Retail News May 2017 by Retail News

MAY 2017

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Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie|3

News

New bill calls time on retail flexi-work? Retail Ireland welcomes new Chairman.

Calling Time on Flexi-Time PROPOSED legislation to protect low-paid workers could damage the flexible nature of retail employment. The Terms of Employment (Information) (Amendment) and Organisation of Working Time (Amendment) Bill 2017 has been welcomed by trade unions, but retail representative groups, however, fear that the legislation as it currently stands may place an unrealistic or unnecessary burden on employers and may restrict employees’ ability to get extra hours. See full story on Page 4. We examine the findings of a new report into the socio-economic impact of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which argues that the proposed measures would have a detrimental economic impact on an industry that generates €3 billion in GDP annually, and do little to reduce harmful drinking (Page 18). In a stirring editorial, Retail Ireland Director, Thomas Burke argues that the Irish retail sector has reached an awkward plateau over recent months. Burke analyses retail’s performance so far in 2017 and looks at the big issues facing the sector going forward (Page 24) C&C Group Marketing Director, Belinda Kelly, is in the hot-seat for the Retail News Interview, discussing the exciting changes afoot in the Irish drinks market, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, the problem of alcohol misuse and methods to tackle it and the importance of sponsorship to Irish drinks brands (Page 20). Finally, our annual Summer Stocking special report focuses on the products set to soar this sunny season (Page 34-57). Kathleen Belton, Editorial & Marketing Director.

Musgrave unveils new brand identity.

Grocery market deflation continues; Major upgrades at Musgrave MarketPlace.

Strong sales growth at XL; FDI calls for proactive approach to fair trading; New director at ABFI.

RAS calls for more resources to tackle smuggling; Retailers warned to comply with price display legislation; Appointments to ASAI board. SuperValu Food Academy programme scoops innovation award; Bloom returns to Phoenix Park; Beer excise ten times that of Germany.

Thomas Burke, Retail Ireland Director, analyses the reasons behind 2017’s ‘softening in performance’ of the Irish retail sector, which continues to lag behind other sectors of the economy.

Applegreen Dealer Partnerships 26

William Hernon’s Bandon forecourt is the latest to sign up with Applegreen, as the fuel retailer expands its presence across the country.

Retail Technology 28

New research reveals that Irish shoppers are often frustrated by the performance and quality of in-store technology, and highlights their expectations for the stores of the future.

Focus on HR

A new economic report into the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill argues that the legislation will cost jobs and stifle innovation, and will not achieve its aim of reducing harmful drinking.

Retail News Interview 20

Alcohol Legislation 18

With almost two in five retailers experiencing theft of stock by employees, it is vital that you have the proper procedures in place to deal with suspected employee fraud, explains Kelly O’Connor, HR Consultant, The HR Suite.

Summer Stocking

The products guaranteed to fly off your shelves as temperatures rise this summer.

Allergen Information 58

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There is an unacceptable level of non-compliance by food businesses when it comes to providing allergen information to consumers, according to a new FSAI audit.

Industry News

Summer Stocking: Essentials

Summer Stocking: Soft Drinks & Bottled Water

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AR E Y 601957- 2017

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update

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Contents

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Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider

Summer Stocking: Wine

Summer Stocking: Spirits

What’s New

Forecourt Focus: News

Shelf Life

4|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

News

New Bill Calls Time o

RETAILERS are concerned that draft legislation to protect low-paid workers could damage the flexible nature of retail employment. Thomas Burke, Director of Retail Ireland, described new government proposals to regulate work contracts as using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. “The suggested intention of the bill is to protect workers on low-pay or low-hour contracts, but as it is currently constructed, it may place an unrealistic or unnecessary burden on employers and may restrict employees’ ability to get extra hours,” Burke told Retail News . Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and Pat Breen TD, Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, recently introduced the draft legislation, which proposes to tackle precarious work, casualisation and low-hour contracts. The bill also proposes the criminalisation of retailers who are in breach of its directives. “We’re criminalising employers who may fall foul of this,” said Burke. “There’s a concern about bringing criminal sanctions to police this issue.” A spokesperson for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation told Retail News that low paid workers “will benefit from all elements of the draft legislation. In particular, they will benefit from the introduction of a new floor payment for those who are called into work for a period, but not provided with that work.” Workers unions have welcomed the bill. Macdara Doyle, of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), said it was a positive move for worker’s rights: “How it works out in practice is an entirely different matter. But as we stand at the moment, we found it positive.” Mandate’s Gerry Light agreed: “We’ve been working towards this for a number of years. The notion that a worker

should be entitled to the hours they work, as opposed to the minimum number of hours contained in their contract, was central to our Decency for Dunnes Workers campaign [launched in 2014]. Unfortunately, it has taken a considerable period of time. In 2015, during the Dunnes Stores dispute, all the major political players came out and supported the principle of what we were trying to achieve.” A key component of the new bill is to outlaw so-called zero-hour contracts, whereby staff are required to be available for set hours each week, without guarantee they will receive a specific amount of work. Plans include an amendment to the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which will outlaw zero hour contracts “in most circumstances”. However, a 2015 report from the University of Limerick (UL) found that zero-hour contracts do not operate in Ireland. “I think it’s been very clearly displayed there are no zero hour contracts operating in the Irish market,” said Burke. “That was clearly set out in the University of Limerick report.” “Zero hour contracts are not prevalent,” agreed Vincent

Retail Ireland Welcomes New Chairman RETAIL Ireland has elected Willie O’Byrne, Managing Director of BWG Foods, as the body’s new Chairman. O’Byrne will serve a two year term and replaces outgoing Chairman, Conor Whelan, Managing Director of the Eason Group. O’Byrne will be joined at the helm of the organisation by Brian Donaldson, Chief Executive of the Maxol Group, who takes on the role of Vice Chairman. “I am delighted to take on the role of Chairman of Retail Ireland, Ireland’s foremost representative body for our sector,” noted O’Byrne. “Retail is an exciting, dynamic and innovative industry and I look forward to working with the Retail Ireland team to ensure that the many issues facing the sector are fully recognised and addressed during my term as Chairman. I further Willie O’Byrne, look forward to realising the Chairman of Retail ambition contained in our new Ireland and MD of BWG strategy ‘Shaping the Future Foods. of Irish Retail 2020’; which will

serve as our blueprint for the development of the sector over the coming years across four key areas - careers, competitiveness, confidence and community. “The industry is facing a number of challenges which we as an organisation must address immediately,” he continued. “These include the fall-out from Brexit, which has already impacted upon consumer sentiment, with retail sales growth softening considerably in the months following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. We also must work with Government to address the rising costs Irish retailers face which, allied to the emerging threat from foreign online only retailers, threatens to undermine the future sustainability of the sector.” Welcoming the incoming Chairman, Retail Ireland Director, Thomas Burke said, “Retail Ireland has been on an exciting journey over the last two years and with the unveiling of our new industry strategy in recent weeks, the organisation stands ready to address the major challenges facing the retail sector over the coming months and years. I would personally like to thank Conor Whelan for his commitment and contribution to the work of Retail Ireland to date, and we look forward to working with our new Chairman and Vice Chairman to further the prospects for our sector in the coming years”.

Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie|5

News

n Retail Flexi-work? Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA). “The Working Time Act already prohibits such contracts.” The Department told us the intention behind the proposals is to avoid the emergence or growth of zero-hour contracts in Ireland. The UL report found that “If and When” contracts, whereby employers offer work if and when it is available, and workers can accept or refuse such work, are prevalent here. “From our information, and the stories we’ve been hearing, there are ways in which zero-hour contracts are circumvented,” said ICTU’s Doyle. “I think that was confirmed by the University of Limerick study. It’s not just retail. I don’t think retail has been singled out in any way. It occurs over a wide range of sectors. That’s our belief. They are a problem; they have become a problem; therefore, they require a legislative response.” By its very nature, the convenience sector requires a flexible workforce. “All kind of things can happen overnight and employees come in at short notice,” argued Jennings. “It’s something you may not know in advance when you’re doing the roster, so you need a level of flexibility. It’s important to be fair to staff, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have rigid banded contracts, effectively outlawing flexibility. A substantial number of staff are students, working mothers and retired people, who benefit from part-time work.” Burke expressed concerns that the proposals could harm trade. “The retail sector isn’t like other sectors in that it has busy periods and quieter periods. The flow of work isn’t as steady as in other sectors. If we overprescribe what can and what cannot be done, it may negatively impact flexibility. It may also deter employees from taking up extra hours and it may deter retailers from offering extra hours.” Under the proposed legislation, employers will need to jump through a number of compliance hoops, which retailers

suggest amounts to increased administrative burden, red tape, and cost. Mandate’s Gerry Light reckoned this argument was a red herring: “With all of the modern technology now available to retailers, they can work out their staff needs, how many staff they want, and the hours they want them present in the store.” Following Cabinet’s approval of the draft legislation, which uses the working title ‘Terms of Employment (Information) (Amendment) and Organisation of Working Time (Amendment) Bill 2017’, the bill has been sent to the Office of the Attorney General. Further consultation will proceed before it is entrenched in law. While unions hope to strengthen elements of the bill, addressing areas such as appropriate rates of pay, retail groups want to highlight the unique nature of the trade and the dichotomy between protecting vulnerable workers and protecting retail flexibility. Light insisted that the legislation is “not meant to be onerous or destructive for employers”, and the Department told us that “significant effort has gone in to ensuring the proposals strike an appropriate balance between protecting the rights of employees and avoiding unintended consequences on employers.” However, retailers are sceptical. “We want to make sure we protect potentially vulnerable employees within our sector,” said Burke. “No one wants to see employees put in a position where they are exposed to certain practices. The counterbalance to that is a certain level of flexibility within the system that benefits both the employer and employee. We have concerns about what is currently proposed and think amendments will be required to the existing legislation as it is drafted.” Jennings agreed: “There’s no doubt about it. This a precarious balancing act.”

Musgrave Unveils New Brand Identity MUSGRAVE has unveiled a new brand identity to help celebrate the anniversary of brothers Thomas and Stuart Musgrave launching the business just over 140 years ago. The company has revealed a new logo, a modified version of the Musgrave chairman in 1902’s signature, which will now roll-out across the entire Musgrave business. “2016 was a milestone year for Musgrave as we celebrated 140 years in business,” explained Musgrave CEO, Chris Martin. “This new brand identity is a symbol of Musgrave’s heritage and the pride we share in being a sixthgeneration Irish family business. The Musgrave business has been evolving for 140 years: change is part of our DNA. As we continue to evolve and grow into the future, this new identity will support our ethos of ‘Growing Good Business’ as we continue to expand our retail, wholesale and export offering.” Musgrave’s ‘Growing Good Business’ strategy has also seen the company explore new opportunities, including the roll-out of Frank & Honest, its new artisan take-away coffee brand, which has been launched in SuperValu and Centra; the development of a food emporium at its Musgrave Marketplace in two locations in Dublin; the launch of Chipmongers, its new foodservice franchise; and export to China through a partnership with Alibaba, which has seen

Musgrave start to export SuperValu products. Martin added: “Food retail is our core business and we are focused on strengthening the leadership Pictured are Edel Clancy, Director of position of Communications, and Chris Martin, CEO, our brands Musgrave, at the unveiling of the new through Musgrave logo. our food leadership agenda, through investing in digital and by building on the foundation of our success. We have also made great progress in developing new ventures to help the company succeed in an ever more competitive world. The purpose of which is all about growing sustainably into the future for the benefit of partners, colleagues and shareholders.”

6|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

News Grocery Market Deflation Continues DEFLATION is limiting growth in the grocery market, as supermarket Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend prices continue to fall, according to the latest 12 Weeks to 24 Apr 2016 12 Weeks to 23 Apr 2017 change** grocery market share figures %* %* % from Kantar Worldpanel in Total Grocers 100.0% 100.0% 2.3 Ireland, for the 12 weeks Total Multiples 88.9% 88.8% 2.2 ending April 23. SuperValu 22.9% 22.8% 1.8 Having slipped into Tesco 22.2% 21.6% -0.6 deflation for the first time in Dunnes 21.5% 22.1% 5.1 almost two years in the last Lidl 11.3% 11.3% 2.4 period, the grocery market Aldi 11.0% 11.0% 3.0 grew by just 2.3% during the Other Outlets** 11.1% 11.2% 3.1 past 12 weeks, as deflation fell further to stand at -0.3%. *= Percentage Share of Total Grocers “In recent years we **= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops have seen a definite shift away from promotional deals SuperValu remained Ireland’s largest grocer for the towards more consistent, lower prices on everyday items,” second period in a row, capturing 22.8% of grocery sales. It noted David Berry, Director at Kantar Worldpanel. “Just over a was the only one of the top five major grocers to have attracted quarter of all goods are now bought on promotion, down from more shoppers through its doors, with an additional 8,000 33% in 2014. With the rate of deflation in the grocery market customers visiting the supermarket in the past 12 weeks, falling even further, we expect to see this trend stick around.” compared to the same period the year before. Taking advantage of the few extra coins in their pockets, Despite remaining in second place, Dunnes Stores Irish shoppers really splashed out on traditional Easter posted the strongest growth of all the major retailers, with favourites this year. Sales of packs of hot cross buns rose by sales increasing by an impressive 5.1% since last year. This 24%, Easter eggs by 9% and fresh lamb by 10%. is partially down to consumers adding more to their baskets. “Capitalising on the indulgence of Easter, retailers Dunnes’ shoppers spend just under €40 per trip, almost €17 have added more premium options in an attempt to convince higher than the average for the grocery market. customers to put something a little more expensive into their Tesco saw sales fall by 0.6% but still managed to capture a baskets,” Berry explained. “Fancier options saw the average 21.6% share of the market. Meanwhile, Lidl and Aldi continued price of Easter eggs rise 8c to €3.05. With three quarters of to experience success, with Lidl maintaining its share of 11.3% the population treating themselves to at least one, this meant a and sales at Aldi up by 3%. €3m boost to the market.” For more information, see www.kantarworldpanel.com.

Major Upgrades at Musgrave MarketPlace MUSGRAVE MarketPlace has announced a €2.5m upgrade of its Robinhood store, located in Clondalkin, and a €1m upgrade of its Duncrue store in Belfast. This significant investment forms part of Musgrave MarketPlace’s ongoing commitment to deliver a first-class customer service experience and an unrivalled product offering to its customers. Features include new speciality areas and state-of-the art

Pictured is Michelle Fennell, Musgrave MarketPlace Marketing Director, and Matt Lee, General Manager of Musgrave MarketPlace Robinhood, at the announcement of a €2.5m upgrade of the Clondalkin store.

technology to offer retail and foodservice customers a best in class visitor experience. The revamped 73,000 square feet Robinhood store, which employs 80 staff, will see the creation of four new roles to ensure customers receive expert information and advice in fresh food, alcohol and equipment, along with a new in-branch butcher to advise on specific cuts of meat for customers. It will also feature a range of new and innovative key areas, including specialist meat, cheese, fruit and vegetable counters, a fresh fish offering with an extended seafood range, and a state-ofthe-art culinary theatre. “We are delighted to announce the upgrade to both the Robinhood and Duncrue stores, following the hugely successful renovation of our Ballymun store,” noted Noel Keeley, Managing Director of Musgrave Wholesale Partners. “The business of food and drink is constantly evolving and as a business, we need to ensure that we continue to innovate and respond to growing trends that impact our customers’ needs. This investment is testament to our commitment to providing cash and carry stores of the future. As well as providing our customers with the products they want, we will also be able to add value through our experts on hand in-store.” The revamped Musgrave MarketPlace Robinhood will officially open in August with the Belfast store opening in September 2017.

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News Strong Sales Growth at XL XL has recorded sales of €315m in 2016, marking a 5% increase on the previous year’s performance, and marking six years of consecutive growth for the brand. Management at XL, part of BWG Foods, revealed a new growth strategy for the brand at its annual retailer conference in Kilkenny recently, including plans to target a 6% increase in retail sales across its network, growing annual sales to over €330m per year. The first phase of the new XL Store Upgrade Programme will also be unveiled, representing over €1m investment across the network over the next 12 months, all aimed at enhancing the in-store experience. “The XL brand has achieved significant growth in recent years, outperforming the market year after year, while consistently expanding our nationwide footprint,” noted John Moane, Managing Director, BWG Foods Wholesale, speaking at the XL Retailer Forum. “Despite operating in a very competitive marketplace, our dedicated focus on price and value has allowed us to market ourselves as a compelling retail brand, something which has resonated strongly with independent retailers.” Now celebrating 20 years in Ireland, the brand has grown to approximately 250 stores nationwide, providing employment

to almost 2,500 people. “Over the last two decades, we have worked hard to carve out a unique proposition for XL in the convenience market and we are very proud to have the brand represented in villages and towns in every county in Ireland,” Moane explained. “Looking forward, we see a great opportunity John Moane, Managing Director, to keep enhancing our BWG Foods Wholesale, addresses store network across the XL Retailer Forum. Ireland, attracting new retailers who want to retain their independence but have the backing of an experienced retail group and delivering consistency, quality and choice for consumers. Our team and our retailers remain committed to these ambitious targets and we will continue to invest in maintaining our strong growth trajectory.”

FDI Calls for Proactive Approach to Fair Trading

FDI Director, Paul Kelly.

FOOD Drink Ireland (FDI), the Ibec group that represents the sector, has highlighted the importance of effective and efficient enforcement of fair trading grocery regulations, aimed at addressing the major imbalance in the relationship between grocery retailers and suppliers. “Unfair practices faced by food suppliers that impact their costs are not only bad for business and individual suppliers, but ultimately they are also bad for consumers,” noted FDI Director, Paul Kelly. “The new Grocery Goods Regulations, which came into effect one year ago, aimed to address these issues and the unfair demands being put on suppliers. These include a failure to respect contractual terms, de-listing threats and off-invoice deductions without sound business reasons.” Suppliers need to have certainty in respect of the risks and costs of trading, Kelly argued, which is a key principle enshrined in the legislation that established the Grocery Goods Regulations. “Consumers are best served by a grocery market that is both fair and competitive, one that offers choice and convenience, and provides an outlet for new products and suppliers,” he said. “The regulations have already made significant inroads to addressing some of these pressures and demands on suppliers. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission must be a strong voice on these issues and ensure the spirit of the regulations is adhered to.”

New Director at Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland PATRICIA Callan has been appointed to the role of Director of Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, the trade association that represents brewers, distillers, brand owners and distributors in Ireland. Patricia joins ABFI from the Small Firms Association (SFA) where she has been Director since 2006. As SFA Director, Patricia has lead the development and implementation of the organisation’s five-year strategic plan, including a rebrand of the SFA, a new constitution and governance structure. Patricia has developed a very strong media profile, becoming a familiar face as the spokesperson for small business in Ireland. She has built an excellent reputation among policy decision makers and is regularly invited to participate at high level national and EU level fora. “I am delighted to be appointed Director of ABFI at what is an exciting and challenging time for the sector which supports over 200,000 jobs around the country with an annual wage bill of €4 billion,” she said. “The drinks industry is the export powerhouse in the agrifood sector, with exports to 130 countries valued at €1.4 billion annually. Irish whiskey is now the fastest growing global spirits category and over €1 billion will be invested in Irish whiskey distillery projects between 2010 and 2025. However, the industry faces considerable challenges in the form a hard Brexit and measures proposed in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, both of which threaten the sector’s ability to grow and thrive.”

ABFI Director, Patricia Callan.

8|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

News RAS Calls for More Resources to Tackle Smuggling RETAILERS Against Smuggling (RAS) has called on the Government to allocate more resources to combat smuggling in Ireland. RAS welcomed the publication of Revenue’s Annual Report 2016 and Ipsos MRBI Illegal Tobacco Products Research Surveys 2016. “Revenue’s statistics show once again that Ireland still has a huge problem with the illicit trade, which harms small retailers and strengthens criminal gangs,” RAS spokesperson, Benny Gilsenan noted. Gilsenan argued that these activities “put retailers out of pocket and are happening because of a lack of awareness of the impact smuggling has on retailers, as well as a paucity of investment in combatting it.” The figures also highlight “the shocking disparity” between alcohol seizures and summary convictions: there

were 1,875 seizures of illicit alcohol in 2016, but only four summary convictions. RAS call for proper enforcement of the current legislation to ensure those who sell illegal alcohol are met with the full force of the law. Retailers nationwide have paid all the relevant duties and taxes, and are missing out on revenue and footfall as a result. “At a time when retailers are facing an increasingly uncertain future with the looming spectre of Brexit, the Government have a responsibility to protect retailers and Ireland’s communities from this prevalent criminal activity,” Gilsenan insisted. “RAS support Fianna Fáil TD Declan Breathnach’s Sale of Illicit Goods Bill, tabled in March. But it is clear to retailers that the Government needs to step up and protect small retailers before Ireland’s recovery is further threatened.”

Retailers Warned to Comply with Price Display Legislation THE Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued a warning to grocery and convenience retailers to comply with price display legislation, following the publication of enforcement actions taken against 17 retailers for breaches of the law. The CCPC is responsible for enforcing a wide range of consumer protection legislation and uses its powers to stop practices that mislead, harm or are unfair to consumers in all sectors across the economy. The latest data shows that of the 40 enforcement actions taken by the CCPC in 2016, 22 were against 17 grocery retailers, such as supermarkets and convenience stores. The CCPC’s enforcement action in the grocery sector in 2016 is broken down as follows: •

•

19 Fixed Payment Notices for breaching price display legislation; a total of 16 grocery retailers across Ireland paid 19 Fixed Payment Notices for breaches of price display legislation. The penalty in each case was a fine of €300 to be paid within 28 days. Three Compliance Notices issued to grocery retailers who charged more than the price displayed; these retailers were directed through Compliance Notices to address breaches of the Consumer Protection Act 2007, where traders charged more for a product than the price displayed.

“In 2016, we carried out 150 unannounced inspections of trader premises across Ireland to assess compliance with this important legislation,” explained Fergal O’Leary, CCPC

member. “These inspections led to enforcement action being taken against 17 grocery retailers who failed to comply with pricing legislation.” O’Leary insisted that “Retailers must ensure that their pricing procedures meet the relevant provisions of consumer protection law so that consumers can make informed choices. Information to help traders comply with the law is available at www.ccpc.ie. We would urge all retailers, whether they be large or small, to ensure that their pricing is accurate and accessible for consumers. This year, we will be continuing our unannounced inspections across Ireland, and where necessary, we will take appropriate enforcement action against those who fail to comply with consumer protection legislation.”

Appointments to ASAI Board THE Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI), the independent self-regulatory body committed to promoting the highest standards of marketing communications in Ireland, has announced the following appointments to its Board: Roslyn Dalton, Copy Clear lead with RTÉ; Eoin Doyle, Director of Marketing and Innovation with Glanbia Consumer Foods; Siobhan Lennon, CEO of Sunrise Media; Suzanne

McElligott, CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). “The ASAI will benefit greatly from the significant experience of all Board members in a host of key areas relevant to the work we do,” noted Orla Twomey, Chief Executive of the ASAI. “The ASAI Board plays a crucial role in steering the direction of the organisation, as well as drafting and implementing Code updates and amendments.

SUNNY, WITH OUTBREAKS

OF SKITTLES

OUTLOOK: SHOWERS OF CUSTOMERS - FLOODS OF SALES, AS OUR MASSIVE “SKITTLES RAIN” CAMPAIGN SWEEPS ACROSS IRELAND

10|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

News SuperValu Food Academy Programme Scoops Innovation Award SUPERVALU’S Food Academy programme has won a Ruban d’Honneur award for Innovation at the highly prestigious European Business Awards in Dubrovnik recently. There was stiff competition as out of 30,000 entries, 10 companies across Europe were awarded a Ruban d’Honneur Award for Innovation, including the SuperValu Food Academy programme, which Kenneth O’Connor, SuperValu Food was commended Academy Project Manager is pictured by the panel of (right) with the Ruban d’Honneur judges for being Award for Innovation, with H.E. ‘the most socially Juraj Priputen (centre), Ambassador, innovative initiative Embassy of the Slovak Republic in in the competition’ Croatia, who presented the awards; presenting strong and Shaun Pulfrey (left), Tangle community benefits. Teezer Chairman, award winner. “We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured that we’ve gotten so far in such a prestigious European competition,” noted Kenneth O’Connor, SuperValu Food Academy Project Manager. “We were up against some very serious businesses across Europe. This is a huge accolade to everyone involved in the Food Academy: Bord Bia, The Local Enterprise Offices, our SuperValus and especially our small food producers, who have produced some market leading, innovative products. Their passion for their businesses along with SuperValu’s partnership allows us to nurture their innovative thinking to guarantee their success.”

Bloom Returns to Phoenix Park BLOOM 2017, Bord Bia’s flower, food and family festival returns to the Phoenix Park from June 1-5. “Bloom continues to celebrate excellence in our horticulture and food industry with a range of medals awarded to garden designers, nurseries, floral artists, botanical artists and exhibitors over the course of the event,” noted Gary Graham, Bord Bia’s Bloom Show Manager. Pictured at the launch of “The festival has developed Bloom 2017 in the Botanic and grown into something Gardens Glasnevin, were Gary which not only makes for Graham, Bord Bia’s Bloom a great day out, but also Show Manager, with Sophie offers a platform to learn Bracken, aged 4 from Lusk and a wide range of practical Lauren Keane aged 5 from information on everything Leopardstown. from gardening, to growing fruit and vegetables, cooking, culture and politics. We have already started work on site in the Phoenix Park and look forward to welcoming everyone in June.” In keeping with Bord Bia’s remit to promote Irish food and drink, Bloom not only showcases the best of Ireland’s thriving food industry, but also provides visitors with a great choice of culinary options to fuel their day. The Food Village will host over 100 Irish food producers in both the Bord Bia Food Markets and Love Irish Food marquees, while the Bord Bia Quality Kitchen Stage will feature more than 25 live cookery demonstrations from Ireland’s best loved chefs, including Neven Maguire, Catherine Fulvio, Rory O’Connell and Roz Purcell. The Bloom Inn will feature some of Ireland’s best craft brewers and distillers, while the GIY Zone will once again include the Food Matters Stage, with daily workshops, discussion and debate, bringing together Ireland’s leading food writers, chefs nutritionists and journalists.

Beer Excise Ten Times that of Germany IRELAND’S beer excise duty is 1,000% higher than Germany’s and the second highest in the EU, according to a new report, ‘Tax on Alcohol in Europe: Where Does Ireland Rank?,’ authored by Dublin City University economist Tony Foley. The report, which was commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), found that in addition to having the second highest excise duty on beer, Ireland also has the second highest excise duty on alcohol overall (behind Finland), the highest wine excise, and the third highest spirits excise (behind Finland and Sweden) in the EU. According to Maggie Timoney, Chair of DIGI and Managing Director, Heineken Ireland, Ireland’s excise tax is “an anti-competitive tax on one of

Ireland’s largest employers and risks Ireland becoming less attractive to investment and overseas visitors”. Describing our excise duty rates as “punitive and completely out of kilter with our European peers”, she insisted that “In a post-Brexit environment which is uncertain, we need to invest in sectors which draw tourists to ensure we remain attractive over other, more affordable destinations.” The report’s author and DCU economist Tony Foley said: “Ireland’s alcohol excise duty is 150% higher than 24 of the other 27 EU member states. Combined with VAT and retail price, this means alcohol is comparatively more expensive in Ireland than it is in many other European countries.”

Forecourt Dispute Settled THE legal row over the awarding of the contract for three motorway service stations is over after a settlement was reached between Topaz and the SuperStop 2 consortium, made up of Applegreen and Tedcastles Oil Products. The Government originally awarded the tender to operate the three stations, one on the M9 and Kilcullen, on the M6 at Moate, and the M11, at Gorey, to Topaz, which was then contested legally by the other two forecourt operators.

12|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News

Quish’s SuperValu Rows In! QUISH’S SuperValu, Tramore, Co. Waterford, has commenced a two-year sponsorship of Rowing Ireland’s Irish Rowing Championship. “As a family business, we have always strived to support local causes and groups,” noted Cormac Quish of Quish’s SuperValu. “The local community is crucial to a family run business, so it is always a pleasure to help support local talent and initiatives in the best way we possibly can. Rowing Ireland’s base in Farran Wood is a hidden treasure and the training they do there is phenomenal. Their efforts couldn’t have been better proved with the O’Donovan brothers’ continuing success on national and international waters. Our Cork store is very near Rowing Ireland’s national base, so we often have athletes popping in for supplies before or after training.” The next Irish Rowing Championship takes place from July 14-16. Pictured at the launch at the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra Lake were members of Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club along with Cormac and Sean Quish and staff members Emer O’Keeffe, Rebecca O’Riordan and Chloe O’Leary.

Spring into Summer with Spar FitLive SPAR FitLive.ie is calling on families who want to improve their fitness to take part in a free eight week programme, starting from May 22. Those who sign up will benefit from exercise tips, weekly workouts and running plans from Karl Henry as he trains Al Porter, one of Ireland’s hottest comedic talents, ahead of the Spar FitLive Run Series this summer. Derval O’Rourke will provide food tips and recipes and readers can follow Al’s progress on FitLive.ie and in Health and Living magazine every Monday with the Irish Independent. After the eight week programme, readers can try out their new found fitness at the Spar FitLive series, comprising both a 5km and 10km run in the Phoenix Park, on July 15. Pictured are (l-r): former Olympian and World Champion, Derval O’Rourke; Irish Olympian Mick Clohisey; comedian, Al Porter; fitness expert and TV broadcaster, Karl Henry.

Pringles Edible Flavour Cloud TV star Kelly Brook launched the future of snacking, the world’s first edible cloud, giving people the opportunity to taste their favourite flavours in the air. Developed by flavourologists, the wacky technology allows people to experience sour cream and onion Pringles as never before via a mechanically-generated cloud. The research and Flavour Cloud were commissioned to celebrate new Perfect Flavour in Every Bite Pringles, which sees each individual crisp provide more flavour than ever before.

Londis Sponsors Hell & Back

IRISH international soccer star Stephanie Roche was on hand to help Londis announce their sponsorship of Hell & Back for 2017. Ireland’s toughest physical and mental endurance challenge, Hell & Back attracts more than 21,000 participants throughout a series of adventure events, held in June and September. “We are really excited about being a sponsor for Hell & Back for the first time. After going through hell on the course, Londis looks forward to welcoming all participants to our Little Piece of Heaven, where they can refuel and relax. This is a great day out for all and because Londis understands how important community spirit is, we will be cheering on all the Hell Raisers throughout the race in Kilruddery,” noted Conor Hayes, Londis Sales Director, pictured (left), with Stephanie Roche, Irish International soccer star; and Aidan Walsh, Director of Operations, Alive Outside, the company who runs Hell & Back.

Going Bananas for

Temple Street

PLANS by Temple Street Children’s Hospital to purchase multisensory equipment for treating children with certain conditions received a boost from National Banana Day on Wednesday, April 19. Supported by Fyffes, Dubliners were asked to back the appeal by ordering from a quirky, three-course bananainfused menu created by foodinnovation chef, Kevin Powell, using online takeaway meals service, Just-Eat. Pictured at the announcement of the scheme at Temple Street Children’s Hospital were Fyffes Marketing Manager Emma Hunt-Duffy (right) with Celine Nic Oireachtaigh, communications executive at Temple Street Foundation, and Isabella Fitzsimons (8) from Swords.

14|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News

A New Name for Fresh Produce PALLAS Foods has revealed a fresh new identity for its produce. Ireland’s leading foodservice provider unveiled Pallas Green as the new name for its fresh produce brand. Formerly named Keelings Farm Fresh, Pallas Green’s brand ethos, product quality and experienced and knowledgeable staff remain unchanged. With hundreds of lines of fresh fruit and vegetables delivered daily to customers around Ireland, Pallas Green customers are guaranteed best in class buying, produce knowledge, logistical expertise and excellence in customer service, produce which is ‘Always Market Fresh’, all coupled with the best market price available throughout the seasons. Pictured at the Pallas Green launch, which took place in the Pallas Foods Foodservice Centre in Dublin, are Dan Geary, CEO of Pallas Foods, and Leo Jones, Head of Produce Sales. For more information, visit www.pallas-green.ie.

Hugh Jordan’s New Retail Outlet

HUGH Jordan & Company, the wellknown catering supply company, recently opened a new retail outlet at Chancery Court, Bride Street, Dublin 8, which is open to both the general public as well as the catering trade. The purpose-fitted 3,000 square-foot shop also has an 800 square-foot showroom for customers to browse a complete range of professional standard catering equipment. “We are delighted to officially open our first retail unit, which will make shopping easier for our trade clients and also general consumers. We look forward to welcoming customers through the doors and assisting them with their catering supply requirements,” noted Conor McKenna, Managing Director, Hugh Jordan & Company, pictured (right) with Fergal Mulchrone, Chairman, Hugh Jordan (left) and Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive, RAI. See www.hughjordan.com for more information.

Schools Give Peas a Chance STUDENTS around the country were busy recently entering the GIY and Cully & Sully ‘Give Peas A Chance’ food entrepreneur competition, which combines food growing and entrepreneurship in order to engage and inspire students to grow their own peas and to devise a soup recipe using what they have grown to come up with a Reci’Pea’ for Success. Growing kits were delivered to 7,500 students across the country, featuring everything the students need to grow peas, including seeds, pots, soil and plenty of growing tips from GIY. Founder of GIY, Michael Kelly, is pictured with Cully of Cully & Sully.

Keelings Feeding Ireland’s Future CEO of Keelings Retail, David Keeling is pictured presenting Carl Kelly with a manual training certificate at this year’s Feeding Ireland’s Future event. Carl secured a position with Keelings a few weeks after the event. This was the fourth year that Keelings participated in the initiative, organised by ECR Ireland, which is aimed towards young unemployed people to help with interview tips, CV writing and business skills. This year’s participants had the opportunity to experience a ‘Day in the life’ at Keelings. The day included a manual handling training session, a tour of the pack house, and a certificate presentation at the end of the day, hosted by David Keeling.

Little Pirates Toddle for their Peers

BARNARDOS children’s charity were joined by Ireland’s littlest pirates to launch the annual Big Toddle for Barnardos, sponsored by Toddlebox. In its 14th year, this May and June will see up to 50,000 toddlers nationwide lace up their boots and take up the challenge to toddle a sponsored half-mile to help children their own age. This year’s theme is Pirates. Donal Courtney from Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Big Toddle again this year. We believe that toddlerhood is a critical time for the development of healthy and happy children. The Big Toddle for Barnardos fits perfectly as it puts toddlers in the spotlight with a fun event that everyone can get involved in.” See www.barnardos.ie/bigtoddle for more information.

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16|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News

Aldi’s Blooming Great! ALDI has announced that it is Ireland’s leading retailer for fresh cut flowers. Almost one in four (23%) of all flowers sold in Ireland last year were bought at Aldi. Aldi sold over 4m bouquets last year, giving the company a 20% share in the value of all flower sales across the country, the highest of any retailer. Building on last year’s performance, Aldi enjoyed record sales of its flower ranges for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, up 9% in volume and 8.9% in value collectively on 2016. Today, approximately one third of Aldi’s overall flower range is Irish grown. In championing fresh cut and Irish sourced blooms, the retailer has relaunched its in-store range for 2017 under the banner of “Bláthanna – Blossoming since 1999”; a reference to the year when Aldi opened its first store in Ireland. Pictured are (l-r): Aoife Habenicht, Aldi Ireland’s Buying Director of Horticulture, and Wayne Rowlatt, Account Director, JZ Flowers, who have supplied to Aldi for 11 years.

Lidl Kick Starts Irish Suppliers LIDL is calling out to Irish food and drink suppliers across the country to apply to their brand new Supplier Development Programme, Kick Start, which is designed to give small suppliers the chance to supply Lidl with a guaranteed volume of their products for a limited edition ‘Best of Ireland’ food promotion in September 2017. Lidl will select up to 100 of Ireland’s best products, which will be available in all Lidl stores throughout the Republic of Ireland. The programme, which is run by Lidl Ireland and supported by Bord Bia, is designed to help small and medium Irish food and drink businesses that need support in growing their brand and building their supply network. Pictured are John Paul Scally, MD of Lidl Ireland, and Tara McCarthy, Chief Executive of Bord Bia.

SuperValu Partners with Animal Welfare Expert SUPERVALU has announced a partnership with animal behavior specialist and autism spokesperson, Dr Temple Grandin. Dr Grandin, who is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, was in Ireland to advise SuperValu and its beef suppliers on current best practice in animal welfare. During her visit, Dr Grandin also gained insights into some of SuperValu and Centra’s autism initiatives, including the weekly, ‘autism friendly’ evening and the Autism Lifeskill Friend (ALF) shopping trolley in SuperValu Clonakilty. Pictured with Dr Temple Grandin in Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, is Musgrave employee, Tony O’Donovan. Tony and his wife Theresa O’Donovan (also pictured) created the Autism Lifeskill Friend (ALF) shopping trolley.

Topaz and Tesla Open Supercharger Station

THE country’s first Tesla Supercharger, the world’s fastest charging station, was recently launched at Topaz Ballacolla, located at Junction 3, M9. The new Supercharger was launched as part of Tesla’s move into the Irish market. The charger can power Tesla vehicles within 30 minutes, and is strategically placed beside Topaz’s Ballacolla service station, where customers can avail of full 24-hour service with Topaz’s retail offering, Re.Store. “The launch of the Tesla Supercharger in Ballacolla is yet another sign that we are committed to not only enhancing our customers’ experience, but also to leading the way in providing alternative fuels for the future,” noted Topaz Fuels Director, Gordon Lawlor (left), pictured with Tesla Director of Western Europe, Georg Ell.

Total Produce Invests in LPG Autogas Fleet TOTAL Produce has partnered with Gallagher Brother Haulage to convert a fleet of eight 40-foot lorries from conventional diesel fuelled vehicles to Bio LPG Autogas. This conversion will yield immediate and dramatic dividends in environmental terms. When compared to a regular diesel fuelled lorry, each vehicle delivers a reduction in diesel consumption of up to 35%, up to 10% less noise pollution, up to 48% less greenhouse gas emissions and a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions of up to 45%. “As Ireland’s largest fresh produce provider, we in Total Produce are committed to minimising our impact on the environment. I know that this is a conviction that we share with our Grá group of local growers across the island, so it is particularly appropriate that the introduction of these vehicles coincides with the launch of the Grá range of local fruits & vegetables nationally,” said Managing Director of Total Produce, Des McCoy (right), pictured with Mark Gallagher of Gallagher Bros. Haulage.

SMOKING KILLS Irish Government Warning

18|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Alcohol Legislation

New Study Slams Alcohol Bill A new economic report into the Public Health Alcohol Bill argues that the legislation will cost jobs and stifle innovation, and will not achieve its aim of reducing harmful drinking. A NEW report, carried out by DKM Economic Consultants, into the SocioEconomic Impact of the Public Health Alcohol Bill (PHAB), has found that the proposed measures would have a detrimental economic impact on an industry that generates €3 billion in GDP annually, while questioning the “weak” evidence that the measures would reduce harmful drinking. The report, commissioned by the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI), which represents alcoholic drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland, examined proposals contained in the Bill, including Minimum Unit Pricing, and regulations and restrictions around labelling, marketing, advertising and retailing of alcohol. The report assesses the Bill’s impact, not only on reducing harmful drinking, but also outlines the economic consequences of the proposed measures, which include incentivising cross border shopping, stifling growth and product innovation in the sector, and negatively impacting small producers and retailers, particularly in rural Ireland. “Our findings show that there is little evidence that measures contained in the Bill would reduce harmful drinking,” revealed DKM Director and report author, John Lawlor. “However, it would impose potentially substantial costs on producers, particularly small local producers, new market entrants and smaller and rural retailers, placing jobs in those sectors in jeopardy. In addition, it would stifle innovation in the Irish market as new product launches or

test launches would be impacted.” Objectives of the PHAB The stated policy objectives of the PHAB are to: • Ensure the supply and price of alcohol is regulated and controlled in order to minimise the possibility and incidence of alcohol-related harm; • Delay the initiation of alcohol consumption by children and young people; • Reduce the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol; and • Reduce alcohol consumption to 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per person per annum (the OECD average in 2012) by 2020. The Bill proposes to achieve these objectives through the introduction of regulations with regard to: 1. Minimum unit pricing (MUP); 2. Labelling of alcohol products; 3. Advertising and marketing of alcohol, alcohol sponsorship and price promotions; and 4. Structural separation of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets. The proposed measures have raised concerns domestically in the alcohol industry but also at EU level as a number of Member States have submitted comments and detailed opinions with regard to potential impacts on the Single Market. Declining Alcohol Consumption Alcohol consumption per capita has

been in decline in Ireland since the early 2000s, and youth drinking also continues to decline. Recorded aggregate consumption of alcohol in Ireland peaked in 2007 and has been in decline since. Per capita consumption has been in decline since 2001, from a peak of 14 litres of pure alcohol to just under 11 litres in 2015. A continuation of the trend in place since 2000 would see Irish per capita consumption reach the target figure of 9.1 litres per capita by 2020. The evidence indicates that both total consumption and binge drinking among Irish younger people – a particular focus for the Bill - have likewise been in decline. Total consumer expenditure on alcohol stood at €6.54 billion in 2015, equivalent to 7.1% of total consumption of personal income. This percentage has also been on a gradual downward path over the last two decades. The alcohol beverage sector is extremely significant for the Irish economy. In 2015, it generated approximately €3 billion in GDP, supporting over 90,000 jobs in the economy, generating over €1.1 billion in exports, over €2.4 billion in VAT and Excise Duty, and over €660m in payroll and profits taxes for the Exchequer. Further revenues are generated via commercial rates, licence fees and so on. The sector is also a major source of investment, in the manufacturing, distribution and retailing of alcohol. DKM estimates that for every €1m in investment, the sector adds €0.85m to GDP, supports 11 work years of

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Alcohol Legislation employment and generates €200,000 in Exchequer revenues (excluding any savings in social welfare payments). The Issues The report argues that “the evidence base with respect to labelling, advertising/marketing and structural separation is weak and in many cases contradictory that the proposed measures would deliver on their objectives”. The structural separation proposals would make it less convenient to buy alcohol products in supermarkets, convenience stores and forecourts, and make them less visible to children and others. However, the study argues that the Government’s Regulatory Impact Assessment provides no evidence that this would contribute to the overarching objectives of reducing harmful consumption of alcohol. While it is conceivable that consumers in some rural areas would reduce consumption through sheer lack of access to retail outlets selling alcohol, this would not affect the majority of consumers, and on the face of it is unlikely to deter those who currently consume alcohol to excess. The proposals in the Bill would see a number of additional elements included on drinks labels, namely warnings on the danger of alcohol consumption and of alcohol consumption when pregnant, grams of alcohol and energy value in both kilojoules and kilocalories, and details of a public health information website operated by the HSE. The report argues that the evidence base with respect to the effectiveness of alcohol labelling and warnings in general is not strong, with research papers showing little or no impact on behaviour. The provisions of the Bill with respect to advertising and marketing are comprehensive, including restrictions on the content of advertising; advertising in public spaces, on public transport, or near schools and playgrounds; advertising and sponsorship at sports events, or events where children are the majority of participants; images, logos, etc. on children’s clothing; advertising in the print media and in cinemas; and price-based promotions, as well as broadcast watersheds on TV and radio, which were added to the Bill in recent amendments. A central objective of the proposed regulations is to reduce exposure of children and young people to alcohol advertising, and in doing so to reduce youth drinking. The report argues that the effectiveness of these measures is

weak, with difficulties in establishing causality and in controlling for other factors, while some studies indicate impact on intentions to drink as opposed to actual behaviour. “Evidence from a range Report author, John of countries Lawlor of DKM. which have implemented varying degrees of restrictions on alcohol advertising indicate that they have had little or no impact on the underlying trends of consumption, pointing to long term cultural aspects as being the primary drivers,” it says. The report argues that young people are the societal group least likely to consume advertising from traditional media, further lessening the Bill’s impact. Cross-Border Shopping The DKM report argues that the implementation of Minimum Unit Pricing would “force up prices of alcohol in the off trade substantially”. A rise in cross-border shopping is highlighted as a real concern in the report. “Sterling has depreciated by approximately 16% since the Brexit vote last June, and experience confirms that consumers are willing to react in response to differences in crossborder prices,” revealed John Lawlor. “If Minimum Unit Pricing is implemented in the Republic but not in the North, then there will be a permanent shift in price levels, which will be to the detriment of the retail trade, consumers, and the Exchequer in the Republic. For example, a one litre bottle of spirits at 40% ABV would attract a minimum price of €31.56.” The reality of the cross-border dimension of MUP was emphasised by the former Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD in December 2015 when he declared that it was the Government’s intention to “go ahead with minimum pricing at the same time as Northern Ireland”, noting that “it would be totally counterproductive if people just went North of the Border”.

Stifling Innovation The report found proposals contained in the Bill would increase costs on producers, particularly small local producers and new entrants to the market, while having a lesser impact on established players. For example, requirements under the Bill for an Ireland-only health label would be costly for small producers. The proposed restrictions on marketing and advertising would also impact the ability of large and small producers to innovate and launch new products. The report argues that Ireland is currently a popular test market for alcohol products, as a small, Englishspeaking market with an already highly-developed regulatory structure, citing the examples of Diageo’s Hop House 13, Heineken Light and Jameson Caskmates. “There would be a question mark over whether this aspect of the Irish market would survive these proposals, which would have a detrimental impact on more innovative firms seeking to test out their new products here, as well as those new entrants in whiskey and brewing looking to build export businesses out of Ireland,” Lawlor argued. Detrimental Impact on Rural Ireland The report also found that measures contained in the Bill would unduly impact rural Ireland. In particular, small retailers may decide that it is too costly to adapt their premises to comply with the structural separation proposals. This could result in them no longer selling alcohol, which would result in a loss of revenue, as well as reducing product availability and choice for their customers. “The Bill would give a competitive advantage to pubs and stand-alone off-licenses vis à vis mixed retailers,” Lawlor stated. “The latter have obtained licenses under the current regulatory regime, and have invested in their alcohol sales business in good faith. This investment is now being undermined, and could be an unwarranted interference in the marketplace.” In summary, Lawlor argued that “given these negative impacts, the lack of evidence of the effectiveness that it would tackle harmful drinking, and given the long term downward trend in alcohol consumption and youth drinking in Ireland, the measures proposed in the PHAB in question are not justified.” The full report can be downloaded from www.abfi.ie.

20|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Kelly’s Heroes

Belinda Kelly, Marketing Director, C&C Group, talks us through the reasons behind the Group’s exciting cider launches, the challenges in tackling alcohol misuse and the likely impact of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. BELINDA Kelly has been immersed in the Irish drinks industry, having spent seven years at Coca-Cola Bottlers as both Channel Marketing Manager and Brand Manager, before switching to C&C Group in January 2009, where she spent the next eight years as Marketing Manager for the iconic Bulmers brand. At the start of 2017, Kelly became overall Marketing Director for C&C Group, a role

that sees her take on a broad portfolio of brands, including a strong cider portfolio that includes Bulmers and its recently launched sister brand, Outcider, as well as Clonmel 1650, Tipperary Natural Mineral Water and Finches. In a wide-ranging interview, Kelly discusses the exciting changes afoot in the Irish drinks market, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, the problem of

alcohol misuse and methods to tackle it and the importance of sponsorship to Irish drinks brands. How are you enjoying your new role as Marketing Director at C&C group so far? I’ve been with the company for more than eight years and 2017 is already shaping up to be one of the most

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Retail News Interview

“

The segregation of alcohol from other products in a shop setting would obviously have a huge impact on the off trade, particularly smaller stores. However, I expect there to be some compromise on this specific issue as it is just not practical in terms of its application.

”

exciting, as we gave Bulmers a new suit of clothes with a new livery, a

new campaign, ‘100% Irish Cider’, and the launch of Outcider. As Marketing Director, I have been heavily involved, from the strategic development to the tactical execution of the brand refresh, so it’s been hugely rewarding to see months and months of work come to fruition and the reaction from the trade has been really positive. I’m really enjoying my new role and as one would expect, there is never a dull moment, with different challenges every day of the week. I’m interacting with multiple brands, different teams, various trade channels, several agencies and juggling has become my number one skill! But I love it and whilst I have always been involved with the marketing of the C&C brands, my role has developed somewhat and is now more strategic in nature. What have been the biggest challenges you have faced in your work over the years? The challenge for me is juggling family life with work, trying to have that work/ life balance we all talk about. It’s not easy and you have to be very disciplined to ensure you get the right balance.

What do you see as the big issues facing the Irish drinks market in the coming months and years? There are many big issues, some of which are constants and others that change from year to year. But I think that we are well prepared and well placed to deal with most of what is ahead of us. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is probably the biggest of these issues as it potentially involves a wide range of measures that we will have to address, such as labelling and minimum pricing. In the non alcohol beverage sector, I anticipate that we will follow in the footsteps of the UK, with the introduction of a sugar tax at some point. A new study has found that the proposed measures in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill would have a detrimental economic impact on an industry that generates €3 billion in GDP annually, while the evidence that the measures would reduce harmful drinking was weak. How do you think the Bill will affect the off trade and C&C Group in particular? This Bill has been under consideration since 2015 and until the legislation is enacted, it’s a little like Brexit; difficult

The launch of Outcider, which is a sweet cider, was a response to the market and for C&C, a natural evolution of its cider portfolio.

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Retail News Interview

Bulmers Forbidden Fruit has been a hugely successful sponsorship for the brand since its launch seven years ago. Pictured are models Holly Carpenter and Niall Matthews at Bulmers Forbidden Fruit 2016. to accurately gauge the outcomes or effects, fiscally or otherwise. If all of the measures are enacted, we will of course comply and introduce, for example, new labelling that highlights calories and any other messaging that is required of alcohol products. Minimum pricing would be introduced, although the anticipated impact on our brands in terms of sales is negligible. The segregation of alcohol from other products in a shop setting would obviously have a huge impact on the off trade, particularly smaller stores. However, I expect there to be some compromise on this specific issue as it is just not practical in terms of its application. Will the Bill tackle alcohol misuse in society or is it just another example of over-regulation by a nanny state?

I think that the Government has an obligation to do something and any reasonable measure to tackle alcohol misuse is to be welcomed. That’s not to say that this Bill is necessarily the correct solution, but I don’t believe that there is any one solution. Whether it manages to tackle alcohol misuse remains to be seen. What more could be done to tackle alcohol misuse? Education is the crucial component and I think that both schools and parents have an important role to play in this regard. Alcohol can be enjoyed and it is there to be enjoyed, sensibly. If we can take the mystique out of alcohol and educate about the dangers of misuse, in a way that truly resonates and not via oldfashioned, traditional methods, I think we can make some inroads. Education is

not a panacea, but it’s the best place to start and as a society, we haven’t got this right yet. The fact remains that Irish alcohol consumption levels continue to drop. How big a challenge does this pose to C&C Group and your brands? We are in a good position as our biggest brands in Ireland are in the cider category, which is in growth and outperforming the market. In my view, this is a time of great opportunity for us. Bulmers is the number one cider in Ireland and as market leader, we can drive market growth, supporting it with innovations such as Outcider. We know that the market is challenging, but it’s a rare purple patch when that isn’t the case. It’s how you respond to the challenges that’s important to us, which means supporting

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our trade partners, being innovative, and giving consumers what they want, such as a sweeter cider, a new gin or a new type of craft beer. How important are new product launches to the market, both in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages? They are crucial, as the market is constantly looking for the next new thing or the next big launch. And, as producers and distributors, we have to satisfy that demand. New product launches help to ignite the market and keep it interesting, not only for our customers but for consumers and even our competitors. We are living in a fast paced world and expectations are high. Product launches help meet those expectations and with the right product, such as Outcider, those expectations can be exceeded. With that in mind, you have recently launched a new cider brand, Outcider, and totally revamped your iconic Bulmers brand. What is the thinking behind these moves? With Bulmers in particular, it is a dramatic change, incorporating not just an advertising campaign but the entire look and feel of the brand. Why such a bold move? The launch of Outcider, which is a sweet cider, was a response to the market and for C&C, a natural evolution of its cider portfolio. Bulmers was one of the first brands to enter the sweet cider category with Bulmers Pear and Bulmers Berry and two years ago, we launched our Forbidden Flavours range, so in many ways, the brand was ahead of the curve. However, it is apple cider that remains the most popular variant in Ireland. And through market research and consumer feedback, the team at Bulmers was aware that for some people, Bulmers wasn’t quite sweet enough and other ciders were too sweet. Tastes have changed and the market is evolving and so, to appeal to new audiences and indeed, to give people who love Bulmers another, sweeter option, Outcider, which is made with Irish apples, was launched. In relation to the livery changes we have made to Bulmers, quite simply the time was right for a brand refresh. We didn’t re-launch but rather, revolutionised the brand with a new set of clothes. We kept everything that was great about the brand and after that, it was open season in relation to its look, its attitude and the brand ethos of Bulmers. We discarded all references to time, such as ‘time dedicated to you’ and ‘nothing added but time’ because we really wanted a radical change, and

Retail News Interview

“

We choose our sponsorships really carefully and will never enter a sponsorship just for the sake of it. For us, a sponsorship is more like a partnership, as we like to get fully involved and not just stand on the periphery with a cheque or a pallet of product.

”

that’s what we did: ‘copper is the new black’. During the economic downturn, Irish consumers moved from the on to the off trade. Since fortunes have begun to improve, have consumers moved back to the on trade or is the Irish off trade still as vibrant? In the last 18 months, we have definitely seen the trend reverse and consumers have returned to the pub. But they are still value-savvy, so there is a more balanced approach to their social habits. How have consumer tastes changed in recent years? One of the most obvious changes has been the move towards healthier options with less sugar and more natural flavours and this applies to both the alcohol and non alcohol categories. Despite this trend, we know that young adults still like sweet-tasting drinks. 15 years ago, this meant unsophisticated, ready-to-drink options. However, consumers have become more discerning and whilst they still want something sweet, it has to reflect their own personalities, it has to be

more sophisticated and hence the move towards sweeter ciders. Consumers’ changing tastes have also been shaped by travel and the proliferation of imports as they try new products from around the world that then become ‘the norm’. How has the development of the craft beer and cider sector impacted on the off trade and on C&C Group’s business here? The effects have been really positive, particularly for craft cider. Firstly, craft has piqued the interest of a whole new audience in cider and has reignited a curiosity in Irish cider in general, and that can only be a good thing for the category. Secondly, it has allowed us to diversify our own business with a fantastic craft offering and strong distribution channels for brands like Five Lamps and Sullivan’s. How important is sponsorship to C&C Group? Sponsorship allows a brand to reach, engage and resonate with audiences in a way in which other forms of marketing can’t. We choose our sponsorships really carefully and will never enter a sponsorship just for the sake of it. For us, a sponsorship is more like a partnership, as we like to get fully involved and not just stand on the periphery with a cheque or a pallet of product. Our flagship sponsorship is Bulmers Forbidden Fruit, which we jointly started with POD Entertainment seven years ago as the first urban festival in Ireland. This year sees the launch of Bulmers Live Stage: 100% Irish, a stage produced by Bulmers that supports emerging Irish artists at Forbidden Fruit and we think it’s going to be a huge success and a really important part of our sponsorship portfolio. What plans have you in place over the coming year? For us, summer is all about music including Forbidden Fruit, Body & Soul, Bulmers Live @Leopardstown, Riot hosted by Outcider and Sports, engaging with the ultimate fan. Our non alcohol brands, such as Tipperary Water, will be focusing on events such as the Dublin City Marathon and Tipperary GAA sponsorships. Developing relevant and engaging digital and social content for our consumers will be keeping our teams busy over the coming months, but the big focus for us is on developing and building stronger relationships and partnerships with our trade customers.

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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update

Gridlock in Irish Retail Growth? Thomas Burke, Retail Ireland Director, analyses the reasons behind 2017’s ‘softening in performance’ of the Irish retail sector, which continues to lag behind other sectors of the economy. IN many ways, the Irish retail sector has reached an awkward plateau over recent months. While the Irish economy continues to grow strongly, with all key economic metrics pointing in the right direction, many retailers have seen little evidence of this ‘rising tide’ over recent months. Anecdotal evidence from Retail Ireland members would suggest that in terms of performance, the first quarter of 2017 has been a mixed bag at best, and has in some cases seen a worrying decline in performance on the same period in 2016. It should be noted that due to calendar differences with the first quarter

in 2016, such as a later Easter, direct comparisons with the period 12 months previously can prove a little misleading, but the general tenure of retailer sentiment has been that most have seen a worrying tail-off in performance in recent weeks. Brexit Starting to Bite So what is driving this softening in performance in the sector? It would be much too simplistic to put this relative decline in performance down to any one factor; it is more likely to be the product of a confluence of events over recent months. Undoubtedly, Brexit is starting to

Thomas Burke, Director, Retail Ireland.

Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie|25

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update bite, and the incessant noise around its potential impact on Ireland’s economy is now starting to resonate with Irish consumers. This has most certainly impacted on discretionary spending patterns amongst Irish consumers. Interestingly, this change in attitude, or softening in previously bullish sentiment, hasn’t impacted as heavily on other categories of discretionary spend, such as in the night time economy or restaurant trade. Why this is the case remains unclear. Other than Brexit, we must also consider the role the ultra-competitive landscape in the sector has played. There can be no doubt that no one does competition like Irish retailers, and the sector remains the most competitive in the Irish economy. This, unfortunately, has been to the detriment of the players in the market, however, as the Irish consumer’s insatiable appetite for value and a bargain has been continually fed by retailers in recent years. Good news for consumers certainly, but bad news for retailers whose ability to invest back into their businesses has been limited by the need to fund price cutting and promotional activity across the sector. Compete or die remains the sector

Brexit is starting to bite, and the incessant noise around its potential impact on Ireland’s economy is now starting to resonate with Irish consumers. mantra at present. This ultra-competitive landscape has led to a sharp divergence between the growth in grocery sales volumes, which ran at 3.3% in February 2017, compared to the same period a year earlier, and that of sales values at less than half the growth in volumes at 1.6%. The Irish consumer has become conditioned to expect rock bottom prices and while other sectors of the Irish economy have returned to normal operating margins, retailers have been forced to make do with wafer thin trading margins. All of this only serves to increase pressure when consumer sentiment wobbles or dips for any period of time.

The Irish consumer’s insatiable appetite for value and a bargain has been continually fed by retailers in recent years.

Future Prospects So what of the prospects over the coming months? Depending on the level of fallout from the ongoing

divorce between the UK and EU and the outcome of the somewhat unexpected general election in the UK, Irish consumers will likely continue to watch external events somewhat nervously. This will mean that, despite healthy growth in the Irish economy, real sales value growth will likely remain elusive for most Irish retailers. We are now also starting to see an impact on British retail sales for the first time since the Brexit vote. This is largely as a result of creeping inflation in the UK economy, a trend likely to persist over the coming months. All of this suggests an uncertain landscape in the short term at least, and strengthens the case made recently in our industry strategy document, ‘Shaping the future of Irish retail 2020’, for further Government support for the sector. These required supports include a reduction in the cost of regulatory compliance, the introduction of a tax credit to support Irish retailers to compete with international online retailers and increased support for retail training and education programmes. In many ways, the sector stands at a crossroads and Government support will be crucial in securing its future and that of the over 280,000 jobs within it. We here in Retail Ireland will continue to press your case to Government and associated State agencies to ensure your voice is heard.

Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie Need more? For more information about Retail Ireland and details of how your retail business can benefit from our unique services and supports, please visit us at www.retailireland.ie

26|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Applegreen Dealer Partnerships

Applegreen Growing in West Cork William Hernon’s Bandon forecourt is the latest to sign up with Applegreen, as the fuel retailer expands its presence across the country.

CORK man William Hernon recently became the newest store owner to sign up with Applegreen, as his forecourt in Bandon in West Cork, became the progressive fuel retailer’s latest dealer operated site. The Bandon forecourt has been operating for 17 years now, since William and his father acquired a greenfield site on what was then the relatively new Bandon bypass back in 1999, opening their garage and store the following year. “We knew there was a lot

of potential on the site,” William tells Retail News. “As well as having a strong hinterland for local trade, the location of the shop has always meant there is a lot of repeat passing trade. And of course in the summer, West Cork is a very popular destination for tourists.” The store owner admits that the shop has “traded through a great deal of change since we opened in 2000. Ireland changed dramatically in that time, from boom to bust and now slowly into recovery. Our customers have changed

just as much in that time and this shop has had to change too, and adapt to circumstances as they changed. Through the entire process, we’ve built up a relationship with the community.” Applegreen: Good For Business It’s no exaggeration to say that the forecourt has become ingrained in the community it serves, as William explains: “I know my customers and they know me and my staff. We’ve experienced good times and bad times,

Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie|27

Applegreen Dealer Partnerships in the shop in the last 12 months and a change in shopping habits,” the store owner reveals. “Although my customers do have more money now and are looking to treat themselves, they demand a good value proposition in terms of a price and quality balance. Applegreen has a competitive value offering on the forecourt and bringing that element to my business was an essential step in my plans, along with its national recognition.”

Pictured are (l-r): William Hernon, site owner and operator, and Stephen O’Flynn, Applegreen Business Development Manager. and we’ve done it together. I think it’s very important to have that kind of solid connection between people. A trust builds up over time and an understanding of each other and how you work best together. When it came to choosing a new forecourt partner, I wanted an organisation that I felt I would work well with me, and one that would allow me to bring a strong value proposition to the forecourt to help add value to the business. That’s why I chose to work with Applegreen.” Having the Applegreen logo above the forecourt is good for business, the store owner explains. “I wanted a forecourt presence with national recognition,” he insists. “Applegreen is an organisation with ambition and a sense of dynamism with a strong brand that is recognised around the country. The decision to stop or drive on can be made in an instant, so I need brands on my forecourt and shop that have that instant recognition and trust that will make drivers pull in for fuel, a treat, or both.” Bringing the Applegreen format to the forecourt is phase one in William’s plan for his business, with the industrious store owner planning a revamp of the forecourt’s Londis shop in the coming months. The proposed revamp will see the introduction of a sitdown area in-store, as well as relocating the tills, allowing a lot more natural light into the shop. “Since we opened, we have only had two major revamps,” William notes. “We are planning a major overhaul of the shop, which will see the focus shift almost exclusively

to food-to-go. The ambient grocery on my shelves is really a service for my local customers, in case they need a top-up; it is not the core of my trade. We will retain core grocery lines, because this is a community shop and we do need to retain that function and the top-up service, but what my customers increasingly want from my shop is fuel, food-to-go and coffee. What my customers want, they get.” A Formidable Team The fact that William has been in business for 17 years means that he knows his customers and his business very well and he’s not afraid to invest in its future success. “With the support and advice from organisations like Applegreen on the forecourt, I feel the time is right for this project, and so are the people. We make a formidable team. It’s a very exciting time for the shop and for my customers. They have reacted very positively to the changes they have seen on the forecourt and the value proposition I can offer with Applegreen,” he concludes. While the recovery has arrived, William still has to offer his customers a strong value proposition to ensure their loyalty, and to attract new customers. “I have seen a slow but constant improvement in performance

Positive Feedback For their part, Applegreen are always looking for dealer partnerships with progressive retailers like William, as Business Development Manager, Stephen O’Flynn explains: “I am delighted that Applegreen are increasing their network even further with the opening of our latest dealer operated site in Bandon. We have received very positive feedback from people who live in the locality. “The Dealer Team really prides itself on the level of partnership that it offers and the success of the Applegreen Dealer business is based on the service and advice that we provide to all our partners,” he adds. “There is always someone just a phone call away.” For more information or to join the Applegreen Dealer Network call (01) 5124868 or E-mail: dealer@applegreen.ie.

28|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Technology

Consumers Demand More Technical Innovation In-Store New research reveals that Irish shoppers are often frustrated by the performance and quality of in-store technology, and highlights their expectations for the stores of the future. FOR every headline proclaiming physical retail’s slow decline, its “death by a thousand clicks” at the hands of digital, lies an equally compelling argument that the high street is simply in the process of an unprecedented evolution, one in which technology is helping to redefine what bricks and mortar stores can be and what high street retailers themselves mean to the public. Research undertaken by Fujitsu Ireland has found that Irish shoppers expect more from their in-store retail technology experience, with 73% stating that they trust online retailers to deliver a better in-store technology experience then today’s high street retailers. Furthermore, 71% suggested that if online retailers such as Amazon or eBay launched physical outlets, they would quickly become their preferred stores to shop in. ‘The Forgotten Shop Floor’ research by Fujitsu Ireland found that while many shoppers say that they make use of instore technology every time they shop (24%), around three in ten (29%) stated that the technology on offer in-store was either ‘quite often poor’ or ‘very poor’. Complaints about services on offer include it being too slow (45%), unreliable (32%) and immobile (14%). The research also found that half of Irish shoppers see browsing and buying in person as their primary reason for visiting a high-street store, followed by over a quarter (27%) who go mainly for the “in-store shopping experience”. Nearly a third (31%) of Irish

The Forgotten Shop Floor Ireland The Rise of the Digital High Street

Fujitsu Ireland’s research, ‘The Forgotten Shop Floor’, can be downloaded at www.fujitsu.com/ie/ solutions/industry/retail/forgottenshop-floor/. shoppers believe that staff are poorly trained on the technology they are expected to use, which is in stark contrast to 91% of retail staff who are confident in their prowess with in-store technology. The Evolving Role of Technology “This research is very revealing as it illustrates how the consumer online experience and evolving role of technology in our day-to-day lives is driving expectations,” explained

Kenneth Keogh, Director of Business Development, Fujitsu Ireland. “The idea that the traditional high street retail outlet is facing extinction due to ecommerce is not supported by the research; rather, there is a need for retailers to understand and transform their offering to meet the needs of consumers.” The in-store experience can be enhanced by technology, with 49% of consumers stating that it serves to speed up the service they receive. A third (34%) cite the ability to access additional product information, while personalised offers and vouchers (25%) are also a draw. Well over half of shoppers say that both the quality of in-store technology directly affects their loyalty to a particular retailer (59%) and that they have proactively chosen to buy an item from one store over another because they knew they would enjoy a better technology experience (57%). More still (76%), say that a positive technology experience would increase the likelihood of them purchasing additional items. The Future of Tech While only a small minority (8%) said that their primary use for high street stores today is to collect goods they’ve already purchased online, significant numbers want to be able to do so in the future (22%). Consumers might not think about it in such terms, but they are in essence expecting the store of tomorrow to become an exemplar of omnichannel retail.

Key issues for employees:

60%

employees say there isn’t enough tech for the team

50%

Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie|29 say the technology they have is slow

Retail Technology

The gaps between employees and customers:

67%

of employees use their own device on the shop floor to do their job more effectively

74%

of customers can get info more quickly with their own devices

It isn’t just the fundamental The tech-empowered high street that consumers want to see includes: purpose of the physical store 46% personalised 36% smart 24% VRtechnology offers sent in-store mirrors that shoppers of purchases directly biometric expect to evolve 24% delivery 22% advanced to their car through the IoT payments as time goes by. They also have strong opinions on how technology could be employed to Supermarket deliver a more complete and compelling Consumers see the future of the high street as: experience. Top the customer browsing and of the list for in-store shopping purchasing experience products the majority of consumers is The business opportunity: personalisation. consumers say a more positive experience of in-store tech (like personalised Almost half of would make them more likely to spend more money in-store 76% ofvouchers) those surveyed (46%) named personalised offers that could be sent many shoppers, 90% of retail to them while they were in-store as staff stated that in-store their top choice when considering technology helps them to what technology could be introduced ie.fujitsu.com/retail/forgottenshopfloor to serve the customer better. improve their shopping experience. Two thirds (65%) of those Just over a third (36%) are intrigued surveyed suggest that they by the prospect of smart mirrors that can use in-store technology to display additional product information, serve customers multiple while stores being able to place goods in times a day, with mobile stock a connected car (24%), and the concept monitoring (53%), smart of interactive augmented reality displays checkouts (51%), mobile are similarly enticing for many shoppers point of sale devices (43%) (24%). Customer service chatbots, and customer loyalty systems biometric payment methods and even (46%) amongst the most stock shifting drones were also found to utilised systems and services. be of interest. “This blurring of the lines between the physical Staff Vs Customer Experience and digital means that it As well as shoppers, the research is up to retailers to ensure looked at the in-store experience of that they can provide more retail staff. In contrast to the views of services, greater speed and a personalised experience for shoppers on a day-to-day basis,” Kenneth Keogh revealed. “Ultimately, digital transformation is the key to delivering on these requirements, thus helping the high street to be sustainable and maintain its central role Kenneth Keogh, Director of Business in communities Development, Fujitsu Ireland. across Ireland.”

THE FUTURE OF THE STORE

JEWELLERS

49%

CLOTHES.COM

Making Tech Work for You FUJITSU believe retailers of all kinds would be well served by considering the following issues as in-store technology continues to evolve: •

CROCERIES

•

46%

•

Technology works best when it complements the existing experience. Consumers make great use of in-store technology, but that shouldn’t cloud the primary reason for their visit: physical retail - the very act of shopping - remains an enjoyable, sociable pastime. Shoppers are looking for a retail experience that is enhanced by technology, not driven by it. Be ready for the lines between offline and on to continue to blur. As time goes by, consumers will increasingly come to treat the physical store simply as an extension of the digital brand, a continuation of their online journey that allows them to interact and engage with products in the flesh before making their buying decisions. For physical retail to survive that shift, it needs to strive for the same levels of convenience and personalisation that those shoppers enjoy online. The gap between confidence and proficiency must be addressed. Employees are quick to profess their expertise with new devices, apps and services, but indications from shoppers are that this confidence is grossly misplaced. With a third of consumers suggesting that substandard experiences with in-store technology are as a result of poorly trained staff, retailers need to ensure that employees are trained not only in line with their own expectations, but with customers’ too. Experience from the shop floor is invaluable. While involving retail colleagues in the decision-making process around in-store tech is likely to be unpractical for many organisations, there can be little doubt that colleagues can provide valuable feedback on the realities of using it on the shop floor. Extracting and analysing that feedback, particularly in relation to customer utilisation, is likely to generate insights that would otherwise go unnoticed. Performance first, innovation second. Consumers aren’t averse to new ideas. Indeed, they have great expectations about what the store of tomorrow could offer - from personalised offers all the way through to robotic staff. At the same time, their primary demand isn’t for innovation but for the certainty that the systems in place already will perform to their expectations. Stores that invest in bright new ideas while leaving existing services unfinished or running poorly are likely to draw the ire of their customers.

30|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Focus on HR

Retail Theft and Stock Loss With almost two in five retailers experiencing theft of stock by employees, it is vital that you have the proper procedures in place to deal with suspected employee fraud, explains Kelly O’Connor, HR Consultant, The HR Suite.

ACCORDING to Retail Ireland, it is estimated that a typical organisation can lose up to 5% of its annual revenue through employee fraud. The statistics outlined that 39% of retailers have experienced theft of stock by employees. Awareness The most important tool that any organisation can have in relation to theft and stock loss is awareness. Even in the best run companies, employee theft can happen. The important thing is to ensure that it is discussed, anticipated and that an action plan can be swiftly put in place should the issue arise. Once an organisation is aware that employee theft is a distinct possibility, there are

three main areas to focus on. When discussing stock loss, it is vitally important to note that employee fraud or theft is not limited to stock alone. Theft can be in many forms, both direct and indirect, including: • Conducting fraudulent refunds and keeping the cash themselves; • Non-documentation of sales, whereby the money paid never makes it into the till; • Credit card misuse, including stealing customers’ details or conducting fraudulent refunds; • Non-scanning of goods when serving friends/ family members; • Misuse of time clocks or timesheets to manipulate hours worked and

• • • •

paid; Use of company resources for personal gain; Abuse of the sick leave policy; Misuse of company property e.g. company vehicles or company phone; Time wasting when at work e.g. surfing the web or taking personal calls.

Proactiveness The above statistics may be of surprise to many, as most employers expect staff to be honest. In short, many employers assume that honesty is implied within the terms and conditions of the employment relationship. Whilst the majority of staff are honest and look out for the best interests of the business, we cannot adopt such a stance. Best practice advises that we put in place procedures and policies for the percentage that are dishonest, in the event that such an act becomes apparent. Ensuring that policies and procedures are in place ensures that the company is proactive in managing such an event. Additionally, it will give the company leverage in showing where the employee has signed and accepted that they would not participate in stock loss practices as it implies a breach of trust

Despite perhaps finding an employee with their hand in the till and noticing money being transported to their pocket, that employee cannot be dismissed immediately and an investigation must be conducted into an alleged theft by an employee.

Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie|31

Focus on HR

If CCTV is being used as evidence in an investigation, you must ensure compliance with data protection legislation. of the employment relationship. Once you can answer yes to the below, then your organisation is in a good position: • Are there policies in place that clearly outline the company’s expectations in relation to honesty? • Has the company made it perfectly clear as to what is considered to be honest or dishonest behaviour?

relation to company vehicles, laptops, phones etc. These policies should be reviewed and reissued to staff regularly and displayed in open areas, such as staff noticeboards and canteens. It is vitally important to ensure that the above policies are included in a company handbook or policies and procedures document, with adequate sign-off on the employee’s behalf. The employee’s acceptance can remain on the employee file. This ensures that there is evidence that the staff member [in question, should this scenario arise] has been made aware of these policies by signed acceptance. By setting the standard from the outset, we can avoid any grey areas when it comes to dealing with issues of employee dishonesty. Internal Controls Are there sufficient internal controls in place to minimise potential loss? Control measures need to be implemented in obvious areas such as cash handling, stock handling, till procedures etc. For example, are you running void reports to highlight an excessive amount of voids on a continuous basis? It is also important to have control measures in place in areas such as invoicing, payments and payroll. Weak internal controls may provide an opportunity for staff to commit theft or fraud.

Creating an Honesty Policy An honesty policy can be implemented and issued to all employees. This honesty policy would intertwine and run in conjunction with the company People Managers disciplinary policy, whereby any Are your people trained to deal with employee who is suspected of breaching suspicion of employee theft and stock the honesty policy will be subject to loss? Are supervisors, managers and an investigation under the disciplinary business owners trained on how to procedure, in order to establish the full approach such a scenario when theft is facts of the case. alleged? Does your management team The policy is designed to protect understand that fair procedures are the majority of people who want to work necessary? Do they understand that in an environment in which honesty is despite perhaps finding an employee encouraged and in which the employee, with their hand in the till and noticing the the employer, and customers are money being transported to their pocket, protected from any dishonest acts by that the employee cannot be dismissed other employees, customers, suppliers or the general public. The policy should clearly identify what expectations employees are expected to meet and what they should do if they feel that the policy has been breached by another stakeholder, including a fellow work colleague. Other policies that can be implemented to reduce indirect theft of company resources include the following: Fraud can also include credit card misuse, including IT policy, social media stealing customers’ details or conducting fraudulent policy, policies in refunds.

About the Author THE HR Suite are based in Tralee, Co. Kerry, and provide human resources consultancy, employment law advice, training and recruitment services to businesses throughout Ireland. MD Caroline McEnery has over 20 years’ experience in providing HR services to Irish companies. She is a member on the Low Pay Commission and is also an adjudicator in the new Work Place Relations Commission. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact our office on (066) 7102887 or (01) 9014335 or email info@thehrsuiteonline.com. Website: http://thehrsuiteonline.com. immediately and an investigation must be conducted into an alleged theft by an employee? The immediate action taken on discovery of an alleged employee theft can have an influence in the entire disciplinary process, so it is advised that all the management team be trained in how to deal with allegations of this nature, and on the potential implications of correct procedure not being followed. There are a number of items to take into consideration when conducting investigations and, as always, it is important that there are clear policies in place around these: • CCTV: - If CCTV is being used as evidence in an investigation, are you compliant with data protection legislation? - Do you have a CCTV policy in place that explicitly states that CCTV can be used in a disciplinary investigation? • Search: - Do you have a ‘Right to Search Policy’ in place? • Separation of Process: - Are there sufficient independent parties in your organisation to ensure that you can conduct an investigation meeting, an outcome meeting and an appeal meeting if necessary, all conducted by a different person? Contact The HR Suite If you or your management team are in any doubt as to how to approach or deal with an allegation of employee theft, you should seek out professional advice. The HR Suite can advise you and your organisation in helping approach the same in your organisation. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 066 7102887.

G N I D A E E G L N A H T R C PA H G U O 4 TH R

T H

U G H

L E A D

A N G

In Part 1, 2 and 3 of our Leading Through Change programme we outlined what is happening around the new EUTPD II legislation, and the timeline involved.

WHAT IS HAPPENING? In 2014 the European Union adopted the revised Tobacco Products Directive – or ‘EUTPD II’. This new legislation will affect everybody involved in the tobacco category, including you. MAY 2017

Until midnight May 19 2017 retailers are allowed to sell both current packs and EUTPD II compliant packs.

From May 20 2017 retailers are only allowed to sell EUTPD II compliant packs. • Roll-your-own tobacco pouches must be 30g or more.

Post-EUTPD II FMC Portfolio

John Player Blue 20s

JPS Red 20s

John Player Blue Big Box 25s

JPS Red 100s

John Player Blue Big Box 28s

JPS Red 23s

John Player Blue Compact 20s

JPS Silver 20s

John Player Blue 100s

JPS Silver 100s

JPS Green Menthol 100s

John Player Bright Blue 20s

Superkings Black 20s

JPS Blue 20s

Superkings Blue 20s

JPS Blue 100s

Superkings Green Menthol 20s

JPS Blue 23s

Regal 20s

Lambert & Butler Silver 20s

JPS Blue 29s

Players Navy Cut 20s

Post-EUTPD II FCT Portfolio

gV Bright Yellow 30g

gV Bright Yellow Combi 30g

Golden Virginia Pouch 30g

Golden Virginia Combi 30g

JPS Blue Volume Tobacco 30g

JPS Silver Volume Tobacco 30g

John Player Blue 30g Tobacco Pouch

Drum Pouch 30g

Drum Combi 30g

Drum Bright Blue 30g

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR GUIDE TO MANAGING TRANSITIONING STOCK AND RETURNS FMC TOBACCO

ROLL YOUR OWN TOBACCO

BRAND NAME

STEPS 1

BRAND NAME

PIPE TOBACCO

ACCESSORIES

D BRAN NAME

BRAN NAMED

D BRAN NAME

BRAN NAMED

Organise your stockroom in advance so it is tidy. Non-compliant stock should be positioned in front so it can be sold before May 20 2017.

BRAND NAME

D BRAN NAME D AN BR AME N

BRAND NAME

BRAN NAMED

FMC TOBACCO

ROLL YOUR OWN TOBACCO

BRAND NAME BRAND NAME

BRAND NAME

FMC TOBACCO

ACCESSORIES

D BRAN NAME

BRAND NAME

BRAN NAMED

D BRAN NAME

BRAN NAMED

DY TI

SY ES

BRAND NAME

STOCKROOM

BRAND NAME

STOCKROOM

BRAND NAME

Rotate your stock – sell non-compliant packs first.

Ensure you do not stock build on non-compliant packs close to May 20 2017.

Customer collates non-compliant stock ready for Rep visit.

John Player Reps will start taking returns of non-compliant stock from May 15 2017.

Your John Player Rep will bag non-compliant stock ready for collection by Nightline, within 48 hours of Rep visit.

BRAND NAME

D AN BR AME N

BRAND NAME

D BRAN NAME

BRAN NAMED

BRAND NAME

T U O T H CAUG MAY 20 201 7

T PACKS FROM E G T ’ DON OMPLIANT ON-C WITH N

For any queries regarding EUTPD II Legislation please contact your John Player Sales Representative, call our Customer Services team on 01-2434900 or check out the EUTPD II section on www.johnplayer.ie

LOG ON TO WWW.SHOWMEID.IE & MAKE SURE YOUR BUSINESS IS PROTECTED Smoking is for adults and John Player believes that children should not smoke. Please be ever vigilant. If there is any doubt about a person’s age - always refuse the sale. Information for Trade Customers Only.

F o r To b a c c o Tr a d e r s O n l y

34|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Essentials

Sunny Outlook

The summer season brings a host of profit opportunities, from sauces to sun-creams.

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S summer time and if you listen closely, that sound you can hear is adults all across the country opening their sheds and dusting off their barbecues, as al fresco dining takes centre stage for the sunny season, when barbecues, salads and generally, lighter meal options take precedence over heartier and heavier fare. As a nation, Ireland has embraced al fresco dining, with barbecues now commonplace right across the country, as Irish grillers get busy producing tasty and convenient meals outdoors. It is normal for Irish consumers to barbecue and eat outside during the summer, so much so that many new housing developments now incorporate patio areas and even built-in barbecues. Barbecue culture is definitely on the rise in Ireland, although we still lag behind Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest barbecuers, across the pond in the UK, who collectively host over 130m barbecues, per year, averaging at over nine per family. The barbecue is not just a weekend occasion now, with more and more

barbecue occasions taking place after-work or mid-week, and the pre-planned, organised barbecue is also less prevalent, which is probably a good thing, given the vagaries of the Irish weather. The type of food we consume during the summer, both during barbecue and regular dining occasions, is changing too, as consumers embrace new food styles, including hot and spicy food from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Mexico and southern US flavours like Cajun and Creole. It is estimated that the barbecue industry is worth more than â&#x201A;Ź300m per year, which can translate into sales and profit opportunities for smart retailers who have a dedicated barbecue section in-store. Brennans Summer. means barbecues and outdoor eating to most of your customers, whatever the weather. Their first stop is going to be something to put all that barbecued

At just 96 calories per bread, the Be Good Sandwich breads are high in fibre and are a great alternative to burger buns during the barbecue season.

36|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Essentials goodness into, so your first stop should be Brennans. Brennans is all about ‘Today’s Bread Today’ and in the summer that also means their great tasting Be Good range. As well as the traditional Wholemeal, White, Wholegrain and Brown, Be Good also comes in Wholemeal and Sesame & Linseed Sandwich Breads. At just 96 calories per bread, the Be Good Sandwich breads are also high in fibre and are a great alternative to burger buns during the barbecue season. As your customers look for healthier options, with Brennans there’s no need for them to compromise on taste, quality or freshness. Just stock up on Brennans Be Good Sandwich Breads and you’ll enjoy a great summer – regardless of the weather! Clarke’s Fresh Fruit Pat Clarke, trading as Clarke’s Fresh Fruit, has established a reputation for the production of quality fresh fruit over the past 50 years. Today, 70 acres of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are grown on the family farm at Stamullen, Co. Meath. From May to November, fruit is produced seven days a week and is picked, packed and dispatched on the same day to guarantee freshness. As a Bord Bia quality assured soft fruit producer, Pat prides himself on delivering top quality flavoursome berries to a highly valued customer base and on sustaining the ethos of the company, which is to strive for excellence in all aspects of the business. He has been voted Bord Bia Fruit Grower of the Year many times and captured the prestigious overall Grower of the Year award in 2010. Global G.A.P certification is achieved annually and Grade A in BRC certification, while Clarke’s Fresh Fruit has acquired certified membership of the Bord Bia Origin Green sustainability programme. Clarke’s have developed a range of jams to complement the flavoursome fruit. The range includes five varieties: Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry and also Strawberry and Raspberry with

Clarke’s have developed a range of jams to complement the flavoursome fruit, specially produced from the wholesome fruit grown on Clarke’s Fresh Fruit Farm.

Nivea Sun: Protection for the Family. IRELAND’S number one sun care brand, Nivea Sun offers innovative and caring sun protection for the entire family. Sun protection application can be a chore at the best of times, but is necessary to enjoy worry-free time in the sun. Nivea Sun ensures each product responds to consumer needs and habits, making time spent outside in the summer safe and enjoyable for all the family. Nivea Sun Protection Roll-On is available in formats for both for kids and adults, offering highly effective sun protection wherever you go. With its easyto-handle roll-on application, it is simple and quick to apply on the skin. Nivea’s innovative formula works immediately and ensures reliable, highly effective UVA and Nivea Sun Kids UVB protection. A fast-absorbing, non-sticky Protection Roll-On formula also makes applying sunscreen fun SPF 30, 50 ml for kids. contains an Nivea Sun Protection Roll-On releases innovative formula the right amount of lotion, evenly and that works precisely where you want it. Furthermore, it immediately comes with a pleasant scent and the handy to offer highly and compact roll-on is a reliable companion effective protection. wherever consumers go. It contains an innovative formula that works immediately to offer highly effective protection. After the quick application, a child’s skin is fully protected and well cared for, and the adventures in the sun can start straight away. The formula of the world’s number one sun care brand combines highly effective UVA and UVB protection and offers extra water-resistance for fun in the water. “Especially for young skin, the efficacy of the sun protection is important,” explains Dr Dominik Göddertz, Beiersdorf AG. “Nivea Sun Kids Protection Roll-On is therefore available with the sun protection factors 30 and 50+. Like all other Nivea Sun Protection products, this innovative roll-on cares gently for children’s skin while protecting it. All our products have been tested thoroughly and are dermatologically approved for skin compatibility. Nivea roll-on ball offers fun times in the sun and protects your child’s skin at the same time.” The easy application is not only convenient and fun for kids – their parents also see the advantages and many are happy to make use Nivea Sun of it themselves. Responding to this consumer Protection Rollneed, Nivea Sun also launched the Nivea Sun On releases the Protection Roll-On for adults with SPF30 and right amount of SPF50+ with the familiar scent of Nivea Sun lotion, evenly and Protection products. precisely where Nivea Sun is available in pharmacies you want it. and grocery stores nationwide: Nivea Sun Kids Protection Roll-On SPF 30, 50 ml RRP €9.99; Nivea Sun Kids Protection Roll-On SPF 50+, 50 ml RRP €9.99; Nivea Sun Protection Roll-On SPF 30, 50 ml RRP €9.99; Nivea Sun Protection Roll-On SPF 50+, 50 ml RRP €9.99. For more information, please visit www.nivea.ie or www.facebook.com/niveaireland.

TAKE CARE OUT THERE

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Summer Stocking: Essentials

Pat Clarke of Clarke’s Fresh Fruit: from May to November, fruit is produced seven days a week and is picked, packed and dispatched on the same day to guarantee freshness. No Added Sugar. Clarke’s Fresh Strawberries were chosen for the State Banquet for Queen Elizabeth in Dublin Castle when she visited the country, and Clarke’s Fresh Fruit features as a culinary delight in Áras an Uachtaráin, the President of Ireland’s home, and in many fine restaurants, one of the most notable being chef Neven Maguires’s MacNean House in Blacklion, Co. Cavan. Clarke’s Fresh Fruit farm is synonymous with excellence in fruit growing and continues to show a strong commitment to safe and efficient farm practice. Key achievements to date in relation to resource efficiency and sustainability include a computercontrolled irrigation and drip feed system, which ensures the plants receive the optimum amount of water and nutrients necessary to produce top quality fruit, while reducing water wastage. Biological pest control and natural pollination are used as part of an integrated pest management programme to enhance successful growth, while the production area has been upgraded to the most modern table top system, achieving significant labour efficiency and improved yields. Blue Dragon Blue Dragon unveiled a bold, vibrant new brand and packaging range at a recent launch in the KAL Kitchen Showrooms, Citywest. The new inspiring design was created by strategic brand design agency BrandOpus. Founded in the 1970s, Blue Dragon were pioneers in introducing traditional Asian flavours to the UK and Irish market. In the 40 years since,

flavours and experiences are craved the world over.” says Nir Wegrzyn, CEO, BrandOpus. “The Blue Dragon redesign conjures that energetic, exhilarating culture and brings people closer to modern Asia.” Paul Watmore, Marketing Director, AB World Foods, comments, “Blue Dragon’s new design evokes the vibrancy of modern Asia and strengthens the brand’s position. We want our packs to reflect the bold and exciting flavours that our products deliver and inspire consumers to explore the best of Asian flavour from their kitchens.” 2017 promises to be another big year for the Blue Dragon brand and will continue to bring inspiration and excitement to the ethnic foods category. Blue Dragon is distributed in Ireland by BR Foods.

appetite for Asian food has increased dramatically, with people demanding new inspiring tastes and desiring deeper, more authentic experiences. Blue Dragon has moved to close the gap between out-of-home dining experiences and the home, by bringing that same authenticity and experience to consumers’ kitchens. From condiments to stir fries, Blue Dragon’s range encourages consumers to create expressive Asian creations. Whether it’s fast and flavoursome meals or a tasty home-cooked meal, Blue Dragon brings the heart and soul of Far East Asia to consumers’ kitchens. “Discovering Asia is an experience in which few get to partake, yet the Pictured at the unveiling of the new Blue Dragon brand in the KAL Kitchen Showroom, Citywest, are (l-r): Chris Crosby, Development Manager, AB World Foods; with Derek Caswell, Anne McInerney and William Rochford, BR Foods.

Blue Dragon has unveiled a bold, vibrant new brand and packaging range, created by brand design agency, BrandOpus.

Alpro Ice Cream Alpro’s Ice Cream range is hitting TV screens for the first time this summer, with a new creative designed to drive product awareness throughout the UK and Ireland. Bolstering visibility of the brand’s first-ever launch into the frozen aisle, the distinctive new campaign represents a significant investment by the plant-based market leader. Showcasing the successful Hazelnut Chocolate, Vanilla and Coconut variants, the playful ad reinforces Alpro Ice Cream as being ‘made from nature’s tastiest ingredients’ to appeal to shoppers looking for everyday choices that are healthy and delicious too.

Hot Summer Promotion from Irish Pride and Calor

SUMMER wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be summer without Irish Pride Bunsters Buns. This summer is set to be even tastier, as Irish Pride and Calor are cooking up a special offer for BBQ fans all over Ireland. The exclusive on-pack Calor Mini BBQ offer is running across the Irish Pride Bunster range, including Bunster Buns, Bunster Seeded Buns and Bunster Fab 4s. Throughout the summer, Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BBQ kings and queens can share their favourite al fresco recipes on the Irish Pride Website to be in with the chance of winning a prize. Each

week between now and August 19, Irish Pride will pick a lucky winner who will receive a Calor Mini BBQ, BBQ utensil kit and Irish Pride Bunster Hamper. Three weekly runnersup will receive a BBQ utensil kit and an Irish Pride Bunster Hamper. The Irish Pride Bunsters and Calor Mini BBQ Summer promotion is supported by a full in-store POS campaign. Further details are available on www.irishpride/calorcompetition.

40|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Essentials “Since launch in October 2016, Alpro Ice Cream has proven a strong addition to our growing plant-based portfolio, helping us to ramp up our cross category offer and tap into the rising interest in plant-based choices,” explains Vicky Upton, Head of Marketing for Alpro UK & Ireland. “The message that this range offers fantastic taste and a great nutritional profile, with 30% less sugars and 30% less saturated fat than similar products, is clearly hitting home with the growing number of shoppers looking for tasty alternatives that are good for them too.

Alpro Ice Cream’s successful Hazelnut Chocolate, Vanilla and Coconut variants.

“Our first TV campaign for Alpro Ice Cream will build on this even further by raising awareness amongst mainstream consumers, attracting new shoppers and bringing incremental sales to the fast-growing plant-based food and drink category at the same time.” Clonakilty Blackpudding Sausages Clonakilty Food Co. has launched delicious new blackpudding sausages, combining two of their best loved products, the traditional flavour of their popular Clonakilty Sausages mixed with the unmistakable texture and flavour of the famous Clonakilty Blackpudding. These tasty Irish sausages are very versatile and can be enjoyed on their own or with a salad for a light bite, with mash and gravy for a hearty dinner, or as part of a Full Irish. They can be grilled, pan fried or barbecued. The Clonakilty Blackpudding Sausages are available in 75 Tesco stores and a range of independent shops nationwide and in other leading Irish retailers in the months ahead. “Over the years, we have continued to develop new products, including whitepudding, sausages and rashers and bacon,” noted Colette Twomey, cofounder of Clonakilty. “The blackpudding sausage is the first in our exciting new Butcher Shop Recipe range and we are looking forward to launching other new

Ambre Solaire’s Mist Opportunity UP to 80% of a person’s annual UV exposure happens in day to day life not on holiday, and yet almost a quarter of Irish women (23%) have admitted they only apply sun protection to their face when abroad. The admission comes despite 77% of women agreeing their face is the biggest area of concern for premature ageing. The City Sun Report was conducted by Garnier Ambre Solaire to raise awareness of the importance of wearing sun protection every day, not just on the beach; in particular protecting against harmful UVA and UVB rays, which can damage skin and cause premature skin ageing. New Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Protecting and Hydrating Face Mist is a first for Garnier Ambre Solaire, with SPF 50. This product has been designed to provide UVA and UVB protection with a lightweight skin feel, and can easily be applied either under or over makeup whilst on-the-go. Dr Justine Kluk, Harley Street Consultant Dermatologist, comments; “Protecting your skin in the sun is just as important in the city as it is on holiday. With so many women in Ireland fighting premature ageing, one of the simplest ways to make a positive change to your skin is to apply a face mist with SPF50, UVB protection and UVA protection in the morning and regularly throughout the day as part of your daily beauty routine.”

New Clonakilty Blackpudding Sausages, combining the traditional flavour of their popular Clonakilty Sausages mixed with the unmistakable texture and flavour of the famous Clonakilty Blackpudding. products in the future.” Clonakilty began as a small local business in the seaside town of the same name in West Cork. Today, it has grown into an internationally recognised food brand whose product range includes its original blackpudding, whitepudding, sausages, rashers, bacon & gluten free range For more, see www.clonakiltyblackpudding.ie UMI Foods UMI Foods in Northern Ireland has launched a new corporate identity and branding as an integral part of a major marketing campaign to grow sales faster in the Republic of Ireland, Britain and other markets. The branding features on Harvest & Made, an innovative new range of convenience foods.

The new Harvest & Made range has been launched by award-winning UMI Foods in Northern Ireland. Based near Armagh City and previously known as Unimush Ireland Ltd, UMI Foods is a leading manufacturer of hand prepared vegetable products and suppliers of loose, pre-packed and prepared Irish and British mushrooms. The company has won a series of awards for its quality products and customer service, including ‘Best Supplier of the Year’ in the recent Northern Ireland Food Manufacturing Awards.

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Summer Stocking: Soft Drinks & Bottled Water

Softly Does Itâ&#x20AC;Ś

Soft drinks are key sales drivers instore, particularly in the summer season.

free. Euromonitor expect soft drinks to record modest growth in both value and volume terms over the coming years. Health and wellness and impulse purchasing patterns are likely to remain the key drivers of sales.

2016 saw modest growth in the soft drinks category as a whole, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International. Some categories continued to struggle, due largely to their negative associations with sugar. Categories such as bottled water, juice and RTD tea were the least susceptible to this, recording some of the strongest off trade current value growth rates during the year. Health and wellness trends increasingly influenced the Irish soft drinks market in 2016. The best performances came from manufacturers which positioned their brands as natural, healthy and sugar-

Finches Just in time for summer, one of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite carbonated drinks brands, Finches is stepping out in style with a new-look 500ml curved bottle, the shape of which is complemented by a full-wrap label. The new-look 500ml pack is worthy of a place on the catwalks of Dublin, Milan and Paris and brings a touch of style to the soft drinks category. The premium drink is available in low calorie Pink Lemonade, iconic Sparkling Orange and a favourite amongst both men and women, Rock Shandy. Portability is key and the

Finches is stepping out in style this summer with a new-look 500ml curved bottle, the shape of which is complemented by a full-wrap label.

42|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Soft Drinks & Bottled Water relaunched 500ml is the perfect size for on-the-go consumers looking for a refreshing thirst quencher. So what else makes the new 500ml Finches range so great? Well, according to Justine Byrne, Brand Manager for Finches, it’s the curved bottle design that’s so comfortable to hold; it’s the new, full-wrap label that ensures real stand out on-shelf; and it’s the fantastic flavours that consumers are mad about. “What’s also important to consumers is that Finches is produced in Ireland, uses only the best juices and the finest quality ingredients, including Irish spring water, which is rare in the soft drinks category,” said Justine. “After that, it’s just a great, much-loved brand that evokes fond memories of long summers and days out spent with friends.” Finches is anticipating a busy season ahead with an on-shelf presence bursting with energy and colour. Available nationwide, Finches is distributed by C&C Gleeson, one of the country’s leading manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers to the Irish drinks industry. Finches will be supporting the relaunch of the 500ml pack with a range of in-store POS activity that will help trade customers unlock strong sales and growth potential. Boost Drinks Challenger brand Boost Drinks, distributed by C&C Gleeson, is looking to increase its share of the energy drinks market with striking new packaging that will be introduced across all its SKUs over the next few months. This evolution of Boost’s brand identity will provide improved differentiation and stand-out. The logo has been updated with a more contemporary feel, featuring a new font that reflects energy and movement. Boost’s new branding and packaging is fresh, relevant and will resonate with the consumer, creating greater on-shelf impact, both with the logo and also the various flavours and their respective colourways. Boost’s core offer comprises the 250ml can Original and Sugar Free, 500ml and 1 litre bottle, four can multipack and Sport Orange, Mixed Berry and Tropical Berry, all of which are price marked. As part of the brand refresh, the ‘special offer’ reference has been removed, highlighting the fact that the great value of Boost is not just a shortterm gimmick. Founder and Managing Director, Simon Gray, comments: “This is an

The new branding will also feature across the new Boost Drinks website. Designed not only to reflect the creative changes to the brand, the website will also provide a better user journey for consumers and retailers alike. For more information on Boost, visit www.boostdrinks.com/trade. Fentimans From C&C Gleeson, Fentimans have been making the finest quality natural botanical drinks since 1905. Their award winning artisanal beverages are hand crafted, using the finest natural ingredients from all around the world. To create a superior taste and wonderful mouth-feel, unlike other producers of carbonated drinks, Fentimans make their drinks using the time-honoured botanical brewing technique. This traditional process means that it takes a full seven days to make a Fentimans beverage. Boost’s new branding and packaging is fresh, relevant and will resonate with the consumer, creating greater on-shelf impact. evolution, not a revolution! Having celebrated our 15th Anniversary in 2016, we felt the time was right to review our packaging, bringing it right up to date and injecting more personality into the design.”

Fentimans have been making the finest quality natural botanical drinks since 1905.

The Boost Sports range includes Orange, Mixed Berry and Tropical Berry flavours, all of which are price marked.

The original Fentimans recipe took the finest ginger root, which was bruised, crushed and milled. The ginger was then placed in copper steam jacketed pans containing spring water and gradually heated to simmering point. This induced the release and extraction of fine ginger sediment and a flavoursome botanical extract. The botanical liquid was then filtered into a wooden vat. The finest herbs, natural flavouring, sugar and brewer’s yeast were added to the botanical extract and the liquid was thoroughly stirred. The live liquid was then left to ferment in the wooden fermentation vat. The live ginger beer was then decanted from the wooden vat into the iconic stone jars, known affectionately as ‘Grey Hens’, where it came up to condition and was

Fentimans finest quality natural

botanical drinks since 1905

Brewed for 7 days using the time honoured botanical brewing process Perfect for enjoying

straight

from the bottle

Contact your local C&C Rep for more details or call our customer care team on 1800-303-742

44|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Soft Drinks & Bottled Water ready to drink within a week. It is this traditional botanical brewing process that produces the depth of flavour, mouth-feel and rich texture which are the hallmark of Fentimans drinks today. This is the Fentimans way, which has stood the test of time, with the knowledge and expertise being passed from generation to generation of the Fentimans family. The result is a superior tasting natural range of beverages which can be enjoyed on their own or as a mixer with a premium spirit. Fentimans soft drinks are available in 275ml and 750ml bottles, whilst mixers are available in 125ml 4-pack and 200ml bottles. For more information, visit www.fentimans.com

Fentimans mixers are available in 125ml 4-pack and 200ml bottles. Coca-Cola This summer, Coca-Cola has some exciting plans to make sure that sparkling drinks really jump off-shelf. Starting from May, Coca-Cola is offering consumers in Ireland a chance to win the holiday of their dreams with its new, exciting and exotic summer campaign and holiday giveaway. The iconic logo on bottles of Coca Cola, Coca Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke will be replaced by the names of the world’s top holiday destinations, with some ever-popular local Irish destinations also featuring in the campaign. Those purchasing a destinationthemed Coke can win an unforgettable vacation to a dream holiday hotspot overseas to places such as Hawaii, Bali, or Miami. And for those who prefer to staycation, there will be a few familiar and much-loved locations such as Kerry, Portrush, Salthill and Tramore. Consumers can take part in the

created. With its straight lines and angled letters, the new logo has a bold energy which reflects the Fanta brand’s fruity, fun and vibrant nature. The new look is complemented by a new design for the Fanta bottle. Almost two years in the making, it’s a striking industry first. Fanta’s bottle design has had a dynamic evolution, from the original half-ridged glass bottles to the curvaceous plastic ‘Splash’ Coca-Cola’s exciting and exotic summer campaign and bottle in 2000, holiday giveaway sees the iconic logo on bottles of the new 2017 Coca Cola, Coca Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke replaced bottle is a fresh by the names of the world’s top holiday destinations. twist, literally! It features a revolutionary promotion by entering a unique spiral design, twisted to create a unique, code found on-pack at eye-catching shape. coke.ie/ On top of all that, Fanta Orange also summer has a delicious new recipe. This new and reduced-sugar recipe will retain the winners same great taste of Fanta that people will be know and love but with fewer calories drawn and less sugar. Total sugar content in the every new Fanta will be reduced by 33%. day during an 11Lucozade Zero week period One of Ireland’s favourite impulse until July 30. brands, Lucozade recently launched its new Lucozade Zero range to the market, Fanta offering consumers a zero calorie The muchdrink that maintains the great taste loved brand, synonymous with Lucozade products. Fanta, is being The Zero range offers three variants, transformed Lucozade Zero Original, Lucozade with a new Zero Orange and Lucozade Zero Pink look and logo, Lemonade, in 380ml. a new formula The launch is supported by a and an heavyweight consumer awareness industry-first campaign that will make it one of the ‘Twist’ bottle largest soft drink launches of 2017. The design. First campaign includes extensive media, launched in OOH, social media and shopper activity. Italy in 1955, In addition, there is a major sampling Fanta quickly Fanta is being campaign, targeting up to 500,000 become a transformed with a consumers, running until October. firm favourite new look and logo, The launch of Lucozade Zero in the around the a new formula and Republic of Ireland is on the back of a world. In an industry-first highly successful debut of Lucozade Zero 2017, a new ‘Twist’ bottle design. Orange and Pink in Great Britain logo has been

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Summer Stocking: Soft Drinks & Bottled Water Vegified, a tasty and affordable the added benefits of vegetable and fruit juice drink, is the Magnesium, Zinc, Lavender latest innovation by Coca-Cola HBC or Mint - making it easier to Ireland and Northern Ireland. The new maintain balance and make brand aims to offer a healthy boost for a healthier choices on-thebusy lifestyle, with four unique flavours; go. Beetroot & Strawberry; Pumpkin Ginger Like Deep RiverRock, & Orange; Cucumber & Lime; and Bell the range is quality water Pepper & Orange. All varieties contain sourced from the Glens of 30% vegetable and fruit juice, are Antrim. With four tailored fortified with six essential vitamins and products, Deep RiverRock contain 60 calories or less per 300ml can help consumers Revive bottle. with Magnesium or Zinc Helping people to add more of these and Relax with Lavender or key vitamins to the diet, the Vegified Mint. range supports a healthy immune Deep RiverRock Revive system, healthy joints, teeth, bones, offers two options of hair and skin, contributing to a good minerals to give consumers metabolism, while reducing tiredness a lift: Magnesium is known and fatigue. to refresh, revive and “We are passionate about developing reduce fatigue - helping unique beverage offerings that respond your body keep going, while to consumer needs and lifestyles. With Lucozade Zero offers consumers a zero calorie drink Zinc contributes to normal Vegified, we knew we had developed that maintains the great taste synonymous with cognitive function - helping something special that would speak Lucozade products in three flavours: Lucozade Zero you to focus and stay ahead. to busy consumers seeking a healthy Original, Lucozade Zero Orange and Lucozade Zero Deep RiverRock Relax boost on-the-go,” said Tara O’Rourke, Pink Lemonade. is infused with two herbal Head of Coca-Cola HBC Brand extracts to help consumers unwind: Mint is known to and Northern Ireland in summer 2016. soothe – helping to improve In Northern Ireland, Lucozade Zero is your mood, and Lavender is already the third biggest low calorie associated with relaxing drink, which shows the enormous helping you to take it easy. potential of the range, considering Zero “We are passionate about Original has just been launched into the hydration and Revive and Relax range (Source: IRI data up to 20/12/16 – now offers something extra Convenience channel). with ‘hydration plus benefits’, helping you think straight and Deep RiverRock feel your best,” noted Oonagh Deep RiverRock recently launched Gildea from Deep RiverRock. Revive and Relax, a new water range In line with the rest of the Deep infused with essential herbal extracts RiverRock range, Relax and and minerals, offering hydration plus Revive is sugar free with no Vegified, a tasty and affordable vegetable benefits. In a world where most people calories. and fruit juice drink, is the latest are busier than ever, the range offers innovation by Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and mental and physical hydration with Vegified Northern Ireland. New juice on Marketing. “Everything from the choice the block, of ingredients, to the development of the Vegified brand’s rustic look and feel, was led by has picked up two the local team and we’re hugely proud to awards at the 2017 have this work recognised by the coveted Global InnoBev InnoBev Awards. Awards, held on “We have had fantastic feedback April 25 in Frankfurt, from our retail partners on the early Germany. At the success of Vegified to date, and as we equivalent of the continue to increase distribution and ‘Oscars’ of the encourage consumer trial, these awards beverage world, the will give the range a further lift.” latest innovation Vegified launched across Ireland and by Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland at the end of March, Ireland and Northern and is supported by a full marketing Ireland, was campaign, including OOH, digital, PR awarded ‘Best Juice and experiential sampling, in addition Drink’ and ‘Best Deep RiverRock Revive and Relax is a new water range to a full suite of impactful displays and New Brand/ Brand infused with essential herbal extracts and minerals, equipment in-store. Extension’. offering hydration plus benefits.

46|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider

Liquid Gold Sales of beer and cider look set to soar over the summer season.

SUMMER is on the way, which means consumers all over the country are getting ready for warm and (hopefully) sunny days and long evenings ahead. There is an upsurge in home entertaining, as barbeques are dusted off for the season, with a corresponding rise in take-home beer and cider sales. Take home sales of beer and lager grew from €265.5m for the 52 weeks, ending March 29, 2015, to €288.5m this year, for the 52 weeks ending on March 26, 2017, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel Ireland. The 2017 figures are even more impressive when you consider that 2016 saw a drop in the market to €260.8m (52 weeks to March 27, 2016), which effectively means that the market saw 10.6% growth over the last year. Euromonitor, meanwhile, predict marginal volume growth for the beer market in the coming years, with sales rising by one million litres in actual terms to 429m litres in 2020. Smaller craft beer producers are helping to make the beer category far more innovative and dynamic than in recent years. Moreover, by producing more highquality and high-end products, smaller producers are expected to continue challenging the already established bigger companies, thus forcing them to

develop new products in turn. Cider is enjoying strong growth at the moment, primarily thanks to the amount of investment in the cider market in recent years. The high profile launches of Orchard Thieves and Outcider have really shaken up the category, while the current heavyweight campaign behind Bulmers’ new look is ensuring that cider remains top of mind with consumers this summer. Bulmers It’s only fitting that Ireland’s number one cider is, well, Irish. Bulmers has been central to the evolution of the cider category and its premium positioning in the market, and is getting ready for a bumper summer with a fantastic programme of trade activity. Bulmers has been turning heads this year with a new look and a new attitude and its

shimmering suit of copper can be seen on shelves right across the country. As it celebrates its new look, Bulmers is also celebrating the best fans in the world with an amazing summer promotion. One lucky winner and a pal will 100% get to enjoy their ultimate sports experience from a line-up of the world’s greatest sporting events in partnership with Shazam, the clever app that can identify music based on hearing a short sample. Bulmers is the first brand to

Bulmers has been turning heads this year with a new look and a new attitude and its shimmering suit of copper can be seen on shelves right across the country.

99%

chance itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting checked out

#STATSDONTLIE

48|Retail News|May 2017|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider team up with Shazam on its new augmented reality feature for the Irish market. Entry is simple and Bulmers is expecting this to be the most popular trade promotion this year, bar none. Consumers simply pick up an eightpack, text Bulmersfan to 51500 using a unique entry code or via Shazam, where they can also play Keepie Uppie, a brilliant augmented reality game that will open on their phone. The competition will run during June and July, but the game will live on, just like the Bulmers brand. All Bulmers activity has been designed to support customers achieve increased sales levels, as the cider category in Ireland continues to outperform the market, with Bulmers retaining its number one position in the market. Outcider From the people who brought us Bulmers, Outcider’s launch onto the Irish market means there’s now even greater choice for street-savvy cider lovers who know what they want. Outcider is already proving to be the big hit of 2017, with its vibrant, in-yourface pack design and refreshing, sweet appley taste. This cider is for adults with attitude. It’s for those who like a certain sweetness to their drink and who are looking for something new, something a bit edgy. They want their choice of drink to be reflective of their other lifestyle

bingo but also conga lines, rave rounds, dance-offs and an insanely entertaining evening; this one is not for your traditional bingo-loving granny. Off trade activity is a big focus for the Outcider team and includes POS that is as bold and vibrant as its James Earley-designed livery. The growth of the brand is being supported by in-store sampling and omnipresent outdoor advertising and it’s sweet times ahead for one of Ireland’s newest brands. Orchard Thieves “Consumer tastes are always changing. What we can see is that for every trend, there is a counter trend,” noted Radina Shkutova, Heineken Ireland’s new Marketing Director, recently. “This can be clearly demonstrated from the consumer demand for authentic, quality, stronger flavors to lighter tastes for different occasions. The latter can clearly be seen from the growth in cider through the launch of Orchard Thieves and also Heineken Light, which delivers a great tasting, lower calorie and lower alcohol option.” The launch of Orchard Thieves by Heineken Ireland in 2015 really shook up the cider market here, and last summer saw the introduction of Orchard Thieves Light, a refreshing alternative for shoppers. The light extension opened up new occasions and recruited new shoppers for the brand and channel, as shoppers become more conscious of calorie intake without compromising on taste or quality. Orchard Thieves Light taps into this insight by being 33% lower in calories vs. Orchard Thieves, whilst maintaining a great taste. “From a cider perspective, Orchard Thieves, launched in 2016, is the now the number one category driver, delivering over 80% of the growth in cider, demonstrating that innovation that

Outcider is already proving hugely popular with Irish consumers, with its vibrant pack design and refreshing taste. choices and Outcider ticks all the boxes. Ireland’s newest cider recently announced its first sponsorship and it’s not one for the faint hearted. Outcider is going on tour with Bingo Loco, Ireland’s craziest night out that is changing the way we think about bingo, forever. Bingo Loco has hit Ireland by storm with, yes,

Orchard Thieves Light is 33% lower in calories vs Orchard Thieves, whilst maintaining a great taste.

resonates with shoppers is a key growth driver for retailers,” noted Radina Shkutova. Heineken Light Heineken Light, which has won global awards for its great taste, was specially crafted by Heineken’s master brewers to deliver the trademark great crisp taste and flavour that fans experience from Heineken. Brewed using the same process as Heineken, with the addition of the cascade aroma hop, it delivers a floral and fruity aroma. With a slightly lower bitterness, Heineken Light has a well-balanced and smooth, light finish. Heineken Light is lighter in calories and is 3% ABV. It is available Ireland was the on draught, 330ml first market in bottle and 500ml Europe to bring can. Heineken Light The launch to consumers of Heineken Light seeking was driven by moderate recent changes in occasions. consumer behaviour and lifestyle choices, and a trend towards healthier propositions and moderation in general. “Innovation plays a key role in delivering growth for Heineken Ireland,” explained Radina Shkutova, Heineken Ireland’s Marketing Director. “Last year, we launched Heineken Light and were the first market in Europe to bring this new innovation to consumers seeking moderate occasions. We know that beer drinkers are looking for choice and variety within the beer category: they want brands that match their lifestyles.” Barry & Fitzwilliam Global Beer Bands have seen a major increase in interest. Barry & Fitzwilliam currently distribute the Wells & Young portfolio, the most popular of which is Banana Bread Beer, and Coopers from Australia, which has gained a very loyal following over the years. New additions to the range include New Yorker and Innis & Gunn.

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Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider Innis & Gunn has been one of the UK’s most successful international craft beer businesses since its foundation in 2003. Available in over 25 countries, Innis & Gunn is the second-biggest craft beer brand in the UK off trade, the number one imported craft beer in Canada and Sweden, and sells 2.5m bottles a year in the USA. “Innis & Gunn are amongst the finest producers of top class craft beers anywhere in the world,” said Michael Barry, Managing Director of Barry & Fitzwilliam. “The addition of this premium brand to our current portfolio will give our customers an unrivalled choice of craft beers, both domestic and international.” Innis & Gunn has won a multitude of awards for its unique

New Yorker, one of the latest additions to the Barry & Fitzwilliam portfolio.

“The Cotton Ball Brewing Company and Killarney Brewing Co. are just a few of our range of Irish craft beers.” Also from B&F, the relaunched WKD range will be supported again this summer with a combination of promotions, a social media campaign, as well as traditional media. NKD is the new addition to the WKD range, with a major focus on less sugar and lower calories. Franciscan Well In a partnership like no other, Cork’s Franciscan Well and Dublin’s Aungier Danger are collaborating to bring a masterfully crafted donut and beer marriage to the public, with an explosive flavour combination that is sure to excite anyone who gets their hands on the creations. Created by flavour experts from the nation’s capital and the people’s Republic, Franciscan Well and Aungier Danger have developed two unique donuts, each with a different flavour profile to perfectly pair with chilled, well balanced Franciscan Well beer. The two dangerously tasty variations are available as part of an exclusive sampling campaign in over 50 selected outlets in Dublin and Leinster from May 5. The first of the two quirky creations sees malty Rebel Red accompanied by a salty sweet donut kick with a burst of raspberry

range of oak-aged beers and its Scottish premium lager. “We are delighted to be able to offer a fantastic range of Irish craft ciders, including Toby’s Cider, Kellys Ciders and Longueville Cider,” added Michael Barry. Franciscan Well and Aungier Danger have developed two unique donuts to perfectly pair with chilled, well balanced Franciscan Well beer.

Innis & Gunn has won a multitude of awards for its unique range of oakaged beers and its Scottish premium lager.

madness, while the second arrival pairs the tropical fruit sweetness of Chieftain IPA with a smokey bacon and wicked sweet blueberry taste sensation. This partnership from the award-winning Cork Brewery is in keeping with its innovative style, offering fans another avenue to enjoy the award-winning range. For more information, see www.facebook.com/ FranciscanWell.

Real Ale Supports M&S Craft Beer Expansion REAL Ale, a specialist craft beer retailer based in Twickenham, has been an official supplier agent to M&S for a decade, helping the retailer to source a range of beer from smaller craft and regional brewers around Britain. Attention now turns to Ireland and Real Ale has been instrumental in M&S’ latest expansion of its craft beer ranges through Ireland and Northern Ireland. The company has also worked with M&S to introduce two additional ownlabel beer products in cans. All the craft beers sold through M&S, be it M&S own-label or brewery-branded, are different in style, taste, appearance and aroma. Beer sold in cans is becoming more popular and the two new own-label products reflect this. Cornwall based, Harbour Brewing Company’s 330ml lager is made from 100% European hops. It is now available, in addition to its American Pale Ale, in cans. In addition, M&S Citra IPA will now be sold in 500ml cans as well as bottles, brewed by Peterborough based, Oakham Ales. Real Ale is working with M&S on expanding its regional branded range throughout its stores in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Craft beer brands that will be carried in Ireland include Metalman and Northern Ireland’s Whitewater Brewery. Real Ale’s technical team works closely with the individual craft brewers on the choice of hops, selection of malts and production of tasting notes, as well as beer brands to pitch to M&S. The Real Ale team also ensures that all breweries are operating to M&S standards for food safety, hygiene and quality, and have robust systems of due diligence in place, which protects M&S brand integrity. “Our mission is to become not only the best craft beer retailer on the high street, but to also offer more innovative local beers from smaller breweries, with the convenience of buying them from your local M&S store,” explained Michael Wallis, Beer Buyer for M&S.

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Summer Stocking: Wines

The Vine Hope Jean Smullen looks at the wine styles likely to be in great demand this summer.

ONE of the strong emerging trends this spring is a move away from mainstream grapes. For the last 25 years, our shelves have been dominated by about 11 key grape varieties (known as varietals). The majority of these originated in France but are now planted all over the world. The top varietals to currently dominate our market include the white grape varietals of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon; and the red grape varietals of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz and Grenache. Nearly every country produces them and they have pretty much become brand names in their own right. Change is in the air, however. Younger wine consumers, the millennials, are becoming more adventurous and are now seeking out new wine styles and new grape varieties. Grillo anyone? Or perhaps Vermentino, Verdecchio, Albarino, Gruner Veltliner, Sangiovese or Aglianico? Native to Spain,

Italy and Austria, they are now becoming more mainstream and are gaining traction because they are different. Wines styles such as the Qvevri wines from Georgia, fermented underground in clay amphorae, are capturing the interest of the younger wine consumer. Natural wines, organic wines, unknown wine regions and old vine wines grown anywhere are starting to become sought after. The momentum is gathering, so now is the time to take a long hard look at what is on your shelves and innovate. As the huge surge in craft beer sales eats into the shelf space for wine in most retail outlets, the demand for a point of difference and different flavours created by the specialist beer producers has influenced what the consumer now demands from the wine sector. The consumer is now looking for specialist wines and made by small producers from relatively unknown grape varieties. The younger consumer

wants a point of difference when it comes to their wine purchase; they are not as price conscious and are prepared to trade up for something that tastes a little more interesting. On the other hand, Generation X and the baby boomers are still quite conservative when it comes to their wine purchases, all of which are price driven. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on offer, then it walks off the shelf. However, before you become too complacent, remember they too are now looking for something new and different, albeit at a lower price point. Another emerging wine trend this summer is lower alcohol. Wines with lower ABV levels are in demand and there are more and more of these specifically created lower alcohol varietals on sale here. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget too the seasonal aspect to wine. When the seasons change, so too do wine styles. RosĂŠ wine accounts for approximately 4% of the Irish market: as soon as spring arrives, more of it

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Summer Stocking: Wines appears on our shelves. Sparkling wine too is in demand, particularly during wedding and graduation season. As the winds of change start blowing through our wine shelves, make sure you are ahead of the curve. As the consumer starts to trade up a little, they are moving away from the tried and trusted, looking for a point of difference: make sure you don’t get left behind! Febvre & Co (www.febvre.ie) Febvre have a lot of very exciting new wine styles on offer. Conde Valdemar Rosado: Conde Valdemar is one of the most internationally respected Rioja houses. Their Rosado is made from 30-yearold vine Grenache and has fresh, floral and red berry notes. A little added Tempranillo gives balance and fruit (RSP €13.95). De Martino Gallardia Cinsault Rosé, Itata, Chile: This is a crisp and refreshing Provencal style rosé made from the

Valdo Rosé Floral Limited Edition: not only is the bottle itself beautiful but so is the wine.

DeBortoli Woodfired Heathcote Shiraz 2015 THE Heathcote Wine Region in Victoria is renowned as one of the best Shiraz growing regions in Australia. Sourced from vineyards at Corop, Colbinabbin, and Chinamans Bridge in Northern Heathcote, the ancient red Cambrian soils of Northern Heathcote are ideal for dark fruited, plump red Shiraz. DeBortoli’s Woodfired Heathcote Shiraz 2015 is bold, plump, fruit driven, balanced and delicious and is the perfect accompaniment to steak. Distributed by Febvre & Co. Cinsault grape. Grown in the granite hills of Itata Valley, the 30-year-old vines are tended using sustainable and traditional methods with no irrigation. This wine is a pure expression of the vineyard and region. Delicate, fresh, very dry, with good acidity (RSP €19.95). Valdo Rosé Floral Limited Edition: This is a limited edition from Valdo Prosecco. Not only is the bottle itself beautiful but so is the wine. Recently awarded the Mudus Vini Gold at the 20th Grand International Wine Awards, it’s one of the gems of the “Marca Oro” collection (RSP €22). La Pettegola Vermentino: This is a white wine produced by Castello Banfi. It is characterised by its aromatic expression and its lively acidity. A classic white Tuscan, it is the perfect partner for fish, poultry and seafood (RSP €16.95). Febvre are introducing a new winery to its portfolio: Les Frères Laffitte. This Gascony Estate is owned by two brothers Christophe and Sebastien Laffitte, who are passionate about making quality wine. Their family have been growing

Conde Rosado is made from 30-yearold vine Grenache and has fresh, floral and red berry notes. grapes for over three generations and they were Voted Best New wine discovery at Vinisud 2017. Le Petit Gascoûn Colombard/ Ugni Blanc: This is a very expressive and aromatic wine, with white flowers, peaches and lychee. This elegant wine is perfect as an aperitif or partner with prawns or scallops (RSP €13.95). Their Le Petit Gascoûn Cabernet Franc/Tannat is a blend which together makes a great food wine; ripe red fruits with a hint of spice (RSP €13.95). Classic Drinks (www.classicdrinks.ie) Australia has totally reinvented itself, highlighting its regional diversity. Premium Australian wines are now very much in demand. 2015 Hopes End Red Wine Blend is a brand new addition to the Classic Drinks portfolio. Carefully selected parcels of Shiraz, Grenache and Malbec were night harvested in South Australia. This blended wine with good quality fruit, unique packaging and a great back story, is bound to appeal to the younger consumer. Usually retailing at €13.99, look out for the promotional price of €11.99.

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Summer Stocking: Wines 10 International (www.10international.com/ireland) Pink Elephant Frizzante ticks all the boxes this summer. A Rosé sparkling wine with a light sparkle, it has an ABV of 10.5% which is perfect for those watching their alcohol intake. Pink Elephant Rosé is made from 100% Tempranillo, produced by Felix Solis, one of Spain’s top wineries in La Mancha. It will be widely available with an RSP of €9. Brand new to the market this spring, contact 10 International for more info.

Pink Elephant Frizzante is made under the strictest quality controls and utilises the latest technology, whilst still following the traditional process of rosé winemaking.

Spritz Your Summer! INSPIRED by the sundrenched fruits of California, a unique taste sensation, Gallo Family Vineyards Spritz is perfect for those who like the idea of wine, but love fruity tastes and want something more informal, perfect for spontaneous get-togethers with friends. Bursting with vibrant fruity notes, there are two to choose from; Pineapple & Passionfruit and Raspberry & Lime. The Pineapple & Passionfruit Spritz is a tropical take on consumers’ favorite Gallo Pinot Grigio. Gently spritzed and blended with the aromatics of luscious pineapple and passion fruit, the result is refreshing and tasty. With California’s balmy days and breezy nights, the delicately sweet profile of Gallo Grenache Gallo Family Vineyards Spritz is bursting with Rosé has been gently vibrant fruity notes in two flavours: Pineapple spritzed and complemented & Passionfruit and Raspberry & Lime. by zesty lime and crisp raspberry to create Spritz Raspberry & Lime. Both are infused with a gentle effervescent Spritz, are best served chilled or over ice, and are perfect to enjoy in more relaxed, social occasions this summer. For further information contact: Philip Lynch at Philip.lynch@ejgallo.com or call on 086 8100789. Robb Wines Launching his wines in Ireland at a recent tasting in Dublin was Brent Marris, owner and chief winemaker at Marisco Vineyards. Brent started his career working for Delegat’s Wine Estate, where he created the Oyster Bay brand. After that, he and his father created the Wither Hills brand (now owned by Lion Nathan). In 2002, he sold Wither Hills and started Marisco Vineyards in Waihopai Valley to the west of Marlborough, near the Wairau Valley. Brent met Conal Cassidy about 13 years ago and they have had a long working relationship together. Conal has recently become the Robb Wines’ representative in southern Ireland and late last year made an arrangement with Brent to distribute his range of wines here. For the moment, the focus is on The Ned range (named after one of the tallest mountains in Marlborough). The

Ned Pinot Gris is the biggest selling Pinot Gris in New Zealand and literally walks off the shelves there. Having tasting the wine, I can see why: Brent leaves a little skin contact, resulting in a pinkish tinge and much more of the varietal’s character. Robb Wines are currently selling the following wines from the Marisco Vineyards range: 2016 The Ned Sauvignon Blanc (RSP €14.99) has lovely mineral character with lots of tomato skin aromas and citrus flavours; 2016 The Ned Pinot Grigio (RSP €18), with its salmon pink tinge and floral notes of rose petal, is an absolutely fabulous wine and will appeal to PG fans everywhere; 2015 The Ned Pinot Noir (RSP €18) has lots of sweet cherry fruit, coffee and chocolate notes, and is a really good entry level New Zealand Pinot Noir. For more information, contact Conal Cassidy at Robb Wines, Tel: (087) 2551147. Email: conal@robbwines.ie.

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Summer Stocking: Wines Barry & Fitzwilliam’s Sparkling Success AWARD winning Australian winery, McGuigan Wines has launched its latest sparkling wine, McGuigan Frizzante to the Irish market. Introduced to the trade by Chief Winemaker Neil McGuigan, it is a light style of sparkling wine, full of lively yet delicate bubbles that give a crisp and refreshing sparkle. The acidity is perfectly balanced with soft citrus fruits and a hint of dryness. The new sparkling wine is a reflection of McGuigan Wines’ philosophy, which is to create wines that reflect what consumers like to drink. Based on the current trend for Prosecco, the time was just right for McGuigan Wines to create an Australian product in line with the rising demand, while continuing to produce other quality wines at reasonable prices. “We are delighted to launch McGuigan Frizzante as a new addition to our sparkling wines portfolio,” explained Neil McGuigan, four-time IWSC winemaker of the year. “We wanted to create a high quality wine

who cites the success of Michel Lynch and Guigal in particular. Guigal was recently ranked sixth in the World’s Most Admired Wine Brands by Drinks International, the highest ranked French wine brand on the list. New to the portfolio Finca La Linda and Luigi Bosca are “amongst the finest producers of top class Argentinean wines,” claims Michaael Barry, who is also proud of the Mont Gras range, including their Soleus range of organic wine, and Casa Silva, also from Chile. The B&F range also includes Villa Maria, New Zealand’s leading wine award winner, both nationally and internationally, since the early 1980s, with the brand expecting a whopping 20% growth this year.

McGuigan Frizzante is a light style of sparkling wine, full of lively yet delicate bubbles that give a crisp and refreshing sparkle.

Villa Maria is now the number one New Zealand wine brand on the market and the fourth most admired wine brand in the world, according to Drinks International.

with an easy drinking style at the right price point, and the result of those efforts, McGuigan Frizzante, is a credit to our winemakers. This sparkling wine is made in the Prosecco style but from the same grape variety Glera. The difference is it’s from Australia!” McGuigan Frizzante is now available in 750ml and 200ml and the range will be supported with a radio campaign. “Like Prosecco? Love McGuigan Frizzante!” Part of the Barry & Fitzwilliam portfolio, McGuigan wines continue to outperform the market, and according to a recent report, McGuigan is now the number one Australian wine brand in the off trade. The Black Label range comprises of a Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Rosé, with a Malbec soon to be launched. The Barry & Fitzwilliam range also includes the best of Bordeaux and the Rhone, according to MD, Michael Barry,

McGuigan Frizzante is now available in 200ml and the range will be supported with a radio campaign. “Like Prosecco? Love McGuigan Frizzante!”

OPEN UP YOUR OFF LICENCE TO BETTER VALUE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS & BETTER MARGINS FOR YOU Carryout_DII_135x190mm 1

Breathtaking food. IT’S YOUR FOOD. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. IT’S THE LAW. Failure to provide accurate food allergen information in writing for your customers can result in their throat swelling and their airways being restricted. Visit fsai.ie/allergens to learn how to comply.

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

30/04/2014 10:23

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Summer Stocking: Spirits

Cocktail Power Cocktails and other mixed drinks are very much top of the consumer agenda as temperatures soar. AFTER some difficult years, the spirits sector is expected to enjoy growth in the coming years, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International. The increased versatility of spirits, many of which are now being frequently used in the preparation of cocktails, and the introduction of new flavours which are able to engage new consumers who were previously unfamiliar with the category, are set to contribute to the positive growth trends. Barry & Fitzwilliam Barry & Fitzwilliam distribute a wide range of premium spirits, including Macallan, Teachers, Courvoisier Cognac, Rémy Martin Cognac, The Famous Grouse, Jim Beam Bourbon, Vladivar Vodka and Whyte and Mackay Scotch. Barry & Fitzwilliam are also the exclusive distributor of The Kilbeggan Distillery’s range of whiskey, which includes Kilbeggan, Connemara and Tyrconnell. Kilbeggan 8 Year Old in its distinctive decanter-style bottle continues to grow, especially after it won the Best Grain Whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Awards last year. Cointreau is a cool experience on ice with a warm afterglow, surrounded by the exotic scent of oranges, while maintaining its elegant French heritage. Cointreau is the perfect partner for cocktails, renowned for livening up a Margarita, making a long drink even longer with 7UP or the stylish party Cosmopolitan cocktail. Many of the unique flavours of Bols

liqueurs are made with fruit juices, thereby creating the ideal platform for some of the best cocktails around. The range includes Bols Blue, Grenadine, Advocaat, Crème de Cacao, Cherry Brandy, Triple Sec Curacao (essential in a Cosmopolitan) and Bols Crème de Cacao (perfect in a Brandy Alexander). Bols Elderflower and a number of new SKUs have been added to the Bols range this year.

Jägermeister, the famous German schnapps, is a huge seller in the shooter market.

Sourz has a unique, dual sweet & sour flavour that is both refreshing and tangy. Sourz is now available in Apple, Blackcurrant, Cherry and Tropical Blue. Jägermeister, the famous German schnapps, is a huge seller in the shooter market, particularly among trend setters. It is a half-bitter German schnapps with a unique blend of 56 herbs and spices and is ideal served chilled. Sales are up again this year, which is an excellent performance and a reflection of its seventh place in the top 10 spirits in the on trade. The 20ml size continues to do very well in the off trade. Barry & Fitzwilliam have also just listed a 50ml. The Jägermeister TV commercial will be heavily visible on satellite channels over the summer. Tia Maria is a hugely popular coffee liqueur worldwide, particularly due to its mixability in cocktails, with coffee or in desserts, or mixed with milk and ice as a luxurious long drink. It will be heavily backed by a new press campaign focusing on its mixability, especially with coffee. With its distinctive square glass decanter and smooth almond flavour, Disaronno has a secret recipe which is said to include the pure essence of 17 selected herbs and fruits with an infusion of apricot kernel oil. It will also be supported by a satellite TV campaign. Midori is a premium melon liqueur infused with Japanese muskmelons. It’s carefully crafted by artisan spirit makers through melon infusion and distillation and has a touch of French brandy to give

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Summer Stocking: Spirits it just the right taste profile. Known for its bright green color, premium quality and authentic taste, Midori is perfect for mixing with juices, spirits and other liqueurs. Passoã is made with passion fruit juice from Brazil, blends perfectly with any fruit juice and is a perfect base for cocktails. It has seen a lot of recent success with the Pornstar Martini Cocktail, otherwise known as the PSM in the UK: 25ml Passoã, 25ml vodka, two teaspoons sugar, 25ml Passion Fruit Puree, a shot of champagne and a splash of pressed apple. Barry & Fitzwilliam represents an unrivalled range of premium gins from across the globe, including The London Number 1 (London), Copperhead (Belgium), Damrak Gin (Holland), Larios (Spain), Sipsmith (London) and the iconic The Botanist from the island of Islay in Scotland, as well as local gins such as Dingle. Since the coming together of Beam Suntory, Barry & Fitzwilliam have acquired the distribution rights for Auchentoshan and Bowmore Scotch Whiskies. This year sees the addition of Bruichladdich Malts to the range.

whiskey to a wider audience,” noted Brendan Buckley, Global Innovation & Prestige Whiskeys Director at Irish Distillers. “Jameson has been the iconic brand which has led the way, supported by niche connoisseur brands such as Redbreast, Spot Range and Midleton Very Rare, so with Method And Madness, we are able to not only create an outlet for our whiskey makers to really experiment but also to create a uniquely original brand which will pique the interest of spirits drinkers throughout the world.” Teeling Whiskey Teeling Whiskey has released the first in a new series of limited edition Single Malts, entitled the Brabazon Bottling, after the Brabazon family who presided over the Liberties area of Dublin from the 16th to 19th centuries. Roe & Co, the new premium blended Irish whiskey from Diageo. stood and subject to planning approval, will begin production in the first half of 2019. Irish Distillers Irish Distillers recently introduced Method And Madness, a new range of experimental super premium whiskeys designed to push the boundaries of Irish whiskey. Aiming to harness the creativity of Midleton’s whiskey masters through the fresh talent of its apprentices, the Method And Madness range includes with four new Irish whiskeys, each with its own twist: a Single Grain Irish Whiskey finished in Virgin Spanish Oak; a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey finished in French Chestnut; a Single Malt Irish Whiskey enhanced with French Limousin Oak; and a 31 Year Old Single Cask, Single Grain Limited Edition bottled at cask strength. “At Irish Distillers, we are constantly searching for new ways to bring Irish

Diageo Diageo recently launched a new premium blended Irish whiskey, Roe & Co, to the market, along with plans for investment in a whiskey distillery in the once Power Station at St James’ Gate. The total project investment comes to €25m over three years. Roe & Co is made from the finest hand-selected stocks of Irish malt and grain whiskies and aged in bourbon casks. It has the signature smoothness of Irish whiskey with remarkable depth of flavour - a luxuriously smooth blend, with a perfect harmony between the intense fruitiness of the malt and the mellow creaminess of the grain whiskies. Roe & Co is named in honour of George Roe, the once worldfamous whiskey maker who helped build the golden era of Irish whiskey in the 19th century. His distillery, George Roe and Co, extended over 17 acres on Thomas Street in Dublin and was once Ireland’s largest distillery. Diageo will now create a new distillery by converting the historic former Guinness Power House on Thomas Street. The new St James’ Gate distillery will be Method And Madness, a new range of situated just a stone’s throw experimental super premium whiskeys designed away from where the George to push the boundaries of Irish whiskey. Roe and Co distillery once

Teeling Whiskey’s limited edition Brabazon Bottling brings together two famous Dublin family names, the Teelings and the Brabazons. This new series focuses on creating a full flavoured experience that pays homage to the unique and distinct role that fortified wines can have on the taste of Irish whiskey. This first release in the Brabazon Bottling series focuses on the maturation effect of ex-sherry casks on the character and flavour of Irish Single Malt. The Brabazon Bottlings are bottled at 49.5% with no chill filtration, allowing for all the natural flavours of this whiskey to be retained. Series No. 1 is limited to 12,500 bottles and is presented in a new premium distinctive embossed and debossed Teeling whiskey bottle, rounding off a truly unique Irish whiskey to savour.

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Allergen Information

FSAI Warns Food Businesses Over Allergen Information There is an unacceptable level of non-compliance by food businesses when it comes to providing allergen information to consumers, according to a new FSAI audit. THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has released the findings of an audit that shows an unacceptable level of noncompliance by food businesses when it comes to providing consumers with accurate written information on 14 specified allergens in non-prepacked food. A representative sample of 50 food service businesses, including cafés, hotels, public houses, restaurants and takeaways, were audited to determine if correct written allergen information was being provided to consumers. The audit found: • Almost one third (32%) of food businesses did not provide any written allergen information; • Of the food business that provided written allergen information, just 24% actually provided accurate allergen information; • 26 had either left out a foodstuff or incorrectly recorded the allergen content of the food; • Most food businesses audited (88%) had findings that required corrective action. All food businesses are legally obliged to provide consumers with accurate written information in relation to 14 allergens, whether the food is prepacked or non-prepacked. Three in every 100 people in Ireland have a food allergy and they require accurate information about the food they purchase in order to avoid serious and sometimes fatal health consequences. The FSAI noted with concern that many of the food businesses that had not provided written allergen information stated they did not realise that the information must be made available without a consumer having to ask for it. In some cases, the FSAI found that allergen information had been provided, but it was either inaccurate or not easily accessible for consumers without assistance from staff. Many of the food businesses audited used online delivery companies or provided takeaway services, but there was no information provided to their customers on the allergen content of the food products being ordered and delivered. National Information Campaign To stress the gravity of the audit findings and further raise awareness of the legal requirement, the FSAI announced that a national information campaign will roll out for eight weeks. The FSAI’s new information campaign will run across, print, online and broadcast media, with strong messages to highlight the potential consequences that missing or inaccurate allergen information can have on an individual’s health. Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, stated that the findings of the audit are very worrying as they indicate a lack of awareness or willingness by foodservice businesses to

prioritise the safety of people with food allergies two years after the law came into effect. “Allergic reactions to food make people ill and particular situations can be fatal,” she warned. “The level of non-compliance we have identified through this audit is a cause for major concern. Food businesses must take action immediately to protect public health and to comply with the law. The FSAI and enforcement officials have provided a significant level of resources and support Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief to assist food businesses to Executive, FSAI: understand the food allergens they work with on a daily basis and how they can meet their legal obligations.” Lack of Awareness The FSAI found that some of the reasons put forward by food businesses for the high level of non-compliance included confusion and lack of awareness about the 14 food allergens that must be declared. Some of the food businesses audited had hired consultants to help put the allergen information in place. However, they still did not fully understand the health risks posed by food allergens and that providing written allergen information to consumers was an on-going process rather than just a once-off project. “Food businesses must take their legal responsibilities seriously, particularly where the health of consumers is at stake,” argued Dr Byrne. “We are undertaking a nationwide campaign to raise awareness by the food industry of the consumer health risks posed by allergic reactions and that they need to take immediate action. Our information campaign is supported by the HSE environmental health officers throughout the country. They will be advising the food businesses they visit of their legal obligation to provide allergen information in writing to consumers and will provide them with a number of additional helpful materials that will assist in achieving compliance. The HSE will take enforcement action, when it is deemed appropriate or necessary.” The FSAI’s free online tool MenuCal provides an easy to manage allergen information system which enables food businesses to easily identify which allergens are in the foods they have prepared. For more information on how to comply with the legal requirements, food businesses can visit www.fsai.ie/allergens.

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What’s New NEW FLASH FORMULA FLASH, the marketleading homecare brand from Procter & Gamble is introducing breakthrough multi-surface technology across all of its all-purpose cleaners. The upgraded formula is rollingout across the brand’s best-selling range of concentrates, liquids and sprays now. To support the re-launch, Flash has undergone a packaging transformation to increase standout on-shelf, which features a striking lightning bolt and reinforces the new ‘double the cleaning power’ credentials. The disruptive design modernises and unifies the portfolio, clearly communicating the product’s cleaning performance instantly. The new and improved formula upgrade features in the brand’s popular ‘Flash Gordon’ TV advert, which has now exceeded 6m views.

SKITTLES CELEBRATES SUMMER RAIN SKITTLES have launched an exciting new summer campaign, which celebrates the Irish summer, flaws and all, by turning summer rain into Skittles. Skittles Summer Rain campaign will be supported with a huge 360 plan, including TV, nationwide outdoor and digital, radio weather sponsorship, social, sampling and disruptive in-store activation, and a nationwide competition, offering consumers the chance to win €100 each day by forecasting the Skittles showers,! So expect showers of customers, floods of sales, as Skittles Summer Rain campaign sweeps across Ireland.

STRONG ROOTS RIPENED AVOCADO HALVES AVOCADOS are a fantastic source of healthy fats and fibre and also a great way of adding variety and balance to meals. Strong Roots’ Hass avocados are perfectly ripened, pitted and freshly frozen for convenience. Perfect every time, the Peruvian avocadoes are fantastic as a base for smoothies, salads, or on toast - the perfect enabler for a busy lifestyle. For further product and stockist information, visit www.strongroots.ie.

NEW ADDITION TO VOGUE RANGE VOGUE La Cigarette Bleue King Size is the new addition to PJ Carroll’s Vogue range. After the success of both its super slim and demi slim formats (1.43% SOM, Source: EPOS Retail Data, Period 3 2017), the premium brand Vogue is now extending its family to include a King Size option in a 20-pack. The new Vogue La Cigarette Bleue King Size is a non-full flavour, US Blend cigarette, retailing at €11 RRP to provide a better value proposition than comparable products in the market. Vogue La Cigarette Bleue King Size mixes the iconic brand Vogue with the popular non-full flavour King Size segment (35% SOM, Source: EPOS Retail Data, Period 3 2017) to capture the needs of adult tobacco smokers looking for an everyday format option. For more information on Vogue La Cigarette Bleue King Size or any other PJ Carroll brand, please contact your trade marketing representative or their telemarketing department on (01) 2052345.

TAYTO PARK ON-PACK PROMOTION TAYTO has partnered up with Tayto Park, Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, to launch their new on-pack competition. The promotional packs have landed in-store and consumers have the chance to win €50,000 worth of Tayto Park tickets up to June 18. To celebrate the launch, Mr Tayto and his team were located on South King Street on Friday, April 28, where the public had a chance to grab some Tayto Park tickets. This June, Tayto Park will welcome a host of new attractions, including ‘The Viking Voyage at the Park’, a one of a kind, Viking-themed flume ride. With 1.7m litres of water, a Viking village, five replica Viking ships and 20 life size Vikings, families can expect to feel the splash on the latest addition to Ireland’s favourite theme park and zoo.

BAHLSEN’S NEW TV CAMPAIGN FAMILY owned German biscuit brand Bahlsen has launched a new national TV campaign. The new advert sees the return of its popular Pick Up! biscuit to screens following a two year break and runs across a number of major channels, including ITV, Channel 4, Film4, ITV3, Sky Living and Sky One. Centred around its philosophy of ‘Chocolate. Biscuit. And then some’ the new product-focused advert depicts the biscuits’ power to provide more than expected, by breaking in half to reveal an exciting and unusual scene within its delicious centre.

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Forecourt Focus: News Tadka House Opens at Maxol Service Station ONE year on from Maxol’s Dragons Den-style ‘Pitch for Success’ initiative, colleagues Raj Singh and Arun Kumar have teamed up with Maxol to offer their award-winning concept, Tadka House at the latest Maxol forecourt on Greenhills Road in Dublin. The recently refurbished store offers customers the option of fresh, hot, authentic Indian food, served in a modern and welcoming environment. Tadka House at Maxol, Greenhills Road, also offers a takeaway service, and home deliveries by Just Eat. This is another first for Maxol, in continuing to provide a broad choice of freshly prepared food for its customers. Commuters travelling on the M50, locals, and employees around the Greenhills area can experience fresh Indian flavours and delicious natural spices, all sourced from local suppliers, together with a selection of quality prepared food from Maxol’s own innovative hot and cold deli counter, Moreish. The Tadka House menu is free from preservatives, and sauces are made on-site from scratch using onion, garlic, ginger and cumin. The menu offers a lunch and evening menu, with some of India’s favourite dishes such as Chicken Korma, Lamb Balti, healthy inspired Indian salads, as well as vegetarian options. “We are very proud to be associated with Raj and Arun, in bringing their award winning Indian cuisine, Tadka House, to life at our latest new development at Greenhills Road, Dublin,” enthused Maxol CEO, Brian Donaldson. “Indian food is extremely popular in Ireland and since we opened in February, the level of sales has been very encouraging, with already a loyal customer base established from the surrounding business and local community. At Maxol, we are continually striving to meet our customers’ needs and to give them what they want,

Pictured at the new Maxol Greenhills station are CEO Brian Donaldson, along with licensees Raj Chandi and Arun Kumar. when they want it, and in an environment that they feel safe and welcoming on every visit. We hope to extend the Tadka House offer to other locations with Raj and Arun by the end of this year.” Maxol Greenhills Road is part of the company’s expansion in the Greater Dublin area, which also includes Maxol N7 Kill and Maxol Longmile Road. Maxol was cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for the acquisition of these three service stations last year, all of which were previously owned by Esso. The expansion created 50 jobs following an investment of €2m.

Topaz Announce Play or Park Winner for March PETER Regan from Waterford was announced as the March 2017 winner of Topaz Play or Park. After choosing to ‘Play’ his points at his local Topaz on Dunmore Road, Peter is now gearing up to drive away in a brand new Seat Leon from George Corbett Motors, worth €25,485. “I did a double take when I first read the email from Topaz confirming that I had won the prize,” said a delighted Peter. “This amazing win couldn’t have come at a better time for me as I was just starting my search for an upgrade, but couldn’t have dreamed of getting the keys to something this stylish. I’m excited to get behind the wheel of my Seat Leon and take it for its first spin.”

Pictured is Topaz’s Head of Loyalty, Paul Guy, and Seat’s Digital Marketing Manager, Joanne Hurley, along with March Play or Park winner, Peter Regan at Topaz Cove, Dunmore Road, Waterford, with his stylish Seat Leon.

Always FRESH MILK

and the SAME BEANS as our coffee shops

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Forecourt Focus: News Applegreen to Implement €500k IT Programme APPLEGREEN is implementing a major IT transformation programme with Irish owned cloud computing specialist Auxilion. The cloud based investment of €500,000 has facilitated the move from legacy IT systems across over 200+ global sites and will support the company’s expansion internationally.  “Exceptional growth rates had placed strains on our existing on-premise technology,” commented Vincent Nolan, Group Head of Information Technology at Applegreen plc. “The need to rapidly incorporate new sites and scale seamlessly with maximum reliability led to a major review of our IT infrastructure in 2015.” Applegreen, which reported revenues of €1.17 billion in 2016, has grown from 64 sites at the end of 2009, to 243 forecourt sites across the UK, Ireland and the USA by the end of 2016. “It is business critical to ensure resilience, stability and scalability when your operations run on a 24/7 basis,” Nolan explained. “Implementing such a major transformation programme without downtime is like trying to change the tyres on a Ferrari without a pit stop.”  Working with cloud specialist Auxilion, which operates support centres in Ireland and the UK, Applegreen decided to implement a Microsoft Azure cloud computing solution which fits the three major requirements: resilience, stability and scalability. “We had embarked on a significant IT transformation program over the last 24 months, which has been delivered in

partnership with our suppliers, including Auxilion,” added Nolan, who has formerly managed IT transformation programmes for Dunnes Stores, Musgrave and Smyths Toys. “This was a huge task for the business. It was vital to find a partner like Auxilion that we could trust to provide us with strong Microsoft hosting, SaaS Pictured are (l-r): Vincent (Software-as-a-Service) and Nolan, Group Head of project management skills, Information Technology, as well as 24x7 support,” he Applegreen plc; and continued. Paul Schmitz, Chief Sales “In addition to meeting the Officer, Auxilion. key project requirements, the Azure cloud solution is an Opex rather than Capex model, so it also frees up valuable capital to help Applegreen fund future expansion,” commented Paul Schmitz, Chief Sales Officer, Auxilion. “New sites can be now be added quickly and seamlessly and updates managed centrally, with the elimination of costly downtime and upfront investment.”  “The total solution provides us with the ability to scale as our business expands without technology implementation barriers or major hardware or software costs,” summed up Vincent Nolan.

Top Oil announces new CSR Programme CSR programmes across the country, and a TOP Oil has announced a new CSR national volunteer day is also planned for the programme for the company and summer. has nominated four worthy charities “Top Oil is a company with its roots in to support throughout the year. The the local community. For this reason, we are national CSR programme will run delighted to launch this CSR programme which from April 2017 until April 2018. supports four charities working in different Top Oil employees were asked regions and communities across Ireland,” to nominate charities in each region noted Gerard Boylan, Chief Executive of Top to support as part of the new CSR initiative. As a result of this process, Oil. “These four worthy charities do wonderful the following charities were chosen work and make a major contribution to the wellbeing of people in local communities for the 2017/2018 Top Oil CSR Pictured are (l-r): Tony Heffernan, across Ireland. We look forward to working programme: Alone (Dublin); Cystic BUMBLEance; Brian Murnane, CEO, Irish with them to do our best to support CSR in Fibrosis Ireland (North East); Irish Autism Action; Gerard Boylan, CEO, Top local communities.” Autism Action (West); BUMBLEance Oil;, Sean Moynihan, CEO, Alone; Fergal (South). Each charity will receive In addition to Smyth, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland; and Eddie support from Top Oil in the form of the four nominated McGuinness, BUMBLEance. charities, Top Oil will fundraising initiatives coordinated in each region. In addition, Top Oil employees will act as continue its national partnership with Junior Achievement Ireland. volunteers and donate their time during the year to support the

To find out what Costa Express can offer you contact: ROI tel: 021 500 3526 NI tel: 02892 580207

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Shelf Life TODDLERS transform into gangsta rappers in Toddlebox.ie’s new #YOTO (You Only Toddle Once) campaign, as they welcome viewers to the hood… Toddlerhood! On a mission to teach parents the little-known facts about what to feed very young children, Danone teamed up with creative agency, Chemistry, and hybrid production company, Piranha Bar, to create an attitude-packed film, fronted by a very special lead rapper - a one year old ‘slim-baby’. In order to deliver the message in a way that represents the unique attitude of toddlers, Chemistry devised #YOTO, a rap by toddlers all about their unique developmental and nutritional needs. Aiming to establish Toddlerhood as an important developmental stage, the campaign will drive viewers to the new online resource and help parents make the most of this important stage of life. Toddlebox.ie is Danone’s practical online information hub dedicated to educating new parents about the essentials of what to feed toddlers and how to address their unique nutritional needs. NEW research from Dolmio reveals that when asked to share their most formative experiences, almost half of all Irish parents recall family mealtimes as their most powerful memory as a child. Despite its importance, the research also revealed that on an average weekday, Irish parents spend more time cleaning the house (63 minutes) than they do sitting down at the table to share an evening meal with their family (48 minutes). Dolmio is launching Mealtime Memories and asking the nation to share their family mealtime experiences, and invited some well-known families to share what eating dinner together means to their family. Music and TV star Keith Duffy and his mother Patricia, Daniella Moyles and her mum Pauline, and Margaret Kavanagh, mum of Snapchat star James, and trainer to Conor McGregor, John, all shared their experiences as part of a Dolmio Mealtime Memories video series appearing on www.facebook.com/DolmioIreland/. IRISH Distillers has been honoured with Most Popular FMCG Graduate Programme for the fourth year in a row at the gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awards, along with the Silver Awards for Best Student Marketing Campaign and Best Graduate Recruitment Website. The Jameson International Graduate Programme was also announced as the eighth most popular graduate recruiter in Ireland. Pictured at the event are Denis English, Jameson Brand Ambassador; Sinead D’Arcy, Jameson International Graduate Programme Manager; Stephane de Bure, Regional Director Europe at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard; and Joanne O’Meara, Jameson Market Activation Executive. UPS has purchased Nightline Logistics Group, one of the leading express delivery and logistics companies in Ireland and owner of the popular Parcel Motel service. By integrating Nightline with UPS, customers will now have a wider array of both domestic and cross-border services. “Operating for more than 40 years in Europe, and almost 30 years in Ireland, UPS continues to build a powerful portfolio of services for our customers throughout the region,” said Jim Barber, President, UPS International. “Nightline will complement our existing services, increasing delivery density, while also adding innovative new service options. We also look forward to bringing UPS’ extensive healthcare, high-tech and other specialised logistics expertise to the many Irish companies that specialise in these markets.”

FLOGAS is the new title sponsor of the very popular ‘Down to Business with Bobby Kerr’ on Newstalk 106-108fm, which airs on Saturday mornings from 10am to 12 noon. Flogas is now offering electricity to commercial customers in the Republic of Ireland and is the only Irish energy company supplying gas to every county in Ireland. “Given our recent move into the electricity market for commercial customers, the sponsorship is very timely as it offers a great opportunity to drive awareness of our portfolio of energy offerings to this sector. We’re looking forward to a fruitful partnership with Bobby Kerr and his very successful Down to Business programme,” said John Rooney, Flogas MD, pictured with Bobby Kerr. POM-BEAR, the tasty bear-shaped snack, celebrates its 30th birthday this year and to mark the occasion, has launched its first TV appearance in Ireland. Pom-Bear is unique, melts-in-the-mouth and is simply yummy - the light and crispy potato snack that’s fun to eat for both young and old! Pom-Bear is available in two delicious flavours, Original and Cheese & Onion, both of which are Gluten Free, contain no artificial colours or flavours and are suitable for vegetarians. Pom-Bear is approved by the Irish Coeliac Society of Ireland and is stocked by all major retailers, including Tesco, Dunnes, SuperValu and Spar. To celebrate the launch, Pom-Bear has a great competition on its Facebook and Twitter pages giving fans the chance to win a prize worth €250. FORMER Westlife star and 2fm presenter Nicky Byrne started the summer in style recently with Ireland’s favourite ice cream as he launched this year’s HB Hazelbrook Farm Ice Cream Fundays campaign in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI). Nicky was joined by Alan Ryan (6) from Stepaside and Sorcha Maguire (5) from Balbriggan, alongside Unilever Ireland Brand Manager for Ice Cream, Lynne Andrews, to celebrate the first annual Ice Cream Funday of 2017 and to call on people across Ireland to join in the fun and help a worthy cause by organising their own ice cream party. To get involved, simply lo-call 1890 373737 or register online at www.downsyndrome.ie and receive a party pack, which includes vouchers for tasty HB Hazelbrook Farm ice cream. Over the past 16 years, HB Hazelbrook Farm has helped to raise over €3m for Down Syndrome Ireland. Last year, more than 800 parties across Ireland took place, which saw 151,730 people participate in the campaign and enjoy HB Hazelbrook Farm for free!

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