ShelfLife - Feb, 2023

Remote

Rude, much?

Retailers speak out against the level of harassment that staff are subjected to from customers

+ CONVENIENCE RETAILING • OFF-TRADE • SUPERMARKETS • NEWSAGENCY • FORECOURT LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED GROCERY TRADE CIRCULATION IN IRELAND February 2023

Keeping

‘resenteeism’ at bay is a team effort!

Following in the hasty footsteps of “quiet quitting”, a term explored by Excel Recruitment’s Nikki Murran on page 24, an even newer, shinier employment buzzword has now arisen: “Resenteeism”.

Whereas “quiet quitting” involves doing the bare minimum needed to get by in a job while seeking out new employment opportunities, resenteeism (stemming from “presenteeism”), arguably depicts an even greater employment malaise.

According to Insider: “What makes resenteeism different from normal 9-to-5 blues, in theory, is that you're more open with your dissatisfaction at work. It's almost the inverse of quiet quitting, which involves doing your job as outlined and refusing to go above and beyond, such as through unpaid overtime or taking on extra tasks.” Resenteeism by contrast, can prove “contagious”, in the sense that other colleagues start to feel similarly disgruntled with their roles.

So, what can we glean from this seeming plethora of new terms to describe employee dissatisfaction? Have jobs in certain industries become so compartmentalised that employees can no longer feel ownership of overall wins? Does society in general place too much pressure on individuals to feel “passionate” about their work? It’s a topic that we could probably discuss ad nauseum, but I will restrain the urge to get into a perhaps-not-so deep and meaningful diatribe!

What we can all agree on is that staff wellbeing is vital. A positive workplace doesn’t simply materialize like magic but takes serious consideration on the part of management. Julia O’Reilly’s feature on page 28 highlights the level of harassment staff can face from customers at work. While there are often no simple solutions, it behooves us all to take this problem seriously, especially at a time of persistent labour shortages within our industry.

As Circle K MD Gordon Lawlor has pointed out: “Almost three years ago, we found ourselves in a grip of a global pandemic where the retail sector demonstrated its importance and played a key role in keeping the country moving. It is crucial that we recognise this vital role and encourage good behaviour by all customers towards those working in retail settings.”

Gillian Hamill, editor, ShelfLifemagazine

NEWSGRID

The top news stories in FMCG and

retail from across

Ireland

Excel Recruitment to create 100 new jobs

Excel Recruitment has announced plans to create 100 new roles over the next 12 months. The recruitment agency opened a new 5,000 sq. ft office on Capel Street in Dublin, and it recently furthered its network with the opening of an office in Belfast. The firm also has offices in Kildare, Cork and Galway “By delivering temporary workforce solutions across a broad range of sectors, we are supporting our clients to enable them to deliver their business goals in a time of acute labour shortage,” said founder and CEO Barry Whelan.

Tesco Ireland confirms enhancements to staff pay and benefits

Tesco Ireland has confirmed a further enhancement of pay and benefits designed to support colleagues. From 1 March, Tesco is introducing an enhancement of its Colleague Clubcard and increasing the annual discount allowance by €200 to reach €1,500 Tesco is also providing free meal options and complimentary period care products for colleagues. From 1 April, staff will receive a 4% increase in their hourly pay, bringing the total pay increases awarded in past 12 months to 10%.

Lidl announces 700 new jobs

Lidl is to create more than 700 brand-new jobs within its Irish operations this year in a variety of operational and office-based roles across its network of 176 store locations, three regional distribution centres and Dublin head office These new roles will bring Lidl’s total workforce in ROI to 6,000 Lidl is also announcing a €14 million investment in pay increases from 1 March. On average this will result in a 7.5% pay increase for employees, approximately between an additional €2,000€2,500 for every employee per annum.

Winners of NOffLA OffLicence of the Year Awards 2023 announced

The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards. The ceremony was held at the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Dublin 1. The awards, which included 46 finalists, saw McHugh’s OffLicence, Malahide Road awarded ‘National Off-Licence of the Year 2023’, O’Donovans Off-Licence Group awarded ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year 2023’ and 64 Wine Glasthule awarded ‘Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2023’. For further details, turn to page 54

Irish grocery price inflation soars to a new record 16.3%

Take-home grocery sales in Ireland increased by 5% in the four weeks to 23 January 2023, according to the latest data from Kantar According to senior retail analyst Emer Healy: “The sector growth comes as grocery price inflation hit 16.3% – the highest level seen since Kantar started tracking grocery inflation. Irish households will now face an extra €1,159 on their annual shopping bills if they don’t change their behaviour to cut costs.” Dunnes Stores currently holds the highest share amongst all retailers at 23.7% with growth of 10.3% year-on-year

Over 7,000 birds to be culled due to salmonella outbreak

More than 7,000 birds will have to be culled in order to ensure potentially infected chicken products do not enter the food chain, following a salmonella outbreak on eight poultry farms around the country Due to the risk to human health from the bacteria, The Irish Times reports restrictions have been applied in the vicinity of the farms, most of which are in Co Cavan. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is currently working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in a bid to curb the outbreak and to determine its cause

Maxol signs €340m deal with BWG Foods

Maxol has announced a four-year, €340m contract with BWG Foods. The deal, which followed a competitive tender, will see BWG Foods retain the wholesale contract for Maxol’s extensive foods range, private label goods and alcohol range Maxol and BWG Foods have had a trading partnership for more than 25 years and the new contract is the biggest ever agreed between the two Irish businesses. As part of the deal, BWG Foods has also won the contract for Maxol’s range of baked and deli goods.

Leap Cards could be less available with new contracts

Leap Card services could be available from fewer convenience stores from March onwards, the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) has said, due to a row over a new contract involving An Post The CSNA has claimed that under the previous retail service provider, Payzone, its members were receiving around 36-38 cent per transaction but under the new five-year contract from An Post, this would change to 24 cent per transaction equating to a loss of €20,000 per annum, claimed Vincent Jennings, the CSNA chief executive.

Aldi gets green light for new €11m Kinsale store

Aldi will open a new €11m store in Kinsale Co Cork in summer 2025. The news comes as Aldi was granted local authority planning permission from Cork County Council. 50 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with 30 permanent roles being created when the store opens. The new 1,315 sq m store will be located on New Road. ■

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

Minister Simon Coveney with Maeve McCleane, chief people officer at Lidl Ireland & Lidl Northern Ireland

Barry Whelan, CEO of Excel Recruitment

Leo Crawford, Group CEO, BWG Group with Maxol Group CEO, Brian Donaldson

s ed amel es

Lily O’Brien’s Salted Caramel Truffles named Product of the Year 2023

Lily O’Brien’s Salted Caramel Truffles have been voted Product of the Year 2023 in the Chocolate Category at the Product of the Year Awards in London.

The new Lily O’Brien’s Truffles range was launched in Q4 2022 and has proven popular with consumers over the Christmas season.

The Product of the Year logo will now be displayed on Salted Caramel Truffles boxes and incorporated into Lily O’Brien’s marketing plans throughout 2023 to inform shoppers of this very positive consumer endorsement of the new Salted Caramel Truffles.

“We are very proud to be voted Product of the Year in the Chocolate Category,” said chief executive officer, Michelle Vance.

“Thank you to all the consumers who voted for Lily O’Brien’s Salted Caramel Truffles,” Vance continued. “Knowing that our product was voted by consumers as the winner in the chocolate category is fantastic support of our new Salted Caramel Truffles.”

The award-winning Salted Caramel Truffles can be found in retailers nationwide and online at www.lilyobriens.ie

Musgrave accelerates efforts to increase senior female representation

Musgrave CEO, Noel Keeley, signed the LEAD Network CEO Pledge at the annual Musgrave management conference

Musgrave has become the first Irish business to partner with the LEAD (Leading Executives Advancing Diversity) Network, which aims to attract, retain and advance women in the retail and consumer goods industry in Europe through education, leadership and business development.

Musgrave CEO, Noel Keeley, signed the LEAD Network CEO Pledge at the annual Musgrave management conference. The pledge lays out specific actions for Musgrave to drive greater advancement of women across the business including coaching and mentoring, ensuring there are intentional strategies to drive inclusive recruitment, leveraging employee resource groups and educating colleagues on the impact of bias.

Separately, Musgrave has set a target to increase female representation in leadership and senior management roles to over 40% by 2025, from 32% currently In addition, Musgrave has committed to achieving over 30% female participation in its executive team by 2025 from 25% presently

“The LEAD Network CEO Pledge further strengthens our commitment to creating a more inclusive Musgrave, which will play a vital role in helping us to develop a world-class food and beverage business,” said Noel Keeley, Musgrave CEO

“We have made progress in advancing female participation at senior levels, but our work is not done yet. We continue to review and renew our policies on an ongoing basis to ensure we are doing everything possible to encourage women to consider, commit to, and thrive in a career in our industry.”

A core aspect of Musgrave’s overall People Strategy is a comprehensive inclusion and diversity plan, which is made up of three pillars: ‘Engaging & Educating’, ‘Attracting Diverse Talent’ and ‘Modernising the Way We Work’. A recent employee engagement survey found that 86% believe Musgrave is an inclusive organisation.

‘Going digital with your signage is a game changer’: Stacked

Have you considered replacing your traditional print advertising in-store with digital displays and a smart content management system?

If you haven’t already, now’s definitely the time, according to smart digital signage solutions company, Stacked Making this change futureproofs your business, giving you the ultimate flexibility in customer communications.

Imagine having the ability to align your communications with changes in stock, supplier advertising, time of day, temperature or even today’s most pressing topical or community issues, and being able to change your content and messaging across multiple locations within a few hours? And imagine being able to report on who’s seeing what and when - and cross referencing that with your sales?

Stacked’s content management system has an impressive array of functionality such as scheduling and publishing content, social media integrations, announcements, full media format support and screen management as well as additional capabilities around content triggering, audience measurement integrations, content quality assessment and third-party system integrations – and all on a single pane of glass dashboard!

The system is highly user-friendly, can be deployed across a mixed estate of displays and media players and allows all stakeholders to manage and measure content across multiple sites and locations remotely

Stacked is confident that going digital with a CMS that offers all of this is a game changer in terms of return on investment on advertising spend for retailers.

Costs have come down significantly in recent years for this type of technology and advancements in smart integrations driven by AI are on the rise so the hesitancy that some customers may feel is no longer necessary

If you’d like to speak to an expert about the possibilities for your business, get in touch with Stacked on 0818 409 988.

Stacked’s content management system has an impressive array of functionality, all on a single pane of glass dashboard

Lily O’Brien’s Salted Caramel Truffles will now feature the Product of the Year logo on their packaging

Reduce your lighting costs by up to 80% with a

Lighting Solutions Upgrade from Energia

Save time and money by upgrading your old lighting now

Our Lighting Solution is an upgrade to your current lighting system using high quality, energy efficient LEDs. This will guarantee savings on your monthly bill, reduce your energy consumption and improve the lighting in your business. The savings you make finance the project so there is no upfront cost.

Find out more at energia.ie/business/lighting-solutions

VaporLinQ’s high-quality and innovative product offering stands out from the crowd

VaporLinQ offers a complete range of top-class vaping devices and premium e-liquids, all fully compliant with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and made within the UK. In fact, VaporLinQ is one of the fastest growing businesses in the industry nationwide

An early adopter of the ‘up to 600 puffs’ disposables vape range VaporLinQ offers an extensive choice of flavours in the disposable market, with five more brand-new flavours launched this year

With a unique portfolio, the products offered by VaporLinQ are available across the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe, thanks to successful partnerships with WHSmith, Spar, Poundland, EuroGiant, Applegreen, B&M Bargains and many more. By joining forces with VaporLinQ, retailers can gain access to the Superior E-Liquids and Apache Vape network, as well as leveraging the expertise of leading distribution partner, PMS International.

VaporLinQ has also secured the full Irish rights to the SKE Crystal Bar vapes, a highly successful product which has secured over 30% of the UK market share in recent months. In addition, the company helped launch Klik Klak, Europe’s only 4ml TPD compliant disposable vape Using unique patented magnetic technology, the range of ten flavours allows users to make 55 combinations of flavours ensuring there is a blend available for all palates. VaporLinQ’s partnership with US company Element ensures widespread distribution.

The latest innovation by VaporLinQ, the new Q-Pod is potentially one of

Daybreak raises €36,328 for the Irish Heart Foundation

Daybreak is thrilled to announce that the 2022 “Get a Move On!” campaign has raised an incredible €36,328 for long-term charity partner, the Irish Heart Foundation

During the month of September, 169 Daybreak stores across Ireland took part in the active challenge, where participants committed to increasing their daily activity to 10,000 steps per day.

The active challenge saw Daybreak customers, family and friends sponsor participants to achieve the fundraising target.

The goal of the Get a Move On! campaign was to highlight that small changes in your daily routine, such as increasing your daily step count, can make a big difference to heart health, all while raising funds for a worthy cause

“We are absolutely delighted to have raised €36,328 in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation,” said Molly Byrne, assistant brand manager, Daybreak.

“We want to say a huge thank you to our Daybreak colleagues for their participation and of course, to all those who sponsored the fundraiser We are blown away by the generosity and support the Get a Move On! campaign has received.”

“The Irish Heart Foundation is an incredible charity, and we are proud to support their amazing work and mission to reduce unnecessary deaths in Ireland due to cardiovascular disease and stroke,” Byrne added.

Cliodhna Burke, senior business development manager, Irish Heart Foundation, also thanked Daybreak for their “amazing support”.

“We are thankful for the wonderful partnership we have with Daybreak and for the amazing support they have provided to our charity over the years,” Burke said. “We are so grateful for Daybreak employees and shoppers for supporting us and Getting a Move On towards tackling heart disease!”

The Irish Heart Foundation, which has been Daybreak’s chosen charity partner since 2016, offers various services, including online and in-person resources such as patient advocacy, education, CPR training and counselling support services.

Daybreak raised an impressive €36,328 for longterm charity partner, the Irish Heart Foundation

the most significant to help tackle the environmental challenges associated with the disposable vaping market. This new product comes equipped with a 550mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery, fast-charging USB-C cable, and leak-proof pre-filled pods with an innovative mesh coil to ensure a smooth, rich vapour Users can enjoy up to 600 puffs of 20mg nicotine with 2% nic salts e-liquid in 10 flavours, with an assured 2ml fill.

Poised for even greater success and growth in the coming years, VaporLinQ says it is dedicated to providing its customers with the best possible vaping experience.

Guidance designed to take the uncertainty out of waste segregation for businesses is now available from MyWaste, Ireland’s official guide to waste. This government funded initiative provides a free and extensive suite of signage and training materials to help workforces make accurate recycling decisions.

This will assist Irish businesses achieve greater Circular Economy performance through increased recycling and composting rates. A waste characterisation study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that almost 70% of materials being placed in the general commercial waste bins is waste that should be placed in the recycling or food waste bins. Targeted materials (those suitable for recycling) accounted for only 60% of the materials in the mixed dry recycling bins, with food waste among the contaminants.

The study found that by improving waste segregation practices, businesses could divert significant amounts of waste from the general waste stream annually

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, Kevin Swift, Connacht Ulster Region Waste Office said: “This initiative will empower small and medium sized businesses, particularly those in the retail, hospitality, manufacturing and corporate sectors, to further improve how their waste is managed. With clear language and visuals, the materials will make it easy for staff to quickly understand what waste goes in what bin. This should help significantly increase the amount of recyclables and food waste diverted from the general bin and correctly placed in the recycling and food waste bins.”

The toolkit is free to download or order from www.mywaste.ie/business/

MyWaste guidance makes recycling simple

Centra to invest €23 million in store expansion programme for 2023

With sales of €1.98 billion in 2022, a 17% increase versus 2019, Centra now has 18 new stores planned for 2023 across the Republic of Ireland

Centra recently announced a €23 million investment in its store expansion programme

The investment will see the group grow its nationwide presence with the opening of 18 new stores, creating at least 468 new jobs across local communities, bringing the total employment figure at Centra to over 12,000

As part of the programme, Centra will also revamp and refresh 35 existing stores in 2023, with its bespoke award-winning store design.

This new store expansion and investment programme is in addition to the €25 million Centra deployed last year which included the refresh of 33 outlets across its retail estate

2022 sales

2022 saw sales of over €1.98 billion achieved for the first time across 167 million consumer transactions, which the group attributes to how “customers found value in Centra stores during the pandemic and continue to enjoy the savings Centra offers, visiting regularly and often for their convenience needs”.

Indeed, the brand has demonstrated resilience in the face of the ever-increasing economic challenges, which has resulted in a 17% increase in sales compared to 2019 the last non-Covid-19 impacted retail year

As 2022 saw the final lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, employees returned to offices in urban locations around the country This trend saw a significant uplift in demand for Centra’s convenience offering with the on-the-go breakfast and lunch options increasing sales by 13% on 2021. Lunchtime deli sales alone increased by almost 11% (10.9%) compared to 2021 as the need for convenient lunches topped the agenda for consumers. Frank and Honest coffee sales were up 7%. In addition, Centra’s bakery also continued to grow in popularity, with sales increasing by 8% year on year as on-the-go favourites such as scones, pastries, rolls and baguettes continued to fill consumers baskets as convenience foods of choice.

Response to cost-of-living crisis

However, 2022 was not without its challenges as Ireland saw the cost-of-living crisis begin to take hold. Shopping trends showed that

consumers made a shift in the latter part of 2022 and were focused more heavily on dining in, with the Centra Freshly Prepared range enjoying a 10% growth year on year As consumers continued to pursue value and shop ‘smarter’, Centra also saw demand for its own-brand range increase significantly, with sales growing by 10.3%, with customers who made the switch enjoying savings of up to 50%.

“At Centra, we strive to deliver the best value and exceptional quality Irish products to customers,” said Centra managing director Ian Allen.

“Our in-depth understanding of the role of convenience in shopping decisions saw us adapt to the schedules of our time-poor shopper, meeting their needs at each hour of the day. Today’s customers are shopping little and often and Centra is the perfect solution to meet this trend.

With nearly 500 stores, Centra is Ireland’s leading convenience retailer operating in every community across the country and is well-placed as a destination for top-up shopping,” he added. “The breadth, scale and value offered through our Centra stores ensures that we can continue to meet the changing daily needs of our customers on their doorstep.”

Allen also noted that the Centra brand was “cognisant that these are challenging times, with increased living costs and rising inflation.

“We’re continuously adapting to meet our customers’ needs and I would like to thank them for their loyalty, as well as our retail partners in every community across Ireland for the role they have played in delivering this relentless value and service,” he said.

Plans for 2023

This year and beyond, Centra says the group plans to continue to innovate and enhance its offerings to consumers.

In Q1 2023, Centra expects to expand its trial same-day delivery partnership with Just Eat and Deliveroo to six further locations. Customers have shown significant interest in the delivery service, which was rolled out across 34 locations in 2022.

Meanwhile, Moo’d ice cream, Centra’s exclusive ice cream brand, enjoyed a 13% increase in sales in 2022, with growth fuelled by the installation of a further 34 new Moo’d ice-cream counters across the retail estate in 2022. The ice cream brand is set to expand its gelato flavours, giving customers greater choice and enjoyment of the range

In addition, Centra reports its partnership with The Happy Pear continues to go from strength to strength, with a 21% growth in sales recorded in 2022, with soups, meals and cereals all proving popular amongst shoppers.

Importance of sustainability and community focus

Sustainability will continue to be a leading priority for Centra, with 96% of own-brand product packaging now recyclable, reusable or compostable, which positions the business ahead of targets to achieve 100% green packaging by 2025.

Having launched the Musgrave Sustainability Fund in 2022 to the tune of €25 million, Centra stores across Ireland are undergoing sustainable upgrades. So far, 200 Centra stores in the Republic of Ireland have availed of the fund which has achieved a reduction of 1,714 tonnes of carbon to date This fund is part of the company’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon by 2040 Through the fund, Centra stores can avail of funding for LED lighting, refrigeration and freezer upgrades, electronic shelf edge labels (eSELs), solar panels, and electric delivery vans.

Centra also emphasised that its stores continue to play an active role in their communities, making significant financial contributions through employment, sponsorships and supports to a number of charities, which remains a priority for the business throughout 2023. Last year, Centra stores raised over €105,000 for the Irish Cancer Society Centra also launched an in-store fundraiser in March 2022 to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine This funding, combined with the Musgrave Group fundraising appeal, contributed over €1 million to these efforts. ■

Ian Allen, MD, Centra; Ian Cuddihy, Centra Council chair; and Cormac Dawson, sales director, Centra pictured at the annual Centra Conference at The Great Southern, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Tax Efficient Tactics

Want to boost your finances in a pain-free fashion?

Retailwealth, the specialist wealth management firm for the retail sector, has the answers…

“There is nothing certain in life except for death and taxes.” The old adage is definitely true. Whilst we cannot do anything about these certainties, we can, to some level protect against them.

Retailwealth, the specialist wealth management firm that deals with business owners, company directors and entrepreneurs in the retail sector, discusses how tax efficient tactics can mitigate against taxes. In addition to this, implementing a centralised wealth management process can not only reduce costs and taxes but also improve financial performance to allow for scalability and in turn salability

Richard Collins, MD of Retailwealth, says that by implementing a centralised wealth management system, retail business owners can ensure they are protected against any possible outcomes that may arise during their working lifetimes. The key to understanding protection is to understand the current situation each individual is in.

Bespoke wealth management

By engaging with Retailwealth, a full review of existing structures is undertaken, reviewed and then a bespoke wealth management report is created to show where there may be cost savings and tax efficient solutions on offer “We ensure our clients are not over-insured or under-insured and crucially, that they are availing of particular tax reliefs at applicable stages,” Collins adds.

By engaging in this system, wealth development is more likely to happen as the cornerstone of any successful wealth management journey is ensuring that the protection aspect is correctly structured. Everybody’s circumstances are different and subsequently, bespoke planning is essential to allow specific plans to be implemented to minimise and mitigate as much tax as possible. By achieving this, Retailwealth ensures that it protects what is most important to you:

• Your health

• Your wealth

• Your income

• And most importantly, your family

Zero Tax Property

Once the tax leakage is stopped and the tax reliefs are applied, the wealth accumulation can be focused upon. This can be done through pensions and investments and to maximise the amounts on offer, a hybrid of both. Another tax efficient tactic that many business owners have used over the past number of years is that of Zero Tax Property (ZTP). ZTP is a tax efficient vehicle that allows pension funds to purchase property that will be leased out. No tax is applicable on the rental income or the growth. In addition to the tax efficiency of this vehicle, all the traditional headaches of purchasing property are removed from the opportunity The Zero Tax Property team deal with:

• Finding the deal

• Funding the deal

• Structuring the deal

• Managing the deal

• Cash flowing the deal

This allows business owners to focus on their ability to scale their business.

The ultimate goal of scaling the business is to either allow for saleability or for the transfer of the business to a family member. Once again, tax efficient tactics need to be known and adhered to, to ensure that the retailer minimises the potential of tax leakage and receives as much tax-free income as possible from any sale/transfer

Opportunities available

Retailwealth wants business owners to be aware of the various opportunities available to ensure that financial independence is achieved in the most tax

efficient structures possible. “Many business owners are victims of salesmanship from commission based financial brokers,” says Collins. “They are told to constantly invest in their pensions but without any real reasoning behind this. Pensions are just one area of an efficient wealth management journey and clients should always be made aware of other potential solutions to achieve their financial independence. Reliefs such as Entrepreneur Relief and Retirement Relief are not discussed as much as they should be, but they offer opportunities for entrepreneurs to take more tax-free income from their years of hard work. Finance is not complicated; it is made complicated by industry insiders who use jargon and technical terms to confuse clients. Retailwealth removes that and offer transparency on a fee-for-service based model.”

Once the extraction of wealth is achieved, it is vitally important that all areas are structured correctly and tax efficiently that will allow for the business, or any wealth developed, to be transferred inter-generationally in the most cost effective and tax efficient manner which ensures that the family, the estate and the legacy are safeguarded and futureproofed.

To learn more or to book a no-obligation, confidential discussion, contact Retailwealth, powered by Walfrid Private:

Telephone: 01 458 4327

Email: info@walfridprivate.ie

Websites: www.retailwealth.ie / www.walfridprivate.ie

Wealth Management Without Boundaries was launched in 2023 at the prestigious Shelbourne Hotel, by Walfrid Private, to bring together Irish SME business owners

The purpose was to add value from a financial and economic perspective, on topics such as:

• Wealth management strategies

• Economic snapshots

• How to build assets for life via passive income

• Holding companies

• Zero tax structures.

The feedback has been overwhelming, and Walfrid Private is now delighted to have announced that they will host the Wealth Management Without Boundaries: Wealth Summit in May, 2023.

Scan the QR Code to register your interest:

CSNA seeks meeting with new Minister for Retail

The association recently made contact with the newly appointed Minister for Retail and Employment Affairs, Neale Richmond TD.

We congratulated him on his elevation and sought to remind him that there is a wider body of social partner stakeholders than Ibec, and that any future round table discussions, consultations and briefings on the Living Wage, adoption of the National Minimum Wage Directive and aspects of Auto Enrolment necessitate the inclusion of representatives such as CSNA, ISME, Retail Excellence etc.

PRESIDENT’S

Compliance industry is exhausting SMEs’ resources

There are dozens of individual pieces of legislation that retailers are obliged to not only be aware of, but they must actively create policies to demonstrate their compliance to an ever-increasing body of state agencies and officers.

If you were to draw up a list of which laws you needed to adhere to over other laws that you may tend to ignore, it would be a foolish exercise, and not recommended, but it begs the question, how did we get to this stage? There is a fullscale compliance industry in place throughout the country and it isn’t getting any better. There is without doubt an anti-enterprise culture at play in numerous influential corners of Irish society who consider profit to be a dirty word.

The amount of time expended by employers in maintaining records

and ensuring that their legal obligations are met is causing very real anger for the owners of businesses that are finding it increasingly difficult to find staff willing to work in their stores. Consequently, they are spending an inordinate amount of time carrying out additional work in addition to managing the business.

There needs to be an understanding at Cabinet level, in the various government departments and from those charged with agreeing European Directives, that small and medium sized businesses cannot afford to meet the exhausting requirements of all legislation and need derogations to allow them to compete.

We can only hope that 2023 will be better for all of us.

CSNA Deals partner Dubco signs CSNA member, Barack Obama Plaza

Dubco Ireland has partnered with CSNA member, Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall, Co. Offaly, on its staff benefits and wellness programme. The association would like to extend our thanks to Henry Healy, operations manager of Obama Plaza, for inviting Dubco and organising the announcement event.

retention and the need to maintain good working relationships has never been as crucial, the deal is available to all of your staff. Dubco Ireland is the Credit Union for CSNA members.

For more information on becoming a member of Dubco Credit Union, please contact CSNA on 045-535050.

The amount of time expended by employers in maintaining records and ensuring that their legal obligations are met is causing real frustration for retailers

TBESS reminder: Apply by 28 February

We continue to urge all members to apply for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) as soon as possible as the cut-off date to apply for October 2021 is 28 February.

Newly appointed minister Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise pictured at his first event as a minister, at Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo at the RDS

As members are aware, CSNA and Dubco Ireland recently announced their innovative and exciting partnership. The CSNA represents retailers big and small nationwide, and we always focus our efforts to benefit all members. This new partnership is giving CSNA members and their families the opportunity to access a range of financial services such as the Income Tax Plus Low-Rate Loans and other financial services such as a Current Account and Budget BillPay.

The absolutely great part of this deal is that not only is it available to you, the CSNA member, it is also available to your family at marketleading rates. Perhaps equally important, considering that staff

To assist members, we have created a booklet that should make the process of applying easier and quicker, which is available to download from the CSNA website. If you have any queries at all in relation to your claim, please contact CSNA on 045-535050.

(Photo: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland)

The TBESS cut-off date to apply for October 2021 is 28 February

Henry Healy, operations manager at Barack Obama Plaza, with Paul O’Grady of Dubco Ireland

CSNA NEWS

JOHN PAUL LONERGAN

National President, CSNA

Association receives clarification on the reversal of VAT on antigen tests

Previously attracting 23% VAT, antigen tests are now a 0% VAT product

Is it the NTA? No.

Is it Cubic - the distributor? No.

Is it the commuter? No.

The CSNA believes the answer is very clear - the holder of this dominant position, the company that the State and NTA has facilitated to get an exclusive contract to supply the retail network are the only ones that will profit from this change to the Leap Card contract.

Recently CSNA sought clarification from Revenue with regard to products bought at 23% VAT after 1 January. We asked if it is possible that suppliers may be required to provide credit notes and to reissue invoices with the correct VAT. We also sought to have Revenue’s opinion on whether a retailer is obligated to refund any customer who had the 23% legitimately applied to the product up until 20 January.

This is the response that we received from Revenue to our queries:

“The backdating of the zero rate has been done on an administrative

basis until the appropriate legislation is enacted.

“The change in the VAT rate can be dealt with by way of a credit note, so your members could seek a credit note from their suppliers. If they don’t seek a credit note, they can reclaim the VAT they were charged in their VAT return. However, they cannot amend their output VAT without first reimbursing the customers who may have borne the cost of the overpaid tax. On that basis, the only benefit of getting a credit note from the suppliers is a cash flow one for the retailer (i.e. they don’t have to fund the VAT upfront).”

Safeguards required in Minister Naughton’s bill to “denormalise” tobacco sales

We note that the Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton, who is also the Minister of State attached to the Department of Health with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, has announced her intention to include a bill designed to further restrict and “denormalise” the sale of tobacco through a variety of mechanisms, including annual licencing, a ban on all selfservice tobacco vending machines, the elimination of sales from mobile or non-permanent outlets and the introduction of significantly increased penalties for breaches, many of which can be applied as Fixed Notice Penalties by Environmental Health Officers. While most of the “noise”

surrounding the bill will no doubt be directed towards its application as a vape-controlling piece of legislation, the reality is that it is a Tobacco Control Bill and it is our belief that there will need to be a number of safeguards inserted to ensure that all retailers of these legal products are not unfairly treated. ■

Retailers do not deserve to be treated in what in the CSNA’s opinion, is a disgraceful manner. There are a number of eminent and respected members of the board of An Post that need to be made aware that this behaviour towards our sector is not acceptable.

We believe in competition and suggest that Payzone and An Post/ PostPoint be allowed to make Leap

products available to any retailer willing to sell them. It works for a multiplicity of products and services already available through the two networks. There isn’t a good reason it can’t be done with these products which are ultimately fully owned and funded by the Irish State/ taxpayer.

The CSNA suggests that both Payzone and An Post/PostPoint should be allowed to make Leap products available to any retailer willing to sell them

Minister Hildegarde Naughton intends to bring forward a bill to further restrict tobacco sales

Ben Chambers of Nearby Tinahely in Co. Wicklow speaks to Fionnuala Carolan about the reality of running a rural retail business in the current climate

The local touch in Tinahely

Tinahely in South Wicklow is a particularly scenic spot, popular with hikers and hill walkers and this Nearby store benefits from these visitors at weekends in particular who come to do the famous Railway and Looped walks. Further development of a greenway is coming soon which will further enhance the area for day trippers and locals alike.

The shop is a third-generation business with Ben Chambers’ grandfather as the founder He has taken over running it full-time from his father in recent years. “I thought I’d work here for a year or so and then get a real job! It’s become the real job,” he explains. “My dad ran it before me and his father actually started it. That is one of our selling points in that we are a family business and we know all our customers. I also like to think we give good service.”

At 29, Chambers has been working in the shop from when he could reach the counter but went off and studied commerce in UCD after school. He grew up next door to the shop and still lives there, the upshot being that there is no commute but the downside being that you are at work seven days a week. His parents David and Joan are still very much involved with his dad opening up every morning and both parents are on hand when needed to help with the rush of deliveries.

Covid-19

Good service was crucial in rural areas in particular during Covid-19 and Chambers says they really connected with their customers during this time and stood out for having the ‘local touch’. “We really appreciated all the local support and we tried to give as much back as we could too,” he recalls. “We were flat out. I never thought I’d see the day where I’d have to stand at the door and say, sorry we’re full.”

They made the most of that time by offering all kinds of goods for sale from toys to farm supplies and even cement! “You could sell anything at the time,” he says. The shop is made up of two parts - the typical convenience store and then there is a whole other area where they sell a range of things like hardware and giftware. “It’s a bit of a one stop shop,” he explains.

In fact business was so brisk he felt quite worn out by the end of Covid and is now trying to re-evaluate his work/life balance. Many of his friends from UCD joined accountancy firms in Dublin so are living very different lives to him which can sometimes lead him to make tough comparisons. “We’re open seven days a week. I sometimes envy my friends as they would be gone out the door at 5pm and I’m here until 9pm every night but then I like being my own boss and I take time

out to train for marathons and I wouldn’t be able to do that in another job,” he reasons.

Joining S&W

The store traded as a traditional independent for years but they aligned with another symbol group for a few years before joining S&W Wholesale in 2019. Chambers’ experience with the company has been really positive and aside from the obvious benefits of central billing and an extensive product selection, he finds them very collaborative in their approach. “They call in here every couple of weeks and they sit down with me and we plan where we want the business to go. I’m 29 and I don’t know everything so it’s great to have an experienced team to bounce things off. If they aren’t 100% sure, they get other Nearby retailers’ advice and that has proved a great sounding board. Also it is always a constructive conversation and never an argument. With S&W, we are working on our strengths and they have been really helpful with that,” he explains.

Keeping small villages alive

Keeping businesses open in rural towns and villages is becoming ever harder and Chambers admits that they are happy to see any other business, even direct competition in the town in order to keep people coming there

Following a revamp last summer, Nearby Tinahely has a smart and modern new interior under the Nearby brand

Nearby Tinahely is a third-generation business founded by retailer Ben Chambers’ grandfather

to shop. With the closing of the local Bank of Ireland some months ago, it has taken muchneeded custom from the village. “We do miss that,” explains Chambers. “It’s hard for small villages when we start to lose our services. We were just saying that usually Friday mornings would be really busy but it’s not as much since the bank closed. There is a noticeable decline. You have to go to Arklow or Tullow or Gorey to do your banking now and then people do their shopping there too.”

While paying with card was key over Covid, cash is coming back and Chambers says that this is a significant extra cost to the business. “We’d have to go to the bank once every two weeks to lodge cash. At the end of the year we could be charged €5,000/€6,000 in bank charges just for lodging cash. The banks keep taking away services but the costs stay the same or increase.”

Inflation

Chambers feels like the last few months have actually been challenging in retail. “The price of everything has gone up including the energy bills of course,” he explains. “The government has gone some way to help and we got €1,000 back but our bill was €12,000 so it’s really still a big issue. The government could do more for local businesses or else there won’t be local businesses and just a load of ghost towns around the country. A lot of

local businesses feel the exact same. I think people are a lot more aware and looking at the price tags and checking their receipts now It’s challenging when you see the multinationals selling bread for 69 cents. It’s not the true cost of food,” he plainly states. “S&W Wholesale has certainly stepped in and provided us with great value to be able to pass this onto our customers. The ‘Bring Home The Value’ campaign, which gives shoppers four fantastic offers across family favourites during each promotional cycle, has proved a great addition.”

Tightly run ship

With just 10 staff, Nearby Tinahely is a tightly run ship. They are open 8am-9pm Monday to Saturday and then 9am-6pm on Sundays. And on Sundays Chambers says they seem to be getting busy just when they are closing so they might need to increase the hours there.

With three primary schools in the area, the shop is at its busiest in the afternoons. “There is a still a lot of people commuting to Dublin leaving very early in the morning and getting home around 4/5pm. We are also lucky

because there is a huge kitchen manufacturer down the road that employs 200 and also a major plastic factory nearby You need to have some big employers in an area,” he says.

The best performing areas of the shop are minerals and confectionery and they are also strong on dairy While they don’t have a deli at the moment, this is something they are considering as they have a full working kitchen out the back. They provide other services like BillPay and Parcel Direct that bring customers into the store and are always looking at new options to increase footfall.

“I do enjoy it and it’s rewarding,” explains Chambers. “We did a revamp between June and August last year and now I feel proud of the business. The goal for the next year with Jason [McSteen, S&W’s sales manager] and Darren [Meaney, BDM (Business development manager) for Nearby] is to try to have it running a bit more independently as we are looking at a potential second site.”

He certainly seems to have the foresight and the drive to make this business thrive and in the process, is also no doubt making his family very proud to see the shop flourish for another generation. ■

“The government could do more for local businesses or else there won’t be local businesses and just a load of ghost towns around the country.”

During the pandemic, locals realised the extent of the range available at Nearby Tinahely as a true one-stop destination

Friendly customer service is a priority at Nearby Tinahely

Nearby Tinahely has a varied drinks offering to suit all tastes

The dairy category performs particularly well in-store, as do the minerals and confectionery departments

Ben Chambers with his dad and members of the Nearby Tinahely team

Grocery/Convenience sector continues to perform strongly. Retailers navigating aturbulent economic environment linked to inflation, energycosts and fluctuating consumer sentiment.

Retail Convenience: 2022 Review

Summary

• Robust performance: Robust performance delivered by the sector in 2022. Shopping behaviour and frequency patterns returned to more normalisedtrends with sales continuing to surpasspre-pandemic levels.

•Energt costs: Revamp/refurbishment activity focused on energyefficiency/reducing carbon footprint accelerated in 2022 driven by rising energy costs. Bank of Ireland continues to actively engage and support grocery retailers with their investmentplans.

2022 Key Trends

•Strong growth in take-home grocery sales continued. Inflation levels across the sector hit unprecedented levels (15.4%) linked to post Covid-19 supply and Ukraine war issues.1

•Dunnes Storescontinues to hold the number 1position in respect of grocery market share driven by aparticularlystrong performance in the wider Dublin region. Supervalu and Tesco have maintained strong market share with Tesco benefiting from increased frequency of consumer engagement –not just being used for the “big shop” in 2022. Aldi and Lidl continue to solidify their strong foothold in the Irish market.

•The large supermarketoperators have been proactive in addressing cost of living concerns with targeted ad campaigns and voucher offersbeing strongly promoted. An expanded own-brand offering has also resonated with consumers with c10% growth delivered across unbranded lines in November/December.2

•Margin growth and preservationhave become an imperative for retailers linkedtoanincreased cost framework driven by personnel, insurance and energy overheads.

SectorDevelopments –Key Numbers

Investmentfrom Musgrave in their sustainablestores strategy.3 €25m

€52m

The value of in-store contactless payments transacted per dayrepresenting the highest level since data series commenced in 2016 Contactless compatibility now key for retail community.4

Number of Joyce group stores re-branded to Tesco.5 9

Number of Applegreen trial stores stocking M&S products in anew partnership launched in 2022.6 5

Key Activity in the Sector in 2022

•Whilst shopping patterns reverted to morenormalised frequency trends in 2022 –the impactofanextended period of grocery inflation (and associatedcost of living) on consumer behaviour will be monitored closely in Q1 2023.

•Retailers are continuingtoimplementpragmatic succession planningstructures to ensure that appropriate long-term value is delivered from their business. COVID-19 has been acatalyst for some retailers to investigate future optionsinrespect of both ownership and operational models.

•A strong pipelineofstore purchase and associated revamp activity has been generated in 2022. Progressive retailers continue to recognise that in-store investment is necessary to maintain customer engagement and loyalty. Rising energy costs have accelerated the focus on energy efficient systems/ equipment installation and upgrade.

SectorDevelopments: Investment&Economic

•Supervalu, Lidl, Aldi, Tescoand Dunnes all announcednew store openings/significant store revamps in 2022 across all regions supporting job creation and the wider Irish business eco-system.

•The increased cost and regulatory burden presented by the proposed living wage structure, pension auto-enrolment, spiraling energy overheads and insurance in acompetitive environment has led to an up weighted focus on margin development/preservation from retailers, wholesalers and their advisors

•Consolidation and cross-sectoral partnerships remains afeature of the wider Irish grocery/convenience/forecourt market. Tesco integrating nine Joyce group stores within their network, Musgrave purchasing Italicatessen, McCambridges and the Caulfield-McCarthy group and Applegreen partnering exclusively with Marks &Spencersacross five trial forecourt outlets just a flavour of the transaction activity witnessed in 2022

•The de-carbonisation of end to end operations remains akey focus for leading operators linked to supplier, Government and consumer expectations/requirements. Multi-million euro investments linked to improving energy efficiency profile across the fleet, logistics and store network was afeature of sector announcements/strategies in 2022.

Retail Convenience 2023 Outlook

2023 Key Numbers

€100m

€73m

€11.30 10

Investment indentedbyMaxol Group across strategic forecourt locations in Irelandin2023-2027.7

Targeted investment ear-marked by Aldi for new store development in the Dublin region.8

Minimum wage per hour from 1st January 2023–anincreaseof80c and the first step in the phased introduction of the Living wage pre 2026.9

Number of bio-methane trucksadded to BWG logistics fleet delivering 90% emission reduction equating to acarbon saving of 840 tonnesper annum.10

2023 Retail ConvenienceOutlook

• RobustOutlook: Overallaresilient sector to economic shocks; Strong sales performance to continue but increased focus on margin preservation and cost management required linked to an extended inflationary environment.

• Funding Activity: Strong active pipelineofstore purchase and associated revamp proposals– retailers recognise that customer experience/excellent standards will be key to attract and retain market share.

• Investment/Consolidation: Increased investment in partnership agreements and further consolidation of the market (especially forecourt/wholesaler sub-sectors) expected to continue in 2023.

Market

•Inacompetitive labour market –sourcing and retaining the best people is vital to sustain aretail business. Astructured employee development plan that incorporates role variety, upskill opportunities and competitive remuneration needs to be

embedded within the culture of the business. The smart use of digital/automation tools can deliver the dual goal of increased efficiency and an improved working environment.

•Energy costsneed to be addressed proactively by the wider sector; collective affinity schemes negotiated, investment in energy efficient equipment/processes and sector lobbying for sustained Government support all expected/required in 2023.

•Significant revamp programmewill continue to be rolled out in 2023 nationwide by leading grocery operators as the ever more discerning consumer seeks excellence in store standards. Movement on revamp costs linked to fluctuating materialsupply base to be monitored closely.

•Detailed analysis pre and post revamp will be an imperative to ensure that amaximum return on investment is delivered via sales mix improvement, margin growth and cost saving. The “localisation” trend will continue with store revamps taking amore bespoke, community focused approach.

•City centre stores will need to proactively assess all aspects of their business plan: target customer demographic, margin development, shrinkage, cost base, property costs etc. They will need to focus both on city centre dwellers and city centre employees –partner with foodservice/ restaurantsand provideeffective delivery options etc to engage anew recurring customer base.

•Corporate social responsibility linked to sustainable and environmentally friendly in-store activities will be akey area of focus for all retailers –energy efficient equipment, elimination of single-useplastic, improved recycling facilities and reduction of food waste. This will enable an improved cost base whilst meeting consumer expectations in respect of ethical trading. The proposed roll-out of the deposit return scheme and “latte levy” in 2023 will be monitored with interest.

•Consolidation is expected to remain afeature of the market with wholesalers, fuel brands and multi-store retailers expandingtheir networkand footprint across the sector.

•Asconsumers seek cheaper alternatives across some product lines, all leading operators recognise that astrong, diversified own-brand offering will be critical to maintain customer engagement as the inflationary cycle continues.

Classification: Green

Market activity focused on store investment and consolidation to continuewithin the sector. Margin preservation and environmentally friendly/energysaving initiatives to retain akey focus for 2023.

Funding Activity

•Store purchase strategies will continue to develop in 2023. COVID-19 has been the catalyst for increased levels of succession planning/retirement which is driving this activity.

•Revamp fundingtocontinue with aparticular focus on energy efficient equipment and processes

•Refinance activity to remain afeature of the market linked to loan book purchasers seeking to deleverage.

Bank of Ireland

•InBank of Ireland we recognise that we have aunique opportunity to support our customersand to enable Irish businesses and the communities we jointly serveto thrive.

•Our provenfinancialcapabilities and appetite, combined with comprehensive sector expertise, provideuswith astrong platform to meet the fundingrequirements of Irish retailers.

•Weunderstand the investment cycle,including the need for regularexpenditure to maintain growth and profitability in this dynamic sector, and we have astrong appetite to support progressive, innovative retailers in the further development of their businesses in 2023.

owen.clifford@boi.com

087 907 9002

Owen Clifford is Head of the Retail sector within Bank of Ireland since 2015. He is responsible for the continuing development of the Bank’s strategy in this key area and has actively supported leading retailers and stakeholders in the sector nationwide to grow and develop their business in aprogressive manner.

Owen brings extensive industry knowledgeand experience to this role,having worked in the retail sector with Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland where his role involved supporting independent retailers to maximise their profitability and to developlong-term, sustainable business models.

Owen holds afirst class honours degreeinLaw and Accounting from the University of Limerick and is aFellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland and an Associate of the Irish Taxation Institute.

Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. This document has been prepared by Bank of Ireland for informational purposes only. Not to be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission. Any information contained herein is believed by the Bank to be accurate and true but the Bank expresses no presentation or warranty of such accuracy and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission taken as aresult of the information contained in this document. You should obtain independent legal advice before making any decision.

Dash Water raises €9.8m and targets European expansion

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland launches enhanced maternity and paternity policy

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has introduced a new and improved maternity and paternity policy for all staff, which went live at the start of this year

On reviewing previous policies and in recognition of the need to support new parents and improve work life balance, Coca-Cola HBC has developed a Diversity Action Plan which includes a reformed maternity and paternity policy in addition to other changes.

Dash, the zero-sugar, zero-calorie seltzer company based in the UK and known for infusing wonky fruit in its drinks, has announced the completion of an €9.8 million Series A funding round.

The round was led by transatlantic investors Beringea. New investors who took part included Johnny Sexton, Ireland’s rugby captain, and David Milner Dash’s chairman and former CEO of food and beverage titans, Tyrells, Lily’s Kitchen, and St Pierre Bakery

Listed in more than 10,000 stores globally, B-Corp certified Dash currently leads the UK seltzer category with a 39% share of value sales and is aiming to take the Irish market

by storm. Its products are listed across independent shops in Ireland such as DonnyBrook Fair, and in offices like Microsoft, TikTok and LinkedIn.

“Our cans are flying off the shelves in Ireland, it’s incredible,” said Alex Wright, Dash’s co-founder “Stocked in offices and independent shops alone, we sold 1/4 million cans last year and this latest investment will give us the firepower we need to change the way people look at soft drinks for good.”

Dash also plans to expand into new markets across Europe, and to increase its presence in Australia, where it has a growing market share.

Aldi signs new €14.7 million deal with Tipperary company Glenpatrick Spring Water

Aldi Ireland agreed to a new €14.7 million deal with Tipperary-based spring water producer Glenpatrick Spring Water last month, which will see the company continue to supply Aldi’s 155 Irish stores with its wide range of drinks over the next year

Established in 1988, Glenpatrick Spring Water employs almost 300 people in Ireland. The company is marking 20 years of supplying Aldi Ireland with the new deal, which will allow the company to grow its workforce throughout 2023 as well as continuing to invest in additional warehousing and system upgrades.

The company has signalled its intention to create up to 10 new jobs in 2023, thanks to the fresh investment from Aldi Ireland.

Produced and packaged in Ireland, Glenpatrick Spring Water products on sale at Aldi include Still and Sparkling Spring Water, Vitamin Water, and fizzy favourites like Rock Shandy Red Lemonade and Lemon and Lime

“We are delighted to agree this new €14.7 million deal and look forward to continuing the great work we’ve done with Glenpatrick over the last 20 years. They are a valued and trusted supplier who bring variety, quality, and expertise to our private label products in

store,” said Aldi Ireland group buying director, John Curtin.

“Over the last 20 years, this partnership has allowed us to bring our products to more and more customers every year and we are thrilled to sign an extension for one more year,” said Glenpatrick commercial manager Michael Cairns.

“Aldi’s investment in us has allowed us to grow our business, and this deal will help us continue to invest in our people and continue to supply our customers with the quality products they have come to expect from us,” Cairns added.

The new policy will give expectant mothers 26 weeks of 100% pay and then a further three months on 50% pay. The organisation is also taking steps to improve the paternity leave cover, offering expectant fathers six weeks of leave on 100% pay.

The announcement of the new policies came as the beverage business, which has over 750 employees on the Island of Ireland, announced 35 new roles as part of a €20 million expansion to its production facility in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Coca-Cola HBC says the diversity of its organisation is a key priority

As part of its Diversity Action Plan developed throughout 2022, Coca-Cola HBC has also introduced a variety of changes including significant policy reforms in the recruitment process, targets at senior management level and a holistic employee wellbeing offering, which are all aimed at driving greater diversity across the organisation.

“The new policies on maternity and paternity leave provides us an opportunity to further support our employees by offering wellbeing benefits which promote and foster professional development and growth for both genders,” said people and culture director at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, Marina Gainova

“Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland is committed to making the workplace one that facilitates parents spending more time with their families in the knowledge that this will not disrupt their career,” she added.

“The diversity of our organisation is a key priority demonstrated by the changes we are announcing now as well as policy changes we are making to our recruitment process and internal initiatives to champion women in senior roles in our business.”

For details on career opportunities, visit www. ie.coca-colahellenic.com/en/working-with-us ■

Laurence Kelly, buying director at Aldi Ireland, with Michael Cairns, commercial director of Glenpatrick Spring Water

In the UK, governmental guidance states that: “bread labelled or advertised as ‘wholemeal’ must contain 100% wholemeal flour”

Retailer axes half white product marketed using the word wholemeal

In the UK, Iceland has withdrawn its own-brand ‘50% white and wholemeal’ loaf, following a trading standards complaint brought by the Real Bread Campaign.

Iceland is one of five companies to which the campaign wrote in June 2022 to complain about the use of the word ‘wholemeal’ in the naming and marketing of their ‘half and half’ products.

Alongside following up its complaints about Aldi, Hovis, Jacksons and Warburtons with the relevant trading standards teams, the campaign continues to lobby the UK government to review regulation of the words wholegrain and wholemeal. On 12 December 2022, Defra said it is “still considering the best course of action to address this issue”.

750 people benefit from Fyffes’ offseason medical brigades in Honduras

Lidl Ireland announces €1 billion investment into Irish agri-food industry in 2022

Lidl Ireland invested a total of €1 billion in the Irish agri-food industry in 2022. That’s according to the retailer’s latest ‘Supplier Impact Report’, which outlines that of that €1 billion, €682 million stayed within Lidl Ireland’s operations to be sold locally to the retailers’ Irish customers and €318 million was exported internationally through Lidl’s network of stores.

From a €20 million deal with Bantrybased Keohane Seafoods to a €15 million contract with Dublin Meat Company, and a €8 million deal secured with Donegal juice and smoothie producer Mulrines, more than 400 local ROI suppliers have benefitted from Lidl’s support in 2022.

Many of these deals included significant exports with Keohane’s fresh and frozen Irish seafood reaching the shores of Great Britain, Germany, Cyprus, Italy and even the USA. Meanwhile Tipperary’s Honeyvale Foods now supplies Irish ham and bacon products to hundreds of Lidl stores in Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia and Poland.

In July, Sol launched Community Medical Brigades to reach 15 communities

Fyffes and its winter melon business Sol Group provide four medical clinics, five doctors, four nurses and five ambulances in the regions of Choluteca and El Paraiso, where their farms are located, to ensure that employees, their families and the local community can have access to otherwise inadequate and hard to reach healthcare.

During the summer off-season however, community members struggle to access these medical services. To solve this problem, in July 2022, Sol launched Community Medical Brigades to reach 15 communities surrounding its cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew melon farms, which has since proved successful in providing access to medical treatment.

Just Eat announces fund to support uptake of eco-friendly Notpla packaging

Just Eat has announced the launch of a €50,000 fund as part of a price-match initiative to further promote the roll-out of seaweed coated takeaway packaging from recent Earthshot UK Climate Prize winners Notpla, across its restaurant partner network in Ireland. The prestigious Earthshot Prize awarded by Prince William in London last month has provided Notpla with a grant to scale up its sustainable business further in 2023.

The Just Eat Notpla boxes are are fully recyclable and will biodegrade within 4-6 weeks in a home compost.

Leinster rugby players, Ciarán Frawley, Jason Jenkins and Tadhg Furlong, pictured as Just Eat introduces its sustainable Notpla food packaging at Leinster Rugby fixtures

At a micro-level, Lidl’s Kickstart Supplier Development Programme supported by Bord Bia, is designed to help small and mediumsized Irish food and drink businesses to advance. Now in its seventh year, Lidl has invested more than €7 million in the

Kickstart programme to date

“Our fantastic suppliers represent the best of Ireland’s food and drink industry and we’re proud to showcase the high calibre of their products on our shelves in Ireland and on the global stage through our Lidl network,” said J.P. Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“Since 2018, we have been working hard to increase our customer offering, expanding our product range by more than 40% and tripling our buying team to focus on sourcing as many Irish products as possible,” he added.

Grocery shoppers are buying less meat due to food inflation, Bord Bia finds

Irish consumers are changing their shopping behaviours as a result of rising inflation, according to a new survey conducted by Bord Bia. More than half (51%) of Irish consumers shop at multiple stores to get the best deal, and another 50% buy only the essentials.

Consumers are cutting back on foods that are single-use or have less perceived versatility or shelf life. Foods with shorter

shelf life, such as pre-packaged bakery or more expensive meats, have witnessed the highest declines as consumers seek out foods that can offer them more than one dish or a single meal. While people are generally cutting back on meat because of inflation, this is especially true for proteins like lamb (32%) and seafood (33%).

Meanwhile, chicken sales are up 15% as it is viewed as more affordable and flexible than other meats.

Still, sales of fresh fruit and vegetables have continued to stay strong. Bord Bia found that 80% of Irish consumers are buying fresh fruit and vegetables the same or more as they did in 2021.

Meanwhile, one third (32%) of Irish consumers are now buying chilled ready meals ‘less’ or ‘much less’. In line with this, Bord Bia noted that 48% of people in Ireland are now cooking from scratch more, which is more than in any other markets surveyed.

The survey of 10,000 people across Ireland, the UK, the US, Germany and France was conducted in October and November 2022. ■

J.P. Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, alongside Jim O’Toole, CEO, Bord Bia

39% of Irish consumers say that bulk cooking and meal prepping have become more important in recent months

The new normal for Dublin city retail

It’s no secret that Dublin city centre was reduced to a ghost town during Covid-19 As people retreated to the safety of their homes in the suburbs and the countryside, once thriving businesses were left empty and the streets outside deserted. Retail and hospitality were the big losers and if it weren’t for government supports, many of them would have closed for good.

It was always taken as a given that city centre convenience stores were akin to little gold mines (albeit having to absorb high costs of doing business and dealing with anti-social behaviour) and it was their counterparts in the suburbs and small towns that struggled to compete. The tables turned quite dramatically during Covid and the only thing to do for these city retailers, was to wait it out. Luckily the days of restrictions have passed but many recent reports suggest that things have not reverted to pre-Covid times and the truth is that they possibly never will.

Offices are still far from full and those who do travel into the city centre generally do so a couple of days a week maximum, many opting to stay at home on Mondays and Fridays, chasing that coveted work/life balance.

Aivars Mezapuke, the manager of Spar on Capel Street in Dublin 1, is originally from Latvia but has been living in Ireland for the past 23 years and has worked as a manager in

this shop for the past five years so he has experienced the whole gamut of pre, during and post Covid retailing in the city centre. He says that this was a really busy store before Covid due to a plethora of offices in the vicinity like the Capel Building and popular bars like PantiBar on the same street. The shop is very much ‘grab n’ go’ – focusing on coffee, deli, confectionery, minerals and off-licence sales.

“We were extremely busy and would have had three or four staff on the deli serving at lunchtimes,” says Mezapuke. “It was also busy in the mornings before people went into their offices and then again at 5 o’clock when everyone goes home so it was a massive shock when all that suddenly stopped.”

To deal with this drop in custom they reduced the opening hours from 8am to 4pm. “What kept us going were the hospital staff and emergency services – they would drop in for a coffee after their shifts. It was just enough to get by.”

Since all restrictions were lifted last year, normal service has resumed to a certain extent but the shop is still down about 20%

compared with pre-Covid levels.

“It didn’t go back to normal straight away,” he admits. “People were going back to work one day a week or two days and there wasn’t any consistency. It was very hard to manage the deli. You could prepare 20 chicken fillets and only sell five or only prepare 15 and 30 people would want them so it was very hard to manage sales and waste. It’s still a bit like that.”

Managing hours for staff was difficult too he says “I have a lot of students working for me because I am located in the city centre. I only have one or two full time staff They do a mix of 10-20 hours. In the city centre you can’t get full time staff as people can’t afford to rent and live on retail wages yet if you live in say Limerick you can get the same wages but cheaper rent etc. I spend a lot of time training staff which can be frustrating when they move on quickly,” he explains.

I questioned whether Mondays and Fridays were much quieter than Tuesday to Thursday but Mezapuke hasn’t found this to be true around Capel Street. “It is still busy Monday to Friday in here but it’s not back to what it was pre-Covid and I don’t think it ever will be I am

“It is still busy Monday to Friday in here but it’s not back to what it was pre-Covid and I don’t think it ever will be.”

As memories of the last few years of Covid-related restrictions fade and Dublin city creaks back to life, the capital is settling into what’s being described as the ‘new normal’.

Fionnuala Carolan reports

Images: Almost abandoned empty streets in Dublin City centre, photographed in January 2021, shortly after the return to Level 5 Lockdown restrictions. (Photographs: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie)

maybe 20% down from before Covid. Some offices are still not back as I have accounts for certain businesses and some are still not active. I think people would prefer to change jobs than to be in an office five days a week,” he says

Suburbs

With a noticeable reduction in footfall, official figures compiled by traders’ group Dublin Town show that footfall was close to 90% of pre-Covid levels in the run-up to Christmas but has dipped again since.

Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town, said the drop in weekday trade in the city is now the “new normal”.

Duncan Graham: managing director of Retail Excellence told the Irish Independent that the suburbs have benefited from the working from home culture and unfortunately this meant that the city centre was losing out.

According to Graham, “Villages near Dublin like Malahide, Bray and on the south side, Stillorgan and Blackrock, are the places where people are nipping out to shop

“Some of the suburban towns had a reasonable Christmas and hopefully this continues but Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway, are feeling the pinch more than provincial locations.”

A manager of another convenience store in Dublin 2 who spoke to ShelfLife but did not wish to be named said that they expected the store to be a lot busier by now but says the footfall just isn’t there yet.

And yet footfall isn’t the only factor making life hard for retailers at present. Rising inflation, increases to the minimum wage, the introduction of statutory sick pay and the automatic enrolment of pensions in 2024 are also piling pressure on the retail sector

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) introduced to help with energy costs gave some reprieve but most retailers we have spoken to have said that it just hasn’t gone far enough.

Property

The working from home trend has made it difficult for companies to chart the best course of action in renewing leases or to move to smaller more modern spaces. Henry Street and Grafton Street have also lost many prominent retailers over the past two years including Debenhams, Oasis, Warehouse and now Argos. The city centre needs to feel vibrant in order to entice people in but lots of empty shops is bad for business in general.

However commercial property specialists CBRE released their Outlook 2023 annual report containing their predictions for the Irish property market for the year ahead and it

seems like things are looking up According to CBRE: “Retail leasing activity has turned a corner and the vacancy rate on Grafton Street is now down to just six units, with this expected to fall further in 2023.”

“As a result of the pandemic, Dublin’s prominent retailers are now leaner operations, with the strongest performers well-positioned heading into 2023. Ireland’s household savings ratio remains above pre-pandemic levels, according to the Central Statistics Office, and this will act as a positive catalyst for spending heading into the new year,” the report stated.

According to Guiney of Dublin Town: “Covid served to accelerate trends that were already forming, consolidating changes in customer patterns into two years rather than the anticipated ten. Urgent decisions are required to future-proof our town centres. The decisions that are made now will determine if our towns and cities will remain relevant to modern needs. Many of these decisions will be of a commercial nature or will have commercial implications,” he says

Dublin City Council’s new development plan aims for a major and much-needed rejuvenation of the city, including a focus on promoting new retail and tourist attractions which will be of vital importance in bringing Dubliners back into their city centre to work and socialise and to make it an attractive place for tourists to visit.

Mezapuke feels that week by week things are getting better “There are definitely more tourists around so that is really helping us,” he says “Every week it is increasing so I feel optimistic.” ■

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

Quiet thriving

For the last two years, we have heard across many media platforms, stories of “quiet quitting”. This idea that you coast along, doing the bare minimum, never going above and beyond, well, it never sat well with me.

Quiet quitting suggests that you are not emotionally or intellectually involved in your job, but rather you are just doing as little as possible to receive a paycheck so you can go and live your real life outside of work.

Wishing your life away

What I never understood – is whom is this benefiting? Are people happy just waiting to pass time and clock out? That seems so sad to me. Say you spend on average 40 hours a week at work; that’s the number of hours you need to clock up to afford your life. That’s basically one-third of your waking hours. Look at that across your life; who is happy to be unhappy for a third of their waking life? Wishing the hours, and their life away?

With two small kids, an “iron-man in-training” husband, and a pretty busy career, I absolutely am not one to advocate for doing more hours –but surely, making the best of the hours you are in work is a better option?

Making those 40 hours the happiest they can be makes so much more sense to me.

Finding the right fit

I have been lucky to have experienced two industries in my career – with the first 10 or so years in retail and the last 10 in recruitment. Neither of these environments lent to “quiet quitting”. If for no other reason than it would have meant letting people down – my co-workers, my team, my customers, my clients, my candidates (oh, and my boss). Leaving them aside for a minute, that feeling of letting others down, it would have made me miserable.

But perhaps these “quiet quitters” don’t feel the same? I’m not sure. But what I am sure about, positive in fact, is that when you find the right job, the right culture fit, the right balance; you can make those 40 hours a week much more enjoyable.

I speak to countless candidates each week. Many reach out to me because they are unhappy with their job. What’s interesting to me is how often retailers, with many years of experience

suggest that this is no longer the industry for them. For my side, I hate seeing good people leave this industry and so I often encourage them to list what it is they dislike, what is making them unhappy, and what they would like from a new role. 99% of the time we can find all or most of these things in the same industry, just with a different employer. The amazing part? Once I hear back from these once disgruntled retailers, their joy is back. It wasn’t the industry that was bringing them down, just that job. Seeing this change time and time again makes me think: these quiet quitters? Have they just not found the right role for them yet? The one where they can find joy for themselves in 40 working hours – where they get to feel challenged, and appreciated, enjoy the comradery of their co-workers, and a belly laugh with a client or customer Me, I love seeing some candidates progress and come back to me as a client. I love seeing my team advance and grow and be promoted. I don’t think this makes me a sucker I think it means I am finding as much joy as I can in every hour that I live, including those spent at my desk. And I don’t know about everyone else, but for me, that seems the best way to spend my days!

Thriving at work

Which brings me on to this. I read something by Lesley Alderman in The Washington Post recently – about “Quiet thriving” and it spoke to me! But it’s not as catchy a phrase as “quiet quitting” – so perhaps it won’t become the new buzzword or phrase. But for me, I definitely think it’s

“Are people happy just waiting to pass time and clock out? That seems so sad to me. Say you spend on average 40 hours a week at work, that’s basically one-third of your waking hours. Who is happy to be unhappy for a third of their waking life?”

“Quiet quitting” has become an industry buzzword of late, but the phenomenon just doesn’t sit right with Excel Recruitment’s Nikki Murran. Here, she explains how the ability to find joy in your working week, aka “quiet thriving”, is a much better alternative for everyone involved

“Quiet quitting suggests that you are not emotionally or intellectually involved in your job,” writes Nikki Murran

worth a look.

Quiet thriving is taking actions and making a mental shift to help you feel more engaged. Her ideas range from looking for the positive to finding a work buddy, setting goals for yourself to setting boundaries with your boss.

I like all these ideas and love the concept, but ultimately what I took from it is this – it’s up to you - and that’s what appealed to me most. I am a firm believer, that, for the most part – your happiness is in your hands, no one else’s.

In this overheated, employee-led market, so many employers come to me asking about how they can retain their staff. Now is the time to speak up – if you have an idea or suggestion that will improve your workplace and bring more joy Most employers will welcome anything that leads to a happy workforce! (Within reason – although I was able to bring my dog into our office which led to more joy than you can shake a stick at!)

And, at the end of all this, if your employer is shutting you down, if you can’t find your work tribe to connect with, then maybe, it’s just the wrong job. Maybe it’s time to call me (unapologetic plug here, lol); maybe a move to a shiny new job will be the thing that brings you your work joy this year? ■

Musgrave to donate €100,000 to Irish Red Cross and UNICEF for Syria and Turkey Earthquake Emergency Relief

Musgrave’s donation drive will last for two weeks, with 100% of the funds donated going directly to the Irish Red Cross and UNICEF to help fund the immediate humanitarian response

€100,000 to the Irish Red Cross and UNICEF to help bring much needed supplies including food, blankets, and medicine to those impacted by this devastating event,” he added. “We are also encouraging our customers to donate what they can at the till. Working closely with the charities, we will ensure that 100% of the donations go as quickly as possible to help those who need it.”

Musgrave Group has launched a major fundraising campaign across the island of Ireland to support people impacted by the recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey

Musgrave will immediately donate €100,000 to on the ground emergency relief in the area.

Musgrave has rolled out a major fundraising campaign enabling customers of its retail and wholesale brands across the island of Ireland to donate through a simple ‘tap to donate’ mechanism at the

till. The donation drive will last for two weeks. 100% of the funds donated will go directly to the Irish Red Cross and UNICEF to help fund the immediate humanitarian response

“We in Musgrave, along with our customers, colleagues and retail partners have all been deeply saddened by the scale of the humanitarian crisis following the earthquake in Syria and Turkey,” said Noel Keeley, CEO, Musgrave Group “Musgrave is immediately contributing

Deirdre Garvey, secretary general of the Irish Red Cross, expressed their gratitude for the initiative, stating: “We would like to thank the people across the island of Ireland and Musgrave for their generosity and quick response to this crisis. Cash donations allow us to respond as quickly as possible on the ground to ensure the donations can make an impact to those who need it most.”

“The children of Syria and Turkey urgently need support,” added UNICEF Ireland executive director Peter Power.

“Through this action by Musgrave and their customers, UNICEF will be able to protect more children and deliver critical life-saving support to those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey.” ■

The right job is one “where someone gets to feel challenged, and appreciated, enjoy the comradery of their co-workers, and a belly laugh with a client or customer,” writes Nikki Murran

“In this overheated, employee-led market so many employers come to me asking about how they can retain their staff. Now is the time to speak up – if you have an idea or suggestion that will improve your workplace and bring more joy. Most employers will welcome anything that leads to a happy workforce!”

A little respect?

New research from Circle K paints a troubling picture of today’s retail landscape where workers are the targets of customer attacks, writes Julia O’Reilly

Stark new research from Circle K highlights the abuse retailers in Ireland are being subjected to by customers. The report paints a troubling picture of today’s retail landscape It is one where 75% of Circle K retail employees and 83% of Irish retail workers have experienced some form of abuse from customers; where a massive 69% of Circle K retail employees have seen colleagues experience inappropriate behaviour such as physical assault and verbal abuse when dealing with customers; and perhaps most troubling of all, one where 50% of Irish retail workers have witnessed customers physically assault a colleague

All the more disappointing is that 28% of retail workers and 18% of Circle K retail employees have been victims of genderbased harassment. A further 34% of Circle K retail employees say they have experienced incidents of harassment based on race

Unacceptable behaviours

With 380 Circle K employees and 500 people employed across the Irish retail industry participating in the study, this is a sobering reflection of how unacceptable customer behaviours towards staff in retail settings have become a norm.

Of course, this is no way for the retailers of Ireland to work, and the director of Retail Ireland Arnold Dillon has called the level of harassment toward retail staff “an enormous concern”.

Commenting on the results of the Circle K study, Dillon says it highlights “some very serious issues, including incidences of physical assault and verbal abuse, that retail workers have had to contend with. The consequences for staff are very real, including mental health issues, burnout, and increased absence.

“At a time when there are labour shortages in many parts of the sector, it’s important that

everything is done to make the sector an attractive place to work. We all have a part to play in supporting retail employees and together reducing the levels of harassment.”

A similar study conducted in Northern Ireland framed the extent of violence, threats and abuse retail staff face while trying to do their jobs. Retail trade union Usdaw found that in 2022, 71% of shopworkers in Northern Ireland received abuse in work, 48% had been threatened and 5% had been assaulted. Meanwhile staff noted that these incidents had gotten worse since the pandemic. The level of abuse showcased in the Usdaw survey was substantial, with workers sharing stories of being spat on, sexually assaulted, physically

“We all have a part to play in supporting retail employees and together reducing the levels of harassment,” says Retail Ireland director Arnold Dillon

abused, threatened, and insulted while trying to do their jobs.

Zero tolerance

It is plain to see why retailer Pat Keller takes a zero-tolerance approach to offenders. This method means repeat offenders are a near non-issue for staff at his two Carry Out offlicences in Nenagh and Roscrea, Co Tipperary “We operate a zero-tolerance approach to abuse,” Keller told ShelfLife “If anyone kicks off with my staff, they are asked to leave and not come back. They can take their business elsewhere.

“If you’re not prepared to act in a respectful manner, then why should I subject my staff and customers to witnessing abuse? I have no problem with a bit of constructive criticism, but if someone’s just having a go at you for the sake of it, goodnight Irene, take it somewhere else and take your opinions with you!”

For Keller, the best approach a retailer can take is a proactive one: “You have to deal with the issue yourself head on. It’s the only way I’d know that some local shops have a much harder time handling these sorts of issues, whereas our approach is to just bar the lot of the troublemakers. We won’t serve any of them and it’s made our shop the better for it.”

Staff shortages

Maintaining adequate staffing levels has proven difficult for many retailers as of late This issue has pushed already strained retailers into tight spots and forced stretched workers to pick up the slack. Add to that the prevalence of abuse in retail, and it is understandable that many retailers feel their staffing situation is more precarious than ever

One such retailer is Kaushal Kathuria - the owner of four successful convenience stores across Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, and Louth. It is his Dublin store that has been having some real issues, he told ShelfLife: “In the six months since I’ve taken over the shop in Inchicore the stealing and the abuse we’ve faced has been enormous. I’ve dealt with this in my other shops in the countryside, but it’s nowhere near as prevalent.”

Kathuria’s most menacing perpetrators are young kids: “What’s been happening is that big groups of young kids, 15 or 16 of them, come into our shop and wreak havoc. They steal sweets, chocolates, and eggs. When we try to stop them, they start throwing eggs at us. It creates a hostile environment for our staff and customers. It isn’t right.

“One member of the team often has to stay by the door all evening to see if there’s a group coming outside, and we have to pull the shutter down before they come in. That’s how bad things have gotten. We need a system that makes people take responsibility for the wrong that has been done

Vulnerable

“The most frustrating part is that we are not protected by law to do anything about this,” continues Kathuria. “As a retailer, I would like to feel I am protected by the law. If someone abuses you, you should be able to confront them. But even the guards have their hands tied when it comes to minors. Even when these

they could get paid the same amount without having to deal with regular abuse and threats.”

Change is needed

Kathuria adds that these setbacks take allimportant energy away from the day-to-day running of the store: “What’s so frustrating is that this distracts us from what we’re really trying to do - to serve the community, and focus on sales, staff retention and attracting new staff My goal is to get the shop set up and running to the best of its ability Now it’s been six months and I’m hoping to start looking towards the future, but without real change that will be difficult.”

As the situation continues to degrade for retailers nationwide, Vincent Jennings, chief executive officer of the CSNA says real change is needed. “CSNA has called for a zerotolerance approach by the gardaí and courts when dealing with anti-social behaviour by thugs.”

kids are throwing things at us and abusing us, all my manager and I can do is fold our arms behind our backs and try to get them to leave the shop.”

While it is vital that staff know how to conduct themselves if a violent scene breaks out, Kathuria says he is careful not to ask too much of his team. “My staff are not security professionals, and I can’t push them to take on that role without the risk of losing them. I need them to keep the shop going, that’s the most important thing.

“My staff come in to do a day’s work. It’s not fair that they have to put up with abuse on top of everything else All that hassle has made it hard to retain staff at the store. They don’t sign up for that when they come to work in retail, but sadly it’s become part of the job I can understand the point of view of people that would choose to work outside of retail, where

Comparing the results of Circle K’s survey with one the CSNA conducted before Covid-19, Jennings told ShelfLife that the reports showed “similarly high level of threats, assaults, and intimidation”. However, he notes that: “At that time, we were assured by An Garda Siochana spokespersons that all measures would be taken, including ASBOs and sharing images of offenders with retailers. Instead, three years later, we have gangs of thugs terrorising employees with impunity It’s not right and it needs to be addressed as a matter of priority by the Minister and Commissioner Drew Harris.”

Respect

It’s worth recalling that when Covid-19 began to spread, retail workers were widely praised for providing much-needed support to their communities. Sadly, it seems much of that respect and appreciation has been lost since.

“Almost three years ago we found ourselves in a grip of a global pandemic where the retail sector demonstrated its importance and played a key role in keeping the country moving,” says Gordon Lawlor, managing director of Circle K Ireland. “It is crucial that we recognise this vital role and encourage good behaviour by all customers towards those working in retail settings.” ■

“Even when these kids are throwing things at us and abusing us, all my manager and I can do is fold our arms behind our backs and try to get them to leave the shop.”

“CSNA has called for a zero-tolerance approach by the gardaí and courts when dealing with anti-social behaviour by thugs,” says Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association

It’s what’s below the water line that really matters

While marketing can be described as a 8:92 balance – 8% communications and 92% ‘other’ – here, Colin Gordon explains the pitfalls of devoting all your attention to the visible 8%

Mark Ritson (PhD, contributor to Marketing Week, brand consultant, former marketing professor, and teacher of marketing in colleges such as MIT and LBS) commented on a LinkedIn post recently highlightingin my words - that ‘marketing’ is 8% communications and 92% “other”. He was commenting on a recently published book (that focused almost exclusively on the 8%).

The problem is that there is an imbalance in how much time, money, research, reporting, training, structural designing, briefings, etc., is devoted to perfecting this 8% and how little is spent on the “other” part of marketing.

It struck me as a super summary of what I’ve been trying to say in these columns in the last few years; the fact that you can get so much into a couple of numbers and a few pithy words is so useful. There may be debates as to the 8:92 balance but the point is still very relevant: marketing is so much more than communicating or advertising.

Iceberg analogy

My own research into this issue amongst Irish advertising and PR agencies and Irish marketers pointed out the same problem. The increasing preoccupation with social media platforms has only exacerbated the issue. I’ve tried to represent what I might call the Ritson Balance by thinking of an iceberg to represent the whole of marketing, with the part above water being comms et al and the much bigger piece (below water) being all the rest. The iceberg analogy is useful in so far as the larger part of the berg is invisible, in the same way as the “other” aspects of marketing are not prominent or even invisible to marketers and to others in the organisation.

The visible 8% gets all the attention not only from marketers and from the others in the organisation, but also

from the public and even from educators. There are courses and certificates, diplomas, degrees and in-work training programmes designed around particular parts of the 8%. Let’s be clear; marketing is not communications and marketing is not the same as a marketer

Beneath the waterline

Given the invisibility up to this point of the “other” parts of marketing, it seems right for us to set out what makes up the 92%. What lies beneath the water line! Marketing is everything an organisation does to ensure the consumer can get to try and hopefully be loyal to your product or service. Everything! The marketer does not have to be the doer of everything; but marketing is the way the organisation shapes and structures itself to ensure it can get best develop and exploit the potential for the organisation in its chosen market.

The combination of all the parts of how the organisation shapes and structures itself are designed to make selling easier This combination is therefore what leads to the physical act of the sale. Selling is not the be-all and

end-all. It’s there because the company has deployed a set of consumer-centric initiatives that may or may not be the responsibility of a marketing department or function. All the activities of the organisation are only there to help make it easier for consumers to buy And it’s a continuous programme.

Mistaken beliefs about 4Ps

A good place to start would be the old fashioned start point. The obvious elements of the “other” parts of marketing, Ritson’s 92% or my iceberg below the water line, would include working on each and every one of the 4Ps – increasingly and mistakenly seen as old hat and worthy only of a bit, walk-on part in the overall marketing story

So, you hear things said like:

• “Price is only the on-shelf piece, isn’t it?”

But we need to examine who really looks to Price, how to manage its elasticity, or how to implement ‘dead net pricing’. Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock previously described ‘dead net pricing’ thus: “That’s the price perception in their mind that they’re

COLIN

GORDON marketing expert

In the iceberg analogy, the iceberg represents the whole of marketing, with the part above water being comms et al and the much bigger piece (below water) being all the rest

gauging their margin off of.” It differs from the previous approach of “having a price from a vendor and having other holdback allowances that were utilised for other promotions and those types of things”.

• “Isn’t Place something to do with the customer service team or the merchandisers?”

• Yet, it’s also about rate of sale, aftersales service, case sizes and pallet quantities, adjacencies and points of disruption.

• “Product is all about extra-fills and 2-fors, surely?”

• It’s also about range management, sustainable packaging, understanding new consumer tastes and behaviours and how they are reflected in recipes.

• “I get Promotion as a P but isn’t that all about advertising and cost per thousands?”

It’s also about the state of your truck livery,

the way the receptionist deals with calls, and what your employees say about you.

All-encompassing

Marketing, as a way to ensure buying your product or service is as easy as possible, involves everything down to the proof of deliveries, credit notes, getting invoicing right, the behaviours of your branded (or unbranded) trucks, vans and sales force in the public, your website, and even how you deal with job applications. The 4Ps still stand as core pillars but they imply much more than most marketers give them credit for. Marketing may not be the doer of all these things but a real marketer will acquaint themselves with the business in its entirety and be able to fight on behalf of the consumer to make sure that all the blocks are removed and enablers promoted. ■

‘Marketing is in trouble: How we got here and 10 steps to get us out’ by Colin Gordon is now available to purchase, published by Orpen Press. To get your hands on a copy, visit the following:

www.orpenpress.com

UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08M9XY6HF

US: www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9XY6HF

Ireland: Marketing is in trouble eBook by Colin Gordon - 9781786051127.

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

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

I recently watched WeCrashedabout the rise and fall of start-up, WeWork, on Apple TV and it was absolutely brilliant.

2. Best place for coffee?

Mister Magpie Coffee in Ballsbridge is a lovely small café that’s worth a visit.

3. Top movie recommendation?

I don’t watch too many movies, but over Christmas I did see ThePaleBlueEyewith Christian Bale. This was a great find.

4. Top spot for a walk?

I love to go for walks in Kindlestown Woods in Wicklow, a lovely spot to take the kids and dogs - two boys and two collies need a lot of exercise.

5. Top book recommendation?

The last book I read was TheHeart’sInvisible Furiesby John Boyne, a very Irish read.

6. Which social media platform do you use most?

LinkedIn would be my social media platform of choice; it keeps me up to date on what’s happening in the business world around me.

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

I really enjoy Muireann O’Connell as an influencer, she’s a really strong presenter too.

8. Best ad on telly?

I may be biased here, but I absolutely love the Katy Perry – did somebody say…. advert. It’s fun and colourful and encapsulates who we are as a company.

9. Favourite grocery shop?

SuperValu without a doubt. Once a week, the online delivery service saves my life as a busy working mum.

10. Your favourite dish to make at home?

Chicken curry, I love it and homemade ciabattas go down a treat with all the family.

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

I would abolish homework; I truly believe in getting rid of homework as kids do enough in school and also it would remove a lot of pressure on busy working parents.

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

That’s an easy one for me, Portugal – as a family, we love to go every year. Portugal has it all in my eyes, lovely people, good weather, great food and nice wine!

13. Greatest achievement to date?

Where I am currently. Considering my life in general, I have a very busy home life with two kids and I’ve become the managing director of Just Eat Ireland which I’ve been growing with my superb team and I’m so proud.

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

A bit of both is the ideal situation. Working from home as a busy mum allows me to engage with my employees, who showed me over Covid that they are hugely productive working from home, and it allows me to be

there for my family – it’s the best of both worlds.

15. Best piece of advice you ever received? “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel!” I live by this in everything I do.

16. City or beach break?

Easy one – I love a beach break.

17. Top restaurant recommendation? The Hungry Monk in Greystones, Wicklow.

18. Who is the last artist/group you saw live? I’m going to see Florence and the Machine this week.

19. Best customer service you ever received? At Just Eat, we do a thing called secret shoppers with our customer care team. We place an order and contact our customer care team to sort out a perceived problem. Our customer care team are trained so well, and it’s always been a brilliant and positive experience.

20. What’s the last compliment you received? In work, I’ve always been told that it is obvious shared success drives me. ■

“Marketing, as a way to ensure buying your product or service is as easy as possible, involves everything down to the proof of deliveries, credit notes, getting invoicing right, the behaviours of your branded (or unbranded) trucks, vans and sales force in the public, your website, and even how you deal with job applications.”

QUICK QUESTIONS WITH AMANDA ROCHE KELLY MD for Just Eat Ireland

Amanda Roche Kelly

Champion cuts!

Where once cooked, packaged meats were seen as a reliable sandwich filler nowadays many consumers have realised the true versatility and convenience packaged meat ranges can offer, and they’re often enjoyed in a multitude of dishes and snacks, as a tasty and quick addition to a stir-fry, pizza, or pasta and much more – a trend which has been amplified by the pandemic, when ‘convenient nutrition’ was paramount. As Natalie Magill, market research analyst at Mintel points out: “Covid-19 has driven sales in the meat sector, with great at-home dining driving the market.”

According to new research conducted by Shopper Intelligence for ShelfLife, within the cooked meats category, freshness and quality are more important to the shopper than price. A fact which shows just how much these attributes are valued at a time when the costof-living continues to rise

Irishness and traceability are particularly top of mind for shoppers, according to Shopper Intelligence. This is also prominent within Mintel’s research on meats in Ireland, which states that “locally sourced is key”. In fact, Shopper Intelligence points out that cooked meats are 16th and 19th in the whole store when it comes to the importance of traceability and Irishness respectively

Premium product credentials are the best way to engage the shopper, adds Shopper Intelligence, and this is certainly demonstrated by the three brands highlighted within this feature. Naturally, innovation is vital and Ireland is absolutely no slouch in this area, with formats and flavours to beat the band. A great example of new innovation comes in the form of Green Farm’s award-winning Added Benefits range, which offers a high protein and vitamin enriched range of cooked chicken and turkey products. With six in 10 people seeking out functional food to support their health and wellbeing, the launch has arrived at an ideal time

Win on the double!

Iconic food brand Denny has been at the heart of Irish family homes for more than 200 years. The brand’s new campaign ‘Win on the Double with Denny’ reminds us that, sometimes, the most comfort is derived from comforting others.

The campaign gives shoppers the opportunity to enjoy Denny’s delicious, quality ham, while also being in with a chance to win one €100 grocery gift voucher for themselves and one for a loved one

All consumers have to do is simply pick up a pack, free text the unique code inside and they’ll be in with a chance of winning every day over the competition’s life. It really is a win, win!

Highest quality craftmanship

Thanks to its consumers, customers, colleagues and suppliers, Brady Family continues to stand proudly as Ireland’s number one cooked ham brand.

This achievement is not down to a small group of individuals, but to the collective at Brady Family who demonstrate care, commitment, and trust in delivering the highest quality and craftsmanship in the brand every day.

Tradition is everything to the team at Brady Family The brand’s ham is crafted from the finest quality Irish Bord Bia approved meat and carved from one single pork joint. Brady Family’s three-day curing method allows the ham to slowly mature, giving it a more delicate and distinctive flavour The ham is then steam cooked before being expertly finished by hand. A tradition produced with passion in Timahoe Co Kildare.

Brady Family has a wide range of formats for many occasions. Your shoppers can keep it traditional with succulent slices of Brady Family Carvery Ham. The Carvery range is made from Bord Bia approved prime pork topside Meanwhile, the Just Add range is the perfect dinner time ingredient - this shredded

ham is an excellent accompaniment for your customers’ favourite pasta, pizza, or salad dishes. Another fantastic option, the Brady Family At the Delicatessen range offers delicatessen-quality ham readily carved for consumers to simply grab-and-go Lastly, the Brady Family Master Butcher Edition celebrates the craft of its master butcher, Pat Creighton, who has used his expertise to develop a unique collection of exquisite dry aged ham products; ideal fo any picnic or grazing boar

With the pandemic lockdowns emphasising the true versatility of the cooked meats sector as a great addition to virtually any family mealtime or snack occasion, the category is continuing to perform strongly, and Irish brands are impressing shoppers with their quality credentials and diversity of available options, writes Gillian Hamill

Denny’s new campaign reminds us that, sometimes, the most comfort is derived from comforting others

Brady Family offers a wide range of formats, all crafted from the finest quality Irish Bord Bia approved meat

Enriched with added benefits

Green Farm is a tasty, cooked meat choice that is protein powered. As the range of chicken and turkey products are naturally high in protein, they provide a nourishing addition to any sandwich, salad, stir fry or snack. The Green Farm range comes in a variety of convenient formats: from slices and pieces to cooked fillets, there is a product for any mealtime occasion.

Green Farm has a rich heritage of keeping the health and wellbeing of the consumer as a key focus. A marked milestone on this journey was the removal of artificial flavours and

THE IRISH COOKED MEATS D SHOPPER

All products within Green Farm’s Added Benefits range are enriched with B Vitamins which have a multitude of health benefit

preservatives from all Green Farm products in 2011. Since then, the brand has consistently delivered product innovation which has been supported with recipe inspiration.

The latest development in the Green Farm brand is the recent launch of the awardwinning Added Benefits range, providing consumers with a delicious high protein and vitamin enriched range of cooked chicken and turkey products, and with six in 10 people seeking out functional food to support their health and wellbeing, this

launch couldn’t have come at a better time All products within the Added Benefits range are enriched with B Vitamins which have a multitude of health benefits for the human body and mind, whether your customers are looking to support their heart, build up immunity or fight fatigue, the Added Benefits range has everyone covered. Green Farm is the first in the cooked meat category to bring vitamin enriched foods to the shelves of Ireland, helping to make eating well easy for everyone ■

Sales springing up!

Following the social restrictions during Easter in 2020 and 2021, consumers are keen to make the most of the holiday and mark it with some special family time and premium treats.

This eagerness led to strong sales for retailers across Ireland last year Despite

Spring is in the air

For a luxury chocolate egg sure to impress this Easter, look no further than Butlers

Chocolates – Ireland’s preferred brand of luxury Irish chocolates*.

Butlers boxed eggs, continue to be a muststock premium Irish-made chocolate egg for Easter - perfect both for self-treating and gifting.

This Easter, Butlers beautiful boxed eggs feature a striking look in fresh spring tones, each housing a delicious, creamy milk chocolate egg and a selection of mini filled eggs in such delectable varieties as Hazelnut Praline Milk Truffle and Dark Salt Caramel.

All Butlers Chocolates products are crafted using sustainably sourced cocoa. In line with its continuing sustainability journey, the majority of the Easter collection is presented in either recyclable or keepsake packaging.

For enquiries and orders, email trade@butlers.ie

*(Source; Opinions Research 2022).

ongoing inflation concerns, research from Kantar Ireland found that in the 12 weeks to 17 April 2022, Irish consumers spent €10.8 million more on Easter eggs and seasonal chocolate in a four-week period compared to the same time in 2021.

Meanwhile, some things never change as

Vintage treats are in vogue

Cleeve’s Irish Confectionery has developed a selection of delicious Easter eggs this spring that will make the perfect Easter gift for chocolate lovers and fans of the Cleeve’s brand, both young and old.

The Cleeve’s Easter Egg collection includes the best-selling variants within the range with the launch of the Cleeve’s Macaroon Egg, Cleeve’s Iced Caramels & Milk Chocolate Egg, and the Classic Irish Milk Chocolate Egg with Cleeve’s Chocolate Caramels.

Made using Cleeve’s traditional recipes and quality Irish dairy products sourced locally, the three Easter eggs are all foil-wrapped and presented in striking vintage-inspired packaging that can be recycled and disposed of responsibly Each carton also gives the consumer some background information on the fascinating history and heritage behind the Cleeve’s brand.

Cleeve’s is Ireland’s longest surviving confectionery brand and has a history as rich as its chocolate Established in 1882, the Cleeve’s factory in Limerick had become the largest milk processing factory in Ireland by 1902 using the milk of over 10,000 cows Back then, the focus was on cream and skim milk processing. However, the founder Sir Thomas Henry Cleeve saw the value in diversifying and went on to manufacture butter, condensed milk and the brand’s beloved toffee and chocolate products.

Today, it is fitting to honour the memory of the Cleeve’s founder Sir Thomas Henry Cleeve by once again incorporating Irish milk into the Cleeve’s Easter Egg selection. The range includes:

• Classic Irish Milk Chocolate Easter Egg (RRP €6): A mouth-watering milk chocolate

shoppers spent an extra €620,000 on traditional hot cross buns last year Retailers hoping to see sales soar once again this year should ensure they are stocking the right range - from fun and colourful options for the kids to luxurious, indulgent choices for adults.

egg made from the finest Irish dairy ingredients accompanied with the inclusion of luscious Cleeve’s Chocolate Caramels.

• Cleeve’s Macaroon Easter Egg (RRP €6): The classic combination of chocolate and coconut is timeless. The Macaroon Easter Egg is made from Irish milk chocolate combined with exotic coconut from the Far East and brings to market the brand’s market-leading Macaroon Bar in a chocolate egg format using Cleeve’s special recipe that has been enjoyed by successive generations down throughout the years. It is also accompanied with two Cleeve’s Macaroon Chocolate Bars.

• Cleeve’s Original Iced Caramels Easter Egg (RRP €6): This brings together one of Ireland’s most cherished retro sweet treats and a luxurious milk chocolate Easter egg. Uniquely special and produced exclusively

With Kantar data showing shoppers spent €10.8 million more on Easter eggs and seasonal chocolate in a four-week period last year compared to the same time in 2021, ensuring you stock the right range of both fun and luxurious options will once again deliver dividends in 2023

All Butlers Chocolates products are made with sustainably sourced cocoa

Cleeve’s Easter Egg collection includes the best-selling variants within its range, and makes a great gift for fans, young and old

Ultimate gift this Easter

Lily O’Brien’s Easter Eggs provide shoppers with the perfect gifts to celebrate the season with family and friends. Created using the finest ingredients, the deliciously handcrafted collection of Lily O’Brien’s Easter Eggs includes the iconic Desserts Collection Egg, the Sticky Toffee Egg and the stylish and sophisticated Easter Gift Bag:

The Lily O’Brien’s Desserts Collection Egg offers a true feast for the taste buds this Easter

• The Lily O’Brien’s Desserts Collection Egg is a perfect gifting choice this Easter. This luxurious hand-crafted milk chocolate egg is complemented with a selection of delicious chocolates from

in Ireland by Cleeve’s Irish Confectionery

Cleeve’s Original Iced Caramels combines yummy, chewy caramels under a crisp coating of pink and white icing. One of a kind, Cleeve’s Iced Caramels are still made using the same recipe and methods first developed over 90 years ago

For more information on Cleeve’s Irish Confectionery, visit cleevesirishconfectionery.ie or if you would like to order Cleeve’s, contact your Ampersand representative or call the sales line on 01 413 0150

Refreshed Easter range

Ferrero is introducing new innovations alongside the return of seasonal favourites for Easter 2023 to help retailers maximise the key confectionery sales opportunity

Thorntons is expanding its range of popular moulded figures with the launch of a white chocolate Bunny in the much-loved 90g format to cater for more gifting occasions. Thorntons’ existing 170g Bunny is already the third bestselling branded SKU in value sales within novelties, worth £1.48m*.

A full pack redesign will roll out across Thorntons’ kids eggs, with animations and colourful backgrounds aiming to drive standout on shelf for parents. Thorntons’ eggs are the third fastest growing** medium egg gift range This was supported by a 30% rise in penetration in 2022, with increased spend from pre-family and empty nesters, showcasing the products’ wide brand reach and strength as a gift.***

Ferrero Rocher Easter confectionery value sales have grown by 10.8% vs a year ago****. To build on this success and continue momentum in 2023, the brand is launching two boxed egg packs, a Ferrero Rocher Egg and a Ferrero Collection (Milk) Egg, which both include a large 175g egg and six Ferrero Rochers. On top of this, Ferrero is introducing a new 100g Bunny for Easter.

Meanwhile Kinder Surprise accounts for 33% of Kinder’s unit sales during Easter, and

Luxurious and moreish, Lily O’Brien’s Sticky Toffee Egg is the ultimate indulgent chocolate treat –ideal for spoiling someone special this Easter

the Lily O’Brien’s much loved Desserts Collection. Each Desserts Egg generously includes nine decadently delicious Dessert chocolates including three of the best loved recipes from the Desserts collection; Crème Brulee, Raspberry infusion and Key Lime Pie

• Lily O’Brien’s Sticky Toffee Egg will make the perfect indulgent gift for those who love the finer things in life! This beautiful hand-crafted milk chocolate egg comes with delicious sticky toffee chocolates - sweet smooth caramel smothered in milk and dark chocolate

• For a gift to really impress, the Lily O’Brien’s Luxury Easter Egg Gift Bag is the

Kinder Seasonal is returning for Easter 2023 with familiar favourites such as Kinder Joy, Kinder Egg Hunt and Kinder Figures. The Kinder 75g Bunny is now worth £1.1m****, benefitting from additional distribution in 2022 across grocery and convenience throughout the Easter sales period.

*(Source: Nielsen, Easter Confectionery, Special Easter 13 Weeks up to 16.04.22)

**(Source: Within Token Gift Medium Eggs - Nielsen, Easter Confectionery, Special Easter 13 Weeks up to 16.04.22)

***(Source: Total Market (Kantar) | Easter Confectionery | J W Thornton Ltd | Token Gift | 12 w/e | 17th April 22)

****(Source: Nielsen, Easter Confectionery, 13 weeks to 16.04.22)

Legendary treats

For Easter 2023, legendary Irish chocolatier Lir is returning to shelves with its delicious range of premium hand-made Easter Eggs, bringing back some favourites and a delicious new Baileys Original Chocolate Easter Egg too. Hand-finished by Lir’s talented chocolatiers in Navan, Co Meath, Lir’s delicious chocolate egg creations are housed in gorgeous packaging which is 99% plastic free and fully sustainable This year’s Lir Easter Egg collection includes four delectable and eyecatching varieties.

The Lir Milk Chocolate Egg with Salted Caramel Truffles, (230g, RRP: €10.50) is a

perfect answer this Easter. This stylish gift bag includes a delicious hand-crafted Lily O’Brien’s milk chocolate egg with honeycomb crispy heart chocolates, the beautifully gift-wrapped Ultimate Chocolate Collection and two of the most popular recipes from the Lily O’Brien’s share bag range, a Creamy Caramel share bag and a Crunchy Salted Almond share bag.

For shoppers looking for an alternative Easter gifting option, Lily O’Brien’s luxury boxed chocolate range provides the perfect options. From the best-loved Desserts Collection, to the Ultimate Chocolate Collection and the recently launched new Truffles range, Lily O’Brien’s range of boxed chocolates offer retailers the perfect selection to appeal to all your shoppers this Easter.

All Lily O’Brien’s Easter Eggs and boxed chocolates are carefully created and thoughtfully designed in County Kildare making them the ultimate choice for gifting and sharing. Lily O’Brien’s range is available in stores nationwide and you can also view the full range online at www.lilyobriens.ie

favourite for all chocolate lovers every year This silky Belgian milk chocolate, hand decorated egg, includes Lir’s classic cocoa dusted salted caramel truffles. The range also includes dark chocolate and white chocolate versions of the popular egg alongside the now famed Lir Crispy Caramel Egg, a glorious combination of Belgian milk chocolate with crispy caramel pieces, presented with Lir’s mouth-watering Salted Caramel Truffles (155g, RRP: €8.50).

Meanwhile, Baileys Chocolate fans are in for a tastier Easter with the launch of the gorgeous new Baileys Original Chocolate Easter Egg (RRP €10). Combining a delicious milk chocolate egg flavoured with a hint of Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur and including eight of Baileys much loved and popular original twist wrap truffles, it’s one that will delight fans of the world’s most popular cream liqueur this Easter.

With reduced plastic packaging, this latest welcome addition to the Baileys Chocolates range joins an already impressive and muchloved Easter egg line-up: from the delicious Baileys Strawberry & Cream Egg and Baileys Salted Caramel Egg to 2022’s hero Baileys Sundae Egg.

To find out more about the 2023 Baileys Easter Egg range visit www.lirchocolates.com/ collections/the-easter-collection

The Lir range is hand-finished by the brand’s talented chocolatiers in Navan, Co. Meath

The new Baileys Original Chocolate Easter Egg will delight fans of the world’s most popular cream liqueur

Luck of the Irish!

Make your customers smile from ear to ear this Easter with the Lindt Gold Bunny Shamrock a new limited-edition design of the iconic Lindt Gold Bunny.

Available now in stores nationwide, the Lindt Gold Bunny range comes in a variety of sizes, formats, and flavours, and continues to grow and dominate the novelties category as a clear market leader at Easter*

Lindt Gold Bunny is the perfect Easter gift for kids and adults alike and an Irish seasonal favourite, supported with heavyweight TV and in-store displays right through the Easter season.

*(Source: Nielsen, Total Scantrack excluding discounters @17 Weeks to 17.04.22 ROI Data)

Big brands and best-selling formats

Nestlé Confectionery’s spring 2023 range is designed to build on its winning formula of big brands delivered across best-selling formats. There is exciting innovation across the portfolio including a Milkybar Mini Eggs Block, the national launch of Aero Peppermint Mini Eggs and the brand new ‘roarsome’ Smarties Dinosaur Giant Egg, ensuring there is something for all the family this Easter.

Impressive growth

For over 35 years, Rocheur Ireland Ltd has been supplying Easter product ranges to its retail and wholesale customers across Ireland.

Over the years, the market has steadily moved from traditional Easter Eggs, towards novelty confectionery gift items.

Headlining the 2023 Nestlé spring range is the much-loved KitKat Bunny impulse bar Each bar is moulded into the shape of a cute bunny and consists of a rich chocolatey centre filled with crispy wafer pieces, all encased in a smooth milk chocolate shell. Ideal for occasions ranging from indulgent treating, baking and egg hunts to Easter gifting; it’s available in multiple formats including the impulse bar, a sharing bag, a multipack and a Giant Easter Egg complete with an impulse bar and Mini Bunnies bag inside

The mini eggs category is a growing opportunity for retailers and this year the category will benefit from the nationwide launch of Aero Peppermint Mini Eggs in a brand-new design. After Eight Mint Chocolate Foiled Mini Eggs are also back for 2023 after a successful launch last Easter. Meanwhile, the iconic Milkybar Mini Eggs and Smarties Mini Eggs both feature a colourful new redesign for 2023, which is certain to make them stand out on shelf

Building on the much-loved mini eggs format, mini egg block sales saw a growth spurt in 2022. By combining the popularity of this format with the trend for white chocolate, Nestlé arrived at the egg-citing brand new Milkybar Mini Eggs Block. Each block is a combination of iconic Milkybar white chocolate with coloured chocolate mini eggs

embedded inside

A caramel flavour chocolate shell egg with cookie inclusions, this exciting new innovation includes two KitKat Chunky Caramel bars and KitKat Cookie Dough mini eggs

Giant and premium eggs remain pivotal to Easter, offering an opportunity for retailers to trade shoppers up through exciting new product launches and more gift-worthy solutions.

Brand new for 2023 is the Smarties

Dinosaur Giant Egg This is not just a trend; children have been fascinated with dinosaurs since the dawn of time! The colourfully designed box is certain to catch-the-eye in store and contains a giant milk chocolate egg alongside three special dinosaur themed Smarties hexatube packs featuring purely the green and brown Smarties. The pack will also feature added-value fun for the family with a special AR experience accessed through a QR code and a make your own dinosaur activity

Nestlé’s range is once again packed with gift-worthy eggs for all recipients, including a brand-new Incredible Egg from KitKat The KitKat Chunky Caramel Cookie Collision

Incredible Egg comprises of a caramel flavour chocolate shell egg with cookie inclusions, alongside two KitKat Chunky Caramel bars and a bag of KitKat Cookie Dough mini eggs.

The Smarties Dinosaur Giant Egg offers added-value fun for the family with a special AR experience accessed through a QR code and a make your own dinosaur activity

Rocheur’s carefully selected, quality products provide retailers with a broader range and add a fun, engaging, and value element for consumers.

“Our Easter range in 2022 grew by +22% versus 2021 and accounted for 11% of total Rocheur turnover. We anticipate Easter 2023 will grow by a further +16%,” says Simon Demery, sales and marketing manager, Rocheur Ltd, demonstrating the brand’s impressive growth.

Rocheur is well positioned to supply an extensive range of novelty Easter product with recommended retail prices from €1 to €9

The company’s products include Chocolate Surprise Eggs, a Milk Chocolate Foiled Easter Bunny, Easter Chocolate Lollypops, Easter Milk Nets, Farmer Mallow Pop, Easter Twist Pops, Milk Chocolate Bunnies (five-pack), Chocolate Hens, Boy/Girl Eggs and Hen on a Basket.

For enquiries, and a brochure of Rocheur’s range, contact sales@rocheur.com

Address: Rocheur Ltd, South Quay, Arklow, Y14KV60, Co Wicklow.

Telephone: +353 (0) 402 24766 ■

Finally, no Easter would be complete without the best-selling large egg format. Nestlé’s range of large Easter eggs includes family favourites from KitKat, Rolo, Toffee Crisp, Munchies, Yorkie, Lion and Smarties. These big brands are important as they have the mass appeal shoppers look for as they want to know they are buying the recipient a gift they will love

Last year, Rocheur Ireland’s Easter range grew by +22% versus 2021

With everything from Easter Twist Pops to its Hen on a Basket, Easter Milk Nets and much more, Rocheur Ireland’s range is sure to delight kids this Easter

The

Lindt Gold Bunny Shamrock is a new limited-edition design of this classic Easter must-have

Rocheur Ireland’s quality range adds a fun, engaging, and value element for consumers

Winning nutrition

As the shelves of the nation’s convenience stores and supermarkets demonstrate, healthy credentials such as protein content have become considerably more important for Irish shoppers over the past decade

One Euromonitor report from September 2022 titled ‘Sports Nutrition in Ireland’, suggests that increasing maturity and growing competition will prompt more sports nutrition manufacturers to try to broaden the appeal of their products beyond sports and fitness enthusiasts. According to Euromonitor, more players are likely to adjust their marketing and distribution strategies to target consumers with busy, on-the-go lifestyles or individuals

Perfect coffee break companion

Fulfil Nutrition is not only Ireland’s number one protein impulse bar brand with 73% value share, but is also the number one impulse bar year-to-date, outselling every other chocolate bar brand. Since day one, Fulfil Nutrition has performed well due to its product offering, as a great tasting bar with benefits that have resonated with Irish consumers, as well as its complete range of flavours that has sustained the brand’s popularity

For consumers looking for something a bit lighter, Fulfil Crispy is the ideal offering. Available in two flavours, Caramel and Peanut, Fulfil Crispy is the perfect lite bite for a morning coffee break or late afternoon pickme-up

The bar’s crispy and light texture combined with Fulfil’s signature moreish milk chocolate

attempting to improve their nutritional intake and lose weight.

A new UK-based study by Mintel entitled ‘Attitudes towards Sports Nutrition 2023’ also revealed a number of interesting findings. These include that the category spend on above-the-line (ATL) advertising stands above pre-pandemic levels. According to Mintel, feel good messaging will chime with younger sports nutrition users, while a tailored approach to sports nutrition chimes with two in three users. Moreover, sports nutrition for low intensity exercise appeals to two in three consumers. The analyst reports that consumers will also seek out affordable solutions in sports nutrition. Meanwhile, brand

collaborations with mainstream brands appeal widely among sports nutrition users.

In terms of areas with the potential for further development, Mintel writes that greater age inclusivity is warranted in the category Across the board, there is also a strong interest in sports nutrition supporting mental performance.

Overall, Euromonitor reports the outlook for sports nutrition over the forecast five-year period is positive, with greater diversification anticipated in the future with wider availability of alternative product types such as protein supplements and sports drinks. Read on to find out more about the products that will help the nation’s growing army of fitness fans sustain and maintain their game

flavours, great nutrition and amazing taste They also connect with brands where sustainability is one of its core values - that’s where All Real comes in.

flavour and delicious caramel creates a healthier on-the-go snack option with less than 150 calories per bar, which is low in sugar, high in protein and packed with nine vitamins.

To keep up to date on all the latest news, follow Fulfil on Instagram @fulfil_nutrition and Twitter @fulfil.

*(Sources: Symphony EYC, Dunnhumby, Talysis, Circle K. Based on sales in the MAT (48 week) period ending 1 January 2023 compared to the MAT (52 week) period ending 2 January 2022 for all measured stores in Republic of Ireland of products in the Single Bars super category).

Impact on ocean plastic; impact on the shelves!

Since launching in 2021, All Real Nutrition is garnering more and more shelf space in Irish retailers… and for a reason!

For the modern consumer, an Irish brand that only promotes using Irish ingredients is just not enough anymore. They want it all. They want real-food ingredients, indulgent

Popular across both planned purchases and impulse sales, the sports nutrition and protein category is increasingly expanding its reach beyond hardcore gym and fitness devotees to those who also want to partake in low intensity exercise

Each Fulfil Crispy bar contains less than 150 calories, and is low in sugar, high in protein and packed with nine vitamins

Fulfil Crispy comes in two flavours, Caramel and Peanut, and is ideal for consumers looking for something a bit lighter

Every All Real bar sold prevents the equivalent of one plastic bottle from entering the ocean

All Real Nutrition is an award-winning brand that takes the indulgent and nutritional benefits of the best-selling “artificial” protein bars, and adds the benefits of natural ingredients, to deliver a product with premium nutrition (20g protein and 0g added sugar) which also delivers big on taste – just try the Cashew Cookie Dough or Choc Sea Salt to see for yourself!

Did you know that every All Real bar sold prevents the equivalent of one plastic bottle from entering the ocean? In fact, by the end of 2023, All Real will have stopped over 8 million plastic bottles from entering the ocean. Consumers are 60% more likely to champion a brand with a strong social mission. What does this mean for Irish retailers? All Real is confident it can deliver repeat purchases and more footfall back in your store.

All Real Nutrition protein bars retail at €2.79 and are widely stocked across Ireland in SuperValu, Tesco, Spar, Mace, Londis, Centra and many more. For more information, visit www.eatallreal.com or contact sales@eatallreal.com

A way of life, not a trend

Irish snack food company, Absolute Nutrition has hit the ground running in 2023 with new products, new key accounts and an expansion of its sales team.

“Food is evolving, dietary habits are evolving, and nutritious convenient snack food is a way of life rather than a ‘trend’,” according to Absolute Nutrition. “With a range of flavours, we have something for everyone, and we look forward to changing the way people snack by encouraging them to choose healthier options over highly processed, and sugar-laden alternatives.”

A proud member of both Love Irish Food and Guaranteed Irish, the Absolute Nutrition range is available to retail, foodservice and independents.

For more information, check out @absnutfoods, www.absolutenutrition.ie and email info@absolutenutrition.ie

Monster results

Monster entered the market almost 12 years ago and remains Ireland’s number one ‘stimulant energy’ brand. It consistently contributes to the energy category in both value and volume growth, delivering more than 26% year-to-date (YTD)*.

Within the growing ‘zero sugar’ segment, Monster Ultra has maintained its number one position this year*. The expanding Ultra range now includes Ultra White, Paradise, Red, Blue, Violet, Fiesta Mango, Watermelon and Gold. In 2023, Monster is also launching the new flavour Ultra Rosa, an incredibly light refreshing flavour sure to be a hit with the brand’s fans.

Within the ‘full flavour’ segment, Monster Juiced continues to see accelerated growth. The Juiced range also continues to expand, now including Mango Loco, Pipeline Punch, Pacific Punch, Mixxd Punch, Monarch, Khaotic and this year’s new thirst-quenching flavour, Aussie Lemonade

A further addition to the 2023 range is the brand-new Lewis Hamilton Zero Sugar Hamilton worked with Monster to co-create a refreshing new drink sure to turbo charge your shoppers’ day. The brand advises retailers to ensure you stock up now on all three new products.

*(Source: Nielsen Answers ROI YTD Nov22)

Introducing wiiings for your winter

Here to brighten the short days and give wiiings to your winter is the brand new deliciously fruity Red Bull Winter Edition with the taste of Pomegranate

This latest flavour joins a line-up on shelves of popular Red Bull editions including Strawberry-Apricot, Cactus Fruit, Watermelon and Tropical for a limited time only

Available for a limited time since January 2023 in 250ml cans, the matte-crimson packaging will stand out amongst the rainbow of editions in the Red Bull product line

With all the functional benefits of Red Bull Energy Drink, Red Bull Pomegranate provides a flavour burst of juicy pomegranate and sour cherry, with a hint of red fruits.

The perfect base to winter mocktails or to give your shoppers’ wiiings for their next winter hike, gaming session or long drive, Red Bull Pomegranate is a must-have option, from

the world’s number one energy drink, which is currently available in over 170 countries worldwide

In actual fact, more than 9.8 billion cans of Red Bull Energy Drink have been consumed in 2021 and over 100 billion cans since Red Bull was launched in 1987.

Visit RedBull.ie to learn more.

A cracking idea!

Margaret’s Liquid Egg Whites are naturally high in protein. They contain all nine essential amino acids and have virtually no fat and are very low in calories. Double filtered and pasteurised, each bottle contains a minimum of 15 free range egg whites, providing excellent value for money and no wasted yolks.

Margaret’s Egg Whites really benefits those with high protein requirements but who need to watch their calorie intake such as bodybuilders, gym goers and sports people Consuming these eggs whites help make individuals feel fuller for longer and less likely to consume excess calories during the day.

Extremely versatile, the egg whites can be the basis of a range of tasty recipes, from tasty skinny omelettes and frittatas to protein packed pancakes and not forgetting tasty egg-based cocktails such as whiskey sours.

Produced using only free range eggs from Irish Family Bord Bia Quality approved farms and pasteurised in Cootehill, these egg whites contain no preservatives.

Double filtered and pasteurised, each bottle of Margaret’s Liquid Egg Whites contains a minimum of 15 free range egg whites

With a range of flavours available, Absolute Nutrition offers something for everyone

Lewis Hamilton Zero Sugar was created by Monster in collaboration with the car racing star

Red Bull Winter Edition with the taste of Pomegranate is a deliciously fruity new flavour, available for a limited time only

(Photo: Marius Monaghan/Red Bull)

Eat strong, go strong

John West’s success in continuously being a strong brand is driven by its effort to drive brand relevancy to Irish consumers and shoppers.

John West has been the proud official sponsor of GAA Féile since 2016. This year, the brand is once again supporting the young athletes and their families with a range of products that are naturally high in natural protein, and in natural Vitamin D, making the John West Tuna products the perfect snack between training sessions. Protein contributes to the maintenance (and growth) in muscle mass and Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function.

John West has been working with a team of expert dietitians to engage families and consumers of all ages – from teens to those aged 40+, around nutrition and active lifestyle Increasingly consumers are looking for ways to better their health, maintain their physical fitness and overall wellbeing to get the most out of life.

FullRange

By continuing to launch innovative, tasty ranges, John West makes it easy for your shoppers to get natural protein and natural vitamin D into their diets

“Adequate protein intake throughout all life stages is essential for health as proteins are the building blocks within the body A low intake of protein will not maintain optimal muscle mass and function,” explains registered dietitian, Noreen Roche

“Regular consumption of high-quality proteins like tinned tuna, fish and eggs are important to ensure we protect against muscle loss,” she adds.

By continuing to launch innovative ranges such as the No Drain range and the On-TheGo range, that are both invigorating and tasty, John West makes it easy for your shoppers to get natural protein and natural vitamin D into their diets and to support overall muscle health.

2023 will also see the return of big seller, the John West No Drain can, a return by popular demand.

The brand’s message is clear: “Eat Strong, Go Strong… Feile Strong… Trade Strong!”

clear whey isolate

MyProtein provides sports nutrition staples such as protein bars, high protein foods, snack alternatives, powders, and pre-workout blends

Fuelling ambitions

The UK’s number one sports nutrition brand, MyProtein has appointed Brandshapers Ltd as its exclusive partner to launch its products into Irish bricks and mortar stores. Brandshapers will first launch MyProtein products into SuperValu stores nationwide and plans to roll out to the rest of the market soon.

MyProtein’s core product range includes sports nutrition staples such as protein bars, high protein foods, snack alternatives, powders, and pre-workout blends. This gives consumers the highest quality nutrition to fuel their ambitions at an accessible price point.

The partnership celebrates Brandshapers’ commitment to recognising and representing important consumer needs within the sports nutrition category in the Irish retail market.

As part of the partnership, Brandshapers will also launch MyProtein’s specialist supplement brand, MyVitamins into the Irish retail market. The range seeks to make health and wellness simple for less, utilising raw and high-quality ingredients backed by science. Its in-house nutritionists and industry experts provide consumers with innovative formats to meet a range of

consumption occasions, from ready-todrink shots, vitamins gummies, capsules, and tablets.

“Brandshapers is delighted to be appointed as the official retail partner of the MyProtein and MyVitamins brands in the Irish retail market and we are thrilled to bring these brands to Irish consumers in stores nationwide for the first time,” says Clinton Arblaster, commercial controller, Brandshapers Ltd.

“As the demand for health-conscious consumer preferences continues to accelerate and drive developments in the category MyProtein and MyVitamins represents the ideal fit.”

“We are delighted to bring MyVitamins and MyProtein to Irish stores, through our partnership with Brandshapers,” adds a spokesperson for MyProtein. “We’ve established a strong online presence in Ireland, and as consumer habits change, we wanted to make our products available to people no matter how they decide to shop.”

The MyProtein and MyVitamins range are now stocked in SuperValu stores nationwide

For further information, visit www.myprotein.ie and www.myvitamins.ie

FullRange

MyVitamins offers a range of innovative formats to meet all consumption occasions, from ready-to-drink shots, vitamins gummies, capsules, and tablets

Getting in the zone!

In February 2022, In The Zone launched a tasty new range of protein cookies and biscuits, that are endorsed by both the GAA and GPA. These are proudly made in Ireland, in the brand’s bakehouse in Drogheda.

The new In The Zone range includes four tasty variants; two high protein low sugar cookies – Soft Bake Double Chocolate flavour and Soft Bake Cookies & Cream flavour, both with 20g of protein, as well as two high protein biscuits with 10g of protein – Crunchy Double Chocolate flavour and Crunchy Salted Caramel flavour

Baked for the health-conscious consumer, who wants great taste, and is looking for the perfect pre or post workout snack. In The Zone has new flavours coming down the line too, so watch out for further news on those soon.

Power up your day

Flahavan’s, Ireland’s favourite porridge, launched its first High Protein Vanilla pot in 2022 in response to growing consumer demand for convenient breakfast solutions with added health benefits. Part of a wider functional range from the Waterford-based family food business, the High Protein pot is fast becoming a favourite among younger porridge consumers. The new functional range includes three varieties

High Protein, Immunity Boost and High Fibre.

Flahavan’s High Protein Porridge pot combines all the delicious creaminess of Flahavan’s locally sourced oats with a delicately sweet vanilla flavour Each pot contains 8.5g of protein and also provides a good source of fibre. The High Protein pot was developed to appeal to younger consumers who are seeking to increase their protein intake at breakfast time or before/

after a workout.

Flahavan’s Immunity Boost Porridge comes in both sachets and pots and has a delicious raspberry flavour It contains raspberry pieces as well as added vitamins such as Iron, Zinc and Vitamin D to give an extra boost of goodness each morning, as well as providing a good source of fibre.

Flahavan’s High Fibre Porridge pots and sachets contain a variety of seeds and Oat Bran for a natural boost of fibre, as well as providing a good source of protein. Delicious creamy porridge with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and golden linseeds for

texture, this is a great way of increasing fibre intake with a healthy and nutritious porridge breakfast at home or at your desk.

All products are low in saturated fats and can be heated in the microwave using milk or water or can be prepared by simply adding boiling water and allowing to stand for up to three minutes.

Flahavan’s new range of Porridge Oats with Added Benefits is now available in all major supermarkets at a RRP of €1.39 per 45g pot (Immunity Boost, High Fibre and High Protein variants). ■

THE IRISH ENERGY DRINKS SHOPPER

What are the key occasions for Energy / Sports Drinks? are

When we think energy drinks we might first think about the Convenience channel, but what about the Grocery channel?

In Grocery, there’s a mix of occasions – the purchase isn’t just for immediate consumption.

“A treat for me / us”, “lunch at work” and “no particular use in mind” are also occasions that over index vs average for Energy Drinks

Caroline Reid, Head of Client Services caroline.reid@shopperintelligence.com www.shopperintelligence.com

CAROLINE REIDY managing director, The HR Suite

Creating a HR strategy for 2023

When thinking about the year ahead in business, it’s vital that you plan your HR function for the next 12 months in order to set clear goals, writes The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy

Firstly, it is important that the business aligns the HR strategy with the overall strategic business plan and considers the following:

• What are the company’s objectives and how will we reach them?

• How can the HR process facilitate the company in achieving those objectives?

• Is there anything on the horizon for the next 12 months?

• How will the anticipated challenges and economic backdrop affect the business from a HR perspective?

• Consider the increase in costs due to inflation and legislative compliance.

• Review the HR budget to incorporate these costs.

• Given our current workforce, how can we develop our team with the necessary skills to get us where we want to go?

• What skills sets do we need in our workforce and how can we solve skill shortages in an area with low unemployment?

A key component of linking business strategy to human resource management is a culture of clear communication and trust within an organisation. When employees are encouraged to become involved in various aspects of the business strategy, it develops higher levels of trust and respectability between employees and the management team. This trust is built on the knowledge sharing which allows employees to also share in the vision and goals of the organisation. The right strategy therefore helps to retain talent and develop highly competent employees.

When you have reviewed the overarching business plan and you are developing the HR strategy for the company, you should consider the following areas:

1. Risk and compliance

f. Employee handbook/contracts – have you updated your employee handbook and contracts according to employment legislation?

2. Recruitment

To find the right fit for the right role, it’s crucial to implement the following:

a. A robust interview process.

b. GDPR records/accurate paperwork.

c. Reference checks of all candidates.

d. OPQs to identify where candidates will fit within the current dynamic of the team.

e. Smooth onboarding process.

3. Performance and management development

a. Importance of managing probation within the first few months of employment.

b. Upskilling for management in terms of new ways of working.

c. Supporting organisational growth: it is important you have those with the skills to meet that growth.

d. Competency frameworks aligned with the values and behaviours of the company Ensuring appraisals take place and that the team know what is expected of them.

e. Management development - how to manage productivity, gain trust and engage with their teams.

f. Training your managers for success, supporting them in their roles.

4. Training and learning

a. Training matrix and ensuring compliance.

b. Succession planning – developing those on the team to be promoted into roles that become available and upskilled in advance.

Successful human resource management engenders a culture of clear communication and trust within an organisation

CONTACT THE HR SUITE:

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

It is your responsibility to ensure that the business is compliant in terms of employment legislation. Here is a summary of recent changes to employment legislation to bear in mind for 2023:

a. Sick Leave Act 2022 - Statutory sick pay came into effect from 1 January 2023 of three days’ sick leave from day one of absence for those with 13 weeks’ service upon receipt of a medical cert.

b. Minimum wage increase to €11.30 per hour came into effect from 1 January 2023.

c. Additional public holiday – the first Monday in every February, except where St. Brigid’s Day, the first day of February, happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday, 1 February will be a public holiday.

d. Work Life Balance & Miscellaneous Bill 2022 – Code of practice will be issued for employers in due course.

– Probation can be no longer than six months.

Right to request remote working

– Leave for caring for family members

Flexible working for carers/parents

– Domestic violence leave

e. Dignity & Respect – Are you meeting your obligations and have you updated your policy in line with the new Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work? Have your staff completed dignity and respect training? Do you have a trained contact person in place?

c. Supervisory development.

d. Leadership.

e. Development of the team to motivate and assist with retention.

f. Measure the value in upskilling your team.

5. Change management

Change is constant in the business environment, so the following points will help you navigate the challenges:

a. Manage change proactively

b. Flexibility from the team.

c. Focus on continuous improvement.

d. Good communication around change.

e. Employee satisfaction surveys.

f. Customer surveys.

6. Employer branding and culture

What makes candidates want to work with you? Try to identify what makes you different from other employers:

a. How do we engage with our team?

b. Right to Disconnect policy.

c. Are there opportunities for development?

d. What benefits are in place?

e. Level of trust and respect for all.

f. Do you foster a positive workplace culture?

g. Is it a safe place to work?

h. Supporting employee wellbeing. ■

Frozen in motion

a result, shoppers spent an additional €90.50 per household year-on-year

“The sector growth comes as grocery price inflation hit 16.3% - the highest level seen since Kantar started tracking grocery inflation,” said Emer Healy, senior retail analyst “However, this does trail just behind Great Britain where inflation hit 16.7% after two months of slight decline Irish households will now face an extra €1,159 on their annual shopping bills if they don’t change their behaviour to cut costs.”

Previous take-home grocery figures from Kantar have also demonstrated how frozen categories have specifically benefitted from shoppers keeping a close eye on their shopping spend as inflation grew For example, during the four weeks to 17 April 2022, Kantar reported that sales of frozen pizzas had grown by 4.3%, as shoppers turned “to quick and easy meals now that many of us are back in the office and juggling school runs again”.

A 2022 report by Euromonitor on staple foods in Ireland also yielded some useful findings. According to Euromonitor, “key trends in 2022 have included the growing importance of sustainability, with manufacturers increasing their output of ecofriendly packaging and products that result in a lower carbon footprint.

“Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the interest in health and wellness increased in the country, and a growing amount of consumers are looking for products that benefit the body, including seafood, fruit and vegetables, as well as those with added benefits,” Euromonitor added.

When looking for healthy, long-lasting, convenient foods at affordable prices, shoppers know the frozen food aisle is the place to go A category that evolves to align with the changing demands of the Irish market - frozen food plays an important role in the ongoing battle against food waste, and at a time when many people’s budgets are stretched, leading frozen food brands generate sales by delivering highquality freshness at the right price.

Retailers know that this is not typically an area where shoppers impulse buy, so it is important that their frozen food section strikes the right balance between affordability and premium products.

Number one frozen potato brand

McCain is the number one frozen potato brand in Ireland* with over 25 products spanning across the category including Home Chips, Crispy French Fries and Jackets

Indeed, the latest statistics from Kantar on grocery price inflation show just how important the frozen category is as an affordable source of nutrition and family mealtime options. According to Kantar, takehome grocery sales in Ireland increased by 5% in the four weeks to 23 January 2023, with grocery price inflation driving value sales growth rather than volume driving market growth. In January, average price per pack rose 14.6%, while volume per trip was down 13%, showing the challenges Irish shoppers are facing.

In the 12-week period to 23 January 2023, take-home grocery sales increased by 6.8%, with shoppers contributing an additional €211.8m to the overall market performance. As

As a category leader, McCain is committed to offering delicious, planet-friendly food that helps Irish consumers celebrate every moment and real connections.

The frozen giant is passionate about creating a more sustainable future for all which is seen through 100% of the brand’s plastic packaging being ‘designed for recycling’, a promise of 100% regenerative agriculture by 2030 and by its mission to have zero waste to landfill and 100% potato utilisation by 2025.

McCain will continue to focus on sustainable business practices as well as highlighting the role of frozen food in combating food waste and will work with retailers to educate consumers on these benefits.

*(Source: Nielsen Scantrack, Value Share Total Frozen Potato MAT 1.1.23)

Meanwhile, a 2021 UK-based report by Mintel which explored attitudes towards the frozen foods market, found that frozen food sales grew strongly in 2020 and for much of the first half of 2021 due to the Covid-19 restrictions shifting meal occasions to the home and consumers stockpiling long-life products.

Frozen food products with ethical certifications and labelling merit further explorations, as ethical claims are extremely rare in the frozen foods sector, Mintel reports. Innovation here would also help companies to tap into consumers’ increased ethical awareness as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a need for more health-led NPD in the frozen foods category given consumers’ heightened health consciousness since the Covid-19 outbreak, Mintel adds.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, frozen food’s time is well and truly here. Over the years, manufacturers have been highly successful at conveying the message that the frozen category offers ‘freshness, frozen in’ and as such, its reputation for delivering on taste and nutrition at an affordable price point – not to mention, drastically reducing food waste - stands firm today

McCain Crispy French Fries are just one of the brand’s 25 products spanning the frozen potato category, contributing to McCain’s number one position as the category champion

McCain says it is committed to offering delicious, planet-friendly food

100% of McCain’s plastic packaging is ‘designed for recycling’

Catch of the day!

Donegal Catch, Ireland’s number one frozen fish brand for almost 40 years, is encouraging Irish households to choose Irish white fish this National Fish Week (20–26 February) and throughout the year

Buying responsibly caught Irish haddock, whiting and hake from Donegal Catch supports Irish fishers and local fishing communities.

The brand is excited to reveal a new TV advert featuring fisher Frank McClenaghan from Greencastle in Co Donegal explaining why fishing is important for local communities and the role sustainability plays in the Irish fishing industry The new TV advert is currently on air since Monday, 6 February for four weeks as part of the National Fish Week campaign.

“I’ve been fishing for 14 years and come from a fishing family who have been fishing for three generations,” says Frank McClenaghan.

“Fishing is the heart of the Greencastle community and supports local families and businesses. As a Donegal Catch fish

supplier I’m delighted to work with them to highlight the importance of choosing Irish fish and the impact on Irish fishing communities.”

“We are encouraging Irish households to choose Donegal Catch Irish haddock, whiting and hake this National Fish Week,” added Aisling Twomey, Donegal Catch marketing manager

“With people’s increasing desire to eat locally and sustainably caught fish, we are working closely with Irish fishers like Frank, to bring quality fish to Irish dinner plates,” she continued.

“Donegal Catch is the largest purchaser of white fish from the Irish catching sector and processes over 20% of Irish landed haddock and whiting. We recognise the role we play in the sustainable development of the Irish fishing industry, protecting our waters, and positively impacting our communities for generations to come We’re thrilled with our new TV advert featuring Frank and delighted that it is going to air this year for National Fish Week.”

Supporting responsible fishing practices, Donegal Catch works closely with Irish fish

Donegal Catch Haddock Bites are a great source of protein, made with 100% Irish caught fish fillets

suppliers to source the best quality fish, fully traceable back to the boat. For Irish haddock, whiting and hake, Donegal Catch is a key stake holder in the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) backed Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), which focus on improving the sustainability of these Irish fisheries. Donegal Catch procures 100% of its haddock, whiting and hake from Irish co-ops and fishers who are members of the Fishery Improvement Projects.

Fillets are made with 100% Irish whiting, responsibly caught in Irish waters and produced in Ireland

Last year, Donegal Catch extended its Irish white fish range with award-winning products such as Salt & Vinegar Haddock Bites and Chunky Hake. From family favourites Breaded Whiting and Breaded Haddock to Craft Cider or Pale Ale Battered Haddock, the Donegal Catch frozen fish range is versatile and conveniently prepared. Ready to pop in the oven from frozen for a delicious, healthy meal or snacking option in minutes to be enjoyed by all the family Donegal Catch also has some great ideas for new recipes, along with top tips on how best to get more fish into your diet, to be found at www.donegalcatch.ie

THE IRISH FROZEN SHOPPER

From family favourites Breaded Whiting and Breaded Haddock to Craft Cider or Pale Ale Battered Haddock, the Donegal Catch range offers versatility and convenience in spades

Donegal Catch Breaded Whiting

Quality Irish credentials

Established by the Cahill Family in 1986, Glenhaven has grown to become one of Ireland’s largest frozen food processors, specialising in coated, marinated, cooked, and raw frozen food for the retail and foodservice sectors. Trading initially out of a small factory in Avoca, Glenhaven quickly secured some strong accounts in the foodservice market, including Supermac’s, as well as numerous Irish and UK blue-chip retailers.

Ten years later, Glenhaven expanded to a purpose-built EU export approved factory in Arklow, Co Wicklow. And in 2019, its factory doubled in size again, with the opening of a second state-of-the-art fully cooked facility >>

Glenhaven is the only top three ranked frozen prepared poultry brand that is produced here in Ireland

Glenhaven is a secondgeneration local Irish family business which has been making great quality frozen chicken products for almost four decades

brother and sister team, Barry & Emma Cahill, co-owners of Glenhaven & withA

Q: Today more Irish consumers are shopping local and choosing Irish alternatives to imported foreign brands. How are you appealing to these shoppers?

A: “All of Glenhaven’s products are produced at our factories in Arklow, Co Wicklow. And we are the only top three ranked frozen prepared poultry brand* that is produced here in Ireland. This is something that we have really focused on in our rebrand, calling out ‘Made in Wicklow’ on every pack and highlighting whenever the product is made with 100% Irish chicken breast. And there’s a feel-good factor for the customer when they purchase Glenhaven, because they know they are helping to support local Irish jobs,” says Barry

Q: Why is Glenhaven such a trusted Irish brand?

A: Unlike the majority of our competitors, Glenhaven is a second-generation local Irish family business that’s been making great quality frozen chicken products for almost four decades. Our distinctive packaging enhances our quality message, building trust, while our family illustration and story adds a level of warmth to our brand that you just don’t see in this category Trust is something that Glenhaven provides on both fronts, our packaging promotes our family friendly brand, while our retailers can rest assured that all of our products are produced in our two state-of-the art EU export approved facilities in Arklow. Quality is a cornerstone of our business and many of our management and production team have been with us for decades,

including many second-generation employees.

Q: You have recently rebranded and are launching your first ever above-the-line advertising campaign in early March. What can you tell us about the inspiration behind your new campaign?

A: “We put a lot of thought into making sure that our new brand demonstrated all the reasons to believe in Glenhaven. But it was our own family’s passion for the business that really inspired the new advertising campaign.” says Emma, who up until recently worked as an advertising creative in London. “I wanted to capture my family’s obsession with the business growing up, and then I thought about the bedtime stories my dad used to tell us, and the idea for Goldilocks and the Chicken Goujons was born.”

“The new brand tagline, ‘Come Home to Glenhaven’, our back of pack family story and the concept and scripts for the new TV and radio advertising campaign were all created and written by Emma. So, the family obsession with overseeing every aspect of the business is still very much alive,” says Barry

Q: Glenhaven has heavily invested in the new rebrand and advertising campaign, what are your ambitions for the brand?

A: “Glenhaven has always been an Irish family favourite, but with this new investment, we really think the sky’s the limit for the Glenhaven brand. Currently 9% of grocery retail customers

Coated in a crispy batter, Glenhaven Crisy Shredded Chicken is perfect for dipping, with no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives

purchase Glenhaven regularly, whereas 36% of customers purchase the market leader regularly**. So, we believe there is huge potential for growth for our brand in the Irish market We truly believe that Glenhaven will soon become the go-to trusted frozen food brand for Irish consumers and retailers.” says Emma.

Q: Do you have plans to launch any new products into the Irish market?

A: “Yes, Glenhaven’s NPD and sales teams are continuously developing new and innovative protein and plant-based products to anticipate ever-changing consumer trends. This year, we are launching a new Mini Chicken Ball into the Irish market, and last year we introduced a very successful and innovative shredded Irish beef product to the UK and Irish retail markets. Earlier this year, we also launched our first cheese bite product into the international Quick Service Restaurant sector, and we are currently working on launching five new cheese products into the UK and Ireland this year,” says Barry

*(Source: Top Five Frozen Prepared Poultry Products Category of the Top 100 Brands 2022, produced in association with NielsenIQ). **(Source: The Bord Bia Brand Health Check Survey for 2022)

A firm family favourite, Glenhaven Breaded Chicken Goujons offer succulent chicken coated in golden breadcrumbs, with no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives

‘Made in Wicklow’ is called out on every Glenhaven pack

All Glenhaven products are produced in its two stateof-the art EU export approved facilities in Arklow

Brother and sister duo, Barry and Emma Cahill

Glenhaven now employs 180 people in Co Wicklow and boasts four high speed production lines catering for both carton and bagged products, each delivering 1.5T per hour

Glenhaven remains a 100% independent, Irish, family-owned business, run by brother and sister team Barry and Emma Cahill. Last year, Glenhaven began a complete rebrand across its range of SKUs, focussing on its Irish credentials. What’s more, the brand will be launching its firstever above-the-line advertising campaign in early March.

Winter warming dishes

Iceland Ireland’s exclusive Slimming World range has expanding once again to include seven tasty new dishes, perfect for getting 2023 off to a great start. The latest additions are available in-store and online now.

For customers looking to plan more of their meals in 2023, the new selection of exclusive Slimming World lunch bowls are guaranteed to leave shoppers’ tastebuds tingling. The ready meals are perfect for helping consumers to stay on track if they haven’t got the time to cook from scratch in the kitchen. Customers can choose from a range of options including the Slimming World Cajun King Prawn Pasta Lunch Bowl (€4.75, 400g). Iceland Ireland is also offering a bargain-busting two for €7 deal on Slimming World lunch bowls.

As the winter chill across the country continues, shoppers can also warm themselves up with Slimming World’s comforting soups, perfect for any cold day. Slimming World fans can choose from two, tasty new flavours including Slimming World Pearl Barley and Root Vegetable Soup (€3.25, 500g) and Slimming World Spanish-style Chicken Soup (€3.75, 500g).

For those who have pledged to cut down on takeaways this New Year, but are missing the foods they love, the Slimming World Quorn Biryani (€4.75, 400g), is a flavoursome meat-free choice.

Meals, meats and sides from Iceland Ireland’s Slimming World dishes can be cooked directly from frozen, in the oven or in the microwave, offering a hassle-free way for Slimming World members to enjoy the food they love while following their Food Optimising plan.

Plus, the recipes are all printed on the packaging so, if shoppers do find themselves with a bit of extra time, they can recreate the nutritious meals they enjoy at home for the whole family

To explore more of Iceland’s exclusive Slimming World range, visit www.icelandfoods.ie and for more information on Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan, check out www.slimmingworld.ie

Ultimate versatility

Birds Eye is adding a bit of magic to mealtimes with its core chicken range which includes Chicken Dippers, Nuggets, Fingers, Grills and the latest addition to the portfolio - Chicken Goujons.

Birds Eye has a strong integrated 360 plan in place across TV, online video, partnerships, social and shopper marketing to support its Southern Fried and Crispy Grills Key to the campaign is showcasing the versatility of its Grills range, whether that’s a tasty working from home lunch or a convenient dinner - Birds Eye Chicken Grills will not disappoint!

2022 saw the launch of Birds Eye’s highly anticipated Chicken Goujons along with the tasty addition of the Salt & Pepper variant for those wanting an extra kick. This new extension to Birds Eye’s wellregarded portfolio taps into the growing in-home sharing occasion as well as a more adult offering.

With lots of exciting plans in place for 2023, there is a lot more to come from the Birds Eye brand.

Made from 100% chicken breast, Birds Eye Crispy Grills are coated in a light crispy tempura batter, lightly fried

Winning attitude!

Chicken With Attitude the new retail range from Vista Foods, is fast becoming a household name on family menus throughout Ireland. The brand reports consumers are amazed at how good the Chicken Tenders and Popcorn pieces taste This premium quality range is available in 500g family size bags in leading Tesco and SuperValu stores. Four variants are available including Crispy Golden Tenders, Sizzler Hot & Spicy Tenders, Southern Style Tenders and Popcorn Chicken. Made from hand-cut inner fillets, they are fully cooked and ready from the oven in 15 minutes.

Currently stocked in Tesco, SuperValu, Centra and leading supermarkets countrywide the range’s attractive duck egg blue bags scream ‘Premium Quality...Pick me up’. Chicken With Attitude’s difference is that it’s hand-cut whole chicken fillet.

In-store promotions and branded freezers are also available ■

Birds Eye Southern Fried Chicken is made from 100% chicken breast coated in crunchy breadcrumbs with a delicious blend of spices

A premium quality range, Chicken with Attitude is available in four tasty varieties in 500g family size bags

Winners of NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2023 announced

McHugh’s Off-Licence, Malahide Road awarded National OffLicence of the Year at 27th industry awards

The National Off-Licence Association has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards which is now in its twenty-seventh year The awards were held at the Honorable Society of King’s Inns on 30 January

NOffLA, which was established in 1991, represents independent specialist off-licences across Ireland, with the sector representing 5,900 jobs in 26 counties. The awards recognise and showcase the excellence of independent off-licences and highlight those retailers that offer exceptional service to customers and demonstrate excellence in retail standards.

Speaking about the awards and the standard of entries this year, NOffLA chairman, Gary O’Donovan said: “We are thrilled to finally be back in-person celebrating the NOffLA OffLicence of the Year Awards, which champion the very best of community retailing and all that is great about the independent

off-licence sector NOffLA members provide exceptional standards of service to their customers and exemplify the true ethos of ‘shopping local’.

“This has been an unprecedented year for small businesses however, with inflation and rising costs impacting NOffLA members and the wider hospitality sector Government can implement an immediate lifeline to these businesses through a reduction in alcohol excise rates, which remain the highest in Europe

“We have had Minimum Unit Pricing in place for a year, a pricing floor that now prevents alcohol from being retailed at dangerously low prices meaning Ireland’s excise regime is no longer justified on the grounds of public health. And with the State now taking in record levels of tax receipts, it is time for government to ease the unrelenting cost pressures on all hospitality businesses by bringing excise rates in line with European levels.”

The awards, which included 46 finalists, saw McHugh’s OffLicence, Malahide Road awarded ‘National Off-Licence of the Year 2023’, O’Donovans Off-Licence Group awarded ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year 2023’ and 64 Wine Glasthule awarded ‘Food

Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2023’.

All 46 finalists were awarded certificates of ‘Excellence’ and a Customer Service Award based on their performance. Other awards on the night included:

1. The 19 Crimes Best First Time Entrant 2023

Carry Out Muckross Road, Killarney

2. The Peroni Nastro Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2023 64 Wine Glasthule

3. The El Coto Customer Service Award of the Year 2022 Molloys Liberties

4. The Redbreast Spirit Specialist of the Year 2023

The Vintry, Rathgar

5. The Guinness Beer Specialist of the Year 2023 Carry Out Tramore

6. The Dona Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2023

Jus De Vine Portmarnock

7. The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2023 Galvins Carry Out Carrigaline

8. The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster OffLicence of the Year 2023

Daly’s Drinks, Boyle, Co Roscommon

9. The Alpha Zeta Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2023

The Wine Centre Kilkenny

10 The Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2023 Martin’s Off-Licence, Fairview

11. The NOffLA RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2023

1

Emily McEntee, C. McEntee’s, Kells, Co Meath

2. The NOffLA Responsible Retailer of the Year 2023

O’Donovans Off-Licence Group

13. The NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2023

McHugh’s Off-Licence, Malahide Road

Judging for the awards involves an examination of over 100 aspects of each entrant’s business. Final awards were allocated following this process.

If you have any queries regarding NOffLA membership or services, please contact our administrator, Reggie Walsh, at Block D, Unit 6, Nutgrove Office Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, by telephone on 01 - 296 2326, by fax on 01 - 296 2451 or by email at info@noffla.ie.

at www.noffla.ie

The NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2023: Frank Haughton, Cathal McHugh, James Carroll of McHugh’s Malahide Road and Gary O’Donovan, chairman, NOffLA

All of the winners celebrating their fantastic results on the night at Dublin’s Honorable Society of King’s Inns

Chairman Gary O’Donovan outlines update on policy developments and NOffLA’s work

In his address to guests, NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan outlined some recent policy developments and NOffLA’s work in these areas.

Firstly, he pointed out that 2023 will see the government bring forward its Sale of Alcohol Bill, which will ‘modernise’ Ireland’s alcohol licensing laws

Most significantly, these include changes to trading hours of licensed premises and will have implications also for licensing applications, licensing renewals as well as remote selling of alcohol – which NOffLA is engaging on with officials from the Department of Justice.

It is the government’s intention for these reforms to become law

and be in effect by the end of this year

On taxation and alcohol excise NOffLA members will be aware that excise remained unchanged in last year’s Budget. While no increase was welcome, NOffLA this year will continue to make the case to government and Department of Finance representatives for an excise reduction, along with its drinks sector colleagues.

While rising costs are impacting all small businesses across the country, the off-licence sector is burdened further by an excise regime that is the highest in Europe

This is unacceptable, O’Donovan said, particularly

given that we now have Minimum Unit Pricing in place for the last year which prohibits retailing at dangerously low prices, meaning Irish excise rates can no longer be justified on the grounds of public health. NOffLA will continue to inform policy-thinking in this area in 2023, at both a political and Departmental level.

Meanwhile, on the topic of Minimum Unit Pricing, the Northern Ireland Department of Health held a public consultation last year on introducing MUP in Northern Ireland. Its introduction is still however likely years away, given the Stormont stalemate

NOffLA continues to support an all-island model of MUP, to create an all-island pricing model

Thank you: NOffLA expresses appreciation for those who made awards possible

Speaking on behalf of the association, chairman Gary O’Donovan expressed his sincere thanks to all of NOffLA’s sponsors for making the awards possible and indeed all associate members for their ongoing support of NOffLA.

“You are playing a proactive role in driving the highest standards possible among our members nationwide by supporting a competition that encourages us all to improve our businesses and our offering to our customers. I want to express on behalf of all of our members our deep appreciation to you,” O’Donovan said.

“The ‘Support Your Local’ ethos also applies to us, your customers, and to NOffLA retailers, I say, look at this listing of our current associate members and please support these suppliers as they continue to support you:

• Peroni Italia (Richmond Marketing)

• El Coto de Rioja (Mackenway Wines)

• Redbreast (Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard)

• Guinness (Diageo Ireland)

• Doña Paula (Santa Rita)

• Hennessy Cognac (Edward Dillon)

• Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin (Dalcassian)

• Alpha Zeta (Liberty Wines)

• Bombay Sapphire (Edward Dillon)

• 19 Crimes (Findlater & Co.)

• RTC (Responsible Trading Certificate)

“A lot has happened in the years since we all last gathered here in person and I know personally that an upside of pandemic restrictions was the trend towards ‘Shop Local’ and I was delighted to see new

customers choosing to support their local businesses,” O’Donovan added. “It is up to us all though to not take this for granted and to hold onto these gains by delivering excellence in our offering and service.

“Tonight is a celebration of all that is good about the independent off-licence sector and community retailing. It’s about you, and all that you’ve done to serve your

and public health framework across both jurisdictions.

Finally, in recent weeks, the European Commission gave approval for the Irish Minister for Health to proceed in implementing labelling regulations for alcohol products, another measure of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act.

The regulations will introduce a requirement for alcohol products to carry a health warning label and will also require retailers of alcohol, including off-licences and pubs, to display a notice outlining similar health warnings. Once the Minister for Health commences these regulations, a three year lead-in window will begin, for businesses to prepare.

communities, your staff, and your customers,” he said.

“While winning is an honour, participating itself is indicative of a desire to better our businesses, which in the end benefits us all. So, thank you to everyone for putting yourself forward.”

Finally, O’Donovan took the opportunity to thank the team at NOffLA, Reggie, Elaine and Emma, “for all the work they do behind the scenes in making the awards happen, and for all their efforts in supporting us throughout the year”.

He also thanked all of NOffLA’s council members who have “given freely of their time in assisting [him] to ensure the continued success of our association”. ■

Pat Rigney elected chairperson of Drinks Ireland

Drinks Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the Irish drinks sector, has elected Pat Rigney as its chairperson for the next two years. Rigney is the founder and managing director of Co Leitrim-based ‘The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney’, best known for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. Prior to founding the distillery in 2014, Rigney had 25 years’ experience in the industry

Upon his appointment, Rigney discussed his pride in Ireland’s drinks

industry, noting: “The rise in local Irish distilleries and breweries has transformed the rural Irish economy, creating significant employment. Irish drinks brand exports have risen to €2 billion, contributing €2.6 billion in VAT and excise payments to the Irish exchequer

“But beyond these statistics are individuals, families, communities and companies working every day to produce Irish drinks brands which

Musgrave Group’s Edel Russell appointed co-chair of ECR Ireland

Not-for-profit industry group

ECR Ireland has appointed Edel Russell, insight & innovation director at Musgrave, as its new retailer co-chair Joining Helen Kenny of Green Isle Foods as co-chair, Russell subsumes the role following the conclusion of the tenure of John Brennan of Tesco Ireland.

“On behalf of Musgrave, I am delighted to have this opportunity of working with ECR Ireland in an industry leadership role to advance how we can work better together,” Russell said.

“Encouraging better collaboration between trading partners is at the core of ECR and this is especially relevant right now as there are so many ways we can deal with the effects of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and inflation by collectively working better as an industry

“With Musgrave being an Irish business, present in every community in Ireland and committed to growing sustainably, I would like to ensure that ECR Ireland delivers value to all members during my tenure and is a driving force to support companies to develop sustainably.”

Declan Carolan, general manager, ECR Ireland and co-chair, ECR Community praised the Musgrave Group for being “passionate about collaboration, sustainability and supporting Irish companies” and thanked former co-chair John Brennan, whose “leadership was a critical factor in ECR Ireland’s success”.

compete on the world stage for Ireland, and of which we should all be proud.”

Rigney added that the group’s “mission in 2023, and beyond, will be to rebalance the [alcohol] debate and to highlight the reality that alcohol consumption in Ireland is more balanced and moderate having fallen by a third since 2001, with Ireland’s consumption now within European consumption norms.”

Deliver announces new leadership management team for 2023

Ahead of “the biggest year in its history”, global retail events company Deliver has announced a number of leadership management appointments.

CEO Adam Gough first joined Deliver as retail director in July 2021, briefly took up the role of commercial director, and was subsequently promoted to chief executive in July 2022. He has over 10 years’ experience working within the events and exhibition sector, most notably running events for Ascential and Hyve Group

Deputy CEO, COO Ingrid Fillon has been immersed in the sector for nearly 15 years and is passionate about retail and e-commerce innovation. She previously belonged to the Paris Retail Week team, managing communications, identifying innovations and creating a new Awards programme Fillon launched One to One Monaco, which became the sector’s premium event and the immediate benchmark for the French market.

The experienced team also includes chief sales officer Alison Graham, chief delegate sales officer Matteo Perrone, and chief marketing officer Rebecca Mendez

Deliver’s 2023 suite of events offers premium one-to-one supply chain connections and thought leadership for global retail and e-commerce leaders at Deliver Europe (7 + 8 June, Amsterdam); Deliver Americas (27 + 28 September, Las Vegas); and Connect Global (30 Jan 3 Feb, online).

Led by CEO Adam Gough (pictured here), Deliver is confident it’s on track to fulfil its global ambitions this year with “a decision-making team of the highest calibre”

Mount Charles, the award-winning facilities management support service provider specialising in catering, cleaning, vending, retail and security services, recently announced two key appointments.

Stacey McAlister has been appointed director of operations. She has over 20 years’ experience within the catering industry and almost 10 years’ management experience in the cleaning industry, including multi-site and globally recognised multi-contract management.

As director of operations, her role involves ensuring the effective operation and smooth running of the cleaning function at Mount Charles.

Roisin McErlane has taken on the role of head of operations (events) for Mount Charles. McErlane has spent the last 10 years working in hospitality and previously was general manager of a busy city centre venue

As head of operations in events, her responsibilities include overseeing business functions and operational processes within events.

Pat Rigney

Stacey McAlister

Edel Russell

Roisin McErlane

Mount Charles announces two key appointments

Sensodyne and Tesco’s ‘This Pack Gives Back’ campaign raises over €16k for Children’s Health Foundation Ireland

Sensodyne has presented its donation to the Children’s Health Foundation Ireland following the launch of the “This Pack Gives Back” campaign in November 2022, in partnership with Tesco.

Dave Barrett, country manager at Haleon, awarded €16,673.25 to the foundation after consumers were able to donate 25c to the charity by purchasing promotional packs of Sensodyne toothpastes within the Repair & Protect, Nourish and Sensitivity & Gum ranges. The donation will support sick children and their families in hospitals and help fund urgent care centres in Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly

Backed by social promotion and in-store POS in Tesco stores around Ireland, the campaign in November and December 2022 gained significant support leading to €16,673.25 in donations.

“We have been overwhelmed with the response from shoppers and we are honoured to be able to donate these funds to such a vital organisation,” said Dave Barrett, country manager at Haleon.

To see how you can get involved with The Children’s Health Foundation Ireland and donate today, visit www.childrenshealth.ie/

Rowntree’s

Rowntree’s new range ticks all the boxes – including a 30% sugar reduction

New for 2023, Nestlé Ireland’s confectionery team is introducing a Rowntree’s range of sharing gummy sweets. The range is made with real fruit juice and 30% less sugar* plus has no artificial flavourings, colourings, or sweeteners.

The irresistibly fruity range comes in the following formats:

• Berry Hearts

The squidgy hearts come in flavour favourites, strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant.

• Safari Mix

Giraffes, elephants, hippos and paw prints make up this fun mix with strawberry, orange, lemon and apple flavours.

• Gummy Bears

Nostalgic gummy bears in strawberry, orange, lemon and apple flavours. Nestlé has utilised soluble corn fibre which allows a reduction in the amount of sugar and increases the product’s fibre content compared to traditional sugar confectionery The range also contains 5.5% fruit juice. In other Rowntree’s news, Tropical Tots from the Jelly Tots range will be rolled out nationwide from this month onwards after a successful exclusive run in Tesco. Rowntree’s Tropical Tots sweets are lovely little fruity-flavoured dots in five tasty flavours: passion fruit, peach, pineapple grapefruit and mango

Deep RiverRock

Deep RiverRock adds new Watermelon & Peach flavoured water to portfolio

An exciting new addition, Watermelon & Peach, has just joined the Deep RiverRock still Fruity Flavours range, which also includes Apple & Pear and Tropical and Mandarin flavours. Each contains added vitamin B6 and zinc to contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Introduced to the market in 1994, Deep RiverRock is a quality water sourced from deep beneath the glacial hill of Co Antrim. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, all naturally occurring within the source

Deep RiverRock is the number two impulse water brand growing at 39% in 2022, over twice as fast as the impulse water category With a full portfolio of products, Deep RiverRock offers consumers a great selection with health benefits, including still and sparkling water, flavoured water and ViTAL, the enhanced water and juice brand.

With a commitment to sustainability, Deep RiverRock was the first water range on the island of Ireland to move to 100% recycled bottles in 2019, and it consistently demonstrates leadership in this area, by encouraging consumers to recycle, and think twice before discarding a plastic bottle irresponsibly

The Deep RiverRock Fruity Flavour range comes in 750ml sports cap bottles, which are all 100% recyclable and 100% recycled, with a RRP of €1.80 in ROI and £1.35 in NI.

The range will be supported by a strong 360 marketing campaign investment across OOH, digital and media, sampling, social media advertising and influencer activity

*(Source:

Butlers

Retailers can now order directly from Butlers Chocolates

From the start of 2023, Butlers Chocolates has commenced direct supply to Irish grocery retailers. The company will now service independent stores, multiples and symbol groups directly from its production facility in north Dublin.

The sales team is headed by experienced Butlers sales manager, Niall Fanning and national account manager, Stephen O’Rourke, with support from a dedicated sales team of business developers.

Butlers giftwrapped chocolates and assortments are perfect for any gifting occasion and its delicious chocolate bars are perfect for indulgent moments and self-treating. Butlers luxurious chocolate ballotins are available in three sizes (160g, 320g and 480g featuring, 12, 24 and 36 chocolates respectively). These beautifully gift-wrapped boxes showcase a delicious selection of classic Butlers favourites, with a modern twist.

Also available is The Chocolate Collection by Butlers – featuring a stylish and contemporary selection of chocolate truffles, pralines and caramels in 185g and 300g sizes.

Butlers also produces an exceptional range of 100g solid chocolate bars in a variety of milk and dark chocolate flavours using only sustainably sourced cocoa and no palm oil. Butlers is a fully verified Gold member of Origin Green and the Butlers factory is also home to one of the largest solar installations on an industrial premises in Ireland.

To discuss the best way on how you can stock the Butlers range of Irish premium chocolates at accessible price points, get in touch with the team by emailing supply@butlers.ie or calling 01 6710599

Wheels fall off Kate Moss’s wagon nickname

Here’s a little anecdote particularly suitable for all our off-licence retailers. Supermodel Kate Moss unwittingly become the butt of a very Irish joke recently when she revealed the “nickname” she picked up here. In a social media clip posted by British Vogue, Moss explained: “We were in Ireland, and we got a little bit tipsy at a wedding, and I think in Irish ‘wagon’ is ‘drunk’. So, basically, we were all wagons. Because during that time we were all doing shows, drinking a lot of champagne and calling each other wagon.”

Unsurprisingly, Irish Twitter users reacted with a fair degree of mirth, with quips such as “Come on… who called Kate Moss a wagon and told her it was Irish for drunk?” Another tweeted: “I am screaming at some middle-aged woman working a banquet hall calling Kate Moss a wagon and it forever altering the course of history.”

With the likes of Naomi Campbell and Madonna also reportedly big fans of the ahem, ‘pet name’ wagon, we suppose it makes a refreshing change from ‘Schweedie, dah-link!’

Following the Twitterati

■ @reglooby

M&S says this “is a naturally bred strawberry, developed in Japan, using seeds from Japanese white strawberries crossed with traditional strawberries”

Mixed reaction to M&S’s new white strawberries

M&S has launched an interesting new product in its UK stores; ‘Florida Pearl’ strawberries. This new ‘stawberry in reverse’ is white on the outside, with white flesh on the inside and red seeds. Developed in Japan, it features an aroma of pineapple and notes of vanilla.

The new product received a mixed reaction on Instagram with comments such as “I like my strawberries tasting like strawberries not a pineapple or vanilla” and “I keep thinking they are covered in white chocolate”.

Tom Pedley, M&S strawberry buyer said: “At M&S we love to be first to market and introduce products that no one else can, our customers get really excited when we introduce new flavour produce or hybrids.”

With previous hits such as ‘Candyfloss Grapes’ and the ‘Limelon’, we’re sure the results will be more than “allwhite” (groan!) for the innovative buying team.

Little Dublin to the rescue!

Shout out to the friendliest, and most helpful staff, in @dunnesstores Cornelscourt. Especially JJ and the lively crew in their fabulous fish section!!! @SimplyBetterDS

■ @MojoMediaIE

Curiosity got the better of me in SuperValu today and I got four Island’s Edge to try And I don’t hate it. I hate that I don’t hate it. It’s a bit on the thin side compared to Guinness but it actually has a nice flavour and is very drinkable

■ @Byr65849126Andy

Does anyone actually call Tesco Express & Tesco Extra by their actual names or are they all just dubbed Big Tesco & Little Tesco by everyone in Ireland and the UK? (I live in Dublin).

■ @BarringtonJF

Couldn’t resist the fresh ‘lychee’ fruit special in @Aldi_Ireland. Problem is what the hell can I do with them? (Years ago in Chinese restaurant they were served with ice cream in a stainless steel bowl as dessert).

Grocery across the globe

USA

Walmart launches new e-commerce site, Walmart Business Walmart has launched Walmart Business as an “e-commerce site and customer experience designed to empower small businesses and non-profit customers”, focused on removing complexity in purchasing and lower costs. Walmart Business offers a curated assortment of more than 100,000 items, with categorisation and navigation tailored to busy organisational shoppers. In addition, it offers multi-user accounts, allowing organisations to add up to five users to a single account.

FRANCE

Supermarket rivals unite against ‘Descrozaille bill’ Auchan, Carrefour and the Casino Group united against a draft bill presented to France’s National Assembly last month by MPs Frédéric Descrozaille and Aurore Bergé The bill is officially designed to “secure supplies of consumer products for people in France” but according to the supermarkets, it would actually prevent commercial negotiations in a way that would benefit very large manufacturers, and significantly contribute to long-term inflation.

UK

Our favourite satirical site, Waterford Whispers, had some good news this month for hardpressed Dubs. The burgeoning Dublin ex-pat communities scattered across rural Irish towns and villages now have something to celebrate as the first ever ‘Little Dublin’ has opened in the rural-to-Dubliners town of Naas in Kildare, complete with “mock scale replicas of hotels where a music venue used to be, vacant properties and youths on e-scooters”.

“I’m just glad I’ve somewhere to take the kids to get them in touch with their roots,” one exile explained to Waterford Whispers’ reporter, whilst “happily paying €4.50 Dublin prices for a coffee in Capital City Coffee Co in Little Dublin”. Ouch!

M&S sets out c.£500m investment in store rotation programme M&S has announced a near half a billion (£480m) investment in bigger, better stores, in a bid to create “a fit for the future M&S store estate” by 2025/2026. M&S wants “the right stores, in the right place, with the right space and we’re aiming to rotate from the 247 stores we have today to 180 higher quality, higher productivity full line stores that sell our full clothing, home and food offer whilst also opening over 100 bigger, better food sites,” said chief executive Stuart Machin.

GERMANY

Edeka launches test run for smart shopping following €250,000 investment

The Edeka group of companies in Northern Bavaria-Saxony-Thuringia has started a pilot project for a so-called smart shopper with the e-center Kulinarikwelten Stengel in Fürth – a new-generation shopping trolley from the Hessian company KBST. The intelligent shopping cart is equipped with a small screen, a barcode scanner that can also read QR codes, and a shelf and drink holder, allowing customers to continually know the total cost of goods within their trolley. ■

A young Kate Moss is followed by Sunday Tribune photographer Lar Boland outside the Badbobs Nightclub in Dublin in 1993

Our sourdough products allow us to offer a range of speciality breads. We honour the essential elements for authentic sourdough production by using a live perpetual starter which has been grown and regenerated for over 30 years. This gives the sourdough product its unique and recognisable flavour