Retail News June 2016

JUNE 2016

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Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie|3

Contents To Hell With OverRegulation!

THE news that the Government is proposing to introduce a tax on sugarsweetened drinks should come as no surprise to anyone in Ireland. It’s not that such a tax will make significant inroads in tackling our obesity problem, but the move is sure to generate headlines and allow Ministers to wax lyrical about how they are taking on big corporations in a move to improve Ireland’s health.

A sugar tax would simply be another case of over-regulation by our Nanny State, rather than actually getting to the heart of the problem and dealing with public health in a balanced and systematic way. That’s the view of one of the country’s leading nutritionists, Mike Gibney, Professor of Health and Food at University College Dublin (Page 4), who calls for a multi-disciplinary approach in the fight against obesity.

Ireland’s retailers are prepared to fight over-regulation, with CSNA Chief Executive, Vincent Jennings, vowing to oppose vehemently any plans by the Government to push forward with legislation restricting the visibility of alcohol in stores and the proposed introduction of a new licencing regime for tobacco retailing (Page 4).

Elsewhere in this issue, Musgrave CEO, Chris Martin discusses Musgrave becoming the first food retailer in Ireland to be awarded Origin Green accreditation, its wider sustainability agenda, the company’s 2015 results and its plans to celebrate its 140th anniversary this year (Page 16).

While the Irish grocery market continues to grow, not all store categories are reaping the rewards, warns Matt Clark, Commercial Director – Ireland, Nielsen (Page 32).

Kathleen Belton, Editorial & Marketing Director.

News 4

Sugar tax branded regressive by expert nutritionist; CSNA chief rails against overregulation.

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EU calls for fairer food supply chain.

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AIB to launch pilot in-store bank at SuperValu Lucan; BIM launch Seafood Sector Awards.

Applegreen wins NACS Convenience Retailer of the Year Award; Aldi to donate over 500k meals to charity; RGDATA advice column.

Grocery spend continues to rise; Repak report strong recycling rates.

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Retail News Interview 16

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Musgrave CEO, Chris Martin, explains how the company became the first food retailer to achieve Bord Bia Origin Green accreditation and its many major international awards.

Half of Ireland’s best loved brands are homegrown favourites, according to the latest Kantar Worldpanel Brand Footprint.

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update 22

IGBF Midsummer Ball 48

Challenges remain for retail recovery; Proposed traffic management measures at College Green.

Two football legends were special guests at the IGBF Midsummer Ball, whose theme was Ireland’s Greatest Soccer Moments.

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 24

Judging is about to get under way for the fourth annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards.

Shop Profile 26

Gala’s special support for Special Olympics Area Games; Objections to Alcohol Bill.

Positive employment outlook for wholesale/ retail sector; New insights into c-store shoppers.

risen for the fourth consecutive quarter, but not all store categories are feeling the boost, according to Matt Clark, Commercial Director – Ireland, Nielsen.

Kantar Brand Footprint

Louis Byrne’s latest Spar shop in Tralee, Co. Kerry, effectively took a high street shop and moved it to a forecourt location, with store-wide sales up as a result.

CSNA Anniversary Dinner 28

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The amount Irish consumers spend on FMCG items has

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The June bank holiday weekend saw a record attendance at Bloom, with nearly 115,000 people visiting the 70-acre site.

58 Every €1 spent in print advertising returns up to €39 for the retail industry, according to the results of a new study by Independent News & Media.

The race is on to name Ireland’s BIM Young Fishmonger 2017.

Grocery Market Overview

Bloom 2016

Newspaper Research

Highlights from the CSNA 28th Anniversary Dinner, where the focus was on the vibrancy of the newsagency and convenience sector.

BIM Young Fishmonger 2017

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Forecourt Focus: News 68

Festival fever at Maxol; Top Oil opens new service stations; Bringing Moreish home; Applegreen report positive start to 2016; Acquisition of three Esso sites cleared by CCPC.

REGULARS & REPORTS

facebook.com/RetailNews1 Managing Director: Patrick Aylward Editorial & Sales 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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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.

12 Industry News 35 Breakfast 38 Waste Management 44 Pet Care 50 Retail Technology 59 What’s New 60 Drinks News 61 Dairy 70 Shelf Life

4|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

News

Sugar Tax Branded Regres THE Irish government's plan to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks has been described as regressive by a leading nutritionist.

Mike Gibney, a Professor of Health and Food at University College Dublin (UCD), has described the soft drinks industry as an easy target in the fight against obesity.

However, there is no direct evidence linking any one particular food or drink to the epidemic, he told Retail News.

“Half the adult population don't consume sugarsweetened beverages and they are certainly overweight,” he revealed. “It's very hard to say that any one food causes it, let alone sugar-sweetened beverages. The sugar contained in sugar-sweetened beverages is just part of overall sugar intake. In Ireland, overall sugar intake from cakes, buns and confectionery, table sugar, etc., is higher than for beverages.

Sugar comes from a wide range of sources.”

Over the last 20 years, the overall level intake of sugar in people's diets has remained constant, according to the nutritionist, who described single issue solutions on diet and obesity as a waste of time. “This has got to be a multi-faceted and a multi-level approach, and it has to be long term,” he insisted. “Quick fixes may make activists and politicians happy, but they won't solve the problem. At the moment, the emphasis is on top-down regulation: ban or restrict. We need a more bottom-up approach: encouragement of overweight people to lose weight.”

The new government's Programme for Partnership, proposes a new tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. According to a government spokesperson, the Department of Health “is currently finalising the Obesity Policy, which includes a range of measures to tackle overweight and obesity in adults

and children. The issue of a sugar levy is under consideration as part of this work.” The levy refers specifically to sugar-sweetened drinks, confirmed the spokesperson.

As Director of the Irish Beverage Council (IBC), the Ibec group that represents manufacturers and distributors of soft drinks, bottled water and fruit juices in Ireland, Kevin McPartlan is directly in the firing line.

He too criticised the government's decision to adopt a single issue solution: “Where it's not the governments fault, not the parent's fault, not the consumer's fault, it's the fault of soft drinks. The reality is, you need to consume the right number of calories for the energy you expend. Soft drinks is such a tiny fraction of the number of calories consumed, it's not going to make a dramatic difference.”

Nutritionists such as Gibney, however, feel like lone voices in this debate: “I'm never invited into the Department of Health to discuss this with them because I have contrary views to them,” he said. “The same holds true to all the professors of nutrition on the island of Ireland.”

For a number of decades, scientists believed saturated fat was the main cause of obesity. In recent years, however, sugar has been blamed for overweight consumers. In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that adults and children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to below 5%. According to Public Health England’s 2015 report, children and adults typically get between 12% and 15% of their energy from the ingredient. Action on Sugar, a UK lobby group, has described sugar as “the new tobacco”.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has introduced a sugar levy in his restaurants and the UK government is introducing a tax on soft drinks, announced in this year's budget, which is estimated to generate £520m (€686m) in revenue.

CSNA Chief Rails Against Over-Regulation CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, Vincent Jennings has vowed that the organisation will “oppose vehemently” any plans by the government to push forward with legislation that will affect retailers’ ability to conduct their business, primarily in restriction on the visibility of alcohol in our stores and also their intention to introduce a licencing regime for tobacco retailing.

Speaking at the Association’s AGM in Clontarf Castle, Dublin, Jennings noted how “Governments do not create jobs; that is what businesses do, but they can create the climate that allows for the creation and sustaining of employment.”

In a wide-ranging speech, the CEO acknowledged the establishment of the Retail Consultation Forum and some of the measures from Budget 2016 as positives, including small changes to Employer and self-employed PRSI, as well as amendments to interchange fees for credit and debit cards.

He outlined some of the achievements of the CSNA,

including the “significant momentum” gained in trying to persuade the Department of Energy and Natural Resources to re-consider the PSO levy, their energy saving measures via affinity partners, GET Solutions, Vincent Jennings, CEO, and the launch of a CSNA/ CSNA. Payzone collaboration on cashless payment solutions.

Jennings admitted that “the future of our members is much brighter than in previous years”, but warned that retailers “need to be ever-vigilant against increasing costs, particularly in those areas that are State driven and monopolistic, but it should be acknowledged that although we are still in a fragile place, the economy is allowing for some of the surplus to find its way into our tills, benefiting local employment and services.”

Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie|5

News

s sive by Expert Nutritionist Before Budget 2016, then Health Minister, Leo Varadkar TD, called for a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks, although this was not imposed in October. Each of the main political parties (Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Labour) have since put forward proposals on a sugar tax. Health advocates, such as the Royal College of Mike Gibney, Professor of Health and Physicians, have called Food at UCD. for an increase in price of sugary drinks.

However, Gibney has described the attack on sugar as a popular fad that is travelling the world with scant evidence to back it up.

“Fashions come and go in food and wellbeing,” he said.

“At the moment, it's fashionable to bash carbohydrates and sugar. That doesn't mean it's scientifically correct. Obesity is caused by an excess caloric intake over caloric output: that's it. You can get fat on wine, beer, you can get fat on fine dining. You can get fat on anything, or a mixture of all of them.”

In recent years, the soft drinks industry has attempted to reduce the amount of sugar in its products through reformulation and the introduction of products that are low in sugar or contain no sugar. According to IBC, the beverage industry has reduced sugar in their products by approximately 10% between 2005 and 2012. In a recent interview, Jon Woods, Coca Cola’s General Manager in the UK and Ireland, said that Coke has launched almost 30 new or reformulated drinks, each with a low or no-sugar alternative, since 2005.

“There have been significant cuts in the amount of sugar consumed in Ireland over a number of years, yet obesity has continued to increase in that time,” said McPartlan. “Around 50% of soft drinks now sold in Ireland are low and lowcalorie.” Soft drinks are already levied in the form of VAT, so Kevin McPartlan, Director of the Irish the government's plan Beverage Council. is effectively a double taxation, he added.

According to an industry insider, there is pressure on the new government to announce the tax in the October budget with a commencement date of January 1, 2017. However, relevant departments have yet to consult with the industry about details.

McPartlan believes the tax is an experiment, and a prelude to levying duties on other sugary products. “It's the thin end of the wedge,” he argued. “If it's soft drinks in 2016/2017, what will be next? The government has dropped the USC - they have to find ways of filling the gap financially. There is an attitude that a tax on soft drinks will stop kids putting on weight, while ignoring the evidence.

It's an emotive response. Once this is established with soft drinks, what will be next? Who decides? What evidence are they going to base this on, or will it be another whim?”

Gibney called for a multi-disciplinary approach in the fight against obesity. “If you don't have a wide strategy, you're wasting your time,” he said. “No single issue is going to solve this. This is far too complicated.”

Ever Seen a Fat Fox? Human Obesity Explored, a book

by Mike Gibney, is available now at www.ucdpress.ie.

EU Calls for Fairer Food Supply Chain MEPs have vited called for the introduction of EU framework legislation to tackle Unfair Trading Practices in the Food Supply Chain in order to ensure that European farmers and consumers have the opportunity to benefit from fair selling and buying conditions.

“Unfair trading practices, such as delaying payments, overcharging and underpaying its suppliers, are an unwelcome reality in the food supply chain,” said Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament. “They damage producers and ultimately reduce consumer choice. They also impact negatively on the sustainability of our food supply chain. The European Parliament voted in favour of an Internal Market report and a call for an EU-wide framework legislation to tackle this issue. This vote is significant in sending a strong signal to the European Commission calling for greater action, and is a warning to those who engage in unfair trading practices that their actions will not be tolerated.”

Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament.

6|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

News

AIB to Launch Pilot In-store Bank at SuperValu Lucan AIB have announced plans to pilot an in-store banking outlet at SuperValu Lucan, Co. Dublin. Scheduled to open in July, the pilot outlet will offer SuperValu and AIB customers the convenience of doing their grocery shopping and banking at one location.

In addition to SuperValu’s grocery offer, customers will be able to avail of extended bank opening hours, a staffed advisory and sales service, and quick banking facilities such as ATMs, cash and cheque lodgement machines.

The aim of the initiative is to establish how an in-store banking outlet can benefit their respective customers. SuperValu Lucan was chosen because it is located in a high density, high footfall area.

“Our research has shown that partnerships between leading supermarkets and banks can be

very successful,” said AIB Managing Director of Retail, Corporate and Business Banking, Robert Mulhall.

“This concept is well proven over the past 20 years in the US, UK and Australia. This initiative complements our existing branch network, which we have been expanding since 2015 and we are delighted to partner with leading Irish-owned grocery retailer SuperValu on this pilot.”

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, added: “We look forward to exploring this trial with AIB in our Lucan store, which allows us to tailor our offer to suit the local communities we serve.”

AIB will have a full team of banking professionals in the new banking outlet offering financial services and advice to both personal and business customers seven days a week.

AIB Managing Director of Retail, Corporate and Business Banking, Robert Mulhall.

BIM Launch Seafood Sector Awards BORD Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the seafood development agency, announced the inaugural BIM Seafood Sector Awards. The BIM Awards will seek to find the finest fishermen, fish farmers, processors and retailers in Ireland’s renowned seafood sector.

The Awards opened for entrants recently and the winners will be announced at a gala evening on November 17 in the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Announcing the call for entries Tara McCarthy, BIM’s CEO said; “The Irish seafood sector is comprised of some of the most interesting, innovative and driven people in business life. BIM are delighted to create an occasion to celebrate, highlight and promote the excellent people and enterprises working in this sector. I would urge as many people as possible to apply and help us acknowledge the truly exceptional work undertaken in this vibrant industry.”

The award categories are designed to focus on BIM’s four key strategic priorities for the development of the Irish seafood sector, namely skills, sustainability, innovation and competitiveness.

Recognising the importance of upskilling and developing a career path in the sector; BIM will name the Student of the Year as well as the Young Fishmonger 2017. The

sustainability umbrella will host the Responsible Fisherman of the Year, Aquaculture Social and Environmental Award and the Green Processor Award. Celebrating Innovation across the Industry will include the Best New Fishing Practice Award, Innovation in Aquaculture Award and the Innovation in Seafood Processing Award. Finally, our seafood leaders and entrepreneurs will be recognised for their competitive edge with the Fishing Enterprise of the Year, Aquaculture Enterprise of the Year and Seafood Entrepreneur/ Enterprise of the Year.

All details on the Awards are available on the BIM website, www.bim.ie/our-services/industryawards-2016/ or by contacting your local BIM officer. The closing date for entries is Friday, September 16, 2016.

Meanwhile, the value of Irish aquaculture is up by 20% to €150m, according to the latest figures from BIM, released at the annual Irish Shellfish Association Conference in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, recently. Data from the BIM Annual Aquaculture Survey showed that 2015 saw a strong recovery in fish and shellfish farming production, with the industry increasing in value by €34m to a first point of sale value of almost €150m. Overall production volumes showed a strong recovery, increasing by over 25% to 40,140 tonnes, with employment figures stabilising at 1,840.

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27 wednesday 2730 CHILLED Friday Friday duration and wednesday conditions of their Wednesday 28 chilleD wednesday 30 www.rgdata.ie www.rgdata.ie THAN EVER 31 30 31 who are non-EEA 28 Thursday than28 ever saturday saturday If you are Thursday employing people Thursday 29 Thursday 31 Friday Friday Good sunday nationals, make sure to HELPLINE keep a copy their passports, Friday sunday2931 HELPLINE 01 283 4188 30 01 of 283 4188 Friday saturday Saturday saturday 30 31 easTer Monday showing a valid Garda stamp, and their Registration Monday Saturday saturday The award-winning Lisburn site reflects the latest design sunday Sunday 31 Certificate onsunday file. See the RGDATA the full Tuesday Tuesday Sunday Confederation House website for sunday concept developed by Applegreen, including an executive Monday Monday 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 list of immigration stamps. lounge on the mezzanine floor along with six food offers.

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Q. A.

September 2012

OctOber 2012

OctOber 201

Savings of 6% with new Centralised Chill facility!

Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus savings of 6% with new centralised chill facility! is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings, big brand availability, store efficiencies and extra margin to Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction with the most chilled out retailers in the country!

Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings, big brand availability, store efficiencies and extra margin to Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction with the most chilled out retailers in the country!

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Aldi to Donate over 500k Meals to Charity

www.retailireland.ie

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OctOber 2012

LONDIS lOnDis RETAILERSretailers IRELAND’S LONGES MORE MOre LONDIS chilleD LONDIS CHILLED www.rgdata.ie lOnDis than ever www.rgdata.ie RETAILERS RETAILERS THANwww.rgdat EVER retailers MORE MORE HELPLINE 01 283 4188 MOre CHILLED CHILLED HELPLINE www.rgdata.ie chilleD www.rgdata.

HELPLINE THAN EVER 01 283 THAN EVER 01 283 4188 www.rgdata.ie than ever HELPLINE 01 283 4188 HELPLINE 01 283 4 HELPLINE 01 283 4188

September 2012

September 2012

OctOber 2012

OctOber 2012

SEPTEMBER 2014

September 2012

OctOber 2012

ALDI has announced a new national partnership with FoodCloud that will see Aldi stores nationwide donate over 500,000 meals to 172 charity partners this year, helping www.rgdata.ie combat food poverty and food waste in Ireland. Surplus food from 71 Aldi stores across the country will be redistributed HELPLINE 01 283 4188 to charities and community groups by FoodCloud, which was set up by social entrepreneurs Iseult Ward and Aoibheann For further information on this, go the Members’ Only O’Brien. section at www.rgdata.ie. If you need your members’ Commenting, Finbar McCarthy, Aldi’s Group Buying username and/or password, email us at rgdata@ Director said, “Helping combat food poverty and waste in the rgdata.ie or call the areas our stores serve is a central pillar of our community Helpline on 01-2834188. programme. Even across an efficient retail operation such as Aldi, there will unavoidably be some unsold, surplus If you are interested in joining RGDATA, please food each day. We are delighted that by partnering with contact us on 01-2834188.

FoodCloud, we will be able to donate our consumable, surplus food to charities and community organisations that need it throughout the country.”

savings of 6% with new centralised chill facility!

Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction

Savings of 6% with new Centralised Chill facility! of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings, Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings, big brand availability, store efficiencies and extra margin to Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction with the most chilled out retailers in the country!

big brand availability, store efficiencies and extra margin to Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction with the most chilled out retailers in the country!

Retail Cover Oct12.indd 1

Retail Cover Oct12.indd 1

Savings of 6% with new Centralised Chill facility!

Savings of 6% with new Centralised Chill facility!

Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings,

Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings, big brand availability, store efficiencies and extra margin to Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction with the most chilled out retailers in the country!

Retail Cover Oct12.indd 1

big brand availability, store efficiencies extra margin to savings of 6% with and new centralised chill facility!

Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction

22/10/2012 14:23

Because we are ‘owned retailers for country! retailers’ our focus with the most chilled out by retailers in the is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings, big brand availability, store efficiencies and extra margin to Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction with the most chilled out retailers in the country!

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2 Chunks, 2 Textur

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8|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

News Grocery Spend Continues to Rise THE latest supermarket share figures from Kantar Worldpanel in Ireland, for the 12 weeks ending Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend May 22, 2016, show a 12 Weeks to 24 May 2015 12 Weeks to 22 May 2016 change** strong sales boost for the %* %* % grocery market, with sales increasing by 4% compared Total Grocers 100.0% 100.0% 4.0 with last year.

Total Multiples 88.8% 88.6% 3.8 “Consumers are SuperValu 22.9% 22.7% 2.9 making more frequent Tesco 23.3% 22.4% 0.0 visits to supermarkets, Dunnes 20.5% 21.3% 8.0 averaging an additional Lidl 10.9% 11.3% 7.2 four trips in the latest Aldi 11.1% 11.0% 2.4 12 weeks compared with Other Outlets** 11.2% 11.4% 5.7 last year and driving volume growth across the *= Percentage Share of Total Grocers market,” explains David **= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops Berry, Director at Kantar Worldpanel. “Coupled Aldi,” Berry said. “However, sales growth for Aldi stands with increased prices, this at 2.4% in the latest quarter, a positive step up from the means that the average household is spending an additional previous results for April and an early sign that sales growth €50 on groceries this year, amounting to an extra €89m for might be starting to improve again.” the market.”

SuperValu remains in positive growth, increasing sales Each of Ireland’s five main retailers has seen sales either by 2.9% on last year – the tenth consecutive period of growth flat or growing on the year prior to this period, Berry notes. for the retailer. This has enabled SuperValu to maintain the “At Tesco, sales remain in line with last year, with market number one position in Ireland for the eighth month in a share just 0.3 percentage points behind SuperValu at 22.4%. row, with a 22.7% share of the market, though this share is Tesco has managed to recruit an additional 10,000 shoppers 0.2 percentage points lower than this time in 2015. on last year, with more than 80% of households visiting one Dunnes Stores was one of only two retailers to perform of its stores in the latest 12 weeks. This is the first growth ahead of the market this month, with sales growing by 8% in footfall for Tesco in 10 periods, suggesting its investment as shoppers continue to up their spend with the retailer – in keeping prices down may be starting to pay off,” Berry the average spend at Dunnes is now €37.20, compared to reveals. a national average of €21.80. Sales first began to grow at Lidl continues to post impressive sales growth as more Dunnes in January 2014, meaning that the retailer has now consumers choose to shop with the retailer. “A record 72.4% enjoyed 19 periods of constant sales growth. of all Irish households shopped in a Lidl store in the last For more information, see www.kantarworldpanel.com. quarter, widening the gap between it and rival discounter

Repak Report Strong Recycling Rates REPAK funded the recovery and recycling of 762,464 tonnes of household and commercial packaging in 2015, it was announced at their AGM recently. This is a 6% decrease from 2014, which can largely be attributed to the 20% reduction in the level of waste to energy recovery of packaging material.

Repak’s strong financial performance can be attributed to improved cost operational efficiencies of €2.6m and a stronger than budgeted membership fee income of €526,000.

This facilitated the introduction of a member fee rebate scheme, returning €857,000 to members.

Repak also confirmed the transfer of €20m to a contingency reserve fund, which is required by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) and is a condition of Repak’s approval. The Contingency Reserve Fund is ring fenced from the day-to-day financial requirements of Repak, and is held by the company in trust

for its members.

In 2015, Repak contributed 83% to national recovery targets which is expected to be 91% overall, 16% higher than the original target set by the DECLG. Repak also contributed 63%, (579,756 tonnes) to national recycling targets, which is expected to be 72% overall, 7% higher than original target also set by the DECLG. Paper accounted for the largest volume of tonnes recycled (50%), followed by glass (22%), and plastic (12%).

“2015 has been a very positive year for Repak,” said CEO, Séamus Clancy. “Cost controls have resulted in both direct recycling and administration costs being reduced.

We have surpassed our Recycling and Recovery compliance targets for Ireland and continue to provide value for money to members through our rebate scheme. Membership growth and bringing the ‘Free Riders’ to account are the main priorities for Repak in 2016.”

Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie|9

News Gala’s Special Support for Special Olympics Area Games GALA has teamed up with Special Olympics Ireland to sponsor the Special Olympics Ireland Area Games. With over 9,000 athletes eligible to take part in the Area Games, 90 different Area events featuring 13 different sports will take place over the course of 2016.

Since April, members of the Gala team and Gala wholesalers have been attending events across the country to watch the athletes in action and to present the athletes with awards for their performances.

To date, hundreds of Special Olympics athletes have been awarded for their skill and sportsmanship.

“Following last year’s partnership, we wanted to continue supporting this amazing organisation, and in March we announced one

Pictured are Colin McTaggart, Retail Operations Executive with Gala Retail; Gala wholesaler Pat O’Sullivan of M&P O’Sullivan; Billy Massey, Retail Operations Manager with Gala Retail; with Special Olympics athletes Shane Falvey, Shane O'Callaghan and Adam O'Callaghan, all from Leeside Legends, at the Special Olympics athletics Area event at the Cork Institute of Technology.

of Gala’s largest-ever sponsorship deals – a four-year partnership with Special Olympics Ireland that follows the four-year Olympic cycle,” said Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail. “The Area Games has been the ideal platform as it’s given Gala employees and wholesalers the chance to visit and meet with athletes at a grassroots level. As this is a four-year journey, the Area Games is just the start of our relationship and we’re honoured to be backing Special Olympics athletes as #EveryStepCounts.”

Objections to Alcohol Bill NINE fellow EU countries have objected to the Government’s planned Public Health (Alcohol) Bill as it relates to free trade within the EU. Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain have raised objections to the proposed legislation. It is understood that the objects are primarily concerned with the plan to introduce compulsory health warnings, which could have huge cost implications for producers.

Ireland must now issue a formal response to each of the countries and the European Commission by July 28.

BIM Advice Column Ask Your Fishmonger!

In the first issue of our new column, George Stephens, winner of the Bord Iascaigh Mhara Young Fishmonger 2016 competition, answers your seafood queries.

George is a trained chef and owns and operates three fish shops: The Fish Market in Roselawn Shopping Centre, Blanchardstown, Castle Street Mullingar and Glenroyal Shopping Centre, Maynooth.

How do I cook Squid?

Wendy from Bray asks ‘I had squid when I was on holidays recently and I loved it. Can you tell me what the best way to cook it is?’

George says, “Hi Wendy, that’s great that you enjoyed it, it’s one of my favourite types of seafood too. We sell fresh squid in our shops and it has become very popular. Any of our staff will be delighted to prepare it for you – this involves taking off the wings and skin, removing the central ‘quill’ and also the tentacles. We can slice it into rings or diamond shapes too, so it’s ready for the pan.

“The trick is to cook it very quickly – one of my favourite ways is to dust with flour, salt and pepper and a little Chinese five spice. Fry in a hot pan with a tablespoon of sunflower oil for about two minutes over a high heat.

Then remove the pan from the heat, squeeze in the juice of half a lime, a table spoon of sweet chilli sauce, a handful of freshly chopped coriander leaves and toss everything together.

Serve straight away with a leafy green salad – delicious!”

10|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

News

Positive Employment Outlook for Wholesale/ Retail Sector

IRELAND’S wholesale and retail sector is expecting to accelerate hiring in Q3 2016, registering an outlook of +11%, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey by ManpowerGroup Ireland. This is up six percentage points on the last quarter and a five percentage point increase on last year.

The survey, which measures employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter, shows that Irish

New Insights into C-Store Shoppers NEW research from him! international reveals some interesting insights into Irish c-store shoppers.

80% of the Irish population visit a c-store monthly. One in five of these shoppers are on a snack mission. Half of Irish shoppers perceive c-stores as offering fresh quality products.

However, supplying healthy options and promotions to c-stores will improve consumer Aidan Duffy, Client perception of that retailer, Development Manager at him! International. as two thirds of shoppers do not believe their local c-store provides enough healthy options. Shoppers believe that healthy snacks should be located near check-outs.

Availability is fundamental in driving loyalty with shoppers in the convenience channel: almost one third of shoppers would go elsewhere after finding their product out of stock on two occasions or less.

“The Irish convenience store landscape has changed dramatically in recent years and with it its shoppers,” noted Aidan Duffy, Client Development Manager at him! international. “Previously guaranteed customer store loyalty has now shifted to loyalty to a compelling offer: for example, innovative and healthier ranges. Irish c-store retailers must offer true value by meeting the demands of customers in a competitive retail environment.”

The him! international report is based on 5,500 responses from shoppers of retailers including: Costcutter, Londis, Spar, Tesco Express, Centra, Topaz, Applegreen, Mace, Gala and Maxol.

employers across 11 sectors are reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +9% for the third quarter of 2016. This is a four percentage point improvement over the last quarter and three percentage points ahead of the same time frame last year. This Net Employment Outlook of +9% is the strongest reported in Ireland since Q2 of 2007.

In addition, all 11 sectors evaluated reported positive hiring intentions for Q3 of 2016, with seven sectors reporting a double digit Net Employment Outlook figure. This is only the second time since Q1 2008 that all sectors have forecast positive hiring intentions.

“The results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for Q3 2016 strongly demonstrate that employer confidence in the Irish marketplace is growing at an accelerated pace,” said Cara O Leary, Sales Director of ManpowerGroup Ireland. “This is only the second time since 2008 that we are seeing a positive Net Employment Outlook across all 11 sectors surveyed, meaning that employers in all sectors expect to grow staff numbers over the coming months. This is really great news for both the Irish economy and job seekers.” See www.manpower.ie for more information.

Major Retailers Expanding Internationally THE second Internationalisation of Retail study, from the Consumer Goods Forum and Planet Retail, shows that major retailers are still becoming more international rather than less so, Internationalisation and at a surprisingly swift rate. of Retail, 2016 In 2015, the world’s largest 100 Regional heroes set to lead the next wave global grocery and health and beauty retail chains increased the number of countries in which they operate more than at any time since 2011, adding a net 27 new markets to their international operations, compared to just 17 in the preceding two years combined.

Some notable trends included cross-border partnerships, such as that between Tesco and El Corte Inglés, a tendency towards expansion within one or two geographic regions as opposed to global expansion, and the emergence of new regional players looking to take their proposition into new markets.

Looking forward, the report judges it likely that the global presence of leading players will only further increase.

Expected market entries include the delayed entry of Schwarz Group’s Lidl into Serbia and Lithuania, as well as the US – its first stores outside Europe. Aldi, meanwhile, is expected to debut in Italy. After its entry was delayed due to red tape, Costco should also finally open its first store in France this year. These expansion plans will be balanced by a simultaneous move to retrench selected overseas networks in order to generate funds and improve focus on improving performance in core markets. For more information, see www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.

June 2016

In partnership with

12|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News PETTITT’S SECURES BORD BIA ACCREDITATION

PETTITT’S SuperValu in St. Aidan’s Shopping Centre, Wexford, has received the highly prestigious Bord Bia certification under the Retail Butcher Quality Assurance Scheme. The scheme ensures that all meat for sale over the counter is fully traceable and Bord Bia quality assured, through every stage of the supply chain, reassuring the customer of the integrity of the product. Aidan Cotter, CEO, Bord Bia, congratulated Pettitt’s SuperValu on its achievement in securing certification for their butchers’ counter: “Bord Bia welcomes the exceptional commitment being made by SuperValu to extend the range of meats under the Quality Assurance Scheme to its serve-over counter. Pettitt’s SuperValu has a long established reputation in using and serving the highest quality meat products.

This latest initiative further underlines this commitment.” Pictured are (l-r): Aidan Cotter, CEO of Bord Bia; Ray Bowe, Head of Food Safety & Quality, Musgraves; Tony Brady, Head Butcher Pettitts, St Aidans, and Cormac Pettitt, Pettitt Group.

Aldi Unveils Revamped Castletroy Store

Kildare Butcher Wins Top Awards

ALDI recently reopened the doors of its Castletroy store to customers, following an extensive renovation project, which has seen the Limerick store extended and completely refurbished.

Providing locals with an even better shopping experience, improvements at the store include a larger shop floor space, which has been increased by over 25%, a new trolley bay canopy and increased chilled space for a larger range of fresh meat, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables.

The car park has been completely resurfaced and now provides 138 car parking spaces for customers.

NOLAN’S of Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, are celebrating, having taken top awards at the World Cup Finals for Craft Butchers at the global food fair, IFFA, held in Frankfurt, Germany, recently. James Nolan is pictured accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award from the President of the German Master Butchers Federation, Heinz Werner-Suss, for Nolan's, as they won five gold medals over four days at The World Cup Craft Butcher Finals.

Spar on the Ball for Primary Schools!

SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme ambassador and former Republic of Ireland International Jason McAteer was at the Aviva Stadium to watch the Spar FAI Primary School 5s National Finals, where 192 girls and boys from 24 schools battled it out for national honours. The 2016 Spar FAI Primary School 5s Programme was the biggest yet, as almost 24,000 children from 1,267 schools took part in county, regional and provincial blitzes nationwide. Pictured are (l-r): Colin Donnelly, Sales Director, Spar; Leo Crawford; Group Chief Executive, BWG Group; Jason McAteer, Spar FAI Primary School 5s Programme ambassador; and Willie O'Byrne, Managing Director, BWG Foods. For more information, visit www.spar.ie and www.faischools.ie.

Green Energy Deal for Dundrum IRISH energy supplier Vayu Energy has signed a

renewable electricity deal to supply Dundrum Town Centre with 100% green electricity. The agreement, which will meet Dundrum Town Centre’s year-round electricity requirements, will result in a substantial reduction in the centre’s carbon footprint, equivalent to saving approximately 80,000 trees per annum or taking 640 cars off the road each year. Pictured are Barry Murphy of Vayu Energy and Don Nugent of Dundrum Town Centre.

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14|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Londis Retailers Jump for Joy for Pieta House LONDIS retailers and BWG Foods’ head office staff put their fears aside in order to raise money for a very deserving charity when 32 people undertook parachute jumps for the Londis Jump for Joy event in aid of Pieta House recently at The Irish Parachute Club, in Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly. The initiative raised over €26,000 for Pieta House and these proceeds will go towards providing therapeutic support for people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm. 13 Londis stores took part in the Jump for Joy, with a total of 32 participants agreeing to parachute for Pieta, including staff from BWG Foods’ (owners and operators of the Londis brand) head office in Dublin. Each person had to raise €400 for Pieta House, but much more was raised, through extra fundraising initiatives such as coffee mornings and jersey days that took place in the run-up to the main event.

The Londis stores that took part included: Roche’s Londis Doneraile, McNamee’s Londis Miltown Malbay, Mattimoe’s Londis Naas, Canavan’s Londis Inch, Sheehan’s Londis Parkgate St, Doyle’s Londis Coolcotts, O’Brien’s Londis

Larkins Cross, Shiel’s Londis Plus Malahide, Boggan’s Londis Rosslare, Donegan’s Londis Kilbeggan, Kelly’s Londis Milltown, Grace’s Londis Plus Loughrea, O’Donovan’s Londis Oola. Pictured are Paul Boggan and Mags O’Reilly, from Boggan's Londis Rosslare, and Gillian Rigley, Londis Marketing Manager.

Pallas Foods Launches Customer Loyalty Programme

PALLAS Foods has launched Relish Rewards (www.relishrewards.ie), a new online customer loyalty programme that adds an exciting new dimension for trade customers when ordering with the foodservice provider. The loyalty programme rewards selected Pallas Foods customers with points which can be redeemed for a fantastic range of reward items, such as sports equipment, computers, cameras, holidays and even a Mini Cooper car. “We believe that Relish Rewards will add a new dimension of fun and reward to our trade customers’ buying experience with Pallas Foods,” said Phillip Monks, Marketing Manager for Pallas Foods. “Relish Rewards forms part of our on-going commitment to innovate and offer our customers a more rewarding way to do business with us.” Las Vegas showgirls Foxy P. Cox and Azaria Starfire are pictured with Pallas Foods, Development Chef, Patrick Clement.

Maltesers Stays On Top in Kantar Research RECENT 'Master brands at home' research, compiled by Kantar Worldpanel, shows that more consumers than ever before are choosing to buy Maltesers, with one in every two consumers buying Maltesers (Source: Kantar Worldpanel MAT Penetration, published April 2016). This finding echoes recently published research by ACNielsen that listed Maltesers as the number two chocolate brand of choice in Ireland (Source: ACNielsen MAT Value Share research, published April 2016).“The Kantar Worldpanel is a barometer of Ireland's most successful FMCG brands, and it’s great to see Maltesers perform so strongly,” said Eavan Hayes, Marketing Manager at Mars. “This research provides a valuable insight into which brands Irish shoppers are choosing to fill their trolleys with. We are very proud that one in every two consumers are choosing to buy Maltesers.”

Jamie Scores with New Business App BUSINESS savvy rugby star Jamie Heaslip has invested in Pointy, an Irish app that’s helped over 150,000 people find products in local shops. The idea is simple: type the name of the product into the search box and Pointy will show the closest shop that sells it. This week, Pet Republic in Finglas received a surprise visit from Jamie as he tested the app to go shopping for his dog JayZ. With over 200,000 products on the system, the Pointy app is helping people find everything from specialist health foods and niche cosmetics to pet supplies, gadgets and craft beers. Jamie, who uses the app himself, says, “This was an easy investment decision. Pointy has finally made it possible to search local shops from your phone.” The Pointy app is free to download on iOS and Android devices. For more details, visit www.pointy.com.

TO FOLLOW

in the community

Supporting 14,000 Irish Jobs

Supporting Irish Producers

Supporting Local Communities

16|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Musgrave: the Lean, Green Grocery Machine As Musgrave celebrates 140 years in business, CEO, Chris Martin, explains how the company became the first food retailer to achieve Bord Bia Origin Green accreditation, the secrets behind SuperValu’s market leading success and how the business continues to win major international awards.

AS the man at the helm of Ireland’s biggest indigenous grocery business, Chris Martin has overseen some incredible and some tumultuous years as CEO of Musgrave. In a wide-ranging interview, he discusses Musgrave’s becoming the first food retailer in Ireland to be awarded Origin Green accreditation, its wider sustainability agenda, the company’s 2015 results and its plans to celebrate its 140th anniversary this year.

Musgrave recently became the first food retailer in Ireland to achieve Bord Bia Origin Green accreditation. How big an undertaking was this, company-wide?

Throughout our history, Musgrave has maintained a strong commitment to sustainability by running our business in a way

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Retail News Interview

“Having pioneered an innovative sustainability agenda for almost 20 years, becoming the first food retailer in Ireland to achieve the Origin Green standard is an achievement we are immensely proud of and which gives us confidence in a future where we can continue to grow good business.”

impact and to produce sustainable wealth for the benefit of all stakeholders in the long term. We recognise that at Musgrave, we have, within our sphere of influence, an opportunity and a responsibility to shape and influence positive change. We’re taking action to minimise our own impacts and to inspire other stakeholders to also live more sustainably.

At Musgrave, we focus on embedding sustainability in our operations and in our brands, concentrating on nine of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals declared in 2015 and most relevant to the retail sector.

Having pioneered an innovative sustainability agenda for almost 20 years, becoming the first food retailer in Ireland to achieve the Origin Green standard is an achievement we are immensely proud of and which gives us confidence in a future where we can continue to grow good business.

What will Origin Green membership mean for the business, going forward?

Participation in the Origin Green initiative presents an exciting opportunity for Musgrave to have our comprehensive sustainability programme independently assessed and verified on behalf of Bord Bia. As well as bringing valuable credibility to our sustainability activities, it provides us with an opportunity to stretch our ambitions and to continuously challenge and improve our performance. We will build on this achievement by further embedding sustainable practices throughout every aspect of our business and delivering on commitments in four key categories: minimising

that considers social, environmental and economic well-being. As early as the 1990s, Musgrave pioneered ambitious waste reduction and recycling programmes in the food retail and wholesale sector. As such, sustainability has long been embedded throughout our business and strong foundations were laid when it came to embarking on this important accreditation.

Some of the key areas which have enabled us to become the first food retailer in Ireland to achieve the Origin Green standard include our commitment to local sourcing: for example, the SuperValu brand sources from over 2,200 Irish suppliers, more than any other grocery retailer in the Irish market, equating to an economic contribution of €2.19 billion; waste reduction of over 50% over the last 10 years, during which time Musgrave’s business operations have doubled; a recycling rate of 97%; and a reduction in the business’s carbon footprint, with 100% of Musgrave’s operations now run on green energy.

Why is sustainability so important to Musgrave?

Our long term approach to business means that we place great emphasis on the core responsibilities that any good business should have: to look after its people and customers, to minimise its environmental

Musgrave are responding to consumers’ concerns around well-being and the priority for all of their brands is to make healthier choices more affordable and easier.

18|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview Your own results would seem to tie in with a general upswing in the economy and in retailing. Are the dark days of the economic downturn behind us or are we still at the mercy of a global economic event, such as a Brexit?

While the Irish economy is on a growth path, we cannot become complacent. Consumer confidence coming out of the recession remains fragile and any shocks – either internal or external – will set the economy back. The outcome of the UK’s EU Referendum could have significant consequences for the Irish economy. We need strong leadership in making the case for Britain to remain in the EU, both in terms of the economic and social arguments, in order to clearly demonstrate the benefits that membership has brought to citizens.

Has Musgrave’s international business, such as its Spanish stores, helped to protect the business from the vagaries of the Irish economy?

In 2015, we brought together our wholesale and retail businesses in Northern Ireland and we have invested significantly in our brands there to evolve and adapt the Centra and SuperValu offer. In Spain, we continued to strengthen the Dialprix offer and brand through a new convenience store concept. During 2015, eight stores adopted that concept and experienced an average uplift of 15% in sales. Six new Dialprix stores opened during the year, three in the Alicante region and three in Tenerife.

Why is the FMCG sector always the last to feel the benefit of improved consumer confidence and spending power?

Although the recovery is now well underway, consumers remain understandably cautious, with considerable focus on price. The grocery bill is the one piece of expenditure that consumers feel that they have full control over, hence the observation that the FMCG sector is last to feel the benefits of improved consumer confidence and spending power.

Having said that, we are seeing increased emphasis by consumers on provenance. This is something we do really well by virtue of our community retailer model. This trend is driving the success of our Food Academy programme, which has now helped 250 small Irish food producers to secure a retail listing. In 2015 alone, sales of Food Academy products reached €13m, exceeding targets and highlighting the consumer demand for local produce.

2015 saw SuperValu recognised as the biggest grocery retailer in Ireland. How big a milestone was this for the 2015 saw SuperValu recognised as the biggest grocery retailer in brand, and for Musgrave in general?

Ireland.

While it is nice to be recognised as Ireland’s largest grocery retailer, this is an extremely competitive environment environmental and climate change impacts; driving so there is no time to rest on our laurels. We would put sustainable sourcing and consumption; leading in health our success down to three key areas. Firstly, we focus on and well-being; and taking an active leadership role in the providing the best range of quality Irish fresh food to our community. customers and as such, have a reputation for delivering quality, fresh food at excellent value. Secondly, SuperValu You recently reported your financial results for 2015, which is the number one supporter of the Irish agri-food sector, saw profit before tax of €67.5m, compared to a loss of sourcing from over 2,200 Irish suppliers. Finally, as the vast €9.6m in 2014. How pleased were you with the results? majority of SuperValu stores are independently owned and 2015 marked a year in which we brought the business back operated, our retailers know their customers and have the to profit and positioned it on a path to growth. In recent added advantage that they can tailor their offer to meet the years, against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions, community in which they work. We don’t have a ‘one size fits we have invested in our brands and consolidated the all’ approach - this is what our shoppers like and what we can Musgrave business as Ireland’s number one food retailer provide. and wholesaler. During 2015, we invested in our SuperValu, Centra and MarketPlace brands, which now lead their How difficult will it be to consolidate this market leading respective markets and support over 22,000 Irish businesses, position through 2016 and beyond? generating €7 billion of economic activity annually. This In what remains an intensely competitive market for all year, as we celebrate 140 years in business, we are at an our brands, we will continue to differentiate through our exciting juncture and are focused on an ambitious growth fresh food leadership strategy, by investing in digital and by agenda for the business. supporting local entrepreneurs in communities across Ireland.

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Retail News Interview

“We continue to invest in building profitable omni-channel brands, where our stores become destinations and our digital capability allows a new generation of millennial shoppers to access our brands at a time and place that suits them.”

Two Centra stores, O’Connell Street in Dublin and Fermoy in Cork, were nominated in the NACS International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award. What does this mean for Centra?

Centra is now firmly established as the market leader in the Irish convenience market with sales of €1.54 billion in 2015. We are encouraged to have this success recognised internationally. Key to this success is the brand’s continued focus on responding to the changing needs of time-strapped customers. Centra’s Live Well range, for example, helps people make healthier choices on-the-go, with a real focus on overall nutrition and a balanced diet. We continue to invest in the Centra brand to ensure the brand leads the market in terms of value, choice and quality.

Clinching Gold A.R.E. Design awards in Las Vegas, alongside brands like Louis Vuitton, was a real coup for both Centra and SuperValu’s new concept stores. What will these wins mean for the company?

The A.R.E. Design Awards are the USA’s largest and most prestigious store design awards, recognising the very best in international retail design. The fact that Centra O’Connell Street in Limerick and SuperValu Blackrock in Co. Dublin were recognised reflects our ongoing focus on transforming the in-store experience for customers, ensuring convenience, fresh quality produce and a broad array of products, which remains at the forefront of new food trends.

Omni-channel retailing has been top of mind for most grocery brands in recent years, but is it actually achievable in Ireland or are bricks and mortar stores still the most important part of a retailer’s offering?

At Musgrave, we continue to invest in building profitable omni-channel brands, where our stores become destinations and our digital capability allows a new generation of millennial shoppers to access our brands at a time and place that suits them. We are also responding to consumers’ concerns around well-being and the priority for all of our brands is to make healthier choices more affordable and easier.

2016 marks an important year for Musgrave as it celebrates 140 years in business.

Finally, what plans have you in place to celebrate Musgrave’s 140th anniversary in business?

2016 marks an important year for Musgrave as we celebrate 140 years in business. In September, we will mark this milestone with a number of celebratory events for colleagues across the business, recognising their contribution to making the business the success it is today. Over our 140-year history, innovation and change have been core to the success of Musgrave and, as we open the next chapter in our history, we have an ambitious agenda to grow our brands.

20|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Kantar Brand Footprint

Homegrown Brands Top Charts Half of Ireland’s best loved brands are home-grown favourites, according to the latest Kantar Worldpanel Brand Footprint.

IN its fourth annual barometer of the nation’s most chosen FMCG brands, Kantar Worldpanel has revealed that half of the top 50 are traditional Irish brand names, with dairy specialist Avonmore leading the way.

The 2016 Brand Footprint ranking measures which brands are being bought by the most consumers, the most often.

Avonmore has been chosen by 75.8% of the population, on average 27.4 times a year, meaning it was picked from supermarket shelves 35m times during the course of the David Berry, Director at Kantar year.

Worldpanel.

“We are delighted that yet again Avonmore tops the list of Ireland’s most bought grocery brands,” enthused Eoin Doyle, Director of Marketing and Innovation at Glanbia.

“This reflects our continued commitment to developing and growing the brand in Ireland, through on-going innovation and investment which consumers continue to respond positively to.”

Brand Footprint Methodology Kantar Worldpanel’s Brand Footprint is based on research from 74% of the global population; a total of one billion households across 44 countries, and 76% of the global GDP. The complete ranking comprises over 200 FMCG categories tracked around the world by Kantar Worldpanel across the beverages, food, health and beauty, homecare, alcoholic drinks, confectionery and nappies sectors. The ranking is based on an innovative metric created by Kantar Worldpanel called Consumer Reach Points, which measures every time a consumer chooses a brand. The data for this year’s ranking was collected over the 52 week period between October 12, 2014, and October 11, 2015. All data relates to purchases that are brought into the home.

This year’s ranking sees 25 Irish brands making it into the top 50 and of these, 17 grew their penetration on last year. Of the six brands entering this year’s ranking, four are Irish – Charleville, MiWadi, Country Kitchen and Carroll’s of Tullamore. The latter saw the average frequency of purchase increase by 18.2% as spend on its cooked meats and ready meals rose by 38%, thanks to an investment in new product lines and innovation following a €40m management buyout.

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Kantar Brand Footprint Avonmore On Top

The Top 50

1. Avonmore 2. Brennans 3. Denny 4. Knorr 5. Jacob’s 6. Muller 7. Birds Eye 8. Heinz 9. Batchelors 10. Coca-Cola 11. McVitie’s 12. Irish Pride 13. Tayto 14. Cadbury Dairy Milk

15. Galtee 16. Pat the Baker 17. Keelings 18. Glenisk 19. Green Isle 20. 7-Up 21. Walkers 22. Colgate 23. Goodfella’s 24. Nicky 25. Dairygold 26. Erin

27. Flora 28. Fairy 29. Johnston Mooney & O’Brien

30. Connacht Gold 31. Nescafé 32. Dolmio 33. Flahavan’s 34. Lyon’s 35. Alpro 36. Odlums 37. Carroll Cuisine 38. Hellmann’s 39. Nivea 40. Yoplait Petit Filous

41. Pringles 42. KitKat 43. MiWadi 44. Clonakilty 45. Yoplait 46. Charleville 47. Comfort 48. Barry’s 49. Florette 50. Country Kitchen

Four other Irish brands sit alongside Avonmore in the top 10. Brennans retains second place, growing in both frequency and penetration this year (bought an average of 25 times a year by 71.5% of households). It is followed by Denny in third place (16.3 times a year by 76.7%) and Jacob’s in fifth. Jacob’s is bought by 84.8% of Irish households, achieving the highest penetration of any brand in this year’s ranking. If consumers continue to increase their purchase frequency at the same rate, up from 12.1 to 12.4 this year, then it could edge ahead of fourth placed Knorr.

Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola retains first place in the worldwide Brand Footprint ranking. However, the enduring popularity of domestic brands means it has made it into the top 10 in the Irish table for the first time this year.

Only Knorr, Coca-Cola and Heinz appear in both the Irish and European top 10, with few home favourites having a presence outside of Ireland. Globally, the top ranking is more diverse: with data from 44 countries and covering 15,000 brands, it features a range of FMCG categories, including health and beauty, hygiene and cleaning brands.

“Irish brands continue to represent a strong contingent in our shopping baskets and it’s promising that they’re succeeding in the same space as pan-European and

THE number one brand in the Kantar Brand Footprint for Ireland, Avonmore has a range of products that will really kick-start summer meals. Avonmore Summer Whipped Cream is perfect for those looking for summer dessert ideas. Back for a second year, due to popular demand, this limited edition Avonmore Summer Whipped ice-cream inspired product has the luxurious velvety Cream is perfect for those looking for summer dessert texture of cream, with all the ideas. flavour of vanilla ice-cream.

Available until the end of August, be sure to stock up on this limited edition cream while you can.

Avonmore Sour Cream is the perfect accompaniment to summer BBQs and light summer meals.

Another must-have product for summer meals is Avonmore Cheddar Cheese. This long-standing family favourite comes in convenient, re-sealable grated and sliced formats and is the perfect addition to burgers, omelettes, pizzas and summer salads.

Anyone looking for inspiration to liven up summer mealtimes can visit www.cookwithavonmore.ie. global businesses,” explained David Berry, Director at Kantar Worldpanel. “This isn’t just true of food brands – sector specific rankings show brands like Lyons, MiWadi and Killeen all performing better than their international competition.” See www.brandfootprint-ranking.com for more information.

Heinz Has it Covered

HJ Heinz have retained the number 8 spot in the Kantar Brand Footprint for Ireland.

Heinz remains a trusted and reliable brand for Irish families who have grown up with the brand. Heinz Baked Beanz were first sold in Ireland in 1899 and they continue to be enjoyed by thousands of Irish households today.

In addition, 2016 marks the 140th anniversary of the launch of their iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup.

Heinz claim market leadership in Tomato Ketchup, Canned Pasta, BBQ Sauce and Salad Cream, while in addition, Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup New from Heinz comes [Seriously] Good Mayonnaise. is the most popular ready to serve Soup in Ireland, the company reveals.

Heinz have recently launched their [Seriously] Good Mayonnaise in Ireland. With mayonnaise currently the largest sector of the sauces category across Europe, Heinz aims to drive further growth into the category through its latest product innovation. Taking almost two years of extensive research to create, the [Seriously] Good Mayonnaise range has been developed to offer consumers a better tasting product and quality credentials, building a new, loyal fan base.

By combining years of knowledge and passion with extensive consumer research, Heinz will continue to bring more new and exciting products and brands to Irish customers throughout 2016 and 2017.

22|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update Challenges Remain for Retail Recovery RETAIL Ireland recently published the sixth edition of Retail Ireland Monitor, our quarterly trends analysis and industry report. Key indicators show continued growth in the sector during the first quarter of 2016, largely driven by St Patrick's Day and an early Easter. Sales values have grown by over 4% in the first three • months of 2016, with sales volumes increasing by 6.5% in the same period.

Looking ahead, the continuing fall in unemployment and a rising population are very positive trends for retailers and should feed into stronger sales figures in the coming years. Retail Ireland projects consumer spending growth of 4.1% for the full year 2016.

• Despite this positivity, challenges remain. The recent decline in consumer sentiment reflects concerns about external risks such as a Brexit and domestic political uncertainty. Allied with a rising cost base and the development of unrealistic wage expectations, this means that continued strong growth this year is not guaranteed.

• At a glance, the paper sets out the following trends: •

•

Supermarkets and convenience stores: The performance of supermarkets and convenience stores confirms that growth has finally permeated into a stubbornly flat sector. With value growth for the first three months lagging behind volume • growth, it is clear that inflationary pressures remain repressed, as shoppers continue to seek deals or adjust shopping patterns to avoid any potential price increase.

Service Stations: Unleaded petrol sales continued to fall during

the first quarter of 2016. Consistent with recent trends, diesel sales have further increased over the period. This reflects customers’ continued migration from unleaded to diesel vehicles.

Department Stores: The landscape for department stores has changed dramatically in recent months, with a number of wellestablished department stores closing their doors. In-store innovation and new formats have helped drive footfall to this sector in recent months, while also further improving customer engagement and continuing to incrementally increase turnover.

DIY and Hardware: Q1 2016 finished positively for the DIY, home and garden sector, with early season momentum aided by the long school break for the combined St Patrick’s Day and Easter season. DIY and hardware was driven by the continued solid underlying demand for the materials, tools and decorating mainstays of the sector.

Books and News: The book, newspaper and stationery market has seen robust value growth of 7.7% over the first quarter, driven by a stabilising book market and the positive impact of the 1916 commemorations across book, newspapers and other related products. In addition, the timing of Easter in the first quarter in 2016 was also positive.

Furniture and Home Accessories: With sales values jumping 8.3% versus the first quarter of last year and volume soaring 13% over the same period, sales in the home and furniture categories continue to see resurgence amongst newly re-energised consumers.

Proposed Traffic Management at College Green IN a recent submission to Dublin City Council regarding proposed Traffic Management Measures at College Green, Retail Ireland urged Dublin City Council to reconsider the decision to develop a civic space at College Green until it is able to commit to the following as a matter of urgency: •

•

•

• •

Present its findings and final report on the proposed traffic management measures contained within the revised Dublin City Centre Transport Study; Conduct a detailed examination of the impact of proposed College Green Traffic Management Measures on Dublin’s wider transport system, routes immediately adjacent to College Green and within the canal cordon, and the impact upon journey times from specific points around the city; Publish the results of research undertaken to examine the commercial and economic consequences for Dublin’s business community of measures proposed in the Dublin City Centre Transport Study; Publish consumer research findings in relation to the Dublin City Centre Transport proposals; Identify recent case studies on the development of civic spaces in city centre locations in the UK and Europe in order to learn from their

Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie

•

experience; Release preliminary designs, management and maintenance plans of the proposed civic space at College Green for public consultation.

Retail Ireland acknowledges that the creation of a large civic space within the city centre would provide an improved public realm and be an added benefit to tourists, workers and residents accessing Dublin City. Nonetheless, Retail Ireland stressed that the city’s commercial and retail offerings are essential to its success, and any decisions to permanently remove private vehicle access at College Green and reduce private traffic through the city centre must be evidence based and the commercial and logistical consequences of such a decision must be clearly understood.

Need more?

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

Freephone 1800 604 500 for more information

24|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards

Judging Set to Start at Irish

Quality Food & Drink Awards Judging is about to get under way for the fourth annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards. Previous winners tell us how winning these prestigious awards have brought real benefits for their business.

NOW in their fourth year, the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards reward and recognise the excellence of producers and their products.

This year, there are even more opportunities to impress the team of expert judges: with an extensive range of categories to enter, there really is something for everyone.

Last year’s winners are proud not only of their success but of the many benefits winning an award gave their business.

Significant Sales Surge Mairead Finnegan runs and owns Roll It Pastry, whose Sweet Shortcrust Pastry won the Frozen Food – Sweet category last year. “Winning in my category two years in a row has not only allowed me to grow in confidence but sales increased quite significantly in 2015 and in particular, in the last Pat Whelan from James Whelan Butchers, is pictured accepting the Gold Q Award for his Dry quarter, following the Awards being Cure Rack of Bacon, from Bruce Langlands, Director of Foods at Harrods, and Michelin Star announced,” commented Mairead. chef and host, Derry Clarke.

“The publicity surrounding the Awards resulted in my products going Cranberries. “Winning an Irish Quality Food Award was like into trial with a major Irish retailer and that, along with a a dream come true,” said Stan Kusnetsov, Chief Business growth in sales in existing retailers, meant that my turnover Development Officer. “This was our first ever award entered in Q4 2015 was almost equal to my entire turnover in 2014.” and it was a hit. It means that the product we produce The Breadski Brothers won in the Bread – Speciality with passion is not only satisfying for ourselves and our Breads category, with The Rye One With The Fresh

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Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards

Winner of the Gold Q Award, the award given to the outstanding product across all winning categories, the Dry Cure Rack of Bacon from James Whelan Butchers.

customers, but is also recognised by industry professionals. We will be entering the Awards again this year with even more products and would highly recommend it to other producers, as having an IQFA logo on your product means a lot for customers in-store.”

Massive Confidence Boost Maria Betts owns Maria Winning the Irish Quality Food Award in Lucia Bakes, who the Frozen Food – Sweet category for won the Cereals their Sweet Shortcrust Pastry has been category with their a massive advantage for Roll It Pastry.

Cranberry, Coconut and Chia Seed Granola. “Winning such a prestigious award in a highly competitive cereal category against so many well established brands has given our small business a major boost in confidence,” commented Maria. “This Award will give both retailers and consumers alike the motivation to give our granola a try.”

James Whelan Butchers won the Gold Q Award, the award given to the outstanding product across all winning categories. Pat Whelan, CEO commented; “Winning the Gold Q Award was fantastic recognition, not only for our business and our products but most of all for our wonderful team of dedicated professionals, who work so hard every day, sharing great Irish food with our loyal customers.”

Organised by Metropolis Business Media, the awards include two distinct sections: Irish Quality Food Awards, covering products for the multiple and independent grocery retail market, and the Irish Quality Drink Awards, alcoholic drinks for the retail sector. Following the success of its inaugural year, the Irish Café Quality Food Awards has also launched again to recognise excellence in foodservice.

Powerful Marketing Tool “We are absolutely delighted with the growing success of these awards and so pleased to be preparing a fabulous event for 2016,” enthused Lara Newton, Group Events Manager, Metropolis Business Media. “As our former winners have

The Breadski Brothers, winners in the Speciality Breads category in 2015, are pictured receiving their Irish Quality Food Award from Shane McArdle, Invest NI (left), and Michelin star chef and host Derry Clarke (right).

testified, 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.”

Full category descriptions are detailed on the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards website (irish. qualityfoodawards.com) and the Irish Café Quality Food Awards website (irishcafe. qualityfoodawards.com).

Entries for the awards, which are once again headline sponsored by innovative packaging

The Rye One With The Fresh Cranberries: winner in the Speciality Breads category in 2015.

Maria Lucia Bakes topped the Cereals category with their Cranberry, Coconut and Chia Seed Granola.

company, Graphic Packaging International, were accepted until June 8, 2016, and judging takes place from June 23 to July 14, 2016.

The IQFA are also sponsored by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, who will play an important role during the stringent judging process of the expanded ‘Free From’ categories, as well as Dairymaid, Invest Northern Ireland and Sacla’. Award partners include ADCreative, Food Culture 360 and IFE 2017.

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.

26|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Shop Profile

Putting Customers First

Louis Byrne’s latest Spar shop in Tralee, Co. Kerry, effectively took a high street shop and moved it to a forecourt location, with store-wide sales up as a result.

WITH the completion of Louis Byrne’s latest retail development, Tralee has gained an absolutely top quality Spar forecourt that is perfectly designed to meet the needs of its customers.

In 2001, Louis Byrne and his wife Colette O’Sullivan acquired their first Spar store in the Oakpark area of Tralee.

Six years later, they bought a second shop in the Monavalley area in the town. In 2012, the opportunity presented itself to acquire a third location in Tralee, a large 4,500 square feet outlet.

“Myself and my wife love being part of the community and serving its needs,” Louis tells Retail News. “However, it can be hard, as there is a lot of competition in Tralee for trade. In a town of just over 20,000 people, we have three discounters, five supermarkets and about 15 convenience locations. With so much choice, if shoppers do not get the experience they want in your shop, they can easily find an alternative.”

Changing Shopping Behaviour As Louis and his staff traded from the old location, which had been located adjacent to where his new forecourt store

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Shop Profile from start to finish: low shelf heights, significant natural light, obvious and intuitive category management, where the focus of every single element is to promote and sell product. Any customer visiting for the first, second or fiftieth time can quickly navigate the shop and enjoy a superior shopping experience.

The store’s interior is second-to-none and its trade figures are every bit as impressive. Louis chose to include two coffee machines in the new forecourt, and coffee sales are up over 150% as a result. He chose the Tasty Deli solution to drive hot and cold food-to-go sales, and trade in that category is up 40%. At just over 1,800 square feet of retail space, the forecourt shop is less than half the size of the old shop, yet total trade is up 15%, with a much healthier margin.

By listening to their customers, knowing their needs and working with two top class brands, in the shape of Spar and Top, Louis and Colette have Fair City's Ryan Andrews is pictured at the official opening of Byrne’s Spar in Caherslee managed to add huge value to their with (l-r): John Hickey, store manager; Colin Power, Spar; store owners Colette and location in Caherslee. As well as moving Louis Byrne; Anne Gallagher, Marketing Manager, Spar; and Julianne Fitzgerald, Group to a smaller site and increasing trade, Manager. they have used the latest technology to further reduce running costs. LED now stands, he recognised that the shopping patterns of his lighting in the new shop reduces day-to-day costs, and heat customers were changing. “Their needs and tastes changed exchange processes are actively increasing the efficiency of and as retailers, we had to react,” he says. “We reduced the shop’s chill and hot water systems. frozen food offerings and shifted to more fresh food and food-to-go sales. The reality was that times had changed and The Power of Technology our customers did not really want a supermarket, but a top Technology continues to quality forecourt with easy access and car parking.” play its part, and Spar’s The premises next to the old shop had been in disuse, virtual training academy but the structure of the building was still sound. When the allows Louis and his staff chance came to set up Byrne’s Spar in the forecourt, along with a Top Oil forecourt, Louis moved quickly and in October to access training remotely, while the online ordering of last year, the project began in earnest. The development systems and the service moved without delay, as Louis worked closely with his levels from BWG’s National symbol group and fuel partners to breathe new life into the Distribution Centre ensure forecourt. top quality service to a In just six weeks, the two units that had occupied the relatively remote location. existing building were merged into a high spec. forecourt, Technology in the sector is constantly introducing systems offering all comers a pleasant, convenient and great value to save costs and remove the possibility of human error from experience. processes and Louis and Spar have been very keen to use any “I worked very closely with the Spar store design team,” and all advantages to benefit the business.

Louis explains. “In a very short time frame, we created a With the promotional cycles, ‘Wow’ offers and general number of iterations of the plan, and got things just the way purchasing power of BWG backing them, Louis and Colette I wanted them. When it came to the forecourt, we depended have been able to keep ambient grocery sales effectively level, on the knowledge that Irish owned Top Oil brought. I found there was a huge benefit working with two great brands, Top despite a very large reduction in its share of floor-space, by focusing on a high-selling range that their customers want. and Spar each focused on creating and delivering the best “From start to finish, this entire project has been about possible solutions in their respective fields.” the customer,” Louis summarises. “We needed to change because their needs had changed. In order to do that, we Superior Shopping Experience needed support from fantastic organisations like Spar and Byrne’s Spar Caherslee is a shining example of the phrase ‘Retail is Detail’. The interior of the forecourt just feels right, Top. People like Colin Power and Barry Doyle with Spar and Top’s Seamus Hurley invested so much time and energy and effort in this project. Colette and I, along with our own team of experienced staff, have created exactly what we and our customers wanted. Best of all, our customers couldn’t be Owner: Louis Byrne happier.”

Location: Caherslee, Tralee, Co Kerry Following the official opening of the Caherslee forecourt, Size: 1,810 square feet retail space Byrne’s are currently offering a raffle for a car to customers No. of Staff: 14 full time & part time across all of their shops. This is yet another reward for loyal Opening Hours: 07:00-23:00, Monday to Saturday; customers, on top of the quality, service and value for money 08:00-23:00, Sunday. offered by all the Byrne’s Spar shops.

Fact File

28|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

CSNA Anniversary Dinner

CSNA Serve Up a Treat for Newsagency Sector The CSNA 28th Anniversary Dinner, held recently at Clontarf Castle, featured a host of guest speakers who highlighted the vibrancy of Ireland’s retail and newsagency sector.

ALMOST 300 attendees, including retailers and suppliers from right across the country, attended the CSNA’s 28th Anniversary Dinner, which took place on May 31 in Clontarf Castle.

CSNA Chief Executive, Vincent Jennings welcomed attendees, and introduced guest speaker, Paul Cooke, CEO of Post Publications Ltd, publishers of The Sunday Business Post.

Cooke insisted that far from being on the way out, the print sector remains vibrant and an important part of Irish lives. The former MD of Independent Star Ltd, Cooke has turned around the fortunes of the Sunday Business Post since taking over in 2013, and he spoke passionately about his belief in the newspaper market and how investing in quality content has paid off for the SBP and remains the focus for the future.

Sarah Carrick, Trade Marketing Manager, Vodafone Ireland, also addressed attendees, highlighting the close relationship between the country’s biggest telecoms provider and the CSNA. Revealing that Vodafone have invested €250m in their network over the last three years, she noted how they now enjoy 90% coverage in every county in the country, including super-fast 4G coverage. Vodafone have also launched HD Voice recently, new technology which blocks out background noise from calls. Carrick explained how Vodafone’s range of price plans, smartphones and marketing campaigns help to drive consumers into stores to top up every month.

CSNA Immediate Past President Denis O'Flynn is pictured handing over the chain of office to incoming President Noel Kelly.

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CSNA Anniversary Dinner

CSNA Immediate Past President Denis O'Flynn with members of the National Lottery.

Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA; Sara Carrick, Trade Marketing Manager, Vodafone Ireland; and Denis O' Flynn, CSNA Past President.

The Smartbits stand at the CSNA Trade Fair.

Pictured are Niamh O'Byrne, Marketing & Circulation Coordinator, RTE Guide; Denis O' Flynn, CSNA Past President; and Philippa Gee, Marketing & Circulation Manager, RTE Guide.

Attendees at the CSNA AGM, held earlier in the day at Clontarf Castle.

Lynda Holland and Grace Wickenden from Holland’s newsagents, Galway, pictured at the Trade Show.

She also explained how Vodafone’s high profile sponsorships, from comedy to music and sport, engage with consumers, including the company’s recently announced sponsorship of the Irish rugby team.

In a formal changing of the guard, immediate CSNA Past President, Denis O' Flynn handed over the chain of office to incoming President Noel Kelly.

Addressing the audience, Kelly recalled his early years with the organisation, including the formation of the Irish Retail Newsagents Association, its name-change to the CSNA and some memorable episodes from its past - Kelly previously held the chain of office back in 1995. The CSNA President looked forward to a busy year as President of the organisation.

The dinner itself was a sumptuous five-course meal, with entertainment provided by the wonderful Tropical Storm, who went from table to table taking requests, regaling all within earshot with excellent versions of everything from The Fields Of Athenry to Bohemian Rhapsody.

30|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

BIM Young Fishmonger 2017

Celebrating Excellence in Seafood

The race is on to name Ireland’s BIM Young Fishmonger for 2017, writes Ian Mannix, Business Development Manager, Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

JUDGING is underway by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Seafood Development Agency, to find Ireland’s most competent, capable, knowledgeable and progressive young fishmongers.

The BIM Young Fishmonger 2017 competition aims to recognise and reward fishmongers (aged 35 years and under) who demonstrate a high level of expertise, knowledge and passion for seafood. This year, the addition of a supermarket seafood counter award category will ensure excellence in this specialist field is developed across the entire seafood retail sector.

Raising the Standards Tara McCarthy, BIM’s CEO, explains how this competition aims to raise standards across the board: “BIM’s Young Fishmonger George Stephens of The Fish Market, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, winner of the BIM Young competition is a celebration of Fishmonger 2016, pictured with BIM CEO, Tara McCarthy; and Martin Shanahan, celebrity chef excellence in seafood. Our young and owner of Fishy Fishy seafood restaurant. fishmongers have a specialist skill and knowledge that deserves to be recognised. As seafood Extensive Judging Process consumers, our appetite for what is the healthiest protein on Eight fishmongers from the regions of Leinster, Dublin the market continues to grow, with retail sales of €209m last City and County, Munster and Connaught/Ulster (four year. BIM is working directly with fishmongers to provide independent retail fishmongers and four fishmongers from business mentoring, hands-on product knowledge and supermarket seafood counters) will be selected in August technical training supports to continue to raise the standards to proceed to round two of the competition. This includes across the retail sector. Best of luck to all our applicants this mentoring and in-depth visits by experienced judges. year.”

The final stages of the competition will include a skills Now in its fourth year, the competition is extensively test, with all finalists expected to prepare a range of fish evaluated over three rounds of judging, including a series and shellfish under time constraints. In addition, finalists of anonymous mystery shopper visits to the retail shop, will have the opportunity to discuss their plans to grow their designed to assess the overall premises, the seafood offering, sales, opportunities and challenges for seafood and future the applicant’s product knowledge and customer service career plans. skills.

The winner of the Independent Seafood Retail Category

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BIM Young Fishmonger 2017 supported with another trip to Holland as part of his prize, to work with one of Holland’s premium fishmongers, who then visited and coached George in Dublin.

“Now I have a wide range of value-added products that my customers love, and it’s really boosted my sales,” he enthuses. “I’ve also started selling fried fish in my Blanchardstown store, and it’s been a real hit with the customers. All these new ideas help to drive my business forward and it’s important that fishmongers are constantly on the lookout for new ideas.” and the Supermarket Seafood Counter category will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin in November.

Prizes will include a two-day cookery course at the world renowned and award winning Rick Stein Cookery School in Padstow, Cornwall, a monetary prize fund and a specially commissioned trophy. BIM will also support the winners with training support in advanced product skills and business mentoring.

Previous winners James Kirwan of East Coast Seafood, Naas, Co. Kildare; Gerard Collier of Fisherman’s Catch, Clogherhead, Co. Louth; and current winner George Stephens of The Fish Market, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, have all benefited from the competition and used their win to effectively develop and promote their businesses as well as enhance their own skills.

“Winning the BIM Young Fishmonger has been a really positive development for our business,” explains George Stephens. “The award increased our profile, attracting new customers to our three stores in Mullingar, Blanchardstown and Maynooth. As a result of the business and training support I have received from BIM, it has been and continues to be a real boost for me personally, my wife and business partner, Anne, and our wider team.”

Innovative Thinking George was particularly delighted with the BIM trip to the Netherlands in 2015. “I was really taken by the wide range of value added seafood on offer,” he recalls. “Dutch fishmongers differ from many Irish seafood establishments, as they offer a much wider range of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products than fishmongers in Ireland, which tend to have a larger fresh fish offering.”

George believed that there would be a demand for similar products amongst his customers, “so I chose a few of the best ones, and started experimenting with them”. This was

George Stevens, BIM Young Fishmonger 2016, pictured in his store in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Pictured are previous winners: James Kirwan of East Coast Seafood, Naas, Co. Kildare; Gerard Collier of Fisherman’s Catch, Clogherhead, Co. Louth; and current winner George Stephens (centre) of The Fish Market, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Growing Demand for Seafood Consumers have become more knowledgeable and interested in where their seafood comes from and they turn to their fishmongers to guide them when purchasing. Product knowledge and passion for seafood is essential to drive sales, encouraging customers to try new types of seafood or just sharing simple seafood cookery tips.

In recent years, as the Irish economy begins to recover, there has been a growth in seafood shops and counters opening across the country. This shows a growing demand for seafood, sourced both from Ireland and further afield. It is heartening to see many of these shops being opened by young entrepreneurs, bringing new energy and ideas to the sector.

With modern busy lifestyles and competition from other proteins, it can be a challenging market. However, there are many positives which seafood has to offer, not least the wide variety of species, tastes, price points, how quick and easy it is to cook, as well as its many health benefits.

With new energy, new ideas, innovative products and a passion for seafood, it is clear that the Irish seafood sector has an exciting future, and the BIM Young Fishmonger Competition rewards and recognises those who are driving excellence in this field.

32|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Grocery Market

Rising Grocery Tide Not Lifting All Boats The amount Irish consumers spend on FMCG items has risen for the fourth consecutive quarter, but not all store categories are feeling the boost, according to Matt Clark, Commercial Director – Ireland, Nielsen.

THE amount Irish consumers spend on everyday grocery items, such as food, drinks and toiletries, increased yearon-year for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to the latest Nielsen retail performance data.

In the first quarter of 2016, the volume of fast-moving consumer goods purchased in Ireland rose 1.1% year-on-year, whilst the average prices paid for these goods rose 1.1%.

Consequently, grocery retailers saw a 2.2% rise in takings at the tills. The last time there was a year-on-year decrease in takings was Q1 2015 (-0.5%).

“With the economy stabilising, Irish consumers are feeling more confident, and we’re seeing that manifest itself in their purchasing behaviour - both in terms of the increases in the amount of goods they're buying and the average price they're paying for them,” explains Matt Clark, Commercial Director – Ireland, Nielsen.

“Value growth is consistent and it is accelerating,” he tells Retail News. “After some years of reporting declines and declining values, this is consistent growth and it is continuing to improve.”

FMCG: the Last to Rise The Commercial Director admits that there is generally a considerable lag between improving consumer confidence and rising values in the FMCG sector, which is generally the last to feel the effects of consumers’ bigger spending power.

“Increases in consumer confidence and the improvement of the overall consumer economy takes a long time to translate into the retail sector and even longer to translate into FMMCG sales growth,” he acknowledges.

“People are still a little bit nervous when it comes to retail,” he explains.

“We’ve seen some necessity purchases, where people who haven’t changed their car or had a holiday in five years are Matt Clark, Commercial Director – starting to do those Ireland, Nielsen things. However, I think when it comes to grocery shopping, people see it as the biggest chunk of expenditure that they regularly hand

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Grocery Market The European View THE Irish market’s 2.2% rise in takings outperformed Europe as a whole, which enjoyed a 1.5% rise, and the UK, a 0.5% rise, with the latter territory only moving into positive territory for the first time in nearly two years.

Across the 21 European countries measured, Turkey had the highest growth in takings at the tills (+9.7%), whilst Greece had the biggest decline (-6.1%). Of the big five western European markets, Spain (+3.1%) had the highest growth. Germany was the only one of the big five to experience a year-on-year decline in takings at the tills (-0.4%) and one of only four countries in the whole study to decline. over their credit or debit card for, and I think they are still of the mindset where if they can keep that weekly shopping bill down as low as possible, it frees up cash to spend on something else, more interesting.”

The growth of the discounters and the rise of own label, particularly during the recessionary years, means that there are now “credible alternatives where consumers can save money without it being a compromise on quality,” Clark reveals. “They can continue to save money on their shopping and then spend it on luxuries and treats.”

The habits we picked up during the dark days of the recession have stayed with us, with value retaining its position as one of the biggest factors taken into account when it comes to grocery shopping.

Clark agrees: “The recession coincided with a lot of store openings from the discount chains, Aldi and Lidl. People may have been slow to add those stores to their repertoire but they are very much part of people’s repertoire now and consumers are not turning away from those stores, now that we have come out of recession. Consumers are looking for good value for money, without compromising on quality.”

The Super-Category The Nielsen Commercial Director reveals that when it comes to consumer spend, some “super-categories” are growing much faster than other areas. He cites impulse confectionery and snack products, including soft drinks, as one such supercategory, which has been the fastest growing category for the last two or three years. Similarly, off trade alcohol sales have been increasing at pace: “there is a lot of focus from manufacturers in that category to drive that growth through different pack offers and promotions.”

Rising Convenience Sector While growing values and volumes are good news for retailers, the increases in consumer spend are not being seen across the board, Clark reveals: “Value growth in the discounters, Aldi and Lidl, is 7% year-on-year; convenience growth is 2%; and the multiples, which we class as Dunnes, Tesco and SuperValu, are declining by 1% (down by 0.9% in value and 1.4% in volume). So the bigger supermarkets are losing out, mainly to the discounters and to a lesser extent to the convenience trade.”

Clark describes growing spend in the convenience sector as “quite a good bell-weather of confidence returning to the grocery market. Anecdotally, prices are seen to be slightly higher in convenience stores so when money is tight, consumers will do their big shop somewhere else and avoid top-up shopping. Suddenly, when money is a little easier, consumers don’t feel bad about stopping at a convenience store for bread and milk on their way home, for example, which they might have done before.”

Traditional Supermarkets to Fight Back?

So will the traditional supermarket sector continue to lose share to the discounters and the convenience sector or are they fighting back?

“There is no sign of a fightback in terms of numbers,” Clark argues. “They’re always talking about what they are doing, what their plans are, but we’re not seeing any tangible manifestation of a fightback. There are slight changes in the promotions, deals and offers they release but we’re not seeing these slowing down their decline, so we would expect over the next three or four year period that the discounters will continue to grow, the convenience channel will at least hold its own and the area that will suffer will continue to be the traditional multiples.

“There may be some big change around the corner that we are not seeing yet, but from what we see at the moment, the onus is on the traditional supermarket groups to do something different to stem the tide.”

At the moment, Nielsen estimate that between them, Aldi and Lidl have about 19% share of the grocery market.

“We predict that will rise to a peak of around 21% by 2020, taking into account like-for-like growth in their stores as well as their plans for new store openings in the coming years,” Clark reveals.

The Commercial Director believes that these figures reveal that when a group has a clear strategy and the right investment, there is an opportunity to win: “Aldi and Lidl have a very clear store offering, very consistent size and format of store, and very clear plans about where to open those stores. They also get their marketing right to get people into those stores.

They have a clear plan, they’re implementing it well and it’s working. In convenience, we are seeing investment in new forecourt and convenience stores; they are riding on the back of the fact that we are coming out of recession and making the most of that opportunity. Where there is less of a coherent plan, in the supermarkets, for example, we are not seeing the continued growth that we had seen for a number of years.”

Brexit: Stage Left One of the things that could scupper any future growth, however, is the looming possibility that Britain exits the EU. A Brexit could have disastrous consequences for Ireland’s retail sector, including the FMCG market.

“We carry out a consumer confidence survey every quarter, where we ask people what their major concerns are,” Clark reveals. “For the first time, in the top five concerns we have ‘political instability’: for years, that accounted for about 1% of the answers and suddenly it’s up to 8-9%. Obviously, in Ireland we had the situation where there was no government for a considerable time following the election and now we have concerns over a Brexit, so there is bound to be that uncertainty and we are seeing that coming through in our survey. If the status quo remains, there is no reason why these growth trends shouldn’t continue, but if Britain does exit the EU, then almost all bets are off.”

34|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Kerry Foods News

Kerry Foods Celebrate Epic Year for Fire and Smoke Fire and Smoke has enjoyed an incredible first year, lifting no fewer than 12 major awards in 12 months.

LAUNCHED 12 months ago, Fire and Smoke has now received 12 highly regarded industry awards to back up their taste credentials and innovative product offering.

With intense competition in the cooked meats aisle, Fire and Smoke’s brave and reinvigorating launch has been recognised with awards from the An Post Smart Marketing Awards, Irish Quality Food Awards, Anuga Taste Awards and most recently at the All Ireland Marketing Awards, where they scooped the Best New Product Launch Award.

Fire and Smoke On the Go Chicken Chunks Capping off an award winning year, Fire and Smoke will continue their trail-blazing activity by expanding their sliced cooked meats range to include premium On the Go Chicken Snacking Pots.

Pictured at the All Ireland Marketing Awards are (l-r): Joe Carmody, Edelman, sponsor of the New Product New Market Award, with award winners, Kerry Foods’ Nicola Weldon, Olga Mulvey, Hilary Hughes and Sarah Keenaghan.

Denny Bake ‘n’ Glaze to Shake Up Sausage Sector

Fire and Smoke will continue their trail-blazing activity by expanding their sliced cooked meats range to include premium On the Go Chicken Snacking Pots in Sweet Heat, Smokin’ BBQ and Fire Grilled flavours.

Fire and Smoke On the Go Chicken Snacking Pots are deep south flavoured chicken breast pieces in Sweet Heat, Smokin’ BBQ and Fire Grilled flavours, with approximately 20g protein per pot for eating on-the-go, after a workout or at the desk on a busy day.

For more information on Fire and Smoke, visit www.fireandsmoke.ie, or follow them on Twitter @fireandsmokeIRE or www.facebook.com/dennyfireandsmoke.

DENNY are excited to launch their new range to the sausage category, Denny ‘Bake ‘n’ Glaze, which was recently launched across the trade.

Bake ‘n’ Glaze sausages come in their own oven ready tray with a choice of three delicious glazes to chose from, including Caramelised Onion, BBQ and Tomato & Herb.

The products tap into key consumer trends and needs, including a growing demand for flavour and convenience as well as adding some new news to the sausage category.

Best of all, for time strapped families, there is no mess, no fuss and no washing up to be done!

To support the launch, Denny will have full through the line support, including TV, in-store activation, price promotions and digital media support.

For more info and to keep in touch with all the latest news and launches from Denny, check out www.facebook.com/Dennyest1820

Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie|35

Breakfast

Kickstarting the Breakfast Market New research from Bord Bia sheds light on our breakfast habits and highlights areas where retailers and brand owners can increase their profits.

A NEW Bord Bia study has revealed that almost nine in 10 (87%) Irish people have breakfast every day, with this rising slightly (to 89%) at the weekends.

“It seems the assertion that breakfast is the most important meal of the day still rings true in Ireland, despite our busier lifestyles,” explained Paula Donoghue, Bord Bia’s Consumer Insight Manager. “The research found that the most important consideration for people at breakfast time is health and most people (87%) eat breakfast at home as opposed to the office. Interestingly, almost one in four (23%) people have recently changed their breakfast choices for health reasons. For instance, some 44% claim to be cutting back on sugar, while 13% of people are trying to reduce their carbohydrate intake.”

The Breakfast Club research by Bord Bia analysed consumer attitudes towards breakfast and will assist in providing direction to the Irish food and drink industry on breakfast innovation, branding and marketing opportunities in the future. Bord Bia launched the report with a presentation to over 50 Irish food and drink producers servicing the category, including Flahavans, O’Brien Fine Foods and O’Egg. While we are now making more time for breakfast, we are also multi-tasking, as two in five Irish adults (41%) check emails and social media while eating breakfast. Over 20% of people use the time to also take daily vitamins, while watching TV, finishing household chores and getting the kids ready also feature highly.

Breakfast Facts Half of all breakfasts in Ireland are eaten between 8am and

Paula Donoghue, Consumer Insight Manager, Bord Bia.

10am. On average, we spend 13.6 minutes on our breakfast during the week and 16.3 minutes at the weekend.

Half of us will never miss breakfast, while those that that never or rarely eat breakfast are likely to be single and young settlers (aged 21 to 29).

Half of Irish people are eating breakfast alone, while one in six Irish people are under time pressure and stress while having breakfast.

To some extent, breakfast is a predictable eating

36|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Breakfast Top 10 at home – weekday Toast

Porridge

Cereal

Eggs

Fruit

(6%). When it comes to breakfast drinks, kids go for fruit juice (21%), plain water (20%), tea (19%) and milk/milk substitute (17%), followed by cordial/squash (8%), herbal tea (6%), homemade juice (5%), coffee (5%) and hot chocolate (5%).

The Search for Healthier Options Interestingly, 23% of Irish consumers have changed what they eat for breakfast, with 65% Rashers Yoghurt B’fast bar

Sandwich Muesli/ Granola Granola of these opting for healthier choices.

The desire for more healthy options transcends age groups, with 81% of 18-34 year 10% 10% 8% 6% 5% olds, 72% of 35-54 year olds and 52% of those aged 55+ actively looking for breakfast options that are better for you.

Ireland’s favourite weekday breakfast foods.

Almost half (49%) of consumers are cutting back on ingredients like sugars, carbohydrates, dairy, wheat occasion, as three in four (74%) are certain or pretty sure and gluten, with profit opportunities for savvy retailers. what they will eat tomorrow. Only 7% of Irish adults vary Sales of gluten-free bread, for example, are up by a massive their breakfast during the week, with this rising to 18% at 37%. Other sectors showing strong growth rates include the weekend. protein shakes (up by 35%), porridge oats (up by 28%), yogurt (up 24%), eggs (rising by 14%) and honey, showing a Making Time For Breakfast 6% increase.

Irish consumers are making time for breakfast. 53% of consumers never miss breakfast, with a further 22% eating it almost every day. The percentage of people who state that 13% they rarely have time to make a proper breakfast stands at 35%, down from 49% in 2003. out of Bread and toast top the survey as Ireland’s favourite home midweek breakfast for one third (33%) of people. This is followed by porridge (25%), cereals (19%), eggs (18%), fruit 87% (17%), yogurt (10%), muesli/granola (10%), a breakfast bar at (8%), rashers (6%) and a sandwich (5%).

Home There is a slight change at the weekends, when toast rises to 42%,followed by eggs (25%), porridge (23%), regular cereal (21%) , fruit (15%), rashers (13%), sausages (10%), yogurt (9%), sandwich (6%) and muesli/granola (5%).

Tea is the preferred drink at home with nearly half (44%) of people drinking it during the week, while another 28% drink coffee. The figure for tea rises to 48% and coffee to 31% at the weekend. Water and fruit juice follow behind at Weekday Weekend 12% and 9% respectively, with the weekend figures of 11% 87% 95% and 10%, while herbal tea accounts for 5% of midweek and 6% of weekend breakfast drinks and milk or milk substitute Out of home breakfasts account for 13% of breakfast occasions. stands at 6%.

When it comes to children, 85% of Irish kids have Out Of Home Breakfasts breakfast regularly, with regular cereal (39%), toast/bagel One in eight (13%) of Irish breakfasts are consumed out-of(24%) and porridge//hot cereal (19%) the most popular, home, with 8% consumed in work/school, 2% in the car and followed by fruit (14%), eggs (12%), yogurt (11%), breakfast 1% while commuting. bar (7%), muesli/granola (7%), sausages (7%) and rashers 38% of out-of-home breakfasts are purchased out of home, 38% are prepared at home and 25% of consumers take food with no preparation.

Top 10 at home at weekends Convenience and forecourt stores account for 22% of out-of-home breakfast purchases, Toast Eggs Porridge Regular Fruit with supermarkets accounting for another 13%, Cereal while office/school canteens account for 29% and coffee shops/cafes make up 27%.

The food eaten out-of-home is different 42% 25% 23% 21% 15% from that consumed in the home, with slightly more indulgent choices proving popular. Toast Bacon/Rashers Yoghurt Muesli/ Sandwich Sausages Granola Granola tops the food list (19%), followed by porridge (17%) and breakfast meats (16%), while coffee replaces tea as the most chosen beverage (45%).

13% 10% 9% 6% 5% 33%

25%

19%

18%

17%

Remember 1 in 8 breakfa home

Irish breakfast choices change at the weekend.

The Future for Breakfast Products Looking to the future for breakfasts, consumers want breakfast options that are healthy (68%),

o h

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Breakfast low cost (63%), easy to prepare (58%), offer specific health benefits (54%), high in protein (53%), suitable for the whole family (50%), tasty treats (50%) and provide good on-the-go options (36%) and free from (35%).

“People are looking for ‘permissible pleasures’ that make it easier for them to cut down on certain foods, such as a healthier variant of their favourites, such as turkey rashers instead of traditional pork rashers,” commented Paula Donoghue. “We also found many parents in our breakfast club were concerned about the level of sugar and salt in their kids’ preferred cereals but were stuck between giving them what is best and what they will eat. Many claim that they would like to see more low sugar and salt options, which would ease their concerns and still be attractive to children.”

The rise of the ‘al desko’ breakfast is becoming more prominent, with many people facing longer commutes to work. Some are preparing breakfast at home and then eating it in the office, while others are finding new and innovative ways to prepare their favourites in the office.

There is a strong desire to still keep to a healthy diet, with many turning to protein shakes to keep them on track, while current on-the-go options, such as cereal bars, are being rejected due to high sugar and fat levels.

There is plenty of scope for Irish brands and retailers to take advantage of opportunities in the breakfast category through strategies like reformulating old favourites, promoting the fun in their products and making healthier choices easier for the customer. Supercharged breakfasts with specific health benefits are proving increasingly popular, such as those promising a morning energy boost, as are those promising a broader household breakfast solution, one that brings family members together.

*Source: Bord Bia Breakfast Survey, 2016.

Key Motivations Get going Get me me going Keep going Keep me me going

Fill up Fill me me up Eat well Eat myself myself well

Breakfast motivations: consumers want breakfast to get them going, keep them going, fill them up and be healthy.

Research Background The Bord Bia study, conducted by RedC research, involved monitoring over 2,700 adults’ and 800 kids’ breakfast occasions.

Bord Bia's Consumer Insights Team is an authoritative source of consumer and market insight for Irish food and drink companies, allowing them access to global intelligence and specialist category knowledge, critical to commercial success. This summer, Bord Bia will open The Thinking House, a new insight centre located at the organisation’s Dublin offices, designed to help companies ensure the consumer is at the heart of everything they do.

To access the research, visit www.bordbia.ie/ BreakfastClubReport.

38|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Waste Management: Packaging Waste

The Reasons Behind Repak’s Success Repak members recognise the compliance benefits of signing up to the producer responsibility scheme.

REPAK was the first producer responsibility scheme established in 1997 in Ireland. It provides compliance to obligated business for their packaging waste and ensures that Ireland meets its packaging recycling targets, all at the lowest practical cost. Repak has a very positive role in helping Ireland meet its EU packaging recycling targets and acts as a lead advocate for environmental education and behavioural change for best recycling practices.

Over 2,000 businesses across Ireland recognise the benefits of Repak membership. From the provision of legislative compliance in a cost effective way, to representing members’ best interests in new legislative consultation and in protecting business from costly proposed EU changes, the benefits of Repak membership have made a significant impact in delivering business compliance. Repak also provides training for members in compliance and recycling best practice.

Repak is the sole registered licensor of the Green Dot trade mark for the Republic of Ireland. The Green Dot is not in itself a recycling symbol nor does it mean that the packaging material on which it is marked is either recycled, or made using recyclable content. It is more a mark of the producer’s environmental responsibility and contribution to recycling. All members of Repak have an automatic right to display the Green Dot on their packaging in accordance with a Green Dot Licence Agreement licensed by Repak.

Repak uses the money contributed by its members to subsidise the recycling of their packaging materials that they supply and place onto the Irish market. This includes packaging materials collected from households, bring banks and other collection points. Repak members:

•

Financially support 1.2m household recycling bins around the country;

•

•

• •

Contribute €65 for every tonne of packaging collected from the household recycling bin; Have helped grow packaging recycling The Repak scheme operates on a shared from 15% in responsibility model, with all companies in the 1998 to 73% packaging supply chain contributing to the in 2015, recycling of their packaging. making Ireland one of the most successful packaging recycling countries in Europe; Have contributed to diverting 9m tonnes of used packaging from landfill; Helped create 5,000 jobs in the recycling industry.

The Cost of Compliance Repak is the preferred route of compliance for the majority of companies. Repak’s minimum fee is just €400, with 50% of members paying less than €1,000 per annum for their compliance. Repak, when benchmarked against comparative schemes, ranks as one of the lowest cost recycling schemes.

Recycling is expensive and obligated companies must contribute to this cost. This is known as Producer Responsibility. The Repak scheme operates on a shared responsibility model, with all companies in the packaging supply chain contributing to the recycling of their packaging.

40|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Waste Management: Packaging Waste Companies contribute proportionally, based on the amount and type of packaging that they produce, making it as equitable as possible.

Repak introduced a rebate Over 2,000 businesses across Ireland programme recognise the benefits of Repak membership. in 2015 for members, subject to a number of qualifying criteria. In total, €856,000 was returned to members in 2015 and Repak have continued the scheme into 2016. Repak has also, for the eight consecutive year, maintained it fee levels at 2008 rates.

The Self-Compliance Route As a retailer, you can register as a self-complier with a local county council. This involves paying fees, advertising this in newspapers twice a year, providing a recycling facility to accept packaging from consumers and displaying public site notices informing the general public that you accept back packaging waste. It is an alternative option to Repak. It is complex and involves a more onerous reporting route for companies. Registration with the respective local authority per premises costs a minimum fee of €500, and rises to as high as €15,000. Businesses are also required to provide quarterly packaging returns to the local authority and an annual environmental report. This requires businesses to have staff trained in the collection, storing, recording and environmental reporting of used packaging on-site.

Crackdown on ‘Free Riders’ There are still companies, however, that are not playing their part. Last year saw the introduction of three WERLAs (Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities). They are The Eastern Midlands Region, The Southern Region and The Connacht Ulster Region.

These WERLAs have responsibility for coordinating waste enforcement actions within regions. They will set priorities and common objectives for waste enforcement, ensuring consistent enforcement of waste legislation across the three existing waste management planning regions, while leaving local authority personnel as first responders on the ground to specific breaches of waste legislation. The WERLAs will facilitate more streamlining of the tasks currently undertaken in the waste enforcement area. This will allow for a more focused enforcement of the Packaging Regulations.

Displaying Your Compliance Repak members are being asked to ensure that they display their Certificate of Compliance in every premises to assist the enforcement regime. If members have misplaced their certificates, copies are available. A full list of premises is published by Repak on its website. Repak members can also play their part by promoting Repak membership to their business contacts. Increased membership will mitigate the costs for compliant businesses.

Repak operates as a partnership organisation and its membership team is happy to meet and assist with any queries individual or prospective members may have regarding membership support.

Who is Ireland’s Greenest Organisation?

THE Pakman Awards, powered by Repak, celebrate excellence in waste management and recycling. The awards are a cost neutral event to Repak and are in partnership with key organisations in the waste management industry, including the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Entries are Repak CEO, Seamus Clancy. now being invited from retailers, communities and individuals who can demonstrate their sustainability efforts when it comes to excellence in waste management and recycling.

Launched last year, the Pakman Awards replaced the Repak Recycling Awards and marked a significant change in the direction for Repak, whose awards were previously only open to its members and recovery operators. Now all organisations who can demonstrate their environmental waste management practices and efforts can enter.

“The Pakman awards is now a more inclusive format and showcases not only the innovation and accomplishments of its members and other compliance schemes, but also Irish organisations, communities or individuals when it comes to excellence in recycling and waste management,” said Repak CEO, Seamus Clancy. “The new inclusive format awards led to a record breaking number of entries in 2015, but with the help of our members and other organisations across the country, we hope to supersede that number and make this year’s Pakman awards the most competitive to date.”

The award categories are: • The Pakman Award • Retail Recycling Champion Award • Community Recycling Project of the Year • Local Authority Recycling Champion • Environmental Education and Awareness Initiative • Bring Centre of the Year • Waste Prevention Business Award • Professional Services Award • Green Transport of the Year • Food Waste Management • Waste Collection Operator of the Year (Small) • Waste Collection Operator of the Year (Large) The closing date for entries is August 31 and a total of 13 awards will be presented on the October 27, 2016, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin. See repak.ie/pakmanawards for more details.

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Waste Management: Food Waste/WEEE Directive

Waste Away!

What are your responsibilities when it comes to food waste and the WEEE Directive?

licence or waste facility permit which allows this material to be handled. In addition, a business can transport the food waste to a facility (e.g. transfer station) which is sending food waste to a food waste recycling plant.

Supermarkets and shops that sell food products and cooked food should already separate their butchers’ waste from general waste and have it separately collected. In order to comply with the Food Waste Regulations, they will need to separate the remaining food waste from their other general waste and keep it separate. It is important that these businesses check that any contractor used to collect these wastes for delivery to a particular authorised treatment facility is allowed to handle meat-based foodstuffs, as well as other waste food and catering waste. This is because, separately from the Food Waste Regulations, strict hygienerelated legislation applies in Ireland to the handling of waste meat and meat-based foodstuffs in order to prevent animal disease.

EVERY grocery retailer has to deal with various types of waste, including food waste, packaging waste and electronic waste, each of which requires specific management.

Food Waste Commercial Food Waste in Ireland is governed by the Commercial Food Waste Regulations – S.I. No. 190 of 2015 and The Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 508 of 2009).

The Regulations require all major producers of food waste, including retail premises, shops and supermarkets, to place it into a dedicated bin and ensure that it is not mixed with other waste. This prevents it becoming contaminated and unsuitable for recycling. The legislation also prevents segregated food waste from being disposed of by being sent to landfill.

A brown bin collection service must be used so that the collected food waste is subsequently recycled by composting or by other approved recycling process. Alternatively, businesses affected by this legislation can transport the food waste directly to an authorised treatment plant or can treat it themselves by installing a properly authorised composting unit on the premises where the waste is generated.

Where food waste is collected by a brown bin contractor, that person must have been issued with a waste collection permit that allows this type of waste to be handled. All food waste that has been collected in accordance to the Food Waste Regulations must pass to a recycling facility that is fully compliant with national environmental and animal byproduct legislation. Food waste cannot be mixed with other waste after collection; nor can it be landfilled.

If a business decides to take its own food waste to a recycling plant or to set up a composting unit on its own premises, it needs to ensure that there is full compliance with all of the relevant environmental and public health legislation. In addition, the composting unit must comply with animal byproduct rules.

A business that transports its own waste to a recycling plant must ensure that the destination is subject to a waste

Betty Whelan and Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Jeff Nolan, Musgrave Regional Manager; Martin Crehan, SuperValu Abbeyleix; Noel Byrne, Bernie Loughman and Jackie Walsh, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Robert Nolan, WEE Ireland and Mary White, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns, are pictured at SuperValu, Abbeyleix, for the launch of the first ever community battery recycling drive by WEEE Ireland in partnership with Laois County Council.

WEEE Directive The WEEE Directive on electric and electronic waste aims to prevent the generation of electrical and electronic waste and to promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery in order to reduce the quantity of such waste to be eliminated through landfilling or incineration. It requires the collection of WEEE, recovery and reuse or recycling.

Under the Regulations, all retailers supplying EEE and automotive and/or industrial batteries must register as a retailer with their Local Authority (€200) or with the Compliance Scheme (free of charge) responsible for their area. Each individual retail premises must register.

EEE and Battery Retailers have additional obligations under the WEEE and Battery regulations, which can include; • Price display information regarding WEEE environmental management; • Information to users on take back and recycling to be displayed in store, online and in advertising and direct communications; • Legal notice poster display in-store.

WEEE Ireland operates a direct collection service free of charge directly from retail stores and distribution hubs for WEEE and waste batteries. It is mandatory under the Regulations to hand over WEEE to the compliance scheme in your area. For more information, see www.weeeireland.ie.

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Stonehouse Gold Standard Awards

Stonehouse Celebrates Excellence with Gold Standard Awards The annual Stonehouse Gold Standards Weekend took place recently, showcasing the best performances from suppliers and Stonehouse members.

STONEHOUSE members and suppliers from around the country enjoyed the annual Gold Standards Awards weekend in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Co. Sligo, from May 13-15.

Largo Foods won the much coveted Stonehouse Supplier of the Year Award and the Stonehouse Promotion of the Year Award. Richmond Marketing was the winner of the Stonehouse Product of the Year award for its newly launched Fulfil Bars.

Fintan Corrigan, Chairman of the Stonehouse Group, presents the Supplier of the Year Award to John O’Connor, Commercial Director at Largo Foods.

Fintan Corrigan, Stonehouse Chairman, is pictured with winners of Stonehouse Gold Standard Awards: Liam Byrne from JR Byrne & Sons Ltd, Dublin; Martin Kelly from Better Deal (Navan) Ltd; Peter Clifford from C. Clifford & Sons Ltd, Kerry; Niall Harnett from Barry Group, Mallow; Pascal O’Brien from 4 Aces Wholesale Ltd, Portlaoise; and George Cooke from George Cooke & Co. Ltd, Dublin.

The Gold Standard weekend also showcases members who have displayed exceptional standards throughout the year. This year, C. Clifford & Sons Ltd won the Homestead Sales and Support Award, while Elliott’s Cash & Carry won the White Hat Sales and Support Award. In total, 18 Stonehouse members excelled in their audits and were awarded a Stonehouse Gold Standard Award.

Darren O’Reilly, Wholesale Account Manager at Richmond Marketing, accepts the Product of the Year Award from Stonehouse Chairman, Fintan Corrigan .

Pictured are Stonehouse Chairman, Fintan Corrigan, with Gold Standard Award winners: Brendan Byrne from Perry's Cash & Carry Ltd, Carlow; James O’Sullivan from M&P O'Sullivan Ltd, Cork; Sarah Egan from Sheehan's Cash & Carry Ltd, Wexford; Michael McBride from John McBride Ltd, Cranford; Kevin Dowd from Thurles Wholesale Cash & Carry; and Frank Jackson from Padraic Tuffy Ltd.

44|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Pet Care

The Pet Set Irish consumers love their pets, spending freely on their four-legged friends.

IRISH pet care continued to grow in 2015 and this is set to be the case for 2016 too, according to the latest report into the Irish pet care category from Euromonitor International.

Growth in pet food is expected to drive sales as consumer confidence and spending continues to increase as the Irish economy grows. There is a large number of consumers who invest in premium pet food products, particularly dog owners who want the best for their pet. However, value remains important, with economy also performing strongly at the expense of mid-priced products.

Euromonitor expect pet care sales to see marginal growth over the coming years. Those who own a pet are expected to spend more on them, with growing demand for premium products set to continue. There is growing confidence among Irish consumers and as this continues, they are likely to invest more in their pets. Humanisation and health and wellness will be important trends going forward.

Mackle Petfoods 2016 has been a very busy sales year to date for local pet food manufacturer Mackle Petfoods, with both their flagship brands, Brandy and Cat Club, performing extremely well and their new super premium dog food brand, Naturo, gaining traction in retailers across Ireland.

Brandy has a strong local heritage dating back to 1971.

Brandy is made using only 100% Irish meat, sourced from across the island of Ireland. The use of 100% Irish meat is

Brandy is offering customers the chance for their dog to star on Brandy packs. To win, customers must tell Mackle Petfoods what makes their dog 100% family.

unique to the brand. Brandy is also fully traceable from farm to bowl. Irish consumers are concerned about the provenance and quality of the product they feed their dogs and they have really embraced the fact that Brandy uses only 100% Irish meat and has full traceability. Dog owners view their dog as

WIN

Summer On Pack Competition Brandy are offering families the chance for their dog to star on pack.

To WIN, customers simply need to pick up a promotional pack and tell us what makes their dog 100% family.

- Winning dog will star on packs of Brandy.

- Prize includes dog photoshoot and supply of Brandy dog food.

- First 100 entries get a FREE cuddly toy.

- Competition will run across the Brandy 6 Pack range until 5th August.

For more details visit: brandydogfood.com/win

Because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 100% Family

Tel: +44(0)28 8778 4641

/brandydogfood

46|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Pet Care a key member of the family so they want to feed them the best.

Consumers are also looking for value and Brandy offers customers high quality products at a competitive price.

Brandy’s two promotional variety three-packs, Brandy Variety Traditional Loaf and Brandy Variety Chunks in Jelly, both price marked at €2.20, offer the customer value for money, while offering the retailer strong margin. Brandy six-pack is available in three variety options, Loaf, Chunks in Jelly and Chunks in Gravy, while the Brandy Variety 12-pack range enables consumers to trade up to larger multipacks.

This summer, Brandy six-packs present an exciting on-pack competition, not to be missed by retailers and customers alike. Brandy wants to celebrate all four legged family members and is offering customers the chance for their dog to star on Brandy packs. To win, customers must tell Mackle Petfoods what makes their dog 100% family and share a photo of their dog, demonstrating their dog’s role in the family. The winning dog will star on-pack and receive a dog photoshoot and a supply of Brandy dog food. The first 100 entries will also receive a cuddly toy. The competition runs until August 5 on all Brandy six-packs, including Traditional Loaf, Chunks in Jelly and Chunks in Gravy.

It will be supported by an all-Ireland radio advertising campaign and a strong digital campaign. Customers will be able to enter the competition at brandydogfood.com/win or on Facebook (facebook.com/brandydogfood).

Naturo is Mackle Petfoods’ super premium wet dog food offering, made with 100% natural ingredients. Naturo was created in 2010 to build upon established success in canned pet food manufacture. The brand was a new departure for Mackle Petfoods, injecting a new product concept into the pet food market. Naturo offers customers the convenience of plastic packaging, available in a plastic tray with foil lid and cardboard sleeve, an easy ‘rip and tip’ concept.

Naturo is Mackle Petfoods’ super premium wet dog food offering, made with 100% natural ingredients.

The attraction of Naturo as a unique super premium product, along with offering retailers incremental sales, has helped the brand gain traction throughout Ireland.

Consumers are increasingly looking for high quality products which support the health and well-being of their dog, contain a high percentage of meat and are 100%

natural, all of which Naturo offers.

Naturo combines essential proteins, fibre and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and fats and oils to create a natural and nutritious meal for dogs. With 60% meat and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, consumers can be confident their dog will love the taste of Naturo.

The range is available in a 400g tray in the following varieties: Lamb & Rice with Vegetables; Chicken, Lamb & Rice with Vegetables; Salmon & Rice with Vegetables; Duck & Rice with Vegetables; and Senior Turkey & Rice with Vegetables. Grain Free 400g dog food recipes are available in Chicken & Potato with Vegetables and Salmon & Potato with Vegetables. To cater for smaller dogs, 150g pack sizes are also available.

Naturo are excited to extend the range over the coming months to include Grain Free Duck and Grain Free Turkey 400g packs, along with a Grain Free 400g multipack. Visit www.naturopetfoods.com for further information.

Cat Club’s strong sales have been driven by the brand’s Variety Chunks in Jelly and Chunks in Gravy three-packs, price marked at €2.20.

Also from Mackle Petfoods, Cat Club is continuing to experience sales growth. When it comes to meal times, our feline friends can be fussy creatures, so product quality and palatability is key. Prepared using high quality Irish meats, Cat Club cat food is fully traceable from farm to bowl. Cat Club’s carefully prepared natural meaty chunks in appetising Jelly and Gravy have all the nourishment and essential vitamins and minerals to ensure all-round good health and lively energy, so consumers know they are feeding their cats a tasty, nutritious meal they’ll love.

Sales have been driven by the brand’s Variety Chunks in Jelly and Chunks in Gravy three-packs, price marked at €2.20. The Irish consumer has clearly embraced these high quality, value for money offerings. Both packs are ideal for the convenience trade and offer the retailer strong margin.

Cat Club is also available in Variety Chunks in Jelly and Gravy six-packs and a Chunks in Jelly 12-pack. For more information, see facebook.com/catclubcatfood.

Soopa Pets There was good news for Soopa Pets, makers of healthy and nutritious dog treats, recently when it received a €400,000 investment, led by business angels from the HBAN Food Syndicate, with support from Enterprise Ireland, which will see the creation of 10 jobs in Soopa Pets.

Founded by Barbara Hanly, Soopa Pets manufactures healthy pet treats made from 100% fruit and vegetables.

After leaving a career in financial recruitment to start a dog-grooming business, Barbara was shocked to see large numbers of dogs with medical issues such as obesity, diabetes and pancreatitis. She decided to capitalise on the gap in the market for low fat, nutrient-packed treats.

Soopa Pets’ range of Soopa Chews has been specially developed to ensure pets get the most out of their treats.

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Pet Care and bones (Wilko), a strong immune system (Kobe), easy digestion (Tyson) and a nourished skin and coat (Harry).

Pedigree Ireland continues to support the ISPCA’s Dog Rehoming Programme by highlighting individual personalities of their puppies and dogs up for adoption across Pedigree Ireland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram during the campaign.

Consumers can visit Pedigree Ireland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see more of The Diva, The Rascal, The Big Softie and The Buddy or nominate their own dog for #MyBigPersonality to win some gorgeous Pedigree treats.

Mars Petcare have been supporting animal rescue centres since 2007 through food donations, volunteering time

Soopa Chews are 100% natural and suitable for dogs with health issues such as diabetes or liver disease.

The chews undergo a process of dehydration, which prevents spoilage, while preserving vitamins and antioxidants. The end result is treats that are produced to human grade quality and extremely healthy.

“I was driven to set up Soopa Pets by a desire to provide something that simply wasn’t available to pet owners – healthy and nutritious pet treats. Soopa Chews are 100% natural and suitable for dogs with health issues such as diabetes or liver disease,” notes founder Barbara Hanly.

“The HBAN Food Syndicate has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the food sector and it is great to have them on board as investors, as they really understand what drives success. Their experience and advice will help Soopa Pets expand and bring our delicious, super-nutritious treats to the European market.” Find out more at www.soopapets. com.

Mars Ireland Pedigree Ireland’s Feed Their Big Personality campaign celebrates the unique behaviours of our pets with some of the biggest celebrity dog owners in Ireland. The celebrity dog owners are stylist Darren Kennedy with Harry (The Diva), foodie Roz Purcell with Wilko (The Rascal), fitness expert Kelly Donegan with Tyson (The Big Softie) and rugby star Jordi Murphy with Kobe (The Buddy). Each dog’s individual personality is being shared via Pedigree Ireland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, week by week, and will relate to a vital health benefit, including healthy teeth

Roz Purcell and her puppy Wilko, photographed at Loft53, as part of Pedigree Ireland’s Feed Their Big Personality campaign.

and grants. In 2012, they introduced the Feeding Brighter Futures initiative, designed to assist rehoming centres by providing much needed grants and food, whilst also raising awareness of the issue of dog and cat abandonment. The ultimate goal of the Feeding Brighter Futures scheme is to make a difference to both cats’ and dogs’ lives, helping them find their forever home.

At the centre of the Feeding Brighter Futures campaign is a grants programme, through which Mars Petcare donate Stg£100,000 each year to rescue homes. Grants are awarded for projects which enhance the welfare of animals in the rehoming centre before they find their forever home. 2016 marked the first year of Whiskas’ involvement in the grants programme, raising our total donation to Stg£120,000.

This year’s winners included a donation of Stg£20,000 for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to put towards building a new puppy whelping unit. For the first time, the rescue home will be able to provide a dedicated and safe space to care for expectant dogs, nursing mothers and young pups.

48|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

IGBF Midsummer Ball

Football Fever at IGBF Midsummer Ball Two football legends were special guests at the IGBF Midsummer Ball, whose theme was Ireland’s Greatest Soccer Moments.

THE Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund’s Midsummer Ball took place recently at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. The theme was Ireland’s Greatest Soccer Moments and guests of honour were Irish soccer legend, Ray Houghton, and the most capped England player of all time, goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who was in goal when Houghton’s header made football history back in Germany in 1988, the first time that Ireland had qualified for a major football tournament.

Both special guests spoke eloquently about their time in the game, with some hilarious anecdotes from the world of football, and shared some special memories with the rapt guests.

In his address to the attendees, Neil Finlayson, IGBF President of Appeals and Sales Director at Mars Ireland, explained that the theme of the event was two-fold.

“In the first instance, it represents the Irish grocery industry coming together to support our colleagues who, for one reason or another, have fallen on hard times, while it also serves as a call to everyone in Ireland to support our soccer team as they begin their upcoming European Championship campaign in France.”

Finlayson thanked attendees for supporting the event, highlighting the fact that “the fund relies solely on the voluntary support it receives from the trade, without which it would simply not exist.”

He paid particular tribute to the event sponsors, including main sponsor Diageo Ireland, as well as Largo Foods, Barton & Guestier, Mars Ireland, Comans Beverages, Findlater Wine & Spirit Group, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, Primelime Sales & Marketing, and Heineken Ireland.

England goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton (left) is pictured with Stephanie Heyward; Sinead McGinn, Finance Manager, Diageo; Neil Finlayson, Sales Director at Mars Ireland and IGBF President of Appeals; Donal O’Shea, IGBF Chairman; Catherine Bleahane; and event MC, Marty Whelan.

Pictured are Damien Kieran, IGBF Treasurer and owner of SuperValu Mount Merrion, and his wife, Eilish Kieran.

Martin McClinton, Largo Foods, with Patricia McClinton; Shane McEntee, Business Account Manager, Largo Foods; and Deirdre McEntee.

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IGBF Midsummer Ball

Pictured are Clare and Niall Benson, Group MD, Contract People.

Pictured are Rory Brennan, Commercial Director GB&I at LR Suntory; Carol Nimmo; Peter Shilton; Stephanie Hayward; Paul Nimmo, Senior Trading Controller at Musgrave; event MC Marty Whelan; and Irish football legend, Ray Houghton.

Clodagh O’Sullivan, Petcare Enjoying the ball: Carla Reynolds, Emma Category Director; Louisa Brooks, Finlay, Claire Chadwick and Caroline Market Activity and PR ManagerKeyes from Mars Ireland.

Petcare; and Mary McBride, Business Development Manager, all from Mars Ireland.

Tim Cummins, MD. Primeline Sales & Marketing; and Suzanne Fowler.

Alan Cunningham, Finance Director, Musgrave Wholesale Partners; and Elaine Hennessy, Musgrave Wholesale Partners.

IGBF Honorary Secretary Joe Grennan, with his wife Anne Grennan, and Julia and Redmond Gavin, Wine Director of Coman’s Wholesale and IGBF Executive Committee Member.

Maria and Matthieu Seguin, General Manager CocaCola HBC Ireland & Northern Ireland; Denise and Paddy Murray; Anne and Eamonn O’Leary, Business Systems & Solutions Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland; Chris Lillie, HR Director, Coca Cola HBC Ireland; Liam McEvoy; Aedamar Howlett; and Johnny Woods

Pictured are (l-r) Ken Nugent; Angela Campbell, Commercial Finance Manager, Diageo; Caroline and Colin Kenny, Key Account Manager, Diageo; Clare and Adam Smart, Take Home Trade Channel Director, Diageo Ireland; James and Suzy Stock, Diageo.

Pictured are Paul Diver, Director Of Human Resources, Britvic Ireland; with his wife, Jenny Diver; Peter Shilton and Ray Houghton; Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director, Britvic Soft Drinks Ireland; Dee Donnelly; Margaret and Brian Magennis, Sales Director at Britvic Ireland.

50|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Technology: Where to Next?

Making Technology Work For You Austin McGinley, Head of Marketing, Celtech Software Group, examines what direction innovation is taking in retail technology, and how the savvy retailer can take advantage of new simpler systems with realtime capabilities.

WHEN we look at innovation in retail technology, we look at two areas: the internal focus for the retailer, and the external customer-facing focus. Both are as important as the other. However, a lot of media coverage focuses understandably on the more ‘headline friendly’ customer side.

Looking at the internal side for retailers, we have identified two broad themes that are common to small, medium and large retailers. The first is ‘Simplification’.

Simplification of Technology Simplification is an important strategy that we see being embraced by retailers in an effort to focus on their customer and core retail operations.

This is achieved by ‘taking the IT away’ from retailers, thereby removing all the traditional challenges associated with operating everything in-house.

By providing retailers with a fully managed subscription, supported by expert consultancy services, everything from infrastructure to software and hardware is packaged into a singular offer, enabling retailers to have a real platform for growth. In essence, the retailers can focus on serving their customers better and more efficiently by delegating the problem to specialists.

To really simplify a retailer’s systems architecture, the goal is to operate from a robust technology platform with a single centralised database that is updated in real-time by the entire business. The process involves leaving behind more conventional solutions which feature a collection of distributed point systems and databases patched together using middleware.

With pre-determined disciplines and common retail processes built in as standard, ‘efficient scalability’ can be achieved by retailers who are trying to grow efficiently.

What’s Really Real-Time?

The second theme we have identified is ‘real-time’.

A new retail management solution that enables the complete visibility of the business to the retail management team in true real-time isn’t the future of retailers. It’s here now, trusted and proven by retail chains across Ireland and

the UK. For those progressive retailers with it already deployed, the benefits to their business are numerous, such as being able to fix issues as soon as they arise, react and quickly implement change, and to capitalise on new opportunities as they happen.

Previously, these items were hidden in a report issued at day’s end or upon request, and with it disappeared the chance of creating a winning customer experience.

The rise of multiple Austin McGinley, Head of shopping channels, including Marketing, Celtech Software the latest ‘conversational Group. commerce’ channel, relies on a centralised, true real-time retail management system that provides a singular view of the business, as it happens. The accuracy of the data is paramount for conversational commerce. Automated information can help anticipate what the customer wants.

Customers expect to be able to check if a product is stocked, purchase it from anywhere, collect it from anywhere and return it to anywhere. Customers don’t think in channels.

This is a logistical and operational headache for retailers: how to operate multiple data sources. The singular point of integration removes this pain and radically improves data and information accuracy across the business.

The External Focus: Customer-Facing Technology Innovation for customers is much easier to spot: new apps that can search for products on their behalf, finding the best price; new channels to use to communicate with retailers and to use to purchase from; the latest store design concepts that reflect the new way we shop.

On the customer facing side, we see the emerging

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Retail Technology: Where to Next?

About Celtech

RETAIL technology experts Celtech (www.celtechgroup. com) has been delivering world class IT systems to retailers for more than two decades, based primarily on ab-initio, which they describe as “the ultimate realtime management system”. Celtech’s ab-initio trading portal allows trading partners to easily create, receive, share, view and track orders. This enables wholesalers, independent retailers and suppliers to collaborate in real-time, creating greater visibility across the supply chain, streamlining processes and in so doing delivering operational efficiencies and agility.

This reduction of stock of items facilitates the freeing up of more retail space for new items in-store, providing better and more interesting choice for the customer. Profitability is increased as a result, all stemming from placing the customer at the centre of the business. The key in the first instance is to have the foundational piece for all of this.

What’s Driving Innovation?

Innovation in the retail technology space must be driven by the need to serve a retailer’s customer better by being efficient, accurate, timely, rewarding their loyalty and delivering moments of surprise to keep them engaged with the brand.

The new retail landscape that has efficiency built in as standard, and aligns all internal and customer-facing initiatives for the benefit of the customer should be the new norm for retailers. The challenge left now is the courage to take the leap.

BOIPA Partners with Intelligent Payments “Our clients trust Celtech’s mission critical true real-time retail solution to run their business,” says their company mission statement. “Unparalleled levels of innovation and simplicity are built-in, giving our clients the ultimate flexibility to create winning customer experience in the retail and wholesale sector.”

innovative notion of true personalisation for the customer.

Standard personalisation is outbound, but the industry has moved beyond ‘coupons’. Coupons just give money away.

Customer choice, however, is in-bound, so the retailer has to cater for it, and this, therefore, brings the need to have the platform that enables this capability. The aim for a retailer should be the ability to be as agile as possible for a customer to do business with.

Look at the data retailers hold on customers. We believe that retailers should let the customer have access to that data. They should know what that customer has bought.

Imagine a scenario where the retailer really enables true personalisation in how a customer choses to shop.

An example of this is if the retailer lets customers selfserve through complete self-scanning mobility, fused with ecommerce and click-and-collect services. The transaction doesn’t have to begin in-store. They can simply scan prearranged products using that retailer’s app and set them for collection in-store. Now in-store, they can add on extra products, and have the ability to chop and change as they wish. They simply walk around the store using their smartphone. A dynamically determined smart coupon can be automatically redeemed to reward them for their loyalty, and a truly personalised promotion can increase their basket size, without just giving away margin.

It’s a domino effect.

True Personalisation The total capability from true personalisation for a customer to do business exactly as they choose demands total efficiency from the retailer. The retailer needs to optimise their stock handling so they don’t disappoint customers across any channel.

Their retail system should automate the handling of store forecasting, reducing the staff need, and releasing them to serve their customers in-store.

With improved service levels of products for the retailer, they reduce the wastage of items, protecting their margins.

BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA) has announced a new partnership with global online payments company, Intelligent Payments (IPG).

BOIPA, a technology alliance between Bank of Ireland and EVO Payments International, specialises in providing card payment facilities. Founded in early 2015, the Dublin-based company is now looking to build on the recent success of its physical payment business and replicate this model online. The partnership will see BOIPA process online payments via IPG’s e-commerce gateway. IPG specialises in providing tailored solutions for merchants with specific sector needs. This had been driven by its experience with complex gaming merchants where they have developed advanced fraud tools and superior mobile commerce solutions for high-volume merchants.

Pictured are (l-r): Conor Quirke, Group CEO of IPG and Brian Cleary, General Manager of BOIPA at the announcement of the new partnership between BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA) and global online payments company, Intelligent Payments (IPG).

Cashless transactions in Ireland are currently valued at over €35 billion per year. Within this, the Irish e-commerce market was valued at €4.3 billion in 2015 and this is expected to rise to €5 billion in 2016.

Mobile shopping alone accounted for €1.4 billion of this in 2015, and this is on course to eclipse €2.7 billion in 2016.

52|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Technology: Cashless Self-Checkouts

CBE Installs Cashless Self-Checkouts at UK Spar Store A convenience store at Lancaster University has become the first Spar store in the UK and Ireland to install cashless self-checkouts from CBE. JAMES Hall & Co. Ltd has partnered with CBE to install cashless self-checkouts at one of its busy independent Spar convenience stores.

The store at Lancaster University becomes the first Spar store in the UK and Ireland to install Cashless Self-Checkouts.

James Hall & Co. is a Spar wholesaler and distributor, serving over 580 stores in the North of England and was investigating ways to improve speed of service and reduce queues within their busy sites.

Initially James Hall & Co. updated their point-of-sale software to CBE’s FutaTill solution, which brought many benefits to the store operations. However, they still needed a solution to reduce the queues in the store and provide additional checkout options without increasing labour costs.

CBE, who are an advanced solution provider for NCR, carried out an in-depth site survey in order to identify the store’s suitability for self-checkout.

Meeting Changing Customer Requirements Following the survey and a consultation phase with James Hall & Co. management and the store, it was agreed that they install the NCR Cashless Self-Checkout solution, which seamlessly integrates to the CBE POS solution already in operation.

“We needed to radically rethink how we wanted the stores to operate,” admitted Sheridan Hindle, IT Director at James Hall & Co. “Our customer requirements have changed, as they are more technology savvy than ever before.

Customers now welcome new innovations and people really dislike queuing. As such, the option of installing the NCR Cashless Self-Checkouts based on CBE’s research filled us with both excitement and apprehension!”

Increased Speed of Service Dominic Feeney, CBE’s Systems Director, explained: “We recently partnered with NCR, the global leader in retail self-checkout, to offer self-checkout to the independent retail sectors in Ireland and the UK. It was at this time that James Hall & Co. approached us about ways to reduce their queues and increase speed of service. Our research, both global and

The cashless self-checkouts installed at Spar Lancaster University have proved extremely successful, with almost 30% of customers using them on a daily basis.

national, pointed towards cashless self-checkout as being an ideal solution.”

The owners of Spar Lancaster University were very enthusiastic about the project, noted Sheridan Hindle: “Thankfully it’s been extremely successful, with almost 30% of customers using it on a daily basis. It has also more than doubled the credit card usage to 38% of store purchases, which we are delighted with. We certainly plan to install more self-checkouts in our stores in the coming months and it will undoubtedly become an integral part of our customer offering.”

For more information, contact CBE on 1890 373000 or info@cbe.ie.

About CBE CBE is a pioneer of retail technology, with experience built over three decades. Serving the UK and Irish markets, CBE has a proven track record in developing solutions for retailers to handle the complexities of today’s market within the supermarket, convenience, forecourt and hospitality sectors. To speak with a CBE representative call 1890 373000, email info@cbe.ie or visit www.cbe.ie.

Innovators in Retail Technology Award winning solutions for the supermarket, convenience, newsagent, off licence and forecourt sectors

Helping retailers reduce costs and maximise profitability with proven EPoS solutions.

T: 1890 373000 (ROI) / 0800 7314591 (UK/NI) E: info@cbe.ie W: www.cbe.ie

@CBE_EPoS /company/cbe-ltd

54|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Technology: EPoS

EPoS Innovations from Retail Solutions Retail Solutions are leaders in EPoS innovation, from cash handling to website integration and mobile access.

WITH over 20 years’ experience developing innovative EPoS products for retailers in many sectors, including convenience, supermarket, forecourts, hospitality, hardware and pharmacy, Retail Solutions continues to outperform its competitors.

Already a market leader in Ireland, Retail Solutions has managed to expand rapidly in recent years in both the UK and Australia. This expansion can be attributed in particular to the robust performance of their innovative software products. “Retail Solutions know that our customers still face many challenges in the modern commercial environment, including cash loss, online sales integration and remote access connectivity to their back office systems,” said Padraig Nolan, Retail Solutions Business Development Manager.

“The following innovative additions to our product portfolio will support our customers as they address these matters.”

Smart Till The SmartTill Cash Management Solution is the first intelligent cash drawer on the market that automates cash handling, improves security and frees up staff to focus on customer-facing activities. This pioneering technology has the ability to count all notes and coins automatically within seconds of the cash drawer being closed.

With SmartTill Technology, all cash handling activities are recorded with a date and time stamp, as well as information on the cashier responsible, providing full accountability for every transaction. The SmartTill Solution alerts store managers and supervisors of any discrepancy, immediately after the incident has occurred. This assists retailers by making significant savings when it comes to cash loss, with reductions of up to 90% being achieved by retailers who have the SmartTill cash management solution installed.

Website Integration to EPoS Many retailers now derive at least a portion of their sales from online channels, while maintaining a high street presence. This emerging trend is simplified by Retail Solutions Web Link, which enables integration between your internal EPoS systems and the commercial website.

Retail Solutions Web Link is an interface for the outside world to interact with your business via your web site.

Essentially, your web site becomes an additional till and as

such, has all the same reporting facilities as the physical tills within the store.

Rs-Link is a Web Service that will send and receive data to and from the Retail Solutions Enterprise Back Office, allowing you to operate an effective online offering with order fulfilment at store level.

Retail Solutions Mobile App The development of the RS Mobile App enables customers to access their EPoS system from anywhere in the world through their smart phone or tablet. All relevant EPoS reports in terms of margin analysis, sales drill-down, and stock are available for review and investigation, therefore affording retailers the opportunity to never lose contact with what’s happening in their business, regardless of location.

“Retail Solutions are dedicated to delivering world class innovation to our customers throughout the world,” Nolan concluded. “Our continued success is a result of our commitment to developing innovative EPoS products on a foundation of first class customer service, value for money and after sales support.”

For more information, contact Padraig Nolan on 086 9170571, email padraig.nolan@retailsolutions.ie or visit www.retailsolutions.ie.

Surge in Contactless Usage in Ireland

VISA Europe recently announced the momentous surge in contactless usage in Philip Konopik, Ireland Country Manager, Ireland since Visa Europe, and Eilis Firth, Re.Store the payment Brand Manager, Topaz. threshold was increased to €30 in October 2015, with 25m Visa debit transactions made in Ireland in just six months. The number of weekly transactions with Visa debit cards doubled from over 600,000 to 1,300,000 in the space of six months up to the end of March. As a result, two contactless transactions with a Visa debit card are now made every second in Ireland, with usage rates continuing to rise. The increase in the payment threshold has enabled Re.Store at Topaz to become one of the top 10 Visa debit contactless retailers in Ireland as usage rates have quadrupled in petrol stations.

The Market Leader in EPOS Technology SUPERMARKETS & CONVENIENCE STORES. FORECOURTS - WET STOCK MANAGEMENT. TANK GAUGE INTEGRATION. CREDIT/FUEL CARD INTEGRATION. PUBLICATIONS RETURNS MANAGEMENT. ENTERPRISE BACK OFFICE. MULTI-WHOLESALER FILE LINK-UP. MARGIN CONTROL WITH DRILL DOWN ANALYSIS. ELECTRONIC PURCHASE ORDERING. LIVE STOCK CONTROL. REMOTE LOGIN TO YOUR BACK OFFICE. EPOS INTEGRATION TO ON-LINE SALES. PHARMACY POINT OF SALE. CUSTOMER LOYALTY MODULES.

Unit 25-26, N17 Business Park, Tuam, Co. Galway Tel: 093 23900 Fax: 093 70108 Email: info@retailsolutions.ie Lo-Call: 1890 RETAIL – 1890 738245 www.retailsolutions.ie

OPEN UP YOUR OFF LICENCE TO BETTER VALUE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS & BETTER MARGINS FOR YOU

Barry Group, Upper Quartertown, Mallow, Co. Cork Contact: David O’Keeffe 086-7740885 www.barrygroup.ie

56|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Bloom 2016

Record Year for Bloom The June bank holiday weekend saw a record attendance at Bloom, with nearly 115,000 people visiting the 70-acre site.

ALMOST 115,000 people attended Bord Bia’s Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park, Dublin over the June bank holiday weekend.

“It is clear that Bloom has become an important fixture in Ireland’s summer calendar, with visitors enjoying the very best of Ireland’s food and horticulture industry,” enthused Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive, Bord Bia. “Since our first Bloom event in 2007, the festival has doubled in size. We’ve welcomed over 800,000 people to the show, showcased over 280 show gardens and hosted thousands of Irish food and drink producers. Over the years, the show has evolved and all of us in Bord Bia are truly proud of our Bloom show and what it represents today. It provides us with an invaluable platform to highlight the creativity and passion that characterises our world-class horticulture and food industry.”

Business is Blooming Artisans, exhibitors and garden designers alike have enjoyed a busy and productive time at Bloom 2016, with many reporting huge interest and buoyant sales onsite.

Independent studies in recent years have shown that the onsite sales at Bloom have been valued at over €7m each year.

In the Food Village, many food producers sold out daily and had to travel to restock their stands, with ProU travelling to Wexford to get more yogurt and the Bretzel Bakery’s William Despard making eight-mile round trips on his bike to his base in Portobello, Dublin, to replenish multiple times a day. Kildare’s Brady Family Ham reported sales of 1lb of ham a minute, while the Dublin Cookie Co. and Killowen Yogurt both sampled 5,000 cookies and yogurts each. Mr Jeffares Blackcurrants from Wexford were awarded 'Best Stand' within the Bord Bia Food Village The revamped Food Village at Bloom was the biggest to date. In addition to a number of food stalls and ever popular Chef’s Quality Kitchen stage, visitors had the opportunity to enjoy a craft beer or Irish spirit at the

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Aidan Cotter, Bord Bia CEO, pictured at Bloom.

Bloom Inn, dine indoors at Bistro Bloom or the Country Crest Restaurant and sample the best of the Love Irish Food tent.

This year, new features included a large BBQ area, sponsored

by Dawn Meats, an interactive Origin Green feature and a bigger and better GIY Zone, including the new Food Matters Stage.

Some of the food and drink highlights included the launch of ProU, a new fortified yogurt range from Wexford-born duo, Michael and Jane Murphy of M&J Nutrition Ltd. The product, produced by Killowen Farm, offers some key nutritional benefits for bone and muscle health for mid-life onwards. New biscuit venture, East Coast Bakehouse used Bloom to test new flavours and trial its first biscuit products, completed just in time for the show. Wicklow Way Wines, Ireland’s first fruit winery, launched Ireland’s first ever Strawberry Wine at Bloom 2016. Pip & Pear baby food celebrated its first year in business by ‘pearing’ up with a children’s charity to donate €5,000.

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Bloom 2016 Strawberry Sales are Bloomin'

IRISH strawberry sales are bloomin' according to figures released on day three of Bord Bia's Bloom festival. Retail sales have increased by almost 20% year on year, with over 7.7m kgs sold in the last 12 months, valued at €74.3m (Source: Kantar). The increased sales figures are welcome news for the industry for National Strawberry Week, which took place from June 6-12, organised by the Irish Soft Fruit Growers Association in conjunction with Bord Bia and the IFA. “The growth in consumption is fantastic news for the industry, and a reward for the hard work, time and effort they've invested to help grow the category,” said Michal Slawski, Development and Marketing Specialist, Bord Bia. "Strawberries are an increasingly popular choice among consumers as a tasty, low calorie, convenient snack.”

Bord Bia Business Breakfast Over 200 national and international food buyers attended the Bord Bia business breakfast at Bloom, aimed at showcasing the best of Irish food and drink produce. The food buyers travelled from all across Ireland, the UK and even the Middle East to meet, in a speed dating style, more than 110 Irish producers participating in this year's show.

The buyers arrived onsite two hours ahead of the general public to allow sufficient time to engage with the companies and sample the produce before the crowds.

Mr Jeffares Blackcurrants from Wexford won 'Best Stand' within the Bord Bia Food Village, sampling over 10,000 Vitamin C shots: Pictured are Des Jeffares, Maurice Jeffares and Robert Kellar.

In addition to strong representation from Irish retail groups, speciality stores, hotel industry and foodservice outlets, top-end UK retailers including Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason also participated. Six buyers from the Middle East, who are with Bord Bia for a week-long trade visit, also attended the breakfast, hoping to find new, innovative Irish food products suitable for export.

The business breakfast at Bloom has a proven track record for delivering major new business. At a similar event last year, Killowen Yogurt from Wexford signed a deal to supply Aer Lingus, while Maria Lucia Bakes (homemade, wheat-free granola) secured business with Dalata Hotel Group, Ireland's largest hotel group. According to Bord Bia, the buyers were hugely impressed with the quality and selection of new, innovative products available within the Food Village.

16,340 people experienced Bord Bia’s new Origin Green sustainability feature and learned what Irish food producers are doing to protect the environment.

Love Irish Food Pavilion The Love Irish Food pavilion returned to the food village at Bloom this year, with 20 homegrown brands featuring in the marquee, which was 30% larger than last year.

The companies included some who are new to Bloom, like McCambridge Bread, Ginos Gelato, O’Donnells Crisps, Coole Swan, Spice of Life, Wicklow Rapeseed Oil and Maria Lucia Bakes.

There were also a number of new products launched at the Love Irish Food pavilion this year, including, cookies from East Coast Bakehouse, Pro U protein yogurt and Nutraplenish East Coast Bakehouse used Bloom to nutrition products. test new flavours and trial its first biscuit Other exhibitors products, completed just in time for the show. included: Brodericks, Ballymaloe Relish, The Jelly Bean Company, Manor Farm, Golden Irish Eggs, Flahavans, McGargles Beers, Coffee House Lane, Dairymaid and Frytex.

GIY Food Matters Stage A brand new addition this year was the GIY ‘Food Matters’ stage, which put thoughtprovoking discussions and debate on food at the heart of Bloom, with over 30 food writers, growers, chefs and food industry specialists offering their insights Pictured are Jack (7) and Sophia (5) on key food issues. The McCormick from Castleknock at the programme included Love Irish Food pavilion at Bloom. debates about food waste, putting food on the school curriculum, hospital food, real bread, fermentation, Origin Green, food chain sustainability and much more. GIY teamed up with Bord Bia, the Irish Food Writers Guild, and sponsors Cully & Sully and innocent to deliver the event. Some of those taking part included GIY founder, Michael Kelly, Rory O’Connell from Ballymaloe Cookery School, Dr Ciara Kelly from Operation Transformation and a panel of celebrity CEOs.

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Newspaper Research

INM Launches Industry Research Study 25% of all sales delivered by media are driven by print advertising, and every €1 spent in print advertising returns up to €39 for the retail industry, according to the results of a new study by Independent News & Media.

INDEPENDENT News & Media published key research findings from its new Customer Research Strategy at the Marker Hotel, Dublin, recently.

To better prepare for the changing advertising and media landscape, INM focused on gaining a deeper understanding into its readers by gaining more customer insights. This new customer research strategy led to the most comprehensive research project that has been carried out to date in the media industry in Ireland, with over 13,000 face-to-face interviews with newspaper buyers, at the point of purchase, over the past 12 months. Developed in association with Amárach Research, the study provides unique insights into the contemporary newspaper buyer market.

INM also wanted to establish how important the print channel was in the overall marketing mix, hence the commission of an Econometrics study, over three years of research across 20m data points. This study was carried out in association with Ignite research. The data shows that the print channel continues to be a pivotal element in the marketing mix, delivering a significant return on investment across all key sectors.

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Print advertising also acts as an influential conduit, driving customers to other channels; On average, 10% of landing page visits are delivered by print advertising; On average, 20% of payper-click sales (PPCS) originate from print advertising.

Retail Sector Mairead Kearns, Head of Sales, Print advertising INM. returns up to €39 for every €1 spent for the retail category; • In retail, print advertising is up to 1.5 times more effective than radio advertising in delivering return on investment.

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Other Sectors • Print advertising is up to twice as effective as TV advertising in delivering return on investment in the automotive sector, according to the research, which also found that 38% of test drives in the motoring industry are as a direct result of print advertising • In the travel sector, print advertising returns up to €35 for every €1 spent, and 21% of online travel sales are achieved through print advertising, with 10% of total travel online visits driven by print advertising.

Pictured are (l-r): INM CEO, Robert Pitt, Lia Bresnihan, Head of Digital Marketing, and Orla Deane, Trade Marketing Manager.

This research finds that 25% of all sales delivered by media are driven by print advertising and that every €1 spent in print advertising returns up to €39 for the retail sector.

Some of the key findings of the report include: Print Channel • Print advertising drives 25% of all sales delivered by media;

INM Titles When it comes to INM titles, the research revealed that readers spend 70 minutes reading the Irish Independent and 101 minutes reading the Sunday Independent, against an industry average of 66 minutes. 83% of Irish Independent newspaper readers buy the paper as often as they always did.

Irish people have a strong emotional attachment with INM’s newspaper brands through their supplements, with readers scoring them between 7 and 9, (where 0 = don’t care if you read it and 10 means you couldn’t go a week without reading it). Finally, readers believe that INM titles offer enormous value for money, scoring INM newspapers 8 out of 10 or more.

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What's New NIVEA MEN PROTECT & CARE NIVEA Men Protect & Care Anti-Perspirant is the latest addition to Nivea’s deodorant collection, giving extra protection and gentle Nivea care to underarms. Strong on sweat but soft on skin, Nivea Men Protect & Care Anti-Perspirant works to provide 48-hour protection, while containing the familiar ingredients of the classic Nivea Creme, a nostalgic scent which has been in our homes for over 100 years. The result: comfortably dry, yet smooth skin, meaning you no longer need to compromise on protection. The Nivea Men Protect & Care Anti-Perspirant is packaged in the instantly recognisable blue, available as a spray, roll-on and stick. See www.nivea.ie or www.facebook.com/niveaireland for more information.

BURTON’S LAUNCHES MARYLAND CREATIONS BURTON’S Biscuit Company is announcing a new look for Maryland, combining its special treat brands into a single premium range, Maryland Creations. The new-look Maryland Creations range also marks the introduction of a new SKU, Maryland Creations Choc Dipped, a first for the Maryland brand, featuring a milk and dark chocolate chunk cookie half-coated in milk chocolate. Alongside Choc Dipped, the new-look range will also be joined by what Burton’s Biscuit Company is describing as ‘the next development in filled cookies’: Maryland Soft Centres will use Burton’s industry leading technology to create large crunchy cookies, filled with a smooth milk chocolate cream. Maryland Soft Baked will also join the range with a new Fudge Choc Brownie variant, while Maryland Big & Chunky completes the lineup with improved recipes for its leading Milk & Dark and Hazelnut Crunch variants.

L&M & YOUR SALES PHILIP Morris, the makers of Marlboro, bring you L&M, the number one selling cigarette brand in the below premium segment in the EU (Source: PMI Estimates 2015). L&M is available in Red (Full Flavour) and Blue (Smooth Flavour) at incredible value and a great trade margin. In Ireland, the low price segment of the tobacco category currently holds 22.21% share of volume (Nielsen 12 month MAT Sales April 2016) and the segment has grown by 2.23% in the last 12 months (Source: Nielsen scan track report April 2016). Since its launch into the Irish market, L&M has positioned itself as the strong value brand, at €8.75 (Retail Price Guide, April 2015), offering adult smoker customers better value for money than other low priced brands, whilst giving you a better trade margin of 9.33% (trade margin for purchases through distributor John Player based on RRP April 2016). For more information, contact your John Player Representative or trade sales on (01) 2434900.

MOY PARK CHICKEN SENSATIONS MOY Park has secured a new contract with Tesco Ireland to supply its new Moy Park Chicken Sensations range. Described as a new twist on the classic and much loved Chicken Kiev, the Chicken Sensations range was developed by Moy Park in response to consumer demand for innovative products that offer a new alternative for meal-time occasions. The new range uses 100% chicken breast and is available in three varieties: Garlic and Herb, Cheese and Bacon and Piri Piri. “It is fantastic to have secured this contract with Tesco Ireland for Chicken Sensations,” said Briege Finnegan, Brand Marketing Manager for Moy Park. “Sales of the range have gone from strength to strength since the launch in GB earlier this year. Innovation is at the heart of our product development and Chicken Sensations is a great example of this.”

UNCLE BEN’S RICE & GRAINS RANGE UNCLE Ben’s are running a ‘Make a Healthier Plate with Ben’ campaign. The campaign aims to inspire people to cook healthier, more nutritious meals with Ben and enable them to make small, realistic changes to their plate, reaping health and taste benefits. The Rice & Grains range is cooked, ready to heat and eat wholegrains and quinoa, and includes: Wholegrain & Quinoa; 5 Whole grains; Rice Medley; Wholegrain & Quinoa Tomato & Basil; Wholegrain & Quinoa Pinto Bean & Chilli ; Wholegrain & Quinoa Soy & Ginger. The campaign is founded in the robust health credentials of wholegrain and grains and is inspired by the healthy eating plate, a new tool that complements the food pyramid as an easy way to translate healthy eating recommendations directly to our plates. To help show the nation some great ways to cook with the new range, Uncle Ben’s has teamed up with a panel of ‘Healthy Pairs’, who share one thing in common, a passion for tasty, healthy food. See www.facebook.com/unclebensireland/ for more information.

CADBURY DAIRY MILK MEDLEY CADBURY Dairy Milk Medley is a new, exciting, multiple taste experience that aims to drive new growth in small tablets. Cadbury Dairy Milk Medley combines visible, highquality ‘onclusions’ and a soft chocolate centre, wrapped in delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate. Inspired by the end of the day when there’s time for relaxation and pleasure, the visually beautiful and sumptuous tasting product will be available in two 93g tablets – the first with dark chocolate chips, biscuit and fudge pieces, and the second with dark chocolate chips, caramelised hazelnuts and raspberry pieces. Cadbury Dairy Milk Medley will be supported by a huge €400,000 marketing campaign in 2016, including TV, sampling, outdoor, digital, PR and in-store activity.

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Drinks News Fun in the Sun for Coca-Cola HBC Campus 5k

MORE than 300 runners, walkers and joggers turned out on Sunday, May 29, for the Coca-Cola HBC Campus 5k, raising much needed funds for Foróige and the young people of Dublin 15. Sunshine and entertainment made for a fantastic day at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, with the 5k accompanied by a 1k Family Fun Run and music by local DJ club The Faders. Phoenix FM’s Joe O’Connor was also on hand to offer motivation and support for all participants as they crossed the finishing line. This community event was supported by Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, whose Dublin office employs almost 300 people in nearby Ballycoolin. Pictured is Jack Sullivan (left) with Coca-Cola HBC employees and participants (l-r): Louise Sullivan, Ciara Cashen, Oonagh Gildea, Orla Heffernan and Noel Ryan.

DIAGEO CEO LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE DIAGEO Chief Executive, Ivan Menezes launched the new DrinkIQ interactive experience at the Guinness Storehouse, St James’ Gate, Dublin, recently. DrinkIQ is a resource and training programme designed to help individuals make responsible and informed choices about drinking or not drinking. The DrinkIQ interactive experience is a unique tool which will provide people with information including how alcohol effects the body, alcohol’s place as part of a balanced lifestyle and nutrition, calorie and alcohol content information for alcoholic beverages, including Diageo products. “This new interactive exhibit is an engaging way to share responsible drinking information and will allow us to educate huge numbers of people at the home of one of our iconic global brands,” said Ivan Menezes, pictured (second from left), with Mark Sandys, Global Head of Beer and Baileys; Oliver Loomes, Country Director Ireland; and Paul Carty, Managing Director, Guinness Storehouse.

Lidl’s Nine Wine Winners LIDL scooped nine awards at the prestigious International Wine Challenge for its own brand wines. Lidl scooped two Silver and four Bronze medals, as well as three Commended awards.

Leading the way were the Silver winners Lidl’s Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut (pictured) and Cepa Lebrel Rioja Reserva 2011. The Bronze Medal winners were Armilar Ruby Port 19%, Chianti Classico Riserva 2010, Cimarosa Chenin Blanc 2015 and Valpolicella 2013. Commended were Cimarosa Australian Shiraz, Cimarosa New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2015 and Prosecco Superior Extra Dry 2015. “Winning such prestigious awards is a huge endorsement of the work that has gone into producing our own brand ranges and is also a testament to our policy of sourcing the highest quality wines for our customers,” said Claire Moran, Senior PR Manager for Lidl Ireland.

HI-SPIRITS SIGNS DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH TOORANK

A NEWLY agreed partnership sees Hi-Spirits become the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Dutch spirits producer Toorank. This includes private label spirits, challenger brands supplied to major retailers and the independent off-trade, and premium brands, principally Sloane’s Gin (pictured). “The addition of Toorank adds significant volume to our already sizeable off trade business, and we are confident we can grow it further,” said Dan Bolton, Managing Director of Hi-Spirits. “It also gives us the opportunity to work even more closely with multiple retailers, cash & carries and discounters on private label and NPD projects, where we see significant opportunities.”

Aldi Sauvignon Blanc Wins Gold ALDI’S Exquisite Collection Chilean Sauvignon Blanc 2015 has won a Gold medal at the 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards. Now available in 124 Aldi stores nationwide, priced €8.99, the Exquisite Collection Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is from the Casablanca Valley in Chile and is part of Aldi’s core wine collection. Aldi had a total of 22 award winning wines at the DWWA in 2016, including three Silvers, 13 Bronze winners and five Commended Awards. The Silver medal winners were Exquisite Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Lot 12 Chenin Blanc and Lot 08 Colchagua Carmenere 2012, while the Bronze medal winners were: Exquisite Collection Clare Valley Riesling, Exquisite Collection Hunter Valley Semillon, Lot 11 Metarie du Bois, Tudor Shiraz, Andre Vannier Chablis Premier Cru, Andre Vannier Chablis, Exquisite Collection Cabernet de Cabernet, Exquisite Collection Chardonnay, Exquisite Collection Marsanne, Exquisite Collection Merlot, Lot 15 Grés de Montpellier, Veuve Monsigny Brut Rosé and Exquisite Collection Limoux.

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Dairy

The Dairy Best

Ireland’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost dairy producers is something to be very proud of.

IRELAND is one of the foremost dairy producers right across the globe. Our 18,000 milk producers and herd of 1.1m dairy cows creates €3.1 billion worth of dairy products every year, 85% of which is exported to 140 countries across the world.

Ireland’s reputation as a producer of world class dairy is one to be cherished and celebrated, as is the fact that we have the lowest carbon footprint for milk produced in the EU. The end of milk quotas in 2015 after 31 years meant that Irish dairy farmers and manufacturers could look forward to the future with renewed confidence, despite the international downturn in dairy markets in recent years.

Indeed, Ireland will produce a whopping 7.5 billion litres of milk annually by 2020 if we achieve the expected 50% increase in production brought about by the abolition of milk quotas.

All of this is good news for Irish dairy farmers and the companies they supply. But what of the Irish consumer and the retailer?

Drinking milk products experienced current value growth of 3% in 2015, with sales reaching €592m, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International, who also reveal that cheese sales increased by 4% in 2015, reaching €216m, and yogurt and sour milk products experienced value growth of 1% in 2015, reaching €230m.

Euromonitor predict growth across the category, with drinking milk products expected to see annual growth

rates of 1%, reaching €622m in 2020; cheese expected to achieve annual growth of 3%, giving it a value of €253m by 2020, while yogurts and sour milk drinks predicted to rise to €246m over the same period. Meanwhile other dairy products, including Fromage Frais, are estimated to be worth €142m in 2015, rising to €154m by 2020.

A competition to identify and reward the country’s top dairy farm is underway, with dairy co-ops throughout the country nominating their top milk suppliers for the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards (www.qualitymilkawards. ie).

“Irish dairy produce has a superb reputation for quality in global markets,” said Jeanne Kelly, Kerrygold spokesperson. “In Ireland, many of us take it for granted that we have countryside with so many fields of grass – but our green countryside is a tremendous asset because the pasture-based model of dairy farming is a vital ingredient for the success of the Kerrygold brand worldwide.”

National judge, Professor Pat Wall from UCD said consumers in Ireland are fortunate to have access to fresh top quality milk everyday for their breakfast and for their coffee or tea. “We are the envy of consumers in many other countries,” said Professor Wall. “Our farmers are not only focused on producing quality milk but are addressing animal welfare and environmental protection and our award winners are role models for all the dairy farmers of Ireland and are phenomenal ambassadors for our industry.”

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Dairy Dairygold Butter Sticks New Dairygold Butter Sticks are pre-measured, easy to use, individually wrapped 100g real butter sticks: a brand new format to the butter segment from Dairygold, the market leading BSM brand worth over €30m RSV annually.

Made with a unique churned recipe, each Dairygold Butter Stick is individually wrapped to keep the butter tasting fresher for longer.

products, visit www.connachtgold.ie or www.facebook.com/ ConnachtGold.

Connacht Gold Low Fat Butter continued to perform particularly well throughout 2015.

Made with a unique churned recipe, new Dairygold Butter Sticks are individually wrapped to keep the butter tasting fresher for longer.

The butter segment is in growth at +4% year-on-year and this handy new format is ideal for those who don’t want to use a full block of butter in one go. It saves the messiness of cutting, removes the need for weighing when cooking or baking and most importantly, keeps butter fresher for longer. Dairygold Butter Sticks are available in a 300g pack (3 x 100g sticks), perfect for all spreading, cooking and baking needs.

Connacht Gold Connacht Gold Butter is performing well ahead of the category and is experiencing strong growth year-on-year.

This growth is a big endorsement for the brand, considering the total yellow fats category is experiencing a decline in value year-on-year, according to Nielsen Yellow Fats Data for 52 weeks to December 27, 2015.

Connacht Gold has invested in its brand through an integrated ‘real butter’ campaign over the past three years, with busy mum, business woman and popular blogger, Pippa O’Connor signed up as campaign ambassador for Connacht Gold’s most recent #lovethetaste campaign.

“Healthy eating is very important for me and my family, and Connacht Gold’s Low Fat Butter means we don’t have to compromise on taste to enjoy real butter with less calories. It is a natural product, with half the fat and no vegetable oils or chemically-treated fats,” O’Connor commented.

Connacht Gold Low Fat, Softer, Spreadable and Unsalted butters all continued to perform particularly well throughout 2015, while on its milk range, the brand introduced a new 500ml Protein Milk product – with 25g protein in every bottle.

For further information about Connacht Gold

ProU Yogurt Yogurt lovers in Ireland can now enjoy a new creamy farmhouse yogurt containing all natural ingredients and it has twice the protein and three times more calcium than regular yogurts. Wexford-born duo, Michael and Jane Murphy recently launched ProU, a new fortified yogurt that offers some key nutritional benefits for bone and muscle health for mid-life onwards. The product, produced by Killowen Farm, is the first product to be launched by M&J Nutrition Ltd, a start-up team of three, based in Dublin.

ProU yogurt was launched to consumers at the Bloom Festival, and is being sold through Dublin SuperValu stores since June 10, and is planned for Tesco stores later in the summer, with a wider roll-out planned for other stores later in the year.

The new product comes in 150g and 375g pots, and is available in four flavours, raspberry, strawberry, mango & passionfruit and natural, with an RRP of €1.29 and €2.89

Organic for Us Partners World Barista Championship AURIVO Consumer Foods’ Organic For Us milk brand has been named the official dairy sponsor of the World Barista Championship 2016 and dairy partner of the sensory experience at ReCo Dublin. The partnership sees Organic For Us whole milk being used by the world’s top baristas throughout the events in the RDS from June 21-25.

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Dairy World Milk Day

Michael and Jane Murphy, founders of M&J Nutrition, with the new ProU yogurt.

respectively.

“We see a real opportunity for dairy innovation and providing consumers with natural products that deliver a combination of health benefits and great taste,” said Michael Murphy, MD, M&J Nutrition Ltd. “Consumers are seeking natural, whole foods that are nutritionally good for them.

Each 150g pot contains more than 10g protein, all your daily Vitamin D requirements and over 80% of your daily calcium requirements.”

Ornua Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, recently published a review of its 2015 operational and financial performance.

Ornua delivered a strong performance in terms of both revenue generation and new business development, enabling the company to deliver new routes to market for Irish dairy products.

By building Kevin Lane, CEO of Ornua. routes to market for Irish dairy products, Ornua works to increase the value of Irish milk, and in doing so, delivers strong returns to the c.14,000 farmers it represents.

2015 highlights include a 9% increase in turnover to €2.5 billion, while group EBITDA (Earnings before interest,

JUNE 1 was World Milk Day, the 16th annual celebration by the United Nations’ Food & Agricultural Organisation.

Dr Marianne Walsh, Nutrition Manager at the National Dairy Council, advocates milk as a natural, delicious and nutritious drink which is an important component of a healthy, balanced diet.

“It’s well known that milk is an excellent source of calcium, which is a key nutrient for bone growth, development and maintenance. In fact, 99% of the body’s calcium is found in our bones and teeth,” says Dr Walsh.

“But there’s more to milk than calcium – with just one glass providing us with eight essential nutrients, each playing important roles for our health.”

Milk is a natural source of vitamins B2, B5 and B12, iodine, phosphorus, potassium, and protein. The emerging concept of the ‘milk matrix’ looks at how the various nutrients and components present in milk work together in synergy. This research explores how the health effects of these nutrients, combined in whole dairy foods may be more effective than the individual nutrients working in isolation.

Find out more about milk at www.ndc.ie, where you can also download a free e-book on the myths associated with milk and dairy, produced in association with Food for Health Ireland.

taxes, depreciation and amortisation) rose by 18% to €58.8m. This result includes a €9m increase in brand and market development investment which now totals €45m, and significant product price support to its members. The group closed the year with net debt of €17m and a very strong balance sheet with net assets of €526m, up 21% on prior year.

“We are very pleased to report a solid 2015 performance across our foods and ingredients businesses,” noted Kevin Lane, CEO of Ornua. “In the first year following the removal of EU milk quotas and the first year of the Ornua identity, we have delivered growth in existing and new markets. We are confident that, whilst recognising the challenging market conditions that exist, our business will continue to deliver strong returns and growth, thereby enhancing value for the farmers we represent.”

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Dairy: Northern Ireland Focus

The Dairy Air Invest NI highlight some of the Northern Irish dairy companies looking to make their mark in the Republic of Ireland, as part of Northern Ireland’s Year of Food & Drink 2016.

Abernethy Butter Established in 2005, the Abernethy Butter Company makes creamy hand churned butter daily on the family farm, located outside Dromara in County Down. Will and Allison Abernethy use locally sourced cream to produce 125g rolls which contain no additives or preservatives with a shelf life of 12 weeks. In addition, the butter is being used for handcrafting a creamy and smooth fudge, which won a UK Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food in 2011. In January 2013, Abernethy Butter went on sale at Fortnum and Mason in London.

Celebrity chefs such as Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing are now serving Abernethy Butter in the Fat Duck restaurant at Bray in Berkshire, The Berkeley Hotel and The Gilbert Scott restaurant in London. www.abernethybuttercompany.com

features raspberry, strawberry and toffee and caramel.

The company’s existing Greek style Clandeboye Estate natural and stirred yogurts are now listed by major retail multiples including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda, as well as symbol groups, such as Spar, and many independent stores.

Distributed by PRM Group, the range also includes the Heavenly Herd brand of layered yogurts, flavoured yogurt smoothies and luxury Greek style layered yogurt in 150g pots. www.clandeboye.co.uk

Clandeboye Estate Clandeboye Estate Yogurt, located on the historic Clandeboye Estate (2,000 acres of parkland owned by Lady Dufferin), uses milk from its own award-winning Holstein and Jersey herds to produce a range of natural, Greek style and flavoured artisan Yogurts. Clandeboye Yogurt, now the only cow's yogurt produced in Northern Ireland, is hand made using traditional techniques that provide a rich creamy texture without high fat content. The Greek style yogurt is also made in the traditional way by straining through cheesecloth to create a product with absolutely no thickening additives and therefore no added fats. In addition to natural and Greek yogurts, the Clandeboye Estate range

Dale Farm Dale Farm is one of the UK’s leading dairy processors and part of the United Dairy Farmers Group, a leading UK dairy co-operative owned by 1900 member farmers who supply it with over 1 billion litres of milk per year. Dale Farm produces a wide portfolio of consumer products and food ingredients across five manufacturing centres in the UK and exports worldwide to over 42 countries. Within the UK & Ireland,

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Dairy: Northern Ireland Focus Dale Farm supplies a wide range of dairy products into the retail and foodservice sectors under its own brands – Dale Farm, Dromona, Spelga, Rowan Glen, Dale Farm Lakeland, Dale Farm Ice Cream and Loseley. The company also provides a broad range of retailer own brand products.

Through its award-winning Dale Farm ingredients division, the company is a major player in the international food ingredients market, supplying major food processors in the UK, European and overseas dairy export market. www.dalefarm.co.uk Dart Mountain Cheese Company Dart Mountain Cheese Company, part of Tamnagh Foods, is an artisan cheese producer based in the Sperrin Mountains, in Northern Ireland. In June 2014 they launched their first cheese, Sperrin Blue, after the mountain range where they live. Sperrin Blue is made from locally sourced fresh cow’s milk and is handmade in small batches using traditional methods, and then aged for up to six months to maximise flavour before release.

October 2014 saw the release of their second cheese, Dart Mountain Dusk, an ash coated semi hard pasteurised cow's milk cheese, aged for a minimum of four months.

Their product range also includes Kilcreen, an Alpine style cheese, semi hard with a nutty taste; Banagher Bold, semi hard cow’s milk cheese, washed with a local Irish craft ale; and Tirkeeran, a hard cow’s milk cheese, aged for at least seven months. Distributed by Henderson Foodservice, Dart Mountain Cheese Company are members of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association, the UK Guild of Fine Food, and the Taste of Ulster. www.dartmountaincheese.com Farmview Dairies Ltd Formed in 1978 and cradled in the lush pastures of the Castlereagh Hills, Farmview Dairies produce liquid milk, cream, buttermilk and orange juice. In order to minimise their carbon footprint, raw milk is sourced from selected producers within a five-mile radius of the dairy. Products are manufactured in an EC approved facility and recent innovations include the launch of a leak proof cap on all polybottles. Farmview Dairies supply a range of products specifically for the catering trade, including: bulk cream, pergall milk, as well as bulk packs of buttermilk, cheese, milk, etc. In addition, Farmview Dairies supply products to a range of cafes, hotels, restaurants and bakeries. www.farmviewdairies.com Glanbia Cheese Ltd Glanbia Cheese Ltd is the number one European supplier of pizza cheese solutions to the European pizza industry, with unrivalled patented and proprietary technology.

Established in the early 1980s, Glanbia has continued to grow alongside the pizza industry in Europe. In 2000, the

company formed a joint venture with Leprino Foods Inc, the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese.

This has resulted in propriety technology transfer of significant capital investment within the company’s two UK production facilities. This has given the company a unique position in Europe in terms of plant efficiencies, product consistency and new product development opportunities. Over the past number of years, they have developed a large and sustainable business that generates sales revenue in excess of Stg£100m, whilst at the same time providing ongoing secure employment for over 320 staff, 160 of who are based in Northern Ireland. Over 99% of output is exported from Northern Ireland. www.glanbiacheese.co.uk Glastry Farm Ice Cream The Taylor family have been farming dairy cows and producing milk since 1856 at Glastry Farm on the lush green pastures of the Ards Peninsula in County Down.

Will Taylor, a fifth generation dairy farmer, is the man behind Glastry Farm Ice Cream and the premium milk from his pedigree HolsteinFriesian dairy herd is used to produce the richest, creamiest handcrafted ice-cream and creamy sorbets in Glastry Farm's modern processing plant. The range currently features 20 ice creams and four low-fat sorbets. Glastry’s luxurious award winning ice cream flavours include: Vanilla Bean and Kilbeggan, an Irish Whiskey based ice cream made from the award winning Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. Other ice-cream flavours include Rhubarb and Custard, Heavenly Chocolate and Berry Blueberry, Coconut, Cappuccino Milano and Raspberry and Lavender. Glastry’s sorbet range includes apple schnapps, champagne and raspberry ruffle and pear sorbet (2.5% fat in 500ml retail tubs) for the diet conscious consumers who still want to enjoy a delicious dessert.

The Glastry Farm Ice-Cream Slider, aimed at the foodservice market, is a layered terrine featuring the company’s popular rhubarb and custard, heavenly chocolate and berry blueberry ice-creams between two homemade shortbread biscuits. Glastry Farm’s range of ice creams and sorbets are distributed in ROI via Limerick Frozen Foods. www.glastryfarm.com Golden Cow Dairies Golden Cow Dairies Ltd was formed in 1916, by the Clarke family in Portadown. The company remained under family ownership for 73 years and is now a subsidiary of Kerry Group PLC. Over the years, the company’s two key brands, Golden Cow and Coleraine, have developed into some of Northern Ireland’s leading brands in the butter and cheese categories respectively. The main activities of the company, which is still at its original premises in Portadown, are production, sales and marketing and distribution. The company manufactures and markets a range of branded

66|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Dairy: Northern Ireland Focus

products to the retail and foodservice sectors. The main strengths of the company include leading local brands, a dedicated sales management team, a local product assembly picking and distribution operation, brand marketing and category management. Their range includes butter and dairy spreads, natural cheese, processed cheese, and children’s snacks. www.kerrygroup.ie Greenfields Ireland Ltd Greenfields Ireland Ltd is International dairy trading company, a leading supplier of dairy ingredients, specialist milk products and finished dairy products. Their portfolio includes dairy ingredients for industrial processing and branded dairy products for sale in catering, wholesale and retail markets, including butter, milk powder, cheese and whey products. www.greenfieldsireland.com Kearney Cheese Company Kearney Cheese, based at Portaferry, County Down, in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, was formed by blue cheese enthusiast Paul McClean, who turned his back on a successful career as a project manager to convert a lifelong love of blue cheese into an increasingly successful small business. Kearney Blue, a semi-hard cheese with a distinctive rind, an open texture and smooth, creamy flavour, was Northern Ireland’s first artisan blue cheese, and has proved a hit with leading delis and hotels in Northern Ireland. The cheese won a gold at the International Cheese Festival in Nantwich in 2011 and another gold award in the New Cheese category at the British Cheese Festival in Cardiff the following year. In December 2012, the company was acquired by Farmview Dairies, a leading local dairy business and this new relationship will provide greater scope to develop the blue cheese and to explore opportunities for other speciality cheeses. www.facebook.com/Kearney-Blue-Cheese-170861966294165/ Kerry Foods Kerry (Coleraine) specialises in the preparation and packing of processed cheese products and branded kids snacking yogurt products. The firm has a multi-million contract to supply cheese to fast food giant McDonald's, as well as supplying major supermarkets across the UK and the Republic. The site in Coleraine opened in 1946 and in 2000 it moved to a new state-of-the-art factory, which has its own wastewater treatment facility. The award-winning company is an integrated part of the Kerry Group, one of Northern Ireland's top 100 companies. Kerry Group also owns Leckpatrick Dairies in Omagh, as well as Portadownbased companies, Golden Cow and Henry Denny. www.kerrygroup.com

Leggygowan Farm Leggygowan Farm, a Northern Irish artisan cheese producer, based in Saintfield in County Down, was established in 2010 as part of a farm diversification project.

In 2012, the company run by Adam, Ryan and Jason Kelly launched a new goat’s blue cheese, Northern Ireland’s first and a new addition to an emerging farmhouse cheese sector. The success of the semisoft blue cheese with delis and farm shops encouraged the company to develop a white goat’s cheese and in June 2012, Leggygowan Farm added a new semi-hard goat’s cheese to its portfolio. The company uses milk from the farm’s 100-strong herd of pedigree goats, including Nubians, reared on the 20-acre farm. The company is also using its own goat’s milk to develop fudge and soap. www.leggygowanfarm.co.uk Linwoods Dairy Linwoods has been a supplier of premium fresh milk products since 1982, and has developed and grown its milk business across the independent retail trade in Northern Ireland. In 2004, Linwoods opened a new, state-of-theart, modern dairy at its operational site outside Armagh, which is equipped with the latest technology and up-to-date processing methods to create the best tasting and freshest range of milk products to satisfy all tastes. In November 2012, Linwoods launched Linwoods Super Healthy Milk, Europe’s first probiotic and vitamin-enriched fresh milk. The milk contains probiotic, known to help support the digestive and immune systems. It is low-fat and enriched with Vitamin D, E and K2, essential for strong bones and teeth.

Linwoods is also the very first dairy in Europe to fortify a milk with Vitamin K2. The company holds European exclusivity of the superior Ganeden BC30 strain of probiotic used in the new milk, which is sold in 1.5 litre cartons. www.linwoods.co.uk

Maud’s Ice Creams All Mauds Ice Creams are made from full cream milk, fresh cream and sugar and are flavoured using only the finest ingredients. The Aqua Irish Spring Water comes from a crystal clear natural spring, which has filtered for centuries through the Blue Basalt hills of County Antrim. The product range includes Scoop Ice Cream (4 litre), sorbets, 500ml ice cream tubs and spring water. Ice Cream Flavours include: Apple, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Banana Split, Belgian Milk Chocolate, Black Forest Gateau, Cappuccino Coffee, Creme Caramel, Flakey Fudge, Strawberries & Cream. Sorbet Flavours include: Forest Fruits, Sicilian Orange, Melon, Lemon & Peach. Water is bottled at source for Maud’s. www.mauds.co.uk

Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie|67

Dairy: Northern Ireland Focus Mike’s Fancy Cheese Michael Thompson established his artisan cheese company by raising £80,000 through crowd funding to become Northern Ireland's first raw-milk blue cheese manufacturer. Michael trained at the School of Artisan Food in England and worked in a dairy before returning to Northern Ireland to set up on his own.

He has also gained experience from Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of Britain’s biggest artisan cheese businesses, and from working at the Arcadia in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s award winning deli. Mike launched Young Buck, Northern Ireland’s first raw-milk artisanal blue cheese, in 2014 and is now supplying its Stichelton unpasteurised cheese to two highend outlets in Dublin – Sheridan Cheesemongers and Fallon and Byrne. In addition, Young Buck is now being stocked by the Cheeseboard in Greenwich, a specialist in artisan cheeses since 1985, and the Courtyard Deli in Cornwall.

The cheese is also being used on the cheeseboards and as an ingredient by top Irish chefs such as Niall McKenna and Danny Millar. www.mfcheese.com Morelli Ice Cream Artisan Italian ice-cream specialist, Morelli’s, has been making ice cream in Ireland since 1911 and now supplies the retail and foodservice markets. Originally from Frosinone, near Rome, Peter Morelli came to Northern Ireland at the end of the 19th century and started making and selling richly flavoured dairy ice cream using a secret family recipe. The Morelli family have been at the centre of the ice cream industry since and have become synonymous with high quality scoop ice cream, and the company supplies retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury, Mace and Costcutters, with a range of ice cream packs. Morelli's award winning ice cream comes in a variety of over 80 sumptuous and innovative flavours. Morellis use only the finest Italian natural flavours, pastes and fruit extracts. Additional ingredients are sourced from all over the world including the finest Belgian chocolates, the richest English fudge and the sweetest Canadian caramelised pecans. In October 2013, Morelli’s launched Northern Ireland’s first low-fat frozen yogurt, with a fat content of just four per cent, developed in collaboration with Clandeboye Estate Yogurt in Bangor, County Down. www.morellisices.com Pritchitts Pritchitts delivers specialist, value-added products to the global foodservice and bakery markets, including a wide range of high quality extended life and long life dairy products, which have been specially developed for caterers.

The company, which is based in Newtownards, County Down, with a marketing operation at Bromley, Kent, is the foodservice arm of Lakeland Dairies, one of Ireland's leading

Dairy Co-operatives. It has a range of products developed specifically for chefs and caterers, including minipots for airlines and other transport operators. Key brands are Millac, Roselle, Comelle and Viva and they include products that are essentially dairy based but in many cases have been enhanced to make them more user-friendly and cost-effective for the busy caterer. www.pritchitts.com Quinn’s Handmade Italian-Style Gelato Long established convenience retailers in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, where they opened their first shop in 1967, the Quinn family became renowned for their whipped ice cream, with customers coming into the town from miles around to taste ‘Quinn’s Ice Cream’. Soon scooped ice cream was introduced, complementing the whipped offering.

In 2011, the family began to make its own Italian-style Gelato. Quinn’s Artisan Gelato now comes in over 40 fantastic flavours, all retaining the famous hand-made quality and taste. The gelato and sorbets are available in 5-Litre wide Napoli dishes which help create the true ‘Italian Gelateria’ look. Their Gelato is lower in fat, higher in taste and looks scrumptious and includes flavours like Amalfi Lemon, Banoffee, Belgian Chocolate & Cherry, Chocolate Brownie, Macaroon, Parma Violet, Raspberry & White Chocolate and Raspberry Quella. www.facebook.com/QuinnsGelatoIceCream Strathroy Dairy The Strathroy name was first used on premium dairy products in 1923. The progressive Omagh-based dairy continues to operate as a family business and is committed to producing and distributing premium dairy products, including fresh milk, cream and buttermilk throughout the island of Ireland. Processing is subject to the most stringent of controls. From the intake of traceable milk to the delivery of temperature controlled finished product, every stage is HACCP controlled, earning Strathroy the approval of all statutory bodies. The first company in Ireland to introduce plastic jars into the dairy industry, Strathroy Dairy is committed to continuously developing innovative packaging solutions for its customers. Since its recent relaunch in a new re-sealable jar, Strathroy’s Fresh Cream has been listed by both Asda and Tesco in 250ml and 500ml formats. The company has also recently re-launched its range of Ayrshires Milk with a new black label, highlighting the premium nature of the product. The company also relaunched One Per Cent Milk, Buttermilk and Goat's Milk in Northern Ireland. Strathroy offer a wide range of dairy products, including: fresh milk (whole, semi, skim), organic milk, Premium Ayrshires Milk, 1% Milk, Goat’s Milk, Cream (whipping, single, double) and Buttermilk. Packaging includes a diverse range of paper and plastic packs from 250ml to 5-gallon boxes and for the manufacturer, bulk deliveries in 22,000 litre stainless steel containers. www.strathroydairy.com

68|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Forecourt Focus: News Festival Fever at Maxol

MAXOL is getting into the swing of things this summer by sponsoring five Irish festivals nationwide, following the company’s successful summer sponsorships in 2015. The summer of festivals kicked off with Belsonic at Titanic Belfast, with concert dates split between June and August (www.belsonic.com). Moving into July, lots of entertainment is expected at the Day Tripper three-day music festival, taking place from July 1-3 in Waterford, while the Irish Maritime Festival, held in Drogheda from July 9-10, is an ideal family day out, and the Spraoi Music and Arts Festival will provide a packed few days from July 29-31, again in Waterford. Finally, Indiependence Festival at Deer Park, Michelstown, Cork, will be a hive of musical activity from July 29-31, with acts like Bell X1, The Strypes, Walking On Cars and many more.

“We’re delighted to be at the heart of these exciting summer festivals and supporting our local communities. It doesn’t matter what your interest, be it music, food, art; there really is something for everyone at these summer events,” said Fergal Harrington, Group Brand Development Manager, Maxol.

As part of Maxol’s ‘Fuelling Your Summer’ forecourt competitions, Fergal Harrington, Maxol's Group Brand Development customers have the chance to get on Maxol’s event VIP guest list. See Manager (right) takes drum lessons on the forecourt www.maxol.ie for more information. of the recently opened Maxol Donabate.

Top Oil Opens New Service Stations JUNE 9 saw the grand opening of Kernan's Top Oil Service Station and Spar Express, Tullygay, Co. Donegal. The event proved a great day out, with Highland Radio broadcasting live from the site, and loads of great prizes given away throughout the day, as well as face painting for kids and tasty refreshments for adults. This comes hot on the heels of the opening of the new Top Oil Service Station in Caherslee, Tralee, at the end of May (pictured): see our Shop Profile on Page 26.

Bringing Moreish Home MAXOL is creating a culture of innovation at its company headquarters, located in the IFSC, Dublin City Centre. The company recently refurbished its offices and implemented its innovative café design and food concept, Moreish, Fresh Food at Maxol, by installing a replica Moreish café for staff to enjoy. Moreish is Maxol’s own food brand, which offers customers a variety of on-the-go or eat-in fresh food options, self-serve and barista coffee and specialty teas.

“As we continue to grow our share of the forecourt convenience sector in Ireland, it is important that we provide a modern Head Office environment and bring to life the experience that reflects our new retail offer for all of our employees,” noted Group Human Resources Manager, Catherine Noctor. “We saw no better way of doing this than by modernising our offices and installing our latest Moreish Café concept. The new staff café style kitchen has become the real hub and meeting place of the office culture. It very much brings the new Maxol brand to life for our Head Office team.”

Always FRESH MILK

Maxol Group Human Resources Manager, Catherine Noctor, pictured at Maxol Headquarters, IFSC.

and the SAME BEANS as our coffee shops

Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie|69

Forecourt Focus: News Applegreen Report Positive Start to 2016

APPLEGREEN reported a strong start to 2016 both in terms of trading and the development of the business. Speaking at the company’s AGM recently, Daniel Kitchen, Chairman, said, “Our business in Ireland has enjoyed a positive start, with trading volumes up in all categories of the business, particularly food. We continue to enjoy good growth in UK food sales amid a tough competitive landscape. Overall, the trading performance of the business for the first four months of the year has been in line with the Board's expectations.”

Since December 31, 2015, Applegreen has added 17 sites to its estate. In the Republic of Ireland, they opened three new Petrol Filling Stations ('PFS') and two new Service Areas, including one which was converted from a former PFS site, as well as six dealer sites. In the UK, they added four new PFS so far in 2016 and two Service Areas, including their latest Motorway Service Area in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on the M1, seven miles south of Belfast.

“Our pipeline of new PFS continues to be strong in both the Republic of Ireland and particularly in the UK,” Kitchen said. “We have also opened a new PFS in the Long Island region in the North East of the USA and have made good progress developing our presence in that region.”

He also announced the addition of Freshii, a Canadian concept, which provides fresh and nutritious meal choices that appeals to people on-the-go. The first Applegreen Freshii outlet will open in June in their Lusk MSA, heading north on the M1 out of Dublin.

“In summary, the Board is very satisfied with the progress and performance of the business for the first four months of the year,” the Chairman concluded. “This gives us confidence in our ability to meet our growth targets for 2016.”

Accquisition of Three Esso Sites Cleared by CCPC MAXOL has been cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for the acquisition of three service stations located on the Naas Road, Kill, Co. Kildare; Greenhills Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12; and the junction of the Naas Road and the Long Mile Road, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, all of which were formerly owned by Esso.

The latest additions to the Maxol network will see the company grow to 230 service stations across the country, with seven new sites in Leinster alone this year.

Commenting on this latest achievement for Maxol, Brian Donaldson, the incoming Group Chief Executive said: “This year is particularly exciting for Maxol as the success of our expansion strategy is evident in our multiple site openings of late and those in the pipeline. We are delighted to now add these three quality Leinster locations to our growing service station network from July 1. We have been keen to strengthen our presence in Leinster and these three stations will allow Maxol to serve a great many new customers in Ireland’s most densely populated region.”

Meanwhile, the company has announced the creation of 50 jobs in Mayo due to the restoration of Maxol Newport Road, Westport, and the opening of a new venture at Duffy’s Garage in Castlebar, both of which represent a combined investment in excess of €2m.

Pictured at Duffy’s Maxol, Castlebar, are Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group; Maxol Regional Manager, Des Duffy; Tom Meehan, licensee; Alan Pollock, Maxol Group Premises Development Manager; Thomas McMullan, Director, The Maxol Group; Ciaran Duffy, landlord; and Robert Lavelle, Comar Castle Construction.

To find out what Costa Express can offer you contact: ROI tel: 021 500 3526 NI tel: 02892 688349

70|Retail News|June 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Shelf Life THE Lily’s Tea Shop range is enjoying continuing success in partnership with the Musgrave Group. Following on from the success of the Food Academy programme, Lily's Teas will soon be available from the Musgrave Wholefoods Partners catalogue, bringing the range into hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and foodservice businesses throughout Ireland. In the last year, Lily has won two stars from the Great Taste Awards for her "Pure Green" tea pyramids, and a Blas na hEireann Award for her Cinnamint Blend pyramids.

IT’S now possible to enjoy the great taste of pizza guilt free! Centra has announced the arrival of the much anticipated high protein, low calorie and gluten free pizza, Musclefood Lean + High Protein. Developed by online health and fitness retailer Musclefood, the pizza range has been created for health conscious exercise fanatics. Sold exclusively in Centra stores nationwide, the range is testament to Centra’s Live Well programme, which commits to offering customers healthy choices when on the go. Each pizza contains around 600 calories and the same amount of protein as three chicken breasts and five times less carbohydrates than the average takeaway pizza. Fat content is much lower too, with each slice containing 2.4g of fat compared to 15.3g in the takeaway alternatives.

CATERING Disposables, the Irish owned provider of disposable packaging products, has announced the expansion of its premises to accommodate its rapid growth and future expansion plans. The new premises, located adjacent to its head office in Aerodrome Business Park, Rathcoole, County Dublin, will provide capacity for increased customer support, sales and services across the company. Valued at €4m, the new building adds an additional 50,000 square feet to the existing premises, totalling over 100,000 square feet. Along with additional warehouse and office space, they now have an open plan showroom to enable a walk-through experience for customers and they also have additional boardroom space to facilitate product and staff training.

AURIVO Co-op’s sports nutrition brand, For Goodness Shakes, has been named as one of the main sponsors of Hell & Back, Ireland's toughest physical and mental endurance challenge, attracting more than 21,000 participants throughout a series of adventure events.

To survive, HellRaisers must conquer all the elements thrown at them, whether that's the temperamental weather conditions, the gruelling natural environment or the torturous man-made obstacles, and sure to shake them up are two electric shock obstacles, courtesy of For Goodness Shakes!

Pictured are Leann Watters, Aurivo; Evelyn Garland, For Goodness Shakes Sales Developer; Aidan Walsh, General Manager, Alive Outside; and Edel Costello, Hell&Back devil.

GALAXY are the official sponsor of the 2016 Dublin Fashion Festival. The announcement reflects Galaxy’s long association with style and is the perfect fit as Galaxy is an accessible, everyday luxury and Dublin Fashion Festival showcases the best of Dublin’s fashion for all by transforming the city into its catwalk. This year the Dublin Fashion Festival will take place from September 6-11. “We feel that the festival is something that every Galaxy guy and girl can truly enjoy. We are delighted to be part of it and we will have some stylish surprises coming down the line,” said Eavan Hayes, Galaxy Marketing Manager at Mars. Pictured at the announcement is fashion designer Claire Lynam.

HULA Hoops have announce a partnership with Spinal Injuries Ireland to raise awareness and much needed funds for the charity’s crucial services.

Hula Hoops want to get Ireland hooping and are asking the public to share their Hula Hooping pictures and videos to Hula Hoops Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. The ‘Get Hooping’ campaign will see Hula Hoops make a contribution to SII for every person who hoops this summer! Fiona Bolger, CEO of Spinal Injuries Ireland, and Kevin Dempsey, SII Fund-raising Manager, are pictured with volunteers at Merrion Square at the launch of the Hula Hoops -Get Hooping campaign in support of Spinal injuries Ireland.

ARYZTA Food Solutions has announced the opening of its 100th Seattle’s Best Coffee site, having launched this new and exciting coffee concept in Ireland in March 2015. The 100th store in Spar, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, went live in early April and the feedback from both the customer and consumers has been extremely positive. The Seattle’s Best Coffee concept is ideal for the store, offering consumers a morning/afternoon confectionery offer with both Cuisine de France and Otis Spunkmeyer products to enjoy with their coffee. Seattle’s Best Coffee is made from 100% Arabica and Fairtrade coffee beans, which deliver a perfect medium roast and signature taste and has quickly become a firm favourite with Irish coffee consumers. Pictured are (l-r): Shane Vaughan, Marketing Manager, Aryzta Food Solutions; Ger Harte, store owner, Spar, Clonakilty; and Dom Moore, Business Developer, Aryzta Food Solutions.

COCOMOJO, the Northern Irish producer of coconut juices, water and oils, has launched two new products as well as additional flavours to existing lines. The new products from the company, based in Lisburn, County Antrim, are an Organic Coconut Sugar and an Organic Coconut Flour, following the recent launch of its own coconut oil. The additional flavours to its successful juices and water are: Ruby, pure young green coconut water with natural raspberry juice; Peary, pure young green coconut water with natural pear juice; and Bean, pure young green coconut water blended with coconut milk and coffee.

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WHAT’S YOUR SOUNDTRACK? At Abner Browns, they like the cut of The Hot Sprockets “They’re old school, but with a modern twist. Music influences our business big time. Our customers are getting way more than a haircut.”

DAVE JUDGE ABNER BROWNS BARBERSHOP, DUBLIN

Every business has its own unique soundtrack.

And when you pay your annual IMRO dual music licence you’re giving vital support to the musicmakers whose creativity powers your premises.

Share your own playlist today at www.imro.ie for a chance to win great music prizes, plus valuable publicity for your business.

IMRO. SUPPORTING BUSINESS SUPPORTING MUSIC. Terms & Conditions apply