Retail News June 2023

POUCHES

Home support

IRISH consumers have been encouraged to support home-grown brands and products for as long as we have had grocery stores, but the reasons for doing so have never been so obvious. Every euro spent in a local shop is worth five times that to the local economy, which is a remarkable statistic.

This month, Retail News looks at why it is as important as ever for consumers to buy indigenous goods and encourages retailers to help shoppers to easily identify Irish goods in-store. We talk to Brid O’Connell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish, about why the organisation remains both relevant and successful as it fast approaches its 50th birthday next year (Page 22). We hear from some homegrown brands that are really hitting the consumer sweet spot in terms of innovations and promotions, and we delve into the results of the Love Irish Food and PwC 2023 SME Food Barometer (Page 31).

We also report on 10 years of the SuperValu Food Academy (Page 16), which has seen a remarkable €230 million of homegrown products sold in SuperValu stores over the last decade. We report from Bord Bia Bloom 2023, as well as the CSNA AGM and Gala Dinner (Page 20) and the TWIG networking lunch (Page 52). Finally, our Waste Management special report (Page 56) includes an in-depth interview with Repak CEO Séamus Clancy on the future of waste management in Ireland.

Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director

2 Retail group calls on Government to revisit Living Wage calculations.

3 Ifac unveils guide to retail for food and drink SMEs.

4 Aldi to invest €7.2 million in energy efficient stores; Pinergy launch €30 million Solar Energy Fund.

5 Tesco Ireland announce large-scale price cuts; RGDATA Director General appointed to ISME National Council.

6 Strong growth in own-label products reflects Irish shoppers’ pursuit of value.

8 Consumers remaining frugal and resilient to cope with cost-of-living pressures.

SuperValu Food Academy

16 SuperValu are celebrating the 10-year milestone of the Food Academy programme.

Energy Efficiency: Energia Lighting Solutions

18 Energia Lighting Solutions recently carried up a lighting upgrade at SuperValu Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.

CSNA AGM

20 The Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association recently held its first in-person AGM in four years.

Buying Irish: Guaranteed Irish

22 Brid O’Connell, CEO, Guaranteed Irish, explains why the Guaranteed Irish symbol resonates so strongly with Irish consumers and reveals the results of a new study which highlights consumers’ desire to support Irish products in-store.

Buying Irish: Clonakilty Food Company

26 Clonakilty Food Company are giving customers the opportunity to win a €500 shopping voucher.

Buying Irish: Glenhaven Foods

28 Glenhaven Foods’ new Jalapeño Cheese Bites were designed specifically for the Irish market.

Buying Irish: Love Irish Food

31 Love Irish Food is supporting member brands with high profile advertising and marketing campaigns throughout 2023.

Electronic Data Collection: GS1 Ireland

34 Tackling the data challenges of being a more sustainable business.

Bloom

46 Over 100,000 visitors attended Bord Bia Bloom 2023.

TWIG Networking Lunch

52 The largest ever TWIG networking lunch raised vital funds for those in need across Ireland’s grocery, food and retail sector.

Waste Management Special Report

56 Repak CEO, Séamus Clancy, calls for joined-up thinking between the regulatory authorities to ensure waste management reform is done in a realistic and safe manner. Elsewhere, Kelsius are helping Tesco Ireland reduce food waste with their new wireless temperature monitoring systems, while Aldi’s food waste partnerships have avoided over one million kilos of food from going to waste.

Employment Law

66 What the introduction of the new Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 means for employers.

Retail group calls on Government

A RETAIL representative group has accused the Government of relying on flawed data in its calculations for a National Living Wage (NLW) for Irish employees. In a submission to the Low Pay Commission, the Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA) questioned the Government’s decision not to include any details about the influence of multinational corporations (MNCs), and “the extraordinary disparity in public versus private sector average or median salaries,” when calculating median wages for a NLW.

According to Vincent Jennings, CSNA CEO, the current National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate of €11.30 per hour will rise by 32.8% to become a National Living Wage of €15 per hour by 2026. This sum, he says, is unfairly boosted from salary data that includes “hundreds of thousands of employees receiving salaries from the public purse” and “similar numbers employed by large domestic and foreign multi-national corporations”.

In 2021’s Low Pay Commission Annual Report, the commission announced its intention to contract researchers from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, to “conduct detailed background research into the structure and implications of introducing a living wage in Ireland”. The report called for the study to include a consideration of “any possible distorting effect of MNCs on the median wage in Ireland versus other countries” in calculating “a living wage as a percentage of the country’s median wage”.

Dr Aedín Doris, an author of the subsequent Maynooth report, published in 2022, told Retail News that “while working on the research report, we considered the possible distorting effect of multi-national companies in detail. We concluded that

while the calculation of a mean wage could possibly be affected by high-paying MNCs, the median, which was the focus of the Living Wage research, is not influenced by a relatively small number of very high values.”

However, the 59-page Maynooth report, Research on the Introduction of a Living Wage in Ireland, does not include any detail around the potential distorting effects of MNCs. A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, told Retail News that “it was deemed not necessary to make reference to it in the research report”.

Jennings disputes the findings. “I’ve spoken to economists about this,” he explains. “When you throw MNCs into the mix, you have a higher average median rate than you would have if you exclude them. Ireland is such an outlier and it is unique insofar as we have a very substantial number of foreign direct investment multinational companies in operation, with large numbers of employees in the country. As welcome as this is, they have a much higher than average wage structure. Then you ally that with the public sector. The public sector includes local authorities, state bodies, semi-state bodies, so it’s not just civil servants. There are hundreds of thousands of employees who are paid by the public purse.”

The public sector is also not mentioned with the report. Dr Doris told Retail News

the Maynooth team did not “particularly consider the impact of public sector pay, as public sector workers are to be found throughout the earnings distribution”. In a study published in 2019, the CSO found the pay differential for employees in the public sector ranged from 3.8% to 7.1%, between 2015 and 2018, when compared to their private sector counterparts.

Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland, is concerned that the living wage is merely the latest in a string of cost increases to be borne by retailers. Dillon argued that his members are concerned that “acute inflationary pressures across the economy will be compounded by the cumulative cost of ongoing and planned labour market reforms… The rollout of pension autoenrolment, the living wage, statutory sick pay, and other leave proposals already announced will add 9% to average labour costs in Ireland over the coming decade. However, for labour intensive retail businesses, particularly SMEs, the cost of implementing increases in pensions coverage and wage floors will be much higher.”

Between 2016 and 2022, the minimum wage increased from €9.15 to €10.50. From 2022 to 2023, it went up another 80c. A further 80c increase every year until 2026, in the creation of a living wage, is “not tenable for retailers”, according to RGDATA.

Constant increases in the minimum wage create an expectation that all hourly

Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA.

to revisit Living Wage calculations

Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General.

€15 an hour, the people on €16 and €17 and €20 want the same differential. If we keep addressing this issue of inflation by adding to the cost of employment, we’re effectively adding to the cost of inflation. We need to address the inflation issue by other means: make housing more affordable, make rent more affordable, address energy costs.”

wages will rise by a similar percentage, argued RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley: “If a shop employee earning an hourly rate – a student doing a summer job, for example – suddenly gets €14 or

According to the department spokesperson, the Low Pay Commission is now engaged in considering the “appropriate phasing of the increases in the National Minimum Wage required to ensure that it represents 60% of the median wage by 2026”.

However, CSNA has called on them to revisit the data. “I’m not arguing against the principle of a living wage,” said Jennings. “I’m not arguing against increasing the

Ifac unveils guide to retail for food and drink SMEs

IFAC have developed a guide to retail for owners, CEOs and commercial managers of food and drink SMEs to help them position their businesses for success.

The ‘Cracking The Retail Code’ guide from the farming, food, and agribusiness specialist professional services/accountancy firm provides food and drinks producers with practical knowledge, insights and tools to help create successful products, and it highlights what retailers look for from new products.

It answers some of the key questions that are top of mind for food and drink entrepreneurs. These include how to pitch to a retailer, how to negotiate, what information you should have correct when creating a new product, how to choose between branded and private label, the right retailer for your business, and how to navigate contracts and the different types. The guide also features an insightful interview with a global retail specialist from Bord Bia.

Through the guide, food and drinks business operators can expect to learn more about key retail areas, including:

• Product categories and sources of data that can provide producers with valuable information;

• Understanding your category and competitor landscape, so you know

where to focus your efforts to secure the right listing with a retailer;

• The questions to ask yourself and steps to take before creating a new product;

• Establishing your brand;

• Route to market and choosing the right retailer to support the growth of your product.

In addition, Ifac’s awardwinning advisory team hosted a retail-focused webinar on June 15 to share their expertise and provide additional context to the insights shared in the guide. This also featured Irish producers Dough Bros and Killowen Yoghurts, Irish food brands that recognise the opportunity that retail presents for future growth.

Pictured

members David Leydon, Stephanie Walsh, Lorcan Bannon, Oisin Gryson, and Aisling Donnellan, launching the guide to retail for owners, CEOs and commercial managers of food and drink SMEs.

“The overall aim of this guide is to support food and drink entrepreneurs and help them to position their business for success. By adopting a buyer’s mindset and anticipating their needs, producers can establish mutually beneficial relationships with retailers,” noted David Leydon, Head of Food and Agribusiness at Ifac. “This is a sector we are proud to be involved in. In recent

years, we have invested in building an advisory team to work closely with food business owners. Our team includes experts like Lorcan Bannon, who has worked with Pernod Ricard (Jameson & Absolut), and Stephanie Walsh, who brings invaluable experience as a former senior buyer with Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland. Along with our accountancy, audit, tax, payroll, and corporate finance expertise, we are the perfect partner for Irish food and drink businesses looking to grow and scale sustainably.”

For more information see www.ifac.ie

Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland.

are (l-r): Ifac Food and Agribusiness team

NMW. I’m arguing that the methodology, which we’re going to be anchored to for generations, is flawed.”

Aldi to invest €7.2 million in energy efficient stores

ALDI Ireland will invest €7.2 million in upgrading six of their stores throughout the country in 2023. Alongside the recently opened renovated Athy store, Bandon, Ballinasloe, Mullingar, Sandyford, and Cashel will be part of the supermarket’s award-winning Project Fresh retrofitting programme, which overhauls a store’s infrastructure with energy-saving upgrades.

Since the beginning of the programme in 2016, Aldi have invested €62 million in the rollout of Project Fresh across their store network. This year, Aldi launched Project Fresh Enhanced, which will see for the first time exciting new units such as a fresh herb stand, a dedicated bread and cake fixture, and a Health and Beauty feature installed in the upcoming revamps.

To date, 93 stores have already been upgraded, with five more to be completed in 2023 and the remaining few stores to be revamped in 2024. Since 2016, all new stores and store extensions built and opened by Aldi have been built in the Project Fresh format.

Through the Project Fresh innovations, Aldi stores are significantly cutting their energy consumption with the use of modern and efficient chiller doors and refrigeration systems.

“We are delighted to be at such an advanced stage of the roll-out of our Project Fresh store upgrades,” revealed Colin Breslin, Managing Director, Buying and Services Ireland. “We have invested €62 million in upgrading our stores since 2016 and we will invest €7.2 million in a further six store upgrades throughout the country this year.

“Reducing energy consumption is an important goal for all of us and, at Aldi, we are deeply committed to a sustainable business model, which is why we are always looking for opportunities and new ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Through initiatives like Project Fresh, we are playing our part in helping to meet the ambitions set out under the Government’s Climate Action Plan to halve emissions by 2030 and implement a carbon neutral economy by 2050.”

Pinergy launch €30 million Solar Energy Fund set to target retail sector

PINERGY have announced the launch of a €30 million fund to accelerate the delivery of solar energy to businesses across the country. Funded solar is a new service for commercial energy users that will enable them to access lower-cost renewable energy as they get ready for the energy transition.

As part of this new service, Pinergy will design, install, and maintain the solar PV installation in their clients’ commercial properties with no capital outlay for the business. The client will agree a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Pinergy to buy electricity generated by the solar panels, which will be at a lower cost than prevailing prices from the grid. When the €30 million fund is fully taken-up, the renewable energy generated would meet the equivalent needs of 7,000 typical homes, reducing demand on the grid.

The new service enables commercial clients to experience the benefits of a solar PV installation without the upfront capital cost, whilst ensuring the business can immediately benefit from the generation and use of renewable energy. As a result, clients will see their operating expenses and cashflow improve as they will require less electricity from the grid, thus resulting in reduced energy prices and increased energy security for the next 25 years.

“Many businesses have been faced with rising operating costs due to volatile energy markets over the last few years. We recognised that there is need to provide a simple solar solution that maintains security of supply while reducing costs

to businesses across the country, while also enabling them to play their part in a sustainable energy future,” explained Enda Gunnell, Pinergy CEO. “The Pinergy Solar Fund is our solution to meet the needs of many businesses, who are not ready to make the upfront capital investment that solar projects traditionally require. We are delighted to be able to bring this new service to the market. Pinergy will fund the initial installation and maintain the solar PV project, while at the same time our clients benefit from certainty on and reduced energy prices for the next 25 years.”

This new funded solar service will enable businesses of all sizes with good roof space to utilise renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint and move towards a more sustainable business model and is ideally suited to retailers.

Enda Gunnell, CEO at Pinergy, at the launch of Pinergy's new € 30 million Solar Energy Fund for commercial energy users.

Colin Breslin, Managing Director, Buying and Services Ireland, Aldi.

Tesco Ireland announce large-scale price cuts

JUNE 8 saw Tesco Ireland announcing a campaign of price cuts across their stores countrywide and online via Tesco.ie, with average price reductions of 10% on more than 700 essential products.

“We’re working hard to invest in helping families, by cutting prices on hundreds of products,” revealed Joe Manning, Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland. “Committing to discounts across a hugely diverse range of items, including grocery staples, household products and family favourites, demonstrates our continued commitment to offering great value and means customers can expect to find savings in almost every aisle in-store or online.

“We also work very closely with our suppliers to manage their input inflation and their cost price pressures. As our costs are reducing from our suppliers, we are now able to pass those savings on to our customers.”

Tesco’s Price Cuts campaign comes just days after they announced a major milestone for their innovative community support programme, ‘Stronger Starts’. Since it began in 2021, the programme has provided one million free, fresh, healthy and nutritious meals to primary school children and families who are

Will new alcohol labelling laws lead to less choice on

shelves?

THE National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has criticised the Irish Government for moving “unilaterally” on new labelling regulations on alcohol products, suggesting it will have a “negative impact” on artisan producers. Under the new mandate, alcohol sold in Ireland will carry health labels in a similar manner to tobacco products.

“NOffLA has always been supportive of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act,” said Evelyn Jones, Government Affairs Director, NOffLA. “However, it is disappointing that Ireland would choose to move unilaterally on labelling regulations, when the European Commission’s own plans for a pan-European approach are expected shortly. The unilateral approach by the Irish Government will have negative impacts, particularly for premium artisan producers throughout the world that currently supply Irish consumers. Many will refuse to put such a label on their products and will leave less choice for Irish shoppers.”

Evelyn Jones, Government Affairs Director, NOffLA.

at risk of food insecurity. Stronger Starts helps to build thriving communities across Ireland, with children in 117 Deis schools across Ireland receiving a pack containing fresh apples, onions, potatoes and carrots every week.

RGDATA Director General appointed to ISME National Council

RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley has been appointed to the National Council of ISME. RGDATA believe this move offers an opportunity for RGDATA to ensure that the interests of the 3,500 SME business owners that it represents are taken on board when ISME is deciding on its policy objectives and campaigning and representation issues. ISME provides a strong voice for SME businesses in Ireland and this collaboration will help to further strengthen the voice of independent shopkeepers and SME business owners.

Joe Manning, Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland.

RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley.

Strong growth in own-label products reflects Irish shoppers’ pursuit of value

KANTAR’S latest data shows take-home grocery sales increased by 11.3% in the four weeks to May 14, 2023, as the average price per pack increased by 13.4%. Shoppers also visited stores more often during the month of May (11.6%) making an additional two trips compared to the same time last year.

Although value sales are up significantly, grocery price inflation is the real driving factor behind this, as opposed to increased purchasing. Grocery inflation rose by 16.5% in the 12 weeks to May 14, down marginally (0.1%) on last month. “The slight drop in grocery price inflation is without doubt welcome news for shoppers but it is still high,” explained Emer Healy, Senior Retail Analyst at Kantar. “16.5% is the third fastest rate of grocery inflation we’ve seen since 2008. In response to the high level of inflation, we are seeing consumers change their shopping patterns to off-set part of the increased cost.”

Shoppers are turning to shopping little and often to help manage household budgets. The latest 12 weeks shows shoppers retuning to store more often, with visits up by 12%, equating to an

additional seven trips. This contributed an additional €574 million to the overall market performance, alongside a significant increase in the average price per pack, which is up 13.7% year-on-year.

Currently, the market is seeing much stronger own-label growth (16.3%) compared to branded (8.2%) as shoppers are looking for ways to save money. However, it was value own-label which saw the strongest growth year-on-year at 32.3%, with shoppers spending €17.5 million more on these ranges. May marks the first time that branded and own-label are on equal terms when it comes to market share, with each holding a 47.3% share of the market, a sign that the hunt for the best value in the market continues.

Shoppers celebrated the May bank holidays with some al fresco dining and it impacted the tills positively. “Irish consumers welcomed warmer days in May and as a result the barbeque season has officially started,” Emer revealed. “Shoppers spent an additional €6.6 million on beer and lager, €722,000 on chilled burgers and grills and €516,000 on fresh sausages over the four weeks."

Online sales remain positive over the last 12-weeks, up 3.3% year-on-year, with shoppers spending an additional €5.3 million online. However, volume sales online are down 16.3% compared to last year.

Dunnes, Tesco and Lidl experienced value growth ahead of the total market in May. Dunnes hold the highest share amongst all retailers at 23.1% with growth of 15.8% year-on-year, which stems from shoppers returning to store 14% more often, equating to nearly two additional trips.

Tesco claim 22.4% of the market with 14.5% growth. Tesco have seen the strongest frequency growth amongst all retailers of 16% year-on-year, contributing an additional €93.7 million to their overall performance.

SuperValu hold 20.6% of the market, with growth of 5.8%. SuperValu shoppers make the most trips in store compared to all retailers, with an average of 23.8 trips, an increase of 15.4% year-on-year.

Lidl hit a record new share of 13.6% this month, following growth of 15.8% year-on-year. More frequent trips contributed to an additional €44.4 million to their overall performance. Aldi claim 12.1%, with growth of 11.3% year-on-year. A strong boost in new shoppers and more frequent trips has contributed an additional €53.2 million to their overall performance.

Emer Healy, Senior Retail Analyst at Kantar.

Location

MULLINGAR KILKENNY

WATERFORD LIMERICK CORK KILLARNEY

GALWAY

SLIGO

DUBLIN

CAVAN

DUBLIN

Date

June 12

June 19

June 20

June 26

July 3

July 4

July 10

July 11

July 13

July 17

July 19

Venue

Mullingar Park Hotel

Hoban Hotel Kilkenny

Woodlands Hotel

Castletroy Park Hotel

Clayton Silver Springs

Gleneagle Hotel Business Centre

Menlo Park Hotel

Clayton Hotel Sligo

Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown

Cavan Crystal Hotel

Clayton Hotel Leopardstown

Consumers remaining frugal and resilient to cope with cost-of-living pressures

CONSUMERS are continuing to reign in their spending amidst a challenging costof-living environment globally, with 94% of consumers now worried about the rise of living costs as they continue to navigate inflation. Affordability is the leading concern for consumer respondents to the 12th edition of the EY Future Consumer Index (FCI) increasing by 10% to 35% since October 2022, with increases in the cost of groceries, energy and fuel areas of significant concerns to consumers.

“This latest edition of the EY’s Future Consumer Index reveals that cost-of-living and financial and health pressures are taking precedence with consumers, while more altruistic concerns for the planet or society are not being prioritised to the same degree,” noted Colette Devey, EY Ireland Partner and Consumer Products and Retail Lead.

“Value for money emerges as the key areas of focus for consumers from the report, something we know is a significant issue of concern here in Ireland also,” Colette continued. “Consumers across all income bands are more frugal in their spending, with almost two thirds reporting that private label products satisfy their needs just as well as branded products (65%) or can help them save money (63%).”

While customers continue to focus on value and are cost-conscious, some groups are continuing to prioritise holidays, with 38% higher income consumers intending to spend more in this area over the coming months.

The focus on affordability is also helping to drive sustainable behaviours, with large majorities of consumers indicating that they prefer to repair rather than replace items (67%), are recycling or repurposing products after use (79%) and are switching to sustainable alternatives in the products they purchase (60%).

“We are seeing the prioritisation of affordability and health being reported by consumers, irrespective of age, income profile or location, demonstrating that these are wider macro-trends as consumers globally continue to deal with the lingering impact of the pandemic, supply chain disruption and inflationary issues and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty,” revealed Colette

The EY Future Consumer Index reveals

almost half (46%) of consumer respondents rely on technology to manage their daily lives. In light of this, it is not surprising then that data theft and security breaches are an issue of concern for a majority of respondents, most notably ID theft (55% very concerned), data/security breaches (53% concerned) or downloading a virus (52%). Consumers are also wary about what it happens to their data, with 53% concerned that companies may sell their personal information to a third party. Somewhat paradoxically, however, they are also willing to share personal data if it provides value for them, with two thirds (66%) willing to exchange their data for personalised recommendations for cheaper alternatives to a product, and 60% willing to share data for a completely customised online experience.

This growing reliance on technology and its outputs and recommendations are also shaping purchase decisions and overall consumption. Across mainstream technologies, the data reveals almost half of consumer respondents (46%) have used online grocery delivery services in the last three months, a 12% rise since June 2022. Emerging technologies also saw a sharp uptake, with more than double the number of consumer respondents globally now using virtual multi-user platforms when compared with June 2022.

“Consumers have become habitual users of digital technology, becoming incrementally more reliant on it to provide them with ways to make life easier, save money, save time, work from home and reduce their environmental impact,” Colette noted. “Consumer attitudes toward technology are evolving just as rapidly as the technology itself, as people look for a fair exchange of value. Businesses must foster a relationship with their customers around technology based on trust, respect and value. Failure to do so will damage relationships in the long term.”

Consumer respondents are taking action to reduce spending in many areas of their lives, with 44% expecting to buy less take-away food and nearly half (49%) planning only to spend on essential products. Affording the essentials also remains a challenge for many consumers. More than three quarters (79%) feel prices for food have increased in the past three

to four months and 74% have noticed some brands have reduced their pack sizes without reflecting changes in the price, otherwise known as “shrinkflation”.

55% of consumers globally say brands are no longer important and 29% of respondents say that they have switched from brands to private label.

“Consumers are remaining frugal and resilient to cope with cost-of-living pressures,” Colette concluded. “They are reporting the value they receive from brands diminishes due to price increases and in some cases shrinkflation. Consumers are responding by switching away from brands, reducing their list of essentials and cancelling subscriptions to maximise budgets. While many Irish households may feel that there are many factors outside their control, they should recognise that there are a number of ways in which they can take control of their spending, including exploring private label offerings, seeking to take advantage of on-the-floor and atthe-till discounts and to shop around and across channels for the best value.”

The latest edition of the EY Future Consumer Index is available at: ey.com/FutureConsumerIndex12

Colette Devey, EY Ireland Partner and Consumer Products and Retail Lead.

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Distinctive new ice cream brand called Lickety Split.

Succulent rotisseriespun chicken, served in delicious signature sandwiches and healthy salad bowls.

Slam-dunk for Gala Retail with basketball sponsorship

AT the unveiling of Team Ireland’s female basketball team ahead of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail, took the opportunity to gift family and friends of the team with new supporter merchandise. Outside of Germany, Ireland is the country with the largest delegation this year, now surpassing 500, and retail partner, Gala Retail has gifted almost 1,500 official supporters’ merchandise packs to friends and family of the athletes who will be representing their country from June 17-25. “We are thrilled to hear that Ireland will be sending the biggest cohort of supporters to the World Games and we are delighted to support the volunteers and supporters with green t-shirts, hats and bags that will identify them as proud supporters of Special Olympics Team Ireland,” said Gary Desmond, CEO, Gala Retail. Pictured are (back row): Team Ireland athletes Jenna Carty, Emma Johnstone, Margaret Turley, Anita Forde and Deirdre Walsh with Gary Desmond and Matt English, CEO Special Olympics Ireland, and (front row): Team Ireland family, Jean Johnstone and Tom Walsh.

Bord Bia and Skillnet Ireland launch Origin Green Academy

BORD Bia and Skillnet Ireland have launched the Origin Green Academy to develop sustainability skills and talent for the Irish food and drink industry. Bord Bia has partnered with the Lean & Green Skillnet and 20Fifty Partners, to develop a series of sustainability themed training programmes. Launched in support of the EU Year of Skills, the Origin Green Academy will support Irish food, drink and horticulture businesses to develop industry leading sustainability talent and the emissions reductions skills required to achieve ambitious emissions reductions across the sector, accelerate their sustainability progress, and meet the expectations of global consumers and legislative requirements such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Pictured are: Maria Kelly, Head of Communications, 20Fifty Partners; Paul Healy, Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive; Deirdre Ryan, Director of Sustainability & Quality Assurance, Bord Bia; and Jim O'Toole, CEO, Bord Bia.

Flogas powering Team Ireland to Paris 2024

FLOGAS are now the Official Energy Partner of Team Ireland for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. “Flogas are thrilled to be sponsoring Team Ireland for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and excited to support these incredible athletes as they represent Ireland on the world stage,” said John Rooney, Managing Director, Flogas Ireland. Pictured at the announcement at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown in Dublin are (front row, l-r): John Rooney, and track and field athlete Mark English; (back row, l-r): Peter Sherrard, CEO, Olympic Federation, boxer Amy Broadhurst and Sarah Keane, President, Olympic Federation.

FSAI host international heads of Food Agencies Forum

THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recently welcomed global food regulators to Dublin for the 4th annual meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum, the first face-to-face meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic. Officially opened by Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton TD, 17 regulatory agencies from across the globe attended the meeting. Pictured are: Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI; Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy; Dr Sandra Cuthbert, Chief Executive Officer, Food Standards Australia New Zealand; Prof Hisham Bin Saad Al-Jadhey, CEO, Saudi Food & Drug Authority.

Letterkenny store sells €1 million ticket

KELLY’s Centra in Mountain Top, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, was revealed as the selling location for the May 16 9pm Daily Millions top prize ticket worth €1,000,000. “It's an incredible feeling to know that our little corner of the world has brought such life-changing luck to someone. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to the winner. Our little shop in Co. Donegal will forever be a part of this incredible story, and we couldn't be happier,” said store owner, Mairtin Kelly, pictured celebrating with staff members Susan Doherty, Olive Boyle and Joanne Kennedy.

Musgrave announce fiveyear deal with Ballymaguire Foods

Tesco launch Deposit Return Scheme trial

TESCO Ireland have officially launched their new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) trial for PET plastic drinks bottles and aluminium/steel drinks cans at their Tesco Extra Store at Donore Road in Drogheda. Ahead of DRS commencing nationwide in February 2024, the retailer is running two in-store DRS demonstration trials, at Drogheda Extra and Malahide Express stores. The Government’s Deposit Return Scheme is being introduced to encourage more people to recycle drinks containers, such as bottles and cans. Pictured at the launch are Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD; Tesco Ireland Communications Director Rosemary Garth; Tesco Ireland Country Operations Manager Darrin Honer; and store manager Eoin Killoran.

Winners

of Aldi Play Rugby competition revealed

MUSGRAVE have announced a new five-year deal with Luskbased ready meal producer Ballymaguire Foods, valued at €170 million. The new contract will see Ballymaguire continue to supply homegrown, Irishmade prepared meals and side dishes to Musgrave retail brands SuperValu, Centra and Daybreak. “We are very pleased to work with suppliers who share our values of wanting to support local and do good for our communities. We set out an ambition to help our customers make more sustainable choices and we are delighted to support Irish suppliers who operate in a way that makes this possible. In recent times, we have seen an increase in demand for healthy meals and we are very happy to continue to work with Ballymaguire Foods, who continue to innovate and evolve to meet shoppers' needs,” said Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu and Centra, pictured with Edward Spelman, Managing Director and Co-owner of Ballymaguire Foods.

ALDI and the IRFU have announced the winners of this year’s Aldi Play Rugby sticker competition, which ran in stores earlier this year and attracted a fantastic 5,682 entries from primary schools across Ireland. It gave schools the chance to win a lifechanging sports facility makeover worth €50,000 by simply collecting Aldi Play Rugby stickers. Shoppers received one sticker for every €25 spent and a completed poster with 300 stickers earned each school an entry into the draw. The lucky winner of the €50,000 prize is Lisboduff National School in Cootehill, Co. Cavan, while 10 other primary schools from across the country will each receive €5,000 to put towards developing their sports facilities. Paul O’Connell, Aldi Play Rugby Ambassador, is pictured presenting the prize to Ciara Burns, Principal of Lisboduff National School, and pupils from the school.

National

Lottery reveals Good Causes winners

AN impressive 133 groups, sports clubs, community projects and organisations from all over Ireland were recently announced as county winners in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2023. Initiatives recognised at the 2023 awards include a community service providing support for brain injury survivors in Offaly, Galway Sub Aqua Diving Group, a leading youth environmental education organisation working to empower young people to take climate action, and many more meaningful projects nationwide. Pictured at Galway Sub Aqua Club are Gráinne Seoige (centre left) with Connor McEnroy, President of Galway Sub Aqua Club; Jennifer Crowe, National Lottery; and club members Yvan Masson, Richard Geraghty, Thomas Moore, Rona O’Reilly, Shane McLaughlin and Paul Foley.

Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards reveal charity partner

THE Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have revealed their Charity Partner for the 2023 awards as Dublin Simon Community. “We were delighted to partner with Dublin Simon Community’s Food for Simon programme to donate any excess products from the judging process to those in need around the Dublin area,” noted Beth Treleaven, IQFDA Director. “We are thrilled that we can help the community whilst simultaneously reducing our food waste.” Now in their 10th year, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have become a well-recognised badge of excellence amongst the food and drink community across Ireland. For more information, visit irish.qualityfoodawards.com

Tesco Stronger Starts marks a million New General Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland

COCA-COLA HBC have appointed Davide Franzetti as the new General Manager of their island of Ireland operations. Davide has worked for Coca-Cola HBC Italy since 2018, holding various roles, including Modern Trade Director and most recently Sales Director. He replaces Miles Karemacher, who is to take up the role of General Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Italy. Speaking on his first day in the post, Davide said: “I am honoured to be joining an incredible team of people, and look forward to playing my part in the development of local talent which contributes so strongly to the Coca-Cola System; to delivering the £17m/€20m investment into our Knockmore Hill production facility; and to supporting the delivery of a well-functioning and efficient Deposit Return Scheme, the biggest change to waste collection in Ireland in a generation.”

Aldi’s steaks on a high

TESCO’S Stronger Starts programme has provided one million free, healthy and nutritious meals to primary school children and families at risk of food insecurity, since the programme began in late 2021. Stronger Starts is an innovative community support programme from Tesco that helps to build thriving communities nationwide, with children in 117 Deis schools across Ireland receiving a pack containing fresh apples, onions, potatoes and carrots every week. Within the one million meals, over 4.5 million pieces of fruit and vegetables have been provided to date. “We are honoured to have delivered one million meals to children and families in need across Ireland, with the help of our fantastic suppliers, partners and colleagues,” revealed Rosemary Garth, Tesco Ireland Communications Director, pictured with Bobby and Rosie Farrows, both aged nine.

PepsiMax on the ball with Katie McCabe

PEPSIMAX has revealed Ireland captain and Arsenal star Katie McCabe as their latest brand ambassador. This dynamic partnership brings together the maximum refreshment of PepsiMax and McCabe's exceptional football skills on the field, which were most recently seen with the Arsenal Women's Team reaching the UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals in May this year. “I am delighted to partner with PepsiMax on this ambassadorship,” noted Katie. “PepsiMax has made a huge commitment to the women’s game which was seen throughout the 2022 Euros. I’m looking forward to a summer of working with them.” Rebecca Burke, Head of Marketing, Ireland, said: “As a brand, PepsiMax has made a huge commitment to growing support for the women’s game. We have seen how our brand platform Thirsty for More has shone through in support of women’s football. We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue this work in the Irish market.”

Seaweed strategy launched

ALDI’s steak range scooped a total of 10 wins at this year’s International Taste Institute Awards. Aldi’s 36 Day Matured Specially Selected Tipperary Dry Aged Black Angus Ribeye Steak made history by becoming the first Irish product to receive the prestigious Diamond Taste Award. The coveted award recognises products that have won a 3 Star Superior Taste Award for seven out of the past 10 years and is regarded as a hallmark for foods that are exceptional in quality, consistency, and taste. “At Aldi, our internationally award-winning steaks are a point of pride,” said John Curtin, Group Buying Director. “That’s why we are thrilled to see so many cuts from across our range singled out at this year’s International Taste Institute Awards.”

SEAWEED farming may be in its infancy in Ireland, but BIM have launched a new strategy, BIM Irish Macro-Algal Cultivation Strategy to 2030, which sets out a roadmap for the development of a sustainable and profitable Irish seaweed aquaculture sector. “Ireland’s long coastline and clean, cold waters present the ideal conditions to cultivate seaweed, and to sustainably develop this crop that is highly resource efficient, requiring minimal resource input,” noted Caroline Bocquel, CEO, BIM. Michael O’Neill (pictured), seaweed farmer in Allihies, West Cork, welcomed the new strategy and explained how the seaweed industry “has the highest potential for growth in the Irish aquaculture sector”.

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update

Grocery inflation: why Ireland is doing well

OVER the last year, inflation has increased dramatically right across the economy. It is not just an Irish phenomenon; similar trends are evident right across Europe.

As restrictions eased as we came out of the pandemic, economic activity increased dramatically. Demand for many goods and services outstripped supply, and this pushed up prices. However, this trend was accelerated dramatically when the war in Ukraine led to a major spike in energy prices.

This pushed up costs right across the economy. Some of this was felt immediately by consumers in the form of increased energy and fuel bills. In other areas, these costs took more time to work through various supply chains.

In the case of food, the energy price rises massively increased the cost of EU food commodities, the key ingredients for many of our most popular grocery products. At the same time, energy costs pushed up the cost of food production and other business costs, such as transportation and refrigeration.

While many retailers held off passing on these increased costs to consumers in the first half of last year, modest retail margins inevitably meant that much of these costs would ultimately have to be passed on to consumers. This has led to very high food inflation figures over recent months, at a time when cost pressures in other parts of the economy are easing.

In recent weeks political and media attention has unsurprisingly turned to the issue of food inflation. There are understandable concerns at the increased cost of living, and consumers are wondering when inflation will start to ease.

Retail Forum special meeting

Last month, Retail Ireland attended a specially convened meeting of the Government’s Retail Forum to discuss the issue. At the meeting, Retail Ireland set out in detail the factors driving inflation, the steps the sector was and will continue to take to minimise the impact on consumers and provided an overview of the highly competitive nature of the Irish retail market.

This is not an Irish phenomenon. Recent price increases reflect the global commodities market and are being felt across the globe, but particularly in Europe. At the same time, commodity price decreases should also be reflected in consumer price trends, as these work their way through the supply chain. In some instances, this will happen relatively quickly, as in

the case of milk and butter; in other areas, there are longer supply chains and timelines.

Commodity prices began to rise in mid-2020, producer prices in early 2021, and consumer prices in late 2021. Retail followed closely with producer prices. This would suggest that recent falls in global commodity prices (since mid-2022) will benefit EU consumers as we move through 2023. Although it should be noted that European commodity prices are still up around 33% on the level they were at the start of 2021.

Irish inflation below EU average

While price rises are being experienced across Europe, the Irish retail sector has been significantly more successful than most other countries in Europe at insulating customers from the inflationary pressures of recent times.

Average EU food inflation has been 27% over the last two years; in Ireland, it was 17%. In the last year, average EU food inflation has been 19%; in Ireland, it was 13%. Of EU15 countries, those EU economies most similarly to ours, Ireland has experienced the lowest overall increase in prices over the last two years. Irish household spend on food and non-alcoholic beverages (8.7%) is the lowest in the EU (average 13%), as a proportion of their total household budget.

Crucially, while specific pricing decisions are a matter for individual retailers, intense competition in the sector will ensure that consumers benefit from falling commodity prices. This is happening already and will continue.

Tel: 01-6051558 | www.retailireland.ie

Need more?

For more information about Retail Ireland and details of how your retail business can benefit from our unique services and supports, please visit us at www.retailireland.ie

Don’t get left in the dark

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

Find out more at energia.ie/lighting

10 Years of SuperValu Food Academy

SuperValu are celebrating the 10-year milestone of the Food Academy programme, with early-stage Irish food and drink producers selling €230 million of products in-store over the last decade.

SUPERVALU are celebrating 10 years of the Food Academy programme, which has seen a phenomenal €230 million of Food Academy products sold in SuperValu stores over the last decade. Food Academy producers are continuing to perform strongly, supporting 1,500 jobs through the programme, which offers considerable benefits to both local communities and the national economy.

The Food Academy programme is a tailored business development programme for early to mid-stage producers, supported by SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office. More than 1,000 local food producers have completed the Food Academy programme since its inception, with over 300 Food Academy producers regularly stocked in SuperValu stores across the country, 52 weeks of the year. The initiative provides training in food safety, market research, branding, marketing, finance, sustainability and business development through a range of dedicated workshops. Food Academy

producers also have the opportunity to feature their products on SuperValu shelves nationwide, giving them real, tangible opportunities for growth in the market.

This milestone anniversary comes as new research by Bord Bia and B&A reveals that 90% of consumers choose to buy locally produced food, with more than two in three (68%) buying this category at least weekly. The main driver for purchasing locally produced food is a desire to support the local economy and jobs. Secondary drivers are that locally produced food is fresher, better quality and good for the environment. Consumers are seeking out locally produced products, with more than half of consumers expecting to buy locally produced products in the next six months (Source: Behaviour and Attitudes Research – Food Academy Pulse, March 2023. National representative sample of 1,014 individuals, age 16+).

Further findings from Behaviours and Attitudes Research – Food Academy Pulse

2023:

• Consumers make locally produced choices both in advance of shopping and during shopping, driven by store display and packaging;

• Consumers have mixed views on what “locally” produced food is, with some focusing on food produced by small companies or people in their local areas, and others associating “local” with “made in Ireland”;

A range of factors are important when consumers choose to buy locally produced food, ranging from knowing a local company from a farmers' market, knowing local companies in advance of the shopping trip, store displays, information on packaging and a view that local products taste better;

• Locally produced foods are appreciated for supporting the local economy but also small businesses across Ireland, while also having environment benefits;

More than half expect to buy more

Pictured at the SuperValu celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Food Academy Programme are (l-r): Tim Harris, Tim's Table; Carmel Biggane, Food Academy Manager; Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia Chief Executive; Carol Diaz Rosario, Latin Streets Kitchen; Ciara McClafferty, Trading Director, Musgrave; Sadhbh Wood, Bean Around; Greg Swift, Head of Local Enterprise Office, Dublin City; Janet Drew, Janet's Just Delicious; and Dom McGroddy, Lily’s Tea.

locally produced food in the next six months, with just one in 10 disagreeing with this statement.

New Food Academy entrants

This year, 23 new Food Academy entrants are launching a wide variety of products, including naturally leavened sourdough bread, low sugar fruit jam, organic microgreens & eggs, as well as products utilising spent grain to make protein snacks, and used coffee grinds to create a tan-removing soap.

“The Food Academy is a fantastic collaboration between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office which has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years, enhancing and supporting the growth of Ireland’s food and drink sector,” noted Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu, on the 10th anniversary of the programme. “At SuperValu, we are passionate about food and supporting the development of Irish food and drink

New Food Academy entrants for 2023

Name of business County

Baska Bakery Meath

Bean Around Dublin

Chimac Dublin

Duhallow Organics Cork

Garnacha Dublin

Hopkins & Hopkins Dublin

The Irish Craft Soda Co. Westmeath

Latin Streets Kitchen Dublin

Mor Taste

Wexford

O’Mimo’s Laois

Stillgarden Distillery Dublin

Tim’s Table Limerick

Dainty Greens Dublin

Born Again Dublin

Afro Caribbean Kitchen Sligo

Second Street Bakeshop Cork

Nutorious Wexford

Shalong Thai Cork

UC Nuts Longford

Spice Genie Cork

41º Kerry

The Real Leaf Farm Offaly

7th Raven Waterford

producers in local communities across Ireland, having proudly done so since 1968. The Food Academy programme is a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to gain direct access to leading expertise to help them on every step of their journey - from startup producer to securing their products on supermarket shelves.”

The SuperValu Managing Director went on to say: “Over the last 10 years, SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office have fostered a superb relationship through this programme and have been heartened and inspired by the innovation and leadership shown by over 1,000 Irish food producers who have participated in the programme since 2013. We are immensely proud of the success these brands have achieved in the last 10 years, some of whom include names like Lily’s Tea and Janet’s Just Delicious. At SuperValu, we are committed to supporting local communities and the €230 million sales of Food Academy products in SuperValu stores in the last 10 years is not only remarkable, but it is a testament to the calibre and quality of Irish producers who have gone through the programme.”

Nurturing innovation

Jim O’Toole, Chief Executive, Bord Bia, said: “Bord Bia has supported Food Academy since its inception and is pleased to work in partnership with SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office to nurture innovative food and drink businesses. Food Academy plays an important role in serving the needs of Irish consumers, with recent Bord Bia research proving the importance to consumers of being able to choose locally produced food, drink and horticulture.”

Greg Swift, Head of Local Enterprise Office, Dublin, explained how the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) work with a broad range of businesses: “The food sector is an important sector and there are exciting and new innovations emerging linked to the changing demands of the consumer. The Food Academy programme addresses the challenge of product innovation, business planning, health regulation and the ultimate placing of product on SuperValu shelves. The LEOs have worked closely on the programme over 10 years with the strong support of Bord Bia and the SuperValu team. This is a productive relationship with the sole objective of delivering new Irish food businesses to the market, increasing sales, additional employment and strong growth ambitions to the successful businesses.”

Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu: “At SuperValu, we are passionate about food and supporting the development of Irish food and drink producers in local communities across Ireland, having proudly done so since 1968.”

Pictured are Ciara McClafferty, Trading Director, Musgrave; Jim O’Toole, CEO, Bord Bia; and Greg Swift, Head of the Local Enterprise Office, Dublin City, celebrating 10 years of the SuperValu Food Academy programme in Merrion Square Park, Dublin.

Energia lighting the sustainability journey

Energia Lighting Solutions recently carried out a lighting upgrade at SuperValu Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.

ENERGIA Lighting Solutions offer businesses an upgrade to their current lighting system using high quality, energy efficient LEDs. The upgrade requires no upfront cost, as it is funded by savings made from the new lighting.

Energia recently carried out a lighting upgrade at Duffy’s SuperValu, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford. Ceire Duffy, Director, talks us through the process.

Can you give us a general overview of your business and sustainability goals?

“We as a business are always looking at ways to improve our energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint. The store itself is expanding and ever-changing, so the recent upgrades have been a welcome addition to the store. It’s another step on our sustainability journey.”

Why did you decide to carry out a lighting upgrade? Was it part of a larger energy efficiency / carbon footprint reduction strategy?

“Yes, we had previously added some new lighting upstairs, along with some sensors; to upgrade the main shop floor was always something we had in mind, but just hadn’t found a suitable contractor or project manager to carry this out.”

How did you hear about Energia Lighting Solutions?

"Through our account manager. We contacted Energia to see if they could help us progress on our sustainability journey in-store by further upgrading our lighting solutions."

How did you find the end-to-end process? Was there any disruption to trading?

“We were very impressed with the offering. All the instructions and info were explained well. It was an easy process to go through, especially with using Energia for the fitting. Work was all completed in a timely manner, and there was very little disruption to work on-site. The electricians were very helpful and kept us informed throughout the day of installation. We would highly recommend the process to others.”

Have you been impressed with the quality of the light fittings?

“Very much so. Overall, the store seems a lot brighter, helping to improve the look of our shelf goods and enhancing the customer experience.”

Ceire Duffy, Director, Duffy’s SuperValu, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.

Energy Efficiency: Energia Lighting Solutions

Have you and your staff noticed the difference in the light levels?

“Yes, there is now great uniformity of light across the store. Overall, a great improvement to the previous light fittings.”

What has been the impact on your store’s lighting bills since upgrading to LED lighting?

“We ran the project through Energia’s Lighting as a Service model. So, we are paying for the works through the energy savings we are making, so it’s been great for us as a business, as we had no upfront costs for the works.”

Would you be happy to recommend Energia Lighting Solutions?

“Absolutely; overall, the full install and process was seamless.”

What advice would you give to a business considering a lighting upgrade?

“Take the step; along with the improved lighting for your premises, you’ll also reduce your energy consumption. As mentioned, the lighting quality has been a huge improvement in our store, with customers noticing the difference. It also helps to know you’re doing your part in reducing your carbon footprint.”

Is there a significant financial outlay required for a project of this size?

“As we availed of Energia’s Lighting as a Service solution, we had no upfront costs. Everything was covered by Energia’s Lighting team, and the whole process was a smooth journey.”

Why did you choose to install Energia’s Connect360 smart energy analytics product?

“Along with improving our lighting system, we wanted to get some additional detail on the energy we use in our store. Connect360 will allow us to get a better real-time understanding of our consumption. With that data to hand, we can see what additional changes might be needed to further enhance the energy efficiency of the store.”

What energy savings has Connect360 helped you to realise or do you hope it will help you to make?

“Overall, we will be looking to make further changes throughout the store in order to make incremental energy savings. I hope with the use of the system, it will help myself and staff to make behavioural changes throughout the store, like switching off machines at the end of the day etc.”

How has Connect360 impacted, or do you hope it will help to impact, your business’ carbon footprint and bottom line?

“We hope it will give us a better understanding of how and where our energy is consumed within the store. It can lead to a 10-15% reduction in usage, but overall I’d hope it will make us more aware of our usage and avoid as much energy waste as possible.”

What advice would you give to a business considering a lighting upgrade or Connect360?

“To get in touch with Energia; they will manage the full process from start to finish for you, and the results are there to see.”

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

Ceire Duffy: “Overall, the store seems a lot brighter, helping to improve the look of our shelf goods and enhancing the customer experience.”

CSNA AGM back after four years

The Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association recently held its first inperson AGM in four years.

THE Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association held their first in-person AGM and Gala Dinner since 2019 on May 25 in Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co Dublin, where they elected a new National President and Vice President.

Gus O'Hara from Spar Clontarf and Sara Orme from Delvin, County Westmeath, have a busy term of office ahead of them in their new roles.

Outgoing National President John Paul Lonergan, Spar Fairview, was praised by the CSNA’s national executive and delegates for the steady hand with which he steered the Association through the difficult periods of Covid lockdowns and the energy / cost-of-living crises.

CEO Vincent Jennings reminded members that the largest supplier to Irish businesses was the Irish State, and it should be one of their primary responsibilities to reduce the costs of doing business.

The 1,500 members of CSNA are in every village, town and city in the country and are significant employers within their communities.

CSNA National Vice President Sara Orme and Outgoing National President John Paul Lonergan, pictured with the team from Dubco Credit Union, who announced a new partnership with the CSNA.

The CSNA AGM offered attendees an opportunity to network with their peers for the first time in four years.

Partnership with Dubco Credit Union

It was also announced that CSNA has partnered with the Dubco Credit Union in a unique relationship that offers loans to members, their staff, and their respective families at very competitive rates.

At the Gala Dinner, National Executive Officer Joe Mannion spoke of the important work of the CSNA over his long involvement with the association, and paid tribute to former CSNA President Joe Torris, who tragically passed away following a motorbike accident in October 2022, and whose family were in attendance.

CSNA’s National Executive Officer Joe Tierney was Master of Ceremonies for a raffle, which raised significant funds for St Francis Hospice in Raheny, Dublin. Huge credit goes to Laura Kelly and Amy Stafford for their tireless work both in the lead-up to the event and on the night itself, ensuring it was a tremendous success.

The CSNA AGM and Gala Dinner was a huge success.

Pictured at the CSNA Gala Dinner are (back row, l-r): Amy Stafford, Sara Orme, Flora Crowe, and (front row, l-r): Emma George, Laura Kelly, Ann Martyn, Catherine Gaughan, Caroline Mannion and Marcella O'Neill.

The AGM was informative, with a host of impressive presentations.

Catherine and Sheila Clarke from XL, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Pictured at the CSNA Gala Dinner are Charlie Grendon, GET Solutions; Marcella O'Neill, Mace, Limerick, and Ciaran Hanrahan, Mace, Limerick.

Attendees enjoyed a wonderful day and Gala Dinner at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co. Dublin.

Pictured are Amy Stafford (CSNA), Laura Kelly (CSNA), Flora Crowe (Gala, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare), Sara Orme (Daybreak, Delvin) incoming CSNA Vice President, and Emma George (Centra, Dublin). The CSNA event is one of the social highlights of the year.

Buying Irish: Guaranteed Irish Guaranteed Irish celebrates Food & Drink Month

JUNE is Food & Drink month at Guaranteed Irish, with a high profile event in Cork on June 14 to highlight the variety and quality of homegrown food and drink brands that are part of Guaranteed Irish.

“We did some research with consumers through Musgrave, focusing on SuperValu shoppers, and it had some very interesting results,” explains Brid O’Connell, CEO, Guaranteed Irish. The survey questioned 300 SuperValu shoppers during May and the rests were hugely encouraging, both for Guaranteed Irish and for Irish brand owners.

“We really wanted to see if we were making an impact on the consumer and we found that 99% of shoppers buy Irish,” Brid enthuses. “Of those, 56% make a conscious effort to buy Irish a few times per week, 29% buy Irish once a week, 7% buy Irish every day and 7% a few times per month.”

95% of respondents were aware of the Guaranteed Irish symbol, with 83% saying they would be influenced to purchase a product displaying the green G symbol.

When asked what would encourage people to buy more Irish produce, the main answers were:

• More competitive pricing, with many of those surveyed believing that matching prices with other non-Irish produce would help.

• Labelling: many respondents felt that clearer labelling would encourage them to buy more. Some mentioned that they would like to see the exact location of production, instead of the general ‘Guaranteed Irish’ label. Clear indication of where ingredients are sourced.

• More availability of certain products.

• More identification.

Interestingly, further research from Guaranteed Irish reveals that 79% of businesses who have the Guaranteed Irish symbol feel they have financially benefited from having that G on their packaging.

Food & Drink Month

“For us, these results mean that we are doing a good job,” Brid states, “which is great news as we head into Food & Drink Month, where the idea is to keep people aware of supporting Irish and supporting local. For Food & Drink Month, we are encouraging shoppers to support Irish goods and local goods on-shelf. We are advising retailers to start talking about Irish and local.

Brid O’Connell, CEO, Guaranteed Irish, explains why the Guaranteed Irish symbol resonates so strongly with Irish consumers and highlights the results of a new study which reveals consumers’ desire to support Irish products in-store.

“We know that every €20 spent in a local store is worth €100 to the local economy, which is a five-fold benefit, so it is really important that retailers dial up their Irishness, dial up their support of Guaranteed Irish and help to educate the consumer, who is looking for ways to do the right thing,” Brid continues. “One of the things we are asking retailers to do is to look at labelling; the Guaranteed Irish symbol ensures that a product is legitimately recognised as Irish.”

The impacts of buying Irish

Provenance is hugely important to consumers, according to Brid, and not just in terms of nationality: “If I buy a chicken from Co. Limerick, I want to see the name of the farmer who reared that chicken. That has become a huge thing for consumers, who want to know the provenance of the food they buy and want that communicated clearly on-pack.”

Seasonality too is a key concern going forward. “If a retailer wants to be serious about sustainability, they have got to look at food miles, and this is where seasonality gains in importance,” Brid stresses. “When products are on-shelf that are in-season, it generally ensures not only a high quality product but also one that has not

amassed a huge amount of food miles. To this end, retailers need to start dialling up seasonality as well as provenance.”

Participants in the Guaranteed Irish/ SuperValu survey identified the main impacts of buying Irish are:

• It keeps money in the Irish economy; It creates Irish jobs;

• Irish produce travels less so there are fewer emissions, which is better for the environment; Food is fresher as the time from farm to plate is shorter;

• It helps to support Irish farmers, producers, communities and businesses.

50th birthday approaching Guaranteed Irish will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2024 and the CEO believes that as it approaches a half-century in operation, the organisation is “more relevant than ever”.

“I think the integrity of the brand has helped it survive and thrive. I’ve never heard a bad word said about Guaranteed Irish and that is a testament to the many people who helped set it up and have worked hard to make it the success it

is. Myself and the current team are very conscious that we are custodians of this heritage brand which will be celebrating its 50th birthday in 2024.”

As it approaching a half-century, how has the Guaranteed Irish brand remained so relevant to Irish brands and Irish consumers and why does it continue to resonate?

“I think the simplicity in the design of the Guaranteed Irish brand is its genius, and I can take no credit for that,” she laughs, “as it was around long before my time. But it was always about guaranteeing jobs and as Ireland’s economy evolved and we became part of the wider European Union economy, it became about supporting local but looking global. Supporting jobs in the Irish economy is still at the core of the brand, supporting the community in which you are based, because a rising tide lifts all boats. If we are doing well in our community, the entire community does well. Guaranteed Irish represents businesses based in Ireland who support jobs, community and provenance in a sustainable manner. If we continue to do that, then we are ticking a lot of boxes in terms of meeting consumers’ needs and helping them to do the right thing.”

Pictured are Julie Dorel, Head of Communications, Musgrave, with Brid O’Connell, CEO, Guaranteed Irish.

Buying Irish: Guaranteed Irish

journey and we are engaging in substantial projects with our members to ensure that our members and the economy are as circular as possible.

“With Guaranteed Irish, all our producers go through a detailed appraisal process before they get a licence to use the G symbol on their product. It’s about ensuring that all Guaranteed Irish members work to a very high standard, with a strong commitment to quality and to their community,” Brid insists.

Guaranteed Irish run a series of high profile networking events throughout the year, while their podcast goes from strength to strength, with FBD Insurance recently being named as its sponsor. Indeed, Guaranteed Irish recently hosted their first live podcasts, which proved a huge success. Guaranteed Irish themselves are one of the big sponsors of the Irish Made Awards, which this year have two new awards, a Local Retailer Award and a National Retailer Award.

She warns, however, that Irish producers and retailers have to remain competitive on price: “It’s a real challenge for farmers and producers but there have to be ways to get food to market in an equitable way for farmers, for producers, for retailers and for consumers.”

Consumer trust in the brand

The big plus for Guaranteed Irish members is that Irish consumers “believe in Guaranteed Irish and they trust the Guaranteed Irish brand and logo,” the CEO explains: “Sometimes there is confusion when some brands place a tricolour flag on their packaging or label themselves as Irish, when there is only a part of the product Irish or they have simply been packaged in Ireland; the reality is that the Guaranteed Irish brand is one consumers can and do trust. Consumers are consciously looking for a Guaranteed Irish labelled product, with greater detail as to the provenance of that product. They are looking for high quality and good value – and they will pay a little extra for quality if the provenance

is right. All producers and retailers need to club together to highlight what Irish produce means, and Guaranteed Irish allows them to do that.”

The results of the Guaranteed Irish/ SuperValu survey back up Brid’s words. Irish consumers actively want to buy indigenous produce to support the Irish economy and Irish jobs, as well as because they recognise the quality inherent in homegrown produce, with the CEO arguing that “We continue to punch above our weight in terms of quality”.

Buying Irish also dovetails neatly with consumers’ environmental agenda as Irish shoppers try to ensure the purchases they make and the companies they support are doing their bit for sustainability.

Guaranteed Irish recently employed a full-time Sustainability Manager to engage with homegrown food and drinks companies on their sustainability journey. “This is not just about ticking boxes,” Brid insists. “It’s about taking a sustainability

Confident outlook

The Guaranteed Irish CEO stresses that while inflation on food and drink in Ireland has reached levels of 17%, that compares favourably with average levels of 27% across the EU: “The reason for that is that so many Irish retailers have cut down on their costs and have absorbed some of that inflation and not passed it on to consumers.”

Despite the challenges ahead, including the recruitment and retention of staff, Brid remains confident in the future for Irish food and drink companies and for Guaranteed Irish itself.

“Even though times are good and the economy is in a relatively good shape, we need to remember to support our own food and drink products, so the role of Guaranteed Irish remains as relevant as it ever was," she concludes. "With the changes we have made over the last seven years, we have managed to keep the audience and the consumer engaged, and it is up to us to continue to do that going forward. We will do that through engaging with both our members and consumers on areas like sustainability, which is hugely important to Irish shoppers and to us in Guaranteed Irish, where it will continue to be a vital part of our service going forward. We will continue to get more food producers and more retailers on board, flying the Guaranteed Irish flag because the simple truth is that it resonates with consumers.”

Maurice Gilbert, co-owner, Ballyhoura Apple Farm.

Buying Irish: Clonakilty Food Company

New on-pack competition from Clonakilty Food Company

Clonakilty Food Company are giving customers the opportunity to win a €500 shopping voucher and much more via their new on-pack promotion.

CLONAKILTY Food Company are delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new on-pack competition live in-store since May 19, offering their customers the chance to win a €500 shopping voucher and more every week.

Clonakilty have been at the heart of Irish family homes for generations. Their collection of great tasting products are renowned for their unique texture, quality and flavour. This competition gives shoppers the opportunity to enjoy Clonakilty Blackpudding or Clonakilty Whitepudding, while also being in with a chance to win.

Clonakilty Food Company’s on-pack competition will be supported with local, national and digital media.

To enter, customers simply need to pick up a pack of Clonakilty Blackpudding 280g or Clonakilty Whitepudding 280g with the green label, scan the QR code and enter their details. Entrants will be in with a chance to win a range of prizes each week. Winners of the top prize will receive a €500 grocery shopping voucher for a supermarket of their choice, with other prizes including a Clonakilty hamper, the Clonakilty Black and White Cookbook and a family pass to the Clonakilty Blackpudding Visitor Centre.

Versatile product Clonakilty Blackpudding and Clonakilty Whitepudding are made with simple wholesome ingredients using traditional methods that combine pinhead oats, fresh onions, and a secret spice mix to create distinctive and tasty puddings. Consumers can pop it on a pizza, serve it with a salad or pair it with a poached egg; the possibilities are endless.

This campaign will be supported with local, national and digital media in an effort to drive traffic in-store and encourage pick-up. For more information, please contact your local Clonakilty Sales team member. The competition in-store is open from May 19 to July 14, 2023.

Clonakilty Blackpudding and Clonakilty Whitepudding are made with simple wholesome ingredients using traditional methods.

€500 WIN Shopping Vouchers & more Every Week

Each week we will be giving away:

• A €500 Shopping Voucher for a supermarket of choice

• Clonakilty Black & White Cookbook

• Clonakilty Blackpudding Visitor Centre Family Pass

• Clonakilty Hamper Scan to Enter

Closing date 14.07.23

Buying Irish: Glenhaven Foods

Glenhaven launch new Cheese Bites

GLENHAVEN Foods have launched their first ever cheese bite designed specifically for the Irish retail market, Glenhaven Jalapeño Cheese Bites.

Established in Co. Wicklow by the Cahill Family in 1986, Glenhaven Foods are best known for producing quality frozen coated poultry for the Irish and UK retail and foodservice markets. But in recent years, Glenhaven Foods have been rapidly growing their range and global reputation for producing premium, high quality coated cheese products for the International Quick Service Restaurant Industry, for which Glenhaven Foods has been shortlisted for the Export Innovation of the Year 2023. This month sees the launch of brand new Glenhaven Jalapeño Cheese Bites, which were designed specifically for the Irish market. Co-owners and brother and sister Barry (Managing Director) and Emma Cahill (Brand Director) talk us through the launch.

What made you decide to develop a coated cheese product?

Barry: “Innovation has always been a cornerstone of Glenhaven Foods. Before poultry, we actually specialised in coated fish. Change and diversification is not something we’re afraid of. And as a major Irish exporter, based in a country renowned for its world-class cheese and dairy, this seemed like a very natural progression for us. And we are incredibly proud of the results; in fact, we believe our new Glenhaven Jalapeño Cheese Bites are quite possibly the best frozen cheese bites available in the frozen aisle today.”

Do you think the hot snack trend is here to stay?

Emma: “Absolutely, and I think a major reason for that is the growing popularity of air fryers. Before the air fryer, a hot snack meant preheating the oven etc; it didn’t allow for enough spontaneity. Now, if someone is craving a delicious filling snack, they can just pop our Glenhaven Jalapeño Cheese Bites, Mini Chicken Balls or Glenhaven Southern Fried Popcorn Chicken into the air fryer and their hot snack is good to go in seven minutes –it’s revolutionary.”

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

Emma: “All of Glenhaven’s products are produced at our factories in Arklow, Co. Wicklow. This is something that we have really focused on in our rebrand, calling out ‘Made in Wicklow’ on every pack and highlighting whenever our chicken products are made with 100% Irish chicken breast. Our packaging also talks about the fact that we’re an Irish family business, which adds a level of warmth and relatability to the brand that you just don’t see in the frozen aisle.”

Barry: “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.”

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

Barry: “Yes, Glenhaven’s NPD and sales teams are continuously developing new and innovative products to anticipate everchanging consumer trends. The growing popularity of fakeaways and hot snacking, for example, is something Glenhaven as a brand has really leaned into. In terms of cheese alone, we are currently working on launching five new cheese products into the UK and Ireland this year.”

Brother and sister Barry and Emma Cahill, co-owners of Glenhaven Foods.

Wicklow-based Glenhaven Foods’ new Jalapeño Cheese Bites were designed specifically for the Irish market.

Keogh’s introduce a new very Irish flavour for the summer barbeque

WHAT happens when you combine two classic Irish ingredients, the Irish potato and a very fine Irish whiskey? Summer 2023 sees a new collaboration where two quintessentially Irish staples have been brought together: introducing limited edition Keogh’s Smoked Barbeque & Irish Whiskey, in partnership with Teeling Whiskey.

The Keogh and Teeling Families both have deep roots in Dublin, with a passion for growing the best of Irish produce and distilling the World’s best whiskey. They take pride in pushing the boundaries through innovation and collaboration.

Landing in stores just in time for the summer, this perfect tasting partnership features a hint of smoked barbeque flavour paired with a drop of Teeling Small Batch Whiskey. Layered with tomato, smoked paprika, oak smoked sugar, garlic, onion, black pepper, and finished with pimento, these ingredients lend themselves to the finely aged malt whiskey flavour.

Best enjoyed as whiskey pairing or ideal as a barbecue appetiser, Smoked Barbecue & Irish Whiskey sharing bags are suitable for both coeliacs and vegetarians.

Smoked Barbecue & Irish Whiskey sharing bags have an RRP of €2.79 and are available in stores nationwide and online through the Keoghs Online Farm Shop: www.keoghs.ie

Barry’s Tea: more than 120 years of heritage in every cup

Barry’s Tea, a family-owned Irish business spanning over 120 years, continues to be a much-loved tea brand for the nation. Barry’s Master Blenders never compromise; they select only the highest quality teas from the world’s finest tea gardens. They proudly use teas in their premium quality black tea blends that are Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning the tea is grown and harvested on farms and estates that promote environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The Master Blend is a premium tea for the true tea connoisseurs. This premium blend was crafted for Irish palates, expertly blended to create a rich and robust flavour selected from the finest tea gardens. It

truly turns a moment into an experience.

Barry’s Tea blend all their black tea with great care and consideration in Cork and have switched production to biodegradable tea bags that can be disposed of in consumers’ food waste bin for industrial composting. And so, whenever or wherever consumers enjoy their cup of Barry’s Tea, they know that they are supporting an Irish brand, local jobs and a family-led business.

For more information, visit www.barrystea.ie

New for summer 2023: limited edition Keogh’s Smoked Barbecue & Irish Whiskey, in partnership

Barry’s Tea Master Blend is a premium tea for the true tea connoisseurs.

Love Irish Food investing in brand campaigns

Love Irish Food is supporting member brands with high profile advertising and marketing campaigns throughout 2023.

THE message from Love Irish Food in 2023 is active support for its members’ brands. Love Irish Food is solely focused on food and drink brands companies and as a requirement, its members produce their registered products in the Republic of Ireland and use available local ingredients. This creates a strong sustainable message for shoppers. The Love Irish Food organisation features in excess of 100 Irish food and drink brands, and the network now has over 80 member companies. The association actively works in supporting its member brands. Typically this involves promoting brands, setting up partnerships, creating opportunities at retail, assisting in advice with listings, and working with its 70,000 social media followers to engage support.

Outdoor advertising is a big focus for Love Irish Food this year as it unveils a new outdoor concept that brings individual member brands into the campaign. Love Irish Food created a series of bus T-sides in March and April to show a big visual message on-street. The great advantage of bus T-side is the opportunity to reach a huge city audience.

“We were delighted with the response,” says Kieran Rumley, Executive Director, Love Irish Food. “In addition, we launched a series of six-sheets across 150 sites in Dublin and Cork. Each of the three cycles featured a hero Love Irish Food brand member (Flahavan’s, Glenisk and Club Orange) on 450 sites. This will be followed by another strong wave of outdoor executions over the summer months (Keeling’s Irish strawberries) and especially in the autumn period, from mid-September through to November, when we will be introducing and showcasing six further Love Irish Food member brands as part of a big outdoor campaign across almost 1,000 sites.”

In-store campaign in Tesco stores

In tandem with these outdoor campaigns, Love Irish Food will be

linking up with its retail partner, Tesco Ireland, to run an in-store campaign for the month of October. The Love Irish Food Retail Partnership is open to any retailer that actively supports Love Irish Food brands. Tesco Ireland hosted a fixed display unit in-store with 15 brands in March and will run a new campaign in October to support a further cross section of members. “The OFD (Off

The Love Irish Food six-sheet campaign featured a hero Love Irish Food brand member, in this case Club Orange, on 450 sites.

Buying Irish: Love Irish Food

at the forefront of Irish food businesses. Over half (57%) reported to have embedded sustainability into their overall business strategy. For example, the top areas for investment to deliver better sustainability outcomes are energy consumption (45%), packaging reduction (37%) and plastics reduction (37%).

A large majority (72%) reported that embedding sustainability has tangible benefits, with 45% believing it is the right thing to do from a societal viewpoint. The benefits include: it leads to greater brand trust (42%) and enhanced reputation (37%). It is clear that the key areas of focus (i.e., energy, packaging and plastics) have environmental benefits but they also help the business manage costs in a period of high inflation.

Despite commitments to sustainability efforts, only 15% of companies have made a carbon-neutral commitment in the last year. However, half are working towards making this commitment, with the majority (73%) having pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Confidence and resilience to the fore

Fixture Display) activity is a huge support for our brands at the point of purchase,” Kieran notes. “This joint initiative heightens the awareness of local brands in Tesco, which is already a major supporter of Irish produced food products, both domestically and internationally.”

As you read this June issue of Retail News , the Bord Bia Bloom 2023 festival will have concluded. This year, Love Irish Food had 29 member companies exhibiting at Bloom, their largest number ever. Love Irish Food enjoyed a big footprint in the new food hall, accounting for around one third of the entire space.

But what is most encouraging is that awareness of Love Irish Food among shoppers is at an all-time high of 85%: “This means that we don’t have to explain what the logo is about. People recognise and understand what the mark is, which makes our activity on-street and in stores all the more powerful.”

2023 SME Food Barometer results

Love Irish Food and PwC recently revealed the results of their 2023 SME Food Barometer, which found that 95% of Irish food businesses are feeling optimistic about their growth prospects, despite the threat of rising input costs and inflationary pressures, which were identified as a top threat for 70% of Irish food businesses. The

survey was carried out in March and early April 2023 by PwC and Love Irish Food, among 76 Irish food SMEs.

Irish food companies are positive about the economy. 74% of respondents are of the view that economic growth will either improve or stay the same. Of these respondents, 33% believe it will improve, up from 24% last year.

The survey signals that Irish food SMEs believe that they have strengthened their business models, with enhanced measures to control costs.

Other top challenges mentioned in the survey are greater economic volatility at 56%, down from 86% last year, and supply chain issues at 51%. Half also said that labour shortages are a key threat for future business growth.

Irish food companies are taking action to tackle the challenges head on. Achieving operational efficiencies (63%) is a number one area for investment in the year ahead, followed by launching new products and services (51%), building people skills (49%) and building brand trust (49%). Clearly, rising costs are top of mind but according to the report, respondents are predicting very low levels of investment in cybersecurity.

Commitment to sustainability

Separately, sustainability measures are

“Irish food and drink companies are upbeat about the future and are confident about their organisations’ abilities to innovate and tackle the challenges ahead,” commented Owen McFeely, Director, PwC Retail & Consumer Practice. “Sustainability is clearly a priority – being seen as not just the right thing to do but also delivering real potential for efficiencies in their businesses. Integration of sustainability into core business strategy is the way forward and it's encouraging to see organisations making progress in this area. With growing consumer expectations in the area of sustainability, those businesses who proactively invest are best placed to enhance brand trust and their reputation, whilst at the same time reducing their carbon footprint.”

Kieran Rumley concluded: “While Irish food producers are facing major challenges with inflation, supply chain issues, labour retention and energy costs, there has been a noticeable improvement since last year and it is promising to see the confidence and resilience these businesses are demonstrating in their growth prospects. Pressure remains to recruit and retain staff, adding to the cost of labour. The food manufacturing sector contributes significantly to building a resilient and sustainable national food base. It is hopeful to see businesses continuing to make investments in new products and activities as they navigate these challenges.”

Pictured launching Love Irish Food/PwC's 2023 SME Food Barometer are (l-r): Kieran Rumley, Executive Director, Love Irish Food; Emma Walls, Commercial Director, Glenisk; and Owen McFeely, Director, PwC Retail & Consumer Practice.

AT THE HEART OF QUALITY IRISH FOOD AND DRINK BRANDS.

Abbey Farm | Ballygowan

Ballymaloe CountryRelish

Barry John’s Sausages | Bewley’s

Blanco Niño | Brian Lynch Salads

Britvic | Broderick’s | Butlers | Cadbury

Boost | Cadbury Dairy Milk | Cadbury Flake

Cadbury Starbar | Cadbury Twirl | Chivers

Jelly Pots| Cidona | Club | Coffee House Lane

Coole Swan Liqueur |Coverture | Crowe’s Farm

Cuisine de France | Dairymaid | Divilly Brothers

The Bakehouse | Everest Granola | Farm Fresh

Homemade Foods | Farm Fresh Produce Co-Op

Flahavans | Folláin | Free | FreshCut Foods | Frytex | G’s Gourmet

Jams | Gallaghers Bakehouse | Garlic Gold | Glenhaven|Glenisk

Golden Bake | Golden Irish Eggs | Good4U | Gran Clarke’s Bakery

Hogan’s Farm | Homecook | Hunky Dorys | In The Zone | Insanely Good

Irish Fish Canners | istil38 | Jo’s Absolute Nutrition | Jump Juice | K&K

Produce | Keelings | Killowen Farm | King Crisps | Lakeshore | Legacy &

LongWays Ciders | Lir Chocolate | M&M Breadcrumbs | Macroom Buffalo

Cheese | Manor Farm & Sicín Sásta | Margaret’s Free Range Eggs | Maria

Lucia Bakes| McCambridge | McCormack Family Farms | McDonnell’s

McGargles | McNiffe’s | MiWadi | Niks Tea | Nomadic | O’Hanlon Herbs

O’Donnells Crisps | O’Egg | O’Sullivans Bakery & Kerry Brack | Oliver

Carty | Ór-Real Irish Butter | Pestle+Mortar | Plant-It | Ponticelli

Promise Gluten Free | Rebel Chilli | Revive Active | Roots and Shoots

Rosscarbery Recipes | Rye River | Spice O’Life | Sunshine Juice

Sussed | Tayto | Tenters | Tic Tac | TLC Foods | Traditional Cheese

Co | Velo Coffee Roasters | Walsh’s Spice Burger | White Gold

Irish Garlic | Wicklow Rapeseed Oil | YR sauce | Zingibeer

Quality local food, made right here, by people who care. Love Irish Food proudly represents over 100 Irish food and drink brands, and actively supports over 80 member companies whose products are made in Ireland, using available local ingredients.

Electronic Data Collection: GS1 Ireland

Maria Svejdar, Head of Marketing, Communications and CX, GS1 Ireland, advises on tackling the data challenges of being a more sustainable business.

How data can drive sustainability

MEETING the needs of regulators, consumers and trading partners for greener products and services requires companies to move towards circular and more sustainable value chains. Driving efficiency and reducing waste across those value chains is a significant part of a business’ effort to reduce their environmental impact and to reach their decarbonisation goals.

The goal to be a more sustainable business it not just about the environmental impacts, such as carbon emissions, reducing waste and changing packaging. Under the three pillars of sustainabilityEnvironment, Social & Governance (ESG) - sit several areas to be addressed. Those areas look at how a business is run and managed and how it relates to its social community, locally and globally.

While many businesses focus their attention initially on headline areas such as food waste and food miles, forms of transport that are lower carbon and changing the type and quantity of packaging, there are other, possibly more low-key ways of making your business more economically sustainable.

Reducing the amount of paper used in a business and switching to electronic forms of communication - for orders, invoices

and delivery dockets, for example - is one way of reducing the amount of paper and ink consumed in a business, as well as the cost of the physical storage of those paper files. Adopting new ways of doing business electronically increases efficiency and accuracy and reduces the human-related costs of manual paper pushing, freeing up employee time for more value-adding activities. Consider the adoption of EDI, Electronic Data Interchange, and switching to electronic and automated forms of business document management as part of your drive towards being a more sustainable business.

The master data challenge

One of the first challenges in terms of sustainability and circularity lies in obtaining information from upstream suppliers of goods, services and raw materials; this includes everything from ingredients to packaging and energy.

The second part of that challenge is to ensure that information is accurate, complete and up-to-date; that the data quality is high. Collecting this information is not, unfortunately, a one-off exercise, so the process needs to be efficient, with the minimum of manual human intervention in its collection, cleansing and

standardisation. This is an area that GS1 data standards can support in terms of data definitions and data interoperability.

Challenges present new opportunities Evolving a business to be more circular and sustainable presents an opportunity to adapt to new business processes and workflows and to incorporate sustainability data management as part of on-going digital transformation initiatives.

Across many industry sectors, businesses today leverage barcode scanning to enable automatic data capture, which is fast, accurate and economically effective.

New 2 dimensional (2D) barcode types, including GS1 Data Matrix and GS1 QR codes, offer ways to share information about products, assets, locations and more, in a quick, accurate and cost-effective manner.

Combining barcodes with data sharing standards, including GS1 Digital Link, opens a new world of possibilities to create multiple connections between products, consumers and regulators.

By scanning 2D barcodes:

• Consumers can find the fuller story behind products – where they, what

• 2D barcodes can help retailers to easily find products that are approaching their expiry date, greatly reducing food waste;

• Regulators can identify, validate and count products for recycling schemes and regulatory compliance purposes.

Using next-level data management to meet consumer expectations

Meeting the expectations of consumers will require next-level product data management capabilities across the value chain.

Today, GS1 standards provide a trusted and proven way for organisations to identify and trace companies, locations, products and more, to support their sustainability and circular economy initiatives.

Over 3,700 organisations in Ireland use GS1’s global standards to help manage the sharing of product and sales information along their supply chains. GS1 data

Electronic Data

Collection:

standards help to connect data repositories and to break open data silos within and between organisations.

Common GS1 identifiers include:

- GTIN: Global Trade Item Number, for products (at all levels of packaging hierarchy);

- SSCC: Serial Shipping Container Code, for logistics units e.g. pallets, roll cages or full orders;

- GLN: Global Location Number, for ship to, deliver to, and bill to locations.

These identifiers can be encoded into machine readable formats (including barcodes and RFID tags) to facilitate standardised data sharing between trading partners and regulators.

From EAN barcodes at the point of sale / point of use, to ITF 14 and GS1 128 found in warehousing, stores and transport environments, there are numerous barcode formats with different data storage capacities to meet business needs.

Next generation barcode formats Data Matrix and QR codes herald a new era in automatic identification and data

capture (AIDC). These codes enable anyone with a camera scanner, such as an app on a mobile phone, to access product information, and if GS1 Digital Link is enabled, to access other sources of trusted data.

Maximise the benefits of GS1 standards adoption

Consider these four steps to ensure you maximise the benefits to your business by fully deploying GS1 standards:

1. Ensure every single product sold in-store or online has its own unique digital identity with a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number);

2. Connect all newly issued digital product identities to the GS1 Global Product Registry so trading partners and other stakeholders can check the data using Verified by GS1;

3. Use a single, multi-purpose 2D barcode encoded with GS1 standards to unlock a range of ways to deliver new experiences to consumers and to improve business operations;

4. Use GS1 data sharing standards to ensure reliable and complete information gets to everyone who needs it and to support transparent and traceable supply chains.

Contact GS1 Ireland today to learn more: www.gs1ie.org/standards/ intelligent-barcodes.

New 2D barcode types offer ways to share information about products, assets, locations and more, in a quick, accurate and cost-effective manner.

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) encoded in a barcode symbol operates as a type of unique licence plate for a product, enabling it to pass through the supply chain, through the checkout of a store or online marketplace, and into the end-consumer’s hands.

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Yakult Plus launches in stores

Yakult’s new launch, Yakult Plus, is a big plus for consumers.

YAKULT, the original fermented milk drink in the iconic little bottle, is making it easier than ever for consumers to look after their wellbeing, with the launch of Yakult Plus.

Yakult Plus is a fermented skimmed milk drink with a fruity citrus flavour. Each little bottle is bursting with 20 billion friendly bacteria, which are scientifically proven to reach the gut alive.

The new product is rich in vitamin C (accounting for 30% of the EU reference intake), which supports the immune system and helps lower fatigue. Plus, it contains

Yakult is supporting the launch of Yakult Plus with social, digital PR, print, OOH and shopper in-store communication, including influencer activation to engage and inspire consumers on how they can look after their own wellbeing.

Making wellness more convenient

“When it comes to our wellbeing, every day, little things can make a powerful difference, from the food we eat, to the activities we take part in,” noted Hiroaki Yoshimura, MD for Yakult UK & Ireland. “Which is why we’re thrilled to be able to play an even bigger role in supporting wellbeing, as we launch Yakult Plus.

About Yakult

YAKULT was developed over 85 years ago by Japanese scientist Dr Shirota, who selected and cultivated L. casei Shirota, a unique strain of bacteria scientifically proven to reach the gut alive. Every little bottle of Yakult contains at least 20 billion L. casei Shirota. Around the world, over 40 million Yakult products are consumed every day in 40 countries and regions. There are three Yakult products available in the UK and Ireland, Yakult Original, Yakult Light –the reduced sugar and fewer calories version, enriched with vitamins D and E, and new Yakult Plus, rich in Vitamin C, with added fibre. Every bottle of Yakult is suitable for vegetarians, gluten-free and fat-free.

Yakult Plus is fat-free, gluten-free, and suitable for vegetarians, like the rest of the Yakult range, and is 30 calories per bottle.

It comes in a fridge friendly 8 x 65ml bottles pack format, standing out on-shelf in its green recyclable cardboard carton.

New packaging for other variants

Yakult has also moved its existing, bestselling varieties of Yakult Original and Yakult Light, from seven-packs of 65ml bottles, to eight-packs, with fully recyclable, shelf-ready cardboard packaging.

With a fresh look, a brand-new taste, and the added benefits of vitamin C and fibre, we are confident that Yakult Plus will comfortably find a place in our customers’ wellbeing routines.

“Plus, being able to offer the bigger retail packs, in a more sustainable packaging, helps to make looking after our wellness, more convenient than ever.”

Yakult Plus is available now in Dunnes, SuperValu and selected stores across Ireland. For further information on Yakult, visit www.yakult.ie

New Yakult Plus is a fermented skimmed milk drink with a fruity citrus flavour.

1664 Blanc launches in Tesco

LAUNCHING exclusively in Tesco outlets across the Republic of Ireland, 1664 Blanc is a playful, elegant, and refreshing tasting beer from France, brewed with a dash of “joie de vivre” in the everyday. Standing out from the crowd with its eye-catching azure blue bottle, this uniquely layered brew can be broken down into a journey of flavour notes, enhanced by its complex recipe. Subtle bitterness is balanced with notes of white peach, giving 1664 Blanc its pearlescent golden haze. “We are really excited for the arrival of 1664 Blanc to Tesco this summer,” said Linda Bradley, Head of Beer at Diageo. “It’s a great tasting beer with fresh citrusy notes that will appeal to those who want more of a premium drink experience - I can’t wait for this to hit Irish palettes!”

Red Bull Doodle Art World finals

THE Red Bull Doodle Art World Finals took place in Amsterdam recently, where Dublin-based artist Vivianne Carcereri (pictured) represented Ireland at the global competition, featuring over 60 of the fastest-rising talents from across the world. The Italian-born artist has made Ireland her home since moving here six years ago. Carcereri, who lived in Cork for four years before moving to Dublin two years ago, competed against the world’s best, following her victory at the Irish National Finals which took place in Tara Street Buildings in April. Red Bull Doodle Art encourages creatives to put pencil to paper, let their minds wander and get doodling.

Stanley Tucci launches new Tanqueray No. Ten in Dublin

ACTOR Stanley Tucci travelled to Ireland recently to launch the new Tanqueray No. Ten signature serve, the Tiny Ten. Bursting with fresh grapefruit, sparkling wine and No. Ten, the elegant pink-blush cocktail was inspired by summer evenings with friends and family. Whilst in Dublin, Stanley Tucci visited the very best in cocktail and gastronomy experiences Ireland has to offer. He visited Pichet for lunch, where Diageo Chef in Residence, Mark Moriarty prepared a bespoke seasonal menu with Irish lamb as the hero dish and had a sit-down meal with Stanley. Then he visited Bar 1661, awarded Ireland’s ‘Bar of the Year’ & 'Innovative Bar of the Year' Award in 2022, where he is pictured with Diageo World Class Irish Bartender of the Year Finalist , General Manager Will Lynch.

Kylie Minogue celebrates third anniversary of wine range

KYLIE Minogue is pictured toasting to the third anniversary of her award-winning wines at The West Hollywood Edition, following the debut performance of her latest single ‘Padam Padam’ on American Idol. Since their launch in 2020, Kylie Minogue Wines have sold nine million bottles - which is over 43 million glasses of Kylie Minogue Wines poured globally. “I can’t believe it’s already been three years since we launched Kylie Minogue Wines,” said Kylie. “Thank you to all our amazing winemakers, growers, suppliers and partners who have helped us reach this incredible milestone. Raising a glass to all of you, from Los Angeles!”

Baileys ‘DeliciousintroduceDescriptions’

BAILEYS have introduced ‘Delicious Descriptions’, a social campaign focused on enhancing image descriptions and screen reader content for blind and partially sighted social media users by layering in more delicious, more indulgent descriptors of treat content. The campaign, which coincides with Global Accessibility Awareness Day, was created in consultation with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Meta. ‘Delicious Descriptions’ is one simple way to make social content more accessible to wider audiences. Sitting underneath the image content on Meta channels, the enhanced image descriptors are included in closed brackets and connect with existing screen reader technology to elevate the user experience of Baileys’ indulgent social feed.

Snack to the future

Irish consumers love crisps and snacks, with the market continuing to grow, driven by a desire for ‘better for you’ products.

THE snack food market continues to grow in Ireland. The latest report into the category from Euromonitor International identifies the key trend as consumer desire for natural and healthy products across snack foods, with vegan and natural alternatives gaining interest.

Natural and healthy products continue to be of high importance in snacks, with consumers increasingly switching to sugar-free, lower-carb, vegan, plant-based and diet-specific foods as they become more focused on health, Euromonitor reveal. Growing demand for unconventional flavours such as eastern berries or Aleppo pepper are encouraging consumers to try new products.

Snack manufacturers have focused on navigating their way through the post-Covid era, focusing on the expansion of existing brands by adding unusual features to them, according to Euromonitor, who also point to consumers actively seeking out more affordable options and value-for-money amid the cost-of-living crisis.

With retail volume and current value sales already recovered from the pandemic in 2022, Euromonitor predict more modest growth for the snacks category over the coming years as demand patterns normalise. High inflation will shape category performance, driving value sales above volume as higher

average prices curbs consumption to a degree.

To combat rising prices and maintain volume sales growth, Euromonitor believe that savoury snacks producers will continue to expand their portfolios to include sharing packs and multi-packs for retailers and manufacturers to capitalise on, ahead of the BBQ and picnic season.

Tayto

Tayto, Ireland’s number one crisps and snacks brand (Source: Nielsen Scantrack sales, MAT, May 2023) kicked off January with the continued support of the Tayto Lentil Chips brand. Using a multi-platform approach, Tayto Lentil Chips were advertised across TV, VOD, social and

digital audio, while they also partnered with influencers across social media. Tayto Lentil Chips have delivered over €1 million RSV since launch and are now a key brand within the ever-growing ‘Better for You’ category (Source: Nielsen Scantrack sales, MAT, May 2023).

Lunchtime, a key snacking need state, is being targeted as Tayto rolled out their ‘Add Some Crunch to your Lunch’ campaign, with radio advertising running for three months across some of Ireland’s most loved stations, encouraging consumers to pick up a packet of Tayto at lunchtime. Tayto have also been supporting Tayto Cheesatees and Tayto Occasions, key brands within their portfolio that appeal to consumers looking

Tayto rolled out their ‘Add Some Crunch to your Lunch’ campaign recently, with radio advertising running for three months across some of Ireland’s most loved stations, encouraging consumers to pick up a packet of Tayto at lunchtime.

Snack Foods

for snacks for fun sharing occasions.

Using insights citing taste as the key purchase driver for the Tayto brand (Source: Red C Research, July 2022), Mr. Tayto is back on TV screens with a new ATL TV creative campaign titled ‘Tayto: The True Taste of Home’, which will be on air throughout June and July. The emotional hello and goodbye with a loved one at the airport is a feeling that Irish people know well, but Mr. Tayto knows how to truly welcome anyone home, and a packet of Tayto can be more powerful than it seems. The new TV ad will be sure to strike a chord with viewers, using both emotion and humour to connect. The campaign will focus heavily on TV, VOD, digital and social. The campaign will also be supported with OOH, including a takeover at Dublin airport arrivals through June.

The summer doesn’t end there, with Tayto’s latest limited edition hitting shops in June, and this new flavour is sure to have consumers wanting more. The limited-edition launch will be supported through PR and influencer partnerships. With Tayto limited editions known for going viral across social media, this campaign will drive increased demand in stores.

No doubt Tayto will have even more great campaigns throughout 2023, so retailers are urged to stock up on Tayto and watch sales soar.

Hunky Dorys

Hunky Dorys are Ireland’s number one crinkle cut crisp brand, holding over 21% market share and growing ahead of the market at 8.8% (Source: Nielsen Value Sales, Crisps Market, MAT, April 2023).

Hunky Dorys kicked off the year with a rugby campaign to capitalise on the Six Nations snacking occasion. The campaign, ‘Bring Your Squad to France’, was promoted through in-store activations, social media and digital advertising to boost awareness around the competition and drive participation with consumers.

Hunky Dorys have recently launched a new permanent flavour to the line-up, with the addition of Hunky Dorys Prawn Cocktail. Prawn Cocktail flavour has seen a resurgence in the crisps and snacks market and that coupled with Hunky Dorys’ market growth, means this is sure to be a winning combination. The new flavour is available in both sharing and impulse pack formats and the bright pink packaging is sure to capture shoppers’ attention in-store! The launch was supported with influencer marketing,

Hunky Dorys have recently launched a new permanent flavour to the line-up, with Hunky Dorys Prawn Cocktail joining the portfolio. sampling, OOH advertising and will also be supported with in-store activations.

Hunky Dorys continue to be supported with ATL advertising and viewers have seen the return of ‘Christie the Crinkler’ to their TV screens. In addition to the traditional TV creative, Christie decided to take to social media to “recruit” new crinklers to the Hunky Dorys factory with the launch of a fun Instagram filter! The Hunky Dorys ATL campaign has an estimated reach of over three million people.

2023 will be another exciting year for Hunky Dorys so make sure you are stocked up on these crinkled masterpieces which continue to set the pace in the crisps category.

#GoHunkyDorysOrGoHome

O’Donnells

O’Donnells Hand Cooked Crisps are the leading hand-cooked crisp brand in Ireland and currently hold 11.7% value market share (Source: Source: Nielsen MAT Value Sales, April 23, 2023, Crisps). Over the last 12 years, Ireland has fallen in love with the

premium quality and great tasting flavours of O’Donnells.

The experts have spoken, with the news that O'Donnells is the most awarded crisp in Ireland! During the last 12 months, O’Donnells has been awarded 20 prestigious awards, highlighting the exemplary quality from Irelands number one hand-cooked crisp brand; their 2022 awards include five Great Taste Awards, eight Free From Food Awards, six Irish Quality Food Awards and one Blas na hEireann Award.

In April, the O’Donnells Crinkle Cut Furrows range re-launched with a new design, highlighting the brand’s provenance messaging and providing enhanced stand-out in-store. The extension of the range into the crinkle format has helped to drive even greater growth for the O’Donnells brand, which has performed exceptionally well since launch. The deep grooves of the furrows ploughed on the Seskin family farm are the inspiration for the O’Donnells Crinkle Cut Furrows product. The extra deep ridges capture more of the outstanding taste and

O’Donnells: the most awarded hand-cooked crisp in Ireland.

NEW

ATL CAMPAIGN SUPPORTING IRELAND’S NO. 1 CRISPS AND SNACKS BRAND NOW LIVE*

Sources: *Nielsen Scantrack Value Sales MAT May 23

Snack Foods

flavour that O’Donnells consumers know and love. The O’Donnells team are looking forward to unveiling further news on the range very shortly!

At O'Donnells, they respect the earth and through their packaging reduction programme, they are committed to reducing their impact on the planet. They have made significant reductions to the amount of film used in the range, removing 22% of film from impulse and sharing pack formats and 38% from multipack formats.

From June onwards, O’Donnells will be live with the ‘Taste Above All Else’ campaign, spanning TV, VOD, OOH, social and in-store. The campaign will be activated across the summer months, driving significant brand awareness and mental availability with consumers.

Pringles

Pringles have added Mexican Chilli & Lime flavour to their fiery Sizzl’N range. The new spicy flavour joins medium Kickin’ Sour Cream, Sweet Chilli, hot Spicy Chorizo and extra hot Cheese & Chilli.

The combination of juicy limes mixed with a kick of chilli heat is set to bring

Pringles fans on a sensorial journey to Mexico.

Aiming to push snacking fans’ taste buds to the limit, the new flavour delivers a yin and yang taste sensation with its citrus zing and fiery chilli. The new flavour taps into the demand for spice and heat, with chilli and lime being one of the top growing flavours in the category.

The Pringles Sizzl’N range contains varying levels of heat, each building to satisfy all preferences. The range contains no artificial colours or flavours to deliver the ultimate taste sensation.

Pringles Sizzl’N Mexican Chilli & Lime Flavour taps into the demand for spice and heat, with chilli and lime being one of the top growing flavours in the category.

“Our fans have come to expect bold and exciting flavours from Pringles and the launch of Mexican Chilli & Lime is sure to deliver on this,” explained Ann Rose Eng, Brand Activation Manager, Pringles Ireland. “The flavour is designed for those who like to explore new, adventurous tastes with a spicy twist. Our Sizzl’N range has been a huge success and we can’t wait to see what people think of this delicious addition.”

For those who want to step up the spice, Pringles Sizzl’N Mexican Chilli & Lime is available in supermarkets across Ireland (RRP: €3.49).

Green Man Snacks

Green Man, part of the Gem Pack Foods family of brands, select only the most deliciously moreish roasted and salted nuts, pure and simple. Their nuts are carefully chosen from farmers they know and trust, and are harvested only when the nuts are plump and perfectly ripe. Then, by adding just the right amount of heat, Green Man transform them into something truly scrumptious. The result is perfectly roasted, crunchy nuts, each with their own distinct character and flavour.

“We truly believe that we are not just an ordinary snack, we are driven to make people feel special and bring a whole new snacking experience into their everyday life,” revealed a company spokesperson.

Skus available include Roasted & Salted Almonds, Cashews and Pistachios in 150g pouches. A display stand and single hanging unit for in-store promotion are available. For more information, call (01) 8113700 or visit www.greenmansnacks.ie.

The Green Man Snacks range includes Roasted & Salted Almonds, Cashews and Pistachios in 150g pouches.

Pringles are turning up the heat with Sizzl’N Mexican Chilli & Lime Flavour.

Business booms at Bloom

Over 100,000 visitors attended Bord Bia Bloom 2023, where business was brisk over a scorching Bank Holiday weekend.

THE June Bank Holiday Weekend saw more than 100,000 visitors attending Bord Bia Bloom 2023, where scorching summer sunshine ensured that spirits were high and business was booming.

“We have had a very successful show this year, with positive feedback from attendees across the five days and in its 17th year, Bloom remains a firm favourite with the Irish public,” noted Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia’s Chief Executive. “In addition to creating an enjoyable visitor experience, Bloom provides an important commercial opportunity for Bord Bia’s client companies. We work with Ireland’s leading garden designers, nurseries and horticulture businesses, and more than 100 food and drink producers, who are at Bloom to showcase their work, products and services. Their focus is not just to

impress the public onsite, but also fill their order books for the year ahead. This event has become an integral part of the summer calendar for consumers and businesses alike, and that is something Bord Bia is very proud of.”

Bord Bia Trade Breakfast

Bord Bia celebrated 10 years of connecting Ireland’s most prominent retail and foodservice buyers with Irish food, drink and horticulture producers at its annual Trade Breakfast, held on the second day of the five-day festival. More than 250 buyers from Ireland’s leading retail and foodservice companies attended the trade breakfast to meet with the 100+ food and drink companies exhibiting at this year’s festival.

“Each year, before Bloom opens to

the public, Bord Bia arranges a series of introductions between buyers and producers,” explained Jim O’Toole. “Since it was first introduced in 2013, the Trade Breakfast has become one of the highlights of Bloom and we are delighted and encouraged to have such a high calibre of buyers here, plus over 100 Irish companies in attendance this year, the highest number to date. We know that now, more than ever, the commitment to sourcing from Ireland is top of mind. These trade buyers have high potential purchasing power, so for Irish food, drink and horticulture companies, the Trade Breakfast provides an invaluable opportunity to do business.”

Attendees included senior figures from Ireland’s top retailers, such as Musgrave, Dunnes Stores, Aldi, Lidl Ireland, Tesco,

M&S and Sainsbury’s, along with specialist retailers such as Donnybrook Fair and Fallon & Byrne.

Prominent buyers in the Irish foodservice sector include Dalata Hotel Group, the biggest hotel chain in Ireland, forecourt operators Circle K and Applegreen; workplace restaurant providers Aramark, Compass and Sodexo, and a number of leading foodservice distributors.

New products and trends

Bord Bia Bloom is an important live new product testing ground for the Irish food and drink industry, where companies can launch products directly to consumers. More than half of all food and drink businesses participating in 2022 launched new products or brands at Bloom. The Food Village also provided an opportunity for buyers to identify some of the key trends and innovations in the food and drink sector.

Stand-out trends this year include the drive towards functional and scientific health foods including a new product by Phytaphix focusing on arthritis and joint health (JointPhix). “This was our first time at Bord Bia Bloom and the response has been nothing short of phenomenal,” enthused Phytaphix founder Dr Conor Kerley. “Bloom is the biggest event we have ever exhibited at, and it has been such a great opportunity to meet thousands of people face-to-face. We launched our new product, Energy Phix, here on Thursday and were sold out by Thursday evening! I wasn’t planning to be at the event every day, but the adrenaline of meeting people is fantastic,

and I haven’t missed a minute. It's been an amazing experience for a relatively new brand, and we’re already looking forward to next year.”

Additional new product launches included Keogh’s Crips, who have collaborated with Teeling Whiskey to launch ‘Smoked Barbeque and Irish Whiskey’ limited edition crisps at Bloom; Kinsale Mead Co. launched their new batch of Wildflower Mead, the first Irish mead drink made from Irish honey in 200 years, and Nibbed, an organic bean-to-bar cacao

President Michael D. Higgins addresses visitors on the opening day of Bloom 2023.

The Cookie Dó stand proved hugely popular, particularly with younger visitors to Bloom 2023.

Áine Hand Made Chocolate have been making deliciously smooth and creamy handmade Irish chocolate since 1999.

and chocolate producer based in Wicklow, introduced a new grated cacao product.

Practically every stand was busy when Retail News visited and most of the owners we spoke to reported brisk business, with strong numbers visiting from early morning. Michael Carey, Executive Chairman of East Coast Bakehouse, said that his company were extremely pleased with the turn-out, where they re-branded some of their incredible Irish-made biscuits and cookies.

The Glenisk stand was particularly busy, as visitors queued to sample their wonderful yogurt range – the addition of chocolate chips proved too tempting for younger visitors, who were also delighted with the generous samples from the Cookie Dó range.

Consumers were keen to spend at Bloom and many exhibitors reported strong sales and a need to restock over the weekend.

Bord Bia has released some of the event facts and figures from the 2023 event:

• This year’s show featured 22 show and feature gardens, nine postcard gardens, and over 100 food and drink producers;

• The judging panel comprised of 15 Irish and international horticultural experts, who awarded more than 78 awards to show garden designers, amateur postcard garden designers; plant nurseries and floral artists.

• 760 exhibitors featured across all areas across the show;

• Over 250 retail and foodservice buyers met with 100

Two young Bloom visitors take time out with tasty yogurt treats from Glenisk.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, pictured with Jim O’Toole, Chief Executive, Bord Bia, at Bloom 2023.

Michael Carey, Executive Chairman of East Coast Bakehouse, pictured in the sunshine at Bloom 2023.

Broderick’s had a selection of tasty treats on offer at Bloom 2023.

plus Irish food and drink companies at the Bord Bia trade breakfast on Friday morning;

• A total of 3,800 people worked onsite over the five days, including 100 Bord Bia staff volunteers;

• It will take 14 days to clear the Bord Bia Bloom site.

Sustainable Gardens

In keeping with previous years, and the renewed focus on sustainability and waste reduction at Bord Bia Bloom, many elements of the show and feature gardens are being relocated after the event.

The final day of the festival also marked the announcement of a number of awards, including, the show gardens’ People’s Choice Award, which was awarded to First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery, designed by Liat and Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery, Dublin. The Best Contractor Award, given to the show garden team that exceeded expectations through their construction, teamwork and support of other designers, which was presented to the team behind A Breathing Space for Fingal. The Bloom 2023 garden designers select the Designer’s Choice Award, and this year the accolade was presented to Nicola Haines who designed the Citröen Power of One garden.

Bord Bia also presented three food awards this year for the first time. The Best Taste Award went to Kinara Kitchen, an Indian restaurant in Dublin that has wowed Bloom attendees over the years for its authentic charcoal-grilled delicacies. The Visitor’s Choice Food Award gathered votes from visitors for their favourite food truck at this year’s show and Bahay, a Filipino-inspired street food truck, was selected as the inaugural winner. Finally, the Best Dressed Award went to Killua Castle food truck (Co. Westmeath) for their creative Bloom-inspired floral decor.

Bord Bia has confirmed that Bloom 2024 will take place from Thursday, May 30, to Monday, June 3, next year.

The hugely popular Keogh’s Crisps stand at Bloom 2023.

The Naked Bakes stand enjoyed a busy Bloom festival.

Some of the extremely tasty cheeses from Burren Gold Cheese, Ailwee, Co. Clare.

Naturo launch dog food pouch range

Puppy: With 60% chicken, this protein-packed meal is a rich source of protein for growing puppies. Chicken is an excellent source of quality protein, with B vitamins to support healthy muscles and energy delivery. This Grain Free Puppy Food with 20% potato allows for a more digestible product for your puppy's sensitive stomach. Naturo’s premium, healthy puppy food provides the best option for pet parents who want a nutritious and balanced meal to support their pup’s health and well-being at all life stages.

LOVED by pets and their pet parents, Naturo ‘Nose’ what matters most to consumers. Building on the success of Naturo, Mackle Petfoods are expanding their product range to meet the needs of today's pet parents, introducing Naturo Dog Pouches.

Rise of convenience?

Holidaying with pets is on the rise, driving the need for simple, convenient pet food formats; think “on-the-go”. In the UK, for example, the number of pet-friendly Airbnb properties skyrocketed by 95% between 2019 and 2021, bringing the total number of animal-favourable listings to more than 160,000. Awaze, Europe's largest managed vacation rentals and holiday resorts, is planning to accommodate more than 250,000 dogs over the next 12 months, with bookings for breaks with pets in 2022 up more than a third compared to the same time in 2019.

Also, as workers return to the office post-pandemic, there is arguably less time available in the morning and evening at home, supporting the need for quick and convenient pet food packaging solutions.

Reducing carbon footprint

One of the main reasons Mackle Petfoods wanted to move into pouches is to reduce their carbon footprint. “Since moving to pouches, our packaging weight has been reduced by 12.5g per unit, meaning we are saving 48.3kg per pallet that we are sending out to stores,” enthuses a company spokesperson. “From this, we have reduced our CO2 emissions by 18.14kg per load!”

Catering for all life stages

Naturo’s new 150g dog food pouches are made for the small fourlegged friend in your life; from puppy right up to their later years, Naturo is here every step of the way.

Adult Small Breeds: Naturo contains 100% natural ingredients with added vitamins, minerals and calcium to support your dog’s immune system, teeth and bones. Their recipe contains no added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, providing the best natural, hypoallergenic dog food for your dog. This natural wet dog food also contains vegetables and brown rice or potato, allowing for an energy packed, easily digested meal. Omegas 3 and 6 are included in sunflower and salmon oils to help maintain healthy skin and promote a healthy coat for your adult dog throughout its life.

With 60% chicken, the new Naturo Puppy Pouch range is a rich source of protein for growing puppies.

Senior Dogs: Naturo’s senior dog recipe is specifically made to be easily digested and delicate on senior dog stomachs. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are added into this wet dog food to help joint flexibility and encourage mobility in our four-legged friends during their older years.

For more details, contact Mackle Petfoods on +44 (0)28 8778 4641 or Chanelle Pet (091) 870 188, email sales@chanellegroup.ie or customercare@naturopetfoods.com.

Naturo’s Senior Pouch range has added Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help joint flexibility and encourage mobility.

New Naturo Dog Pouches meet the needs of modern pet ‘parents’, while helping Mackle Petfoods to reduce their carbon footprint.

The largest ever Today’s Women in Grocery networking lunch raised vital funds for those in need across Ireland’s grocery, food and retail sector.

Biggest ever TWIG lunch

FOLLOWING its largest ever annual networking lunch, Today’s Women in Grocery (TWIG) has raised vital funds for those in need across Ireland’s grocery, food and retail sector.

An inspiring speaker line-up addressed a gathering of prominent figures from Ireland’s grocery sector at the 2023 event, held in the Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre, on Friday, May 5, 2023.

Since it first launched, TWIG has consistently been a key part of the fundraising efforts of the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF) charity. In a fitting reflection of the difficult two years faced with the pandemic, the ‘Power of Positivity’ theme for 2023 set the scene for an afternoon of inspiring contributions from a panel of business leaders from the FMCG sector and beyond. The event was expertly chaired by Sonya Lennon and included female speakers and business leaders from across the industry.

Industry leaders

Two panels of speakers on the day, featuring entrepreneurs and industry leaders, discussed the motivations and passions that drive their ambitions and help them to remain positive in the face of business challenges.

Natasha Adams, CEO, Tesco Ireland, said, “When I first started in Tesco 25 years ago, I was working in one of the shops stocking shelves and working in the customer kitchen. It means I’ve done the job that all of our colleagues in-store do. I want to give all of our staff and colleagues the same opportunities I was given over my 25 years’ experience and allow our 13,500 employees to fulfil their best potential.”

Sarah Ferguson, General Manager, Kelloggs Ireland, said: “There’s a real sense of community

MC Sonya Lennon, at the TWIG lunch.

The TWIG Committee, pictured at the networking lunch at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre.

in the Irish business landscape; there are so many supportive women who want to lift each other up. I’m very grateful to all the women who helped me transition into the business community in Ireland when I first moved here. As I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve spent more and more time working with people rather than focusing on the technical, and I’ve learned that when you truly support people, the business results will follow.”

Betty Quigley, Chief Commercial Officer, L’Oréal Consumer Products Division, recalled: “When I first started at L’Oréal in Paris, I was struck by how diverse and open all of our staff were. Diversity and inclusion is baked into our business, our HR approach and our products, and women are represented at the most senior levels in the company. I’m incredibly proud that I’m the first woman to do this role in L’Oréal.”

Sharon Walsh, Managing Director, Heineken Ireland, said: “Culture has always been very important to me in everywhere I’ve worked. I think because Heineken is a family company, it has always been inclusive and welcoming. We recently launched a new policy, called Daring and Caring, to make staff feel cared for and included and give them the confidence to dare to achieve great things.”

Entrepreneurs well represented

Some of the panellists were entrepreneurs, whose inspiring stories may help to guide the food and retail success stories of tomorrow.

Sharon Keegan, entrepreneur and founder of Peachylean, said: “I think my confidence to be competitive in the market comes from a place of authenticity. My product came from a problem I really had - I wanted to change post-natal sportswear for not just myself, but all women. Peachylean sold 224 units before we even got the first shipment, so I knew there were

other women out there like me who we were having a real impact on.”

Fiona Parfrey, entrepreneur and founder of Riley, said: “Our vision is to be a lifelong female health brand; if men had periods, they would be given every resource and support. We’re focused on providing high quality products, education and resources to create a real solution to support women in their health. Entrepreneurship is non-stop challenges and you have to have the right mindset to fight those challenges, but having the right people around is so important - positivity breeds positivity.”

Rachel Hennessy, entrepreneur and

The TWIG lunch featured an inspirational speaker panel (l-r): Sarah Ferguson, General Manager, Kelloggs Ireland; Sharon Walsh, Managing Director, Heineken Ireland; Betty Quigley, Chief Commercial Officer, L’Oréal Consumer Products Division; and Natasha Adams, CEO, Tesco Ireland.

Pictured are Sharon Yourell Lawlor, TWIG Committee member and MD of Think Plan Do Consulting; Joe Manning, IGBF President of Appeals and Commercial Director of Tesco Ireland; Frances Higgins, IGBF Chair and Group Head of Promotions at BWG Foods; Jenny Eustace, TWIG Committee member and Innovation Manager at BWG Foods, and Michelle Darlington, TWIG Chairperson and Marketing Manager at Suntory Beverage & Food Ireland.

Pictured are Sharon Yourell Lawlor (left) and Michelle Darlington (right) with the entrepreneurs panel: Fiona Parfrey, Sharon Keegan, Rachel Hennessy and Niamh Briggs.

TWIG Networking Lunch

founder of Happy Days Fashion Retail, said: “The idea for Happy Days came when I was working in Google, and I sold all my shares to start the company. I wanted to be one of the first people to make a positive change in the sustainable fashion industry and that pushed me on to take the leap. Being in business, the lows are low but the highs are unbeatable.”

Niamh Briggs, Former Irish Rugby player and member of An Garda Síochàna, said: “When I first retired from rugby following an injury, I felt I was leaving before my time but it allowed me to find a passion and new career in coaching. I love having the opportunity to coach players, and to support new pathways for young women in the game of rugby.”

Female empowerment and networking

Now in its seventh year, the TWIG networking lunch is the most influential gathering of its kind to put female empowerment and networking in the grocery, food and drink sector in firm focus.

Speaking at the event, Michelle Darlington, Chair of TWIG, said; “It has been humbling to see our theme, The Power of Positivity, well and truly on show at today’s event as we heard incredibly powerful and empowering stories from our wonderful panel of speakers. It’s marvelous to see the TWIG annual networking lunch go from strength to strength each year, and become a standout moment in the calendar for the grocery, food and retail sector and for the charity and individuals we aim to support. I would like to thank the TWIG committee for all their support in hosting our largest and most successful event since we began in 2016, and a big thank to all our sponsors for continuing to support the event and the IGBF charity.”

This year’s lunch was sponsored by Musgrave, Diageo, CPM, and Suntory Beverage and Food Ireland. All funds raised from the TWIG luncheon enable the IGBF to continue supporting our colleagues across the trade who have fallen on hard times.

Amy Drummond, Chloe Malone and Jeanne Kelly, all from Ornua, pictured at the TWIG lunch.

From Britvic Ireland (l-r): Annette Hurcombe, Anita Gallagher, Sian Young and Dee Cunningham at the Todays Women in Grocery networking event.

Members of the Diageo Ireland team (l-r): Rachel O'Riordan, Lindsey Iss, Catherine Kirkpatrick, Jane Doddy and Charlotte Grossie, pictured at the TWIG lunch.

Members of the Musgrave Group team, pictured at the TWIG lunch (l-r): Heidi Fitzgerald, Tara Malone, Cliona McHugh, Marta Hliwa, Stacey Smyth and Kathy Simpson.

From CPM Ireland are John Healy, Loreta Vasiliauskaite and Lorraine Butler, pictured at the Todays Women in Grocery lunch.

Waste Management: Repak

Repak CEO calls for “joinedup thinking” on waste management

Repak CEO, Séamus Clancy acknowledges the need for new legislation and new recycling targets for plastic, but calls for joined-up thinking between the regulatory authorities to ensure it is done in a realistic and safe manner.

NEW EU Regulations due to come into effect in 2024/25 bring challenging targets for Ireland, particularly when it comes to recycling rates for plastic. Repak CEO, Séamus Clancy describes the proposed changes to the Packaging Waste Directive, which were published in November 2022, as “the next monumental change for businesses in Ireland and across Europe”.

The recycling/waste management industry has seen“more regulatory change between 2018 and 2023 than there ever has been”, admits Séamus, in the shape of the Circular Economy Package, the Single Use Plastics Directive and the Packaging Waste Directive, “all of which are putting pressure on producers and consumers alike”.

“In the retail sector, we are trying to manage all this while embracing the Circular Economy, so these regulations are very significant in the sense that the main aims of these regulations are to prevent the generation of packaging waste, reduce its quantity and promote re-use and refill,” Séamus explains.

How you go about this and how you measure it are “big concerns, because there has to be a level playing field right across Europe”, to deal with primary, secondary and tertiary packaging, according to the Repak CEO.

“For me, it always comes back to material design,” Séamus stresses. “We are all very aware of the physical look and feel of everything we buy, but do we really need a cardboard box covering a tube of toothpaste, for example? So I think there is a huge issue in terms of overpackaging that has to be dealt with, separate to the issue of recycling.”

The Regulations also bid to ensure that all packaging placed on the market will be recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030, while also increasing the use of recycled plastic in packaging,

to close the loop in recycling, by substituting virgin materials.

Séamus points out that in the context of the retail sector, the issue is that so much packaging has direct contact with food, so there is a major food safety concern to address there: “The problem is that there is a total lack of alignment between the environmental need for change with that of food safety, production and waste. There is a lack of joinedup thinking between the regulatory authorities. On the one hand, we have the desire to do right by the environment, and rightly so, and there is a huge understanding from producers, retailers, consumers and the regulatory authorities here in Ireland that we need to move on this. But we need joined-up thinking on the oversight of how we make that happen.”

EU packaging targets

At present, Ireland meets all of the previous EU targets set in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. In fact, we already exceed 2025 targets for Wood (69%) and Paper & Cardboard (84%). In the case of glass recycling, we already exceed our 2030 targets with a current recycling rate of 86%. However, the new plastic packaging recycling targets will be more challenging for Ireland to meet and present an opportunity for Ireland to change the way in which we manage these often complex materials, which currently have a recycling rate of approximately 33%. To achieve the new EU targets of 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030 will require a

dramatic change by all stakeholders in order to capture more of this material.

“In the main, when it comes to recycling rates, Ireland’s packaging producers and retailers are doing a very good job in terms of hitting the EU targets across paper, wood, glass and metals,” Séamus points out. “In fact, we are at the top of the league table. The one area where we are struggling with is plastic, and it will be a significant challenge for us to hit the target to recycle 50% of plastic packaging by 2025 and 55% by 2030 – Repak estimates that our plastic recycling rates for 2022 were at 33%. Our challenge in Ireland is that consumption levels are too high.”

Essentially, we are consistently buying and consuming more than ever before, which means the volume of packaging we use on an annual basis is rising. “We have population growth and economic growth; we are spending more per head of capita, and we are generating more waste per head than ever before. That is why the latest campaign from mywaste.ie is to try to get everybody in the country to reduce their waste generation by just 1%, which

Waste Management: Repak

equates to 10kg per year. I think that is not an unreasonable ask,” Séamus reveals.

With plastics, he believes we are making “good strides. Last year, there were roughly 318,000 tonnes of plastic packaging generated in the country and we recycled 110,000 tonnes.” The increase of 9,000 tonnes in 2022 was generated primarily by the change which allowed the collection of light plastics in domestic recycling bins, “so that goes to show that people do listen and take on board what can be done”.

Addressing the gap between ‘action and reality’

The key to change is to “address the gap between action and reality”, according to the Repak chief: “On the household side, 70% of people are doing a really good job on using the recycling bin. But 30% are not, because perhaps they don’t have the infrastructure but we are also seeing quite high levels of contamination on items placed into the recycling bin.

“On the commercial side, we have some businesses doing an excellent job of separating, segregating and understanding

the valuable materials they have at the back door. I know many businesses that are getting value from the waste at their back door. But unfortunately, we still have businesses who don’t have two bins, let alone three. That is problematic, but the introduction of the Commercial Waste Regulations, which come into effect on July 1, is going to hopefully start that behavioural change in the right direction, as all waste operators in the country will have a legal obligation to provide three bins to all commercial premises, in a similar manner to the way the domestic collection system works.”

While space constraints are a concern for some businesses when it comes to waste separation, this is generally not an issue for retail businesses, Séamus argues, stressing that it is the commercial sector that will push us towards those recycling targets: “We are on the right trajectory but we have a significant way to go, particularly on the commercial side. I think hitting our recycling targets for plastic are going to be very difficult. We need to have all the stakeholders aligned on this and at

All the big investment in Ireland’s waste recycling infrastructure has come from the private sector, according to the Repak CEO.

Waste Management: Repak

The role of Repak Repak does a huge amount of work at a European level on waste legislation. “On behalf of our 3,400-plus members, we are constantly liaising with the Government, the Department of the Environment and with policy makers, as well as our members, on what is coming down the line and what impacts it will have,” Séamus says. “We make submissions to protect the interests of Repak members but also to make sure that the burden and the challenge is manageable in an efficient and costeffective way, without over-burdening our members.”

Repak will continue to manage the requirements of legislation into the future and make the burdens of regulatory change as simple as possible for members, according to the CEO, who cites the example of the area of litter costs, which are being examined as part of the Single Use Plastics Directive.

“We have 31 local authorities around the country who will all be looking for packaging producers to make a contribution to litter costs, but there are no metrics in place yet,” Séamus reveals. “We want to make sure there is minimum burden on our members when that comes about.”

this juncture, I don’t believe we have that alignment.

“The big push has to come from the commercial sector, which accounts for 50% of all packaging waste generated in the country, but we have lower recycling rates in the commercial sector than we do in the domestic sector,” he continues. “That is partly an education issue, but historically it has been the case that those segregation services were not being provided in the commercial sector heretofore.”

Incentivising consumers to segregate waste certainly worked in the domestic sector, whereby it is cheaper for the household to collect the food waste or recyclable waste bins than the general waste bin. A similar scheme will operate for commercial waste, whereby your black (general waste) bin will be more expensive than the brown (food waste) bin, which in turn will be more expensive than the green (recyclable) bin.

One of the biggest changes to how packaging is regulated, the Repak CEO explains, was the introduction of eco-fee modulation, which is designed so that any producers who place non-recyclable plastics on the market, or those which are difficult to recycle, face significantly

higher fees than those who use recyclable plastics.

“We have seen already the implementation of that having an effect.” He cites the example of the multi-packs of cans, where the plastic rings that held the products together have largely disappeared from the market altogether. “Companies now pay over €300 per tonne for difficultto-recycle plastics and €110 for recyclable plastics,” Séamus notes. “Those fees are only going to go in one direction.”

Reusing packaging in-store

We are also seeing the early days of a new movement towards re-using packaging for certain goods. In some supermarkets, bulk commodity goods, from breakfast cereals to detergents, are becoming available in-store in large storage facilities, and the consumer re-fills their container rather than purchasing a new plastic container each time.

“I think that will increase as we go forward, and producers and retailers will adapt to that,” Séamus feels. “If you look at some countries, like Sweden and Austria, this is already well advanced from a primary packaging level and we are going to see more of that.”

Repak can also help members to reduce their waste management costs: “We have a prevent-and-save programme that covers every aspect of the business, not just packaging. We look at all the areas that you can examine to improve your carbon footprint. We start at the back door and your waste, but we also look at water usage, electricity usage etc. We deal with the bread-and-butter of a business’ carbon footprint.”

Investments in infrastructure?

One of the big arguments levelled at the waste management industry in Ireland is that we do not have the requisite infrastructure to manage our own waste. This is simply down to economics, according to Séamus: “Ireland is a very small economy. We don’t have a paper pulping plant in Ireland, which is unfortunate. We generate about 1.2 million tonnes of overall packaging waste, of which about 500,000 tonnes is paper, and most paper plants in Europe start being viable at around 600,000 tonnes. However, I believe there is a case for having a paper pulping plant in Ireland but waste costs money and building such a plant at that level would cost in the region of €200 million-plus, so the rationale for building a paper pulping plant in Ireland is economically on the borderline.”

Séamus Clancy (left) is pictured at the 2022 Pakman Awards, presenting the Plastic Pledge Member of the Year Award to Léan Caulfield, Packaging Development Technologist, and Paul Whelan, Head of Packaging Development, of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, with Ossian Smyth TD, Minister of State for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Public Procurement, eGovernment with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy.

Ireland has two glass recycling plants and most of the glass cullet produced at these plants we use in the manufacturing of glass bottles made in Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh, “so we are fairly self-contained in our use of glass”.

When it comes to metal refining, Ireland does not have the volume to justify having a metal refining plant in the country, Séamus believes.

In the area of plastic recycling, “we don’t have adequate facilities here for taking all plastic from the bin back to a pellet but we have seen considerable spend in Ireland in this area in the last few years. It is still totally inadequate but we are improving. From a plastic perspective, of the 318,000 tonnes generated in Ireland, just under 200,000 of that is made up of pots, tubs, trays and films: everybody wants the convenient option. PET offers good value and commercial polyethylene offers good value but when it comes to those difficult-to-recycle plastics, the investment requirements are pretty enormous.”

Improvements and advancements in technology are having an impact, however, particularly in plastic recycling, Séamus believes. “We are seeing chemical recycling coming to the fore, along with big changes

in technology in terms of separation.”

He cites the example of Limerick Polymers Production as a shining light in the area of plastic recycling: “It’s the most sophisticated plant in Ireland if not in Europe in terms of the segregation of plastics by polymer type, density of polymer and even colour separation of polymers.”

Waste contractors

The Repak CEO is effusive in his praise of Irish waste contractors. “We are lucky that we have a private waste system in Ireland because we are more flexible than any other EU Member State,” he says. “That was very evident throughout the pandemic, when Ireland was the only country in Europe that didn’t have a problem with waste collection services and a build-up of waste in the streets. Can our waste contractors do more to help us on the journey? Absolutely. But to date, all the big investment in the waste infrastructure has been in the private sector. We are down to three landfills, which is great. But everything from waste incinerators to trucks, that investment has come from the private sector. And we are the only country in the world where every waste truck has a fully integrated weight-lift system,

regardless of operator.”

Repak deals with upwards of 100 waste contractors across the country, and carries out Contract Compliance Auditing annually and waste characterisation studies up to four times per year to ascertain the level of contamination of recycled material coming through the plants.

“We are looking all the time to improve the quality of the service but also the quality of the separation and segregation of waste,” Séamus highlights. “When it comes to supporting business, I welcome regulation change. Waste is expensive to manage, so I believe that the new Commercial Waste Regulations will improve things. There is an understanding in the waste industry that these changes need to happen and that those who don’t abide by them will not survive. The waste industry has come from the era of the ‘yard-man’ at the back of the store right into the boardroom and I have seen it evolve and I welcome those changes. I do believe that there is a certain amount of green-washing or lip service at board level, without necessarily implementing what needs to be done, and the question all of us have to answer is ‘can it be business as usual going forward?’ and I think it’s pretty clear that the answer is no.”

The introduction of the Commercial Waste Regulations on July 1 means that all waste operators in the country will have a legal obligation to provide three bins to all commercial premises, in a similar manner to the way the domestic collection system works.

Kelsius help Tesco reduce food waste

Donegal tech firm Kelsius are helping Tesco Ireland reduce food waste with their new wireless temperature monitoring systems.

DONEGAL technology company Kelsius, based in Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, have signed a contract with Tesco Ireland to help the retailer ensure efficiencies across some of its cold storage.

Kelsius’ wireless temperature monitoring systems monitor the temperature of standalone fridges and freezers 24 hours a day. This allows Tesco to ensure that they only provide the finest quality foods to customers by ensuring that fridges and freezers are maintained at the correct temperature.

The Kelsius system alerts the retailer to any temperature excursions, thus eliminating food waste that can occur due to fridge or freezer failure.

The agreement between Kelsius and Tesco will see the technology introduced across 112 Tesco stores nationwide.

Tesco has led the way amongst retailers in Ireland in eliminating food waste and driving sustainable retailing. Kelsius’ technology ensures that no food is wasted and eliminates CO2 emissions from that waste.

Kelsius employ 82 people and manufacture specialist temperature monitoring equipment and software and provide global customer support from Falcarragh.

Robust, scalable and user-friendly

“Our collaboration with Tesco is an excellent fit for the Kelsius system,” explained Kelsius CEO Karl Simmons. “An operation of Tesco’s size requires a robust, scalable, user-friendly system that suits the needs of the business, and Kelsius provides this. Kelsius’ environmental values are also aligned with those of Tesco. We are delighted that we can help Tesco achieve their food waste reduction target. We congratulate Tesco on their achievements in

this regard to date, and we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Commenting on the partnership, Tesco Central Compliance Manager, John Byrne, said, “The Kelsius system provides Tesco not only with the peace of mind to have constant and reliable temperature monitoring, but also with the ability to ensure food quality and further reduce food waste. We are delighted to partner with them in using their technology and in a way which helps us to play our part in the community and for the benefit of our customers and the environment.”

About Kelsius

The Kelsius system alerts the retailer to any temperature excursions, thus eliminating food waste that can occur due to fridge or freezer failure.

Kelsius are one of the leading suppliers of automation technology for product safety and compliance to the food services and healthcare industries. Using their world-class wireless sensor technology and cloud-based data hosting and processing, Kelsius systems improve product safety, ensure regulatory compliance and optimise costs associated with these activities. Founded in 2003, Kelsius have offices in Ireland and the United Kingdom, with a network of partners in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the USA that serve their global customer base. For more information, visit www.kelsius.com

Karl Simmons, Kelsius CEO.

Waste Management: Aldi Ireland

Aldi celebrate food waste partnerships

Aldi’s food waste partnerships have avoided over one million kilos of food from going to waste.

TO mark National Food Waste Recycling Week, which took place from June 6-11, Aldi announced that they have avoided 1.2 million kgs of food from going to waste in Ireland to date through partnerships with both FoodCloud and Too Good To Go. This is the equivalent of 3.8 million kgs of CO2 emissions avoided, or 761 round-the-world flights!

Since partnering with not-for-profit social enterprise FoodCloud in 2014, Aldi have donated over 1.1 million kgs of surplus food from stores and distribution centres. This equates to 2.7 million meals to local charities through FoodCloud’s network, resulting in 3.7 million kgs of CO2e avoided.

Further, since commencing their partnership with Too Good To Go in January 2023, Aldi have already provided 50,000 Surprise Bags. These bags, which retail for just €3.99, contain quality food worth at least €12, including fruit, veg, dairy products, meats, snacks and more that would otherwise go to waste. One Surprise Bag equates to 2.5kg CO2e emissions avoided, which is the same as 442 smartphone charges. Since the launch, the retailer has helped to avoid over 106,000kg of CO2e.

Earlier this year, Aldi pledged to eliminate 60 tonnes of food waste from their operations in 2023 in support of the Government’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap. Having already surpassed this target, the retailer has set a new ambition as part of National Food Waste Recycling Week to eliminate a total of 500 tonnes of food waste this year. Under the Roadmap, the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.

Meaningful action

“During National Food Waste Recycling Week, Aldi are proud to take stock of our efforts in combatting food waste,” noted Rachel Nugent Aldi Ireland Corporate Responsibility Manager. “Through our partners, FoodCloud and Too Good To Go, we are taking meaningful action to cut down on food waste in our logistics chain, while also donating to worthy causes.

“To date, we have saved over one million kilos of food waste since beginning our partnerships, both with FoodCloud since 2014 and with the addition of Too Good To Go this year,” Rachel continued. “As part of our overall sustainability strategy and ambitions, we pledged earlier this year to eliminate 60 tonnes of food waste from our operations in 2023. Having already delivered on this commitment, we look forward to continuing to work with our partners and colleagues to strive towards our new goal of eliminating a total of 500 tonnes this year.”

Proactive approach

Rory O’Connell, Account Manager at FoodCloud, said, “It is so encouraging to see large retailers like Aldi taking such a proactive approach towards reducing food waste. Already with Aldi, we’ve facilitated the redistribution of over 1.1 million kgs of surplus food across Aldi’s operations, which equates to over 2.7 million meals, ensuring that food that may otherwise have been wasted goes instead to those that need it most, which is so important, especially in the current climate. We are proud to partner with Aldi and together build a more equitable, sustainable and caring food system.”

Sophie Truman, Country Director at Too Good To Go, said that since partnering with Aldi earlier this year, they have been “blown away” with the response to the surprise bags: “So far, more than 50,000 surprise bags have already been picked up by customers at Aldi and our ambition is to grow this even more. Each time a customer purchases a Too Good To Go bag, they bring home fresh, quality meats, fruit, vegetables and ready meals to the value of €12 but for a heavily discounted price of €3.99. Rather than this perfectly good food going to waste, Aldi has instead avoided over 106,000kg of CO2e, and we look forward to working with them further on continuing to cut down on food waste into the future.”

Pictured are (l-r): Rory O’Connell, Account Manager at FoodCloud; Rachel Nugent, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Aldi Ireland; and Patrick McKinney, Key Account Manager at Too Good to Go.

CLONMEL

Bulmers Secret Orchard is a summer-long, nationwide series of gigs showcasing some of the best emerging talent Ireland has to offer. Climaxing with the ultimate Secret Orchard experience, taking place in our orchards in Clonmel,

Stay safe in the sun with Nivea

Nivea Sun, Ireland’s number one sun care brand, have a range of sun protection products for the whole family.

SUN safety is just as essential in Ireland as when you are abroad. The sun emits damaging UV rays year-round, even on cloudy days. As up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate the skin, so it’s important that your skin is always protected from the sun’s UVA/UVB rays.

Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen every day, even in cloudy Irish weather, yet 17% of school children and 28% of adults do not use sun cream in Ireland (Source: www.irishtimes.com/news/ health/some-17-of-schoolchildren-never-use-sunscreen-1.4280722).

Let Nivea Sun, Ireland’s number one sun care brand (Source: Nielson 52 w/e December 27 2020), look after you at home with these top picks for essential sun protection for the whole family:

Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care Coloured Roll-on SPF 50+ (RRP: €9.99)

This roll-on provides children with highly effective UVA/UVB protection wherever they go. With its child-friendly, colourful, handy roll-on format for easy and playful application, it is simple and quick to apply on the skin. Nivea’s innovative formula works immediately and ensures reliable, highly effective UVA and UVB protection. A fast-absorbing, non-sticky formula also makes applying sunscreen fun for kids and the extra water-resistant feature ensures it will stay on.

Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF 30 / SPF 50+ (RRP: €16.99)

Make Nivea Sun Lotion your ultimate summer essential. It contains highly effective UVA/UVB filters for immediate protection and is suitable for all skin types.

Nivea Sun Kids Trigger Spray SPF 30 / SPF 50+ (RRP: €21.59)

Make sun cream application easy and fun for kids with the Nivea Sun Kids Trigger Spray. The fun spray application is a simple and quick way to apply lotion to your child’s skin. They will be well-protected from the sun’s harmful rays as the gentle, yet effective formula provides immediate high UVA/UVB protection and is extra water resistant.

Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Pocket Size Sun Lotion SPF 30, RRP: €6.99

This Sun Lotion provides highly effective UVA/UVB protection and protects immediately against sun exposure and long-term UV-induced skin damage. It’s important to reapply every two hours when spending time outside, so carry this pocket-size product in your handbag or pocket for easy on-the-go top ups!

Nivea Sun products are available in pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, please visit www.nivea.ie

Nivea Sun Kids Protect & Care Coloured Rollon SPF 50+ provides children with highly effective UVA/UVB protection wherever they go.

Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Sun

Lotion SPF 30 / SPF 50+ contains highly effective UVA/UVB filters for immediate protection and is suitable for all skin

Nivea Sun Kids Trigger Spray SPF 30 / SPF 50+ is a simple and quick way to apply lotion to a child’s skin.

What the Work Life Balance Act means for you

Laura Ensor and Linda Hynes of Lewis Silkin report on the introduction of the new Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 and provide some practical advice for employers in the retail sector on the steps they need to take in preparation for the commencement of the Act.

THE Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 (the “Act”), which was signed into law on April 4, 2023, introduces a host of new rights for employees working in the retail sector. While the provisions of the Act are subject to commencement orders before they come into operation, some of these are expected to come into effect before the Dáil’s summer recess, and other key provisions (those relating to paid leave for victims of domestic abuse, the right to request flexible working arrangements and the right to request remote working), expected to be in place by the autumn.

In this article, we take a look at the employee entitlements introduced by the Act and give some practical recommendations to retailers in respect of their obligations under the Act.

1. Leave for medical care purposes

Employees will be entitled to a maximum of five days’ unpaid leave in any 12 consecutive months for the purposes of providing personal care or support to certain specified persons (including a child, spouse/civil partner, cohabitant, parent or grandparent, brother or sister or person they live with), where any of those persons are in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason.

A person is considered to be “in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason” where, owing to their disability, injury or illness, they require such care or support that

includes the presence of the employee at the place where that person is.

Where an employee takes or intends to take such leave, they must, as soon as reasonably practicable, provide a signed confirmation of this to their employer. The employer can also request that the employee provide further information to evidence their entitlement to the leave. There is no minimum service requirement for entitlement to this leave and it cannot be taken in periods of less than one day.

Recommendation:

This is a new leave entitlement and is separate to statutory carer’s leave and force majeure leave. It is expected that this entitlement will commence quite soon. We suggest that retail employers review their policies now and update them to include this as a separate leave entitlement so that they are ready to issue once the section is commenced.

2. Domestic violence leave

Employees will be entitled to five days’ paid leave where they, their spouse, civil partner, cohabitant, child, dependent or a person with whom the employee is in an intimate relationship (“relevant person”) has experienced or is experiencing domestic violence. Domestic violence means violence, or threat of violence, including sexual violence and acts of coercive control. The purpose of the leave is to enable the employee, on their own behalf or in respect of a relevant person, to seek or obtain any relevant services e.g. medical attention, counselling, legal advice, assistance from the Garda Síochána, victim services or to relocate temporarily or permanently.

Where an employee takes domestic violence leave, they must, as soon as reasonably practicable after taking the leave, confirm that they have taken such leave and the dates on which the leave was taken. This leave may not be

Employees will be entitled to a maximum of five days’ unpaid leave in any 12 consecutive months for the purposes of providing personal care or support to certain specified persons.

taken in periods of less than one day. The rate of pay for domestic violence leave will be prescribed by ministerial regulations which are expected most likely in the autumn.

Recommendation:

Once the regulations have been issued confirming the rate of pay, we recommend that retail employers put in place a domestic violence leave policy to cover this leave entitlement. Some retail employers (e.g. Tesco) have already taken steps to implement a domestic violence leave policy in advance of the legislation coming into effect.

3. Extension of breastfeeding entitlements

Currently, employees are entitled to 60 minutes’ time off from work or a reduction in working hours for the purposes of breastfeeding without loss of pay for the first six months following the birth of their child. This will be extended to two years following the birth of the child.

Recommendation:

This entitlement is expected to commence soon and so we recommend that retail employers update their maternity leave policy with this increased timeline for

breastfeeding breaks and consider whether they have the facilities in their stores and offices to facilitate employees breastfeeding during this period.

4. Right to request flexible working arrangement for caring purposes

This right applies only to employees who are parents (biological, adoptive or having parental responsibility) or caregivers. Employees can request a flexible working arrangement in order to provide care or support to one of the individuals set out below where that person is in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason.

a. The employee’s child (biological or adoptive or a child to whom the employee has parental responsibility) up to the age of 12 years, or 16 years where the child has a disability or longterm illness. There is an exception for a child who is adopted between the age of 10 and 12 years, where the flexible working arrangement can be in place for two years from the date of the adoption order;

b. The employee’s spouse, civil partner or cohabitant;

c. The employee’s parent or grandparent;

d. The employee’s brother or sister;

e. Any other person who resides in the same household as the employee.

While there is no minimum service requirement for this entitlement, the Act provides that a flexible working arrangement will not commence until the employee has six months’ continuous employment with their employer. However, this does not prevent the employee from making a request before this time or indeed the employer from agreeing to such a request commencing earlier.

How request is made:

Requests must be made in writing and signed at least eight weeks before the proposed commencement date. The request must specify the form of flexible working requested, its date of commencement and duration. The employer may request the employee to provide further information that is reasonably required in relation to the person in respect of whom the request is made.

Employers are required to consider the employee’s request, having regard to both theirs and the employee’s needs. Within four weeks of the request, the employer

Employment Law

must either approve the request or notify the employee in writing that it has refused the request and the reasons for the refusal. If an employer is having difficulty assessing the viability of the request, it can extend the period to respond by a further four weeks but must notify the employee in writing within the initial four-week period that it is doing so.

Termination of a flexible working arrangement

An employer can terminate an arrangement (whether or not it has yet to commence) where, having regard to the employer’s and employee’s needs, and the requirements of a Code of Practice (which is yet to be published by the WRC), the employer:

1. Is satisfied that the arrangement would have, or is having, a substantial adverse effect on the operation of the business by reason of:

a. seasonal variations in the volume of the work concerned;

b. the unavailability of a person to carry out the duties of the employee;

c. the nature of the employee’s duties;

d. the number of employees in the employment;

e. the number of other employees who are on a flexible working arrangement at the same time as the employee’s flexible working arrangement;

f. any other matters relevant to the substantial adverse effect on the operation of the business; or

2. Has reasonable grounds to believe that an employee who is working under a flexible working arrangement is not using the arrangement for the purposes for which it was approved.

Retail employers, who experience seasonal variations in the volume of work concerned with, for example, busy periods in the run-up to Christmas, may seek to rely on (a) above in order to terminate a flexible working arrangement.

The employer must notify the employee in writing, giving the required notice (four weeks’ notice of a termination under (1) above and seven days’ notice of a termination under (2) above), that they are terminating the arrangement and summarising the grounds for the termination. Before doing so, the employer must give the employee an opportunity to make representations in relation to the proposal, which the employer must consider.

An employee may also make a request to the employer in writing for an early return to their original working arrangement.

When the arrangement ends, the employee is entitled to return to their original working arrangement.

Penalisation:

An employee cannot be penalised for making, or proposing to make, a request for a flexible working arrangement.

Recourse:

The Workplace Relations Commission (the WRC) can make an award of up to 20 weeks' remuneration where the employer breaches their obligations in respect of managing a flexible working request. There is no scope for the WRC to consider the reasonableness of an employer's

The Government are expected to publish a Code of Practice on the right to request remote working.

All employees will be entitled to request a remote working arrangement.

A remote working arrangement is defined as an arrangement whereby some or all of the work ordinarily carried out by an employee at the employer’s place of business is provided at a location other than at the employer’s place of business, without change to the employee’s ordinary working hours or duties.

decision to refuse an employee's request or to terminate the arrangement.

Recommendation:

We recommend that retail employers review their current policies in relation to flexible working (if any) to consider if these are in line with the legislation or if any updates or a new policy are required. We recommend holding off implementing any changes to current policies or introducing a flexible working policy until the section is commenced as the Government may issue a Code of Practice to provide practical guidance on this right.

5. Right to request remote working arrangements

All employees will be entitled to request a remote working arrangement. The Act broadly defines a remote working arrangement as an arrangement whereby some or all of the work ordinarily carried out by an employee at the employer’s place of business is provided at a location other than at the employer’s place of business without change to the employee’s ordinary working hours or duties.

As with flexible working requests, there is no minimum service requirement

for making a remote working request but the Act again provides that such an arrangement will not commence until the employee has six months’ continuous employment, unless it is agreed by the employer that such an arrangement can commence earlier.

How request is made:

The procedure and timeframes the employer and employee must follow in making and considering such a request is the same as already outlined above for a flexible working arrangement request. The request must specify the reasons why the employee is making the request, details of the proposed remote working location and any other information as may be specified by the anticipated Code of Practice on the suitability of that location.

Termination of a remote working arrangement

An employer can terminate a remote working arrangement in the same manner, and for similar reasons, as already outlined above in respect of flexible working requests.

A number of roles in the retail context, such as shop floor workers, are unlikely

to be amenable to remote working and so retail employers could potentially rely on reason (c) outlined above in order to terminate a remote working arrangement. Similar provisions also apply here in respect of the prohibition on penalisation. The recourse available to employees for any breaches by the employer of the technical requirements to manage requests for remote working is a potential award of up to four weeks' remuneration or a direction by the WRC to comply with the requirements. There is no scope for an employee to challenge an employer’s reasons for a refusal to grant a remote working arrangement or a decision to terminate the arrangement.

As outlined above, the Act envisages a Code of Practice being issued by the WRC for the purpose of providing practical guidance on the right to request a remote working arrangement and this is expected to be in place by the autumn.

Recommendation:

Retail employers should review any current policies they have in place in relation to remote working to consider if these are in line with the legislation or if any updates are required. If no such policy is currently in place, employers will need to put one in place. We recommend holding off implementing any changes until we have sight of the Code of Practice, which may necessitate further changes. Retail employers should also consider which roles in their organisations are amenable to remote working.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

FOR further information on this topic please contact Linda Hynes (Linda. Hynes@lewissilkin.com) or Laura Ensor (Laura.Ensor@lewissilkin. com), from Lewis Silkin. This article is for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be sought in any given set of circumstances.

Circle K reveal fundraising initiative for Jack and Jill

CIRCLE K recently ran a new ‘When you Fill, Support Jack and Jill’ fundraising initiative across the June Bank Holiday weekend at participating sites nationwide, including Circle K Express sites, whereby 1c from every litre of miles fuel purchased at participating Circle K sites nationwide will automatically be donated to the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

“The June Bank Holiday is one of the busiest weekends on Irish roads and at our fuel pumps, making it a great opportunity to raise funds for such an important cause,” explained Gillian McGowran, Director of Market Development at Circle K Ireland. “The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and its nursing team provide invaluable support to families in communities across Ireland and just by choosing to refuel at one of our participating sites this weekend, our customers can easily donate to the charity."

Circle K ambassador, soccer star and broadcaster Stephanie Roche once again supported this Jack and Jill initiative. Stephanie concluded: “I am thrilled to continue supporting Circle K and the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation’s fundraising efforts this year. It’s brilliant that Circle K has made it so easy for the public to donate to such an important cause.”

€250,000 scratchcard win at Tallaght petrol station

ONE National Lottery player had a car journey to remember after popping into a Dublin petrol station and leaving with a top prize win on a Mega Money Multiplier scratch card. The astonishing €250,000 prize was won at the Circle K Kilnamanagh petrol station on the Maybury Road in Tallaght, Dublin 24.

The winner admitted that that it took some time to believe what he was seeing: “I went out and sat in the car to scratch it and couldn't believe my eyes. I'd just won €250,000! Even though you can see it right in front of you, you still can't wrap your head around it!”

Anne Macs of Castleisland celebrates 30 years in business

ANNE Macs in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, a franchise location of Circle K, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a family fun day on Saturday, June 3. To thank their loyal customers for their continued support, a range of special offers were available to customers on the day, including 50% off food items, a free pastry when buying a coffee, and discounts on fuel, as well as music and a range of surprise prizes.

Anne Macs has a longstanding history in the Castleisland area. The service station was first opened by Declan McGaley and his wife Anne on the June Bank holiday weekend of 1993. Today, it employs 16 people and serves the local community of Castleisland, as well as the many visitors to Kerry. Anne Macs has been part of the Circle K family since 2019.

Tracy Long, Site Manager at Anne Macs Circle K, said: “30 years is a significant milestone, and it has been our great privilege to serve the people of Castleisland in that time. We are extremely grateful for their continued support and look forward to the next 30 years and beyond.”

Derek Nolan, Senior Director of Retail Operations for Dealer and Franchise, Circle K Ireland, said, “At Circle K, we are fortunate to work with outstanding independent retail partners across the country who are respected and relied upon within their communities for essential products and services. It is fantastic to see Anne Macs Circle K celebrating 30 years in business. It is an amazing achievement, testament to the service they provide and on behalf of everyone at Circle K, we congratulate them on reaching this milestone.”

Pictured are Carmel Doyle, CEO of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, and Gillian McGowran, Director of Market Development at Circle K Ireland.

Pictured are Sarah Orr, National Lottery; Ljilyjana Pavlovic, Manager, Circle K; staff member Manu Jones; and John Williams, Area Manager, National Lottery, after it was announced that the Circle K Tallaght store sold a top prize-winning Mega Money Multiplier scratch card worth € 250,000.

The team at Anne Macs Circle K in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, celebrate 30 years in business.

Maxol announce Excellence Awards winners

MAXOL have announced the winners of their 2022 Excellence Awards, the annual scheme which promotes and rewards excellence in station and store standards, customer experience and community engagement across the Maxol network. The awards were presented at Maxol’s recent Retail Conference held at The K Club, a company-wide celebration hosted by wellknown personalities Anton Savage and Sarah Travers, together with Oliver Callan.

Maxol reward both company-owned and independent dealer-owned service stations and standards are stringently assessed through a combination of Maxol audits by regional managers and the team from head office, along with mystery shopper visits. Now in their 23rd year, the Excellence Awards singled out Maxol service stations in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Meath and Louth, with Maxol Carrigaline

Pictured, Brian Donaldson with presenters Sarah Travers & Anton Savage at Maxol’s Retail Conference. the big winner on the night, collecting two accolades, Excellence in Standards and the highly-coveted Store of the Year Award.

Excellence Awards event since before the pandemic, this truly was a celebration of the highest order – hearty congratulations to all of the winners.”

Overall Store of the Year: Maxol Carrigaline, Co. Cork

Company-owned winners:

Excellence in Standards: Maxol Carrigaline, Co. Cork, operated by licensee Shane Cantillon

Excellence in Customer Experience: Maxol Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, operated by licensees David, Margaret and Christopher Myers

Pictured, Maxol CEO, Brian Donaldson with Trudy & Shane Cantillon of Maxol Carrigaline, Cork, which won on the double, picking up Store of the Year and Excellence in Standards awards.

“Setting and maintaining the highest of standards is critical to the success of any business, particularly one with a network of nationwide stores,” noted Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group. “It’s therefore a genuine pleasure for me and the team at head office to be able to recognise and reward the superb standards set by our retailers and their staff, who continuously and consistently provide outstanding levels of service to their customers and their communities. These store owners and operators are trailblazers in their own right and our Retail Conference is an opportunity to acknowledge their achievements and all of the hard work that helps copper-fasten Maxol’s reputation and leadership position in our sector.

“Having not gathered or hosted our

Excellence in Community Engagement: Maxol Service Station, Dublin Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth, operated by licensee Colin Fee

Independent Dealer network winners: Excellence in Standards: Souhan’s Maxol, Trim, Co. Meath, operated by the Souhan family

Excellence in Customer Experience: Sheahan’s Maxol Service Station, Killarney, Co. Kerry, operated by The Sheahan Group

Excellence in Community Engagement: Garvey’s Maxol Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick, operated by The Garvey Group Overall Store of the Year: Dano’s Maxol in Mallow, Co. Cork, operated by independent dealer Donal O’Mahony

Appointments at Circle K Ireland

CIRCLE K have announced two executive appointments to their senior leadership team. Gillian McGowran has been promoted to Market Development Director, with her predecessor Judy Glover taking up the role of Head of European Merchandising with Circle K in Europe.

In her new role, Gillian will have responsibility for the marketing strategy at Circle K Ireland, as well as category and supply chain management. Gillian has been with the company for 12 years, having previously served as Senior Manager Franchise Channel, and before that as Head of Marketing.

Judy recently started a new position as Head of European Merchandising with Circle K in Europe. She will be responsible for eight markets across Europe and will continue to work closely with the senior leadership team at Circle K Ireland to offer the best customer service and operational excellence.

Judy has been working with Circle K since 2009 and has grown with the company across a number of roles, including Senior Category Manager, Head of Category Management and Senior Market Development Director. Judy was instrumental in the successful rebrand from Topaz to Circle K.

“At Circle K, investing in our people is a key priority to us and I am delighted to announce these two greatly deserved promotions,” noted Gordon Lawlor, Managing Director at Circle K Ireland. “Gillian and Judy are both longstanding members of the Circle K team here in Ireland and I look forward to seeing them progress in their new roles, helping their colleagues thrive and making sure we are delivering excellent service for our customers in Ireland and globally. Promoting female leaders within the business is a key priority for us; in Ireland, our leadership roles are currently 50/50 up to BU Leader, and we want to continue this into the future.”

Judy Glover, Head of European Merchandising with Circle K in Europe.

Gillian McGowran, Market Development Director, Circle K Ireland.

What’s New

MOOV AHEAD WITH LOGIC

JTI Ireland’s latest pod vaping device literally moves with you, the Moov technology lets you control it with simple hand gestures. With the new Moov technology, your movement becomes the controls, and the device speaks back to you via haptic feedback. Own your vaping experience with a Swipe, Flip or Double Tap to activate features and check your battery levels. To activate the device for its first use, connect to the charger, swipe up to unlock your device and go. Alongside the new device, JTI Ireland are launching their new Welcome Kit, designed especially for your customers, which includes four intense flavours to discover: Classic Tobacco, Peppermint, Berry Mint, and new Mango. For more information, call JTI customer services on (01) 4045400.

BEWLEY’S UNVEILS NEW LOOK

BEWLEY’S tea and coffee have unveiled a new look on the shelves, aimed at refreshing the brand to capture a younger demographic. The redesign takes cues from the brand’s legendary stories, from being the first company to bring tea into Ireland in the 1800s, to hosting a world of Irish talent at its Grafton Street Café in Dublin, including James Joyce, U2 and WB Yeats. The company also became the first official coffee partner at Electric Picnic. The new packaging was created by London agency Pearlfisher, who revolutionised the previously black and dark grey branding that was felt to be recessive and not synonymous with its craft by celebrating a rich tapestry of untold stories. The new look injects consistency and vibrancy into the Bewley’s portfolio, allowing the brand to remain ahead of the curve in the ever-changing landscape of the coffee industry.

NORDIC SPIRIT WATERMELON GETS STRONGER

THE limited edition Nordic Spirit Watermelon flavour is back stronger than ever! Experience the refreshing taste of the tropics in the new ‘Strong’ nicotine strength. Nordic Spirit are 100% tobacco free nicotine pouches, the more convenient and discreet way to enjoy nicotine with no smoke or vapour. They can be used anytime, anywhere. So stock up now to discover the unseen with Nordic Spirit Watermelon Strong, available for a limited time only! 18+. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance.

AVONMORE LAUNCH PLANT-BASED OAT DRINK

AVONMORE have entered the plant-based drinks sector with the launch of Avonmore Oat Drink made from quality Irish oats. Avonmore Oat Drink is available in both Original and Barista options. Both are lactose-free, low in fat with no added sugar and do not contain any dairy. The oats used in Avonmore Oat Drink are traceable to organic oat farms operated by parent company Tirlán’s quality oats growers. The Original drink is fortified with calcium, while the Barista option is specially formulated to be frothy and foamable, making it a suitable accompaniment for coffee drinks.

WIN INSTANT PRIZES WITH AMBER LEAF

AMBER Leaf’s latest limited edition bundle launched this month, offering valued Irish trade members the chance to ‘Pull to Win’ instant prizes with an exciting new interactive, on-pack promotion. Amber Leaf continue to roll out the rewards this year and show no sign of slowing down, with plenty of prizes up for grabs! Simply stock up on Amber Leaf Original 30g CPB and Amber Leaf Original 30g Pouches, scan the QR code on the outer and enter the unique code printed on the reverse. Once entered, get ready to ‘Pull to Win’ to reveal if you’re a lucky winner, courtesy of Ireland’s number one RYO brand (Source: RYO SOM,

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