Retail News May 2018

Retail News MAY 2018

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

Voted Product of the Year

2018 WINNERS Andrex® Supreme Quilts* and Supreme Washlets**

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On TV from May 2018 ®Registered Trademark and *Trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. ©KCWW *Winner Household paper Category. Survey of 10,637 people by Kantar TNS. **Winner Personal Care Category. Survey of 10,637 people by Kantar TNS.

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Contents News

Summer Time: No Easy Living SUMMER is here at last. The weather gods smiled on Ireland for the recent May Bank Holiday weekend, allowing us to dream of a warm, dry summer ahead. One thing that has become clear is that regardless of the weather, Irish consumers have really embraced barbecue culture and al fresco dining in general. With this in mind, we present our annual Retail News Summer Stocking feature, covering all the must stock products, from sun creams to spirits, ice cream to wines (Page 32), and the brand new cider launch from Heineken Ireland in the shape of Appleman’s Cider (Page 40).

We also speak to Jen Wall, Chief Winemaker at Barefoot, one of the world’s most awarded wine brands about the continued rise of Californian wine and what Irish consumers will be drinking this summer (Page 26).

Elsewhere, we look at the recent announcement of the Sainsbury’s/ Asda merger in the UK and ask if we’re likely to see similar moves here (Page 2), we examine new research which reveals that Irish shoppers spend up to two days each year inside a supermarket (Page 14), and we report from the recent ECR Ireland Shopper Symposium, which focused on how technological advances can be used to help retailers to engage with customers (Page 16).

Kathleen Belton, Editorial & Marketing Director.

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Combining forces: why mergers are on the rise in grocery.

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Bittersweet reaction to Sugar Tax; SuperValu introduces compostable produce bags; Bloom returns to Phoenix Park.

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Verizon Connect

Survey reveals misconceptions in household food safety; Repak opens members’ conference & training centre.

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Iceland opens flagship Portlaoise store; Feeding Ireland's Future returns; Mastercard supports new industry standard for online shopping.

New shopper research from V360° makes interesting reading for retailers, revealing how long consumers shop for and how for many, their local store is far more than just a shop.

Instant Hot Snacks 15

Unilever’s Prep Co. is a new instant hot snack designed to appeal to busy consumers looking for a healthier snack option, without compromising on taste.

ECR Ireland Shopper Symposium

New Milkybar Wowsomes is the first chocolate bar in the world to use Nestlé’s innovative, high tech sugar reduction technique.

Verizon Connect combines three best-in-class fleet and mobile workforce management software companies to deliver solutions that help drive safety, productivity and efficiency for customers in the retail sector.

Retail News Interview 26

Barefoot Winemaker Jen Wall discusses the evolution of Californian wine, the importance of innovation and NPD, and what Barefoot wines Irish retailers should stock this summer.

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Summer Stocking 32

Your guide to the hottest products for summer 2018, including the launch of Appleman’s, a brand new cider developed by Heineken Ireland specifically for the Irish market.

Focus on HR

ECR Ireland’s recent Shopper

The General Data Protection Regulation comes into force across the EU from May 25.

Regulars & Reports

facebook.com/RetailNews1 Editorial & Sales Director:

Published by: Tara Publishing Ltd,

Kathleen Belton

@RetailNews1

kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.

Editor: John Walshe

johnwalshe@tarapublications.ie

Tel: 00353 1 6785165 Fax: 00353 1 6477127

Sales: Brian Clark

brian@tarapublications.ie

Web: www.retailnews.ie Email: kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

Sales: Aaron Stewart

aaron.stewart@tarapublications.ie

Subscription to Retail News: e95 plus VAT

Printed by: W&G Baird

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Managing Director: Patrick Aylward

Graphics: Catherine Doyle

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Shopper Research 14

Terry Kane attributes the continued success of his store in Carlow Town to the hard work of his staff and his symbol group partner, the Gala group.

BIM announces details of new fishmonger training programme; Aldi voted Ireland’s most reputable supermarket by consumers; Ireland’s first vaping awareness campaign.

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

Production: Ciara Conway

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Chocolate Confectionery

Retail News Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen

Shop Profile

SuperValu returns to top spot in grocery market; 2,101 complaints received by ASAI in 2017.

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Chief News Reporter: Pavel Barter

Symposium provided a wealth of evidence that evolving technology is not only changing how consumers shop, but should also be utilised by retailers to interact with and target consumers.

Email: ciara@tarapublications.ie Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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Industry News Retail Ireland: Monthly Update Forecourt Focus: News Summer Stocking: Wines Summer Stocking: Spirits Summer Stocking: Appleman’s Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider Summer Stocking: Essentials Summer Stocking: Nivea What’s New Shelf Life

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News

Combining Forces: Why Mergers are On the Rise

FOLLOWING Sainsbury's proposed £10 billion (€11.4bn) merger with Asda in the UK, the grocery industry as we know it is undergoing upheaval. The announcement came a few months after Tesco’s £4bn (€4.5bn) takeover of Booker, the UK's largest wholesaler, was completed. It's a trend that appears to be happening in Ireland too.

In recent weeks, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) approved BWG's buyout of 4 Aces Wholesale, a business with 85 staff and sales in 2016 of almost €58m. BWG, which intends to grow the 4 Aces Group, now has a €1.4 billion turnover and supplies over 1,000 Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL branded stores.

“It's the latest in a line of BWG acquisitions,” notes David Berry, Director, Kantar Worldpanel Ireland. “They have been strengthening up for a while now. BWG is forming a formidable and David Berry, Director, Kantar strong business.”

Worldpanel Ireland.

The CCPC cleared BWG’s acquisition of 4 Aces, subject to a number of binding commitments. The CCPC identified a potential competition concern in relation to access to competitively sensitive information, arising from 4 Ace’s relationship with Stonehouse Marketing Limited and Gala Retail Services Limited. To address these concerns, BWG agreed to submit commitments to the CCPC, which a divestment commitment to ensure that BWG divests itself fully of 4 Aces’ shareholding in Stonehouse, as well as confidentiality and firewall commitments, intended to prevent the exchange of commercially sensitive information post-transaction.

According to Thomas Burke, Director of Retail Ireland, grocery industry mergers are likely to continue on a global scale: “We’re seeing, particularly in the grocery trade, a smaller number of large players beginning to emerge, as opposed to the disparate nature of the industry that we might have seen in decades past. At a general industry level, it’s about businesses trying to seek an end-to-end supply chain and integration.”

Berry added: “Retailers are looking for ways to grow.

One way is acquisition: whether it’s acquisition of a direct competitor, or bolting on a separate part of the business in the way that BWG made their acquisition.”

Online grocery sales are contributing to these mergers. In the US, large grocery brands have introduced a direct consumer offering online. The elephant in the room is Amazon. Ever since the online retail giant moved into the grocery industry in the US, with 2017's $13.7bn (€11.6bn) purchase of Whole Foods stores, traditional retailers are weighing up their options.

“It's placing a lot of pressure on traditional bricks and mortar retailers,” said Berry. “UK retailers, in particular, are watching that and thinking, 'Before this happens to us, we’ve got to take proactive action'. It's happening in the form of acquisitions.”

Burke sits on the board of EuroCommerce, the European retail trade association, and his counterparts across Europe

continually talk about Amazon as a threat to their markets. Ireland is currently insulated from the global behemoth, he points out.

“It’s difficult to see Amazon coming here to Ireland over the next couple of years, but further down the line, it is a possibility.

It’s another factor in the importance of our retail trade to focus on being as competitive and cost effective as possible for the Thomas Burke, Director of consumer,” Burke notes.

Retail Ireland.

The proposed Asda / Sainsbury's merger in the UK appears partly in response to the success of Aldi and Lidl, the German discounters who have also shaken up our own grocery market. According to Kantar Worldpanel, the dominance of the discounters in Ireland has slipped in recent times. Tesco is currently the fastest growing supermarket here, followed by Lidl, Aldi, Dunnes and SuperValu. Does Berry foresee any future mergers in Ireland?

“It's difficult to predict,” he admits. “Musgrave's acquisition of Superquinn [in 2011] broadened their appeal in different parts of the country. There are opportunities when retailers find a fit that adds something different. New brands and companies in the convenience market remain more fragmented than [supermarket] grocery retail. That could be an interesting space [for mergers].”

Suppliers are cautiously watching events unfold. A giant merger, of the Asda / Sainsbury's ilk, would concentrate power in the hands of one giant company and put pressure on smaller businesses, including Irish food and drink suppliers to the retail behemoth.

“A merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda would result in substantially increased buying power for the combined entity,” remarked Paul Kelly, Director of Food and Drink Ireland (FDI). “This adds another layer of uncertainty to the business environment faced by Irish food and drink exporters.” Under the proposed new landscape in the UK, in tandem with the uncertainty of Brexit, Irish exporters may struggle to remain competitive.

In light of continued consolidation, Kelly called for “implementation of Grocery Sector regulations in Ireland, the GSCOP in the UK, and extension of the proposed EU Directive on Unfair Trading Practices in the Food Chain. In an Irish context, we need to see a more proactive approach by the CCPC, along the lines of the UK Grocery Code Adjudicator.”

Despite Sainsbury’s joy at their proposed merger with Asda - Mike Coupe, CEO, was filmed singing ‘We’re in the money’ when it was announced - the deal still requires regulatory approval before it can go ahead. Burke suspects that we are unlikely to see a merger of this size take place in Ireland any time soon. “Anything that distorts the market would be subject to mergers and competition law here, overseen by the CCPC. They keep a close eye on the market and are anxious to maintain a level of competition in the marketplace.”

As Amazon's influence widens, however, anything is possible.

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News Bittersweet Reaction to Sugar Tax WEEKS after the introduction of a sugar tax, retailers are concerned about the resulting administrative burden on their businesses.

Retail Ireland is working with Department of Finance officials to minimise costs incurred from the introduction of the tax. “That was always our priority and concern – making sure it was workable – it was never about the rights or wrongs or otherwise of the tax,” said Thomas Burke, Retail Ireland Director.

The government’s tax on sugar-sweetened drinks was introduced on May 1, 2018, following European Commission approval. The tax sees 30c per litre added to the price of

SuperValu Introduces Compostable Produce Bags SUPERVALU is the first retailer in Ireland to introduce fully compostable and biodegradable produce bags for use by customers in initially 70 of its stores. This is part of a broader strategy to reduce packaging and make 100% of its Own Brand and fresh produce packaging become recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

“The introduction of compostable produce bags is an important step for SuperValu as part of an overall commitment to reduce the use of plastics across our supply chain and is part of our broader sustainability strategy to leave a positive impact on the communities that we operate in every day,” revealed Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu. “We recognise that this is an important issue for our consumers and for the health of the planet.”

The compostable produce bags are designed to replace the use of plastic bags within the fruit and veg section, with customers using the bags to purchase loose produce. The compostable produce bags are currently being trialled in around 70 SuperValu stores with a view to making them available across the entire store network. The free-of-charge compostable produce bags are designed to be breathable to help preserve fruit and veg placed into the bag. They can also be filled with food waste after use and placed in the brown bin for compostable disposal.

Martin Kelleher, SuperValu Managing Director, pictured at the announcement that SuperValu has become the first retailer in Ireland to introduce fully compostable and biodegradable produce bags for use by customers.

sweetened drinks that contain containing more than 8g of sugar per 100ml.

Suppliers will be returning their first two months of collected sugar tax in July.

According to the Irish Beverage Council, it only affects a quarter of all soft drinks.

“If you look at a typical fridge in a mix-trade premises, a very small portion of those products are subject to the tax,” said Burke. “How cost effective is it as a tax, as that dwindles further, due to industry reformulation? That’s something the Department of Finance will keep an eye on. I think the return to the Exchequer is going to be limited. Retailers and suppliers have been working hard over recent years to reformulate away from sugar products.”

Bloom Returns to Phoenix Park

BORD Bia’s Bloom returns to the Phoenix Park Dublin from May 31 to June 4, 2018. The five-day event, which showcases the best of Ireland’s horticulture and food industry, will feature 20 spectacular show gardens and endless garden and floral Pictured at the Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, features. for the launch of Bord Bia's Bloom were The Bord Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia and Skye Bia Food Toal, aged 5 from Finglas.

Village will be a bustling culinary hub, showcasing the very best of Irish food and drink. This will include more than 100 Irish food producers; the Bord Bia Quality Kitchen Stage, which will host cookery demonstrations from some of Ireland’s best loved chefs, including Neven Maguire, Catherine Fulvio, Paul Flynn, Oliver Dunne, Rory O’Connell, JP McMahon and Roz Purcell, Gary O’Hanlon and Adrian Martin; and the Bloom Inn featuring some of Ireland’s best craft brewers and distillers.

“This will be the 12th year that Bord Bia has hosted Bloom in the Phoenix Park and we are incredibly proud of how the event has developed and evolved over the years,” noted Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia. For more information,see www.bloominthepark.com.

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News SuperValu Returns to Top Spot in Grocery Market THE latest grocery market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel, for the 12 weeks ending April 22, Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend 2018, show the Irish grocery market continuing to perform strongly, with 12 Weeks to 23 Apr 2017 12 Weeks to 22 Apr 2018 change** %* %* % overall sales up 3.1% on last year.

SuperValu has returned to pole Total Grocers 100.0% 100.0% 3.1 position with a 22.3% share of the Total Multiples 88.8% 88.9% 3.2 market, the first time the retailer SuperValu 22.8% 22.3% 0.8 has held top spot alone since July Tesco 21.5% 22.2% 6.1 2017. Tesco and Dunnes follow Dunnes 22.0% 21.9% 2.4 closely in second and third, with Lidl 11.3% 11.4% 4.2 22.2% and 21.9% share of the market Aldi 11.2% 11.2% 3.0 Other Outlets** 11.2% 11.1% 2.4 respectively.

“SuperValu has attracted more *= Percentage Share of Total Grocers shoppers through its doors and **= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops persuaded its customers to buy more items per trip,” revealed Douglas Faughnan, Consumer Insight Director at Kantar Worldpanel. as a whole. “While Tesco’s performance in Dublin is strong, “In addition, while performance remains strong in its Munster the rest of Leinster contributed the most to growth, with the heartland, SuperValu’s growth in the capital is particularly retailer’s share jumping from 26.1% to 28%,” Faughnan noted. noteworthy. The retailer’s sales in Dublin grew 4.5% compared “In contrast, Dunnes’ impressive share growth in Connaught to last year, second only to Tesco, which saw growth of 7.4% in and Ulster was offset by a drop in the Dublin region, where the city.” share fell from 26.2% to 24.8%.”

SuperValu has invested substantially in value, investing Lidl and Aldi were the second and third fastest growing €15m in money-off vouchers for its Real Rewards loyalty retailers this period, with sales up 4.2% and 3% respectively. programme members from January to Easter, along with an Lidl’s growth was predominantly driven by its sales in Leinster upweighted promotional schedule with a new SuperValu Seven (excluding Dublin), whereas Aldi experienced a strong 12 weeks Fruit & Veg offer, giving big savings on seven types of fruit and in Munster, Connaught and Ulster. vegetables, along with promotions on healthy ranges, meat and “Over the past 12 months, Irish households have fish and ambient product every week. consolidated their spend, relying more heavily on their “The latest market share data highlights the highly preferred retailer,” Faughnan explained. “This effectively competitive nature of the Irish grocery market, underlining means that most of the grocers were seeing fewer shoppers the fact that shoppers know who offers the best value and through their doors. However, this period marks a notable quality and are voting with their feet by coming to SuperValu,” turnaround, with Tesco, SuperValu, Aldi and Lidl all attracting enthused Martin Kelleher, SuperValu Managing Director. “We more shoppers than they did a year ago. A 3.1% increase in would like to thank our customers for their ongoing loyalty and the number of shoppers visiting Tesco generated additional reiterate our commitment to delivering them low prices, the revenue of €13m and contributed significantly to the retailer’s best of Irish food and making the changes that customers are overall performance. Although increased shopper numbers asking for in terms of sustainability. driving growth for the other retailers was less significant, it “I’m proud to highlight that we source from over 1,800 Irish does mark a reversal in recent shopper behaviour.” suppliers, more than any international chain, and contribute Frozen food sales proved a lucrative source of revenue more to causes across the country. When people shop with for the traditional retailers. Sales of frozen food at Tesco, SuperValu, they know that their money is going back into the SuperValu and Dunnes outpaced those of fresh, chilled and local economy between the staff employed in-store, donations ambient food and drink, while overall frozen sales rose 7.3%, in and sponsorship of community initiatives, as well as the line with Iceland’s continued expansion in Ireland. The British support we give to thousands of other family businesses, retailer has attained a 6.3% share of frozen sales, driven by between the food producers who we source from and the increased footfall through further store openings. service providers who help to make what we do possible.”

Grocery market inflation stands at -0.6% for the 12 week Tesco has continued to build on its strong start to 2018. period ending 22 April 2018.

Overall sales are up by 6.1%, almost twice that of the market For more information, see www.kantarworldpanel.com.

2,101 Complaints Received by ASAI in 2017 A TOTAL of 2,101 written complaints relating to 1,066 advertisements were received by the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) in 2017, according to the organisation’s 2017 Annual Report. This represents a 58% increase on the number of complaints received in 2016. The number of complaints resolved at 1,802 represents a 31% increase on the previous year. The ‘Health and Beauty’ sector attracted the most number of complaints, while ‘Digital Media’ gave rise to the highest number of complaints by media. 75 advertisements were in breach of the ASAI’s Code of Standards for Advertising and Marketing Communications. 61% of the complaints made in 2017 were on the basis that an advertisement was misleading, while 12% were made on the basis that an advertisement was offensive.

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News BIM Announces Details of New Fishmonger Training Programme BORD Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has announced details of its new fishmonger training programme. The sevenday programme is aimed at new entrants working in independent fishmongers and on fresh fish counters in supermarkets throughout Ireland. Participants on the programme will learn technical skills such as filleting and skinning, as well as cooking techniques and greater knowledge about the nutritional benefits of seafood that they can share with customers.

“The continued success of Ireland’s seafood sector is contingent on being Hal Dawson, Ireland’s Master able to attract and retain Fishmonger.

a talented workforce and to enhance fishmonger skills within the retail sector,” said Ian Mannix, BIM Business Development Manager. “This new course demonstrates BIM’s commitment to developing these skills.”

The fishmonger programme is being led by members of BIM’s Skills Development team and other professionals including Ireland’s Master Fishmonger, Hal Dawson; Consultant Dietician, Sarah Keogh; Customer Service Expert, Agnes Doyle; and Fish Quality Assessment Trainer, Adrian Barrett.

Irish seafood retail sales were valued at €249m in 2017, according to BIM’s Business of Seafood Report published earlier this year. While salmon, cod and prawns remain the top three selling species, recent trends reveal a rise in interest among consumers in relation to sustainability, where seafood is sourced and an increased willingness to purchase lesser known species.

Participants who successfully complete all modules will receive a BIM fishmonger certificate. The training programme will take place between September and November 2018. For more information, please go to www.bim.ie.

Aldi Voted Ireland’s Most Reputable Supermarket by Consumers ALDI was confirmed as Ireland’s most reputable supermarket for a second year in a row, according to a study that rates companies across several indicators, including products and services, innovation and citizenship.

The annual RepTrak survey, which ranks the 50 largest and most visible organisations in the country, found Aldi is the third most respected brand in Ireland and the highest-ranking supermarket. This consumer-focused research surveyed over 7,000 members of the general public in areas including consumers’ direct experience, product innovation, workplace and governance.

Aldi achieved its highest Reputation Pulse score ever, placing in the Excellent category after scoring 80.2%, based on levels of trust, esteem, admiration and good feeling towards the company.

“We are immensely proud to be ranked as the most reputable supermarket by Irish consumers for the second year in a row by the prestigious RepTrak survey,” enthused Giles Hurley, CEO, Aldi UK & Ireland. The CEO was also delighted to be recognised for the contribution Aldi’s CSR

projects have had in the communities their stores serve. “Our partnerships with FoodCloud, The Aldi Community Games, the Irish Cancer Society and Foróige have made a huge difference at both a national and local level,” he noted.

“The most satisfying aspect of this survey is that it is the consumer who is providing us with the vote of confidence.

Giles Hurley, CEO, Aldi UK & This provides us with the Ireland. assurance that we are moving with customers needs’, sourcing the best quality and most innovative products and ensuring that the customer is always the key focus of our business.”

Ireland’s First Vaping Awareness Campaign VAPE Business Ireland (VBI)’s ran a month-long ‘VApril’ campaign during April to spread awareness on the potential benefits of using vaping to reduce tobacco consumption. The aim of VApril was to increase the public’s knowledge and access to information on vaping as currently, none is being made available to Irish adult smokers looking for an alternative to cigarettes on Quit.ie or on the HSE’s website.

A key part of the campaign was The Vaping Challenge, which encouraged Irish smokers who wanted to reduce their tobacco consumption to take up vaping for the month of April.

During the campaign, addiction specialist and vaping

advocate Dr Garrett McGovern expressed his confusion as to why the Department of Health has been so reluctant to endorse vaping, stating, “I’m not sure why the HSE are so against vaping. They have to concede that vaping is measurably safer than regular tobacco. The Royal College of Physicians in London, The BMA, PHE and The Royal College of General Practitioners have all come to the conclusion that vaping is a far safer alternative to tobacco.”

VBI are hopeful that the HSE and Quit.ie will begin to engage with Dr McGovern and the vaping industry to begin to provide information on vaping products to Irish adult smokers.

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News Survey Reveals Misconceptions in Household Food Safety MANY Irish consumers are uncertain about basic food safety practices when it comes to the safe handling and preparation of meals, according to a new survey carried out by Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA), proud guardians of The Q Mark.

A candid 73% of respondents indicated they have eaten food after its expiration date. It is widely reported that there is a lot of confusion amongst householders when it comes to ‘use by’, sell by’ and ‘best before dates’. The FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) states that the ‘use by’ is the date up until which a food may be used safely i.e. consumed, cooked or processed, once it has been stored correctly. After the ‘use by’ date, a food is deemed unsafe and cannot be sold and that ‘best before dates’ are more about the quality of a product rather than a food safety issue.

When survey respondents were asked what method they most frequently use to defrost frozen foods, the majority, 56%, indicated that they thaw frozen Irene Collins, Managing Director foods at room of EIQA. temperature. 61% of respondents seemed to think it is okay to eat food that had been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours. Consumers need to become more aware of the risks associated with eating or thawing foods at room temperature as bacteria multiplies rapidly once the temperature reaches 4.4ºC. According to safefood, the all-island food safety promotion board, the safest way to defrost food is in the

fridge and that you should allow at least 24 hours for every 2-2.5 kg (4-5 lbs). They say that when food reaches a temperature of between 5°C and 63°C (‘the danger zone’), that the bacteria on the food can grow to a point where they can make people ill.

Leftovers don’t seem very popular! 11% don’t keep leftovers at all and 88% throw them out within three days, although 7% admitted to leaving leftovers until they are ‘gone off’. According to the FSAI frequently asked questions, leftovers should be kept covered in the fridge and used within 2-3 days.

When respondents were asked if they have ever re-frozen meats that have been fully or partially defrosted, 89% said never. According to the FSAI, defrosted food should not be refrozen unless first cooked to over 70°C (it is recommended that food reach 70°C for at least 2 minutes or 75°C instantaneously to ensure proper cooking) and should not be refrozen more than once following this cooking step.

When asked how often they wash packaged fruits or vegetables, 30% said always but 49% indicated that they sometimes, rarely or never wash packaged fruits or vegetables even if it stated on the packaging to do so. According to the FSAI, vegetables should be washed thoroughly in appropriate washing facilities in the kitchen.

Alternatively, pre-prepared fresh produce can be used without further washing unless the supplier states that washing is required 43% of respondents determine when their food is cooked by experience and only 10% use a thermometer.

“The results of this survey certainly demonstrate the need for additional consumer learning around food safety in the home,” noted Irene Collins, Managing Director of EIQA. "Consumers should be aware that the Q Mark, safefood and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland have their wellbeing at the heart of everything they do. It’s important that we teach food safety principles and practices to people from an early age as these principles can be carried through life and hopefully passed onto the next generation. By making a few simple changes to our everyday practices, we can help make a substantial difference in protecting people against foodborne illness.”

Repak Opens Members’ Conference & Training Centre MINISTER for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten TD officially opened Repak’s new Members’ Conference and Training Centre. As an industry-led organisation, the opening of the new conference and training centre is the latest services initiative from Repak, designed to add value to its members. The facility will provide packaging prevention, reduction and design training and is set to serve as a meeting point for existing and new Repak members. The centre, which is located at the Red Cow Interchange Estate, Dublin 22, will be available to all Repak members for their conference and meeting needs.

Pictured is Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD, and Repak CEO, Séamus Clancy at the opening of Repak’s Members’ Conference and Training Centre.

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News Iceland Opens Flagship Portlaoise Store ICELAND opened its latest store in Gandon Court, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise on April 24, 2018. This marks the third Iceland store opening this year for the retailer. The new store opening brings 37 new jobs to Portlaoise and is the biggest Iceland store in the country, spanning 19,000 square feet.

“We are delighted to welcome new customers through the doors to experience all that Iceland has to offer at our new flagship store,” noted Ron Metcalfe, Managing Director of Iceland Ireland. “This is our third store opening this year in Ireland and we have had a great response from customers across the county for this new store. 2018 is a big year for us and we’re excited to see the store numbers grow continuously, as well as welcoming new colleagues to the Iceland family.”

The new store stocks everything from frozen food and fresh produce to a chilled goods range and household essentials, as well as a fresh in-store bakery and coffee station.

Ron Metcalfe, Managing Director of Iceland Ireland.

Feeding Ireland's Future Returns FEEDING Ireland’s Future is back for a fifth year, with the Skills for Work Week taking place from Monday, May 21, to Friday, June 1, 2018. A grocery sector initiative to help young people, Feeding Ireland’s Future supports young unemployed people and early school leavers by developing their preemployment skills.

It is run by ECR Ireland with Intreo (Dept. of Employment Affairs & Social Protection) and Youthreach (Dept. of Education & Skills) and 4,500 young people have attended FIF sessions hosted by 100+ companies over the last four years.

If you are a retailer, supplier or service provider in the grocery sector, there are two ways to participate in FIF 2018 and play your part in a very worthy industry initiative that will complement your corporate social responsibility strategy. You can deliver a Skills for Work session to young unemployed people, presenting a half-day, full-day or 2-3 day session to 12 young unemployed people on-site at your company premises, or you can work with early school leavers in Youthreach, delivering a two-hour ‘Ready for Work’ seminar at a Youthreach Centre.

For more information, see www.ecrireland.ie/fif.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, pictured with Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland, at the launch of Feeding Ireland’s Future.

Mastercard Supports New Industry Standard for Online Shopping Tech MASTERCARD has declared its support for a new industry standard that will improve the e-commerce checkout experience, the new EMVCo Secure Remote Commerce (SRC) framework, which was introduced last year. At an industry event in Las Vegas, Mastercard called on merchants, acquirers, issuers and other technology players to join with them in giving consumers the same simple, secure and convenient payment experience across every browser and every device.

“Similar to the single, standardised acceptance terminal on a merchant’s countertop, we believe that SRC can be implemented as one, common checkout button,” noted a company spokesperson. “In doing so, we believe SRC

will deliver a more consistent checkout experience for consumers, reducing the multiple steps they face at different sites today and will make it much easier for merchants to implement and securely store tokens on file and improve their approval rates.”

Just as the industry came together to introduce Chip & Pin a few years ago to improve the security and convenience of physical card transactions, Mastercard believe that this new standard can do the same to digital card transactions.

They are currently working with Visa, Amex and others on creating this new standard, which they believe will reduce e-commerce fraud and bring chip-like security to the online checkout.

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Industry News

Lidl to Expand in Limerick COUNCILLOR Stephen Keary, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick; joins Bryan Quille, Managing Director, Monami; Stephen Nolan, Construction Manager; Conor Nagle, Regional Director, Lidl; Greg Short, Monami; Denis Baranouski, Lidl Store Manager; and Eoin Cusack, Property Executive, Lidl, to officially turn the first sod on the retailer's new multi-million euro investment project in Limerick city. The Lidl store on Childers Road was one of the first stores opened in Ireland in July 2000. The existing store, which received a bakery and modernisation in 2010, will be demolished and replaced with a superior architectural design, as well as being far more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than the current building. During the construction phase, the existing store will remain trading, and Lidl hopes to open the new store for trade at the end of 2018.

Keogh’s Crisps Seals Spudtastic First Class Deal KEOGH’S Farm will be planting a few more spuds in the coming months, with the news that Keogh’s Crisps of North Dublin has secured a major contract with Emirates, the largest international airline in the world, which will see an estimated one million bags being served across all their routes globally. The premium Irish brand will be available to First Class passengers and was selected by the Emirates Group following a blind tasting of 15 different brands, of which Keogh’s came out top. Keogh’s Crisp flavours selected by the Emirates Group include Irish Mature Cheddar, Shamrock and Sour Cream and Lightly Salted, with seasonal variations such as Roast Turkey and Stuffing. Pictured at the announcement at Marketplace International, Bord Bia’s food buyer event in Dublin supporting Irish food producers across the country, are Tom Keogh, Managing Director of Keogh’s Crisps, and Enda Corneille, Country Manager for Emirates in Ireland.

Retailers Support One for Ireland Campaign ONE for Ireland took place over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The charitable movement, backed by the Irish Youth Foundation, helped to raise much needed funds for the 3,755 children without a home in Ireland. The initiative saw retailers nationwide ask customers to add €1 to their bill when they paid at the till, with the extra money going to help fight youth homelessness.

Over 800 retailers signed up, including BWG Group, Applegreen, Starbucks and the Irish Pharmacy Union. The mechanic is simple - retailers were provided with plastic barcode tags which could be inputted into the store’s Epos system to the value of €1 and then asked customers if they wanted to participate when they made a purchase. Rugby pundit Brent Pope is pictured supporting the One for Ireland Campaign at his local Starbuck’s.

New Marketing Director at Mars Ireland MARS has announced the appointment of Eoghan Crawford as Marketing Director of its Mars Ireland business. A native of Naas, Co. Kildare, Crawford has built up his marketing credentials at home and abroad, working with leading global names in the FMCG sector, including Golden Vale, Kerry Group and Mondelez. Bill Heague, General Manager of Mars Ireland, said: “We are delighted that Eoghan has joined our team. His experience and expertise in his field speaks for itself, and his insights from an Irish and international perspective will be invaluable for Mars at a national and international level. He cares deeply about our products and our customers and through this lens, I can see the evolution of our company and its approach to marketing. We’re proud to have Eoghan lead our team of marketeers and continue to grow our brands here in Ireland.”

Hula Hoops Extends Basketball Partnership HULA Hoops has officially announced a three-year extension to its partnership with Basketball Ireland, with the launch of a FIBA endorsed 3x3 outdoor tournament at Dundrum Town Centre on Saturday, May 12. A specially constructed court was created specifically for the event, with tiered seating for the crowds, and the Hula Hoops Mascot was on hand to entertain, as well as sampling Hula Hoops for event attendees. “The extension of our partnership is very exciting. Our goal is to continue to grow Irish basketball through increased participation. Hula Hoops 3x3 is a fast paced and exhilarating extension of our sponsorship,” said Ian O’Rourke, Brand Activation Manager for Largo Foods, pictured (left) with Basketball Ireland’s Commercial Manager, Conor Meany.

10|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Kellogg’s Appoints New Head of Ireland RUTH Hughes has been appointed by Kellogg’s to head up its business in Ireland.

Hughes has worked at Kellogg’s for more than a decade and has held a number of senior roles across the cereal and snack giant’s Irish, British and European operations.

As head of Kellogg’s Ireland, she will oversee a team of 30 who manage all aspects of the company’s commercial operations to sell and supply its foods across the Republic.

She joined the company in 2008 as a National Account Manager, serving Kellogg’s Irish retail customers. Senior roles in the company included a stint working in the UK managing the Kellogg’s business with major British retailers Asda and Morrisons.

Most recently she held the position of Sales Director, European Sales Capability, with responsibility for overseeing the training and development of all sales teams across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Her appointment follows the retirement of long-standing Irish Kellogg’s leader, Jim McNeill.

Musgrave MarketPlace Delves into Irish Dining Habits NEW research from Musgrave MarketPlace reveals that we are a nation that loves to dine out. The survey into Irish dining habits found that 36% of Irish people dine out at least once a week, with dinner the most popular meal to go out for (79%). The research was carried out as part of the Discover Musgrave MarketPlace event, which took place at Medley Restaurant on May 1 and saw key Musgrave MarketPlace suppliers and customers come together for a day-long celebration of food, drink and culinary innovation. Guests on the day had the opportunity to sample food from restaurants such as Roberta’s and Indie Spice and included well-known restaurant owner, Musgrave MarketPlace customer and ex-rugby international Jamie Heaslip, pictured with William Higgins from Musgrave Marketplace.

Plastic the Last Straw for Westport TidyTowns WESTPORT in Co. Mayo is on track to become the first town in Ireland to eliminate plastic straws, thanks to the work of its SuperValu TidyTowns committee. From June 1, all vintners in Westport will use biodegradable straws and the TidyTowns committee is in talks to persuade coffee shops, take-aways, food stalls and supermarkets in Westport to replace plastic straws with biodegradable alternatives. “This is the kind of forward-thinking initiative that the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is all about,” noted Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu. “Westport TidyTowns has got the next generation involved and through this innovative idea is reducing the environmental impact on the town and its surroundings. As Ireland’s leading, community-based, sustainable retailer, we support their efforts to reduce single-use plastics.” Pictured are Liam Campion, manager at SuperValu Westport and Chairman of Westport TidyTowns, with Joe O’ Malley and Westport vintners at the launch.

Spar Takes to the Streets SPAR Ireland, in partnership with Athletics Ireland and Dublin City Council, hosted the annual Spar Streets of Dublin 5K road race on Sunday, May 20. This 5K route took participants through the streets of Dublin, starting outside the CHQ Building and finishing on City Quay. “The Spar Streets of Dublin 5k road race is an important event for the brand, considering our longstanding support of athletics,” noted Colin Donnelly, Spar Sales Director. “At Spar, we believe that as well as eating ourselves better, we need to exercise ourselves better.” Pictured launching the Spar Streets of Dublin 5k are Irish Olympian Mick Clohisey, fitness expert and TV broadcaster Karl Henry, with Colin Donnelly, Spar Sales Director, and Sliabh Wells, Recreational Running Manager, Athletics Ireland.

Lidl Commits Another €3m to Ladies Gaelic Football FOLLOWING the phenomenal success of the partnership established in 2016 between Lidl Ireland and The Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Lidl has announced a €3m investment and an additional three-year sponsorship of the association.

This will again position the brand as Official Retail Partner and title sponsors of the Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues. The announcement represents one of the largest investments in female sports by a sponsor in Europe. “At Lidl, we are extremely proud to continue to be the biggest supporter of women's sport in the country,” noted John Paul Scally, MD, Lidl Ireland. “When we partnered with the LGFA in 2016, we made a promise to elevate Ladies Gaelic Football to a new level and we feel we have delivered on that promise.

Right across the country, our store teams have been blown away from the positive feedback from local schools and clubs we have invested in and recognition for the support we have given to the game.”

IRELAND IS MOVING TO PLAIN PACKS BRANDED

PLAIN PACKS

NOW – 28TH SEPTEMBER 2018 Branded products can continue to be sold at retail up to and including 28th September 2018. Both branded and plain packs will be available at the same time during this period.

NEED TO KNOW • Plain packs will appear at various points over the coming months • Both branded and plain packs can be sold up to and including 28th September 2018 • ONLY THE PACKS WILL CHANGE. JTI TOBACCO PRODUCTS WILL STAY EXACTLY THE SAME • We are here to support

FROM 29TH SEPTEMBER 2018

PLAIN PACKS

Only tobacco products in plain packaging can be sold from this date.

JTI IS YOUR KEY PARTNER

For more information, speak to your JTI contact, call 01 404 0240, email customerservices.ireland@jti.com or visit jti.com/ireland This document is for tobacco retailers only and should not be made available to the public nor should it be displayed in any area where it is visible to the public.

12|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News ‘Gala’ Gift €20,000 to Primary Schools AS part if its 20th anniversary celebrations, Gala Retail visited Caherline National School in Caherconlish, Limerick, to donate a huge €10,000 to the school as part of its Gala Gifts for Schools competition! Caherline NS was named as the winner in the Gala Gifts for Schools competition, following the school submitting a 30-second video on how they would spend a ‘Gala Gift’ at the school to improve the education and school days of their pupils. Hundreds of schools from across Ireland entered the competition, and a judging panel, comprising of actress, Aoibhín Garrihy; Editor of Primary Times, Marie O’Reilly; and Gala Retail’s CEO, Gary Desmond, deemed Caherline National School to have one of the top videos on the day. The school pledged to spend the cash prize on an ASD classroom to cater for the needs of children with autism who attend the school. Shinrone National School in Birr, Offaly, and Scoil Naomh Iosef in Ballyheigue, Kerry, both received runner up prizes of €5,000 for their video entries. Aoibhín Garrihy was joined by Gala’s Marketing Manager, Tony Cluskey, and local Gala retailers at the prize presentation at Caherline National School.

SuperValu Steps Up Autism Support SUPERVALU’S support of Ireland’s autism community goes from strength to strength with renewed commitment, with the news that SuperValu is to be title sponsor of the AsIAm Conference on October 20 in The Grand Hotel, Malahide. Since SuperValu’s journey began, over 2,500 Autism Friendly Shopping evenings have taken place around the country and a total of 80 stores around the country are now taking part on a weekly basis. Over 50,000 families in Ireland live with autism and SuperValu marked World Autism Awareness Day with a commitment to raising understanding and awareness of autism among its customers and staff. Pictured helping SuperValu to launch their information and awareness campaign, highlighting ways their staff and customers can help to become more inclusive and understanding of the autism community were Katelynn Ferris, alongside Rhona Downes, Sarah Carroll and Saoirse O’Driscoll. Developed in partnership with AsIAm, SuperValu is informing their customers and staff of the need to use plain languate, be patient and be accepting. These three simple steps can make a massive difference to an autistic person’s in-store experience.

Zeto to Raise €20m in ICO

Tesco Ireland Wins Free From Award

TESCO Ireland was crowned as the retailer with Product Range of the Year at the annual Free From Food Awards held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry. For the second year running, Tesco took home the coveted title in recognition of its commitment to innovation, availability of specialised foods and having the most comprehensive range of products for suffers of Coeliac disease in Ireland. As well as the Product Range award, Tesco took home 30 additional awards for a wide range of individual products. Pictured at the Free From Food Awards 2018 are (l-r): Michael Farrell, Sarah Leonard, Barra McFeely, John Brennan, Tracey McDermott, Alison O’Doherty, John Burke (Free From Food Awards), Damian Harte and Karen Gordon.

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Range Wins Five PLMA Awards

DUNNES Stores’ Simply Better Collection was the winner of five prestigious accolades at the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA’s) 2018 International Salute To Excellence Awards in Amsterdam. This is the third year in a row that the Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection has been recognised for excellence at the PLMAs. “Our Simply Better Collection is now recognised nationally and internationally as best in class and has won more awards than any other food brand in Ireland,” noted Diarmuid Murphy, Brand Manager, Simply Better Collection.

“We couldn’t achieve this great success without the authentic collaborations with our amazing food producers and this recognition from the PLMA is a testimony to the great products we have created together. It is especially significant as it is international recognition for small producers, four from Ireland and one of our Italian producers.” The award winning Simply Better products will be on display in PLMA’s Idea Supermarket at the World of Private Label international trade show from May 29-30 at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam.

SMART refrigeration company, Zeto will be among Ireland’s first companies to successfully raise multi-million euro investment through an initial coin offering (ICO). The company, which provides real-time smart monitoring for the retail refrigeration industry, initiated the ICO process by offering a pre-sale round recently. Within a number of days, Zeto has already raised €500,000 from the crytocurrency community, with investors in Brazil, Austraila, Oman and Spain among others availing of pre-sale discount. Zeto expects to raise €20m in total by the end of the ICO process in July 2018. Pictured is Stephen Slattery, CEO, Zeto.

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14|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Shopper Research

Irish Shoppers Spend Two Days in Supermarkets Each Year!

New shopper research from V360° makes interesting reading for retailers, revealing how long consumers shop for and how for many, their local store is far more than just a shop.

IRISH shoppers make up to eight visits to a supermarket every month, spending an average of 34 minutes each time, according to new research from V360°, the shopper agency. This works out at just over two days a year inside a supermarket!

While they may go to the supermarket to shop for particular items, this research shows that consumers are very open to distraction while there, with 92% saying they have come home without the item they specifically went to pick up!

92% also admit to buying something different than they intended after they were exposed to in-store advertising.

This isn’t just a once off, as nearly half of us claim to do this on a fairly regular basis. We’re also open to persuasion when shopping, with 79% saying they have bought food or drink items after receiving a free sample.

Irish shoppers are also quite thrifty.

Nearly eight out of 10 (78%) say that if they forget their reusable shopping bag, they have refused to purchase a plastic bag and instead tried to carry home all of their items by hand!

More than Just a Shop While many of us will go to the shops to shop, 71% say they have gone to a supermarket just to get out of the house for a while. This is especially common in those aged under 35, with 80% of them saying they have done this.

Just over one third of us (36%) have also used a trip to the supermarket as an opportunity to catch up with friends and find out what is going on in the local community.

Some of our less than admirable habits as shoppers were also highlighted in the research by V360°:

Pictured are Stephen Rust, Joint Managing Director V360°; Ciaran FitzGerald, Chairman of The Visualise Group; and Eoghan Phelan, Joint Managing Director, V360°.

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One quarter (24%) admit to ordering food at the deli, changing their minds and leaving the item on a shelf without purchasing; 15% of shoppers or their children have eaten something in store and not paid for this item when checking-out; 41% of shoppers who are parents admit that they have left their child in a shopping aisle to have a tantrum while they continued their shop.

A Better Understanding of Shopper Needs “Our recent research gives a real insight into some of the typical behaviours that people engage in when shopping,” explains Stephen Rust, Joint

Managing Director of V360°. “A better understanding of shopper needs and behaviour can lead to providing better retail and product solutions. This, in turn, will help ease the burden for shoppers, while helping retailers and suppliers succeed and thrive in today’s extremely competitive market.”

V360° is a new multi-disciplinary shopper agency which delivers a full shopper solution from insight and strategy right through to final execution.

The agency, operated by industry experts, The Visualise Group, combines three-way insight into consumers, shoppers and retailers to create shopper solutions that solve business challenges and ultimately creates positive enduring change in shopper behaviour.

1,026 people were surveyed - 51% female, 49% male.

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Instant Hot Snacks

Prepare to Love Prep Co. Unilever is set to revolutionise lunchtimes with new brand Prep Co., an instant hot snack designed to appeal to busy consumers looking for a healthier snack option, without compromising on taste.

UNILEVER is set to shake up the snacking category with the launch of exciting new brand, Prep Co. This step-changing addition to the instant pot snack aisle offers Irish consumers a healthier snack option in a handy pot format. What’s more, it is made with natural ingredients and provides one of the recommended ‘five a day’.

Available now, the new brand has been developed to appeal to busy consumers looking for a healthier snack option without compromising on taste. By simply adding hot water to the natural ingredients inside, consumers can enjoy a fuss-free hot snack that can be enjoyed on-the-go or at-the-desk.

World Food Flavours Prep Co. taps into the trend for world food flavours (Source: IGD Think Tank, August 2017) with globally-inspired recipes from the Mediterranean, Mexico and South East Asia and includes: Mediterranean Couscous, Thai Green Curry, Indian Spiced Lentils and Mexican Chilli Rice.

Prep Co. taps into the trend for world food flavours with globally-inspired recipes including Mediterranean Couscous, Thai Green Curry, Indian Spiced Lentils and Mexican Chilli Rice.

“The instant hot snack category is growing at 37% year-on-year (Source: Kantar WP 52 weeks, w/e. 25/03/2018),” noted Hilda Lyon, Head of Marketing for Foods at Unilever Ireland, “with consumers seeking products that reflect the health and wellness trend (Source: IGD Think Tank, August 2017) as well as providing a fuss-free snack to enjoy ‘al desko’. We identified a gap in the market for a healthier snack option and developed the new Prep Co. brand.

“Made with natural ingredients and a delicious blend of herbs and spices, each pot contains enough vegetables to fulfil one of the recommended ‘five a

day’ and provides a source of fibre and protein, whilst being low in saturated fat.”

Strong Shelf Standout New Prep Co. comes in modern and vibrant packaging, using bright primary colours to create optimum standout onshelf. A visual preview of the vegetable goodness inside each pot, matched with health claims on-pack, will target those looking for a healthier on-the-go snack option.

Prep Co. has an RRP of €2.49, although pricing is at the sole discretion of retailers.

16|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

ECR Shopper Symposium

The Future Starts Now! ECR Ireland’s recent Shopper Symposium provided a wealth of evidence that evolving technology is not only changing how consumers shop, but should also be utilised by retailers to interact with and target consumers.

ECR Ireland recently hosted a Shopper Symposium Breakfast Event at the Dean Hotel, Dublin in association with V360° as part of their series of spring side events. The collaboration hosts a forum for retailers, manufacturers and service providers to further their knowledge and learn about their respective sectors together. The guest speakers at the Dean Hotel event were Keith O’Reilly, founder of Bionic, and Robert Flavin, Director, Strategic Planning, at V360°.

Technology as an Enabler Robert Flavin delivered a presentation about the challenges retailers face in preparing for the future while “living in the now”. Flavin stated we are living in an era of unprecedented technological advancement, citing the prevalence of devices and applications such as Siri, Alexa and Amazon Echo. He noted how dystopian motion pictures of recent times have been obsessed with the future, but we have arrived in the future already. Steven Spielberg consulted

23 futurologists while making Minority Report, which was the first film to have an entirely digital production design in 2002. How all this relates to retailers is how consumers choose to shop, work, rest and play in the first quarter of the 21st century in what is rapidly becoming a cashless digital society.

“Technology is an enabler,” Flavin said. “We must understand shoppers’ needs and wants. Shoppers’

fundamental needs remain the same but expectations as to how their needs are met have utterly changed. Retail will continue to evolve and adapt.”

To illustrate this point, Flavin recalled how his grandmother used to send an order to the grocery shop first thing in the morning. The order would be delivered in sufficient time for her to prepare and cook dinner that evening.

The modern consumer has a myriad of

Robert Flavin, Director, Strategic Planning, at V360°, and Keith O’Reilly, founder of Bionic.

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ECR Shopper Symposium right away. Other features include multiple shopping lists, a web interface, and recipes. It is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android, Android Wear, Amazon Alexa devices, and Google Assistant devices.

“The future starts now, not in dim and distant millennia from now,” Flavin said, and concluded his presentation by identifying the four Es: Ease, Experience, Empowerment and Economic.

Keith O’Reilly’s company, Bionic, began as a paid social business and grew to support some of the world’s largest advertising agency groups and brands, and is now an award winning Facebook Marketing Partner, focusing on online to offline. ways and options to satisfy the same need and make the same order, but the need itself to receive the ingredients and groceries promptly and punctually does not change.

The Tyranny of Choice Another modern phenomenon Flavin identified is “the tyranny of choice”.

A good example of this is how crisp flavours have diversified from what Flavin called “the humble crisps section.” Traditionally, the Irish consumer had a basic choice of cheese and onion or salt and vinegar, but the variety and range of crisps on the market has vastly expanded beyond all expectations.

Flavin maintains the bottom line is that it is no longer good enough to passively wait for shoppers to find a retailer; the retailer must find them.

Technology has become the primary means of how shoppers and customers are found in 2018. Amazon is the most customer-centric company on earth, and also one of the most tech-driven, along with Google.

For example, V360° brought out the ‘OurGroceries’ app that links multiple devices. OurGroceries is a free and simple way to keep grocery lists instantly synchronized on all the smartphones in a household. Everyone can edit these lists on their mobile phone or web browser. Whenever anyone modifies a list, everyone else sees the changes

The Bionic Man Keith O'Reilly introduced his company, Bionic, which was formally launched in 2013 and is now used by thousands of advertisers every day all over the world. Bionic began as a paid social business and grew to support some of the world’s largest advertising agency groups and brands, and is now an award winning Facebook Marketing Partner, focusing on online to offline. The award winning Bionic Offline Conversion (BOC) solution empowers high street retailers to understand, influence, activate and measure their customers using tools and methodologies previously only available to e-commerce companies.

O'Reilly used colourful quotations and case studies, citing how in 1995 Bill Gates had a vision of technology connecting communities, and Arthur C Clarke's proclamation that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

The Democratisation of Technology The democratisation of technology and open technology means that simple and free tools can achieve great results for retailers and businesses and there is no great need to invest in developers, which

Robert Flavin: “The future starts now, not in dim and distant millennia from now.”

“

Technology is an enabler.

We must understand shoppers’ needs and wants. Shoppers’ fundamental needs remain the same - but expectations as to how their needs are met have utterly changed. Retail will continue to evolve and adapt.

”

are an expensive and scarce resource, O’Reilly noted. On a day to day basis, Bionic use Zapier, which is software that integrates apps and is extremely user friendly. Zapier is a very popular webbased service that allows end users to integrate the web applications they use.

The efficient accumulation of digital receipts and real time purchase data is an incredibly useful resource, according to O’Reilly. All retailers can use this to scrutinise their revenue streams and finely tune their marketing campaigns.

O'Reilly spoke about bot assisted retail on online platforms, where customers engage with a bot in a very speedy and efficient manner.

Case Study He provided a detailed case study of Bionic's work in collaboration with Mothercare, the leading retailer specialising in products for expectant mothers and merchandise for children up to six years old.

Mothercare’s objective was to direct people in-store and achieve the best possible Return On Ad Spend. Bionic used personalised creatives to target each store to improve user experience and the Return On Ad Spend.

Bionic integrated existing retailer software digital receipts, loyalty card data systems and any other available data. Mothercare adapted their marketing budgets and strategies accordingly, noting the age demographic, the 69% prevalence of iPhone and iPad ordering and browsing, and other data.

They subsequently reduced their budget on android platforms and engaged in much sharper online buying. The end result was that Mothercare increased their return by 752%, making it a highly successful campaign for both parties.

These interesting campaign insights concluded an extremely interesting and informative event.

18|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Shop Profile

Kane’s in the Fast Lane Terry Kane attributes the continued success of his store in Carlow Town to the hard work of his staff and his symbol group partner, the Gala group.

TERRY Kane has an old school attitude to the amount of hard work required to succeed in grocery retail. Since opening his Carlow store in 2004, that work ethic has always been matched by Gala, his symbol group partner, and together they have traded through good times and bad.

Ireland was booming in 2004, and Carlow town was no exception. Terry Kane had recently left Superquinn and he decided to open his own shop where he could apply the knowledge he had amassed about grocery retail. Terry’s Gala is located on Burrin Road, one of the prime locations for development in the town in 2004. The site also had a car park, which he felt would prove useful in the future. Terry was confident that this was the right place for his shop.

Terry and Gail already had a great deal of retail knowledge when they opened their shop, and they wanted to work with a symbol group partner that was in sync with their plans and their work ethic. When they met Gala CEO, Gary Desmond, who showed them what Gala could offer them and their new shop, they knew they had found the right group.

Passion, Commitment & Understanding of Grocery Retail Terry tells Retail News, “From the moment I met Gary Desmond, I knew I was on to a winner. The Gala group was relatively small back in 2004 compared to some other symbol groups, but the passion, the commitment, and the understanding that Gary had of grocery retail, left us in no doubt that Gala was the group we wanted to work with.”

The Gala ethos fits perfectly with Terry’s own vision for the store. “Myself and Gail wanted to create a proper local shop, one that really felt like a part of the community. The Gala group is all about local: local produce, local wholesalers, local shops and local communities

Store owner Terry Kane is pictured (centre) with staff members Niamh Bermingham, Bernie Gahan, Tasha Bermingham and Aisling Noctor. around the country,” Terry explains.

“Right from the very beginning, we have always received fantastic support from the Gala group and from Perry’s Cash & Carry, our local wholesaler. That has always meant that we are able to give our customers the best possible service.”

Kane’s successfully survived the recession with the support of Gala and Perry’s, and indeed the store recently underwent a significant revamp.

“Nothing stays the same for long in retail,” Terry notes. “Boom times and tough times come and go, but it is the relationship between the customer and retailer that really matters. You need to work constantly on that relationship, to listen to your customers and to be a part of your community, rather than a shop in it.”

Determined and Creative Retailer The close relationship with Gala is another vital cog in the retail machine.

Ray Conboy, Retail Operations Executive, Gala, tells Retail News, “Terry has been working with Gala since the early years of the group and he has always been a pleasure to work with. He is a determined and creative retailer, always looking to improve his standards and his shop. He invested heavily in his last revamp and he uses his new deli and the Baker’s Corner concept to their maximum effect, presenting them both beautifully in his shop, which has a real emphasis on quality fresh food to go. He is creating a real destination shop here and we are here with him every step of the way.

“At the Gala group, we love to work with dedicated retailers with high

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Shop Profile want to be. We FACT FILE: can interact with Owner: our customers, listen to them Location: and serve them Size: in a way that No. of Staff: much larger shops simply Opening Hours: cannot. When

we get things right, we are ‘their’ local shop, we belong to them in a way that a supermarket never could.”

Award Winning Store Kane’s Gala has won a Gold Award from the Gala group for the last seven years in a row, a record that any store owner would be proud of. For Terry though, it is the fact that the shop has won the group’s top Customer Service award for

Terry Kane Burrin Road, Carlow, Co. Carlow 1,300 square feet retail space 15 full time & part time 07:00-22:00, Monday-Saturday; 08:00-22:00, Sunday. two out of the last three years that is most satisfying.

“The experience my customers have in the shop is absolutely vital to keep them coming back,” he explains. “I have an absolutely fantastic group of people working in the shop; a number of them have been here for 10 or more years.

Along with the look of the Gala concept, my staff create the shopping experience for my customers. We need to be

Bernie Gahan of Kane’s Gala ensures the store’s fresh bread display is perfect. standards, because together we raise the standards of the shops we work with and of our group overall,” Ray continues.

“We are looking to expand our network of shops and we are keen for progressive independent retailers looking for a partner on their project to get in contact with us.”

The last 14 years have seen big changes in Carlow town, as Terry explains: “Since we first opened, a huge number of houses have been finished in the area. We’ve also seen a lot of competition enter the area from multiples. Our shop has its own unique identity: we are not Tesco, nor do we

Kane’s Gala is a real part of the community in Carlow Town.

Terry Kane is pictured winning the Customer Service Award from Edwin Kingston, Mars Primeline; and Caroline O’Connor, Gala Retail, at the Gala B.E.S.T Awards.

attentive and friendly, and we need to distinguish ourselves for our customers to give them a superior experience.

“I have very high standards for my shop and my customers,” Terry concludes. “Gala matches those every step of the way: that’s what partnership is about. Take sponsorship, for example: I’m closely involved in supporting my local community and local sports clubs.

At the national level, Gala mirrors that with its sponsorship of the Special Olympics. It’s rare to find a partner you can work so well with, and who mirrors your own values so closely. If you’re lucky enough to find one, you hold onto them. That’s the way it is with us and Gala and Perry’s and the entire team. I’d like to thank everyone that has contributed so much towards the success of this shop: without them, we could not be where we are today.”

20|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Chocolate Confectionery

World First for New Milkybar Wowsomes New Milkybar Wowsomes is the first chocolate bar in the world to use Nestlé’s innovative, high tech sugar reduction technique, using aerated particles of sugar that dissolve more quickly in the mouth.

NESTLÉ UK and Ireland has unveiled Milkybar Wowsomes, the first chocolate bar in the world to use Nestlé’s innovative sugar reduction technique.

Nestlé researchers made a scientific breakthrough when they transformed the structure of sugar through a newly developed process using only natural ingredients. Inspired by candy floss, experts created aerated, porous particles of sugar that dissolve more quickly in the mouth. This allows someone to perceive the same level of sweetness as before, while consuming less sugar.

30% Less Sugar With the help of this new technology, Milkybar Wowsomes has 30% less sugar than similar chocolate products and contains no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colours or flavourings.

Milkybar Wowsomes has milk as its number one ingredient, contains crispy oat cereal pieces, is a source of fibre and is gluten free. The range has products in a number of different sizes for different occasions; the largest sized bars are 18g and have 95 calories each.

The achievement is all the more impressive as it has taken little over a year for Nestlé teams in Switzerland, the UK and the Czech Republic to take the scientific and technological breakthrough and turn it into a new confectionery product. Milkybar Wowsomes will appear in stores across Ireland and the UK in the coming weeks.

“It is with great pride that the UK and Ireland becomes the first market in the world to use this exciting technology to create such a great tasting confectionery product,” noted Stefano Agostini, CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland.

Milkybar Wowsomes is available in 18g single bars in two variants, white chocolate and a combined milk and white chocolate.

“We have an unrivalled research and development network and the experts at our Product Technology Centre in York have been instrumental in this breakthrough. Teams across our UK business and around the world have been working incredibly hard to make this launch a reality.”

Nestlé recently announced that they have taken out more than 60 billion calories and 2.6 billion teaspoons of sugar from across their food and drink portfolio in the last three years. “A new product like Milkybar Wowsomes introduces greater choice and allows parents to treat their children with chocolate that tastes great but has less sugar,” Agostini proclaimed. “We are demonstrating how we can, and will, contribute to a healthier future and that we take our public health responsibilities very seriously.”

Stefano Agostini, CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland.

Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie|21

Chocolate Confectionery “We will continue our work and take this technology further so that we can deliver more confectionery products that taste great and are better for our consumers.”

Milkybar Wowsomes is an entirely new product under the Milkybar brand and will be available in single bars, multipacks and a stock-up bag with individually wrapped single pieces. It comes in two variants, white chocolate and a combined milk and white chocolate.

Each piece is made of smooth white or white and milk chocolate and has a creamy-tasting centre containing crispy oat cereal pieces.

Nestlé Facts •

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NESTLÉ has the world's largest food and nutrition research organisation, with around 5,000 people involved in research and development, as well as corporate venture funds and research partnerships with business partners and universities.

In 2016, Nestlé announced that its scientists had discovered a way to change the structure of sugar so that it dissolves more quickly on the tongue. This allows you to perceive an almost identical sweetness but with much less of the ingredient.

Earlier this year, Nestlé UK and Ireland issued its Contributing to a Healthier Future report and revealed more than 60 billion calories and 2.6 billion teaspoons of sugar have been removed from across its portfolio in just three years.

The report shows how recipe changes in confectionery, including those for Milkybar (making milk its number one ingredient) and KitKat (adding extra milk and cocoa), have helped to achieve these reductions.

Last year, Nestlé UK & Ireland pledged to reduce sugar across its confectionery portfolio by 10%. A reduction of 7.4% has already been achieved.

Milk & White Chocolate in One Bar While the new technology is the most obvious new development for the brand, this is also the • first time in Milkybar’s 81-year history that it has contained both milk and white chocolate in the same bar.

Milkybar was launched Milkybar Wowsomes also comes in multipacks in in the UK smooth white or white and milk chocolate, with a in 1936 and creamy-tasting centre containing crispy oat cereal is one of pieces.

Nestlé’s most Enormous Ambition iconic chocolate brands. In Jas Scott de Martinville, Global Lead 2007, the brand moved to no for Nestlé Confectionery Research & artificial ingredients. In 2017, Development (and Head of Nestlé’s milk became the number one Confectionery Product Technology ingredient in the recipe. Now, Centre in York, UK) said: “The ambition in 2018, with the launch of behind Milkybar Wowsomes was Milkybar Wowsomes, the brand enormous and it has been a real is offering a new alternative challenge for us to get to this stage. To with 30% less sugar. create a confectionery product in just 12 Milkybar Wowsomes is available months which has 30% less sugar than in three formats: Single bar – 3 similar chocolate products and contains piece 1 x 18g; Multipack – 2 no artificial sweeteners is extraordinary. piece 8 x 10g; Stock up bag We have also made sure that our largest – single pieces individually individually wrapped product contains 95 wrapped (mixed white chocolate calories per bar. and white & milk) 105g.

Milkybar Wowsomes also comes in a “It is very rewarding to launch Milkybar Wowsomes will 105g stock up bag, containing single a great tasting product, knowing all begin to appear for sale in all pieces individually wrapped, mixed white of the hard work that went into this major retailers across Ireland chocolate and white & milk. development,” de Martinville continued. and the UK from this month.

22|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update EUROPEAN COMMISSION ACTS TO BAN UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES IN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN IN April, Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan presented a draft directive on Unfair Trading Practices in the business-to-business food supply chain to the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

The draft Directive sets minimum standards which Member States must meet in the form of national regulations. It prohibits and restricts the use of a limited number of practices, including 30 days maximum payment terms for perishable products, in dealings between suppliers (including farmers) and large buyers (wholesalers, processors, retailers). It requires Member States to appoint a dedicated enforcement authority and establishes a network of these authorities to coordinate action across the EU. Only small and medium-sized producers, which are defined as having fewer than 250 employees or an annual turnover of less than â‚Ź50m ($62m), are covered by the Directive.

At the parliamentary hearing, Commissioner Hogan presented this Directive as part of a broader package of measures, with the Omnibus Regulation making it easier for farmers to join forces in the form of co-ops, and a forthcoming measure on price transparency.

This Directive is unlikely to have any material impact on trading practices in Ireland, given the already extensive regulation of such practices in the form of the Grocery Goods Regulations; nevertheless, it is a further move towards harmonisation of such rules across Europe.

Retail Ireland has discussed these proposals with our European trade body, EuroCommerce, who have gone on

Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. record to state that such legislation is not the answer to farmers’ problems, and warn of the negative consequences for consumers if the scope of the Directive was extended. The draft Directive is likely to receive significant support during its passage through the Parliament and Council ratification process, with pressure for further additions to the Directive likely. Farmers and processors groups have already pressed for the scope of the Directive to be extended.

Retail Ireland will continue to work with EuroCommerce and our other partners at European level, to maintain the positive relationships and trust needed for a better functioning supply chain.

Public Health (Alcohol) Bill - Practical and Pragmatic Approach to Product Labelling Needed THE Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is expected to move to the Select Committee on Health, shortly, for detailed examination and consideration. Retail Ireland continues to have some practical concerns regarding Section 12 of the proposed legislation, which relates to the labelling of alcohol products.

Retail Ireland and its members’ specific concerns remain centred on the importance of ensuring that the proposed labelling requirements are balanced, do not hinder free movement of trade in the EU and do not introduce significant complexity and costs into international supply chains.

Retail Ireland has recently written to members of the Oireachtas Health Committee, asking them to consider our proposed amendments to Section 12.

Retail Ireland seeks: 1. The removal of the cancer warning requirement. In our view, the addition of this warning will add significant costs to those suppliers wishing to put alcohol products on the Irish market, as it will require an Irish specific label.

Furthermore, such a requirement would act as a barrier to trade and infringes the single market principle.

2. The removal of the requirement to list the quantity in grams of alcohol on a label, as this is not meaningful information to consumers.

3. The removal of the requirement for a link to an Irish

4.

website, and instead the requirement for a link to a website containing appropriate information. The addition of a link to a website maintained by the Executive will disproportionately affect imported products and will create a barrier to trade and entry to the Irish market.

The removal of the proposal to allow the Minister to prescribe the size, colour and font type used on the warning label. This requirement has been proposed without extensive stakeholder engagement. The inclusion of this provision does not allow for the costs and complexities involved in relabelling products on arrival into the Irish market; the impact on small suppliers of having to invest in new labels, or the further EU labelling requirements due shortly.

Furthermore, we have also asked for clarity on products placed on the market before the expiration of the transition period to wash through the system, and where the liability for product relabelling lies.

While supportive of the principle of this Bill and its ultimate policy goals, Retail Ireland stressed to the Committee the importance of adopting a practical and pragmatic approach to product labelling and asked them to avoid introducing further costs to the retail sector, which has been burdened with a growing cost base in multiple areas in recent times.

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

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

Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie|23

Verizon Connect

A New Era of Connected Vehicle Solutions Verizon Connect combines three best-inclass fleet and mobile workforce management software companies to deliver solutions that help drive safety, productivity and efficiency for customers in the retail sector.

THE recent launch of Verizon Connect marks the completed integration of its existing connected vehicle division with two recently acquired fleet and mobile workforce management software companies under a single, combined brand.

Former brands within Verizon’s connected vehicle portfolio, including Verizon Telematics, Fleetmatics and Telogis, have all been rebranded as Verizon Connect.

Connected Vehicle Software Solutions and Services Verizon Connect is the culmination of more than US$5 billion in investments and offers customers a one-stop approach to connected vehicle software solutions and services that help drive safety, productivity and efficiency.

Verizon Connect provides the connectivity and data insights to enable its customers across the economy, including the retail sector, to be more informed about vehicle and worker location, efficiency, safety, productivity and compliance. Verizon Connect customers also benefit from the combined experience of 3,500 dedicated professionals and nearly 20 years of telematics, mobile workforce and fleet management expertise.

Huge Societal Impact “One of the things we’re most proud of at Verizon Connect is the potential our current and future technologies have for massive societal impact,” said Andrés Irlando, CEO of Verizon Connect.

“We’re working with customers to maintain cold chain integrity and keep perishable items safe during transport, routing customers’ vehicles more efficiently to reduce emissions, monitoring vehicle diagnostics to improve fuel efficiency, and providing a gamification app that helps customers recognise and reward their safest drivers, just to name a few.”

The Verizon Connect portfolio of solutions and services

includes comprehensive fleet and mobile workforce management software platforms, embedded OEM hardware, and Hum by Verizon, a connected vehicle device that helps create a safer, smarter and more connected driving experience for consumers.

A Connected World On The Go Verizon Connect is guiding a connected world on the go by automating, optimising and revolutionising the way people, vehicles and things move through the world. Their full suite of industry-defining solutions and services put innovation, automation and connected data to work for customers and help them to be safer, more efficient and more productive. With more than 3,500 dedicated employees in 15 countries, they deliver leading mobile technology platforms and solutions.

For more information about how Verizon Connect is guiding a connected world on the go by automating, optimising and revolutionising the way people, vehicles and things move through the world, visit www.verizonConnect.com.

24|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Forecourt Focus: News Maxol Investment in Store Network Continues Apace MAXOL continues to invest in its store network, with a number of high profile announcements in recent weeks, including the opening of a new Abrakebabra at Adamstown, Co. Dublin, and the group’s ninth Freshly Chopped at Mespil Road Service Station, Dublin 4.

Maxol recently invested €650,000 in its Adamstown service station in Lucan. The refurbishment of the station, which is located on the N4, sees the opening of fast food restaurant Abrakebabra.

The extensive upgrade to the site includes seating for 24 people, the introduction of Maxol’s new fresh ground coffee, Rosa Coffee, and a wider range of healthy food menu options from the new Maxol Deli, along with a wide range of competitively priced grocery essentials for customers to buy on their way home from work.

“We are delighted with the investment at Adamstown, which has added a wider choice and range of quality food options,” noted Mark Pictured are (l-r): Mark Walsh, Regional Manager, The Maxol Group, with Walsh, Regional Manager, The Maxol Group.

Tony O’Connor, Licensee at Maxol, Adamstown, Newcastle Road, Lucan.

“The in-store design and layout are now one customer experience across our growing network of 115 sites of the most up to date in our network and on the island of Ireland.” since opening, the feedback from customers The Adamstown announcement follows hot on the heels of has been extremely positive. This is also down to the friendly the successful roll-out of the award-winning franchise Freshly service offered by Tony O’Connor, licensee, and his dedicated Chopped to the ninth Maxol store at the newly refurbished team. Further investment of €2m is also planned at four other service station at Mespil Road. This follows an investment of Maxol Dublin based service stations, Ballycoolin, Harold’s Cross, €330,000 and the creation of six new jobs, bringing the total Mespil Road and Turvey, in the first half of this year. This is part number employed at the Maxol station to 16. of our strategy to deliver a best in class range of services and

Subway Unveils Fresh Forward at Laois Forecourt THE Subway brand recentlyy announced the refurbishment of its Midway Foodcourt store, making it the first store in Ireland to be redesigned with the new Fresh Forward branding. The revamp brings with it an additional three jobs, with the total number of jobs at the store now at 13 following the refurbishment, bringing further investment to the area by the Subway brand and Applegreen.

The Midway Foodcourt store, run by Applegreen, is the first Subway store in the Republic of Ireland to introduce the new design. The Subway brand’s Fresh Forward redesign will transform every aspect of the customer experience, inspired by a bright new colour palette and fresh vegetables, with whole tomatoes, green peppers, onions and cucumbers on display to create a distinctive sensory experience. The design has been brought to life with input from franchisees and Pictured are (l-r): Shannon Mitchell, sandwich artist at the Midway Foodcourt customers around the world.

Subway store; Adam Heyes, Managing Director of Subway Development Ireland; “We’ve created a modern design Padraig Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council; Mark Ryan, Branded that gives our customers choices, from Food Operations Manager of Applegreen; Inga Gudaviciene, Midway Foodcourt how they order and pick up their food to Manager; and Annette Dwyer, manager of the Midway Foodcourt Subway store. how they enjoy their meal,” noted Adam franchisees and our sandwich artists have been incredibly Heyes, Managing Director of Subway positive.”

Development Ireland. “The reactions from our customers, our

Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie|25

Forecourt Focus: News Topaz Officially Rebrands to Circle K TOPAZ will officially be rebranding as Circle K as part of a €55m investment over the next two years, €35m of which will be pumped into new, state-of-the-art service stations, with €20m going towards the rebrand of all Topaz service stations and fuel vehicles to Circle K, as well as in-store renovations across the network and all marketing activity.

The investment will see the development of four new Circle K Ireland sites, including two new sites in County Kildare, as well as sites in Gorey, Co. Wexford, and Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

The investment in these new sites and the completion of recent newly developed sites at City North beside the M1 in Dublin, and Junction 14 on the M8 in Fermoy will create a total of 240 new jobs (90 full time and 150 part time), which will bring the number of full-time employees to just under 2,400.

Over the next 18 to 24 months, over 420 service stations will be rebranded, with all Topaz canopies changing to Circle K. The Re.Store brand will be replaced: however, the existing and renowned food offering will remain. Circle K will look to further enhance its existing range with some exciting announcements in the coming year.

Niall Anderton, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland, described the announcement as “a momentous occasion for Circle K Ireland as we complete our two-year journey of integration and officially launch the Circle K brand in Ireland.

We do this determined in our vision to be the world’s leading forecourt and convenience retailer, building on our established position as market leader in Ireland.”

He described the arrival of Circle K in Ireland as “a gamechanger for forecourt and convenience retailing. As we join forces with an internationally established leader in

this space, we will have access to the greatest insights and developments, meaning we can continuously deliver a superior quality level of service and product to our customers in Ireland.”

Jacob Schram, Group President of European Operations at Circle K, noted how “Ireland is at the cutting edge of forecourt and convenience retailing and we have big plans to build on the established position of the business in Ireland and bring our own global insights to the fore for the benefit of Irish consumers.”

In 2016, Topaz was purchased by Canadian convenience store group Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT), one of the world’s leading convenience retailers. Circle K is the global fuel and convenience brand of ACT.

Rugby Legend Talks Strategy at Maxol Conference FORMER Ireland, Munster and Lions rugby captain, Paul O’Connell, delivered a keynote address at the Maxol retailer conference at the K Club in Co. Kildare recently, focusing on leadership, teamwork, creating a winning team, and motivation.

Broadcaster Sarah McInerney performed MC duties at the day-long conference, attended by retailers from more than 200 Maxol stations, which centred on the theme of ‘Winning Tomorrow’s Customer Together’.

Later on, before the gala dinner, a drinks reception got the evening’s events underway, with entertainment provided by well-known Irish comedian Barry Murphy and the Camembert Quartet.

“I’m very pleased to welome Paul to be part of our retailer conference and the celebration of our expansion in recent years, and the successful development of our retail offer,” said Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group. “What really strikes a chord is the message from Paul on the importance of building a team culture, and types of behaviour that kick in to make the difference between winning or losing. Retail is all about detail, and winning customers is all down to giving great service and memorable experiences every day.”

Pictured are (l-r): Maxol CEO, Brian Donaldson, with Paul O’Connell, former Ireland, Munster and Lions rugby legend, and broadcaster Sarah McInerney, at the Maxol Retailer Conference 2018.

26|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Best Foot Forward Winemaker Jen Wall has overseen the Barefoot brand as it grew to become one of the most awarded wines in the world. She discusses the evolution of Californian wine, the importance of innovation and NPD, and what Barefoot wines Irish retailers should stock this summer.

ONE of the world’s most awarded winemakers, Barefoot’s Jen Wall has given her life to wine. The native Californian is a Biology graduate and almost became a doctor before having her head turned by California’s burgeoning wine business. She joined Barefoot as head winemaker in 1995, remained in charge when the Barefoot brand was taken over by E&J Gallo in 2005, and over the course of the last 23 years, she has helped shape Barefoot into the most awarded still and sparkling wine brand in US competitions and a regular winner at events worldwide, amassing over 5,000 award wins.

Barefoot has grown to become the largest bottled wine brand in the world.

In 2017, they sold over 20m cases of Barefoot worldwide. Well known for its charitable work worldwide, here in Ireland Barefoot sponsors many charitable events like Beach Rescue with An Taisce and Liquid Therapy’s Colour Run, as well as being a sponsor of the Sea Sessions surf/music festival in Bundoran, Co. Donegal. Barefoot also continues to work with the LGBT community, supporting the brand’s 20-plus year association, being out and proud while supporting diversity.

Ireland’s number one varietaldriven US wine brand, Barefoot has just expanded distribution through Comans Beverages, so exciting times lie ahead for this hugely popular wine brand. So what better time to talk to Jen Wall about the continued evolution and growth of Barefoot.

Is it true you nearly became a doctor, but a summer harvesting grapes changed all your plans?

It was always my plan to pursue medicine. While I was in college, my parents moved to wine country. After graduating, I moved home and got what I thought would be a temporary job at a winery. It didn’t take long before I completely fell in love with the work and the art of winemaking!

Winemaker Jen Wall has overseen Barefoot’s growth to become one of the biggest wine brands in the world.

You have given your life to wine, and Californian wine in particular. How do you think the perception of Californian wine has changed over your time

working in the industry?

I began working in the wine industry in 1991 and have been the Barefoot Winemaker since 1995. Over the past

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Retail News Interview grapes, grown in some of the best regions in California. We also have top of the line equipment and the ability to make quality decisions from vine to wine. We now produce 17 still wines, 11 sparkling wines and five spritzer wines, which we sell in over 50 countries. My role is continually expanding to ensure the Barefoot style and quality remains consistent as we produce and sell wine all over the world.

During your tenure as Chief Winemaker for Barefoot, you expanded the portfolio from just four varietals to 30 different wine types, including Barefoot Bubbly. How important is it to introduce new tastes to an industry that has tended to be quite traditional and slow to change?

I like to say that we have something for every wine lover: from dry to sweet, red to white, sparkling to still – we have a Barefoot wine for you. Over the years we have attended thousands of events, where we take the opportunity to talk to wine enthusiasts. We listen to what they like and do our best to deliver that product.

Pictured at ‘The Business of Gourmet’ at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Dublin on April 25 are (l-r): Tomás Clancy, Sunday Business Post; Mary Teehan, Truffle Fairy; Breda Maher, Cooleeney Cheese; Jen Wall, winemaker, Barefoot Wines; and Kirk Wolcott, Acting Charge d’Affaires, US Embassy.

27 years, the industry has changed dramatically. Consumers finally understand that you can get exceptional quality wines from California at an affordable price and enjoy with their family and friends on a regular basis.

Furthermore, what we like to call the ‘democratisation’ of wine has allowed more consumers to enter the wine category by embracing fun, flavourful and approachable varietals such as California Moscato, Riesling and Pinot Grigio.

Did a film like Sideways help or hamper the industry’s development?

In California, we saw a surge in Pinot Noir popularity following the release of Sideways. Often these types of movies increase awareness and insight related to wine types and regions. Barefoot Pinot Noir, for example, is one of our most popular red wines and continues to grow more than 10 years after the movie debut.

Are Californian wines given the respect they deserve on the world stage?

I think so! Wine enthusiasts from around the globe recognise the exceptional

quality of California wines, which are grown all over the state. Consumers are looking for quality and style, at a certain price point. Over the years, we have seen shoppers selecting California wines and building brand loyalty – it is a great indicator that we are meeting their needs and keeping them engaged.

Many US wines, and Californian wines, in particular, have a laid-back, easy drinking image. Is this important to Gallo and Barefoot in particular?

Our motto at Barefoot is to, “Get Barefoot and Have a Great Time!” We have a fun, colourful look and feel and a memorable icon, which reminds folks that you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to open a bottle of Barefoot still or sparkling wines.

How did the Gallo buyout of Barefoot change your role within the company?

Barefoot joined the E&J Gallo Winery in 2005. At that time, I had been the Barefoot Winemaker for over 10 years and we sold just under 600,000 cases annually, producing seven still wines and two sparkling wines. Now, over 23 years later, I have access to the best

Is there enough new product development in the wine industry in general?

Innovation seems to be the new buzz word in virtually every industry. At Barefoot, we continually innovate not only with wine styles but with bottle sizes, materials and other packaging formats as well. We now have 1.5L versions for each of our still wines and 187ml shatterproof four-packs available in many markets. We recently released Barefoot Wine Spritzers in 250ml cans, which allow wine lovers to enjoy their favourite beverages outdoors or where glass isn’t typically welcome.

Is there still a fear when it comes to wine knowledge amongst consumers or are they happy to trade up with a brand they know and trust?

Consumers often feel more comfortable trading-up in price with a familiar brand. At Barefoot, we firmly believe in producing consistent quality blends that our consumers come to know and trust. When you develop wines that drive loyalty and inspire repeat purchases, that person is also likely to become an advocate for the brand with their family and friends.

What wine styles do you think will be hot with consumers in summer 2018?

All things pink and Rosé will be big in 2018. Barefoot has an entire pink portfolio ranging from dry, like our Brut

28|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Interview

Barefoot has grown to become the largest bottled wine brand in the world, selling 20m cases worldwide in 2017.

Rosé Bubbly, to sweet like our Pink Moscato and many options in between!

What’s the best way for consumers, particularly Irish consumers, to enjoy your wines this summer?

I recommend venturing out and trying new varietals this summer. If you are typically a Pinot Grigio drinker, try the Pinot Noir. If you like the Barefoot Pink Moscato still wine, try the Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato sparkling wine.

Also, don’t be afraid to make wine and sparkling cocktails! We have amazing, simple recipes online at Barefootwine.com where you can discover your new favourite blend.

With more than 5,000 wine awards already under your belt, how does it feel to be probably the most decorated

woman in the international wine industry?

Barefoot continues to be the mostawarded wine brand in US competitions year after year. These accolades are important to our team and validate the quality of our wines. We put an award medallion on the front of our bottles to let potential new Barefoot fans know that they can trust our wines, Finally, having won so many accolades already, how do you remain motivated?

I am still excited to get up and go to work every day. I am motivated by many things, but mostly by the feedback we receive from our ‘foot friends,’ either through social media, phone calls or as we meet them in stores and at events. Their passion for the brand motivates me to continue my quest to be the ambassador

Jen Wall: “Barefoot continues to be the most-awarded wine brand in US competitions year after year.” of style and quality for the most iconic wine brand in the world.

Address: Belgard Road, Dublin 24

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Phone Number: (+353 1) 4662700

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Email: info@comans.ie

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As communicated previously, from 30 September Standardised packs will begin to appear in the 2017, manufacturers can no longer produce market. Between this time and 30 September branded packs of cigarettes, cigars and roll your 2018, retailers are permitted to sell both current own tobacco and the 1 year “Sell through� began. packs and standardised packs.

From 30 September 2018 retailers are only allowed to sell standardised packs.

John Player will lead you through the transition to standardised packaging with a variety of support tools, information and expert guidance.

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MERCHANDISING SUPPORT The new legislation will significantly impact the way your tobacco unit looks inside. As these regulations are already in place, your tobacco unit will start to change from branded packs to this.

Your John Player representative will put in place our navigation solutions. We recognise that retailers have different tobacco units, so we’ve created a navigation solution that’s versatile.

These navigation solutions consist of branded John Player stickers and competitor stickers for your tobacco units and branded John Player FCT pouch holders.

Visit www.johnplayer-ignite.ie to see a video which explains this in detail.

PACK AND OUTER INFORMATION To help you through the transition John Player will be supplying standardised packs in fully branded outers for the majority of our products and branded labels on the remainder. This is to help you differentiate between brands in your stock room.

Standardised Packs

Branded Outers

Barcodes on outers and packs will remain the same. Brand names will not change.

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

32|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Wines

First of the Summer Wine

Jean Smullen looks at the lighter wine styles to stock this summer, with a particular focus on wines with lower alcohol levels.

WHAT we see on the shelves in the warmer summer months changes at this time of the year. Consumers tend to purchase more fresh, light white and rosé wines. This year, the trend is very much for wines with lower alcohol levels.

Customers tend to check alcohol levels in wine much more carefully these days.

The wine trade has responded and we are seeing a lot more low alcohol and no alcohol wines coming onto the market.

Sparkling wines are very much in demand too, especially in May and June, with family celebrations such as Holy

Communion parties creating a market for competitively priced sparkling wines such as Prosecco and Cava. If the weather gods permit, the barbecue season is also by now in full swing and lighter, fresher red and white wine styles with lower alcohol levels are in demand for outdoor events.

It’s always useful to know a little more about these wines, so we’ll take a look at lower alcohol wines.

There are many lower alcohol wines being made these days that taste as good as wines with higher abv’s. The

alcohol level in a wine is based on its alcoholic strength. The degree of alcohol is equivalent to its percentage by volume or 'abv' (alcohol by volume). Wine alcohol levels are related to the amount of sugar accumulated in the grapes at harvest time. The higher the sugar levels, the higher the potential alcohol.

The level of alcohol can be managed during the winemaking process, however. The fermentation can be stopped (or will stop naturally) before all the sugars have been converted into alcohol, resulting in a lower alcohol

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Summer Stocking: Wines by volume. Wines can also have their alcohol levels reduced using technology to remove the alcohol.

In times past, the standard way to make low alcohol wines was to produce the wine and then take the alcohol out. The wine goes through a type of distillation or is forced through a filter to remove the alcohol. Nowadays, this is often achieved in the vineyard, from picking the grapes earlier when they are less ripe and therefore have lower sugar levels, to canopy management leaf pruning can also inhibit sugar levels in the grape. Less sugar in the grape means that the yeast has less sugar to consume, resulting in lower alcohol levels that are created more naturally.

The technique for making lower alcohol wines has also improved, so much so that many of the wines don’t show that synthetic sweetness any more and are much fresher and more drinkable now.

For red wines, a good place to start are the regions with cooler climates.

Low alcohol reds are a challenge for many winemakers: they tend to have a more subtle, complex taste and higher acidity than wines made from riper grapes. Most consumers prefer the distinctive fruity tastes that arise in very ripe red grapes.

White wines that are naturally lower in alcohol include dry Riesling from Germany or Austria, Vinho Verde from Portugal, Muscadet from the Nantes region in the Loire Valley, or Semillon from Australia’s Hunter Valley.

Many European wine regions produce red wines that average 12.5% abv. Beaujolais is a red wine region to look out for fruity and easy-drinking red wines, with many Beaujolais wines around 12% abv. Beaujolais produces appealing red wines that are made from the Gamay grape and the best Beaujolais come from the 10 Cru regions. Another red French wine style with lower alcohol is Chinon and Bourgueil. These are both appellations in the Loire Valley, making light to medium-bodied red wines. These single-variety wines are made from Cabernet Franc, a grape that is used for blending in Bordeaux.

Sparkling wines can also be lower in alcohol: Champagne usually leads the pack in this respect. However, don’t forget wines like Crémant from Alsace or the Loire, or Italian Franciacorta and Prosecco. Many of these wines can be lower in abv. The drier styles tend to have lower alcohol so look for terms like Brut, Extra Brut, and particularly Brut Nature, as these tend to have lower alcohol and sugar levels.

Let’s take a look now at some of summer wine offers :

Ampersand Ampersand has a lovely extra dry Spumante rosé from Cecilia Beretta.

The Cecilia B Spumante Rosé extra dry was a NOffLA Gold Medal Winner in 2017. Look out too for their Adega e Vinedos Paco & Lola Lolo Albarino.

This is another cool climate star from the DO Rias Biaxas in north-west Spain.

Made from the Albarino grape, now growing in popularity, this is a wellmade, competitively priced wine from a very reputable producer. They also have two super Rosé styles that are ideal for summer; the Gran Fuedo Rosé from the DO Navarra as well as the Ackerman “Les Roséraies” Rosé d’Anjou from the Loire Valley.

Ampersand also has a great new range of alcohol free wines from Germany, the Light Live. The range includes a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, both of which have a minute trace of residual alcohol. There are two sparkling wines in the range, the Light Live Sparkling and the Light Live Rosé Sparkling.

Comans Beverages Comans Beverages has the very popular Dr Loosen Riesling. Dr. L. embodies the elegant and racy style of Riesling from the steep, slate-soil vineyards of the Mosel Valley. It is low in alcohol, with a refreshingly crisp taste. Look out too for their Joseph Perrier Champagne Brut NV and their lovely Protos Verdejo from the cool climate DO Rueda region in Spain.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has the Brancott Estate Flight range. Using grapes harvested earlier in the season and winemaking expertise gained as the pioneers of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, they have created Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc, which is naturally 20% lighter in calories and 27% lower in alcohol. Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc is characterised by ripe lemon flavours and a refreshing, crisp acidity. Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc will be on promotion for €11 in May 2018 and in association

From Ampersand comes a great new range of alcohol free wines from Germany: the Light Live range.

34|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Wines with this price promotion, they will be running a consumer competition via SuperValu with a prize of five double passes to the Cliffs of Moher Yoga Retreat.

with the grape variety Glera, which is the same grape variety used for Prosecco.

It is also made in the same way: the difference is it’s produced in Australia, not Italy. “Like Prosecco? Love McGuigan Frizzante!” McGuigan Frizzante is available in 750cl and 20cl, distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

Barry & Fitzwilliam will have the McGuigan Black Label range on offer this summer down from €11.99 to €9, while the Villa Maria Private Bin Range is reduced from €15 to €11.50-12.50 until the end of June.

Barry & Fitzwilliam Sir George Fistonich founded Villa Maria Estate in Auckland in 1961. With vision and determination, he has steered the company to a position where it has become New Zealand’s leading wine award winner. At the age of 22, Sir George harvested his first grapes in 1962 and made his first wine under the name Villa Maria. Today, Villa Maria employs more than 250 permanent staff and exports wine to over 50 countries worldwide.

A family owned New Zealand winery, Villa Maria has been New Zealand's leading wine award winner, both nationally and internationally, since the early 1980s. The repositioning of the Private Bin Range has seen sales surge.

Villa Maria is now the number one New

Richmond Marketing Richmond Marketing is highlighting its new Cava range from Faustino: Faustino Cava Semi Seco and the Faustino Cava Brut. Both are aged for 26 months and are made from Macabeo and Chardonnay grapes. Faustino has also just launched its very own Irish website, which includes information relevant to Irish consumers: http://www.bodegasfaustino.com/ ireland/

McGuigan Frizzante is a light style of sparkling wine, made with the grape variety Glera, which is the same grape variety used for Prosecco.

Villa Maria has been New Zealand's leading wine award winner, both nationally and internationally, since the early 1980s.

Zealand wine brand on the market and is now in the fourth most admired wine brand in the world, according to Drinks International 2018. Villa Maria has recently introduced the Reserve range to the Irish market, distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

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. Neil McGuigan, Chief Winemaker, has won the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) award as “the Best Winemaker in the World” for the fourth time, the only winery in the world to achieve this feat. The Black Label range is comprised of a Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Malbec.

McGuigan continues to show its innovation, having recently introduced McGuigan Frizzante to the market. This 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. McGuigan Frizzante is made

Gilbeys Wines Gilbeys Wines will be running a promotion with Bend in the River, teaming up with Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter to give consumers the chance to win one of 100 fabulous hampers. Consumers are being encouraged to follow The Bend in the River on Facebook to reveal who their beauty guru is to be in with a chance to win prizes. Neck collars to promote this competition are on the full range of Bend in the River wines since the end of April, available in most off licenses and supermarkets nationwide.

Gilbeys Wines also have B by Black Tower, who will be will be announcing the winner of their B Our Champion campaign. They continue to work with slimming groups, offering samples to consumers to accentuate the low calorie, low alcohol offering from this range.

Cassidy Wines Cassidy Wines have added a great new range of Portuguese wines to their portfolio, Quinta Da Boa Esperance, from the Lisboa wine region, which is one of Portugal’s largest wine producing regions. Three wines from this producer will be sold by Cassidy's: all three are white, with two made from the native Portuguese grapes, Arinto and Fernão Pires, and the third made from Sauvignon Blanc. All will be available through the independent off trade.

Quinta da Boa Esperança was voted winery of the year at the New York Wine show in 2017.

DIAGEO’S RESERVE WORLD CLASS PORTFOLIO HAS BEEN CROWNED BEST-PERFORMING COLLECTION OF SPIRITS BY THE ‘WORLD’S BEST BARS’ For the third year in a row, Diageo’s Reserve portfolio of luxury spirits has been named as the best-performing collection of spirit brands in Drinks International’s Brands Report 2018. Judged by the world’s leading bar and spirits experts, the Brands Report 2018 ranks the best-selling spirits products and provides an insight into the brands trending around the world with the ‘Trending List’.

continuing to be so successful and globally recognised by such a prestigious report. This report is compiled by the best in the business, who are on the front line of the industry, and while in reality we are only getting started in Ireland, we are excited to drive awareness of these exceptional brands forward, in collaboration with our partners in the industry.”

Donal Comerford, Head of Diageo Reserve in Ireland commented, “It is encouraging to see our portfolio

Below, we have focused on two key Diageo Reserve brands in Ireland: Ketel One Vodka and Bulleit Bourbon.

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey HERITAGE Bulleit Bourbon is a brand built on a rich family heritage and values.

This brand’s story began in the 1800’s with Augustus Bulleit, who explored the American frontier in the 1860’s with an ambition to craft a bourbon unique in flavour.

In 1987 Augustus’ great grandson, Tom Bulleit Jnr, who inherited his great-grandfather’s pioneering spirit, resurrected the recipe and brought Bulleit to whiskey lovers worldwide. The Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky is now a must-see within Kentucky’s Bourbon Belt tours.

QUALITY Bulleit Bourbon is made using an extraordinarily high percentage of rye, Kentucky’s lime-stone filtered water, the highest quality grains and a proprietary yeast strain to create a more flavourful bourbon.

The bourbon is aged in new American white oak barrels, which are flame charred, giving the liquid its rich colour and depth of flavour.

Its distinctively spicy, dry and clean taste differentiate Bulleit from other bourbons, making it an exceptional choice for cocktails.

Ketel One Vodka

HERO SERVE: BULLEIT LEMON & TONIC (BLT)

HERITAGE A distillery and family story stretching back over 325 years and 11 generations; every bottle of Ketel One is still produced by the Nolet Family distillery in Schiedam, Holland. For the Nolets, a family in its 11th generation of distillers, this isn’t just business. This is personal.

And only when it is personally tasted and approved by the family is it bottled and sent on its way.

QUALITY By combining old-world pot still craft and the most modern distilling techniques, Ketel One is crafted to perfection, resulting in a product of exceptional quality, both crisp to taste and soft on finish. The original coal-fired pot still, Pot Still Number 1, otherwise known as Distilleerketel # 1, is the inspiration for the name of this Dutch vodka.

HERO SERVE: KETEL & SODA Ingredients 35.5ml Ketel One Vodka 200ml premium soda water Lime, Mint leaves Alcohol content: 13.2g per serve

Method Pour Ketel One Vodka into a tall glass and fill with ice. Top with premium soda water and garnish with a wedge of lime and mint leaves.

Ingredients 35.5ml Bulleit Bourbon 200ml Premium Tonic Water Lemon Wheel & Ice Alcohol content: 12.6g per serve

Method Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in 35.5ml Bulleit Bourbon. Add 200ml of premium tonic water and stir. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

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Summer Stocking: Spirits

The Spirit of Summer

The spirits sector is flying again, with a huge upsurge in demand for premium spirits and for new and exciting cocktails.

COCKTAIL culture is really blossoming in Ireland, and consumers are increasingly eager to recreate their favourite tastes at home. The continued growth of domestically produced premium spirits continues unabated, too, with the Irish whiskey revolution being closely followed by a plethora of premium Irish gins and vodkas.

Figures from Euromonitor International reveal that total volume sales of spirits rose by 2% in 2016 to exceed 19m litres, which they attribute to the growing demand for premium spirits. Global sales of Ireland’s GI spirits – Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream Liqueur and Poitín - totalled nearly 16m cases or 200m bottles in 2016.

Euromonitor predict that sales volume will reach 21m litres by 2021.

“There are huge opportunities ahead, especially for Ireland’s GI spirits,” noted Aoife Clarke, chair of the Irish Spirits Association, recently.

“Irish whiskey is going from strength to strength and is now the fastest growing spirits category in the world. Irish Cream Liqueur is emerging from a lost decade, with sales on the rise again.”

Jägermeister Jägermeister ("Master Hunter") was created in Wolfenbuttel, Germany, by Curt Mast back in 1878 and the recipe hasn’t changed since. It is made with the highest-grade herbs, blossoms, roots

and fruits from around the globe: 56 herbs & spices crafted into four distinct macerates, and combined together. It then resides in oak barrels to refine and harmonise the herbal liqueur. It is a ritual process that results in the complex and balanced flavour, brought to life by the skills and craftsmanship of Jägermeister’s very own production ‘Meister’.

Jägermeister are working towards ensuring the perfect serve globally, which sits at a cool -18°C. The herbal liqueur can be enjoyed as an ice cold shot or as an ingredient to create cocktails, martinis, sours, tonics, etc.

This really shows the flexibility and sense of creativeness for Jägermeister,

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Summer Stocking: Spirits which is distributed

by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

For the first time in its history, MastJägermeister SE, the well-known family-owned company and maker of the most successful herbal liqueur on the market, will be unveiling a premium line extension: Jägermeister Manifest.

Manifest is a full-bodied, robust blend of flavours.

Slightly sweet notes of anise and dried fruit give way to subtle spice and aromatic bitters, finishing in a marriage of vanilla and barrel oak.

The new clear glass bottle features a hand-applied Jägermeister emblem that underscores the tawny copper colour of the superpremium liqueur.

Jägermeister Manifest is served as a chilled shot in a custom tumbler.

Jägermeister was created in Wolfenbuttel, Germany, in 1878 and the recipe hasn’t changed since.

Jägermeister Manifest, the first ever premium line extension to the popular brand.

Tia Maria Tia Maria dates back to the mid-17th century, when a beautiful young Spanish aristocrat fled the turmoil colonial war brought to the island of Jamaica. Her

maid saved one family treasure, a small jewellery box with black pearl earrings and an ancient manuscript with the recipe for a mysterious liqueur.

The recipe was named after the courageous woman. Tia Maria was born. The recipe lay dormant for many years before being Tia Maria: a rediscovered favourite of in the 1940s coffee cocktail

by Dr Kenneth lovers the world Leigh Evans, over. who began to produce and market it.

Since then, Tia Maria has been a favourite for coffee cocktail lovers the world over and it was even used in the very first Espresso Martini recipe over 40 years ago. The Espresso Martini is just one of many cocktails that can be made using Tia Maria.

There is the Tia Mint Americano, the Tia Iced Popcorn Frappe, the Tia Cappuccino, the Tia Flat White Russian and more. Tia Maria will prove a popular drink in the summer months, with its versatility and wide cocktail range, especially its iced cocktails. Distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

Disaronno Disaronno, distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam, is an amaretto made in Saronno, Italy. The original "secret formula" is unchanged since 1525.

Disaronno is amber in colour with an infusion of apricot kernel oil with absolute alcohol, burnt sugar, and the pure essence of 17 selected herbs and fruits. The liqueur is sold in an oblong glass decanter designed by a craftsman from Murano and does not contain any almonds or other nuts.

Disaronno is popularly served on the rocks, making it a cool and refreshing drink for the summer months.

Disaronno enjoys true style status as the world's favourite Italian liqueur. And, with over 100 perfect

RÉMY MARTIN VSOP RÉMY Martin VSOP is composed of eaux-de-vie coming exclusively from the highest-quality vineyards of Cognac, the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Such eaux-de-vie offer exceptional ageing potential and are known as Cognac Fine Champagne.

In 1927, Rémy Martin’s Cellar Master André Renaud created the very first VSOP Fine Champagne, a truly visionary and audacious decision. This prestigious appellation would be officially recognised 11 years later as an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée - a specific growing area protected by French law).

Accounting for one in three bottles of VSOP consumed worldwide, Rémy Martin is the benchmark for the VSOP category and is blended from spirits aged from 4 to 12 years. This latest version finishes the cognac in old barrels for a year before bottling. Rémy Martin VSOP embodies the perfect harmony of powerful and elegant aromas.

It is the symbol of the Cellar Master’s art of blending.

Rémy Martin VSOP is extremely versatile, so consumers may enjoy it neat, on the rocks,or in cocktails.

Barry & Fitzwilliam recommend drinking Rémy Martin VSOP with ginger ale or as Remy Grand Tonic, made by mixing Remy Martin VSOP over ice, topped with tonic and finished with a wedge of fresh lemon.

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Summer Stocking: Spirits mixes to suit any mood, the brand and fan base continues to grow on a journey of multi-sensory discovery. Disaronno Sour is one of the favourites at the moment: this is a unique refreshing drink, in which the distinctive notes of Disaronno blend with the scent of freshly squeezed lemons. It is easy to make too.

All that is required is 50ml Disaronno, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml Disaronno enjoys true sugar style status as the world's syrup and favourite Italian liqueur. egg white.

Shake all ingredients with ice and serve with a garnish of lemon for a beautiful cocktail that is made for the summer.

Bacardí Bacardí, the world’s most awarded rum, recently introduced Bacardí Añejo Cuatro, their first new liquid in 10 years, at an exclusive launch event in Dublin attended by special guest Adolfo ComasBacardí, a sixth generation family member.

As the luxury spirit trend continues to grow, more and more spirits

New Bacardí Añejo Cuatro: the perfect addition to a 1920s-inspired drinks tray.

NEW DISTILLER AT MIDLETON IRISH Distillers has announced the appointment of Henry Donnelly as the new Distiller of the Micro Distillery at the Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork. As part of his new role, Henry will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Micro Distillery in Midleton and will work closely with Master Distiller, Brian Nation, on the production of innovative and experimental new whiskeys to add to the existing Irish Distillers portfolio.

enthusiasts are seeking out more premium, exceptional experiences.

While rum was often only thought of as a spirit to be mixed in tropical drinks, Bacardí Cuatro will shed that image and introduce consumers to a more sophisticated, complex side of rum.

Cuatro, which means ‘four’ in Spanish, pays homage to the brand's iconic Cuban roots and nods to the fact that this liquid has been barrel-aged for a minimum of four years under the Caribbean sun.

With its mild notes of vanilla, toasted oak and honey, and golden apricot hue, Bacardí Cuatro is the perfect addition to a 1920s inspired drinks tray or a celebratory occasion shared with friends on a warm summer’s evening, that’s best enjoyed with ginger ale. For more information, see www.facebook. com/BacardiIreland.

Jameson Irish Whiskey Jameson Irish whiskey, which is produced by Irish Distillers in Midleton Distillery, has announced the launch of Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength; the first cask strength Jameson to be available globally, which finishes its maturation in Dublin’s only live Maturation House in the Jameson Distillery, Bow Street. A reinterpretation of the revered Jameson 18 Years, the new expression celebrates Jameson’s Dublin heritage by returning part of the production process to the brand’s original home in Smithfield for the first time since 1975.

Distilled and matured at the Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork, Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength is the new head of the Jameson family.

After spending 18 years in a collection of bourbon and sherry casks, the blend of pot still and grain Irish whiskeys has been married together and re-casked in first-fill ex-bourbon American oak barrels for a final six to 12 months in the Maturation House at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street. ‘Marrying’ is a

traditional method of re-casking batches of vatted whiskey and re-warehousing it to ensure infusion before bottling. The first batch is presented at 55.3% ABV without the use of chill filtration and will be available in 20 markets from July 2018 at the RRP of €240.

Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength is presented in a premium bottle design that truly reflects the quality and rarity of the liquid within.

The bottle features 18 facets, one for each year of maturation, and the wooden presentation box celebrates the traditional pot stills used during the production process. In addition, a unique copper coin located underneath Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength bottles provides Jameson fans with access to an exclusive online portal where they can delve deeper into the story of the whiskey which bears the Bow Street name.

Jameson 18 Years, presented at 40% ABV and first released 15 years ago, has become one of the world’s most respected and awarded Irish whiskeys and will remain in the Jameson family, maintaining a vital link to Jameson’s history and providing further choice to prestige whiskey enthusiasts.

Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength,the first cask strength Jameson to be available globally.

CocoFuzion 100

MADE from tender young coconuts, CocoFuzion 100 contains 100% natural coconut water, natural flavours and the just the right amount of natural sugars and electrolytes to help you stay hydrated, or to rehydrate when you exercise, without the addition of unnecessary sweeteners or preservatives.

CocoFuzion100 is a naturally great tasting drink and the first naturally flavoured sparkling coconut water on the market, endorsed by some of the biggest sports names around, including international rugby legends Jamie Heaslip, Bryan Habana and Chris Robshaw, tennis star Milos Raonic and British boxing champion Chris Eubank Jr. The delicious sparkling coconut water is naturally isotonic, ideal for sports and fitness as it is absorbed by the body more efficiently than water and creates the same osmotic pressure as your body for rehydration. CocoFuzion 100 helps to replace fluids lost during sweat, restores electrolytes depleted during exercise and reduces cramping and gastric distress, when compared to other more conventional sports drinks.

The natural drink’s unique composition makes it exempt from the sugar tax, and it has received strong uptake, with steady growth in the Irish market since its launch last year.

Leading retailers SuperValu, Centra, Spar, Tesco and others have welcomed the innovative products into their stores across the country. The naturally low-calorie sparkling coconut water cans and still coconut water bottles are available in four tasty flavours, Natural, Raspberry, Mango and Lime, and can be found in the convenience chill food section.

The two variants are available now in 250ml cans and 330ml bottles respectively in retailers across Ireland.

CocoFuzion100 is a naturally great tasting drink that’s naturally isotonic, making it ideal for sports and fitness.

Celtic Pure

Celtic Pure Irish Spring Water, one of Ireland’s leading water brands.

Earlier this year, Ireland’s largest independent water brand, Celtic Pure Irish Spring Water revealed the results of a survey looking at the purest moment making Irish families happy. The survey was carried out across 679 Irish families with children up to 18 years of age to give a new insight into Irish family life today. The brand, owned and managed by the McEneaney Family, revealed that more than half of Irish families consider themselves happy and only 4% feel unhappy. The survey showed that the purest moments we enjoy as a nation included eating meals together, spending time as a family and getting outdoors.

77% of those surveyed said the birth of their children was their purest life moment, followed by the first time their child said “I love you”, and bedtime came out on top as out favourite daily moment. Family is the centre-piece of the Celtic Pure Irish Spring Water business and the survey was conducted to encourage families to realise and experience the everyday ‘Pure Moments’. The research allowed the company to get a better understanding of their customers and Irish families. The McEneaney family values have been built on community and creating moments that matter; on recognising what is important in life, the beauty of nature, the support of family, the passion that makes life worth living. These are the values on which the Celtic Pure Brand and Pure Moments has been born.

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Summer Stocking: Appleman’s

Heineken Ireland Launches New Cider –

Appleman’s

Appleman’s is a brand new cider, developed by Heineken Ireland specifically for the Irish market. The high profile launch will be supported with a comprehensive through-the-line campaign, including fully recyclable outdoor advertising!

A BRAND new cider, Appleman’s, has arrived. Developed by Heineken Ireland, the company behind Orchard Thieves, the introduction of Appleman’s delivers more choice to Irish consumers in an otherwise limited cider landscape.

“Irish people expect, and deserve, choice. They have it in wine and in beer, why not in cider?” explains EmmaJane McKeown, Senior Brand Manager of Appleman’s. “Cider drinkers were starved of choice for years but now, with the launch of Appleman’s and the growing popularity of Orchard Thieves, we are able to say that Irish people have choice in cider.

“Through our new products and innovations, Heineken Ireland is committed to offering consumers choice,” she continues. “We now offer choice in low and no alcohol through our flagship Heineken brand with Heineken Light and Heineken 0.0%.

With Appleman’s Cider, Heineken Ireland will now offer an even greater choice of brands that appeal to a range of consumers and to all taste profiles. It is our belief that through increasing choice, we will also increase consumption occasions and ultimately grow the category.”

The cider market now offers consumers more choice, according to Emma-Jane, who believes that “for many years, cider consumers were very limited in terms of brands, taste profiles and flavours available. Now, it’s a much more exciting market, with growing choice, which we’re proud to be part of.”

A True Apple Taste for Irish Palates Twice pressed, by fourth generation cider masters, this exciting new cider offers a true apple taste – not too sweet and not too dry. Specifically developed for Irish people’s taste preferences, and only available in Ireland, Appleman’s is crafted using a handful of the best apples to produce a perfectly balanced, effortlessly refreshing cider.

“When we launched Orchard Thieves in 2015, we drew upon Heineken’s tradition and expertise in cider making to produce a great tasting cider specifically for Ireland. With Appleman’s Cider, we have again produced a premium cider specifically for Irish tastes,” Emma-Jane reveals. “Based in the Aubel Valley in Stassen, Eastern Belgium, Appleman’s cider master has a passion for cider-making that spans

“

With Appleman’s Cider, Heineken Ireland will now offer an even greater choice of brands that appeal to a range of consumers and to all taste profiles. It is our belief that through increasing choice, we will also increase consumption occasions and ultimately grow the category.

”

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Summer Stocking: Appleman’s

Emma-Jane McKeown, Senior Brand Manager, Appleman’s Cider. four generations. The Stassen Cidrerie was founded in 1895 and was purchased

by Heineken in 2012. It was here that the Appleman’s Cider recipe was created specifically to suit the Irish palate.”

The Joy in Simple “Appleman’s celebrates ‘The Joy in Simple’ and the brand is rooted in those simple, social occasions that offer the perfect balance of good friends, great conversation and greattasting cider,” Emma-Jane explains.

“Appleman’s believes that, as is true of nature, and in cider making, things Twice pressed, by are better fourth generation when they cider masters, are perfectly Appleman’s Cider balanced.”

The brand’s offers a true apple taste – not too commitment sweet and not too to simplicity is dry. central to all of its marketing and communications. “We’ve worked closely with all of our agency partners,

MCCP, Rothco, Thinkhouse, Starcom and Dynamo, on the development of the brand’s marketing activities – rejecting all ideas that did not retain our ethos of celebrating the joy in simple,” explains Emma-Jane.

“This has been an incredible journey, from inception to launch, developing everything specifically for the Irish market, with the collaboration, guidance and support of our global team and our cider master.”

commitment to sustainability is also evident in this launch. In a world first, Appleman’s outdoor advertising is fully recyclable. “Traditionally, outdoor ads are printed on paper and discarded. We wanted to take inspiration from nature, making sure that the paper goes back to benefit nature when it’s done its job,” Emma-Jane stresses. “We’ve committed to recycling all of our outdoor posters by producing apple trays from them once they’ve finished their outdoor cycle. This is part of our wider commitment to seek balance in everything we do, from our marketing to our cider.”

Media agency Starcom is working with Kinetic and Teracycle, to upcycle the out of home advertising, creating usable new products.

Heineken Ireland’s sustainability strategy, Brewing a Better World, has six priorities: protecting water resources, reducing CO2 emissions, sourcing sustainably, advocating responsible consumption, promoting health and safety and growing with communities.

Specifically developed for Irish people’s taste preferences, and only available in Ireland, Appleman’s Cider is crafted using a handful of the best apples to produce a perfectly balanced, effortlessly refreshing cider.

Major Launch Support The launch includes a major TV campaign which was developed by Rothco and was filmed in Dublin.

“We wanted to strip our message right back,” Emma-Jane says. “In today’s world, we are all bombarded by overlycluttered TV advertisements and we wanted an ad that was about a feeling, a feeling that simply delivers what we think the experience of Appleman's Cider is: the joy in simple.”

The ad aired for the first time on May 3.

The launch of Appleman’s Cider will be supported with a through the line campaign, including an integrated social, PR and events programme.

Sustainability: From Outdoor Ads to Apple Trays Heineken Ireland’s

Maximising Trial and Awareness Available in its distinctive, bright, premium green and gold packaging, with simple, refreshing apple cues, Appleman’s is now available exclusively in Ireland in participating retail outlets.

“We will be working closely with all of our retail customers in the coming months to ensure that we maximise trial and awareness along the path to purchase,” Emma-Jane concludes.

“Success for Appleman’s in the off trade will be when we drive more shoppers into the cider category and open up new occasions.”

Appleman’s has an ABV of 4.5% and is available in 50cl can, 50cl bottle and 8 x 50cl can. For more information, check out www.applemanscider.ie.

The launch of Appleman’s Cider will be supported with a heavyweight campaign, including TV and outdoor, as well as an integrated social, PR and events programme.

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Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider

Liquid Gold

Beer and cider sales look set to soar this summer, as consumers stock up for home entertaining.

SUMMER is here at last after what seems like a six-month winter, and consumers all over the country are dusting off their barbeques and preparing for months of outdoor dining and entertaining at home, with a corresponding upsurge in beer and cider sales.

The continued rise of craft beer has led to the opening of a myriad of new mircrobreweries across the country.

Many of the major manufacturers have responded by releasing innovative new products and limited edition brews to capitalise on changing consumer tastes.

Cider too is a growing market. In 2016, cider/perry recorded total volume growth of 5%, according to Euromonitor International, with continued growth throughout 2017 as more consumers embrace the fruit-driven beverage.

New brand launches, including the high profile development of Orchard Thieves

and now, Appleman’s, have helped to ensure the cider category is top of mind with consumers.

According to the latest figures from Kantar, 26% of all Irish adults consume cider, with apple the most popular flavour (70%), pear accounting for 13% and other fruit-based ciders taking up 17%.

Heineken Heineken is Ireland’s most popular premium lager.

Brewed with an uncompromising passion for quality, and with the same

great taste since 1873, their green bottle

Heineken: brewed with an uncompromising passion for quality, and with the same great taste since 1873.

N AM PA IG YC QU AL IT NE W

BORN IN AMSTERDAM

RAISED BY

THE WORLD

• NEW ON-PACK PROMOTION & DISRUPTIVE VISIBILITY TO SUPPORT YOUR OUTLET • CONTACT YOUR HEINEKEN IRELAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS

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Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider and red star are instant identifiers of an iconic brand. Heineken encourages consumers to go beyond their borders to get the most out of what the world has to offer and has been associated for over two decades with sport and music.

Heineken Ireland has developed award winning platforms for rugby, Heineken Rugby Club, and music, Live Your Music.

The latest additions to the Heineken family are Heineken Light and Heineken 0.0%, both in the growing no and low alcohol category. Both are great tasting beers - Heineken Light is low in calories and has 3% ABV and Heineken 0.0% is non-alcoholic.

Heineken 0.0% New Heineken 0.0% is a nonalcoholic beer and available in retail outlets across the country. This permanent new family member, brewed by beer lovers for beer lovers, has a world-class taste.

“Heineken Ireland are committed to responding to, and indeed anticipating, the changing needs of our consumers, shoppers and our customers,” notes Paula Conlon, Customer Marketing Controller New Heineken 0.0% is at Heineken a non-alcoholic beer, Ireland. “We available in retail know that outlets across the there is a country. global and local trend toward living a balanced lifestyle and consumers and shoppers are looking for more choice across a variety of occasions.”

The new non-alcoholic Heineken 0.0% follows on from the 2016 launch of Heineken Light, as Conlon explains: “In 2016, we saw an opportunity for a new lighter tasting beer with lower calories and lower alcohol (3%) when we launched Heineken Light. Heineken Light is a clear example of our forward-

thinking approach. We were first to market in building a moderation category, which appeals to our wellbeing conscious and savvy shopper base. Now, two years later, our latest innovation, Heineken 0.0% will once again lead the category.”

In order to push the boundaries within the non-alcoholic beer category, Heineken gave their master brewers a blank sheet of paper and challenged them to brew a distinctly flavoured, balanced, non-alcoholic lager from scratch, using just natural ingredients.

The result of which is Heineken 0.0%, a non-alcoholic alternative that delivers a perfectly balanced taste with refreshing fruity notes and a soft malty body.

Heineken 0.0% is available in the off-trade in 4 x 33cl bottle and 6 x 33cl can. The launch is supported with a fully integrated multimedia campaign, including TV, radio, outdoor and digital.

With their unique thermochromic ink on their bottles and cans, consumers always know when it is at the perfect temperature to deliver cold, crisp refreshment. Coors Light, from the Heineken Ireland portfolio, is one of Ireland’s best-selling and fastest growing lagers with broad appeal.

Orchard Thieves When Heineken Ireland launched Orchard Thieves in 2015, they drew upon Heineken’s tradition and expertise in cider making to produce a great tasting cider specifically for Ireland.

Orchard Thieves is crafted using the best of traditional cider-making skills to deliver an instantly refreshing taste.

The successful beginnings enjoyed by Orchard Thieves cider has maintained

Coors Light Born high in the Rockies, Coors Light is a full strength 4.3% ABV lager with a refreshing crisp flavour. Coors Light is lagered below freezing to give it its crisp taste. It is then filtered cold to obtain its bright Orchard Thieves is crafted using the best of traditional appearance. Finally, cider-making skills to deliver an instantly refreshing taste. it is cold bottled at the peak of freshness pace, with continued success in the offto ensure that every Coors starts cold trade. This is in due, in part, to the brand and refreshing and ends the same way. positioning itself with bold, innovative Coors Light is best enjoyed ice cold. communications that stray from the traditional approach cider brands have taken in the past.

The brand has established a strong fan-base, whose conversation about the cider’s unique refreshing taste, has made the brand’s social media presence highly visible.

Those looking for a lighter alternative, but without compromising on taste, can enjoy Coors Light, from the Heineken Ireland portfolio, is one Orchard Thieves of Ireland’s best-selling and fastest growing lagers with Light. broad appeal.

• SUPPORTED BY A MASS COMMUNICATIONS PLAN ACROSS TV, DIGITAL, PR, RADIO, OUTDOOR AND SAMPLING • CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HEINEKEN SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS

#NOWYOUCAN GREAT TASTE. ZERO ALCOHOL.

46|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider Appleman’s With Appleman’s Cider, Heineken Ireland have again produced a premium cider specifically for Irish tastes. Twice pressed, by fourth generation cider masters, this exciting new cider offers a true apple taste, not too sweet and not too dry. Specifically developed for Irish people’s taste preferences and only available in Ireland, Appleman’s is crafted using a handful of the best apples to produce a perfectly balanced, effortlessly refreshing cider.

Appleman’s celebrates ‘The Joy In Simple’ and the brand is rooted in those simple, social occasions that offer the

New Appleman’s Cider is twice pressed, by fourth generation cider masters, offering a true apple taste – not too sweet and not too dry. perfect balance of good friends, great conversation and great-tasting cider.

Appleman’s believes that, as is true of nature and in cider making, things are just better when they are perfectly balanced.

Rockshore The brewers at St James’ Gate Brewery recently unveiled an exciting new Irish lager, Rockshore, which has been inspired by the rugged refreshing experience of the West Coast of Ireland.

“We are absolutely delighted to introduce Rockshore - a light, refreshing tasting lager inspired by the West Coast of Ireland from our brewers here at St James’ Gate,” noted Niki Maccorquodale, Head of Beer Innovation, Diageo Europe. “Undoubtedly, one of the most captivating parts of Ireland, the West Coast is home from home for many of

NEW BEERS FROM GUINNESS OPEN GATE BREWERY The brewers at the Open Gate Brewery are proud to introduce a new range of beers from the home of innovation and experimentation at St James’ Gate. The range of three beers includes Open Gate Citra IPA (5% ABV), which lead Open Gate brewer Peter Simpson describes as “a balanced beer packed with Citra, Centennial and Cascade hops for juicy fruit and bitter citrus notes”; along with Open Gate Pilsner (4.5% ABV), which is dry-hopped with Amarillo and Cascade hops for “a zingy, citrus taste profile and a clean, slightly bitter finish.” The Open Gate range also includes ‘Open Gate Pure Brew’ the full flavoured, non-alcoholic lager, which was launched in January this year.

“As brewers, our goal is to introduce people to the more flavoursome possibilities of beer,” continues Simpson. “At the end of the day, trying new beers should be a really fun experience, so we wanted to create a new range of great tasting beer styles for people to enjoy.”

These new beers are available in bottle format, in off-licenses nationwide now.

To find out more about The Open Gate Brewery and its beers, visit www.guinnessopengate.com. us. From weekend trips with mates, to the salty spray of the Atlantic sea, when the people, playlists and pit stops matter more than anything else in the world, at that moment in time.

“People are increasingly looking for choice, particularly among beers and lagers offering a refreshing and light taste. Brewed using only four quality ingredients, Rockshore is the best light tasting lager our brewers have ever created and we Rockshore is a new Irish lager with an ABV of 4% can’t wait for people to try and 106 calories per bottle. it.”

Over the summer The new 330ml can format is perfect for months, Rockshore is planning a series Smithwick’s drinkers who are looking for of collaborations, experiences and a more laid-back drinking experience. partnerships so watch this space on The new packaging is a perfect addition instagram.com/rockshorelager. to the Smithwick’s range, as they’re The launch is supported by a easily recyclable and light to carry, heavyweight TTL marketing campaign making them a great fit for a post-hike encompassing TV, outdoor, digital, PR beer, summer BBQs or chilled evenings and experiential. With an ABV of 4% and in with friends.

106 calories per bottle, Rockshore Irish The new cans are colourful and lager is available throughout the country. vibrant, allowing them to stand out visually both on shelves and in the hands Smithwick’s Irish Ale of consumers. The packaging features Smithwick’s Irish Ale have launched the Dublin-based, Irish illustrator Peter their first ever 330ml cans, featuring Donnelly’s hand-drawn illustrations that two of its beers, Smithwick’s Pale Ale depict key symbols from Smithwick’s and Smithwick’s Atlantic Blonde Ale. rich history and heritage. The colour

TWICE PRESSED FOR A TRUE APPLE TASTE

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Summer Stocking: Beer & Cider to charity. They have also made the decision to move away from all plastic can holders and use fully recycled and recyclable boxes. This will have a very positive impact on the brand image.

BrewDog have a wide range of beers from Punk IPA to Elvis Juice. However, it is the Indie Pale Ale that has the most potential for the summer months. This 4.2% pale ale delivers light hints of pear and banana, set against a caramel and biscuit malt backbone. It is portrayed as an icon of independence, which is a fitting theme for the summer.

Smithwick’s Irish Ale is now available in 330ml cans, featuring two of its beers, Smithwick’s Pale Ale and Smithwick’s Atlantic Blonde Ale. palette is inspired from original labels, brewery signage and pubs around Ireland.

The hand-drawn typography ‘Irish Made’ has been stamped onto the label as Smithwick’s is, and always will be, a local Irish brand with ingredients harvested from our land, seasoned by our heritage and made in Ireland with passion by Smithwick’s brewers.

BrewDog One of the latest additions to the Barry & Fitzwilliam portfolio, BrewDog was established in 2007 and is brewed in Ellon, Scotland, in a state of the art ecobrewery, one of the most technologically advanced in the world. From there, they strive constantly to challenge people's preconceptions about what beer is and how it can taste. Owners Martin Dickie and James Watt became bored of industrially brewed lagers and ales dominating the beer market and so decided to create a great new craft beer.

Fast forward 10 years later and BrewDog has now over 1,000 employees, 70,000 shareholders and 46 bars. The company donates 10% of its profits

BrewDog Indie Pale Ale: a 4.2% pale ale that’s portrayed as an icon of independence.

Bulmers Other brands come and go but there’s one brand of cider that’s been Ireland’s number one for as long as we can remember. And what’s more, that brand is 100% Irish and has also been central to the evolution of the cider category in Ireland.

That brand is Bulmers, from C&C Gleeson.

From its home in Tipperary, Bulmers is known for steadfastly bringing the fresh taste of Irish apples to life and staying Bulmers has been central true to the to the evolution of the one thing cider category in Ireland. that really matters – taste.

Bulmers knows its consumers well and is aware that they are inherently interested, not just in Irish cider, but in music, entertainment and sport. Bulmers has already captured the sounds of the summer with its sponsorship of the phenomenally popular Bulmers Forbidden Fruit Festival in June, together with Metropolis, Bulmers Live at Leopardstown and many more local partnerships. But now, things are moving up a gear as the brand expands its links and moves back into the sporting arena with an initiative that will excite hundreds of thousands of sports fans – both at home and abroad. With an announcement imminent, check out Bulmers on social media for updates

BrewDog and YellowBelly Beer Join Forces

INDEPENDENT craft breweries, BrewDog (Scotland) and YellowBelly Beer (Ireland), have teamed up to brew Kottbusser, a once-forgotten German beer style, at YellowBelly’s brewery in Wexford, Ireland. This innovative incarnation of the longlost Kottbusser, which has been named after the beer style itself, has been brought to life on BrewDog’s second generation brew kit, now the beating heart of its Irish brethren’s Wexford set up. The concept of a collaboration came about as a result of BrewDog’s latest international adventure, whereby the brewer has partnered with 10 breweries across Europe to brew a series of boundary-pushing beers that reflect both BrewDog and its partner breweries’ attitudes and techniques.

and watch this space.

For customers, it’s going to be a busy summer of Bulmers with fantastic programmes in the off-trade, including a brand new on-pack Shazam campaign, which allows consumers to ‘Shazam’ Ireland’s most popular cider for a chance to win great prizes.

“We are 100% behind our trade customers and all of our trade activity has been designed to help them achieve their objectives of increased sales and enhanced profitability,” said Belinda Kelly, Marketing Director of Bulmers.

“2018 is going to be another great year for cider and for our customers, as we ramp up our activations and launch new sponsorships.”

Barry and Fitzwilliam Irish Distributors for Brewdog.

FOR ORDERS CONTACT: sales@BandF.ie | (021) 4320900 or (01) 6671755 www.bandf.ie

DISTRIBUTED BY

Enjoy BREWDOG Sensibly.

DISTRIBUTED BY

50|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Essentials

Outside Bet! Barbecues and al fresco dining are very much the order of the day as summer finally arrives to Ireland.

THE wonderfully warm and sunny May bank holiday weekend meant that consumers all over Ireland have dusted off their barbecues and have already begun to embrace barbecue season. The next few months will see 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, although we still lag behind Europe’s biggest barbecuers, across the pond in the UK, who average over nine

barbecues per family per year, so there is plenty of room for growing the category.

The barbecue is not just a weekend occasion now, with more and more barbecue occasions taking place after-work or mid-week, and the preplanned, 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, as well as more gourmet cuts of meat and fish.

It is estimated that the barbecue industry is worth more than â‚Ź300m per year, which can translate into sales and profit opportunities for smart retailers who have a dedicated barbecue section in-store.

Ireland now hosts Europe’s largest barbecue festival in the shape of The Big Grill, which returns for its fifth year from August 16-19 in Herbert Park, Dublin 4 (http://biggrillfestival.com/. The festival celebrates the art of cooking with fire and smoke, bringing chefs cooks and pitmasters from Ireland, the

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Summer Stocking: Essentials UK and further away, along with over 20,000 visitors to smell, taste, discover and learn about all kinds of barbecuing, grilling, smoking, vegetables, meats, delicacies and drinks. Over 20 restaurants join for the weekend and this year’s fire-filled line up, curated by pitmaster & festival co-founder Andy Noonan, has a distinct international street food vibe with New York, London, Buenos Aires and Birmingham all represented.

Ireland’s first ever National Burger Day, sponsored by Kepak, will take place on June 21: see www.nationalburgerday.ie.

Meanwhile, the hunt is on for Ireland’s best burger, as food lovers all over the country gear up for the first ever National Burger Day! The nationwide event, which is sponsored by Kepak, and supported by Coca Cola, Heinz, Dubliner Cheese and Tour America will take place on June 21, with participating outlets all around the country marking the day by offering their customers a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ exclusive offer on their signature burger.

“Kepak is delighted to able to bring National Burger Day to Ireland,” noted Bláthnaid Ní Fhátharta, Kepak Marketing Director. “National Burger Day promises to be a huge hit with customers, and we’ve a heavyweight advertising and PR campaign lined up to make sure that everybody is talking about it. I would urge all potential participants to make sure they don’t miss out on the opportunity to partake by registering at www.nationalburgerday.ie before May 28.”

Brennans In Ireland, we might not always get sunshine, but summer still means barbecues and outdoor eating to most of your customers. Their first thought will be something delicious and fresh to put all that barbecued goodness into, so your first thought should be Brennans.

Brennans is all about keeping it simple and fresh, and in the summer, they offer a range of buns, hotdog rolls and sandwich breads to do justice to any barbecue or picnic. For the burger and hotdog purists, Brennans have an array

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Launches Major Sampling Campaign COCA-COLA Ireland recently announced plans for CocaCola Zero Sugar’s largest ever nationwide taste campaign. Between April and September, there will be 71 sampling opportunities throughout Ireland, giving consumers the opportunity to taste Ireland’s fastest growing cola. This sampling campaign is part of CocaCola Ireland’s overall plan to ‘Hero Zero’ and encourage Irish consumers towards low sugar products. The sampling campaign will be present in city and town centre locations as well as at major summer events and festivals. To Coca-Cola Zero Sugar’s new ‘can-crusher’ facility assist consumers with the is available to help the responsible disposal of responsible disposal of cans. their samples, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar will also provide a special ‘can-crusher’ at each sampling location.

Consumers will be asked to dispose of their cans in the ‘can-crusher’, with prizes on offer for every 200th can recycled during the campaign.

“Since the relaunch of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar on the Irish market two years ago, it has achieved phenomenal growth. This is driven by consumers loving the great taste of Coca-Cola but wanting to control their sugar intake. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar offers them both,” explained Brand Manager for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Rachel Long. “Through our nationwide sampling campaign, we’re aiming to make more consumers aware of the zero sugar options available to them and promote the great taste of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. We hope that consumers take the opportunity to sample Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at one of the many sampling opportunities over the next six months.”

To find out more about the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar nationwide sampling campaign, log onto www.coca-cola.ie.

Brennans is all about keeping it simple and fresh, with a range of buns, hotdog rolls and sandwich breads to do justice to any barbecue or picnic.

Bun-Days Mega Burger Buns with Sesame Seeds 6 Pack: one of the star summer performers from Brennans.

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Summer Stocking: Essentials

Bun-Days Hot Dog Rolls from Brennans: hugely popular with Irish consumers. of options, including Bun-Days Plain Burger Buns 6 Pack, Bun-Days Mega Burger Buns with Sesame Seeds 6 Pack and Bun-Days Hot Dog Rolls.

For those looking for an alternative to traditional barbecue season buns, that are high in fibre and lower in calories, there’s the Brennans Be Good range featuring Wholemeal and Sesame & Linseed Sandwich Breads, which are only 96 calories per bread.

With so many customers looking for healthier options, no-one should have to compromise on taste, quality or freshness. Stock up on Brennans this barbecue season and everyone will enjoy a brighter summer, no matter what the weather!

ABP Food Group ABP Food Group, Ireland’s largest beef processor, is proud to launch its new line of packaging for all its Certified Irish Hereford Prime (CIHP) beef products.

This new packaging was designed by ABP in conjunction with Bord Bia and

Pictured are (l-r): Irish rugby legend John Hayes, Irish Hereford Prime brand ambassador; Richie Wilson, Executive Chef at Fire Restaurant; and Eoin Ryan, European Sales and Marketing Manager for ABP Food Group. highlights the quality of the product.

As part of the launch, Irish Hereford Prime brand ambassador and former Irish rugby international, John Hayes launched new branded Irish Hereford Prime boards and knives at Fire restaurant in Dublin city centre.

Certified Irish Hereford Prime’s partnerships with ABP Food Group and Pallas Foods enable the distribution of award winning beef to foodservice and retail customers across Ireland. The new CIHP packaging, which highlights quality elements of the product, will also be exported across Europe to a range of clients, including many Michelin starred restaurants.

“At ABP, we produce high quality beef products,” said Eoin Ryan, European Sales and Marketing Manager for ABP Food Group. “Therefore, it is important that we have packaging to match these products. It was great to

HB Relaunches Ice Cream Legend as Split

THE Irish public asked and HB Ireland listened! According to brand new research, 96% of people are craving the taste of a nostalgic HB Super Split and want to see the return of the classic Irish summer snack. HB have responded by relaunching the ice cream, formally known as Super Split, as Split.

The relaunch of the Split is the perfect opportunity for people to indulge in some seriously delicious nostalgia over the upcoming summer months. And at 65kcal, it’s the ideal snack to enjoy with very little guilt. HB Split is now available in multipack format in stores nationwide.

Wheyhey Launch Sugar-Free Salted Caramel Ice Cream THE forward-thinking, healthy treat pioneers at Wheyhey are several scoops ahead of the curve, creating a decidedly decadent Salted Caramel ice cream that doesn’t just cut down sugar but takes it out of the equation entirely, whilst holding onto all of its deliciousness.

The sumptuous new Salted Caramel icecream contains just 85 calories and 9g of protein and is the third edition to Wheyhey’s covetable collection of Chocolate and Vanilla freezer favourites, all of which are sugar-free and made using milk from happy, grass-fed cows that are cared for by trusted farmers.

With colourful new pack designs and 10 delicious new flavours tipped to launch in the next few months, the Wheyhey ice-cream range is a must-have for health-conscious foodies, who can tuck in without having to worry about hidden artificial ingredients.

team up with Bord Bia in the design process to ensure to ensure that it is fit for purpose and meets the highest quality standard for food packaging.”

All of the Certified Irish Hereford beef that ABP produce is sourced from the Irish Hereford Prime group of over 4,000 farmers from across Ireland.

These farmers supply ABP’s six Irish plants on a weekly basis.

54|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Summer Stocking: Nivea

Nivea Sun's Top Product Picks Nivea is helping Irish people to stay sunsafe this summer with a host of top products.

it is simple and quick to apply on the skin. Nivea’s innovative formula works immediately and ensures reliable, highly effective UVA and UVB protection.

A fast-absorbing, non-sticky formula also makes applying sunscreen fun for kids.

WHETHER consumers are jetting off to sunnier climes or staying put for a staycation, it’s important that their skin is always protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Nivea Sun look after you both home and away this summer with these top picks: Your No. 1 Summer Essential Make Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion (RRP €16.99) your ultimate summer essential.

It contains highly effective UVA/UVB filters for immediate protection, and is suitable for all skin types. It’s important to reapply every two hours when spending time outside, so consumers can carry a bottle Make Nivea Sun Protect in their & Moisture Sun Lotion handbag contains highly effective for easy UVA/UVB filters for on-the-go immediate protection, top ups! and is suitable for all skin types.

Spray Away Make sun cream application fun for kids with the Nivea Sun Kids Trigger Spray, (RRP €21.59). The fun spray application

Nivea Sun Kids Trigger Spray is a simple and quick way to apply lotion to a child’s skin. is a simple and quick way to apply lotion to a child’s skin. You can also rest assured that they’ll be well-protected from the sun’s harmful rays as the gentle yet effective formula provides immediate high UVA/UVB protection, meaning they can get on with playing with their friends!

Roll It On Nivea Sun Protection Roll-On (RRP €9.99) is available in formats for both kids and adults, offering highly effective sun protection wherever you go. With its easy-to-handle roll-on application,

Nivea Sun Protection Roll-On is available in formats for both kids and adults.

Don’t Forget Your Lips!

The innovative formula of Nivea Lip Care Sun Protect (RRP €3.49), enriched Nivea Lip Care with Vitamin E and Sun Protect, sun flower extracts, enriched with provides effective UV Vitamin E and protection from the effects of the sun and sun flower extracts, gives long lasting moisture, leaving lips provides effective UV feeling smooth and protection from well-protected. the effects of

the sun.

After Sun Care Spending time in the sun can be tough on your skin.

Whether it’s sunburn or the drying effects of sand, sea and chlorine, Nivea Sun After Sun Spray (RRP €7.99) refreshes and soothes the skin. The light formula is enriched Nivea Sun After Sun with Aloe Spray is enriched with Vera to help Aloe Vera to help restore lost moisture and restore lost moisture and soothe any soothe any irritation. irritation.

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56|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Focus on HR

GDPR and the Employer: A Quick Guide

The General Data Protection Regulation comes into force across the EU from May 25. How will this affect you and how you manage the data of your employees?

THE General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new piece of European legislation which will come into force in Ireland and all across the EU from May 25, 2018. The GDPR significantly increases the obligations and responsibilities for organisations and businesses in how they collect, use and protect personal data. This new legislation will affect any organisation or business who processes personal data. In the context of the employment relationship, if you have employees, you will be affected by this legislation as you are a controller of their data.

The data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon, has outlined that from May 25 onwards, she will be using the full toolbox available to her with the new legislation. She has outlined that she will be fair, considerate and measured in her approach: however, she will be expecting to see how prepared companies are and how they are trying to show compliancy.

She will be expecting to see what steps companies have taken in order to ensure compliancy with the new legislation and so we cannot recommend enough that you ensure your HR department and overall company is taking measures to prepare for this date.

GDPR will affect all companies, including retailers, but for the purpose of this article we will be focusing on the processing of personal data in the context of the employment relationship and your employees and so the terms ‘data controller’ and ‘data subject’ refer to employers and employees respectively.

The GDPR will introduce a system of “data protection by design and default” which will now require organisations to

take data protection risks into account throughout the design and operation of all processes, procedures and policies.

Reporting Data Breaches The GDPR will expand and enhance the rights of data subjects (the employee) and significantly increase sanctions to those whose are in breach of these new regulations.

From May 2018, businesses and organisations of all sizes will be obliged to report most breaches concerning personal data. As an employer, if there is a personal data breach within your organisation, you will be required to inform the data subject whose personal data was affected, along with reporting

the breach to the Data Protection Commissioner no later than 72 hours after the breach occurred. With potential fines of up to €20m or 4% of a company’s turnover, breaches of the Act could end up causing huge financial loss and reputational damage to any company or organisation and so as an organisation, you must ensure to assess your current processes to ensure the possibility of personal data breaches are at a minimum.

The impact on employee data should not be underestimated, which is why we are encouraging all our clients to prepare their HR files now to ensure compliancy when the GDPR comes into force on May 25, 2018.

Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie|57

Focus on HR About the Author If you want the right answers, you must know the

right questions to ask. This is a wonderful book, wellwritten by somebody who is an expert in the field. I Sean Kelly, MEP

• • • • • • •

What personal data do we hold?

Where is it stored?

Who has access to it?

Why it was originally collected?

Why are we holding this data?

What is the purpose of retaining it?

How long can we legally retain it?

It is important to note that this legislation includes data relating to current employees, data held which relates to former employees and personal data held in relation to potential new recruits or unsuccessful candidates.

We also offer onsite data protection audits, which consists of a member of our team coming onsite to audit your HR documentation but you can do this exercise yourself. Either way, it is a key first step on the road to becoming compliant.

It is critical that contracts, policies and procedures are reviewed and revised in order to meet the new and enhanced rights of data subjects, for example in relation to CCTV etc.

Enhanced Obligations on Employers There are also enhanced obligations on employers to provide employees with information as to the collection of their personal data, to ensure that the employer's processing activities are fair and transparent. This information must be provided in an easily accessible form for employees and must be written in plain language which is easily understood.

We are advising that all our clients

I can’t recommend this book highly enough – It’s

Questions

a great read. You could use this as a toolbox to

navigate yourself through your career. Caroline has done a fantastic job.

Alison Nulty, journalist, broadcaster and MC

People who are in a managerial position are

automatically put in charge of managing people. This book will give you the skill of The Art of Asking the Right Questions.

Colette Twomey, Chief Executive and co-founder of Clonakilty Foods

More amazing advice from the most knowledgeable person in HR.

Tara Beattie, The Caterers

This book should be on your desk as a ‘go to guide’ that you can dip into as needed to remind you of the key questions you should ask in different situations throughout the employment journey.

By asking the right questions, you will enhance your team’s skills to maximise their own talent and you will make your business or department more successful by engaging your team’s knowledge and skills. This book is a summary of our top tips to help make your journey of people management run more smoothly so you can maximise your very best resource – your team. And it will help you to be the best you can be yourself!

Love the book, it’s a must have for anyone in

The Art of Asking the Right

Questions A PEOPLE MANAGER’S TOOLKIT

Caroline has written a great practical gui

something which is so important in busin art of asking the right question. Einstein

‘If I had an hour to solve a problem and m

depended on it, I would use the first 55 m determining the proper question to ask.

knew the proper question, I could solve t in less than five minutes’.

Often overlooked in busy organisations is

absolute necessity of getting the questio

This is a great handbook to guide you thr

journey toward the ‘proper’ question to a delighted to launch it.

Norah Casey, broadcaster, publisher and former “Dragon”

We are so delighted to have a piece of Ca

wisdom on our desk and at our fingertips

we started with The HR Suite, we have fo

Caroline McEnery

Data Protection Audit of HR Files As a first step, employers should assess what personal data (including sensitive personal data) is currently being held.

When conducting this audit, you must ask the following questions:

The Art of Asking the Right

THIS advice is provided by the HR Suite, which offers specialist tailored and effectiveA PEOPLE human resources MANAGER’S TOOLKIT and business solutions to clients throughout Ireland.

Caroline McEnery, Managing Director of The HR Suite, is a member on the Low Pay Commission and is an Adjudicator in the Workplace Relations Commission. She is also author of 'The Art of Asking “…a brilliant guideto to asking the Right Questions', a manager’s toolkit all HR the right questions.”

Norah Casey, related tips to proactively manage your team. For more information, please contact The HR Suite on (066) 7102887 or (01) 9014335 or email info@thehrsuiteonline.com.

Website: http://thehrsuiteonline.com. am looking forward to her second book …

The Art of ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

We have set out below some guidance to assist in preparation for, GDPR.

to be invaluable. A lot of the time it’s the

on how to approach a situation and the r

to verbalise it that makes such a huge di

Having that all in a book that we can dip

of when we need clarity and advice is jus

business.

If you manage people in any capacity, yo

Bevin Mahon, co-owner and Managing Director,

book. It’s my bible now.

Ellen Kavanagh, Founder and CEO, Waxp

Dentaltech

Image Magazine Beauty Innovator of the

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review and update any existing privacy notices that are currently in place.

Where a privacy notice is not in place but should be, this should also be drafted to ensure compliance.

It comes as no surprise that the most common cause of data breaches is human error and so staff training on the new regulations is a must to ensure that your staff are fully aware of the role they play and the responsibility they have towards your compliance with GDPR. This includes ensuring staff understand their own individual role and responsibilities in ensuring that data held within the company remains safe and secure and not at risk of breaching the regulations. Staff also need to be made aware of the consequences for the company and for the staff themselves if there is a data protection breach.

Subject Access Requests Subject Access Requests (SAR) have always been in place within the current data protection legislation but with the introduction of the new GDPR legislation, the rights of the data subject have been enhanced in this regard. The Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon, outlined in her annual report for 2017 that there was a 79% increase of complaints since 2016 and that 52% of these complaints were in relation to access requests. From May 25 onwards, SARs will have to be completed within 30 days of receiving the request, which has been decreased from 40 days in line with the current data protection legislation.

However, this period can be extended up to a maximum of three months if the request is deemed complex or a lengthy project. Data inventory is essential in ensuring that SARs can be dealt with properly. It is also important to remember that the less data you hold, the easier it will be for your company to comply with SARs and so in order to assist you, there should also be a data retention policy within your organisation.

We also recommend that all staff are

trained to recognise a SAR to ensure there is no delay in responding to them as it could result in your company losing valuable time. One person should be appointed within the organisation to manage any SARs and this should be outlined in your policy.

We would be delighted to assist you and your business in preparation for the implementation of GDPR. If you would like us to assist you in conducting an audit of your current employment practices and policy documentation, or for further information on the training courses provided by the HR Suite, please do not hesitate to us directly in the office by phone on (066) 7102887 / (01) 901 4335, via email at info@ thehrsuiteonline.com or visit our website directly at www.thehrsuiteonline.com.

Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie|59

What’s New ANDREX CELEBRATING PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARDS

MARS AND SNICKERS BARS WITH ADDED PROTEIN

BOTH Andrex Supreme Quilts and Andrex Supreme Washlets have been voted Product of the Year 2018 in their respective categories (Household Paper and Personal Care). Andrex Supreme Quilts has grown 15% in total Mults YTD (Source: Nielsen ScanTrack data to March 25, 2018). This now makes up 24% of Andrex value sales in Ireland and the introduction of Andrex Supreme Washlets to the Irish market has driven incremental value into the toilet tissue category.

Andrex will be supporting these wins with media investment, including TV advertising which will begin in May, as well as in-store media support across the year.

MARS Chocolate Drinks and Treats, part of Mars Chocolate UK, will be launching an exclusive Mars and Snickers bar to the Irish market, with 10g of added protein. “We have developed a new version of the Mars and Snickers bar with added protein, appealing to impulse shoppers who regularly visit major retailers and convenience stores, buying on-the-go,” said Michelle Frost, General Manager for Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats. “The format of our latest Mars and Snickers bars will be launched exclusively in Ireland.

We are keen to offer consumers both more choices on how to enjoy their favourite chocolate brands, and a more appealing price point for a protein product. Each bar contains less than 200 calories, and 10g of clearly labelled protein content. We are excited to be appealing to a new wave of impulse protein consumers.” For all stockist enquires, please contact Primeline.

RSP: €2.49.

NEW KITKAT SENSES MADE FOR SHARING KITKAT fans in Ireland now have a new way to enjoy their favourite confectionery as Nestlé launches KitKat Senses, indulgent KitKat chocolates in three indulgent flavours: Double Chocolate, Salted Caramel and Hazelnut. New KitKat Senses come in boxes of 20 individually-wrapped bite-size treats in each flavour, as well as a mixed box which contains all three flavours. Each has the combination of unmistakably delicious KitKat chocolate and wafer and either a layer of indulgent praline and crunchy pieces of hazelnut (Hazelnut), salted caramel filling infused with crunchy caramel flakes (Salted Caramel) or rich chocolate ganache and crunchy cocoa nibs (Double Chocolate). Nestlé Ireland are supporting the launch with sampling activations nationwide, a social media campaign, a new TV ad and VOD.

SENSODYNE EXTENDS RAPID RELIEF RANGE GSK is launching a brand new variant, Extra Fresh, which will be joining the line-up of its successful Sensodyne Rapid Relief range. From Ireland’s number one selling sensitive toothpaste brand (Source: Nielsen Data, Multiple ROI, Unit Sales, MAT, w/e 31.12.17 ), Sensodyne Rapid Relief Extra Fresh provides a huge opportunity to attract new consumers to the category, with freshness as one of the key needs for Sensodyne shoppers. The new SKU leaves consumers’ mouths feeling clean and fresh and is clinically proven to provide relief from sensitivity pain in just 60 seconds. The launch will be supported with a €400K launch plan for Rapid Relief, which incorporates TV, digital and sampling activity with dentists, to drive awareness of the product.

BODY SHAVING INNOVATION FROM NIVEA MEN NIVEA Men, the official men’s grooming supplier to Liverpool FC, are fighting back against irritation by giving men never-seen before shaving range that properly suit their needs, giving them a clean, comfortable body shave – even in the shower. Designed for in shower application, the new easy to use Nivea Men AntiIrritation Body Shaving Range ensures the best body shave for optimal care against irritation. The range includes Body Shaving Anti-Irritation Stick 75ml (RRP €6.99), Body Shaving AntiIrritation Gel 200ml RRP €5.49) and Anti-Irritation After Shave Lotion 240ml (RRP €6.99). For more information, please visit www.nivea.ie or www.facebook.com/niveaireland.

NESTLÉ IRELAND LAUNCHES PREMIUM CHOCOLATE L’ATELIER NESTLÉ has launched its hugely successful premium chocolate brand, Les Recettes De L’Atelier, in Ireland following impressive growth across Europe. The brand, which roughly translates as “recipes of the artisan’s shop” includes a range of delicious, smooth Swiss chocolate blocks with natural fruit and nut pieces. It is available in seven different flavours including: Raisins, Almonds and Hazelnuts; Orange Zest & Cacao Nibs; Whole Roasted Almonds & Hazelnuts; Salted Caramel; Roasted Almonds; Blueberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts; and Cranberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts. The way the product is made, with fruit and nut inclusions clearly visible once unwrapped, gives the chocolate a handmade, artisanal feel and means that each and every square of the chocolate is completely unique.

60|Retail News|May 2018|www.retailnews.ie

Shelf Life NORTHERN Irish snack manufacturer, Golden Popcorn has won a major contract estimated to be worth around €1m with Aldi in the Republic of Ireland. The contract will see Antrimbased Golden Popcorn manufacture popcorn under the Snackrite brand for Aldi in a new multi-bag format for their Irish supermarkets. “We are delighted to secure this contract with Aldi, which is a major stepping stone in our growth journey, particularly in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain markets,” noted Sean McClinton, Golden Popcorn Managing Director (pictured). “Our recent growth in sales has led to us relocating to bigger premises in Antrim and this new investment will help us scale production and triple our export sales over the next few years.”

TASTE of Dublin 2018 is inviting attendees to ‘Play with your food’ at this year’s event, taking place in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens from June 14-17. Their chefs and features have been busily dreaming up their playground plans and fun, playful interpretations include: enjoying a cocktail on the top floor of a wooden tram - to an entire menu composed of food in various shades of pink. New for this year is the Neff Taste Kitchen, where top chefs will show food enthusiasts tips and tricks, allowing them to recreate their iconic dishes at home.

For more information, see www.tasteofdublin.ie.

IRISH sugar-free foods company Free’ist has formed a partnership with dietician Gillian Killiner (121 Dietician) to encourage consumers to review their sugar intake as part of a week-long ‘Sugar Swap’ campaign from May 28 to June 3, which includes instore activity and a multi-channel marketing support programme across Ireland. The Free’ist Sugar Swap Week will provide consumers with expert advice on smart ways to ‘swap’ sugary food and drink items for a wide range of sugar free and no added sugar alternatives. The aim of the initiative is to help consumers see the nutritional and health benefits that can come from a low-sugar diet. Pictured are 121 Dietician, Gillian Killiner, and Free'ist Marketing Co-Ordinator, Steve McDonagh.

ALDI was one of the big winners at the 2018 FreeFrom Food Awards, scooping 15 prestigious titles at the Awards, which celebrate the very best in food catering for diverse dietary requirements including gluten free. Aldi won five Gold Medals, five Silver Medals, three Bronze Medals and two Merit Awards in total.

IRELAND’S largest bagged salad producer and specialist in prepared vegetables, Willowbrook Foods, has marked the tenth anniversary of its Innovation Centre in County Down, describing it as instrumental in helping the business grow by on average 18% year-on-year over the past decade.

The centre, at Willowbrook’s Killinchy headquarters, was designed in 2008 to be a hub for new product development, led by consumer trends and advances in technology so the company could meet bespoke orders for its customer base across the retail and foodservice sectors. “A major investment for us at the time, the Centre has allowed us to perfect our offering to customers to reflect emerging food trends with the best ingredients, flavour, texture and shelf life,” revealed Managing Director of Willowbrook Foods John McCann (pictured).

IRISH Distillers has announced the appointment of Shane Davey as Head of Sales and Marketing (Prestige Brands). As part of his new role, Shane will be responsible for growing the Irish Distillers prestige brands within Ireland, working on brands such as Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast, Method & Madness, Monkey 47, Mumm, Perrier Jouet and more.

JAVA Republic has secured a significant six figure contract for the provision of premium coffee and tea across Center Parcs Longford Forest’s cafes and bars. Once complete, Center Parcs Longford Forest will include 470 lodges to accommodate 2,500 guests, 30 apartments, and more than 100 indoor and outdoor family activities.

“The entire team at Java Republic is delighted to have been awarded this high-profile and valuable contract. As a business, we are very much aligned to what Center Parcs offers in terms of a premium, high-quality product,” said Managing Director of Java Republic, Grace O’Shaughnessy (pictured).

Greene Farm has won gold at the annual Free From Food Awards in the cold meats category for its ‘Hand Prepared Beef Slices’ (pictured), thinly sliced for the perfect lunch.

Greene Farm also took home silver and bronze awards for its ‘Peppered Turkey Breast Slices’ and ‘Torn Cajun Chicken Breast’. All of Greene Farm’s products are made in County Westmeath, using 100% natural ingredients.

MARK Walsh, Maxol Regional Manager, is pictured with the women’s winning DCU student rugby team, at the Maxol Student Sevens Tournament Final Blitz 2018.

The third and final blitz saw the women’s DCU team take first place while, in the men’s competition, UCD placed first in their league.

PLMA’s 2018 World of Private Label International Trade Show takes place at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam on May 29 and 30.

More than 14,000 buyers and visitors from more than 110 countries are expected to attend the world’s largest private label exhibition, reflecting the growth of retailer brands across Europe and beyond. There will be more than 2,500 exhibiting companies on the show floor, from more than 70 countries. A highlight of this year’s event is the keynote seminar presentation by Justin King, who served as CEO of Sainsbury’s for 10 years and held senior management positions at Marks & Spencer and Asda. For more information, see www.plmainternational.com.

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