they come in greeting our staff We have also supported the local football clubs and have paid for a defibrillator to be used within the community We try to employ as many local staff as possible, particularly the part-timers; as most of them are local to Enniskerry and so there’s very much a family feel to the store. ”

“Our customers are very important to us, so we want to be able to give them the whole package,” Fiona continues. Instead of‘fast food’, Centra Enniskerry focuses on“fresh, good quality food that you can simply nip in for”– a strategy that is paying dividends for this bustling neighbourhood hub. ■

The Off-Licence department is a high-performer at Centra Enniskerry with a wide range to suit all preferences

The store’s ‘Good on the Run’ self-service hot food selection which includes ‘The Soup Station’ allows customers to pick up a tasty hot option throughout the day

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or not, the Irish love their ice cream,” exclaims Fiona, and Centra Enniskerry Moo’d concept has fun, delicious options for all the family

Direct from the Far East since 1998!

Celebrating 25 years in business this year, Universal Sourcing Services International (USSi) founder Seamus Greaney, through regular visits to China, has become a dab hand at sourcing innovative premia and gifting items. In fact, as he tells Gillian Hamill, USSi has honed a data bank of over 3,000 different factories across more than 150 different genres, so can confidently tackle any sourcing challenge – no matter how

Having imported more than 12 million assorted items from the Far East to Ireland since his company’s foundation in 1998, there is little that Seamus Greaney of Universal Sourcing Services International (USSi) hasn’t seen in the world of“premia” – in fact what he doesn’t know about the subject could probably be written on the back of a single-serve cereal box. Which is rather appropriate, given that the average man or woman on the street might more commonly think of“premia” as

the free branded items found in the likes of cereal boxes and many more on-pack promotions.

Alongside this, USSi has also sourced‘As Seen on TV’ gifting items for retailers such as Musgrave, Dunnes Stores and Tesco in‘free-standing display unit’ (FSDU) and‘countertop display unit’(CDU) solutions.

Inventive creations

One of Greaney’s first-ever“premia” items in 1998 was something of a classic – supplying none other than the rings found in Halloween Brack for O’Hara’s of Foxford, a company USSi is proud to still work alongside today. Since then, Greaney has imported a veritable cornucopia of inventive items. This ranges from memorable creations such as a customised GAA football for Lucozade Sports which transformed into a home music centre complete with CD player and speakers, to USSi producing 20,000 fridge-magnet message recorders for the‘Budweiser Frogs’ campaign whereby consumers could handily leave a 10-second message on their fridge for friends and family. A novel invention in the days before Whatsapp voice notes had become all the rage!

And for rugby fans, the sight of‘Broc’ will no doubt trigger a few memories, as the IRFU mascot that USSi developed from a drawing. Brocaire being the Irish for terrier, he proved something of a good luck charm after famously appearing with Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll when leading the teams out at Croke Park for the Ireland vs England Six Nations match back in 2007, resulting in a stunning 43-13 victory for the boys in green. Another item demonstrating USSi’s creative streak was its development of a collapsible portable cooler box for the‘My Milkman’ campaign which came complete with special inserted ice packs that could be kept in people’s freezers and used when convenient.

Major collaborations

It’s little wonder then, given this impressive innovation stream, that USSi has, as Greaney somewhat modestly puts it,“been lucky” to have completed successful collaborations with five of the top 10 global FMCG companies including Coca-Cola, Unilever, P&G, Mars and Kerry Group, alongside Tirlán, Musgrave Group and Supermacs, to name but a few major local players. “Because USSi is a sourcing company, we have products that can suit many different genres,” explains Greaney,“from sporting organisations, such as our collaborations with IRFU, Munster Rugby and Elverys, to our collaborations with bakeries, including O’Hara’s of Foxford, Irwin’s and Pat the Baker. We have a solution to help drive sales for any brand.”

Delivering value

Greaney is confident this remains the case today, despite the many changes that have taken place within the premia sector during the past 25 years.“I think a lot of brands are now being dictated to by retail chains who demand more price discounts and‘BOGGOFs’ rather than premia incentives,” he tells ShelfLife.“There are still a number of brands who often do regular gift incentives and band-on premia though.” Here, Greaney proceeds to put forward his case for premia’s merits. “From a cost point of view, a premia item may well represent better value-for-money than a giveaway for brands,” he argues “Should a brand use a band-on item, let’s say costing 60c with a retail value of €2 - €2.50 worth in the consumer’s eyes, they are also getting double value, as this item will be branded and will feature around a home long after the product has been consumed. In comparison, if they just give money off, they receive no added value. USSi can also help in

‘out there’ it might seem

Throughout the past 25 years, USSi has sourced a plethora of innovative premia items for FMCG brands, such as a collapsible portable cooler box for the ‘My Milkman’ campaign

many ways as we can provide the FSDU/CDU display units printed with the giveaway at a much lower cost than most.”

Speaking of pricing, USSi has previously stated“We have yet to be beaten on a request” and we were keen to hear more on how Greaney continues to maintain this record after 25 years.“As a sourcing company, I can only speak truthfully and say that remains the case today,” he asserts.“Of course, that could change at any time if somebody asked for something absurd that just couldn’t be created. The only way we can keep abreast of new trends is to keep finding new suppliers in different genres After 25 years travelling to different trade shows all over the world, we have built up a data bank of over 3,000 different factories spanning more than 150 different genres so we are confident we can complete most requests. ”

Keeping abreast of what’s new

Naturally, travel is vital for Greaney and he is relieved that it’s once again feasible after the era of Covid restrictions.“We have just returned from the Far East after an absence of three and a half years, ” he says,“to find what’s new and a little unusual and if the premia can be multifunctional, then even better again. Up until the pandemic we usually travelled at least twice a year to find what’s brand-new. The technology sector is constantly changing and with consumers wanting instant information. it is imperative to find the latest up-to-the-minute gadgets and creations that can deliver this information.”

Sustainability is also becoming more and more important for USSi’s clients.“With a big shift to sustainable and recycled packaging, we are now embarking down this road and on our recent visit to the Far East we had four different requests to follow up on packaging for bakeries, coffee shops and delis,” he reveals.“With a new levy for coffee cups inevitable, we feel we are already ahead of the curve and have secured some exclusive agreements for both the Republic and Northern Ireland within the recycling and packaging areas. ”

To keep up with all the latest developments, the relationships Greaney has honed during the past quarter of a century and more than 50 visits to China during that time, are essential. On this topic, we were keen to hear more from the entrepreneur about the importance of observing cultural differences throughout his many business encounters abroad “The people in the Far East are very proud and most of them that I have had dealings with are very honourable,” is his chief observation.“Of course – as can happen anywhere - sometimes they can cut corners That’s why it’s so important to have a good quality control team to double check goods in advance of leaving to eliminate any quality issues.”

‘No’ not in their DNA

Indeed, in some cases, suppliers’ willingness to comply with various requests actually proved the greatest challenge, according to Greaney.“The biggest problem I have found over the years is, manufacturers in the Far East rarely say“no” to anything It’s not in their DNA. This can lead to problems as they say they understand

USSi produced 20,000 fridgemagnet message recorders for the ‘Budweiser Frogs’ campaign which allowed consumers to leave a 10-second message on their fridge for friends and family

something when they may not fully! It is therefore very important to have good suppliers with good English, and that’s what we strive for. When I started going to China in 1998, factories in mainland China had offices in Hong Kong,” he explains. With English being one of the two official languages in Hong Kong alongside Cantonese, language was never a barrier “Since the early noughties, all Chinese factories now have at least a couple of people who represent them directly and that has been the biggest change Culturally, there is a huge respect for the West,” Greaney adds: an attitude which has naturally played in USSi’s favour. Building on these relationships with a particular focus on recycled products and packaging is now his goal for the next 25 years.“Of course, like all businesses, we would like to develop more regular work from agencies and brands direct on a continuous basis,” he says “We feel there are still many brands and companies out there that could use our experience to help grow their business and lower costs. We are also seeing a big demand towards sustainable and recycled packaging as mentioned earlier, which is only going to get bigger as Ireland continues to lead the way as one of the major players in Europe within this arena We hope to be right there at the forefront, sourcing all types of recycled products and packaging to help businesses better compete.”With Greaney’s eye for a creative bargain remaining uppermost throughout his travels, USSi looks set to remain a source of inspiration within the premia space for many more years to come ■

For sourcing enquiries, contact USSi:

Universal Sourcing Services International (USSi) 9 Ashdown Circular Road, Bushypark, Galway, H91VW4F

M: +353(0)862489886 | T: +353(0)91554039

WeChat: Shakey52

E: seamus@ussinternational.ie | uss@eircom.net

W: www.ussinternational.ie | www.jellie.ie | www.handimask.ie

USSi can also provide FSDU/CDU display units at a competitive price

USSi developed the IRFU mascot ‘Broc’ from a drawing

One of USSi’s most memorable creations was a customised GAA football for Lucozade Sports which transformed into a home music centre complete with CD player and speakers

Investing in the future

Ballinrobe is a town steeped in Irish history. As one of Ireland’s most ancient settlements, tracing its origins back to the 14th century, Ballinrobe served as a hub for merchants and traders, filled with commerce and trade.

Fast forward to modern times and Ballinrobe – from the Irish“Baile an Róba”, literally translating to“town of the robe” – like the rest of Ireland, has changed. While it may no longer be the bustling hub of the past, a community spirit endures, and the town still has a lot to offer visitors and locals alike.

The year 2022 brought renewed investment to the area, which as of the 2016 census has a population of just under 3,000 In a significant development, the government announced a substantial €10 million funding boost for Ballinrobe and Newport. This funding, part of the‘Our Rural Future’ initiative, is part of a broader effort to revitalise rural communities.

And local businesses, like the Mace located on Castlebar Road, a longstanding fixture in the community, will be at the very centre of a reinvigorated Ballinrobe economy.

Taking charge

Trevor Kennedy, who manages the store on behalf of owner Dermot Fallon, knows exactly how important investment is for local businesses to thrive. In fact, he’s seen it firsthand

Last November, Mace Ballinrobe underwent a comprehensive renovation, encompassing a revamp of pretty much the entire shop.

“It involved an investment of approximately €750,000,” Kennedy explains, speaking to ShelfLife. “Basically, everything was scrapped and then replaced Almost the whole shop is different now. ”

Today, Mace Ballinrobe proudly shows off its array of new features, including a conveniently located indoor restroom, an enticing dining area, and an ice cream bar.

Additionally, the entrance has been redirected to the heart of the store, and the tools on offer have been relocated. This segregates the food-to-go consumers from those seeking tools and hardware equipment That means things are much more straightforward, with customers flowing through the store more smoothly

“If you’re coming in to grab a bit of lunch, you won’t be stuck queuing behind someone in the shop to buy

diesel,” Kennedy says.“It’s about making everything as convenient as possible for the customer. This was about investing in the future of the business and providing a better service to customers Their overall experience in the shop has been dramatically improved.”

The store is likely to see further investment down the line too; there are plans to install facilities to charge electric cars, to cater for growing demand

Staying open, rain or shine

Bringing the store to an even higher level of excellence wasn’t necessarily easy

The Covid-19 pandemic presented a lot of challenges, such as potentially decreased footfall and increased costs. But due to its place in its community and stellar reputation, Mace Ballinrobe managed to maintain relatively steady sales

“We have great staff and loyal customers,” says Kennedy.“Plus, we made sure that we still provided services that everyone needed, even when so many other businesses closed down.”

Renovations are costly Mace Ballinrobe was sure to plan everything out very carefully, never closing while updating the store. Increased energy costs were a significant part of the renovation budget, too, but affiliations with energy companies and investment in energy-efficient equipment like fridges and deli equipment helped offset these costs.

“Having equipment that uses less energy is going to save us money in the long run, ” Kennedy points out. And by staying open during the process of updating the store, renovations inadvertently served as a marketing tool, with customers eager to see the changes each week

“It took a bit of planning, but it was straightforward to do – we managed to keep the shop open the entire time,” says Kennedy.“People would come in to see what new things we added as the revamp went on And to be fair, there was a lot being put into the shop!”

Now all of the team’s hard work and dedication is paying off

“We’ve had huge sales growth since the renovation,” Kennedy explains.“But, in fairness, even before the renovations, our sales held up during Covid and the cost-of-living crisis – and a big part of that has been customers from the area.”

Kennedy estimates that about 25% of the shop’s customers are either local or from the surrounding areas. The other 75% are transient.

Team players

The store has a team of 20 dedicated staff members, split evenly between those working full-time and those with part-time positions.

Most team members have been with the store for four or five years, a testament to Mace Ballinrobe’s

Mace Ballinrobe has built a lot of trust with their customers over the years by providing a high-quality service at the heart of the community. Now, following a recent investment of almost €1 million, they’ve taken things to an even higher level of excellence, writes Paul Doyle

Mace Ballinrobe has a team of 20 dedicated staff members

status as a good employer, someone people in the community want to work with

“We have a great relationship with our staff – many of them actually precede my time with the store, ” says Kennedy.

“And we provide career opportunities for people who want to work in retail. We have an assistant manager who has been promoted through the ranks over the years, for example He started with us seven years ago. ”

Kennedy says he maintains an open-door policy, ensuring he is accessible and approachable to all team members. He also organises team outings; these facilitate bonding among the employees and foster a harmonious work environment

This approach that emphasises communication extends to customers too.

“We take full advantage of handbills, so customers know exactly what we’re offering in terms of promotions,” says Kennedy “We distribute them at the counter, the front door, inserting it into newspapers when new offers are available, and promoting it on social media.”

A fine balance

A big challenge for Mace Ballinrobe – and for everyone in retail right now – is the need to increase prices due to rising costs, while ensuring that the products are still attractive to customers.

Simply increasing prices may improve margins initially, but retailers won’t make a profit if their products don’t sell, and customers go elsewhere.

When running a successful business, you’ve got to think long term.

“It’s a delicate equilibrium,” says Kennedy “Areas like fresh produce are known to offer higher margins, so promoting these, maintaining their quality, and pricing them correctly is important. It’s a difficult task, but it’s one that needs to be done, as there’s a limit to what customers are willing to pay. ”

The store, an affiliate of the Mace brand since 2012, distinguishes itself through its commitment to engaging with the local community and letting them know exactly what value is on offer

It also helps to have such a strong, reliable brand behind them

“We have an excellent relationship with Mace,” says Kennedy “Whenever we need anything, they’re on

hand right away. They’re just excellent to work with.”

The store also holds an impressive track record in terms of product sourcing; it procures a wide array of products from local suppliers to ensure diverse and high-quality options for customers.

“We buy from local businesses like Curley’s Quality Foods, who are nearby, and Costello & McDermott, who are based right here in Ballinrobe,” says Kennedy.

Despite the constant challenges posed by competition and external economic factors beyond their control, the successful relaunch of the updated store in June – and the resulting positive customer feedback – mean the future is bright for Mace

Ballinrobe

“You just have to stay on your toes and keep watching what’s happening – with customers, and in the outside world,” says Kennedy.“Keep watching and be ready to adjust.” ■

“We’ve had huge sales growth since the renovation,” Kennedy explains. “But, in fairness, even before the renovations, our sales held up during Covid and the cost-of-living crisis – and a big part of that has been customers from the area.”

The opening of the revamped Mace Ballinrobe store was a fantastic moment of achievement for everyone involved

The Mace For Food Sake’s deli is an ideal choice for anyone on the hunt for a superior sambo!

The store’s enticing breads and treats selection from Cuisine de France looksand smells - delicious!

The in-store off-licence has a large selection of chilled drinks, offering fantastic convenience with a refreshing choice always available

Mace Ballinrobe prides itself on serving tasty and nutritious hot food options with high-quality ingredients

All go for Nobó!

With a unique approach to food and plant-based creations, Brian and Rachel Nolan, the founders of the pithily named plant-based treats brand Nobó, believe simplicity is at the heart of good food.

Gillian Hamill caught up with the enterprising couple at their Ranelagh HQ to learn more about their vision for future growth

Visions of whirling chocolate rivers à la Charlie and The Chocolate Factory subconsciously popped into our heads when ShelfLife first learned we would be visiting the flagship store and Chocolate Lab of Nobó, aka“the creamiest plant-based chocolate”. However, while founders Brian and Rachel Nolan certainly aren’t afraid to do things differently; cool, clean minimalism is much more their aesthetic than the surreal riot of confectionery once presided over by Gene Wilder.

The story behind Ranelagh-headquartered Nobó, a brand currently waking Ireland up to the taste and creamy mouthfeel that premium plant-based chocolate can deliver, appropriately enough first began in the city that never sleeps Over in New York 12 years ago, Brian was working in finance and Rachel in advertising, but food was their true passion.“We’re obsessed with food,” says Brian, so“we always had it in the back of our minds that that’s where we wanted our direction to go.”

Valuable insights

When Brian’s 18-month Visa finished and he returned home for a period, he observed a marked disparity in the plant-based ranges available in New York and

Ireland at the time “Rach was very into health nutrition, and I suppose in New York, you are exposed to trends that are coming down the line,” he reflects.“The range of plant-based milks was just kicking off back then, and the [plant-based] ranges in the grocery stores were huge, but they weren’t anywhere over here.” This gave the duo a great insight into what was coming down the tracks in terms of the variety consumers would soon be seeking out on this side of the Atlantic.

Determined to gain more experience in working within the food sector, the couple’s next step involved moving to Italy, where they worked in the kitchen of a charming guest house for six months’ bed and board. “An amazing place in the middle of the Italian countryside; it reaffirmed our interest in food and working together,” confirms Brian.

Continuing to experiment with different ideas and recipes following their Italian adventures, an opportunity soon arose back home through Bord Bia’s‘Food Works’ programme. In conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, it invited food entrepreneurs with a promising export idea to apply for an annual programme that would examine feasibility and develop their idea further.

The programme was right up Brian and Rachel’s street.“Growing up my dad was very entrepreneurial.” says Rachel; another impetus behind their goal of founding their own business.“Being exposed to plantbased alternatives in New York produced the seed of our idea: to create something really wholesome out of really pure ingredients, that you could enjoy and feel good.”

Unique ice cream

With this clear focus on using the purest ingredients to create treats, they originally experimented with creating a dairy-free ice cream.“By blending avocados and honey and using pantry staples that we had in our own house, with no gums, stabilisers, or anything you can’t pronounce, we created an ice cream that’s still on the market today 10 years later, says Rachel.“A dairyfree ice cream made from five ingredients is unique. In the decade since we launched, other dairy-free alternatives have been introduced, but I think what really makes ours stand out and what we stay true to is the ingredients that we use and their purity. There’s nothing that we hide behind We just use very simple, wholesome ingredients to create something delicious.”

Brand vision

Throughout the past ten years, Rachel and Brian have continued to grow their business while also starting a family with three children.“Our vision for the brand has always been to ultimately create a household name for Nobó,”says Rachel,“a brand that everyone in Ireland and abroad would know and recognize, so we’ve always been quite ambitious with where we wanted to go.”

“In the past couple of years, we had been approached a number of times about investment,” reveals Rachel, but at the time, they didn’t feel quite ready to take that next leap and had yet to meet the right partners who were a great fit for them “However, we really made a good connection with the guys at BiaVest and made the decision to partner with them,” she continues.“That has been instrumental in pushing us forward and allowed us to open up here.”

Brian and Rachel Nolan, the founders of Nobó, say that what makes their products stand out is that they “stay true to is the ingredients that we use and their purity”

While Brian and Rachel were delighted to work with a manufacturer and expand their distribution channels, they began to miss the customer interaction they had always enjoyed at the likes of farmers’ markets, as well as the“hands-on element of product creation”.

“Serving people face to face was really where the brand gained a lot of excitement and following,” says Rachel “While we were delighted to be supplying stores, it was much harder to create that same experience and really bring to life what was going on behind the scenes Part of our project was always about being able to have that face-to-face time with customers, so we had always dreamt of opening a bricks and mortar outlet to bring that back to life.” Opening Nobó Ranelagh has therefore brought the enterprise back“full circle” to its origins in a sense.

Thriving on creativity

“I think at the root of everything was that kind of creativity; coming up with the recipe ourselves and making it at home: something that still hasn’t been replicated anywhere across the world today,”

adds Brian

The duo has put the same level of thought and creativity into their logo and store design, and Brian’s brother John played a key role in bringing their vision to life After returning to university as a mature student of architecture, John now owns his own practice and designed the brand logo, packaging and store layout This flair for design has paid off, with the store winning an Institute Designers Ireland (IDI) Award earlier this year “Ultimately, it’s been a collaboration between the three of us; we’re all really interested in design and that probably comes through,” says Rachel.“But I think the customers appreciate that as well The whole consideration behind the space was to reflect the brand’s transparency From the very front, you can see through to where the chocolate is made, and our workspace, so nothing is hidden. That’s the same philosophy that we apply to our products, that there’s nothing to hide and that it’s all very transparent. ”

Their packaging design has also evolved alongside the business.“When we launched our ice cream packaging, it was – and still is - very much white, which reflected the cleanness of the ingredients. However, during the past number of years, a lot of brands have moved towards that. So, we decided, when we relooked at our packaging, to shift towards vibrant, block colours. We’ve kept the simplicity around us, but that makes the product stand out and just gives it a little pop off the shelf.”

Retail growth

With these standout product credentials in place, the retail channel is a key focus for Brian and Rachel. “We’ve grown that a lot at the moment and are trying to widen our distribution and particularly our chocolate range, for example, our 25-gram bars are more of an impulse purchase and we have a large display at the Junction 14 motorway service station, adjacent to the coffee offering, which has been an excellent showcase and shown us that the wider customer base is really there and looking for products

like this So, for us now the focus is on increasing our distribution nationwide through retail multiples and supporting our independent retailers with new premium product developments.”

Indeed, the business has grown considerably already.“Funnily enough, I think our first ever stockist was Morton’s, 150 metres down the road from us here,” says Brian. The retailer remains a key stockist of the brand today, so“there’s a nice symmetry in that”. After gaining listings with more independents, Nobó quickly gained a listing at SuperValu for its ice cream, and went on to win a Great Taste Award in the UK. “We got quite a bit of media coverage on the back of that and stores were ringing us looking for the product, which is always the best,” says Brian.“The independent customer base has also been such a core part of our business that it’s not forgotten about as we grow,” he adds Today, Nobó has partnered with distributor Tennant & Ruttle to enable further expansion “I think both sides of that relationship feel there’s a big opportunity and we’re looking forward to working with them,” says Brian.

Communicating premium credentials

Currently, as a premium product, the range is competitively priced, with RRPs of €1 for a 10-gram ‘bite-sized’ nut butter truffle, €2 for the 25-gram bars, and €4.50 for the larger 80-gram share bars.“I think the real challenge is in communicating to the consumer how good our product really is in-depth,” says Brian.“Consumers are becoming more and more informed these days on those different elements that make up the product. For example, we use compostable packaging made from Eucalyptus trees It’s many multiples more expensive than plastic foil wrap paper. We use single origin Colombian cacao, and coconut sugar, which again is many multiples more expensive than normal, refined white sugar and we don’t use stabilisers.”

Creamiest mouthfeel

Another major factor in Nobó’s appeal is its“creamiest mouthfeel. Explaining how they have managed to achieve this, Rachel explains:“It’s very much our own recipe, which is unique because of how we make the couvertures [the base for chocolates]. What we’ve done is we’ve taken out the milk powder or milk used in traditional chocolate, and we’ve replaced it with a blend of cashew nuts and coconut. It’s ground over time, so it’s incredibly fine and creamy. We’ve combined that with a really good quality single origin cacao and the coconut sugar, which has a kind of caramelly flavour as well So, we’re using really beautiful ingredients.”

In fact, Brian reveals that it took two years to perfect the texture and mouthfeel.“We wanted to have a snap, so that it’s nicely tempered as well,” adds Rachel “So, we were also trying not to make it too soft with the fats and the balance of ingredients. It’s quite technical, but I think we’ve ended up with a product that stands out from every other competitor, and our feedback shows that It’s not a plant-based chocolate that’s good; it is a beautiful chocolate that is both plant-based and creamy And I think that’s where we really stand out. ” ■

The design of Nobó Ranelagh allows customers to see through to where the products are made, thus reflecting the brand’s focus on transparency, with no hidden ingredients

Nobó prides itself on using quality ingredients in all its chocolate bars, which are available in 25-gram and 80-gram formats, alongside a 10-gram nut butter truffle

Driving footfall: Making a store a destination

Q&A with… Fiona Dowd, CEO, Ireland and UK, SelfPay

Q: Can you provide an overview of your company’s history and its journey?

A: SelfPay Ltd, an Irish company established in 2021 as a subsidiary, provides a cutting-edge payment solution through self-service payment stations.

SelfPay currently operates the most extensive self-service payment solution network in Europe offering various payment services, with millions of customers served annually through more than 10,000 available payment stations, over 200 available payment services and over €1 billion of processed payments expected in 2023.

Currently operational in Ireland, France and Romania, with a plan to expand operations in Spain Italy and USA, the company focuses option to

on financial inclusion providing its customers a physical pay their bills, taxes and many other services.

Q: How would you describe your target customer base?

A: Unbanked, underbanked and those who are looking for an easyto-use, simple and safe way of paying for different services as an alternative to the online channel, are the ones using our solution most often.

Strategically positioned in high-footfall retail and shopping centers, convenience stores, and gas stations, SelfPay’s payment stations ensure quick, secure and hassle-free transactions for customers.

The easy-to-use payment stations are suitable for any customer; the user-friendly menu makes it easy to find the service that the customer wants to pay for. People who use SafePay’s service range from 18 to 75+ years old, regardless of social category, and are looking for a secure and reliable payment option where they can easily receive the receipt confirming the payment was made

Q: In the battle for consumer’s spend, retailers need to make sure they are a ‘destination’ for certain goods and services; how can they increase loyalty?

A: Self-service has become the de facto way for consumers to make payments in most industries. Harvard Business Review* research showed that across industries “81% of customers attempt to take care of matters themselves before reaching out to a live representative.”

By providing an accessible, secure, and user-friendly payment system, SelfPay empowers retailers to not only attract new customers but also foster loyalty among existing ones.

Investing in customer service is an undeniable way to secure a competitive edge in the market. Today’s customers expect more from physical stores, and our self-service payment solution can provide the kind of consumer experience that prompts shopper loyalty We strive to improve convenience and efficiency, ensuring that the customer journey is always a positive experience.

At SelfPay, we achieve this by providing a user-friendly front end that enables fast, uncomplicated, and secure transactions. Our commitment to building a strong brand image that resonates with customers is evident through our collaborations with trusted partners and our consistent message

Also, SelfPay increases store efficiencies, reduced staff costs and increased accuracy Our payment stations help to serve customers faster, handle large queues, reduce wait times and provide added security to the user and retailers. Additionally, retailers can add revenue streams to their business while offering extra services and increasing sales.

Q: Can you discuss any expansion plans or new ventures your company is currently pursuing?

A: We recently announced a number of partnerships with Payzone, Eezi/ Flash and E-pay to provide all of their content through our selfservice payment stations – this means that for the first time, customers can complete in self-service mode many transactions like pay bills, top up their phones, buy vouchers, pay their M50 tolls, buy pre-paid utilities vouchers, and even online cash vouchers anonymously

Also, SelfPay is on a dynamic path for expanding and scaling the business. The operation in Ireland is celebrating one year of trading, our partnerships in France are growing, and we are already looking towards at least two other countries.

*(Source: Harvard Business Review. “Kick-Ass Customer Service”)

SelfPay’s payment stations ensure quick, secure and hassle-free transactions for customers

Under the tree since ’63 with SPAR

We’re celebrating our 60TH birthday

THANKS FOR ALL ALL THE MESSAGES

As SPAR celebrates its seminal 60th anniversary serving towns, cities and communities throughout Ireland, we are proud of the rich heritage our independent retailers have fostered over those six decades of service. The remarkable story of SPAR in Ireland started with the opening of SPAR Artane in 1963 and has grown exponentially to become a truly ubiquitous presence on the Irish landscape.

Since that introduction to the Irish consumer, SPAR has worked tirelessly and earned a well-deserved reputation for innovation, as well as for exceptional customer-choice, magnificent customer-service and is a well-recognised and loved brand that has been the face of many family businesses right around the country. SPAR has grown into the household name for convenience shopping in Ireland over the last 60 years and is synonymous with the convenience sector here in Ireland and, of course, internationally. The ethos and values that underpin our success and footprint across

Ireland, and the other 47 countries where SPAR has a presence, have sustained us through the decades and will continue to sustain us into the future

Lifeblood of communities

SPAR retailers are the lifeblood for many of the communities in which they are embedded, and, in turn, SPAR has always been committed to providing our retailers – and by definition their customers and those aforementioned communities – with the very best in convenience retailing. In essence, setting standards and driving innovation are pillars of the SPAR offering,

which is why from a customer perspective, SPAR is a recognised leader in Retail Foodservice within the market This well-earned reputation is driven by a rich heritage in food and beverage innovation built up over many years. Through a dedicated Food Innovation team, SPAR takes great pride in being innovators and trendsetters when it comestoRetailFoodservice,whichis particularlyevident in SPAR’s fresh food offering.

We pioneered foodservice in the convenience sector; we were the first to introduce the multi-service offering through the introduction of premium coffee-to-go to

SPAR ambassador and Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington launched a ¤60,000 SPAR 60th Community Fund earlier this year

As part of the year-long 60th anniversary celebrations SPAR joined forces with the Thomas Ennis Group to open a retro pop-up shop at Johnson Place in Dublin 2

Setting standards and driving innovation are pillars of the SPAR offering

our stores

We were the first to create our own sub brands, which established a unique point of differentiation for our food-to-go offerings This remains a constant focus of ours and, in support of this, we have a dedicated food and beverage innovation team who deliver the latest trends to our network with truly unique concepts that appeal to consumers. Crucially, we are brave and take a very entrepreneurial approach to innovation and aren’t afraid to try new things We’re also fortunate to be able to tap into the expertise of our partners across SPAR International, meaning we’re in a unique position to identify emerging trends and preserve our first-to-market focus, which is complemented by our extensive SPAR Own Brand range.

Looking ahead with confidence

This celebratory milestone is, of course, a year to reflect on all that has been achieved but, more importantly, it is a time to look forward with confidence, hope and ambition as the future for SPAR is as effervescent today as it was when the doors were opened on those very first SPAR stores in 1963.

The basis of our celebrations this year is our continuing commitment to excellence We are rooted in it and all SPAR retailers share that same ethos and, crucially, ambition for expansion and growth within the industry. We are always, together, striving to provide value-added for our customers. In celebrating SPAR’s 60th anniversary, we are engaged in a heavy weight plan of activity across multimedia platforms, in-store activations and consumer engagement throughout the year

Ambition

Our ambition is very clearly evident in who we work with For example, SPAR recently partnered with renowned Irish actor Colm Meaney to deliver a powerful radio advert, rooted in storytelling and chronicling the journey of Irish society over the past 60 years while demonstrating how SPAR has been at the forefront of the most monumental changes in Irish

society during that time Another noteworthy initiative to celebrate this important anniversary includes our investment of €60,000 back into local communities through the SPAR 60th Community Fund, which will see six local community clubs, groups or programmes awarded €10,000 each, along with the chance to meet Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington and take her on in a fun series of challenges in July

Further campaigns are planned throughout the year to mark the anniversary, which includes our new CSR initiative with the Tree Council of Ireland. This builds on an existing relationship between the two entities having evolved from SPAR’s sponsorship over the past two years of SPAR National Tree Day, an initiative to encourage primary school children nationwide to plant trees on a specified day each October. Donations from the sale of selected SPAR Range products, from the beginning of May until the end of October, will be awarded to the Tree Council to fund the planting of 20,000 native Irish trees. The trees will be planted on six sites across the country with plans to invite SPAR retailers to the tree planting events for a family day out during the summer months.

Furthermore, in pursuit of our environmental ambitions, SPAR has also recently introduced two fully compostable SPAR branded bags to our business. These bags will replace the current SPAR Bag for Life, showing our commitment to the environment by removing plastic bags from all our stores. The bags bear a specially commissioned SPAR 60th Anniversary logo and complement a full suite of paperware available in SPAR stores from deli wrap to foil bags and more.

Together with our SPAR retailers, we will meet that future with confidence.Together, we will continue to work tirelessly to provide consumers with the most innovative award winning in-store offering and shopping experience they could wish for.

The last 60 years have been a wonderful precursor to what promises to be a truly exciting future for SPAR in Ireland as we continue to grow, evolve and, along with our wonderful independent retailers, serve the people of Ireland.

Pictured at the launch of the SPAR Team Tree initative were: Ray Clarke, Helen Lalor, SPAR Marketing Manager, Brendan Fitzsimons, CEO, Tree Council of Ireland and Nathan Clarke with his children Mason, Carly and Jackson. The Clarke family are long-time SPAR retailers

Ireland ■

SPAR Millennium Walkway

60 years at the centre of Irish communities

As a household name inextricably linked with Ireland’s convenience sector, Spar’s 60th anniversary here in Ireland is a cause for genuine celebration, and one which the brand has wasted no time in celebrating in a veritable cornucopia of innovative and memorable ways, from Thomas Ennis’ pop-up retro store at Johnson Place in Dublin 2, fitted out with an exact replica of the brand’s original signage as it first appeared back in 63; to joining forces with the Tree Council of Ireland to plant 20,000 trees nationwide this year as part of the‘Spar Team Tree’ initiative – a nice tie-in in with the pithy‘Under the Tree since‘63’ commemorative slogan

Reflecting on the milestone anniversary, Spar sales director Colin Donnelly says that especially after the challenges of the pandemic, the team felt it was particularly“important to celebrate success and certainly the Spar brand in Ireland has been a success. A sixtieth anniversary is a milestone in anybody’s life, but in a business, it’s truly fantastic and so important.”

Longevity

Throughout our conversation, Donnelly repeatedly emphasises that at their core, the celebrations are all

about the people involved throughout the past six decades: Spar’s independent retailers and their continued commitment to their local communities.“We held our convention earlier this year and there were families in the room who were here 60 years ago. The first store in Ireland was opened in 1963 by the Ralphs. Their family are still in the business and are opening a new store in Donacarney.” In fact, there were three retailers there on the night whose roots stretch back to 1963 with the Spar brand; Mary Forde in Spar Tallow, who recently reopened after a fire decimated her store back in November, and also the Nagles who are now partnered with the Eurospar brand.“Those three families were there on day one and they’re still trading and it’s that sense of longevity and continued success which is so important.”

True partnership has been the key to this success, according to Donnelly “The key part of our partnership is that all our independent retailers choose to trade under the banner of Spar and that’s something that we’re proud of. From my perspective as a Spar sales director, it’s a true partnership, and that’s crucial –people do business with people and you can see that throughout our journey. We’re only as good as our

retailers and that’s something that I’m personally very proud of The length and breadth of Ireland, we’ve got so many different types of stores that trade under our umbrella at Spar and across them all, our partnership is very strong and growing.”

Continual evolution

What’s more, despite the huge evolution which has occurred throughout the past six decades in Ireland’s convenience sector as a whole, with Spar frequently at the forefront as a pioneer of those same changes, the essence of the brand has remained the same –“serving the community”. By taking a bird’s-eye panorama of the past 60 years,“you can look back and see what happened in the 60s, 70s and 80s and 90s. Every single year, something evolved and changed and we’re seeing new trends and implementing those; that has evolved but ultimately, it’s about serving the customer. Ultimately, back in 1963 when a Spar opened, it was to serve the community and nothing has changed on that Obviously, what we sell now is somewhat different to what we sold back in the day, but our ethos has remained the same.”

At the time of our interview in May, Donnelly

Spar sales director Colin Donnelly met up with Gillian Hamill to reflect on the past 60 years of Spar being a pioneer at the forefront of Ireland’s convenience sector and his own 21 years working for a brand and retailers about whom he is truly passionate

revealed that while it was still“fairly early in 2023, Spar is in a good place” following strong growth in excess of 7% last year:“We have outgrown the market and I’m very proud of that,” he notes, conceding:“We all anticipated that things were going to get tough; we listen to the media and follow inflationary trends but growth has nevertheless continued, and I’m very confident now we’re coming up to the busy period that we’re going to meet our sales growth for the rest of the year.”

Growth outlook

“It’s very important for me, that we continue the growth of new stores,” Donnelly adds.“Last year, I’m very proud to say we opened 30 stores so the momentum is there. We recently opened a store in Wexford, so the growth is fair for new stores.”

Commenting on the present market post-pandemic, his outlook is upbeat.“There is continuity, there’s good movement and progress and retailers are looking at opportunities and we’re really seeing that. Good retailers are looking for new opportunities to expand their portfolio and we also have some new entrants coming into the market So, our ambition is to continue to grow the store numbers and judging by last year, it’s looking good There’s a good pipeline there.”

Pipeline of upcoming stores

A“greenfield” store – i.e., a completely new store on a new site – would normally take six months to develop from start to finish, explains Donnelly, which is why a consistent focus on the brand’s up-and-coming “pipeline” is vital.“I’m ambitious and confident that I know where the next stores are coming from over the next couple of months, although they won’t open until the latter half of the year because the work is currently happening,” he says.“Overall, we’re on track to have a successful couple of years judging by what’s coming up in the pipeline and the figures that we’re experiencing give us confidence that we’re going to achieve that.”

While greenfield sites often attract the greatest number of business news headlines, Spar’s“pipeline” of new stores encompasses a variety of opportunities, ranging from those retailers seeking to join the brand as the right fit for them to“an element of brownfield sites; sites that were closed for a number of years and then all of a sudden are revived with the regeneration of a community.” Donnelly explains.“We opened a few brownfield units as we call them, and others are forecourt opportunities”.

We were keen to hear more about where the new stores coming on board this year are located?“I’m glad

to say that they’re across the country, ” responds Donnelly Some of the locations for recent openings include Wexford, Limerick and a number in Dublin “It was the same last year,” he adds.“If I look at the stores we opened, they were right across the country, from Galway, Donegal, and the South East, so there is good representation and we are delivering throughout the country.

“The cost of entry is a big challenge in Dublin,” he concedes.“If you look at Dublin city centre, there’s a lot of empty units but high rents would make it challenging for any business to go in and make it valuable.” That said, it can be done and“actually we do have plans for something in Dublin city centre that we’re working on so it’s not impossible, but it’s certainly a different challenge and a different marketplace for independent retailers to get involved in the city centre,” he says. While“further opportunities will come where there’s lesser challenge from a rental perspective,” Donnelly adds that“every single opportunity has to be accessed on its own merit, case by case. Ultimately, it is a volume-based business and when you’re looking at any new business, you’ve got to look at the location, the opportunity and the competitors in the area.”

Pioneers

Speaking of opportunities, Spar has always been to the forefront of new developments and trends in the market during the past 60 years, which Donnelly

proceeds to discuss in greater detail “If I look back over the years at my involvement in Spar, when I joined, I was involved in the food strategy We have a huge heritage in foodservice but I remember back in 2005, if you look back; we didn’t invent the sale of coffee but we were the first to bring premium coffee into convenience in Spar, and likewise with food, it became important to sell not just sandwiches but to really deliver that quality piece.”

“Times have changed; people are looking at different options, so you’ve got to move with that and over the years, we’ve evolved our offering, which can clearly be seen throughout our Spar Better Choices campaign, which is encouraging people to choose a healthier option, be it from the deli or take-home offering.” That said, old habits die hard, and the chicken fillet roll continues to drive sales, but now that classic offering has been complemented with the introduction of a plant-based alternative, in the same way that Spar is meeting the increased trend for iced coffees while supplying quality versions of more classic choices such as the cappuccino.

Serving the community

“Ultimately, it’s important that if a consumer, be it in O’Connell Street in Dublin or Limerick or Cork, that when they come into the store that they can get what they want, whether it’s 7am or 7pm. That’s been the key to the longevity of the brand.” This also extends to

Mary Forde (fourth from left) pictured with staff members from Spar Tallow, Hope Leahy Dingivan; Ticiane Palmer Martire; Una Geary; Michelle Taynton and Melissa Murphy

the provision of a range of services which is many cases would have previously been offered by the local standalone post office, before a wave of closures sweeped the country.“I can tell you that retailers don’t make huge money on selling services but it’s something that’s very important within their own community, that they are serving that community, so we’re always looking at new opportunities from the perspective of ensuring that we remain relevant and competitive and are delivering real innovation within that. Ireland is a very competitive market, possibly the most competitive in Europe, notwithstanding that we also have to ensure our retailers can stand up against all competitors, including large multiples. We’re confident that we’re continuing to support our retailers in that way. ”

What’s more, to ensure the brand is continuing to deliver for all its independent retailers, encompassing all the different types of Spar stores, ranging from neighbourhood to forecourts and ultra-convenience/ lifestyle, they must all benefit from the same high level of innovation and attention to detail.”To illustrate this is more detail, Donnelly alludes to a pertinent example on Dublin’s O’Connell Street where there are two Spar stores“right across the street from each other.”While both display the same exterior signage and consistency that customers across the country routinely expect from the Spar brand as simply a daily matter of course, each of the two stores delivers a tailored offering which caters to its specific customer profile, and the overall Spar design was developed“in response ” to this need for flexibility

Tailored to customer needs

“That’s one thing I think we’re very good at; we have a consistent look and feel so that from the outset, a Spar is a Spar to the consumer, but we have thought carefully about what each specific store needs so that it’s a response to the customer and the demographics. The public won’t be aware of that, but we’re very conscious of it and our offering has to reflect that.”

Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic also shaped the sector in a variety of temporary and long-term ways

“During the pandemic, all the in-store seating areas for obvious reasons were closed down so our retailers

being innovative in the way they are, they used the space to sell more grocery. That was very much the case in forecourts and ultra-convenience stores that probably traditionally wouldn’t have sold a lot of grocery. That wasn’t planned but again it shows the strength of entrepreneurship; once again serving the community at a time when people had to shop locally.” The rewards of this initiative continue for many such retailers today:“These types of stores are now entrusted to sell more groceries, because customers had a very good experience. That’s probably due to a stickiness campaign; we’ve retained a lot of customers which is very good and contributing to the growth that I spoke about earlier We’re selling more traditional products than we did pre-pandemic so that’s an area which retailers have tapped into.”

While the retention of this business as a result of Spar retailers demonstrating the first-class service, value and range they can deliver has been a welcome development, the permanent shift towards more working from home and hybrid working continues to impact stores within business parks, but those retailers have once again adapted to suit their current climate. “Our business park retailers had to adapt to that and use that opportunity to make sure that on those two or

three days that people are in the office, our stores are prepared for them. It’s not going to return to what we used to have because there’s a want across the country for a greater work life balance and that has changed the offering and sales ratio in business parks and city centre stores.”

Inspiration

Adapting to the times is a skill Donnelly has certainly honed during his past 21 years with the Spar brand. “Throughout my time at BWG, I have only ever worked for Spar so I’m very passionate about the brand,” he says “By 2015, I had worked in all the roles in the sales team in Spar, from retail advisory to regional manager to national sales manager. That year, BWG’s Leo Crawford appointed me to the role of the ultimate job in Spar of sales director and I have to say that was an inspiration That was personally my proudest day in business but also for my family to see me come through the ranks and be rewarded.”

The focus on promoting from within is an important part of Spar’s ethos, he continues “Through Leo and his leadership, our ethos is that hard work is rewarded. I see it with my own team and I take great inspiration and satisfaction from making sure that I develop their skill sets. That is something that I’m very proud of, and even in my own team, two of my colleagues have since been appointed onto the board; they came through my tuition. That’s the ethos that we have here, that we promote within and I would have to say that Leo has been part of the Spar success longer than Colin Donnelly has. We’re very much an open book.

It’s clear throughout our interview that Donnelly has genuine admiration for Spar’s retailers.“They’re independent retailers and they’re with Spar because they want to be with Spar and that to me is again the ethos that we have here; it’s a personal thing.Yes, it’s a business relationship but up and down the country, that ethos is something that is very important for our brand and our culture. It’s a culture thing and it’s something that really sits well with myself and I would get inspiration from the way we do business and that sets us apart from our competition in many ways.” This attitude is summed up by the reaction to Spar’s latest conference:“Everyone was asking‘When is our next get-together?” That’s a good culture to have.” ■

Irish grocery 2023: Where to next?

The start to 2023 has been a tumultuous one for the Irish grocery sector; rising food inflation linked to a multitude of geo-political issues threatened to undermine the goodwill and consumer engagement nurtured during Covid19 and the Brexit aftermath.

As the price of food became a political issue across Europe, Irish grocers found themselves in a public debate concerning the level of profit margins (and accusations of profiteering) across the sector This debate was driven by perception as opposed to hard evidence – the reality being that the Irish grocery sector is very competitive and underpinned by a complex, inter-connected supply-chain.

As always, context is important - Irish grocery inflation was c17% compared to an EU average of 27% over the last two years. The Irish grocery and convenience market is unique given that a significant proportion of market share is held by indigenous, family-owned retailers operating under symbol group brands. Bank of Ireland data confirms that the profit margin generated by these retailers over the past year has remained consistent with historical performance whilst maintaining significant employment and investment in local communities nationwide

The Irish grocery and convenience sector is recognised internationally as an exemplar in respect of store standards and innovation. It is a “go-to” destination for international retailers seeking ideas to improve their own proposition. As consumers, we have become accustomed to excellent, in-store standards – to maintain these standards, family-owned retailers need to preserve their margin whilst maintaining a continuous improvement mindset. In this fast moving, competitive environment some of the key areas of focus for the sector in the next 12 months are as follows:

Own-brand expansion

Recent studies across Europe have demonstrated that saving money on food remains a top priority across all income groups. This has led to increased engagement with own-brand products and a discernible

improvement in own-brand range/options across the sector As consumer confidence (hopefully) improves in the coming months –the delivery of premium, healthy and sustainable products across the own-brand range will be required to meet customer expectations and preserve retailer margins. The normalisation of food inflation, linked to a significant decline in international food commodity prices in recent months, (based on historical evidence, food retail prices adjust to changes in commodity prices with a time lag of about six to twelve months) will support this product development agenda in the latter half of 2023.

Personnel development

The acute shortage of personnel is a critical issue for the sector at present. It has prompted a dual-approach from progressive retailers –the development of flexible/proactive employee development plans incorporating up-skilling/management opportunities and increased automation of manual intensive tasks. The use of electronic shelf labels, selfscan checkouts and smart rostering systems can be instrumental in driving a better work/ life environment when balanced appropriately with maintaining the customer service values of the business.

Margin tight rope

Grocery retail is a high-volume, low margin business with leading European grocers reporting a EBIT (earnings before interest and taxation) percentage of c3% on average in recent years. When compared with the leading Consumer packaged goods businesses (Nestle, Coca Cola, Unilever etc who average EBIT percentage of c19%), the game of brinkmanship that is margin management becomes even more apparent. Store revamp/ investment can be a key component within this strategy – fulfilling customer expectations, preserving margin and driving overhead efficiencies. Bank of Ireland data suggests that when delivered effectively – a store revamp can drive sales growth of 5%-10% and margin growth of c1%.

Automation investment

Consistent with the wider European model, the digital transformation of the Irish grocery sector has been fragmented to date leading to cost/operational inefficiencies and delays in the delivery of improved supply-chain, analytics and omnichannel models across the sector Retailers recognise that appropriate investment in this area is a key step in preserving profitability – ensuring that investment can be continued in the traditional areas of personnel, store design and product offering. It is akin to the nutritional, gym and flexibility work undertaken by elite sportspeople – unseen by most but integral to maintain peak performance.

Sustainable businessScope 3 focus

Irish retailers are cognisant that a robust strategy for the de-carbonisation of their business model is required to meet Government, investor and consumer expectations/requirements into the future. Studies have identified that c90% of all emissions related to retail are Scope 3 – linked to suppliers/consumers as opposed to direct emissions from the business itself/purchased energy (Scope 1 and 2). To move the dial on Scope 3, retailers are starting to establish joint initiatives and incentivisation plans with their suppliers to support improved emission targets and the sharing of related data. In respect of consumer engagement – apps/tools that support customers to set and monitor climate targets for their shopping baskets are also on the horizon.

The Irish grocery sector is in perpetual motion and family-owned retailers in particular need to embrace change/innovation to meet customer expectations in a competitive environment. As David Bowie said: “Tomorrow belongs to those who hear it coming”. In embracing the above areas – retailers will position themselves to be on the correct wavelength for future growth and development. ■

Owen Clifford, head of Retail Sector at Bank of Ireland, outlines key growth opportunities for Ireland’s grocery sector during the next 12 months

Owen Clifford Head of Retail Sector, Bank of Ireland

An overview of redundancy

A large number of businesses are faced with re-structuring their organisations every year for various reasons. Some of those reasons could include that the need for the worker has diminished or ceased if a new process or system is introduced. Another reason could be that the workplace is closing down and the business will no longer exist Unfortunately, difficult decisions have to be made to maintain the survival of many organisations and these decisions will often include redundancy. When an employer realizes that they may need to make a role redundant, it is vital that they seek advice on the correct process, especially the consultation phase required under the Redundancy Payments Acts of 1967 – 2007 to eliminate risks to the business.

In selecting employees for redundancy, the company must apply selection criteria that are reasonable and applied in a fair manner. The company should consider all options including possible alternatives. If there is an alternative position available, it must be put to the employees. If they refuse a reasonable offer, then it may mean that they lose their entitlement to a redundancy payment. An employee may take up an alternative or trial for up to four weeks and make their decision within that time

Potential grounds for complaint

It is very important to note that redundancy is still a termination of employment and therefore a risk is attached to it Although a redundancy situation may exist, employees may have grounds for complaint if the manner of the selection for redundancy was deemed unfair or if a genuine redundancy situation does not exist. An employee can take a case under the Unfair Dismissals Act legislation which may award up to two years’ salary if the employee wins the case. Some recent Workplace Relations Commission decisions have excluded any statutory redundancy payments already made when calculating the award. The amount of the award can vary significantly from case to case depending on the circumstances and does not include costs associated with preparation of the submissions for the hearing on behalf of the company and legal costs for representation i.e., a HR consultant/solicitor etc.

Under the unfair dismissal legislation, selection for redundancy based on certain specific grounds is considered unfair. These include redundancy as the result of an employee’s trade union activity and any of the protected nine grounds outlined in

CAROLINE REIDY

Managing director

The HR Suite

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

the Employment Equality Acts.

To qualify for redundancy payments, employees must have:

● worked continuously for at least 104 weeks over the age of 16.

● The position they hold must cease to exist. It is important to remember that it is always the position not the person that is made redundant.

Employers should note contractual notice periods that an employee is entitled to which will impact on their termination date for the calculation of any statutory redundancy payments.

Collective redundancies

Collective redundancies arise where, during any period of 30 consecutive days, the number of employees being made redundant is: five employees where 21-49 are employed, 10 employees where 50-99 are employed, 10% of the employees where 100-299 are employed, 30 employees where 300 or more are employed. The redundancy legislation requires that the company must consult with the employees as soon as is reasonably practical but not later than 30 days in the case of collective redundancy. The following matters should be addressed in the employee consultancy phase:

● The reasons for the redundancy

● The number and descriptions of the employees affected.

● The number and descriptions of employees normally employed.

● The period in which the redundancies will happen

● The criteria for selection of employees for redundancy

● The method of calculating any redundancy payment e.g., just statutory or an additional ex gratia.

The employer is also obliged to inform the Minister for Enterprise,

When an employer needs to make a role redundant, it is vital that they seek advice on the correct process to eliminate risks to the business, writes The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy

QUICK QUESTIONS WITH MARIO ILHA

Trade & Employment in writing of the proposed redundancies at least 30 days before the occurrence of the first redundancy.

The use of Form RP6

An employee who has been given a “Notice of Proposed Dismissal for Redundancy” may choose to leave their job before the redundancy date that has been given to them, for instance to accept an offer of alternative employment If they don’t use“Form RP6 - Leaving Before a Redundancy Ends” to notify their employer in writing, they risk the danger of losing any entitlement to redundancy compensation if they decide to leave. A request of this nature may be granted or denied at the employer’s discretion. It should be noted that a person’s eligibility for a redundancy pay-out may be impacted if they leave without the

employer’s consent within the notice period.

If an employee has been laid off or working short-time for four consecutive weeks, or for six weeks out of the previous 13 weeks, they may notify their employer on “Form RP9 - Lay Off and ShortTerm Processes” of their decision to request a redundancy pay-out. Certain restrictions relating to layoffs and short-time employment were postponed by the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. However, these postponements have since been lifted. An employer has the opportunity to either accept this or to give‘counter notice’. Counter notice must confirm that there will be full-time work available again within the next four weeks which must last for a further 13 weeks without lay off or reverting to short time. ■

Mario Ilha

1. Best series you recently watched on a streaming platform? Narcos.

2. Best place for coffee?

Coffee Works in Lucan Village.

3. Top movie recommendation? The Godfather Trilogy.

trade marketing manager, HBAS at Richmond Marketing

4. Top spot for a walk? Howth Cliffs.

5. Top book recommendation?

‘Eating the Big Fish’, by Adam Morgan.

6. Favourite influencer/content creator if you have one?

Simon Sinek.

7. Best ad on telly?

Guinness always nails them.

8. Worst ad on telly?

None; I always try to read into them, even if they are not up to scratch.

9. Your favourite dish to make at home? Brazilian Feijoada.

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

Better access to the health system for all.

11. Greatest achievement to date? My family.

12. Best website?

Alison Empower Yourself (alison.com).

13. Do you prefer working from home or in the office/on-site?

I enjoy the hybrid system.

14. Best piece of advice you ever received? Don’t sweat the small stuff

15. Biggest fear?

That I won’t see my children grow up.

16. City or beach break? 100% beach.

17. Top restaurant recommendation? Bovinity Steakhouse.

18. Who is the last artist/group you saw live? Ludovico Einaudi (pianist).

19. Best customer service you ever received?

KLM: my mom was flying on a long overnight flight and got extremely unwell (due to a treatment side-effect). The crew couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive.

20. What’s the last compliment you received?

I am trusted by my peers and leaders. ■

“Although a redundancy situation may exist, employees may have grounds for complaint if the manner of the selection for redundancy was deemed unfair or if a genuine redundancy situation does not exist. An employee can take a case under the Unfair Dismissals Act legislation which may award up to two years’ salary if the employee wins the case.”

How to ace an online interview

Post-Covid, online interviews have become a much more commonplace occurrence. Here, Excel Recruitment’s Nikki Murran shares her top tips on how to ensure you create a positive impression online

There have been many residual factors left in our post-Covid lives, from the normalisation of working from home to a nostalgic fondness for homemade banana bread. One of the main shifts we saw in the recruitment industry was the acceptance of online interviews

Pre-Covid, I can’t think of one client who would have been satisfied to move to the job-offer stage without looking the candidate in the eye and shaking hands. But now, we still have about 35% of our interviews held online. Of that number, 20% of those are concluding their process, whether it be an offer or rejection, without having ever met the candidate face to face.

In March 2020 I was scrambling to understand the world of Zoom and Teams. I had used them previously but was by no means an expert. One of the first interviews I had set up was for a candidate who was amazing at baking and could run a high-volume, fast-paced bakery with his eyes closed but could absolutely not work email. I had to talk him through every step, and this was his first ever time using a laptop – I promise we laughed more than we cried but I think we have all become so much more proficient around online meetings now! (He got the job by the way!)

Here to stay

So, it would seem that online interviews are here to stay, in some capacity anyway In many ways, they offer countless benefits to the recruitment procedure. They allow candidates to interview on lunch breaks or shortly before or after their shifts, they speed up the entire recruitment process, and they cut down on travel time and cost But is there a downside? Do candidates who travel to interviews and attend in person have an upper hand over those who log on? Our figures would show that they do Often the candidate attending in person has made more of an effort and thereby indicates more of an interest in the role and ultimately, in a potential hire, this is always more attractive

So, the question remains: Do candidates really get a full chance to get their skills, experience, and personality across through a screen? I think this really depends, so, over the last couple of years we have been compiling the following tips for online interviews to help candidates bridge that gap between the real world and the digital one.

NIKKI MURRAN Director, Grocery Retail Recruitment, Excel Recruitment www.excelrecruitment.com

Online tips

Suited and booted: When it comes to what you wear, the same rules apply as an in-person interview –well at least for your top half!

Profile picture:This is your new handshake! Make sure it is appropriate as this will be your first impression while they wait for you to log on!

Accept invitations:If the interviewer sends you an invitation on MSTeams – click to accept in a timely manner – not mere moments ahead of the interview. It confirms your attendance and interest.You can also add a note when replying

saying thank you for the invitation and that you are looking forward to meeting them

Can you hear me? This is frustrating for everyone – test out your platform (Teams, Zoom etc.) with a pal and make sure you are up and running on audio and video beforehand.Technical issues nearly always cause candidates to fluster and throw them off before interviewing.

Technical issues: If you do have technical issues; don’t get flustered. If they can see you are trying to log on, most interviewers are happy to bear with you while you get sorted or re-arrange if you can’t. Just be sure to contact them in real-time to let them know you are trying to log on.

Eye contact: It is very tempting to watch yourself or your interviewer during an online interview, but looking directly into the camera is the only way to appear as though you are keeping eye contact.

Backdrops: Ideally choose a neutral backdrop, a plain wall without lots of pictures.Try not to sit in your childhood bedroom with your boy band posters surrounding you or opt for the

space backdrop with shooting stars behind you! If you have no blank wall – just opt for the blurred background setting. Close all other apps on your computer:Getting email notifications during your interview is distracting and can make noise causing you to lose sound. Close everything!

Prepare,prepare,prepare:The level of preparation that is done for an in-person interview is the same level that should be completed for an online interview. Investigate who you will be interviewing with,

research the company via their website and be aware of the latest news about them Visit their stores and their competition. Have a copy of your CV, the job description, and questions you would like to ask. Be prepared for questions about your salary expectations, reasons why you are leaving your current role, length of your notice period, your motivation to move on (if employed), your career ambitions, etc. (Know your CV!) Bad habits:Don’t eat, chew gum, smoke, or vape – this is still an interview!

Avoid interruptions:Be sure all pets and small children are locked up. Well, no, but perhaps ensure you have a quiet space where you will not be disturbed or distracted by snack requests.

Body language:Don’t slouch or squirm too much (it comes across as disinterested), even if your chair is uncomfortable.

Pick a comfortable chair.

Before you say goodbye:Ensure you’ve expressed your interest in the role and thank them for their time - oh and keep your fingers crossed! ■

“Do candidates who travel to interviews and attend in person have an upper hand over those who log on? Our figures would show that they do. Often the candidate attending in person has made more of an effort and thereby indicates more of an interest in the role.”

Celebrating Ireland’s 100 most chosen brands

In the face of economic uncertainty and the huge financial strain experienced by many households, the FMCG industry has proven its resilience.

Kantar’s 100 Master Brands at Home report for 2023, which is exclusively published by ShelfLife, reveals the ranking of the most chosen FMCG brands by Irish shoppers. The top five most chosen brands have remained unchanged for many years with Brennans leading in the first position followed by Avonmore, Tayto, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Denny.

As the cost-of-living crisis has driven shoppers to search for greater value, retailer own label lines have benefited with own label now accounting for 48.9% of the grocery market. However, the rankings show just how resilient brands are as well as how important they are to shoppers with households purchasing an average of 81 brands over the course of the year down just 4.4% from the previous year It’s those brands that have

adapted to changing shopper needs in these difficult times that are coming out on top –and even in a cost-of-living crisis, innovation and indulgence still feature highly in shoppers’ minds, alongside value for money.

This can be seen clearly in some of the biggest movers within the ranking. For example, Pringles jumped seven positions to reach number 18 in the Irish FMCG ranking, thanks in part to the brand’s ability to meet changing consumer needs by attracting new

Q&A with… Emer Healy, business development director, Kantar

Q: The cost-of-living crisis has been a major factor affecting shoppers’ habits in recent times. How have you seen this reflected in the Kantar 100 Master Brands at Home ranking? Has a focus on providing value delivered results for certain brands?

A: 2022 and into 2023 has brought about rising costs for consumers on many fronts, with more of an importance than before being placed on managing budgets. Grocery shopping is no exception to the list. We have seen price inflation increase significantly across the second half of 2022 and early 2023, standing at 15.8% in the 12 weeks to 11 June 2023. Irish consumers are looking for ways to mitigate rising costs and looking for the best deals amongst the retailers through loyalty card schemes, vouchers, promotions or choosing private label products over branded goods. In the first quarter of 2023, brands and

private label were neck and neck with only 0.6 percentual points share between them. What this has resulted in is that the environment was much more challenging for brands to grow their Consumer Reach Points during 2022 versus 2021. For example just three of the top 20 brands (Tayto, Müller and Pringles) grew in terms of CRP, compared to 11 in 2021.

Q: Another consumer trend reported by Kantar has been that shoppers are returning to stores more often compared to the previous year, with the “little and often” shopping trend gaining further traction. Have you seen this trend affect the performance of particular brands?

A: According to our latest data to 11 June 2023, shoppers returned to stores more often during the month of June (+9.2%) compared to last year, making on average an additional two trips.

shoppers with the launch of its new ‘‘Sizzl’n Spicy’ flavours to its existing range

Yoplait climbed seven positions in the ranking to reach number 19 by appealing to the large number of shoppers seeking dairyfree alternatives, with the launch of the dairyfree Petit Filous range

ShelfLife spoke to business development director at Kantar, Emer Healy to learn more about the many market insights that can be gleaned from this year’s report.

Activia saw the strongest frequency growth amongst the most chosen 100 – growing 31.5%, moving up 33 places in the rankings to number 43 with 6 million Irish households purchasing the brand over 2022. Activia also expanded its functional yogurt range

Q: The largest increase in this year’s ranking was achieved by Glenilen Farm, up a massive 89 places! What factors would you attribute this success to?

A: Glenilen Farm was the top riser by Consumer Reach Points in the top 100 with growth of +88% moving the brand up 89

Kantar’s latest data to 11 June 2023, shows shoppers returned to stores more often during the month of June (+9.2%) compared to last year, making on average an additional two trips

Resilient brands are standing their ground and thriving in challenging times, says Kantar’s Emer Healy

What this research IS:

✔ Data is sourced from 5,000 demographically representative Irish households recording their take home grocery

✔ Comprises over 200 FMCG categories which are recorded by Kantar on a continuous basis – including those in the beverages, food, health and beauty and home and care sectors

✔ The list is based on a measure of how many households purchased a brand at least once during the year (penetration), and the average number of times households bought the brand (frequency)

✔ These two numbers are multiplied to calculate each brand’s ‘Consumer Reach Points’ (CRP) score

✔ The report covers the period of 52 w/e October 2021 vs 52 w/e October 2022

✔ Kantar contacted respondents on average at least twice a week

✔ Kantar provided households with barcode scanners in order to scan the goods that they had purchased for at home consumption

What this research IS NOT:

✘ It is not based on sales or EPOS data, measuring either value or volume sales

✘ The data does not reflect food purchased and eaten out of the home

✘ Impulse pack products have been excluded from the dataset

places in the rankings. It has also seen the biggest penetration increase of 9.4ppts; making the brand a new entrant into the top 100 Glenilen Farm benefited from more presence across 2022 gaining listings in both Aldi and Lidl.

In addition to Glenilen Farm and Activia, the largest increases compared to last year’s positions were achieved by Kellogg’s Rice Krispies (up 27 places) and Hovis (up 24 places). What have these brands done well in order to capitalise on sales during the past year?

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies jumped 27 places, holding number 52 in the ranks and being chosen on 5 million occasions over the course of 2022. The brand saw strong growth in both frequency (up 16.4%) and penetration (up 1.4

percentual points). Kellogg’s Rice Krispies grew its brand’s presence with the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps on-pack competition.

Hovis had suffered shortages due to staff strikes during 2021. Hovis jumped 24 places to hold number 54, being chosen 5 million times by Irish households over 2022. Hovis saw penetration grow 0.6 percentual points and frequency 11.3%.

Q: Which brand’s marketing has really stood out for you in the past year and why?

A: Keogh’s saw one of the biggest increases in terms of penetration, growing 3.8 percentual points and moving up 11 places in the rankings at number 25. Keogh’s continued to attract new shoppers by launching new flavours to its core lines.

Q: Traditionally, Irish brands have always performed strongly within the Kantar 100 Master Brands at Home ranking. How has this pattern continued in the past year?

A: Over the course of 2022 Irish brands held strong. Four out of the top five brands were Irish (Brennans. Avonmore, Tayo and Denny) once more emphasising how important Irish brands are to Irish consumers.

Q: We know that sustainability has become increasingly important for both retailers and brands based on consumer demand for sustainable options. Have you seen greater sustainability measures deliver tangible results for certain brands?

A: Fairy is at number 20 in the rankings, up four places from 2021. Fairy was chosen 8 million times over 2022 and created more targets by launching its non-bio pods a softener – the dream team for sensitive skin.

Q: Are there any other trends that you found notable from this year’s ranking or perhaps any findings that were slightly surprising considering previous results?

A: Nine out of 10 winning brands do so through improving their penetration. Year after year our data proves that the only way to grow is through finding more shoppers. 2022 was a more challenging year for brands to grow and was a year of resilience competing against private label. This year’s rankings revealed that only 20 out of the most chosen 100 brands grew in terms of penetration which was a significant decline on last year in which 47 brands saw penetration growth. ■

How is the Kantar Brand Footprint calculated?

The complete ranking comprises over 200 FMCG categories tracked around the world by Kantar Worldpanel across beverages, food, health & beauty and homecare. The ranking is based on an innovative metric created by Kantar called Consumer Reach Points (CRP), which measures each time a consumer chooses a brand. The data for this year’s ranking was collected in the 52 weeks to October 2022.

✘ The following categories are not included in the Brand Footprint ranking: batteries, tobacco, nappies or alcoholic drinks According to industry observers, these are the

Ireland’S #1 choice

Because Ireland knows anything baked is better with Brennans.

At Brennans, we carefully combine long tradition and product range to cater for every taste in Ireland. This is why we’ve kept our place as Ireland’s most chosen brand for seven years in a row Our goal is always to bake a wide range of fresh, high-quality breads that are great value and satisfy the needs and usage occasions of your customers. That’s why anything baked is

Better with

1. Brennans 3. Tayto & Hunky Dory’s

Tayto, the number one crisps and snacks brand* has remained at number three** in the Kantar 100 Master Brands at Home ranking, after reaching this position last year for the first time The Tayto brand is loved locally and globally, consistently topping the polls as the most missed brand by Irish ex-pats.

2. Avonmore

As Ireland’s number one dairy brand, Avonmore products are enjoyed on a daily basis in households across Ireland. Avonmore’s expertise in dairy extends across milk, cream, soup and butter, with key growth products including Avonmore Super Milk, Avonmore Protein Milk and Avonmore Whipped Cream. Avonmore’s continued success comes from its sustained investment in the brand; partnerships with customers to really drive growth; and delivering consistent, high quality products as a priority – ensuring the best tasting milk reaches consumers.

The Tayto portfolio, which also includes the number one crinkle crisp brand* Hunky Dorys, continues to grow from strength to strength. Tayto is as relevant today as when it launched almost 70 years ago Consistent activities like NPD, the introduction of Limited-Edition flavours that bring excitement to the category, communication campaigns that reach mass audiences across multiple platforms and in-store activations that interrupt shoppers in stores all make Tayto what it is.

Tayto continues to reinvigorate the crisps and snacks category and its Lentil Chips, which only launched last year, has delivered over €1 million retail sales value (RSV)* since launch and is now a key brand within

the ever-growing ‘Better for You’ category Tayto Hunky Dorys also recently launched a new Prawn Cocktail flavour which appears to be a new favourite with many shoppers.

Using insights citing taste as the key purchase driver for the Tayto brand***, Mr Tayto has just appeared back on TV screens with a new above-the-line (ATL) TV creative campaign titled “Tayto: The True Taste of Home,” The new TV ad used both emotion and humour to connect and has been brought to life in-store through shopper marketing featuring Tayto’s key TV visual.

Tayto also just launched a LimitedEdition Meanies flavour crisp The use of Tayto’s key sub-brands to strengthen the core brand is another example of a brand that knows how to keep consumers hooked. No doubt Tayto will have even more great campaigns throughout 2023 which will keep Tayto, the True Taste of Home ranked highly in next year’s report!

*(Source: Nielsen Scantrack Value sales MAT May 2023)

**(Source: Kantar Top 100 Brands at home 2023)

***(Source: Red C Research July 2022)

As Ireland’s number one crisps and snacks brand, Tayto is loved locally and globally

Q: Congratulations on once again achieving the number three position in the Kantar ‘100 Master Brands at Home’ ranking. How has innovation continued to drive growth for Tayto throughout the past year?

A: Thank you, we are thrilled with our ranking and are grateful to Irish consumers and retailers who continue to support the Tayto brand!

In providing new innovative formats and flavours we broaden the snacks repertoire of habitual Tayto consumers and extend the reach of the brand to new audiences. Some of our recent launches have included Tayto Occasions Cornstraws and Tayto Meanies Limited Edition which follows last year’s hugely successful limited-edition flavour, Tayto Fizzy Cola. We like to create hype around our launches and remind consumers that the Tayto range is ever-evolving to suit changing tastes and needs.

Q: How significant is the ‘Better For You’ opportunity within Ireland’s crisp category?

A: The ‘Better For You’ segment has been growing steadily for the past number of years as younger generations in particular have become more focused on health and

wellbeing. In recent times the segment has been fuelled by an array of innovations including the Tayto Lentil Chips range and perennial favourites such as Tayto Treble Crunch. ‘Better For You’ also stands for quality ingredients in mainstream snacks – if you pick up a packet of Tayto you will see that it has no added MSG, no artificial colours nor flavours and is a source of fibre. These are the messages we are sharing with consumers front of pack to demonstrate our commitment to quality

Q: Mr Tayto is obviously a much-loved, gregarious Irish icon; and of course, Tayto Snacks won the ‘Brand Marketing Team of the Year’ Award at the ShelfLifeGrocery Management Awards 2023. How have you continued to build on Mr. Tayto’s popularity to connect with consumers through your marketing?

A: Mr Tayto spreads joy wherever he goes and he is central to the positive sentiment people feel towards the brand, which is why we include him in all our activities. You’ll find him everywhere from the IGBF Fun Run to Tik Tok putting a smile on people’s faces and harnessing the power of community Our latest TV ad ‘The True Taste of Home’ was borne of the well-documented insight that Tayto is one of the most missed brands by people living

overseas. We were thrilled to be able to bring that sense of longing to life in such a fun and humorous way!

Q: The cost-of-living crisis has obviously been affecting consumers during the past year – how have you ensured you continue to offer a valuefor-money proposition despite rising costs?

A: We are keenly aware of the pressure consumers are feeling and try to offer choice across our range with a variety of pack sizes and configurations that will allow our products to be considered as part of the routine grocery shop or for on-the-go impulse purchases.

Q: The Kantar results have once again highlighted the extent to which consumers value supporting Irish brands and producers. How significantly is Tayto continuing to support Irish jobs and suppliers?

A: Tayto Snacks employs over 400 people in Ireland. Our manufacturing facility is based in Ashbourne, Co Meath, with many of our colleagues living in the surrounding area. The potatoes we buy represent 10% of the national potato crop and we source from local farmers, some of whom have supplied our business for generations. We are proud of the positive impact we have locally and nationally through the third-party suppliers we engage in support of our business.

Q&A with… Alina Ui Chaollai, marketing director, Tayto

Alina Ui Chaollai

4. Cadbury Dairy Milk

5. Denny

Denny is proud to be number five in Kantar’s 100 Master Brands at Home ranking. For 200 years, Denny has been making delicious food for Irish families, and is bought by two-thirds of Irish Households (Source: Kantar 05.23). Home to the famous Gold Medal Sausage as well as a breadth of great products such as cooked meats, rasher, pudding and meat free options - it’s no surprise it was named Kantar’s Most Chosen Brand of the Decade (Source: Kantar 12.22).

In 2022, Denny launched its new TV campaign “Grand, Dad” which has been a great success in connecting with consumers through a genuine, emotive story It reminds everyone that, sometimes, the most comfort is derived from comforting others, and for that ‘Only Denny Will Do’.

In 2023, Denny supported the launch of its new Denny Deli Style cooked meats packaging with a full 360° Activation Campaign. The brand’s ‘Win on the Double with Denny’ campaign drove great engagement and consideration with consumers with the support of its retail partners across Ireland.

The brand also celebrated Denny Gold Medal as ‘Ireland’s Most-Loved Sausage’ (Source: Nielsen 01.23) in April with strong support through the line Denny prides itself in bringing simple, honest, great tasting food moments to Irish families and looks forward to more exciting years ahead!

6. Jacob’s (Pladis)

Jacob’s products have been a part of Irish life since 1851. From opening that first tin of Jacob’s biscuits at Christmas time, to filling lunchboxes daily around the country – Jacob’s has a snack to suit every occasion and ‘in between’ moment. Whether your customer’s favourite is a Kimberly, Club Milk, Elite, Tuc or Cream Cracker, there is something for everyone Jacob’s wide range of delicious biscuits and crackers sell more than any other brand, making it Ireland’s number one biscuit brand*.

Jacob’s is known for launching exciting NPD that makes an impact in the category Over the past year, it has launched fantastic new flavours under its Elite sub-brand, with chocolate covered Polo, Lincoln and Goldgrain biscuits added to the range The brand is also working on some delicious innovation for seasonal NPD for Jacob’s, Club and Elite, with products launching in time for the festive period. In the savoury category, Jacob’s has tasty snacking options for back to school with Tuc in Original, Sour Cream & Onion, Bacon and Sweet Chilli flavours – something for everyone!

Jacob’s has been engaging with consumers through its communications across TV, outdoor, digital and in-store, and most recently, with its sponsorship of Today FM Timechecks with 15 second ads running eight times a day, seven days a week. Jacob’s ‘The Welcome In Between’ platform is really resonating with consumers, helping them to see Jacob’s as a modern, relevant brand in their lives.

*(Source: Kantar 52 w/e 19 March 2023)

7. Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is delighted to feature in the top 10 of Kantar’s 100 Master Brands at Home ranking. As an established brand, Coca-Cola recognises the need to continuously evolve, to introduce new innovations, activations and campaigns to engage and excite the communities it serves.

New innovations this year included the launch of Coca-Cola and Jack Daniels Ready to Drink and the continuation of the Real Magic campaign which has gone from strength to strength.

This year, Coca-Cola is excited to bring fans an unforgettable summer of music for 2023 as it unveils its latest lineup of immersive music experiences across the island of Ireland and beyond, via music platform Coke Studio From new tracks and incredible artist ‘collisions’, to first-rate Coke Studio live music moments at some of the country’s biggest and best

festivals, Coca-Cola is bringing ‘real magic’ to the summer of 2023.

Coke Studio not only infuses festivals with major good vibes but also presents a phenomenal lineup of talented Irish musicians. Coke Studio is going to electrify two of Ireland’s most dynamic festivals this summer, Longitude and Electric Picnic, featuring a roster of talented Irish favourites and new breakthrough artists who will deliver amazing performances. This year, the Coke Studio VIP area will be giving festival goers the chance to gain access to its VIP viewing platform, with unbelievable views of each festival.

Coca-Cola has also teamed up with Gay Times to create ‘Breakthrough’ with Coke Studio – an ongoing campaign that gives unsigned LGBTQ+ musicians the opportunity to gain the recognition and wider support they deserve across the UK and Ireland.

Building on its success from previous years, Coca-Cola continued to ‘hero zero’ maintaining Coca-Cola Zero Sugar as the number one zero sugar soft drink in Ireland, followed by Diet Coke and to continue to offer even more choice to consumers, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Zero Caffeine was launched.

Coca-Cola continuously evolves its offering to engage and excite customers

Coca-Cola also continued its commitment to sustainability and recognises the urgency consumers expect when it comes to the environment. Through World Without Waste, it continues to eliminate the need for 5,000 tonnes of new or unnecessary plastic on an annual basis. All the primary packaging used by Coca-Cola is 100% recyclable and 46% of the total plastic portfolio is made with recycled plastic, helping to create a true circular economy for plastic.

Coca-Cola was the first beverage provider to launch KeelClip, an innovative cardboard packaging solution for 4, 6 and 8-multipack cans and Q’Flex, a cardboard solution for larger multipack cans. In addition, Coca-Cola continues to lightweight its products annually, reducing the amount of plastic used throughout the Coca-Cola portfolio

For more information, visit ie.coca-colahellenic.com or Coca-Cola.ie

8. Knorr

9. Heinz

10. Cadbury

5TH IN KANTAR’S TOP PROUD TO BE

100 BRANDS

11. Birds Eye

Birds Eye has been a staple brand for Irish families for decades and continues to maintain a strong heritage in an increasingly competitive Irish frozen food market. For years the brand has provided an outstanding range of high quality, tasty and versatile foods that have delighted consumers around Ireland. With a vast portfolio to choose from which stems from the beloved Chicken Dippers, Waffles, Fish Fingers, Peas and plenty more to suit every occasion.

Birds Eye continues to invest consistently into the brand, from above the line with TV,

VOD, partnerships, social, right through to through the line in-store support. Key campaigns last year included the ‘Add of Bit of Magic to Mealtimes’ campaign supporting the chicken portfolio and the very familiar ‘Captain Birds Eye’ supporting Fish. With continuous investment into driving quality products, innovation and media, there are exciting times ahead for the Birds Eye brand.

Müller

15. Fitzgeralds

Fitzgeralds Family Bakery continues to be Ireland’s fastest growing bakery brand and has once again shown strong growth in very challenging times. Having been passed down through four generations of passionate bakers, it is now run by Simon, Suzanne and Garry Fitzgerald with a whole new generation of little tasters by their feet. With a passion for innovation and quality, they have big plans in place following a very ambitious investment in the bakery >>

With a passion for innovation and quality, Fitzgeralds has major plans for future growth

The Fitzgeralds range includes fresh bagged Bagels and Bagel Slims

Birds Eye’s vast portfolio ranges from the beloved Chicken Dippers, Waffles, Fish Fingers, Peas and plenty more

Pringles has also supported leading men’s health charity, Movember since 2021 and last year announced that it will donate a minimum of €50,000 The brand’s donation will support Movember’s important initiatives which help change the face of men’s health and fight for men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. The Pringles moustachioed mascot joined the cause last year for the first time since his new look was unveiled in 2021. Mr P shaved down his moustache and started afresh for the month of growing through social posts.

19. Yoplait

An extension which is due to be completed by the end of July this year will increase production capacity further and allow the team at Fitzgeralds to continue to innovate and introduce exciting new products in Q4 of 2023. Exciting times ahead.

The combination of traditional methods with modern thinking has led to further growth in the Irish and UK markets over the last number of years. The bakery’s range includes fresh bagged Bagels and Bagel Slims(r), Wraps, Bake at Home French and Italian Breads, Pittas, Naan Breads, and Skinny Italian Pizza

Bases and Fitzgeralds is the market leader in these categories in ROI, and the brand’s range continues to be well received in the UK.

16. Batchelors

17. Carroll’s of Tullamore 18. Pringles

Pringles continues to be one of Ireland’s most loved crisp brands. With its iconic can, unique hyperbolic paraboloid shape and delicious flavour, Pringles’ popularity is unwavering.

The brand continues to target snacking occasions relevant for its target audience with its ‘Stay in the Game’ gaming campaign and its annual festive inspired Christmas cans.

Pringles has also continued to delight consumers with ongoing new flavour launches. So far this year, the brand has added Mexican Chilli & Lime flavour to its fiery Sizzl’N range

The new spicy flavour joins medium Kickin’ Sour Cream, medium Sweet Chilli and Spicy BBQ.

Rich in calcium and vitamins, the Yoplait range has been enjoyed in homes and lunch boxes all over the country since the 1970s

Now celebrating 50 years in Ireland, Yoplait remains a firm favourite with Irish consumers. Generations of Irish families have literally ‘grown up’ on their favourite Yoplait Fruit Yogurts, Yops, Petit Filous and Frubes which are still enjoyed in homes everywhere.

Favoured by parents as a snack of choice for the whole family, the Yoplait range is rich in calcium and vitamins and has been enjoyed in homes and lunch boxes all over the country since the 1970s.

Just like families, tastes and demands change generation by generation and Yoplait strives to meet these changes with an everinnovative product range

In 2019, the brand launched Yoplait’s Petit Filous Mess-Free Drinking Yogurt, bringing a new format of nutritious solutions for parents on-the-go It remains the only mess-free snack with Calcium and Vitamin D for healthy bones, which is great for growing kids on-the-go

The most recent addition to the Yoplait family is the Skyr range which is based on a creamy Icelandic recipe Yoplait Skyr is rich in protein and being fat-free, it meets the demands of a busy lifestyle where it can be enjoyed as a perfect post-gym snack or rounding off a family meal as a guilt-free treat.

Yoplait would like to thank everyone in Ireland for making it a part of the family over the last 50 years as a great tasting source of protein which is an integral part of a healthy diet.

20. Fairy 21. Nescafé 22. McVitie’s

With over 180 years of baking expertise, McVitie’s has been a favourite for Irish families for generations. 2022 was a stellar year for the brand with innovative launches such as Blissfuls and Jonuts (pictured) contributing to

Innovative launches such as Blissfuls and Jonuts (pictured) have contributed to McVitie’s strong performance

a strong performance by driving McVitie’s presence in the key indulgent and youthful snacking demand spaces.

Such category-focused innovation alongside a host of store cupboard staples such as McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives, Hobnobs and Jaffa Cakes, has proven a recipe for success for the brand in fuelling its positioning at number 22 in this year’s list. Exciting consumer communication, a strong innovation pipeline and strong collaborative customer support plans mean the brand is sure to feature in the top list into 2023 and beyond.

23. Stafford’s

Step into the world of Stafford’s Bakeries, where excellence is baked into every creation. For over six decades, Stafford’s Bakeries has been a cornerstone of the Gorey community, evolving from a small bakery to a state-of-theart establishment in Co Wexford. As a familyowned business spanning three generations, it holds dear the traditions that have made Stafford’s a household name

At Stafford’s Bakeries, three major ranges stand as a testament to its commitment to quality and taste The bread selection, crafted with passion and expertise, is the heart and soul of its bakery From classic Farmhouse Soda to Chia Cobs, Stafford’s prioritizes using the finest ingredients and time-honoured techniques to deliver bread that embodies the essence of tradition. Consumers can indulge their senses with confectionery and fresh cream offerings, where craftsmanship and creativity converge From heavenly cakes, like its Luxury Chocolate Gateau and beautifully Iced Fancies, to Fresh Cream delights, including Black Forest Gateau and Fresh Fruit & Cream Pavlovas, Stafford’s Bakeries elevates every occasion with an irresistible sweetness and exquisite flavour

But the brand’s innovation doesn’t stop there. Stafford’s Bakeries’ frozen bread range is a game-changer for customers seeking convenience without compromising on taste Its part-baked and frozen bread, ranging from French Demi Baguettes to its beloved Sourdough Cobs, allows everyone to enjoy the warmth and aroma of freshly baked bread at any time It’s the perfect solution for those seeking a taste of excellence 365 days a year >>

Mexican Chilli & Lime Pringles are a tasty new addition to Pringles’ fiery Sizzl’N range

Fitzgeralds Family Bakery is Ireland’s fastest growing bakery brand

Stafford’s prioritises using the finest ingredients and time-honoured techniques to deliver bread and confectionery that embodies the essence of tradition

Celebrate the artistry of baking and savour the exceptional flavours that define Stafford’s Bakeries.

Whether consumers are craving the comforting familiarity of its bread, the indulgence of its confectionery and fresh cream treats, or the convenience of its frozen bread range, Stafford’s Bakeries invites everyone to experience the essence of its craftsmanship Look for Stafford’s Bakeries products in stores nationwide and discover a world where passion and flavour unite to create unforgettable experiences.

24. Pat The Baker

25. Alpro

For 40 years, Alpro has been leading the food revolution making plant-based a positive choice for the planet and its people

Moving up two places to number 25 in the 2023 Kantar 100 Master Brands at Home report, Alpro has always been the champion of the plant, turning good things into delicious products to eat, drink and enjoy.

This year, Alpro has also upgraded its packaging with clearly identifiable ingredients on-pack. Bursting with benefits, there’s a choice to suit everyone So, whether your shopper is a Nutty Almond, a Creamy Oat or a No Sugars Soy fan, Alpro is dedicated to great taste and to all its customers. Alpro is also going bold on its plant-based alternative to yogurt offering with the core fruit front and centre allowing consumers to add a Cherry to

Always the champion of the plant, Alpro turns good things into delicious products to eat, drink and enjoy

their breakfast or snack, a Peach mid-morning and end their day with a Blueberry boosted treat. Here’s to the plant-based future with even more irresistibly tasty foods!

26. Keogh’s

In the last 12 months, Keoghs Crisps has experienced considerable growth across its range of premium snacks; Straight Cut Crisps, Crinkle Cut Crisps and Popcorn. Keoghs was delighted to rise 10 positions in the Kantar 100 Master Brands at Home report and is now proudly ranked at number 26.

Keoghs Crinkle Cut Crisps are now Ireland’s fastest growing premium crips range and due to popular demand, this range has expanded to include new flavour ‘Sea Salt from the Irish Atlantic’ launched in July 2023.

Keogh’s attributes its success and growth to its passion for high quality Irish produce and its innovation through unique and distinctive flavour profiles. The Keogh family works with local and Irish producers who provide the ingredients for the brand’s award-winning seasonings.

In 2023, Keoghs partnered with one of Ireland’s leading distilleries, Teelings to launch a limited-edition flavour ‘Smoked Barbeque and Irish Whiskey’ which has proved to be a major hit with crisp lovers and curious tasters alike.

Keoghs airline business has also seen major growth this year with Keoghs most loved flavours available worldwide on many

7upfree isnow 7up zero sugar

Keogh’s attributes its success to its passion for high quality Irish produce and innovation

international airlines such as Ryanair, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Eurowings and most recently Delta Airlines.

Keoghs founder Tom Keogh has been nominated for the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Award which is testament to both the national and international growth of Keoghs Crisps under his leadership over the last decade

To learn more about Keoghs Crisps and see the brand’s wide range of unique flavours and products, visit www.keoghs.ie

27. Keelings

28. KitKat

KitKat, Nestlé Ireland’s number one confectionery brand advanced seven places in last year’s ranking and has repeated that success by accelerating a further seven places this year Year-to-date (YTD) sales growth for KitKat has been strong across all key formats. Within chocolate singles, KitKat continues to see increased demand for its Duo format and through flavour variants such at KitKat Chunky Peanut Butter which is set to continue with the launch of an exciting new Chunky flavour next month. Meanwhile, those seeking a plantbased break can now enjoy a 4-Finger KitKat Vegan, made with a rice-based milk alternative to create an indulgent tasting vegan chocolate and crispy wafer combo In the last year, KitKat has also launched industry leading packaging innovation through the move to recycled and recyclable packaging across its 2-Finger range

The entire KitKat range is made using 100% certified sustainable cocoa, sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with Rainforest Alliance and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

29. Green Isle

As one of Ireland’s leading food brands, Green Isle has been putting good, nutritious food on Irish dinner tables since 1959 The brand has a long history of making healthy eating accessible

and sustainable for consumers in Ireland. From the classic side dishes of garden peas, to flavorsome stir-fry mixes, to the more modern tastes of cauliflower rice, Green Isle makes it easy to eat well. Growing up with Irish families and helping them discover new tastes, the Green Isle range of frozen fruit and vegetables has something for everyone to enjoy.

New Green Isle Fruit Snacks are superior quality fruits that are perfect for lunchboxes, a healthy treat or on-the-go snacking. Made from 100% fruit, Green Isle Fruit Snacks help people eat well without adding to the “to do” list.

An uplifting brand refresh

7UP believes that moments of upliftment are all around us. The brand’s new visual identity system was designed with this belief in mind and the new look captures the essence of upliftment with eye-catching success

The design retains 7UP’s iconic signature green and elevates it with the addition of fresh and zesty citrus tones. Along with a large number seven, and the use of a striking block shadow, the new look has a vibrant, uplifting energy which feels as refreshing as 7UP itself A new brand sign off, ‘Taste That Lifts You UP’, will keep taste top of mind as consumers are introduced to the brand’s new look and feel.

In addition to a new visual identity system across the 7UP brand, 7UP Free is set to become 7UP Zero Sugar The combination of a fresh new design and the clarity of “Zero Sugar” will allow the brand to more clearly communicate the drink’s core appeal.

The brand refresh will appear across 7UP and 7UP Zero Sugar bottles, cans and multipacks from June 2023. Kicking off with its summer campaign, Summer’s UP, rolling out across out-of-home (OOH), digital, social and events.

*(Source: Nielsen Top 100, 2022)

31. Dairygold

Made

100%

help people to eat well without any hassle

Ideal for anyone that is focusing on making healthy snacking choices, each bag contains three easy-to-open snack packs and are one of an individual’s five-a-day. Shoppers can choose from juicy mandarin segments or melon chunks. These carefully selected superior quality fruits are picked at their peak and frozen at their freshest. New advanced freezing technology ensures that the superior quality, taste and texture of its prepared fruits are all locked in, delivering a wonderful product with no food waste - just amazing ready-to-eat fruit when needed. Watch out for new varieties in-store later this year

30. 7UP

It’s going to be a big summer for 7UP, as one of Ireland’s most-loved* brands follows UP on the recent launch of its ‘Upliftment’ brand platform with a brand new look and packaging which began rolling out in the market this June, along with a fresh new name for 7UP Free – 7UP Zero Sugar

Dairygold has been a staple in Irish hearts and fridges for over 35 years. Traditionally made using natural ingredients it’s perfectly churned to create the deliciously creamy, Dairygold taste

2022 saw the deliciously creamy taste of Dairygold launch into plant-based. Check out the Dairygold plant-based range which consists of Plant Based Spread, Plant Based B*tter, Plant Based Grated and Plant Based Slices available in stores nationwide

32. Clonakilty

33. MiWadi

MiWadi is a truly iconic Irish brand and continues to grow from strength to strength in the marketplace. From humble beginnings in 1927 MiWadi has been a fruity and flavoursome part of childhood in Ireland for 94 years and has always remained relevant to Irish families with a wide range of flavours in its Regular, No Added Sugar, 0% Sugar and Drops ranges. MiWadi is still produced in Dublin to this day and is a proud member of Love Irish Food.

Both MiWadi single concentrate and double concentrate ranges are now fortified with Vitamin D which supports families’ immune systems*.

Vitamin D is very important in our diets to help support every family’s general health, growth and development but it can be difficult

from

fruit, Green Isle Fruit Snacks

The KitKat range is made using 100% certified sustainable cocoa

The new design retains 7UP’s iconic signature green and elevates it with the addition of fresh and zesty citrus tones

to achieve the recommended daily intake of 5 µg. It has been reported that Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in Ireland**.

MiWadi makes the water that everyone needs to drink each day extra delicious and refreshing. To enjoy all the thirst-quenching tastiness of MiWadi at its best, just add water.

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

*(Excludes MiWadi Regular Blackcurrant 1L)

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

***(Source: Nielsen Value Share MAT Total Squash Category June 2023)

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

34. McCambridge

35. Colgate

36. Flahavan’s

Market leader in the hot oats* category and number 36 in Kantar’s 100 Master Brands at Home ranking, Flahavan’s is anything but run of the mill. With more than 3 million portions of its porridge consumed each week in Ireland and with >53% market share (value) in 2022, it’s clear that this 200-year-old family food business continues to hold a special place in the hearts, and kitchen cupboards, of consumers across the country

With traditional milling expertise handed down through seven generations, and a longstanding commitment to local sourcing, Flahavan’s is well-known for the distinctive creamy taste and texture of its world-class wholegrain porridge oats.

Over the past two decades, Flahavan’s has been at the forefront of driving a dramatic change in the way consumers think about oatbased foods and their compelling health benefits. By putting the consumer at the heart of its new product development and innovation, the company has expanded into other categories with considerable success Its Irish Oaty Flapjacks range continues to perform strongly in the highly competitive snacking category, with the recent addition of new Mini Flapjacks (100kcal per portion) expanding its appeal beyond school lunchboxes. Flahavan’s Oat Drinks range has quickly gained ground within the plant-based drinks category, elevating the brand’s reach and relevance for younger consumers. With the addition of its “porridge with added benefits” range in 2022, the company continues to respond to the growing interest in food products with enhanced health credentials to help consumers navigate the demands of their busy lifestyles. The new functional range, which includes High Protein, High Fibre and Immunity Boost variants, is available in pot and sachet formats to optimise convenience for younger and active audiences.

In fact, Flahavan’s range includes more than 50 different oat-based products.

Flahavan’s is a proud member of Love Irish Food and is a Gold Status Member of Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme

*(Source: Kantar Data – 52 Weeks to 25 Dec 2022)

37. Goodfella’s

for Aero Melts, a recently launched sharing bag of delicious discs of light and bubbly chocolate indulgence. Within chocolate singles, a white chocolate variant of Aero was available as a limited period offering. An upweighted advertising campaign over the coming months is set to ensure that demand for Aero continues.

39. Lucozade 40. Hellmann’s 41. Club 42. Barry’s Tea

Barry’s Tea has remained a brand much loved by a nation of tea drinkers. With healthy lifestyles becoming a priority for many, Barry’s Tea has continuously listened to its loyal tea drinkers and has evolved its range which now extends to a wide variety of Fruit, Herbal, Benefit and Green Teas.

Barry’s Tea’s most celebrated offering is the Gold Blend. This blend is meticulously mixed and tweaked from a combination of tea leaves sourced from the finest gardens in Rwanda, Kenya, and the Assam Valley of India. Its captivating flavour and rich, golden colour have made it Ireland’s favourite tea for generations. Complementing its delicious taste, Barry’s Tea is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, overseen by its master blenders to ensure consistency in every cup.

38. Aero

Aero continues to climb the brand rankings, moving six places higher this year Renowned for its unique bubbly texture, this much-loved brand added Aero Golden Honeycomb, an indulgent sharing block also available in a chocolate sharing bag format to its range earlier this year Demand has also continued

Aero recently launched Aero Melts, a sharing bag of delicious discs of light and bubbly chocolate indulgence

By adhering to rigorous standards, Barry’s Tea guarantees that its tea is cultivated using environmentally and socially responsible practices

The soothing Decaf blend is also freshly blended with the same high-quality leaves as the Gold Blend.

More than 3 million portions of Flahavan’s porridge are consumed each week in Ireland

A significant achievement for Barry’s Tea is the successful transition of its production to 100% biodegradable teabags. This eco-friendly change aligns with the brand’s vision to contribute to a greener future and promote a more sustainable tea-drinking experience. By adhering to rigorous standards, the brand guarantees that its tea is cultivated using environmentally and socially responsible practices. When shoppers choose Barry’s Tea, they can treat themselves to a delightful moment of relaxation all while supporting a family-owned Irish brand.

MiWadi is fortified with Vitamin D for a little sunshine in every drop!

43. Activia

Whether it’s tackling those big cleaning jobs or day-to-day tasks around the house, there is no job too big or too small for Killeen. The complete range includes everything from gloves and refuse sacks to cloths and scourers.

46. Nivea

“Deliciously Good for Gut health”, Activia* is passionate about happy guts and is ranked at number 43 in Kantar’s 100 Master Brands at Home ranking.

The gut plays a significant role in our bodies, and Activia, as the “gut health hero” has been an expert in this area for more than 30 years, which is why it keeps on innovating and finding delightful new ways to help everyone to love their guts.

The creamy yogurt is packed with billions of live cultures which help maintain gut health. A unique blend of five ferments, billions of live cultures are strong enough to survive until they reach the gut.

From the delicious fruit range with carefully selected ingredients to no-added sugar and 0% fat pots, Activia’s portfolio extends to its cereals range with fibre, which has taken on a new pack design to highlight the benefits of fibre. Alongside the new pack design on this sub range Activia is introducing a new delicious flavour to the market, Apple & Cereals.

*(Enjoy as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle calcium contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes)

*(Contains naturally occurring sugars)

44. Charleville

Nivea is renowned as the world’s number one face brand

Created to offer easy make-up removal, skin cleansing and care, the Nivea cleansing range delivers the most complete cleansing experience. The innovative collection of products from the world’s number one face brand helps to thoroughly cleanse the skin while gently caring for and protecting its delicate moisture balance. The Nivea cleansing line comprises various formats to suit all cleansing preferences with dermatologically and ophthalmologically approved products, including:

• Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water

This award-winning product has an innovative formula which cleanses and removes make-up while moisturising the skin in one simple step

• Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes

50. Kinder

Kinder is a trusted and well-loved family brand comprising of its Surprise, Chocolate, Chilled and Bueno ranges. Most recently, the brand expanded into the biscuit aisle with Kinder Cards, bringing the distinctive milk and cocoa taste it is loved for to even more categories. Much like the rest of the range, each product is small and individually wrapped, so families can enjoy treats responsibly and thoughtfully

Recently, Kinder Bueno launched a new single finger pack in Ireland. The chocolate countline consisting of creamy hazelnut and crispy wafer, comes in milk and white flavours. The new pack format caters for shoppers who are shopping on-the-go and more frequently At Kinder it’s the little things that mean a lot.

45. Killeen

Launched in Drogheda, Co Louth in 1985, Killeen has grown to be one of Ireland’s most loved and trusted household cleaning brands, offering a range of best-selling products including cloths, scourers, gloves and refuse sacks.

These soft and gentle wipes are made with 100% renewable plant fibres, are biodegradable and are enriched with specially selected organic Argan Oil and organic Aloe Vera, ensuring they are suitable for even sensitive skin.

• Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye MakeUp Remover

This wonder product benefits from a gentle bi-phase formula which effectively dissolves eye make-up while caring for eyelashes and the delicate skin around eyes.

• Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

This wash gel deeply cleanses and hydrates for a perfectly clean, refreshed skin look and feel.

Like the rest of Kinder’s range, each Kinder Cards product is small and individually wrapped, so families can enjoy treats responsibly and thoughtfully

51. Wrigley’s 52. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies has proven itself to be one of Ireland’s household staple cereals and with its growing range comes growing popularity

This year, Kellogg’s expanded its Rice Krispies Multigrain Shapes range with the launch of a new honey flavour As part of the company’s decade-long plan to improve its foods so that they are better for people, the community and the planet, the brand introduced new children’s cereal, Rice Krispies Multigrain Shapes Strawberry and Apple and Original.

Rice Krispies is also synonymous with Kellogg’s 12-year sponsorship of Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps. Every year the camps run all summer long, offering children aged 6-13 the unique opportunity to experience an actionpacked and fun-filled week of activity

Killeen’s complete range includes everything from gloves and refuse sacks to cloths and scourers

47. Bradys 48. Comfort 49. Dove

Kellogg’s also launched its nationwide competition for GAA clubs across the country to be in with a chance of winning incredible prizes up to €25,000 The winner of the €25,000 top prize will be chosen at random in August, while the €5,000 and €10,000 winning GAA clubs have already been announced. Broadcaster and winner of series 6 of Dancing with the Stars, Carl Mullan (pictured) was on hand to officially launch this

Activia has built a strong reputation for being “Deliciously Good for Gut health”

year’s on-pack competition. To enter, shoppers can simply purchase a promotional box of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, Coco Pops or Corn Flakes and using the unique on-pack code found inside the box, log on to kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/competition and nominate their club

53. Dolmio 54. Hovis

The Hovis brand continues to make excellent progress in the Irish packaged bread category In 2022 the brand achieved a ranking of 54th position in Ireland’s most chosen brands publication (Compiled by Kantar) representing a significant improvement on the 2021 position of number 78 This strong performance demonstrates the growing popularity of the Hovis brand with Irish consumers.

Hovis Granary and Seed Sensations in the Irish market are baked at the Belfast Bakery Although Hovis does not have full market distribution in Ireland, the brand continues to make excellent progress. Launched in 2014, Hovis Seed Sensations has been strongly received by the Irish consumer for those seeking a great tasting bread with a distinctive, seeded flavour In addition, the Hovis Granary range continues to be also enjoyed by Irish consumers. The brand’s consistent focus on quality continues to be at the heart of its brand strategy

Hovis will continue to be an exciting player in the Irish-packaged bread sector in 2023 and the company is expecting another successful year for the Hovis brand in Ireland.

*(Source: Independent research compiled by the Kantar Group Tracked shopping behaviour of over 5000 Irish Households. The report covers the period of 52 w/e October 2021 Vs 52 w/e October 2022).

55. Connacht Gold

56. Chef 57. Flora

58. Dr. Oetker

Dr Oetker is delighted to feature in Kantar’s most-chosen brands for another year The pizza and baking brands continued to experience growth throughout 2022.

On Dr Oetker Pizza sub-brands, Ristorante sales grew by 7.6% and now has a market share of 12.6%. The positive performance has also been assisted by the Bistro and Momenti sub-brands. These two snacking sub-brands have thrived; Bistro experienced sales growth of +8.8%, while the calorie controlled Momenti pizza range grew +28%.*

Dr Oetker’s baking brand has a market share of 20.5%***. Support included activity with long-term brand ambassador Louise Lennox, an ongoing partnership with Virgin TV’s Six O’clock show, an online partnership with Lovin Dublin and social media support all year round – all providing inspiration for bakers throughout Ireland.

*Source: Nielsen Scan Track, Pizza 52w Value Sales, 01/01/23

**Source: Ad Intel Jan 2022 – Dec 2022

***Source: Nielsen Scan Track, Baking 52w Value Sales, 01/01/23 (includes baking products, decorations and mixes)

59. Lyons Tea

60. Haribo

Leading sweet brand Haribo’s top four products are Starmix, Tangfastics, Supermix and Giant Strawbs

Dr Oetker continues to invest in its brands, as a pizza manufacturer it holds a 38% market share* The Chicago Town master brand has been a key focus for the company over the last three years. In 2022 the brand was supported through TV, VOD, digital partnerships and social media. An exciting digital partnership was created with Balls.ie delivering a successful Six Nations campaign.

The iconic Ristorante Pizza was re-launched in 2022 with new packaging and communications, supported through TV, VOD, social media and shopper marketing. Momenti was supported by social media and influencer collaborations. This media activity in 2022 resulted in an impressive 77% share of voice** in the frozen pizza market.

Chicago Town Takeaway performed exceptionally well in 2022 with sales growing by +11.9% and has a market share of 13.4%. It is now the number one frozen takeaway brand in the market*. Chicago Town Takeaway continues to offer shoppers indulgent pizzas with the great taste of an authentic takeaway in the frozen aisle Chicago Town Tiger Crust continues to perform; sales grew by 34% the sub-brand now commands a 3% share.

Haribo continues to be Ireland’s number one sweets maker* bringing moments of childlike happiness to consumers nationwide Within the sweets category over the past 12 months, Haribo has held its leading position in terms of value and units sales*. This performance was predominately driven by Haribo’s favourite top four products: Starmix, Tangfastics, Supermix and Giant Strawbs.

Within the confectionery market, Haribo offers great tasting, quality products at good value ranked below the market average price per kilo**.

In addition to Haribo’s core range, the brand continues to introduce new products with exciting flavours and textures to the market. Over the past year, Haribo successfully launched Soda Twist Z!ng and Twin Snakes to bring excitement into the category

To complement its popular all-year round offering, Haribo also brings a sweet celebration of treats to stores during key seasonal periods. Haribo’s seasonal selection provides products in different formats suitable for gifting and sharing with themed items to deliver festive fun. Whether it be Easter, Halloween or Christmas, Haribo delivers a vast range of products that create happiness and smiles for kids and grown-ups alike.

*(Source: Nielsen Scantrack Ireland | Total Sweets Confectionery (ex Mints, Gums, Medicated) | Total Convenience | Total Sharing Bags & XL Pouch | Value sales | MAT to 21.05.2023

**(Source: Nielsen Scantrack Ireland | Total Sweets

Confectionery (ex Mints, Gums, Medicated) | Total Market | Price / kg and Units | L4W to 21.05.2023)

61. McCain

Hovis Granary and Seed Sensations in the Irish market are baked at the Belfast Bakery

Broadcaster Carl Mullan was on hand to officially launch this year’s Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps on-pack competition

Dr. Oetker holds a 38% market share within pizza

Chicago Town Takeaway sales grew by +11.9% in 2022

62. Kellogg’s

64.

Koka Silk is a gluten free option that has been added to the Koka noodle range

Koka noodles satisfy a growing consumer demand for delicious, convenient snacks to eat at home or on-the-go

Available in a range of formats and delicious flavours, there’s a Koka noodle for all tastes. There’s even a gluten free range Koka Silk, so now more people can enjoy Koka noodles.

The brand recently introduced the newest offering to the range, Koka Multigrain Baked Noodles. Packed with all the flavour you’d expect from Koka, the Multigrain Baked Noodles are low in fat, palm oil free and a source of protein: making healthy anything but boring! The new range comes in two tasty flavours, Spicy Curry and Chicken, and will be available in major retailers nationwide

69. Old El Paso

Old El Paso is an iconic global brand that brings Mexican food to Irish households. With the increase of in-home meal occasions, consumers are more open to trying new cuisines in recent years. Plus, the simplicity and position as a family favourite makes Mexican and Old El Paso an appealing choice for consumers. Confident scratch cookers looking to try new and different foods in a convenient way reach for Old El Paso components, while less assured cooks tend to look for full meal solutions, using the kits to improve their skills and grow confidence.

Consumers love that with Mexican, you can build the meal around personal preference

66.

Founded in Singapore in 1985, Koka is Ireland’s most loved Instant noodle brand. A pantry staple in homes across the country,

67. Lenor

68. Hazel Brook

The latest Old El Paso campaign ‘Make Some Noise’ celebrates how good food can bring people together with meal customisation

ROCKING RISOTTORANGE HAVE YOUTRIED THE 1%Lessthan FASAT T

FROM IRELAND'S NUMBER

VEGAN ONE SOUP BRAND

63. Bisto

Galtee

65. Cadbury Twirl

Koka

with this sort of customisation.

The latest campaign ‘Make Some Noise’ celebrates how good food can bring us all together The campaign aims to get more people to share in the vibrancy and culinary inspiration that Mexican food can provide by turning Fridays into ‘Fajita Fridays’. Mexican can be enjoyed right through the week with Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday and beyond using the wide range of easy to use Old El Paso kits, carriers, seasonings and more.

70. Erin

76. Walkers

77. Tuc / Lu

78. Odlums

79. Cully & Sully

Cully & Sully has expressed “a SOUPer thank you” to all its customers, as the brand is delighted to be included within Kantar’s mostchosen brands for 2023.

The Cully & Sully brand turns 20 in 2024 and the team says it is “honoured that our customers are still choosing us”.

80. Irish Yogurts

81. John West

82. Cadbury Wispa

83. Andrex

84. Maltesers 85. Always

86. O’Hara’s of Foxford

87. Heineken

The Erin soup range includes Simmer soups, Hotcups and Condensed soups and are available in a wide variety of flavours

Erin soups have been at the heart of mealtimes across Ireland since 1963. A muchloved Irish brand, Erin soup recipes capture the rich delicious taste of quality ingredients, every time

Perfected over almost 60 years, the range includes Simmer soups, Hotcups and Condensed soups and are available in a wide variety of flavours – from traditional Irish favourites like Oxtail and Country Vegetable to delicious Cream of Chicken and Potato & Leek. New to the range, Erin Soup favourites are now available in a Gluten Free range

Whether it’s a hot pick-me-up on a cold winter’s day, or an ingredient that’s used to create family favourites like hearty casseroles or creamy pasta bakes, Erin soups are bursting with savoury flavour and aromas.

71. Schwartz 72. Ben’s Original 73. Premier Dairies 74. Pepsi

Cully & Sully remains as committed as ever to bringing the nation tasty and convenient food with good ingredients. This can clearly be seen in its latest launch, Rocking Risottos. The range offers a Charming Chicken, Moreish Mushroom and Tempting Tomato risotto that are all naturally gluten free and have less than 1% saturated fat. They are the perfect hunger buster for one or can be used as a delicious base to serve a dinner to share. They’re also superb topped with some parmesan cheese and a good glug of olive oil. Cully (the cook) has been really busy in the kitchen cooking up lots of serving suggestions for the risottos which have all been shared at www.cullyandsully.com/rockingrisottos.

Passionate about sharing a love of good food, Cully & Sully has lots more cooking tips and tricks available on social media. Its newsletter ‘What’s SOUPer this season’ also keeps subscribers up to date on all the brand’s adventures, seasonal recipes and fantastic competitions.

Doing good is also a big cornerstone of the business, especially since Cully & Sully became the first Irish food brand to become BCorp certified in 2020 “We are proud sponsors of Clean Coasts’ Big Beach Clean which sees hundreds of clean ups across Ireland’s waterways and coastlines in September,” says the team. “As watersports enthusiasts, protecting the ocean is very close to our hearts and we love to see people respecting and enjoying the water. That’s why we are running a SOUPer Summer campaign this summer, giving away stand-up paddle boards.”

Check out Cully & Sully’s social media to be in with a chance to win. You can sign up to Cully & Sully’s monthly newsletter on its website: www.cullyandsully.com

88. Glenilen Farm

Glenilen Farm has become the first Irishowned company to introduce yoghurt pouches to the market. The family-owned west Cork food producer has launched a convenient and multifunctional range of yoghurt pouches for children.

The kids yoghurt pouches are designed to take the mess out of enjoying yoghurts on the go They’re packed with gut-friendly cultures and are available in vanilla and strawberry 90g pouches.

Gut to Go

Glenilen Farm kids yoghurt pouches are designed to take the mess out of enjoying yoghurts on-the-go

“We are really excited about our new kids yoghurt pouches,” said co-founder Valerie Kingston. “The pouch means it’s easier to enjoy on the go without the need for a spoon. It has a resealable cap which also helps to cut down on any unnecessary food waste. Our team is constantly looking at ways to innovate using simple, natural ingredients and our new range is backed up by research into what consumers want.”

The new products are now available in supermarkets across the island of Ireland. The launch will be supported by a 360-marketing campaign centred around the theme “Gut to Go” highlighting both the functional and nutritional benefits of the yoghurt range

89. Actimel

Cully & Sully remains fully committed to providing tasty and convenient food with good ingredients

90. Nicky 91. Nature Valley

The iconic Irish brand has a range of products in Ireland, including Kerrygold Spreadable, Kerrygold Unsalted and Kerrygold Softer, all of which have the rich, creamy and unmistakeable Kerrygold taste

Consumers all over the world enjoy the unique taste of Irish grass-fed dairy Kerrygold is the number one butter brand in Ireland, the number one butter and cheddar brand in Germany and the number two butter brand in the USA.

93. Domestos

Nature Valley bars are made with natural oats, honey, peanuts and almonds

Nature Valley has climbed an impressive 14 places in this year’s Kantar 100 most-chosen brands. Launched here in 2006, Nature Valley is Ireland’s number one snack bar

The bars are all made with great tasting ingredients, like natural oats, honey, peanuts and almonds. Nature Valley offers added benefits through its core platforms Nature Valley Crunchy, made with 100% wholegrain oats, and Nature Valley Protein bars, which contain 10g of protein bar and are gluten free

Nature Valley continues to offer a broad range of products also includes its Sweet & Salty Nut bars and are currently launching NPD crunchy dipped and HFSS compliant oaty and crispy bars in major retailers. A staple for every household, Nature Valley snack bars are a delicious solution for families’ snacking needs at any time of day.

92. Kerrygold

Kerrygold’s range includes Kerrygold Spreadable, Kerrygold Unsalted and Kerrygold Softer, all of which have the rich, creamy and unmistakeable Kerrygold taste

Kerrygold was established in 1962 and is now regarded as Ireland’s most successful food brand, reaching €1 billion in annual retail sales in 2019 Kerrygold is synonymous with quality and has a special place in the hearts of consumers all over the world.

Kerrygold’s success is testament to the generations of Irish dairy farming families who produce world-class milk as well as Ornua’s member co-operatives and teams, who over the last 60 years, have proudly brought the taste of Kerrygold to the world. The brand’s dairy farmers are committed to producing the very best grass-fed dairy products. The cows graze freely for most of the year on the fields of 14,000 family farms; each one using unique dairy farming traditions passed down through generations of family It is the milk from these grass-fed cows that delivers the rich tasting, high quality dairy products that Kerrygold is famous for.

94. Magnum 95. Dettol 96. Innocent 97. Glenisk

with naming rights to Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore. Glenisk is an ISO50001 certified company, a member of Origin Green and a BRC AA accredited manufacturing site.

98. Sensodyne 99. O’Donnells

O’Donnells is the leading hand cooked crisp brand in Ireland and currently holds 11.7% value market share*

O’Donnells has mastered the art of producing premium-quality, hand cooked crisps over the past 13 years. O’Donnells is the leading hand cooked crisp brand in Ireland and currently holds 11.7% value market share*

This year O’Donnells is honoured to join the Kantar 100 most-chosen brands, moving up 15 places. The company is thrilled to share that O’Donnells is the most awarded crisp in Ireland! During the last 12 months, O’Donnells has been awarded 20 prestigious awards, highlighting the exemplary quality from Ireland’s number one hand cooked crisp brand**.

Glenisk has successfully eliminated all singleuse plastic pots and lids from its ranges

Established in 1987, Glenisk is a family business from just outside Tullamore, Co Offaly best known for its pioneering approach to organic agriculture, working with 50 small family farms across Ireland.

Glenisk has been especially successful at introducing innovative products that meet emerging consumer needs. Award-winning first-to-market launches include alternative dairy options in goats’ milk; high protein, authentically strained yogurt; no-added sugar kids and baby yogurts and fromage frais; and on-the-go solutions combining granola and yogurt to deliver 20g of protein.

The only brand in the category offering certified carbon-neutral packaging, Glenisk has successfully eliminated all single-use plastic pots and lids from its ranges.

Glenisk has been focused on sustainability for decades; as well as utilising renewable energy including wind and solar at its manufacturing site, Glenisk has also embraced electric vehicles in its fleet. The business recently partnered with Self Help Africa to plant more than 2 million native trees in Africa and Ireland. Despite the business’s global outlook, (with yogurt sold as far away as Hong Kong and Singapore) Glenisk is yet strongly rooted in the community The brand supports GAA for all codes, ages and sexes as official sponsor of Offaly GAA, LGFA and Camogie,

The company is excited to announce the launch of two new flavours in the O’Donnells Crinkle Cut range! 125g Crinkle Cut Ballymaloe and 125g Crinkle Cut Sour Cream and Onion**. Already one of the most popular flavours in the main range, Ballymaloe Relish and Cheddar Cheese brings together two Irish greats to create something spectacular O’Donnells has managed to perfectly blend the tangy taste of Ballymaloe Relish with the creamy hit of Irish cheddar to bring you a crisp like no other O’Donnells Crinkle Cut Furrows Sour Cream & Onion are an expertly seasoned blend of tangy sour cream, with the delicate taste of spring onion, combined to bring you a sophisticated, balanced take on a classic.

*(Source: Nielsen MAT Value Sales April 23, 2023, Crisps)

**(2022 Awards: 5 x Great Taste Awards, 8 x Free From Food Awards, 6 x Irish Quality Food Awards and 1 x Blas na hEireann Award)

100. Kilmeaden

Kilmeaden’s of Cheddar is slowly matured for months

With over 50 years’ experience, Kilmeaden has truly perfected the craft of cheddar Like many of the finer things in life, cheddar naturally improves with maturity, that’s why its Fillet of Cheddar is slowly matured for many months. Taste Kilmeaden and discover for yourself the famous award-winning craft and flavour ■

Let the sunshine in!

Whether you’re at a picnic, barbecue, or simply after a decent bottle for a balmy evening, there is an ample selection of whites, reds, rosés and fizz to suit the season. There’s no hard and fast rule for ‘summer wines’, but at this time of year, many consumers are looking for refreshing wine with low tannins, and tons of thirst-quenching acid. Some wine producers are even turning to fruits other than grapes to make their wines.

De-alcoholised delight

With two in five wine drinkers globally reducing their alcohol consumption, Santa Rita is continuing to beat the drum for this category with Santa Rita 120 0% De-alcoholised wine Available as a Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the range is the perfect alternative for those who choose not to drink alcohol. The wine is made using traditional methods with the spinning cone column distillation process used to de-alcoholise the wine after alcoholic fermentation is completed. The spinning cones gently and repeatedly spin the wine out into thin liquid films, simultaneously a cool vapour created from the wine itself rises from below and carries off all the lightest molecules in the liquid. The process is repeated until the desired level of alcohol is reached. This is a very gentle and

Apples and pears, specifically, are becoming an interesting alternative to grapes in the wine-making sphere.

According to The Wine Market Report 2021 from Drinks Ireland|Wine which was published in August 2022, white wine remains the most popular in Ireland with a 48% market share, with red wine holding a 45% share, both unchanged from 2020 Rosé has become increasingly popular in Ireland in

sympathetic technique which works well in reducing alcoholic content yet retains the delicate aromas and flavours of the wines. The RRP for Santa Rita 0% is €5, stocked in Tesco.

“Research has shown that regular wine drinkers have been decreasing over the last couple of years and consumers are now shopping with mental and physical wellness in mind,” says Terry Pennington, export commercial director of Santa Rita Estates.

“Current trends are towards healthier lifestyles and more moderate alcohol consumption with the younger generations looking for low/no alcohol alternatives. The addition of our Santa Rita 120 ‘0%’ alcohol wines is perfect for those looking for low and no alcohol alternatives without compromising taste, flavour, or enjoyment.”

Ace Australian

Yellow Tail, Ireland’s favourite Australian wine brand, has a range of wines suitable for the summer months; From bold reds to pair with sizzling BBQs and refreshing whites to sip on while soaking in the sun. You can spot these distinctive wine bottles in any retail store by their eye-catching coloured labels and new gold medals. These gold labels showcase that the brand has won over 550 awards including “The World’s Most Loved Wine Brand In The World”.

From its launch in 2001, Yellow Tail has grown to be one of the world’s most recognisable wines. Today, Yellow Tail is made by the sixth-generation winemaker of the

recent years particularly during summer months. While its market share remained static in 2021, it has grown from 3% in 2016 to 7% in 2021.

Meanwhile, Chilean, Spanish and Australian wine are the top three most popular in Ireland respectively, with French wines coming in fourth place. Overall, wine remains the nation’s second most popular drink after beer, with a market share of 29.3%.

Casella family at the family-owned winery in Yenda, Australia. John Casella’s vision for Yellow Tail is to demonstrate that wine can be fun, easy to choose, easy to drink and easy to understand.

Yellow Tail wine is an ideal wine to be paired with food and shared with friends. For example, Pinot Grigio will make your shoppers feel like they’ve made a little trip to Italy –without the long-haul flight! Its aroma is delightfully fresh, with hints of pear, red apples and kiwi fruit. The flavour is fresh and zesty bursting with red apple, pear and passionfruit flavours. It can be enjoyed with Asian inspired food and light salads on a warm summer evening.

Since launching in 2001, Yellow Tail has grown to be one of the world’s most recognisable wines

With hotter days on the horizon, thoughts turn to refreshing wines to accompany everything from boisterous BBQs to a quiet, sun-soaked evening out on the patio. To make sure you’re well stocked for the summer, here we highlight the latest brand news, bestsellers and innovation occurring within the category

A gem from Provence

Edward Dillon is delighted to announce the addition of Minuty wines to the Moët Hennessy Ireland portfolio of premium wines and spirits, as it becomes the distributor of Minuty in the Republic of Ireland.

Château Minuty’s cuvées express the soul of long summer evenings in Provence. For four generations, the Matton-Farnet family has cultivated excellence, promoting a uniquely Provençal art de vivre with its collection of exquisitely fresh, exceptionally aromatic Minuty wines. From the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to the world’s finest dining tables, a glass of Minuty is the epitome of convivial moments and shared pleasure.

Château Minuty is one of the last estates in the Côtes de Provence where grapes are harvested entirely by hand. Each year, over 100 people join Minuty’s usual team of 20, where hands are kept busy for the duration of “les vendanges”, the cutting of the grape bunches one by one Buckets fill quickly and are carried to vehicles that transport the fruit to the winery Tractors are used in vineyards located on the estate, while faster trucks transport grapes from plots farther afield. This method is used so that the precious bunches can arrive at the press intact and in perfect condition, with no maceration or oxidation.

“The addition of Minuty wines to the Moët Hennessy portfolio is a wonderful opportunity for Edward Dillon,” says Andy O’Hara, Edward Dillon CEO “Rosé wines, and especially Provençal rosés, have seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years. As distributors in Ireland, we will bring increased accessibility to the category for our customers and consumers.”

2022 vintages

Minuty has now unveiled its 2022 vintage wines. The new vintages are a jewel, in the purest Minuty style: light and elegant, vibrant and fresh. Although it was atypical, with plenty of unexpected twists, 2022 was a truly exceptional year in the vineyards.

Minuty Prestige Rosé (RSP: €28) has stood as the symbol of quality rosé for more than 25 years. On the nose this cuvée stands out for its clear-cut fragrances, ranging from yellow

Exemplifying Georgia’s distinctive flavours

Georgia, renowned for its ancient winemaking traditions, presents a captivating range of summer wines that exemplify the country’s distinctive flavours and techniques. Notable among these wines are Badagoni Tsinandali, Tsinandali Estate Natella, Nika Ma Fille, Peradze Mtsvane, and Baia Winery Pet Nat’s.

Badagoni Tsinandali is a white wine crafted from the indigenous Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grape varieties. Its vibrant acidity, coupled with a refreshing fruitiness, makes it a perfect choice for warm summer days

Tsinandali Estate Natella is another exceptional white wine, skillfully blending Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes to create a harmonious wine with delightful notes of citrus and tropical fruits.

Peradze Mtsvane is a white wine made from the Mtsvane grape variety, known for its aromatic profile and crisp acidity It offers a refreshing and vibrant experience, with flavours ranging from citrus to green apple

Nika Ma Fille is a distinct amber wine made by the Nika winery, showcasing the team’s dedication to traditional Georgian winemaking. While there are several vintages of Nika Ma Fille wines, each with its own characteristics, they typically demonstrate the unique qualities of Georgian wines, often using indigenous grape varieties and traditional production methods.

To add some sparkle to your customers’ summer, Baia Winery Pet Nat is a sparkling wine produced using the ancestral method. Made from Tsitska and Aladasturi grape varieties respectfully, it boasts a lively effervescence and brings a playful touch to any celebration.

These Georgian summer wines embody the country’s winemaking heritage, providing a glimpse into the diversity and complexity of Georgian viticulture. Whether your customers choose the Badagoni Tsinandali, Tsinandali Estate Natella, Nika Ma Fille, Peradze Mtsvane or Baia Pet Nats, each bottle offers a distinct and memorable experience that celebrates Georgia’s rich wine culture. For more information, email Tasteofgeorgiaire@gmail.com and visit https://tasteofgeorgiaire.com

grapefruit to white currant, with hints of blood orange and fresh raspberry The flavours are clean and direct, with pleasing saline and citrusy notes on the finish. A mouthwatering, instantly appealing wine that pairs well with sushi, grilled fish or stuffed vegetables.

Minuty M (RSP €24) is pure pleasure, pure Provence and pure Minuty in a bottle Pale pink and pearlescent, this rosé offers immediate pleasure with an intensely aromatic nose that evolves from tangy berry to tropical fruit notes. It is light, lively and refreshing on the palate, with appealing zesty and herbaceous notes. It pairs excellently with summer salads or shellfish.

Cheers to a devilish summer

Minuty Prestige Rosé (RSP: ¤28) has clean and direct flavours, with pleasing saline and citrusy notes on the finish

For those looking for a way to cool down this summer, Casillero del Diablo has the perfect solution for some devilish refreshment. Whether partial to an easy-drinking Rosé a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a more versatile Chardonnay, Casillero del Diablo’s range of

Tsinandali

Estate Natella skillfully blends Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes to create a harmonious wine with notes of citrus and tropical fruits

Badagoni

Tsinandali is crafted from the indigenous Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grape varieties to deliver a vibrant acidity, coupled with a refreshing fruitiness

Baia Winery Pet Nat is a sparkling wine made from Tsitska and Aladasturi grape varieties, with a lively effervescence

white wines will be sure to elevate your customers’ perfect drinking occasion.

Starting with Rosé, this wine is the perfect accompaniment to any summer event. With its fresh flavours of red berries, it embodies the perfect balance between acidity, minerality and delicateness. Casillero del Diablo Rosé is sure to be a real crowd pleaser

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc stands out for its freshness, displaying notes of tropical fruit and soft herbal touches. It is expressive with citrus and grapefruit notes, paired with a lively acidity Perfect to enjoy with fresh grilled fish or creamy cheeses.

Meanwhile Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay has a fresh and fruity character with delicious notes of pineapple and peaches, balanced with soft hints of hazelnut. It’s well-structured with a fresh and lively acidity Enjoy with grilled halloumi, fresh from the BBQ.

To highlight this range, the brand will be active in all spaces featuring the “world’s

hottest celebrity”, and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of The Year, actor Pedro Pascal. Pascal, who this year has starred in big box office hits including Sky’s “The Last of Us” and the new season of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+, has helped to grow the visibility and appeal of Casillero del Diablo

Be sure to keep an eye out for campaigns featuring Pedro Pascal online and out-ofhome

‘Norton Hemisphere’ brilliance

Arguably Ireland’s favourite West Cork native, Graham Norton’s wine brand is a fantastic success with an option for all wine lovers. The Graham Norton wine range is produced in collaboration with New Zealand’s Invivo and Graham Norton controls every aspect of the blending process for his wines, combining southern hemisphere grapes with ‘Norton Hemisphere’ brilliance to create a super range of six wines. Invivo was founded by two Kiwi wine entrepreneurs Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron in 2008. This year, Graham and Invivo will celebrate ten years of making award-winning wine together

and it has delivered on all counts,” says Graham Norton, chief winemaker

In relation to bubbles, GN Frizzante Bianco and the GN Frizzante Rosé are hugely popular in Ireland. In fact, the GN Frizzante Bianco is the number one selling sparkling wine in Ireland according to IWSR data.

The Graham Norton range is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam

Worldwide phenomenon

Kylie Minogue Wines launched on 28 May 2020 and has since evolved into a worldwide phenomenon with a glass of Kylie Minogue Prosecco Rosé sold every six seconds. This year marks the third anniversary of Kylie Minogue Wines with 9 million bottles sold since launch (that’s over 43 million glasses of Kylie Minogue Wine poured) and it’s available to purchase in 31 countries.

“I can’t believe it’s already been three years since we launched Kylie Minogue Wines, and I am thrilled that this anniversary not only coincides with the launch of my first single ‘Padam Padam’ from my upcoming album ‘Tension’, but also the imminent launch of Pride Month,” said Minogue “Thank you to all our amazing winemakers, growers, suppliers and partners who have helped us reach this incredible milestone Raising a glass to all of you, from Los Angeles!”

In just under three years, the brand has achieved remarkable success with a portfolio of nine wines which includes Kylie’s French Sauvignon Blanc, the best-selling Rosé, Côtes de Provence Rosé, Yara Valley Pinot Noir, Margaret River Chardonnay, Spumante Rosé Prosecco, Frizzante Prosecco and Frizzante Rose and the latest product launch was Kylie’s Zero Percent Alcohol Free Sparkling Rose

Kylie Minogue Wines has won multiple awards, including a Golden Vine Award, three

Trailblazing innovation

golds in the prestigious Drinks Business Wine Awards and Best Côtes de Provence Rosé and Zero Percent Alcohol at the People’s Choice Wine Awards 2023. Proudly distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam

*(Source: Nielsen EPOS volume sales- Total UK Off Trade to 11 March 2023)

McGuigan wines continue to outperform the market and according to a recent report, McGuigan is now the number one Australian wine brand in the off-trade The Black Label range comprises of a Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Rose and Malbec. McGuigan continues to demonstrate solid innovation, having introduced McGuigan Frizzante to the market. This is a light style of sparkling wine, full of lively yet delicate bubbles that give a crisp and refreshing sparkle

The latest addition to the McGuigan portfolio is McGuigan Zero Unrivalled taste, zero alcohol – for everyone, everywhere; McGuigan Zero is a trailblazer in its category The range offers an unparalleled alcohol-free experience both on the nose and palate Launching with Shiraz, Chardonnay, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling, McGuigan Zero is created using state-of-the-art spinning cone technology By drawing the wine into super fine layers for efficient vaporisation, alcohol may be removed at lower temperatures than ever before, thus resulting in a truly beautiful tasting product. McGuigan wines are proudly distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam

The latest addition to Graham Norton’s wine range is an Argentinian Malbec named He-Devil after Graham’s memoirs ‘The Lives and Loves of a He-Devil’

Graham’s range includes his best-selling (and awarded) Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand joined by a wildly popular New Zealand Rosé, Graham Norton’s Shiraz from Australia and the most recent addition to the range is an Argentinian Malbec named He-Devil after Graham’s memoirs ‘The Lives and Loves of a He-Devil’.

“My He-Devil was created to turn heads, break hearts and leave you wanting more…

McGuigan is currently the number one Australian wine brand in the off-trade

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc is expressive with citrus and grapefruit notes, paired with a lively acidity

Kylie Minogue Wines has sold 9 million bottles since launching in May 2020

Best of both worlds

Villa Maria’s fresh new take on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has landed in Ireland.

Is it a rosé? Is it a Sauvignon Blanc? Villa Maria has created the best of both worlds with a New Zealand Blush Sauvignon Ninety per cent Sauvignon Blanc, with just a touch of Merlot (10%), Villa Maria Blush Sauvignon delivers the taste experience of New Zealand’s favourite white wine with a beautiful pale pink twist.

“It feels like everyone is drinking pink these days,” says Villa Maria head of marketing and communications Sarah Szegota. “Instagram feeds and social occasions are dominated by the fun-factor pale rosés and pink spirits offer and data highlights this rapid growth in rosé Yet despite all the noise, growth and ‘Grams’, the Rosé category remains dwarfed by Sauvignon Blanc. Villa Maria Sauvignon Blush gives you the best of both.”

“We’ve taken the cool, fresh, leap-from the glass energy of our world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc and added a splash of Merlot to make a wine with a delicate pink hue, bursting with fresh flavours of passionfruit and cranberry.”

The cool climate within New Zealand’s wine-growing regions provides freshness and natural acidity, making Villa Maria Blush Sauvignon a great choice for an aperitif or alfresco dining. “For a fruity alternative, pour over ice with a raspberry and a basil leafit’s delicious!” says Szegota.

“Villa Maria Blush Sauvignon is a toast to moments of joy, to raising a glass when you’re in the moment, loving life and those around you,” Szegota adds. Villa Maria wines are proudly distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam

Different roles of rent WINE categories

MEANING OF AXES 1

Intentionality: impulse vs planned? (horizontal axis)

Engagement: Are shoppers willing to browse and be disrupted? Do they look for premium or value? (vertical axis)

ACTIONS TO TAKE 2

Hero: “Give me a reason to choose this store”

Trip Driver: “Give me the best value on basics & make it easy”

Basket Builder: “Disrupt me with irresistible deal on those little extras”

Profit Booster: “Inspire me with something premium, new or different”

↑ HIGH ENGAGEMENT

Champagne/ Sparkling Wine

Let’s get Barefoot this summer!

Let’s get Barefoot this summer with Barefoot Wine, the number one USA wine brand in Ireland.

Elevate picnics and BBQs this summer with the ultimate Barefoot Wine pairings. Life’s more fun when we’re together, that’s why Barefoot has something for everyone with delicious wines that will have you reaching for another sip

For those confused by wine pairing techniques, Barefoot Wine is here to help decide what food goes best with wine Match citrus to citrus, sweet to sweet or take the edge off and pair sweet wine with spicy dishes. It’s ultimately down to the individual’s taste buds, but to add some flair to your BBQs and picnics, follow Barefoot’s ultimate guide to matching food with some of their favourite wines this summer:

Barefoot Pinot Grigio: Light-bodied and floral, Pinot Grigio is one of the sweeter white wines. You’ll be able to taste the tart green apple, fruity citrus and peachy undertones. Fish and white meats are great food pairings for Pinot Grigio Enjoy with poultry spicy pasta, cheese pizza and green veg.

Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc: This popular dry white wine is full of summer notes with fruity honeydew, melon, nectarine and peach. Hints of sharp lime balance the sweet pear Fresh flavours like green vegetables, crisp apples, citrus fruits as well as potatoes, pasta and even chips all go well with Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy a chilled glass with smoked fish like salmon, salty oysters and feta or goat’s cheese salad.

Barefoot Merlot: This popular classic is rich in cherry, boysenberry and plum aromas. You’ll find Merlot to be one of the sweeter red wines while still being typically mild. Enjoy the warm chocolatey, mocha finish with a smoky vanilla-oak aftertone A medium merlot is the most versatile out of the reds and can be paired nicely with all red, smoked and cured meats. Merlot can also complement swordfish, grilled tuna and all poultry

Barefoot White Zinfandel: Fruity White Zinfandel has delicious peach, pears, strawberries, pineapple notes, perfect for drinking over ice. Enjoy a glass with spicy tandoori Indian and Asian food, along with salty bacon, grapes, mild cheese and cured meat. Most seafood and shellfish can also be paired with the sweetness of White Zinfandel.

Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay: Chardonnays have rich flavours and are easy to enjoy, but Barefoot’s Buttery Chardonnay takes it to the next level. This buttery chardonnay is creamy and smooth with delectable notes of vanilla, honeyed peach, and baked apple It’s the perfect addition to meals which include soft and hard cheese, chicken, pork, salmon, shellfish and potatoes.

Sparkling Wine

Total Wines White Wine

Red Wine

 LOW INTENTIONALITY HIGH

Fun, flavourful, and approachable, there is a Barefoot Wine for everyone The range includes Barefoot Moscato, Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon, Barefoot Malbec, Barefoot Chardonnay, Barefoot Pink Pinot Grigio, Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay and Barefoot Pink Moscato alongside Barefoot Pinot Grigio Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc, Barefoot Merlot and Barefoot White Zinfandel. Packed with big flavours and gorgeous aromas - there’s plenty to choose from!

↓ LOW ENGAGEMENT

Barefoot Wine is available from all good stockists, RRP €10.50 For more information, visit: https://www.barefootwine.ie https://www.facebook.com/barefootwineuk https://www.instagram.com/barefootwineuk/ https://www.pinterest.com/barefootwine/ ■

Villa Maria Blush Sauvignon combines 90% Sauvignon Blanc, with just a touch of merlot (10%)

Barefoot Wine is the number one USA wine brand in Ireland

Eoin Donnelly appointed managing director of Stafford Lynch to oversee three-year growth strategy

Irish-owned sales and marketing company,

Stafford Lynch has appointed Eoin Donnelly as the company’s new managing director

the new director position long

Donnelly brings significant experience to the position from his long career in the FMCG sector Previously managing director of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates for eight years, he has also held senior positions with Nestlé Ireland and Green Isle Foods. Donnelly holds an MBA from the Smurfit Business School and is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant.

In a press statement, Stafford Lynch – which works with a portfolio of brands including S.Pellegrino, Schwartz, Energizer, Wilkinson Sword, Dr Oetker, Sudocrem, Baxters, Mutti and Tony’s Chocolate – said Donnelly’s “understanding of market dynamics, coupled with his strategic vision, will be instrumental in continuing the company’s growth trajectory”.

Founded in 1974, the company has seen sustained growth, and since 2019 turnover has jumped from €41m to €51m and in doing so Stafford Lynch has solidified its position as a trusted distributor partner within the Irish market.

The company attributes its success to the achievements of its employees, with key drivers of that success being employee commitment to excellence, partnership, and focus on innovation. All of which have been recognised in Stafford Lynch being awarded a Deloitte Best Managed Company Award (2021 & 2022).

Looking ahead, Stafford Lynch reports it has developed a comprehensive three-year strategy to capitalise on emerging opportunities and further strengthen its market position. This strategy encompasses initiatives such as new channel growth, growing core brand business and an exciting pipeline of new business partners.

Danone Ireland strengthens healthcare business with key appointment

Danone Ireland has appointed Anne O’Grady as healthcare director to lead its Specialised Nutrition category in Ireland, which operates under the Nutricia brand.

As a health-focused company and leading provider of specialised nutrition products and services, Danone provides nutritional support to people of all ages, including patients in hospital and care settings, and people in the community

A member of Danone Ireland’s leadership team, O’Grady brings over 20 years’ experience to the role, having spent time in various marketing and medical roles in Nutricia, most recently as Head of Medical Affairs and Market Access, as well as previously working as a healthcare professional within the Health Service Executive.

“Anne has already made a significant contribution to our Nutricia brand in Ireland. Under her leadership we look forward to further growing our specialised nutrition category and continuing to improve nutrition and care for Irish patients and consumers in partnership with the Irish health service,” said Killian Barry, MD, Danone Ireland.

Davide Franzetti appointed general manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland

Coca-Cola HBC has Franzetti of island of Ireland

Coca-Cola HBC has appointed Davide Franzetti as the new general manager of its island of Ireland operations.

Italy holding

Franzetti has worked for Coca-Cola HBC Italy since 2018 holding various roles including modern trade director and most recently sales director He replaces Miles Karemacher who is taking up the role of general manager at Coca-Cola HBC Italy

Franzetti will lead the beverage business, which is the bottling partner to The Coca-Cola Company for the island of Ireland and distributes a 24/7 beverage portfolio including locally owned ranges, Deep RiverRock and Fruice. Coca-Cola HBC also distributes premium spirit brands for The Campari Group and Edrington, and coffee brands Costa and Caffé Vergnano

His tenure as general manager begins at an exciting time for the organisation following the announcement of a new canning line at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland’s production facility in Lisburn, in a £17m/€20m investment announced earlier this year Franzetti’s role will also encompass leading the transition to NetZero by 2040 and working with customers and other industry partners as the sector prepares for the roll-out of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which is due to go live in the Republic of Ireland in February 2024

Prior to joining Coca-Cola HBC, Franzetti was the general manager for the Italian division of the global brewer, AB Inbev. The appointment took effect from Thursday, 1 June

Heneghan appoints Rory Sweeney as senior account manager

Heneghan Strategic Communications has appointed Rory Sweeney as a senior account manager, effective immediately Sweeney has over six years’ experience in public relations and has previously worked for two senior government ministers.

A native of County Donegal, Sweeney is a graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology with a Masters in Public Relations and also holds a BA in History and Politics from University College Dublin.

In his new role, Sweeney provides a high level of support and guidance to clients including ABP Food Group, ABM Ireland, Actavo, The Ireland Funds, SYS Group, the Veterinary Council of Ireland, Essence Mediacom, Carbon Collect and Conduent Transportation.

“We are delighted that Rory is joining the team at Heneghan. He is an experienced communications professional and we look forward to working with him as we continue the positive development and growth of the business,” said Nigel Heneghan, managing director, Heneghan Strategic Communications.

EssenceMediacom Ireland appoints Kieran Lynch as an account director

EssenceMediacom Ireland, Ireland’s leading media planning and buying agency, has appointed Kieran Lynch as account director, effective immediately In his new role, Lynch will play a leading role across a number of agency accounts including the Sky Ireland account.

Lynch joins EssenceMediacom Ireland from Carat, where he served as account director He has also previously served as senior client manager with Starcom, and as account manager with MEC.

Lynch holds a degree in Economics and Business from University College Dublin. He also holds a European Advertising Certificate from the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland.

“We’re very happy to welcome Kieran to the EssenceMediacom team and I believe he will make a fantastic contribution to the agency,” said Ed Ling, chief growth and operations officer at EssenceMediacom Ireland. ■

Sweeney years’

eland In

Rory Sweeney

Anne O’Grady

Kieran Lynch

Miles Karemacher who is taking the role of general

Davide Franzetti

with Nestlé Ireland and Green Isle Foods. Donnelly holds from the Smurfit

Eoin Donnelly

Paws-itively thriving!

Most consider their dog or cat to be a member of the family, so it is no surprise that diligent pet owners are concerned about the health and wellness of their beloved companions. Between taking note of their intolerances, weight-gain, and allergies, consumers are spending heavily to provide high-quality nourishment for their pets. Pet humanisation remains one of the major influences on the demand for pet care in Ireland, according to a Euromonitor report on Pet Care in Ireland, published in April 2023. The same report anticipated that plant-based pet food, such as those products with a vegetal protein source like rice, will likely continue to grow in popularity, fuelled by growing consumer demand.

“As owners form ever closer bonds with their pets they are likely to become increasingly willing to do everything they can to keep them healthy and happy, with pet healthcare likely to remain at the core of this,” Euromonitor International reports. “As such,

Just irresistible!

In January this year, Purina, Europe’s leading pet care business announced that Robbie Williams has recorded a brand-new song, as the new voice of the most mischievous cat

pet healthcare should continue to see steady growth with pet owners being focused on improving the physical and mental wellbeing of their pet companions, especially when it comes to cats and dogs.”

Euromonitor has also stated that the ‘other pet’ population will “likely continue to increase with people appreciating the fact that it is generally easier and more affordable to keep smaller pets. With regard to small mammals, owners are also increasingly treating them as family members and are thus willing to spend more on their food.” The analyst added that as a relatively small category, especially when compared to dog and cat food, “other pet food still has substantial potential for improvements and innovation. Manufacturers will likely borrow already successful ideas from dog and cat food such as the addition of insect-based protein, environmental-friendly packaging, vegan properties and a focus on health-related features”.

Euromonitor International has also published

around, Felix Felix the cat is, of course, the face of one of the best loved foods for Irish cats, with Felix being one of the recogniseable brands in Purina’s wide-ranging pet food portfolio

The internationally acclaimed recording artist stars in a film premiere in which he unveiled a new exclusive track written and recorded specifically for this Europe-wide Felix advertising campaign, ‘It’s Great To Be a Cat’

Taking inspiration from Robbie’s own adored cats, as well as the mischievous antics of Felix, the global superstar wrote and created an iconic track especially for Felix, celebrating the glorious life of cats. As the new voice of Felix, the musician takes a theatrical turn when he co-stars in a short film alongside (who some might say is the real start of the show) the infamous cat, Felix. The cheeky duo is captured getting up to mischief as they team up for the grand premiere of their new

a specific report on ‘Dog Food in Ireland’, which was likewise published in April 2023. A key finding of this report was that tailored dog food solutions could present a competitive advantage “Growing interest among dog owners and breeders in tailored feeding systems is expected to have an influence on new product development and demand over the forecast five-year period,” Euromonitor International stated. “Companies are expected to develop high-quality food supplements and highly tailored nutrition systems for dogs.”

In another specific report on ‘Cat Food in Ireland’, also published in April 2023, Euromonitor International reported that cat owners are “becoming increasingly educated and aware of the particular needs of their pet companions and as such many are now opting for more expensive specialist products. For example, for owners with overweight cats there is a growing demand for therapeutic weight loss cat food.”

collaboration. In the film, Robbie plays second fiddle to Felix as he tries to record the CATchy earworm, with an accompanying orchestra. Available at FelixandRobbie.com, the new track shines a light on how cats really do live their best lives, just like the one and only Felix.

With many pets considered beloved members of the family, their owners are determined to find nutritionally powerful recipes that they know won’t be sniffed at, while awareness around the importance of maintaining oral care is also growing, writes Gillian Hamill

Felix Deliciously Sliced offers perfectly steam cooked slices which are high in protein and covered in a tasty jelly cats will love

Felix offers tasty meals that look like food you might have cooked yourself with sensational combinations of textures and flavours

Focusing on their independence, cheekiness and ability to always land on their feet.

Felix offers tasty meals that look like food you might have cooked yourself with sensational combinations of textures and flavours to delight every cat’s senses. From creamy soups, flavourful Sensations, Tasty Shreds, Doubly Delicious and even As Good as It Looks it’s hardly surprising that clever cats get Felix. Felix Deliciously Sliced is the most recent innovation in the Felix range launched earlier this year

Felix Deliciously Sliced are perfectly steam cooked slices which are high in protein and covered in a tasty jelly cats will love They look, smell and taste delicious, just like food you might have cooked yourself! Each recipe is cooked using a steamed process which harnesses the full potential of the ingredients and unlocks their savoury flavours. The unique delicately tender slices are served in an irresistibly tasty jelly These slices are also a source of essential omega-6 fatty acids with the right combination of vitamins to help keep cats full of vitality and ready for mischief! They’re packed with healthy goodness and satisfy 100% of a cat’s daily needs when served according to the feeding guidelines. Felix Deliciously Sliced meals are available in a range of tasty recipes, to satisfy cats’ love of variety every day.

Oral care leader

Pedigree Daily DentaStix is the number one oral care brand for dogs in Europe*.

Oral care plays an important role in a dog’s wellbeing. Dogs use their mouth and teeth to eat, fetch, carry and play. Research shows 80% of dogs over the age of three have periodontal disease (gum disease)** Left untreated, this can lead to tooth loss, extreme discomfort and pain and the systemic infection of other organs (e.g heart and kidneys)

Although the dog/owner relationship is

When fed to dogs daily, Pedigree Daily DentaStix is scientifically proven to help reduce tartar build-up by up to 80%

getting closer, with the role of the pet having evolved from an animal, to a pet, to a family member, nevertheless dogs’ oral health is being neglected. 90% of dog owners think their dog’s oral health is perfect. Yet canine periodontal disease accounts for 40% of modern vet practices’ workload.

The oral care segment represents 24% of the ‘dog care & treats’ category in the EU And as the leader, Pedigree has a role to reignite the category

Plaque and tartar build up on teeth can be reduced by an effective dental care routine

Pedigree Daily DentaStix has a unique X shape and, when fed daily, the combination of its gently abrasive texture and active ingredients, is scientifically proven to help reduce tartar build-up by up to 80%. What’s more, they are low in fat and sugar free

Using Pedigree Daily DentaStix every day will help keep every dog’s teeth and gums healthy and strong.

The range is available in all major retailers and independent stores nationwide

For more information, visit https://www.uk.pedigree.com/ *(Source:

Made in Ireland with love

Connolly’s Red Mills is well known for producing premium animal feeds in County Kilkenny since 1908. The company’s ultrapremium dog food offering, Go Native, launched to the Irish market in 2018 and has been growing a cult following ever since.

Hailed for the provenance of the ingredients, which are sourced from local Irish farmers and growers, and completely grain and gluten free, Go Native has an impressive line-up of five feed varieties – a puppy food made with Organic Irish Salmon, and four adult diets – Free Run Irish Duck, Organic Irish Salmon, Free Run Irish Chicken, and Wild Atlantic Herring.

Also available in the range are delicious plant-based dental sticks to help maintain healthy teeth and gums, and four varieties of meaty treats – which make the most delicious rewards for training or general treating. Go Native is available from leading pet stores nationwide including Petstop, Petmania, Petworld, Maxizoo and more, where shoppers can find the range in the ‘Made in Ireland’ aisles.”

37,000 Irish shoppers, Sept 2022-March 2023. Shopper insights available for 153FMCG categories in 2023

NO ADDED SUGAR

NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURS OR FLAVOURS

100% Irish: 100% family

Dingo’s has a strong local heritage dating back to 1987. Made using only 100% Irish ingredients, Dingo’s has held its own in the dog food market for 36 years.

In fact, Dingo’s has been the market leader in the manufacture of muesli petfood with its own unique blend of Muesli. The company has invested significant resources in research and development to ensure Dingo’s range of products achieves only the highest standards.

As such, Dingo’s products have an unequalled reputation for delivering high quality nutrition in a range of products that all dogs desire.

From 1987 to 2020, Dingo’s was owned and run by Gragara Feeds, Co Kilkenny, In 2020, the Dingo’s brand was purchased by the new owner Tom Jacob, who had previously worked with Gragara Feeds and knew the quality of the product so well that it was his passion to purchase the business and take it to a new level.

In the past three years, Tom has brought Dingo’s to new markets while servicing existing customers all over Ireland.

Dingo’s objective is simple: to fully satisfy consumer demand through the provision of an effective supply of quality Muesli and Nuggets products.

The company’s vision involves expanding the range to include smaller bags of dog food

Dingo’s has significantly invested in R&D to ensure its range of products achieves only the highest standards

Dingo’s uses only 100% Irish ingredients, and has successfully held its own in the dog food market for 36 years

and a range of pet treats and expanding its existing range of bird seed and bird nut.

Dingo’s is presently in the process of building a website which will include an extended range of pet products for every pet’s needs. The brand is also showcased on Facebook @dingospetfood, Instagram @dingospetfood.

Tom’s vision and enthusiasm is infectious

and can only bring the Dingo’s brand to greater heights. His question is therefore simple: Why not be part of the Dingo’s journey and contact Tom to have Dingo’s Dog Food supplied to your shop?

Tom would like to express his sincere thanks to all of Dingo’s existing customers for their loyal support since he acquired the business, noting: “Your business is truly appreciated.” ■

Dingo’s Pet Food

Boann Distillery unveils ‘Summer Solstice’ Whiskey

Boann Distillery celebrated the summer solstice on 21 June by launching its newest creation, the ‘Summer Solstice’ release, marking the second single cask bottling from Boann in just six months.

The Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey was unveiled to a select group of whiskey enthusiasts at a Summer Solstice tasting event in the distillery as part of the Boyne Valley Food series, where attendees became the first to savour the new release

Last December, Boann celebrated the winter solstice with its first Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey ‘Solstice’, reviving whiskey distilling for the first time in the distillery’s hometown of Drogheda, Co Meath, in 160 years.

The much-anticipated ‘Summer Solstice’ is the second Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey from Boann, after undergoing three years of maturation in a 225-litre Rivesaltes Rouge Barriqu single cask from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in Southern France.

On the longest day of the year, guests had the privilege of sampling both the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice whiskeys, along with Boann’s acclaimed Single Pot Still ‘New Born’ expression and ageing spirit.

To enhance the tasting experience, each whiskey was paired with canapés carefully curated by culinary creatives Glasgow Diaz and sourced from local Boyne Valley farms, growers, and producers, perfectly complementing the unique flavours and characteristics of each expression.

“Following the resounding success of our inaugural Irish Single Pot

The Powerscourt Distillery unveils ‘The Gates’

The Powerscourt Distillery concludes its Estate Series with “The Gates,” the final instalment of the trilogy This edition, a Fercullen Single Malt, is an amalgamation of bourbon and amarone matured whiskeys, marking some of the first whiskey distilled in Wicklow in over a century Fercullen Estate Series 3, The Gates has been available from the distillery website and Visitor Centre since 3 July and will be available nationwide from trade partners in the coming weeks.

With a 46% ABV and RRP of €75, The Gates is a limited edition numbered bottle release

Still Whiskey unveiled during last year’s Winter Solstice celebration, Boann Distillery is aiming to captivate whiskey lovers again with our craftsmanship, passion and innovation,” said Pat Cooney, Boann founder and entrepreneur “Summer Solstice will have a limited release of only 401 bottles, so it is sure to captivate connoisseurs and collectors alike.”

A 500ml bottle of ‘Summer Solstice’ Single Pot Still whiskey can be purchased for €150 exclusively on boanndistillery.ie with a limit of two bottles per person.

Coca-Cola HBC launches premium tonics and soda range

Recently launched Three Cents offers premium, artisanal beverages crafted without any preservatives or artificial colourings. The range includes tonic and soda beverages, offering a premium solution to always create the most flavoured and balanced drinks, within seconds.

Three Cents was founded in 2014 by a group of forwardthinking bartenders in search of the perfect cocktail mixer Three Cents premium Tonic and Soda Beverages are inspired by the late 19th century soda fountain culture and artisanal production.

Coca-Cola HBC has launched Three Cents artisanal Beverages into the Irish market. There are ten flavours of tonics or soda, available in 200ml NRG bottles, that can can be enjoyed plain or as mixers in long drinks and cocktails. ■

This edition, a Fercullen Single Malt, is an amalgamation of bourbon and amarone matured whiskeys

“The Gates” serves as a tribute to the historic Chorus Gate of the Powerscourt Estate As the final piece of the series, it resonates with the rich history of the Estate The intricately designed Venetian Gates of the Powerscourt Estate, created by skilled craftsmen of the past, serve as the inspiration for this blend. They stand as a testament to a perfect union of form and function, just as the whiskey represents a harmony of tradition and innovation.

This final whiskey continues the journey that started with the first release; an amarone finished Single Grain called ‘The Mill House’. The series continued with ‘The Italian Gardens’, a limited-release blend that won the World Whiskies Award for the World’s Best Limited Release Blend. “The Gates” completes this unique exploration of the distillery’s heritage and craft.

John Cashman, head of brand and new product development for The Powerscourt Distillery said: “The Gates is a fitting finale to our Estate Series with the introduction of our own Powerscourt distilled Single Malt whiskey We have continued our Amarone influence with a marriage of fully matured amarone cask whiskey with ex-bourbon matured whiskey Following our Fercullen Single Malt release in April, ‘The Gates’ see us continue to release The Spirit of Wicklow to the world.”

There are ten flavours of tonics and soda in the Three Cents range

On the longest day of the year, guests sampled both the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice whiskeys

The customer is king

Following Molloy’s Liberties recent NOffLA Customer Service Store of the Year Award 2023-win,

store manager Paddy Burke explains his personalised approach to customer service in conversation with Julia O’Reilly

for 15 years now. “I kind of fell into it, luckily enough. I began working in an off-licence when I finished school. It started out as a part-time job, but I found I really loved the work and it ended up being a career

“It’s very enjoyable work,” adds Burke. “Every day is different. The customers are fantastic, they make it worthwhile going in every day.”

Burke’s secret to getting customers in the door time and time again? “Customer service and attention to detail are key.”

distilleries and we get a lot of tourists in looking for it.

‘Ready to drink’ is another category currently enjoying a boom in sales. “RTD sales are skyrocketing. They’re so convenient and they’re keenly priced too. Over the last few years, we have been seeing a lot of demand for them when the weather’s nice.”

Beer is a big seller in Molloy’s Liberties: “Our beer selection

Molloys’ range has expanded significantly in the past couple of years to keep up with consumer demand and retain customers new and old

Paddy Burke knows his customers. When speaking with ShelfLife magazine, Burke’s passion for his work and commitment to creating a memorable and enjoyable shopping experience for every customer is clear

It no surprise then that the store he manages, Molloy’s in Dublin’s Liberties, was this year’s proud winner of NOffLA’s Customer Service Store of the Year Award.

“We were over the moon when we found out we’d won,” says Burke. “It was a bit of a shock to be honest, we weren’t expecting to win anything. So, it was a surprise, but a great surprise.”

The win has improved the store’s reputation with customers too, he adds. “We still get customers congratulating us on the win. It means a lot to us, and we love that our customers feel connected to the win too.”

What’s more, Burke says he feels proud to win an award that “acknowledges the hard work that all of our staff does. It was a real team effort.

“I’m also very grateful to Katarina Kokol, our former assistant manager She brought a lot of experience to the role She had worked at some fantastic off-licences, which brought our standards up even higher Her experience and passion come across straight away when you

speak to her, so that definitely helped us make an impact with the judges.”

Knowledge is key

When you work in a specialist off-licence, having a bank of knowledge about the products on the shelves is key “Good training is so important. We’re lucky to have a great head office and support team. They regularly send me and the team on wine courses and trips to local breweries and distilleries. The lads love it, and it really helps the team build up that crucial knowledge It’s one of the perks of the job really, and it takes our service to the next level.”

The store’s staff comprises of two full-timers and three parttimers. “It’s a small team, but the lads all work together really well. They have a lot of knowledge, they’re good with the customers, and I think they enjoy coming in too which is great!”

Molloy’s family-brand

Molloy’s Liberties is part of the Molloy’s chain, a family-brand that includes seven Dublin-based off-licences and two pubs. Based in the heart of the city centre, the 3,000 sq. ft Liberties outlet opened in January 2005, and ever since has been striving to create a welcoming environment for its customers.

Burke has been in the industry

He elaborates: “Say someone comes in looking for a gift, our team are attentive, our product selection is wide, we can wrap a bottle for you, or put it in a hamper Those extra touches make it a memorable experience for people We like to make our customers happy. We hope that the next time they need something, they’ll walk past the supermarket and come into us instead where they will be looked after, every step of the way.”

Social media

Social media has a habit of making certain products, brands, and cocktails hotly desirable among consumers. Luckily for Burke, these trends create pleasant sales boosts for offlicences. “We’re happy when these viral trends trickle down to us. Often these products fly off the shelves, which is great for us. Even if the immense popularity of a product is short lived, when a lot of consumers try something, it’ll always stick with some of them.

“I love it when people come in, and you can see on their face that they’re excited to see a product is on the shelf That’s part of this work that I really love.”

Irish whiskey

Molloy’s is known for selling an excellent range of Irish whiskey: “Irish whiskey has been having a moment. It sells really well. What helps is that we’re sandwiched in between a couple of big

The NOffLA Customer Service of the Year Award 2023 was sponsored by El Coto which is distributed by Mackenway Wines

changes every week. Our suppliers keep us informed about all the new releases, from breweries at home and abroad, so we can let our customers know what’s coming down the line Our customers know that we’re always bringing new products in, so that keeps them coming in the door.”

Post-pandemic trends

The pandemic brought an increase in drinking at-home; a trend that shows no sign of slowing down: “When the pubs were closed during lockdown, we saw craft beer sales surge It’s levelled out a bit since, but there’s still a lot of interest there among consumers. It seems

people became more comfortable paying a little bit extra for a nice drink that they could enjoy at home, and that stuck.”

Many consumers appear to still be enjoying making cocktails at home too: “People really started to experiment more during Covid, and it has had a lasting impact with people I still see people coming in to buy the ingredients for mojitos or margaritas.

“For us, it means we have to keep on top of these trends as well. We always get customers coming in looking for more unusual, niche spirits so we source these things for them to keep them happy. It’s great to see that passion and interest among shoppers.”

Burke continues: “Our range has really expanded in the last couple of years to keep up with consumer demand and keep customers new and old interested in what we’ve got on our shelves. Keeping up with the trends keeps us on our toes, and keeps our shoppers intrigued. We want our customers to be able to find just what they’re looking for or to find something brand-new that they love.”

Face-to-face

Despite more consumers buying their alcohol online since Covid, Burke says nothing beats good old-fashioned face-to-face interaction. “You can’t really compare the two. Molloy’s has an e-commerce store that really took off during Covid. The convenience of getting

something delivered to you at the click of a button is incredible But what we can offer customers when we’re with them in the shop is a completely different experience. If you’re unsure what you want, or you’re looking for advice, there’s nothing like it.”

The shelves at Molloy’s Liberties are stocked with a range of local and international brands, including rare and hard-to-find bottles, making it a go-to destination for connoisseurs and collectors alike. But when it comes to value, Burke tries to make sure Molloy’s Liberties has something for everyone: “People have very different budgets and very different ideas of what they’d be comfortable spending on a bottle of wine, say.

Especially these days times are tough for people so we try to cater for everyone Across all the categories, we have products going from their most affordable, to something for a special occasion and everything in between.”

Keep the show on the road

As for what the future looks like for the team at Molloy’s Liberties, Burke says: “We’re just going to keep the show on the road. The NOffLA win gave us all a nice boost. We’re happy with the way things are going, so we want to keep our standards high, keep our customers happy and keep working hard.”

“Keeping

up

with the trends keeps us on our toes, and keeps our shoppers intrigued,” says store manager Paddy Burke

The shelves at Molloy’s Liberties are stocked with a range of local and international brands, including rare and hard-to-find bottles, making it a go-to destination for connoisseurs and collectors alike

If customers are unsure what they want, or are looking for advice, there’s nothing like the in-store experience offered at Molloys, says Paddy Burke

As well as benefitting from excellent, friendly service, customers can also use the “wine ratings” displayed in-store to help choose the right bottle for them

FoodCloud collaborates with farmers to redistribute food waste

FoodCloud is calling on farmers across Ireland to get involved in its Growers’ Project after a successful pilot programme run with the support of the Irish government and Tesco.

The 2022 trial saw 30 tonnes of food redistributed with targets for the full project now doubled to 60 tonnes of produce. That amounts to around 130,000 meals, enough to feed a full capacity Croke Park and Aviva Stadium combined.

The latest research indicates that more than 40% of food produced globally is wasted, including an estimated 15% that is lost during harvest which equates to approximately 1.2 billion tonnes. This places huge pressure on the planet’s natural resources, with a significant environmental impact.

The Growers’ Project is an initiative led by FoodCloud, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, aimed at reducing food waste at farm level by connecting growers who have surplus produce with community groups located around the country

Calling on farmers to get involved, FoodCloud CEO and co-founder Aoibheann O’Brien said: “Our target is to redistribute

60 tonnes of produce that would not otherwise have been harvested or which might have been sent for animal feed.”

The FoodCloud Growers’ Project will receive funding of almost €180,000 from the Rural Innovation and Development Fund.

If growers or producers are interested in working with FoodCloud on this project, they should email growersproject@foodcloud.ie

Bord Bia’s Irish Farmhouse Cheese Summer Campaign celebrates sector’s richness and diversity

Bord Bia has launched an Irish farmhouse cheese campaign for summer 2023, with a key aim of raising awareness of the exceptional quality and unique flavours of Irish farmhouse cheeses.

From lush green pastures to the passionate cheese makers, each cheese represents a distinct part of Ireland, capturing the essence of its landscape and the artistry of its producers.

Irish farmhouse cheeses are renowned for their wide variety of styles and milk types, including cow, goat, sheep, and buffalo The combination of passion, people, place, and pasture contributes to the unparalleled taste and quality of these cheeses. Each cheese reflects the cheesemaker’s personality and the story of the farm where it was made

“Our ambition is to bring Irish farmhouse cheese to the forefront of consumers’ minds during the summer months,” says Liam McCabe, sector manager for Dairy Specialist Sectors at Bord Bia. “We want to remind people of the versatility and excellence of farmhouse cheeses, whether it’s the perfect centrepiece for a cheeseboard when

Tesco Ireland trials new fresh meat packaging

New campaign aims to bring Irish farmhouse cheese to the forefront of consumers’ minds during the summer months

entertaining friends or incorporating them into delightful recipes that support local producers.”

The messaging and creative elements of the campaign emphasise the quality and versatility of Irish farmhouse cheese Topics such as creating the perfect summer cheeseboard and exploring delicious recipes using farmhouse cheeses are highlighted at www.bordbia.ie

Tesco Ireland has unveiled plans to trial new meat packaging format on its mince products which will help reduce plastic use by 68%.

Tesco’s new ‘pillow pack’ packaging uses 68% less plastic

The retailer will replace its existing Tesco ownbrand mince packaging with a flow wrap alternative known as a ‘pillow pack’ which ensures the product is kept intact without compromising on quality or taste It will replace the current plastic tray and film lid, starting with the Tesco Irish lean Steak Mince 5% fat, 470g.

Tesco Ireland fresh food category director, John Brennan said the new packaging “guarantees the same high-quality look, taste and feel that our customers know and expect from us”.

Sales of BBQ essentials and ready meals on the up: Kantar

Take-home grocery sales in Ireland from Kantar for the four weeks to 11 June 2023 revealed that during the recent warm weather, shoppers spent an additional €1.9m on chilled burgers and grills, and €1.2m on fresh sausages.

Sales of total chilled ready meals shot up by 20% during the four weeks to 11 June 2023

“With the cost-of-living crisis bringing change to traditional shopping and eating behaviours, people are also thinking more about what they eat and how they cook at home,” said senior retail analyst at Kantar, Emer Healy “As shoppers look for easier meals with less waste, sales of total chilled ready meals shot up by 20% with shoppers spending an additional €2.9m year-on-year.”

Exciting highlights announced for Big Grill Festival 2023

Big Grill 2023 is back in Herbert Park from 17 –20 August, and new chefs and restaurants have now been added to the lineup, such as Chimac, Crankee Yankee Corn Dogs and Dublin Pizza Company, to name just a few, as well as timetables launched for the Bastecamp and Brewcamp stages.

In a festival led by ingredients and fed by fire, this year’s line-up is smoking with talent from all over the world and with an increased focus on niche, skilled and in-depth live demos, most of which will never have been seen in Ireland before, tickets for Big Grill Festival 2023 are in hot demand!

Tickets are available now on www.biggrillfestival.com ■

FoodCloud co-founders Aoibheann O’Brien and Iseult Ward

Smoking talent from all over the world will be flying into Dublin for this year’s Big Grill Festival

Cushelle introduces Longer Lasting Rolls across range after successful launch

Following the successful launch of Cushelle Tubeless with Longer Lasting Rolls in June 2022, Essity is leading the category by rolling out 50% Longer Lasting Rolls across the Cushelle portfolio since June 2023.

Cushelle’s Original, Quilted and Quilted Lotioned Longer Lasting Roll ranges are now available with 50% more sheets on each roll which means shoppers run out less often and can make a more sustainable choice.

Building on the success of the move to Longer Lasting Rolls in the household towel category with its Plenty brand a couple of years ago, Essity took the initiative in 2022 to lead the market move within the bathroom tissue category with Tubeless Longer Lasting Rolls.

Longer Lasting Rolls have 50% more sheets per roll and are therefore more space efficient, which benefits shoppers, and affords retailers better use of shelf space, and greater efficiency throughout the supply chain.

BAT launches Velo, the UK’s number one nicotine pouch, in Ireland

BAT has just launched Velo nicotine pouches in Ireland. Velo is the UK’s number one nicotine pouch* and is a market leader across 15 European markets. The brand is proud of its continued innovation to cater for the evolving preferences of adult nicotine consumers, including the flavours and variety of nicotine strengths they prefer The Velo range newly launched in Ireland, offers four flavours across four differing strengths, plus slim and mini sizes.

Nicotine pouches such as Velo give adult nicotine consumers a modern, convenient way to consume nicotine with no butts, tobacco, smoke or smell** from start to finish. They are convenient, discreet and easy to use Velo nicotine pouches are packaged with minimal waste in a fully recyclable tin.

The slim pouches contain nicotine and other high-quality ingredients including flavourings, sweeteners, plant-based materials and water, and come in a nifty pack. The pouches are placed under the upper lip where the nicotine is released and absorbed. They appeal to adult consumers keen on quality, sustainability and convenience.

Velo’s convenience is a major draw for adult nicotine consumers. They can take Velo with them anytime, anywhere – and it’s hands-free once the lid is off Velo is also an ideal choice in places where smoking and vaping is restricted including in some public spaces, on public transport, at airports, and many other locations.

*(Source:

The move to Longer Lasting Rolls has also been a further step towards Essity’s sustainability goals, helping to reduce the amount of pallets, lorries and packaging needed to bring Cushelle’s irresistible cushiony softness to customers.

Essity believes strongly in investing in clearly communicating this market move, with a bespoke marketing and shopper campaign throughout the full path-to-purchase, from TV through to in-store activation, and plenty more in-between, to communicate that “Cushelle is leading the charge in this category change to a more convenient, more sustainable solution,” says Simon Pickering, country manager for Ireland for Cushelle

The launch of new Longer Lasting Rolls has also been recognised and gained approval from the Good Housekeeping Institute for 2023 with the logo and accreditation rolling out on to packaging.

Get in touch with your sensitive side with Nivea Men

Nivea Men, Ireland’s number one male facecare brand, is making it easy for men to embrace their sensitive side The Nivea Men Sensitive range will not only help skin feel invigorated and fresh but will also help embrace facial hair while avoiding skin irritation.

With facial hair often comes dryness and itchiness, not to mention the redness, burning and tightness caused from shaving. To combat this problem, the Nivea Men Sensitive range combines a unique formula to soothe and protect sensitive skin. With 0% ethyl alcohol, this product range relieves the five signs of shaving irritation. The Nivea Men Sensitive range includes its much-loved cleansing, shaving, post-shaving, and body care products.

With 65% of men claiming to have sensitive skin*, the Nivea Men Sensitive Moisturiser, 75ml, ¤10.50 has an alcohol-free soothing formula with Chamomile and Vitamin E to provide all-day relief from the five signs of skin irritation. The light cream, made with Witch Hazel, is fast absorbing, non-greasy, non-sticky and intensively moisturises skin for 24 hours.

Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash, 100ml, ¤7, is a soap free face wash that cleanses and refreshes the skin. Thanks to Vitamin E and menthol it cleanses the skin deeply while removing dirt and excess oils.

Nivea Men Sensitive Shave Gel, 200ml, ¤5.40, provides a flawless razor glide, allowing even the toughest stubble to be shaved with just one stroke The extra gentle formula with Ultra Glide Technology is fragrance-neutral and enriched with chamomile and hamamelis.

Nivea Men Sensitive Shower Gel, 250ml, ¤3.55 is a three-in-one product suitable for body, face and hair, providing skin with long-lasting freshness and no dreaded dry skin feeling.

Nivea Men Sensitive Protect Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, 150ml, ¤4.15 has been dermatologically tested and developed especially for sensitive skin to reliably protect from sweat and body odour for 48 hours. ■

Cushelle

BAT Nivea

Sweet victory for M&S: Percy Pig makers agree settlement with Swizzels

Marks & Spencer agreed a settlement last month with sweetmaker Swizzels after accusing it of copying its much-loved Percy Pigs The supermarket chain reported it had reached an‘amicable resolution’ with the Derbyshire-based confectionery business, who had agreed to change the design of its Pigs Mugs treats, which it has sold since 1996. M&S lawyers had claimed that the sweets were so similar that customers could have bought the wrong ones in error. A 37-page document filed at the High Court in London in November showed that the Percy Pig brand had generated a £131.7 million turnover since its launch in 1993 and that 271 bags are sold each minute.

In the retailer’s legal submission, an example was used of a customer who loved the sweets so much they had a tattoo of Percy’s face. Now that’s what we call brand loyalty!

The Percy Pig brand had generated a £131.7 million turnover since launching in 1993

Move over ‘Cronuts’: the Crubik is here!

The tables were turned on the humble (but deliciously flakey and buttery) croissant around a decade ago when the cronut arrived on the scene - a hybrid croissant and donut. However, the Daily Mail reports the latest evolution of the pastry has now arrived in the form of a Crubik - and it’s already becoming a huge hit.

Fake Dunnes Stores website targeted customers

Earlier this month, Irish shoppers were urged to be aware of a fake website that was purporting to be Dunnes Stores

Fortunately, the website unconnected with the real Dunnes Stores has since been removed. However, it convincingly mimicked the exact branding and layout of the retailer’s official website to convince shoppers to click into it to avail of some heavily discounted sales

The Irish Mirror reports a customer who shared a screenshot of the fake site online brought officials to the attention of the scam A representative for Dunnes Stores stated:“Thank you for the tweet. I can confirm this page is not associated with Dunnes Stores and our online team are working on having this removed as soon as possible.”

As one person sagely noted online:“The fake website is offering unbelievable deals, literally too good to be true. Remember folks if it seems too good to be true, most likely it is a scam.”Wise words indeed!

Following the Twitterati

■ Ireland’s Property District @PropDistrict

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it? Chefs are continuing to innovate with the pastry classic that is the croissant

The Farmacia del Cambio bar in Turin is the home of the new cubed-shaped croissant and its creator chef Matteo Baronetto. Each day a long queue forms around Turin’s Piazza Carignano to snap up the latest batch of freshly baked pastries. The name is a nod to the inventor of the Rubik’s Cube, Ernő Rubik.

Unfortunately for Baronetto, he is unlikely to be able to patent his creation. Similar cube-shaped buttery pastries are sold across Europe as well as rivals at home in the form of the KuBo at Milan’s Clèa bakery. Whether it will make its way to Irish shores remains to be seen, but we’re pretty content with the yummy original here at ShelfLife Towers in any case!

Grocery across the globe

France

Carrefour launches generative AI-powered shopping experience

Carrefour has begun deploying three innovative tech solutions based around ChatGPT technology: an advice robot for shopping on carrefour.fr, description sheets for Carrefour brand products on its website and support for purchasing procedures. The solutions are based on OpenAI technologies, particularly GPT-4. For internal purchasing processes, a generative AI solution is currently being developed alongside teams from the non-retail purchasing division to help with everyday tasks – such as drafting invitations to tender and analysing quotes.

USA

Walmart aims to create more sustainable omnichannel fulfillment network

Walmart recently adopted several measures to reduce the amount of packaging waste associated with online orders. This involves moving from plastic to recyclable paper mailers; anticipated to remove more than 2,000 tons of plastic from circulation in the US by the end of the current fiscal year It also includes right-sizing cardboard box packaging, giving customers the option to consolidate shipping on eCommerce orders, opting out of single-use plastic bags for online pickup orders and last mile delivery efficiencies to reduce mileage and delivery times.

Lidl Ireland GmbH has applied for permission for the development of 12 residential units and for partial change of use to increase the net retail floor area at its retail store on Boghall Road, Bray

■ Micheál Martin @MichealMartinTD

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

■ Kari Mehome @Kari_mehome

Be careful if you’re shopping @dunnesstores online There is a fake Chinese account that have set up a copycat website and when you buy something they are charging your card hundreds! Dunnes is aware and trying to get it taken down by all accounts. [The website has since been removed: Ed]

■ Shirley Chance Howe @ShirleyCHowe

Maybe it’s cos I’m just a pedantic auld geographer, but I *probably* wouldn’t have chosen Big Ben as the landmark to represent Ireland on @lidl_ireland’s cheerful new desk mat.

Spain

Alcampo puts second product with Blockchain technology on the market

Alcampo has put a new product with Blockchain technology on the market. Namely, organic eggs marketed under its brand ‘Cultivamos lo Bueno’ from its supplier Casa Garzea. By scanning a code on cardboard packs, consumers can access variable information according to each production lot, such as the farm, warehouse collection date, packaging date, units per batch and a plastic quantity counter avoided since May, the date on which the first Blockchain tests began.

UK

Tesco revamps in-store bakery range

Shoppers are to be offered a fresher bakery experience at Tesco, with the introduction of new top quality, limited-edition speciality bread and sweet products, available for less than the premium prices often found at trendy artisan bakeries. Tesco’s in-store bakery range last month launched nearly 30 new lines, including six limited-edition products. As part of the revamp, the supermarket is also including nutritional information on packaging, such as calorie content and daily recommended allowances. ■