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Seen and heard
S&W expands ‘A Whole Lot More’
S&W Wholesale promised to offer ‘A Whole Lot More’ and that is exactly what the group has delivered through the announcement of its new redevelopment project plan.
An investment of more than £15 million in a landmark 20-acre site will house a new multipurpose distribution hub, head office space, vehicle management area, recycling area and much more. The new state-of-the-art storage centre will boast 180,000sq ft, hosting all ambient, chilled, fresh and frozen products under one roof.
Norman Savage, operations director; Alan Dorman, trading director; Michael Skelton, managing director and Anthony McVeigh, chief financial officer at S&W
To give you the magnitude of this investment, S&W’s current location in Carnbane which has been the group’s home since 2010 already operates at 100,000sq ft. The redevelopment plan will almost double this capacity, which S&W says will allow its “continued vision for growth, improve our efficiencies and investment in both the business and local area”.
The group is confident that its move to the conveniently based Chancellors Road, just off the main A1 Dual Carriageway out of Newry to Dublin, will position S&W in the best location to service retail and wholesale customers throughout the island of Ireland with greater ease.
“Over the past number of years, we have experienced sustained growth and this investment into the new multi-purpose site is aimed at facilitating this growth further and to provide our employees with a better working environment as well as providing a more efficient way of working across the entire business,” said Michael Skelton, MD of S&W Wholesale.
The site will become more eco-friendly focused with the introduction of solar panels, electric car charging points and methods of reducing waste – reducing S&W’s carbon footprint for the future.
Anthony McVeigh, chief financial officer; Michael Skelton, managing director; Norman Savage, operations director and Alan Dorman, trading director at S&W
“We are committed to driving our footprint in the local community with plans to build on our 250+ workforce and work alongside local business and organisations in making a real positive change in the local area and beyond,” Skelton added.
Aspects of the new facility are well under way with a local architect firm spearheading the cutting-edge design.
“We are really excited about the build and to get Phase 1 underway,” Skelton continued. “With all that has happened over the past few years with the pandemic, this is a positive story for all involved with S&W, the local area, employees and their communities as well as our retailers and trade partners as we continue to be one of Ireland’s leading grocery wholesalers. We will continue to deliver A Whole Lot More.”
Green Isle announces Olympian and mum Derval O’Rourke as brand ambassador
Ireland’s best-selling frozen vegetable brand, Green Isle is excited to announce Irish Olympian, Ireland’s Fittest Family coach and busy mum of two, Derval O’Rourke as its first brand ambassador.
This new partnership with Green Isle will see best-selling cookbook author, Derval O’Rourke create a range of Green Isle recipes for all the family to enjoy, whether it’s quick and easy dinner or lunch inspiration, healthy smoothies, the perfect side dishes, or simple tips on how to get more fruit and veg on the little ones’ plates. O’Rourke’s recipes and tips will be available across Green Isle’s social channels along with a dedicated section on www.greenisle.ie.
As well as making good food, Green Isle also want to support health and wellness in the local community. Founder of health and lifestyle platform, Derval.ie, O’Rourke will share top tips from quick and easy wellness techniques to fun fitness activities for all the family to enjoy, from soup and a stroll, mindfulness lessons, family nutrition and more.
Mairéad Walsh, marketing manager, Green Isle, with Derval O’Rourke who will create Green Isle recipes, health and wellness tips and more Artist and designer of the bag, Claire Prouvost (centre) with Special Olympics athletes, Ayoub Deboub (left) and Una Coates (right) with CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond (back left) and CEO of Special Olympics Ireland, Matt English (back right)
Gala Retail launches limited edition shopper in support of Special Olympics Ireland
Platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail, has announced the launch of a range of limited-edition reusable shopping bags that will help to raise funds for Special Olympics Ireland. The convenience retail group has teamed up with Dublin-based artist, illustrator and muralist, Claire Prouvost who created a bespoke illustration for the bag that incorporates the spirit and sports of Special Olympics Ireland and its athletes.
Gala Retail has been a sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland since 2015. Funds raised from sales of the limited-edition reusable shopper bags from Gala Retail will offer further support to the organisation, aiding the organisation in the delivery of the upcoming advancement games that will give athletes the opportunity to qualify for a much sought after spot in the delegation for travelling to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
The limited-edition range of reusable shoppers are available to purchase online since 1 March at www.gala.ie for €15.
Fyffes to support Ireland’s first National Fitness Games Gala sells winning €30m EuroMillions jackpot ticket
Fyffes is supporting a weekendlong ‘festival of fitness’ scheduled to take place at the UCD Sports Campus from Friday, 22 to Sunday, 24 April inclusive. Billed as Ireland’s first National Fitness Games, the event will follow a formula established in the UK where it has attracted a high level of entries over a number of years. Under the tagline ‘Fuelled by Fyffes’, participation will be open to individuals and teams, including corporate team entries, with an expected attendance of some 2,000 over the weekend. Providing a test in terms of power, endurance, speed and strength, challenges will include weighted runs, rowing machines, sandbag carries, kettlebell snatches, assault bikes, deadlifts and more from which ‘Ireland’s Fittest Male and Female’ will be crowned.
Building on its established ‘Fit Squad’ programme for school-age students, the event will be preceded by the sixth running of Fyffes own National Banana Day which falls on Wednesday, 20 April.
With entry now open to NFG FitGames Ireland 2022, further details are available online at www.nationalfitnessgames.com.
Ballina, Co. Clare is the home of the latest winning ticket from the EuroMillions draw with one lucky winner scooping a whopping €30,928,078 prize jackpot. The winning ticket was sold by Larkin’s Gala in Ballina, Killaloe, Co. Clare and the ticket buyer has been announced as the sole winner of the EuroMillions Jackpot, matching five numbers and two stars making them Ireland’s latest multimillionaire after winning the lifechanging amount. Speaking about the win, Siobhan Larkin, store owner of Larkin’s Gala in Ballina, said: “When our visitors from the National Lottery arrived here on Sunday evening, I couldn’t believe that it was our store that sold the winning ticket worth €30.9 million. The vast majority of our customers are locals so we hope that the winner might be a local too and wish them all the very best with their huge win. “This win is going to be absolutely huge for the community,” she added. “It’s become a bit of a running joke now as to where the winning Ashbourne female team members ticket was actually sold, because of Ballina’s unique border location – was Katie Byrne and Claire Hickey it Clare, Limerick or with Fyffes head of marketing Emma Hunt-Duffy Tipperary? As proud Tipperary people, we’ll be claiming the win for Tipp!” n
The team at Larkin’s Ballina in Co. Clare celebrate the EuroMillions win
Taste of Dublin provides a platform to interact with and sell to knowledgeable foodies
