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Symbol groups
Symbol pleasures in life!
A d m i r e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y f o r t h e i r h i g h s t a n d a r d s a n d i n n o v a t i v e f o o d c o n c e p t s , I r e l a n d ’ s s y m b o l g r o u p s a r e v i t a l p a r t n e r s i n h e l p i n g i n d e p e n d e n t r e t a i l e r s c o m p e t e i n a h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i v e s e c t o r a n d a c h i e v e t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e r e s u l t s p e r s q u a r e m e t r e o f t h e i r s t o r e
Groups Symbol Eurospar
Malachy Hanberry, Eurospar managing director
Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings?
A: In conjunction with our retailers, Eurospar is constantly adapting its offer. Our ‘Famous for Fresh’ promise provides strong focus for us as we continue to introduce new range options for in-store manufacture across butchery, delicatessen and bakery departments. These ranges are developed exclusively for our Eurospar retailers and are at the core of the differentiated ‘Famous for Fresh’ offering to shoppers. As a result of this innovation, sales of these easy meal solutions and freshly baked goods across Eurospar stores have rocketed, which has also led to expansion of our fresh and chill selling space in stores.
Q: Eighteen months on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers?
A: Eurospar keeps its retailers continuously up to date in relation to all public health advice, and provides all relevant, bespoke, shopper and staff-facing point of sale materials, via our innovative Local Marketing Tool Kit (LMTK). We also provide all Eurospar retailers with a suite of bespoke supports and training assets in relation to recruitment, induction and fresh food departmental skills. Recognising that staff turnover represents a big challenge in relation to the loss of fresh foods manufacturing skills we have developed bespoke ‘How To’ instruction video guides to support new staff in the manufacture of all fresh foods core range SKUs, thus vastly accelerating the staff learning curve in key fresh foods departments.
Q: How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: Eurospar supermarkets have always been competitive on price. Our promotional offers remain best-in-class and our SuperEasy Rewards exclusive member offers add a further dimension to value in Eurospar. Eurospar offers a three-week promotional cycle of offers, overlaid with regular week-long tactical activity that is featured heavily across traditional and social media formats. Shoppers are exposed to our offers via handbills, in-store POS, in-store radio, national press and radio as well as national and targeted social media. Marketing activities across all channels have been upweighted over the past year and are supplemented by excellent local store marketing activities on social media. Local activity is supported by BWG Foods, via the ongoing delivery of bespoke social media marketing training sessions for store management and staff.
Our Price Match or Better and Price Check programmes also provide reassurance to shoppers that our pricing across the store is competitive in the supermarket sector.
We are also very proud of our ‘Famous for Great Value Wines’ commitment, which delivers a vast range of exclusive BWG Foods agency wines to suit all pockets, and our unique pricepoint merchandising structure ensures simplicity in the wine shopping experience.
Q: What are the main strengths of your store design and development?
A: While we have a common ‘look and feel’ ambition and approach, we recognise that one size definitely does not fit all. Therefore, the design and development programme is very sympathetic to the shopper demographic at each location. We also work closely with each individual Eurospar retailer in this regard. In advance of any work being undertaken, a detailed macro category space requirement plan is drafted by the retail advisory team, and this becomes the benchmark against which the actual store development plan is drafted and approved. We are currently rolling out an innovative QR codebased initiative across Eurospar supermarkets, that will facilitate easy staff access to range and planogram advice specific to the category space available at each individual store.
Eurospar management is also extremely conscious of cost/ROI when providing development advice to our retailers.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: The BWG Foods commitment is to develop true partnerships between Eurospar brand owners and retailers, working in partnership together to develop a network of local family-owned supermarkets with a unifying shopper proposition. Eurospar retailers are integrated into the local communities they operate in, and this has never been more evident than since the Covid19 related restrictions were introduced. Being part of the local community means that Eurospar retailers know best how to service their communities’ needs. With the support of BWG Foods, Eurospar retailers can compete on price with Ireland’s largest supermarket competitors, while also providing a level of personal service that cannot be replicated by them.
FACT FILE:
Name of group: Eurospar Number of stores nationwide: 51 Typical store size: 800-1,300 sq m Head office: BWG House, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 Y722 Wholesale partner: BWG Foods Type of distribution network: BWG National Distribution Centre (NDC) servicing fresh, ambient and alcohol to all Eurospars nationwide
Website: www.eurospar.ie Social media:
Facebook: @eurosparireland, Instagram: @eurospar_ireland Tagline: The Supereasy Supermarket
XL
Q&A with Paul Bealin, sales director, XL
Paul Bealin, sales director, XL
Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings to stay fully on trend with consumer tastes and differentiate your offering?
A: Being part of the BWG Foods family means that we are constantly innovating and availing of the supports that come with a larger wholesale partner. BWG Foods has a dedicated food innovation team and under the direction of head of innovation, Orla Jordan, she and her team are constantly seeking ways to grow and evolve the XL offering. For example, we recently introduced our bespoke ice cream concept, I-Scream, to our nationwide network of XL stores and it has been very well received by our retailers and customers.
Similarly, customers are passionate about good quality coffee and we work closely with our three exclusive partners, Insomnia, Seattle’s Best and Bewleys, to ensure the XL offering is the best around.
There has been tremendous growth in the demand for readymeals and the addition of our Grab-n-Go range as well as the exclusive BWG Fresh Choice range have been real game changers for us most recently.
Q: Eighteen months on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers through the various challenges involved such as staffing shortages and changing consumer patterns?
A: From the very beginning of this crisis, the health and safety of our retailers and their customers has been our top priority, and this continues to be the case as we navigate the evolving landscape together. During the
FACT FILE:
“XL retailers are passionate about ensuring they continue to provide great value to their customers,” says Paul Bealin
Name of group: XL Sales director: Paul Bealin Number of stores nationwide: 230+ Typical store size: 110 sq m Head office: BWG Foods UC, BWG House, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Wholesale partner: Value Centre Type of distribution network: 22 Value Centre and cash & carry branches nationwide and chill distribution
Website: www.xlstores.ie
Social media: www.facebook.com/ XLIreland/ Tagline: A great deal more at your local store
first lockdown, we initially held daily online forum updates for our retailers, outlining all the health and safety advice and measures required in providing an essential service to their communities. As time has progressed, we continue to hold regular briefings for our retailers, and we recently held our 100th forum. We also moved all our training and upskilling programmes, such as our ‘Lead Worker Representative’ programme, online and our fresh food support team continue to hold regular webinars for our retailers to avail of.
These measures will continue to evolve in supporting our retailers adjust to whatever environment they find themselves operating in.
Q: How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: Value, while not compromising on quality, is at the forefront of the XL offering. We are passionate about delivering for our retailers, who are just as passionate about delivering the best value they can for their customers.
We (BWG Foods) recently held two virtual Trade Shows for all our retailers to avail of exclusive offers and deals from our network of 650+ suppliers and these events were tremendously successful, as our retailers will attest. We also work extremely hard to look after our retailers as best we can and offer very competitive Affinity Deals in areas such as electricity pricing and consumption.
Q: What are the main strengths of your store design and development in terms of appearance, functionality and category management?
A: The in-house BWG Foods design team are constantly seeking ways to improve and enhance the design and flow of the XL store. As well as looking stunning with a focus on the traditional XL colour palette and bright, contemporary lighting, XL stores are performing in almost every category with our retailers reporting a huge uptake in fresh in particular. For example, our deli sales have improved considerably with our Grab-n-Go range proving enormously popular.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: XL retailers are local to the communities they serve and are passionate about ensuring they continue to provide great value to their customers. The strength of the XL symbol brand is that it offers you the opportunity to own your own business, pursue your entrepreneurial spirit as an independent retailer and, at the same time, benefit from being part of a nationwide brand with access to major buying power and the many invaluable support mechanisms that membership of a symbol group brings. Our tagline, ‘A great deal more at your local store’, underpins the brand promise of serving local communities, delivering great value, choice, service and exciting consumer promotions.
Mace
Q&A with Daniel O’Connell, sales director, Mace
Daniel O’Connell, sales director, Mace Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings to stay fully on trend with consumer tastes and differentiate your offering?
A: We have witnessed a number of key trends developing as a result of the pandemic: many people were working from home which created shifts in regional demand along with growth in pack formats; staycations produced new food and drink opportunities such as afternoon tea boxes whilst new occasions such as garden entertainment and outdoor socialisation all provided opportunities for Mace to work with our retailers to ensure our food offerings were right for their shoppers’ needs. And with travel abroad limited, we created in conjunction with the BWG fresh food team, a series of menus that brought memories of holidays closer to home such as Taste of Spain and Taste of Greece food menus. And of course, the fabulous weather that we were experiencing at the time of writing meant that our ‘I-Scream’ offering was proving incredibly popular!
Q: Eighteen months on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers through the various challenges involved such as staffing shortages and changing consumer patterns?
A: From the start of the pandemic continuing to this day, our sales and marketing teams have worked closely with our HR and retail development teams to ensure that the right practices and policies are implemented in each store and that timely and appropriate communication is in place to ensure that our shoppers know they can shop safely at their local Mace.
Working in tandem with our trading and promotions teams has been important to ensure the right ranges are available at each local Mace store and this has included ensuring a strong value proposition has been on offer throughout whilst taking into account changing consumer needs.
Q: How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: We have been very conscious of the needs of shoppers during the past 18 months. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the financial reality of shoppers has become more polarised. Overall as a population, there are less people ‘financially living comfortably’, and more people just ‘getting by’. Ensuring that our value proposition meets their needs has been critical to retaining that customer base. Regularly changing our promotional offers and targeting key seasonal events with deep discount offers has formed a
Mace introduced a stunning new store design last year, dialling up the traditional Mace colour palette
part of our promotional plan whilst retaining healthy margins for retailers has been a focus for the Mace team. Add Mace own brand to the mix and we ensured we offered fair value to our shopper base. At the same time, we saw shoppers were also treating themselves more and trading up to purchasing treats for themselves on a more regular basis; that better bottle of wine at the weekends or “nicer” chocolate.
Q: What are the main strengths of your store design and development in terms of appearance, functionality and category management?
A: In 2020 Mace launched a stunning new store design. There has been a dialling up of the traditional Mace colour palette, whilst new internally lit department signs have been introduced, and all high, eye and buy level POS materials have been refreshed and rejuvenated. The enhanced design includes a focus on fresh departments, particularly ‘grab-and-go’ areas whilst retaining (and enhancing) firm Mace favourites such as the ‘For Food’s Sake’ deli and Mace’s ice cream offering, ‘I-scream’. The off-licence has been truly transformed with new feature lighting and orange trough lighting denoting sections. In an innovative design feature, spirits are in open flow presentation and while retaining crucial functionality, the separated offlicence space reflects the new legislation governing the physical separation requirement.
The new-look store décor is indicative of the shift convenience stores have been experiencing in recent years. The reaction from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, which is reflected in the increases in sales that have been experienced.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: As projected in the latest Mace TV advertising campaign, Mace retailers and their staff pride themselves on the friendly and welcoming shopping environment they create for their customers. They truly create a point of difference by ‘Going the extra smile’. From the perspective of our retailers, the Mace team focus on building successful long-term partnerships with progressive retailers. Our aim is to add value to the business of each independent Mace retailer that we partner with, by understanding their challenges and opportunities the Mace team work with them and their teams to drive the profitable performance of each store.
FACT FILE:
Name of group: Mace Number of stores nationwide: 160 Typical store size: 135 sq m Head office: BWG Foods, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 Y722 Wholesale partner: BWG Foods Type of distribution network: BWG National Distribution Centre (NDC) servicing fresh, ambient and alcohol to all Mace stores nationwide
Website: www.mace.ie
Social media: ttps://www.facebook.com/ MACEIreland www.youtube.com/MACEIreland www.instagram.com/mace_ireland www.twitter.com/MACEIreland Tagline: Going the extra smile
Daybreak
Thomas Morrison, head of retail sales, Daybreak
Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings to stay fully on trend with consumer tastes and differentiate your offering?
A: At the heart of our approach in Daybreak is a passion for delivering exceptional consumer experiences. When it comes to food to go, people have huge choice nowadays. For convenience stores to win, they need to deliver an excellent fresh food offer, a fast and local service that offers real convenience, but also an in-store experience that is genuinely differentiating. That is why we have introduced a number of exciting brands that are exclusive to Daybreak. Munch & Co, our deli brand, features a delicious signature menu and impactful signage that creates real standout in-store. 9 Grams is a seriously good coffee brand, and a fully supported retail solution, that is now in over 100 stores. We also have an exclusive ice-cream brand called Lickety Split, which brings together fun flavours and a distinctive design that is proving a hit with kids and adults alike. These brands have been embraced by Daybreak shoppers and, more importantly, they are also driving retailer profitability. Not only is our offer tailored to the latest consumer tastes, but we equally consider retailers’ needs and ensure that new food-to-go solutions are easy to implement and minimise staffing challenges.
To stay relevant, we are constantly evolving your offer. This is based on ongoing consumer research, feedback from Daybreak retailers, leveraging the experience of the wider Musgrave group, and by benchmarking food to go trends in other markets. This includes developing new concepts. For example, last year we introduced Dizzy Chicken Rotisserie, which offers succulent rotisserie spun chicken, served in delicious signature sandwiches and healthy salad bowls. We also have a regular schedule of seasonal NPD that keep our food to go menu fresh and consumers coming back.
Q: Eighteen months on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers through the various challenges involved such as staffing shortages and changing consumer patterns?
A: Reflecting on the last 18 months, I am especially proud of how we have worked as a group in Musgrave to support retailers during the Covid crisis. The Daybreak sales and development team were on the road throughout this period. We were agile in our response, reacting quickly and helping our stores implement best practice to keep staff and customers as safe as possible. The Musgrave brands, including Daybreak, have very much led the way. For instance, we were the first to introduce safety screens at tills in stores, and many of our stores added home delivery services for at risk and elderly customers.
We have also embraced digital to support retailers. For instance, we have an extensive online training programme which has enabled stores to continue to develop their staff despite Covid. Staffing shortages are clearly a challenge across the sector but investing in staff training is an important step that can help retain your key personnel. Similarly, we have run a series of national webinars that have kept retailers up to date on the latest brand developments and shown how stores can maximise their sales and profitability during this challenging trading period.
Q: How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: As Ireland’s largest buying group, we can offer retailers an unbeatable overall value proposition. That includes excellent everyday pricing across all the product categories important to our customers. Added to that are regular deep cut offers, including monthly promotions, Daybreak exclusives and WOW sales days. We value engineers’ store fitouts to guarantee highly competitive development costs, in addition to offering affinity deals that deliver real savings on operational costs like insurance. We also work closely with retailers to drive efficiencies in your business and reduce waste. All of this supports Daybreak retailers achieving above industry average profit levels.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: We have an exceptional allround package for retailers. This includes a distinctive brand identity; a compelling consumer offer that excites shoppers; an unbeatable value proposition; plus unparalleled levels of choice and service, with over 14,000 lines being delivered through a tri-temp delivery service that operates out of our state-of-the-art central distribution centre.
However, what really sets us apart is our people. We have a large, dedicated team to support retailers and drive their business. Our business development managers all come from retail backgrounds and provide meaningful commercial support, including working with retailers to develop tailored annual business plans that deliver profitable sales. We have a development team who ensure that retailers joining Daybreak make a seamless transition to the brand, and who also work with existing retailers to capitalise on new opportunities. We have a team of fresh food advisors to support with staff training, legal compliance, achieving the highest food standards and driving food to go profits. And that is just the start. Retailers also have access to the wider Musgrave team, including HR, marketing, trading and IT expertise.
FACT FILE:
Name of group: Daybreak Number of stores nationwide: 271 Typical store size: 1,500 – 2,00 sq ft Head office: Musgrave, St. Margaret’s Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11
Type of distribution network:
Central distribution and access to seven Musgrave MarketPlace branches
Website: www.daybreakireland.ie
Social media: @DaybreakIreland (Facebook and Instagram) Tagline: ‘Real Fresh, Real Fast’
Centra
Q&A with Cormac Dawson, sales director, Centra
Cormac Dawson, sales director, Centra Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings to stay fully on trend with consumer tastes and differentiate your offering?
A: Centra continues to adopt a fresher, more innovative offering which encourages shoppers to opt for healthier choices while providing them with new experiences and the right balance, this is key to our ongoing transformation.
Our team work closely in consultation with leading chefs and nutritional experts to develop the freshest and healthiest ranges, meeting the needs of today’s shoppers. An example of this evolution is the recent “refresh” of our hugely popular deli and grab and go range via our new Inspired by Centra Salad Bowls and Gourmet Sandwiches.
Our Moo’d ice cream brand is a brilliant success story. This Musgrave built brand has seen exponential growth in the three years since launch, through expressions to suit any store size and the hugely popular take home ranges. In addition, Frank and Honest, our gourmet coffee brand, has seen significant new product development in recent months in response to customer demand for plant-based and iced products.
In the past 12 months, our exclusive top-tier ‘Inspired By Centra’ and our mid-tier Centra own brand ranges have won 79 product development awards. In delivering these market-leading brands and innovative awardwinning own label products, we stand out from others making Centra the destination of choice for shoppers.
Q: Eighteen months from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers through the various challenges involved, such as staffing shortages and changing consumer patterns?
A: The strength of the Centra partnership model has never been more evident than through the pandemic. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all our retailers and in-store teams over the last 18 months who kept their local communities fed and safe while being the friendly face and much needed support for many. Our sales and support teams remained on the road and available to our retailers throughout the pandemic, ensuring support was always protected.
Q: How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: As the leading Irish convenience retailer, we pride ourselves in offering the best value for the shopper. Our scale and expertise in Musgrave, offers us competitive advantage in supply chain, buying and sourcing the best ranges.
To deliver value for money, we are constantly seeking and creating opportunities to increase efficiencies across our supply chain and retail model.
Centra’s dedicated retailer profitability team focuses on growing sales, driving margin in-store and reducing costs. This team works closely with our regional managers and retailer partners to ensure the store is availing of all the opportunities available to them, including the Musgrave affinity schemes. Through this team, we also deliver
technological innovation resulting in improved customer experience and retailer profitability. Recent examples include the rollout of ESELs, growing presence of SCOs and a full upgrade and roll out of our tills across the network.
Gourmet coffee brand Frank and Honest has seen significant new product development in recent months
Q: What are the main strengths of your store design and development in terms of appearance, functionality, and category management?
A: Our store development team are highly experienced retail experts who work with leading design agencies, partners, and internal colleagues in developing modern, fit for purpose specifications that have won multiple industry awards. The team are focused on three main areas – design, energy and operations with retail partners fully supported through any revamp process or greenfield
FACT FILE:
Name of group: Centra Number of stores nationwide: 480+ Typical store size: Format specific; High C 2000 sq ft/Convenience 4000 sq ft/ Neighbourhood 7000 sq ft Head office: Musgrave, Tramore Rd, Cork Wholesale partner: Musgrave Type of distribution network: Central Distribution Centre
Website: www.centra.ie
Social media: @centraIRL (Twitter) @centra_irl (Instagram) Tagline: ‘Live Every Day’
development of their store – from the initial discussion on plans right through to the opening launch.
In Centra we operate three formats which shoppers may not be aware of but ensures the right offer for shoppers regardless of location. This format development is supported by meticulous planning, range management, profitability analysis and governance.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: Our customer-led approach in Centra ensures we deliver the best offer at the right time while continually pushing the boundaries of innovation. The flair and brilliance our retailers bring in executing the offer is pivotal to the success of the brand. Centra doesn’t stand still and neither does our team. Focusing on what matters and delivering excellent customer experiences ensures we continue to deliver a more profitable partnership model.
Gala
Q&A with Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail
Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail
Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings to stay fully on trend with consumer tastes and differentiate your offering?
A: As a group, Gala recognises the role of innovation in our fresh food offerings. The changing requirements of consumers in the communities in which our retailers operate requires innovative, modern concepts that will deliver quality, convenient, food to go options for Gala retailers and draw consumers into their local Gala store.
Gala’s dedication to innovation in this area is reflected in the group’s investment in its team of fresh food executives; we currently have more fresh food executives per retailer than any other convenience symbol group and will be adding an additional executive to the fresh food innovations team next month. In addition to this, we have invested in providing a high level of training and support that ensures that Gala concepts are being executed to the highest standards in our stores. In recent years, the demand for fresh foodto-go offerings has grown rapidly and our dedicated fresh food innovations team has played a key role in the development of our fresh food concepts which includes Baker’s Corner, Coffee Junction, New Street Deli and the Galato chilled ice-cream and desserts concept along with Blissimo, our latest fresh pizza offering.
Q: Eighteen months on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers through the various challenges involved such as staffing shortages and changing consumer patterns?
A: The team at Gala has supported its retailers through clear communications, advice and support during the pandemic, ensuring all retailers have the latest information and resources to allow them to safely cater for customers and ensure staff safety during this time.
As restrictions have changed, so have consumer shopping patterns which required retailers to adapt their services and Gala stores have been and continue to be supported by the management team in their delivery of services, via a variety of mediums, both on and offline.
The pandemic also resulted in staff shortage issues for many retailers across the country and Gala continues to work with its retailers to identify ways that they can support and retain current staff members and attract new candidates for positions within the store through offering incentives such as staff discounts and flexible working patterns that offer a work-life balance. In addition to this, we encourage Gala retailers to recognise the great work of their employees through employee of the month schemes and offering additional rewards to let employees know that they are a valued member of the Gala team.
Q. How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: Identifying changing consumer shopping habits has a key role to play in informing retailer offerings. Gala has recently undertaken market research analysis which will help us to further understand Gala customers, using this information to provide retailers with products that meet consumer demand, driving footfall in-store while delivering margin for retailers. We are fully aware that high margins and lower overheads are always at the forefront of retailers’ expectations and so with that in mind, we have rolled out a number of concepts specifically designed to offer great margins, fantastic quality and above all else, cost effective in terms of equipment and wages.
Q: What are the main strengths of your store design and development in terms of appearance, functionality and category management?
A: Gala stores are contemporary convenience stores that operate in the heart of their communities. The main strengths of Gala store designs are that we offer our retailers a full suite of category plans along with relevant consumer insight and trends that help to shape the store’s design. This gives us the ability to create bespoke plans based on individual retailer needs and range requirements and in accordance with the size of the store, its location and the local supplier network.
Outside of the standard offerings of convenience stores – baked goods, coffee and deli –consumer trends have highlighted a demand for an off-licence offering in convenience stores, creating a one-stop shop to pick up grocery essentials and a bottle of wine. With this in mind we created the Gala Distill offlicence offering, which is currently rolled out across 40% off the Gala estate and will be present in 60% of Gala stores by year-end. Similarly, the Galato offering is much more than just ice-cream, offering a wide range of chilled dessert and milkshake options for consumers tapping into the demand and popularity for chilled desserts.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: Gala is all about shopping local and the communities in which our stores operate. This is reflected through our local wholesaler network, which pairs stores with a wholesaler in the area allowing them to work together to quickly react to changing consumer demands. Gala’s commitment to catering for local communities is further reflected through our marketing activities, with the annual Gala Retail Inspiration Awards which recognise and reward local heroes in our communities and our partnerships with Starcamp Ireland and sponsorship of Special Olympics Ireland through which Gala supports activities, and clubs in every county across the country.
FACT FILE:
Name of group: Gala Retail Number of stores nationwide: 170 Gala and 35 Your Stop stores Typical store size: 1,750 sq ft Head office: Gala Retail, Summit House, Embassy Office Park, Kill, Co. Kildare Wholesale partner: Gala wholesaler members Type of distribution network: Ambient depots, central billing, chilled distribution
Website: www.gala.ie
Social media: Facebook.com/Gala Retail, @Gala_Retail on Twitter, @Gala_Retail on Instagram Tagline: Your Local Market
“The vibrant, fresh look and feel of the Gala brand and its concepts is recognisable to customers and creates a modern feel in-store,” says Gary Desmond
Costcutter
Edwina Lucey, sales director, Barry Group
Q: How have you continued to innovate within your food offerings to stay fully on trend with consumer tastes and differentiate your offering?
A: The last year has been landmarked with change and innovation in fresh food. While some of this change was dictated by Covid-19 and in-store restrictions, a lot developed from consumers being a little more adventurous as at-home meal occasions soared and they tried new recipes and created new meal occasions during stints of lockdown. Deriving from this insight, we assembled a project team to identify the required adjustments and upcoming trends that Costcutter stores are embracing. Our team of fresh food advisors have been working at store level on the implementation of the findings of this project, educating our deli teams nationwide and we have also released webinars to ensure that Costcutter delis are a beacon of innovation and exemplary standards in the convenience trade.
Q: Eighteen months on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how have you continued to support retailers through the various challenges involved such as staffing shortages and changing consumer patterns?
A: Education is at the core of our retail offering. Outside of our quarterly cluster meetings with our retailers, we also have a webinar series throughout the year where the sole purpose is to ensure that our retailers have the required knowledge to be successful in the current climate. These webinars focus on our response to consumer trends,
FACT FILE:
Costcutter works with retailers to deliver a tailored solution that meets their needs
Name of group: Costcutter Head office: Barry Group, Upper Quartertown, Mallow, Cork
Type of distribution network:
Central distribution (chilled, ambient and alcohol) from a 150,000 sq ft central warehouse in Mallow, Cork.
Website: www.costcutter.ie
Social media: Facebook: @CostcutterIreland Instagram: @Costcutterire Tagline: ‘Proud to be Local’
how to successfully capitalise on that knowledge at store level and offering insight into key growth categories. This has equipped them to successfully adapt their offering to ensure that it not only meets the needs of the modern consumer but surpasses them. Our account managers also play a key role in supporting retailers through the present challenges. Through their regular store visits and interactions with retailers, they advise our retailers on best practice while also aiding them in issues that may arise. Lastly, from a Covid-19 perspective, 18 months ago we established our Covid-19 response team who today still meet weekly. The role of this team is to equip both our business and retailers to best deal with and react to the current climate of change. This team ensures that our retailers are equipped with the correct information to respond to changes in their business effectively.
Q: How have you remained competitive in terms of pricing while still delivering margin for retailers?
A: We have always nurtured and valued our relationships with partners in the supply community. This has afforded us the opportunity to have an extremely competitive price file, continuous promotional cycles and exclusive promotions across all key categories. This not only ensures that our retailers remain competitive in the trade, but also allows them to successfully run a profitable business. We have a huge focus on value lines and volume drivers, but we also offer a range of own label and extensive range of exclusive lines which offer the retailer a healthy margin figure.
Q: What are the main strengths of your store design and development in terms of appearance, functionality and category management?
A: Over the past three years, we have significantly invested in store design as we have revisited our branding and in-store fitout. At store level, we have created a shopping environment that is immersive, dynamic and engaging in line with the requirements of the modern consumer. This brand evolvement has also included the introduction of a growing list of concepts including Urban Sips, Freezi Licks and Market St. Deli. Additionally, we have refined our offering for each store format, to ensure that it both meets the needs of our consumers and acts as a profitable margin mix for our retailers.
Q: How would you sum up your main point of difference from the competition?
A: We are Ireland’s leading familyrun wholesale distribution group. Therefore, we understand the needs of family businesses and consider our relationship with our customers to be a ‘partnership’. We understand that retailing is not a one size fits all approach and work with retailers, delivering a tailored solution that meets their needs. We identify with the challenges that our retailers face and aim to offer competitive solutions with undisputed support from our accomplished team across all elements of our business including sales, inside sales, marketing, and logistics just to name a few. We are aware that this is not standard industry practice, but it is something that we pride ourselves on.
Additionally, we strive to provide value both to the consumer in price and range, but also in the support we give our retail partners. Essentially, we strive to provide customers with the best possible service, exceeding industry standards in the wholesale sector. ■
