Retail News November 2016 by Retail News

NOVEMBER 2016

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Contents Festive Fever ALCOHOL is top of the agenda as we head into the busy Christmas period, but not for the usual reasons. Legislation tops the bill when it comes to the off trade at the moment, with the highly contentious Structural Separation issue (Page 6) and the Scottish courts giving the go-ahead for Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol (Page 5), which could pave the way for its introduction here. That’s only the beginning of our drinks coverage, however, as the subject of our Retail News Interview is Ross Mac Mathúna, Director of Ibec’s Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, who discusses the big issues facing the Irish drinks sector going forward, from tackling alcohol misuse to the challenges facing new entrants to the market, including access to credit and securing a route to market (Page 60) It hardly seems possible but Christmas 2017 is almost upon us, and the time is ripe to stock your shelves with the best seasonal fare. In our annual Retail News Christmas Stocking spectacular, we focus on the festive favourites guaranteed to fly off your shelves this Yuletide, from wines and spirits to chocolates and even breadcrumbs (Page 42-58). Also inside, we report from the Pakman Awards, organised by Repak, which rewarded the businesses, organisations and community groups who demonstrate exceptional sustainability and environmental management (Page 30), reveal the NOffLA Wine Show Award winners (Page 64) and photograph the great and the good from the Irish FMCG market at the IGBF President’s Ball (Page 32) Kathleen Belton, Editorial & Marketing Director.

News 4

EU trading rules unlikely to impact Ireland.

Grow My Business 20

An outstanding speaker line-up ensured another successful and sold out An Post's Grow My Business Conference.

Shop Profile 22

5 5

Structural Separation a real concern; Price Wars: Ireland Vs UK; New CEO at Bord Bia.

Dunnes up to second in supermarket wars; Food surplus enterprises join forces.

Money can grow on TREEs; New rules for nutrition labelling; Consumer spending growth slows. Foodservice market worth €7.5 billion; Londis sponsors new TV show; RGDATA advice column.

Retail Ireland Summit 16

Musgrave MarketPlace

The Retail Ireland Summit saw a host of experts exploring the ways that retailers need to be fully up-to-date in a 21st century retail environment to address the omnichannel challenge.

MarketPlace's new Kitchen 2 Counter brochure caters for everything from portion control to plating perfection.

Contactless payment is making a big impact on the way we buy our goods and services.

National Dairy Council 28

The National Dairy Council won a top award at the World Dairy Summit in Rotterdam.

The annual Pakman Awards, organised by Repak, saw Meade Potato Company named the 2016 Pakman Award winner. The 2016 IGBF President’s Ball proved to be one of the social highlights of the year.

Invest NI: Blas na hÉireann Awards 36

Invest NI highlight some of the Northern food and drink

NOffLA selected 45 winning wines at the Irish Wine Show awards ceremony.

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update 72

IGBF President’s Ball 32

Ross Mac Mathúna, Director of ABFI, on why Ireland’s high excise duties on alcohol are bad for business, the contentious issue of structural separation and why they won’t be taking the Government to court over minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

Irish Wine Show

Pakman Awards 2016 30

Our annual guide to the hottest products for the festive season.

The Retail News Interview

Contactless Payment 26

manufacturers who enjoyed success at the recent Blas na hÉireann Awards.

Christmas Stocking

24 Musgrave

CSNA strategy on rural sustainability; Scottish Court clears the way for Minimum Unit Pricing of alcohol.

Only open nine months, Costcutter/Amber in Charleville, Co. Cork, has already been named Costcutter Forecourt of the Year.

Where to next for the British pound? New electrical equipment regulations.

Manual Handling 74

Manual handling training doesn’t just make good business sense in terms of reducing the risk of accidents, it’s also an essential part of your legal obligations.

REGULARS & REPORTS

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Industry News Christmas Stocking: Essentials Christmas Stocking: Wines Christmas Stocking: Spirits Christmas Stocking: Beers Tobacco Products What’s New Forecourt Focus: News Shelf Life

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EU Trading Rules Unlikely to Impact Ireland NEW efforts to combat unfair trading practices between retailers and suppliers, at European level, are unlikely to make a difference in Ireland, according to Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII). EU proposals to introduce legislation to monitor unfair practices are already covered in Irish law, Paul Kelly, Director of FDII, told Retail News. “I don't think they add anything to what we already have in Ireland,” he said. “We already have legislation in place, which was brought in earlier on in the year and took effect from the end of April. A lot of the unfair trading practices referenced in the report, such as payment periods, unilateral or retroactive changes to contracts, are already contained our grocery regulations.” In June 2016, the European Parliament voted in favour of the introduction of EU framework legislation to tackle unfair trading practices (UTPs) in the food supply chain. In October, as part of its 2017 work programme, the Parliament approved the Commission's commitment. This month, the Agriculture Market Task Force repeated the call for legislation. Mairead McGuinness, Irish MEP and European Parliament Vice-President, led negotiations on the issue and wrote the Agriculture Committee’s report. “UTPs can involve large retailers abusing their power in the food supply chain, pushing down farm incomes, threatening the sustainability of the food supply chain and reducing consumer choice,” she said. “Some 20 Member States already have separate and individual responses to UTPs. For the sake of all EU producers and for the sake of the single market, an EU approach to the problem is necessary.” The Agriculture Market Task Force proposed a ban on unfair practices that include payment periods lasting longer than 30 days, retroactive changes to contracts, and last minute order cancellations concerning perishable products. Ireland's Grocery Goods Regulations, introduced in April as the Consumer Protection Act 2007 (Grocery Goods Undertakings) Regulations 2016, cater for all these eventualities. The regulations, created following a commitment in the Programme for Government 2011-2016, apply to retailers and wholesalers who have turnovers exceeding €50m. Supplier organisations have suggested that food and drink manufacturers often decline to complain about large supermarkets, due to fear of being delisted. The EU proposals call for a system of anonymous complaints, as well as strict sanctions against guilty parties. “The issue of anonymity has always been a difficult one,” said Kelly. “The taskforce report referenced the Groceries

Code Adjudicator in the UK, who pro-actively enforces fair practices. This is the message we would give to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in Ireland as well. Individual suppliers are reluctant to make complaints. But if there is sufficient market information made available, either by companies or trade associations, and if there is proactive interaction between the enforcement body and the grocery retail sector, we will know what's going on.” Under Ireland's Grocery Paul Kelly, Director, Food and Goods Regulations, companies Drink Industry Ireland. are required to submit their first annual compliance report, covering the period from April 30 to December 31, 2016, by March 2017. FDII's Skillnet training programme provided a course for suppliers on the regulations. “I'm sure the major retailers are training up their own staff to ensure full compliance with the regulations,” Kelly said. “These things take a period of time. We're still in the bedding down period, but our hope and expectation is they will be effective regulation.” Some retailers have criticised the Irish regulations for being unduly biased against retailers, arguing that some international suppliers are bigger than almost any retailer in the Irish market. In Ireland, smaller retailers often claim supplier abuses of power, in cases such as mobile phone operators or newspaper distributors changing terms of conditions. There is also the question of where competition and market forces end and unfair practices begin. “We're going to need to give the legislation a bit of time to settle down,” said Kelly. “There is a compliance-reporting provision within the legislation, so next year we will see the outcome of that. It's not clear yet from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to what extent they will be publically reporting on the reports they get from individual grocery retailers. One would imagine there will be certain commercial sensitivities that will need to be respected. But the fact that you have a compliance reporting regime in place means there is a degree of transparency, so that should be helpful in terms of payment issues.”

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

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CSNA Strategy on Rural Sustainability THE Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) recently outlined a strategy for sustainability which will ensure Ireland’s small shops will continue to be the cornerstone that sustains the viability of small rural communities. Speaking at the Oireachtas Committee hearing on rural sustainability, CEO Vincent Jennings told the Committee on Rural Affairs that “small shops are the cornerstone of rural sustainability”. However, he warned that they face “a unique basket of challenges, from Brexit to crime, absentee banks, insurance costs, increased regulation and new alcohol regulations”. Pictured are the CSNA delegation: CEO, Vincent Jennings; Ann Martyn, National The CSNA CEO explained that our local Vice-President CSNA (Mountrath) and Noel Kelly, National President CSNA shops play a vital role in the community, both social and economic. “Local shops are frequently (Monasterevin), with Martin Heydon TD, Chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party. the place where many young people get their viability of our businesses, whilst rural crime via shoplifting, first taste of employment, whilst we also provide burglary, armed raids and cyber theft are serious threats,” work to many women who would consider themselves as he warned, urging the Committee to seek fundamental primarily homemakers but avail of flexible working hours,” reforms in data protection to allow rural landowners and he said. businesses to protect themselves through CCTV and the Jennings commended the government’s commitment to sharing of images. a rural charter, but called for a commitment to improving CSNA President, Noel Kelly called for a “rural health broadband throughout the country, urged the Government check on legislation that may affect countryside SMEs and to respond to “the scandalous closure of bank branches for an amendment to existing Competition Law to provide throughout the country” and requested a guarantee of for representative bodies to engage with suppliers to discuss insurance be given to shops seeking flood risk insurance. pricing”. “The rising cost of insurance is a significant threat to the

Scottish Court Clears the Way for Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol THE decision by the Scottish Court of Session regarding Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) has been met with mixed reactions here in Ireland. It is broadly believed that Irish stakeholders, including the Government, were waiting to hear the result of the Scottish case, whereby the Scotch Whisky Association’s objection that introducing MUP would be anti-competitive and contrary to EU law was over-ruled, with the court ruling that Minimum Unit Pricing could be introduced on health grounds. The decision was welcomed by the National Off Licence Association (NOffLA). Evelyn Jones, Government Affairs Director of NOffLA, described the court ruling as “an important day for public health policy across Europe. The outcome of this case hopefully marks the end of Minimum Unit Pricing’s lengthy legal process. We urge the Government to push ahead and introduce MUP in Ireland as part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill immediately. “MUP is a vital tool in addressing social health and public order issues, while also encouraging a sustainable retail environment,” she continued. “The introduction of MUP will help tackle the irresponsible retail of alcohol at ultra-cheap prices and ensure that alcohol is no longer sold at prices cheaper than water.” The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) also welcomed the decision, with a statement noting how “the VFI hopes that this decision will encourage our own Government to

introduce the same measure here”. The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI), however, feel that a ban on below cost selling would be far more effective. Ross Mac Mathúna, ABFI Director, told Retail News: “Ultimately, if the Government wants to bring this in, they will do so, and we are not going to take the Government to court over it.” See our exclusive interview on this and other topics (Page 60).

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Structural Separation A Real Concern THE issue of structural separation continues to be the most contentious aspect the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill where retailers are concerned. CSNA Chief Executive, Vincent Jennings argued that structural separation “could yet be the straw that breaks the back of struggling retailers”. Tara Buckley, Director General, RGDATA, has warned that structural separation “will hammer smaller community based shops and will not deliver on the Bill’s objectives.” When the Committee Stage of the Public Health Bill was scheduled for the Seanad, RGDATA made a presentation to TDs and Senators to highlight the concerns of local shopkeepers about the Structural Separation proposal in the Bill. Numerous Senators supported the RGDATA position when the Committee Stage opened in Seanad Eireann. Following briefings from RGDATA and many individual shop owners about the adverse impact of the Structural Separation proposal on local shops, 20 TDs and Senators spoke in favour of RGDATA’s position at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Meeting. “An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny has indicated that the Bill will be amended to address the concerns of local shops,” Buckley revealed. “RGDATA is currently working on securing an amendment that addresses the concerns of

An RGDATA Delegation made a presentation to TDs and Senators to highlight the concerns of local shopkeepers about the Structural Separation proposal in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.

local community retailers.” An RGDATA delegation also met with Minister of State at the Department of Health Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD on the issue. The issue is of structural separation and the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in general are among the topics covered in our Retail News Interview with Ross Mac Mathúna, Director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (Page 60).

Price Wars? Ireland Vs UK WHILE the shelf price of many grocery products is falling in Ireland, it has risen dramatically in the UK, new reports reveal. In Ireland, the price of goods has fallen by 2.9% on average over the last quarter. Prices were down 8.5% in the first 10 months of 2016, compared to the same period last year, according to the November edition of Retail Ireland Monitor. Meanwhile, a new survey in the UK has revealed increases of up to 63% on products in the UK. The survey, conducted by the Guardian newspaper and MySupermarket.com, found an average 5.7% price rise in a basket of 20 products. The disparity in prices between Ireland and the UK is largely a result of the Brexit vote and the decline in the value of sterling. “There is limited scope to reduce prices further,” said Thomas Burke, Retail Ireland Director. “Retailers are squeezed on the one side by a consumer that is demanding price reductions to reflect the sterling devaluation, and on

the other by UK-based suppliers seeking price increases to offset increasing input costs. This pressure has the potential to destroy margins in the sector.” The rise in prices in the UK has affected Irish food and drink exports, according to Paul Kelly, FDII: “We have seen effectively 25% change in the currency over the last number of months. The hard discounters have doubled their market share from 5%-10%, so there's a continuous price war going on in the UK. As a result, the large retailers are reluctant to pass through currency cost increases. That's a huge cost for Irish businesses.” On a more optimistic note, Retail Ireland Monitor found that sales values and volumes had risen 2.5% and 3.1% in supermarkets and convenience stores. Irish service stations are also experiencing increased footfall and sales, the report found.

New CEO at Bord Bia TARA McCarthy will take over as Chief Executive of Bord Bia, succeeding current Chief Executive, Aidan Cotter, who will retire in January 2017. McCarthy, who was appointed following a rigorous and competitive process overseen by the Board of Bord Bia, has been Chief Executive of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), since September, 2015. Prior to this, she worked with Bord Bia for over 20 years, holding a number of senior positions, including Senior Manager, Consumer Foods Division (2001-2011), and Director, Food and Beverage Division (2011-2015). “It is an honour to be asked to lead Bord Bia during what is a very exciting time for the Irish food and drink industry,”

she said. “Our total exports target of €19 billion, as set out by FoodWise 2025, is ambitious, yet achievable, and I am looking forward to working with all stakeholders, including farmers, food manufacturers and producers in order to reach that goal. I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Aidan Cotter, and I hope to build upon his outstanding work over the coming years.”

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Dunnes Up To Second in Supermarket Wars THE latest supermarket share figures from Kantar Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend Worldpanel in Ireland, for the 12 Weeks to 11 Oct 2015 12 Weeks to 09 Oct 2016 change** 12 weeks ending %* %* % October 9, 2016, show Dunnes Total Grocers 100.0% 100.0% 3.9 Stores continues Total Multiples 89.5% 89.0% 3.4 to be one of the SuperValu 22.7% 22.4% 2.9 biggest success Tesco 22.7% 21.6% -1.3 stories in Irish Dunnes 21.5% 22.0% 6.2 retail. Sales at Lidl 11.4% 11.6% 5.1 the retailer have grown by 6.2% Aldi 11.1% 11.4% 6.6 over the past Other Outlets** 10.5% 11.0% 8.6 quarter, helping the grocer *= Percentage Share of Total Grocers capture 22% **= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops of the grocery market and Performance for Tesco has improved compared to rise to second previous months, with value sales falling by just 1.3%, the position overall. lowest level of decline since May this year, while volume “The biggest factor driving growth for Dunnes over the sales increased. Tesco’s market share now stands at 21.6%. past year has been an increase in the size of the average Lidl has increased its share of the market to 11.6%, shopping trip, which has grown by €3 to €38.10,” explains with sales growth of 5.1%. The average Lidl shopper visited David Berry, Director at Kantar Worldpanel. “The retailer the retailer 11 times over the past quarter. “In what looks with the next largest trip size is Aldi, where shoppers part like a shift to an increasing reliance on its own brand lines, with €25.10 on average, €13 less than at Dunnes.” branded items accounted for just 10% of Lidl’s sales during Since its introduction, Dunnes’ ‘Shop and Save’ initiative the past 12 weeks, compared to over 20% in 2012,” David has gone from strength to strength, Berry notes: “The Berry continues. campaign has been very successful in persuading shoppers Aldi enjoyed the strongest growth across the market this to spend more, and we’ve seen a whopping 18% increase in quarter, with sales 6.6% higher than last year, boosting its shopping trips where consumers spend over €100 since last share of the market to 11.4%. year.” Grocery market inflation stands at 1.3% for the 12 week SuperValu continues to hold the number one position in period ending October 9, down from the 2.2% seen last Ireland, with sales growth of 2.9%: the retailer has managed month. to recruit an additional 38,000 shoppers during the past 12 For more information, see www.kantarworldpanel.com. weeks compared with last year.

Food Surplus Enterprises Join Forces TWO of the country’s biggest social enterprises dealing with the redistribution of surplus food have joined forces. FoodCloud, the internationally acclaimed Irish social enterprise that pioneered the distribution of leading retailers’ surplus food to local charities, is joining forces with Bia Food Initiative, the very successful operator of three large-scale food redistribution depots across Ireland, which matches surplus food from food manufacturers and distributors to charities. Bia Food Initiative is now known as FoodCloud Hubs. Working together with FoodCloud, they will now offer a solution for surplus food at every step of the supply chain. This ground breaking solution will see 4,000 tonnes of food being saved from going to waste in Ireland and the UK in 2017. Working together, FoodCloud and FoodCloud Hubs will offer businesses an integrated, ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to help them to process the estimated 400,000 tonnes of organic waste that is generated every year by the industrial food producing sector in Ireland. Much of this food is not waste, but high quality-

FoodCloud co-founders Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien are pictured at the launch of the FoodCloud Hub in Tallaght, Dublin 24 where it was announced that Bia Food Initiative and FoodCloud are coming together.

food that is wasted, due to order cancellations, mistakes in packing and other factors.

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Money Can Grow on TREEs! A NEW and free online resource has been launched to help SMEs identify areas where savings can be made through improved environmental practices. The new tool called TREE (Tool for REsource Efficiency) was officially launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who joined Green Business, which is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and provides free, expert and confidential advice to SMEs to help them to achieve cost savings through greater efficiencies in water, waste and energy. The tool, which allows business to carry out a quick assessment of their current business practices and awareness, takes less than 15 minutes to complete. From the short questionnaire, businesses then receive a tailor-made report with recommendations of where efficiencies relating to the management of their energy, water and materials within their business can be made. Green Business has worked with hundreds of companies throughout Ireland and identified more than €9m worth of potential cost savings for businesses large and small, such as Kerry Foods, ABP Food Group, Ballon Meats, and Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre. According to James Hogan, Programme Manager with Green Business, the tool is aimed at the 90% of Irish businesses that have 10 or fewer employees: “All of these businesses have the potential to improve efficiency and

reduce costs, thereby improving the sustainability of their business, increasing profitability, and in turn securing jobs through a circular economy.” An Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Gerard O'Leary Helping of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to launch at the launch of TREE, a free online resource the tool, An to help SMEs identify where improved green Taoiseach practices can be made. Enda Kenny said: ”I would encourage all SMEs in Ireland to avail of the free online tool, TREE. The tool identifies where and how low cost yet high yield improvements can be made. It is vital for businesses all over the country to realise and understand how improved management and sustainable practices not only reduces your carbon footprint but also your outgoings.” The Tool for REsource Efficiency is available at greenbusiness.ie.

New Rules for Nutrition Labelling THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reminded food businesses that from December 13, 2016, EU Regulations will require that most prepacked food products must provide mandatory nutritional information to enable consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing food. However, certain prepacked foods are exempted from the requirement to provide nutrition information, one of which is the manufacture of small quantities of foods that are supplied directly by the manufacturer to the consumer or to local retailers for direct supply to the consumer. The EU legislation does not define ‘small quantities’ or ‘local’, rather it advised that each Member State must provide a definition in their local market. To this end, the Department of Health has now introduced Irish law [S.I. 559 of 2016] defining what is meant by ‘small quantities’ and ‘local retail establishment’. Under the new legislation, ‘small quantities’ of food is defined as (a) 250 kilograms or litres per week or 13,000 kilograms or litres of products per year or (b) 500 units

per week or 26,000 units per year. Manufacturers can choose either. ‘Local’ is defined as not more than 100km from where the product is manufactured. The FSAI has prepared Q&A which provide guidance for manufacturers and retailers on the exemption and these are free to download at www.fsai.ie. Food businesses with questions in relation to this can also contact their Advice Line at info@fsai.ie. Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD said that the “primary objective of the suite of legislation is to allow consumers make informed food choices about the prepacked food they are purchasing”. He went on to say that the EU Regulation, “also recognises that the requirement for mandatory nutritional information may place a burden on certain food businesses and allows for certain exemptions. The S.I. being introduced provides definition to what will be deemed ‘small quantities’ of food and ‘local retail establishments’ for the purpose of the exemption, thus providing clarity to food businesses and indeed to the prospective retailer and consumer.”

Consumer Spending Growth Slows WHILE Visa's Irish Consumer Spending Index (CSI) continued to signal increases in expenditure in October, the annual rate of expansion slowed to the weakest in almost a year-and-a-half. Expenditure across all payment types (cash, cheques and electronic payments) rose 4.3% year-on-year, down from 5.0% in September and the weakest increase since May 2015. The latest expansion was also slower than the average seen across the 26 months of the series so far. The latest slowdown in the rate of

expansion continued a recent trend which has seen much weaker increases in expenditure than in the first half of 2016. Growth in overall spending was hampered by a reduction in expenditure in face-to-face categories. Face-toface spending was down -0.4% year-on-year, the first decline recorded in the series so far. Recreation & Culture remained the star performer, seeing spending rise +15.1% year-on-year. Solid, but slower increases in spending were also seen in the Household Goods and Food & Drink categories.

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Galway www.retailsolutions.ie Tuesday According to Bord Bia, this market segment has 093 23900 Fax: 70108 Tel:Email: 093 23900 Fax: 093 70108! info@retailsolutions.ie Tel: 093 23900 Fax: 093 70108 Tel: Tel: 093Friday 23900 Fax: 70108 sunday 6819 18 Sunday saturday 4093093 Email: info@retailsolutions.ie www.retailsolutions.ie Email: info@retailsolutions.ie Tel: 093 23900 Fax: 093 70108 Email: info@retailsolutions.ie Tuesday Email: info@retailsolutions.ie 8 Monday 7 4 Monday 4 76 leave requests are confirmed. wednesday benefited from better than anticipated economic growth, Email: info@retailsolutions.ie www.retailsolutions.ie Monday saturday7920 19 Monday sunday 5 www.retailsolutions.ie wednesday www.retailsolutions.ie www.retailsolutions.ie 9 www.retailsolutions.ie Tuesday 8 5 Tuesday 5 87 Thursday www.retailsolutions.ie buoyant consumer confidence, a strong domestic and sunday 810 Tuesday 20 Tuesday Monday 6 21 Thursday 10 wednesday Wednesday wednesday 9 8 9 6 6 Friday • An employer can refuse a request for annual leave Monday911 wednesday 21 international tourist market, an unemployment rate that Wednesday 7 Tuesday 22 Friday 11 9 7 Thursday 7 10 saturday 12 if the timingThursday is unsuitable10but remember that saturday Tuesday 22 Thursday 10 Thursday 8 wednesday is now less than 8%, and the continuation of 9% VAT for 23 12 Friday 10 11 8 Friday 8 11 For you all your Corporate sunday 13 wednesday 23 as an employer, must takeand into account thesunday Friday 11 For more information call Friday 9 Thursday 24 For all your Corporate and hospitality. 13 Contract Publishing Needs Saturday saturday 11 12 9 saturday 9 12 Monday 14 For more information call Thursday 24 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 saturday 12 Saturday needs of the employee. Consultation is imperative 10 Contract Publishing Needs Friday 25 Monday 14 “It has been a bumper year for foodservice in Ireland,” Sunday Friday 1013 sunday 12 13 10 sunday MoTHer’s day consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 Tuesday Call the Experts 15 25 sunday 13 Sunday 11 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'< saturday and we suggest you set out a clear policy in your 26 Tuesday 15 Callconsumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com the Experts revealed Bord Bia’s foodservice specialist, Maureen Gahan. Monday 13 14 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$&?$@'A'?? 11 Monday 1114 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7 wednesday 16 saturday 26 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$ Monday Monday 14 12 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)=' sunday 27 wednesday shop’s handbook or contract of employment for staff 16 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$&?$@'A'???=8 “Despite the uncertainty that Brexit brings, we are still in Tuesday 15 14 15 12 Tuesday 01 6785165 Thursday 17 sunday1215 27 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'< !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$&?$@'A'???=8"#$%&,)&*#%)+,=%"'A'4BCD'C/E'C4E' !"#$%&'()&*# Tuesday Tuesday 13 Monday 28 Thursday 17 01leave. 6785165 requesting annual !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'< !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$&?$@'A'?? !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$&?$@'A'???=8"#$%&,)&*#%)+,=%"'A'4BCD'C/E'C4E' Wednesday wednesday 15 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+ 16 !"#$%&'()&*#%)+,-'.+%#,'/01/2-'345'6*,%+",,'7$89-':*$;-'<)='>$&?$@'A'?? 13 wednesday asH wedNesday 1316 the enviable position of being the fastest growing economy Friday Monday 18 28 wednesday Wednesday 16 14 TuesdayFriday 29 18 Thursday 16 17 14 Thursday sT. ValeNTiNe’s day 1417 within the EU. The foodservice market has witnessed Tuesday saturday 29 19 Thursday Thursday 15 wednesday saturday17 30 19 • Review yourFriday Annual Leave policies 17 18 and Sick Leave 15 Friday 1518 wednesday 30 sunday an annual growth rate of over 5% per year over the past 20 Friday sunday Friday 16 18 Thursday 20 31 saturday Saturday 18 19 1619 and update saturday them if necessary. Sample 16 policies are Thursday 31 Monday 21 number of years, with both consumer and business tourist Saturday saturday 17 21 Friday Monday19 Sunday Friday 1720 19 17 sunday sT PaTrick’s day available in sunday the members’20area on www.rgdata.ie. Tuesday 22 numbers fuelling major growth in urban centres.” SundayTuesday20 sunday 18 22 saturday Monday 20 21 18 Monday 1821 Public Holiday saturday wednesday 23 Monday 19 Monday wednesday 21 23 This year, for the first time, Bord Bia introduced a sunday Tuesday Tuesday 22 21 22 19 19 sunday For more information call Thursday 24 • Consider recruiting temporary staff for the busy For more information call Tuesday Tuesday Thursday22 20 24 Monday ‘Producer Showcase’ to the seminar whereby almost 100 Kathleenbelton@tarapublications.ie Wednesday wednesday Monday23 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 22 23 20 wednesday Friday 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 For more information call 25 Kathleenbelton@tarapublications.ie Wednesday Friday 2023 run-up to Christmas. 21 25 wednesday www.retailnews.ie Tuesday foodservice trade buyers had the opportunity to meet withFor more information call consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com For more information call Tuesday Thursday Thursday For more information call 24 23 24 21 saturday 2126 www.retailnews.ie 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 saturday Thursday For more information call 26 22 Thursday 24 consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.c 40 Irish food and drink producers in a ‘Farmers Market’- 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 Friday 25 24 25 22 Friday sunday 27 01 4046438 or 086 3894276 Friday sunday2225 27 23 Friday consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com • If you need to take on extra staff, it is important style environment. consumeradhesives.ireland@ie.henkel.com Saturday saturday 25 26 23 saturday 2326 Monday 28 Monday 28 Saturday 24 saturday 26 to know your employees’ rights and entitlements. Sunday sunday 26 27 24 sunday 2427 Tuesday 29 29 SundayTuesday 25 sunday 27 Seasonal work is temporary lastswednesday for 2528 Monday 27 28 and generally 25 Monday LONDIS wednesday 30 30 lOnDis 28 Monday 26 Monday RETAILERSretailers a few weeksTuesday or a few months. Short term employees 28 29 26 Tuesday 2629 Thursday 31 31 Tuesday 27 Tuesday MORE Thursday 29 MOre have the same rights as permanent employees and Wednesday wednesday 29 30 27 wednesday 2730 MUCH loved CHILLEDFriday Friday Wednesday 28 chilleD wednesday 30 www.rgdata.ie www.rgdata.ie THAN EVER 31 30 31 28 Thursday than28 ever are entitled Thursday to a written statement of the terms TV chef and saturday saturday Thursday 29 Thursday 31 Friday Friday 2931 Good Friday sunday and conditions of their employment, including rest sunday food writer, Friday HELPLINE 01 283 4188 30 HELPLINE 01 283 4188 Friday Saturday saturday annual leave, publicsaturday 30 31 easTer suNday Monday Monday period entitlements, holiday Saturday Catherine saturday sunday Sunday sunday 31 Tuesday Tuesday Sunday entitlements etc., which are contained in the Confederation House Fulvio, sunday Monday Monday 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 Monday Organisation of Working Time Act. Fixed Term Monday returned to Tuesday TuesdayTel: 01-6051558 Tuesday Tuesday contracts usuallywww.retailireland.ie meet these requirements. See our TV screens sample contract on www.rgdata.ie. recently LONDIS lOnDis with a brand RETAILERSretailers IRELAND’S LONGEST ES new format MORE MOre LONDIS chilleD LONDIS CHILLED www.rgdata.ie lOnDis cooking, travel To than ever www.rgdata.ie RETAILERS RETAILERS THANwww.rgdata.ie EVER retailers MORE MORE and lifestyle Cont MOre HELPLINE 01 283 4188 CHILLED CHILLED Pictured are TV chef Catherine Fulvio, with www.rgdata.ie HELPLINE www.rgdata.ie chilleD www.rgdata.ie series, Tastes HELPLINE THAN EVER 01 283 4188 THAN EVER 01 283 4188 www.rgdata.ie than ever Seamus Griffin, Griffin Group MD, and Terry like Home, HELPLINE 01 283 4188 HELPLINE 01 283 4188 HELPLINE 01 283 4188 O'Brien, Londis Sandyford, with Tastes like HELPLINE 01 283 4188 on RTÉ One, Home contestant Jacinta Bailie. which is being For further information on this, go the Members’ Only sponsored by Londis. Over six weeks, Catherine selects six section at www.rgdata.ie. If you need your members’ families to join her on a mission to establish a meal that username and/or password, email us at rgdata@rgdata.ie “Tastes like Home” and to bring these tastes across the globe or call the to Irish family members who are living abroad. Six families Helpline on 01-2834188. from across the country were chosen to meet with Catherine to teach her how to make their 'Tastes like Home' dish. If you are interested in joining RGDATA, please contact Catherine visits the family here, before jetting off to recreate us on 01-2834188. the dish for the family member living abroad.

Advice Column

She

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September 2012

OctOber 2012

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OctOber 2012

Londis Sponsors TV Show

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

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

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September 2012

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9548 Marvellous Creations A4 sell story.pdf

Guides for masthead

09/06/2014

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September 2012

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SEPTEMBER 2014

September 2012

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savings of 6% with new centralised chill facility! Because we are ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ our focus is on passing savings back to our retailers. The introduction

Savings of 6% with new Centralised Chill facility!

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

Retail Cover Oct12.indd 1

big brand availability, store efficiencies extra margin to savings of 6% with and new centralised chill facility! Londis retailers. No wonder it’s scored unanimous satisfaction

22/10/2012 14:23

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

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

CMY

Retail Cover Oct12.indd 1

Savings of 6% with new Centralised Chill facility! of our Centralised Chill facility brings with it big savings,

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s, 1 Bar.

2 Chunks, 2 Texture

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MEET THE MARVELLOUS CREATIONS FAMILY

Retail News June 2014.indd 1

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

Industry News Gala Red Carpet at the IFTA Gala Television Awards THE brightest talents in Irish entertainment gathered at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Dublin for the annual IFTA Gala Television Awards recently. The ceremony, presented by Amanda Byram, welcomed almost 500 guests from the world of Irish television, who attended to celebrate and reward the very best of Irish creative talent and Irish home-grown TV programming in categories such as entertainment, soap and comedy. Gala Retail, the headline sponsor of the event, introduced two new elements to this year’s proceedings in the form of a new award, the Gala TV Rising Star Award and the introduction of a Gala Red Carpet

Reporter, Yvette Poufong, whose red carpet video is now available to view on Gala’s facebook page. The Gala TV Rising Star Award was presented by Gala’s CEO Gary Desmond to comedian and TV presenter, Al Porter. For the full list of winners, visit www. ifta.ie and for pics from the event, see www.facebook.com/ GalaRetail. Aine Moriarty, CEO of IFTA, and Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, are pictured with broadcaster Pat Kenny (centre), recipient of the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award, at the IFTA Gala Television Awards.

RELAUNCH OF PATTERSON’S LONDIS IN FOXROCK PATTERSON’S Londis in Foxrock, Co. Dublin, has recently completed a revamp of the store and the official relaunch took place on October 28, with special guests including broadcasters George Hook and Bobby Kerr, who is also Chairman of Insomnia Coffee. Patterson’s revamped Londis store has a number of new elements, including a new fresh food offering called Londis Deli, which focuses on an improved range of healthy,

Keelings Invests in New Fleet KEELINGS has revealed a brand new convoy of 12 Scania trucks and trailers with McElvaney Motors, as part of the company’s successful growth and innovation strategy. Where once the company supplied to the local Dublin market only, it now ships, sources and distributes fresh produce from around the world into Ireland, the UK and European markets. The brand new fleet further solidifies the company’s presence on the ground, while strengthening Keelings' brand visibility nationwide. “The growing market, our ever-expanding customer base and our desire to be the freshest, best-in-class produce supplier, has prompted us to invest in our own vehicles,” explained Michael Murphy, Head of Global / National Transport Logistics at Keelings. “Our most recent investment in the impressive fleet of 12 Scania trucks and trailers means that we now have an effective and reliable route to market via our chilled /ambient vans, rigid trucks and HGVs.” Pictured are (l-r): Michael Murphy, GMTIP Trailers; Aaron O'Grady, MD, Vision Branding; Michael Murphy, Head of Supply Chain Transport, Keelings; Reuben O’Grady, Operations Manager, Vision Branding; and Adrian McElvaney, MD, McElvaney Scania Ireland.

fresh fare. They have also added an impressive home bakery section and are serving premium coffee brand, Insomnia. The main focus of the revamp was to showcase the new Londis store design concept and to enhance the range of fresh food options in store, as well as extending the wine and beer offering. “We have made considerable investment in the store in the past year,” said store owner Patrick Patterson. “Fresh food is a massive focus for us and I believe our new offering makes us stand out. I think the investment in the store will better service the community in the years ahead.” Patrick Patterson, owner of Londis Foxrock, is pictured with broadcaster George Hook and Bobby Kerr, Chairman of Insomnia Coffee and broadcaster, and Conor Hayes, Londis Sales Director.

New €5m SuperValu Opens in Kingscourt SUPERVALU will create 15 new jobs at its new store in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. SuperValu Kingscourt, operated by local businessman Eugene O’Gorman, will move from its current location to a nearby 14,875 square feet state-of-the-art new store, bringing the total number of employees to 50 and representing a total investment of €5m. The 15 new jobs which are to be created in-store include a number of specialist positions, as part of SuperValu’s commitment to providing quality fresh food, with a new butcher counter, hot food delicatessen and bakery all available in-store. The new store will include some exciting additions, including a dedicated health and wellness zone, access to free WiFi, and the introduction of Frank and Honest coffee, a new gourmet coffee range from SuperValu, which will also be available in-store. Pictured are store owner Eugene O’Gorman; Gemma Dillon, Store Manager, SuperValu Kingscourt; and Eoghan Jones, Sales Manager, SuperValu.

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

Industry News SuperValu Partner with Bank of Ireland as part of Real Rewards Relaunch SUPERVALU has announced a new partnership with Bank of Ireland as part of the relaunch of its Real Rewards loyalty programme. SuperValu’s ambition is for Real Rewards to become the number one loyalty programme in the country and the extension of the scheme to bring in new partners is one of the most significant business milestones for Ireland’s leading grocery retailer this year. In order to realise that ambition, SuperValu will be introducing exciting new partners, giving customers even more ways to earn points and get even more value from the Real Rewards programme. Bank of Ireland is the first in a number of new partners

from a range of different industries that SuperValu will incorporate into its Real Rewards programme, building upon its existing relationships with Electric Ireland and Getaway Breaks. SuperValu has also launched a first for the Irish market, eSHOPS, an online shopping portal offer that enables customers to earn Real Rewards points when they shop with over 100 online brands such as eBay, Expedia, Debenhams and Eason through the supervalu.ie website. Pictured are Niall Dineen, Residential Markets Manager, Electric Ireland; Richie Boucher, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland; and Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu.

Capri-Sun Reveals Top Family Activities A RECENT survey carried out by Capri-Sun revealed that 86% of Irish parents believe they are an active family. The survey of 1,000 respondents uncovered the top five family sporting activities, in order of popularity, as walking, swimming, cycling, football and running. Families spend on average between two to six hours a week being active together, whether it’s one full day on a Saturday or the time is divided throughout the week. 35% of respondents to the survey indicated the

significant importance of family bonding time, with many placing ‘creating connections and relationships with children’ as their number one parenting priority, followed by ‘ensuring their children know how important they are to them and how they value the time together’ at 26%. Pictured is Model Sarah McGovern Vaughan and daughter Robyn Vaughan enjoying the midterm break as Capri-Sun research reveals the importance of creating a strong family bond for Irish parents.

Barry Group Partner with Bia Food Initiative

THE Barry Group and all of their trade suppliers recently partnered with the Bia Food Initiative at the Barry Group Trade Show. Each year, the Barry Group Trade Show produces a large value of food surplus and this year, once again, all the surplus food was redistributed to a variety of charities across Ireland who support the most vulnerable people in our communities. Thanks to the Barry Group and their suppliers, the Bia Food Initiative achieved 4.8 tonnes of surplus food redistributed plus 1/2 tonne of non-food products, delivering €14,400 savings on food costs for the charities, 10.500 meals for people in need and 19.5 tonnes CO2 savings. Karen Horgan, Bia Food Initiative, is pictured with Amy Barry and Niall Hartnett, HR Director, Barry Group.

Boxing Clever with Katie

IRISH boxing hero, Katie Taylor arrived to Scoil Iosef Naofa in Roscrea recently to lead a very special training session with 24 lucky national school students. As part of P&G’s Thank You Mum campaign, Jack Ryan, a local seven-yearold boy, won the P&G Olympics competition in association with SuperValu, offering schools and clubs nationwide the opportunity to win a training session with Katie Taylor. P&G’s Thank You Mum campaign is all about showing it takes someone strong to make someone strong, and schools, sports teams and clubs from all over Ireland were encouraged to enter by showing what makes them strong and brave. Katie is pictured with twins Amy and Jack Ryan.

Tesco Deck the Aisles with Poinsettias NO flower says Christmas quite like the beautiful poinsettia, and this year, Tesco are stocking five different types of the Bord Bia quality assured Irish-grown poinsettias from Swords based grower, Uniplumo, including the introduction this year of a new luxury poinsettia wrap, as well as a range of festive floral baskets and luxury Irish wreaths. Five-year-old Jasmine Butler from Walkinstown, Co. Dublin, is pictured surrounded by thousands of the first Tesco poinsettias of the season at Uniplumo, Swords, Co. Dublin.

Altogether more.

Customers love Northern Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multi-award winning food and drink products We have a superb track record at the Great Taste Awards, Irish Quality Food Awards and the Blas na hEireann Awards. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the combination of our quality environment and innovative producers who are dedicated to traceability, passionate about quality and driven to go the extra mile. To find out more about how Northern Irish food and drink can help drive your business forward, visit BuyNIFood.com

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

Industry News HBAN Invests in Wicklow Wolf HBAN (Halo Business Angel Network) has announced a €2m investment in craft beer company, Wicklow Wolf. The investment will be used to fund a new brewing site in Wicklow which will enable a 15-fold increase in production and facilitate expansion into international markets. It will also lead to the creation of 20 jobs. HBAN is an all-island organisation responsible for the promotion of business angel investment and a joint initiative of InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland. HBAN’s Food Syndicate is one of the leading stakeholders in the deal, contributing €722,000, with the rest coming from Enterprise Ireland and a number of private investors. Pictured announcing the deal are (l-r): Simon Lynch, coowner, Wicklow Wolf; Stephen Twaddell, chair, HBAN Food Syndicate; and Quincey Fennelly, co-owner, Wicklow Wolf.

Sudocrem Baby Changing Room Awards

SUDOCREM, the iconic Irish brand, recently announced 31 winners in the first annual Sudocrem Baby Changing Room Awards. Chosen by a public vote, the winning venues were awarded 1, 2 or 3 stars for providing clean, safe and warm baby changing room facilities. To encourage other venues to improve their facilities, Sudocrem is also launching a list of criteria on what parents want in a baby changing room, including clean facilities, changing tables at waist height and a baby changing mat that features a security belt. These awards are part of Sudocrem’s 85th anniversary celebrations. Little star, seven-week-old Elliot Duignan is pictured, with a background created using items you should find in baby changing rooms.

Value Centre Invests In New Trucks VALUE Centre has made a considerable investment into its North Western network, involving the purchase of a fleet of new trucks to enhance its service to businesses in the region. The company has added six new trucks at a cost of €700,00 to its existing fleet. In addition, Value Centre Letterkenny has undergone considerable investment and upgrading in recent years, making it a state-of-the-art facility for local businesses. A key part of the upgrade also included a range extension of chilled and frozen foods which were showcased at a recent customer event held in The Silver Tassie Hotel. Over 100 customers were in attendance to see the newest ranges and what is on offer for Christmas. Pictured with the new fleet of trucks are Kieran Barron, Manager, Value Centre Letterkenny, with Paul Bealin, Value Centre Commercial Manager.

Mace Raises Over €187k for Irish Hospice Foundation MACE has raised €187,243 for The Irish Hospice Foundation so far this year through a number of different activities, including donations via the sale of a selected range of Mace Own Brand products. There were Mace charity collection units in store across the country and there were also numerous charity initiatives, including FM104’s ‘The Big Ask’ Fundraiser and an auction at last year’s Mace Retailer Convention. The Mace partnership is raising funds for the Nurses for Night Care Programme, a free service that brings professional end-of-life care to people in their own home. “Mace has been a charity partner of the Irish Hospice Foundation since June 2014,” explains Mace Sales Director, Alex Banahan. “We are delighted to support this really worthy cause. The Nurses for Night Care Programme is a very valuable service to communities across the country.”

Community Food Projects Rewarded THE Irish Food Writers’ Guild recently presented the 2016 IFWG Community Food Awards, celebrating and recognising social responsibility in the food sector in Ireland. Winners were chosen for their community-oriented work in areas such as food education, conservation and sustainability or for their charity or other community programmes. The Irish Seed Savers Association, an organisation that embodies and protects the richness of Ireland’s agricultural legacy, was the big winner, while also recognised were Leitrim’s Organic Centre, Belfastbased Loaf Catering, Donegal’s OURganic Gardens and the Cork Food Policy Council’s Edible Greening Initiative. Pictured are (clockwise from top of stairs): Joanne Butler, OURganic Gardens; Gaby and Hans Wieland of the Organic Centre; Alice Doyle, Cork Food Policy Council; Tansy Watson, Irish Seed Savers Association; and Maeve Monaghan, Loaf Catering.

NEW EUROPEAN TOBACCO REGULATIONS The journey ahead

20 May 2016 Introduction of new packaging regulations

Tobacco products that were produced before 20 May 2016 remain compliant with the law and can continue to be sold at retail until 19 May 2017

20 May 2017

Only tobacco products that comply with the new packaging rules can be sold from this date*

*For full details, please visit jti.com/Ireland. Alternatively, speak to your JTI contact, call 01 404 0240 or email customerservices.ireland@jti.com.

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

Retail Ireland Summit

Addressing the Omnichannel Challenge The Retail Ireland Summit saw a host of experts exploring the ways that retailers need to be fully up-to-date in a 21st century retail environment.

THE Retail Ireland Summit 2016, held recently at the Guinness Storehouse, addressed “the omnichannel challenge.” The conference explored the various ways in which consumers access the market and what steps businesses must undertake in order to be fully up to date in a 21st century retail environment. In addition to discussing recent retail market trends both at home and abroad, speakers identified skills gaps in Irish retail and how to attract the workforce of the future. In his welcoming address, Chairperson of Retail Ireland and MD of Eason & Son, Conor Whelan, explained that the Irish retail industry is worth €30 billion a year, employing over 275,000 people and generating at least €5.7 billion in tax. After three years of what he called “a modest recovery”,

Whelan said the full restoration of a strong retail market is far from complete and heavy discounting has been necessary to drive footfall into stores. Larry Ryan, Director, Qualitative & Quantitative Researcher, Behaviour & Attitudes, revealed the results of a recent online survey of 2,000 consumers. It discovered that 45% of people shop online regularly, with 19% preferring this platform to traditional “bricks and mortar” stores. 76% believe technology is an important part of their shopping experience. Almost half view social media as very relevant to their relationships with firms and brands. Interestingly, 88% of consumers engage in loyalty schemes, with the average consumer participating in 3.9 schemes and Tesco and

Retail News|November 2016|www.retailnews.ie|17

Retail Ireland Summit Dunnes proving to be the most popular. Coming up to another Christmas, there has been a fifth year-on-year growth in customers shopping online. While this is undoubtedly accentuated by younger consumers, a majority of traditional shoppers believe digital is extremely important and over 50% of people see an enduring relationship with a brand through social media as very desirable. Keynote Address In his keynote address, leading futurist and author Patrick Dixon, who is rated as one of the top 20 business thinkers in the world, delivered an entertaining and energetic presentation on how the market might look in 2026. Dixon said he believes many lifestyle trends are changing much slower than people anticipate and traditional iconic brands continue to endure across generations. Multinationals come and go, but good brands survive. Dixon viewed the core values of any brand as intrinsically linked to consumers’ trust and emotion and the challenge of the future will be to “create magic for customers”. He predicted there will be a proliferation of niche traders offering customers a unique experience, moving away from the current tendency of 70% of retail spend concentrated with just eight companies. The vast majority of online retailing will be on smartphones, which already have in excess of 50% penetration rate in the UK. Dixon said he doesn’t believe Brexit will have any great difference to retail as geographically Britain is in Europe and this fact will remain, regardless of any present or future political union. The Retail Skills Gap Tony Donohoe, Head of Education and Social Policy at Ibec, examined the retail skills gap and observed how customers are potentially future employees. He highlighted Gardner’s five minds of the future: namely, a workforce which is disciplined, skilled, creative, capable of synthesising from many different spheres, mindful of different customers’ needs and respectful. He praised and highlighted Skillnets for actively supporting and working with Irish businesses to address their current and future skills needs. On a panel discussion on the same subject, Thomas Burke of Retail Ireland said the key to attracting good talent is to view the retail sector as being able to provide jobs for everyone. Retail is the biggest private sector employer in the country and needs to view itself as such in order to gain wider recognition. Tony Donohue spoke about the need for extremely wellinformed and knowledgeable staff and sales assistants. He noted a “back to the future” trend in the value of apprenticeships and experience. Co-founder of Peter Mark, Cathal Keaveney said the key to a successful business and efficient staff are happy customers, from which everything else follows. “Doing the Ordinary Extraordinarily Well” Chris Martin, Musgrave Group CEO, explained that navigating omnichannel in a traditional sense isn’t particularly new, but the world is moving at such a phenomenal pace that businesses must adapt or die. He maintained omnichannel essentially refers to how retailers engage with the consumer. In response to the recession, Musgraves worked hard at delivering great value. They also focused attention on their brand positions and ensured they fully understood their consumers and deepened connections within the process. This is what Martin called “doing the ordinary extraordinarily well.” Martin viewed the omnichannel challenge as essentially

Keynote speaker, leading futurist and author, Patrick Dixon provided an entertaining and energetic presentation.

A panel discussion featuring Tony Donohoe, Head of Education and Social Policy, Ibec; Thomas Burke, Director, Retail Ireland; Gretta Nash Cadden, Group Talent Development Manager, Brown Thomas; and Cathal Keaveney, Director of Professional Development, Peter Mark.

Musgrave Group CEO, Chris Martin addresses the Retail Ireland Summit.

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

Retail Ireland Summit

Conor Whelan, Chairperson of Retail Ireland and MD of Eason & Son.

how to get ahead of the consumer. Over half a million people in Ireland are millennials, who are willing to spend more on health awareness. They expect brands to be socially and community focused and seek memorable shopping experiences. Millennials make purchases on mobile devices and want maximum convenience at the lowest cost. Value, however, is a common theme with all consumers. “If you’re not in the game of value, you will not survive,” Martin said. Martin observed he sees a shift in categorising shoppers by age and type, such as younger consumers, empty nesters etc, to what people are actually shopping for, namely lunch, occasional treats, dining in, buying gifts etc. The second shift is for retailers to think digital, where the trick is to use technology to solve real consumer problems and not just technology for technology’s sake. The Musgrave Group have given careful consideration and attention to every point of customer contact from an email to a phone call to visiting a store. Martin identified millennials as having higher expectations and lower tolerance, while the older generation are no longer as traditional as they once were and are increasingly more technologically savvy. Anchoring An Online Shopping Centre Martin hailed SuperValu’s “let’s get Ireland cooking” project as a huge success, where content, ambassadors, nutritionists and chefs were sourced in response to the fact that over half of 34-year-olds said they never cooked. Recipes were developed and turned into short online videos as over 600,000 Irish consumers search online for recipes every month: the latest video for making a quiche was launched just three weeks before the summit and had already been viewed 250,000 times. The campaign was integrated with the SuperValu rewards scheme where shoppers can manage their points online, and also the provision of e-shops where site visitors could browse and buy hundreds of different brands. This essentially has acted as an online shopping centre with SuperValu as the anchor tenant. Martin observed that retail is getting increasingly experiential, where a combination of value, choice and service must be delivered. SuperValu have heavily invested in a website that works on all devices, one where it is very easy to locate special offers and replicate the convenience and ease of the in-store experience. The CEO said data is king and critical to any effort to get ahead of the customer and cited the example of managing data from social media to predict consumer behaviour. Using a tool called Socialbakers, the Musgrave Group have doubled their return on their investment by showing a customer the

Keith Hanley, Connected Retail Lead, MJ Flood Technology.

correct content at the right time. “As retailers, we are at the start of the game and we must look carefully over our shoulders at what Google and Amazon are doing,” Martin admitted. “Retailers have been here before and have faced similar challenges. Ultimately, the successful ones have evolved in delivering to the consumer. This doesn’t change, but it does mean adapting to get ahead of the consumer in order to reach a higher volume of business.” Complementing “Bricks and Mortar” A panel discussion focused on the phenomenal growth of online retailing and how it complements bricks and mortar stores. Tony Wheeler of Peter Jones and John Lewis revealed click-and-collect now accounts for 70% of their trading in the UK. While they don’t pay for celebrity endorsements, Kate Middleton visiting one of their stores, for example, would generate priceless publicity. He said online shopping allows an opportunity to experiment and showcase brands without necessarily having to occupy precious display space. Brendan Corbett, Head of Marketing, Eason, said their market is enjoying a resurgence after a challenging few years. He stressed the importance for all retailers to entice customers into stores so they can get the most out of their browsing and shopping experiences. In his closing address, Thomas Burke, Retail Ireland Director, thanked all the speakers and event MC, Collette Fitzpatrick from TV3. “The retail sector has experienced great challenges in recent times,” Burke concluded, “but hopefully we are coming through and there are very exciting times on the horizon.”

Tony Wheeler, Head of Branch, Peter Jones – John Lewis.

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

Grow My Business Conference

Focused on Growth!

An outstanding speaker line-up ensured another successful and sold out An Post Grow My Business Conference recently. FOLLOWING on from last year’s sold-out conferences in Dublin and Cork, the 2016 An Post Grow My Business interactive conferences took place in Croke Park Stadium on Tuesday, October 18, and in the Clarion Hotel, Cork, on Thursday, October 20. This time around, the stellar line up of influential speakers focused on ‘Turning Ideas into Income’. The panel of leading expert speakers also explored the challenges facing small to medium business owners and how they could identify and capitalise on exciting opportunities. The packed agenda included Stephen Ryan, Marketing Director at Red FM, who kicked off proceedings with his presentation on creating remarkable brand awareness in the digital age and a case study on his recent AdMailer.ie campaign. Bernie Kinsella, owner of worldBOX, told her story of how she survived the recession and the successful launch of the now hugely successful worldBOX.ie. Speed Networking Session Patricia Callan, Director of the Small Firms Association, spoke on Brexit and the implications for businesses in Ireland and also highlighted many of the Government supports that are available for SMEs. She also facilitated the SFA Speed Networking session, which took place during the break. An engaging idea generation session from Gary Brown, Chairman of advertising agency Target McConnells, featured live case studies from the audience. The Grow My Business Conference concluded with one of Ireland’s most successful business people and Dragon’s Den star Alison Cowzer, co-founder and Marketing/Innovation Director of East Coast Bakehouse. A Q&A session with a lively audience was also hosted by TV3/Newstalk presenter Colette Fitzpatrick. For more information, see www.anpost.ie/ GrowMyBusiness.

Fiona Heffernan, An Post, addresses delegates at the An Post Grow My Business event.

Pictured at the An Post Grow My Business event in Cork are Bernie Kinsella, worldBOX; Colette Fitzpatrick MC , Alison Cowzer, East Coast Bakehouse; and Fiona Heffernan, An Post.

Event MC, Collette Fitzpatrick, TV3, hosted a lively Q&A session.

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Tobacco

On the Road with JTI

With new EU tobacco regulations currently being phased in, JTI Ireland embarked on an extensive series of meetings to discuss the legislation with the country’s retailers. Large turnouts and very positive feedback prove that this was a vitally important initiative to undertake, explain JTI’s Derek Mooney and Nick Blake. THE tobacco category in Ireland is currently facing a number of regulatory challenges. From the potential introduction of a retail licence fee to the proposed ban on tobacco branding, it is difficult to keep up to speed with the ever-increasing regulation. The latest change for retailers and consumers are new EU tobacco regulations, known as TPD2. These new legislative requirements are currently being phased in across all tobacco products in Ireland and must be fully implemented at retail level from May 20, 2017.

Sixteen Meetings Nationwide To assist the retail trade toward ensuring compliance, JTI Ireland undertook a nationwide TPD2 roadshow to inform retailers about the changes to come and what is required of them. This involved inviting retailers to a series of large meetings in 16 venues across the country, where a team from JTI walked attendees through the new EU rules. Derek Mooney, Sales Director, According to JTI’s Sales Director, Derek Mooney, it was JTI Ireland. vital for the company to take this initiative: “The required legislative changes are extensive and complicated and impact many different stakeholders across the whole supply chain. As the leading tobacco company in Ireland, we have to lead by example. “As the new TPD2 rules are being phased in ahead of the May 2017 deadline, there is a lot of potential for confusion among retailers and their customers,” Mooney continues. “We will do whatever we can to assist our trade partners to ensure they are best equipped to manage this period of transition, and the widespread positive feedback we received from those who attended was evidence of the need for such an initiative. Adapting to meet new regulations is

a huge task, so sufficient time and preparation are essential if the tobacco sector is to be ready and compliant in time.” Bringing Retailers Up To Speed New restrictions on brand ‘descriptors’ and the introduction of a minimum pack size for Roll Your Own (RYO) tobacco are two examples of how the TPD2 changes could lead to confusion for retailers and consumers. “Smokers may Nick Blake, want to know why the name of JTI’s Director of their preferred brand variant has Corporate Affairs and changed, or why the minimum RYO Communications. pack size is 30g,” says Mooney. “We want to ensure our trade partners are fully up to speed on the new rules and are in a position to explain to their customers why this is the case.” As JTI’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications Nick Blake says, the roadshow was an excellent opportunity to discuss the new TPD2 rules in detail. “Retailers of tobacco are faced with ever increasing regulation, so naturally it can be difficult to keep track of everything,” Blake explains. “This roadshow was a perfect forum to bring everyone who attended right up to speed on where things stand currently with the various impending or proposed regulations. “We were particularly keen to ensure that retailers were clear on the current status of plain packaging,” Blake continues. “These events gave us an opportunity to explain the distinction between TPD2 and plain packaging, and answer any questions attendees had on these and other topics. The Q&A sessions led to some really interesting discussions on the tobacco category and it was great to be involved in these and hear the views of so many people from right across the country.” With over 1,100 people attending the 16 roadshows around the country, the groups were indeed large, illustrating a desire for more information and support in complying with and managing the ever-increasing regulation being placed on the tobacco category. JTI are there to respond to this need, Mooney concludes: “As market leader, we will support retailers during this period of transition, providing all the information required to deal with any difficult situations. We are in a period of uncertainty and the road ahead will likely include many challenges, but by working together in partnership, we can ensure our respective businesses remain successful.”

TPD2 Key changes:

• • • • • • •

Enlarged health warnings; 30g minimum RYO pack size; New restrictions on packaging formats; New restrictions on brand descriptors; New restrictions on flavourings (menthol allowed until 2020); The removal of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide information from packs; New restrictions on e-cigarettes.

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

Shop Profile

Costcutter to the Fore in Cork Only open nine months, Costcutter/Amber in Charleville, Co. Cork, has already been named Costcutter Forecourt of the Year. THE Costcutter/Amber forecourt in Charleville, Co. Cork, may only have opened its doors in its new location in February of this year, yet it has already been named the Costcutter Forecourt of the Year. One look around the new store and it’s clear that the forecourt is at the cutting edge of modern convenience retailing. The store boasts a full deli with a hot and cold offering , as well as seating for 60-plus people to enjoy their deli purchases in-store. There’s also a large forecourt area with ample parking for 100 cars. The forecourt will sport brand new car-wash facilities in the near future, with a new takeaway concept set to arrive in March 2017. Huge Expansion While the new forecourt only opened for business nine months ago, the team behind it have extensive retail experience, and indeed the store has effectively moved to its new forecourt location from its previous site on Charleville’s Main Street. So why decide to move? “Moving location allowed us to hugely expand the store and our overall offering,” explains Amber Retail Sales Manager, Michael O’Sullivan. “ When this site became available, we jumped at it because it was easy to see the potential.” The Charleville store has been trading successfully as a Costcutter for more than a decade, and Amber knew that its symbol group partner was the “perfect fit” for the new store too. “Costcutter offers everything we need from a retail partner and the support system from Barry Group is first class,” Michael notes. “They are always looking to offer you the best service and it’s a great safety net to have a partner like that for the store.” Since opening in its new location, the store has seen a significant increase in trade. “We’re delighted with how business has improved,” Michael stresses. “A lot of hard work has gone into the forecourt since the move but it’s really paying off now. We have some exciting plans in the pipeline to kick on further in the new year and beyond.” Maximising Sales By Category The new deli area has proved particularly popular with customers, but it’s not the only top-performing sector in-store. “All categories are selling well, in particular the extensive in-store bakery offering, with new offerings every

Pictured outside the Charleville forecourt store are: Edwina Lucey, Sales Director Barry Group; Jim Barry, Managing Director, Barry Group; Liam Fitzgerald, Chairman, Amber; Gerry Condon, Managing Director, Amber; and Kevin Rice, Managing Director, Amber.

day,” Michael explains. “In fact, the scale of the store now allows us to offer the full picture for a forecourt. We also have plans to add a comprehensive car wash offering, an extensive wine offering and a new takeaway concept shortly.” So how do they maximise sales in a particular category? “We utilise all of the channels we have at our disposal, such as printed material and social media to get the message out,” Michael reveals. “We are always looking at ways to offer value to the consumer, such as meal deals, and we believe we are extremely competitive on value across the board.” Amber Charleville has proved particularly adept at utilising social media as part of its customer service/ marketing mix. “We post 3-4 times per week what our offers are,” Michael states, “as well as regular competitions, which the customers seem to love. It’s a terrific tool for getting the word out about the business locally and a great way to interact with our customers.”

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Shop Profile Fact File Owner: Amber Location: Cork Road, Charleville, County Cork Size: 7.500 square feet No of staff: 45, full time & part time Opening Hours: 24 hours

Wesley Morrissey, Store Manager, Costcutter Express/Amber, Charleville, is pictured with Michael O’Sullivan, Retail Sales Manager, Amber.

Promotions are absolutely “crucial” to the success of the Charleville store, Michael notes: “We have to be seen to be offering value to the customer at all times, In conjunction with Barry Group, we continue to look at new ways of improving our promotions within the store.” Terrific Support Structure Indeed, Michael pays tribute to the true partnership between Amber and Barry Group, which is a vital ingredient in growing sales. “The Barry Group have a terrific support structure in place from their Inside Sales team to our Account Manager, Declan Ryan. They have been in the business a long time and they use that experience to react to the market. They are always looking for ways to improve and to offer something new to and that’s very important. They also offer extensive fresh food advice, which is a huge help to us.” Amber’s Retail Sales Manager believes that it is a combination of factors that help to differentiate the Charleville store from its competitors, including great value, friendly staff, ample parking facilities, its great food offering

(“from early in the morning straight through to close of business”) and, of course, customer service. He describes the latter as “the key component to the success of the store and we strive to improve it on a daily basis.” A Special Achievement Being named Costcutter Forecourt Store of the Year in its first year of operation was a special achievement which left everyone involved “thrilled”, Michael smiles, “especially after all the hard work that has gone into the store by management and staff. It was great recognition of the progress made in our first year.” In closing, Michael acknowledges that retaining the award in 2017 will be extremely difficult, as the standards are very high, but he’s not giving up the title without a fight: “If we continue to work hard and improve our offering to the customers, then we have every chance.”

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

Musgrave MarketPlace

New Non-Food Brochure from Musgrave MarketPlace Musgrave MarketPlace has launched a new Kitchen 2 Counter brochure, catering for everything from portion control to plating perfection. IN response to 2016 food trends research, Musgrave MarketPlace has launched its new non-food brochure with over 4,000 products, ranging from tableware, equipment, disposables and packaging to cleaning and hygiene. The new brochure, titled Kitchen 2 Counter, showcases the complete non-food range available from Ireland’s leading wholesale supplier to retail, foodservice and SME businesses. Musgrave MarketPlace’s 2016 food trends research highlighted the growing importance of creating dishes that have an aesthetic appeal for social media channels like Instagram and Pinterest. To help Ireland’s chefs and foodies in their quest for photographic perfection, the brochure’s new presentation ware selection features a wide range of eye-catching products, including copper pots, slates, enamel ware, olive wood boards and mini pots and pans. Pictured are Clement Pavie, Development Chef, Brain Staunton, General Another unique element of the Kitchen 2 Manager, and Elaine Byrne, Trading Manager, all from Musgrave MarketPlace. Counter brochure is its ‘portion control’ range to Partners. “At Musgrave MarketPlace, we are proud to offer a satisfy customers’ increasing demand for healthy choices. range of products that cater for all business needs, from front This range has been developed in line with Musgrave to back-of-house and everything in between. We carefully MarketPlace’s commitment to continued expansion of its researched the emerging trends in the market and developed product ranges. These products specifically encourage the range based on these. Our non-food brochure is packed portion control, making it easier for businesses to deliver full of products of the highest quality, which are all carefully on consumer demands for healthier options. From precisely sourced to ensure best choice and value. sized scoops, plates and glassware to individual serving “The launch of the brochure provides us with the pots, Kitchen 2 Counter includes plenty of products that facilitate smaller portion sizes, without taking away from the opportunity to not only showcase our extensive range of nonfood products,” he added, “but also some of the key people gastronomy experience. behind the brand, who are the driving force behind the quality Catering for All Business Needs and diversity of our non-food “We’re delighted to launch Kitchen 2 Counter,” explained offering.” Noel Keeley, Managing Director of Musgrave Wholesale Kitchen 2 Counter includes the full product range available The Kitchen 2 Counter brochure features: in the Musgrave MarketPlace’s seven cash and carry stores • Over 4,000 non-food products selected by Musgrave nationwide, and all products MarketPlace, based on key findings from 2016 food are available both in store and trends research; online via musgravemarketplace. • New Presentation Ware, based on growing demand ie. The new non-food brochure among chefs and foodies for dishes that look as good is available from all Musgrave as they taste and can be proudly presented through Noel Keeley, Managing MarketPlace Business social media channels; Director of Musgrave Development Managers and can • A unique Portion Control range, aligned with the Wholesale Partners. be downloaded by visiting http:// national health agenda for healthy portion sizes. viewer.zmags.com/publication/5a248029#/5a248029/6 .

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A MODERN EXPRESSION OF QUALITY

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

Contactless Payment

A Touch Of Class Contactless payment is just over three years old in Ireland and it’s already making a big impact on the way we buy our goods and services, writes Brian Cleary, Managing Director of BOI Payment Acceptance. BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA) is a marketing alliance between Bank of Ireland and EVO Payments International that specialises in card and contactless payments solutions. Celebrating two years of business in December, we have already captured significant market Brian Cleary, MD of BOI Payment share within Acceptance. retail, hospitality and other key sectors. It’s easy to see why the technology is so popular. By simply touching your card to a contactless terminal, your account is immediately debited the price of your purchase (up to €30): it’s an interaction that takes less than a few seconds. Compare that to the time it takes to slot your card into a reader, wait for a connection to establish, type in your PIN, then wait again for the payment to process. Contactless makes for a faster, more convenient shopping experience for both the payer and the payee. For businesses, it means the 20 seconds spent waiting for one customer’s card payment to process can be used to tend to two or three more customers waiting in line. Contactless is safer, too. Carrying cash carries risk: theft, misappropriation or accident can see an entire day’s earnings, or worse, disappear in a single moment. Card transactions are processed remotely by the bank and paid directly into the business’ account. Even if you’re in the most remote parts of the country, contactless terminals will work with a broadband connection or phone signal: it’s the perfect solution for city businesses, rural sole traders and merchants on the road. Fixed Pricing Plans Technology must be complemented by customer experience, and as a new, rapidly growing supplier, BOIPA does things differently. We're the only provider on the market that offers straightforward fixed pricing plans: there are no hidden fees, no contract lock-ins and payment is settled the next day if you’re a BOI customer.

Service is paramount to us. Our dedicated team of engineers install contactless terminals and provide training free of charge for all customers. Billing and service can be managed by the customer through an easy-to-use online portal, and for added peace of mind, our 24/7 help centre is on standby to answer customer queries. Spar is just one of thousands of new Spar retailer Shane Cantillon. customers that has enjoyed success using BOIPA. The retailer has seen a dramatic rise in contactless transactions in the last 12 months. According to Spar owner, Shane Cantillon: “Cost and service were big factors in moving to BOI Payment Acceptance and we migrated all of our non-integrated tills. We are on a very competitive Tailor Made pricing package, and the migration itself was seamless, with great support from the BOIPA team of field engineers on the ground. With the increase in the contactless transaction limit to €30, we are seeing a significant uplift in the proportion of contactless traffic and a corresponding reduction in cash handling, which is a very positive outcome for the business in terms of cost, security and administration overhead.” Decline in Cash Transactions At BOIPA, we fully anticipate a rapid decline in cash transactions over the next few years, even in industries that are typically slow to change or in parts of the country distant from major economic centres. At present, there are over 3m contactless debit or credit cards in the market and over 35,000 Irish businesses offer contactless payment facilities. About 90% of all debit cards in the country are contactless-enabled and almost 55% of Irish consumers use contactless on a regular basis. From our own research, we've discovered that 57% use contactless payment at least once week, while 45% use it multiple times a week. As demand for contactless technology continues to grow from strength to strength, so too does BOIPA. The business has more than doubled in size in the last 12 months and now employs 70 people. Contactless presents a clear way to provide businesses and consumers alike with a faster, safer and more costefficient customer experience.

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Payment acceptance is provided by EVO Payments International GmbH trading as BOI Payment Acceptance. Underwriting Criteria, Terms and Conditions apply. EVO Payments International GmbH, trading as BOI Payment Acceptance is licenced by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) in Germany and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. EVO Payments International GmbH (trading as BOI Payment Acceptance) is not a member of the Bank of Ireland Group. BOI Payment Acceptance has entered into a marketing alliance with the Bank of Ireland. BOI and the Tree of Life logo are trademarks of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland and are being used under licence by EVO Payments International GmbH, trading as BOI Payment Acceptance. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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

National Dairy Council

NDC Lifts Top International Award

The National Dairy Council won a top award at the World Dairy Summit in Rotterdam. IRELAND was a big winner at this year’s World Dairy Summit, scooping the Yves Boutonnat IMP (International Milk Promotion) Trophy award for HealthFest 2016. The objective of HealthFest was to promote dairy for teenagers and healthy living The IMP Trophy competition was introduced in 1989 as a means of showcasing, to dairy farming and industry delegates attending the annual IDF World Dairy Summit, the best generic advertising campaigns created recently amongst the group. In honour of one of their founding members, Yves Boutonnat, it is now called the Yves Boutonnat International Milk Promotion Trophy. Pictured at the awards ceremony as part of the World Dairy Summit in Rotterdam is Zoe Kavanagh, The National Dairy CEO, National Dairy Council with Ida Berg Hauge, International Milk Production Chairperson. Council analysed Ireland’s current obesity crisis and like this, we are on the road to doing a really important job.” the myths and misunderstandings around dairy and other The NDC also are working towards the support and food categories and created an event called HealthFest. advocacy of the Government and Active Health Minister The NDC teamed up with some of Ireland’s top experts in moving forward. This will benefit HealthFest but also affirm their respective fields to provide teenagers with a scope the NDC as an organisation that wants to work with the of information on ‘Healthy Living’ through engaging and Government on the wider Health Agenda of Ireland. diverse talks. A combination of speakers that are existing TV The other finalists for the award included “Let us not personalities as well as speakers with scientific backgrounds forget the milk producers – a campaign to support French ensured that teenagers were engaged from the outset but dairy farmers” by CNIEL in France and “Moving kids back to that the content was robust. the farm” by Dairy Council of California. “We were really honoured to receive this prestigious award,” said Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of the NDC. “We see New Study Show Benefits of Milk in Sport HealthFest as a critical day for all Irish students. We want Meanwhile, exciting new research is emerging on the specific them to stop and think about what they are eating and if benefits of milk in sport and its potential role in recovery they are exercising, because we do have a rising obesity issue after exercise. To perform at their best, sports professionals in Ireland. So, if we can land some key messages with events and non-professionals alike must optimise their dietary

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National Dairy Council

intake. For rugby players, Rob and Dave Kearney, ambassadors for the National Dairy Council, this means getting the right amounts of energy and nutrients to meet the demands of their intense training schedule. Timing meals can be a challenge but Rob says: “We appreciate the importance of diet and nutrition when it comes to our performance and we take guidance from the professionals in this area. Eating well is essential, and adapting your nutritional intake to your sport is a necessity. In-season or out of season, as well as pre, during and post-performance, all influence our nutritional considerations.” Rob describes recovery as an essential element of any training regime: “Hydrate, restore, nourish and rest.” He says that, generally speaking, their diets contain a wide range of foods and both brothers enjoy dairy foods. “Effective recovery after sport or intense exercise is a key consideration of sports nutrition because recovering well will help you perform your best at your next training session, competition or match,” the Leinster and Ireland full-back explains. “Milk is a convenient and versatile option for us to include after exercise as it provides a range of nutrients we need to consume to recover well”. What do the Experts Say? A new study has revealed the benefits of choosing milk for hydration after exercise. The study conducted by the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at University of Limerick analysed a group of seven young men aged 26 years. The men were asked to cycle in a temperature controlled room to achieve a level of dehydration traditionally associated with impaired sports performance. The drinks compared were milk (0.1% fat), a commercially available sports drink and water, with hydration markers measured over the five-hour recovery period. At the end of the recovery period, it was shown that rehydration with milk is as effective as a commercially available sports drink and more effective than water alone. Hydration is a key consideration of good recovery, with effective rehydration involving the replacement of fluid and electrolytes (salts) that are lost when we sweat during exercise. The role of milk in hydration is that it provides us with fluid; carbohydrate in the form of lactose; as well as a number of electrolytes (sodium and potassium) which maximises its hydrating potential. Dr Sharon Madigan RD, PhD, RSEN, Head of Performance Nutrition, Irish Institute of Sports, explains “The choice of rehydration fluid post exercise depends on a number of factors, including how rapidly an athlete needs to rehydrate, if single or multiple training/competition sessions are planned within a 24-hour period, as well as individual preferences and palatability of the drink.

“Although further research is welcome across age groups, genders and various sports, three to four hours after exercise, this research is suggesting that somebody can be more hydrated when consuming milk, rather than water, after exercise,” she added. “Milk and water are both good for rehydration, but milk will additionally help address muscle recovery by providing protein, and assist the refuelling of energy stores due to its natural carbohydrate content. In addition, milk is a popular option after exercise as it is considered a practical option as it is convenient, widely accessible, inexpensive and versatile.” Unique to this study was that a metered approach of fluid intake was used, with set quantities of fluid taken every 30 minutes over 2.5 hours to reflect more ad libitum consumption patterns. The research was undertaken by Suzanne Seery, BSc, PgDip, MSc, RD, who is a senior dietitian in cardiology and respiratory medicine at St. James’ Hospital, Dublin. She recently completed her MSc by research in exercise nutrition, exploring the role of milk in rehydration post exercise. Suzanne has also lectured in sports nutrition and has worked as a sports dietitian with GAA. This research was originally published at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/27477047.

Irish rugby players, Rob and Dave Kearney, star in the Powered by Dairy campaign for the NDC.

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

Pakman Awards 2016

Green Winners at Pakman Awards The annual Pakman Awards, organised by Repak, were a great success, highlighting the businesses, organisations and community groups who demonstrate exceptional sustainability and environmental management.

Meade Potato Company were the winners of the 2016 Pakman Award. Pictured are (l-r): Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD, Jeni Meade, Robert Devlin and Eleanor Meade from Meade Potato, and CEO of Repak, Seamus Clancy.

THE Meade Potato Company was named the 2016 Pakman Award winner at the annual Pakman Awards, winning the overall winner and the Food Waste Management category on the night. The awards ceremony, which took place at the InterContinental Dublin Hotel, saw 400 representatives from leading businesses, organisation and community groups come together to recognise excellence in recycling, energy and waste management. Leading the congratulations was Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD. The Pakman Award seeks to recognise complete excellence in the environmental approach taken by a business, organisation or community group in all aspects of their operations. This year, Meade Potato Company demonstrated best in class practices across a number of green initiatives, including leadership and advocacy in all aspects of environmental sustainability, such as reduction of packaging, water and energy, as well as an amazing community food bank programme. Meade Potato Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award reflects both a business and a community focus in their innovation. Its relationships with local community food banks ensure its Zero Food Management Plan not only delivers a more sustainable

environment, but also gives back to its community. Its social media strategy ensures that its customers can minimise any waste. This interconnected approach to managing food waste stood out during the stringent and rigorous judging process.

Aldi Ireland were winners of The Battery Champion Award, sponsored by the European Recycling Platform, at the 2016 Pakman Awards. Pictured are (l-r): Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD; Marina Lavelle, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Aldi; and Martin Tobin, Chief Executive of European Recycling Platform.

Best Environmental Practices Aldi Ireland Limited was also a winner on the night, taking The Battery Champion award home. Aldi has over 120 stores and 1,000 employees nationwide and is a major contributor to best environmental practices in the country. Since 2011, Aldi Ireland has helped establish a culture of waste battery recycling and in 2015 alone, a total of 31,317kg of waste

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Pakman Awards 2016 batteries were collected from customers in Aldi stories, double the weight collected by any other retailer. Panda was named Waste Collection Operator of the Year (Large), striving to add value to household customers and encourage long-term loyalty by offering products like kerbside bin washing and combining water services with sustainably sourced energy via Panda Power. Rehab Glassco took home the Waste Collection Operator of the Year (Small) Award. Rehab is Ireland’s largest glass packaging collection and recycling company, handling in excess of 125,000 tonnes of glass, which is processed into glass ‘cullet’, destined for re-melt into new glass packaging.

Pictured are (l-r): Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD; Liam Dunne, Agnieszka Pychowska and Des Crinion of Panda, winners of the Waste Collection Operator of the Year (Large) Award; and Caroline Walsh, Chairperson of the Irish Management Association, award sponsors.

Rehab Glassco were winners of the Waste Collection Operator of the Year (Small), sponsored by the Irish Waste Management Association. Pictured are (l-r): Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD; Zeki Mustafa and David Farrelly from Rehab Glassco, and Chairperson of the Irish Management Association, Caroline Walsh.

Karen Coyle and Geoff Gallagher from Allied Irish Bank are pictured accepting the the Professional Services Award, sponsored by Arthur Cox, from Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD (left), and Deborah Spence, Partner in Arthur Cox (right).

Aaron Cuddy and Melissa O’Hara from Irish Lamp Recycling Co. Ltd, winners of the WEEE Champion Award, sponsored by WEEE Ireland, are pictured with Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD (left) and Leo Donovan, Chief Executive of WEEE Ireland (right).

Worthy Winners Among the other winners were Transdev Dublin Light Rail, who were awarded the Green Transport of the Year Award. ReCreate Ireland, whose practice of providing accessible and affordable art materials and educational supplies in a sustainable way to disadvantaged areas, earned them the Community Recycling Project of the Year Award. Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council picked up The Bring Centre of the Year Award for their efficiency in handling the 7,300 tonnes of waste delivered to them each year. Irish Lamp Recycling Co Ltd won the WEEE Champion Award for its continued dedication to serving their customers whilst employing best environmental practices. University College Cork won the Business Recycling Champion of the Year Award, while Recycle IT was awarded the Environmental Education and Awareness Initiative Award for their work offering a free community recycling collection and drop service. Allied Irish Bank won the Professional Service Award for their continued efforts in energy efficiency and waste management, and SMILE Resource Exchange took home the Waste Prevention Business Award. The awards ceremony is powered by Repak in partnership with the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, The Irish Waste Management Association, AMCS, Arthur Cox, European Recycling Platform and WEEE Ireland. Interest in next year’s awards can be directed to Laura Murphy in Repak, Tel: (01) 4670190.

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

IGBF President’s Ball

IGBF Ball a Roaring Success

The 2016 IGBF President’s Ball proved to be one of the social highlights of the year, while raising much-needed funds for the charity. THE biggest names in the Irish FMCG market were out in force for the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund President’s Ball, which took place at the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin, on October 15, and once again proved to be one of the social events of the year, while raising much-needed funds for this most worthy of causes. Current President of Appeals, Neil Finlayson, Sales Director of Mars Ireland, explained that the theme of this year’s event, the Great Gatsby IGBF Ball, was two-fold. “Firstly, it represents the Irish grocery industry coming together to support our colleagues who, for one reason or another, have fallen on hard times. It also marks a welldeserved ‘moment’ that we all look forward to in the trade

each year to let your hair down, get dressed up a little or a lot, depending on your preference, and have fun!” Finlayson reminded those in attendance that the IGBF is “entirely unique in that, unlike other industries, we do take the time to support less fortunate colleagues in this way and we do rely solely on contributions from individuals or companies involved in the grocery trade.” The President of Appeals thanked all the attendees for their support, and paid particular tribute to the event sponsors, including main sponsors, the National Lottery, Findlater Wine & Spirit Group, Coman’s and Diageo, as well as Boyne Valley and Britvic Ireland. “I know I speak for everyone here tonight when I say that your generous support

Pictured are (l-r): former IGBF Chairman, Jim Bradley; Angela Bradley; Catherine Bleahane; IGBF Chairman, Donal O’Shea; Peter O’Connor, member of the IGBF Executive Committee; Bea-Anne O’Connor; Marie O’Connor; and Jim O’Connor, IGBF Executive Secretary.

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IGBF President’s Ball

Neil Finlayson, Sales Director at Mars Ireland and IGBF President of Appeals; Sinead McGinn, and event MC, Chris O’Donoghue, Newstalk.

is truly appreciated,” Finlayson stressed. There was a superb raffle on the night, with Brian Magennis, Sales Director at Britvic Ireland, winning a trip to Oheka Castle, Long Island, while Deirdre Williamson, wife of BirdsEye Commercial Director and former IGBF President of Appeals, Donald Williamson, won a trip to Dunboyne Castle. Entertainment on the night was provided by the suitably swinging sounds of a 1920s style band, the Gatsby Stompers. History of the IGBF The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund was founded in 1981 to provide financial relief for persons in need who have been involved in the food and beverage trades, including retail grocers, wholesalers, manufacturers and general suppliers to the industry. During the past three decades, enormous work has been done to relieve hardship amongst members who have fallen on difficult times because of ill health, death in the family or unemployment. The Fund continues in its efforts to reach more people in need. The Ball plays a big part in the IGBF’s annual fundraising and this year’s event was superbly organised by the team at Hotel Solutions.

Oscar Bacete, Retail Project Manager at Musgrave Retail Partners; Mary Keegan, Jennifer Howey, and David Howey, Store Development Retail Project Manager at Musgrave. Elaine Hennessy, UniPhar Group, and Alan Cunningham, Finance Director, Musgrave.

Pauline Fagan, Karl Fagan, Retail Project Manager at Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, Laura Curran and Alan Curran, National Field Sales Manager at Primeline Sales & Marketing, Mars division.

Lisa Coulter and Aengus Coulter, Business Analyst, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

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IGBF Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ball

The Mars Ireland team (l-r): Aoife Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hanlon, Dylan MacDonald, Neil Finlayson (Sales Director and IGBF President of Appeals), Carla Reynolds, Eleni Geramani, Angela Crawley, and Michael Tobin.

Gerard Murphy, Category Manager Produce, Tesco Ireland; Karen Murphy, Tracey McDermott, Trading Law Manager at Tesco Ireland, and Oliver Ryan.

The team from Premier Lotteries Ireland (l-r): Declan Burke, Area Sales Manager; Denise Burke; Niall Andrews, Head of Sales and Operations; Breda Andrews, Jenny Neary, Ronan Neary, National Accounts Manager, Premier Lotteries Ireland.

Pictured are (l-r): Suzanne Fowler, Tim Cummins, owner, Primeline Group, and Laura Cummins, Senior Consultant, Kaizen Recruitment.

From PJ Carroll & Co.: Martina Branconi, Government Affairs Manager; Treasa Flynn, Trade Marketing Manager; and Sharon Adrian McSweeney, Simon Carroll, Noel Ryan, Gareth Thorp, and David McManus. Melinn, all from PJ Carroll & Co.

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IGBF President’s Ball

Stuart Cahill, Head of Field Sales Convenience Channel, Mars Ireland, with Ciaran Shevlin, National Sales Manager, Primeline Sales & Marketing.

Paul Nolan, Marketing Manager, Findlater Wine & Spirit Group, with Gary Neville, Export Manager, Valeo Foods.

Enjoying the Ball: Paul Diver, Director, Britvic Ireland; Jennie Diver; Deidre Donnelly, Kevin Donnelly, MD, Britvic Soft Drinks Ireland; Margaret Magennis, and Brian Magennis, Sales Director at Britvic Ireland.

Eamon Doherty, Senior Category Manager - European Procurement at Kelloggs, Paula Conlon, Customer Marketing Controller at Heineken Ireland; Catherine Bleahene; Donal O’Shea, IGBF Chairman, Deirdre Williamson, and Donald Williamson, Commercial Director at BirdsEye Ireland Limited.

The team from JTI Ireland: Kevin Tuite, Charles Riviere, Erika Riviere, Elena Dowling, David Dowling, Barbara Mooney, Derek Mooney (Sales Director), and Fionn MacAodhagain.

IGBF Committee Member, Redmond Gavin, Coman’s; Julie Gavin; Anne Grennan; and Joe Grennan, Honorary Secretary, IGBF.

Michelle Kinnear and Kern Kinnear, Commercial Business Manager, Tesco Ireland.

John Bohan, Project Manager, Musgrave, with Fiona Bohan.

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

Invest NI: Blas na hÉireann Awards

NI Brands Score at Blas na hÉireann Awards Invest NI highlight some of the Northern food and drink manufacturers who enjoyed success at the recent Blas na hÉireann Awards NORTHERN Irish companies lifted a record 20 major awards, including 16 golds, in the annual Blas na hÉireann Irish National Food Awards 2016. Two local cider companies, Tempted? From Lisburn and Craigavon’s Mac Ivors, gained the Best Artisan business award sponsored by Bord Bia. This was the first time that this award was shared in the competition, now in its ninth year, and the only time it has come to Northern Ireland. The two companies also shared the Best New Product Award, Tempted? for its recently launched Elderflower Cider, and Mac Ivors for Plum and Ginger Cider. Northern Ireland’s reputation as Ireland’s most successful region for cider was further demonstrated by a gold award for Armagh Cider Company’s Doyle’s Summer Fruit, while Loughgall’s Long Meadow gained silver for its Blossom Burst.

Davy Uprichard from Tempted? Cider celebrates his Blas na hÉireann win.

We highlight some of the gold winners below.

Mac Ivor’s Plum and Ginger Cider, co-winner of the Best New Product Award.

Western Brand Poultry Products NI Ltd Located in Lisnaskea in County Fermanagh, Western Brand Poultry Products NI Ltd is part of the Mayo based, family-owned Western Brand Group, one of Ireland’s leading producers of primary chicken products for over 50 years. Western Brand has an impressive track record in the delivery of consistently high quality coated fresh, frozen and ‘ready to eat’ chicken products that offer convenience, variety, safety and value for money.

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Invest NI: Blas na hÉireann Awards

Western Brand is an established supplier to Lidl, Aldi and Dunnes Stores in ROI and has a growing customer base for branded and own label products amongst the UK’s mid-sized independent and symbol supermarkets, such as Nisa, Booth’s, Spar and Netto. Over the last few years, the company has continuously invested in plant and machinery, enabling it to increase its capacity by 60%. Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Co. Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt located on the historic Clandeboye Estate (2,000 acres of parkland owned by Lady Dufferin) uses milk from its own award-winning Holstein and Jersey herds to produce a range of natural, Greek style and flavoured artisan yoghurts.

Clandeboye Yoghurt, the only yoghurt produced in Northern Ireland, is hand made using traditional techniques that provide a rich creamy texture without high fat content. The milk is prepared and cultured very gently over a 24-hour period in small batches. This helps to create the exceptional flavour and texture for its yoghurts. The Greek style yoghurt is also made in the traditional way by straining through cheesecloth to create a product with absolutely no thickening additives and therefore, no added fats. In addition to natural and Greek yoghurts, the Clandeboye Estate range features raspberry, strawberry and toffee, blueberry, Madagascan vanilla and a range of layered yoghurts and smoothies. Clandeboye also provide a full range of foodservice size containers, from 2kg to 10kg. McErlain’s Bakery Ltd Founded in 1968, McErlain’s Bakery is a family-run, independent craft bakery which produces a range of artisan branded and own label bread and confectionery items sold throughout the UK and Ireland via retail and foodservice. McErlain’s was rebranded in 1999 to become Genesis and has since rebranded as Genesis Crafty, with the latest updates to the brand occurring in 2013.

Genesis Crafty is run by six brothers who make baking amazing. They take pride in baking everything the traditional way. Using their age old recipes, they bake award winning products, superior in taste and full of flavour for everyday enjoyment. Since 2010, Genesis Crafty have supplied M&S with Raspberry Jam Bakes, Lemon Jam Bakes, Iced Tops, a Brown Soda Bannock and Wheaten Scones. Since then, they have continued to grow the business with M&S by supplying mince pies, a range of tartlet products and seasonal lines. In terms of the Genesis Crafty brand, in 2016 the full cake range was relaunched with new packaging, eight additional lines and a full marketing campaign to support the launch, including TV. Pop Notch Ltd Declan McBride, aka the Willy Wonka of the popcorn world, is passionate about popcorn. In April 2014, Declan teamed up with Michael Heaslip and Food Stories to launch Pop Notch, which subsequently grew from a kitchen table operation to a large production facility in less than a year. With sales on the rise and two Great Taste Awards under their belt, Pop Notch is entering an exciting new phase of innovation and development. Their innovative product offering includes large share bags aimed at customers who want a healthy alternative snack, ideal for a movie night, and smaller snack packs, perfect for a snack on-the-go. Pop Notch is gluten free and made with natural ingredients. They use a special kind of Argentinian mushroom corn to produce extra large popcorn pieces, which lock in the flavour. All their caramels are made from scratch, they use real pieces of marshmallow, not flavouring, and their Sweet & Salty is hand mixed. Orchard Organics Orchard Organics was established in Co. Armagh in 2000, to concentrate the McArdle family business focus on organics. Orchard Organics offers a range of organic jams, sauces and chutneys to a range of markets, from hamper companies to multiples, from local independent retailers to overseas wholesalers. Orchard Organics’ range includes retail packs for supermarkets, catering packs

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

Invest NI: Blas na hÉireann Awards

for the foodservice market, as well as a wholesale option. The company has two brands: their Kay’s Kitchen range of Organic Handmade Preserves and Chutneys focuses on speciality food stores, hamper companies, delis and farm shops, while the Orchard Organics brand is more mainstream retail. The elegant packaging upholds the company’s strong organic ethics and the quality taste of the organic ingredients is unmistakable. Orchard Organics’ range is free from preservatives and additives and is 100% organic. Papas Mineral Company Papas Mineral Company is a small local manufacturer of speciality drinks and cordials based in Bangor, County Down. The company was established in 1999, producing high quality drinks and cordials that are free from artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners. Ever since, Papas has become one of the market leaders in Northern Ireland. Customers say these nostalgic drinks remind them of their childhood. Their ever popular non-alcoholic ginger wine is made from a 100-year-old recipe. It packs a mighty kick when paired with whiskey to make a “whiskey mac”, but it’s equally good mixed with soda water. The spiced winterberry cordial is lovely with hot water in the colder months. Consumers can add it to red wine for an instant mulled wine, without the faff. The light and summery elderflower cordial is a winner with Prosecco and the newest concoction, Clove cordial, is already a firm favourite. Armagh Cider Company Ltd Armagh Cider Company was formed in 2006 with the aim of making cider and apple juice ‘from blossom to bottle’ on the home farm at Ballinteggart, just outside Portadown in Co. Armagh, where apples have been grown for five generations. The family business is pleased to have been the leading participant in bringing cider production back to Co. Armagh the home of the apple industry in Northern Ireland. Armagh Cider Company offer consumers authentic, hand crafted, completely natural apple products with genuine provenance and heritage behind them, that deliver on quality and taste. Their Carsons Crisp and Maddens Mellow ciders proudly display the PGI logo for the Armagh Bramley Apple. Consistency in competitions has helped Armagh Cider Company gain a reputation for producing quality ciders. The company has won several awards including Great Taste Stars, International Cider Challenge Medals, Irish Food Quality Awards and Blas na hÉireann (Gold, Silver and Bronze).

Since 2006, the product range has been substantially enhanced in response to consumer demand and is available throughout Ireland, as well as exported to Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and China. Burren Balsamics Burren Balsamics, the Northern Irish developer of a unique range of natural fruit infused vinegars, has doubled sales over the past year. The business, based at Richill in Co. Armagh, has launched a new Chilli and Honey addition to its existing seven-strong range of zesty fruit balsamics. The existing range features Bramley apple, rhubarb and ginger, strawberry and mint, blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry and thyme. Susie Hamilton Stubber Susie Hamilton Stubber, founder and Managing Director of Burren launched the company in Balsamics. February 2014 to develop a market opportunity for flavoured balsamics. “These versatile bottles of flavour pack a punch and add endless possibilities to enhance salad dishes, stews and casseroles, marinades and soups. They are also delicious to just dip bread into,” she says. The vinegars use only natural whole fruits for flavour and are available in distinctive 250ml bottles. The products are also available in special gift packs. Glastry Farm Ice Cream An innovative Saint Brendan’s Ice Cream developed by Northern Ireland companies Glastry Farm Ice Cream and Niche Drinks, producers of Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream Liqueur, was Pictured are (l-r): Robin Young, St introduced to French Brendan's; Will Taylor, Glastry Farm Ice celebrity chef Jean- Cream; Hilary McClintock, Mayor of Derry; Christophe Novelli and French celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli. during his visit to Derry. Glastry Farm Ice Cream is located on a family dairy farm that has been run by the family of ice cream entrepreneur Will Taylor for over 150 years. The ice cream business was launched as a farm diversification in 2007 and has proved an immensely successful development. It already supplies its ice cream to hotels and high-end restaurants throughout Ireland. The new Saint Brendan’s Ice Cream is included in Glastry’s established portfolio of 20 ice cream flavours and three sorbets. Niche Drinks has been producing Irish Cream Liqueurs, Irish Coffee and Ready To Drink Cocktails of the highest quality for retail partners in Ireland, the UK, the USA and Europe since 1983.

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Invest NI: Blas na hÉireann Awards

Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards 2016 GOLD WINNERS Western Brand Poultry Products NI Ltd Garlic & Herb Chicken Western Brand Poultry Products NI Ltd Screevagh, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 0FA c: Aoife Moane t: +44 (0) 28 6772 1999 e: npd@westernbrand.ie

Donnybrewer Butter Donnybrewer Wild Garlic and Chive Butter Donnybrewer Butter 102 Donnybrewer Road, Eglinton, Co. Derry

Glastry Farm Ice-Cream Glastry Farm Apple Schnapps Sorbet Glastry Farm Ice-Cream 43 Manse Road, Kircubbin, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 1DR c: William J Taylor t: +44 (0) 28 4273 8671 / +44 (0) 78 0220 7838 e: glastryfarm@btconnect.com

McErlain’s Bakery Ltd SuperValu & Centra Sean Brown Soda McErlain’s Bakery Ltd 31 Aughrim Road, Magherafelt, Co. Antrim, BT45 6BB c: JP Lyttle t: +44 (0) 28 7963 2465 e: jp.lyttle@genesiscrafty.com

c: Richard or Alison Leighton t: +44 (0) 78 9187 8262 / +44 (0) 75 7079 9606 e: Donnybrewerbutter@hotmail. com

Corn Dolly Foods Ltd Rich Fruit Loaf / Large Floury Baps

Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Co. Clandeboye Estate Greek Style Yoghurt

Corn Dolly Foods Ltd Unit 7 Greenbank Industrial Estate, Newry, Co. Down

Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Co. Clandeboye Estate, Co. Down c: Bryan Boggs t: +44 (0) 28 9181 5194 / +44 (0) 79 2979 6398 e: bryan@clandeboye.co.uk

Quinn’s Gelato Limited Hazelnut Gelato Quinn’s Gelato Limited Unit A16 Kilcronagh Business Park, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone c: Frank Kilpatrick t: +44 (0) 28 8675 8861 / +44 (0) 79 0026 8604 e: frank.kilpatrick@ quinnsgelato.com

c: Anthony or James O’Keefe t: +44 (0) 28 3026 0525 / +44 (0) 78 4174 3119 e: info@corndollyfoods.com

M Apple Tart M 51 Cherrywood Grove, Upper Damolly Road, Newry, Co. Down c: Peter Magill t: +44 (0) 77 6446 7657 e: pmagill2@btinternet.com

Pop Notch Ltd Spar Select Chilli, Caramel and Lime Popcorn / Salted Butter Popcorn

Erin Grove Preserves Sour Cherry & Cracked Black Pepper Fruits for Cheese

Pop Notch Ltd 83 Sixtowns Road, Draperstown, Co. Derry, BT45 7BB

Erin Grove Preserves 41 Derryhiliagh Road, Lissan, Garvery, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, BT71 4PF

c: Declan McBride t: +44 (0) 28 9185 3867 / +44 (0) 77 1409 0307 e: info@yourfoodstories.com

The Gourmet Mallow Company Lemon Meringue Marshmallow The Gourmet Mallow Company 11 Newton Road, Limavady, Co. Derry, BT49 0UD c: Yolande Shannon t: +44 (0) 77 2504 7403 e: thegourmetmallowcompany@ gmail.com

White’s Oats Aldi Kavanagh’s Instant Oats Golden Syrup White’s Oats 23 Scarva Road, Tandragee, Co. Armagh, BT62 2BZ c: Mark Gowdy t: +44 (0) 28 3884 0592 / +44 (0) 77 8887 2081 e: mark.gowdy@whitesoats.com

Orchard Organics Organic Raspberry Jam Orchard Organics Knockaconey, Allistragh, Armagh, Co. Armagh, BT61 8DT c: John McArdle t:+44 (0) 28 3889 1506 / +44 (0) 78 8194 5104 e: john@kayskitchen.org

c: Mark Paget t:+44 (0) 28 6632 8206 / +44 (0) 77 6615 8451 e: mark@eringrove.com

Papas Mineral Company Ltd Papas Traditional Clove Cordial Papas Mineral Company Ltd 39 Bayview Road, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 6AR c: Wayne Adair t:+44 (0) 28 9185 7122 / +44 (0) 78 8653 8603 e: info@papasmineralcompany. com

Burren Balsamics Ltd Armagh Bramley Apple Infused Balsamic Vinegar Burren Balsamics Ltd 37 Aghory Road, Richhill, Co. Armagh, BT61 9LY c: Susie Hamilton Stubber t: +44 (0) 78 0256 6029 e: susie@burrenbalsamics.com

Armagh Cider Company Ltd Doyles Summer Fruit Cider Armagh Cider Company Ltd Ballinteggart House, 73 Drumnasoo Road, Portadown, Co. Armagh, BT62 4EX c: Mark Troughton t:+44 (0) 28 3833 4268 / +44 (0) 77 0270 8131 e: info@armaghcider.com

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Free Installation and Training

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Bill Payments By joining PostPoint, your customers will be able to pay all major household bills in your store. Transactions are quick and convenient for you and your staff. You simply scan a customer’s bill and accept payment over the counter in a matter of seconds.

Postal Products PostPoint stores can offer a range of postal products and services, including national and international stamps, and Christmas Stamp Booklets. National and international stamps are in high demand all year round, with the average PostPoint retailer selling almost 9,000 stamps per year.

One4all Gift Cards The One4all Gift Card is Ireland’s leading multi-store Gift Card and is sold exclusively through Post Offices and PostPoint stores. The One4all Gift Card makes the perfect gift for any customer as it is accepted in over 7,000 retail outlets nationwide.

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Quick ordering, FREE delivery PostPoint retailers can purchase stamps and One4all conveniently and quickly through the PostPoint helpdesk on 1890 20 42 20, and all orders are delivered free of charge straight to the retailer’s door.

PostPoint works with all major retail brands including Spar, Centra, SuperValu, Tesco, Gala, Mace, Londis, Costcutter, Daybreak, Topaz and Applegreen. You can find more information about joining PostPoint at www.postpoint.ie, or you can call PostPoint Retail Support on 1890 20 42 20.

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magazine a very happy Christmas and a

retailers and readers of Retail News prosperous new year.’

42|Retail News|November 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Christmas Stocking: Essentials

Best of

Festive Fare We highlight the seasonal products guaranteed to fly from your shelves this Christmas. IRISH consumers are amongst the biggest spenders at Christmas. Last year’s festive season saw the highest growth in sales since 2009. Hosts spend on average €150 more on their Christmas shop. They make slightly less trips than non-hosts, but with +3.6% average spend and +5.5% trip spend. Christmas 2015 was the first year since 2008 when all of the top five retailers saw sales rise. Sales growth in the last four months of 2015 showed Tesco up by +4%, SuperValu also growing by +4%, Dunnes up by +9%, Aldi increasing by +6% and Lidl up by +13%. The majority of Irish consumers move into Christmas mode early, according to a new survey from Tesco Ireland, but despite this organisation, over one third (36%) of Irish adults still find preparing for the festive season overwhelmingly stressful. Once the Halloween holidays have wrapped up, Christmas plans go into overdrive with half of Irish adults in full Christmas swing by November, including the wellprepared 11% who start to plan Christmas as soon the kids head back to school in September. However, not everyone is so forward-thinking, with just over one in ten (12%) people leaving everything until the last minute. The study reveals that we’re a nation of habit; with many hosts relying on recipes and traditions handed down through the generations, with 70% aiming for a balance of the traditional and modern in their approach. Over one fifth of all Irish adults remark that as Christmas is a nostalgic time, they try to replicate the Christmases of their childhood. Most recipients agreed that it’s essential to have a high level of preparation in advance of dinner being cooked, with just over one third of adults claiming to use a mix of pre-prepared and fresh items to save time, while a similar proportion prepare all their items in advance.

Lindt Boasting double digit growth of +14% and a market share of 10.1% (Source: AC Nielsen, 52 weeks to October 2, 2016, MAT), Lindt Lindor maintain their position as Ireland’s number one premium Lindt will deliver a massively up-weighted national support plan behind the Lindor brand boxed this Christmas. chocolate brand. With a wide range of flavours and attractive formats, Lindt Lindor are guaranteed to cater to all your customers’ needs this Christmas. From the new limited edition Lindor Hazelnut to the classic Lindor Milk recipe, the 200g Cornet range will excite and engage your customers with a delicious range of flavours to choose from. The Lindor 337g pack size comes in both Milk and Assorted recipes and is the perfect sharing pack for the festive season. The perfect ‘wow’ gift this season is the Lindor Maxi Ball 550g, the same classic milk recipe in a giant size Lindor The perfect ‘wow’ gift this season is the truffle! Lindor Maxi Ball 550g, the same classic milk Yet again, recipe in a giant size Lindor truffle. Lindt will deliver a massively up-weighted national support plan behind the Lindor brand this Christmas, with Lindor TV advertising returning to screens and a strong push in-store with premium point of sale and display. With a format for all occasions, give your customers the gift of bliss this Christmas. Lindt Lindor 200g retails at €6.99, Lindor 337g retails at €9.99 and the Lindor Maxi Ball retails at €19.

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Christmas Stocking: Essentials Mr. Crumb Mr. Crumb is Ireland’s number one selling breadcrumb and stuffing brand. Mr. Crumb is a must have for your customers this Christmas and will be running an extensive consumer marketing campaign on national radio and print media to support the category. Hand-made in small batches in Finea, Co. Westmeath, the multi award winning range includes Sage & Onion, Garlic & Herb, Apple & Apricot with Cider, all 225g, as well as Sage & Onion & Lemon & Thyme 100g. Mr. Crumb has recently launched Chilled Gluten Free Breadcrumb (200g) and Gluten Mr. Crumb Sage & Onion Free Sage & Onion Stuffing (200g), the latter receiving both Stuffing, a must-stock for the festive season. a Commended Award at the Irish Quality Food Awards 2016 and a Bronze medal at the Blas Na hÉireann Awards 2016. Succulent and herby, Mr. Crumb Fresh Stuffing is a perfect blend of butter-sautéed onions, fresh breadcrumbs, herbs and spices. All products are made using natural ingredients and cook in their own tray, taking just two and a half minutes in the microwave or 19 minutes in the oven. They are versatile, perfect not only as an accompaniment to roast turkey this Christmas, but perfect also for stuffing autumnal veg (accompanying a vegetarian roast) or for topping pasta bakes. Mr. Crumb Fresh Breadcrumbs, 200g & 400g packs, are ideal for the consumer looking to make their own stuffings and Christmas pudding this festive season, as they are made with premium, artisan style bread, baked to a special recipe. Mr. Crumb branded products are available in the chilled cabinets in all leading supermarkets. Cuisine de France Retailers are in for a profit-boosting treat this festive season following the launch of the Christmas range from Cuisine de France. The range will enable Cuisine de France concept stores to tap into the Christmas opportunity as shoppers are on the lookout for tasty seasonal treats. “Shoppers want to indulge over the festive season, and by offering delicious and convenient treats The Christmas range from Cuisine de that they can eat France is sure to become a festive on the go, retailers favourite amongst consumers. can significantly boost their profits,” says Shane Vaughan, Head of Retail

Marketing, Ireland & UK, for Aryzta Food Solutions. The Cuisine de France Christmas range is backed by a comprehensive range of POS, including secondary display units. The Christmas range includes four delicious new products which are sure to become festive favourites amongst consumers:

•

Brandy Mince Puff: puff pastry encases this festive filling of vine fruits, sultanas, currants and mixed spice; • Chocolate Doublé: cocoa enriched puff pastry, double filled with a rich chocolate hazelnut filling and a creamy white chocolate filling; • Cranberry Twist: hand twisted buttery pastry, filled with a crème patisserie and cranberries; • Raspberry Cheesecake Duet: crisp delicate pastry filled with raspberry and baked cheesecake fillings. For more details, please call your local Aryzta Food Solutions Business Developer. Glanbia A must for everyone’s shopping list this and every Christmas is Avonmore Cream. With over 1.5m households in Ireland buying Avonmore Cream and almost 300 units sold every minute during Christmas week, Avonmore Cream is a must stock item for the Christmas season and has a wide range of creams to suit every occasion, including Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream, which is already whipped for added convenience, delicious Avonmore Sour Cream for party dips and appetisers, Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream and a range of seasonal creams, such as Bailey’s Whipped Cream, which are perfect for Christmas treats. Already whipped and ready to serve, Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream is the perfect accompaniment to Christmas puddings, mince pies, Irish coffees and Christmas desserts. Research carried out by Avonmore shows that Avonmore Whipped Cream is particularly popular at Christmas due to its added convenience and 25% of consumers will purchase Avonmore Whipped Cream for Christmas desserts in addition to their regular cream. Also very popular at Christmas, luxuriously thick Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream is perfect for pouring

For more information please contact your local business developer or email AFSORDERING@arytza.com or call 1850 777 000 (ROI) or 08000 973 282 (NI).

Back by popular demand, Avonmore’s Caramel Whipped Cream is perfect for family dessert and treats.

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Christmas Stocking: Essentials directly over festive desserts. The deliciously smooth, thick consistency is the perfect accompaniment to mince pies, Christmas pudding, trifle and all consumers’ favourite Christmas treats. Back by popular demand with a fresh new look, Baileys Whipped Cream in a 585ml pot combines the unique and great taste of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur and Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream. Luxurious and delicious on top of a chocolate cake, in a latte, or with any dessert of your choice, these are two great Irish products with one unforgettable taste. New to the market last year and also back due to popular demand is Avonmore’s Caramel Whipped Cream. Infused with delicious Christmas Caramel, this fabulous flavour appeals to consumers both young and old and is perfect for family dessert and treats. Avonmore Cream will have a strong support plan in place to support its Christmas ‘Add a Splash of Magic’ campaign. This seasonal campaign encourages consumers to ‘Add a Splash of Magic’ to all to their festive dishes and will be supported by a heavyweight campaign, including TV, outdoor, in-store sampling and activation, digital and PR support. PostPoint PostPoint’s One4all Gift Card is Ireland’s leading multi-store Gift Card and is sold exclusively through Post Offices and PostPoint stores. The One4all Gift Card makes the perfect gift for any customer as it is accepted in over 7,000 retail outlets nationwide.

The One4all Gift Card is the market-leading, multi-retailer gift card, popular for the choice it offers customers, and is currently accepted in store and online at over 8,000 stores nationwide.

A Penneys spokesperson commented on the announcement: “We are thrilled to join the One4all Gift Card scheme in what we know will be a successful partnership not only for both brands but most importantly for Irish shoppers.” The One4all Gift Card is the market-leading, multiretailer gift card, popular for the choice it offers customers, and is currently accepted in store and online at over 8,000 stores nationwide. Henkel At Christmas, consumers can feel inundated with festive frivolities and novelty gifts, but there is one brand that consumers always seek out at Christmas: Sellotape, the must stock product during the festive season. “When it comes to wrapping gifts, consumers want to rely on an instantly recognisable and a trusted brand and the name Sellotape inspires that confidence,” explains Crevan Byrne, Henkel Consumer Adhesives Head of Sales.

Pictured is Michael Dawson, CEO of One4all Gift Cards, with model Thalia Heffernan at the official announcement that Irish retailer Penneys is the latest brand to join One4all.

Irish retailer Penneys is the latest brand to join the One4all scheme and represents the first third party gift card to be accepted by Penneys. “We’re delighted to announce the extension of the One4all retailer portfolio and partnership with Penneys, which means that One4all customers are able use their Gift Cards across Penneys stores nationwide,” noted Michael Dawson, Group CEO at One4all. “Penneys is a fantastic Irish brand offering a broad range of products, which is going from strength to strength both nationally and internationally at the moment.”

Sellotape Original Golden, an iconic product and a retailer essential.

Frozen Potato Brand Frozen Chip Brand Roast Potato Brand

www.mccain.ie

www.facebook.com/MccainIreland

*Source: Value Sales AC Nielsen, Scantrack Multiples Market, MAT Oct 2016

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Christmas Stocking: Essentials The brand, which launched in 1937 and has led the market ever since, has been re-positioned over the past few years following a massive investment into the development and redesign of the entire Sellotape range. The new products and packaging follow the newly identified proposition of the brand, praising consumers for their own cleverness and providing them with simple, ingenious solutions to everyday problems.

number one brand share of the utility tapes market. Seven out of 10 consumers claim that they would buy products from Sellotape in preference to other brands of sticky tape. Byrne says: “Retailers should capitalise on this customer loyalty and continuous innovation by making Sellotape the one prominent brand on their Christmas fixtures.” Nivea Nivea is the number one female face and body care brand in Ireland (Source: Nielsen ROI Extended Scantrack, 52 week data to June 14, 2015) and the world’s number one male skincare brand (Source: Euromonitor International Limited; NIVEA in the category Men's Skin Care; in retail value terms, 2013).

Meeting identified needs from a premium dispenser, Sellotape OnHand allows for variable tape lengths, ease of use and even keeps both hands free for wrapping!

Remaining at the heart of the brand, as it has for over 80 years, is the ‘hero’ Original Golden, an iconic product and a retailer essential. Under the brand’s 2016 Christmas tagline ‘Don’t Come Unstuck, Stick with Sellotape, the must stock product during the Original’, the the festive season. brand celebrates the premium quality of its golden honey tape for being the unsung hero of Christmas. The introduction of Sellotape’s new On Hand has been motivated by consumers. Meeting identified needs from a premium dispenser, Sellotape On-Hand allows for variable tape lengths, ease of use and even keeps both hands free for wrapping! Sellotape aims to make the On-Hand Dispenser a top draw must-have item for every household. Chao Roberts, Sellotape Brand Manager, says, “In the development of the On-Hand Dispenser, we have kept the consumer’s wrapping rituals at heart, trying to facilitate the process with On-Hand. Developed through extensive market research, the On-Hand dispenser is always there to help when wrapping or sealing presents, parcels and envelopes. This dispenser is an extension of you. It simply slots on the hand like a ring, allowing you to dispense the tape as you hold the wrapping paper in place.” Alongside this, Sellotape has Festive On-Hand Refills, an exciting range of pattern tapes for that extra special touch at Christmas. Designed specifically for the Sellotape On-Hand Dispenser, Festive On-Hand Refills include one roll of Super Clear tape and two rolls of pattern tape. One of the pattern tapes shows an elegant white snowflake design, while the other shows a contrasting red and white Christmas tree pattern, both perfect for making Christmas gifts more special! Sellotape remains the nation’s favourite tape, with

The Nivea Men Wash Kit (RRP €16.75) includes Sensitive Shower Cream 250ml, Sensitive Protect Deodorant 150ml, NM Crème 150ml and a wash bag.

Nivea has a range of Christmas must-haves, showcasing this season’s amazing gifting purchases. Whether consumers are in search of that essential stocking filler or fabulous gift bags for a loved one, Nivea has something for everyone. Consumers can enjoy a variety of products, ranging from caring face creams to nourishing body lotions and shower gels, everything they will need for the perfect, most caring gift. The Nivea Men range includes Nivea Men Crème Stocking Filler, with 150ml of Nivea Men All Purpose Crème (RRP €7), as well as shower gel and deodorant gift sets in Nivea Men Sensitive and Nivea Men Sport (RRP €7). The range also includes Nivea Men Minis For Him (RRP €7.50), which includes Active Clean Mini Shower, Cool Kick Mini Deo, Sensitive Mini Shaving Gel and Sensitive Post Shave Mini Balm. The Nivea Men Wash Kit (RRP €16.75) includes Sensitive Shower Cream 250ml, Nivea Luscious Lip Moments (RRP €8.75) Sensitive Protect includes Pearly Shine Lip, Original Care Lip, Deodorant 150ml, Lip Butter Raspberry, Lip Butter Vanilla and NM Crème 150ml a keep-able heart-shaped tin. and a wash bag, while the Nivea Men Sensitive Kit (RRP €30) includes Sensitive Shower Gel 250ml, Sensitive Protect Deodorant 150ml, Sensitive Shaving Foam, Sensitive Post Shave Balm 100ml and Sensitive Mini Moisturiser 15ml.

Enjoy a little extra this Christmas

€10 free credit when you top up by €30 or more

Vodafone Vodafone Power Power to to you you

From 1st to 27th December 2016, any pay as you go customer who tops up by €30 in one go will get €10 extra free credit. See vodafone.ie for full terms.

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Christmas Stocking: Essentials A Crisp Christmas NEW crisp flavours are set to tempt consumers this festive season.

Nivea Mini Treat Moments (RRP €7.50) includes Fruity Shine Strawberry Lip, Crème Soft Shower 50ml, Soft 25ml and Pearl and Beauty Roll On Mini.

For her, the range includes Nivea Soft Stocking Filler (RRP €7) which includes a Nivea Soft 200ml, Nivea Mini Treat Moments (RRP €7.50), which includes Fruity Shine Strawberry Lip, Crème Soft Shower 50ml, Soft 25ml and Pearl and Beauty Roll On Mini. Nivea Skin Nourishing Moments (RRP €8) includes Rich Nourishing Body Moisturiser 250ml, Crème smooth shower cream 250ml and shower puff. Nivea Luscious Lip Moments (RRP €8.75) includes Pearly Shine Lip, Original Care Lip, Lip Butter Raspberry, Lip Butter Vanilla and a keep-able heart-shaped tin. Nivea Beautiful Moments (RRP €13.50) includes Lip Butter Raspberry, Diamond Touch Shower Cream 250ml, Soft 200ml, a pink shower puff and pink wash bag. Nivea Sensitive Moments (RRP €13.50) includes Daily Essentials Sensitive Wipes (25), Daily Essentials Sensitive Day Cream 50ml, Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water 200ml and a white wash bag. Nivea Smooth Skin Moments (RRP €30) includes Irresistibly Smooth Body Lotion 75ml, Smooth Nourishing Hand Cream 100ml, Pearly Shine Lip, Daily Essentials Day Cream 50ml and Daily Essentials Cleansing Wipes 20. The range also includes Nivea Revitalising Moments (RRP €20), which consists of Indulgent Moisture Orange Shower Gel 250ml, Stress Protect Deodorant 150ml, Soft 200ml and a stylish gym bag. For more information, please visit www. nivea.ie or www.facebook.com/niveaireland.

Keogh’s Crisps Fans of unique Irish flavours will love Irish Chorizo and Cherry Tomato, the brand new flavour from Keogh’s Crisps. The limited edition flavour is the result of a carefully crafted collaboration between the Gubbeen Smokehouse in Co. Cork and Keogh’s Farm, producers of the highest quality Irish potatoes and crisps. “From listening to our customers, we knew that they were ready for us to bring out a new, sophisticated flavour and we believe that Irish Chorizo and Cherry Tomato meets the criteria,” notes Tom Keogh, Managing Director at Chorizo and Cherry Tomato, Keogh’s Farm. “We’ve done lots of taste the brand new limited edition tests and the flavour is a massive hit flavour from Keogh’s Crisps. with all of our family, so we hope the Irish public love it as much as we do!” Keogh’s Irish Chorizo and Cherry Tomato crisps are hand-cooked on the family farm in North County Dublin and, as with all Keogh’s products, are certified gluten-free. Existing flavours in the crisp range include Sea Salt & Irish Cider Vinegar, Shamrock & Sour Cream, Roast Beef & Irish Stout, Dubliner Irish Cheese & Onion, Irish Atlantic Sea Salt, Sweet Chilli & Irish Red Pepper and the seasonal Roast Turkey and Secret Stuffing. Glens of Antrim Potatoes Glens of Antrim Potatoes, a leading Northern Irish potato processor, has launched an innovative range of gluten-free sweet potato crisps. The company, based at Cushendall in County Antrim, has introduced an initial four-strong range of crisps made from sweet potatoes which it has been importing from the US for a number of years for distribution in Ireland. The range, available in 100g bags, features: Mature Cheddar and Sweet Onion; Irish Whiskey; Kickin’ Chilli; and Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar. The crisps Glens of Antrim Potatoes has are all hand cooked in their skins launched an innovative range of and, as well as being gluten-free, gluten-free sweet potato crisps. are free from artificial colours and artificial flavours. Michael McKillop, MD of Glens of Antrim Potatoes, says the development of the crisps represents a significant diversification of the business: “Creating a range of deliciously different crisps made sound business sense because of our longstanding experience in potato growing, processing and marketing. On my travels to the US, I found that sweet potato crisps have a very rich flavour. We use the finest sweet potatoes from growers in North Carolina and hand cook them in their skins to make outstandingly tasty and crunchy crisps. “We’ve worked with flavour experts to come up with different flavours such as Irish Whiskey,” he adds. “Feedback from initial consumer tests has been extremely positive and a number of retailers in Northern Ireland have begun stocking the crisps. We’ll be focusing on marketing the new range throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. Other flavours are also being planned.”

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Christmas Stocking: Wines

Grape Expectations Jean Smullen focuses on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;must stockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wines for the festive season.

THE wine trade in Ireland approaches the busy 2016 Christmas trading period in uncertain times. The latest figures show that volume and value sales for wine on the Irish market remain flat. Irish Wine Association (IWA) figures show that total volume sales of wine in 2015 were 8.56m cases, up slightly from 8.52m cases in 2014. After some years of falling consumption, there is a very small return to growth in volume terms, though value sales are still being distorted by the two duty increases in 2012 and 2013. The decision not to reduce excise on alcohol in the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2017 budget was seen as a missed opportunity by many industry commentators, who continue to lobby for a reduction in excise levels. The IWA released their figures for 2015 in September 2016 and they contain some interesting facts relating to the current status of the Irish wine market. Who is drinking wine? Overall figure shows that the volume share of wine purchases in 2015 were made by 61% of females and 39% of males. It is neck and neck for millenials in terms of wine consumption, with both male and female sales at 17% each in the 25-34 age brackets. In the 35-44 age bracket, female consumers lead with way, with

25% of women consuming wine compared to 21% of men. In the 45-54 age bracket, the male drinker dominates, with 22% of men consuming wine, compared to 18% of female drinkers. In the 55-64 age bracket, 18% of men purchase wine, compared to 15% of women. But what are they drinking? In the years 1990 to 2004, there was a dramatic increase in sales, with new world wines rising from 6% of the market in 1990 to 75% market share by 2004. European wines fought back to a market high of 39% in 2014. New world wine sales are gaining ground back and showing a slight increase for 2015; 62.5% of all wine sales on the Irish market were new world wines, up from 61% of the market in 2014. Chile remains the most popular country of origin with 23.5% of the market in volume sales, Australia is in second place with 18.6%, France remains in third place at 14.5%, Spain is in fourth place with 11.8% and Italy is in fifth place with 10.2% of the Irish wine market (Source: Irish Wine Association Market Report 2015). As the retail sector gears up for the busy pre-Christmas trading period, we will take a look at some of the must stock wines this year.

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Christmas Stocking: Wines Gilbeys Gilbeys have Spanish Cava on offer this Christmas, Codorníu. The Codorníu family history dates back to 1551 and Codorníu was the first winery to create Cava using Macabeo, Xarello and Pallarada grapes. Codorníu owns the oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the region and these are used in the production of its premium cava, made from 30 year old vines. The grapes used to make Codorníu Clásico Rosé come from vineyards selected by Codorníu’s winegrowing teams in the Penedés region. Spain in another country to look out for in terms of premium wines this Codorníu was Christmas, most the first winery to create Cava using especially the DO Macabeo, Xarello Rioja. El Viejas de and Pallarada Ramon is produced grapes. by Bodegas Ramón The modern Rioja and is a modern Rioja style. Rioja Ramon Bilbao owns of El Viejas de Ramon is produced over 250 hectares of vineyards in both by Bodegas Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja. It is the fastest Ramón, one of growing winery in Rioja and is considered Spain’s most to be one of the country's most innovative innovative wine wine producers. The family of wines producers. from Ramon Bilbao also has as part of its portfolio a premium Albarino ‘Mar de Frades’ from DO Rias Baxias and a biodynamic wine ‘Cruz de Alba’ from DO Ribera Del Duero. Ampersand South Africa is definitely on the way back: look out for 2015 Meerestein Shiraz/Mourvedre, winner of a Bronze Star (Under €10), and 2016 Meerestein Cinsault Rosé, a Silver Star winner in the 2016/17 NOffLA Irish Wine Awards. The 2015 Meerestein Chenin/Pinot Grigio was a Gold Star winner in 2015. This is a reliable varietal range from South Africa, offering good value in terms of price and is a good recommendation for Christmas parties. Barry & Fitzwilliam Barry & Fitzwilliam have a very strong line up in the fortified wine sector. The company represents Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry, Croft Original Sherry, Tio Pepe Sherry and Cockburns. It is not overstating it when Michael Barry says “they are the category captains of this sector”. Sales of fortified wine peak at Christmas: they are perceived by the consumer to be seasonal wines and wine styles such as Port and Sherry enjoy a surge in sales at this time of year, so make sure you have them on your shelves. Fortified wines are wines to which extra alcohol is added during their production. In the case of port, spirit is added during fermentation to kill the yeast, stop the wine

fermenting and retain some of the natural sweetness before the wine is aged. Sherry is made in two basic ways, one of which leads to Fino and the other to the Oloroso style. These too are fortified and aged in wood using a complex blending system, known as a Solera. Barry & Fitzwilliam also have an outstanding portfolio of French wine, which includes from Bordeaux, Michel Lynch; the incomparable house of Guigal from the Rhone; as well as the Gabriel Meffre range, including La Chasse du Pape, also from the Rhone region. From Burgundy, they have the Faiveley range; from the Loire, Pascal Jolivet, and from Alsace, PreissZimmer. This is the time of year when the consumer “trades up”, buying more wine at mid-price and premium levels, particularly from classic French wine regions, so to avail of an anticipated bigger spend per bottle of wine, make sure you have some of these in stock. Australian Vintage Limited are owned by the McGuigan family, who are owner/managers of vineyards sold under McGuigan label. Look out for McGuigan Frizzante, which launched McGuigan last year. This low alcohol ProseccoFrizzante is fresh and zesty, with lots style sparkling wine from Australia of fruit flavours. is made from the Semillon grape, and is fresh and zesty, with lots of fruit flavours. The quality is remarkably good and this new world sparkler can be offered as alternative to anyone looking for bubbles for their party: an ideal Christmas celebratory drink. Cassidy Wines The Gold Award for Champagne in the NOffLA Wine Awards for 2016/17 was awarded to Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV (€60). Founded in 1776, Louis Roederer is an independent family-run Champagne house. It was awarded 92 points by Wine Advocate, who said “The NV Brut Premier is a gorgeous wine that stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of wines in its price range”. Port house, Ramos Pintos became part of the House of Roederer in 1990. This premium winery was founded by Adriano Ramos Pinto in 1880. Ramos Pintos has a strict self production policy, and so only produces wines from grapes grown on their own estate. This Christmas, their quality ports will be on special price offer. Look out for Ramos Pintos LBV at €25.99; Ramos Pintos Reserva Collectorat (€22.99); Ramos Pintos Superior Tawny at €19.99; Ramos Pintos Quinta Ervamoira 10 YO at €40. Classic Drinks Spanish Cava is competitively priced and bottle fermented (method traditionelle). Classic Drinks have the 2012 Gran Barón Brut on offer at €22.99. Made from Macabeo, Xarello and Parellada, this stylish sparkling wine from the Penedes region in Spain should be on your shelves this Christmas. Classic Drinks include Offley, a traditional port house originally founded in the 18th century. The range includes the Offley Ruby (€18.99). Ruby Port is a Christmas staple: it is a young port style and is aged in wood for about three years. The Offley Tawny (€19.99) is a more complex style. Tawny ports are aged for a much longer period in barrel.

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Christmas Stocking: Wines Comans Beverages One of the most interesting wines on the market at the moment is the Las Moras Dada Bonarda/Malbec. This wine has become enormously popular in 2016 and sales have soared. From Argentina, the wine is produced in San Juan, using American oak aged, medium toast to bring out the vanilla character, creating a soft, easy drinking, approachable wine. Made from the Bonarda and Malbec grapes, this concept wine is walking off shelves. This Christmas, Dada will be available in a special Christmas three pack retailing at just over €30. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is another wine style that literally walks off the shelf at Christmas. With the 2016 vintage now available, the Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc (€16) is another must stock. DO Rioja is another big selling wine at Christmas, the soft aged wine style is one to recommend to accompany turkey. Comans have their premium Rioja Bodega Muga Especial (€35) available in a gift box with two glasses. Their very famous Ribero del Duero winery, Protos is also available in a two-bottle gift pack with glasses. Edward Dillon & Co Moët & Chandon, founded in 1743, is the biggest selling Champagne on the Irish market. This Christmas they have a limited edition collection with a theme, entitled Bursting Bubbles. The Bursting Bubbles limited edition includes Moët & Chandon Bursting Bubbles Gift Box (€50.49), Moët & Chandon Bursting Bubbles Gift Bag (€52), Moët & Chandon Bursting Bubbles Bottle (€50.49) and a Moët & Chandon Bursting Bubbles Gift Box Rose (€58.30). The Moët & Chandon Bursting Bubbles Gift Bag comes with a translucent window, which showcases the design of the bottle inside. Complete with a black lace handle, it’s embossed with gold on both sides, for an added touch of luxury. This year, they are also offering a new limited edition Rosé Impérial gift box. Since its foundation in 1772, the House of Veuve Clicquot has been synonymous with quality; Clicquot is made predominantly from red grapes, Pinot Noir and Meunier, and tends to be a more full bodied crisp style of Champagne. This Christmas, Veuve Clicquot have an assortment of limited edition gift boxes on offer, including Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Arrow Gift Box at €58, which incorporates Veuve Clicquot’s iconic yellow label. This year, Veuve Clicquot has also introduced a limited edition festive gift box at €57, inspired by the end of year festivities. This limited edition gift box is also available in Veuve Clicquot Rosé €72.60. Another very popular product with the Irish consumer in the run-up to Christmas

Chase the Cap with Wolf Blass WOLF Blass is offering shoppers instant win rugby-themed prizes as it launches a new marketing campaign, seeking to build on its continued success in Ireland. The brand, distributed by Findlater Wine & Spirit Group, has launched ‘Chase the Cap’, a through the line campaign featuring an instant-win mechanic on limited edition bottles of Wolf Blass Yellow Label. Shoppers will find a message under the cap of their bottle to see if they have won – prizes include luxury European Rugby Weekends for two, as well as other rugby-themed prizes and premium Wolf Blass wines.

is brandy. Hennessy is the number one selling brand in this category on the Irish market. This Christmas, Hennessy has created a range of special Christmas gift packaging for Hennessy Very Special, Hennessy X.O and Fine de Cognac. The Hennessy Very Special edition gift box (€36) is likely to be very popular, as is the gift pack including a bottle of Hennessy Very Special with two glasses (€37) and a VSOP Privilège 5cl miniature (€37). Hennessy V.S.O.P is also available in a gift box, with two glasses (€60), while Hennessy X.O offer Hennessy X.O and Ice (€149), a premium product with two new glasses designed by T. Bastide. This Christmas, Hennessy’s Christmas edition Fine de Cognac is on offer with gift box packaging (€48.29). Febvre & Co Champagne Taittinger, one of Champagne’s most elite houses, has Champagne Taittinger Brut Bubble NV available with a very elegant gift carton for €45.99. Champagne Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé with a cooler bag is an ideal corporate gift at €60. Prestigious Champagne to look out for is Champagne Deutz Brut NV, also with a high quality Gift Carton at €45.99. Premium Prosecco is also guaranteed to generate good sales over the Christmas holiday period; the Valdo Jubilee Limited Edition at €24 is worth a look. This premium prosecco house has been producing wine in the Valdiobbiandene region for over 90 years. Look out for some of the premium wines that Febvre have in their current portfolio, including the excellent Chablis made by Vincent Bartement, winner of the International Wine Challenge White Winemaker of the Year in 2016, La Chablisienne (€17). Staying in Burgundy, their Louis Latour range includes the Louis Latour Macon Lugny Les Genievre (€17) and the Louis Latour Chablis (€25). Italian wine is also very popular at Christmas time; make sure you stock 2010/2011 Castello Banfi Brunello de Montalcino (€45), from Tuscany. The 2010 Brunello de Montalcino was awarded 92 Points by Wine Spectator and the 2011 vintage also received 92 Points from Wine Spectator.

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Christmas Stocking: Wines Findlater Wine & Spirit Group Findlater Wine & Spirit Group have a range of sparkling wines available for the festive season. Freixenet Cava has recently launched Legero, their fully sparkling, alcohol-free wine, in time for the busy Christmas season. Made entirely from Muscat grown in the Penedès region, the heartland of Cava, Freixenet Legero (€8.49) is the perfect bubbly alternative for celebrations where there are designated drivers, expectant mothers or those simply watching their alcohol intake. Coming from Bío Bío, one of the most southerly regions in the world, Cono Sur Sparkling Brut (€18.99) is made up of the world-famous Champagne pairing of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, resulting in a delicate and elegant wine with a distinctive South American character. Wolf Blass Red Label Premium Cuvée (€19.99) has had a long and distinguished history at major wine shows in the past, where this value-for-money sparkling shows qualities well above its station. Graham Beck Brut Sparkling (€27.95) has a cult following here in Ireland amongst those in the know. It’s made via the Methode Cap Classique, the name used in South Africa for sparkling wines made using the Champagne grapes and production methods, and the same level of quality and depth is evident in this South African sparkler for a fraction of Champagne prices.

The specially-commissioned box is made entirely of metal but rendered in such a way to make it feel like the fabric of a well-made tuxedo, the 'uniform' of choice of the world’s best spy. What's more, the metal, textural case doubles-up as a bottle cooler, keeping the elusive 2009 vintage chilled for up to two hours. Irish consumers are starting to explore outside of the usual Ruby, LBV and Vintage Port categories. Tawny is an increasingly popular alternative, and Graham’s have an excellent collection of aged Tawnies available here in Ireland including 10, 20, 30 and 40 year old wines, each providing rich, nutty, dried fruit flavours in varying degrees of complexity, depending on the age. This Christmas, Graham’s Tawny Ports will be available in beautiful, thick-based glass bottles with elegant gifting tubes. Another good gift option is Graham’s Port Selection in a convenient presentation box, containing five bottles of 200ml samples of Graham’s range of Ports: Fine White, Late Bottled Vintage, Six Grapes, 10 Year Tawny and 20 Year Tawny.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2016

Cono Sur Sparkling Brut (€18.99) is made up of the that worldfamous Champagne pairing of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Bollinger Special Cuvée (€65) is admired and lauded worldwide and is the perfect start to any celebration and can be enjoyed with many foods. This Christmas, it’s available in a classy, contemporary gift box, making a special occasion even more decadent. Champagne Bollinger Pentagon is a feat of engineering in itself, featuring the exotic packaging box with its innovative, magnet-free closure where the word ‘Bollinger’ on two separate flaps meet flush to seal the box, making this an eye catching gift. Also exclusively on offer in the off trade is the Champagne Bollinger ‘Spectre’, James Bond Special Edition, which contains a bottle of the rare 2009 vintage.

IT’S Beaujolais Nouveau time, with enthusiasts around the world enjoying their first sip of this vin de primeur on November 17, 2016, to celebrate the arrival of the new vintage! Celebrating the end of the harvest, George Duboeuf Beaujolis Nouveau (pictured) was distributed around the world, including Ireland, for its global launch on the day: under French law, Beaujolais Nouveau cannot be released on sale until the third Thursday in November each year. As distributor for Georges Duboeuf in Ireland, Febvre took its first delivery of Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau just in time to have it delivered to off-licences and restaurants around Ireland. Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2016 is available nationwide with an RRP of €12.99.

Wolf Blass Red Label Premium Cuvée shows qualities well above its station.

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

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

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30/04/2014 10:23

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and One4all are offering you the chance to win a €100 One4all Gift Card just in time for Christmas! If you would like to stock One4all Gift Cards in your store please call the PostPoint helpdesk on 1890 20 42 20. To be in with a chance of winning a €100 One4all Online Gift Card please answer the following question and send, together with your name, address and telephone number, on a postcard to POSTPOINT COMPETITION, Retail News, 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 or email your details and correct answer to: info@retailnews.ie

With PostPoint, you can offer your customers:

A. Mobile Phone Top Ups B. BillPay C. One4all Gift Cards D. All of the above Closing date: 12th December 2016. Terms and conditions apply. Judges decision is final. No cash alternative given.

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Christmas Stocking: Spirits

Festive Spirits The recent Irish Whiskey Awards highlighted the resurgence in quality of Irish spirits brands. CASTLE Brands walked away with top accolades at the recent Irish Whiskey. Awards, including Irish Whiskey of the Year 2016 and overall winner for Irish Single Malts (13 Years and older) for Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old Twin Wood. Castle Brands also won a gold medal for their Knappogue Castle 16 Year Old Single Malt in the Irish Single Malts (13 Years or Older) category and a gold medal for Boru Vodka in the Best Irish Vodka category, with the overall winner in this category going to Straw Boys Vodka from the Connacht Distillery, Mayo. The Irish Whiskey Awards, which are in their fourth year, recognise the excellence and innovation from indigenous producers and distillers. The awards spanned a total of 20 categories, including recognition of the best in Irish gin, vodka, liqueurs and craft beer. The Irish Single Malt Whiskey (12 Years & Younger) category was won by Dunvilles PX Single Malt and Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength took home the trophy in the Irish Single Pot Stills category. Teeling Small Batch got the nod for best Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of less than €60) with Midleton Very Rare receiving the top accolade for the Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of €60 or more) for the second year in a row. Marrowbone Lane Irish Whiskey Society Bottling and St Patrick’s Cask Strength Irish Whiskey were awarded overall winners of the Irish Single

Cask Whiskey and Irish Cask Strength Whiskey categories respectively. For the full list of winners, see www.irishwhiskeyawards.com. Teeling Whiskey Teeling Whiskey continues to shine on a national stage, picking up three accolades at the 2016 Irish Whiskey Awards. The Teeling Trinity range of Irish whiskeys all won Gold, while the Teeling Single Grain won Best in Class and the Teeling Small Batch scooped the top prize for Irish Whiskeys under €60. This brings the total of awards won by Teeling Whiskey to over 90 in the past three years alone. Earlier this year, Teeling Whiskey was one of the big the company reigned winners at the Irish Whiskey Awards. supreme at the World Whiskies Awards, which is a premier celebration of the finest whiskies across the globe. Teeling Whiskey triumphed in two World’s Best categories and walked away with a clean sweep of Gold Medals at the Spirits Masters Awards 2016, the International Wine & Spirits Competition and the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016.

Boatyard Gin Sets Sail

Marianne Courtney of Castle Brands, Irish Whiskey of the Year 2016 winner for Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old Twin Wood.

BOATYARD Gin has been launched by a new craft distillery in Northern Ireland, which also has plans to produce Irish whiskey and vodka. The new gin, Northern Ireland’s fourth in the past five years, has been established at Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh by three industry specialists. The gin is the first in Fermanagh for 130 years, and the distillery overlooks picturesque Lough Erne in Northern Ireland’s Lakelands. Boatyard Gin (ABV 48% and available in distinctive 70cl bottles), is the brainchild of Fermanagh native man Joe McGirr, who has worked within the industry for over 15 years with Glenmorangie and Moet Hennessy.

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Christmas Stocking: Spirits New Whiskey a Real Knockout! PRIZEFIGHT Irish Whiskey is a new Irish whiskey from Pugilist Spirits and liquor legend Steven Grasse, based on a collaboration between West Cork Distillers in Ireland and Tamworth Distilling in the USA. Prizefight is a collaborative Irish whiskey, distilled and aged in Ireland, and finished in American rye casks from Tamworth Distilling. The result is incredibly complex whiskey: a smooth and mellow spirit that packs a punch but never burns. “Our ethos of quality and innovation ensures that what goes into every bottle of Teeling Whiskey is something we strive to perfect every day,” said Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company. “As such, it is very rewarding for our efforts to be consistently recognised by both domestic and international experts.” Teeling Whiskey has just been honoured for the second year in a row by the International Wine and Spirits Competition making 2016's Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year Shortlist. Meanwhile, Teeling has released two new bottlings from its Vintage Reserve Collection, the Teeling 24 Year Old and the Teeling 33 Year Old Irish Single Malt. The 33 Year Old release, which is limited to just 275 bottles, is believed to be the oldest bottling of Irish Single Malt recently released, making it the world’s most exclusive Irish whiskey. Dunville PX Northern Ireland’s Dunville PX Premium Single Malt, produced by Echlinville Distillery at Kircubbin in Co. Down, was named Best Irish Single Malt 12 Years or Under at the Irish Whiskey Awards. Dunville PX is a blend of the whiskey that used to be produced in the old Royal Irish Distillery in Belfast until its closure in 1935. The whiskey was subsequently rejuvenated by Echlinville Distillery Dunville PX Premium Single founder, Sean Braniff, Malt was named Best Irish and launched in 2014. Single Malt 12 Years or Under Echlinville Distillery at the Irish Whiskey Awards. produces whiskey and other spirits such as Bán Poitín, a gold medal winner in the Poitín category of the latest Irish Whiskey Awards, as well as its own Echlinville Gin and Jawbox Gin.

Irish Whiskey Awards 2016 Irish Whiskey of the Year 2016 Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old Twin Wood Irish Single Pot Stills Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength: Overall winner Redbreast 21 Year Old: Gold Medal Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy: Gold Medal Redbreast Lustau Edition: Gold Medal Irish Single Malts (12 years and younger) Dunvilles PX Single Malt: Overall Winner The Famous Galway Bay Irish Whiskey: Gold Medal Teeling Single Malt: Gold Medal Irish Single Malts (13 years and older) Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old Twin Wood: Overall Winner Knappogue Castle 16 Year Old Single Malt: Gold Medal Glendalough 13 Year Old Single Malt: Gold Medal Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of less than €60) Teeling Small Batch: Overall Winner Jameson Black Barrel: Gold Medal Jameson Crested: Gold Medal Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of €60 or more) Midleton Very Rare: Overall Winner Jameson The Distillers Safe: Gold Medal Jameson The Blender’s Dog: Gold Medal Irish Single Cask Whiskey Marrowbone Lane Irish Whiskety Society Bottling: Overall Winner Powers Single Pot Still Celtic Whiskey Shop Single Cask: Gold Medal The Irishman 17 Year Old Single Cask: Gold Medal Irish Cask Strength Whiskey St Patricks Cask Strength Irish Whiskey: Overall Winner Spade and Bushel 10 Year Old Single Malt: Gold Medal Dingle Distillery Cask Strength Whiskey: Gold Medal Irish Single Grain Whiskey Teeling Single Grain: Overall Winner Kilbeggan 8 Year Old: Gold Medal Hyde 6 Year Old Single Grain Bourbon Cask: Gold Medal Irish Poitín Bán Barrelled and Buried: Overall Winner Bán Poitín: Gold Medal Glendalough Mountain Strength Poitín: Gold Medal Irish Liqueur Merrys White Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur: Overall Winner Merrys Salted Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur: Gold Medal Mrs Doyle’s Cream Liqueur: Gold Medal Irish Gin Boyle’s Gin Small Batch: Overall Winner Dublin City Gin: Gold Medal Thin Gin: Gold Medal Irish Vodka Strawboys Irish Vodka: Overall Winner Boru vodka: Gold Medal Kalak Vodka: Gold Medal Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Irish Craft Beer Five Lamps Whiskey Barrel Aged Honor Bright: Overall Winner O'Hara's Barrel Aged Leann Folláin: Gold Medal Five Lamps Whiskey Barrel Aged Dark IPA: Gold Medal

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Christmas Stocking: Beers

Top Beer! CONSUMER interest in beers is at an all-time high, as a wealth of new products hit the market, from the biggest names in brewing to the host of fledgling microbreweries that have recently surfaced throughout the country. Indeed, craft beer continued to see rapid growth in Ireland during 2015 not only as the brands available expanded, but also because production volumes increased, with over 70% growth recorded in the number of microbreweries operating in the country within just 18 months, rising from 32 in mid-2014 to 55 by the end of 2015, according to Euromonitor International. Beer is expected to record marginal total volume growth in the coming years, according to Euromonitor, with sales rising by one million litres in actual terms to 429m litres in 2020. The performance in the category is set to be better than recent years, at least partially due to the ongoing recovery of the Irish economy and the growth of the craft beer sector. By producing more high-quality and highend products, smaller producers are expected to continue challenging the already established bigger companies, thus forcing them to develop new interesting products in turn. Guinness Rye Pale Ale Guinness Rye Pale Ale is the latest product from the Guinness experimental brewery at St James’ Gate to be available in the off trade. One of the first experimental beers to be made available at The Open Gate Brewery, since it opened its doors to the public in November 2015, the ale has proven such a hit that there was a strong demand for the beer to be made available outside the gates. Guinness Rye Pale Ale brings the unique character of Guinness to the world of pale ale, boasting a peppery bite with citrus and grapefruit notes, perfectly balanced with crystal malt to leave a toasted biscuit flavour. “At The Open Gate Brewery, we are given free rein to regularly explore and create new beers in small batches,” explains Peter Simpson, Lead Brewer from The Open Gate Brewery. “There is huge interest in beer nowadays so it’s

Christmas is the peak selling period for beers.

exciting to open the doors to the public, give people a look inside our world, and of course share some batches of experimental beers that we are working on. It is brilliant that Guinness Rye Pale Ale has received so many positive reviews and we are excited to launch it to consumers, outside the gates.” Nick CurtisDavis, Head of Guinness Innovation for Guinness Rye Pale Ale is the latest Europe, comments: product from the Guinness experimental “With premium brewery at St James’ Gate to be available bottled ale in the off trade. booming, we’re looking forward to introducing a delicious new beer into the sector with the launch of Guinness Rye Pale Ale. We see this as a great opportunity to further open up the category to new consumers, whilst also providing the opportunity for retailers to tap into the 257 years of brewing heritage of the Guinness brand.” Guinness Rye Pale Ale, with an ABV of 5%, is available in 500ml bottles with an RSP of €3.09. Smithwick’s Also from Diageo, one of Ireland’s oldest and most loved ales, Smithwick’s recently unveiled its new brand identity and packaging, which celebrates the brand’s rich Irish heritage,

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Christmas Stocking: Beers its strong links to Kilkenny and brewing. Taking inspiration from Kilkenny’s rural setting, its impressive castle and the city’s vibrant music, culture and craft communities, the new identity also pays homage to historic beer mats, original labels and advertising from the Smithwick’s archives. “Over the centuries, Smithwick’s has survived fires, floods, penal laws, wars and revolutions, but the passion and resourcefulness of Smithwick’s kept the business alive for centuries,” explained Alexa Wolff, Smithwick’s Senior Brand Manager. “Now each bottle of ale tells a chapter of the rich Smithwick’s story, establishing a clear identity for Smithwick’s today based on the brand’s steadfast resourcefulness, its commitment to the art of brewing, its proud Irish roots and its strong links to Kilkenny.”

Smithwick’s recently unveiled its new brand identity and packaging, which celebrates the brand’s rich Irish heritage, its strong links to Kilkenny and brewing.

The new brand identity was launched with the brand’s new advertising campaign, ‘We’re in it, for the love of it’, which features across TV, print, digital, PR and trade press. Building upon the partnership between Smithwick’s and the local homebrewing community, the 40' TV spot follows homebrewers from all across Ireland who simply love brewing, while the 20’ spot stars Smithwick’s most recent innovation, Smithwick’s Atlantic Blonde Ale. Smithwick’s Atlantic Blonde Ale is brewed with Polaris hops for a more refreshing tasting ale. The Smithwick’s range also includes Smithwick's Red Ale, which has been a gold medal winner of the Monde Selection quality award seven times, and Smithwick’s Pale Ale, which is late hopped with Amarillo hops for a fuller, fruiter flavour. Franciscan Well Leading Irish craft beer brewer Franciscan Well has recently launched its award winning range of craft beers Franciscan Well has recently launched its award into canned winning range of craft beers into 330ml canned format. The format. 330ml can range includes Ireland’s number one craft beer, Franciscan Well Rebel Red (Source: AC Nielsen, ROI On-Trade, MAT to end August 2016), as well as the acclaimed Friar Weisse and multi-award winning Chieftain IPA.

“The decision to move to a canned format reflects the growing trend internationally, whereby more and more craft beers are sold in 330ml can format,” explains Shane Long, founder of Franciscan Well. “This is something that has been prevalent in the US and has proven extremely popular. We are confident this will be the case as we roll out craft in a can for beer-lovers here in Ireland, making our awardwinning range of beers even more accessible and readily available.” In addition to the launch of its all new canned beer offering, Franciscan Well also introduced a newly redesigned brand logo, which more clearly reflects the provenance of the brand and its roots in Cork. Hüfi Beer Hüfi, the new low calorie and gluten-free beer from Comans Beverages, has just landed in bottle form in Ireland as demand for healthier, gluten-free drink options is at an all-time high. Already established in the off trade after a successful seven months since introduction, Hüfi is regarded by many beerdrinkers as the perfect solution to enjoying a refreshing beer while still maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Hüfi is a cool, clear and refreshing lager with a distinctive crisp taste. It’s the perfect light, easy to drink, pilsner style lager beer for both women and men who are calorie conscious as the new bottle contains just 93 calories. For those of us who are gluten intolerant or avoid it as a lifestyle choice, you no longer have to resort to expensive, hard-to-find options. With 43,000 people in Ireland reportedly intolerant of gluten, and many more leading a gluten-free lifestyle by choice, the demand for gluten-free foods is growing considerably, with many supermarkets offering an entire Hüfi: the new section dedicated to gluten-free products low calorie and and restaurants offering tailor-made Coeliac gluten-free beer friendly menus. from Comans Hüfi is the perfect option for Coeliacs Beverages. who enjoy a beer, but unlike the majority of gluten-free products, it is widely available and great value. The new 33cl bottle is priced in line with other 33cl bottled beers, while it is also available in a 50cl can retailing at just €1.90. For more information, see Facebook.com/hufibeer.

Independent Craft Beer of Ireland Symbol Launch THE Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland (ICBI) recently launched the official Independent Craft Beer of Ireland symbol to assist the consumer in seeking out genuine Irish craft beer. The Independent Irish Craft Beer symbol offers reassurance to consumers that the beer they are buying is what it purports to be - that the brewery the beer came from is independently owned, small scale, a registered microbrewery as recognised by Revenue, and that the brewer has complete ownership of the brand.

o r d e r t o d ay v i a y o u r l o c a l w h o l e s a l e r

d e n o f t h i e v e s.i e

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The Retail News Interview

Alcohol Bill Not Fit for Purpose Ross Mac Mathúna, Director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, on why Ireland’s high excise duties on alcohol are bad for business, the contentious issue of structural separation and why they won’t be taking the Government to court over minimum unit pricing for alcohol. THE recent decision in Budget 2017 to maintain excise duties on alcohol at their current rates was greeted with a collective sigh by publicans and off licence owners across the country. Yet the fact remains that Ireland has the highest excise duty on wine across the EU and the third highest for beer and spirits, a fact which could contribute to millions of euro heading across the border this festive season, according to Ross Mac Mathúna, Director of ABFI (Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland), who campaigned for a 15% reduction in excise “as a step towards normalising our rates compared to the rest of the EU”. “With 35% of Irish people considering going north to shop this Christmas season, we argued that from a cross border perspective, it makes sense to reduce excise levels,” Mac Mathúna argues. It also makes sense from a tourism perspective, he stresses: “People tend to judge how expensive or not a country is based on the price of a pint. When you look at EuroStat figures, the cost of alcohol in Ireland is 175% of the average cost across the EU. When you look at other food and drink products, Ireland is around 116% of the EU average, so we are much more in line with our EU neighbours for other food products, and the difference is down to duties and excise. We are now 20% more expensive for UK tourists than we were just six months ago.” According to the ABFI Director, Ireland’s high excise levels aren’t just bad for domestic consumers and tourists, but also have effects on employment levels, agri-food inputs etc. The perfect storm of excise and VAT increases of 2013/ 2014 made it very difficult for new entrants to the market to gain a foothold, he maintains: “When you are looking at the revival of Irish whiskey and the birth of craft brewing, the home market is very important to get a foothold and fund your business. High excise levels make it more difficult for those start-up companies to grow and expand, which also has an effect on employment levels.” Are high excise levels an effective way to promote the responsible use of alcohol or merely a stealth tax, which punishes the responsible consumer? “Excise on alcohol is a tax, plain and simple: it’s not an effective way to deal with alcohol misuse,” he states. “If we

Ross Mac Mathúna, Director, ABFI.

were going to solve the problem of alcohol misuse through excise duties or through price, we would have done so a long time ago. Excise doesn’t target people who abuse alcohol, it targets everybody. It is also a regressive tax in that people who are on lower incomes pay more, percentage wise, than those on higher incomes.” There is a real fear that our excise levels, combined with the fall in sterling, will see a return to the high levels

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The Retail News Interview is not the way to go about dealing with alcohol abuse. I think we need to be mature about how we deal with that issue.” Falling Alcohol Consumption Alcohol consumption rates in Ireland continue to fall, with yearly per capita consumption of pure alcohol standing at approximately 11 litres, down from 14 litres in 2001. “Consumption is consistently falling,” the ABFI Director notes, “and the Minister has said he wants to get it down to nine litres, which as a target is probably OK. However, the view is that if everybody drinks less, the harm associated with alcohol is also less. We have seen a 25% fall in consumption levels since 2001 so if that was true we should see a corresponding decrease in alcohol related harm, yet they are telling us things have never been worse. Consumption is not the issue; misuse of alcohol is. We need to target those who misuse alcohol. “If there are 100 people in a room and 20 If we were going to solve the problem of alcohol misuse through excise duties or of them abuse alcohol, there is little point in through price, we would have done so a long time ago, argues the ABFI Director. targeting the 80 people who consume alcohol responsibly. Consumption may decrease but you won’t have addressed the real issue at of cross border shopping witnessed in the early days of the all, i.e. the 20 people who continue to misuse alcohol. I think last recession, he warns. “Anecdotally, we are seeing that we need to be much more targeted in our interventions.” Northern Ireland is starting to perform extremely well While admitting that alcohol misuse is “a hard nut to again. A lot of our member companies operate on an allcrack” and that there is definitely “a role for legislation”, Mac island basis and they are seeing an upturn in sales in the Mathúna argues that “we need a real conversation about how North. We are not hitting the levels of 2009 yet, but there is reason for concern. For example, there was a 75% increase in to educate grown-ups and children about alcohol and how to treat it with respect.” vehicle registrations from UK and Northern Ireland vehicles Our underage consumption figures continue to decline in October, compared to the same month last year.” and have been doing so for 25 years, the ABFI Director reveals, but he admits that there is a problem with binge Nanny State Gone Mad drinking: “We need to educate our young people about not Never shy to speak his mind, Mac Mathúna has been very drinking until they are 18 and when they are old enough to outspoken on the issue of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, drink, how to drink responsibly: how to enjoy a glass of wine very publicly decrying the contentious structural separation or a beer with a meal instead of having six pints. issue as a case of the “nanny state gone mad”. “We have a problem with alcohol misuse and we need to “We believe that it is right and proper that there is regulation of alcohol retailing,” Mac Mathúna notes. “We think the best way to do that is through the RRAI (Responsible Retailers of Alcohol in Ireland) Code: it needs to be made mandatory and statutory, and there need to be penalties put in place for any retailer found to be in breach of the Code. I don’t think it is in anyone’s interest, from a retail perspective, to break the Code and compliance rates are already very high.” He cites the examples of small retailers, who are very much part of the communities in which they operate: “They want to make sure they are complying with legislation and retailing responsibly, and there is no evidence to suggest that the structural separation that is being proposed will work in any way to deal with the misuse of alcohol.” Structural separation has been described as a ‘de-normalisation’ of alcohol, a phrase Mac Mathúna isn’t comfortable with. “Alcohol is different from other food and drink products and should be treated Ireland has the highest excise duty on wine across the EU. with respect, but hiding it behind curtains

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The Retail News Interview introduce the pricing simultaneously and they would have to ensure that the differential in price between north and south isn’t enough to drive people across the border in either direction. “That is hugely unlikely because there is already such a price difference between alcohol in the Republic and Northern Ireland: their price would have to go up substantially to achieve anything like parity, and then you have the issue of currency fluctuations, so I don’t think it is practical.”

The high cost of alcohol in Ireland will have a detrimental effect on tourism, according to ABFI.

acknowledge that in a mature way,” he adds. “We should also acknowledge the scale of the problem appropriately and establish the things we can do to have an impact on this. The legislation currently being debated is well-meaning but I’m not sure it’s going to have a massive impact and address the real issue, which is how to get people who abuse alcohol to stop doing so.” Minimum Unit Pricing Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol has been put forward as an effective weapon against the misuse of alcohol. A similar proposal in Scotland has recently been green-lighted by the Scottish courts, after an objection from the Scotch Whisky Association that such a move was anti-competitive and contrary to EU law was over-ruled, with the court ruling that Minimum Unit Pricing could be introduced on health grounds. ABFI, however, feel a ban on below cost selling, similar to that included in the Groceries Order (defunct since 2006), would be a more effective tool. “We are not in favour of alcohol being used as a footfalldriver,” Mac Mathúna stresses. “Minimum Unit Pricing assumes that everyone who abuses alcohol does so at home and buys the cheapest alcohol available, and we know that is not the case.” He cites alcohol consumption statistics from the Department of Health and the University of Sheffield, who were commissioned to carry out research on Minimum Unit Pricing, which reveal the startling statistic that 20% of people consume almost two thirds of the alcohol sold in Ireland, approximately 65% in volume terms and 61% in value terms. “While some people are drinking cheaper alcohol, not everybody who misuses alcohol is doing so with cheap alcohol,” he says. “So targeting cheap alcohol isn’t going to solve the issue. There are plenty of people who don’t misuse alcohol who purchase a €7 bottle of wine or an own brand lager: it is the 20% of people who misuse alcohol who need to be targeted. Price can play a part in that, which is why a ban on below cost selling would work and is working in both England and Wales. Ultimately, if the Government wants to bring this in, they will do so, and we are not going to take the Government to court over it.” A Minimum Unit Price for alcohol has also been mooted for Northern Ireland, but the Director feels that if they were to introduce such a measure, there would have to be serious consultation with the Republic of Ireland, and vice versa. Mac Mathúna feels both jurisdictions would have to

Advertising & Sponsorship Restrictions Advertising, sponsorship and marketing restrictions is another hot topic. The Bill prohibits advertising in certain places, including in or near schools, early years services, local authority playgrounds, train, Luas and bus stations. It also sets out the criteria for advertising in cinemas and publications and prohibits advertising in sports grounds for events where the majority of competitors or participants are children or directly on a sports area for all events (eg onpitch). “If you could grow alcohol through advertising, that would be happening, yet our alcohol consumption is declining,” he says. “You can’t drive alcohol consumption through advertising: you drive brand differentiation.” Alcohol suppliers adhere to a code formulated with a variety of stakeholders, including the Department of Health & Children, BAI, the advertising industry and the alcohol suppliers. The independently ran Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body (ABCMB) monitors where alcohol ads can run (TV, radio, print and outdoor advertising) and in what numbers, with the aim of reducing the exposure of young people to alcohol advertising, while the actual content of the ads is subject to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland code. “We would be happy for this code to be put on a statutory basis and to put penalties in place for any breaches of the code,” he says. “The alcohol industry has the lowest number of advertising complaints upheld of any category: while the regulations are very strict, the alcohol industry wants to comply with them. International drinks manufacturers often test their ad campaigns in Ireland because they know that

Alcohol consumption rates in Ireland continue to fall, with yearly per capita consumption of pure alcohol standing at approximately 11 litres, down from 14 litres in 2001.

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The Retail News Interview It is the 20% of people who misuse alcohol who need to be targeted. Price can play a part in that, which is why a ban on below cost selling would work and is working in both England and Wales. Ultimately, if the Government wants to bring this in, they will do so, and we are not going to take the Government to court over it. if they pass the ASAI Code, they will pass anywhere as our regulations are so onerous. We also have a pre-clearance step called Copy Clear, where all potential advertising must be passed by a group of independent clearance managers, who pre-vet the ad against the code before it goes on general release.” He feels that the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill goes too far: “It is appropriate that alcohol advertising and sponsorship is regulated that that people are shown alcohol products in a responsible light but under the new Bill you can’t show somebody drinking a pint in a pub, you can’t have music etc. Under the new rules, the famous Guinness Christmas ad of the man walking down the street would be banned. The notion that that is driving alcohol misuse is a little bit crazy.” Online advertising, however, is a different entity as, by its very nature, it knows no international borders and would prove very difficult to police. However, according to the ABFI chief, “if the Department were realistic about sitting down with people and trying to solve the problem, the drinks industry would not be found wanting in that regard.” He goes further: “If the Government wanted to be the first country in the world to put regulation in place, we would absolutely step up to the plate.” Homegrown Success Stories Any discussion of the Irish alcohol market inevitably revolves around regulation but there is also some very good news, with the continued growth of the craft beer sector and the explosion in Irish whiskey and spirits distilling on the island. Irish whiskey, by its very nature, takes three years to mature, which is a big investment in both time and money, so many Irish whiskey distillers are also distilling white spirits, like gin and vodka, which don’t take nearly as long to distil and help to generate cash-flow immediately. “We have gone from four working distilleries on the island four years ago to 16, with a further 11 at various stages of building and planning,” Mac Mathúna reveals. “At one stage, over a hundred years ago, there were 88 distilleries in Ireland, so it is a great thing that it is growing not just in Dublin, but right across the country. Irish whiskey can’t be made anywhere else and it is a premium product that is growing in popularity, which is great news for the sector and the country in general.” He cites the success of The Irish Whiskey Association, part of ABFI, which is helping to ensure the future success of Irish whiskey brands, particularly with the Association’s mentoring programme, which has seen existing players helping new entrants to the market to make their products to the highest quality, in accordance with strict technical

Ireland’s craft beer sector continues to grow.

rules, which ensures the quality and premium nature of Irish whiskey remains high. “There is huge potential for continued growth both domestically and internationally for Irish whiskey and Irish white spirits,” Mac Mathúna says. The craft brewing sector has also been a great success story, albeit from a small base. “Craft beer currently makes up about 2.5% of the Irish beer market and it continues to grow. There is huge interest in the provenance of food products, so why should that be any different for craft beers? The more interest there is in beer, the better for the entire category. You will see the bigger brewers start to introduce craft-type products and all of this is good news for the entire category.” The Challenges Ahead However, there remain some challenges for these burgeoning categories, namely: access to finance and route to market. Distilleries, in particular, find funding a concern, as there is a big initial capital investment, with no product for a number of years. “We would like to see a fund available for the Irish whiskey distilling sector to help it grow,” Mac Mathúna notes. “We understand that this finance needs to be available at commercial rates, but it also needs to be understood that this is a different type of investment that’s not going to give an immediate payback but more a medium to long term investment.” He also feels that state agencies, like Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, need more resources specifically targeted to helping the Irish beer and spirits sector access markets like the UK, the US, Europe and further afield. The outlook for Irish drinks looks good, however, according to the ABFI Director. “The export market looks really positive, with big potential across all categories, like Irish whiskey, cream liqueurs, beers and other spirits, to grow all over Europe, in the US, Asia, Latin America and Africa. From a domestic market perspective, the market here is mature and is in decline. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is a concern, which plays into the hands of the incumbents. If you restrict a producer’s ability to compete on price and you restrict the retail availability of a product, the brands that survive are the ones people already know, so there is a real concern around new products and innovation. But in general, the outlook is very positive.”

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Irish Wine Show

NOffLA Selects Best Cellars NOffLA selected 45 winning wines at the Irish Wine Show awards ceremony recently, including 17 Gold Star Award winners. THE National OffLicence Association (NOffLA) awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze Star Awards to a total of 45 wines at the The Irish Wine Show Awards ceremony recently. Now in its sixteenth year, the event saw Familia Castaño, Hécula Monastrell 2014 from Liberty Wines winning the Wine of Chairman of NOffLA, Gary O'Donovan the Year Award, as (right), presents the Wine of the Year well as the Best Old World Red Wine Under award to Joe Coyle, Liberty Wines, for Familia Castaño, Hécula Monastrell €15. Spain’s Valmiñor 2014. Albariño 2015 from Mackenway Distributors was named White Wine of the Year, as well as Best Old World White Wine Under €20. All the winners were chosen by NOffLA wine experts and independent wine writers, with each of the winning wines available to consumers all over Ireland. Increasing Levels of Excellence “Each year this event allows us to celebrate the best wines available at a range of price points which can be sold by

Febvre Wins Eight Star Awards FEBVRE wine company was awarded eight Star Awards 2016 -2017 at the Irish Wine Show Awards, organised by NOffLA. “We are delighted with this tremendous success, having been awarded eight medals out of a grand total of 45,” said Kerri Judge, Marketing Manager of Febvre & Company. “The fact that they are across different price points and represent wines from France, Italy, Portugal, South Africa and Australia shows the depth of our portfolio.” The winning wines represent great quality and value for money in their different categories. Febvre’s winning wines included: Gold Medal Wines Jordan: The Prospector Syrah 2014, Stellenbosch (RRP €19.99): Under €20 New World Red. Simonnet-Febvre: Crémant de Bourgogne NV Brut, Burgundy, France (RRP €24.99): Under €25 Sparkling Wine.

Simonnet-Febvre: Crémant de Bourgogne NV Brut, Burgundy, France (RRP €24.99): a Gold Medal winner in the Under €25 Sparkling Wine category.

Silver Medal Wines Esporão: PÉ Branco 2015, Alentejo, Portugal (RRP €9.99): Under €10 Old World Wine. Esporão: PÉ Tinto 2015, Alentejo, Portugal (RRP €9.99): Under €10 Old World Wine. Bronze Medal Wines: Nero D’Avola Appassimento IGT Tank No 26 2015, Sicily, Italy (RRP €14): Under €15 Old World Red. De Bortoli: The Accomplice Chardonnay 2015, Riverina, Australia (RRP €9.99): Under €10 New World White. Delas Frères: Côtes du Rhône St. Esprit 2014 (RRP €14.99) : Under €15 Rosé Collection. Champagne Deutz Brut Classic NV, France (RRP €55) : Under €60 Champagne.

The Gold Star Winners at the Irish Wine Show Awards.

our highly trained members around the country,” noted Gary O’Donovan, Chairman of NOffLA. “Our members are committed to offering the Irish consumer excellence in terms of personal service, product knowledge, superior quality and true value for money. “Our wholesaler partners place a considerable amount

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Irish Wine Show of time and effort in deciding which wines to enter into The Irish Wine Show, something that is evident every year with increasing levels of excellence,” he continued. “Each of the wines are chosen for their superior quality across a broad range of styles and price points by experts in the field. This rigorous process has become a recognised symbol of quality among consumers, and a key offering for members.”

adjudication panel of NOffLA judges and independent wine writers. Points were awarded on the basis of appearance, aroma, taste and value for money, and the winners were selected as the best wines from key suppliers across a number of price categories. Each of the winning wines will be sold in NOffLA member outlets, of which there are more than 315 nationwide. The chosen wines will be recognisable by distinctive Award symbols on each bottle. In the preChristmas period, NOffLA members will promote the Star Awards 2016-2017 Collection as ideal Christmas gifts, offering consumers a diverse range of high quality products.

Christine Smith from Mackenway Distributors is pictured with the award for White Wine of the Year, won by Spain’s Valmiñor Albariño 2015, which was also named Best Old World White Wine Under €20.

Stringent Judging Process In excess of 600 wines were submitted to The Irish Wine Show Star Award

Punitive Excise Levels Gary O’Donovan also commented on Ireland’s punitive excise levels on wine and urged Ireland’s wine importers to become involved in NOffLA’s European campaign by getting their wine producers to write to their own Ministers for Finance and Ambassadors, asking them in turn to write to Minister Noonan about our high excise. “It is important to all our futures that alcohol excise becomes untouchable,” he said, “because excise uncertainty makes it impossible to plan for the future or unfortunately in some instances, to have one.”

2016 Gold Star Winners Category

Wine

Vintage Country

Distributor

Old World White Under €10

Monasterio de las Viñas Macabeo

2015

Spain

Taserra Wine Merchants

Old World White Under €20

Adega de Pegões Colheita Seleccionada

2015

Portugal

Mackenway Distributors Ltd

Old World White Under €20

Valmiñor Albariño

2015

Spain

Mackenway Distributors Ltd

New World White Under €10

El Camino Torrontes Sauvignon Blanc

2015

Argentina

Taserra Wine Merchants

New World White Under €15

Fairfields Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

2015

New Zealand Ampersand Wines

New World White Under €20

Neil Ellis Groenekloof Sauvignon 2015 Blanc, Stellenbosch

South Africa

Tindal Wine Merchants

Old World Red Under €10

Rioja Vega Rioja 2014

2014

Spain

Ampersand Wines

Old World Red Under €15

Familia Castaño, `Hécula` Monastrell

2014

Spain

Liberty Wines Ltd.

Old World Red Under €20

San Alejandro "Las Rocas" Viñas Viejas

2013

Spain

Mackenway Distributors Ltd

New World Red Under €10

The Landings Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

2015

Australia

Ampersand Wines

New World Red Under €15

Montes Classic Series, Cabernet Sauvignon

2014

Chile

Liberty Wines Ltd.

New World Red Under €20

Jordan The Prospector Syrah

2014

South Africa

Febvre & Company

Rose Under €15

Barton & Guestier Passeport Rosé D'Anjou

2015

France

Findlater Wine & Spirit Group

Sparkling Wine Under €25

Cremant de Bourgogne, Simonnet-Febvre

France

Febvre & Company

Champagne Under €60

Louis Roederer Brut Premier

France

Cassidy Wines Distribution Ltd.

Old World White Under €20

Valmiñor Albariño White Wine of the Year 2016-2017

2015

Spain

Mackenway Distributors Ltd

Old World Red Under €15

Familia Castaño, Hécula Monastrell Wine of the Year 2016-2017

2014

Spain

Liberty Wines Ltd.

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Tobacco Products

Excise Hike Will Fuel Black Market

The recent 50c excise hike on cigarettes and tobacco products will merely drive more consumers to the illicit trade, according to industry experts. THE recent increase in excise on cigarettes and tobacco products by 50c in Budget 2017 has been condemned by Ireland’s tobacco manufacturers. “Again, the Government is ignoring the evidence which demonstrates that tax increases of this magnitude shock the market and can be expected to lead to a decrease rather than an increase in excise revenues, resulting in a significant tax

gap,” argued Joan Mulvihill, Director of the Irish Tobacco Manufacturers’ Advisory Committee (ITMAC). According to Mulvihill, last year’s Ipsos MRBI research shows that in 2015 the black market grew for the first time since 2009. “Repeated excise hikes are not the solution to achieve Government’s objectives in terms of public health,” she argued. “They are just moving people back into the black

LOG ONTO 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 personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age - always refuse the sale. Information for Trade Customers Only.

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Tobacco Products market.” Big excise increases just achieve one goal, the ITMAC Director noted: “They amplify the price differential between legal and illegal cigarettes, making it more and more attractive for smokers to look for smuggled products and for criminals to run this business. The Government is again undermining the legitimate tobacco industry and retail, while not achieving any policy objective.” Mulvihill’s comments were echoed by Deirdre Healy, Corporate and Legal Affairs Manager with John Player, who stressed that “Ireland’s thriving black market is well placed to meet the demand that will now be created by the 50c excise increase”. According to the latest report into Ireland’s tobacco market by Euromonitor International, retail value sales of tobacco products continued to decline in Ireland in 2015. Economy and value-for-money tobacco products were the best performers, as cash-strapped consumers sought cheaper alternatives, which pushed value growth even further into negative territory. Nevertheless, RYO tobacco still recorded positive value growth as it has become the tobacco product of choice for price-conscious consumers, according to the report. Smoking tobacco continued to experience strong growth in both volume and value terms in 2015, with volume sales rising by 3% and current value sales rising by 4%, Euromonitor maintain. Euromonitor predict further uncertainty in the market with the upcoming implementation of the EU Tobacco Product Directive in May 2017 (see separate panel). Mayfair Mayfair is Ireland’s number one value brand (Source: AC Nielsen, Scantrack, Value Sector Share, 42%, 52 WE 02/10/2016), and the brand’s latest addition Mayfair Plus wants to ‘Plus up’ your profits. Mayfair offers marketleading quality chosen by two in every five valueseeking existing adult smokers (Source: AC Nielsen, Scantrack, Value Sector Share, 42%, 52 WE 02/10/2016). Mayfair Plus provides the best-selling Mayfair Original blend combined with freshness on demand. Mayfair – a modern Mayfair Plus provides the best-selling Mayfair expression Original Blend combined with freshness on demand. of quality.

Benson & Hedges Gold Benson & Hedges Gold, the number one cigarette SKU in Ireland (Source: AC Nielsen, Scantrack, Cigarette Volume Share, 9.7%, 52 WE 02/10/2016), wears its credentials on its sleeve. In celebration of the brand’s on-going commitment to quality, all packs carry an ‘Affirmation of Excellence’.

In celebration of Benson & Hedges Gold’s on-going commitment to quality, all packs carry an ‘Affirmation of Excellence’.

One, ‘Perfecting the Art of Tobacco Since 1873’, highlights both the heritage and passion that are the hallmarks of Benson & Hedges. Another, ‘Finest Ingredients Blended by the Finest Craftsmen’, showcases the expert care taken at every stage of production from the tobacco seed to the finished cigarette, with much of the process done by hand. The last, ‘Quality Tobacco, Crafted with Care’, acknowledges the dedication to perfection to provide the highest quality tobacco possible in each and every Benson & Hedges Gold cigarette. The new ‘Affirmations of Excellence’ are proudly displayed across the entire B&H Gold range (King Size, 100’s, Big Box 23’s and Maxi Box 30’s). Benson & Hedges: distinctive quality since 1873. Amber Leaf With a reputation for superior quality and market leading innovation, it is not surprising that Amber Leaf is Ireland’s number one RYO brand (Source: AC Nielsen, Extended Scan Track, 69.8% RYO SOM, YTD October 2, 2016).

Amber Leaf continues to build its Original Blend portfolio with products like Amber Leaf 9g CPB.

IN CELEBRATION OF B&H GOLD’S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, ALL PACKS WILL CARRY AN ‘AFFIRMATION OF EXCELLENCE’ This advertisement 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.

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Tobacco Products Since its launch, Amber Leaf has been one of the most innovative Roll Your Own brands in the market. It was the first to launch the CPB format in Ireland and the first to include filters in 2011, resulting in the first 3-in-1 CPB offering in Ireland. Amber Leaf Original 12.5g CPB is now not only the most preferred product amongst existing adult Amber Leaf smokers but it is also the single bestselling SKU in the entire Irish tobacco market (Source: AC Nielsen, Extended Scan Track, 10% Combined RMC & RYO SOM, YTD October 2, 2016). Amber Leaf continues to build its Original Blend portfolio with the launch of Amber Leaf 9g CPB in October 2015 and more recently, the launch of Amber Leaf 30g Pouch in February this year. Marlboro As the world’s number one premium cigarette brand (Source: PMI internal estimates based reported results and GSPR (excl. PRC & USA). 2015 Top-15), Marlboro is constantly looking for ways to innovate and bring legal aged smokers further quality in their smoking experience. As part of their pursuit of quality, Philip Morris has launched a unique product feature for Marlboro. In November 2016, the full Marlboro portfolio (excluding Marlboro Gold 100’s) is being upgraded to ‘Pro-Seal’, an exclusive design combining cutting-edge technology. Like Firm Filter, ‘ProSeal’ represents another ground-breaking innovation from Marlboro, promising to keep the last cigarette in the pack as fresh as the first. ‘Pro-Seal’ achieves this by replacing the foil wrap, which adult smokers rip off and throw in the bin, with a seal that reseals the pack every time it closes, all available at the same recommended retail price.

‘Pro-Seal’ represents another ground-breaking innovation from Marlboro, promising to keep the last cigarette in the pack as fresh as the first by replacing the foil wrap with a seal that reseals the pack every time it closes.

TPD2: The Facts TPD2 came into effect on May 20, 2016, but there is a one-year sell through period, during which current packs can still be sold while stocks last. From May 20, 2017, only products that comply with TPD2 can be sold in Ireland and all other EU Member States.

Under TPD2, all tobacco packaging will feature enlarged text and graphic health warnings. Also, it will no longer be permitted to put tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide information on the packaging. There are also new restrictions on packaging formats which will impact slide packs, for example, while for RYO products, a minimum size of 30g will be introduced, meaning that pack sizes below 30g will be prohibited from May 20, 2017. Certain flavours will be prohibited after May 20, 2017, so products with these features will disappear. However, menthol products are allowed until 2020. The new rules also prohibit some descriptors, such as ‘additive free’, ‘organic’, ‘light’ and ‘natural’, so the names of some products will change to reflect this.

But what does this mean for the retailers? ‘Pro-Seal’ is a feature exclusive to Marlboro. It aims to help retailers sell more Marlboro products and retain their premium profits and adult consumer base. Heading to TPD/PP when brands need differentiation more than ever, this innovative feature reinforces the premium quality of the brand. As a feature exclusive to Marlboro, Pro-Seal aims to set Marlboro aside from its competition in the premium sector, helping retailers sell more Marlboro products, as well as keeping their premium profits and adult consumer base. This differentiation will prove invaluable in a TDP/PP market. “Marlboro is the clear leader in the premium segment here,” says Martin Inkster, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. “Marlboro always leads the way and ensures that adult smokers get the most premium smoking experience possible. Pro-Seal will set Marlboro apart from its competition, strengthen Marlboro’s brand credentials and most significantly, contain the world’s best-selling cigarette range, keeping every cigarette as fresh as the first.”

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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update Where To Next for the British Pound? THE uncertainty surrounding the future relationship between the UK and EU has had a dramatic effect on the British Pound in recent weeks. Since the Brexit vote, sterling has depreciated by 18% versus the euro and by 23% since January. The best rate in October was £0.94 GBP following what the markets call a ‘flash crash’. There are many theories and explanations of what caused this overnight fall in value. The euro sterling rate today is £0.89 GBP (correct at time of going to press) and the main reason for this rate is the concern surrounding Brexit after British Prime Minister Theresa May declared that she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of March 2017. This devaluation in the value of sterling will mean increased competition in the Irish retail market from British-based retailers, and has the potential to drive Irish consumers cross-border and online. In recent years, Irish consumers have dramatically changed their approach to shopping and as a group are far more price sensitive than ever before. In the run-up to the busy Christmas shopping period, media and advertisements will continually highlight the value to be gained cross-border. Such activity will have the potential to take key consumer demand out of our towns and cost jobs across the country. The growth in online shopping now means that shoppers no longer have to travel to Newry to visit a UK high street. Just over 50% of people shop online in Ireland, up from 19% 10 years ago and it is estimated that 70% of purchases made online in Ireland are with retailers based outside of the state. A continuing fall in the value of sterling will lead to further increases in UK-based online shopping. Allied to this is the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from

a reduction in VAT receipts. In the short term, political and economic uncertainty within the UK will continue to put pressure on sterling, threatening competition in the euro-zone and driving retail activity cross-border and online. Retail Ireland has engaged with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to highlight our concern about the potential loss of revenue from a migration to cross-border shopping and UK-based online websites. We will continue to pursue this issue with the Department and highlight the need to provide e-commerce supports for small and medium sized retailers to allow them to capture the online spend of Irish customers and for the recent budget allocation of €12m for town and village regeneration to be utilised effectively in the coming year.

Are You Compliant with the new Electrical Equipment Regulations? The Electrical Equipment Regulations replaced the Low Voltage Regulations in June 2016. Traders selling any electrical equipment that is designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1,000 volts for alternating current and between 75 and 1,500 volts for direct current should be aware they must comply with these new Regulations. The Electrical Equipment Regulations define the role of a manufacturer, importer, and distributor in the supply of electrical items and place specific health and safety duties on each. The purpose of this is to ensure that electrical items such as mobile phone or laptop chargers, electrical appliances, household switches and power supply units are safe and do not pose a risk to the consumers who use them. Under the Regulations, a ‘distributor’ is defined as any person or business, other than the manufacturer or the importer, who makes electrical equipment available on the market. Under the Electrical Equipment Regulations, an ‘importer’ is defined as any individual or business established within the European Economic Area who imports electrical equipment from another country to place on the market. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the market surveillance authority in Ireland for safety of non-food consumer products covered by certain EU Directives, including the Electrical Equipment Regulations. Where a product is found not to comply with the Regulations and could pose a serious risk to consumers, the CCPC has a number of enforcement powers it can use to address the breach. It is also important to remember that if you are importing electrical equipment from outside the EU and it is found not to comply with the requirements of the Regulations, the importation will not be permitted to proceed and you will be responsible for the costs associated with re-exporting the products or for their safe disposal. A full copy of the regulations can be found at www.ccpc.ie. Retail Ireland recommends that any trader seek independent legal advice if they are unsure of their obligations.

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.

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What's New LABELLO BRINGS FUN INTO CARE THE well-known and caring lip balm, Labello Original now has a stylish new outfit and for a limited time only comes in six vibrant and fabulous colours. With its neon design that glows in UV light, The Labello Original Neon Edition lip balms are sure to brighten up every situation and add a pop of colour to consumers’ wardrobes. With the six amazing neon outfits, combined with Labello’s moisturising expertise, Labello Original Neon Limited Edition cares for lips and leaves a lasting impression. If consumers want a lip balm to match their nail polish, shoes, outfit or even their mood, they can start collecting the Labello Original Neon Limited Edition lip balms to make sure they get theirhands on all six fluorescent stylish colours.

ALPRO ICE CREAM ALPRO is continuing to expand its portfolio of plant-based products with the launch of a three-strong range of ice creams. The range will appeal to consumers looking for so-called ‘permissible pleasures’, everyday choices that are healthy and taste naturally delicious too. Alpro Ice Cream has a great nutritional profile with 30% less sugar and 30% less saturated fat than similar products. Made using ‘nature’s tastiest ingredients’, the range taps into on-trend flavours with soya, hazelnut and coconut bases. The three varieties, Vanilla, Hazelnut Chocolate and Coconut, also benefit from the use of premium ingredients such as bourbon vanilla extract and real chocolate. Alpro’s range of plant-based ice creams are available in 500ml tubs at an RRP of €5.

CHEESTRINGS SCOFFIES MIXES THINGS UP CHEESTRINGS Scoffies, Ireland’s latest snack for kids, encourages parents and kids to mix things up. Cheestrings Scoffies promises to be the new fun snack on the market that parents can satisfy their ravenous kids with anytime, anywhere, while still having a nutritious nibble. The new range features real cheese chunks, crunchy crackers or pretzel and a tasty fruity mix, all with no artificial colours or preservatives. The full range includes three mouth-watering varieties: Mini Pretzels, Real Cheese Chunks, Cherry Cubes, Apricot Cubes & Yogurt Raisins; Crunchy Crackers, Real Cheese Chunks, Chocolate Raisins, Cheery Strings ‘N’ Biscuits; and Crunchy Crackers, Real Cheese Chunks, Fruity Mix & White Chocolate Shortbread.

TWISTED HONEYCOMB FROM PROPERCORN PROPERCORN is proud to announce the latest addition to its colourful collection of awardwinning, gluten-free popcorn, Limited Edition Twisted Honeycomb. Created as part of Propercorn’s Institute of Flavour initiative, Twisted Honeycomb is the brainchild of 21-yearold UCD graduate, Ashling O’Carroll from Dublin, who went up against regional finalists from across the UK and Ireland in a public vote. Thousands of votes were cast before Twisted Honeycomb was chosen as the winner in July. Ashling’s flavour has now been brought to life and hit Irish shelves in late October. Combining honey, Madagascan vanilla and sea salt, this limited-edition recipe is gluten and GM free, suitable for vegetarians, and every pack comes in at under 120 calories.

HOT NEWS FROM CARR AND SONS CARR and Sons, based in Killala, Co. Mayo, won a Gold Blas na hÉireann Award for its Hot Smoked Salmon Sensation. In addition, Dunnes Stores was awarded a bronze medal for its own brand hot smoked salmon, which is produced by Carr and Sons Seafood. “We are delighted with our success,” noted Ann Gallagher, Carr and Sons. “Winning gold at Blas na hÉireann endorses our product and places it in the highest point possible within the retail market. The Carr and Sons Seafood brand is highly recognised amongst Irish consumers and retailers as they know they can be assured of a top quality Irish product.”

WKD FOR THE NOW WKD, one of Ireland’s top-selling RTD brands, is undergoing a radical reinvention. SHS Drinks is launching two new, lower-calorie, contemporary Wkd flavour combinations and introducing a revolutionary new pack design across the Wkd range. A dedicated communications programme ‘Wkd for the Now’ will increase awareness of the developments on social media, on digital platforms and through traditional media outlets. The reinvention coincides with the 20th anniversary of the iconic RTD brand’s launch in 1996 . There are four variants in the Wkd range: the original Wkd Blue; Wkd Iron Brew; Wkd Berry and Wkd Blush (passion fruit). The transformational pack design and contemporary new 275ml and 700ml bottle shapes with bottle caps, in a variety of bold, bright colours, add an element of fun. No changes have been made to flavour, RRP or ABV, which remains at 4%.

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Manual Handling

Taking the Burden Out of Manual Handling Manual handling training doesn’t just make good business sense in terms of reducing the risk of accidents, it’s also an essential part of your legal obligations, writes Caroline McEnery, MD, The HR Suite. ALMOST one third of all workplace accidents reported to the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) are due to incorrect manual handling procedures. Approximately 49% of accidents result in back injury, although the hands, arms and feet may also be injured. There are enormous costs associated with these accidents and injuries, both in human and monetary terms: this is mainly due to the chronic nature of the injury. Most back pain is caused by muscle, ligament or joint sprain. This can cause discomfort or stiffness. It is also important to realise that many injuries can build up over a period of time, rather than being the result of a single incident. With correct manual handling training, these types of accidents can be avoided or reduced. This type of training can be beneficial for employees’ personal well-being by instilling good lifting techniques for both work and home. Legal Obligations Furthermore, manual handling training is an essential part of your legal obligations as an employer. Under Section 57 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005), it is a legal requirement of all employers to ensure that all their staff have received manual handling training. Employees are required to receive refresher training at intervals not more than every three years and also if there are any major changes in the work or equipment. The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act dictates the duties of both the employer and the employee. For the employer, their duties include providing a safe place of work, providing training, providing PPE, providing safe access and egress and safe systems of work. For the employee, their duties include complying with statutory regulations,

no improper conduct at work, using the PPE, reporting any defect in machinery, attending training and ensuring that the workplace is a safe one for yourself, your colleagues and others (which includes customers, suppliers etc.). The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act also introduced a definition for Manual Handling: “Manual handling is any transporting or supporting of a load, by one or more employees, which involves lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving of a load, which by reason of its characteristics or of unfavourable ergonomic conditions involves risk, particularly of back injury to employees.” Reducing the Risk of Accidents You can reduce the risk of accidents and injury by doing the following:

•

Not lifting loads that are too heavy;

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Manual Handling •

Not bending forward for prolonged periods; • Not twisting the trunk unduly; • Not using sudden movements; • Being aware of posture; • Following the eight principles of safe lifting that will hugely help you to avoid injuring your back. Training includes information on the legal requirements, understanding the effects of wrong lifting, practical examples of lifting loads and an assessment. Correct training is essential for employee’s well-being as it instils good techniques for both the workplace and home. Upon successful completion of the course, the attendees will be presented with a certificate confirming they have completed the training and passed the assessment. All employees must receive this training every three years. The eight principles of safe lifting are as follows: Assess the task, area and load; Broad stable base; Bend the knees; Keep back straight; Palmar grip; Arms close to trunk; Object close to centre of gravity; Move feet in direction of movement.

• • • • • • • •

Things we can do to take care of our backs • Being active: regular physical exercise will keep your back strong and flexible; • Maintaining a good posture; • Lifting the correct way: following the eight principles and asking for assistance where necessary. Posture Maintaining a good posture is vital. Poor posture can strain ligaments in your back. Learning and maintaining good posture can help prevent back pain. In a recent case, which was highlighted in the media, it stated how important it is that training takes place and that there is a record of same. The case also highlighted that the exercise which was carried out was not remotely comparable to the lifting exercise which the employee may have to do in the course of work duties. Therefore, it is important that all staff record their attendance for the training and if possible, to conduct the practical assessment on site, being able to use similar items which employees would be required to lift/ move/carry etc. Ensuring that all employees are trained in manual handling is an investment for employers, as introducing correct manual handling procedures will prevent injuries and will, therefore, prevent claims arising from employees who suffer injuries as a result of poor manual handling techniques.

About the Author THE HR Suite are based in Tralee, Co. Kerry, and provide human resources consultancy, employment law advice, training and recruitment services to businesses throughout Ireland. MD Caroline McEnery has over 20 years’ experience in providing HR services to Irish companies. She is a member of the Low Pay Commission and is also an adjudicator in the new Work Place Relations Commission. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact our office on (066) 7102887 or (01) 9014335 or email info@thehrsuiteonline.com. Website: http://thehrsuiteonline.com. The Cost of Workplace Manual Handling Accidents Under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005, every employer has a duty to provide Manual Handling training for all employees. This training should be refreshed at least every three years. A High Court Case involving an employee who suffered a back injury at work saw him awarded €153,000 compensation for his workplace accident. The 47-year-old worked as a “picker” in a grocery retail distribution centre and his job involved moving stock from pallets to trollies for onward transport. At the time of his accident, he was lifting five trays of yogurt from a pallet to a cage and had squatted down. He pulled the trays towards him and lifted them but as he turned to put them into the cage, he experienced a sharp pain in his back and had to go home early. He claimed that not only was he working to unreasonable targets, but that he was not adequately trained in the correct technique with regard to turning or twisting whilst lifting. Because the extent of the employee’s injuries left him “permanently disabled in the work aspects of his life” and he continues to have frequent back pain, the judge in this case awarded him a sum of €153,000. Manual Handling training gives employees the knowledge and skills to assess whether or not it is safe to carry out a task and how to safely handle loads. For information relating to Manual Handling for your company, please contact one of our HR Consultants on (066) 7102887.

76|Retail News|November 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Forecourt Focus: News Topaz Transforming Service Stations TOPAZ has transformed two forecourts at former Esso sites in Mullingar, both of which have been rebranded to Topaz following the retailer’s recent acquisition of Esso Ireland. A collective investment of €200,000 has been made in the sites, which are located on the east and west sides of the Mullingar by-pass respectively. The service stations were transformed as part of a broader and ongoing rebrand programme that will see the Topaz network expand to 464 service stations. As part of this rebrand, the retailer will deliver upon its commitment to revolutionise the forecourt experience by investing €3.1m into rolling out the Re.Store brand into the Esso network. Following the conclusion of the rebrand, Topaz will have a presence in every county nationwide and become one of the top 10 companies in the country. “We’re very pleased to announce the details of this investment in two of our Pictured is Garrett O’Brien (left), winner of the Topaz Play or Park Seat Ibiza, with Paul Topaz forecourts in Mullingar,” noted Paul Guy, Head of Loyalty, Topaz, and Martina Colton, Colton Motors Seat. Guy, Head of Loyalty at Topaz. “Topaz is September 2016 winner of Topaz’s Play or Park. Having fully committed to delivering a revolutionary customer and chosen to play his points in his local Topaz at Westmeath forecourt experience for local communities around Ireland: the two sites on the Mullingar by-pass are sure to deliver this Motors, Garrett drove away in a stunning Seat Ibiza worth €16,400. Upcoming prizes for 2016 and 2017 include once-into local consumers and commuters alike.” a-lifetime trips to magical Lapland, the Big Apple and even The news also coincided with the announcement that more incredible prizes from Seat. Mullingar man, Garrett O’Brien, has been revealed as the

Maxol M3 Mulhuddart Services Hosts Mental Well-being Parent Talk

MAXOL’S charity partner Aware recently held its first Maxolsponsored talk for parents on the subject of mental well-being for teenagers at Maxol M3 Mulhuddart Services. Bríd O’Meara, Director of Services with Aware, spoke at the event, whose aim was to help parents of young people aged 15-18 to feel better equipped to discuss and encourage mental health and well-being with their teenage children. “We are delighted to be part of Aware’s Well-being talk, which educates parents on the importance of mental health,” noted Fergal Harrington, Group Brand Development Manager from Maxol. “Education is power, and by encouraging young people to talk about their feelings in a helpful way, it will inevitably help instill resilience for the future.”

Pictured are Dominic Layden, CEO, Aware; Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan; and Brian Donaldson, CEO, Maxol.

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Retail News|November 2016|www.retailnews.ie|77

Forecourt Focus: News Maxol to Open Largest NI Site

MAXOL has announced its largest development in Northern Ireland at Tannaghmore, County Antrim. The 2.5-acre site on the main A26 between Antrim and Ballymena will be a state-of-the-art Pictured at Maxol’s 2.5-acre site on the main motorway style A26 between Antrim and Ballymena is Ian Lowry, service station Senior Contracts Manager for Lowry Building; offering first Brian Donaldson, CEO of Maxol; Allan Pollock, Group Premises Development Manager, Maxol; class forecourt John Kennedy, Maxol; and Jim Maneely, Clarman convenience & Co. Architects. and facilities for trucks and coaches. Well-known franchises will provide freshly prepared food for eating on the premises or to take-away. Maxol has appointed Lowry Building & Civil Engineering as its main contractors to develop the facility and work began on the Ballymena bound service station in September, with the service station is scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2017, creating 60 new jobs. “Today’s announcement comes on the back of a rolling programme of around £95m worth of investment we have made in introducing our new modern forecourt identity across Ireland and in acquiring 17 new properties and developing a further 15 service stations since 2012,” said Brian Donaldson, CEO, Maxol. “Our first award winning large scale motorway style services area, which opened this year at Mulhuddart on the M3, South West of Dublin, is popular for its extensive forecourt services, retail and fresh food dining and we are looking forward to bringing this successful model here to Northern Ireland.”

Applegreen Shortlisted for European Star of 2016 Award APPLEGREEN has been shortlisted for the Star of 2016 European Small and Mid-Cap Awards. The Star of 2016 Award, open to newly listed mid-cap companies across Europe, is for an exceptional performer in its sector and a responsible corporate citizen. Applegreen is one of three companies shortlisted for the Star of 2016 Award by the independent jury set up by the European Commission. In deciding the winner of the Star of 2016, the judging panel considers a number of criteria including that the company should: be an exceptional leader; stand out from the crowd in a broad range of areas; have clear growth potential; be well-managed and have made good use of the proceeds of flotation. Applegreen listed on the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) in June 2015 and raised €70m on its initial public offering (IPO).

Pictured are Joe Barrett, COO, Applegreen; Orla O’Gorman, Head of Equity, ISE; Paul Lynch, CFO, Applegreen; and Bob Etchingham, CEO, Applegreen.

Dundrum Forecourt Raises €4k for Aware

Pictured are Maxol staff: Conor Dunne, Sophie Mac Donagh, Andrea Vikeara, Eleanor O’Dea, and Moya Richardson.

MAXOL Sandyford Road, Dundrum, recently raised over €4,000 in aid of the company’s charity partner, Aware, through a two-day charity event. There was a host of activity on the forecourt, with a bake-sale, car washes, raffles and face painting with all proceeds going to Aware. “I would sincerely like to thank our fantastic staff at Maxol Sandyford who showed great enthusiasm during the two day event and our loyal customers who are always so supportive to us,” said Tony Harnett, licensee at Maxol Sandyford.

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

78|Retail News|November 2016|www.retailnews.ie

Shelf Life COCA-COLA Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC) has announced plans for its 12th annual Designated Driver campaign, to be fronted by Ireland and Ulster rugby player Tommy Bowe. The campaign rewards safety-conscious Designated Drivers with two free drinks from the Coca-Cola range, including new and improved Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which looks and tastes more like Coca-Cola Classic, with zero sugar. Designated Drivers will be encouraged to visit www.DesignatedDriver.ie to download a voucher entitling them to two free soft drinks when presented at participating licensed trade venues across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Pictured at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, announcing plans for the 12th annual Designated Driver campaign are campaign ambassadors Andrew Stanley, comedian, and Tommy Bowe, Ulster and Ireland rugby star, along with Coca-Cola HBC’s Gareth Devlin. CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of a Superser Radiant or Catalytic heater courtesy of Flogas and Retail News: Mick Killeen, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and Hughie Corcoran, June’s Daybreak, Navan, Co. Meath. THE Aged Cheddar produced by Jim O’Brien of O’Brien’s Artisan Farmhouse Cheese, based in Limerick, has won the 2016 Listowel Food Fair National Kerrygold Cheese Competition, in association with Ornua. “It is fantastic to see premium cheese of such a high quality being produced to this calibre in a local Irish farm ,” noted Kevin Lane, Chief Executive Officer, Ornua. Jim O’Brien is pictured accepting the award, with family members from left, Trish Kavanagh, Sarah, John, Maria,, James, Louise and Gemma King. LILY’S Tea have a limited run of Blooming Tea (sometimes known as flowering tea) going into SuperValu stores for Christmas. Blooming tea is a feast for the eyes and the senses. “A hand-tied bouquet of green and white tea with jasmine, chrysanthemum, jasmine and globe amaranth flower, the tea "bud" opens in the water in front of your eyes and tastes wonderful,” noted a company spokesperson. “Anyone who has travelled through an Asian airport or city will have seen these on display.” BUTLERS Chocolates and Gaelectric have announced the largest solar energy installation in the Republic of Ireland at the Butlers Chocolates headquarters in Clonshaugh Business Park, Dublin 17. The installation covers approximately 2,850 square meters (or 30,660 square feet) of the roof area of the Butlers Chocolates factory with a 420kWp photovoltaic (or ‘PV’) solar array, which will generate over 350,000 kWh of electricity, using over 1,500 individual PV panels. The installation will meet approximately 14% of the base load electricity requirement of the Butlers Chocolates factory and will save the equivalent of c. 195 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum. Pictured are (l-r): Joe O’Carroll, Managing Director of Gaelectric Solar Energy; Aisling Walsh, Butlers Chocolates Marketing Director; and Daire Friel, Gaelectric Solar Energy.

IT’S been quite a year for Spice Devils as the Dublin company lifted its fifth award of 2016 in the Start-up/New Business Category of the inaugural South Dublin County Business Awards 2016. Already this year, Spice Devils won an Irish Quality Food Award for Best Store Cupboard Ingredient, as well as lifting three awards at the FreeFrom Food Awards. Shakeel Jeeroburkan (pictured), founder of Spice Devils, said, “We were thrilled to win our fifth award for the year, which clearly demonstrate that we are doing something great. We are currently supplying SuperValu stores, but there is also plan to export our multi award winning products too.” Spice Devils produces 100% natural, salt/sugar and gluten free Mauritian-inspired spice blends which are currently being retailed in over 30 SuperValu stores across Leinster, through the Food Academy programme in conjunction with Bord Bia and with the support of the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin. A GROWING number of Irish artisan gluten-free producers were showcased at the second annual Bite Food Festival at the RDS from November 18-20. Many of the exhibitors now specialise in gluten-free produce, music to the ears of the estimated 46,000 coeliacs living in Ireland. Gluten-free producers at Bite this year included the award-winning Harty’s Jellies (pictured), from Tralee, who tempted visitors with their glutenfree favourites of Hot Pepper Jelly and Cranberry Jelly, as well as a new dairy-free, wheat-free savoury biscuit. Bite 2016 also featured top chefs and food experts, as well as a huge range of producers, who were there to sell, sample and educate people about their unique products. PRIMULA Cheese is launching a new multi-media adverting drive supporting its ‘Little Moments of Big Flavour’ message, with Great British Bake Off Star Mel Giedroyc lending her voice to the campaign. Comprising of TV, radio and print advertising, along with a series of supermarket six-sheets, the campaign follows extensive market research, allowing Primula to revisit its relationship with its audience, understand its place in the market and identify areas for growth. The campaign follows the recent re-launch of Primula’s popular cheese tubes, which were given a fresh, natural new look over the summer, celebrating the brand’s heritage and real cheese credentials, while keeping the consumer at the heart of the design. ARAMARK, the global food, facilities and property services provider, has announced a new partnership in Ireland with Freshii, a global leader in the healthcasual restaurant category. The deal will see Aramark fuel Freshii’s expansion in Ireland and the UK, opening a number of new Freshii outlets at locations including Arnott’s Department Store and Trinity College Dublin. These initial outlets will be followed by a further 10 Aramark-led locations, creating 100 full time and part time jobs. Pictured at the announcement are Frank Gleeson, Managing Director, Aramark Northern Europe, and Freshii Ireland Master Franchise Holder, Dave O'Donoghue.

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