Retail News July/August 2015

JULY/AUGUST 2015

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Contents

News 4

Retailers call on Minister Noonan to ease the burden in Budget 2016.

5

SMEs focused on staff investment and expansion.

6

Dunnes shows strong growth; Health Committee report inaccurate: ABFI.

Injection of Confidence Needed RETAIL representative groups, as well as those looking after the interests of small and medium businesses, are calling on the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to ease the burden on consumers in this October’s Budget.

Other items on the retail agenda include employers’ PRSI rates, Ireland’s high excise duties, the rejuvenation of rural town and village centres and spiralling business costs. See full story on Page 4.

One business cost that has skyrocketed in recent years is that of bank charges. In a comprehensive survey of its 4,000 members into Ireland’s banking system and its relationship with the retail trade, RGDATA has found that our banking system remains broken.

Our report (Page 22) includes examples of scathing condemnation from hardpressed retailers of the way the banks interact with their business.

Elsewhere in this issue, we talk to Bruce Langlands, Harrods Director of Food, about his lifelong passion for food and drink, his formative working years in the Irish FMCG market, how Irish food and drink products punch above their weight and the importance of the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, of which he is Co-Chair (Page 16). Speaking of the IQFDAs, the shortlist for the 2015 Awards has just been announced and is available in full on Page 53-55.

We also speak to Largo Foods’ Chairman, Ray Coyle, about how those in the Irish FMCG market can avail of discounted entry to Tayto Park, while helping the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund into the bargain (Page 28), and Retail News readers can win a year’s membership for four people (Page 27).

Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director. kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

7

8

EU-US trade deal could impact on tobacco legislation; New CSNA executive committee; Moy Park changes ownership.

Food Wise 2025 launched; Consumer review points to dual economy.

Shop Profile 20

Forecourt Focus: NACS Award 46

RGDATA Banking Survey 22

Topaz Retail Director, Sean Moriarty explains what winning the NACS Insight International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award means to Topaz.

Poor service, higher bank charges and feeling ‘captive’ to their bank, were some of the problems reported by retailers in RGDATA’s new banking survey

Food & Hospitality Ireland 2015 24

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update 15

Ger Ralph’s SPAR store in Clonee, Dublin 15, recently underwent a significant revamp and extension and is already reaping the rewards in terms of increased sales.

Rounding now a reality; Recovery gains pace in May data; Latest session of the Retail Consultation Forum.

Excellence tops the bill at Food & Hospitality Ireland at the Citywest Events Centre on September 17 and 18, with plenty on offer for the food, drink, retail and hospitality sectors.

50 Biscuits 50

The launch of East Coast Bakehouse will bring large scale mainstream biscuit manufacturing back to Ireland, and will enable retailers to create bespoke own label biscuit products for the Irish market.

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 52

16

The Retail News Interview 16

Bruce Langlands, Director of Food & Restaurants, Harrods, and Co-Chair of the Judging Panel at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, discusses his life-long love affair with food, his time working in Ireland, the quality of Irish food products and the trends driving growth in food.

28 IGBF/Tayto Park 28

40

Event Management

Employees of the FMCG sector can get family tickets to Tayto Park at a reduced cost and support the IGBF into the bargain.

On The Vine: Top Wine Brands

Judges were impressed by the incredibly high standard of entries for this year’s Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, as the shortlist is announced.

56

From press conferences to seminars, organising a corporate event is all about planning.

Recycling 61

Jean Smullen examines Ireland’s top selling wine brands.

WEEE Ireland has announced impressive figures for electric and battery recycling over the last decade.

REGULARS & REPORTS

facebook.com/RetailNews1 Managing Director: Patrick Aylward Editorial Director: Kathleen Belton kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie Editor: John Walshe johnwalshe@tarapublications.ie Advertising: Brian Clark brian@tarapublications.ie Chief News Reporter: Pavel Barter Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen Production: Ciara Conway Graphics: Catherine Doyle Printed by: W&G Baird

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Published by: Tara Publishing Ltd, 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: (01) 6785165 Fax: (01) 6477127 Web: www.retailnews.ie Email: kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie Subscription to Retail News: e95 plus VAT Email: ciara@tarapublications.ie Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.

10 Industry News 30 Back To School: Lunch Box 36 Back To School: Stationery 48 Forecourt News 62 Drinks News 65 Market News 66 Shelf Life

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News

Retailers Call on Minister Noonan to Ease the Burden in Budget 2016 THEY may not teach this in economics school, but the sale of white vans is a sign the economy is improving. “We’re seeing a lot of self-employed and small businesses taking on new vans or trading in their old ones,” Mark Fielding, CEO of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME), told Retail News.

Reports that eight years of tax increases and spending cuts, which totalled €30 billion, may be ending in Budget 2016, suggests retailers are clambering back behind the wheel. According to Finance Minister, Michael Noonan TD, €1.2 to €1.5 billion has been set aside for tax cuts and additional spending in the upcoming budget.

However, grocers are not putting down payments on luxury vehicles just yet, as business costs are still rising.

According to a spokesperson for Musgrave, expenses include energy, insurance and bank charges: “These rising costs are wiping out any modest improvements in retail. We ask that government does not impose additional charges on retailers, and eases the burden where possible in Budget 2016.”

‘Ease the burden’ is a rallying cry amongst retailers.

Rather than increase the minimum wage, in order to get consumers spending, the sector wants the minister to introduce tax reforms to put more money into people’s pockets.

Retail representative groups like the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), RGDATA and Retail Ireland are calling for a reintroduction of the 4.25% employers PRSI rate to assist retail employers in hiring part time workers. “That could create 10,000 additional part time jobs,” said RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley.

ISME’s pre budget submission called for an end to tax discrimination for self-employed business owners. “Capital gains tax has to be restructured to support enterprise and investment. At the moment, 33% capital gains tax is way too high,” said Fielding.

“We require a tax system that rewards work, but in reality Ireland has one of the highest marginal tax rates in the OECD,” said Patricia Callan, Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA). “This is a particularly urgent issue for the retail sector, as Ireland’s largest private sector employer.

The government accepts that the income tax burden is now too much and we believe that income tax should be further reformed and the burden significantly reduced.”

Retailers want the self-employed USC rate to be brought in line with PAYE workers. “The minister needs to address

the issue of the unfair treatment of self-employed business owners,” said Buckley. “It’s easy for a Finance Minister to make a generalised sweeping cut, but he needs to address inequality and unfairness. Entrepreneurs, who are setting up businesses and taking risks, should have some protection in the system too.”

Energy efficiency incentives should make up part of the budget, according to Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA, who called for capital allowance reliefs on environmentally friendly products such as air conditioning, doors and refrigerated units. The CSNA chief also called for a reduction on the high VAT rate on newspapers and magazines.

This rate was reduced from 13% to 9% in recent years, but is out of kilter with other EU states. In a time of plummeting sales and circulation, a drop to 0% VAT seems ripe. “As well as economic reasons, there are good societal and political reasons why you would want to make newspapers as accessible as possible,” explained Jennings.

This call was echoed by Magazines Ireland, the association of Irish magazine publishers, who argue that reducing the VAT on magazines to 0% would be a positive move for the industry, as well as helping to “ease consumer access to the press and contribute greatly to public policy goals, while helping to guarantee a strong independent and vibrant press sector,” according to Rebecca Markey, Chairman, Magazines Ireland.

Cutting the expenses on in-store products is futile, however, if there is nobody to purchase them. The recession saw the devastation of many rural areas, so the revival of small town centres is also a concern. Musgrave, and its retail partners, “operate stores that are at the heart of towns and villages nationwide,” according to the spokesperson. “Our retail partners work to support town centre revival on a local basis. We welcome any initiatives by Government in Budget 2016 to support town centre renewal, help businesses to reestablish in regional town centres and to help return them to thriving economic hubs.”

Fielding added: “Rural Ireland is still suffering from the problems created by allowing all these out of town shopping centres, which has really diluted the centres of towns. People aren’t even living above the shops anymore because there isn’t the same footfall.”

The Minister might address this through tax incentives for the regeneration of unused or derelict buildings.

RGDATA has called for a joined-up approach. “The Living

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News

Mark Fielding, CEO of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.

Patricia Callan, Director of the Small Firms Association.

RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley.

Evelyn Jones, NOffLA Chairperson.

CSNA CEO, Vincent Jennings.

Bart Storan, Drinks Industry Group of Ireland.

City Initiative is one tax incentive, but it’s really for owneroccupiers,” said Buckley. “It needs to be tweaked and addressed in such a way to attract investors. This is a core

issue in terms of the rejuvenation of Ireland and turning the economy around. The Taoiseach needs to involve the Department of Environment, Rural Affairs, Enterprise, Arts and Heritage and Finance.”

The black market is a continuing concern, although CSNA suggests the legal purchase of alcohol and tobacco from overseas is equally problematic, as these bulk purchases are often sold on in Ireland. “Customs acknowledge that 6% of the total amount of tobacco consumed in the country is brought in by people who are making use of personal allowances,” said Jennings. “We’d like to see significant changes in the personal allowances for alcohol and tobacco for people travelling into the country.”

Considering the alcohol excise regime in Ireland, it is hardly surprising that consumers are looking overseas.

According to the National Off-Licence Association’s (NOffLA) pre-Budget submission, Irish wine drinkers pay on average 624% more excise on wine than their European counterparts. “Why do we pay 624% more than the EU average on wine? Why is it 298% higher on beer? Why is it 243% higher on spirits? Our excise regime is out of kilter with the rest of Europe,” Evelyn Jones, NOffLA Chairperson, told Retail News. Noffla has called for the €1 increase on wine which was introduced in the 2013 Budget to be rolled back.

“We’re looking for the government to restore parity between wine tax and domestic alcohol tax,” she said.

“It is 35% higher than the equivalent cider and beer excise. There’s an EU law that states you cannot tax nondomestically produced products in excess of domestically produced products. Because we don’t make wine, it is contrary to the single market.”

Bart Storan, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland’s manager for the Support Your Local campaign, which is aimed at representing the 92,000 jobs in the drinks industry, concurred.

“We’re hoping for a reversal of the increases that happened over the last number of years with the various austerity budgets,” said Storan. “We’re calling on the government to reduce excise across the board by 15%.

That’s more urgent in the case of wine. Overall, this government have put €1.50 on the price of a bottle of wine, so independent off-licences across the country, which are basically family businesses, are suffering.”

Overall, retailers welcome a relief from austerity in Budget 2016. “I think we’ll have a decent budget,” said Jennings. “Let’s be honest, we are going into an election year so the Minister can’t take out the big knife.”

But with the sector still 17% below pre-recession levels, even white vans won’t bring retailers to recovery any faster.

SMEs Focused on Staff Investment and Expansion

IRELAND’S SMEs are showing improved signs of staff investment and expansion, according to the Skillnets Annual Report for 2014. Figures from the report reveal that 86% of the companies that benefited from a €24.9m investment in training and development in 2014 were SMEs. Over 291,000 training days were delivered during 2014 through 5,537 training courses. This resulted in the up-skilling of over 46,000 employees across 10,879 companies, demonstrating a strong focus on business development among SMEs. According to Skillnets Chairman, Brendan McGinty, increased investment in the up-skilling of staff has been a strong feature of the economy’s recovery in recent months.

“We’re beginning to see companies come out of a firefighting period where their main focus was on maintaining operations. SMEs are recognising the importance of developing and building capacity within business. Investing

in existing staff by upgrading their skills and proficiency is vital to enable them to adapt to developing market trends.

This investment can help to protect against skillsshortages and risks around sustainability for their business,” he said.

“During 2014, member companies invested €11.1m towards programmes, with Skillnets investing a further €13.8m, totalling €24.9m investment in training and development. Skillnets-supported training means that employers can access high-quality and sector-specific training with affordable financial investment.”

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News Dunnes Shows Strong Growth THE latest supermarket share figures from Kantar Worldpanel in Ireland, for 12 Weeks to 05 Jan 2014 12 Weeks to 04 Jan 2015 change** the 12 weeks %* %* % ending June 21, show Total Grocers 100.0% 100.0% 0.9 a year-onTotal Multiples 88.3% 89.0% 1.8 year growth Tesco 26.2% 25.1% -3.3 in sales of 0.9% across Dunnes 21.0% 22.2% 6.3 the market.

Total SuperValu 24.7% 24.7% 0.6 Dunnes Total Discounters 16.4% 17.2% 5.9 demonstrated Aldi 8.1% 8.5% 5.3 a strong performance, Lidl 8.2% 8.7% 6.4 growing Other Outlets** 11.7% 11.0% -5.6 sales by 6.3% in the past *= Percentage Share of Total Grocers 12 weeks **= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops to reach a market In contrast to Ireland’s three largest retailers, Aldi share of 22.2%, up from 21% in the same period last year. and Lidl have continued to recruit shoppers to their stores Only Lidl outperformed, with market leading growth in sales and household penetration is now at 63.1% and 65.1% of 6.4%. respectively, ahead of Dunnes’ 63%. However, the growth “Dunnes’ continued focus on its ‘Shop & Save’ voucher in shopper numbers at discounters is slowing. Aldi gained scheme is encouraging consumers to buy a bigger basket 28,000 new shoppers in the past 12 weeks, compared with on each shop,” explained Cliona Lynch, Insight Manager at 80,000 this time last year, while Lidl picked up 6,000, down Kantar Worldpanel. “The average Dunnes visitor is buying from 53,000 in the 12 weeks to June 2014. Aldi has also 18 items per trip compared with a market average of 13 – an seen growth in basket size slow, an area in which Lidl is increase of three items per basket on this time last year and outperforming. an additional €5 through the tills on each shop.”

“As the discounters become more established in the Tesco has retained its position as Ireland’s number market, year-on-year growth is harder to win,” revealed one retailer, with a 25.1% share of the market, despite a Cliona Lynch. “While both Aldi and Lidl are still seeing sales decline of 3.3%. While the volume of items bought has a strong performance and gains in market share, the increased as shoppers take advantage of savings and stock landscape is becoming more competitive. The impact of up on goods, this has not been enough to compensate for a Dunnes’ vouchering campaign has given it a strong boost this decrease in shopper numbers and average spend. period. Elsewhere, SuperValu remains a steady challenger SuperValu sales grew just behind the market at 0.6% and for the number one spot but Tesco’s plans to turn around share remained flat at 24.7%. Some 19,000 fewer shoppers performance could yet help it to regain growth and firmly visited the retailer than over the same period last year re-establish its lead.” and those that remained were more frequent but lighter Grocery market inflation stands at 0.8% for the 12-week shoppers, visiting SuperValu more often but picking up fewer period ending June 21, up from 0.6% last period. items on each trip.

Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend

Health Committee Report Inaccurate: ABFI THE Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) has labelled the Oireachtas Health Committee’s report on the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Alcohol Bill inaccurate.

While welcoming the need for appropriate labelling which enables the consumer to make the best informed decision when consuming alcohol and the intention to move the existing marketing, advertising and sponsorship codes from a voluntary to a statutory basis, ABFI argued that if we are going to make a difference to the minority that misuse alcohol in this country, we need to be informed by the facts.

“The only reference to consumption levels included in the report is inaccurate,” Ross Mac Mathuna, Director of ABFI said. “The fact is that there has been a fall in overall

consumption of alcohol by approximately 25% over the past 15 years (Source: Revenue Clearance and CSO Population data) and research published in March in the European Journal of Public Health showed that teenagers in Ireland are drinking less alcohol.”

He went on to argue that recommendations on pricing included in the report fail to take into account that Ireland is the second most expensive country in Europe in which to purchase alcohol. “Higher pricing does not deter those that want to abuse alcohol, but pushing up the price of alcohol further will have unforeseen consequences on the cost of living, our attractiveness as a tourist destination and on consumer confidence,” he Ross Mac Mathuna, Director said. of ABFI.

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News

EU-US Trade Deal Could Impact on Plain Packaging Legislation NEW legislation, including plain packaging of tobacco will be massively exposed to challenge by multinational companies under terms being negotiated as part of a planned trade agreement between the European Union and the United States.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, is a planned trade agreement currently being negotiated by officials from the United States and the EU, which aims to reduce regulation and stimulate economic growth. It could allow multinational companies to sue countries for introducing certain public health policies in a similar manner to that which tobacco companies are suing the Australian government over the introduction plain packaging legislation there.

The Investor State Dispute Settlement, or ISDS, allows companies to bypass the domestic courts system and sue countries for introducing polices they believe would be damaging to their business.

“Right now, our plain packaging of tobacco laws are being challenged in the domestic courts by tobacco companies. TTIP could allow such a case to be taken at a three-person investor court sitting in Washington DC which would not have an appeal mechanism and would be massively expensive for the State to defend,” noted Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy & Communications, Irish Cancer Society, who have called for

TTIP to be altered so that there is no form of ISDS system.

Meanwhile, JTI Ireland have welcomed the recent decision by the Commercial Court to refuse an application by the State to have various questions it has on the lawfulness of its own plain packaging legislation referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), with the judge stating it would be “unnecessary, premature and wasteful of costs”.

“From the outset, we said that it was unnecessary to refer these questions because the CJEU is already looking at a similar referral from the UK Courts,” said JTI Ireland General Manager, Igor Dzaja. “The outcome of this UK case will be absolutely critical to the right of any EU Member State to introduce plain packaging, which is why we asked the Government to wait for a decision before enacting the legislation. An Irish referral would also have had the potential to delay the European Court’s decision, which is something we want to avoid. Strict new EU tobacco regulations are scheduled to come in to force across all Member States in May 2016, so we are keen to see this issue resolved as quickly as possible.”

In other tobacco related news, Irish teen smoking rates have dropped more than a third since 2010, with one in twelve teenagers now reporting taking up the habit. 7.9% of 15 to 17 year olds now smoke, compared to 12% just four years ago and 21% in 1998.

The dedication of local retailers to stop under-age selling by implementing the Show Me I.D – Be Age Ok campaign in their shops is one of the factors contributing to this success. The Show Me I.D programme is undergoing its most successful year ever, with approximately 2,400 retailers and staff accessing the programme since January. Participation levels are expected to eclipse total 2014 levels before the end of the month.

New CSNA Executive Committee THE newly elected

CSNA Executive Committee are pictured after their first Executive meeting. Pictured are, back row (l-r): Joe Tierney, Meath; Andy Kelly, Dublin North; Joe Mannion, Dublin South; Peter Gaughan, Mayo; and Noel Kelly, Kildare, Vice President; Front row (l-r): Marcella O’Neill, Limerick; Denis O’Flynn, Cork, President; Carmel Felle, Dublin, Immediate Past President; Vincent Jennings, CEO; and Ann Martyn, Laois.

Moy Park Changes Ownership MOY Park has been sold by its Brazilian owner, Marfrig, to company, JBS, in a deal worth €1.32 billion. Also based in Brazil, JBS is the world’s biggest meat-packer, with operations across South America, the US, Canada, Australia and Mexico, and now plans a major push into Europe. As part of the deal, JBS will also acquire Dublin company, Walsh Family Foods, home of the famous ‘spice burger’. The deal is subject to approval from European antitrust regulators, but is expected to be concluded by the end of the year.

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News

Food Wise 2025 Launched THE value of Irish agri-food exports could increase by 85% over the next decade to €19 billion, according to Food Wise 2025, the Report of the 2025 Agri Food Strategy Committee.

“Ireland’s agri-food industry has led the way in Ireland’s recovery,” said An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, at the launch. “Food Wise 2025 builds on this success by identifying smarter and greener ways to deliver sustainable growth so that it can contribute to our ongoing recovery.”

Minister for Agrilculture and Food, Simon Coveney TD said that “Ireland’s agri-food industry is on a sustainable journey, one that is connecting local communities across the island to vast and diverse food markets around the globe.

Food Wise 2025 sets out a vision for the industry to continue along this path of sustainable growth and recognises the strategic importance of specific market and consumer insights if emerging global opportunities are to be fully realised in the decade ahead.”

The report includes the following growth projections, which it believes are achievable by 2025: • Increasing the value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion; • Increasing value added in the agri-food, fisheries and wood products sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; • Increasing the value of Primary Production by 65% to almost €10 billion; • The creation of an additional 23,000 direct jobs in the agri-food sector, all along the supply chain from primary production to high valued added product development.

At the launch of the Food Wise 2025 in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin are (l-r): Minister of State, Tom Hayes TD; Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly TD; An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, Minister for Agricultrue, Food & Marine, Simon Coveney TD; and Minister of State, Ann Phelan TD.

To achieve the projections set out above, Food Wise 2025 identifies over 350 recommendations to achieve sustainable growth and these will require a concerted and co-ordinated approach by primary producers, industry, Departments and State agencies.

In tandem with publication of the report, the draft Environmental Analysis of Food Wise 2025 (incorporating an Appropriate Assessment and a Strategic Environmental Assessment) is now available at www.agriculture.gov.ie/2025environmentalanalysis for a public consultation, with a closing date of August 28. It is expected that Final Report of the Environmental Analysis will be presented to the Minister in September.

Consumer Review Points to Dual Economy THE latest findings from the Deloitte Consumer Review reveal that while the level of optimism amongst Irish consumers has increased, it is not across the board and many remain pessimistic. The findings show that optimism across all categories, such as level of debt, job security, job opportunities, household disposable income, good health and wellbeing and children’s education, has increased since September 2014 by between two and seven percentage points. Interestingly however, respondents who felt that things had worsened over the last six months also increased across most categories (except health and wellbeing, which remained stable) by between one and 12 percentage points.

“The fact that there are Irish consumers who believe their situation is getting better is likely as a result of the improving economy,” noted David Hearn, Partner, Deloitte.

“Yet this is not yet being felt across the board, and there is a cohort of Irish consumers who have become more pessimistic. Overall, the findings point to evidence of a dual economy emerging amongst Irish consumers.”

Key findings of the H1 2015 Consumer Review with regard to consumer sentiment and spend include: • 19% (H2 2014 - 17%) of respondents feel their situation with regards to household disposable income has improved, yet 42% (H2 2014 - 39%) feel that this situation has worsened; • 23% (H2 2014 - 17%) of respondents indicated they became more optimistic with regards to their level of debt over the last six months, 28% (H2 2014 - 25%) feel less confident;

•

17% (H2 2014 15%) feel more optimistic with regards to job security, 21% (H2 2014 - 20%) feel less so; • The top three categories which saw increased spend amongst respondents over the last six months were utility bills (49% of respondents), transport (34%) and phone/internet/TV subscriptions (31%). Those categories that saw decreased spend include restaurants and hotels (39% of consumers), going out (39%) and alcoholic beverages (38%); “From a retailer’s perspective, they will need to cater for Irish consumers who are facing different situations,” Hearn warned. “The emerging evidence of a dual economy suggests retailers will need to continue to utilise sales and promotions to attract some consumers, while the emergence of increased activity in spend on more discretionary items would suggest that some retailers can now focus on or add more to this element of their offerings.”

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10|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News CENTRA PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING CENTRA has launched a major new initiative, Centra Live Well, with the help of top blogger Pippa O’Connor and GAA Legend Henry Shefflin.

Centra Live Well aims to redefine everyday convenience retailing in Ireland by providing shoppers with choices and information about healthy and nutritious food. Under the new Live Well banner, Centra is offering shoppers healthy and nutritious choices across a range of 300-plus products, whatever their needs are throughout the day. In addition, Centra will provide health and nutrition information in-store and on its extensive digital and social channels which will educate, inspire and ultimately encourage shoppers to make that healthier choice. The Centra Live Well initiative will also be encouraging people to add activity to their daily routine through walking initiatives and involvement in Centra’s GAA community events.

Cadbury has The X Factor

AS the clock ticks down to the start of this year’s The X-Factor, a new recruit has joined the team in Ireland……Cadbury. Already a firm favourite in Irish homes, the country’s number one chocolate brand has been unveiled as TV3’s official sponsor of The X Factor, The Xtra Factor and all X Factor related programing across the station this autumn. The significant six-figure 3solutions partnership, negotiated by Cadbury’s media agency PHD Media, will include branding on all X Factor promotions on TV3 and 3e, along with digital sponsorship of TV3’s dedicated X Factor webpage on tv3.ie and pre-rolls on all X Factor catch-up content on the 3player. PHD Media also negotiated with X Factor producers, Fremantle Media/Syco, to secure in-store logo usage rights for Cadbury in participating retailers throughout the country. Pictured at the announcement outside the TV3 Sony HD studios are Shane Guest, Senior Brand Manager, Mondelez Ireland, and Sharon Casey, TV3 Group 3 Solutions Manager.

Pettitts Cut Costs with Energia

ENERGY provider Energia has reduced Pettitts supermarkets’ carbon footprint by 480 tonnes by upgrading their lighting and fridges systems. After an extensive audit of the Pettitts group’s stores, Energia identified significant savings that could be made from an upgrade to the lighting and refrigeration systems. Over 2,000 fluorescent lights were replaced with energy efficient LED lights in the Pettitts Gorey, Pettitts Arklow and Pettitts SuperValu, Wexford stores. The fridges in Pettitts at The Quay in Wexford and Pettitts Arklow were also upgraded: existing freezers were replaced with new sealed units. These changes have generated yearly cost savings of almost €140,000. Pictured are Cormac Mannion, Energy Services Manager, Energia, and Cormac Pettitt, Director, Pettitts Supermarket.

SCA Crew Wins Volvo Ocean Race Victory

FOR the first time in 25 years an allfemale team has taken line honors in the world’s toughest ocean race. The 11-woman international Team SCA crew secured their win between Lisbon, Portugal, and Lorient, France, in leg eight of the Volvo Ocean Race. Team SCA is only the fifth all-female team to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race, and the first to do so in 12 years. The culmination of more than two years of hard work has also seen Team SCA secure a podium finish in the technical in-port portion of the race, after placing second in Gothenburg. Triumphing over four all-male competitor teams to make third position across the in-port series makes Team SCA (pictured) the Volvo Ocean Race’s most successful female crew to date. For more information, see www.teamsca.com.

Brand Refresh For Independent News & Media INDEPENDENT News & Media has developed a new marketing campaign, ‘We Make Media’, to reflect the company’s brand refresh. As part of the refresh, the new INM corporate logo and sales collateral has a fresh, modern feel. This campaign demonstrates the company’s drive to integrate traditional and online media to improve communication channels with current and potential advertisers. “The aim of this campaign is to position INM as a personable, creative, and agile brand that collaborates with marketeers to create successful bespoke advertising campaigns,” said Lia Bresnihan, Head of Marketing for Digital, with Independent News & Media.

SMOKING KILLS Irish Government Warning

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Industry News BOOSTING THEIR PASSION FOR RUGBY CADBURY Boost, the official chocolate bar to the IRFU, has unveiled its brand new limited edition bar, now available exclusively in SPAR, EUROSPAR, MACE and XL stores nationwide. To celebrate this exclusive offer, Cadbury are offering rugby fans the chance to win the ultimate rugby trip of a lifetime this October to see the Irish team in action in both London and Cardiff. To be in with a chance of winning, consumers just visit their local SPAR, EUROSPAR, MACE or XL store to find the unique code and text this to 51444. Rugby enthusiasts will also be in with a chance to win weekly prizes of limited edition Cadbury Boost rugby balls throughout the summer. Pictured outside the Cadbury factory are Irish rugby internationals Eoin Reddan, Mike McCarthy and Tommy Bowe with (front row, l-r): Eoin Kellett, Sales Director of Mondelez Ireland; Willie O’Byrne, Managing Director of BWG Foods; and Simon Marriott, Trading Director of BWG Foods.

Cream of the Crop

KERRYGOLD has launched Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur into Ireland, following its recent successful launch into the United States. Available exclusively in Dublin Airport, where nearly 22m passengers will be able to purchase the 1 litre bottle of Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur, the brand’s arrival heralds expansion plans for Europe later in 2015.

Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur offers a delicious blend of fresh natural cream, aged Irish whiskey and luxurious chocolate. Key to its taste profile is the rich cream from Irish grass-fed cows, making it an indulgent drink to be savoured. Pictured at the launch is Karen Fitzpatrick at the rooftop bar in The Marker Hotel.

Anuga Offers Opportunities for New Sales Markets THIS October, around 6,800 exhibitors from 100 countries all over the world are expected to take part in the most important and biggest summit meeting of the international food industry, as Anuga takes place in Cologne. There is a strong international line-up of exhibitors for all 10 trade fairs, which make up Anuga, with new country participations underlining the diversity and internationality of this bi-annual trade fair, which attracted around 155,000 trade visitors from 187 countries to its last incarnation in 2013.

Anuga boasts 10 trade fairs under one roof, including areas dedicated to Fine Food; Frozen Food; Meat; Chilled & Fresh Food; Dairy; Bread, Bakery & Hot Beverages; Drinks; Organic; Foodservice; and RetailTec. Anuga Fine Food is the biggest of the Anuga trade fairs and includes delicatessen, gourmet and basic food. Anuga Frozen Food includes everything from fish and meat, through to fruit and vegetables, from ready-made meals through to bulk packs for buyers from the communal catering and gastronomy sectors.

With around 850 exhibitors from approximately 50 countries, Anuga Meat is not only one of the biggest trade fairs at Anuga, but also the most comprehensive information and order platform for meat, sausages, game and poultry worldwide.

Fresh convenience products, fresh delicatessen, fish, fruit and vegetables will be presented the Chilled & Fresh Food Fair, while Anuga Dairy boasts around 380 exhibitors, covering 23,500 m² of exhibition space.

Bread, bakery products, sandwich spreads and hot beverages are united in one trade fair, while the drinks section includes a wide selection of products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, for the retail and gastronomy trades.

For more information, see www.anuga.com.

Love Irish Food Searches for Masters LOVE Irish Food have launched the ‘Masters of Their Art’ Series in association with the Irish Independent a nationwide search among its member brands to find Ireland’s four finest Masters of Their Art: those who have an unparalleled passion for and a true understanding of their craft. This important initiative from Love Irish Food looks to identify and celebrate those possessing and employing unique skills, tools, recipes and methods to build and maintain powerful Irish food and drink brands, and will select four finalists, who will then be profiled in the Irish Independent’s Weekend magazine, prior to the overall winner being chosen.

Pictured at the launch of the Love Irish Food’s Masters of Their Art Series was Niall Phelan from the Rye River Brewing Company – a proud and active member of Love Irish Food.

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Industry News HULA HOOPS BASKETBALL SPONSORSHIP THE biggest annual event in Irish basketball is to have a new partner for 2015/2016, as Hula Hoops have been unveiled as official sponsors of the National Cups. The announcement of the Hula Hoops National Cups comes in a period of growth for the sport. Over 125 clubs from 16 counties are expected to take part in this season’s elite competitions, while a new National Intermediate Club Championship will give local clubs a chance to play on Irish basketball’s biggest stage. “Hula Hoops are delighted to sponsor these fantastic competitions,” said Niamh O’Dea, Senior Brand Manager, Hula Hoops. “Basketball is one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports in Ireland and Hula Hoops are the country’s favourite take home snack, which make this team a winning combination.” Pictured at the announcement are (l-r): Lynn Tunnah, from Dublin, Dylan Phelan, from Portlaoise, and Keavy McDermott, from Cavan.

HEINEKEN BRINGS TOKYO TO LONGITUDE HEINEKEN Sound Atlas, the brand’s global music platform, brought a taste of Tokyo to the Longitude Festival in Marlay Park, recently. Kinetic, the Out Of Home (OOH) agency and media agency Starcom implemented an OOH campaign to raise awareness and target festival goers through innovative advertising formats. The campaign creative centres on ‘Fueiho’; the no dancing law introduced in Tokyo in 1948 which prohibited dancing in small venues after midnight. This resulted in an underground movement which brought people together determined to dance. ‘Fueiho’ was over-turned in June 2015. Elements of Tokyo were brought to South Richmond St, with a 3D build of a neon sign, one metre in length mounted on a 48 Sheet billboard. LED and neon lighting added to the sign to create a vibrant glow, attracting the attention of passers-by and emphasising the Toyko feel of the campaign. For further effect, the Heineken logo is illuminated by 1,200 small high powered LED green lights.

Origin Green In Action

DURING his three-day state visit to Ireland this week, President of Germany, Joachim Gauck (centre) and Tom Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (right), walked the farm of James Droney, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare (second left), who outlined Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme and how Ireland, through this unique national initiative, aims to be a world leader in producing food sustainably. Also in the photograph are Michael Murphy, Director of Markets, Bord Bia (left) and Joe Burke, Livestock Sector Manager, Bord Bia. James also explained to President Gauck the benefits of being a member of Bord Bia`s Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme and the challenges and opportunities of farming in the unique environment of the Burren.

Independent News & Media Introduces house 2016 INDEPENDENT News & Media has announced its new interiors event, house 2016, which will run from May 20-22, 2016 at the RDS. house 2016 will showcase the very best of all things home and interiors related, highlighting the hottest trends and most stylish products. The event will be brought to life with demos, masterclasses and advice clinics.

The event will be the definitive guide to Irish interiors, gathering the best designers, architects, craftsmen, furniture and fit-out suppliers and home improvement specialists together for a three-day festival of style. There will be a range of exhibitions, including: The Design Stage; Trends Arena; Colour Consultants; and a Dream Home, created by Ireland’s best interior designers. Pictured at the launch are journalist Emily Hourican, Geoff Lyons, Group Marketing Director, and journalist Sarah Caden. See www.house-event.ie for more information.

50 Years of Growth for Avondale

AVONDALE FOODS, a County Armagh company started 50 years ago by two brothers, growing market vegetables, is now one of Northern Ireland’s biggest agri-food success stories, reinvesting about Stg£20m a year back into the NI economy. Harry and Derek Geddis (pictured) began growing and selling vegetables from the family farm and Avondale now supplies own brand potato salad and coleslaw to all Waitrose and Marks & Spencer stores across the whole of UK, as well as coleslaws and vegetable accompaniments through Dunnes, Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons and other retail outlets under ‘own brand’ and the company’s Country Kitchen brand. For more information, see www.avondale-foods.co.uk.

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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update

Rounding Now a Reality

ON June 16, the Government formally adopted a national rounding convention for Ireland. The long-anticipated announcement came almost two years after the successful experiment in Wexford Town, which Retail Ireland and our members actively supported, and follows the example of a number of other Eurozone countries.

Rounding will officially commence on Wednesday, October 28. From that date forward, all retail operators will be encouraged to round all cash transactions to the nearest 0c or 5c, unless the customer chooses not to. The Central Bank has confirmed that no change in legislation is required and the legal tender status of both 1c and 2c coins will remain unchanged. Instead, rounding will be conducted on a purely voluntary basis for both consumers and retailers alike and the Central Bank will work to ensure that an adequate supply of 1c and 2c coins remains available, although the level of demand is expected to fall sharply, resulting in significant cost and efficiency savings for all stakeholders in the payments arena.

It is important to note that rounding will only apply to cash transactions, with the total amount of the final bill being rounded down or up to the nearest 5c. For instance, a transaction total of €17.43, will become €17.45, whilst a transaction total of €81.42, will become €81.40. The initiative is not designed to have any impact on shelf prices or individual product prices and will not apply to electronic transactions, including payment cards.

A comprehensive public education campaign is to be rolled-out later in the summer and instructional material for retailers is currently being prepared as part of an industry engagement strategy. The Central Bank acknowledges that the migration to rounding will be smoother for smaller operators, whilst the implementation process for larger retailers may be more complex. As such, the Central Bank’s team has made itself available to meet with individual retail operators to discuss the initiative and respond to questions and concerns directly.

Given the significant role to be played by retailers in promoting and facilitating this important public policy initiative, Retail Ireland will continue to work closely with our partners at the Central Bank, the National Payments Plan and the Department of Finance over the coming weeks and months, keeping our members fully briefed on all relevant developments.

Latest Session of the Retail Consultation Forum THE latest meeting of the Retail Consultation Forum took place on June 15 and saw Retail Ireland presenting our main proposals for a retailer-friendly Budget 2016, calling for further easing of the tax burden on consumers and industryspecific measures in the areas of e-commerce and town centre regeneration.

The Forum’s delegates also heard from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) on the all-island potential of the retail sector and we learned that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s proposed Tourism Leadership Action Plan will include a representative of the retail industry: an important development, considering the potential opportunities presented by retail tourism.

The Forum next meets in September with the proposed agenda focussing on e-commerce issues and town centre regeneration. Other issues, including Sepa B2B payments and in-store compensation claims, are also tabled for discussion.

As always, Retail Ireland is proud to retain a permanent seat on the Forum, which we see as a critical engagement platform between our industry and influential public policy makers.

RECOVERY GAINS PACE IN MAY DATA

THE CSO recently published its official retail sales statistics for the month of May 2015.

When compared to May of last year, and when sales of new cars and sales in bars are excluded, the total value of Irish retail sales rose by 2.2%, with volumes returning 5.4% growth over the same period.

May recorded a sharp increase in the value of sales in non-food specialised stores (music, toys, garden centres, sports, jewellers, etc.), up a combined 10.7%; with books, newspapers and stationery stores up an impressive 9.7%; computers, electrical and electronic outlets seeing a 5% growth in values; and fashion and footwear operators following close behind with a combined increase of 4.3% when compared with May 2014. It appears that consumers are finally feeling more certain about their personal finances and this is translating into increased spending at the tills.

That said, retailers continue to struggle with pre-recession legacy costs and competition between operators remains intense. Despite strengthening sales and a more positive outlook for the sector, the overall value of Irish retail sales remains some 17% behind pre-recession levels. The summer season will be crucial in determining whether the recent positive momentum can be maintained and now more than ever, retail operators need Government support on legacy issues in order to secure a sustainable recovery.

Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie Need more?

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

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The Retail News Interview

A Passion For Food Bruce Langlands, Director of Food & Restaurants, Harrods, and Co-Chair of the Judging Panel at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, discusses his life-long love affair with food, his time working in Ireland, the quality of Irish food products and the trends driving growth in food.

BRUCE Langlands is no stranger to Ireland. As Co-Chair of the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards since their inauguration in 2013, he is a regular visitor to Dublin, but Harrods’ Director of Food & Restaurants also spent some of his formative working years in the Irish FMCG market as Marks & Spencer’s Country Food Manager for Ireland, from 1997-99, and Head of Product Development at Superquinn from 2006 to 2010.

The Scottish-born Langlands is a life-long foodie, a passion which he brings to his day-job as Harrods’ Director of Food, where he has been responsible for bringing the world-famous retailer’s Food Halls on a new journey, where provenance and quality take centre stage, since his appointment in 2010.

Where did your love of food begin?

I was born into a fishing community called Fisherrow, which is five miles south of Edinburgh. My family had our own fishing boat and the majority of my male

relatives were fisherman who brought back the fish for my female relatives to sell from their creels on the streets of Edinburgh. So as you can see, food has always been in my blood.

Did you grow up in a family of food lovers?

Food has flowed through my family’s blood for generations.

Is it true your favourite meal is your late grandmother’s fish cakes?

You bet! I have very fond memories of sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen, watching her make fishcakes with Maris Piper potatoes, whiting, eggs, flour and seasoning all by hand. It was like a very efficient production line, which fascinated me.

Sadly my grandmother passed away a number of years ago and although we have her fish cake recipe, the fish cakes that she used to make died with her – they simply just do not taste the same. She had a truly magical touch.

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The Retail News Interview

Harrods world-famous Food Halls: the destination for some of the finest food products in the world.

“Irish products punch above their weight, as often small producers are sometimes more innovative than their larger rivals.�

When did you realise your passion for food could become a career?

I truly believe that your career is a fundamental part of who and what you are, and as a result to be good at it, you really need to work in an area you are passionate about. So in that respect, it was simple for me: food had to be a big part of what I did in my daily life.

Before Harrods, you worked in Marks & Spencer and Superquinn. How did those experiences prepare you for life in Harrods?

Both companies have/ had extremely high food credentials, and were at the forefront of product innovation and development. In addition, they also knew about their customer. Nowhere is this truer than here at Harrods.

Bruce Langlands has been Co-Chair of the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards since their inauguration in 2013.

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The Retail News Interview

Harrods Fromagerie works with cheese producers to provide exclusive vintages and products.

In particularly, I’m wondering how your time in Dublin heading up new product development with Superquinn has contributed to your role in Harrods?

Finding new, smaller and often niche suppliers, that may not be suitable for the large brands, was an important part of my role. Also I oversaw during my time there a major expansion of Superquinn own-label and developed and launched Superquinn’s top tier range called SQ Superior Quality, which to this day I am extremely proud of.

How important a role do the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards play in promoting the quality of Irish produce?

I think it is fundamental: this is one key award which is a badge to the consumer which highlights an outstanding product, of which there are many in Ireland.

Considering you oversee a buying department that sources the finest products from across the world, how do you think Irish food and drink products compare on a world scale?

I believe that Irish products punch above their weight, as often small producers are sometimes more innovative than their larger rivals. Also being an island, you have both land and sea, which the Irish have capitalised and utilised to produce some outstanding products.

Since taking over as Harrods’ Director of Foods, you have been credited with a change of direction that has focused particularly on the quality and provenance of the food offering. How have you managed this?

As I hope is evident from my earlier answers, provenance is a passion for me. However, for a world class brand like Harrods, you need to be able to translate that into a vision, and communicate it to your team. I would say this is down to two major factors. First is a focus on quality – with my team, we have taken our own brand quality to a new level. There is nothing on the shop floor in our Harrods own label that

my team does not blind taste on a regular basis. If it doesn’t taste good, we change it: it’s as simple as that. I’d like to think this also injects a bit of fun into the process!

Secondly, an even greater attention to delivering exclusive products. This sets us streets apart from the competition.

Have you deliberately concentrated on artisan producers, in both food and drinks?

Yes this is an important direction for Harrods.

If you take a look at our cheese offering, we not only provide the consumer with the best quality of product in that category, but also work with the producers to provide exclusive vintages and products. One of our best sellers is the Marcel Petite comte, which is 36 months matured or our 90 months matured parmesan, which is exclusive to Harrods.

In general terms, how do you see the relationship between suppliers and retailers?

Simple………It is all about partnership.

How has this relationship changed over the years?

You have to have a vision, and then share it so that everybody can buy into it. Work in partnership with a oneteam approach.

What about the relationship between a retailer and consumer?

One of the incredible things about working at Harrods is that although we are a global brand, we have the ability to move very quickly to keep up with market trends. This is vital for a retailer to stay ahead of the game and give the consumer what they want, and hopefully, what they didn’t even know they wanted! On launching our goat’s cheese and pistachio éclair (where else but Harrods!), we received over 1,000 likes in less than 10 minutes!

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The Retail News Interview

Harrods includes no fewer than 26 restaurants, including The Georgian.

How has social media impacted on this relationship?

Its impact has been and is huge. If you look at our Twitter or Facebook sites, so much is focused on food. Our customers simply love taking pictures of our products and commenting on them - in fact, food is the most popular on the Harrods social media channels!

We were also the first retailer to launch WeChat, and the Asian market continues to be a major driver of our business, nowhere is that more evident than foods.

Personalisation: Harrods has launched a custom blended tea range, offering our customers a truly “There is nothing individual and bespoke experience.

Hybrids: whether it is the Cronut, on the shop floor the Bruffin or Harrods’ very own nanwich (a filled Nan bread sandwich), in our Harrods own this mix and match of products will continue to drive innovation. label that my team Health and ‘appiness’ go together does not blind taste like love and marriage! The growing number of food and health apps will on a regular basis. allow consumers to plan healthy meals or track health indicators.

If it doesn’t taste Global: world cuisine will continue How has consumers’ attitude to grow, especially as we have become a good, we change towards food changed in your time in nation of explorers. However, this will the business? have the subtle change from country it!”

When I arrived at Harrods, the view to more about regions and states was that we were the supermarket of Knightsbridge with within countries. The key cuisine to look out for this year is very little competition. Today, we have a number of food Peruvian. competitors literally on our door step.

As a result, we have changed our offer and customers’ We hear you are a keen traveller. What is your favourite perceptions to think of Harrods Food Halls as the destination international cuisine and restaurant? for the finest products, whether that be our exclusive Black We’ve just opened our newest venture, which is a pan-Asian Gold beef, our exclusive couverture chocolate or our in-house restaurant on the fifth floor, called Chai Wu. I have known made Beef Wellington (we have 170 chefs producing 25% of the owner, Eddie Lim, for many years, and we, along with our fresh products and 90% of the products available within his Executive Chef, Ian Pengalley, have always looked for one of our 26 restaurants) rather than the place for their an opportunity to build on his portfolio within the store. “basics” shop.

What’s so different about Chai Wu is that it combines a bit Our customers today are more sophisticated than ever, of Malaysian influence. I know I would say this, but a trip and demand sensation and a fantastic shopping experience to Harrods is not complete without sampling our coconut from the store. prawns, they are to die for!

Also, outside the store, my favourite part of the world What trends and tastes are driving change in food? is the south of France where I have an annual pilgrimage Healthy food options: these continue to be (and will continue to the Colombe d’Or in St Paul de Vence - blissful food in a in the foreseeable future) to be a big trend in foods. perfect setting.

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Shop Profile

Growing With Your Customers

Store owner Ger Ralph, pictured outside SPAR Littlepace, Clonee, Dublin 15.

Ger Ralph’s SPAR store in Clonee, Dublin 15, recently underwent a significant revamp and extension and is already reaping the rewards in terms of increased sales.

RETAILING is deeply enshrined in the DNA of the Ralph family. Ger Ralph runs six SPAR stores with his brother Fergal, while their other brother Declan is the Retail Development Director with BWG Foods (owners and operators of the SPAR brand in Ireland). In fact, the Ralph brothers may well have more experience of SPAR than any other family in Ireland as their father, Ger senior, opened Ireland’s first ever SPAR in Artane in Dublin back in 1963.

When Ger opened his SPAR store in Littlepace, Clonee, Dublin 15, in 1999, the estate was still developing. There are now twice as many houses in the area and a lot more competition with the arrival of Dunnes, Aldi and Lidl to the locality.

“We decided that this shop needed investment in order to capture potential trade in the area,” explains Ger. “The neighbourhood has developed significantly since the shop opened and I felt that we were missing out. Between myself and Fergal, we spend a lot of time in each of our shops and we are always listening to our customers.

“So we were confident that if we made an investment here, increasing the square footage of retail space and introducing the latest SPAR format, that it would show almost immediate returns.”

Loyal Customer Base While the project involved a very significant amount of work, the store kept trading throughout the process. The 600

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Shop Profile Fact File Owner: Location: Size: No. of Staff: Opening Hours:

square feet that was added to the retail space came from old storage space, which allowed the project to be undertaken in sectional stages. By keeping the shop trading, Ger made sure that the loyal customer base he has built up over the last 16 years was not inconvenienced.

Trading through the project also engaged customers with how the shop was developing as they eagerly watched developments in ‘their’ SPAR. And there was a lot to see.

The additional retail space unlocked by the development saw the shop size jump by almost one third. The project also saw the introduction of the latest SPAR format, including the Tasty Deli and extremely impressive new look throughout the store.

The black signage echoes the distinctive dark tiles on the shop floor, while the wooden columns add an organic feel to the interior, fusing tradition with modernity, particularly at the deli, where large screens display perfect examples of the tasty choices on offer.

The style applies the perfect finish; but as any retailer knows, the substance of a development like this comes down to planograms and product offering, point of sale and price point. Pat Grogan, Sales Development Manager at BWG Foods, handled the development work expertly, but Ger is also keen to point out that his BWG Retail Operations Advisor, Paul McGrath was a fantastic help on this project.

“Paul and I have a fantastic working relationship,” Ger explains. “We are extremely open and honest. If he visits any of our shops and anything is out of place, I hear about it all too quickly. That is actually what I want from a Retail Operations Advisor, a fresh pair of eyes helping to make sure everything is just right. After all, retail is detail.”

Ger Ralph Littlepace, Clonee, Dublin 15 2,100 square feet 15, full time & part time 07:00-22:00, Monday-Sunday

Impressive Sales Performance Acknowledging that it was a big project, Ger stresses that it also achieved some big results with simple changes.

“For example, the Insomnia offering was already present prior to the development. Just by changing its position and improving its prominence in the shop, we have already doubled sales in the section,” the store owner explains. “My brothers and I have a lot of retail experience but even so, it was great to have the support and input of SPAR on this project, as such tiny details can have such a huge impact.”

The Tasty Deli from SPAR, which launched late last year, has also delivered a dramatic jump in sales, with trade up by almost 50%. The majority of the increased floor space delivered by the development was given to fresh food and food to go, while the wine section was also given 1.5 metres.

Indeed, this store can offer far more than simply a top-up grocery shop.

The developments in the SPAR own brand range are another benefit Ger enjoys as a result of his partnership with the Group: “SPAR has invested heavily in the own brand, in promoting it and in expanding it. There is a definite life cycle with customers, who initially try out a product like SPAR kitchen towels. Because of the quality and value in that range, we see customers move up through the value chain and incorporate it into their weekly shop, delivering margin for me and value for money for them.”

Unlocking Customer Demand The store owner admits that while he was confident the redeveloped store would unlock new potential sales, it was still a relief when that proved to be the case. “Now that it is finished and we have unlocked some of that demand immediately, it’s a huge relief because it worked,” he concludes. “It’s been a real team effort, from my family and SPAR and all the staff. All of our shops have great staff, from shop floor to management. I would like to thank Paul in particular, but really everyone involved in making this project such a success.”

When done right, the local shop creates a virtuous cycle, employing members of the local community, then serving its grocery needs and evolving with the community it serves.

The Ralph family and their partners in BWG have a deep understanding of how community retailing works. The success of this project is proof positive what you can achieve with investment and a lot of hard work.

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RGDATA Banking Survey

Banking System Still Broken

Poor service, higher bank charges and feeling ‘captive’ to their bank, were some of the problems reported by retailers in RGDATA’s new banking survey.

IRELAND’S banking system is still broken, according to a survey of RGDATA’s 4,000 independent retailers, which highlighted ongoing and persistent problems that the sector is facing with the main banks in Ireland. The survey, which was conducted during June and July, sought retailers’ feedback on their relations with their banks across a range of headings and found that more competition in banking and financial services is a priority for retailers.

The survey confirms that there are few competitive choices available for retailers, who are often stuck with their existing banks because of challenges in accessing credit from other institutions. RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley said that the survey demonstrated that for many retailers, the banking sector is still effectively closed for business and not offering competitive choice or proper service levels to a core sector of the economy.

Key Findings The key findings from the survey included:

• • • •

56% of retailers are customers of Bank of Ireland, with 39% banking with AIB and less than 10% banking with Ulster Bank; 91% of retailers use online banking, but most also visit a bank branch at least twice a week; 60% of retailers have a dedicated contact person in their branch; Only 30% of retailers have been offered a new service or product by their bank in the last year;

• • • •

Banks charge retailers between 45c and €3 per €100 lodged in cash and the banks are not prepared to negotiate better rates; 34% of retailers say that the increased bank charges on lodgements has negatively impacted on their investment in their business; 73% of retailers say they would like to switch banks to avoid increased charges, but 60% are stuck to their current bank because of existing overdraft or loan commitments; 80% of retailers have seen a sharp decline in service from their banks, with the reduction in customer facing staff the greatest single complaint.

Real Concern for Government RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley stated that the banking sector in Ireland is still not functioning when it comes to dealing with retailers. She said that the consistent themes from the survey of high fees, poor service, limited choice and an absence of competitive alternatives should be of real concern to the Government and the banking sector.

“It is clear from this survey that retailers, who are at the core of the SME service sector and are significant employers nationally, feel that they have been abandoned by the banking sector,” she argued. “There are real concerns that the banks are operating to an agenda that does not recognise the challenges and opportunities presented by their retailer customer base. The absence of competitive choice is a real concern, as is the dominance of the two main banks over

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RGDATA Banking Survey What They Said…

“The attitude of a bank employee has been detrimental to my business, intimating she would call in the receiver despite my business being profitable. Her claim was that she could do this because the bank have a debenture over my business. This has caused me extreme hardship and had a detrimental effect on my mental health. I feel my bank are in no way trying to help me grow my business. In fact, they are doing the complete opposite… My business was growing year on year at a rate of between 3 - 5%. It is now in decline due to these constraints.”

Supermarket owner, Co. Laois: Bank of Ireland

the retail sector. The high charges and poor service from the banks needs to be challenged, given the absence of competition in the market. This is an area where the Government could usefully step in to address the imbalance involved.”

Unlocking Choice in the Banking Sector Buckley said that the Government should examine ways of unlocking competition and choice in the banking and financial services sector in Ireland. In particular, she called for an action plan led by the Government with the Central Bank to tackle areas where inadequate competition in banking is leading to high bank fees, low levels of switching and poor service.

“The Banks have shown that when left to their own devices, they will not behave reasonably or fairly with their customers,” the Director General noted. “There is an obligation on the Government and the regulatory authorities to ensure that an absence of competition in such an important area of the economy does not damage local businesses which have real potential to contribute positively to economic recovery.”

RGDATA will present the results of its survey and related commentary from retailers to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD and the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD to secure an appropriate Government response to the issues raised.

“I tried to increase overdraft or to get extra funding last year. I spent €2.5k on an accountant doing projections etc requested by bank. The process took four months to be refused, despite being given all positive vibes throughout the process.”

Convenience store owner, Galway: AIB “Bank fees have become one of the more expensive services we use of late. I feel there’s no other institution that would just get away with doubling fees and have no objection from anyone. I feel we have been pushed into a corner with no choice as they have a monopoly on business in small towns where they have no opposition. They have increased all the fees on what small business use i.e lodging cash, lodging cheques, buying in coin/notes. It’s just another cost that’s getting harder to build into our margin to survive in business.”

Supermarket owner, Co. Roscommon: Bank of Ireland “As businesses continue to survive post recession and build again, I think it is morally wrong for a bank to create such onerous increases in bank charges so soon, when most small business can’t handle such overhead increases.”

Convenience store owner, Dublin: Bank of Ireland “Our relationship with our branch is at an all time low. We bank with them because we have no other options. They have shown nothing but disdain for us and our business over the last few years. If I treated my customers like that, I would be out of business long ago... They are a liability to our business.”

Supermarket owner, Co. Galway: A mixture of banks “Chronic staff shortages at branch level, leading to long queues.”

Supermarket owner, Co. Meath: AIB “We are keeping banks in business, but you get the feeling you are a nuisance and business customers are not treated any different to the other customers”.

Convenience store owner, Co. Kildare: PTSB “Banking charges are increasing, but service levels are being reduced.

It is difficult to get day-to-day queries resolved as calls are received in a centralised department, not a local branch.”

Supermarket owner, Co. Donegal: AIB “Banks are making it impossible to deal with them: they want your business but not the cash that comes with it. I was told by the bank when looking for a short term overdraft that because I was a retailer who has a large cash flow that I am viewed as being a greater risk than a business with electronic payment as its main source of income.”

Convenience store owner, Co. Tipperary: Bank of Ireland “We used to have a relationship and view them as a partner in our business. They are now seen as an adversary, whose sole aim is to increase the amount of profit they can make from us.”

Supermarket owner, Co. Cork: Bank of Ireland

24|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Food & Hospitality Ireland

Best In Show at Food & Hospitality Ireland

Food & Hospitality Ireland will showcase the best food and drink products available on the Irish market.

A MELTING pot for the very best in food, retail and hospitality, Food & Hospitality Ireland, incorporating the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland, will be home to some of the country’s most talented food producers, craft butchers and café owners over the two-day event this September, with a host of awards topping the bill.

As one of the most important events for those in the food, drink and hospitality industries, the expo is taking place on September 17 and 18 in the Citywest Events Centre, and attendance at the show is free, with registration now open at www.foodhospitality.ie.

Taking centre stage will be over 100 exhibitors, international keynote speakers, influential local players, and engaging demonstrations that will impart new skills. Thousands of visitors are expected over the two days and as the final stages are put in place, this year’s event is shaping up to be a real food and hospitality feast.

A host of national awards will be presented at the trade expo, including the Craft Butchers’ most prestigious accolade, Shop of the Year, and the Product of the Show awards.

In addition, it has just been announced that the respected Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards will host the inaugural Irish Café Quality Food and Drink Awards on day two (September 17) of Food & Hospitality Ireland on the Spotlight Stage.

Irish Café Quality Food and Drink Awards In its first year, the Irish Café Quality Food and Drink Awards have been created to celebrate excellence in food and drink product development within the buoyant Irish multiple and independent café sector, and the awards will include Independent Café of the Year and Regional Café of the Year.

Excellence tops the bill at Food & Hospitality Ireland at the Citywest Events Centre on September 17 and 18, with plenty on offer for the food, drink, retail and hospitality sectors.

Visitors to Food & Hospitality Ireland will be the first to see and taste the ‘Q’ award-winning products in the Irish Quality Food Awards feature area.

“In our first year, we’ve been thrilled with the level on interest in the Irish Café Quality Food and Drink Awards,” reveals Lara Newton, Group Events Manager, Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards and Irish Café Quality Food & Drink Awards. “Ireland has a thriving coffee culture and we wanted to create a platform that would celebrate the innovation within the sector.

“Food & Hospitality Ireland is the perfect home for our first Irish Café ‘Q’ Awards as there’s a definite crossover in terms of the award entrants and visitor profile of the trade expo. Our finalists will be awarded in a food, hospitality and retail environment that’s all about innovation and driving businesses forward: therefore, it’s a very apt

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Food & Hospitality Ireland home for our firstever Awards.”

This will be the first time the awards have taken place and they are a welcome new addition to an already jam-packed schedule of awards and attractions during Food & Hospitality Ireland 2015.

The Craft Butchers’ Zone The annual Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland’s most The Irish Café Quality Food and Drink prestigious awards Awards have been created to celebrate are also set to take excellence in food and drink product place at F&HI in development within the buoyant café the newly created sector.

Craft Butchers’ Zone, which will also feature live chef demonstrations from chef, Adrian Martin.

On day one, the announcement of the coveted Shop of the Year title will take place on the Spotlight stage, and the ACBI will be hosting the finals of its National Sausage & Puddings Competition, which will see 48 butchers vying for the top prize.

The Speciality Foods competition will take place on the last day and is an ‘on-the-day’ event with butchers encouraged to enter products into three categories - Ready to Eat; Ready to Cook; and Ready to Heat.

Product of the Show Awards Judged by an independent panel of industry experts, the Product of the Show Awards highlight the excellence of a particular product or service for visitors. Successful exhibitors will be awarded with Gold, Silver or Bronze accolades for their products, which will be featured in the Product of the Show area.

Register for free now at WWW.FOODHOSPITALITY.IE. Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Show partner, the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, will be showcasing the winning products from the gala awards ceremony on day two of F&HI. With the awards taking place on the previous evening at the Mansion House, visitors to Food & Hospitality Ireland will be the first to see and taste the ‘Q’ award-winning products in the Irish Quality Food Awards feature area.

Other show attractions include: • The Great Taste Pavilion, featuring award-winning producers; • The Spotlight Stage, including demonstrations from RAI chefs; • The Profit Shop, in association with the CSNA and Craft Butchers; • The Coeliac Food Clinic, for retailers and restaurateurs.

Food & Hospitality Ireland is a melting pot for the best in food, retail and hospitality.

FOOD & Hospitality Ireland, incorporating the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland, is taking place on September 16 and 17, 2015 at the Citywest Events Centre, Dublin. For further information on exhibiting at the event, please contact Caroline McCusker on +44 (0) 28 9068338 or email FHIteam@freshmontgomery.co.uk.

Shaping up to be a tasty event, recently announced exhibitors include Glastry Farm Ice-Cream, The Purple Pantry, Corleggy Cheese, Cashel Blue, Burren Smokehouse, Kestrel Foods and Cotswold Fayre.

Returning for a second year is The Chocolate Shop. “We have exhibited at Food & Hospitality Ireland for the past 10 years and it has now become an essential event in our busy confectionery calendar,” explains owner of The Chocolate Shop, Niall Daly. “This year, we’re looking forward to the new addition to the show, the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland, which we know from the London show is a marvellous focus for premium fine food and information exchange.”

In other news, a number of partner associations have been added to the list of supporters for FHI 2015, demonstrating the level of cross sector support for Food & Hospitality Ireland. Joining the Craft Butchers and the Coeliac Society of Ireland are the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA) and Retail Ireland.

Last year, thousands of visitors attended F&HI, and this year, with the addition of the Irish Café Awards, Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland and the Great Taste Pavilion, it’s hoped that the show will reach an even wider audience.

For full details on new features, exhibitors and partners, please log onto www.foodhospitality.ie or follow the show on twitter @FHIexhibition. Pre-register your visit now at www.foodhospitality.ie.

26|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Food & Hospitality Ireland Profitable Advice at Food & Hospitality Ireland THE Profit Shop, in association the Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association and the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland, will be one of the main reasons to visit Food & Hospitality Ireland this year, following the success of the feature in 2014.

A fully functional, interactive shop built on the show floor will highlight how retailers can maximise the profitability of their shop through the latest products, services and technologies, along with effective design and signage.

Maria O’Neill Design has created an exciting new design for this year’s Profit Shop, incorporating the latest trends driving growth in the retail sector. Building and fitting of the Profit Shop is by Punchline Developments, one of Ireland’s leading fit-out and refurbishment contractors.

There will be a wide range of innovative products and services on display, which will help to generate extra revenue and save money. Just a few of the products include customer loyalty schemes, the Capitol Foods’ Piacetto Coffee Pod and the latest refrigerated display units from Higgins Refrigeration. Premier Lotteries Ireland will also be displaying its latest lottery terminals, while Adtower will bring its new concept, illuminated advertising units, to the Profit Shop.

Unfortunately, theft and crime are realities of the retail industry and the Profit Shop will feature some of the most up-todate security products and services. These include CCTV cameras and tagging from Virtek, secure till-to-safe tube systems from APT Safelink and secure transit services from GSLS. There’s also the latest in EPOS technology, plus equipment for both convenience stores and butcher shops from AR Systems and Martin Food Equipment.

Don’t miss a visit to the Profit Shop to discover real insights, products and ideas that really will make a positive impact to your bottom line.

German Confectionery Seminar Highlights Advantages for Irish Industry A GERMAN Confectionery seminar and networking event aimed at the Irish market place will take place on September 16 at the Food & Hospitality Ireland Exhibition in Dublin’s Citywest Events Centre. The German Sweets Export Association will feature trade experts and manufacturers, who will demonstrate how Irish confectionery buyers and producers can benefit by doing business with Germany.

The free morning event is focused on knowledge exchange and important for all those in the Irish confectionery trade involved in wholesale, retail, HORECA, manufacturing and importing.

The event is being supported by the German Government and co-ordinated by the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Please contact its Commercial Director, Ronan Harbison, for further details and to register for this event. Places are limited and filling up quickly; therefore, the Chamber requests attendees to register early. Contact e-mail: ronan.harbison@german-irish.ie or call (01) 6424300.

Why Catering for Coeliacs Counts!

For the first time, show partner, the Coeliac Society of Ireland, is introducing its Coeliac Food Clinic at Food & Hospitality Ireland. Perfect for those in retail, food manufacturing and hospitality, free one-to-one meetings can be booked with Edel Smyth, Food Manager with The Coeliac Society of Ireland via the Food & Hospitality Ireland website.

For those looking for guidance on offering gluten-free, dietician Edel can answer any queries visitors may have in relation to GF manufacturing and certification process and catering for coeliac customers.

N I W

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28|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

IGBF/Tayto Park

Tayto Park Opens Its Doors to IGBF

Ray Coyle, Chairman and founder of Largo Foods and Tayto Park.

Employees of the FMCG sector can get family tickets to Tayto Park at a reduced cost and support the IGBF into the bargain.

THE Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF) is once again teaming up with Tayto Park, offering family tickets at a substantially reduced cost.

The idea for last year’s inaugural event was the brainchild of Gerry Lloyd, Sales Operations Manager at Largo Foods, who has been heavily involved with the IGBF for years.

“Gerry came up with the idea to tie in with the IGBF last year, offering family passes to the grocery trade at a special discounted rate, and it worked very well,” recalls Ray Coyle, Chairman and founder of Largo Foods and Tayto Park.

“Hopefully, it will prove even more successful this year and will generate more income for the Fund,” Ray enthuses. “It will also allow some of our customers and retailers to see what we are doing at Tayto Park and be entertained for the day. I look forward to welcoming members of the grocery trade to Tayto Park and I hope they will have a great day with us.”

Premier Family Attraction Since opening in 2010, Tayto Park has grown to become one of the country’s premier family attractions.

“The idea for Tayto Park came to me, having visited many theme parks across the US and Europe, when I felt that we could have a great family-orientated theme park in Ireland,” Ray notes. “We are in our fifth season now and the latest addition to the park is the rollercoaster, as well as more new rides. We hope to have visitor numbers of around

Tayto Park’s new Cú Chulainn rollercoaster, the largest wooden rollercoaster in Europe.

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IGBF/Tayto Park 700,000 this year, up from 480,000 in 2014.”

Tayto Park was supported in the first few months of 2015 with a high profile TV campaign. The amusement park was also on TV screens and in newspapers in recent weeks with the official opening of its new Cú Chulainn, the largest wooden rollercoaster in Europe, which can reach speeds of 90mph.

Growing Snack Food Market Outside of Tayto Park, Ray is very optimistic about the future of Largo Foods. The Irish snack food market is experiencing slight growth, after years of volume decline, notes the Chairman, who is hopeful that the snack market has left the darkest days of the recession behind.

As well as the general upswing in the economy, much of this growth is driven by new product development in the snack sector. Innovation is vital in the category, particularly in terms of meeting consumer demand for healthier snack foods. Is it difficult to incorporate the move towards healthy products into a snack food market that traditionally has been seen as quite unhealthy?

“Not at all,” answers the affable Chairman. “If you look at a product like Tayto Velvet Crunch: that has proven very successful for us. We’ve also seen big growth in baked snacks and in our popcorn portfolio. Kettle Cooked Crisps have also been very popular and our core brands of Tayto, King and Hunky Dorys have held their own and have started to increase sales again. We are continually trying to improve our products from a health perspective.”

Integrating the KP Snacks Range This year is all about consolidation for Largo, who recently took over the manufacture of the KP Snacks portfolio in Ireland, following the merger of Intersnack, Largo’s majority shareholder, with KP Snacks in 2014. This sees brands like

Hula Hoops, Rancheros and Skips, being integrated into the existing Largo portfolio.

“This means more production in the factory, more employment in the factory and more investment in technology,” Ray explains, estimating that it will take about a year to consolidate the KP range into Largo’s existing business.

“We built up our brands here in Ireland, to the point where we have the biggest market share. The partnership with Intersnack has proved instrumental in that and has been very good for Largo Foods,” Ray insists. “We have had access to their technology, their funds and their markets right across Europe. It is through our association with Intersnack that we have now taken over production of KP’s brands.”

Having seen his business through both times of huge growth and leaner years, Ray Coyle is in a strong position to ascertain its future prospects, and he is extremely optimistic.

“I think the business will continue to grow and that Tayto Park will also continue to grow and develop,” he concludes.

“We hope that in two or three years’ time to top one million visitors to Tayto Park, which will more than double visitor numbers from 2014, and we will put a big investment in place to ensure we do that.”

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ASTER ROLLER COMA 5D CINE ALIVE S UR DINOSA AIR RACE ER SHOT TOW S N EXPRES STEAM TRAI T BEARS HONEY PO TLETS FOOD OU

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Back To School: Lunch Box

The Lunch Bunch

Retailers who prepare effectively for the busy Back To School period are ready for a sales surge across key product categories.

WITH many schools starting term-time in late August, the Back To School season effectively begins in July and stretches through to September. Retailers and brand owners who prepare properly and treat Back To School as a significant market in its own right, akin to Easter or Christmas, will reap the rewards.

A recent survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions found that Irish parents are set to spend an average of nearly €400 per child on school uniforms and books this Back To School season. Hard-pressed parents who are managing their budget tend to plan early for Back To School, meaning that the well-prepared retailer can out-perform competitor stores.

Research into the Back To School market suggests that

up to 60% of parents do their Back To School shopping during the summer holidays.

Consumer desire for healthy products is extremely prevalent when it comes to school lunch boxes, as parents want to ensure their kids eat healthily. Nutrition came out on top of last year’s Carat survey into the Back To School period as the single most important motivating factor for parents when choosing what goes into their children’s lunch boxes.

The start of the school year, as well as being busy in its own right, is also the time when habits are formed that last the rest of the year, which can also be hugely important for brands in terms of gaining consumer loyalty for the entire school year ahead.

Retailer exclusive competitions Fully integrated 360째 campaign Interactive POS in-store

For more information contact your Heinz Retail Developers

32|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Back To School: Lunch Box Johnston Mooney & O’Brien Johnston Mooney & O’Brien recognise that the health conscious Irish shopper has a strong desire to try new products, hence the growing success of products like wraps, bagels, and more recently, Sandwich Thins. Customers are looking for tasty and nutritious alternatives to traditional bread and have a strong desire to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Carr’s Oddities has earned the love of young consumers and their parents, making it ideal for Back To School.

Johnston Mooney & O’Brien Sandwich Thins are perfect for adults who are interested in leading a healthy balanced lifestyle but do not want to compromise on taste.

Carr’s Renowned for its quality and a firm favourite with Irish families, Carr’s, part of the UB Snack Foods portfolio, make the perfect tasty and healthy solutions for Back To School.

Since its successful re-launch in 2014 under the Carr’s masterbrand, Oddities has earned the love of young consumers and their parents. New funny shapes and a handy multi-bag format make Oddities an ideal product for Back to School. Oddities are available in two popular variants: Salt & Vinegar and Smoky Bacon.

Sandwich Thins meet the growing demand from health conscious shoppers for new excitement and variety in the bread category.

Johnston Mooney & O’Brien Sandwich Thins are perfect for adults who are interested in leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle but do not want to compromise on taste. Low in fat and sugar and a good source of fibre and protein, Sandwich Thins come in three delicious varieties, Multiseed, Chia & Golden Linseed and Goodness of Both, guaranteeing both great taste and nutrition. They also contain only 100-105 calories per Thin.

Sandwich Thins meet the growing demand from health conscious shoppers for new excitement and variety in the bread category. Sandwich Thins are sure to be a lunch box favourite and after school snack when the kids go back to school. Consumers can take a little inspiration from Johnston Mooney & O’Brien’s recipes to make the most of these tasty products: see www.jmob.ie/our-recipes/ for more information.

Each Sandwich Thin contains only 100-105 calories.

Carr’s cream crackers range continues to show a strong performance since its launch, boasting strong value growth.

The great tasting Carr’s cream crackers range continues to show a strong performance since its launch, with a 19% growth rate in its market share value (Source: Nielsen Scantrack May 24, 2015). The Cream Cracker range consists of three variants: a standard 200g pack, a larger 300g pack and a handy Snack Pack format; and is perfect for all the family as an afternoon snacking solution or as a key lunch box component.

UB has continually supported Carr’s since its re-launch with a €1m multimedia ‘Because Taste Matters’ campaign.

Currently supported by a strong advertising campaign including TV, digital, bespoke shopper activity, PR and sampling, Carr’s products are sure to continue to fly off the shelves during the busy Back To School period.

BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE TABLE.

Nutritious, Delicious Sandwich Thins.

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Back To School: Lunch Box Penguin United Biscuits (UB), the leading international manufacturer of biscuits and cakes, has announced the relaunch of its iconic brand Penguin.

Penguin is a nostalgic brand with strong credentials.

A makeover will re-ignite consumers’ love for the product and enhance its positioning as a family brand, perfect for all occasions. Penguin got a new modern and fun look, which will make the product stand out on the shelf. A new improved recipe and a bigger bar will make the product irresistible to consumers. The new Penguin range is being rolled out across grocery stores and depots since June 2015.

The product is sold in 6, 6+50%, 8 and 24 pack formats.

Nelsons Sootha 150ml

THE cool autumn weather in September can mean that children pick up nasty coughs. Nelsons Sootha brings gentle relief to children’s coughs. It contains 6c homeopathic potency of natural Bryonia, in a honey rich and zesty lemon base.

Nelsons Sootha cough syrup is free of artificial colourings or flavourings and does not cause drowsiness and is suitable for children aged 12 months onwards.

Bryonia, more commonly known as Bryony, is a yellow flowering climbing plant, which has been used in homeopathic tradition for the symptomatic relief of coughs for generations to ease a child’s cough naturally!

Penguin is being relaunched with a new modern and fun look, a new improved recipe and a bigger bar.

For the first time in over a decade, Penguin will be getting an investment in above-the-line support. Following the initial roll-out to stores in June, a new 30-second advert represents the next stage of the product’s launch in Ireland and is due to air on August 10 for four weeks. Playing on the nostalgic assets of ‘P..P..P..Pick up a Penguin’, the advert will incorporate Penguin into the McVitie’s ‘sweeet’ campaign and introduce a brand new member of the ‘sweeet’ animal family, the baby penguin. The launch will also be supported with online marketing, consumer and trade press, as well as in-store activation.

Fyffes Budding young architects in primary schools across Ireland are being invited by banana importers Fyffes to demonstrate their talent in a way that could provide extra accommodation for their school.

With their introduction of Go Bananas, a new free educational healthy eating app for tablets and iPads, children aged 7-10 are being asked to take part in a competition that invites them to submit ideas that would provide useful school space, with the winning work being brought to life in a shipping container, remodelled and fitted out to the student’s design and installed at his or her school according to its requirements.

So far, Fyffes has received lots of great ideas, such as turning the shipping container into a school kitchen, media room, games zone and library. The entry form can be downloaded from www.freddyfyffes.ie/gobananas or Aoife and Jamie Lynn are pictured with Fyffes Sales and Marketing Manager, Emma Hunt-Duffy via the Go Bananas App in app at the launch of their design competition aimed at encouraging budding young primary school stores. architects across the country to be creative during their summer holidays.

t s e B . s s a l c s t i n i

Stock up now with the nation’s favourite.

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Back To School: Stationery

Stationery Moving Fast

Stock up now on the best-selling stationery brands for the busy Back To School sales period.

IT’S time to stock up on pens, pencils, erasers, pencil cases, copies, refill pads and much more for the busy Back To School period as students prepare to return to classrooms across the country.

Indeed, industry experts reveal a huge seasonal surge in stationery sales in the weeks leading up to school term, with clever retailers sure to add value to their stationery department by stocking some of the leading names, including a wealth of big brands, with innovative new products and licensed ranges, based on everything from pop acts to animated movies.

A dedicated Back To School display or a free standing display unit (FSDU) could make a big difference to your bottom line this season, with many of the best sellers being impulse purchases.

Henkel Since the world’s first ever glue stick was introduced in Dusseldorf in 1969, Henkel has sold over one billion glue sticks in 121 countries, distinguishing Pritt as a leading global brand. Pritt Sticks have always been immensely popular with children and have become a big hit in office culture too, which has revolutionised our gluing habits.

Pritt currently has its best ever formulation, as its made from 90% natural and renewable resources and is up to 2.4 times longer than any other glue stick on the market.

The Pritt range also includes rainbow sticks, liquid glue, correction rollers, glue dots and much more and is perfect

for all crafting tasks. Over 46 years since its launch, a Pritt Stick is purchased almost every second of the day; testament to the brand’s popularity amongst both children and adults.

After the great success with their Mr. Pritt & Mr. Maker competition in the 2014/15 school year across the UK & Ireland, Pritt would like to continue to encourage more children to be creative, so will invest even more in 2015/16.

In May this year, Carrabane National School in Galway were the lucky winners of an exclusive crafting day at their school with Mr. Pritt & Mr. Maker from CBeebies, run by the top selling glue brand, Pritt.

This year, to support the Pritt brand even more, Mr. Pritt will take to the road across the UK & Ireland,

Pritt has its best ever formulation, as its made from 90% natural and renewable resources and is up to 2.4 times longer than any other glue stick on the market.

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Back To School: Stationery

Mr. Pritt will take to the road across the UK & Ireland, visiting 15 schools in total, via their free to enter competition.

visiting 15 schools in total, that’s up to three times more schools and children in their free to enter competition. For more information, visit www.prittworld.co.uk.

Pritt’s long-term goal is to continue the tradition of coming up with new ideas and concepts that meet the needs of everyday life, for those who use Pritt on a Pritt Sticks have always been daily basis. Time doesn’t immensely popular with stand still and neither will children and have become a Pritt; its products will big hit in office culture too, become stronger, faster, which has revolutionised our safer and more colourful gluing habits. as time goes on, which is why it will always be the nation’s favourite glue.

BIC Ireland’s leading stationery brand, BIC has unveiled new packaging for its BIC Kids range, proudly displaying a ‘Recommended by teachers’ stamp, just in time for the back to school selling period (average score of 88% product recommendation in BIC Kids colouring range, based on two studies conducted by Markteffect research firm in France on January 11, 2013, with 227 teachers, and May 6, 2014, with 387 teachers).

Recently released market data shows that the BIC Kids Tropicolors 2 colouring pencils, BIC Kids Visa felt pens and BIC Kids Plastidecor crayons lines are all key market sellers (Source: GFK UK Mkt data - Sales Unit – MAT December 2014). Teachers were impressed by the quality of the range as some felt tip pens can be left uncapped for up to three months without drying out and colouring pencils are made out of resin so they won’t shatter if broken, to keep fingers safe from splinters, making them an essential addition to

BIC Kids Tropicolors 2 colouring pencils and BIC Kids Visa felt pens are key market sellers, particularly for the Back To School period.

pencil cases.

“Having such a robust packaging design is great for our retailers, and we have also produced a range of till toppers to maximise on the opportunities to drive sell-out through impulse purchase,” said Jonathan Skyrme, General Manager at BIC UK and Ireland. “They cover a variety of essential Back To School products, including a reliable classroom choice, the BIC Cristal Original ballpoint pens; Tipp-Ex Rapid correction liquid and another of the best sellers, the iconic BIC 4 Colours retractable pen.

“The variety of counter style displays are easily accessible for our retailers: all they need to do is order from their chosen wholesaler or distribution partner. Store displays have proven to give much more visibility to our products and, as a result, have boosted sales considerably.

We’d advise any retailer to make the most of this period.”

Newspread For the past four years, Newspread has been developing a comprehensive stationery range, offering everyday branded lines along with a value own brand range, all very competitively priced. Top brands include Aisling, Staedtler, BIC, Silvine & Tipp Ex, while Newspread’s Notes range will deliver superb value to your customers, whilst offering you a great margin at the same time. The Notes range has just added four new combo pack products, which provide great value – have a look at them on the Newspread website (www.newspread.ie).

Newspread’s online ordering system makes your Back to School The Notes range has ordering very easy and convenient. just added new combo Simply log onto www.newspread. pack products, which ie and access your personal account provide great value. using your account number and unique pin. From there, you can order anything from a topup on a line that’s out of stock in your store to a complete Back To School order. Any orders placed before 1pm will qualify for next day delivery.

Newspread has a series of promotional Back To School offers, including branded Staedtler FSDU’s and promotions on their own value brand, Notes. Watch out for flash price promotions on A4 80gsm copier paper during the Back to School season too where the price of a box of copier paper gets reduced dramatically!

In addition to a core stationery range, Newspread has also Newspread’s Notes range will introduced a fantastic deliver superb value to your licensed stationery range, customers, whilst offering you a not currently available great margin at the same time. through any other wholesaler. This range includes anything from pencil and eraser packs to large stationery sets by best selling licenses such as Disney Frozen, Minions, Marvel Superheroes, and many more! These lines are sure to be hot favourites with kids this Back To School season so simply order online at www.newspread.ie under the category “Licensed stationery”.

Again, all orders placed before 1pm qualify for next day delivery, with no minimum order quantities!

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On The Vine: Top Wine Brands

Wines of the Times Jean Smullen examines Ireland’s top selling wine brands.

RECENT figures to December 2014 from Scantrack showed that the top five brands for Irish off trade sales in 2014 were Santa Rita, McGuigan, Blossom Hill, Wolf Blass and Casillero del Diablo. Chile continues its dominance of this sector, with a number of key brands driving sales of Chilean wine into the number one country of origin by volume slot. Santa Rita continues as the top selling wine brand in Ireland, while Concha y Toro’s Casillero del Diablo, Cono Sur and Vina Carmen are all driving the Chilean category in terms of both volume and value sales.

ACNielsen figures on an MAT basis to December 2014 show that total off trade sales for wine for the year 2014 was approximately 5.4m nine-litre cases, an increase of +2.7%.on the previous year. The value of the market increased by 7.6%, though it should be noted that the average realised price for wine has not kept pace with the duty increases. The average price for a bottle of wine in 2014 for the off trade was €7.89 per bottle, exactly the same as the previous year before the second Government increase in wine duty.

Looking at average price points, according to Scantrack, in December 2014, the average price for Chilean wine was €8.09, Australian wine €8.09, French wine €7.82, Spanish wine €7.94, Italian wine €7.38, New Zealand wine €10.20, and Argentinean wine €9.04 (Source: Nielsen Scantrack, December 2014).

Chile Is So Hot I really feel that Chile is due a bit of an update, in terms of developments within their wine industry. For over a decade, Chilean wine bubbled under in second place, as the Irish market was driven by sales of Australian wine. Chile’s current peak, it may be said, is in part due to the strength of the Australian dollar, which has ramped up ex-cellar prices, resulting in Australia losing its edge on competitive price. However, another factor is Chile throwing off its reputation for safe consistency and introducing new experimental wine styles into the mix.

These emerging styles are starting to capture the customer’s interest and are also driving sales. Examples

of this are the cool climate red and white wines from the emerging coastal regions. Less mainstream are the high altitude wines from the Andes, as well as the novelty wines, including the glorious but previously neglected old vine Carignan plantings in Maule. Add to the mix the ‘limited edition’ boutique wine styles using previously unknown grapes such as Pais and Cinsault and experiments with dry farming in Colchagua by wineries such as Montes and you get some idea of why Chile is currently capturing the imagination of the global wine world.

Santa Rita’s wine maker, Sebastian Labbe believes these experimental wines will shape Chile’s path in the years to come and this includes new plantings of the Mediterranean varietals, as well as other grape varieties from Italy, which will be blended in with existing grape varieties.

According to Anita Jackson of Wines of Chile in the UK, these new and novel wines that are in the experimental stage will evolve in the next decade and will develop Chile’s

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On The Vine: Top Wine Brands premium sector. The styles are fresher, with less oak, lower alcohol and more balance, making Chile a country to look out for in terms of future emerging wine styles.

A Chilean Wine Fair will take place in Dublin on Tuesday, September 15, 2015. More details in the wine diary at www.jeansmullen.com.

The following is a snapshot of Ireland’s best-selling wine brands.

Santa Rita - Chile

(C&C Gleeson)

Santa Rita saw huge sales growth during 2014, with volume sales of nine-litre cases growing by +18.7% and value sales by +21.5%: they have the highest overall sales of any wine brand in Ireland. Santa Rita recently sponsored a show garden at Bloom 2015, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family event, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. An integrated promotional campaign, ‘The wine is Santa Rita, the moment is yours’, was part of the promotion.

Vina Santa Rita is Santa Rita has one of Chile’s oldest the highest and most enterprising sales of any wine producers. Santa wine brand in Rita was founded Ireland. in 1880 by Domingo Fernandez. Historical records dating back to 1814 show the property featured in Chile’s fight for independence. Today, Santa Rita is Ireland’s most favourite wine brand in both the restaurant and off licence sector. Look out for more promotional activity this autumn.

McGuigan Australia (Barry & Fitzwilliam)

New McGuigan Frizzante launched earlier this summer.

Australian Vintage Limited is owned by the McGuigan family, who are owner/ managers of vineyards sold under McGuigan label, including the flagship brand, McGuigan Black Label.

Percival ‘Perc’ Alfred McGuigan, who passed

away last year at the age of 100, was the pioneering winemaker who set up Wyndham Estate. He later inspired his sons Neil and Brian to create McGuigan Wines.

Today, McGuigan sells 2.4m cases worldwide and Neil McGuigan, who heads up the company, has been voted the World’s Best White Wine Maker a record three times by the IWSC. Look out for their brand new McGuigan Frizzante, which launched earlier this summer on launch price promotion.

Blossom Hill – California, USA (C&C Gleeson)

Blossom Hill have just launched Sun-Kissed Red and White to the Irish market.

Both SunKissed Red and White are specifically designed to be served chilled.

C&C The hugely popular Blossom Hill range Gleeson are has just launched running Sun-Kissed Red and a below White to the Irish the line market. campaign for Blossom Hill Sun-Kissed SKUs and are encouraging consumers to try Blossom Hill by distributing a range of four Sun-Kissed cocktail recipes.

Wolf Blass - Australia

(Findlater Wine & Spirit Group) Wolf Blass has just launched a Sauvignon Blanc variety in its popular and affordable Eaglehawk range. Wolf Blass, the number four wine brand in Ireland, has always had a unique and highly distinguishable style: with a strong focus on careful fruit sourcing, maturation and blending, the wines consistently deliver vibrant fruit flavours at a great price. Watch out too for the Wolf Blass sparkling wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Wolf Blass Red Label Premium Cuvée is worth stocking in your sparkling category as this value-for-money sparkling wine offers great price/quality ratio.

Casillero Del Diablo (Concha y Toro) - Chile (Richmond Marketing)

Drinks International voted Concha y Toro the second “Most Admired Brand” for wines globally in 2014. Though Concha y Toro is a company rather than a brand, their two key wine brands, Cono Sur Casillero del and Casillero del Diablo: one of the Diabolo feature hugely popular strongly in the Irish wine brands from market. Watch out Concha Y Toro. for Casillero del Diablo on price promotion during the summer.

Hardy’s Australia

(C&C Gleeson)

Hardy’s is one of the most powerful Australian wine brands in the world.

Hardy’s Stamp of Australia is focused on Hardy’s Nottage Hill, though they also have a good range in the midprice sector, mostly single varietals and blends, sold as the Private Bin collection. The brand moved to C&C Gleeson on July 1 and they are re-launching the range throughout Ireland in July with a below-the-line campaign.

The Hardy’s range is now distributed by C&C Gleeson, who are relaunching the range throughout Ireland.

Jacob’s Creek - Australia (Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard)

Jacob’s Creek has stayed true to winemaking traditions established by Orlando Wines’ founder Johann Gramp when he planted his first vines over 160 years ago. Voted 20th in Drinks International’s ‘World Most Admired Wine Brands’ in 2014, they recently revamped their labels, which reflect

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On The Vine: Top Wine Brands E&J Gallo California, USA (10 Inter-

the brand’s Australian identity. This summer, Jacob’s Creek will be on offer across the retail sector and will likely gain more in terms of volume sales as a result of this promotional push.

Torres - Spain

(Findlater Wine & Spirit Group)

This summer, Torres will be giving a push on Natureo, their alcohol free wine brand. Torres has teamed up with Weight Watchers and will be giving bottles to group leaders, while running an ATL campaign via Weight Watchers social media. This will expose Natureo to 35,000 Weight Watchers members across Ireland; so time to start getting Natureo front and centre on your wine shelves! Natureo is Spain’s first dealcoholised wine, with only a trace 0.5% alcohol. Look out too for Torres Altos Ibéricos, part of the modern ‘new wave’ style of winemaking from La Rioja. The 2012 Torres Altos Ibéricos won the only gold medal in the Crianza category at the Rioja Masters Awards organised by The Drinks Business magazine.

Vina Carmen - Chile

(C&C Gleeson)

Chilean producer Santa Rita Estates launched their new Carmen Wave brand last summer. Using two grape varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, this wine is targeting the consumer who enjoys New Zealand wine. C&C Gleeson will be promoting Carmen Wave through all independent off licences this summer. There will be great sampling events across the country in July (keep an eye on Facebook) featuring the Carmen VW tasting bus. Carmen Wave Carmen, was also the wine one of the partner for the most popular Volvo Regatta in Chilean Dublin Bay from brands on the July 9-12. The wine Irish market. featured on the sampling van and in the bars of all three Dun Laoghaire yacht clubs, the National, the Royal St George and the Royal Irish.

national)

Gallo Family Vineyards continues to perform steadily on the Irish market, with both their volume and value sales showing an extremely healthy increase.

Their varietal range includes the increasingly popular Moscato and Pink Moscato, while their core range of lighter style wines of Summer White and Summer Rosé, as well as their comprehensive range of varietals, ensure this brand remains very much to the fore.

Gallo Family The Gallo Family Vineyards’ Vineyards success is Pink Moscato largely due to strong is gaining in in-store promotional popularity all the activity. time.

Cono Sur - Chile

(Findlater Wine & Spirit Group)

This year, the Cono Sur Blogger Challenge is back, with Canada, Chile, USA and Japan joining Ireland and Sweden in a battle for the best recipe.

The objective is to pair Cono Sur’s premium Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Single Vineyard Pinot Noir or Single Vineyard Riesling with food. The entrant with the most votes in Ireland will travel with a friend to compete in the Grand Finale held in Paris on November 13, where the overall prize is a once-ina-lifetime trip for two to the Cono Sur vineyards and winery in Chile.

Recipe entry phase 20 Barrels Pinot is from June to Noir: part of the August, with the hugely successful public voting on Cono Sur portfolio. their favourite

recipes throughout August and September. More info can be found at bloggercompetition.conosur.com

Villa Maria - New Zealand (Barry & Fitzwilliam)

Drinks International, one of the most trusted and respected global drink journals, named Villa Maria as the fourth most admired wine brand in the world, the only New Zealand winery to make the Top 10 list.

More than 200 of the world’s top masters of wine, sommeliers, educators and journalists Villa Maria have took part in the introduced brand new labelling on their range, annual poll. which will be available Villa Maria on price promotion this have also just summer. introduced brand new labelling on their range and the wines will be on price promotion this summer. They have just appointed a new head wine maker, Nick Picone, to replace Alastair Mailing MW, who has moved to Foley Family Wines. Nick, who won Young Winemaker of the Year for Australasia some years ago, has been with the company for 18 years.

Oyster Bay - New Zealand

(Delegat’s Wine Estate)

When the first vintage produced by a winery wins a gold for Best Sauvignon Blanc of the Competition at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, you can guarantee the brand is here to stay. That was in 1991, and since then this New Zealand family-owned company has routinely been recognised as one of the world’s finest and is currently in the top 30 of Drinks International’s most admired brands. Oyster Bay are currently highlighting their sparkling wine range, including Oyster Bay Brut and Oyster Bay Rosé. Tank fermented, the Brut is a Blanc de Blanc made from 100% Chardonnay and outperformed Moet & Chandon in a blind tasting challenge organised by rising wine media star Mike Bennie in Australia in 2012. The Oyster Bay Rosé is a blend of

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On The Vine: Top Wine Brands bottles of Rioja wine sold in Ireland.

The brand will be supported with a through-the-line media campaign this summer, which will include national radio and press, alongside an online digital campaign and a high profile in-store POS and visibility campaign.

Barefoot – California, USA (10 International)

Oyster Bay are currently highlighting their sparkling wine range, Oyster Bay Brut and Oyster Bay Rosé, perfect for summer.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is a must stock summer wine, as it is ideal for celebrations and has a slightly sweeter taste profile that will appeal to the younger consumer.

Campo Viejo - Spain (Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard)

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard are introducing the Campo Viejo Tapas Trail for its fourth year, allowing fans of Spanish cuisine and wine to celebrate Campo Viejo on the streets of Dublin and Cork. New for 2015, food and wine enthusiasts in Galway can also enjoy the culinary culture of Spanish tapas of the Tapas Trail as it hits the city in August for the very first time. See campoviejotapastrail.ie for more information.

From the E&J Gallo group, Barefoot is showing incredible volume and value growth in Ireland.

[yellow tail] across Ireland, including a great pricing offer with a 3+1 on all 6-bottle case SKU’s at RRP €9.99.

June saw a very successful [yellow tail] consumer experience night with Tropical Popical in Dublin’s South William Street and in-store sampling will continue around the country this summer.

Brancott Estate – New Zealand

(Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard)

Brancott Estate, the pioneering Barefoot, part of the New Zealand wine brand, are the E&J Gallo group, official sponsors of the Connaught represents the new Rugby Team. Brancott were the generation of wine first winery to brands which are plant Sauvignon more about image Blanc in the and what the wine Marlborough represents. Thanks region in 1971, to its unconventional in the process roots, Barefoot changing how performs well the world enjoys with younger wine Sauvignon Blanc. drinkers. The This summer, varietal range is watch out for fruit forward and the discounted price brand has an ecooffers across friendly philosophy, the range, with links to which includes beach life and the Sauvignon Blanc, Californian outdoor Sauvignon Gris, lifestyle. Showing Pinot Grigio and incredibly strong Pinot Noir. volume (+67.4%) as well as value growth

(+73.8%) during 2014, this is a ‘must stock’ brand.

[yellow tail] - Australia

(C&C Gleeson)

John Casella created [yellow tail] Faustino - Spain exclusively for the US market in 2001, (Richmond and since then, Marketing) the brand named Bodegas Faustino is after Australia’s a family-run estate Yellow-Footed founded in 1861. The Rock Wallaby Faustino brand, launched has created a here in 1960, is the besthuge niche for selling Rioja in Ireland, itself, becoming particularly notable the number one for its price/quality imported wine into ratio. The entry level the USA by 2003. wine, Faustino VII has In 2007, [yellow good brand recognition tail] was launched Faustino I Gran and the Gran Reserva on the Irish market.

Reserva, a ‘must Faustino I is a ‘must This summer, C&C stock’ brand for stock’. Faustino accounts the Irish wine Gleeson will be for one in every three retailer. driving a big push on

The popular and innovative Brancott Estate brand.

Dona Paula Argentina (C&C Gleeson)

Dona Paula, part of the Santa Rita stable, is the best selling Argentine wine on the Irish market. The range includes Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

C&C Gleeson will be C&C Gleeson will focusing on pricing be driving sales offers through the of [yellow tail] this independent off summer with a big trade channel this promotional push. summer.

Dona Paula: the best-selling Argentine wine in Ireland.

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Forecourt Focus: NACS Award

Top of the Pumps Topaz Retail Director, Sean Moriarty explains what winning the NACS Insight International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award means to Topaz.

WINNING the NACS Insight International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award once is pretty special. Winning it twice is the stuff of dreams, but this particular dream came true for Topaz when their forecourt at Ballacolla, Co. Laois, was named overall winner in the 2015 competition last month, following on from their Cashel site lifting the same award in 2011.

“Topaz is a relatively young brand, and winning such a prestigious award for a second time, with a totally new concept, was huge for us,” explains Sean Moriarty, Topaz Retail Director. “The competition this year was stiffer than ever before, so to compete and finish ahead of these quality stores was a big deal and a very important achievement for us.”

Redefining Retailing His words are borne out by Dan Munford, MD of Insight, who described this year’s judging process as “very challenging….Topaz is looking to redefine convenience retailing with this new format and I genuinely feel it deserves the accolade ‘next generation’. Thanks to the scale of its recent capital investments, Topaz has not simply built one stunning flagship store; they are rolling them out at considerable pace.”

“To hear that kind of feedback from the judging panel means a huge amount to us,” explains Sean, who describes the Re.Store concept in the Ballacolla store as “a completely different offer to any other forecourt”. So surely the award is a huge vote of confidence in Topaz’s new Re.Store concept?

“Ultimately, the vote of confidence in Re.Store will be

from our customers and we are getting that,” the Retail Director stresses, “but this award sees Topaz recognised worldwide as a game-changer.

Internationally, there is a huge focus on health and wellbeing, the way we eat, the way we live, and we wanted to be leaders of that change.

Re.Store is a totally different concept. Most people would probably consider the concept to be too bold but our strategy is all about being brave and driving Sean Moriarty, Topaz Retail Director. change.”

So what makes Re.Store so different?

“We are fundamentally trying to chance the perception of forecourt convenience and convenience retailing in general.

The perception of QSRs (quick service restaurants), fast food takeaways or forecourts has been that they serve cheap food that is bad for you. We want to serve premium food that is great value and is good for you. The Re.Store range includes superfoods, key protein products, products that are important in different day-parts, from morning to mid-

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Forecourt Focus: NACS Award toasted etc. We have seating for over 100 people and well over 100 car parking spaces. We have meeting rooms, conference rooms, and fast and free WiFi. We guarantee that our on-site ATM will be topped up: if, for some reason, a customer cannot get money out because there is something wrong with that machine, we give them a free coffee: again it’s all about the experience.”

When it comes to coffee, Topaz Ballacolla has really upped the ante. “We are one of the only forecourt locations to offer filter coffee, while we have also upgraded our bean-to-cup offer from our machine and we have added an in-store barista for customers who have a few extra minutes to wait and really want to treat themselves to great quality coffee. We’re very proud of our barista coffee offering, which is why it’s the first thing a customer sees when they walk into the store.” morning snacking, lunchtime, afternoon and evening. We’ve done a huge amount of research, travelling around the world to some of the finest retailers, where we have heard ‘this is what needs to happen’. We are making it happen.”

A Special Customer Experience Nowhere is this more evident than at Topaz Ballacolla, the award-winning flagbearer of the Re.Store concept. But it’s not just about the product offering or the visual appeal of the store, as the Retail Director explains, but starts from the moment a customer pulls into the forecourt.

“From the outside in, we want to make the experience special for our customers,” he notes. “We are returning to really good, old-style customer service, whether that’s topping up window washers, free oil checks or even offering air checks for tyres. There are some service stations that charge for water and air: we wouldn’t do anything like that.

We understand that fuel is something of a begrudging spend: buying €20, €50 or even €100 of fuel is not something consumers look forward to doing, so if we can enhance the customer experience, we are delighted to do so.”

When a customer walks through the doors of the Re.Store shop, they are invariably surprised by what they see. “What we are making available is very different from the offer they would normally get in a forecourt,” Sean explains. “Our range includes very convenient protein pots, ideal for customers on the move and busy dashboard diners.

We have a comprehensive sandwich range that customers can order any way they like, cut however they like, heated,

Right across the food and drink offering, the focus is on ‘fresh’. “Our philosophy is ‘open today, use today’,” Sean boasts. “We put a huge amount of time into training our staff on this philosophy and the feedback we receive from customers, both in-store and from social media, is all about our staff, how well-trained and friendly they are.”

Clear Career Path Training and retaining staff is a fundamental ingredient of how Topaz operates, with the retailer very proud of the “clear career path” within the organisation, which has seen a huge amount of its site managers come from within the Topaz family. Indeed, Sean is quick to praise the manager of Topaz Ballacolla, Gillian Coonan: “Gillian began working in Topaz as a till operator nine years ago and is now one of the top managers in our entire network and provides a training hub for the next generation of Topaz staff.”

Since winning the NACS award, Topaz have been contacted by a host of international retailers, keen to see for themselves how this Irish group are redefining forecourt retailing.

“We have had retailers from all over the world trying to book in time over the next 18 months to spend time with us and visit some of our sites,” Sean explains. “We are very proud of that and we will share what we can with these retailers because we want to be the leaders of this change.”

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Forecourt Focus: News Maxol Fuelling Festival Fever

MAXOL is embracing the Irish festival season this summer with the Day Tripper Music Festival in Waterford and Groove in Wicklow, both with incredible line-ups.

Day Tripper was the perfect festival for fans of UB40, Soul II Soul, The Darkness, Maverick Sabre or local heroes Propeller Palms, while Groove Musical Festival in Killruddery House, Co. Wicklow, played host to Christy Moore, Delorentos and Toasted Special, alongside an Enchanted Garden for younger festival goers, with games galore in a gorgeous safe environment.

“We’re very excited to be part of this great line-up of summer festivals and as part of our ‘Fuelling Your Summer’ forecourt competitions, our customers have the chance to get on Maxol’s event VIP guest list,” noted Fergal Harrington of Maxol. “Customers can find out more by visiting their local Maxol station or www.Maxol.ie. We love the family friendly nature of these festivals and with a network of 232 service stations in Ireland, Maxol is well represented in all of these towns and cities. Along with our retailers, we are delighted to be at the heart of community effort in making the festivals a success. I’m looking forward to an exciting summer of fun, music, good food, and taking pride that Maxol has played its Pictured at Maxol, Vevay Road, Bray, getting into the festival spirit part in making it happen. For me, that’s the road trips all are band, Roll the Dice, with Fergal Harrington of Maxol sorted!”

Topaz Scores at Sales Champion Awards

TOPAZ picked up two of the key awards at the Irish Sales Champion awards 2015, which took place at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin recently. Topaz Dealer Business Manager for Northern Ireland and the North East, Richard Stones lifted one of the main individual awards, Field Sales Champion (InHouse), while the Topaz Sales Team won the award for Best Implementation of Sales Technology.

“I’d like to congratulate our awards winners, Richard Stones and Sharon Butler, who accepted the award on Richard Stones, Topaz Dealer Business behalf of the Manager, Northern Ireland/North East, is sales team, for presented with the award for Field Sales Champion by Maurice Whelan, founder of bringing these Unleash Potential, one of the judges of the prestigious competition. awards to

Topaz,” enthused Topaz Network Director, Jonathan Diver. “Richard is an extremely hard working salesman who is richly deserving of this award. The same is true of our dynamic sales team and in particular Sharon Butler, who led our innovative approach to CRM. This approach and the implementation of sales technology Sharon Butler, Sales Account Manager ensures Topaz is the at Topaz, is presented with the award for industry leader in Best Implementation of Sales Technology Customer Relations by Donna O’Connor from Black Square.

Management.”

The ISC Awards, which were set up in 2011, celebrate the ingenuity and tenacity of Irish sales personnel in three key areas: sales consultants/representatives; behind the scene sales support; technology/sales tools providers.

Always FRESH MILK

and the SAME BEANS as our coffee shops

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Forecourt Focus: News Topaz Staff Raise €360k for Aware TOPAZ has concluded another exciting chapter in its charity drive, announcing a total donation of €360,000 to its charity partner Aware. Over the past three years, Topaz has exceeded its charity targets by pledging the sum to the voluntary organisation which works to provide support, education and information services to people impacted by depression.

The funding for the partnership stemmed from a number of different areas, which included forecourt fundraisers across the company’s service stations, charity fun days, corporate events, the Play or Park loyalty programme and also Aware’s national events, such as the Aware Christmas Run, which Topaz staff have partaken in over the past three years.

The total of €360,000 which has been raised over the three years has exceeded the targets set by both organisations when the partnership was first announced in 2012.

The funding has been crucial for Aware in maintaining and developing its depression and related-mood disorder support services. Aware strives to reach as many people as possible, by providing online support options as well as face-to-face options to really make a difference in the lives of people who are faced with depression.

According to Aware CEO, Dominic Layden, the support from Topaz has given the organisation great growth opportunities over the past number of years when their support to Irish communities has been needed more than ever. “Depression and mental health issues are something which face every family at some point in life,” he said.

“Working with Topaz since 2012 has been a really wonderful experience and their support has enabled Aware to reach out to families right across the country at a time when many were impacted by financial constraints, emigration and other significant life challenges. A very sincere thanks is due to everyone involved, Topaz staff and customers throughout

Pictured are Gillian McGowran, Marketing Manager of Topaz, and Dominic Layden, CEO of Aware.

Ireland, who made this partnership possible and helped to raise these funds for Aware’s work. We greatly appreciate your support for our work.”

Gillian McGowran, Marketing Manager of Topaz Energy, added: “With over 330 stores nationwide, we are at the heart of communities right across Ireland and we know the value of the vital support services that Aware provide.

Mental health and depression in particular are two very important issues in Irish society and with the great work of Aware, many lives have been changed for the better. We’re privileged to have been a supporter of their work with this partnership over the past three years, building for a better future.

“I’d also like to thank the wide network of Topaz staff, who have been hugely supportive in their efforts as part of this charity initiative and without them, we wouldn’t have been able to reach the fantastic target that we celebrate here today.”

Applegreen Seeks Planning Permission for Naas Store APPLEGREEN has applied for planning permission to open a multi-use site, close to the M7 outside Naas, Co. Kildare. If permission is granted, the new Applegreen development, which is located at a disused site which formerly housed Donnelly Mirrors and Cemex, will include a garage forecourt, central office space and a research and training facility. A decision is due on the proposed development in early August.

To find out what Costa Express can offer you contact: ROI tel: 021 500 3526 NI tel: 02892 689204

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Biscuits

Taking a Bite of the Biscuit Market The launch of East Coast Bakehouse will bring large scale mainstream biscuit manufacturing back to Ireland, and will enable retailers to create bespoke own label biscuit products for the Irish market.

LAST month’s Retail News reported on the launch of a new Irish biscuit company, East Coast Bakehouse, in Drogheda, with the creation of 100 jobs, the best news for Ireland’s food manufacturing sector in some time.

“The opportunity is crying out for a biscuit manufacturer of scale to compete with the multinationals, both here in Ireland and on an export basis, with a competitive manufacturing base,” explains Michael Carey, CEO of East Coast Bakehouse, which is the brainchild of the management team that successfully established the Jacob Fruitfield Group before it was sold in 2011 to Valeo Foods.

“Since we sold that business, we have been working on opportunities to invest in supporting small, high growth potential food businesses via The Company Of Food, which has gone well,” reveals Carey.

“But we came to the conclusion that to do something of significant scale, doing something under our own initiative and The East Coast Bakehouse management team: Daragh Monahan, Commercial driving our own start-up would really excite Director; Michael Carey, CEO; Alison Cowser Marketing and Innovation Director; James Yarr Operations Director; and Gerry Murphy, Finance Director. us.”

The “us” is the management team that includes Carey’s wife, Alison Cowzer, business since the old Jacob’s biscuit factory on Belgard Marketing & Innovation Director; Daragh Road in Tallaght closed in 2009. So why are the East Coast Monahan, Commercial Director; Gerry Murphy, Finance Bakehouse team confident that they can compete with the Director; and James Yarr, Production Director. big multinationals?

“Together we have about 60 years’ experience in the “A lot of the problems with older business and older biscuit industry, working on building biscuit brands and plants are down to the fact that they have legacy cost issues: businesses, so in terms of the category, biscuits was a very old equipment and old machinery that is not efficient,” obvious choice, because it’s one we know really well,” the Carey notes. “There is new technology that has leap-frogged CEO stresses. “We have a level of understanding that’s that offering. By its nature, to do biscuit manufacturing pretty unique and we have a track record in the area.” competitively, you have to do it at a certain scale if you want to operate in the mainstream biscuit category. We have Taking On the Big Boys successfully put together the building blocks to do just that.”

Ireland hasn’t had its own large scale biscuit manufacturing

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Biscuits “Buyers are delighted to see another player in the marketplace because it puts them in a stronger negotiating position,” Monahan notes. “For us to succeed, we need to produce better biscuits than those that are currently available in stores so that we give consumers a choice: they can purchase UK biscuits or good quality Irish biscuits. There are €3m of biscuits consumed in Ireland every week and almost every single one of those is imported.”

Delivering Improved Own Brand Ranges The company has already begun negotiations with retail groups with a view to improving their own brand ranges.

According to the Commercial Director, one of the big concerns for Irish retailers is that while they might be a big player in the domestic market, in international East Coast Bakehouse’s plant in Drogheda is a 50,000 square feet building, with terms they are not huge customers for enough space to house the massive commercial ovens needed for large scale biscuit Europe’s biscuit manufacturing plants. manufacture.

“The Irish biscuit market is worth €170m, so if an Irish retailer has 25% of that market, they might command €42.5m worth of biscuits, which seems As evidence of the potential for success, Commercial huge, but the UK market is worth €2.5 billion,” he says.

Director Daragh Monahan cites the example of chocolate “What that means is that Irish retailers can have an issue confectionery, where three Irish companies – Lir, Butlers with minimum order quantities when they are talking to and Lily O’Briens – took on the multinationals with statelarge scale biscuit manufacturers in Holland, Germany or of-the-art equipment and innovative products and now have the UK.” a combined turnover of more than €100m, most of which is The result, according to Monahan, is that large scale exported to the UK. producers don’t make a smaller, unique run for Irish East Coast Bakehouse is funded to the tune of €15m, retailers. This is where East Coast Bakehouse can really including significant investment from the management excel. “We want retailers to come to our bakehouse, to our team, as well as independent financial backers and support innovation centre and we want to work with them around cofrom Enterprise Ireland. Already, they have secured the creating products that are unique to that retailer,” Monahan premises for their bakehouse: a 50,000 square feet building, says, highlighting the success in the UK market of a similar with enough space for the massive commercial ovens. The collaboration between Fox’s Biscuits and Marks & Spencer. rest of this summer will be spent kitting out the newly The team are aware, however, that while the goodwill is renovated Drogheda plant, and East Coast Bakehouse plan there, they need to deliver on their promises to succeed. to be in production for early 2016. But what will they be “Talking to retailers, we are now down to the nuts baking? and bolts of what we can produce, where the added value “There are lots of Irish artisan food producers across is coming from and where we are at on price,” Monahan all categories making really great quality products but on a explains. “It is not going to be a simple case of opening the small scale. We are trying to combine that love of food with factory and having every retailer in our back pocket: For a a manufacturing facility that allows us to compete on an retailer to make a decision to switch supplier, we have to efficient scale and allows us to compete in the mainstream,” give them a compelling reason to do that.”

Carey notes.

“We believe that there has been re-engineering of Support From Irish Retailers biscuits over the last number of years, to the point that Michael Carey sums up the work ahead: “We want there is a sameness about the biscuit types that are meaningful, serious engagement with retail customers to available at the moment,” Monahan reveals. “We want to develop an alternative option of supply, working with them add value as opposed to opening up a state-of-the-art biscuit on innovative products. We also want to meet the need of manufacturing facility that is simply a race to the bottom.

Irish consumers for an authentic Irish biscuit brand that’s We are about quality and innovation.” different, that is based on a real understanding of the Irish biscuit consumer and using all the strengths that Ireland Mainstream Biscuit Products has as a food producer. We’re not fooling ourselves about East Coast Bakehouse will be concentrating on producing how difficult it is but we truly believe it is possible to develop “mainstream products in mainstream packaging formats, a significant new brand in the ambient food sector. like standard roll-wrap and biscuits in trays, both stacked “We have a track record, a belief and a trust in ourselves and horizontal,” according to Monahan. These products will that we work really well together and we know how to centre around cookies, ginger nut, digestives and oaties type optimise this opportunity we have. But this is just the biscuits. Options include plain, half-coated and fully-coated. starting point. We haven’t produced one packet of biscuits.

They are targeting the private label market, both We have done all the right things but this will come to here and abroad, and also plan to introduce East Coast nothing if we don’t get an appropriate level of support from Bakehouse branded product to supermarket shelves, in Irish retailers and Irish consumers. We have a massive task order to take a significant bite of Ireland’s €170m biscuit ahead, taking on some of the largest food companies in the sector. Support to date from the retail trade has been hugely world. But that’s the exciting part.” encouraging.

52|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards

Shortlist Announced for Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Judges were impressed by the incredibly high standard of entries for this year’s Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, as the shortlist is announced.

FOLLOWING a huge wave of almost 1,000 product entries and three weeks of tough judging at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology, the shortlisted products for the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have been announced.

Over 350 shortlisted food and drink products in 85 categories are now in with a chance to win one of the prestigious awards in a glittering ceremony hosted by Irish celebrity chef and proprietor of restaurant L’Ecrivain, Derry Clarke, on September 16 at the Round Room, Mansion House, in Dublin.

Small Producer of the Year Award Shortlisted products for the prestigious Small Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by Tesco Ireland, will be announced soon.

In addition to the award, Tesco Ireland will provide the winner with a prize of €2,500 and a place on the next Tesco Taste Bud supplier development programme, run in partnership with Bord Bia. The winning small producer will receive mentoring from the Taste Bud team and participate in a seven-month programme of workshops, helping the company to secure, grow and maintain a listing with Tesco.

The awards were open to all food and drink retailers, producers and manufacturers across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

These prestigious accolades, now in their third year, set out to recognise excellence in food and drink product development from a wide variety of companies across Ireland.

The event is repeating last year’s trade-media partnership with Retail News magazine, and consumermedia partnership with Easy Food magazine.

The awards themselves are organised into two distinct sections: Quality Food Awards, products for the multiple and independent grocery retail market, and Quality Drink

Awards, alcoholic drinks for the retail sector.

Incredibly High Standard Organised by Metropolis Business Media, Group Events Judges blind-tasted almost 1,000 products Manager across three weeks at DIT’s School of Lara Newton Culinary Arts. comments, “We have been blown away with the incredibly high standard of entries this year. It has been a difficult job for our teams of expert judges but we are very proud of the shortlist.

We know how powerful winning an award can be for our entrants and we are delighted for all our finalists. As former winners can testify, picking up an Irish Quality Food and Drink Award is a powerful marketing tool, with many winners using the awards’ logos on their packaging and in national press, television and outdoor advertising.”

Headline sponsor for the awards is innovative packaging company Graphic Packaging International.

The awards are also sponsored by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, who played an important role during the stringent judging process of the ‘Free From’ categories, Dairymaid and Invest Northern Ireland.

A selection of shortlisted and winning products will be showcased at the Food & Hospitality Ireland exhibition on September 17 in Citywest Events Centre, Dublin.

Full details about the awards are available at irish.qualityfoodawards.com. Make sure you stay up to date with the latest news and competitions via the IQFA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ IrishQualityFoodAwards and on Twitter @IrishQFAs.

Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie|53

Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Shortlist 2015 IRISH QUALITY FOOD AWARDS BAGGED SNACKS • • • • • •

Aldi Passions Hand Cooked Cheddar & Onion Crisps Aldi Passions Hand Cooked Lightly Salted Crisps Golden Popcorn Cinema Style Sweet Popcorn O’Donnells Mature Irish Cheese & Red Onion Crisps SuperValu Signature Tastes Chilli & Pepper Crisps Tesco Salt and Pepper Cashew Nuts

BISCUITS – SAVOURY •

• •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Italian Olive Breadsticks Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Multi Seed Rye Crackers Tesco Sesame and Poppy Seed Biscuits

BISCUITS – SWEET •

• •

Aryzta Food Solutions Otis Spunkmeyer Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie Lidl Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies Tesco Finest Quadruple Chocolate Cookie

BREAD - LARGE LOAVES • • •

Aryzta AG White Sourdough Loaf Dunnes Stores ABC Omega Loaf Dunnes Stores Breakfast Loaf

BREAD - MORNING GOODS • •

•

Aldi Stores Crumpets Aryzta Bakeries Iconic Savoury Feta & Caramelised Red Onion Scone Tesco Apple Square

BREAD - SMALL BREAD ROLLS • • •

Aryzta AG Demi Baguette Lidl Connell Bakery White Baps Panelto Foods Seeded Roll

BREAD - SPECIALITY BREADS • • •

Tesco Finest Roasted Hazelnut and Sultana Loaf Tesco Finest Trio of Olives Pave The Rye One With The Fresh Cranberries - That Bread

BREAD - WHEATEN AND SODA BREADS • • •

Aldi Stores Buttermilk Soda SuperValu Brown Soda Quarter SuperValu Sean’s Brown Par-Baked

CAKES AND MORNING GOODS LARGE CAKES •

•

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Belgian Chocolate Brownie Layer Cake SuperValu Signature Tastes

Belgian Chocolate Birthday Cake

• •

CAKES AND MORNING GOODS SMALL CAKES • • •

Aryzta Bakeries Mini Carrot Loaf Cake Lidl Connell Bakery Buttermilk Pancakes Lidl Connell Bakery Mini Pancakes

CEREALS •

• •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Handmade Red Berry Granola Cashew, Almond and Cinnamon Granola - Maria Lucia Bakes Cranberry, Coconut and Chia Seed Granola - Maria Lucia Bakes

CEREALS - PORRIDGE • • •

Aldi Stores Instant Oat Sachets Aldi Stores Organic Porridge Lidl Deluxe Organic Wafer Oats

•

Lidl Handmade Irish Chocolate Selection Lidl Irish Cream Liqueur Truffles The Dessert Menu - Butlers Chocolates

CHRISTMAS Q - CHILLED • •

•

•

Dunnes Stores Brandy Cream Dunnes Stores Handcut Christmas Citrus Fruit with Spiced Syrup Dunnes Stores Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Whiskey Cream with Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Lidl Deluxe Irish Whiskey Cream

CHRISTMAS Q - FISH •

•

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Fresh Salmon Side with Lemon, Lime & Pepper Dunnes Stores Simply Better Oak & Hickory Smoked Salmon Gift Pack SuperValu Signature Tastes Smoked Salmon Mousse Tesco Finest Scottish Gravadlax

CHEESE - HARD

•

•

CHRISTMAS Q - GROCERY AMBIENT

•

•

• • • • •

Aldi Stores Extra Mature White Cheddar Aldi Stores Vintage White Cheddar Dunnes Stores Simply Better 30 Month Matured Parmigiano Reggiano Dunnes Stores Simply Better Cave Aged Gruyere Dunnes Stores Simply Better Vintage Irish Cheddar Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Extra Mature Cheddar Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Vintage Cheddar SPAR Select Irish Vintage Cheddar

CHEESE - SOFT •

• • • •

Bluebell Falls Goats Cheese with Honey, Garlic & Thyme Bluebell Falls Dunnes Stores Simply Better French Brie de Meaux Lidl Deluxe Mature Tipperary Cheese Lidl Deluxe Irish Brie SPAR Select Goats Cheese

CHEESE - SPECIALITY • • • •

Aldi Stores Irish Buffalo Mozarella Dunnes Stores Gubbeen Dunnes Stores Simply Better Comté SPAR Select Wensleydale Cranberry

CHOCOLATE AND CONFECTIONERY • • •

Desserts Collection - Lily O’Brien’s Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish All Butter Vanilla Fudge Elizabeth Shaw Orange Flutes Flanagan’s Foods

• • •

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Ham Glaze Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Cranberry Sauce Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Orange & Honey Ham Glaze The Scullery Cranberry Sauce The Scullery

COLD BEVERAGES - JUICES • • •

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Smooth Orange Juice Dunnes Stores Simply Better Freshly Pressed Apple Juice Orange & Beet Leaf Raw Juice - Loose & Lively Beverages Ltd. T/A McCormack Family Farms Tesco Finest Orange Juice

COLD BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS • • • •

• •

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Strawberry & Rhubarb Presse CocoPassion - CocoMojo CocoSoul - CocoMojo Grace Aloe Refresh Aloe Vera Drink, Original - Flanagan’s Foods Lidl Deluxe Sparkling Summer Fruit Pressé Naturally Cordial Orange & Cranberry Cordial - Naturally Cordial SuperValu Signature Tastes Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade

DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS BUTTERS AND SPREADS •

•

• •

Dairy Manor Irish Creamery Salted Butter - Town of Monaghan Co-Op Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Churned Roast Garlic & Peppercorn Irish Butter Golden Cow Butter - Kerry Foods SuperValu and Centra Unsalted Butter

CHRISTMAS Q - MEAT

DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS YOGURTS

•

•

•

•

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Cooked Spiced Beef Joint Dunnes Stores Simply Better Stuffed Fresh Irish Turkey Breast Joint SPAR Select Butter Basted Turkey Joint with Cranberry, Sage & Onion Stuffing Tesco Ham with Mulling Spices

CHRISTMAS Q - SWEET • •

•

•

•

•

•

Dunnes Stores Christmas Chocolate Pudding Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Churned Spiced Cranberry, Brandy & Port Irish Butter Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Decorated Irish All Butter Christmas Cake Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Raspberry Sherry Trifle Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish All Butter Rum & Raisin Fudge Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Handmade All Butter Mini Mince Pies Tesco Finest Mulled Wine Pudding

•

•

•

•

•

Aldi Stores Clandeboye Estate Greek Style Yogurt Aldi Stores Specially Selected Irish Farmhouse Lemon Curd Yogurt Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Wexford Rhubarb Farmhouse Yogurt Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Made Lemon & Lime Curd Yogurt Madagascan Vanilla Greek Style Yogurt - Clandeboye Estate Yogurt SPAR Select Madagascan Vanilla Yogurt

DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS EGGS • • •

6 Large Free Range Eggs Cavanagh Free Range Eggs O’Egg Liquid Whole Egg Clonarn Clover O’Egg Pasteurised Egg Whites Clonarn Clover

DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS MILK • •

Aldi Stores Buttermilk Lidl Morning Fresh Fresh Irish Protein Milk

54|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards DELICATESSEN – ANTIPASTI • • • • •

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Roasted Red Pepper Dip Aldi Stores Specially Selected Sweet Chilli Dip Aldi Stores The Deli Sour Cream Dip Dunnes Stores Tzatziki Tesco Finest Butterbean & Roast Garlic Houmous

DELICATESSEN CONTINENTAL MEATS • • • • •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Parma Ham Lidl Glensallagh Selection Irish Silverside Pastrami Lidl Glensallagh Selection Irish Silverside Spiced Beef SPAR Select Parma Ham Slices Tesco Continental Selection Platter

DELICATESSEN - OTHER DELI COUNTER PRODUCTS •

•

• •

•

•

Carroll’s Handcrafted Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper Ham - Carroll Cuisine Dunnes Stores Simply Better Traditional Glazed & Bakes Irish Ham Fire and Smoke Fire Grilled Sweet BBQ Ham - Kerry Foods Horgan’s Honey Baked Bone-in Ham - Horgan’s Delicatessen Supplies Molloy Brothers Honey Baked Carved Topside Ham - Jack & Keith Molloy Bros SuperValu Wiltshire Cured Irish Ham on the Bone

DESSERTS AND PUDDINGS • • • • • •

Lemon Cheesecake - Lidl / Prestige Foods Homemade Sticky Toffee Pudding - What’s for Pudding?

Lidl Deluxe 4 Pack Shot Glass Chocolate Dessert SuperValu Signature Tastes Irish Cream Liqueur Roulade SuperValu Signature Tastes Sherry Trifle Ruffled Raspberry Cheesecake A Slice of Heaven

FISH - FRESH FISH •

• •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Agean Sea Whole Sea Bass with Chilli & Lime Irish Hand Churned Butter Lidl Inismara Hake Fillet with Bombay Curry Sauce Lidl Whole Salmon Fillet with Dill & Lemon

FISH - FRESH FISH DISHES • •

• • •

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Salmon Sensation Kilmore Quay Seafood Sausages - Kilmore Quay Fine Foods Lidl Deluxe Seafood Chowder Lidl Salmon Sensation Tesco Meals Made Easy Fish Pie

FISH - FROZEN •

•

SuperValu Irish Hake with Ginger, Chilli and Lime Marinade Tesco Breaded Haddock Fillets

FISH - SMOKED •

•

•

•

Burren Smoked Irish Organic Hot Smoked Salmon Marinated with Honey, Lemon & Dill Burren Smokehouse Dunnes Stores Simply Better Oak Smoked Organic Irish Salmon with Honey & Dill SuperValu Signature Tastes 100% Applewood Smoked Salmon Tesco Hot Smoked Salmon with Lemon

FOOD TO GO • •

• • •

Dunnes Stores Fresh Lift Juice Lidl Meadow Fresh Grab & Go Chicken Basil Tomato Pasta Salad Lidl Meadow Fresh Grab & Go Ham Egg & Coleslaw Salad Lidl Meadow Fresh Selection Quinoa Tesco Finest Lentil & Cous Cous Salad

FROZEN FOOD– SWEET •

•

•

FRUIT - UN PREPARED • • •

• • •

•

•

•

•

• •

• •

FREE FROM – CHILLED •

•

• • •

Aldi Stores Tasty... Tomato & Basil Soup Gluten Free Clonakilty Ispini Sausages - Clonakilty Food Co. Mallons Low Fat Gluten Free Sausages - Arthur Mallon Foods Ready to Drink Wheatgrass Shot - Squeeze Wheatgrass SuperValu Lactose Milk

FREE FROM – SAVOURY • • • •

Bacon Jam - O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co. Kari Tropical - Spice Devils SuperValu Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Goujons SuperValu Gluten Free Porridge Oats

FREE FROM - SWEET • • • • • • •

Aldi Stores Gluten Free Apple Tart Caramel Square - New Found Joy Aldi Stores Gluten Free Granola Orange and Almond Cake Wildberry Bakery Rocky Road - New Found Joy Sugar Free Marmalade Spread Crossogue Preserves Tesco Free From Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Belgian Chocolate Sauce G’s Gourmet Preserves Raspberry Jam - G’s Gourmet Jams Lemon Curd - Crossogue Preserves Lidl Kilderg Organic Honey Lidl Kilderg Pure Canadian Medium Maple Syrup

HOME BAKING • •

•

Beef Dripping - James Whelan Butchers Bombay Pantry Butter Masala Sauce - Bombay Pantry Dunnes Stores Simply Better Organic Garlic & Herb Seasoning The Scullery Cucumber Pickle The Scullery

•

• •

Aldi Stores Pizza Dough Dunnes Stores Considered Café Lemon Syrup Dunnes Stores Considered Café Rose Syrup SuperValu Signature Tastes Luxury Fruit Mix Tesco Finest Baking Chocolate Plain 85%

MEAT - BACON • • •

• •

Aldi Stores Dry Cured Back Rashers Beechwood Smoked Clonakilty Dry Cure Rashers Clonakilty Food Co. Dunnes Stores Simply Better Dry Cured Whiskey Smoked Irish Rashers SuperValu Supreme Cherrywood Smoked Rashers Tesco Finest Irish Canadian Maple Rashers

MEAT - BEEF •

• •

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Sirloin Joint with Atlantic Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Aldi Stores Specially Selected Sirloin Roulade Dunnes Stores Simply Better 28 Day Matured Irish Angus Wing Rib Roast Lidl Inisvale Selection Irish Hereford Lean Diced Beef Steak

Tesco Irish Carvery Rib Roast

MEAT - BEEF STEAKS • • • •

Aldi Stores 30 Day Dry Aged Rib Eye Steaks Aldi Stores Specially Selected Angus Fillet Steak SuperValu Rib Cowboy Steak Tesco Finest 2 Irish Angus Fillet Steaks

MEAT - BURGERS AND MEATBALLS •

•

•

•

• •

GROCERY AMBIENT – SWEET

FREE FROM - BAKED GOODS

Aldi Stores Gluten Free Multigrain Loaf Aldi Stores Gluten Free White Loaf Aldi Stores Gluten Free Wholegrain Rolls Lidl Just Free Multigrain Gluten Free Loaf

Dunnes Stores Irish Apple Tray SuperValu Signature Tastes ClemenGold SuperValu Signature Tastes Gold Kiwi Tray

GROCERY AMBIENT – SAVOURY

•

•

Goodfella’s Sweet Fella’s Chocolate Brownie - Green Isle Foods Honeycomb Ice Cream - Augusta Shore T/A Happy Days Artisan Ice Cream Roll It Sweet Shortcrust Pastry Roll It Pastry

Dunnes Stores Simply Better 2 Irish Angus Rump Steak Burgers Dunnes Stores Simply Better 4 Irish Angus Quarter Pounder Steak Burgers Dunnes Stores Simply Better Connemara Hill Fresh Irish Lamb Burgers Lidl Inisvale Selection Irish Hereford Cheddar & Onion Beef Burgers Lidl Italiamo Italian Meatballs with Arabiata Sauce SuperValu Signature Tastes Flavoured Burger

MEAT - GAME •

• • •

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Irish Boned Whole Stuffed Duck with an Orange Glaze Lidl Deluxe Duck Breast with Garlic & Pepper Lidl Deluxe Fresh Irish Crispy Roast Half Duck Wild Irish Venison Steak - Wild Irish Game

MEAT - INNOVATION • • •

Cured Pork Belly - James Whelan Butchers Dry Cure Rack of Bacon - James Whelan Butchers SuperValu Citrus and Garlic Pork Steak

MEAT - LAMB •

•

•

•

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Premium Lamb Rack with a Rosemary and Garlic Crumb Dunnes Stores Simply Better Connemara Hill Fresh Irish Rack of Lamb Dunnes Stores Simply Better Connemara Hill Fresh Irish Rump of Lamb Lidl Deluxe Irish Stuffed Lamb Leg

MEAT - PORK • • • •

Lidl Glensallagh Eye Loin Joint Applewood Smoked Lidl Irish Pork Loin Joint with Sea Salt & Black Pepper Lidl Stuffed Irish Pork Loin Joint Tesco Pork with Gingerbread Stuffing

MEAT - POULTRY •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Fresh Irish Corn Fed Chicken Supremes

Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie|55

Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards • •

Moy Park Good Kitchen Roast in the Bag - Moy Park Spar Hot & Spicy Chicken Kebabs

MEAT - PUDDINGS • •

• • • •

Black Pudding - James Whelan Butchers Clonakilty Black Pudding Natural Ring - Clonakilty Food Co. Clonakilty Whitepudding Clonakilty Food Co. Meeres Square Black Pudding Meeres Pork Products Meeres Square White Pudding Meeres Pork Products Rudd’s Black & White Roulade - Rudd’s

•

SALAD - UN PREPARED • • •

•

• • •

Aldi Stores Premium Handtied Sausages Dunnes Simply Better 6 Superior Spring Onion & Cracked Black Pepper Irish Pork Sausages Rudd’s Butcher Style Sausages - Rudd’s Superquinn Pork Sausages ABP Cahir Tesco Finest Traditional Irish Pork Sausages

PASTA AND RICE • •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Italian Egg Pasta Penne Dunnes Stores Simply Better Italian Egg Tagliatelle

QUICHES, PIES AND PASTIES •

•

•

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Goats Cheese & Caramelised Red Onion Quiche Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Ham & Smoked Cheddar Quiche Lidl Chef Select Single Serve Premium Beef & Stout Pie

READY MEALS • • • • • •

Aldi Stores Bacon Meal Cool Beans Hot Chilli Flavour Cool Bean Company Cool Beans Smokey Paprika Flavour - Cool Bean Company SPAR Chicken Karahi SuperValu Signature Tastes Lamb Tagine Tesco Finest Chicken Korma With Pilau Rice

READY TO COOK MEALS •

•

Aldi The Secret Chef Stuffed Chicken Breast Wrapped in Prosciutto SuperValu Signature Tastes Tuscan Inspired Marinated Irish Chicken Topped with Pancetta and Butter Beans

SALAD - PREPARED • • •

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Mediterranean Salad Bowl Aldi Stores Specially Selected Summer Green Salad Bowl Lidl Meadow Fresh Mixed Bean & Mint Salads

Dunnes Stores Irish Grown Suntini Tomatoes Dunnes Stores Irish Piccolo Tomato SuperValu Signature Tastes Irish Piccolo Cherry Vine Tomato

SAUCES AND SALAD DRESSINGS - AMBIENT • • •

MEAT - SAUSAGES •

SuperValu Signature Tastes Seasonal Leaf & Walnut Salad

• •

Chilli Willi Marinade - Down Sauce Co. Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Sweet Chilli Sauce Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Made Honey & Mustard Dressing SuperValu Signature Tastes Ketchup Tesco Finest Balsamic Dressing

SAUCES AND SALAD DRESSINGS - AMBIENT • •

Aldi Stores The Deli Red Pesto Lidl Meadow Fresh Basil Pesto

SEASONAL OCCASIONS • • •

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish All Butter Hot Cross Buns Dunnes Stores Halloween Fruit Brack SuperValu Irish Turkey Breast Roast With Apple, Apricot & Ginger Stuffing

SIDE DISHES •

•

•

• • •

Aldi Stores Specially Selected Smoked Bacon & Buttered Leek Stuffing Aldi Stores Specially Selected Cranberry, Apricot & Orange Stuffing Dunnes Stores Simply Better Cranberry, Clementine & Apricot Stuffing Lidl Heat Eat & Enjoy Creamy Potato Gratin Mr. Crumb Sage & Onion Stuffing - Mr. Crumb Potato Croquettes - James Whelan Butchers

SOUPS • • •

TEA • • •

BWG Spicy Mexican Bean Soup Lidl Deluxe Sri Lankan Chicken Soup Tesco Finest Vine Ripened Tomato and Lentil Soup

• •

• •

Aldi Stores Premium Gold Tea Bags Organic Green Tea Chai Solaris Tea Tesco Finest Tea

Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Cheese & Onion Crisps Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Porridge Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam

Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Wheat Biscuits Musgrave Retail Partners Daily Basics Basmati Rice Tesco Everyday Value Midget Gems

VALUE Q - CHILLED • • •

•

•

Aldi Stores Creme Fraiche Aldi Stores Sour Cream Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Irish Creamery Butter Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Irish Mature Red Cheddar Tesco Everyday Value French Brie

VALUE Q - FROZEN • •

•

Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites 3 Margherita Pizzas Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites 4 Irish Beef Quarter Pounders Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Chicken Curry

VEGETABLES - PREPARED • • •

Lidl Meadow Fresh Beetroot & Carrot Milgro Crispy Onions - Milgro SuperValu Bolognaise Kit

VEGETABLES - UN PREPARED • •

Foxton Potatoes - Glens of Antrim Potatoes Russet Potatoes - Glens of Antrim Potatoes

IRISH QUALITY DRINK AWARDS BEERS & ALES • • • • •

Aldi Stores O’Shea’s Irish Stout Black Lightening - 9 White Deer Brewery Kenmare Porter - Cremin & Radley Drinks Maggies Leap - Whitewater Brewing Co Tesco Revisionist Dark IPA

CIDERS • • • • •

VALUE Q - AMBIENT •

•

•

Aldi Stores Cullens Pear Cider Kilmegan Irish Farmhouse Cider - Kilmegan Cider Kilmegan Irish Farmhouse Cider - Kilmegan Cider Long Meadow Medium Cider Long Meadow Cider Mac Ivors Traditional Dry Cider - Mac Ivors Tempted? Strawberry Cider dj’s juice and cider

LAGERS • • • •

Aldi Stores Breysers Kenmare Gluten Free Lager Cremin & Radley Drinks Tesco Premium Lager The Crafty Brewing Company Irish Lager - Rye River Brewing Co

LIQUEURS AND SPECIALITY SPIRITS • • • • • •

•

Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur Quintessential Brands Lidl Dundalgan Irish Country Cream Lidl Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur Muldoon Irish Whiskey Liqueur - Blackwater Irish Spirits Tesco Irish Country Cream The Dubliner Honeycomb & Caramel - Quintessential Brands The Wild Geese Irish Honey Liqueur - Avalon Group Inc. c/o Protege International

RED WINES • • • •

Aldi Stores Chateauneuf du Pape Musgrave Retail Partners Aresti Family Collective Musgrave Retail Partners Inrigo Negroamarto Musgrave Retail Partners Underwood Pinot

SPARKLING WINES • •

• • •

Longways Elderflower Frizzante - Longways Cider Co. Musgrave Retail Partners Charles Mignon Grand Cru Champagne Musgrave Retail Partners Lunetta Prosecco Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne Tesco Finest Vintage Cava

SPIRITS • • • • • •

•

Tesco Dark Rum Tesco Everyday Value Gin Tesco Imperial Vodka Tesco Napoleon Brandy Tesco V.S. Cognac The Exiles Irish Gin - Avalon Group Inc. c/o Protege International Untamed Irish Vodka - Avalon Group Inc. c/o Protege International

WHISKIES • •

•

Aldi Stores Clontarf 10 Year Old The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Niche Drinks The Quiet Man Blended Irish Whiskey - Niche Drinks

WHITE WINES - UNDER 110

• •

Aldi Stores Sancerre Tesco Finest Garnacha

WHITE WINES - OVER 110 •

• • •

Musgrave Retail Partners Aresti Trisquel Leyday Sauvignon Blanc Musgrave Retail Partners Kings Ridge Reisling Musgrave Retail Partners Kings Ridge Pinot Gris Tesco Finest Sancerre

56|Retail News|July / August 2015|www.retailnews.ie

Event Management: Planning

Event Horizon

From press conferences to seminars, organising a corporate event is all about planning.

THE old adage, ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ is certainly true of event management. The key to running a successful event, be it a product launch, a sales meeting, a breakfast seminar, full-day conference or a multi-day event, is planning it properly. While organising an event for your company or brand may be a labour of love, it also has to achieve its aims, which can be anything from getting the right people to hear about your latest brand news to ensuring your event makes a profit.

Every event has its own personality. You need to remember that event attendees will remember the education, keynote speakers, and new friends much more than the food or the dĂŠcor in the meeting room, so prioritise getting these aspects right. If you put your focus on education, you must then trust the venue staff, suppliers and volunteers to do their jobs.

Before you even begin to organise your event, you should set out very clearly its objectives, whether it is a morale or team-building exercise, a means of generating positive press coverage for your brand or organisation, a think-thank to formulate new strategy etc.

If your organisation is of sufficient size, you should consider creating a conference committee, with perhaps two sub-groups: one to focus on location, catering etc and the other for content.

You must clearly define your target audience. Once you understand who you are aiming at, the other major decisions should fall into place a lot easier in terms of location, budget, format and even content.

You then need to work out the best way to achieve your objectives, concentrating on your target audience and how best to reach them. Identify the USP (unique selling point) of your event and make it your key message in any advertising/ marketing.

When it comes to content, you need to ensure that every aspect of your event is relevant to more than 80% of the audience. Ideally, your attendees should leave with real tactics to improve their business and their career trajectory.

Setting the Budget Setting your budget is vital, and the good news is that event costs are down considerably since before the recession hit, so it is possible to get good value for money. However, you still need to decide on your budget and create a simple to follow format, such as a spreadsheet, a Dropbox folder or a shared Google doc, which you must keep up to date and review regularly and all decisions must be documented in writing.

Even before you book your venue or sign any contracts, it may be worth signing sponsors first or selling tickets in advance, to make sure there is enough interest in your idea to fund it.

You should carry out a cost analysis, allocating costs to different tasks, such as speaker fees, refreshments, venue hire etc. Most event planners also set aside 10% of the budget for emergencies or last-minute charges. Larger organisations will probably establish a planning team, reporting to a project manager at regular meetings. You need to make sure that all members of the planning team know

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Event Management: Planning ensure they have passes or parking permits in advance of the event. You must also check accessibility and parking for wheelchair users, disabled or infirm attendees.

You should make it as easy as possible for delegates to sign up for your event: offering discounts for early registration can pay off.

exactly what is expected of them and that they aren’t afraid to double-check, rather than guessing.

The Right Venue When it comes to choosing a venue, you should put together a list of ‘must haves’ and remember to research a number of venues, checking availability, seating and catering capacity, prices, parking etc. You should always check if there are any other events taking place on the same day, particularly those which might impact on your target audience.

When it comes to inspecting potential venues, one good tip is to show up early for scheduled site inspection and interact with staff as if you were a guest, while not being afraid to ask difficult questions.

This will give you a good idea if the venue meets your standards for potential guests.

As important as your venue, however, is the timing of your event, which depends on the type of event you are running. Is it better suited to the day or evening? Should it take place during the week or at a weekend? Weigh up the pro’s and con’s of each. Make sure to check that your event doesn’t overlap with any religious holidays and it’s also best to avoid scheduling during major sporting events.

Guest Speakers If you are organising guest speakers or entertainers, contact them as early as possible to secure their services. You also need to ensure that your venue of choice can accommodate their needs, and if you need a licence, ensure you have all paperwork in order. You need to make sure that any speakers or performers have a clear itinerary and that they know exactly what is expected of them, at what time and for how long.

You should also ensure that all bookings, whether with keynote speakers or caterers, are confirmed in writing and where possible, ensure that the final balance payment is made on the day at the venue. What could be more frustrating than having a key ingredient of your event fail to show up on the day, despite having been paid in advance?

Be Flexible Once you become embroiled in the nitty gritty of event planning, don’t be surprised if your event changes in terms of size, location or in other ways that you didn’t expect.

Flexibility is a good thing, once you remain focused on the reason you are holding the event in the first place and keep sight of your goals.

One person should be in charge on the day. This person

When it comes to choosing a venue, you should put together a list of

Marketing Your Event ‘must haves’ and remember to research a number of venues, checking availability, seating and catering capacity, prices, parking etc.

Create a marketing plan which examines all advertising/marketing and potential sponsorship opportunities. Be sure to tell your target market what they is the point of contact for all staff on-site, from caterers to will learn, who they will meet and why they should be there, speakers, and they obviously need to be extremely organised, even if it seems obvious to you. Marketing is key to ensuring unflappable and able to stage-manage the day. If that person the most important part of an event: bums on seats. is you, you need to be ready for when things go wrong. Not Social media like Twitter and Facebook can really every event runs without a hitch, but you need to be able to help promote your events and establish a sense of online cope and move on. You should also seek out feedback from community around the event, with Twitter hashtags, in delegates and be prepared for bad as well as good. particular, a very effective way of doing this.

Sometimes, simple planning can make all the difference You should also make it as easy as possible for delegates to a successful event. For example, empty tables in front of to sign up. Online registration is a must in terms of the stage at a conference or, worse still, a banquet aren’t the securing attendees as early as possible, while old-fashioned best image to portray to a keynote speaker. To ensure the registration methods will put many potential attendees off. tables or seats at the front fill up, you should put ‘reserved’ Offering discounts for early registration is another incentive signs on the last two rows of tables/seats, thereby forcing that may pay off. people to look closer to the front. Once those front seats are When it comes to catering, you should seek referrals filled, you than remove the ‘reserved’ signs and watch your from previous clients, and if possible, attend a tasting. You event fill up. should also establish any special diet menus, such as Coeliac It all comes back to planning properly, looking at what options etc. needs to be done, predicting potential pitfalls and being able If you are organising parking for delegates, you need to to react if something goes awry.

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Event Management: Hotel Solutions

Stress-Free Solutions

Michelle Thornton, MD, Hotel Solutions, explains how her company takes the stress out of organising an event.

WITH the recent upturn in the economy, Hotel Solutions is seeing a huge increase in business, as companies are beginning to invest more in motivating their team.

From late spring to early summer, many of our clients have two main events which we organise on their behalf.

The first is a corporate/family fun/staff BBQ or team building event and the latter is normally their annual conference, which usually takes place when everyone has had a break and down-time from the work environment.

Hosting a conference in the last quarter of the year ensures a company’s targets are kept on track in producing increased growth.

Most of our clients feel the return of the corporate and family fun day is something to be welcomed, as they see the benefits of motivating staff by showing gratitude for all their hard work.

The upturn in general economic fortunes, although still at an early stage, has meant that our clients are keen to dip their toes back into the conference auxiliaries, such as entertainment and the team building area. This is evident from the increase in spend on conference sets and more elaborate audio visual equipment, as well as budgeting for the use of well known MC’s and comedians.

A recent high profile corporate family fun day which we event manage saw Hotel Solutions organising: face painting, balloon modelling, ice cream vans, crockery, cutlery, picnic benches, entertainment, electrical generators, outdoor catering and every other conceivable piece of equipment necessary to cover all aspects of the day.

Careful Co-Ordination The team at Hotel Solutions really enjoy running these events, which need careful coordination between many suppliers. This is something we excel at, as we have gained invaluable experience throughout the years, thus allowing our clients to engage with their team, relax, have fun and enjoy their day.

When planning an event, all you need to do is approach us with a general outline of what you are considering and we will present you with options fully priced, so that you can decide what type of event is most suitable to your requirements. Hotel Solutions’ knowledge of venues/hotels and locations throughout Ireland leaves us very well placed to provide a memorable event for you, regardless of where you are based.

Choosing the Right Venue Hotel Solutions provides a free venue finding service to all our clients and also a complete onsite event management

service if required, for which we charge a fee.

A company’s annual conference is probably the most important event of the year, bringing together staff and, often, customers under one roof, so having a well informed knowledge of hotels, venues and their service standards means Hotel Solutions can provide unrivalled advice on your venue requirements.

Once a date is secured and a particular location chosen for Michelle Thornton, Managing your event, we then Director, Hotel Solutions. set about securing the right venue at the right budget for all aspects of your event, from bedrooms, breakout rooms and all food and beverage requirements. Our knowledge of contracts/attrition policies is invaluable and allows us to negotiate the best terms for our clients.

Throughout the years, our circle of clients has grown significantly, as word of our services reaches new ears and those thinking of organising an event, no matter how big or small, have discovered it is as simple as calling or emailing our office with an outline of what you need. Our existing clients are our greatest ambassadors.

Working with Hotel Solutions for your event ensures that it will run seamlessly on the day, as we have the expertise and attention to detail to achieve the outcome you require within your budget, removing stress from you.

For the team at Hotel Solutions, our main focus is on “you” and making sure that from beginning to end, nothing has been overlooked or omitted and that we have met or preferably exceeded your expectations.

It is worth considering our free venue finding service, as this does not cost you anything: with our position and buying power in the hotel sector, we can secure preferred dates and locations where a direct call to the hotel or venue might not yield the same outcome for you. Hotel Solutions are here to help and assist you however we can: to set things in motion, simply call us on (01) 6309211 or email info@hotel-solutions.ie.

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Event Management: Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport

Carlton Hotel Dublin

Airport Makes Meeting Easy IDEALLY located overlooking Dublin Airport, the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport is the perfect base for business travellers and for hosting events. With its strategic location, the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport is less than five minutes to Dublin Airport; a five-minute drive from the M1/M50 Motorways; 20 minutes to Dublin City and just 90 minutes from Belfast.

With a variety of facilities catering for up to 250 banqueting guests or 380 seminar delegates across a variety of different meeting room types, Carlton Dublin Airport offers free car parking all day for anyone attending a meeting or event.

Whatever the occasion, your event is in the safe hands of their Conferencing Team, with their meticulous attention to detail and consistent high standard of service.

As standard, all meeting rooms are equipped with the following:

• • • • • •

Natural daylight; Unlimited FREE high-speed wireless broadband internet; Free Car Parking for all delegates; Flip charts; LCD Projector & Screen; Air conditioned rooms;

• •

• • • •

Freshly chilled mineral water & mints; Meeting rooms are available in both free and fixed seating: set-ups are based on clients’ requirements; Excellent access to City Centre, Dublin Airport, M1 & M50 Motorways; Plentiful power points in all conference areas; Suitable exhibition space; Pads, pens and stationery supplied.

The hotels also offers a complementary 24-Hour Shuttle Bus to/ from the airport.

Meeting room prices start from €120 for a full day.

Please contact (01) 866 7500 or email meetings@carlton. ie to get your next meeting off to the right start and quote Retail News when enquiring to avail of 20% off Meeting Room Hire for the month of August 2015.

Kinetica Re-Boots RTD MILKPROTEIN Range Irish nutritional brand Kinetica Sports has re-launched its MILKPROTEIN range of high protein ready-todrink (RTD) shakes with a striking new eyecatching design.

The ultimate setting for a sumptuous meal S H A R E I N T I M AT E M O M E N T S I N S T Y L E

T: (01) 6406363 E: RESTAURANT@CHCC.IE WWW.CASTLEKNOCKHOTEL.COM

The redesigned packaging instantly highlights the brand’s natural credentials and clearly conveys Kinetica’s core protein message.

Meeting nutritional needs while balancing a hectic lifestyle can be difficult but Kinetica’s MILKPROTEIN range of Strawberry, Banana and Vanilla Caramel flavoured RTD shakes offers consumers a convenient and tasty way to consume high-quality protein when on the go. Each bottle contains 27g of milk protein, with natural flavours and zero fat.

As healthy convenience continues to be an important driver of sales in the grocery retail channel and 51% of Irish consumer purchase some form of protein enhanced food, snack or beverage (Empathy Research), smaller format products which deliver in terms of taste, affordability and efficacy are gaining more and more shelf-space. Currently available in SuperValu, Applegreen, Topaz, Esso, SPAR, EUROSPAR, MACE, Londis, Costcutter and selected stores, Kinetica’s convenience products are providing retailers with a strong Irish brand which delivers the highest quality protein in a convenient PET 330ML format.

For more information, email: orders@richmondmarketing.com.

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Recycling

WEEE Ireland Hits Big Landmark WEEE Ireland has announced impressive figures for electric and battery recycling over the last decade.

WEEE Ireland have announced their milestone figures for electric and battery recycling over the past 10 years. Since 2005, WEEE Ireland have increased the WEEE take-back rate in their collection areas to over 50% of household WEEE. This means the scheme has already surpassed the 2016 EU target (45%) on behalf of its members.

However, with continuously increasing EU targets designed to encourage us all to recycle more, the challenge remains for Ireland to hit a 65% collection for recycling level by 2019.

Ireland is a superb student when it comes to electronic recycling and has graduated with honours from the first decade of WEEE recycling as one of the top WEEE recyclers in Europe. Since the creation of WEEE Ireland in 2005, the compliance scheme has managed to divert over 250,000 tonnes of electrical waste from landfill, the equivalent of 50,000 truckloads.

This was made up of over 75m waste electrical items including old TVs, dishwashers, kettles and toasters, DVD players, electrical toys, tools and more, meaning on average every Irish household recycled 70 items in that 10-year period. This included 3m monitors and screens.

Environmental Benefits WEEE recycling has, of course, significant environmental benefits: • The WEEE recycling processes ensure heavy metals, chemicals and other potential environmental hazards are captured and managed in an environmentally responsible way; • Recycling electrical waste and batteries recovers resources for use again in manufacturing – part of a new drive toward circular rather than wasteful economical models in Europe; • The correct recycling of fridge freezers by WEEE Ireland has also seen 90,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent diverted from entering the atmosphere over the past 10 years; Currently WEEE Ireland is collecting for recycling 50% of the weight of new electrical items sold in Ireland by retailers.

However, this means up to 50% may not be disposed of correctly at its end of life.

One in four people are unfortunately still hoarding WEEE at home or putting it in the rubbish bin, despite the opportunity to dispose of this electrical waste for free at over 5,000 collection points all over Ireland.

Battery Life WEEE Ireland have also put a large emphasis on the takeback of waste batteries, which has been hugely successful,

with over 2,300 tonnes of portable batteries collected in the last decade, the equivalent of over 125m AA batteries. The campaigns have seen the take-back rate for waste batteries go from 3% in 2007 to 33% in 2014 and the target for 2016 is now set at 45%.

A central partnership in achieving such a large take-back rate from waste batteries has been WEEE Ireland’s relationship with Laura Lynn. This has seen over €185,000 raised for the charity since 2011, encouraging more and more people to ‘Recycle for Good’ with the scheme.

Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, has hailed the huge progress they have made in 10 years; “The landscape of electrical recycling in Ireland has completely changed since WEEE Ireland was established by the producers of electrical appliances in 2005. We have all moved from putting WEEE and waste batteries into our rubbish bins to automatically taking back for recycling to retailers or Local Authority recycling centres or weekend collection events.

“As a country, we have been outstanding in reaching our WEEE EU recycling targets to date. We thank all of the stakeholders involved in the system since 2005 but in particular the people at home for recycling with our scheme.

However, the bar is continually being raised to encourage us to recycle more waste and recover resources and we need to continue to get more communities and people involved and thinking about how we manage our electrical waste. It has never been easier to recycle WEEE for free with Local Authority recycling centres, thousands of retail collection points and local collection events all over Ireland. We have been a Europe leader in this area and we want to lead the way in achieving 65% take-back rates in the coming years.”

For more information on WEEE Ireland, see www.weeeireland.ie.

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Drinks News Gallo Spritz-ing Up the Wine Market GALLO Family Vineyards have announced the launch of Spritz, a completely new taste experience that combines the sophistication of wine, with a burst of natural fruit flavours. Inspired by the sun-drenched fruits of California, Spritz is perfect for those who like the idea of wine, but love fruity tastes and want something more informal; perfect for spontaneous get-togethers with friends. Bursting with vibrant fruity notes, there are two to choose from: Gallo Family Vineyards Spritz Pineapple & Passionfruit and Gallo Family Vineyards Spritz Raspberry & Lime.

The Pineapple & Passionfruit flavour is a tropical take on consumers’ favourite Gallo Pinot Grigio. Gently spritzed and blended with the aromatics of luscious pineapple and passion fruit, the result is refreshing and tasty. Benefitting from California’s balmy days and breezy nights, the delicately sweet profile of Gallo Grenache Rosé has been gently spritzed and complemented by zesty lime and crisp raspberry to create Gallo Family Vineyards Spritz Raspberry & Lime.

Both flavours are best served chilled or over ice, have an RRP of €7 and are available nationwide now. For further information contact: Philip Lynch at Philip.lynch@ejgallo or call (086) 8100789.

TOP ACCOLADE FOR C&C GLEESON C&C Gleeson has expanded its wine portfolio, becoming the exclusive distributor of Accolade Wines and wine fusions in the Republic of Ireland since July 1, 2015.

Accolade Wines is one of the world’s leading providers of New World premium, commercial and value wines. Speaking about the new addition to its portfolio, Conal Cassidy, Head of Wine at C&C Gleeson said, “Accolade Wines create a wide range of fantastic wines that are prized the world over, including Hardy’s, Echo Falls, Banrock Station, Kumala, Mondavi, Ravenswood and Mud House. With an outstanding reputation and established global footprint, Accolade Wines greatly strengthens C&C Gleeson’s New World portfolio, making it a welcome addition to our business. In terms of growing the C&C Gleeson wine business, acquiring exclusive distribution rights to Accolade Wines presents us with a strong platform from which to offer customers across the Republic of Ireland, an extended collection of some of the most popular wine brands, not only in Ireland, but globally.”

IRISH WHISKEY A GO-GO

THE Celtic Whiskey Shop has announced that the 2015 Irish Whiskey Awards and Whiskey Live Dublin 2015 will take place this October. The two events will see the best of Irish and international whiskeys come to Dublin in a celebration of diversity and quality in one of the country’s fastest growing industries. This year’s Irish Whiskey Awards will take place in the new state of the art Teeling Distillery, Newmarket, Dublin 8, on October 15. Now in their third year, the awards span a total of 20 categories; two more than last year as the Irish Whiskey Awards expands further to include categories for Irish Gin and Irish Vodka (www.celticwhiskeyshop. com/2015-Irish-Whiskey-Awards). Meanwhile, Whiskey Live Dublin returns for the fifth time on October 24 in the new city centre location of The Printworks in Dublin Castle. The festival is an international celebration that brings together an eclectic range of whiskeys from around the world, along with great food and a range of entertaining whiskey master classes to make learning about whiskey fun (www.whiskylive.com/ireland).

Guinness Storehouse Shortlisted for European Award THE Guinness Storehouse has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Europe’s leading tourist attraction’ category in the prestigious World Travel Awards. Hailed as ‘the Oscars of the travel industry,’ the Guinness Storehouse is Ireland’s first attraction to be shortlisted for the award. Now in its 22nd year, the World Travel Awards are widely acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade. “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised on the same stage as some of Europe’s most iconic visitor attractions,” noted Paul Carty, Managing Director, Guinness Storehouse (pictured).

“Previous winners of the award include the Eiffel Tower and the Acropolis, and it is an honour to stand with them on the shortlist for these prestigious awards.” To vote for the Guinness Storehouse as Europe’s leading tourist attraction in the World Travel Awards, visit http://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote-for-guinnessstorehouse-2015.

1

The No. ilk Brand M Flavoured ory* teg in the Ca

Order Now! Contact your Glanbia rep to add Mooju to your next order *AC Nielsen Scantrack 52 w/e 19th April 2015 (Total Scantrack: Multiples, Groups & Forecourts)

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Drinks News CONO SUR LAUNCHES SUMMER CAMPAIGN CONO SUR has launched its summer campaign in style with a new national advertising campaign, Tour de Picnic festival sponsorship, a new Facebook app, and more. Now back for its seventh annual instalment, the 2015 Tour de Picnic charity cycle is promising to be bigger and better than ever. Cono Sur are once again on board to support the event with a donation to help directly offset the event costs, ensuring as much money as possible goes directly to this year’s worthy charities: The ISPCC (Childline), Special Olympics Ireland and The Irish Youth Foundation. The brand is also launching a new nationwide TV, digital and outdoor advertising campaign in July ’15. The Cono Sur Bicicleta range is a tribute to their workers, who cycle around the vineyards every day in order to protect the land they work on. Cono Sur is exclusively distributed by Findlater Wine & Spirit Group.

FRENCH REGION MAKES UNESCO LIST THE Climats of the Bourgogne winegrowing region has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Welcoming the decision, the Bourgogne Wine Board feel that the decision “recognises the commitment of an entire region and an entire industry, inspired by the will of one of its most respected winemakers, Aubert de Villaine. It also recognises the Outstanding Universal Value of our vineyards, shaped through 2,000 years of history, and which produce wines that are recognised for their qualities around the world.”

B&F BEAMING AFTER AWARD WIN BARRY & Fitzwilliam were awarded the Challenger Award for Building Winning Markets at the recent Beam Suntory International Conference held in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This was in recognition of outstanding achievements and for exemplifying the spirit of Beam Suntory. Michael Barry, Managing Director of Barry & Fitzwilliam, described the win as “a fantastic endorsement of the efforts of our sales and marketing team who, despite the very tough prevailing market conditions, outperformed the market significantly with both the Kilbeggan and Jim Beam brands.” Pictured at the Awards Ceremony in Dubrovnik are Michael Barry, MD, Barry & Fitzwilliam, along with Kevin O’Mahony, Trade Marketing Manager, Barry & Fitzwilliam, and the Beam Suntory International team.

IT’S A FOREIGN AFFAIR O’HARA’S Irish Craft Beers, part of the Carlow Brewing Company, has collaborated with Virginia, USA-based Starr Hill Brewery to produce the limited edition, Foreign Affair Red IPA. Master brewers Robbie O’Cain (of Starr Hill) and Conor Donoghue (of Carlow Brewing Company) agreed on a collaborative Red IPA brew, using malt from Ireland and hops from the USA. The result is a beer with massive amounts of flavour from liberal uses of speciality malt and Falconer’s Flight hops. O’Hara’s limited edition Foreign Affair is available to purchase nationwide from leading independent off-licences and retailers, RRP €3.25.

SHORTCROSS GIN LISTED AT DUBLIN AIRPORT SHORTCROSS Gin, the Northern Irish boutique distillery, has been listed at The Loop retail outlet at Dublin International Airport. Northern Ireland’s only craft gin is now on sale at The Loop stores in both Terminal One and Terminal Two at Dublin Airport, which are Ireland’s busiest, especially in terms of US visitors. Shortcross Gin is the first spirit to be launched by Rademon Estate Distillery. Founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong, Rademon Estate Distillery is located at the couple’s historic family estate just outside Crossgar in County Down.

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Market News TUCK INTO IRELAND’S NEW SNACK! BRAND new snack, Tuckatoos, developed by the snack experts at Robert Roberts, is arriving in shops nationwide. Tuckatoos is a fun new savoury snack brand with a difference. Each pack of Tuckatoos contains two different shapes and two different flavours, all in one bag! Proudly made in Ireland, Tuckatoos is launching with two delicious taste combos: Sausage and Rasher, and Southern Fried Chicken and Fries. Tuckatoos was developed following extensive consumer research into Irish consumer attitudes to the savoury snack category, and to celebrate the launch, Tuckatoos will be taking to the streets this summer with a nationwide roadshow named ‘Tuckatoos Studio’, looking for Ireland’s next double act. For more information, see www.tuckatoos.ie.

SMOOTH PERFORMANCE BY GV THE gV Smooth brand, launched by John Player in Ireland in March 2014, includes a 9g Combi Box with papers and tips, a 12.5g Pouch with papers and a 25g Pouch with papers. The gV Smooth 9g Combi Box has so far been the hero of the range with 244,080 packs sold into the trade since its launch in December 2014 (Source: JP Sales to Trade – To Date). Priced at only €4, it is the cheapest combi box currently available in the Irish market, which means that retailers can offer adult consumers real value for their money, while retailers get a very appealing trade margin of 10% and cash margin of €0.33 per pack sold. To order gV Smooth products, call John Player Trade Sales on (01) 2434900 or visit www.johnplayer.ie.

TRULY IRISH SUCCESS STORY TRULY Irish Country Foods has secured a listing in 60 Tesco Ireland stores for Truly Irish Creamery Butter. Truly Irish already supplies Tesco stores with a range of premium pork products. Truly Irish Butter is a natural product produced by traditional churning. Traditional small batch production ensures the butter is a natural source of calcium, protein & nutrients and free from artificial colourings, flavourings and additives. “The launch of our Truly Irish Butter product was a natural progression for the company as some of our farmer shareholders are also dairy & beef producers,” noted Mike McAuliffe, CEO of Truly Irish. “We hope to expand our range over time, while standing by our motto to ‘absolutely refuse to compromise quality for profit’.”

SURE RE-LAUNCHES PORTFOLIO SURE is set to re-launch its entire portfolio to include a new visual identity which communicates the brand’s patented Motionsense technology. The activity will be supported with a substantial MMS marketing investment, including two TV campaigns, OOH, Digital, PR, and social. This re-fresh sees a complete packaging overhaul across the range as the female packs rolled out in May, with the male variants set to follow in September. Featured in all Sure core variants for men and women, Motionsense’s breakthrough microcapsules sit on the surface of the skin and respond to movement, with every move causing the capsules to burst, releasing immediate freshness and offering consumers outstanding protection throughout the day. The more you move, the more Sure protects.

BELVEDERE NAMED VODKA PRODUCER OF THE YEAR BELVEDERE Vodka has been awarded Vodka Producer of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge 2015 (ISC), one of the world’s largest, oldest and most respected blind-taste spirits competitions. In addition to celebrating this exceptional award, introduced this year by the ISC, Belvedere was honoured with one trophy and four gold medals across different categories, acknowledging its unrivalled taste, quality and character. Belvedere Unfiltered was awarded with a trophy and a gold medal, acknowledged for its naturally rich and full bodied taste. Belvedere Intense, Pink Grapefruit and Lemon Tea were rewarded with three additional gold medals in their own categories.

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Shelf Life VALEO Foods has announced that it has invested over €1m in upgrading the Odlums milling facility in Portarlington, Co. Laois, and in expanding and modernising the Odlums brand. The investment represents a major upgrade to the manufacturing operations of Ireland’s last remaining commercial mill, which will provide greater flexibility to produce a broader range of products as Odlums looks to increase its share of the popular home baking category, estimated to be worth approximately €124m per year in Ireland. The increase in production will facilitate anticipated growth in demand as Valeo Foods begins exporting the Odlums brand internationally and is the latest phase in a significant investment programme across Valeo Foods’ Irish production facilities, involving a total investment in excess of €10m to date. Pictured are Oliver Sutherland, Chief Commercial Officer, Valeo Foods, with fifth generation miller, Nigel Odlum, Operations Director, Odlums.

THE Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund Western Region’s annual golf tournament will take place in Galway Bay Golf Resort on Wednesday, September 2. Set on 300 acres and designed by former Ryder Cup and World Cup legend, Christy O’Connor Jnr, the course superbly blends the stunning backdrop of Galway Bay and the rugged curves of the Atlantic Coastline and is a true challenge for all handicap golfers. All teams will be teeing off simultaneously for the ‘shotgun’ start at 12 noon. A team of four for the Stableford competition will cost €400, which includes golf, goodie bag, halfway refreshments and full dinner at the presentation of prizes after the play is finished. Other methods of sponsorship include Tee boxes and Greens at €150. The event is also an excellent opportunity to be associated with the IGBF, which gives so much back to the families of grocers that have fallen on hard times. For more information, contact Brian MacNeill, Commercial Re-order Manager, Musgrave Marketplace, Tuam Road, Galway. Tel: (091) 786615, (086) 2830620 or email brianmc2@musgrave.ie.

NORTHERN Irish bacon and ham specialist J.H. Givan has secured its first export business in the Republic of Ireland. Based in Belfast, Givan has been supplying cooked hams and bacon to retailers and foodservice operations in Northern Ireland for over 50 years and is now supplying products to a convenience food manufacturer in Dublin.

“This immensely encouraging business in the Irish Republic was facilitated by one of Invest NI’s food sector marketing advisers and is now making a significant contribution to our turnover,” noted David Givan, director.

APPLE Pay is live in the UK since mid-July, allowing users of Apple’s iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch to make safe, secure and convenient payments at over 250,000 shops in the UK that accept contactless payments and payments within apps using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. Consumers add a credit or debit card to Apple Pay, so that the Apple device then works exactly like a real card.

Unfortunately, there is no date set for a roll-out of the service in Ireland.

CONSUMER and corporate PR consultancy, Walsh: PR is pleased to announce the appointment of Roseanne Regan as Senior Account Executive. Galway native Roseanne joined Walsh: PR from RGDATA, where she was Communications and Public Affairs Manager. Prior to that she worked as a Client Executive and interned for a number of Dublin PR agencies. Roseanne will work across the portfolio, with a particular emphasis on developing communications solutions for clients in the retail, food and lifestyle sectors across both online and offline media platforms.

FOLLOWING the management buyout earlier this year, Carroll Cuisine’s appetitive for growth has really taken root and the brand has teamed up with Renault Tullamore and invested heavily in the expansion of their van fleet. This new fully branded fleet of vans will allow Carroll’s greater flexibility and presence on the roads when coordinating their Business Development Team nationwide. “This recent investment in the new Renault van fleet is really proof of the drive to grow and succeed in business that has been re-ignited in Carroll’s since the management buyout,” said John Comerford, Chief Operations Officer, Carroll Cuisine. “There are exciting times ahead for Carroll’s with new product ranges in the pipeline, new ideas and an ever growing pool of highly skilled employees in our plant here in Tullamore.”

THE International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) presented its new report on “The socioeconomic contribution of European Shopping Centres” at a thoughtprovoking panel discussion by industry leaders hosted in London recently. Panellists David Atkins, CEO of Hammerson Plc, Heino Vink, COO of Multi Corporation, Peter Wilhelm, CEO of Wilhelm & Co. and Peter Todd, Executive Director at Resolution Property, discussed the different elements that make the retail real estate sector the backbone of the European economy, as well as the importance of offering sustainable retail models, the different regulations for Sunday trading in Europe and the future of high street retail. The Report reveals that there are 4.2m shopping centre-related jobs in Europe, with the retail industry as a whole accounting for 1 out of every 11 jobs, with above average female participation and youth employment rates. Approximately €48.7 billion was invested in retail assets across 26 European countries in 2014, of which €20.6 billion was invested specifically in shopping centres.

PAYZONE Ireland Limited (Payzone) has reported a drop in sales from €194.8m to €170.9m for the 12 month period ended September 30, 2014 in accounts recently filed with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). Operating profit, before exceptional items, was €3.3m, compared to €1.4m in the previous year. “2014 was another good year for Payzone Ireland, largely driven by ongoing expansion of services provided across the Payzone network,” commented Jim Deignan, Managing Director, Payzone Ireland. “We also introduced a number of new services that make consumers’ lives easier, such as Parcel Connect that allows customers to send, collect and return online goods via their local Payzone branded store. Our balance sheet at the year-end demonstrates Payzone’s strong financial position and ability to invest in future growth as we move and transition ourselves to become a multi-service, multichannel player providing electronic payment services across retail, mobile and online.”

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NEW

SURE MOTIONSENSE™ PROTECTION TO KEEP YOU MOVING

· New visual identity which communicates the brand’s patented Motionsense™ technology, which is exclusive to Unilever. · Supported with a substantial MMS marketing investment, including two TV campaigns, OOH, Digital, PR, and Social.