Retail News April 2021

Retail News APRIL 2021

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

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Contents News

Retail crime needs more attention SINCERE condolences from all at Retail News to the family and colleagues of Akram Hussein, the Drumcondra shop worker who died after chasing an alleged shoplifter in early April.

The owner of Groarke’s Centra, Peggy Groarke, where Akram had worked for more than 15 years, opened a book of condolences for the popular shopkeeper and arranged for the hearse carrying his body on its long trip back to his native Bangladesh to stop outside the shop, where locals gathered to pay tribute to Akram.

This tragic death brought once again into focus the high levels of crime faced by retailers on a daily basis, from shoplifting to verbal abuse, threatening behaviour and even physical violence.

Retail crime remains one of Ireland’s greatest failures, according to CSNA Chief Executive, Vincent Jennings, with RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley, admitting it is having a huge impact on owners and staff. See our news story on Page 2.

Elsewhere in this issue, Cork-born Michelle O’Neill, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Mars Wrigley’s cocoa business, reflects on the ten years since Mars joined the Fairtrade movement and explains some of the programmes the company has put in place for the betterment of cocoa farm families (Page 16), the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are open for entries (Page 24), and we provide the Retail News guide to the biggest Cash & Carry / Wholesale brands in the country (Page 35).

Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director

Kerrygold

2

Putting retail crime behind bars.

3

BWG Foods moves its training academy online.

4

SuperValu calls on local producers to join its Food Academy; Ireland’s shoppers are savvy online.

5

Musgrave MarketPlace reaches €1m milestone in FoodCloud partnership; New Country Manager at Nestlé Ireland; Lidl signs €10m deal with Manning’s Bakery.

6

Supermarket sales start to settle after one year in lockdown; Repak encourages Easter recycling.

7

Aldi donates an extra €25,000 of nonsurplus food to FoodCloud; Tetra Pak launches tethered caps to reduce littering; Consumers buying Irish during pandemic.

Retail News Interview 16

16

24

26

The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are once more open for entries, with a full awards programme including categories for products, people, and performance.

Bord Bia’s ‘Pathways to Net Zero’ makes carbon emissions reporting mandatory for Origin Green members as the organisation helps to chart a course to net zero emissions.

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus 35

Retail News provides a guide to the biggest Cash & Carry / Wholesale brands in the country, examines the impact of Covid-19 on the sector, and focuses on the trends that will drive the market in the months ahead.

Employment Law 50

Barry Reynolds and Jenny Wakely, specialists in employment law with DAC Beachcroft, explain some key legal points when it comes to atypical working relationships, including parttime workers, banded hours and zerohours contracts.

Digital Solutions 53

A new survey from GS1 Ireland finds Ireland’s food and drink businesses are not only optimistic about the year ahead but ambitious in their plans for the future.

Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards

Kerrygold has launched two new products in Ireland, Kerrygold Spreadable and Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter.

Origin Green

As Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Mars Wrigley’s cocoa business, Cork-born Michelle O’Neill is at the forefront of helping to address change in the cocoa business worldwide. She explains the company’s Fairtrade journey over the last decade and explains what more needs to be done by all stakeholders.

The Future of Retailing 20

25

Morgan Stokes examines how you can help your team improve their digital skills, while we also report on how Envisage’s Connections software helps retailers transform their administrative processes, and explain how the POSInABox mobile app from FirstChoice ePOS can boost sales.

Category Management 58

A recent webinar hosted by ECR Ireland examined the future of category management, while some cases studies studied current best practice.

Regulars & Reports

Retail News

8

27 Ice Cream 32 Drinks News

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Industry News

Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.

34 Retail Ireland:

Monthly Update 44 Tobacco 61 What’s New 62 Forecourt Focus: News 64 Shelf Life

2|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

News

Putting retail crime behind bars

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Dublin shopkeeper who died in early April.

Akram Hussein is believed to have suffered a heart attack after chasing an alleged shoplifter from the Centra outlet where he worked in the Drumcondra area of the capital. Peggy Groarke, the shop owner, set up a book of condolences and was flooded with goodwill from the local community. “I’ve never seen anything like the love people have had for Akram,” she said.

Hussein’s death illustrates how retail continues to be a front-line for theft, intimidation, and crime. In a survey of 490 retailers, conducted by the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association of Ireland (CSNA) in 2020, 80% of retailers reported they or a member of their staff had experienced an incident involving aggressive, violent and threatening behaviour within the previous three months. The CSNA National Security Report revealed that 58% of retailers are subjected to verbal abuse on a weekly basis; 23% endure abuse daily.

RGDATA has yet to conduct its own crime survey for 2021, but these statistics do not surprise Tara Buckley, the organisation’s Director General.

“Retail crime has always been a big issue for convenience and supermarkets and it remains one,” she said. “There’s a huge impact on owners and staff. It’s very stressful to work in a situation where you have to deal with this on a weekly basis.

For some communities, it has impacted the availability of their stores late at

Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General. night.”

Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA, knows the terrible ramifications of retail crime. In 1995, his father was killed as a result of the behaviour of petty criminals.

Recently, he had to “dampen a parent’s outrage after their child was barred from a shop. The child was hanging around with a group and being sent into the shop to steal. The parents would not accept their child was stealing.” For Jennings, the inability to

stamp out shoplifting and other retail crime remains one of Ireland’s greatest failures. “We brought down traffic offences and deaths on the road, but this has not improved over 30 years,” he reasons.

Retailers contend that a zero tolerance approach is necessary to shoplifting. But are the Gardaí doing enough to prevent this so-called “petty crime”? Retailers believe there should be a stronger Garda presence on the high street to dissuade people from contemplating crimes.

The CSNA National Security Report revealed that over half of retailers (53%) do not know the Crime Prevention Officer (CPO) in their area. Nine out of 10 retailers stated that legislation around retail crime, and its enforcement by Gardaí, was “insufficient”.

Courts continue to hand out sentences. Last November, for example, a serial shoplifter in Galway received 12 months in prison following a spate of shoplifting and public order charges around the city centre. In January, a woman in Tipperary was jailed for four months following a shoplifting spree.

Yet most shoplifters are repeat offenders who do not receive a serious conviction until their offences rack up into the dozens. In February, for example, a woman from Cork was jailed for 10 months after clocking up her 100th conviction for retail theft.

“The biggest frustration is the person convicted of robbing a store

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|3

News has many previous convictions,” remarks Buckley. “We’re not deterring these people from returning and committing crimes.

Punishments, whether a fine or prison sentence, have to be applied and make the person re-consider their actions.”

Retailers are hampered by data protection legislation, which prevents them from sharing information about known shoplifters.

“There are unfair restrictions on retailers,” Buckley continues.

“Every tool at our disposal should be used to prevent crime. If it doesn’t comply with GDPR, then we need to change the law to make it apply. GDPR should not protect criminals.”

Jennings suggested the Irish state look to initiatives in other jurisdictions. In Belfast, a judge recently ordered a man who allegedly raided a Boots store to be barred from all its branches.

A retail crime prevention scheme in the city prevents repeat offenders from entering shops in the city centre.

Retail crime is proving costly. According to the CSNA, 81% of their members invested in security in their stores within the last 12 months, including CCTV (77%), staff training (50%), cash handling and storage (39%) and external security (32%). The costs can be considerable: a fifth spent more than €20,000 on security and crime preventative measures in a year.

“Every year, the sophistication of the deterrent procedures in the store - CCTV cameras, perimeter cameras, involvement of security staff, security monitoring companies - require significant investment,” said Buckley. “Retailers are constantly trying to ensure they have the most up-to-date systems in place.”

Despite heightened Covid restrictions, retail crime in convenience stores and supermarkets has not abated.

“Unfortunately, our members have found that the usual type of shoplifting has continued, particularly in second or third lockdowns,” continued Buckley. “On top of that, retailers must deal with aggressive and threatening behaviour by anti-maskers and people who don’t want to comply with the rules.”

Vincent Jennings has noticed an increasing trend of people stealing to order. “People filling bags with high value product - worth €12 or more - and walking out the door, with the goods subsequently sold in markets and door to door. Expensive washing up liquids are being resold for drug money.”

Ultimately, insists the CSNA chief, this “petty crime” is a bigger social issue that lawmakers and legislators must take seriously. “People who start off shoplifting progress to other crimes,” he says. “Mountjoy [prison] is filled with people who started off shoplifting.” Buckley concurred: “People sometimes think that shoplifting is a minor crime, but shoplifting impacts all of us. If we don’t address and manage it, we believe it leads to people getting engaged in criminality at a young age, then moving on to more significant types of crime.”

Most importantly, retailers insist, the lawmakers need to acknowledge that shoplifting and abusing retail workers is a crime worthy of pursuing.

“If politicians were intimidated while they were working,” said Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Jennings, “it wouldn’t CSNA. be allowed to happen.”

BWG Foods moves its training academy online BWG Foods has continued to provide vital training and upskilling for its independent retailers through the Covid-19 pandemic by reimagining its pioneering employee professional development initiative, BWG Academy, to a wholly online training and education resource.

The BWG Academy, which was officially launched in 2019 just before advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, was designed to provide a wide range of self-development and support programmes for the over 23,000 retail employees across Spar, Eurospar, Londis, Mace and XL store networks. Within weeks of the official launch, Ireland slid rapidly into anti-virus restrictions and, as it became ever clearer that uncertainty surrounding the longevity of social distancing measures and that even more stringent restrictions were likely, the need to transform BWG Foods’ educational programme was embraced.

Living up to its billing as an innovator, in conjunction with Retail Ireland Skillnet, BWG Foods developed a solution and training quickly pivoted to a sophisticated eLearning platform, which facilitates remote based selfdevelopment programmes.

From March 2020 to date, a significant 1,272 BWG retailers and their staff have received industryrecognised qualifications Peter Donohoe, Chief from a series of courses and People Officer, BWG workshops run by the BWG Foods.

Academy.

The five courses that were delivered are wholly online, self-paced and very appropriate to the current trading environment as a designated essential service provider.

• • • • •

Lead Worker Representative Retail Customer Service Retail Digital Marketing Retail Selling Skills Safety and Health at Work

“Our retailers take their role as providers of an essential service to their communities very seriously and have continued to upskill throughout the Covid-19 pandemic by embracing our online curriculum,” noted Peter Donohoe, Chief People Officer, BWG Foods. “One of the advantages throughout this time is that they can complete their training in their own time and according to their own schedules, which are busier than ever due to the operating environment. We have worked closely with Retail Ireland Skillnet to provide their innovative and important courses to our vast network of over 1,000 stores and have been delighted with the response from our retailers and their employees.”

BWG Academy will continue to operate courses and workshops on an online basis until such time as restrictions allow for a return to a more recognisable blend of online and in-person learning at the Academy’s dedicated, Dublin-based training and education centre.

4|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

News

SuperValu calls on local producers to join its Food Academy SUPERVALU is calling on small food and drinks producers around the country to enter its Food Academy programme.

Now in its eighth year, Food Academy is a unique food business development programme between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Participants in the programme receive training in food safety, market research and branding, marketing, finance, sustainability and business development.

The Food Academy programme currently supports 290 Irish food and drink producers, including 140 female entrepreneurs, generating €170m in sales. In 2020, there was a 15% growth in SuperValu Food Academy sales, with participants earning €28m. The Food Academy programme supports 1,500 jobs in local communities nationwide.

“At SuperValu, we believe in local business and are proud to continue to support local producers across the country,” noted Carmel Biggane, Food Academy Manager, SuperValu. “In collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office network and Bord Bia, the Food Academy is a great way for us to help new businesses to grow and get the support they need.

“The programme allows us to use our experience to help small businesses through their journey from start-up to getting their products on our shelves all year round. We’ve had great success with the Food Academy in recent years; we look forward to welcoming new producers this year and continuing to support local communities. I would call on local food producers across Ireland to get involved and see how Food Academy can help you grow.”

Welcoming the increase in Food Academy sales through SuperValu in 2020, Tómas Hayes of the Local Enterprise Offices said: “Since it was started up eight years ago by the Local Enterprise Offices, SuperValu and Bord Bia, the Food Academy programme has been hugely successful, going from strength to strength. It has helped hundreds of up-and-coming food producers to get their products marketready, giving them an opportunity to sell to a nationwide audience.”

To apply, interested food and drink producers are encouraged to contact your Local Enterprise Office for an application form on www.LocalEnterprise.ie.

Ireland’s shoppers are savvy online IRISH consumers continue to embrace online shopping. A new Visa study has found that more than half (52%) of Irish consumers shop online wherever possible.

As more Irish consumers go online for their everyday shop, the Visa Back to Business Study – 2021 Outlook revealed that many are looking to stay secure when shopping on the web. 81% of those surveyed say they have taken steps to keep themselves safe when shopping online. In fact, 51% keep a regular eye on their online transactions for any suspicious activity, comparing favourably with the global average of just 44%.

Nevertheless, the study suggests that many Irish consumers may not know the hints and tips to use to protect their details when shopping online. Less than a quarter (23%) surveyed say they proactively check a website’s URL before making a payment and Dominic White, Acting only 30% say they use different Country Manager passwords on different sites, the Ireland, Visa.

Hayley Milthorpe from The Cultured Food Company, one of the participants on the SuperValu Food Academy.

recent Visa study found.

While the study revealed that the rise in online shopping had resulted in almost one third (31%) of people updating the security payment options on their mobile devices, 14% have yet to take any steps to protect themselves when paying online.

“Wherever or whatever you’re choosing to purchase, how you pay matters,” said Dominic White, Acting Country Manager Ireland, Visa. “It’s encouraging that some Irish shoppers are taking steps to keep themselves safe online, but it’s important we continue to do these simple checks as shopping online becomes part of our usual routine. At Visa, we work closely with banks across Ireland to protect consumers every time they pay with their card. Every payment is protected with multiple layers of security, helping to prevent fraud so that Irish consumers can shop online with ease.”

Meanwhile, Visa recently announced a partnership with ClickandCollection.com, an Irish start-up which provides small businesses with tools to sell online, to help more independent businesses take online orders and continue serving their communities.

Founded in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, ClickandCollection.com enables businesses to set up an online storefront in a matter of minutes, with or without an existing website. In fact, in the nine months since launch, ClickandCollection.com has helped over 250 Irish businesses get online, driving almost €6m in sales to a range of companies, from ice cream parlours to fine dining restaurants.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|5

News Musgrave MarketPlace reaches €1m milestone in FoodCloud partnership MUSGRAVE MarketPlace has donated over 795,000 meals to charities in Ireland through its partnership with FoodCloud.

Musgrave MarketPlace has been partnered with FoodCloud since 2016 and over that period has donated a massive 334 tonnes of food, with an estimated value of €1m worth of food redistributed.

“We are delighted to announce we have reached a milestone donation of over 795,000 meals through our partnership with FoodCloud, with an estimated value of over €1m,” said Michael McCormack, Managing Director at Musgrave MarketPlace.

“Whilst these unprecedented times remain difficult for us all, the charity sector has been hit particularly hard, with the loss of many avenues for fundraising. Through this partnership, we have helped provide quality, fresh produce to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Rediverting our food surplus to FoodCloud has also reduced our CO2-eq to landfill by 1m kilos in line with our sustainability commitments. We look forward to continuing our partnership with FoodCloud.”

Aoibheann O’Brien, Partnerships Director at FoodCloud, described Musgrave MarketPlace as “a key contributor” to FoodCloud: “Musgrave MarketPlace is an excellent example of an organisation that has expanded its operation with us over the years, rolling out FoodCloud to its branches outside Dublin.

Pictured are Musgrave MarketPlace staff members Michael Penkert, Peter Homa, Patricia Hattersley and Dessie Kehoe at its Waterford branch to mark the announcement that Musgrave MarketPlace has donated over 795,000 meals through its partnership with FoodCloud.

We look forward to working in partnership with Musgrave MarketPlace for many years to come.”

New Country Manager at Nestlé Ireland

Lidl signs €10m deal with Manning’s Bakery

NESTLÉ has appointed Kieran Conroy as the new Country Manager for Ireland. Kieran assumes responsibility for Nestlé Ireland’s operations and its comprehensive portfolio of products across the coffee, hot beverages, confectionery, pet care, nutrition and food categories.

Kieran has over 20 years’ experience in the FMCG and pharma sectors.

He has held a variety of senior management and leadership roles in Nestlé UK & Ireland. He previously held the position of Head of Sales, becoming a Director of Nestlé Ireland, whilst also sitting on the Nestlé UK & Ireland Sales Leadership Team. With a background of senior roles in sales, category and brand management within the FMCG and retail pharmacy sector, Kieran has been with Nestlé for over 13 years, joining as a Customer Business Manager, while during his career he also served as Country Category Manager for Purina Ireland.

“It is a very exciting time to take responsibility for leading the Nestlé business in Ireland at the world’s largest food and beverage company,” he said. “I am excited to continue to work closely with our world-class team based in Citywest, together with our valued customers, to delight our consumers with our amazing brand propositions such as Nescafé, Starbucks, KitKat, Smarties, Felix, Bakers, SMA and Carnation.”

Meanwhile, Nestlé is now using only cage-free eggs in all its food products in Europe, meeting a pledge it made in 2017. As part of its wider commitment to animal welfare, the company has now joined a call for the European Union to outlaw cages for laying hens. Nestlé is partnering with Compassion in World Farming and leading food companies in calling on EU policy makers to phase out the use of cages in animal Kieran Conroy, Country Manager for farming, starting with laying hens.

Ireland, Nestlé.

LIDL Ireland has announced a €10m deal with Coolock-based Manning’s Bakery, which will see the Irish supplier’s awardwinning baked goods on the retailer’s shelves here in Ireland as well Pictured are Eamon Manning, as more than 800 Lidl stores in Europe.

Chief Executive Officer, Supplying Lidl Manning’s Bakery, and Gary Ireland since 2010, Murray, Head of Buying at Manning’s was one of Lidl Ireland. the first suppliers to fill Lidl’s fresh bakery shelves when the feature was first added to stores and its success has allowed the family business to develop an additional new state-of-the-art 5,000 square metre production facility in recent years. The new deal will see Manning’s much-loved artisan breads, tarts and cakes available in Lidl Great Britain and Lidl Northern Ireland.

“Our partnership with Lidl has continuously grown over the past 11 years, and as a family business, we are extremely grateful for the many opportunities the team have made possible for us, including this substantial new contract to supply Lidl Great Britain and Lidl Northern Ireland,” said Eamon Manning, Chief Executive Officer, Manning’s Bakery.

“We look forward to developing more unique artisan products for Lidl’s customers across the island and beyond for many years to come.”

“Building long-standing relationships with our supplier network is a win-win for our business,” said Gary Murray, Head of Buying at Lidl Ireland. “Not only do our customers benefit from high quality, delicious products but we also help our suppliers build efficiencies and economies of scale, which means we can also offer the best prices on the market.”

6|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

News

Supermarket sales start to settle after one year in lockdown IRISH grocery market growth slowed to 8.4% year-on-year for the 12 weeks ending March 21, according to the latest figures from Kantar.

While shoppers spent €234.6m more than in the same period last year, that figure is lower than in recent months, as annual comparisons are now being made against the recordbreaking sales recorded ahead of the first lockdown in 2020. In the four weeks to March 21, sales declined by 5.5% for that reason.

“A year on from the start of the pandemic, lockdown is still having an impact on shopping habits, and over the past 12 weeks the market continued to grow,” explained Emer Healy, Retail Analyst at Kantar. “However, looking at the shorter-term picture, supermarket sales actually fell over the most recent four weeks, as people spent €59.3m less than in March 2020 when they were stocking up ahead of the first national lockdown.

“Even with March sales down compared to 2020, they remain almost 20% higher than in 2019. Two-year ending growth figures allow us to look at how the retailers are performing compared with what we would typically expect at this time of year, and the numbers show a strong increase in sales. This will likely continue until pubs, restaurants, workspaces and schools reopen and shoppers start moving spend on to food and drink out and about as well as in home.”

Despite restrictions limiting many traditional festivities, Ireland still celebrated St Patrick’s Day with gusto, albeit it at home for another year. Shoppers didn’t let lockdown dampen their spirits, and raised a glass to the national holiday which helped alcohol sales grow by 25.8% over the 12 weeks. Guinness specifically was bought by 10% of the Irish population, compared to 6% last year, which meant an extra 70,000 households took it home. With summer nights fast approaching, people also took full advantage of some fair weather and fired up the barbecue. An additional €1.3m was spent on chilled burgers and grills, with an extra €6.7m of ice cream bought in the latest 12 weeks as well.

There were plenty of opportunities for people to treat themselves and their families this month, as Emer Healy explains: “Time apart from our loved ones means that occasions like Mother’s Day were more significant this year than in the past. Shoppers are more willing to splash out, and as a result, sales of gift boxes of chocolate soared by €2.9m in the most recent period. Early evidence also shows that Easter weekend was a big occasion, with 63% of people buying an egg before March 21, compared to 41% at the same time last year. That meant sales boomed by 124%, with an additional €18.1m spent.”

Unlike the total market, online grocery shopping has shown no signs of slowing down, even compared to March last year. Shoppers spent an additional €25.5m through digital platforms, with most of the major retailers now offering online delivery in some form. “Online grocery shopping has taken off in the past year, but because it is relatively new to Ireland, it still

MARKET SHARE - TOTAL GROCERY

Includes expenditure across Food, Beverages, Alcohol, Household and Health & Beauty categories Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend 12 Weeks to 22/03/20

Total Outlets

12 Weeks to 21/03/21

% Change

(year on year)

% Change

(vs. 2 years)

%*

%*

%

%

100.0%

100.0%

8.4%

19.4%

Total Multiples

89.4%

90.0%

9.1%

21.3%

Dunnes

22.3%

21.3%

3.6%

14.2%

SuperValu

21.3%

22.4%

13.9%

25.8% 21.4%

Tesco

21.3%

21.6%

9.9%

Aldi

12.3%

12.0%

6.2%

18.8%

Lidl

12.3%

12.7%

12.3%

28.7%

Other Outlets**

10.6%

10.0%

2.9%

4.9%

* = Percentage Share of Total Grocers ** = Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers and Cross Border shops Source: Worldpanel FMCG

has a lot of headroom to grow,” Emer explains.

Of the retailers, SuperValu maintained its number one position and grew ahead of the market in the past 12 weeks, with sales up by 13.9%, giving it a 22.4% market share.

Shoppers tend to make large trips to SuperValu and basket sizes continue to grow; it also was the only retailer to increase the number of visitors it welcomed into store in the latest period, which contributed an additional €2.9m to its overall performance.

Tesco is currently the nation’s second largest retailer, with 21.6% of the market.

Large trips are again the source of its success,

as people added an average of three packs per trip to their trolleys, helping the retailer grow overall sales by 9.9%. Dunnes, meanwhile, grew by 3.6% to hold a 21.3% share.

Lidl’s growth was strong once more at 12.3% over the 12 weeks; it also increased share and now holds 12.7% of the market. It recorded the fastest growth of branded goods among all retailers. Aldi currently has a 12% share, and grew by 6.2% over the past year, it made particular gains in Munster, where sales increased by 7.7%.

Grocery market inflation stands at 0.9% for the 12-week period ending March 21, 2021.

Repak encourages Easter recycling REPAK has been encouraging the public to recycle all types of packaging at home this Easter. Cardboard boxes, plastic moulds, chocolate trays, clean tin foil and egg boxes can all be recycled, and should be placed in the recycling bin clean, dry, and loose. Research

by Repak revealed that 92% of Irish consumers would prefer to receive Easter eggs that are accompanied by fully recyclable packaging.

“We have seen huge changes in packaging with Ireland’s biggest Easter egg producers, our members, including Mondelez, Nestlé, Mars and Butlers, to name but a few, having reduced their packaging by over 30% in the last 10 years,” noted Séamus Clancy, CEO of Repak. “Many products also now use 100% recycled cardboard, as well as decreasing the box size over the years, with our members reducing excess packaging of up to 40%.

“We are asking everyone to continue recycling and play their part in ensuring we continue to protect our environment at this difficult time. Household recycling has increased by 10% since the start of the pandemic and by pledging to join over 18,900 people on Repak’s Team Green and remembering to always put recyclable items in the recycling bin that are clean, dry and loose, Séamus Clancy, CEO of the public can continue to support the protection of the Repak. environment, beginning in their homes.”

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|7

News

Aldi donates an extra €25,000 of non-surplus food to FoodCloud ALDI is donating an additional €25,000 in retail value of non-surplus food to FoodCloud as the charity announces it is experiencing ongoing record demand for its services due to Covid-19.

As part of its programme of increased support to FoodCloud, Aldi is also: • Increasing its daily store donations of surplus food to community groups with a charitable purpose, in addition to registered charities, for the first time.

• Increasing the frequency of retail surplus food donations to seven days a week, to include Saturdays and Sundays.

• Introducing a new volunteering programme for staff. Aldi’s store Charity Champions will be allocated paid hours to support FoodCloud’s dedicated teams in distributing food from their Hubs.

• Donating unsold poultry, beef, duck and lamb at Easter, following its successful donation of similar foods over Christmas.

Pictured are (l-r): Aldi Buying and CSR Director, Laura Harper, and FoodCloud Co-Founder and Partnerships Director, Aoibheann O’Brien, at Aldi’s Newlands Cross store, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin.

“We are proud to continue to support FoodCloud with additional donations,” noted John Curtin, Aldi Group Buying Director. “We are also extending our reach to help more charities and people in need across local communities. Covid-19 has put increasing pressure on us all and we are looking forward to lending an extra hand through our new staff volunteering programme.”

Meanwhile, Aldi has announced two new stores for the future,

in Cootehill, Co. Cavan, and Blackrock, Co. Cork. Aldi has submitted a planning application for the new 1,315 square metres Cootehill store to Cavan County Council. The store, which will create up to 25 new permanent jobs, will be centrally located on Station Road close to Market Street. The 1,337 square metre store in Blackrock will be Aldi’s second store in Blackrock when it opens in 2024, with an existing store also on Skehard Road, and will create up to 30 new jobs. Both stores will be constructed in Aldi’s award-winning Project Fresh design, powered by 100% green electricity.

Tetra Pak launches tethered caps to reduce littering

Consumers buying Irish during pandemic.

TETRA Pak is ready to deploy its portfolio of tethered cap solutions, which will help to minimise litter, as the cap will stay attached to the package. The company also plans to produce its tethered caps as a plant-based option, therefore increasing the renewable content of the package.

In tandem, Tetra Pak is accelerating the expansion of its paper straws offering to ensure further renewable and low carbon materials across its range of packaging solutions.

“These are key milestones in our journey towards the world’s most sustainable food package: a carton that is fully made from renewable or recycled materials, is fully recyclable and carbon-neutral,” says Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President Packaging Solutions and Commercial Operations, Tetra Pak. These steps are also central to ensuring that Tetra Pak’s customers in Europe will be ready to comply with the Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive, an integral part of the wider approach announced in the Plastics Strategy and an important element of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan.

With this in mind, Tetra Pak has accelerated innovation in the caps area, as Lars notes: “The significant challenge of deploying tethered caps is the scale of the change that this brings across the value chain.

If we look at Europe alone, more than 1,000 packaging lines supplied by us will be potentially transformed, translating into over 20 billion packages which are expected to be converted.

All of that in three years, while minimising impact on our customers’ operations, optimising the consumer experience and contributing to both minimising litter and creating a carton package with increased plant-based and recycled content.”

THERE is clear evidence that consumers are increasingly buying Irish throughout the global health pandemic brought about by Covid-19, delegates at a key food and drinks industry symposium hosted by Love Irish Food heard recently.

According to research from Kantar presented during the Love Irish Food conference, 44 of the top 100 selling take home grocery brands in Ireland during 2020 were Irish produced. Over the past year during the pandemic, this cohort of 44 brands has grown by 18% to a total of €1.07 billion in combined sales. These Irish brands currently capture 48% of the money spent among the top 100 selling take home grocery brands in Ireland.

“The contribution of Irish manufactured food and drink brands to the local and national economies in Ireland is both vital and immense,” said Kieran Rumley, Executive Director at Love Irish Food. “Love Irish Food aims to educate Irish consumers so that they recognise Irish brands.

Buying more Irish made products helps Irish businesses survive and protects Irish jobs, which is critical in the current climate in the context of the global health pandemic and will be crucial in driving economic recovery.”

Love Irish Food believe that Brexit brings the potential for import substitution –producing locally what we previously imported.

“The decisions taken by Irish Kieran Rumley, consumers can play a key role in this Executive Director regard,” Kieran Rumley argued. at Love Irish Food.

8|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Breakfast sales soar at Centra during pandemic year CENTRA has recorded a significant increase in demand for breakfast foods during the pandemic, with its Inspired By product range generating almost €1.9m in sales through Irish producers last year, up from €1.5m the previous year. The group also recorded a 1,000% increase in non-alcoholic spirits and liqueurs, while newspaper and magazine sales were up 3% and 7.5% respectively, and gardening and horticulture saw a massive 7,000% increase in seed sales. “At Centra, we are very pleased by the sales performance of Inspired By breakfast product range which, importantly, is all sourced from Irish producers,” said Ian Allen, Managing Director of Centra. “The contribution to the company of the convenience retail sector is critical, particularly in the current climate, and we are delighted to be supporting home-grown Irish producers from the four corners of the country through our Inspired By product range. Clearly, there has been a trend throughout the pandemic towards certain food products, with customers keen to experience a treat at home for a much-needed morale boost. We’re delighted that they are choosing to shop with us at Centra, and more important, are choosing to buy local and Irish in doing so.”

Danone to donate Actimel bottles to FoodCloud

DANONE has teamed up with FoodCloud to donate Actimel to local communities in need as part of a wider initiative to donate 1m bottles across the UK and Ireland. Actimel brings its decades of experience in immune support and live cultures to launch the new campaign to ‘Give Our Communities Your Best Shot’. “We are delighted to partner with FoodCloud to donate Actimel, our mighty shots!

As a BCorp, we believe we all have a role to play in supporting each other,” said Cormac Byrne, Head of Sales, Danone. “We’ve seen inspiring examples of communities coming together over the last year, and we want to encourage this community spirit to continue. Every time you buy and scan a pack of Actimel, we will donate one to charity, simply log on to Actimel.ie.” Cormac is pictured with Iseult Ward, Co-Founder and CEO, FoodCloud.

Dunnes raise over €240k for Irish Heart Foundation DUNNES Stores’ customers all over Ireland raised over €340,000 to support the work of the Irish Heart Foundation over Valentine’s weekend, with customers across Ireland invited to add an extra €2 to their shopping bills – donations which go straight to the Irish Heart Foundation. The campaign was supported by TV presenter and fashion designer Brendan Courtney (pictured), whose father died four years ago, following a stroke.

“Stroke prevention and support are key parts of the Irish Heart Foundation’s strategy and this money will make an enormous, collective contribution to that vital work,” Brendan said.

Nestlé Ireland achieves Investors in Diversity Gold Accreditation NESTLÉ Ireland has been awarded the prestigious Investors in Diversity Gold Accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity, in recognition of its commitment to embed diversity and inclusion within the culture and processes across the organisation and its external impacts. “The team at Nestlé Ireland is honoured to have achieved the Gold Accreditation, which is a testament to our commitment to ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to diversity and inclusion,” said Kieran Conroy, Country Manager at Nestlé Ireland (pictured).

“Diversity and inclusion is an integral part of Nestlé’s global culture, and one of the ways we bring our company’s purpose and values to life in Ireland. We embed diversity and inclusion across everything we do in the business, where we focus on three core areas: culture, innovation and society.”

SuperValu & AsIAm launch autism acceptance campaign TO mark Autism Awareness Month in April, SuperValu & AsIAm have teamed up to launch ‘Say Yes to Autism Acceptance’, a campaign aiming to encourage people to say ‘Yes’ for a change: Yes to employment, Yes to education and Yes to community inclusion.

The campaign includes a ‘Say Yes to Autism Acceptance’ guide with 10 ways to say yes to Autism Acceptance, available in SuperValu stores throughout the month. “We are proud to be working with SuperValu to ask people around Ireland to say yes to their 78,000 friends, family members and colleagues who are autistic and yes to their 300,000 mums, dads, husbands, wives and siblings,” said Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm (pictured). “We can all achieve this by committing to small changes to make our communities more inclusive, by sharing our commitment online with #AutismMonthSayYes and critically, you can donate to AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, to help us support the autism community through Covid-19 and beyond.”

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Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|11

Industry News Tesco Ireland reflects on a landmark year AS the country marked the one-year milestone since the first Covid-19 national restrictions were introduced, Tesco Ireland reflected on an extraordinary year where: social distancing and queue management technology were introduced at all 151 stores nationwide; 391 individual hand sanitiser units were installed, with over 130,000 litres of hand sanitiser used to date; over 22,000 square metres of plexiglass screens were installed; over 750,000 face coverings have been provided to colleagues; Scan as you Shop technology was installed in 76 stores to support customers with an even more efficient shop, while enabling customers to manage their budget as they go. As well as this, Tesco doubled its grocery home shopping service and expanded Click and Collect by adding 11 new locations, introduced dedicated shopping times for certain priority groups, shortened payment terms for over 200 suppliers and donated over €1m to community groups nationwide through the Tesco Community Fund. “I want to acknowledge and thank our 13,000 colleagues across Ireland for their dedication, hard work and support of each other, whilst helping our customers and communities with great pride, showcasing first-hand that every little help makes a big difference,” said Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland.

Cadbury launch ‘Show You Care, Hide It’ in aid of Barnardos

WHILE we recently celebrated our second Easter under Covid-19 restrictions, Cadbury wanted to connect people across the country through the power of generosity, with the launch of their ‘Show You Care, Hide It’ initiative in aid of Barnardos. On Easter Saturday, Cadbury encouraged as many people as possible to hide a Cadbury Easter Egg for a loved one, in the safety of their own home, take a snap of their best hiding place and upload it to social media, tagging @CadburyIreland and using #ShowYouCareHideIt. Anyone who took part was also encouraged to text HIDEIT to 50300 to donate €4 to Barnardos, with Cadbury matching every donation made on Easter Saturday. Cadbury also created the ultimate ‘Show You Care, Hide It’ packs, which were given away on Cadbury social channels in the run up to Good Friday, and included delicious Cadbury Easter Eggs, hiding tips and signage, along with lots of party goodies for the perfect hide at home.

Sports stars sign up for Fyffes fitness programme IRISH world boxing champion Kellie Harrington and track and field Olympian, David Gillick, have signed up as members of the Fyffes Fit Squad team. In their new roles, both will conduct a 12-week online fitness programme to encourage children to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, something Fyffes believe is more important now than ever before. The Fit Squad series of 20-minute videos are being screened online via the www.fyffesfitsquad.ie website. “The involvement of Kellie and David is an endorsement of the standard and quality of fitness exercises included in the multi award-winning Fit Squad programme,” noted Emma HuntDuffy, Fyffes Marketing Manager, pictured with David Gillick and Kellie Harrington.

Tayto Snacks named one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland TAYTO Snacks has been officially recognised as one of the Best Large Workplaces in Ireland 2021. This award comes in addition to the certification of Tayto Snacks as a Great Place to Work in 2020. “To be recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland is fantastic,” noted John O’Connor, Managing Director at Tayto Snacks (pictured with Mr Tayto). “To receive such recognition during these challenging times is a credit to the brilliant team that we have working in Tayto Snacks. It is through open communication, honest feedback, and the engagement of our entire team that we have earned this great achievement. I am so proud to be on this journey with our colleagues, to make Tayto Snacks an even greater place to work.”

Ornua appoints John McRedmond as Chief Risk & Compliance Officer ORNUA Co-Operative, owner of Ireland’s iconic Kerrygold brand and the leading exporter of premium Irish dairy products worldwide with revenues of €2.3 billion, is pleased to announce the appointment of its General Counsel, John McRedmond, to the role of Chief Risk & Compliance Officer. In his new role, John will join Ornua’s Executive leadership team and will be responsible for identifying, analysing and mitigating risk, including commercial risk management, operational risk, legal, insurance, corporate procurement, and compliance. This role will be pivotal in supporting Ornua to deliver on its new five-year strategic plan, Ornua 2025, which seeks to drive valuable and profitable growth in 110 markets worldwide, while protecting the long-term sustainability of the Ornua business.

An appeal to the Grocery Retail sector The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund is our industry charity, providing invaluable support to colleagues from our sector who find themselves in need of financial assistance at challenging times in their lives.

Unfortunately, one of the consequences of the current crisis is the cancellation of many fundraising initiatives that involve large gatherings of people. For the IGBF, the cancellation of many of our major events is having a significant impact on our ability to raise funds.

As a result, we have no current source of income to support the existing beneficiaries of the fund while we continue to receive additional requests for assistance at this difficult time. Therefore we find ourselves in a very challenging position.

As President of Appeals for the fund this year, I am appealing to you to make as generous a donation as you can at this time. Many of you have been strong supporters of the IGBF in the past and I am appealing to you to provide support once again. I assure you that your donation has never been more necessary or would be more appreciated.

I would be happy to receive your donation by cheque addressed to me at Musgrave House, Ballycurreen, Airport Road, Cork T12 TN99.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and for your continued support for the IGBF. Yours sincerely

Sharon Buckley Group Commercial Director, Musgrave & President of Appeals, Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|13

Industry News Pat The Baker lands major sponsorship with Virgin Media

PAT The Baker has taken over sponsorship of the top performing Graham Norton Show on Virgin Media and Virgin Media Player. Pat The Baker, Ireland’s award-winning bakery, chose to partner with the Graham Norton Show as the show continues to grow, becoming a must watch on Saturday nights. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to be associated with Graham Norton.

His show has been a great escape, particularly in the year just gone. The sponsorship format is ideal for us to profile some of the award-winning breads from our bakery,” said Declan Fitzgerald, Managing Director, Pat The Baker. Frank Neary, MD of Mindmap, the agency behind the creative work, added: “This is just the start of a drive to make Pat The Baker more famous than ever.” Pictured are (l-r): Sorcha Brady, Partnerships Manager, Virgin Media, with Declan Fitzgerald and Frank Neary.

Lindt Ireland donates €40k worth of Gold Bunny Hunt Packs to Temple Street SARAH Burmanje, Brand Manager, Lindt Ireland, and John Doyle, Head of Portering Services and Ambassador, Temple Street Children’s Hospital, are pictured outside the children’s hospital, as the team at Lindt Ireland dedicated their Easter to raising funds for the Children’s Health Foundation, despite the challenges presented by Covid 19. Lindt Ireland donated €40k worth of limited-edition Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt Packs to the Children’s Health Foundation, with 100% of proceeds from each sale going directly to the charity. A number of Hunt Packs were gifted to frontline workers in Dublin’s children’s hospitals, as well as to children and families in the hospitals. This year, the initiative by Lindt Ireland has raised over €20,000 to date.

Fyffes searches for best banana dessert CELEBRITY cook-it-yourself advocate, Donal Skehan, whose television cookery programmes have inspired a generation of young mealmakers, is going bananas again! His challenge this year, which is backed by banana importer Fyffes, is to find Ireland’s best banana dessert creation that has a banana as a key ingredient, as part of celebrations to mark National Banana Day on April 21. “Aside from raising awareness of what a fun and versatile fruit the banana is, we want to capture as many creative ideas, ingredients and recipes as possible, then share them far and wide,” noted Emma HuntDuffy, Fyffes Marketing Manager, pictured with Donal. For more information see www.facebook.com/FyffesIreland.

Nestlé launches bio-based lids and scoops NESTLÉ has announced that it will introduce bio-based lids and scoops made from sugar cane and its by-product for a range of its nutrition products for babies and children. The main advantage of these bio-based plastics is that they are made from a renewable plant material that can be continually replenished and that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In Ireland and the UK, SMA Nutrition and Nestlé Health Science are rolling out the new bio-based packaging materials for scoops and lids on tins. The lids and scoops are made from 66% and 95% sugar cane respectively. They are certified as plant-based plastic packaging and are widely recyclable. They are not compostable or biodegradable. They have the same properties and functionalities as conventional plastic ones, without compromising the high level of hygiene and freshness required.

€500k EuroMillions Plus prize won in Mullingar ONE lucky EuroMillions player in Mullingar scooped the €500,000 EuroMillions Plus top prize on March 30, having bought their winning Quick Pick ticket at the Centra store at the Robinstown Texaco garage in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Store Manager, Warrick McDonald, was delighted to hear the news: “Our store is located at the centre of a close-knit community so it’s great to hear that it could be a local winner who has come into half a million euro.” Warrick is pictured with Assistant Manager Noel Jessop at the Centra shop at Texaco Robinstown in Mullingar.

16|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Doing the right things Michelle O’Neill, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Mars Wrigley’s Cocoa business, explains the company’s Fairtrade journey over the last decade, details the huge investment Mars Wrigley has made in addressing structural inequalities, poverty and human rights risks in cocoa farming and explains what more needs to be done by all stakeholders.

AS Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Mars’ cocoa business, Cork-born Michelle O’Neill is at the forefront of helping to address change in the cocoa business worldwide. On the tenth anniversary since Mars joined the Fairtrade movement, she reflects on the progress made and talks us through some of the programmes the company has put in place for the betterment of cocoa farm families.

It has been 10 years since Mars Wrigley joined Fairtrade.

What progress has been made over the last decade?

Over the last 10 years, Mars and Fairtrade’s partnership has improved incomes for cocoa farmers. More cocoa sold on Fairtrade terms, together with supporting programmes that enhance infrastructure, advocacy and networking, have helped to improve farmers’ economic situation. Building on 10 years of impact together, we’ve seen firsthand the positive difference that improved incomes make in cocoa communities. The Fairtrade Premium has supported farmers to invest in their organisations and infrastructure, strengthen their resilience and develop their communities.

At Mars, we believe everyone working within our extended supply chains should earn sufficient income to maintain a decent standard of living. Many smallholder farms are family businesses and, like Mars as a family-owned business, we want those farming businesses to be successful for generations to come.

Increasing their income is incredibly complex, and it is only one aspect of the multidimensional poverty smallholder farmers are facing. No single player can solve poverty alone but as a company, we can play a significant role, using an evidencebased and principles-led approach alongside other critical actors, including certifiers, governments, suppliers, supply chain partners and the farmers themselves, in achieving this ambition.

Is the Fairtrade movement still as important today as it was when Mars Wrigley joined?

Certification programmes have driven real improvements in organising farmer groups, providing best practice trainings, improving farm cooperative management through financial and governance training, raising awareness of child labour, and increasing farmer income through premiums.

Certifiers have helped create an enabling environment to make progress toward sustainable cocoa. We collaborate closely with certifiers to strengthen their standards and assurance process across the industry, to push for more effective monitoring, evaluation and learning. Our goal is to continue to collabourate and drive an evolution of standards. We believe this evolution will lead to the cocoa sector adopting a new approach that will bring more impact.

What are the big challenges still facing the cocoa industry?

We’ve been vocal about our belief that global supply chains are broken and that companies depending on commodities grown by smallholder farmers are at a crossroads.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|17

Retail News Interview

The well-being of women in cocoa communities is a critical link to family food security and nutrition, education and health, and drives the longterm prospects for a future of educated cocoa farmers.

Structural inequalities, poverty and human rights risks exist in cocoa farming communities around the world, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, where more than 60% of the world’s cocoa is grown. Insufficient law enforcement and limited access to basic infrastructure such as roads, clean water, healthcare, mobile connectivity, banking and education, limit people’s ability to thrive.

Mars is a principle-based private company; creating mutual benefits for all our stakeholders is at the heart of our purpose. Our goals are to ensure that within our extended supply chains, everyone has the opportunity to thrive, human rights are respected, and the environment is protected. The cocoa supply chain of today does not deliver on these ambitions – it is broken, and current interventions are not enough to fix it.

In 2018, we launched our Cocoa for Generations Strategy (C4G) backed by a plan to invest $1 billion over 10 years (2018–2028), with the ambition of contributing to transforming the cocoa supply chain so that global sustainable development goals are met, human rights are respected, the environment is protected, and cocoa farmers, their families and their communities have the opportunity to thrive.

“

Our goals are to ensure that within our extended supply chains, everyone has the opportunity to thrive, human rights are respected, and the environment is protected.

The cocoa supply chain of today does not deliver on these ambitions – it is broken, and current interventions are not enough to fix it.

There has been some criticism of chocolate companies over the perceived failure to eradicate child labour from the chocolate supply chain, where it is estimated that over 1.5m children still work on cocoa plantations (NORC Report, October 2020). What has been done and what more can companies like Mars Wrigley do to fight the problem of child labour?

In February 2020, we launched our Protecting Children Action Plan (PCAP), our approach to identifying, preventing and mitigating human rights issues in our cocoa supply chain.

The PCAP sets out how we seek to work with suppliers, governments, experts and others to identify, prevent and mitigate human rights issues. It prioritises child and forced labour risks in our extended cocoa supply chain by establishing robust data collection and management systems, implementing effective human rights due diligence

”

processes in collabouration with partners, and supporting communitybased investments and development programmes designed to address the root-causes of human rights issues in the areas of women’s empowerment, education and income.

We have committed to report on our progress and in early February, we released our cocoa human rights report, Respecting Human Rights in the Cocoa Supply Chain, sharing advances, learnings and insights against the PCAP’s four-lever approach.

While we are making strides in our approach, more must be done to reach our ambitions. To achieve meaningful impact that enables cocoa farmers to thrive, public-private partnerships, coupled with appropriate due diligence legislation, where needed, will be essential. Together, these enablers can help improve farmer income and advance respect for human rights

18|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Mars Wrigley has worked with cocoa farming communities to improve infrastructure, such as this cocoa nursery. and the environment in cocoa growing communities.

How is Mars Wrigley working to improve life for workers in the cocoa supply chain?

Our PCAP approach comprises four main levers, designed to be mutually reinforcing: • Robust Child and Forced Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems to ensure our suppliers have robust systems to identify, prevent and seek to remediate child labour and forced labour (as defined by the ILO conventions).

We will seek to ensure 100% of at-risk families in our cocoa supply chains are covered by Robust Child and Forced

Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems by 2025.

Implementing robust child labour monitoring and remediation systems (CLMRS) has proven to have the potential to meaningfully reduce the risks, prevalence and severity of child labour, and it’s a model we expect all suppliers to have in place in West Africa by 2025.

We are proud to share we are expanding CLMRS across our cocoa supply chain in West Africa, with nearly 70% (from 51% in 2019) of total volumes of cocoa sourced in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana coming from farmer groups that have CLMRS in place, across 58,000 households.

• Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment: The well-being of women

in cocoa communities is a critical link to family food security and nutrition, education and health, and drives the long-term prospects for a future of educated cocoa farmers. Together with Care International, we have developed a unique Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) model that includes a number of essential building blocks beyond the foundational savings and loans activity.

To bolster our partnership with Care, we extended our support with an additional $10m investment to further expand our unique VSLA model beyond the 24,000 members we have supported through the end of 2020, targeting to reach more than 60,000 members by 2025.

Women’s and girls’ empowerment is a dynamic and transformative process of change, which requires addressing gender inequalities and disempowerment across multiple dimensions, which also presents a variety of entry points for the transformation that’s needed to reshape the future of cocoa. To address these challenges, we have partnered with the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) to conduct qualitative research to understand and explain behaviours, experiences and attitudes in relation to the (in)equality and (dis)empowerment that women face in their daily lives in cocoa growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia. We have called this first stage of the work the ‘Empathy Generation’ phase. This unique study covers understanding of aspirations, challenges and rich realities of women of all ages by listening to them and helping their voice

In February 2020, Mars Wrigley launched its Protecting Children Action Plan (PCAP), its approach to identifying, preventing and mitigating human rights issues in its cocoa supply chain.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|19

Retail News Interview to maintain a decent standard of living. Many smallholder farms are family businesses and, like Mars as a family-owned business, we want those farming businesses to be successful for generations to come. Increasing their income is incredibly complex, and it is only one aspect of the multi-dimensional poverty smallholder farmers are facing. No single player can solve poverty alone but as a company we can play a significant role, using an evidence-based and principles-led approach alongside other critical actors, including governments, suppliers, supply chain partners, the Farmer Income Lab and the farmers themselves, in achieving this ambition.

In the decade since Mars Wrigley joined Fairtrade, more cocoa sold on Fairtrade terms, together with supporting programmes that enhance infrastructure, advocacy and networking, have helped to improve farmers’ economic situation. to be heard. The complete results of this first phase of research are bundled in the Empathy Report, which can be accessed at Mars.com/news-and-stories.

• Increasing Access to Quality Education and Development Opportunities for Children: Education access and quality are critical components of driving better long-term futures for children in cocoa-growing communities. Since 2017, we have worked with the Transforming Education in Cocoa Communities (TRECC) programme funded by the Jacobs, Bernard van Leer and UBS Optimus Foundations, through the implementation of a number of pilots. This work has given us insights into the powerful linkages between robust monitoring systems, women’s empowerment and education interventions. In the long term, investing in education can have a positive circular effect; educated children can earn higher incomes and contribute more to the development of their own children, households and communities. We will continue to learn from our work with Jacobs Foundation and other expert education organisations to develop additional programmes and interventions where relevant, particularly in other countries.

In 2020, in collaboration with a number of key industry players and stakeholders from the cocoa industry, we committed $3.3m to support the Jacobs Foundation’s creation of two new funding facilities aimed at promoting quality education and early childhood development and nutrition, in line with the Côte d’Ivoire’s government strategic objectives in the fight against child labour.

• Increasing Income: At Mars, we believe everyone working within our extended supply chains should earn sufficient income

The Fairtrade Premium has supported farmers to invest in their organisations and infrastructure, strengthen their resilience and develop their communities.

From Cork to Brussels: Michelle’s story

“AS Vice President Corporate Affairs Cocoa for Mars Wrigley, I am a member of the company’s cocoa business team and also lead a team of corporate affairs professionals around the world who take care of reputation and crisis management and government and public affairs related to cocoa,” Michelle O’Neill explains. “I have been at Mars since April 2015, first sitting on the chocolate business leadership team for Europe and then moving to a global role to focus on cocoa, the company’s most important ingredient. This role has taken me to fascinating parts of the world. It’s been especially inspiring to meet with farmers in rural areas of the developing world. Smallholder farmers grow over 70% of the world’s food so their destinies and ours are intertwined - we must support these farmers to thrive and in a way that is sustainable for the planet.

“For about 25 years I have been active in government relations, public affairs and communications and mainly in the sustainability space. This involves meeting lots of people from different backgrounds and political persuasions, which means I constantly learn. It helps that I studied languages in UCC – language skills are a great way to break barriers, build trust and enable collaboration. My career in Brussels started in the European Commission as an intern, where I worked on gender equality. I then moved to the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell and finally, Ingersoll Rand. I was born in Cork and went to university there. I now live in Brussels with my husband, son, daughter, two dogs and a cat. I remain hopeful that there will be a direct Cork-Brussels flight in the future.”

20|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

The Future of Retailing

Are Irish food and drink businesses surviving or thriving?

A new survey from GS1 Ireland finds Ireland’s food and drink businesses are not only optimistic about the year ahead but ambitious in their plans for the future, writes Maria Svejdar, Head of Marketing, Communications and CX, GS1 Ireland.

IN a new study being undertaken by GS1 Ireland across the island of Ireland, clear messages are coming through about the need and opportunity to scale, to find new markets and to tackle sustainability issues head-on.

In this report, we look at the interim results from the four areas that the research covers; awards & training; sales channels and target markets; sustainability, and plans for business growth.

Key findings One of the key takeaways from the feedback received to date is the value realised by producers of participating in local networks, training programmes and awards. There is a huge opportunity to learn from your peers, from mentors, from retailers, and from customers that can really help to improve and grow a product offering.

In addition to some of the specialist food groups, respondents are involved with their Local Enterprise Office (LEO), have joined Origin Green and get support from Bord Bia. Over 60% of producers surveyed have participated in the key training and development programmes including Food Academy (hosted by SuperValu, LEO and Bord Bia), the annual Grow with Aldi initiative, Lidl Ireland’s Kick Start supplier development programme, the LEO Food Starter programme and the various courses run by Invest Northern Ireland.

Key food and drink awards in Ireland and the UK, most

notably Blas na hEireann, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards and the Great Taste Awards, bring increased brand awareness, exposure to retail buyers and have a positive impact on sales. Some 76% of respondees have participated in awards and recognise the benefits to their business of doing so.

Difficulty accessing raw materials and packaging Issues with transport to/from UK

Difficulty accessing ingredients

Increased admin and paperwork Issues with transport to/from Europe

Import and export duties

Currency fluctuations I don’t anticipate any effects on my business as a result of BREXIT Greater opportunities for local suppliers Loss of sales Incentive to access new markets

HAVE YOUR SAY

THE GS1 Ireland survey is still open for submissions from food and drink producers based anywhere on the island of Ireland.

Go to www.surveymonkey. com/r/KBTL3BQ to make your contribution to the research now.

Customers or suppliers going out of business Increased sales

Other (please specify)

0%

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Survey respondents rate the impacts of Brexit on their business.

Q15

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|21

The Future of Retailing Explore all routes to market As ever, there is a confusing mass of information and Both the Covid crisis and Brexit have forced businesses to conflicting advice out there, with many businesses struggling rapidly change the way they find and sell to customers. The to identify what steps to take, especially when cost is taken shut-down of the foodservice and hospitality markets have led into account. Producers are looking for more guidance and producers to seek out new retail opportunities, to collaborate help in these areas. Documenting, quantifying and auditing the on box schemes, to list online with marketplaces and to develop progress made will also be a challenge for the future. their own eCommerce offering. As they say, “necessity is the Taking all the factors addressed in the research together, mother of invention” and the last year has certainly seen a it is clear that producers are juggling many interrelated balls nationwide “rolling up of the sleeves” and getting stuck in to at the one time. The drive towards serving customers in a make things happen. personalised, digital, sustainable manner is gathering pace.

Despite Brexit, 20% of suppliers who responded to the What’s needed is joined-up thinking, collaboration, support survey are still considering the UK as a potential export market. and a clear plan towards realistic, quantifiable and measurable Despite the early hiccups with transport and paperwork, it’s goals. still a familiar, very large, English-speaking consumer market, and not one to be lightly dismissed. Given the difficulties Changing the type with trading with the UK mainland, there are increased of packaging opportunities for retailers and suppliers north and south of Reducing the quantity the border to increase collaboration and levels of trade, while of packaging minimising the logistics difficulties. Those that have pivoted Reducing waste in the away from the UK have turned their eyes to Continental Europe, production process the US, Asia and even Africa.

Cutting food miles / shortening the supply Selling through a wholesaler or distributor remains the Survive or Thrive? A survey of Food and Drink Producers on the Island of Ireland 2021 chain primary offline sales channel for many producers (75%).

Looking after the However, selling directly to consumers is gaining momentum, natural environment with box schemes an option under consideration for some, Which of the following statements best reflects your plans for your Implementing greener while others are eyeing up the eCommerce opportunity and production processes business in 2021? considering selling via Facebook, Instagram and Amazon.

Reducing my carbon Surprisingly, many producers still do not have a website (18%) output Answered: 164 Skipped: 57 or have a website that has no eCommerce capability (37%).

Selecting suppliers with green credentials

Other Other (please (please specify) specify)

Choosing eco-friendly transport options

plan to to scale scale II plan back back

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plan to to maintain maintain II plan current production production current levels levels

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Survey respondents rate their sustainability priorities going forward.

Background The survey was launched by GS1 Ireland during the third week of February 2021. At the time of writing, well over 200 qualified responses have been received. GS1 Ireland would like to thank Caption: Survey respondents explain their business plans for its partners, Blas na hÉireann, idunn Consulting and Invest WER CHOICES2021.

RESPONSESNorthern Ireland, who helped in the preparation of the survey 67.7% 111 Future-proof your business questions and promoting the research among their networks. to grow and "scale up" my production Long term economic survival will not only be determined by a 26.2% 43 to maintain current production levels good product, efficiently and profitably produced, but one that 3.7% 6 to scale backmeets with consumer expectations for quality and provenance.

That means a sustainably produced, packaged and delivered 2.4% 4 (please specify) product. From previous research conducted by Shopper L 164 Intelligence, we have learned that the term “sustainability” means different things to different people.

Across the board, packaging wins out as the key issue to be tackled, from buying ingredients with minimal packaging, to changing the type of packaging used on a finished product, to how a product is packed for onward sale and delivery. Many producers are looking to change the type of packaging used (e.g. switching from plastic to paper) or to reduce the quantity of packaging at all points in the supply chain.

We see that businesses are innovating within their production processes to be more sustainable, from investing in new, more efficient equipment that uses less power, or produces less waste, to making greener energy choices. Some businesses cite their efforts to use waste as a source of fuel, to harvest water and are investing in solar panels and electric delivery vehicles.

II plan plan to to grow grow and and "scale "scale up" up" my my production production

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24|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards

Shining a light on quality The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2021 are now open for entries across a broad range of categories covering the key drivers in the market.

THE Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are once more open for entries, with a full awards programme including categories for products, people, and performance. Since their launch nine years ago, the Awards have been responsible for launching hundreds of innovative new products onto the market and boosting the sales of many more. Retailers, wholesalers, foodservice, own label, and branded producers are invited to enter food and drink products into a broad range of categories, each being specifically tailored to represent the key drivers in today’s ever-changing marketplace.

Once again, products will be judged in their categories, and awarded on their merits against stringent criteria. The Product of the Year accolade will be awarded to the product the judges agree is the best they have seen; in previous years, this has been awarded to North Cork Creamery, Meere’s Pork Products, O’Brien Fine Foods, and James Whelan Butchers. The Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by JDS Foods in the year of their 150th anniversary, will be awarded to the best performing retailer across the categories. Also sponsoring the awards is Invest Northern Ireland, with food and drink the region’s most dynamic industry.

Comprehensive feedback report An integral part of the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards

is that each entry receives a comprehensive judges’ feedback report, even if the product does not reach the finalist stage. This provides all entrants with vital product insight from independent leading experts, which can be used as a valuable product development tool.

Winners will be given free use of the winners’ logo which will be provided alongside a winner’s press kit. This guide will offer useful tips to winners on making the most of their win and maximising their return on investment.

The Small Producer Award is open to companies with fewer than 10 staff and annual sales under €1m. This award offers artisan producers a host of benefits, including a reduced entry fee, whilst still having the opportunity to be judged alongside larger companies.

The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have been responsible for launching hundreds of innovative new products onto the market and boosting the sales of many more over the last nine years.

Acknowledging the leaders in their field “Following on from a challenging year for the food and drink industry, the IQFDA are delighted to be returning to shine a light on those retailers, producers and suppliers who have excelled in their field,” noted IQFDA Director, Beckie Dart. “We look forward to seeing wonderful products and once again acknowledging those fantastic producers and retailers who have continued to provide for the people of Ireland.”

For more information about how to enter the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, please visit irishqualityfoodawards.ie. or contact Emma Parslow, Senior Event Manager. Tel: +353 (0)1 8176363. Email: emma. parslow@emap.com.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|25

Kerrygold

New launches from Kerrygold Kerrygold has launched two new products in Ireland, Kerrygold Spreadable and Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter, offering consumers convenience and increased choice.

ORNUA, the owner of Kerrygold, Ireland’s only €1 billion food brand, has launched two new products in Ireland. Kerrygold Spreadable targets consumers who trust the great taste of Kerrygold products and are looking for the convenience of being spreadable straight from the fridge. Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter is expertly churned to offer a premium quality option for home baking enthusiasts.

The launch of Kerrygold Spreadable and Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter marks a significant milestone for the brand in Ireland as Kerrygold seeks to further grow its market share and strengthen its position in the butter, spreads and margarine category.

Last year alone, Kerrygold added an incremental €5.1m to the value of the category in Ireland and has ambitious future growth plans.

Kerrygold Spreadable is made from Irish creamery butter blended with

Kerrygold Spreadable is made from Irish creamery butter blended with rapeseed oil to ensure a rich, buttery taste, with the added convenience of being spreadable straight from the fridge. rapeseed oil to ensure a rich, buttery taste, with the added convenience of being spreadable straight from the fridge. Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter is made from the milk of Irish grass-fed cows and is expertly churned to offer a premium option for bakers, while also catering for consumers who monitor salt intake but do not want to compromise on quality or taste.

Integrated marketing campaign To support the launch of both products, a new, fully integrated marketing campaign including TV, digital, social, print, out-of-home advertising and shopper marketing will begin in April, and is estimated to reach 1.4m Irish consumers. The new TV creative, Love

Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter is made from the milk of Irish grass-fed cows and is expertly churned to offer a premium option for bakers, while also catering for consumers monitoring their salt intake.

the Taste, highlights the product’s convenience by showing a young child effortlessly making a sandwich for her mother. The campaign focuses on the functional benefits of Kerrygold Spreadable across taste, quality, and convenience.

Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter will be supported by a national print media and digital campaign in collaboration with Caryna Camerino, owner of Camerino Bakery, who supplies cakes to the best independent cafés around Dublin.

Growing consumer needs “We are delighted to be launching two new products in Ireland, the home of the Kerrygold brand,” revealed Jens Gloeckner, General Manager, Ornua Foods International. “Our research shows that one in every two Kerrygold consumers cite taste as the number one reason for purchasing spreadable products. We have also seen that an increasing number of consumers are monitoring salt intake. These products respond to growing consumer needs, while maintaining the unmistakeable quality of Kerrygold.

“Last year, Kerrygold added €5.1m to the value of the butter, spreads and margarine category in Ireland and, as a premium brand, will offer a unique opportunity to further grow the value of the category for our retailers.”

Kerrygold Spreadable and Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter are extensions of the current core range; Kerrygold Irish Creamery Butter and Kerrygold Softer Butter. Kerrygold Spreadable is sold in a 454g tub, and Kerrygold Unsalted Irish Butter is sold in a 227g silver foil.

26|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Origin Green

Signposting the road to Net Zero Bord Bia’s ‘Pathways to Net Zero’ makes carbon emissions reporting mandatory for Origin Green members as the organisation helps to chart a course to net zero emissions.

ORIGIN Green, Ireland’s national food and drink sustainability programme, has published new procedures and guidelines that put carbon emission targets on a mandatory footing for food and drink manufacturers as the sector seeks to accelerate its contribution to the Programme for Government’s aim of carbon neutrality by 2050. This marks a significant shift for the Origin Green programme and will see member companies go beyond reductions of energy-related emissions, to include a more comprehensive assessment of their entire carbon footprint, including value chain emissions which incorporates all indirect emissions associated with food manufacturing e.g. freight, travel.

In order to drive impact at a large scale, Bord Bia is initially introducing this mandatory carbon emission target to Origin Green members with a turnover greater than €50m. Companies must conduct baseline assessments this year to determine emissions targets from 2022 onwards. These plans will be reviewed, monitored annually, and independently verified by international specialists Mabbett. According to Bord Bia, the interest among companies has been very high, with over 200 food and drink companies registering to attend the ‘Pathways to Net Zero’ launch webinar, which took place on March 11.

Decarbonising the supply chain As part of this new development, Bord Bia has prepared comprehensive guidelines for companies on how to decarbonise Origin Green Guidance | Pathways to Net Zero

Section Originname Green Guidance

Pathways to Net Zero March 2021

Back to contents

Bord Bia has produced a guidance document for ‘Pathways to Net Zero’.

SECTION NAME

1

their own operations and their supply chains. The advice on net zero target setting and implementation is based on the United Nations’ ‘Measure, Reduce, Compensate’ model. This model encourages everyone in society to take action to help achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

The ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ launch builds on a number of Origin Green initiatives already in place, such as the Origin Green Sustainability Charter, which requires members who sign up to set and deliver on clear sustainability targets as part of their five-year sustainability plans, with a specific focus on raw material sourcing, manufacturing process and social sustainability. These plans are also monitored annually and independently verified by Mabbett.

To date, companies have set over 2,400 sustainability targets, reaffirming the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement. Over a five-year period, which is the duration of a firm’s sustainability plan, food and drink manufacturers in Ireland delivered an 11% reduction in energy use per unit of output and a 17% reduction in water use per unit of output.

Avoiding the catastrophic impacts of climate change “Accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon economy by 2050 is required to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change,” noted Deirdre Ryan, Origin Green Director. “Business leaders are now shifting their focus from what is achievable to what needs to be done, and there has been increasing interest among Origin Green companies wishing to reduce emissions within their own operations and also along their supply chain. In developing the ‘Pathways to Net Zero’ framework, which sits alongside other key independently audited initiatives, we are providing Irish food, drink and horticulture businesses with the practical know-how to not only set ambitious carbon reduction targets, but more importantly, to make the changes necessary to achieve them.”

Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO, added: “Our €13 billion food and drink export industry has established a hard earned, global reputation as a leading producer of high quality sustainable food and drink. Maintaining this reputation, which must continue to be evidence-based, is more important than ever in the face of continued global trading volatility. But not at any cost. We acknowledge that Ireland’s agri-food sector needs to do more, and faster. Origin Green has and will continue to deliver impact by providing a co-ordinated national approach to reducing emissions across the supply chain as a part of the Irish Government’s wider Climate Action response.”

For more information, visit www.origingreen.ie.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|27

Ice Cream

The big freeze Lockdown restrictions impacted on ice cream sales in 2020, particularly in the impulse channel, but easing of restrictions in the coming months should see a surge in sales.

LIKE every aspect of Irish society, the ice cream sector was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last year, as the high level of restrictions across the country for most of the year meant a slowdown in impulse ice cream sales, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International.

Supermarkets were the big winners, with sales of take-home ice cream primarily coming through this channel, while sales in forecourt stores dropped due to the pandemic, according to Euromonitor.

Prior to the pandemic, the ice cream and frozen desserts category was being largely impacted by the premiumisation trend, as consumers prioritised better quality ice cream that offered a variety of interesting flavours, Euromonitor report.

Most industry commentators would expect this trend to kick back in once the market normalises.

As we approach the summer season, and hopefully the easing of restrictions, it is hoped that ice cream sales will soar once again. The biggest players in the category usually generate high consumer interest with the launch of new product and flavours, or sometimes the relaunch of an old favourite that’s fondly remembered from childhood, and summer 2021 should be no different, with new taste sensations guaranteed to whip up interest in the ice cream sector.

Smooch from Dairyglen Maintaining its position as the number one soft-serve ice cream brand, Smooch Ice-cream continues to outperform the

country.”

With a network of over 170 stores, Smooch has already expanded into seven new locations within the first three months of 2021. April will see the introduction of new digital screens onto their already

Introducing the Smooch soft-serve ice cream brand into your store can help you increase your turnover by up to €160,000. market, seeing stores exceed €160,000 in annual turnover, according to Alexandra Smith, Brand Manager, Smooch.

“No big forecourt or superstore is necessary,” explains Alexandra. “Sales figures like these come from typical convenience stores in local towns, driven by a committed fan base across the

From April 2021, Dairyglen are introducing new digital screens onto their already modern ice cream parlours.

28|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Ice Cream

Smooch has a network of over 170 stores countrywide and has already opened in seven new locations within the first three months of 2021. modern ice cream parlours. “We’re really excited to make the move to digital,” Alexandra reveals. “We’ve put a lot of work into not just the look but the functionality of the new screens.”

Now in its third generation, this family business has been at the forefront of innovation for over 30 years. With the consumer at its heart and retailers at the core, Dairyglen understand that ice cream is about more than just a machine. “There seems to be a common misconception in the industry that to sell ice cream means throwing in any old machine and slapping a name on a tub,” Alexandra stresses. “This is not the case but unfortunately, a lot of retailers have had to learn this the hard way. Understanding the nature of the business means understanding that the wrong ice cream partner can cost you thousands in lost turnover.

“Smooch consumers are a force to be reckoned with, with over 60% of their consumer base refusing to purchase another brand if Smooch is not available in store,” she continues. “Dairyglen offers fully managed ice cream solutions, backed up by over 60 years of combined industry experience. Smart retailers choose Smooch.”

For more information visit www.dairyglen.ie and follow them on Instagram @smooch_icecream.

Cornetto Soft Cornetto Soft aims to bring the experience of the traditional ice cream van and soft-serve ice cream into the home. As well as that, the Cornetto Soft cone packaging lids have been created using 50% recycled plastic, ensuring this product not only delights consumers, but also does a little good for the planet too.

The multipack range is available in three mouth-watering flavours, Strawberry, Salted Caramel and Chocolatey, with each ice cream delicately topped with a delicious strawberry, salted caramel or chocolate sauce and served in a wafer cone, not forgetting the iconic chocolatey flavour tip too. Cornetto Soft Chocolatey is also available exclusively in the impulse channel, for the perfect vanilla and chocolate fix this summer.

Cornetto Soft ice cream stays soft even when at home, with the Strawberry, Salted Caramel, and Chocolatey flavours available in a handy multipack of four, and Cornetto Chocolatey Soft available as an individual cone, making them easy to enjoy as a snack or a dessert with friends and family in the comfort of your home.

Cornetto Soft Chocolatey is available exclusively in the impulse channel, for the perfect vanilla and chocolate fix this summer.

Cornetto Soft’s multipack range is available in three mouth-watering flavours: Strawberry, Salted Caramel and Chocolatey.

Twister Peek-A-Blue The newest product to the exciting Twister range is Twister PeekA-Blue. Made with real fruit, Twister Peek-A-Blue ice lollies mix the delicious flavours of melon, sweet strawberry, and delicious blueberry, for a fruity twist of flavours. These ice lolly sticks are a refreshing, tasty, sweet treat that can be enjoyed after school or on a hot summer’s day.

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30|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Ice Cream as an impulse product that is a perfect treat for kids and the entire family this summer!

Twister Peek-A-Blue is now available in a multipack of five, a perfect treat for the entire family this summer.

27

Made with real fruit, Twister Peek-ABlue ice lollies mix the delicious flavours of melon, sweet strawberry, and delicious blueberry, for a fruity twist of flavours.

Twister ice lollies come in exciting tastes, textures, colours and shapes, so they’re a fun snack that all kids will love.

Twister ice lollies are also Responsibly Made for Kids certified; at 66 kcal per portion, they adhere to Unilever’s strict nutritional criteria for calories, saturated fat, and sugar. Twister’s Peek-A-Blue ice lolly is also free from artificial colours and flavours and this frozen dessert is also gluten-free.

Twister Peek-A-Blue is now available in a multipack of five and is also available

Ben & Jerry’s To celebrate the 30th birthday of the iconic dough-riginal, Cookie Dough, Ben & Jerry’s are bringing consumers something special this year. Ben & Jerry’s Peace

Pops are legen-dairy Fairtrade Vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips and a peaceshaped, cookie-dough-inspired centre, dipped in a soft chocolatey coating, and lovingly popped on a stick to take it with you wherever you go.

“We know people love our cookie dough like their own family or pets. So we reimagined it so they never need to leave home without it,” said Ben & Jerry’s Flavour Guru, Josine Nohlmans. “Now they can walk their puppy and enjoy Ben & Jerry’s. Give me a heck yeah.”

Peace Pops were first created by cofounders Ben and Jerry to campaign for peace initiatives in the US, way back in 1988. Peace, Love & Cookie Dough is more than just a funny saying – Ben & Jerry’s continue to raise a stick for peace, justice and equality today, from Fairtrade Certified ingredients that champion economic justice, to partnerships and advocacy that seek to educate and mobilise citizens to drive systemic change around the world.

Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pops: Fairtrade Vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips and a peaceshaped, cookie-dough-inspired centre, dipped in a soft chocolatey coating.

Edible ice cream tubs from Wafer Ltd WAFER Ltd, one of Ireland leading manufacturers and suppliers of ice cream sundries, are making waves with their new product, Eco-Tub, the edible ice cream tub.

The Derry City-based company were recently shortlisted for the Gulfood International Innovation Awards in Dubai and won Best New Product at the Ice Cream Alliance Exhibition in Harrogate, UK, with Eco-Tub.

“Eco-Tub is revolutionising how ice cream is eaten,” explains Joe Doherty, Sales Director at Wafer Ltd. “Made of wafer and wrapped in a fully compostable paper sleeve, it breaks down in 10 days in garden compost or 40 days in landfill.

Unlike PLA plastic, there is no need to worry about special composting facilities.”

The product is produced in the family-owned company’s manufacturing facility in Derry, where they make ice cream cones and other treats for the ice cream industry.

Wafer Ltd also supply toppings, sauces, ice cream mixes and everything else needed to make and sell ice cream, including gelato pastes and ingredients.

For more information, call (+44) (0) 28 72357135 or email sales@waferltd.co.uk The new Eco-tub, the edible ice cream to request a brochure and enquire into how Wafer Ltd can supply you today. See tub from Wafer Ltd. www.waferltd.co.uk for more details.

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32|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Drinks News Heineken Ireland launches ‘The Perfect Match’ campaign HEINEKEN Ireland has launched a new TV campaign, The Perfect Match, which celebrates the journey of rivalry, and follows three couples, pitted against each other as their rival rugby teams face off. As tensions rise, viewers watch them press pause on love while their teams battle it out. The new campaign is supported in the off-trade by omnichannel and online activity, including social media and in-store digital asset support, in-store POS and visibility, including digital content for supermarket screens. Over 800 stores across Ireland will activate The Perfect Match promotion. Former Ireland international Stephen Ferris and England supporter Lily Magenis are pictured as part of the campaign.

Poachers takes top mixer prize IRISH premium mixed drink brand, Poachers Drinks has been announced as the overall winner of the inaugural Tonic and Mixer Masters 2021 in The Spirits Business Global Masters Series. The top accolade of the competition, the Taste Master (best of the best) was awarded to Poachers Wild Tonic with Irish Elderflower, a careful blend of hand-picked Irish elderflower, fresh lemon and natural quinine. The range of finely balanced, lower in sugar drinks embrace unique, natural Irish ingredients and are realised in a stylish, Irish and natural way for a customer that is increasingly more adventurous in their approach to taste. Poachers Drinks can be enjoyed as a mixer to delicately enhance and never overwhelm premium spirits, or as a sophisticated no alcohol serve. For more information, visit: www.poachersdrinks.com.

Molson Coors switching to 100% green electricity for beer production MOLSON Coors Beverage Company has announced that beers sold in the Irish market, including Carling, Molson Canadian and Miller Genuine Draft, are to be brewed using 100% green electricity. The business has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with RWE, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, to supply its UK operations with electricity generated from the Tween Bridge wind farm in South Yorkshire.

“At Molson Coors, we are committed to playing our part in helping to address climate change, with the announcement that our UK operations are switching to using 100% green electricity marking an important step in achieving this goal,” said Ryan McFarland, Regional Business Director, Western Europe at Molson Coors Beverage Company (pictured). “In Ireland, our beer is supplied from our breweries in the UK alongside our Franciscan Well operation in Cork, with expert brewing teams in the UK responsible for brands such as Carling, Molson Canadian and Miller Genuine Draft. This is another step that we are taking as a business to ensure every pint we make is brewed as sustainably as possible.”

New Chair of Drinks Ireland – Spirits

BRYAN Fallon, Managing Director of Heaven Hill Ireland, brand owner of Carolan’s Irish Cream liqueur and Irish Mist Honey liqueur, has been elected for a two-year term as Chair of Drinks Ireland - Spirits, the representative body responsible for promoting the interests of the Irish spirits industry. He will move from the position of Vice-Chair and takes over from Pat Rigney of The Shed Distillery, who stepped up to take the Chairmanship of Drinks Ireland, with David Boyd-Armstrong, Head Distiller & Operations Director at the Rademon Estate Distillery, which creates Shortcross Gin, elected as Vice-Chair. “As with other parts of the drinks industry, the spirits sector has been negatively impacted by Covid-19. It also faced uncertainty in recent times because of Brexit and the trans-Atlantic tariff disputes which particularly effected Irish Cream exports,” Bryan noted.

“I look forward to working with the industry to navigate the challenges ahead, as we work to deliver growth again post-Covid.”

Aldi continues support of Irish craft breweries ALDI’S latest craft beer event highlighted three small, Irish craft beer breweries, showcasing some of the best craft beers around.

Rascals Brewing Company, Black Donkey Brewing and Dundalk Bay Brewery were the three Irish suppliers that Aldi partnered with for the event, which was described by Emma Devlin, founder of Rascals Brewing Company, as “another brilliant helping hand amidst a very challenging 12 months”.

Teeling launch Irish whiskey masterclass TEELING are giving Irish whiskey fans the chance to join Teeling Master Distiller, Alex Chasko, Teeling Head of Operations, Iain Wood, & Teeling Global Brand Ambassador, Robert Caldwell, for The Teeling World’s Best Irish Whiskeys Masterclass on April 28.

To celebrate winning four awards at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards, this exclusive masterclass will break down what makes the Teeling 28 Year Old Single Malt, Single Grain, Blackpitts Peated Single Malt and Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum Cask award-winning Irish whiskeys. Ticketholders will be treated to event packs including 30ml samples of all four award-winning whiskeys, a premium Teeling Whiskey Glass, as well as other Teeling goodies.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|33

Drinks News Alcohol consumption fell by 6.6% in 2020

Brendan Buckley joins Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the drinks industry, as a result of the closure of the hospitality sector, according to Drinks Ireland, as the latest Revenue figures show that per capita alcohol consumption declined by 6.6% last year.

The total volume of consumption was down by 5.1%. The new data shows that beer and cider have been the hardest hit by the pandemic, as both are mostly consumed in pubs. Beer consumption fell by 17.3% last year. In 2019, 62.7% of beer was consumed in the on-trade, with 37.3% consumed from the off-trade. Meanwhile, cider consumption fell by 11.4% in 2020. Spirits consumption increased marginally, by 0.7%, in line with the growing popularity of premium gins and whiskeys among Irish consumers in recent years. Finally, wine sales increased by 12%, as generally the majority of wine is consumed from the off-trade. This was not enough to offset the overall fall in alcohol consumption, however. “There is a growing and misleading narrative that alcohol consumption increased last year during lockdown,” noted Patricia Callan, Director of Drinks Ireland. “These Revenue figures show that this is simply not true. While off-trade sales predictably increased when the on-trade was closed, this was not enough to offset the overall fall in alcohol consumption across the board.”

BRENDAN Buckley, International Marketing Director at Irish Distillers, has been inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame, a permanent tribute honouring individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the world of whiskey.

He was presented with the distinguished honour in recognition of his personal contribution to the growth of the Irish whiskey category on the global stage at the 2021 Whiskey Magazine Awards. “I am truly honoured and humbled to join the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame,” noted Buckley. “It has been a pleasure to play a part in helping Irish whiskey regain its rightful place among the world’s leading spirits, and to see Jameson recognised and loved the world over. Having the opportunity to revive single pot still Irish whiskey and breathe new life into brands such as Redbreast or to create new brands such as Method and Madness, has also been a professional and personal achievement for which I consider myself very lucky.”

New White Claw campaign launched MARK Anthony Brands International has announced the first global marketing campaign for its White Claw Hard Seltzer brand, beginning in April 2021. The global campaign follows a hugely successful 2020 with launches in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands and Australia and ongoing success in the US. The Let’s White Claw campaign will enlist a diverse mix of film and music creators from around the world, capturing unscripted moments that evoke a feeling of pure, uncomplicated fun, showcasing everyday “Let’s” moments.

“Let’s White Claw is the first in a series of milestones for White Claw,” said, Davin Nugent, CEO of Ireland-based Mark Anthony Brands International. “Since its launch in 2016, White Claw has been embraced by our consumers at a level we never imagined.

This campaign is designed for them.”

Hinch Distillery launches new trio of Irish whiskeys

HINCH Distillery, based in County Down, has married its fine aged whiskey with Irish craft beer casks for a trio of fine Irish whiskeys. The collection, known as Craft & Casks, includes the Imperial Stout Finish, Irish Red Rye Finish and Rye Export Stout Finish. Using casks from two Ulster breweries, Whitewater Brewery in Co. Down, and Kinnegar Brewery in Co. Donegal, the three aged whiskeys have their own distinct flavours. Aaron Flaherty, Head Distiller (pictured), said: “Our new Craft & Casks range is a delectable partnership between Hinch Distillery and two Irish craft breweries, which produces three distinctly flavoured beer barrel aged whiskeys.

The union of whiskey with craft beer barrels is an emerging trend within the distilling industry and demand is surging.”

Monaghan distillery extends Aldi contract ALDI recently announced the extension of its contract with Old Carrick Mill Distillery from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, to supply 145 stores nationwide with its Mo Chara Irish Pink Grapefruit Gin, while the distillery is also set to supply Aldi with a yet-to-be-revealed new product, launching later this year in August. Steven Murphy, founder and Master Distiller at Old Carrick Mill, said: “Working with Aldi has been fantastic and we got to create and distil our Mo Chara Irish Pink Grapefruit Gin, which has been well received all over Ireland. It’s perfectly balanced with a hint of sweetness, the ideal gin to share with a friend, once restrictions allow!”

34|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update

EDUCATION AND UPSKILLING REMAINS KEY FOR RETAIL IN 2019, Retail Ireland launched the Apprenticeship in Retail Supervision and since then, the programme has gone from strength to strength. The programme currently has approximately 170 apprentices enrolled from various retail categories around Ireland, including grocery, fashion, DIY, pharmacy, forecourt, convenience, food and stationery. The Apprenticeship combines classroom learning and on-the-job learning experiences. The Apprentice must attend classroom 23-24 days per year (24 days in year one and 23 days in year two), as well as complete workplace tasks as part of on-the-job learning to develop the competencies and practical application in the retail environment.

The programme has a total annual intake of 120 Apprentices, 60 in Galway and 60 in Dublin. Classes are held from September to May/June, with no classes scheduled on retail busy dates.

This programme was developed by Retail Ireland Skillnet in close partnership with retailers, tailored to the needs and demands of the sector. Some of the areas covered in the Apprenticeship include:

• • • • •

• Retail Professional Selling • Retail Customer Experience

For further information on the various course that are offered through Retail Ireland Skillnet, visit retailirelandskillnet.ie.

Retail IT Communications for Retail Legal Issues in Retail Safety, Health & Welfare Retail Supervision

PRICES SEE A MARGINAL RETAIL SALES PLUMMET IN FALL IN FEBRUARY JANUARY

THE CSO published its Consumer Price Index for February 2021. Prices decreased over all by 0.4% in February compared with the same month in 2020.

Comparing February 2021 and February 2020, the most significant trends are as follows: • Alcoholic drinks saw their combined average price fall by 0.4%; • Almost all retail specific categories continued to return a drop in price, the largest falls being hygiene products (-8%), home entertainment systems (-5.2%), equipment for outdoors, sports and camping (-4.2%), personal care appliances (-6.4%), cameras (-7.8%), and diesel (-7.8%).

• Meanwhile, the following categories recorded an increase in average consumer price: household appliances (2.6%), cigarettes and other tobacco products (2.2%).

Tel: 01-6051558 |

THE CSO published its official retail sales index for the month of January 2021 in late March. The numbers show, unsurprisingly, a difficult month for the sector as very severe restrictions continued to apply. There seems to be very little appetite among Government and NPHET for any speeding up of reopening or resumption of click-andcollect as progress on suppression of the virus seems to have stalled in recent times. Ireland is an outlier in Europe in terms of click-andcollect, as most EU countries allow this to continue even under their strictest lockdown measures.

On an annualised basis, the total value of Irish retail sales (excluding sales of cars and sales in bars) decreased by 9.6% compared with January 2020, with sales volumes decreasing by a significant 6%. Comparing sales during January 2021 to those a month earlier in December 2020, total sales values decreased by 14.1%, with volumes posting a decrease of 15.7%. These are stark numbers for the sector. In year-to-date terms, the combined value of Irish retail sales decreased by 9.6%, with volumes posting a 6% decrease.

A difficult start to 2021 for the sector, but as vaccinations ramp up and the economy opens, there will be some cause for cautious hope.

Further breakdown can be found in our Monthly Economic Monitor on retailireland.ie. www.retailireland.ie

Need more?

For more information about what we do and how your retail business can benefit from our unique services and supports, please visit us at www.retailireland.ie.

Retail News Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus Retail News provides a guide to the biggest Cash & Carry / Wholesale brands in the country, examines the impact of Covid-19 on the sector, and focuses on the trends that will drive the market in the months ahead.

36|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: BWG Foods

Evolving to meet market demands

Paul Bealin, Sales Director, Wholesale, BWG Foods, explains how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape for all businesses in Ireland, how BWG’s ability to diversify has helped to deliver on customer requirements, via its network of 22 Cash & Carry Branches across the country.

PAUL Bealin, Sales Director, Wholesale, BWG Foods, explains how the company’s investment in its supply chain has been a “game changer” during the Covid-19 pandemic. He reflects on the trends driving the sector, including the impact of technology, describes the challenges facing the cash & carry / wholesale sector, particularly given the impact of Covid-19 on the foodservice sector, and how the reopening of the hospitality sector will see BWG Foods’ foodservice business thrive again.

How has the cash & carry/wholesale business performed in recent years?

BWG’s ability to diversify, to meet the market requirements, our customer-centric approach to our dealings and our shrewd investment strategy in recent years have helped us strengthen our position as one of Ireland’s leading wholesale (and retail) businesses. We have invested greatly in our sophisticated supply chain, which has been a game changer during this current Covid-19 pandemic and our recent acquisitions of Corrib Food Products, Heaney Meats, 4 Aces and Better Deal have perfectly complemented our nationwide network of Value Centre Cash & Carry branches. Certainly, the environment is a challenging one but our diversification ensured that we were performing at an optimal level pre-Covid.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape for all businesses. That said, we have been growing and developing our foodservice business for the last number of years and when the hospitality sector reopens, I am confident that you will see our pre-eminence in this market thrive once again.

Your Local Wholesaler For Over 50 Years What trends are driving changes in the wholesale/cash & carry sector?

Our business model is one based on meeting the needs of our customers, allied with our expert team of buyers who closely monitor consumer behaviour and the latest trends to ensure we have the right product range available at all times. This involves working closely with suppliers to ensure a market leading range.

The strength of our unique position in the Irish marketplace as part of a truly global organisation has been truly evident through this global pandemic and resultant Irish lockdowns. While other Irish wholesalers have struggled to meet demand in some lines, we are able to secure stocks of commodity lines such as pasta directly from Italy, at a best in market price, to ensure our customers are catered for.

Being part of the BWG Group means that through our large store network of branded symbol stores, in partnership with independent retailers, we have the expertise, knowledge and insight into what our customers want and that can sometimes transfer across different sectors.

Advances in technology are also driving the marketplace, particularly in the current environment. For example, our award winning eCommerce platform, Shoplink, is affording us opportunities to grow and evolve as we offer our customers a smart way of capturing orders. Our customers can engage with the platform directly to utilise it as best suits their needs.

We are also very passionate about offering a full service to our customers. We have one of the largest sales teams in the country and we offer a full service and are very proud of our relationship development with our customers. We are always seeking ways to provide added value, through offering advice on seasonal ranges, planograms, trends, store layout, as well as offering a range of customer-specific sales aids.

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Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: BWG Foods BWG Foods is very good at and our customers respect that and rely on it to help them.

Paul Bealin, Sales Director, Wholesale, BWG Foods.

How has the business changed?

The industry has evolved into a very customer-specific one. Technology allows us to have truly meaningful conversations with our customers, to predict and adapt to meet the trends that will allow them to maximise their sales and profitability. All the sales team work on iPads, which wasn’t the norm five years ago. Having technology at their fingertips allows them to access data and offers relevant to the customer in front of them and to adapt to meet their needs in an instant. In today’s world, you must be adaptable, which is something

What areas are proving particularly successful?

We are confident that we have a strong offer for our customers. We are constantly analysing the market and adapting and adjusting to ensure our customers have access to the best and most competitive offers out there. Also, as part of a larger group, we are able to leverage our combined buying power to better serve our customers in every regard. We run national promotions every three weeks, with further tactical activity generally centred on seasonal opportunities, offering customers incredible value all year round. We have also used our industry knowledge to adapt our offering to reflect the changing needs of our customers during these unprecedented times.

What innovations have you brought to the sector?

Our award-winning eCommerce platform, Shoplink, can connect seamlessly to EPOS and is fully integrated and live with the supply chain.

Customers can access Shoplink 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, enabling them to do business with us more efficiently and giving them back more of their time for other aspects of their business. With a flexible delivery service, if the customer can’t come to us, we will do our utmost to ensure next day delivery. We also offer an Emergency Top-up service

for customers, something that has proven crucial over the last year plus, where demand of certain products has skyrocketed. We also offer a new clickand-collect service for our customers that is growing in popularity.

What do you offer that other cash and carries/wholesalers do not?

One of our greatest strengths is that, as Ireland’s largest national network of cash & carry branches with 22 locations all around Ireland, we are always close to our customer base. Our local knowledge is what sets us apart because we understand and care about what our customers need and want. We are flexible and are committed to helping our customers to succeed and work alongside them to achieve that end goal.

How do you see the future for the sector?

As technology becomes more prevalent, and with many of our customers having to reinvent themselves and change the way they operate, we will need to be even more flexible and accommodating to what is a fluid future at the moment.

As a company, BWG Foods is proud that we are becoming ever more efficient and are also dialling up our sustainability, which is what our customers want and what we as a company are passionate about. What is certain is that we will come through this current crisis and when we do, BWG Foods will continue to provide the excellent and all-round service for our customers that we are renowned for and extremely proud of.

Via their network of 22 Cash & Carry Branches all around Ireland, BWG Foods are always close to their customer base, with terrific offers available nationwide.

38|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: Musgrave MarketPlace

Musgrave MarketPlace investing in the future Musgrave MarketPlace has invested €12.6m into upgrading its branch network to the innovative Food Emporium format in recent years.

MUSGRAVE MarketPlace is one of the country’s leading wholesale suppliers to foodservice, retail and SME businesses.

Recent years have seen the company invest more than €12.6m into the brand, as it transforms each branch into a state-ofthe-art Food Emporium and improves their environmental performance, reducing their carbon footprint.

“We are investing significantly in our branches to create Food Emporiums within Musgrave MarketPlace which not only offer a first-class customer experience but also challenge the perception of the traditional cash-and-carry business,” noted Michael McCormack, Managing Director, Musgrave MarketPlace, at the official opening of the Limerick Food Emporium in August of last year, which he described as “another important milestone in our brand journey”.

“Our brand essence; First for Service, First for Choice and First for Value, is at the core of everything we do, and we are focused on delivering our customers a first-class customer experience despite the challenging business environment,” he explained.

As well as offering amazing value, great service and a broader product range, the Musgrave MarketPlace branches include a Food Theatre for product demonstrations, a bespoke butchery counter, a new coffee counter, as well as in-branch expert advice.

The changing needs of customers Michael McCormack stressed the upgrade work has been a direct response to the changing needs of customers, that were not present a decade ago: “Our Food Emporium format gives our customers a greater range across all products from world foods to bespoke meat cutting in-branch and crockery and equipment. Additional services available to our customers include a team of product specialists, a trends expert, dedicated chef skills masterclasses and retailer workshops.”

The Limerick Food Emporium was the latest to move to the Food Emporium model, and follows upgrades to the Galway and Derry branches in 2019, as well as Dublin’s Ballymun and Robinhood, Cork and Duncrue in Belfast.

In line with Musgrave MarketPlace’s sustainability strategy, the Food Emporium format is designed to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. With the introduction of low power eco refrigeration and LED lighting, the Limerick branch

Michael McCormack, Managing Director, Musgrave MarketPlace (left), pictured with Irish international rugby star Seán Cronin at the official opening of Musgrave MarketPlace Limerick Food Emporium in August 2020.

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Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: Musgrave MarketPlace

The Food Emporium format gives customers a greater range across all products.

reduced its CO2 output by 99,420kg per annum, while the Galway brand reduced its CO2 output by 82,000kg per annum, Upgraded Click & Collect Other new features at Musgrave MarketPlace branches include an upgraded Click & Collect offering which allows customers to place orders online, hassle-free. Customers can park in the conveniently located Click & Collect parking spots at the store exit and, if they have paid online, have their order brought out to the car when they call the Click & Collect number. Alternatively, they can pick up some extra items in branch while their order is being brought to the till where they can then pay for all of their items together.

Navigating the stores has been made easier than ever thanks to a colour blocking system, which aligns with a map on the customer’s trolley.

Musgrave MarketPlace’s bespoke butchery counter.

Musgrave MarketPlace supplies over 12,000 retail and foodservice lines covering confectionery, soft drinks, grocery, chilled, frozen and dry catering food, alcohol, non-food and equipment. The vast range includes leading brands, along with an extensive range of own-brand products. For more information visit www.musgravemarketplace.ie.

Ongoing investment in the Irish food sector Musgrave MarketPlace has committed to investing €350,000, over a four-year period, in the development of DIT’s School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology. The investment will see the continuance of the Musgrave MarketPlace Scholarship Programme and the sponsoring of the state-of-the-art training restaurant at the new DIT Grangegorman Campus. The investment is part of Musgrave MarketPlace’s ongoing support of the progression of the Irish food sector and investing in upand-coming chefs and future leaders of the food industry.

The Musgrave MarketPlace Food Emporium format has proven hugely successful.

The Food Theatre caters for in-store product demonstrations.

Musgrave MarketPlace branches are located at: • Dublin – Ballymun, Sallynoggin and Robinhood • Waterford • Cork • Limerick • Galway • Lurgan • Belfast • Derry

40|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: Barry Group

Supporting family businesses Jim Barry, Managing Director, Barry Group, reflects on the changing nature of the wholesale / cash & carry business and why Barry Group continue to thrive in the market by understanding the needs of their customers.

BARRY Group Managing Director Jim Barry explains why the company’s General Wholesale channel continues to experience double-digit growth, the changing nature of the wholesale business and why, as a family business themselves, Barry Group are perfectly suited to looking after the needs of other family retail businesses.

How has the Barry Group’s wholesale business preformed in recent years?

We are very happy with the progression of our General Wholesale channel. Over the past two years, we have expanded our team and are proud of our double-digit growth, which we are confident will continue this year. Additionally, we have developed our Best Buys sales offering, which is our primary sales effort for this channel that includes key lines at everyday competitive pricing, backed up by volume line deals which help drive sales for our valued customers. We continue to develop this offering in book format and online, which is now a major part of our growth.

Our dedicated sales team build great relationships with our customers and ensure that they are aware of the deals that will successfully drive their business. Our aim is to enable independently-owned retailers to compete in the market and aid them to run profitable businesses. We have a long history of delivering great value for our customers and this is a legacy that we are proud to continually deliver on.

How has the business changed?

As a company, we continue to evolve our customer offering for our General Wholesale customers, as well as all parts of our business. We challenge ourselves each year as to how we improve what we do across all facets of what we do. This process involves our seven departments developing new plans and approaches to assist our business in delivering the best

possible service to our customers, as well as delivering for our key supply partners. We put a major focus on our range offering to ensure that it is competitive and delivers on value for our customers. We continually review our processes to ensure we are effective and efficient.

This process proved imperative in the past year as we adapted to changes in the market due to Covid-19. However, although change was prevalent during this period of time and it was essential for our business to be agile, it was also important to focus on the unwavering fact that certain things had to remain unchanged. Our focus and dedication to delivering on our customers’ requirements did not change. Our constant striving to deliver value for our customers did not change. Our delivery of our Best Buys selling effort remained a top priority, ensuring that our offering from both value and range did not change. Moving into 2021, we did take key lessons from this period but we also identified what strengths our business has and plan to further capitalise on them.

What areas are proving particularly successful?

The General Wholesale division has been a key focus on the business for the past few years. We have heavily invested in this channel and have reaped the rewards as a result. Our ambient core range remains a huge strength for the business

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|41

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: Barry Group from both a range and value perspective.

Additionally, our alcohol offering has been identified as a key benefit of trading with Barry Group due to our extensive portfolio.

Our chill and fresh range has also had great success. By moving our chill warehouse to our central distribution centre in Mallow, Co. Cork, we have witnessed growth in this category and have further plans to fuel it for this year. In all, our range and offering is the reason why customers keep on coming back to Barry Group – it is unrivalled.

What do you offer that other cash & carry / wholesalers do not?

The difference between Barry Group and our competitors is that we can bring scale of offering with our unique family business professional approach.

Our team are highly trained in the importance of our customer, which is one of our key values. Put quite simply, we deliver on what we promise, which may sound simple, but the fact that there are no false promises offers a point of difference over many of our competitors.

We believe the fact that we are a genuine family business allows us to understand the challenges a family business experiences. This places us in a much better position to relate and come

up with solutions than large corporates, who could not possibly understand.

With so many stores now part of symbol groups, is there still room for a traditional cash & carry?

There are still many retailers who want their name over their stores rather than a symbol brand. As a company that deals with both symbol group and independent customers, we understand that every retailer is different, with unique needs.

Our aim is to have an offering to meet the needs of each of our customers and ensure that they have a wholesale partner that is focused on their success.

Our General Wholesale offering, while different to our symbol offering, is designed to support a professional retail partner, offering retailers who want to remain fully independent the opportunity to do so. I am not so sure that cash & carry’s have the skill base to offer the range of services that retailers may require for the long term. This is why we believe it is imperative to have a wholesale partner who understands your business.

How do you see the future for the sector?

I think there will be a lot of consolidation in the sector but I do see a very good

“

We believe the fact that we are a genuine family business allows us to understand the challenges a family business experiences. This places us in a much better position to relate and come up with solutions.

”

future for wholesalers who have scale, an extensive offering and take a professional approach to how they run their businesses and give their customers a great experience.

Jim Barry, Barry Group Managing Director (left) John O’ Connell, Head of Logistics, examine the company’s warehouse facility in Mallow, Co. Cork.

42|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Cash & Carry / Wholesale Focus: Stonehouse

A bright future for cash & carry Tom Shipsey, Stonehouse CEO, examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Ireland’s cash & carry / wholesale business, including the growth in online ordering, and predicts a bright future ahead.

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on all of our lives, including how we live and work. Stonehouse CEO Tom Shipsey examines its effect on cash & carry / wholesale, notes the categories that have performed well amid the lockdown, and looks to a bright future for the sector.

How has the cash & carry/wholesale business performed in recent years?

It has been a tale of two sectors and two regions over the last year. Those Stonehouse members engaged in foodservice have naturally seen their business fall by up to 60% in certain areas, particularly in urban and tourist settings. Retail for most members was extremely buoyant, although the product mix changes put major pressure on margins. Those members in city centre locations found that retail took a huge hit, as people remain at home and do not commute into city centre work locations.

What trends are driving changes in the wholesale/cash & carry sector?

Since the pandemic, the single biggest change has been the move away from foodservice and into traditional grocery. There has also been a move within grocery away from impulse into sharing, large product formats and “eat later” categories.

How has the business changed?

Our customer base is not shopping cash & carry but relying on delivery. The increase in online ordering has been enormous.

STONEHOUSE MARKETING L

Central Office: 12 Dundrum Business Park, D Tel: (01) 296 6000 Fax: (01) 296

Stonehouse is Ireland’s leading independent who warehouses nationwide. Stonehouse supports th each member quality of service and product exc client insight and market knowedge at the fore o

MANAGEMENT: Chief Executive Officer:Tom Shipsey Group Retail Co-ordinator: Janice Gibney Foodservice & Beverage Coordinator: B Finance: Trevor Logan

What innovations have you brought to the sector?

Our biggest innovation was moving our traditional Trade Show online, where we teamed up our supplier base with our members in a series of 15-minute meetings to drive business, discuss NPD and highlight areas of growth.

With so many stores now part of symbol groups, is there still room for a traditional cash & carry?

Many of our symbol stores are tied to our cash & carrys. The product is, in most cases, going directly from the local member to retailer so our symbol store relationship is different to that of our competitors. In the case of independent stores, there are a number of very successful ones that require the services of cash & carrys and our members offer a wonderful service to them. Foodservice, when it is open, is a complex, dynamic industry, requiring fast efficient deliveries on a daily basis.

Local cash & carry is by far the best model to satisfy these busy professionals.

What do you offer that other cash & carries/wholesalers do not?

Location, location, location. In a time of pandemic, we are even closer to our customer base, understanding the unique requirements of local communities. That intimate knowledge of our customer, our consumer and our local environment is even more important at this difficult time.

How do you see the future for the sector?

We are optimistic about the future. We are seeing many of the cash & carry members of Stonehouse now transitioning to the next generation. This generation is inquisitive, willing to take different tacks and acutely aware of customer/consumer needs. Cash & carry has a future and a bright one, with good management and strong supplier and customer relationships.

What areas are proving particularly successful?

Alcohol, tobacco, breakfast cereal, and household products are showing the largest gains.

Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie|43

Nivea

Get your game face on with Nivea Men

NIVEA Men, Ireland’s number one male facecare brand (Source: Neilsen ROI Extended Scantrack, 52-week data to June 17, 2018) and the official men’s grooming supplier to Liverpool FC, is helping men embrace their sensitive side. With 65% of men claiming to have sensitive skin (Source: TNS Sensitive Usage & Attitude report 2015, Russia & Germany), the Nivea Men Sensitive Range protects against the five signs of irritation: burning, redness, dryness, tightness, and itchiness. The formula, which contains 0% alcohol, Chamomile and Almond Oil, moisturises and calms the skin, as well as softening stubble as it grows.

itch on the days you don’t? Now you can take care of both, whichever day of the week it is.

Irritated skin after shaving? Get an instant relief with the Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm. Enriched with Hamamelis, Chamomile and Vitamin E, it instantly calms and nourishes the skin.

Also available in the range are the Nivea Men Sensitive Shower Gel and the Nivea Men Sensitive Protect AntiPerspirant.

LTD

Nivea Men Sensitive Range

Dublin Start your day off right with Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash, 14. a specially developed, mild cleansing gel with Vitamin E that Email: info@stonehouse.ie 6 6002 instantly refreshes and thoroughly cleanses the skin, removing

Web: www.stonehouse.ie

all dirt and excess oil.

olesale company with a network of 25 family run companies, totalling 31 If you prefer the softness of a clean-shaven face, Nivea Men Sensitive Shave Gel provides a flawless razor glide, allowing he independent Irish trader through quality of service and product excellence, with even the toughest stubble to be shaved with just one stroke.

The Nivea Men Sensitive Intensive Moisturising Cream is cellence, with each member dedicated to a progressive business model that keeps the latest addition to the popular Nivea Men Sensitive Range The innovative collection of products from Nivea helps to of all group activity. and has been specially created to immediately alleviate dry and thoroughly cleanse the skin, while gently caring and protecting tight skin. Shaving irritations on the days you shave? Stubble

y Brian Elliott

IRELANDS NO. 1 MENS SKINCARE BRAND*

*Nielsen ROI, Total Scantrack, Value Sales, MAT w/e 28.02.2021 (Male Skincare)

its delicate moisture balance.

44|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Tobacco Products

Lighting up the market

Tobacco was not hit as hard by Covid-19 as other industries, with volume sales of Fine Cut Tobacco growing strongly during the pandemic restrictions.

THE tobacco category was not impacted as much by the Covid-19 pandemic as other industries, as cigarettes and smoking tobacco, as well as vaping products, are widely available through stores such as supermarkets, convenience stores and hypermarkets, essential retailers who could trade through the pandemic.

Indeed, 2020 saw a marked increase in demand for Fine Cut Tobacco (FCT) as many adult smokers reduced their shopping trips in lockdown and opted for purchasing tobacco instead of cigarettes.

Imperial Brands data from February 2021 reveals that volumes of FCT were up by 30% in 2020, compared to the previous year.

Another trend driving the market is the fact that many of the biggest names in the tobacco industry are shifting their emphasis from cigarettes to next generation products, such such as e-vapour

products and heated tobacco, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International. The same report argues that the Characterising Flavour Ban, which was introduced in Ireland in May 2020, banning all flavoured cigarettes and cigarettes with flavoured capsules, will have a negative impact on cigarettes sales.

The amount of illegal tobacco on the Irish market remains a big concern. Retailers Against Smuggling believe that continued excise increases are leading to an increased percentage of smuggled tobacco getting into Ireland, which will directly impact legitimate registered retailers. “As consumers turn towards the black market, ultimately it is the retailer who suffers through the loss of not only the legal purchase of cigarettes but also any potential additional purchases that person might make when they are in the store,” argued Benny Gilsenan, national spokesperson for Retailers Against Smuggling.

Gilsenan argued that “the detection and seizure of illegal tobacco products must remain a priority for Irish authorities, with increased awareness of the elaborate means criminal gangs are utilising to transport these huge volumes.” He called for Revenue and An Garda Siochana to be given the correct resources “to ensure that criminals don’t continue to reap the benefits of the high cost of tobacco products.”

Sales of Fine Cut Tobacco were up during the pandemic.

Silk Cut, Ireland’s number one cigarette brand.

Silk Cut Purple. It’s so much more than a colour. In ancient times, the dye used to create purple fabric was an extravagance only worthy of emperors and kings. Like Silk Cut, purple represents quality and luxury, for those who demand the best. It promises a premium experience, whether through the iconic original product, or innovation such as Silk Cut Choice. That’s why Silk Cut is

Our NEW innovative blend & white tipped filter for a familiar, fresh experience.

SCAN ME

For Tobacco Traders Only. 18+. www.showmeid.ie | www.johnplayer-ignite.ie

Toradh caithimh tobac - bás.

Smoking kills.

46|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Tobacco Products Ireland’s number one cigarette brand with over 20% share of the cigarette segment (Source: Nielsen extended Scantrack, RMC SOM 21.3%, latest 4 weeks data to February 28, 2021), and why purple is so much more than a colour.

New Benson & Hedges Gold 35s, the largest premium cigarette box on the market. Pack images are for illustration purposes only and do not represent actual packs available for order from JTI Ireland limited, which comply with plain packaging requirements of tobacco products.

Benson & Hedges Benson & Hedges has been raising the bar since 1990. From the FirmTech filter to limited edition bundles, B&H is a brand that never settles for second best, because nothing less than gold will do.

You expect the best, too. So be like B&H and innovate: stock up on the new B&H Gold 35s, the largest premium cigarette box on the market. Gold. It’s a state of mind.

Mayfair When existing adult smokers want great value and quality, they know they can rely on Mayfair. That’s because Mayfair delivers even more for their money, with the Big Box range: Mayfair Original 27s, Mayfair Superkings Original 27s and Mayfair Original Mega Box 33s.

Mayfair is the value hero and Ireland’s number one cigarette brand in the value segment (Source: Nielsen extended Scantrack, RMC SOS 40.1%, latest 4 weeks data to February 28, 2021).

Mayfair Original Mega Box 33s, delivering great value and quality to adult smokers in Ireland. Pack images are for illustration purposes only and do not represent actual packs available for order from JTI Ireland limited, which comply with plain packaging requirements of tobacco products.

John Player John Player are proud to provide adult smokers with both quality & value when it comes to their extensive range of cigarettes, rolling &

John Player Blue is a premium Irish brand with over 40 years in the market.

Riverstone, the popular RYO brand from John Player. tubing tobacco products and accessories. Whether it be premium or value brands, American or Virginia blend, big box, compact or combi formats, John Player have a product to meet the continually evolving preferences of Irish adult smokers.

From John Player Blue, a premium Irish brand with over 40 years in the market, to Superkings, a distinctive 100s format cigarette, L&B, Regal and Players Navy Cut to RYO brands such as Golden Virginia, Drum and Riverstone, plus tobacco accessories brands Rizla and Blas, the John Player portfolio is varied in terms of blends, formats and value offerings, ensuring choice across the full range.

However, the jewel in the John Player crown and their fastest growing brand is JPS. Since 1970, JPS has provided an expansive range of blends and pack sizes for all adult smokers.

Since its relaunch in 2015, coupled with continuous product innovation, the brand has gone from strength to strength with current market share sitting at 12.22% (Source: Imperial Brands internal data February 2021).

John Player’s innovation and product quality translate JPS Cool Green offers a new across both their fine cut fresh blend to adult smokers. tobacco and cigarette ranges, and it remains at the core of the JPS brand, with each product unique in terms of blend and feature technology.

From the Firm Filter offering on full flavour Blue & Red, the smooth Stream Filter technology of Silverstream and Bright to the new fresh blend of JPS Cool Green, JPS caters for the many differing tastes of adult smokers, ensuring product quality is paramount.

JPS Volume Tobacco

allows adult smokers to roll up to 90 sticks per 30g pouch.

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*Price correct at time of activation, March 2021. Pack image is for illustrative purposes only.

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For Tobacco Traders Only. 18+. https://www.showmeid.ie/. www.johnplayer-ignite.ie.

48|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Tobacco Products 2021), is a unique value offering in the Irish market, namely due to its unique cutting process, which produces an expandable tobacco and in-turn creates more rolling potential. Adult smokers can roll up to 90 sticks per 30g pouch, 30 more sticks when compared to the same amount of standard rolling tobacco (comparison between 30g of JPS Volume Tobacco and 30g of standard rolling tobacco). JPS Blue & Silver Volume Tobacco 30g pack is competitively priced, retailing at €18.20 (prices correct at time of print).

Ireland’s number one tobacco accessories brand, Rizla leads the sector when it comes to tobacco ancillary products, namely filters and tips. Quite new to the Rizla range, Rizla Menthol tips and Rizla Polar Blast crushball tips are innovative offerings providing an alternative solution for ex-menthol, crushball and capsule adult smokers. Blas mint flavour cards, which retail at 35c per card, have sold over a million units since their launch in April 2020.

While Covid-19 has changed consumer and shopper behaviour across many categories, 2020 saw a marked increase for Fine Cut Tobacco as many adult smokers reduced their shopping trips in lockdown and opted for purchasing tobacco instead of cigarettes. FCT volumes increased by 30% in 2020 vs 2019 (Source: Imperial Brands internal data February 2021).

By stocking a full range of John Player tobacco products and accessories, you can meet the varied needs of your value seeking adult smokers.

For further detail or to stock up on any John Player’s brands, please visit www. johnplayer-ignite.ie, contact your local sales representative or call (01) 2434900.

Rizla Menthol tips provide an alternative solution for ex-menthol adult smokers. jkll lIn today’s climate, adult consumers seek convenience and value in every category of their shopping experience and tobacco is no different. Imperial Tobacco internal consumer research shows that both quality and value remain top priorities when it comes to purchasing tobacco products. JPS’ big box range delivers on quality, convenience & value all in one. The newest big box offering, JPS Blue 35s which launched in November 2020 and retails at €20, has already gained 1.88% share.

Similarly, JPS Volume Tobacco, with over 9% share of the FCT sector (Source: Imperial Brands internal data February

The innovative Rizla Polar Blast crushball tips.

The growth of vaping

MOST of the main players in the tobacco sector have made moves to introduce vaping products, alongside their traditional tobacco brands, and the reason is obvious. The vaping market continues to grow.

According to the European Commission’s Eurobarometer on ‘attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes’, 21% of Irish smokers used vaping products or similar devices, a figure estimated at around 200,000 people.

Indeed, it is estimated that Ireland’s vaping rate stands at around 7%, compared to an EU average of 2%.

The latest report on the Irish vaping market by Euromonitor International predicts significant growth over the coming years, although growth rates will slow slightly from the explosion in popularity in recent years, as the category matures.

Blas mint flavour cards have sold over a million units since their launch in April 2020.

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50|Retail News|April 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Employment Law

The law and atypical working relationships

Barry Reynolds and Jenny Wakely, specialists in employment law with DAC Beachcroft, explain some key legal points when it comes to atypical working relationships, including part-time workers, banded hours and zero-hours contracts.

ONE of the benefits of employment in the retail sector, including the FMCG sector, is the flexibility that it can often offer, for example in terms of working hours. This can be of considerable benefit to employers and employees alike. In this article, we look at some of the key elements of various types of atypical working arrangements, including temporary employment arrangements; part-time, flexible and “casual” working arrangements; and the use of agency workers.

Fixed-term and specified purpose contracts Many employers regularly use fixed-term or specified purpose contracts in order to meet the needs of their businesses. One of the main advantages of these contracts is the availability of an exclusion from the protections of the Unfair Dismissals legislation where the employment comes to an end upon the expiry of the fixed term or completion of the specified purpose.

However, employers should note that such employees can in some circumstances still pursue unfair dismissal claims and they also have the benefit of certain protections over and above those of more permanent employees. These protections are found principally in the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 (the “2003 Act”) and include protections which can be broadly described as:

1. The right not to be treated in a less favourable manner than comparable permanent staff; 2. The right to receive in writing details of when the contract will expire; 3. If the fixed-term contract is renewed, the right to receive in writing details of why that renewal is again on a temporary basis as opposed to a more permanent contract; 4. The right to receive information from the employer about vacancies; 5. The right to have access to appropriate training opportunities; 6. The right not to be penalised, including as a result of invoking the protections of the 2003 Act. Most significantly is the fact that if one of these types of contract has been renewed, the employee could accrue a right to a “contract of indefinite duration”. This can arise where two or more successive temporary contracts run to a total of more than four years and without the continuing temporary nature of the contract being objectively justified.

Part-time contracts Part-time contracts are also frequently used and can range from a few hours of work per week to hours of work that are much closer to those of a full-time employee. A part-time employee is defined in the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 (the “2001 Act”) in straightforward, if rather flexible, terms. It is, broadly speaking, an employee whose hours of work are less than those of others employed in similar positions.

Part-time employees are protected from discrimination in comparison to full-time employees. Discrimination is, however, permissible on very narrow grounds which rarely arise and are subjected to a very strict legal test. Discrimination is also permitted in respect of pension arrangements but only if the

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part-time employee works less than 20% of the hours of work of a full-time colleague. The general rule is that benefits must be provided to part-time employees on a proportionate basis.

Banded hours Flexible or “casual” working arrangements are a longstanding feature of the employment landscape and such arrangements are often of mutual benefit to both employers and employees. The concept of banded hours, while introduced relatively recently, will now be familiar across the retail sector.

Employees are entitled to make a written request to their employer to be placed into a particular “band of hours”. This can arise where their written contract of employment does not accurately reflect the hours they actually work. There are eight bands, ranging from 3-6 hours to 36 hours and over. The calculation of the band into which the employee should be placed is based on the average number of hours the employee worked during the preceding 12-month period. How to calculate this has given rise to some uncertainty. Periods of annual leave are discounted from the calculation. So, for example, if an employee spends four weeks on annual leave, the divisor for the purpose of the calculation should be 48 rather than 52.

On receipt of a request for banded hours, an employer has four weeks to consider it. A request may only be refused for one of the following reasons: • There is no evidence to support the claim; • There have been significant changes negatively impacting the business; • The employer was unable to consider the request due to exceptional circumstances or an emergency situation; • Where the employee’s hours were affected by a temporary situation that no longer exists.

Once an employee has been placed in a particular band, he or she is entitled to be provided with working hours that on average fall within that band for a period of at least 12 months.

An employee may bring a complaint to the Workplace

“

Employment Law

Recent steps designed to reduce the use of zero-hour contracts include requiring employers to make significant payments to employees where they are not provided with at least 25% of the hours for which they are required to make themselves available.

In these circumstances, the employee could be entitled to 25% of those hours or payment for 15 hours’ work.”

”

Relations Commission (WRC) where he or she believes that the employer has failed to place him or her into a band within four weeks or has unreasonably refused the request. The WRC has no power to award compensation, but can direct an employer to place an employee into the appropriate band of hours.

Zero-hour contracts Zero-hour contracts have been the focus of recent restrictions.

The legislation seeks to limit their use, for example, to genuine casual work or where the employee is essential in providing emergency cover or short-term relief work. The prohibition of zero-hour contracts applies to employees whose contracts of employment require them to make themselves available

Employers should review their contracts of employment to ensure that they are up to date and reflect the reality of the working arrangements, and accurate working time records should be maintained.

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Employment Law peculiarity of Irish Unfair Dismissals legislation and one that is not widely appreciated, is that liability for unfair dismissal rests not with the agency as employer, but with the end user. This can result in a situation where the end user is fully liable even though the agency alone effected the termination.

Employers should ensure that they take steps to protect themselves as much as possible from this very significant exposure. This may include seeking to include appropriate robust provisions in the relevant commercial agreements with agencies.

Flexible or “casual” working arrangements are a long-standing feature of the employment landscape and such arrangements are often of mutual benefit to both employers and employees. to work for their employer either (i) a certain number of hours in a week; (ii) as and when their employer requires them to do so; or (iii) a combination of these.

Additional recent steps designed to reduce the use of zero-hour contracts include requiring employers to make significant payments to employees where they are not provided with at least 25% of the hours for which they are required to make themselves available. In these circumstances, the employee could be entitled to 25% of those hours or payment for 15 hours’ work. The rules and practice around this must be consulted by employers and it is, of course, worth pointing out in the midst of the ongoing pandemic that the remedies do not apply where the employer is unable to provide this level of work because of a period of lay-off or short-time or as a result of an emergency or other exceptional circumstances. They also do not apply where the employee was unable to work the required hours due to illness.

Each specific circumstances must be considered. In addition, as some of these rules are relatively new, there remains some uncertainty around how the obligations play out, depending on the circumstances.

Agency workers In Ireland, agency workers are entitled to benefit from various rights from the first day (unlike other jurisdictions where

there are qualifying periods) of their assignment to a business (here referred to as an end user):

Takeaway for employers Many sectors in Ireland are very dependent on atypical working arrangements. Employers should review their contracts of employment to ensure that they are up to date and reflect the reality of the working arrangements, and accurate working time records should be maintained. The position on zerohours arrangements should be navigated carefully, as should use of agency workers and indeed all atypical working arrangements.

If you require any assistance in relation to any of the above matters, please contact Barry Reynolds or Jenny Wakely.

• The same basic working and employment conditions as direct employees; • Access to collective facilities on the same basis as direct employees; • To receive information about employment vacancies on the same basis as direct employees.

These rights and obligations apply only to agency workers as defined in the relevant legislation. Many types of workers fall outside the definition; for example, those working under managed service arrangements. An agency worker for these purposes, broadly speaking, is one under the supervision and direction of the end user business.

The liability for unequal treatment of agency workers, as referred to above, is on the agency itself.

However, end users also have liabilities. These include the obligation to provide the agency with the information it reasonably requires in order to ensure compliance with its obligations. If the end user business does not provide the agency with this information, then it could find itself having to cover the liabilities which the agency incurs by reason of the failure to provide the requisite information.

Perhaps most significantly, a

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

FOR specific assistance and advice in respect of any of these or other employment law issues, please contact Barry Reynolds (breynolds@ dacbeachcroft.com) or Jenny Wakely (jwakely@dacbeachcroft.com) of DAC Beachcroft (https://www. dacbeachcroft.com/en/gb/locations/ dublin/) or one of their other specialist employment law solicitors.

This article is for general information purposes only and does not comprise legal or professional advice. You should not rely on any of the material in this article without seeking appropriate legal advice.

Twitter: @dacbeachcroft LinkedIn: DAC Beachcroft Dublin

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Digital Solutions: The Skills for Success

Digital skills for success:

training to boost your business Though Ireland fares among the best in the EU for the digital skills of its population, the general level of knowledge is less than one might think, with 42% of Irish adults rating their skills as below average.

Morgan Stokes examines the reasons behind the figure and the ways that you can help your team improve in this area.

THOUGH Irish retailers have been increasingly forced to carry out their business online since we first locked down over a year ago, the FMCG sector has largely been able to keep its doors open and do the heroic work of feeding the country in a once-in-a-century crisis.

But there’s no doubt that consumer behaviour has changed – customers are increasingly looking for online delivery options and searching for special offers on social media.

The pace of automation and technological innovation had already been accelerating well before Covid-19, with a Retail Ireland Skillnet report from early 2020 finding that some 36% of store owners planned to make significant improvements across internal systems such as self-checkouts and hand-held terminals, eCommerce and online sales, and ‘digital footprint’, which includes social media and web presence.

However, that same report found that 31% of store owners were reluctant to make such improvements due to lack of skills in their organisations. The start of the pandemic saw an explosion in online seminars from retail groups and from the Irish government, aimed at boosting the digital skills of the grocery

sector. However, employers may need to assume a lower baseline of familiarity with technology among their staff than they might initially suppose.

“We know that across the EU there is an average of 55-60% of people who have at least a basic level of digital skills,” says Mary Cleary, Chair of the Irish Computer Society, which runs the Irish Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

“In Ireland, we’re doing a bit better, but only by two or three percentage points”. In other words, if you (or your employees) have difficulty figuring out your smartphone or sending emails, you are not alone.

An issue among all age groups When you think of an employee struggling with technology at work, you may immediately picture somebody close to retirement. While age remains the best predictor of a lower digital skill level, ‘Bridging the Gap - Ireland’s Digital Divide’, a 2020 report from Accenture, found that one in five adults in the 18-34 age bracket rated their digital skills as below average (compared to 42% overall). Those who did were far more likely to be working in lower income professions or have grown up with

parents who did – it’s easy to forget that while owning a computer and smartphone is seen as a necessity now, it was still a luxury 15 years ago.

Younger people may be more likely to feel ashamed of not being able to use the technology they need to do their jobs and might avoid it wherever possible, not an ideal outcome if you’ve been investing in store systems to improve efficiency.

Employees with lower digital skills in general might also avoid using new systems out of fear that they might break them.

Cleary cautions against the assumption that all young people are intuitively good with technology. “There may be a misconception that all children are digital natives now, but that is a misconception. They’re able to respond to a touchscreen… but in terms of using technology and developing real digital skills, they need to be taught that.”

Being adept with technology in your personal life does not necessarily immediately translate to the workplace, either; an employee with a stellar private Instagram following could seem like the ideal person to take charge of your small business’ social media account, but while they might be a better choice than

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Digital Solutions: The Skills for Success fear of technology. For more information see icdl.ie.

Supporting Communities, an Irish government funded initiative, runs a series of online seminars covering basic digital skills, online safety and social media. The courses are broken down into individual modules, so there’s no need to sit through anything that you already know, and there are lessons on how to get more out of Facebook and other tools that you or your employees are probably already using.

The Retail Ireland Skillnet runs a host of training options, covering all aspects of retailing (including digital marketing) from shorter e-learning courses to a two-year Apprenticeship in Retail Supervision and right up to BA and MA level. See retailirelandskillnet.com for more information.

You could also consider paying a private company to conduct training organisation-wide. While some more technologically adept employees may consider such training a waste of their time, you might be reaching a crucial few who were afraid to put their hand up.

Equipping your staff with digital skills can have huge benefits for your business.

Consider outsourcing IT is a broad field and no one person can be great at everything – just ask any software engineer who has had to patiently explain, for the fifth time, that they don’t know how to fix their aunt’s internet connection. While most small business owners might be aware that you can hire companies to design websites and maintain internal systems, many aren’t aware you can also outsource your social media presence and eCommerce needs.

someone who grudgingly uses Facebook to wish their friends a happy birthday, they won’t necessarily have the skills to break down social media statistics and decide what content is best to put out on a business-to-consumer account.

Help is out there Thankfully, there is a lot of training out there that exists to move adult learners from barely surviving to thriving in the digital landscape.

ICDL, or the International Computer Driving License, remains a gold-standard programme for adult digital literacy.

If you hail from a certain era, you might remember sitting in school in front of a bank of dusty CRT monitors to memorise Excel formulas for your European Computer Driving License, but the certification has moved on leaps and bounds since then. The course now contains 31 discreet modules covering everything from back-office tasks to social media, with a new module on online sales and eCommerce in development, and is run through the Irish Computer Society. The ICDL Digital Citizen course is aimed at very beginners, with a focus on removing a

The pace of automation and technological innovation had already been accelerating well before Covid-19.

Technology in retail FROM high-end EPOS solutions to self-scanning checkouts, technology continues to impact on the retail sector, both in the back-office and the way the consumer shops the store. Most consumers now do their product research online, for example, either on their computers, tablets or, most frequently, on the smartphone in their hand, even when it comes to reasonably small purchases.

Increased automation, more effective use of big data and new tech like AI and extended reality are all having an impact on how people shop and how retailers interact with shoppers. M&S in the UK introduced in-queue checkouts in late 2020, whereby a staff member with a handheld device can take contactless payment for a small numbers of items. Meanwhile, eCommerce giants like Alibaba and Amazon are opening physical stores that blur the lines between online and bricks-and-mortar.

While the shop assistant doesn’t necessarily have to understand the science behind the new technology, having tech-friendly staff can help to give your store the edge.

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Digital Solutions: Software IRISH software company Envisage,

Reimagining retail with Connections

IRISH software company Envisage, Ireland’s largest Sage partner and part of The Noledge Group, has been helping retailers improve administrative efficiencies for over 20 years.

Envisage’s Managing Director, Ray Ryan talks about Connections, a unique retail solution used by over 440 convenience stores and forecourts across Ireland and the UK. Making business easy with Connections Connections helps retailers transform their administrative processes by replacing time-consuming manual tasks with efficient, automated processes.

Retailers can easily get clear, concise and accurate information, in real-time.

“In an average convenience store, there may be 20,000 line items; our Retail Connect module takes the sales and cash transactions from the EPOS system, validates, maps and posts them into Sage software in a few clicks,”

Ray explains. “Supplier Connect automatches deliveries to supplier invoices and creates electronic queries, leaving only the exceptions to be managed manually. With our Scan Connect module, paperwork can be virtually eliminated. The result is an organised, efficient system with accurate reports available when you need them.”

Working with key convenience and EPOS operators Envisage works with key convenience store wholesalers in both Ireland and

Ray Ryan, Managing Director, Envisage.

the UK, including Musgrave, BWG, James Hall, Nisa and Morrisons, as well as EPOS providers such as CBE and Hendersons.

With average savings of 10 hours per week and a 50% reduction in paperwork, Connections has a vital role to play as convenience stores and forecourts look to technology to increase productivity and profitability.

To find out more or book a demo with the Envisage team, contact Ray Ryan (01) 8223200 or email sales@envisagecloud.ie.

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Digital Solutions: EPOS

Your FirstChoice for EPOS customers.”

Find out more about what POSInABox can do for your business at www.POSInABox.ie.

RENOWNED publican Hugh Grainger has used the POSInABox mobile app from FirstChoice ePOS to boost sales in the off licence at The Pebble Beach, Clontarf, Dublin 3. In fact, it has revolutionised how the off licence interacts with and targets its customers.

“The POSInABox solution, with our own branded app, has enabled us to successfully launch our new Off Licence and delivery service,” Hugh explains.

“We selected the POSInABox solution, provided by First Choice ePOS as they have been our EPOS provider in the bar for a long time, and we have always been satisfied with the high quality of their products, services and reliable customer support. The POSInABox system in itself is great; however, it’s The Pebble Beach branded app and online ordering which have really enabled us to increase customer spend.”

branded app allows our customers to order and pay securely, and being fully integrated into our POS system, allows for seamless order fulfilment. We own the app, so we have full access and control of our customer database, which allows us to issue push notifications and make changes to special offers, pricing and products easily. We don’t pay any commission charges on orders, and the POSInABox solution is very affordable with the monthly software as a service option.”

Customer feedback has been “hugely positive”, according to Hugh: “They love the convenience of the app, being able to order and pay for delivery or collection and track the status of their order. The POSInABox solution has put us in control and revolutionised how we reach our

Seamless order fulfilment The app, branded with the name of the bar and off licence, has been the real winner, as Hugh explains: “The

The branded app and online ordering system allows customers to order and pay securely, and is fully integrated into the POS system.

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Category Management

The future of category management

A recent webinar hosted

by ECR Ireland examined the future of category management, while some case studies examined current best practice.

The ECR Webinar Category Management Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, hosted by Declan Carolan, ECR Ireland General Manager and Co-Chair of ECR Community, presented a fascinating insight into the current state of category management and its future development.

Dr Brian Harris, who invented the eight-step approach to category management, and Luc Demeulenaere, CEO of Shopting, both of whom participated in the preparation of the ECR Community report ‘Category Management Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow [2020]’, provided insights into the results of the report, while the webinar also included three presentations of real-world case studies showcasing best practice in category management.

Since Dr Harris developed the eight-step approach to category management back in the 1990s, the concept has seen huge developments, while the world of marketing has evolved significantly, resulting in modern integrated consumer and shopper marketing. “Since 2010, the consumer and their shopper missions have become more of a central focus in marketing and we are now at the point where we can and should seamlessly integrate category management and shopper marketing,” Dr Harris explained.

Taking collaboration to a higher level This new, highly integrated, consumer/shopper approach is taking retailer and manufacturer collaboration to a higher level, with an end goal of increasing both manufacturer and retailer brand equity.

“By using an integrated approach, it enables category innovation and differentiation to be key outputs and key drivers of category growth and development,” according to Dr Harris.

“We are moving to a position where much more shopper segmentation works in conjunction with more individual storeby-store application, and category management helps to create

62

The 2020 ECR Community report ‘Category Management Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow’, by Dr Brian Harris and Luc Demeulenaere. differentiation by delivering cross category solutions and shopping experiences,” he said.

“The fact that shopping missions are becoming ever more central in defining category roles means that this evolution in approach can adapt extremely well to the growth of eCommerce, helping to create new category strategies and tactics,” according to Dr Harris, “with the store, virtual or physical, and the category focused on creating the desired shopping experience for the specific shopper missions.”

Key recommendations Luc Demeulenaere pointed out some key recommendations for retailers from the report: “With these developments, it is increasingly important to really understand consumers/shoppers, their value drivers and behaviours across all the various channels available today. It is necessary to develop a strategic multi-source data intelligence masterplan to connect the various source of

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Category Management companies has been going on since 2013 across more than 1,150 Rewe stores.

One of the keys to success is the core competencies that each company has been able to bring to this project. With the massive Coca-Cola brand able to supply market data, shopper insights and category expertise, along with POS commitment and operational excellence from Rewe and software and data processing from Hoffrogge, the three companies have been able to create a powerful tool to drive sales.

With buy-in from all three partners on this project, Hoffrogge has been able to develop a template to allow for store optimisation across Rewe outlets. Because of the ongoing sharing and processing of data, this system is proactive and adaptive, allowing for the regular development of new planograms and site execution as soon as market conditions change or the priorities of Rewe or Coca-Cola change.

The system’s final step is further process monitoring to allow for the entire system to be constantly refined and improved.

Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland, and Co-Chair of ECR Community. customer insights and to co-invest with manufacturers to improve the desired price/value equation of category solution propositions.”

Luc concluded by making recommendations for manufacturers on how to approach the future of category management. Unsurprisingly, collaboration is the key take-away: “The most important idea is increased collaboration in order to understand how brand segments connect with retailer segments, create new alliances to capitalise on the ability of new media to activate behaviour along the shopper journey, to gain category management insights for these segments along the consumer-shopper journey and develop a strategic multi-source data intelligence masterplan to connect all the various sources of consumer-shopper insights.”

An impressively integrated project The first case study came from Julian Plötz of Hoffrogge, the award-winning German company specialising in creating efficient processes and software tools for category management and sales control, who described their project which saw German retailer Rewe collaborate with Coca-Cola to implement an impressively integrated project to drive sales at Rewe to the benefit of both retailer and supplier.

The collaboration between these three

SuperValu’s Health & Wellness category development Paul Corcoran, Range & Space Planning Manager with Musgrave, shared the success of the development of its Health & Wellness category across SuperValu stores, including an extremely effective tool to allow independent retailers to determine the real value in their investment in this refined category. The project set out to create a destination Health & Wellness category across SuperValu stores, while

Dr Brian Harris, the inventor of the the term ‘category management’.

allowing independent retailers buying into the process to make a measurable and sustainable return on their investment.

The process included developing an ideal format layout, locating the optimum location in store in which to position the Health & Wellness category. By analysing space performance using a euro per linear metre model, each store can easily decide how to reduce or rebalance any and all

Luc Demeulenaere, CEO of Shopting.

Recommendations for retailers:

• Achieve deep understanding of consumer-shoppers, their value drivers and behaviour across all channels; • Leverage insights to develop and implement superior “category solutions” to the retailer’s most important consumer-shopper segments; • Build consumer-shopper understanding to transition from mass marketing to mass customisation to 1-1 personalisation using Artificial Intelligence tools; • Develop a strategic multi-source data intelligence masterplan to connect the various sources of customer insights; • Connect marketing and merchandising decisions to the primary and aspirational value drivers of customers; • Co-invest with manufacturers to improve the desired price / value equation of category solution propositions.

Source: ECR CommunityCategory Management –Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 2020

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Category Management

Paul Corcoran, Range & Space Planning Manager with Musgrave. underperforming categories while retaining the breadth of range.

Analysis also includes return on sales, total sales and margin per bay post-implementation. By engaging in accurate, data-driven planning and ongoing analysis, the process maximises return on investment and also encourages retailer buy-in to make the initial investment. According to Paul, SuperValu is on its way to becoming the leader in Health & Wellness in grocery here and is competing favourably with dedicated health stores in areas like ‘Free From’, ‘Benefits Foods’ and Nuts/Seeds/ Dried Fruit, clearly demonstrating the success of the entire project.

A total store approach The final case study was presented by Birgit Schröder with GS1 Germany, who described how the company has been using a total store approach to the optimisation of category management within client stores. The key targets for GS1’s total store approach are to differentiate the location from competition, to make the location a favoured destination for shoppers, improving the shopper experience, winning additional customers and retaining those customers by building loyalty.

GS1 uses 10 dimensions when engaging in the total store approach: store location, store image, store choice, products & assortment, shopper flow, category adjacencies, placement, store design, service & staff and entrance zone. The approach sees GS1 integrating category management into a larger, holistic approach to store development. This total store approach from GS1 fits perfectly into the developments in category management highlighted by the ECR Community’s report.

Julian Plötz, Team Lead – Project Management, Hoffrogge.

Category management focus areas: • • • • • •

Redefining categories to reflect new consumption habits, lifestyles and expectations; Integrating category management into the broader consumer and shopper journey construct; Applying category management processes in eCommerce channels; Joint brand building collaboration between retailers and manufacturers; Using comprehensive multi-source consumer and shopper data sets enabled by AI and related technologies; Expanding use of category management in other channels (e.g. DIY and pharmacy) and in new markets.

Source: ECR CommunityCategory Management –Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 2020

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What’s New FEED YOUR ‘CHEESIOSITY’ WITH NEW TAYTO CHEESATEES

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH FOR NATURO NATURAL PET FOOD

TAYTO is delighted to announce the launch of Tayto Cheesatees. Mr Tayto has been busy in the kitchen creating the new Tayto Cheesatees that delivers a big cheese flavour and guarantees a big cheesy smile. These light puffy snacks are deliciously flavoursome and have that melt-in-your-mouth texture. Cheese the day and feed your cheesiosity by getting your hands on Tayto’s new snack, available in stores nationwide.

CHICAGO TOWN DEEP DISH WITH 30% LESS FAT CHICAGO Town is adding a brand new, lighter offering to its iconic Deep Dish range. Chicago Town Deep Dish Light Cheese Feast arrives in the frozen aisle this month, providing pizza lovers with a reduced fat alternative to the much-loved classic.

The lighter pizza is the first of its kind in the frozen pizza market and promises a cheesy, fully loaded pizza experience, despite boasting 30% less fat than the original. Made using a delicious blend of stringy mozzarella and full-flavoured, reduced fat cheddar, cheese lovers won’t be disappointed.

Chicago Town has achieved the reduction in fat thanks to a lighter cheese blend and a new crust recipe.

SHOW YOUR SNACKING STRIPES WITH NEW KITKAT ZEBRA KITKAT fans can now add some adventure to their break with the launch of Zebra – a delectable new take on the classic four-finger bar. KitKat Zebra features trademark crispy wafer on a dark chocolate base, topped with marbled dark and creamy white chocolate. With bold packaging to match the product’s eye-catching design, the four-finger treat hit stores across Ireland on April 5. “KitKat Zebra brings you the best of both worlds, combining deliciously rich dark and white chocolate with our trademark crispy wafer, and we hope fans will agree that it tastes as good as it looks,” said Maria McKenna, Confectionery Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland.

“All we can say is, stripes are definitely in this season!”

NATURO Natural Pet Food has launched its latest marketing campaign, which will be seen on TV and digital channels across Ireland and the UK and will last for 10 weeks. The brand has seen exponential growth over the past year, taking the spot as the number one natural wet dog food in GB (Nielsen, 2020) and a 64% increase in online sales in just the first quarter of 2021. “We are ecstatic to release our latest campaign, following the success of our two digital campaigns in 2020, which saw over 52m impressions and a 607% increase in daily website visits,” noted Claire McNally, Marketing Manager, Mackle Petfoods. “Our messaging relays not only the natural bond held between pet parent and dog, but the 100% natural properties of our dog food.

With a huge hike in pet ownership over the past year, more and more people around the UK and Republic of Ireland will be able to identify with the small acts of caring and kindness we demonstrate in our latest campaign.”

COCA-COLA UNVEILS NEW, REFRESHED LOOK THE Coca-Cola Company has announced a new design system for the Coca-Cola trademark that brings Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke together in an evolution of the ‘One Brand’ Strategy that launched worldwide in 2016. The new design is simplified, removing added elements such as the red disc, to elevate the iconic trademarks with global consistency.

As a visual metaphor to uplift, the new design also proudly raises the Coca-Cola logo to the top of the label. The design begins with the brand’s original and universally-recognised colour red. When red is paired with white Spencerian script, it is Coca-Cola Original Taste. When paired with black script, it is Zero Sugar, leveraging the trademark and typography is a different way to indicate the Zero Sugar variety, coupled with other details such as black bottle caps. Diet Coke will also sit within the Coca-Cola trademark design family, with their signature silver background and red logo. The updated design is led by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which has also debuted a new recipe, with a delicious and refreshing taste that brings it closer to that of the iconic Coca-Cola Original taste. A new marketing campaign will support the new recipe for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, ‘Best Coke Ever?’.

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Forecourt Focus: News

Circle K launches Keep It Lit campaign to support Olympic hopefuls CIRCLE K, as proud partner of both Irish Olympic and Paralympic Teams, has launched a new Here for Ireland promotion to reiterate its support of Team Ireland athletes.

Over the course of the initiative to date, Circle K customers have generated more than 218m digital coins, worth approximately €750,000 for the athletes to use, all of which have been shared evenly amongst the 172 Irish athletes who signed up to Here for Ireland and since the initiative first launched in 2019.

Irish Olympian and European and World Championship Bronze Medal-winning swimmer Shane Ryan.

Through the Here for Ireland initiative, Circle K customers can show their support for Team Ireland athletes as they strive to achieve Olympic and Paralympic glory in Tokyo, by simply scanning either the Circle K app or their Play or Park loyalty tag in-store. In so doing, they will automatically generate digital coins, which Team Ireland athletes can then use to fuel their journey to Tokyo.

Inspired by the 2021 Olympics Torch Relay which began recently, Circle K’s new promotion, Keep It Lit, is travelling from county to county across the island of Ireland. Each time customers scan the Circle K app or their Play or Park loyalty tag in-store when Keep It Lit is running at their local station, they will automatically double the value of digital coins that Team Ireland athletes will receive at no cost to them.

“Circle K has made my Olympics journey much easier,” said Here for Ireland ambassador and Irish Olympic hopeful, Shane Ryan. “The past year has been tough on us all, but the support of Circle K staff and customers has carried me through this challenging time. Circle K has brought myself and my teammates closer to our communities through the Here for Ireland initiative which has helped us to stay focused on Tokyo.”

Joanne D’Arcy, Director of Market Development at Circle K Ireland, added: “We are extremely proud of what our partnership with the Irish Olympic and Paralympic Teams has achieved thus far. Communities across Ireland have come together to show their support for the country’s homegrown champions and have helped them to realise their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. The digital coins generated to date have redeemed enough fuel to get Team Ireland to Tokyo an incredible 155 times!”

Maxol Clarecastle wins global challenge MAXOL Clarecastle has beaten off stiff competition from forecourt retailers across four continents to take first prize in the Global Forecourt Experience Challenge, which recognises teams for their cleanliness and safety efforts on-site during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two-month challenge, which took place in July and August 2020, saw Maxol Clarecastle work tirelessly to beat forecourt retailers across the globe, including Circle K and Coen Markets in the USA, Puma in South America, Esso On the Run in Australia and Engen in South Africa.

Delighted with the global acknowledgement, Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group, commented: “A huge congratulations to the team at Maxol Clarecastle on their win, which is a phenomenal achievement considering the scale, size, and calibre of their opponents. This accolade is a huge credit to the dedicated team that has worked so hard throughout the pandemic to ensure forecourt safety standards are maintained vigorously and customer expectations are not just met, but surpassed.”

Aramark, the global specialist in food and facilities management services, operate the forecourt on behalf of Maxol. “This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work of our team,” noted Shane Flynn, Managing Director, Food Services and Facilities Management, Aramark Ireland. “We strive for operational excellence every day and

we are delighted to be recognised by the Global Forecourt Experience Challenge. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our customers and employees.

This award underlines the incredibly high standards provided by the Aramark team at Maxol Clarecastle.”

Store Manager of Maxol Clarecastle, Laura Murphy and the team at Maxol Clarecastle celebrate winning the Global Forecourt Experience Challenge.

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Forecourt Focus: News Applegreen COO explains effects of Covid on Irish business APPLEGREEN’S Chief Operations Officer, Joe Barrett, has revealed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the company’s Irish business over the course of the last year.

Speaking on the Global Convenience Store Focus Shop Talk Live webinar, as part of a panel that also included Aramark CEO Frank Gleeson and BWG Foods’ Director, David Bagnall, Joe explained that the pandemic had very different effects on the company’s local convenience stores and their motorway/ travel sites.

“Covid impacted travel locations much more than local stores,” he said.

“In our local stores, sales went up and they performed extremely well.

We provided for the needs of local customers, so people working from home could pop in for a coffee or a water, for example.”

Other areas where Applegreen saw a sales surge includes outdoor plants, logs and sticks, sectors not traditionally

associated with the company. “We evolved our brand and offer to meet customer needs,” Joe explained.

The effect on the travel sites was much more pronounced, however. At its worst, the number of vehicles on the road was down by as much as 90%, according to the COO, who estimates that there are still approximately 50% of the normal number of vehicles using our road network. He thanked the government for the supports, including rates subsidies, employment subsidies, which “was really helpful to retail”.

“You have to cut your costs and adapt your offers, as much as possible,” he admitted. “What we have tried to do is to play to our strengths, and adapt our offers to grow the business.”

This included a huge growth in drivethroughs and click & collect, as well as the installation of kiosk units in-store (particularly in food-to-go offerings), and the popularity of these kiosk units is here to stay post-pandemic, he believes.

Joe Barrett, Chief Operations Officer, Applegreen

New Circle K survey reveals the luck of the Irish

Circle K Scratch and Win has more than 200,000 fantastic prizes still left to be won, including five PlayStation 5 consoles courtesy of Red Bull.

A NEW survey by Circle K reveals that 30% of Irish people believe we’re the luckiest country in the world. The survey was carried out to celebrate the return of Circle K’s popular free virtual game, Scratch and Win, which has had over 120,000 winners already, with more than 200,000 fantastic prizes still left to be won, including five PlayStation 5 consoles courtesy of Red Bull.

Despite what others may choose to believe, it turns out we Irish are not a nation of begrudgers after all! In fact, the Circle K survey revealed that a massive 87% of respondents feel either happy or very happy for others when they get lucky or win something, and less than 2% of us are unhappy to hear about the good fortune of others.

With an impressive track record in National Lottery wins and Winning Streak appearances, it’s probably unsurprising that Corkonians believe they are the luckiest ducks in Ireland. A massive 77% of respondents from Cork consider themselves to be lucky, followed by Dubliners (67%) and people from Meath (50%).

Whether it’s a Lotto win or finding a spare €1 in your back pocket, half of all respondents (53%) feel they are lucky in life. Of the 505 adults surveyed by Circle

K, 46% believe they are particularly lucky in love, while a further 16% feel financial luck is on their side. When it comes to finding a dream job, over one fifth (23%) frequently or always think success is down to luck rather than hard work.

Unlike many of the public who feel generally lucky, over a quarter (26%) feel little or no hope that they will win a competition. Fortunately for them, consumers won’t need luck to clinch a prize playing Circle K’s Scratch and Win, as the odds of winning are always stacked in their favour. There are three chances to win a prize every day, with lots up for grabs including free cups of Simply Great Coffee, Froster iced drinks, and car washes, as well as a selection of items from Circle K’s delicious in-store food range.

Eadaoin Keane, Senior Marketing Manager at Circle K Ireland, said: “Whether you might feel lucky or not, you don’t need any good luck to bag yourself a prize on Scratch and Win. By playing up to three times a day, you can make sure that some brilliant prizes are not left behind. This time, there are more prizes on offer than ever before, including five PlayStation 5 consoles, so what are you waiting for, go online and get scratching!”

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Shelf Life ALL Garnier products, globally, are now officially cruelty free. The brand has been given the stamp of approval by the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, the leading organisation working to end animal testing and the cruelty free gold standard. Garnier is one of the largest, most global brands Cruelty Free International has ever approved under the Leaping Bunny programme and has been described as a giant leap, not only for Garnier, but for the beauty industry as a whole. Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International CEO, said, “Garnier is a global brand familiar to us all. To work with them to help end animal testing for cosmetics and declare them officially approved under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny Programme is a real milestone.”

ALDI will sell more than 1,500 tonnes of Irish-grown Bord Bia Quality Assured strawberries this year across its 145 Irish stores, representing an increase of 15% on 2020. Sunglow Nurseries, based in Rush, Co. Dublin, are supplying Aldi’s Irish strawberries. As a direct result of Aldi’s long-term partnership, the North Dublin producer has been able to invest €1.2m in a new 0.7 hectares extension of its glasshouse facilities, which will see Sunglow Nurseries introduce a series of sustainable production processes across its operations. All rainwater from the glasshouse roof will be collected and reused to irrigate the plants, while up to 25% of carbon emissions from the heating system will be captured and pumped back into the glasshouse to help plant growth, reducing the grower’s carbon footprint.

Pictured are John, Billy, and Joe McGuinness, co-owners of Sunglow Nurseries.

TESCO Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to the Business in the Community Ireland Low Carbon Pledge and its new ambition to set and achieve science-based carbon reduction targets to help combat climate change. As one of the first businesses globally to have set a science-based target based on a 1.5-degree trajectory for its own operations in 2017, Tesco welcomes the Pledge and is committed to meeting its zero-carbon ambition. Tesco Ireland CEO, Kari Daniels, said, “In 2017, Tesco set science-based climate change targets for our operations, aligned to the more ambitious 1.5-degree trajectory of the Paris Climate Agreement. Our targets will enable us to become net-zero by 2050.”

THE Shop & Display Equipment Association are delighted to announce the launch of a new App. The SDEA official App will keep you updated and informed about retail, hospitality and leisure interiors, allow you to view the latest Design & Display Directory and read current and back issues of Shoptalk with the latest news and offers for the display industry. The App allows you to view all SDEA members, read news and projects in retail, hospitality and leisure and keep up-todate with events such as the Creative Retail Awards, Creative Design & Display Connections and all other SDEA events.

The App is available through

www.shopdisplay.org, or from the Apple Store or the Play Store.

NESTLÉ in the UK and Ireland has redesigned its confectionery sharing bags to use significantly less packaging, a move that will see at least 83 tonnes of virgin plastic taken out of its supply chain every year. From April, some of the nation’s favourite treats, including Milkybar, Aero Bubbles, Munchies, Rolo, Yorkie, and Rowntree’s Randoms will come in new narrower pouches. Nestlé sells approximately 140m million confectionery sharing bags in the UK and Ireland every year; this change will save almost 1m square metres of packaging.

MARS Ireland has launched ‘Food for Change’, a campaign to support the redistribution of 60,000 meals to community organisations across the country in partnership with Irish social enterprise, FoodCloud. Food for Change will see Mars Ireland make a contribution of €20,000 to FoodCloud, supported across the Dolmio and Uncle Bens brands in participating retailers during March and April this year. This contribution will result in the equivalent of 60,000 meals distributed to FoodCloud’s network of charity and community groups in 2021.

Pictured are Aoife O’Hanlon, Portfolio Manager at Mars Ireland, and Aoibheann O’Brien, Co-Founder and CEO, FoodCloud Hubs.

AHEAD of World Autism Day on April 2, Lidl Ireland, together with the Now Group, announced it will be the first Irish retailer to become Just A Minute (JAM) Card friendly across its network of stores in Ireland. Lidl has also committed to sponsoring 6,000 JAM Cards, which contributes towards keeping the cards free and accessible to those who need them. Lidl has been working closely with the Now Group, who developed the JAM Card to allow users additional time and patience when in people-facing environments such as supermarkets. Lidl is rolling out detailed JAM Card training and tools to employees with hopes that the new initiative will help to support customers with learning difficulties, autism, or communication barriers. The JAM Card is available free of charge to anyone who needs it: www.jamcard.org. Pictured are Maeve Monaghan, Chief Executive, Now Group (left), with Minister Anne Rabbitte TD, Robert Ryan, Chief Operations Officer, Lidl Ireland, and Ciarán Delaney, Now Group Ambassador.

MARK O’Flaherty has been appointed Director of Core Learning, part of Core, Ireland’s largest marketing communications company. Mark joined Core in 2016 as Development Director where he focuses on analysing the organisational needs for development and the training needs of new recruits. In his new role, Mark will expand his responsibilities to encompass the learning and CPD needs for all 300+ employees across the Core group of practices.

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