2|Retail News|January / February 2020|www.retailnews.ie
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UK-EU negotiations a big deal for Ir A CLIFF edge of December 31 is not enough time to ensure a comprehensive future trade deal for food and drink between the UK and the EU, according to retailer and supplier representatives in Ireland. Boris Johnson, the British PM, has set an end of year deadline for a trade deal with the EU. But this deadline is not feasible in the context of negotiating a complex deal, Paul Kelly, Director of Food Drink Ireland (FDI) told Retail News. "When you look at the full range of what needs to be covered - food, goods, security, air travel - most people accept it will be impossible to get all that done in 11 months. Business needs clarity. The risk of a no deal has not gone away," said Kelly. The topic of a post-Brexit trade deal was on the agenda at the recent Retail Consultation Forum, conducted by the Department of Enterprise, and attended by business and retail bodies that included RGDATA, ISME, and Retail Ireland. JP Kennedy, Commercial Director of Retail Excellence, came away from the Forum "with the sense there is no taking for granted that there will be a quota-free or duty-free agreement. It is on a knife edge." Despite avoiding the worst case scenario - a customs border in Ireland - the stakes are still high around the UK's departure from the EU. A long-established and tariff-free supply chain between Ireland and the UK is under threat. The
UK accounts for around 34% of all food and drink exports, including almost half (47%) of our beef exports. FDI have called for food and drink to be front and centre of negotiations. The organisation wants a focus on customs and regulatory co-operation to ensure a continuation of established trade flows, without major changes. "The EU's revised political declaration, which is going to the general counsel for approval at the end of February specifically says the ambition is a free trade agreement that ensures no tariffs, fees, charges or quotas. That is the starting point from the European side," said Kelly. Whatever the outcome, retailers are likely to be impacted. The UK is the main source of Irish imports, accounting for 20.1% of all products brought into the country, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). "You are going to see a different trading relationship between the Union and the UK. That will reflect itself at shelf level," explained Kelly.
BWG Group acquires Heaney Meats BWG Group has completed the acquisition of Heaney Meats Catering Co. Limited, a large supplier of premium quality meat products to the foodservice sector in Ireland. This follows clearance of the acquisition by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on January 10, 2020. “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of Heaney Meats, which will expand and enhance our meat offering and further strengthen our market leading position in the +€2 billion foodservice sector,” noted Leo Crawford, Group CEO, BWG Group. “Heaney Meats is very well regarded, delivers a great service to its customers across Ireland and we now look forward to working with them to further grow our combined business.” Galway-based Heaney Meats specialises in the preparation and distribution of premium quality beef, lamb, poultry, pork and bacon to the foodservice sector, with annual sales of approximately €24m. The business has been the recipient of multiple industry awards and has developed well-invested supply chain operations that include a fleet of 25 refrigerated vehicles. Generations of the Heaney family have been master butchers stretching back over 300 years, and Heaney Meats will continue to be led by its current Managing Directors, Shayne and Kenneth Heaney.
Leo Crawford, Group CEO, BWG Group.
