Retail News|May 2020|www.retailnews.ie|5
News wine bars remain off limits, people have been turning to the grocers for their favourite tipples and boosted sales of alcohol by 70%, an additional €47m. Wine sales increased by 50% year on year, while beer, lager and cider sales benefited from the warmer weather and were double the levels in the same four weeks in 2019.” Grocery market inflation stands at 1.6% for the 12-week period ending April 19, 2020. Meanwhile, figures from Nielsen reveal that Irish shoppers spent €371m on groceries during the week ending April 12, 2020, the highest sales week of the year so far, and an increase of 14% compared to the same week ending on Easter Sunday in 2019. Moreover, sales of alcohol reached €49.3m, an increase of 44% in spend compared to the same Easter week in 2019. Irish consumers celebrated the Easter weekend around the dinner table, with frozen poultry reaching €2m in sales, a massive 631% increase compared to the same week ending Easter Sunday in 2019. There was also a significant year-onyear increase in sales for other Easter dinner-related food such as gravy (+59%), turkey (+14%), potatoes (+14%), lamb (+11%) and mint sauce (+8%). This also included an increase in frozen desserts (+33%), take home ice cream (+57%) and fresh cream (+68%). Traditional meals also saw a boost on the breakfast table, as ‘Full Irish’ breakfast ingredients saw a significant rise in sales. Black and white puddings were up by 40%, prepacked sausages by 31% and prepacked bacon was up 37% compared to the same week ending Easter Sunday in 2019. Making the most of the weekend, Irish customers took to their gardens for barbecues and stocked up on alcohol supplies. Sales of barbecue sauce were up by 53%, and ignition-related products, typically used to light barbecues, were up by +51% to €1.6m. Meanwhile, demand for stout skyrocketed by 177%, reaching €2.7m in sales, and lager sales grew by 78%, reaching €15.3m. Table wines (+27%) accounted for €15.6m, whilst sparkling wine and champagne (+21%) reached €1.1m. However, one category which suffered during that week was confectionery, which only grew by +1.4% compared to the same week ending on Easter Sunday in 2019, with a -7% decline in sales for Easter eggs. This is an overall -8% decline in spend for Easter eggs during the eight weeks leading to Easter in 2020 compared to 2019. Karen Mooney, Ireland market leader at Nielsen, said: “We are now becoming accustomed to the lockdown in Ireland, and Irish consumers are starting to settle into this new ‘normal’ of social distancing and staying indoors. This has evidently resulted in a different Easter experience, with shoppers focussing less on purchasing traditional Easter confectionery.
Lidl Ireland secures beef exports from Ireland LIDL Ireland and their exclusive beef supplier, Cavanbased Liffey Meats, have secured exports to the value of €14m, an increase of 20% on 2019 figures, despite the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 and the uncertainty Brexit brings to the agricultural industry. The deal will see 17 fresh and frozen Bord Bia Quality Assured products exported over the next 12 months to Lidl stores in the USA and Europe. Highlights include a quarter of a million burgers to 3,200 stores across Germany, along with two planned promotions for US stores this summer. “Lidl Ireland has always been a significant exporter of Irish food and drink and a committed stakeholder in the Irish food industry,”’ said Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia “This is an exceptionally challenging time for Irish suppliers and Irish farmers, so I am pleased to see Lidl’s tangible efforts to support the Irish beef industry and their continued commitment to sourcing Bord Bia Quality Assured Irish beef.” John Paul Scally, Managing Director for Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, said: “At Lidl, supporting and developing our local supplier network has always been a priority for us and now, more than ever, we are committed to investing in our partners. With our commitment and support they can strengthen their supply chains, build their capacity and workforce to supply not only the island of Ireland, but more than 18 countries across Europe and the US with quality Irish beef.” Instead, Irish consumers are shifting their focus to other forms of indulgence, where they can spend more time with the family over a roast dinner or traditional Irish breakfast with all of the trimmings. Of course - complemented with an alcoholic beverage or two in the sunshine.”
XL retail brand and Marty Morrissey make the perfect team WE all need a smile from time to time during these extraordinary times and grocery retail brand XL is proud to be the official sponsor of RTE Player’s new four-part series, Marty in the Shed, which sees the hugely popular Gaelic Games correspondent broadcasting a light-hearted talkshow from his garden shed in Co. Clare. Commenting on the sponsorship, former All-Ireland winner with Dublin and Group Head of Sales with XL, Paul Bealin, said, ”We are delighted to sponsor the Marty in the Shed Show. Supporting our communities is at the core of everything XL do and the format of this new RTE Player show, with Marty at that helm, reflects that brand ethos. The four-programme series will provide the people of Ireland some much needed light relief from the stresses associated with current Covid-19 lockdown. Marty’s
contact list is as impressive as it is extensive and we are all looking forward to enjoying the show.”
