18 minute read
NOffLA news
from ShelfLife Jan 2022
by Mediateam
2021 AGM: Chairman’s report highlights association’s achievements and industry developments
The National Off-Licence Association AGM was held virtually on Thursday, 18 November 2021. NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan welcomed all attendees and took the opportunity to provide a brief update on the association’s work over the past 12 months
Public Health (Alcohol) Act
Firstly, Gary O’Donovan covered the ramifications of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act.
This legislation has implications for all aspects of our industry and is being phased in over a number of years.
Structural separation which limits how alcohol can be displayed and advertised in mixed retail outlets, was introduced in November 2020. Next, in January 2021, regulations on alcohol promotions came into effect, introducing restrictions on loyalty cards, vouchers and shortterm price promotions. Then in November 2021, new laws restricting advertising alcohol during sports and children’s events came into effect. These laws also restrict alcohol sponsorship of certain events, such as events aimed at children or events involving racing or motor vehicles.
Minimum unit pricing (MUP)
The most significant development over the last 12 months is that minimum unit pricing was commenced in the Republic of Ireland on 4 January of this year, O’Donovan continued.
NOffLA welcomed the Minister for Health’s decision last year to commence MUP in the Republic of Ireland. It is the association’s view that MUP should be introduced in Northern Ireland as soon as possible and that an allisland approach to alcohol pricing would be in the best interests of public health. In the coming months, NOffLA will be continuing its political engagements to expedite implementation of MUP in Northern Ireland as a matter of priority. As always, if any members have questions
NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan said the commencement of minimum unit pricing was the most significant development to have occurred during the past 12 months within the off-trade sector
regarding the Alcohol Act, please do get in touch with the association. NOffLA’s colleagues at Hume Brophy are always here to help.
Budget and excise
Budget 2022 marks the next stage of the government’s policy response to Covid-19, which is aiding the economic recovery while also bringing public finances back under control, after record levels of government spending in response to the initial stages of the pandemic.
In its Pre-Budget Submission this year, NOffLA called for a 7.5% reduction in excise duty in Budget 2022, followed by a similar reduction again in next year’s Budget, in order to begin to align Irish alcohol excise rates with EU levels and to protect the commercial models of businesses within the drinks sector, post Covid-19. This was in collaboration with the Budget ask of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland and NOffLA’s drinks sector partners.
In addition to this, the association again initiated its international Wine Excise Campaign this year. Again, NOffLA would like to thank those of you that engaged with your suppliers on this. “We view it as paramount that pressure on the Irish government from wineproducing countries is maintained to gradually move the dial on Ireland’s wine excise levels, which remain the highest in Europe,” O’Donovan said.
NOffLA will be continuing its excise campaign with the Department of Finance, political and industry stakeholders in 2022, highlighting the need for a reduction in light of MUP coming into effect.
Recognition of NOffLA members
“After a challenging year our members continue to persevere and deliver exemplary standards of service and professionalism to customers,” O’Donovan continued. “This is what sets us apart as independent, specialist retailers.”
It remains NOffLA’s objective that members and suppliers are recognised for this level of excellence, which the association is proud to do through the annual National Off-Licence of the Year Awards, held in November, and the NOffLA Wine Show Awards held in October.
NOffLA was delighted to achieve great coverage and recognition in national media for both these events.
“It’s important that the work, professionalism, and expertise of our sector is highlighted through the media activity we do around these awards and that the excellent service our members provide is given greater visibility,” O’Donovan said.
Thank you
Sadly, the association was not able to meet in person for its AGM again in 2021. However, O’Donovan nevertheless thanked attendees for their continued professionalism over the last year and for continuing to represent the off-trade sector so well.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announcing Budget 2022. NOffLA’s Pre-Budget submission called for a 7.5% reduction in excise duty
www.noffla.ie
Council members 2021/2022 announced
The following retailers have been named as Council members 2021/2022. NOffLA would like to thank each member for their continued support and work on behalf of the association.
NOMINEE OUTLET REGION
1 BARRY Jim Costcutter, Kinvara, Co. Galway
Connacht/Ulster 2 BOYLE Judith Boyle’s Off-Licence, Kildare Leinster 3 CULLEN Tommy Jus de Vine, Portmarnock S.C., Co. Dublin Dublin 4 DEVENEY Ruth Deveney’s of Dundrum, Dublin 16 Dublin 5 DUNNE Peter Mitchell & Son, The chq Building, IFSC, Docklands, Dublin 1 Dublin 6 HIGGINS Lisa Higgins Off-Licence, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14 Dublin 7 JONES Evelyn The Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Dublin 8 KELLER Pat Keller’s Carry Out Off-Licence, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary Munster 9 MOLLOY Richard The Molloy Group, Dublin Dublin 10 MONAGHAN Phyllis The Coach House Off-Licence, Ballinteer, Dublin 1 Dublin 11 MC HUGH Cathal McHugh’s Off-Licence, Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5 Dublin 12 O’KEEFFE David Carry Out Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15 Dublin 13 O’DONOVAN Gary O’Donovan’s Off-Licence HQ, Little Island, Co. Cork Munster 14 O’REILLY Brendan Diceys Bottle Store, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal Connacht/Ulster 15 REDMOND Jimmy James Redmond & Sons Ltd., 25 Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Dublin 16 SHIEL John Londis, Malahide, Co. Dublin Dublin 17 SWEENEY Padraig Sweeney’s D3, Fairview, Dublin Dublin
NOffLA contacts
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. The NOffLA website can be found at www.noffla.ie. ■
Wine, spirits and beer brands can now enter London Competitions
The London Wine Competition, London Spirits Competition, and London Beer Competition are international wine, spirits, and beer competitions organised by the Beverage Trade Network.
The competitions reward wines, spirits, and beers that are made well, taste great, offer great value for money and stand out on the shelf. Winning a Gold at the awards demonstrates how well the winning wine, spirit, or beer will be perceived in the market and will give the trade a good indicator to stock that product.
Wine, beer and spirit brands can enter the competitions before 28 February 2022 and grow their brands globally with Beverage Trade Network’s media network. The below links provide more details and outline how to enter.
The London Competitions have been created exclusively by the Beverage Trade Network, the US drinks events, services, business, and publishing group dedicated to helping drinks producers and brand owners get closer to the buyers, distributors and retailers that can bring their products to market.
Visit the following sites to enter:
• London Wine Competition: www.londonwinecompetition.com • London Spirits Competition: www.londonspiritscompetion.com • London Beer Competition: www.londonbeercompetition.com
Organised by the Beverage Trade Network, the competitions reward brands that are made well, taste great, offer great value for money and stand out on the shelf
OFF-TRADE NEWS
Huge public interest in minimum unit pricing as public seek information on alcohol
Drinkaware reports it has seen a significant spike in public interest in information on alcohol, particularly regarding Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) that went live on 4 January 2022.
New statistics released by Drinkaware show that between the 1st and 6th January, Drinkaware’s MUP explainer page attracted almost 18,000 (17,926) page views making it one of Drinkaware’s most sought-after resources over the holiday period.
Interestingly, consumers also spent longer than normal digesting the information available, with the average time spent on the MUP page clocking in at an unprecedented 6mins 55secs, highlighting public appetite to understand the changes afoot.
Drinkaware says it welcomes MUP as one important element of the suite of measures in the Public Health Alcohol Act, that will support the prevention and reduction of alcohol-related harm. However, the charity contends that legislation alone cannot deliver the sustainable change with regard to alcohol that Ireland needs, and that it believes the public clearly wants.
The charity is therefore calling for broader and more inclusive education, and awareness, engagement and information programmes in 2022, as also being essential to the creation of a different relationship and narrative on alcohol. ■
Bounce Back
Bounce Back, the first post-social replenishment drink launches in Ireland
Bounce Back, the first ever post-social replenishment drink, has just launched in Ireland. This new category of health drink, created by two biochemists, is unlike others since it is designed to be drunk before bed after socialising, to give your body the replenishing nutrients it needs – while you sleep. Bounce Back’s unique science-based formula of 17 vitamins, minerals, and amino acids ‘puts the goodness back in’ while you sleep. This blend of active ingredients works in harmony with your body’s natural restorative processes, to help alleviate the stresses of an active social life so that you can start tomorrow feeling refreshed. Whilst Bounce Back is formulated with the right balance of nutrients for your body, it only contains 40 calories per 250ml serving. Indeed, Bounce Back is designed to be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and a healthy, active lifestyle. Bounce Back is a lightly sparkling drink available in two flavours – Tropical and Raspberry, both offering a refreshing taste. This new beverage is designed around the principle that there are four pillars of health. These include sleep, nutrition, exercise and mindfulness. We know that an active social life can disrupt the balance of the four pillars of health – and Bounce Back has been formulated to replenish your body overnight as you sleep. So with your sleep and nutrition pillars taken care of, Bounce Back supports the feeling of replenishment the next morning – putting a bounce into your day. The result is you don’t just wake up…you wake up better! Formulated to support your body’s ability to replenish itself overnight, Bounce Back is the best thing to drink before bed after socialising. The recommendation is to replace the usual glass of water before bed if you have been out, with a can of Bounce Back. Down a can and seize back tomorrow! Bounce Back is the brainchild of two biochemists whose inspiration came from a late night out and an important meeting missed. Subsequently, they were on a quest to ‘save future lost tomorrows’! Dhruv Trivedi, Bounce Back drinks co-founder and biochemist also studied finance and economics at Harvard Business School. Trivedi said: “After oversleeping due to a late night out socialising, I missed an important meeting. I was annoyed with myself - and thought I wonder how many opportunities are lost across the world, because people stayed out too late the night before? Instead of getting angry with myself, I thought hey, let’s see if I can put my biochemistry training to good use and come up with a solution. Hence Bounce Back was born!” Bounce Back’s other co-founder is Vandana Vijay. Vandana Vijay is a biochemist, qualified marketer, and the brains behind the meticulous formulation. Her mission was to craft a range of nutritious drinks that restored the balance of the four pillars of health - and after years of development, she co-founded Bounce Back with Trivedi - to do just that. Bounce Back is available as a single purchase (at RRP €3.50), with 4 packs and 12 packs coming soon. Find it on Instagram @DrinkBounceBack and Facebook.com/ DrinkBounceBack.
Bounce Back is distributed by JR Byrnes, Clondalkin, D22 XD77.
Applegreen/Plant-It
Applegreen and Plant-It join forces to launch chicken-free fillet roll
Award-winning, Irish plant-based food brand Plant-It, has announced a partnership with Applegreen, to release a new chicken-free fillet roll, a plant-based version of the deli counter favourite. Launched in 2021, Plant-It produces a wide range of plant-based food, including 100% Irish meat-free, chicken-free, egg-free, fish-free and veggie products. Using its own in-house texture technology, Plant-It has successfully managed to produce products that mirror the taste and texture experience of meat while being reassuringly plant-based. All Plant-It products are fortified with Vitamin B12, Iron and Calcium, which are traditionally lacking in plant-based diets. Recent research conducted by Bord Bia has found that almost one in four (19%) adhere to a flexitarian - meat and plant-based combination diet. Providing high quality, locally sourced food and beverages to the consumer in transit has been a key pillar of Applegreen’s success over the past 30 years. You can find the new chicken-free fillet roll in participating Applegreen Bakewell sites since 6 January.
Tayto
Tayto introduces new snack on the block: Tayto Lentil Chips
Tayto, Ireland’s number one crisps and snacks brand*, has just launched its latest product offering; Tayto Lentil Chips. Tayto Lentil Chips contain 40% less fat**, are a source of fibre*** and have no artificial colours and no added MSG. Never one to rest on his laurels, Mr. Tayto has been busy in the kitchen creating this brand-new snack that is a lighter option but still has all the great taste of Tayto. Tayto already has proven success in the better-for-you market with Tayto Treble Crunch which has also recently undergone a packaging redesign. Tayto Lentil Chips will be supported throughout 2022 with a heavyweight marketing campaign with particular focus across January and February including TV, radio, out of home, digital, social and PR. In store, shoppers will be engaged on their path to purchase with a strong display presence. Tayto Lentil Chips are available in two mainstream flavours; Cheese & Onion and Sour Cream & Onion. Available in both sharing and multipack formats, Tayto Lentil Chips are sure to make a big entrance and further enhance Tayto’s presence in the ever growing better-for-you market*. ■
Veg out!
Rare orange crustacean sat in a tank for weeks with no interest from buyers
While we may be known in some quarters for drinking pints and eating potatoes, the Irish are also keen on their fruit and veg. So keen in fact, research has found we eat more fruit and veg than any other citizens in the EU.
This is according to a new survey from the European Commission, which found Ireland had the largest proportion of its population who had five servings of fruit and vegetable among the 27 EU member states. One third (33%) of Irish people reported having their ‘five-a-day’ in 2019.
What’s more, Irish women are more likely to have a healthy diet than their male counterparts. The figures show 37% of females in the Republic consumed five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, compared to 28.5% of males. And that’s not just an Irish trend. Across the EU, 15% of adult women eat five portions of fruit and veg, compared to just 10% of men.
Other countries with relatively high five-a-day consumption are the Netherlands (30%), Denmark (23%) and France (20%). The lowest daily intake of fruit and vegetables was found in Romania where that figure plummets to just 2%.
With 33% of people eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, Ireland landed the top spot
Easter eggs at Christmas
It’sIt’s beginning beginning to to look look a a lot lot like like Easter Easter in in one one North North Dublin Dublin supermarket. Mere days before Christmas, JC’s Supermarket in Swords made good on its annual Easter egg promotion and began selling Crunchie, Twirl, Creme Egg or Wispa Easter eggs to excited shoppers.
The unconventional Christmas tradition heralds the start of the Christmas season for many who live in the area. Locals say the promotion has been going on for decades. Story has it that JC, “the owner at the time, put in an extra order to Cadbury’s for Christmas selection boxes,” one customer told DublinLive in 2019. “The order got delivered and they thought everything was okay until they opened the packaging on the pallet to discover it was Easter eggs. They phoned up Cadbury’s, but they wouldn’t take the order back, hence Easter eggs at Christmas.”
Sure enough, the Easter eggs flew off the shelves and it has been a yearly practice ever since.
Following the Twitterati
■ @brendanzpmiller
Used the super scan thing-a-mi-jig in SuperValu the other day and felt like I was doing the shopping for the Jetsons. ■ @GlassHalfArsed
Was getting a roll in Spar and I heard the person after me ask for a roll but to “take the bread out”. And the girl at the deli just hollowed out the inside of the roll so just the crust remained. Is this a common thing?
I’ve never encountered it before. ■ @roisinmeaney
Dear Santa, l ate a whole bag of jelly sours today. In my defence they were only a euro so if you want to blame someone, it’s @dunnesstores you want. Please don’t cross me off the good list. Yours remorsefully,
Roisin PS I’ll put you into a book if you forgive me. ■ @DanEireDesigns
What’s the most Irish thing you’ve seen lately? Today in @CentraIRL the guy in front of me sanitised his hands and then used the excess in his hair as..Gel?! ■ @gramsey_turner
Have to do the shopping for mam cos she’s got Covid, the lady in the fruit and veg shop knew who I was straight away because of what basket I was using.
In a pinch
An extremely rare orange lobster was saved from certain death after being rescued from a Canadian grocery store tank.
The one-in-30-million orange lobster, who now goes by the name Pinchy, had spent weeks living in a tank in an Ontorio grocery store where he garnered no interest from buyers.
Eventually, his unusual colouring caught the attention of the store’s manager, who was concerned that he was being “picked on” by the other lobsters.
The pair decided to buy the lobster and safely transported him to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto, where he now lives.
In a post on Facebook, the aquarium said: “Pinchy is settling in very well to his new home and is doing brilliantly!”
Rare orange crustacean sat in a tank
Grocery around the globe
UK
Grocery price inflation added nearly £15 to an average monthly bill over the festive period in the UK, data firm Kantar has found. The monthly increase was the sharpest since January 2018, bar a short period in spring 2020 when retailers suspended promotions to keep products available during panic buying at the start of the pandemic. The most significant increases were seen in the price of beef, savoury snacks, and skincare products.
Austria
Spar Austria and social impact company Too Good To Go have sold 100,000 bags of food nearing its use-by date. Within 10 weeks of signing a nationwide partnership, 90,000 Spar Austria customers helped stop 1 million food products from going to waste, and about 750 tonnes of related CO2 emissions by purchasing the bags.
India
India’s Reliance Industries has invested $200 million for a 25.8% stake in Bangalore-based delivery platform Dunzo. Existing backers Lightbox, Lightrock, 3L Capital and Alteria Capital invested another $40 million into the company, which helps small and local businesses fill online orders for food, medicine, and consumer goods in 300 neighbourhoods in India. Last year, Google invested in the company as part of a $10 billion plan to accelerate India’s digital economy.
US
California officials have sued Walmart Inc, accusing the retail giant of illegally dumping pesticides, lithium batteries and other hazardous materials in landfills across the state. California attorney general Rob Bonta alleged Walmart unlawfully disposes of 80 tons of hazardous waste a year in municipal landfills that are not equipped for such waste. Pollutants from discarded products can seep into drinking water and contaminate air, the lawsuit said. ■
