Retail News February 2025

Warm up to winter comfort

Plant-based, full of gut-loving fibre and low in fat, our new and improved soup range is ready to boost your winter with every spoonful.

Looking forward to the year ahead…

Welcome to the latest edition of Retail News, your trusted source for the most up-to-date and relevant grocery industry insights. In this issue, we’re excited to bring you a mix of seasonal highlights, thought-provoking interviews, and key trends that will shape the retail landscape in 2025.

As we approach the Easter season, retailers are gearing up for a busy period filled with opportunities. This issue covers some of the most exciting Easter treats to stock to keep your chocaholic customers content (Page 30).

In addition to our Easter focus, we reveal the winners of the NOffLA OffLicence of the Year Awards 2025, a prestigious celebration of the quality of Ireland’s independent off-licence network (Page 34), where NOffLA Chair, Cathal McHugh, reveals the issues concerning the trade for 2025. This month, we also sit down with Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland, for an in-depth interview about the challenges facing retail in the coming months and how the recently announced Programme for Government is good news for retailers, providing the recommendations are acted upon (Page 14). As the retail landscape continues to evolve, his insights offer a valuable perspective for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve in today’s competitive market.

We hope this edition of Retail News inspires and equips you with the knowledge to thrive in a dynamic retail environment.

Brian Clark

Advertising & Marketing Director, Retail News

2 Retailers tune in to new Programme for Government.

3 New CEO at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

4 Irish food and drink exports reach a record €17 billion; Lidl boost annual investment in Irish suppliers to €1.67 billion.

5 Abuse a weekly occurrence for 21% of retail workers.

6 Stormy weather contributes to grocery growth.

7 Dublin-based data provider secures funding and plans to expand global workforce; WRAP and International Food Waste Coalition combine forces.

Retail News Interview

14 Retail Ireland Director Arnold Dillon looks at the big issues facing the trade in the coming 12 months, from rising costs to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.

Kellogg’s Oaties

20 Kellogg’s kicked off 2025 with the launch of new Oaties breakfast cereal.

Deposit Return Scheme

22 Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme recently celebrated the one billionth drinks container returned.

Red Bull

25 New Red Bull Zero is launching in Ireland.

Yakult

26 The Yakult range offers retailers a

proven way to support demand for products which support health and wellbeing.

The Happy Pear

28 The Happy Pear have introduced a new addition to their Happy Pear Soup range: The Happy Pear Super Greens Veggie Soup 400g.

KitKat

33 KitKat has launched brand new sharing bars as well as combining forces with Nescafé for a new latte product.

NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards

34 Off-Licence of the Year winners revealed, while NOffLA Chair Cathal McHugh discusses the pressing issues for independent off-licences.

Forecourt Focus: Inver

40 Throughout 2024, Inver have continued to build on their efforts to expand their renewable fuel offering and celebrate excellence across their retail network.

Nordic Spirit

44 Nordic Spirit are introducing fresh new strengths in consumers’ favourite flavours.

Goodfella’s

46 Goodfella’s becomes an official sponsor of the Irish women’s rugby team.

Bord Bia AEG Programme

47 Bord Bia's new Accelerated Export Growth programme will benefit 11 food and drink companies.

Predictive Analytics

49 How predictive analytics will help grocery businesses to personalise their offering, writes Luís Gonçalves, Data Analytics & AI Director, Noesis.

Retailers tune in to new Programme

RETAILER groups have broadly welcomed the Programme for Government 2025, which includes a broad range of commitments to the retail sector: more than any other programme of recent years. The next step, say retailers, is to transform the proposals into meaningful action.

The Programme includes detailed sections pertaining directly to retail, around the cost of doing business. A page is dedicated to Tackling Retail Crime and includes a proposal for a Retail Crime Strategy “with targeted actions to reduce retail crime and support affected businesses” and support “Garda Operations to tackle retail crime, including through the use of organised crime and proceeds of crime legislation”.

These proposals were instigated by the upsurge in retail crime across Ireland, Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland, told Retail News. “The problem has got worse over recent years. Retail crime has seen a significant increase since Covid. I've talked to businesses that are experiencing these challenges across different markets in Europe and internationally, but the problem is more acute in Ireland. We have spent a lot of time talking to Government about strategies to deal with the rise of retail crime.”

In 2024, members of the Retail Forum met Helen McEntee TD, former Minister for Justice, and Emer Higgins TD, former Minister for Retail, at the Garda headquarters in Dublin. Retailers outlined their concerns, many of which made their way into the Programme for Government 2025. “The Ministers made a commitment to address this issue as a matter of high importance,” noted Tara Buckley, Director General of RGDATA. Plans around retail crime include a commitment to tackling the practice of retail defamation and an

improvement in data sharing between retailers and Gardaí, although constitutional and GDPR constraints remain.

“There are ways for police forces to legally manage data sharing,” says Buckley. “So it's about addressing that and not hiding behind GDPR. This is about tackling people who are committing serious crimes - repetitive offenders being aggressive and threatening staff who work in shops. We need to harness every angle to try and tackle these criminals.”

The Programme proposes the introduction of a specific offence for assaulting a retail worker and an update in the Public Order Acts to allow prolific offenders of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a certain period of time. “An abiding complaint of business is they see people harass workers or rob from a shop coming back in the store the following day or week,” remarks Dillon. “This [update] would require a relatively small change in the law and allow a judge to put a barring order on someone from entering a retail premises. If they breach that court order, Gardaí would be mandated to remove them and put them in jail.”

The Programme also includes a range of measures to address cost concerns in the retail sector, including the establishment of a new Cost of Business Advisory Forum to review taxes and costs and a review of the impact of existing and planned regulations. The Programme calls for

“rigorous implementation” of the SME test “to scrutinise every new piece of legislation and regulation for its impact on SMEs”. Retailers wish to see a cross-departmental approach.

“If a piece of legislation is being contemplated or a statutory instrument is being brought out, every department must have an SME test in advance of Cabinet approval,” stated Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA.

Arnold Dillon added: “It's not just a matter for the Department of Enterprise. We want to ensure that all departments have a lens on the impact on business. Measures around health, food, agriculture, and the environment, might also affect retail. Too often, legislation and policies are implemented that end up being a problem for businesses.”

Retail groups we spoke to cited the Department of Health’s recent introduction

Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland.

Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General.

for Government

of an annual licence fee for the sale of tobacco products as a stark example of this. Under the new system, which comes into effect in 2026 under The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, retailers will be charged an annual fee of €1,000 for the sale of tobacco products and an additional €800 for the sale of vapes. Until now, tobacco retailers faced a one-off fee of €50 and no licensing requirements for vape sales.

“I’m furious about it,” said Vincent Jennings. “It's an extraordinary figure to have picked out: the highest on a worldwide basis. Our nearest competitors in the UK managed to achieve a lower consumption of tobacco per capita and a lower prevalence of smoking without any licence at all. The Government appear to hope that it will lead to people not choosing to apply for a licence - in other words to stop selling cigarettes.”

Jennings said there was no evidence this action will lead to people giving up smoking and pointed out that retailers are unable to pass on this cost to consumers. “The Finance Act of 1995 makes it very clear that it is a criminal offence to sell cigarettes above the price that the tobacco companies set, which is something we have argued about for many years,” he said.

New CEO at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland

THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has announced that Greg Dempsey has been appointed Chief Executive. Currently Deputy Secretary General at the Department of Health, he will take up office following the conclusion of tenure of the current Chief Executive, Dr Pamela Byrne, on March 1, 2025.

A native of Dublin, Dempsey is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, holding a BSc in Financial Information Systems and is qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant. He is a member of the Board of the Institute of Public Administration, and a member of the State Claims Agency Advisory Committee.

Dempsey has worked in the Department of Health for over a decade, where he was previously Assistant Secretary and Head of Finance, before becoming Deputy Secretary, where he heads the Corporate Affairs Division overseeing the highest standards of corporate governance in the Department. Prior to that, he was Chief Finance & Operations Officer with the Department of Finance, having joined there from the Central Bank. Before he joined the public sector, he had a distinguished career in the private sector, where he worked in a number of Financial Services firms, including as CEO of Zurich Bank.

The HSE has been given the power to issue licences and collect the fee – and retailers believe this would fail any SME test. Revenue already runs a track and trace system for tobacco sold through retail, on the back of a European-wide anti-smuggling and revenue operation, explained Jennings: “Every operator in the country who sells tobacco must have a licence number and they submit their sales to Revenue, so Revenue can trace every individual pack. Revenue collects money for pubs, off-licences and fuel forecourts. We will be giving the HSE money to build a system which is already there with Revenue. It doesn't make sense.”

The new Programme for Government pledged to identify “redundant” regulations and conduct a “comprehensive review to assess the cost structures for SME and family-owned businesses to identify areas where costs can be reduced”. Whether or not this includes addressing the tobacco licensing issue is unclear. There are no specific details around the Programme’s proposed changes to VAT and PRSI and a new grant scheme “for antitheft and prevention measures”. Some of the proposals, worry retailers, are too vague.

“They're great aspirations but what really matters, to make a meaningful change on the ground, is delivery,” said Arnold Dillon. “Now we need to engage with Government to make sure those specific headline proposals are translated into meaningful actions.”

Ann Horan, Chair, FSAI, stated that Dempsey brings a wide breath of expertise and leadership to the role of Chief Executive that will be invaluable in steering the FSAI to maintain its primary role in protecting consumers’ health and interests in relation to food safety. “The Board is delighted to welcome Mr Dempsey as the new Chief Executive of the FSAI,” she said. “Mr Dempsey’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the FSAI, as we roll out our new Strategy 2025-2029, which sets out an ambitious roadmap to continue safeguard consumer health and enhance trust in Ireland’s robust food safety system. With his exceptional leadership skills, and a clear vision for the future, we are confident that he will safeguard and further drive the FSAI’s exemplary track record in delivering its legal mandate.”

She went on to thank outgoing Chief Executive, Dr Pamela Byrne for her “exemplary leadership” during her tenure in charge of the FSAI: “Dr Byrne’s vision, passion, hard work and commitment to food safety has been instrumental in the FSAI continuing to be a highly regarded regulatory agency both nationally and internationally. We wish Dr Byrne all the best in her future endeavours and look forward to building on the strong foundations she has established.”

Greg Dempsey, incoming CEO at the FSAI.

Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA.

Irish food and drink exports reach €17 billion

THE value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports increased by 5% last year to a record €17 billion, according to Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects Report for 2024/25, published recently.

This performance marks a milestone year for Irish food and drink exporters, despite enduring global trade challenges caused by geo-political instability, fluctuating inflation and on-going high trading costs.

Higher pricing was the primary driver of growth in 2024, as cost pressures and inflation continued to affect businesses and consumers. However, several categories recorded volume, as well as value growth, most notably within seafood, prepared consumer foods (PCF), and meat and livestock.

The value of Irish dairy exports, the largest category, remained stable at €6.3 billion, despite weather conditions throughout the year affecting grass-growth. Total meat and livestock exports increased by 6% to €4.3 billion, driven by higher volumes and values across beef, pigmeat and livestock.

The value of drink exports grew by 19% to just over €2.1 billion, with ‘ready-to-drink’ (RTD) beverages achieving a three-fold increase year-on-year to €235 million. Whiskey exports increased by 13% to a value of more than €1 billion. Exports in the prepared consumer foods (PCF) sector were worth €3.4 billion, which was an increase of 7%, while seafood exports recorded a 9% increase to approximately €595 million. Exports of cereals and horticulture increased by 4% in value to a total of €325 million in 2024.

“It is very encouraging that this annual analysis report from Bord Bia shows a hugely positive performance for the 2024 export value of Irish food and drink at €17 billion,” noted Charlie McConalogue TD, then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. “Add to this the value of non-edible products and Irish agrifood exports are in the region of €19 billion, a figure approaching a 5% increase on 2023. This is a significant achievement, given the prevailing impact of cost inflation and market volatility."

According to Bord Bia’s CEO Sentiment Survey, most Irish food and drink exporters remain optimistic about achieving growth in 2025. Confidence is particularly strong in the European and UK markets, with over two-thirds of respondents anticipating

opportunities for expansion in these regions. Looking at routes to market, eight in 10 respondents (82%) expect growth in the retail sector; half the companies surveyed forecast growth in the foodservice channel and 44% in the manufacturing sector. Despite these ambitions for growth, global trade concerns remain, as more than one-third of businesses also expressed concerns that their competitiveness could decline in the next 12 months. Key risks to competitiveness cited include rising labour costs, sustained cost inflation, difficulties in accessing raw materials, and geopolitical tensions, such as the looming threat of tariffs.

Bord Bia Chief Executive Jim O’Toole said; “The robust performance and sustained success of the Irish agri-food sector is a testament to the industry’s focus on strategic market diversification, investment in sustainable practices, and commitment to world-class quality and traceability standards, evident throughout the supply chain. The confidence and continued ambition of the industry is clear in the results of Bord Bia’s CEO Sentiment Survey, showing that most Irish food and drink exporters remain optimistic about achieving growth in 2025, despite the business environment and operating challenges.”

Lidl boost annual investment in Irish suppliers to €1.67 billion

LIDL Ireland’s latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report shows the retailer procured more than €1.67 billion worth of goods and services from Irish businesses in 2024, an increase of €41 million (or 2.5%) on 2023.

Of this, Lidl Ireland procured €1.2 billion worth of goods from the Irish agrifood sector in 2024 - up €89 million (or 7%) on 2023 – and a further €426 million worth of services from business partners in Ireland in 2024.

Of the €1.2 billion procured from Irish agri-food producers, €885 million worth of goods stayed within Lidl Ireland’s operations to be sold through their local store network, while more than €360 million was exported internationally through Lidl’s expansive network of stores, an increase of almost 5% on 2023 figures.

“Growing our local supplier network has always been a priority for us and we are proud to have nurtured long-standing relationships that offer our suppliers stability and afford them the opportunity to plan for their future business growth with us,” noted

Robert Ryan, CEO, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Jim O’Toole, CEO of Bord Bia, commented: “Lidl’s latest report

Pictured are Aisling Tuck, Founder and Owner of Naked Bakes, and alumnus of Lidl’s Kickstart programme 2024; Jim O'Toole, CEO of Bord Bia; and Robert Ryan, CEO Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.

demonstrates its strong and enduring support for Irish food and drink businesses, many of whom Lidl have worked with for more than 20 years.”

Bord Bia Chief Executive Jim O’Toole and Charlie McConalogue TD, then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, pictured announcing the export trade figures.

Abuse a weekly occurrence for 21% of retail workers

OVER a fifth of Irish retail workers experience abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour from the public on a weekly basis, according to new research from Circle K, Maxol and MrPrice Branded Bargains, supported by Retail Ireland, which highlights the issue of unacceptable behaviour towards employees in the Irish retail sector.

However, interactions with customers are mostly positive, with 83% of retail staff outlining that the vast majority of customers are kind and respectful.

The research into types of behaviour that retail employees experience in the workplace forms part of Kindness Week, a campaign designed to raise awareness of the issue of mistreatment of staff in retail but to also celebrate retail staff and say thank you to customers who are kind and respectful. Beginning as Kindness Day, this year, the initiative has been extended to a weeklong campaign, with MrPrice Branded Bargains and Maxol coming on board alongside Retail Ireland, who supported with the research.

Over two-thirds (68%) of Irish retail workers report experiencing abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour from a customer at work. The research also revealed a higher rate of abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour directed towards female staff members. Of the 500 retail employees surveyed, 75% of female respondents experienced this behaviour, compared to 60% of male counterparts.

Of retail staff in Ireland that report experiencing abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour while at work, 35% outlined that it was violent, aggressive or threatening in nature and 22% reported that it took the form of discriminatory language.

Additionally, almost three quarters (74%) of retail staff in Ireland have seen or heard abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour directed towards a colleague at work.

Younger staff working in Irish retail settings (18-24 yearolds) report experiences of abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour most (78%), compared to staff aged over 55, who reported the lowest rate (28%).

Of Irish retail workers that have witnessed colleagues experiencing abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour over the past year, the most common types cited include foul language (76%), discriminatory language (38%), violent, aggressive or threatening behaviour (39%), and physical contact (12%).

For retail staff in Ireland that have seen or heard colleagues experiencing abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour over the past year, 31% report it was regarding race or ethnicity, 27% gender, 22% age, 15% sexual orientation and 15% religion.

While unacceptable customer behaviour is a significant issue that can impact people working in Ireland’s retail sector, which employs over 370,000 people in Ireland, 86% of retail workers feel they would be supported by their employer if they experienced abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour from a member of the public.

“Our people are at the heart of everything we do in Circle K, and their safety is our number one priority,” said Ciara Foxton, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland. “In recent years, we have seen an increase in unacceptable behaviour towards our teams, which prompted Circle K Europe to launch a Kindness Day initiative two years ago. We are proud to now stand alongside Maxol and MrPrice Branded Bargains to highlight this important issue in a week-long Kindness Week campaign. We also use Kindness Week to acknowledge and thank the majority of our loyal customers who treat our teams with kindness and respect. It is also a great opportunity to celebrate our outstanding teams who serve our

loyal customers each and every day.”

She believes Kindness Week 2025 is “the start of something bigger”, expressing the hope that more retailers can join the campaign next year: “It is important retailers work together to create a kinder environment for Irish retail workers.”

Maxol CEO, Brian Donaldson, added, “At Maxol, we are proud to stand alongside our fellow retailers in supporting Kindness Week. Our dedicated teams work tirelessly to serve communities across Ireland, and they deserve to be treated with respect. While the vast majority of our loyal customers engage with kindness, this campaign serves as an important reminder that courtesy should always be the standard, not the exception. We would like to thank our incredible retailers and their staff for all the hard work and excellent service, as well as our growing base of loyal customers. We call on everyone to show appreciation for those in the retail industry, because kindness costs nothing but means everything.”

In addition to the research of 500 retail employees, Circle K, MrPrice Branded Bargains and Maxol also carried out research amongst a total of 791 of their own staff (conducted by 3Gem Research & Insights in December 2024/January 2025). This research revealed:

• 58% of retail staff across Circle K, Maxol and MrPrice Branded Bargains report experiencing inappropriate or abusive language or behaviour from customers. Over half (57%) of staff across the three retailers have witnessed inappropriate or abusive language or behaviour directed towards a colleague.

• Of those that have experienced inappropriate or abusive language or behaviour, 35% of employees surveyed across the three retailers outlined that it was violent, aggressive or threatening in nature, and 28% reported that they have experienced discriminatory language.

• Of retail staff at the three organisations that have witnessed abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour directed at colleagues, 64% experienced colleagues being subjected to foul language, discriminatory language (44%), violent, aggressive or threatening behaviour (43%) and physical contact (14%).

Pictured are (l-r): Catherine Noctor, Chief People Officer of The Maxol Group; Ciara Foxton, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland; and Siobhán Guerrine, Corporate Social Responsibility Co-ordinator at MrPrice Branded Bargains.

Stormy weather contributes to grocery growth

FOLLOWING a period of festive spending and seasonal celebrations, shoppers in Ireland continued to spend despite ‘Dry January’ replacing New Year celebrations. The latest Irish grocery data from Kantar shows that take-home value sales over the four weeks to January 26, 2025, increased by 6.5% compared to the same period last year. This was despite grocery price inflation increasing 3.4%, slightly lower than last month.

January also saw shoppers returning to store more often, making on average 23 trips to store but picking up less volume per trip, which was down 1.6% versus last year.

“Supermarkets were rolling out discounts in the New Year, as a way of easing the pressure on household budgets, and Irish consumers were more than happy to take advantage of them,” according to Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar. “Spending on promotion rose by 8.4%, with shoppers spending an additional €72 million versus last year. This is the highest level of sales on promotion we’ve seen since February 2021.”

performance within 12-week data up to January 2025.

Over the latest 12 weeks, Dunne holds a new record 25% market share, with a sales growth of 7% year-on-year. Shoppers increased the number of trips, while picking up more packs per trip, which contributed a combined €39.2 million to their overall performance.

Alongside promotions, Irish shoppers turned to own label products to help keep costs down in January. Sales of own label products jumped 6.9% compared to last year, with an additional €103.9 million being spent on these ranges. Overall, own label holds 44% value market share. Brands also saw growth this year, albeit behind the total market at 5.3% compared to last year.

Shoppers focused as much on health and wellness as on their wallets, with an additional €8.9 million spent on fresh fruit and vegetables combined. January also saw a boost in healthcare, up 8.6%. compared the same period to last year.

“Dry January was in full swing this year, with 6.2% of all Irish households purchasing non-alcoholic drinks in January,” Emer noted. “Sales of low and no-alcohol soared by over 47%, with shoppers spending an additional €620k during the month versus last year. However, not everyone took part in Dry January this year as shoppers also spend an additional €7 million on beer and cider.”

Online sales rose by 14.5% yearon-year, with shoppers spending an additional €27.4 million through this channel. Over the latest 12-week period, the number of online shopping trips increased by 11.7%, while new shopper recruits arrived at online, with over 19% of Irish households purchasing online.

At the end of January, Ireland experienced Storm Éowyn, the most powerful storm in many years. It marked the first nationwide red warning since 2017. The storm also impacted shopping habits, with consumers stocking up on necessities, leading to Tesco (+8.9%), Dunnes (+8.1%), and SuperValu (+8.5%) outperforming the total market throughout January (+6.5%). This impact will also be evident in grocers'

Tesco hold 24.1% of the market, with value growth of 6.5% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to store, alongside welcoming new shoppers, which contributed a combined €21 million to overall performance.

SuperValu claim 20.3% of the market with growth of 4.2%.

Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 23.8 trips over the latest 12 weeks. This increase in the number of shopping trips contributed an additional €40 million to their performance and strengthened results at the start of 2025.

Lidl hold a 12.4% share of total spending, up 4.7%. Increased trips to store and new shopper arrivals drove an additional €8.7 million in sales. Aldi hold 10.7% market share, up 4.5% versus last year, with an increase in trips contributing an additional €13.3 million to their performance.

The latest figures from Kantar follow a record-breaking festive trading period, when take-home value sales over the four weeks to December 29, 2024, increased by 4.4% to reach nearly €1.4 billion. In fact, December 2024 was “the busiest trading month we have seen – not just this year, but since the pre-lockdown rush in March 2020”, according to Emer Healy. Monday, December 23, was the most popular shopping day of the year, with consumers spending €107 million on that one day alone, €11.9 million more than the highest trading day in 2023.

According to Kantar, shoppers were willing to spend slightly more than usual, with sales of branded products up 5.9%. Meanwhile, premium own label lines saw a sharp increase of 10.5%, surpassing the overall growth of own label products, which stood at 3.2%. Over the 12 weeks to December 29, shoppers spent nearly €140 million on premium own label ranges.

Alcohol took centre stage in festive shopping carts, with shoppers spending an additional €79 million on alcohol versus the previous month. Champagne & sparkling wine, beer & cider, and wine were popular among shoppers, who spent an additional €60.8 million compared to the previous month. Others enjoyed themselves in moderation, with 9% of Irish households purchasing no and low alcohol drinks in December, spending an additional €2 million on these products.

Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar.

Dublin-based data provider secures funding and plans to expand global workforce

ADVISE, the Dublin-based data, analytics and AI platform provider helping retail manufacturers and brand owners to unlock revenues and margin growth, have raised €1.55 million in funding as they continue aggressive international growth. Following a year of 250% growth in revenue, the funding will be used to support the company’s global expansion plans, which will see Advise double its headcount in the next 12-18 months.

Advise, the trading name for RecommenderX, was founded by Dr Kevin McCarthy and John Phelan. The company has developed an AI-powered SaaS platform that harmonises sales, inventory and customer data from multiple sources, making it the go-to platform for easily accessible, accurate data analytics. In doing so, it provides manufacturers and brand owners, such as Pilgrims Europe, Dr Oetker (Ireland) and Britvic, with the actionable insights needed to grow their market share and plan mutually beneficial pricing strategies for retailers and consumers. It also gives manufacturers the ability to compare product performance across retailers and benchmark themselves against competitors, therefore ensuring they are making the best possible returns.

Advise’s funding round was led by Business Venture Partners (BVP) through their EIIS fund and supported by existing investors, including ACT Venture Capital, Elkstone, Enterprise Ireland, and a group of private investors. The investment will help Advise to meet, and capitalise on, the rise in demand for their platform by increasing their presence in Ireland, the UK and the US.

“For decades, retailers have been leveraging their data to determine product pricing strategies, while manufacturers have lacked the insights to have any meaningful influence,” explained Dr Kevin McCarthy, CEO and co-founder, Advise. “With pressure on retailers to consistently drive down consumer costs – especially now amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis – this can leave manufacturers with no bargaining chips and very low margins. Our easy-to-use AI platform democratises and simplifies the data analytics process and will drive greater competition in retail.”

WRAP

Pictured announcing €1.55 million in funding are Advise’s co-founders, Dr Kevin McCarthy, CEO, and John Phelan, Commercial Director.

According to the CEO, Advise’s platform “addresses a previously unmet need”, and the new funding reflects a market confidence in this solution: “The investment, and our partnerships with our investors, will be critical in bringing Advise to the next stage of our journey.”

Andrew McGreal, Investment Director, Business Venture Partners (BVP), said, “Retailers and their manufacturers operate in a traditional industry, but with a very complex data ecosystem. Historically, this combination made data analytics and the ability to unearth actionable insights at pace a challenge. The Advise platform, built specifically for this purpose and industry, enables better decisions and lightning speed to reveal real insights at a low cost of ownership. It’s a game changer for the industry. We have been hugely impressed by the team in Advise and what they have built so far and are thrilled to be supporting their plans for expansion.”

and International Food Waste Coalition combine forces

GLOBAL environmental action NGO Wrap has joined forces with the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC) to form Wrap EU (www.wrap.ngo/eu). From the heart of the European Union, this new organisation will transform global food systems, and address unsustainable production and consumption in fashion, textiles and plastics.

Wrap EU will focus initially on tackling food waste across the hospitality and foodservice sector and more widely along the value chain. The organisation will then expand to focus on sustainable fashion and plastic pollution.

The official launch of WRAP EU took place at a special meeting of the IFWC programme members in Paris at the end of January. Members include Accor Group, BWH Hotels France, Club Med, Compass Group, Elior, Kitro, Louvre Hotels Group, Leanpath, Orbisk, Sodexo and Winnow.

“Tackling climate change requires global collaboration and nurturing roots in the EU allows Wrap to influence, inform and invest in key programmes that will bring circular living into every boardroom and every home,” said Harriet Lamb, CEO, Wrap. “Wrap has a strong track record collaborating with partners to tackle food waste across the EU, as does IFWC, so this is a perfect teaming-up to increase our collective impact.”

Pictured are (l-r): Stéphane Leroux, Executive Director International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC); Harriet Lamb, Wrap CEO; Dr Richard Swannell, Director of Impact Growth, Wrap; and Didier Sandoz, President, IFWC.

Didier Sandoz, President, IFWC, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Wrap and forge ahead with our work tackling food waste and loss. Wrap EU will allow this to flourish and grow. We can increase the impact we have through this partnership and reduce emissions linked to food waste across the continent, as part of the global push to halve food waste.”

Aldi extend contract with Divilly Brothers

GALWAY-based fresh meat supplier Divilly Brothers have announced the extension and enhancement of their long-standing partnership with Aldi. Divilly’s, based in Oranmore, have been a key supplier to Aldi since 2007, and supply Aldi with 100% Irish Bord Bia Quality Assured carved and sliced cooked ham products for the retailer’s Specially Selected range across their 163 stores nationwide. The new contract will also see the Galway firm add brand new low-fat black and white puddings to its range at Aldi. Peter and Shane Divilly, owners of Divilly Brothers, are pictured with Peter Bough, Aldi Buying Director, and siblings, Teagan and Moya Farrell as the company lands a new €4 million contract with the retailer.

Lidl confirm Enfield store opening

LIDL opened the doors to their newest store in Enfield, County Meath, on Thursday, February 13, taking the retailer’s store count to seven in the county and creating 20 permanent new jobs for the local area. Local ladies’ Gaelic football star Aoibhín Cleary had the honour of cutting the ribbon on the significant new retail development and welcoming shoppers into the new store to enjoy a premier shopping experience. “The new Enfield store has been in high demand by local residents, with 93% of residents pledging their support for the new store in the area and research showing that almost 60% of residents travel to shop at Lidl stores in nearby towns Maynooth, Kilcock and Trim,” said Brian Smyth, Regional Property Director for Lidl Ireland.

Fyffes donate over 24 million meals to vulnerable communities

FYFFES recently revealed that they have provided more than 24 million healthy meals to countries in Europe, Latin America and North America. In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption and Production, Fyffes made a commitment to helping build a world that is food secure, free of hunger, and where food loss is avoided. The company set a target of providing five million healthy meals to vulnerable communities by the end of 2025 and has exceeded this ahead of time and by a factor of four. The US topped the table of donations with over 10.5 million meals, closely followed by the UK at over 10 million meals, while Ireland received over one million. Organisations that Fyffes partners with include FoodCloud and Cream of the Crop in Ireland. “Donating over 24 million meals is a wonderful demonstration of sustainability in action and we look forward to reaching even more communities in 2025,” said Helge Sparsoe, CEO of Fyffes.

Senior appointment at Mulrines

Tesco and partners target holiday hunger

TESCO unveiled over €350,000 worth of food supports to help bridge the holiday health and hunger gap for those most in need last Christmas. Working with the Family Resource Centre Network, FoodCloud, and the Children’s Rights Alliance, over 145 community organisations received vital food donations, which were distributed to thousands of homes nationwide. Tesco’s 12th annual Christmas Food Collection culminated in a significant €283,000 worth of food donations from customers, while Tesco topped up customer food donations, with over €55,000 in food supplies to FoodCloud, and €20,000 to the Children’s Rights Alliance. Pictured are (l-r): CEO and cofounder FoodCloud, Iseult Ward; Emma Archbold, Children’s Rights Alliance Campaigns and Communications Director; Rosemary Garth, Tesco Ireland Communications Director; and Karin Jonsson, Manager of Quarryvale Family Resource Centre.

ONE of Ireland’s leading juice production companies, Mulrines have appointed Paddy Murney as Chief Commercial Officer as the company seeks to grow its commercial sales and deliver sustainable business growth. With over 25 years’ experience, Paddy will manage all aspects of the sales, marketing and service functions within the business, working with the leadership team to set the strategy for the company going forward. Paddy joins Mulrines from Musgrave, where he was Retail Director responsible for optimising sales and profitability of its retail brands. Prior to this he was Channel Director for Unilever Ireland and worked for over 20 years with Coca-Cola HBC across the island of Ireland, where he progressed to the role of Commercial Director.

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Lidl become an official partner of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025

Lidl will be an official partner of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament, building on the retailer’s longstanding partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and continuing their promotion of active, healthy lifestyles for all.

“This is a significant milestone in our support for women’s sports and further underscores our commitment to the development, promotion and investment in Ladies Gaelic Football over the last nine years,” said Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“At Lidl, we’re fully committed to investing in accelerating the process of change in our society as female athletes deserve our support. This new international partnership is another tangible step we’ve taken to help smash inequality in sport and encourage the public to fill every seat at every game. We’re exceptionally proud to put our weight behind the tournament next year and to see some incredible games over the course of the event.”

Aldi launch DRS savings card

ALDI Ireland have launched a new bespoke DRS savings card, which will allow customers to use their DRS vouchers received when they return empty bottles and cans to load funds onto the savings card. By loading the value of their DRS vouchers onto their Aldi savings card, customers can conveniently keep all their deposited returns in the same place. The card can be topped up at Aldi checkouts, offering customers a convenient way to save money or plan for future purchases, while supporting sustainability in their daily shopping habits. The launch comes as Aldi were preparing to reach the milestone of 200 million DRS returns across Ireland this February, and the retailer is investing in new reverse vending machines and upgrading existing ones at more than 40 stores, which will make the scheme even easier for customers to use.

An Post joins Tesco Stronger Starts programme

TESCO Ireland have announced a groundbreaking partnership with An Post as the new logistics provider for their Stronger Starts Food programme. This innovative collaboration sees An Post deliver thousands of Tesco Stronger Starts Food packs to 240 Deis primary schools nationwide every week. The free packs, received by thousands of children, contain a nutritious mix of seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, including apples, onions, potatoes, and carrots. By integrating the delivery of Stronger Starts Food packs with An Post's existing deliveries, the initiative has helped Tesco to achieve a significant reduction in carbon emissions associated with the programme. Pictured are (l-r): Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of Mail and Parcels at An Post; and Rosemary Garth, Tesco Ireland Communications Director; with Farah Hehir (7), Marvin Melinn (7) and postman Sean Murray.

Fyffes launch search for Ireland’s fittest schooI

ONE of Ireland’s best-known Olympians, sprinter David Gillick has joined forces with Fyffes once again in a quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School 2025’. Now in its fourth year, the competition promotes the importance of exercise, fitness and healthy eating amongst young people. A central feature of the programme will be a series of exercise routines, recorded by Gillick, alongside Irish fitness trainer, Sharon Flanagan, which competing schools can adopt as part of their PE curriculum and against which performance will be measured and tracked online. Running for 10 weeks from January 20, this year’s competition will see the top four schools from each province compete head-to-head across four live regional qualifier events in April, with a grand final in May.

Donnybrook Fair open new and improved flagship store

DONNYBROOK Fair, Dublin’s artisan grocery experience, have launched their revamped flagship store on Morehampton Road. The new and improved store combines Donnybrook Fair’s famed gourmet food and exceptional offering with an upgraded layout to create a complete foodie destination for their valued customers. The Morehampton Road building itself has been renovated from top to bottom, providing customers with a superior shopping experience. This new store layout brings the Donnybrook Fair mission to source and provide the finest quality ingredients for their customers to life, with premium quality and excellence built into every stage of the customer journey. The new flagship store embodies Donnybrook Fair’s commitment to great taste, seasonal and fresh produce, and locally sourced ingredients. Pictured at the official re-opening are Helena Johnston, store manager Gordon O'Connor, and Ann M. O'Leary.

Industry News

MiWadi sponsors FAI Football Camps

MIWADI has agreed a five-year sponsorship deal with the Football Association of Ireland to become official partners of the FAI Football Camps. Ireland’s number one squash brand, MiWadi will be the title sponsor of the largest summer grassroots football programme in the country, bringing together two organisations committed to fostering fun, fitness and community for children across Ireland. “Partnering with the FAI Football Camps is a natural step for us,” noted Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director of Britvic Ireland. “MiWadi promotes active lifestyles and adds a splash of fun and healthy hydration to everyday moments. We look forward to working with the FAI to create unforgettable experiences for thousands of children across Ireland this summer and beyond.” Pictured are Stephen Cramp, Marketing Director, Britvic Ireland; FAI Commercial Director Sean Kavanagh; Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director, Britvic Ireland; Dee Cunniam, Head of Brand Marketing & Innovation, Britvic Ireland; and FAI grassroots director Ger McDermott, with players Sophia Kenna, Tyler Waine, Dylan Kenna and Abbie Halpin at the Aviva Stadium.

IGBF Tour de Grocer races ahead in June

THE IGBF charity cycle, the Tour de Grocer, is taking place on June 18 and 19, 2025. This year’s route starts in Carlow and runs, via Wexford, on to Waterford, returning on the second day to Carlow via a different scenic route. Entry costs €1600 per cyclist, which remains unchanged from last year’s event. For more information or to book your place on this exciting event, while also raising much-needed funds for the IGBF, contact Hotel Solutions DMC on (01) 6309211.

New Co-Chair at ECR Ireland

ECR Ireland has announced that Paul Kelly, Business Unit & Customer Strategy Planning Director, Unilever, has been appointed as its new supplier Co-Chair. Joining Edel Russell, Musgrave Group, as Co-Chair, Paul takes the role following the conclusion of the tenure of Helen Kenny, CEO, Vista Foods. “On behalf of Unilever, I am delighted to have this opportunity of working with ECR Ireland in an industry leadership role to always seek better ways of working together and serving consumer needs,” said Paul Kelly. “Many of the ECR ideals are extremely relevant within Unilever, especially sustainability, shopper marketing and transformative technology, and I hope we can further develop these workstreams during my tenure as Co-Chair.”

Favourit kicks off 110th year with Ulster University collaboration

FAVOURIT, Ireland’s oldest and most trusted supplier of premium herbs, spices, and seasonings, is celebrating a landmark 110 years in business in 2025. In the first of a series of plans to be revealed throughout the year, Favourit is collaborating with Ulster University to create a special award for aspiring leaders in culinary arts. As part of this partnership, Favourit’s ranges will be incorporated into a BSc Culinary Arts Management module, offering students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and culinary expertise using the Belfast-based food company’s range, with the best performing student being awarded a £1k Favourit Bursary. Pictured are (l-r): Laimis Minelga, Favourit, Michael Gillies, Ulster University, and Favourit ambassador Ian Hunter, Belfast Cookery School.

Lidl shine spotlight on women’s sporting heroes

LIDL Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) recently launched the 2025 Lidl National Football League season and unveiled striking new research spotlighting the importance of developing and elevating Irish female sporting role models for the positive impact they can have on individuals, society and their sport. Continuing the momentum of Lidl and LGFA’s hard-hitting ‘Get Behind the Fight’ campaign, new research conducted by Red C in November 2024 revealed the need for more high-profile female players in sport, as 42% of the Irish public said they would be more likely to attend a women’s sporting event in person if someone well-known was playing. “We want to shine a spotlight on the phenomenal individuals who represent their counties in the Lidl National Football Leagues,” said Robert Ryan, CEO, Lidl Ireland, pictured with LGFA President Míchéal Naughton and players Méadhbh MacNamara (Limerick), Carla Rowe (Dublin), Nicola Ward (Galway), Síofra O’Shea (Kerry) and Shannan McQuade (Fermanagh).

Facing the future

What does 2025 have in store for Ireland’s retail industry? Retail Ireland Director Arnold Dillon looks at the big issues facing the trade in the coming 12 months.

A CHANGE of Government often makes for nervous business owners, as the emphasis can change from one cabinet to the next. However, the Programme for Government for the incoming inhabitants of Leinster House makes for interesting reading, and should provide some welcome supports for beleaguered retailers over the course of their term in office.

Having spent a considerable amount of time engaging with the last government on the big issues facing Irish retailers, including the spiralling costs of doing business here and the rising incidences of retail crime and antisocial behaviour, Retail Ireland subsequently spent a lot of time with Ireland’s political parties prior to November 2024’s General Election.

“We engaged with the various political parties with a view to getting some of our key objectives and asks into their manifestos,” explains Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland, who reveals that the Ibec organisation are “broadly supportive” of the resulting Programme for Government in terms of addressing “some of the key concerns for retail”.

The cost agenda

The biggest issue for business owners in Ireland, especially retailers, is what Arnold terms “the cost agenda”, with spiralling labour market costs, primarily due to a range of government reforms that have come together in a very short space of time.

Increases in the National Minimum Wage and the gradual implementation of a Living Wage have combined with the new mandatory sick pay scheme and the introduction of an additional statutory public holiday to ramp up employment costs exponentially. Add in the forthcoming auto-enrolment into pension plans, additional leave entitlements for parental leave, domestic violence leave etc., and it is something of a perfect storm for retailers.

One major concern for Retail Ireland has been the “trajectory to reaching the Living Wage”. The Retail Ireland Director believes, however, that “some modest progress was made during the course of last year in terms of an appreciation by government of this issue. Prior to that, there was a frustration in business that government was wasn't open to listening to what were very legitimate concerns about the challenges this was posing,” he says.

However, the Retail Ireland Director pays tribute to current Tánaiste and former Taoiseach Simon Harris TD for taking retailers’ concerns seriously and ensuring the issue remained on the government

agenda, following the results of a report from the Department of Enterprise and Department of Social Protection, which assessed the cumulative impact of these labour reforms on businesses, including SME’s.

The report examined in detail the cost implications for business of the transition to a Living Wage, the right to request remote work, Statutory Sick Pay, pension autoenrolment, Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit and an additional public holiday.

“Some of these reforms certainly have merit and I think businesses are supportive of some of the changes that have been made as part of the broader package of labour market reforms,” Arnold stresses. “And businesses are striving to make sure that they're attractive places to work, to make sure that they can retain staff. But it is a balance and we found that the dots weren't being joined on the Government side. We saw a sweeping array of changes happening which may have delivered on a political timetable but certainly were not delivering on something that was reasonable and feasible for businesses. We need to set out the objectives and put in place a much more reasonable time frame for some of these to be achieved. We also need to reflect seriously on the fact that if some of these costs are too much to bear for some businesses, then the ultimate consequence will be for some businesses to fail, and there is no value in that for anybody.”

The 2024 report found that while the economy-wide impact of these changes is relatively small, they are having an enormous impact on labour intensive, low margin businesses, such as retail. Some examples in the report cited business employment cost increases of 20% over the next two years as a direct result of government labour market reforms, rising to 37% when other market implications are taken account of.

“Up until that report was released around the cumulative cost of all the new legislation, no one had done the sums,” Arnold states. “Nobody in government had joined the dots between the various reforms and there was no proper regulatory impact assessment on the cost to business of all of these different reforms.”

That report was responsible for “an appreciation” in government of the reality for retailers. Arnold believes that it led to a lower percentage increase in the move towards a Living Wage than had been previously mooted, while the pause in pension auto-enrolment and the deferral of

the increased roll-out of statutory sick days have also been welcome.

“There seems to be a reflection in the last government that this issue needed more attention and businesses needed more space and time to implement these measures,” Arnold says. “I think the new Programme for Government recognises that this issue remains very significant for businesses, in terms of its stated objectives around regulatory impact assessment, the implementation of the SME test to gauge the impact of new legislation on SME's, and its commitments to small businesses in general. You would like to think that if those measures are put in place, that this sort of situation wouldn't arise in the future.”

The 2024 report recognised that labour cost increases affect certain businesses, like retail and hospitality, disproportionately compared to other sectors, considering how labour-intensive these industries are. The government have pledged to address this in the next Budget. Retail Ireland will continue to engage strongly with the new government over the coming months, liaising with the various departments ahead of the formulation of that Budget.

“We’re already talking to the various departments and we'll be actively engaging

with the new Ministers on this agenda to try to ensure that those commitments set out in the Programme for Government are actually delivered upon,” Arnold notes. “ There is an awful lot to play for in terms of policy changes.”

Level playing field

He points out that while retail is primarily a domestic industry, Irish operators are competing against international online businesses who are not subject to the same costs: “It's about ensuring that Irish businesses and the industry in Ireland is in a position to be able to compete effectively with those in the wider market.”

The Retail Ireland Director contends that even for some large businesses with significant HR and legal departments, the sheer amount of legislative change has been challenging. “There is a very significant issue with the capacity of businesses to understand, digest and put in place processes to actually implement all of these changes,” he says. “Some large businesses are finding it a genuine struggle to deal with these changes, so there has definitely not been nearly enough consideration given to SME’s, who are focused on keeping their businesses open

and profitable, in terms of how they would be able to implement these changes.”

The new Programme for Government, however, sets out “to look at introducing new legislation through an SME lens, and if that happens, that will be an enormous achievement,” Arnold contends. “But it's invariably the case that a lot of lip service is paid to better regulation and regulatory impact assessment so what business will be looking for is to see this delivered to meaningful effect.”

Energy costs

Over the last 10 years, Irish electricity prices have been among the highest in Europe and there is no sign this will change any time soon. This a major concern given that Europe itself is highly uncompetitive, with electricity prices up to three times higher than in the United States and China.

“The next government must address this electricity competitiveness gap as a strategic priority,” Arnold insists. “In the long-term, these costs can be reduced by accelerating the roll-out of low-cost renewable generation and storage technologies, investing in the national grid, and by supporting electrification of homes and businesses. But in the short-

term, a significant subvention of €600 million annually is needed to offset system charges and the PSO levy and bring Irish prices closer to European norms. As noted in the Draghi report, we must pursue decarbonisation and competitiveness simultaneously.”

Insurance premiums

Another thorny issue is that of insurance reform. While there have been some reductions in payouts, we have not been a corresponding reduction in the cost of insurance.

“I think some very significant progress has been made over the last couple of years by the Injuries Resolution Board and we have seen that translate into very significant reductions in the size of claims, while even more recently there have been some important legal judgements in terms of claims,” Arnold notes. “But we haven’t really seen those changes begin to have a meaningful effect on premiums yet, so I think there is still a long way to go.”

Retail crime a serious concern

Retail crime and antisocial behaviour has been a growing issue for a number of years,

We'll be actively engaging with the new Ministers to try to ensure that those commitments set out in the Programme for Government are actually delivered upon.

with harassment of shop staff a sadly regular occurrence across the country, but particularly in major urban centres.

“Since Covid, there's been a much stronger focus within businesses on staff welfare and the well-being of frontline staff,” Arnold muses. “However, alongside that, we've seen an increase in retail crime and the harassment and ill treatment of retail workers. I think businesses are getting better in terms of trying to improve their security measures, recording and tracking incidents of harassment towards their own workers. So we have seen a very significant increase in the number of incidents reported, which I believe reflects a worrying trend in terms of increasing amounts of harassment of retail workers, but also reflects a greater determination on the part of business to actually record and address these issues.”

The Retail Ireland Director points out that the most recent survey into the harassment of retail workers suggested that things have improved slightly over the last two years, which is encouraging.

While Ireland is not the only country experiencing a surge in retail crime in recent years, the problem here seems to be

Pictured are (l-r) Edel Clancy, Retail Ireland Chair and Director of Corporate Affairs, Musgrave, and Arnold Dillon, Retail Ireland Director.

Retail News Interview

Arnold Dillon: “It’s invariably the case that a lot of lip service is paid to better regulation and regulatory impact assessment so what business will be looking for is to see this delivered to meaningful effect.”

at the higher end of the European scale.

“We've been intensely engaged with government over the last year in particular on this issue,” Arnold reveals. “I think the riots in Dublin in 2023 really brought the problem into sharp relief and there are a number of areas which present significant challenges.”

Top of the list, he reveals, is the number of Gardaí on the streets. He points to the recent findings of the Dublin City Task Force which suggested that when benchmarked against other similarly sized cities, Dublin is short in the region of 1,000 police officers, which he contends is “a significant resourcing challenge”.

“That’s the headline concern,” he admits.

“The worry is that there doesn’t seem to be any quick fix for that. Anything that can be done to address that needs to be done.”

He is quick to praise a number of initiatives in the Programme for Government, however, including a commitment to increase Gardaí numbers, and the promise of the formation of a new Retail Crime Strategy, “which puts these issues at the very heart of the Government's objectives”.

The Retail Ireland chief believes that there are “some very practical measures that can be taken” to help alleviate the problem of retail crime. To this end, he would welcome the introduction of a new exclusion order from retail premises,

whereby somebody convicted of shoplifting from a store, for example, can be effectively barred from entering that store again for a certain amount of time.

“Currently, the courts cannot hand down exclusion orders for retail businesses, but I think a relatively small change in the law will allow that to happen,” he says.

“We receive numerous complaints from members that somebody found guilty of shoplifting is back in their shop a day or a week later. If this sort of exclusion order was in place, those people would be in breach of a court order and immediately be subject to arrest. I think that would be a very significant deterrent and one we would love to see introduced at the earliest opportunity.”

GDPR helping criminals?

One of the potential stumbling blocks to the sharing of information about repeat offenders has been the worry that to do so would contravene GDPR legislation. Arnold admits that there are “still significant challenges around some GDPR issues”, with the Gardaí slow to introduce body-cams, for example: “Some retail businesses are using body-cam technology, which the Gardaí should also have at their disposal, but have been unable to do so.”

Another issue is the ability of retailers to share information with each other and with the Gardaí on repeat offenders is limited due to GDPR concerns: “This is something that needs to be looked at. GDPR shouldn’t be used as an obstacle to protect criminality.”

The UK recently introduced a new specific offence of assaulting a shopworker, with a maximum prison sentence of six months, an unlimited fine and a ban from the shop where they committed the offence. A similar move here could work. “It is something that has made a significant difference in the UK,” Arnold notes. “While there is already a very substantial amount of legislation in Ireland when it comes to charging offenders, I do think it would be helpful to call out that specific crime and I think it would also be useful in terms of actually measuring the problem.”

The defamation issue

Another problem, particularly in Ireland, in recent years is around consumers deliberately acting suspiciously in-store and then claiming for defamation when challenged by store staff.

“It's a problem that is increasing and it's made the lives of security staff very challenging,” Arnold agrees.

Legislation to outlaw the practice of

“GDPR shouldn’t be used as an obstacle to protect criminality,”

‘retail defamation’ was tabled in autumn 2024 but did not make it through the Dáíl before the General Election in November. Arnold believes that not only should the legislation be brought before the new Dáil, but that the delay actually “presents an opportunity to go further than the legislation that was proposed last year”.

“Some of the legislation was stymied by constitutional concerns, and the lack of time involved meant that what was presented to the Dáil was less effective than the Minister would have liked,” Arnold reveals. “I think there's now an opportunity to go back, revisit that and put in place protections for retail businesses who are only trying to safeguard their stock, and have been subject to significant increases in completely spurious claims. It shouldn't be the case that people come in, make unfounded claims and then feel that they're entitled to recourse under defamation laws.”

Cost-of-Living continues to bite

The cost-of-living crisis continues to impact on consumer spending. While inflation has eased considerably, we are still living in an inflationary environment, with consumers feeling the pinch, which obviously translates into how much discretionary income they have to spend in shops.

“Consumer sentiment is still significantly below where it would have been historically,” Arnold notes. “At the start of

last year, we would have expected to have had a greater improvement in consumer sentiment over the course of 2024, but there's been a real lag in terms of people’s mood improving. This clearly has been a very challenging cost-of-living crisis. While it has eased, it is going to take some time for that to work through the system. Real incomes are rising and have been for some time now, which is helping to address some of those issues, but I think there's an abiding wariness amongst consumers.”

While consumer sentiment did improve over the course of 2024, given that Ireland Inc. is performing well in terms of full employment, it is still lower than we might have expected.

“There's opportunity to improve consumer sentiment as we move through this year and hopefully that will deliver additional growth for businesses,” Arnold notes. “We've seen very modest growth of around 1% in a lot of parts of retail over the last year and that's really been a challenge for some businesses. So you'd like to think that it will change in the future.”

He believes that “there has been a reset, prompted by Covid, and and we may not get back to exactly the type of trends that we would have seen pre-pandemic”. The amount of people working from home for at least some of the week has had a profound effect, particularly on shops in town and city centres, which may previously have

enjoyed a strong trade from commuters and office workers, while consumers are now spending more on experiences rather than products.

“Where people are working has changed, which has a knock-on effect on where people are spending their money. Obviously, that has been a challenge for some city and town centres, who don't have the same numbers working in them throughout the week. Having said that, the overall population is increasing, so there's potential for that to improve as we move through this year, but we might never see a complete reset to where the where the trends were pre-Covid," he warns.

Arnold is cautiously optimistic as he looks towards the rest of 2025. “We'd like to think that this year would be better than last year. The economic outlook is still reasonably benign; there are clearly some international uncertainties out there but the domestic economy and the labour market is still performing strongly, so we are hopeful that there will be stronger growth this year in retail than we would have seen last year.

“Businesses are striving to make sure that they are great places to work,” he concludes. “They’re investing more than ever in the skills of their employees, so what is paramount is the Government give businesses the supports they need so that they are still able to do business and stay afloat.”

insists Arnold Dillon.

Kellogg’s launch new Oaties cereal

A crunchy breakfast revolution has begun, with the launch of new Kellogg’s Oaties.

KELLOGG’S kicked off 2024 with a crunch, with the introduction of the latest addition to their cereal lineup, Oaties, a new oatbased crunchy cereal that is high in fibre with added B vitamins and iron, providing morning energy for adults and children alike at breakfast time – Oaties contains ≥15% NRV vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6 & B12, which contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism; to be consumed as part of a varied and balanced diet.

Oaties is a new cereal designed for families, whatever their morning routine. Available in two delicious flavours, Original Crunch and Choco Crunch, each bowl is filled with crispy, crunchy pillows of wholegrain oats that have been lovingly crafted to stay crunchy in milk.

Satisfying key family needs: Research suggests that everyday family

cereals need to satisfy four key needs: Taste, enjoyed by both parents and children while maintaining the crunch; Filling, to set the family up for the day;

• Nutritious and packed full of grains, fibre, and vitamins;

• Accessibility, offering good value in the right format size.

(Source: Family Filling Food Interrogation: MMR Sensory Qual. Report)

Oaties offers families a new cereal concept by making oats more accessible for the whole family. Children’s cereals are the largestgrowing cereal segment, with an increase of over €350,000 (Source: Nielsen ScanTrack, 52 weeks to December 1, 2024).

Great taste and crunchy texture “We’re really excited to launch this brand

As well as great taste, the new cereal also has a brilliantly crunchy texture, which we know cereal fans across the country will love.

Kellogg’s Oaties are now available in all major supermarkets nationwide. The new cereal comes in two irresistible flavours, Original Crunch and Choco Crunch, in 500g packs, with an RRP of €4.80. Kellogg’s Oaties

new Kellogg’s cereal in Ireland,” revealed Ann Rose Eng, Senior Brand Activation Manager, Kellogg’s Ireland. “As well as great taste, the new cereal also has a brilliantly crunchy texture, which we know cereal fans across the country will love.”

New Kellogg’s Oaties are available in two flavours: Original Crunch and Choco Crunch.

Deposit Return Scheme reaches major milestone

A year after its introduction, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme has proved a massive success, recently celebrating the country’s one billionth drinks container returned.

IRELAND’S Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) launched on February 1, 2024, and just over one year later, the one billionth drinks container was returned to Lidl, Kilcarbery, Dublin, on February 4, 2025.

“One year on, we have reached a major milestone,” said Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s DRS. “It is a fantastic achievement to have one billion drinks containers returned, and it is great to see the growing support, which is evident through the daily number of bottles and cans being returned. The impact of the Scheme in the community is also something to be celebrated, with more than 2,200 community initiatives nationwide fundraising through the DRS. This is all possible thanks to the public, who continue

to come together for the good of the planet and each other.”

Since Return for Children launched in June 2024, drinks containers have been donated to the initiative at public events, raising €90,000 to date. Return for Children was created to support six national children’s charities: Barnardos Ireland, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack and Jill, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, and Make-A-Wish Ireland. Collectively, these six charities support over 165,000 vulnerable and seriously ill children across Ireland.

As a circular economy initiative, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme is a not-for-profit organisation tasked with achieving EU recycling targets and the move away from the ‘take, make and dispose’ culture to

one of returning valuable materials and keeping them in the economy for as long as possible. Through the Deposit Return Scheme, aluminium cans can be recycled infinitely, while PET plastic bottles can be recycled multiple times, reducing the need for the use of virgin materials.

Unlike traditional recycling methods, a DRS aims to create a ‘closed-loop’ recycling system, allowing the returned material to be recycled into new drinks containers, and contributing to Ireland’s separate collection target for plastic bottles - 77% by 2025, increasing to 90% by 2029. By separating plastic and aluminium from general recycling, the quality of the recycled materials jumps to 98% as part of DRS, compared with just 80% in the traditional

Deposit Return Scheme

drinks container being returned at Lidl Kilcarbery, Dublin, on February 4.

recycling bin system.

The Deposit Return Scheme allows all stakeholders – producers, retailers, and consumers – to play their part in promoting circularity, reducing litter, and building a more sustainable Ireland.

Making a real difference

Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for Small Business and Retail and the Circular Economy, said: “DRS is already making a real difference – recycling rates are improving, litter is reducing, the environment is cleaner and community groups, schools, charities and sports clubs are benefitting greatly from the refunds. I am looking forward to seeing more positive results this year. This is a fantastic achievement for Re-turn and its members, the producers and retailers, who have worked so hard to make DRS a success. DRS is a great example of what’s possible when we all work together.”

Two of Ireland’s major drinks representative groups, the Irish Beverage Council and Drinks Ireland, the Ibec groups representing the non-alcohol and alcohol beverage industries on the Island of Ireland, have welcomed the figures.

“The first year of the Deposit Return Scheme has been a remarkable success, and is the result of a dynamic partnership across the beverage and retail sectors, Re-turn, and Government,” noted Robert Kiernan, Director of the Irish Beverage

Robert Kiernan, Director of the Irish Beverage Council.

Council. “In just 12 months, we can clearly see the benefit of the Scheme, with a billion containers returned, and a substantial reduction in beverage container litter. This is testament to the considerable efforts undertaken by the beverage industry and Re-turn in implementing an effective DRS for Ireland. We continue to partner with Re-turn to maximise the potential of the Scheme”.

Jennifer Wallace, Drinks Ireland, said that “we can reflect positively on the Scheme’s impact on sustainability and reducing litter across the country, with the Scheme reaching a weekly average return rate of 24.4 million containers for 2025. This would not have been possible without the successful collaboration between producers, retailers, Re-turn, and the Government. Drinks Ireland remains committed to supporting the drinks industry in the effective operation of the Scheme.”

SuperValu and Centra supporting sustainability

Retailers too have embraced the DRS and contributed hugely to its success. SuperValu and Centra recently marked

Pictured are Niamh Kelly, Head of Marketing and Communications at Re-turn; Colin Walsh, Senior Project Manager at Lidl Ireland; Ela Standa, team member, and Andrei Romanschi, Store Manager at Lidl Kilcarbery, celebrating the one billionth

Deposit Return Scheme

210 million container returns in over 550 stores nationwide since the launch of the Scheme - this is equivalent to enabling every citizen in Ireland to recycle 42 containers. SuperValu and Centra invested €28 million in Reverse Vending Machines across their store networks nationwide, as part of their continued focus to build more sustainable communities. 703 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) were installed in SuperValu and Centra stores across the 26

counties in Ireland, with stores in Dublin, Cork, Meath, Galway and Kildare receiving the largest volume of returns across the SuperValu and Centra store network.

“We are pleased that as a community retailer with the largest offering of Reverse Vending Machines across every county in Ireland that SuperValu and Centra have enabled the equivalent of every citizen in Ireland being able to make a positive recycling impact,” noted Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu and Centra. “Over the course of the last 12 months, a remarkable 210 million containers have been returned via our RVM machines, which has led to a reduction in litter locally and enabled Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. This milestone is a testament to our customers, who have made recycling containers a natural part of their grocery shopping routine – they see the benefits to them and the planet and have been supportive of the initiative.”

Hanlon also thanked their “network of dedicated retailers who through investment and innovation have enabled a broader shift to sustainability. This is in line with our ‘Local Action Global Impact’ initiative, showing that small, community-based efforts can contribute to the broader fight against environmental challenges.”

Aldi’s new DRS Savings Card will allow customers to use their DRS vouchers received when they return empty bottles and cans to load funds onto an Aldi Savings Card.

Aldi launch DRS Savings Card

Aldi, meanwhile, recently announced the introduction of a new DRS Savings Card, which will allow customers to use their DRS vouchers received when they return empty bottles and cans to load funds onto an Aldi Savings Card. The launch comes as Aldi are preparing to reach the milestone of 200 million DRS returns across Ireland this month.

Aldi DRS units have seen a steady increase in the numbers of items returned, as customers have become increasingly acquainted with the scheme. Now, one year on, Aldi are investing in new machines and upgrading existing ones at more than 40 stores, which will make the scheme even easier for customers to use. Aldi’s investment also involves the purchase of an additional compactor at their Naas Distribution Centre, which will speed up the recycling and repurposing of returned bottles and cans.

“The DRS scheme has been very popular with Aldi shoppers, and since going live in February 2024, the number of items being returned on a monthly basis has steadily increased,” said Jason Carolan, Plastic & Packaging Manager at Aldi Ireland. “That’s why we’re now looking at how we can make it even easier and more efficient to use. This investment will allow us to make machines even more user-friendly and faster.

“Our new DRS Savings Card is a great way to build up the value of deposits over time. They’re easy to use and top-up and customers can not only contribute to the circular economy, but they can also put that money aside for special occasions.”

Jennifer Wallace, Drinks Ireland.

SuperValu Carrigaline General Manager Glenn Leacy and staff member Susan Leahy, pictured at Collins' SuperValu Carrigaline.

Red Bull Zero launches in Ireland

Red Bull Zero is launching in Ireland; zero-calorie, zero-sugar, same wiiings.

RED Bull is kicking off 2025 with the launch of the new Red Bull Zero. With zero calories, zero sugar and its own unique taste, Red Bull Zero provides an exciting new option in the brand’s line of energy drinks.

Red Bull Zero expands choice by offering a no-sugar taste that’s different from Red Bull Sugarfree; a pleasant sourness is combined with tastes of pineapple and vanilla to reveal a sweet and vibrant balance.

The health trend

Health is now a key concern for shoppers, with consumers on the lookout for healthier options of their favourite soft drinks, and research reveals that sugar-free soft drinks are now growing ahead of their full-sugar versions (Collated Market View YTD W/E December 1, 2024).

Red Bull Zero caters to this need,

ZERO EXCUSES.

Red Bull rolled out a free 30-day challenge designed to encourage and motivate individuals to achieve their New Year fitness goals, the ‘Red Bull Zero Excuses Challenge’.

New Red Bull Zero has zero calories, zero sugar and its own unique taste.

providing the same wiiings with zero sugar. With a distinctive take on the brand’s familiar rhombus design, Red Bull Zero is available in matte-light-blue 250ml cans from February 2025.

Alongside the launch of Red Bull Zero, Red Bull rolled out a free 30-day challenge designed to encourage and motivate individuals to achieve their New Year fitness goals. The ‘Red Bull Zero Excuses Challenge’ features fitness challenges and tips from Red Bull athletes and is available on www.redbull.ie/zeroexcuses

Available in 175 countries

Founded in 1987, Red Bull established the energy drinks category, promising to vitalise body and mind. Now available in 175 countries worldwide, Red Bull’s expanding range of editions and beyond the ordinary marketing strategy continues to wing its way into Irish consumers’ hearts, minds and shopping baskets.

Giving wings to people and ideas, Red Bull is a proud supporter of Irish athletes, including hockey goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, surfer Conor Maguire, drifter Conor Shanahan, mountain bikers Greg Callaghan and Ronan Dunne, gymnast Rhys McLeneghan and rugby player Mack Hansen.

Stock up on everyday wins this winter with Yakult

The

Yakult range offers retailers a proven way to support demand for products which support health and wellbeing.

AS we progress through winter, consumers remain focused on products that support their health and wellbeing. The team at Yakult believes that gut health is a cornerstone of overall health. For retailers, Yakult’s range of fermented milk drinks offers a proven way to meet this growing demand.

Yakult has three variants, all of which contain 20 billion L. casei Shirota bacteria which increase the lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the gut. With taste and health continuing to be top priorities for consumers, Yakult ensures both product benefits and delicious flavours are front and centre.

Around the world, more than 40 million Yakult products are consumed every

day across 40 countries and regions, a testament to its popularity and trust among consumers. Packaged in fridge-friendly 8 x 65ml bottles with shelf-ready cardboard packaging, Yakult stands out on shelves and offers convenience for both retailers and shoppers.

Yakult Balance

From October to early April, sunlight in the UK and Ireland isn’t strong enough to generate sufficient levels of vitamin D, often leaving consumers deficient in this important nutrient.

Yakult Balance helps address this seasonal challenge. Each bottle is rich in vitamin D, to support the immune system and maintain bone and muscle health. Like the rest of the Yakult range, it’s fat-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian, appealing to a wide variety of dietary needs.

Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system and the maintenance of normal bone and muscle function. Each bottle of Yakult Balance accounts for 30% of the EU reference intake for vitamin D. Enjoy as part of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.

Yakult Plus Peach

For busy consumers juggling work, family, and self-care, Yakult Plus is the perfect solution. Since we can’t store vitamin C in the body, we need to get it from our daily diet. Yakult Plus is rich in vitamin C, providing 30% of the EU reference intake and is bursting with a juicy peach flavour. Vitamin C supports immunity and helps reduce fatigue. It also contains fibre, which feeds the bacteria in the gut.

Each bottle of Yakult Plus accounts for 30% of the EU reference intake for vitamin C.

Vitamin C supports the normal functioning of the immune system and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Each bottle of Yakult Plus accounts for 30% of the EU reference intake for vitamin C. Enjoy as part of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.

Yakult Original

Yakult Original is an iconic choice. With its subtle vanilla and lemon flavours, this fermented milk drink contains 20 billion of Yakult’s unique bacteria in each bottle, which are scientifically proven to increase the bacteria in the gut.

Yakult Balance is rich in vitamin D, to support the immune system and maintain bone and muscle health.

The Happy Pear

The Happy Pear extend soup range

The Happy Pear have recently added Super Greens Veggie Soup to their gut-friendly range.

THE Happy Pear have introduced a new addition to their Happy Pear Soup range: The Happy Pear Super Greens Veggie Soup 400g. This delightful soup features a creamy blend of peas, broccoli and spinach, with a touch of mint. It has been specially crafted to promote and support good gut health, incorporating chicory root inulin which aids in maintaining healthy digestive function.

Each serving offers 4g of chicory inulin, contributing to a varied and balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. The soup is low in fat and a good source of fibre, as well as being plant-based and gluten-free. Made from wholesome ingredients, it contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

The newly designed packaging highlights the soup's ingredients, clearly communicating its nutritional and health benefits.

Enhanced range

enhanced to support good gut health, now incorporating chicory root inulin into their recipes.

The Happy Pear soup range includes:

• Super Greens Veggie

• Chunky Lentil and Tomato

• Creamy Root Veggie

• Mushroom & Sweet Potato

The existing soups range has also been Chunky Lentil and Tomato, one of the tasty flavours available as part of The Happy Pear soups range.

Tomato & Red

Pepper Soup

Sweet Potato and Squash

These soups are entirely plant-based, crafted with wholesome ingredients, and free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. All soups are gluten-free, except for the Chunky Lentil & Tomato soup.

The Happy Pear soups are a winning combination of convenience, nutrition, and great flavour.

Convenience, nutrition and great flavour

The Happy Pear soups are a brilliant blend

of great-tasting, nutritious ingredients that are the ideal solution for a quick dinner on a cold winter evening or a handy on-thego lunch. Consumers just stick the soups in the microwave or heat on the hob for a nutritious and nourishing meal in minutes. The soups are a winning combination of convenience, nutrition, and great flavour, and the range, including the new Super Greens Veggie, is available in SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide.

The Happy Pear Super Greens Veggie Soup 400g features a creamy blend of peas, broccoli and spinach, with a touch of mint.

Introducing our range of gut-loving soups - each spoonful brims with delicious and wholesome ingredients, and a super gut-friendly twist with chicory root inulin for all the happy bellies out there! They’re pure plant-based love in a bowl, colourful and free from artificial nonsense. Gluten-free? We’ve got you covered in all but our hearty Chunky Lentil & Tomato. Choose from mouth-watering varieties that’ll warm your soul any time, anywhere. Quick, wholesome, and bursting with flavour - just waiting for you to dive right in!

Egg-citing times ahead

With Easter on the way, retailers are advised to stock up on consumers’ favourite sweet treats.

IRELAND’S collective sweet tooth is well documented and nowhere is this more easily proven than at Easter. Even last year’s relatively early Easter couldn’t dent our appetite for all things sweet and chocolatey.

During March 2024, nearly half of all Irish households purchased Easter eggs, which was up 13.1% versus the previous year. Shoppers spent a mammoth €24.6 million on Easter Eggs, an additional €9.3 million versus 2023 (Source: Kantar).

Shoppers in Ireland remained on the hunt for value when it came to their Easter egg purchases last year, with over 43% of value sales on promotion. In the days leading up to Easter Sunday, sales saw a huge surge, with the number of chocolate Easter eggs sold in the seven days to Easter 22% higher than the previous year, with nearly 34% of Irish consumers buying one during this period (Source: Kantar).

So the advice for retailers this year, is stock up early on a full range of consumer favourites, from small eggs, many of which are enjoyed in the weeks leading up to the big day, to bigger and more premium options for gifting. However, it’s also vital to to ensure you have a steady supply of Easter treats right up to Easter Sunday itself, which this year falls on April 20.

Lindt

Lindt are set to elevate Easter celebrations in Ireland with a stunning refresh of their iconic Lindor Shell Eggs range and the launch of an irresistible new addition: the Lindt Gold Bunny Shell Egg 195g Salted Caramel.

Renowned for delivering premium chocolate experiences, Lindt continue to push boundaries with innovative offerings that delight consumers and drive excitement in the Easter chocolate market.

for Easter 2025.

The Lindt Gold Bunny Shell Egg 195g Salted Caramel combines the iconic Gold Bunny charm with the on-trend salted caramel flavour, and is a real showstopper

This Easter, Lindt’s beloved Lindor Shell Eggs range has received a vibrant new look, perfectly designed to capture the attention of shoppers. The updated packaging displays elegance, while embracing Lindt’s signature premium visual, ensuring it stands out on the shelves.

With a variety of indulgent flavours, including best sellers Milk, Assorted, and new Dark Mint, the Lindor Shell Eggs range offers something for everyone, making it a must-have for Easter gifting or self-treating. The new design highlights the irresistible smooth Lindt chocolate and creamy filling that Lindor is

celebrated for, reinforcing its position as a top choice for Irish shoppers during the festive season.

Lindt are thrilled to announce their latest innovation: the Lindt Gold Bunny Shell Egg 195g Salted Caramel. Combining the iconic Gold Bunny charm with the on-trend salted caramel flavour, this new product is a showstopper for Easter 2025.

Crafted by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers, the shell egg is made with the finest milk chocolate, filled with a touch of salted caramel for a perfectly balanced taste experience.

Available nationwide, this latest addition complements the already iconic Gold

Bunny range, which continues to be a firm favourite with Irish families. The Salted Caramel Shell Egg promises to be a standout gift option, offering an indulging experience that reflects Lindt’s dedication to quality and craftsmanship.

This exciting Easter portfolio will be supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign, ensuring maximum visibility and engagement with consumers. Lindt’s campaign includes a strong presence across TV, online video, and outdoor advertising, alongside captivating in-store displays to drive impulse purchases with its new 360-degree campaign, ‘Make Easter Sparkle’.

The Lindor Shell Eggs range offers something for everyone, making it a must-have for Easter gifting or self-treating.

Lindt’s beloved Lindor Shell Eggs range has received a vibrant new look, perfectly designed to capture the attention of shoppers.

Easter Treats

Cadbury’s Creme Egg competition

ONCE again this year, Cadbury are running a Creme Egg competition, asking consumers to reveal how they eat theirs? Consumers simply purchase a Cadbury Creme Egg product from their local shop and enter their details online, including the barcode and batch-code, as well as their Creme Egg eating habits, to be in with the chance

Nestlé Confectionery

Shoppers can get their hands on egg-cellent new products and popular classics as Nestlé Confectionery brings its 2025 Easter range to shop shelves across Ireland.

New for 2025 are: KitKat Chunky Chocolate Brownie Crunch Incredible Egg, Milkybar Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Giant Egg, Aero Melts Neapolitan Ice Cream Giant Egg, KitKat Mini Eggs Sharing Bag and

Rowntree’s Jellytastic Mini Egg Bar.

Nestlé Confectionery have announced a host of tasty new treats in time for the Easter season. In the world of KitKat, there are two exciting new products to try.

The indulgent KitKat Chunky Chocolate Brownie Crunch Incredible Egg is a smooth brownie flavoured milk chocolate shell with crunchy biscuit pieces and comes with two KitKat Chunky Double Chocolate Brownie bars.

The new KitKat Mini Eggs Sharing Bag features individually wrapped chocolate eggs, filled with crunchy pieces of signature KitKat wafer, perfect for sharing this spring.

Ice cream fans can look forward to two new offerings The Milkybar Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Giant Egg is a delicious mix of half white chocolate shell and half raspberry flavour shell and features a Milkybar Raspberry Ripple Sharing Bag, filled with marbled white and pink raspberry flavour pieces.

Aero Melts Neapolitan Ice Cream Giant Egg combines Neapolitan flavours in a strawberry and vanilla flavour milk chocolate egg and comes with an Aero Neapolitan Sharing Bag containing bubbly milk chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavour melts.

For those who want the best of both worlds, the Rowntree’s Randoms egg returns. The egg brings together Rowntree’s and Nestlé chocolate to create a shell with marshmallow pieces and Rowntree’s fruity flavoured sweets, creating a delicious one-of-a-kind Easter egg. Lucky recipients of this egg will also

Nestlé Confectionery have announced a host of tasty new treats in time for the Easter season.

Mini Eggs, maximum impact! THE eggs might be mini, but the news is massive! Cadbury have launched a new limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Mini Eggs (54g) bar. Imagine the silky smoothness of Cadbury Dairy Milk, now loaded with the crunchy coated fun of Mini Eggs, proudly made right here in Ireland. This cracking new addition to Cadbury’s small-bar range is only available for a limited time.

receive a sharing bag of Rowntree’s Randoms.

Not missing out on the fun, Rowntree’s has its Jellytastic Mini Egg Bar joining the Easter line up this year. The milk chocolate bar is dotted with delicious fruity flavoured jelly pieces, mixing up textures and flavours to make an out of the ordinary treat.

Egg hunts are still part of the fun at Easter, and Nestlé Confectionery have three brands returning this year. The KitKat Easter Egg Hunt pack has eight milk chocolate Easter eggs made with signature KitKat crunchy wafer pieces, ready to be hidden away as part of an Easter Egg hunt activity. Smarties and Milkybar also have packs to join in with the fun.

For a premium experience, the After Eight Premium Egg returns, with a rich mint flavoured dark chocolate shell and a pack of signature After Eight mint chocolate thins.

Nestlé Confectionery also have plenty of other Easter treats to look out for. The Milkybar Mini Egg Block is back again, with crispy milk chocolate mini-inclusions dotted inside a smooth white chocolate bar. Shoppers can expect to see egg offerings from many of the Nestlé Confectionery brands they know and love, including KitKat, Aero, Rowntree’s, Lion, Toffee Crisp, Smarties, Munchies, Rolo, Yorkie and Milkybar.

All Nestlé Confectionery chocolate is made using 100% certified Rain Forest Alliance cocoa.

KitKat launches new sharing bars

Iconic chocolate

brand KitKat has launched brand new sharing bars in stores nationwide.

KITKAT, the iconic chocolate brand, has unveiled a brand-new product that’s perfect for sharing. Already renowned for helping people to ‘Have a Break’, KitKat is now on a mission to help the nation ‘break better’. The legendary crispy wafer that’s fuelled break times for generations is encouraging everyone to stop overstretching and start taking quality breaks to gain a refreshed perspective, especially after a busy day!

These all-new sharing bars will make it easier to create those moments of connection, by sharing a delicious treat in the evening while relaxing with family and friends.

Now available nationwide, the new KitKat sharing bars come in three new flavours:

• KitKat Double Chocolate: Featuring a cocoa-flavoured filling, covered with thick, milk & dark chocolate marbled swirls;

KitKat Salted Caramel: A salted caramel-flavoured filling, covered with thick caramel flavour milk chocolate and marbled swirls;

• KitKat Hazelnut: A hazelnut-flavoured filling, covered with thick, milk & dark chocolate marbled swirls.

A multi-sensory eating experience

These innovative bars provide a unique,

Nescafé launches new KitKat Latte

and multi-sensory eating experience thanks to their delicious light and creamy fillings and chocolate that melts effortlessly in the mouth. This contrast in textures makes for an exceptional experience, made all the more eye-catching by the stunning swirled effect created by the marbled coating.

Maria McKenna, Confectionery Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland, said: “In today's non-stop world, it's far too easy to let the evenings disappear in a blur. We want KitKat fans to hit that pause button and really unwind at the end of the day… and what better way to do that than by catching up with your favourite people and sharing a delicious treat?

“KitKat's always been about those feelgood breaks and now with sharing bars, we're making it even easier to disconnect and reclaim your evenings.”

Each sharing bar features multiple breakoff pieces, making it ideal for enjoying together with friends and family. KitKat Sharing Bars are 99g and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. They are suitable for vegetarians.

KitKat sharing bars form part of the brand's ongoing ‘Breaks for Good’ mission, which focuses on initiatives that benefit both people and the planet. This includes sustainably sourcing cocoa, reducing environmental impact, and supporting communities. For more information, please visit www.kitkat.co.uk/breaks-for-good

KitKat fans will also be pleased to hear that as well as sharing bars, the KitKat Hazelnut 4 finger also launched to much consumer excitement earlier this year. Watch this space for more exciting things to come in 2025!

NESCAFÉ has collaborated with the ultimate break-brand, KitKat, to create a delicious chocolate flavour latte to brighten up your next coffee break. The Nescafé KitKat Latte combines the best of both worlds, bringing together the rich flavours of Nescafé coffee with the signature chocolatey-wafer taste of KitKat. This indulgent coffee joins a full line-up of other Nestlé confectionery collaborations, including Aero Peppermint and Quality Street Green Triangle. “We are thrilled to continue our collaborations with iconic Nestlé confectionery brands,” said Carol Anne Deasy, Nescafé Marketing Manager at Nestlé Ireland. “The chocolatey-wafer flavour of KitKat perfectly complements the aromas of Nescafé coffee. We’re excited to be bringing more unique and indulgent experiences to coffee lovers in Ireland.”

KitKat’s new sharing bars come in three flavours: KitKat Double Chocolate, KitKat Salted Caramel and KitKat Hazelnut.

Year Awards

Top independent off-licences revealed

NOffLA

recently announced the winners of the Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2025.

THE National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has unveiled the winners of its prestigious annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2025, marking the 29th year of the event.

The Off-Licence of the Year Awards highlight retailers who deliver exceptional service, maintain the highest retail standards, and embody the spirit of community-focused, independent business.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards once again, showcasing the best in Irish community retailing,” noted Cathal McHugh, NOffLA Chairman. “Our members embody the essence of ‘shopping local’ by delivering exceptional service, specialist knowledge and unique product offerings to their customers. These independent retailers are not only masters of their craft but are also central to their communities, driving local employment and championing Irish products. Their commitment to quality creates a unique shopping experience that larger retailers cannot replicate.”

2025 Award Winners

This year’s competition featured 59 finalists. The El Coto’s Customer Service Award of the Year 2025 was awarded to

Molloys Liquor Store, The Liberties. Keller’s Carry Out, Nenagh & Roscrea, was recognised as the Responsible Retailer of the Year 2025, and Blackrock Cellar took home the title of Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2025.

McHugh’s OffLicence in Artane, Dublin 5, was named National OffLicence of the Year.

Cathal McHugh and the team from McHugh’s Off-Licence, Artane, celebrate being named as the NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2025.

These winners were recognised for their dedication to quality, innovation, and customer service, setting a benchmark for excellence in the sector. The Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2025 stand as a testament to the resilience, passion, and dedication of Ireland’s offlicence community.

All 59 finalists were awarded certificates of ‘Excellence’ and a Customer Service Award based on their performance. Other awards on the night included:

NOffLA's RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2025 – Keeva Sherry, Fine Wines, Kilmurray; Louis Doyle, Fine Wines, Malahide; Niranjan Krishnan Devaraj, Fine Wines, Raven Terrace; David Lonergan, The Vintry, Rathgar.

NOffLA's Responsible Retailer of the Year 2025 – Keller’s Carry Out, Nenagh & Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.

19 Crimes' Best First Time Entrant 2025 –Fine Wines, Kilmurray, Co. Limerick.

NOffLA's Food Retailer of the Year 2025 –Blackrock Cellar, Co. Dublin.

El Coto's Customer Service Award of the Year 2025 – Molloys Liquor Store, The Liberties.

Redbreast's Spirit Specialist of the Year 2025 – Mitchell & Son Wine & Spirit Merchants, Glasthule.

Guinness' Beer Specialist of the Year 2025 – McHugh’s, Kilbarrack.

Dona Paula's Wine Specialist of the Year 2025 – Jus de Vine, Portmarnock.

Hennessy Cognac's Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2025 – O’Donovan’s Off-Licence, Riversdale, Midleton.

Drumshanbo Gun Powder Irish Gin's Connacht/Ulster Off-Licence of the Year 2025 – Dicey’s Off-Licence, Ballyshannon.

NOffLA's Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2025 – The Wine Centre, Kilkenny.

Brendan O’Reilly from Dicey’s OffLicence, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, accepts the Drumshanbo Gun Powder Irish Gin's Connacht/Ulster OffLicence of the Year 2025 Award from Gary Cahill of The Shed Distillery & Dalcassian Wines & Spirits.

NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards

Michael Collins from O’Donovan’s Off-Licence, Midleton, receives the Hennessy Cognac's Munster OffLicence of the Year 2025 Award from Mary Keyes, Edward Dillon & Co.

Alpha Zeta's Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2025 – Molloys Liquor Store, Clonsilla.

NOffLA's National Off-Licence of the Year 2025 – McHugh’s, Malahide Road.

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

National Off-Licence of the Year McHugh’s took home the overall National award for their Artane store, while their Kilbarrack off-licence was also named Guinness' Beer Specialist of the Year 2025.

This is the second time in three years that McHugh’s in Artane has won the top national award. The store underwent a significant refurbishment in the months after the Covid lockdowns. “We put all of our 30 years of experience into laying the store out as well as possible, to give the right focus to the right products and we're very happy with the with the revamp,” explains Cathal McHugh. “We've got a great team, we’ve got great customer service and a great range of products, but I believe the investment we made in the store a couple of years ago is what pushes us ahead.”

Cathal pays huge tribute to the team in both McHugh’s stores for implementing the highest quality standards. He believes the NOffLA Off-licence of the Year Awards are a fantastic way for independent offlicences to gauge themselves against their peers. “We've been entering the awards for around 30 years and every single year we go through the Awards criteria and we see what improvements we can make,” he says.

“We use it as a template because we are an independent business, and it's important to have these Awards to help to raise our quality standards and to be judged against our peers.”

Innovation is extremely important to the McHugh’s team: “We have to stand out,” Cathal insists. “We're selling beers, wines and spirits and we try to put forward the best range we can but you also have to give people other reasons to visit you, as opposed to visiting other off-licences or supermarkets. So we're always looking for ways to stand out and to get our name out there.”

McHugh’s have produced their own craft beer in the past (with another brew planned for 2025), and have their own range of pre-mixed cocktails, Shake Me, and recently introduced a novel new concept for spirit lovers, called Flask Fill. Customers can buy a McHugh’s branded flask for €10, and have it filled with a premium spirit brand for a fraction of the price of buying a full bottle of that spirit, so they get to try the brand without having to pay a premium price.

“We open a bottle of premium whiskey or premium tequila, for example, and our customers get to try it without having to buy a full bottle, so it encourages experimentation,” explains Cathal. “Some customers might see a €200 bottle of whiskey as a barrier to entry but they may be happy to pay a fifth of the price to try a flask of it.”

Darren Meehan from The Wine Centre, Kilkenny, accepts the Leinster OffLicence of the Year 2025 Award from Cathal McHugh.

NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards

Uptake has been very good, with several hundred flasks sold to date. “Some people are coming back on a weekly basis, while others are occasional buyers, and it also makes a very good gift.”

The McHugh’s team have been letting their customers know about their award win via social media, with a strong Instagram presence. “We’re a local business so we need to reach out to people within five or 10 kilometres of us and make sure that they know about us and that they know our quality.”

Calling for more Government support Addressing attendees at the Awards ceremony, which took place at the Honourable Society of King’s Inns, the NOffLA Chairman urged the Government to support this important sector. “In a year where small businesses have faced rising costs, inflation, and the burden of high alcohol tax rates, our members have continued to persevere and excel. This makes it all the more critical for the new Government to consider the challenges faced by small Irish businesses today.”

Cathal McHugh believes that aside from the National Off-licence of the Year awards and the Wine Star Awards, the most important work carried out by NOffLA is the lobbying it does as the voice of the independent off-licence sector.

“We're a very highly regulated business,” Cathal notes, “and we have no issue with being highly regulated. But there are people in various departments of the government making decisions on an ongoing basis that affect what we do for our livelihood. And it's important that we have a voice in shaping those regulations.”

He cites the launch last year of Ireland’s DRS scheme, where NOffLA were “heavily engaged” with Re-turn in the months leading up to its launch. This year, much of the focus will be on the upcoming Alcohol Labelling regulations, due to come into force in May 2026, which will require alcohol products to be labelled with health warnings and alcohol retailers to display health warning notices in their premises. NOffLA called for an extension to the implementation date, citing confusion around key aspects of the regulations, and

the need for a harmonised EU approach. “While NOffLA has always supported responsible retailing and informed consumer choice, independent retailers will face significant logistical and financial challenges in adapting to these proposed changes,” noted Cathal. “NOffLA is calling on the Government to extend the implementation timeline to address ongoing uncertainty around the Act and to allow for previously promised EU-wide regulations. This would avoid placing Irish businesses at a competitive disadvantage to their European counterparts and ensure a consistent approach across the Single Market.”

Cathal insists that “the smaller producers that that independent off-licences would gravitate towards” will have particular difficulty with the cost of the new labelling, which will at best lead to shorter bottling runs and increased prices. “But for the fastmoving lines that go through supermarkets, it will not be a big issue to do a bottling run with a unique label,” he warns. NOffLA will be engaging with the new Government over the coming months with a view to having their voice heard and ensuring a level playing pitch for independent businesses.

McHugh’s ‘Flask Fill’ allows customers to buy a McHugh’s branded flask for € 10, and have it filled with a premium spirit brand for a fraction of the price of buying a full bottle of that spirit.

Exercise common sense on excise NOffLA also reiterated its call for the Government to reduce Ireland’s alcohol excise duties, which remain the second highest in Europe.

“With the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), these high excise rates are no longer necessary to achieve public health objectives,” Cathal noted. “A reduction would provide muchneeded relief to small businesses already struggling with inflation and rising operational costs, enabling them to remain competitive and sustainable in a challenging economic environment.”

For more information, visit www.noffla.ie

McHugh’s Off-Licence, Artane, was named NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year for the second time.

Richard Molloy and the team from Molloys Liquor Store, Clonsilla, accepting the Alpha Zeta's Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2025 Award.

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What’s New

LIDL TEAM UP WITH DAVID GILLICK ON HIGH PROTEIN RANGE

ROWNTREE’S are thrilled to announce the launch of their latest innovation, Jelly Tots Tangy. A vibrant and playful twist on the much-loved classic Jelly Tots, this exciting new creation steps into the sour space, offering fans a flavourful experience that combines nostalgia with tanginess! Made with real fruit juice, the sweets are not only bursting with flavour but are also vegan-friendly, appealing to a broader audience who value delicious treats. Packaged in a 140g sharing bag, Jelly Tots Tangy is perfect for any sharing occasion, whether it's a family gathering or fun sociable events with friends. “With Rowntree’s Jelly Tots Tangy, we’ve taken a beloved classic and added a refreshing twist that we believe will resonate with both new and loyal fans alike,” said Maria McKenna, Confectionery Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland. “It’s not just a sweet; it’s a fun experience to share and enjoy together!”

PEPSICO BRING THE HEAT WITH WALKERS EXTRA FLAMIN’ HOT

FOLLOWING the success of their Extra Flamin’ Hot range last year across Doritos, Wotsits Crunchy and Walkers Max, PepsiCo are adding a limited-edition Walkers Extra Flamin' Hot variant to this popular extra hot portfolio. Walkers Extra Flamin’ Hot is a new twist on the famous Walkers brand, driven by the current consumer demand for all things spicy, with spicy flavours outperforming in the savoury snacking category, growing by +8.7% YoY. Available in stores across Ireland for eight weeks only, this exciting Walkers Extra Flaming Hot flavour will be spicing up the snacks category. “Following the success of our Extra Flamin’ Hot brand platform earlier this year, this launch continues to deliver bold, innovative snacking experiences while creating a buzz instore and offering retailers a great opportunity to boost savoury snack sales,” said Liz Finlay, Marketing Manager at PepsiCo. The launch will be supported by a strong ATL campaign, including outof-home, TV and digital, and PR.

DAIRY CONCEPTS INNOVATE FOR M&S

M&S Food have launched a brand-new snack, High Protein Cheese Clouds & Marmite, developed in partnership with Irish dairy snacks innovators, Dairy Concepts. Headquartered in Fermoy, Dairy Concepts, were among the suppliers that featured in the ‘M&S at New Year’ documentary which aired recently on ITV in the UK. M&S High Protein Marmite Cheese Clouds are a new addition to the existing range of cheese clouds produced by Dairy Concepts, which includes High Protein Cheddar Cheese Clouds and Chilli Cheese Clouds.

OLYMPIAN and Double European Champion David Gillick has teamed up with Lidl Ireland to launch the retailer’s expanded high protein range, which includes 14 exciting new performance supplement products, now available across Lidl’s 181 stores nationwide. Lidl are introducing performance-focused supplements, such as whey and vegan protein powders, creatine monohydrate, collagen powder, pre-workout drinks, and isotonic powders. The retailer has also expanded its popular protein snack range, adding new high-protein bars, tortilla chips, and locally made high-protein cookies from Drogheda-based supplier East Coast Bakehouse.

SUPERVALU AND GIY LAUNCH ‘LET’S GROW’ INITIATIVE

SUPERVALU and not-for-profit social enterprise GIY have announced the launch of their innovative 2025 SuperValu Let's Grow programme, an ambitious nationwide initiative designed to engage primary schools in food education and sustainable growing practices. By the end of 2025, nearly 170,000 primary school children will have participated in the 'SuperValu Let's Grow' initiative, learning essential skills and receiving resources to cultivate fresh food for free at school. This long-term partnership emphasises the importance of homegrown food within classrooms, communities and households across Ireland. Pictured at the launch of the 2025 campaign are Tom Higgins, Higgin’s SuperValu Mayfield; John Kelly, SuperValu Brand Manager; Ali Honour, GIY Head of Food; award-winning chef Lilly Higgins, with Finbarr Keane, Shay Murphy and Zara Binte Jewle, Strawberry Hills NS Cork.

Excellent year for Inver

Throughout 2024, Inver have continued to build on their efforts to expand their renewable fuel offering and celebrate excellence across their retail network.

2024 is on target to set a new record for the amount of biofuel used in road fuels. Inver have supported this achievement and Ireland’s decarbonisation targets, by expanding the availability of lower carbon fuels to their commercial and retail customers. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, can reduce CO2e by up to 90% and is a readily available solution to immediately start reducing emissions.

“2024 data from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, shows that biofuels such as HVO are a key solution to lowering GHG from existing combustion engine vehicles, with fossil fuel consumption decreasing due to use of renewable fuels,” explains John O’Leary, Managing Director, Inver. “We are committed to expanding the availability of HVO at the pump in more locations in 2025 and bringing lower carbon fuel solutions close to our customers.”

Currently, HVO is available to motorists

at eight Inver forecourts across their network. The HVO supplied by Inver is certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme.

New forecourt partners

Across their retail network, Inver have seen another successful year and welcomed new forecourt partners, further strengthening their presence across the country. Amongst the group’s latest forecourts are Inver Killbeggan in Co. Westmeath, Inver Killeshandra in Co. Cavan, and Inver Delaney’s Woodenbridge in Co. Wicklow.

“Our goal is to expand Inver’s retail network and continue to add value to our existing partnerships,” John reveals. “We are constantly developing our brand proposition to provide value-added services tailored to the needs of forecourt operators to help them succeed in a competitive market. Our dealers can avail of IOSH-

approved health and safety training sessions, stock management tools, and forecourt maintenance solutions delivered by Inver.”

To celebrate the success of the retail network, Inver hosted their Retail Conference and Awards in October. The conference gathered forecourt operators from across the country to discuss the current national landscape and the future of retail fuels. The awards ceremony that followed celebrated the continued success of the Inver branded retail businesses, with 12 winners carefully selected from 37 deserving finalists.

Leading Lights: celebrating local communities

Through Inver’s nationwide Leading Lights programme, the company has continued to play an important role in supporting local organisations, with €69,500 donated to 84 organisations who are dedicating their time and effort into making their local communities a better place. The collaboration between Inver and St Joseph’s Foundation is a great example of the impact businesses can have on their local communities, which evolved from a Leading Lights donation to a meaningful employment programme. The annual €1,000 Leading Lights fund is accessible to all Inver dealers, with over €100,000 available to support communities surrounding Inver forecourts in 2025.

“We have had a successful 2024 and in the coming year we will focus on expanding our offering of HVO at the pumps to support decarbonisation and meet rising demands for lower carbon fuels,” concludes John. “We will continue to work closely with our dealers and grow our network by consistently delivering exceptional service and ensuring a positive convenience experience across our forecourt network.”

Pictured are: John O'Leary, Inver Managing Director; Michelle O’Brien and Anthony O'Brien, Inver Bishopstown; and Adam Traeger, CEO of Greenergy, at the Inver Retail Awards 2024.

Maxol’s charity initiative raises €155,000 for guide dog charities

MAXOL, with the support of their customers and retailers, have raised more than €155,000 to support the training and care of three guide dogs through their inaugural nationwide fundraising campaign, PAWsome.

The initiative, which was launched last year, saw scents turning into cents as thousands of puppy-shaped PAWsome car fresheners were sold, with all proceeds going to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in the Republic of Ireland, and Guide Dogs Northern Ireland.

It costs €53,000 to breed, train and care for each guide or assistance dog during its working lifetime. With an urgent need to add to the current 360+ working dogs, Ireland’s guide dog charities are continually seeking funding to assist people who are visually impaired. Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind also supports children with autism to achieve independence, confidence and greater mobility through their Assistance Dog Programme.

Maxol staff will have the privilege of naming two of the puppies, and the third will be named by the Maxol team at Maxol Dooradoyle in Limerick, who raised the highest amount of funds during the PAWsome campaign.

All three puppies will now undergo training at the charities’ training centres,

where a team of expert instructors will equip the new owners and their future guide or assistance dog with everyday skills, from crossing roads to using public transport and vet care.

The 2024 PAWsome Fresheners campaign was the first step towards Maxol’s goal of training six guide or assistance dogs over two years.

Brian Donaldson, CEO of Maxol, highlighted the life-changing impact of a highly-trained and intuitive guide or assistance dog, saying: “We’re incredibly proud to support these amazing charities that do such wonderful work at both a national and community level. Supporting this special journey from puppy to guide or assistance dog is a wonderful initiative to be part of and raising €155,000 with the support of our customers and retailers has exceeded our expectations.”

Brian pointed out that guide and assistance dogs not only help to bolster confidence but that the safety and social benefits they bring to their owners are invaluable too.

“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible and vital support these dogs provide and I’m grateful to all our valued customers, colleagues, our retailers and their staff who have supported this brilliant cause,” he said. “We look forward to the next phase

of our fundraising efforts and fulfilling our promise to sponsor three more puppies in 2025.”

Tim O’Mahony, CEO of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, said: “The fundraising from the PAWsome Fresheners campaign is truly transformative. It helps us to offer greater independence to our clients, and their families, and creates more supportive and inclusive communities. Many visually impaired individuals face isolation and challenges in everyday activities, such as shopping, working and socialising, and guide dogs provide a vital lifeline.

“Similarly, for children with autism, assistance dogs serve as a calming presence, aiding in behaviour regulation and enhancing social skills and confidence. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved for making this achievement possible.”

In addition to the PAWsome campaign, a further €25,000 was raised from instore collection boxes across the country, through the generosity of Maxol customers.

Maxol have committed to funding the training of at least six guide and assistance dogs across the island of Ireland over the next two years and will continue to raise awareness and drive support for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in the Republic of Ireland and Guide Dogs NI.

Brian Donaldson, CEO, Maxol Group, pictured with Tim O'Mahony, CEO of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, and puppy-intraining, Ice.

Applegreen to sell UK petrol filling station business

APPLEGREEN have agreed to sell their UK petrol filling business (PFS) and will use the proceeds from the transaction to invest in their business in Ireland, the UK, and the United States.

Applegreen’s UK petrol filling station business, which has 98 sites and employs 1,142 people, is being sold to EG On The Move, a UK operator of filling stations and convenience stores.

All of the staff employed by Applegreen’s UK PFS business are expected to transfer to the new owners as part of the transaction, apart from a very small number of employees who work in functions where there is overlap with the new owner. These employees are either being redeployed or have been offered a redundancy programme. Applegreen have been in consultation with all the employees in question.

The sale does not affect Applegreen’s Welcome Break business in the UK, which also includes their operations in Northern Ireland, which employ more than 6,000 people at 59 sites, including 34 Motorway Service Areas (MSAs), and 31 hotels.

“We remain totally committed to our presence and further expansion in the UK market and have significant plans to expand both Welcome Break and our EV charging business there, as part

Corrib

of the €1 billion investment plan that we announced late last year,” said Joe Barrett, Applegreen Co-Founder and Chief Executive. “We are growing the Welcome Break business in the UK by developing new-build locations and revamping many of our existing sites. We have a strong pipeline of additional UK sites for development on locations adjacent to motorways and alongside a number of major A-roads.”

The company just opened a new £55 million (€66 million) stateof-the-art Welcome Break MSA on the M1 near Rotherham in January of this year.

Here in Ireland, Applegreen will continue to invest in their petrol filling station business, as it is an integral part of the company’s Irish operations. “The roll-out of our successful M&S partnership, which is currently in 21 locations, will continue and we are also investing to expand our Braeburn Coffee brand,” Joe Barrett said. “There will also be further investment in new sites, and upgrades to existing locations.”

In the UK and US, Applegreen is increasingly focusing on larger sites, with food at the heart of the customer offer.

Applegreen will also continue to invest heavily in their EV charging business in Ireland, the UK and the United States, with an €85 million expansion programme planned over the next five years.

Oil bringing Wendy’s to Ireland

CORRIB Oil have reached an agreement with the global quickservice restaurant brand Wendy’s to become its franchise partner in Ireland. Corrib plan to open 10 Wendy’s restaurants across the country over the 2025 to 2027 period. The initial site locations will be a blend of standalone Wendy’s restaurants, as well as new Wendy’s offerings at existing Corrib service station locations.

The new Corrib-Wendy's partnership will lead to the creation of approximately 300 new jobs in the first phase. Wendy's also anticipate sourcing ingredients locally wherever possible as part of their Irish roll-out, and that all Wendy’s fresh beef will be 100% Irish sourced and certified.

“We are delighted to announce this exciting new partnership with Wendy’s,” said Eugene Dalton, Chief Executive, Corrib Oil. “This collaboration brings together two brands that share a commitment

to quality, community and exceptional customer experience. The opportunity to bring such a globally recognised brand as Wendy’s to Ireland offers a new food experience for Irish customers.”

E.J. Wunsch, President, International, of The Wendy’s Company, said that Corrib and Ireland are a perfect fit for the brand: “Ireland is a great market for long-term growth for Wendy’s. Corrib Oil have a deep understanding of the local communities and a long-standing reputation for excellence. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Wendy’s family. Their customer-centric philosophy aligns perfectly with Wendy’s promise of delivering exceptional customer experiences and ensuring top-notch hospitality. With a proven track record of outstanding operations and a significant growth history, we are confident that Corrib Oil is the right partner to drive Wendy’s expansion in Ireland.”

Joe Barrett, Applegreen Co-Founder and Chief Executive.

Applegreen will continue to invest in their petrol filling station business in Ireland.

Strong start to 2025 for Nordic Spirit!

Nordic Spirit are introducing fresh new strengths in consumers’ favourite flavours, Tropical Mix, Frosty Berry and Raspberry.

NORDIC Spirit strives to enrich the lives of consumers seeking a bold, innovative way to enjoy nicotine. Inspired by consumer feedback and popular demand, the team behind Nordic Spirit are thrilled to introduce the nation's favourite fruity flavours in even more strengths!

More ways to enjoy favourite flavours Consumers have shown so much love for the sweet and succulent Tropical Mix as a firm favourite. To give your consumers even more ways to enjoy this refreshing flavour, it’s now available in both Regular and Strong. Whether you’re looking for a mellow start or a more intense experience, there’s now a Tropical Mix strength for both.

Nordic Spirit’s juicy, fruity Raspberry flavour, already a fan favourite, is now available in Regular strength for those who prefer a smoother, more balanced release. And for lovers of icy-cool flavours, the refreshing Frosty Berry has been taken up a notch with a Strong strength option, offering an extra invigorating nicotine delivery.

A growing portfolio

With these new additions, the Nordic Spirit portfolio continues to grow, offering more ways for your consumers to find their perfect fit. Each pouch has been meticulously designed to provide a comfortable, smooth mouthfeel, an optimised flavour profile, and a faster nicotine release for a bold, refreshing experience that’s second to none.

As always, the team behind Nordic Spirit recommend starting with a lower strength, even if you’re already familiar with Nordic Spirit. With the addition of two new ‘Regular’ strength flavours to the portfolio, consumers can now enjoy even more options and find the balance that works best for them.

This latest expansion shapes the Nordic Spirit portfolio to fit consumer preferences, creating the ultimate nicotine experience. Whether your consumers are drawn to the tropical notes of Tropical Mix, the tangy burst of Raspberry, or the icycool freshness of Frosty Berry, there’s something in their new line-up for every palate.

“Whether your consumers are drawn to the tropical notes of Tropical Mix, the tangy burst of Raspberry, or the icy-cool freshness of Frosty Berry, there’s something in their new lineup for every palate.”

Nordic Spirit are launching the nation’s favourite fruit flavours – Tropical Mix, Frosty Berry and Raspberry – in even more strengths, giving consumers more options across the portfolio.

Goodfella’s on the ball with Irish women’s rugby team

Goodfella’s has become an official sponsor of the Irish women’s rugby team.

GOODFELLA’S recently announce its new partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) as an Official Sponsor of the Irish Women’s Rugby Team. This alliance marks Goodfella’s’ first major sporting partnership, and comes at an exciting time for Irish rugby as they celebrate the 150th anniversary and gear up for a high profile tournament agenda in 2025.

The Goodfella’s sponsorship will focus on promoting values of unity, camaraderie, and the joy of sharing great moments with friends and family. The brand aims to highlight its commitment to supporting Irish culture; helping raise the profile of women’s sport and celebrating the success and potential of the Irish women’s rugby programme.

Celebrating togetherness and community

Goodfella’s is Ireland’s leading frozen pizza brand (Source: Nielsen, defined total frozen pizzas, value sales, MAT w/e 03.11.24) and has been a beloved part of Irish homes

since its launch over 30 years ago. Known for its delicious, high-quality frozen pizzas, Goodfella’s is not only a fan favourite, but also prides itself on being a brand that celebrates the importance of togetherness and community, making this a perfect partnership.

“Women’s rugby in Ireland has been growing at an incredible pace, and there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved,” noted John McCarthy, Country Manager of Birds Eye Ireland, which Goodfella’s is a part of. “Goodfella’s believes that rugby, like pizza, is all about sharing, enjoyment, and celebrating moments with others, bringing people together over great food and good times. The Irish women’s rugby team embodies dedication, teamwork and resilience and we're incredibly excited to support them on their journey and to be part of their story.”

Major brand redesign

The announcement comes at a time of significant transformation for Goodfella’s, which has recently undergone a major brand redesign, with fresh new packaging, a renewed commitment to quality and nutrition, and bold plans for 2025. As part of the new partnership, Goodfella’s will provide supporters and fans with exciting opportunities to engage with the Irish women’s rugby team in the lead-up and

during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations and tournaments throughout 2025.

Michael Collopy, Chair of the IRFU Commercial & Marketing Committee, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Goodfella’s as a partner of the Irish women’s national team. Goodfella’s’ commitment to fostering community and promoting team spirit and quality aligns perfectly with the Irish rugby values. We look forward to working together to create exciting opportunities for our fans and players, and we’re excited to see the positive impact this partnership will have on both the team and the rugby community as a whole.”

This sponsorship marks a pivotal moment for both Goodfella’s and the IRFU, as both organisations look ahead to making great strides in their respective fields in 2025. With an action-packed 2025 on the horizon, Goodfella’s is ready to cheer on the Irish Women’s Rugby Team every step of the way.

The iconic Goodfella’s brand was launched in 1993 in Naas, Ireland, and is Ireland’s leading frozen pizza brand. The brand’s pizza ranges include Deep Pan, Stonebaked Thin, Gluten-Free, Takeaway, Garlic Bread, Pizza Pockets and additionally includes ready meals and sides in its portfolio. Goodfella’s is a Birds Eye brand, owned by Nomad Foods – Europe’s leading frozen food company.

Welcome Commitments in Programme for Government

THE new Programme for Government includes a range of commitments of particular relevance to the retail sector. Dedicated sections on Supporting Small Business, Hospitality and Retail and Tackling Retail Crime are particularly welcome. The Programme also includes a range of proposals on many crosssectoral business issues, such as energy and skills, that are relevant to retail businesses.

A number of specific proposals that Ibec and Retail Ireland have championed in our lobbying work over recent months are included, such as a review of existing and planned regulations, new measures to address cost concerns in the retail sector, the publication of a new retail crime strategy and the introduction of exclusion orders for retail crime, amongst others.

In the document, the Government commits to bringing forward measures to support SMEs, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, acknowledging the increased cost pressures of recent years. This will include changes to VAT and PRSI.

Measures of note include a commitment to:

A new Cost of Business Advisory Forum, which will review all business taxes and costs and ensure businesses are consulted before new legislation or policies are introduced that impact small businesses.

• Rigorously implement the SME test to scrutinise every new piece of legislation and regulation for its impact on SMEs, ensuring that any obligations that increase business costs are phased in and that there is consideration of the broader implications of any decisions affecting businesses across government.

• Undertake a look-back exercise to identify regulations that are now redundant to reduce unnecessary red tape, asking each government department and regulatory agency to submit a list of such regulations.

• Conduct a comprehensive review to assess the cost structures for SME and family-owned businesses to identify areas where costs can be reduced.

Retail crime has increased significantly over recent years and there is an urgent need for additional resources and new measures to tackle the problem. Retail Ireland has been actively engaged

with political parties and the Gardaí on this issue over the last year, and the Programme for Government includes some welcome new commitments that the sector has been calling for. A dedicated section in the document incudes a commitment to:

• Publish a Retail Crime Strategy with targeted actions to reduce retail crime and support affected businesses.

• Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a certain period of time.

• Support Garda Operations to tackle retail crime, including through the use of organised crime and proceeds of crime legislation.

Examine the introduction of a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker.

Introduce a new grant scheme for anti-theft and prevention measures.

Improve data sharing between retailers and Gardaí.

• Tackle the practice of ‘retail defamation’.

While there is still a very significant piece of work to do to ensure those positive proposals become a reality and all retail businesses benefit accordingly, it is encouraging to see many key retail concerns referenced in detail. The focus now must be on delivery.

Tel: 01-6051558 | www.retailireland.ie

Need more?

Bord Bia targets food and drink businesses for export growth

Bord Bia has launched a new Accelerated Export Growth programme, with 11 food and drink companies set to benefit.

BORD Bia has initiated a new programme to assist established Irish food and drink businesses in exploring export growth opportunities for the first time. The Accelerated Export Growth (AEG) Programme offers companies tailored supports aimed at advancing the next generation of high-growth exporters in Ireland.

The inaugural programme includes companies such as Nutshed, a producer of peanut butter and plant-based confectionery; Ahascragh Distillers Ltd, Ireland’s first zero-emissions distillery, producing whiskey and gin products; and Shackletons, a producer of gluten-free flour, bread and cake mixes.

Over a 12-month period, the programme will support 11 businesses, most of which are in the Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) category. According to Bord Bia, the PCF sector saw continued export growth in 2024, reaching €3.4 billion in value, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. The UK market accounted for twothirds of PCF exports and experienced an 11% increase in 2024, making it the most significant market for the sector. For companies participating in the AEG programme, the UK will be a primary focus, with a market visit planned in April 2025.

Key supports

Key supports provided in the AEG programme will include:

Commercial Strategy Report Development: Tailored guidance to help companies develop a robust commercial strategy.

In-Depth Gap Analysis: Learn how to identify areas of improvement and potential growth opportunities.

• Integrated Sales and Marketing

Strategy Support: Assistance in creating cohesive sales and marketing plans.

• Brand Assessment and Supporting Services: Evaluating and enhancing company branding for international markets.

• UK Market Exposure: Opportunities for companies to gain a greater understanding of the UK market.

• Strategic Market Engagement: Including one-to-one clinics with Bord Bia overseas representatives for market insights and strategies.

• Digital Strategy Support: Learn to develop a digital strategy to enhance online presence and e-commerce capabilities.

• Continuous Business Mentorship Support: Ongoing evaluation by the programme manager and a business mentor to ensure progress and implementation of learnings.

• Participation in Market Study Visits and identification of suitable Trade Shows: Opportunities for real-world

market research and networking.

• Customer Engagement : Building relationships with potential customers.

An insight-led approach

“Starting to export can be challenging and requires significant time and resources,” revealed Claudia Saumell, Client Engagement Manager at Bord Bia. “We know from experience that companies benefit from a more targeted, insightled approach. This new and exciting programme is designed for companies ready to make a concerted effort, change their work methods, and commit to an export growth strategy.

“In its first year, the AEG Programme will assist 11 businesses in exploring new growth opportunities, and, hopefully, bringing their products to international markets.”

For more information on the Accelerated Exports Growth Programme, visit www.bordbia.ie.

Pictured are (l-r): Claudia Saumell, Client Development Manager at Bord Bia; Karen White, Head of Sales & Marketing at Ahascragh Distillery; and Michael Cullen, Commercial Director at Shackleton’s Milling; at the launch of Bord Bia’s Accelerated Export Growth (AEG) Programme.

Predicting your future success

Retail of the future is now: how predictive analytics will help grocery businesses personalise their offering, helping to gain and retain customers, by Luís Gonçalves, Data Analytics & AI Director, Noesis.

The grocery industry is at a turning point. Relying on past sales data and outdated strategies is no longer enough, especially as online shopping and delivery services reshape consumer expectations. Customers demand convenience, speed and personalisation, and those who fail to adapt will inevitably lose them to competitors who do. One-size does not fit all.

Predictive analytics isn’t just an advantage; it’s a commodity nowadays. Retailers that harness AI and Generative AI to anticipate demand, optimise inventory and refine delivery logistics will thrive. Challenges, including stock-outs and other inefficiencies, can lead to unsatisfied customers who won’t hesitate to shop elsewhere. The retailers that don’t have these problems will be the happy ones.

In a world where instant gratification drives consumer choices, grocery retailers must embrace predictive technology to stay ahead, or risk falling behind.

But integrating AI into grocery retail

comes with challenges, from data accuracy to operational pains. The solution lies in leveraging AI and even Generative AI to unlock deeper insights, automate processes, and enhance personalisation. The outcome? A smarter, more efficient grocery ecosystem where businesses don’t just meet customer expectations, they exceed them. Because if they don’t exceed, the competition will.

Customers and data: challenges and dilemmas

Consumers now expect highly personalised shopping experiences, whether they are in-store, browsing online or using a mobile app. Generic promotions and broad product recommendations are no longer effective, as shoppers demand tailored offers that reflect their unique preferences, shopping habits, and daily needs. However, achieving true personalisation is far more complex than simply analysing past purchases. It requires understanding real-time

Luís Gonçalves, Data Analytics & AI Director, Noesis.

Predictive Analytics

Consumers now expect highly personalised shopping experiences, whether they are in-store, browsing online or using a mobile app.

behaviour, predicting future needs, and dynamically adjusting promotions, pricing and inventory accordingly.

AI-driven predictive analytics can process vast amounts of data from multiple touchpoints, enabling retailers to deliver hyper-personalised recommendations. Having an NBO (next best offer) already prepared on the website or on the app can be a solution to show that a customer is ‘the’ customer. By leveraging Generative AI, retailers in the grocery space can go beyond static discounting models and create customised shopping experiences that adapt to each customer’s evolving preferences. AI-powered personalisation engines can also help segment customers more effectively, ensuring that promotions resonate with the right audience, and, very important, at the right time.

Like in all other industries, grocery retailers now face the ‘Data Dilemma’: too much information, too little insight. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges facing grocery retailers today is not a lack of data but an overwhelming abundance of it. Sales transactions, inventory levels, online browsing behaviour, loyalty programmes, and external factors like weather and supply chain disruptions generate massive amounts of information daily. However, having data is not the same as having actionable insights. Without the

right tools and expertise, retailers struggle to make sense of this information, leading to inefficiencies, poor decision-making, and missed opportunities.

Customers and data: commitments and discoveries

Grocery retailers are strengthening their

commitment to data-driven strategies, but as they move forward, they encounter both opportunities and challenges.

The increasing complexity of inventory management, omnichannel integration, and logistics, is driven by shifting consumer expectations and rapid advancements in AI are some of them. Not all, but the ones that

The future of grocery retail belongs to those who fully integrate AI, ensuring operations are guided by data intelligence, automation and predictive insights.

can have more impact on the business.

While AI has the potential to revolutionise these areas, grocers must first overcome obstacles like data overload, data decisionmaking, and supply chain inefficiencies. Inventory management is no longer just about stock tracking. Consumers shop across multiple channels, making demand unpredictable. Traditional forecasting models fail to account for real-time variables such as weather shifts or viral trends.

Generative AI offers a breakthrough by continuously refining stock predictions based on live data, search patterns, and external market events. Joining predictive models with Generative AI can be one solution to be more accurate, both on the supply and the selling side. Just an example, too much stock with perishable goods are a business killer.

The challenge of omnichannel integration Omnichannel integration remains another critical challenge. Many grocery systems still operate in silos, leading to inventory mismatches, inconsistent pricing, and disconnected loyalty programmes. AIpowered unified commerce platforms synchronise data across all touchpoints, ensuring real-time product availability, price consistency, and predictive order

fulfilment. A customer that does not buy a product should not be overloaded with campaigns about it. Again, one size does not fit all.

AI is also transforming grocery logistics, where efficiency is critical. Perishable goods require precise routing and timing. AI-driven optimisation engines analyse live traffic, warehouse inventory, and demand surges, to determine the most efficient delivery paths. Generative AI enhances this further by predicting disruptions, such as supplier delays, and adjusting fulfilment strategies proactively. It’s not about having products available for customers. It’s about having them in the right moment, with the perfect conditions to keep that customer with us.

The final piece of this transformation is reporting. AI-powered analytics go beyond dashboards, offering predictive insights that drive smarter business decisions. With AI-enhanced reporting, grocers gain full visibility into supplier performance, inventory turnover, and delivery efficiency. It is no longer possible to run a business based on gut feeling and previous experiences.

Let AI work for you

The future of grocery retail belongs to those who fully integrate AI, ensuring operations are guided by data intelligence, automation and predictive insights. Those who embrace AI will unlock efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and set new industry benchmarks. Let analytics do modelling and predicting, providing you with insights you can use to run the business, not to see the business.

AI and Generative AI aren’t optional upgrades; they are the backbone of the future. Grocers who hesitate, clinging to outdated models, will watch as competitors redefine efficiency, precision and personalisation at scale. The data is there, the tools exist, and the only question left is: who will harness them first?

This isn’t just a call to innovate. It’s a warning. The winners in grocery retail will be those who commit to AI-driven transformation, those who discover how to turn real-time intelligence into action. The rest? They will fade into irrelevance, lost in a world where customers expect nothing less than perfection.

With both data and customers at the fingertips of grocery retailers, they have the opportunity to use data in a predictive and generative vision to make their customers happy. These customers will then return, and bring another customer along.

About the author

LUÍS Gonçalves is the Director of the Data Analytics & AI team at Noesis, an international tech consulting company offering solutions to support companies' businesses and digital transformation, where he has worked since 2013. With a 19-year career specialising in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, Luís has acquired extensive experience in the financial sector, working with some of the largest private and public banks. Luís has a solid background in SAS technologies, with six years' experience in Banking, Telecommunications, Retail and HR. His areas of expertise include Data Warehousing (DW), Business Intelligence (BI), QlikView and SAS. He currently leads a team of more than 100 professionals.

Noesis has an extensive IT services portfolio, working in several areas such as IT Ops & Infrastructure, Cloud & Security, Enterprise Solutions, Low-Code Solutions, Data Analytics & AI, DevOps & Automation, Quality Management, Enterprise Application Integration, and Professional Services. The company has over 1,100 highly specialised talents, operating in seven countries: Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, UK & Ireland, the USA and the UAE. Noesis is part of Altia Group, listed on the Spanish BME Growth stock market, with more than 3,500 professionals operating in seven countries and over 20 locations.

Luís Gonçalves regularly gives presentations on the benefits of Generative AI to retail businesses.

Britvic Ireland formally joins the Carlsberg Group

CARLSBERG Group have completed the acquisition of Irish soft drinks maker Britvic Ireland, following their purchase of parent company Britvic plc. Carlsberg will retain Britvic Ireland as a standalone soft drinks business, with Managing Director Kevin Donnelly remaining at the helm and no roles impacted in the company’s Irish operations. Britvic Ireland will continue to produce and sell their portfolio of soft drinks, including Ballygowan, MiWadi, Club, Cidona and TK, while Diageo will continue to sell Carlsberg alcoholic brands in Ireland. Søren Brinck, Carlsberg Group EVP Western Europe, described the acquisition as “a pivotal milestone in the history of the Carlsberg Group”, while Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director of Britvic Ireland (pictured), said: “At Britvic Ireland, we are very grateful for 16 wonderful years as part of Britvic plc. We are excited to join the Carlsberg Group, a larger and more global business. We look forward to accessing increased investment and capability to continue our growth journey and are confident that this acquisition will bring about exciting opportunities for the development of our brands, teams and operations.”

Midleton Distillery celebrates 200 years of brewing

IRISH Distillers, a Pernod Ricard company, and makers of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys, will honour the rich 200-year distilling heritage of the worldrenowned Midleton Distillery with a schedule of celebratory whiskey launches and events throughout 2025. Throughout the year, pivotal labels in the distillery’s history will be brought to life digitally and visually on Irish Distillers social channels, bringing viewers on a journey through time with the expert guidance of Carol Quinn, Head of Archives at Irish Distillers. Additionally, later in the year, Barley Purchase Books from Midleton Distillery dating back to the 1820s and 1830s will be available to search on Ancestry as part of Irish Distillers’ ongoing partnership with the genealogy company. The year will also see the release of the muchanticipated sixth and final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, Ireland’s rarest and oldest ever whiskey collection. Pictured are Carol Quinn, Head of Archives at Irish Distillers, and Nodjame Fouad, CEO, Irish Distillers, alongside the original Murphy logo which represents the beginning of Midleton Distillery’s 200-year story.

Boann Distillery launch Single Pot Still Whiskey Range in the US

BOANN Distillery from Co. Meath are rolling out their Boann Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey range in the US, marking a milestone in the family-run brand’s global expansion. The releases, which include Boann Single Pot Still Marsala, Madeira, and Pedro Ximénez (PX) expressions, join Boann’s celebrated portfolio of spirits, including Silks Irish Dry Gin and The Whistler Irish Whiskey. “This is the beginning of a journey to bring Irish whiskey back to its rightful place as a global leader,” said Pat Cooney, Boann’s Managing Director and founder. “Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is uniquely Irish, and we’re reviving the heritage of Ireland’s lost distilleries, while uniting traditional methods with modern innovation.”

Irish Distillers partner with BOI on sustainability-linked loans

IRISH Distillers are partnering with Bank of Ireland to offer Enviroflex sustainability-linked loans, that provide discounted flexible finance, to tillage farmers for the very first time. Enviroflex loans are designed to incentivise farmers to continue implementing sustainability focused improvements on their land, with Bank of Ireland having already developed a wide range of successful Enviroflex partnerships across the dairy sector throughout 2024. Irish Distillers are the first to partner with Bank of Ireland to support the roll-out of Enviroflex loans to the tillage sector, with sustainability-linked financing now available to participants of Irish Distillers’ Sustainable Green Spring Barley Scheme. Pictured are (l-r): Eoin Lowry, Head of Agri Sector at Bank of Ireland; Ciara Egan, Sustainability and Responsibility Specialist at Irish Distillers; Susan Maher, Agri Development Manager at Bank of Ireland; and Graham Caulwell, Head of Sustainability and Compliance at Irish Distillers.

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