Retail News october 2014

OCTOBER 2014

www.retailnews.ie|October 2014|Contents|3

It’s ‘Watch it fly off the shelves’ Time It’s #MoyParkTime

Contents

Budget 2015: The Verdict AT the time of writing, commentators across the country are still analysing Budget 2015 and what it means for the various sectors of the population.

For the retail sector, the Budget was something of a mixed bag.

On the one hand, Minister Noonan’s consumer-friendly elements are to be welcomed, such as the cuts to income tax and the Universal Social Charge, which will put more money in consumers’ pockets. As Frank Gleeson, Retail Ireland Chairman, noted: “The budget will put more money back into the economy: this will ease the pressure on the embattled retail sector. After years of tax hikes, there is now some relief for Irish consumers.”

Retailers have also welcomed the retention of existing VAT rates and the freeze in excise duties on alcohol and fuel. However, the excise hike of 40c on cigarettes is likely to push even more consumers away from the legal sales and into the black market, bad news for retailers and for Government coffers.

Still, the general consensus seems to be that the hard years of austerity are now behind us and the Irish economy and the retail sector can start to look to the future with cautious optimism.

Unbridled joy, rather than cautious optimism, was the order of the day at the second annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, which took place with a black tie dinner in the luxurious surrounds of Dublin’s Mansion House and saw more than 50 of the country’s top food and beverage products rewarded (Page 38). Also in this issue, ADM Londis celebrated 60 years in operation with a gala anniversary banquet dinner (Page 18), which also saw the presentation of the Londis Retailing Excellence Awards, while Mark Sandys, Guinness Global Business Brand Director, discusses the opening of the biggest stout brewery in the world at St James’ Gate (Page 22), and we report from Food & Hospitality Ireland (Page 50)

News 4 Raw deal for retail

22

relations?

5

Ireland proved a hugely successful event, with more than 150 companies showcasing their products to thousands of visitors.

SPAR to open 50 new stores; Retailers appeal over court charges.

5 The Retail News Interview 22 Mark Sandys, Global 6

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Business Brand Director, Guinness, talks about the recently opened Brewhouse No. 4 at St James’ Gate, the most technologically advanced brewery in the world, and what it means for Guinness.

Minister welcomes 10-year vision for consumer foods; Tom Shipsey appointed Chairperson of Concern.

NOffLA Gold Star Wine Awards; ADM Londis Celebrates 60 Years in Ireland.

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SPAR’s Fair City sponsorship continues; New laws may curb investment in food and drink sector.

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Tune up your business with IMRO award; Aldi and Lidl continue to grow share.

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MACE announces charity partner; Further growth for SuperValu; Tobacco tax will trigger smuggling gains.

Shop Profile 26 A revamp at Rhonda

Brophy’s MACE store in Malahide village, Co. Dublin, has seen a renewed focus on meeting the needs of its customers head-on.

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 38 More than 50 of the

Londis Retailing Excellence Awards 18 Londis’ 60th

Kathleen Belton Editorial Director kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

Come visit us at moyparkchicken.com

finest food and drink products in the land were rewarded at the second annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, in a glittering awards ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House

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anniversary banquet dinner and annual Retailing Excellence Awards took place recently, rewarding the top Londis stores in the country.

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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update 53 Retail sales continue

to rise; Retail Ireland meets Minister Noonan; Retail Ireland Annual Report 2013.

Efficient Consumer Response 56 The ECR Ireland

Supply Chain Summit examined the issue of on shelf availability and how to cut down on outof-stocks, and also saw the presentation of the inaugural ECR Ireland Supply Chain Award.

Legal Matters 60 By law, you are obliged to provide a safe workplace and a safe place for consumers to shop. Failure to do so could be extremely costly indeed, writes solicitor Tanya Brady.

Costcutter Store of the Year Awards 62 The Costcutter Store

of the Year Awards saw the top stores countrywide rewarded across a host of categories.

REGULARS & REPORTS

11 Tax & Finance 12 Industry News 30 Biscuits, Crackers & Cakes 46 Cereals 54 Drinks News 58 OTC Medicines 65 Market News 66 Shelf Life

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News

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Raw Deal for Retail Relations

?

Frank Gleeson, Chairman, Retail Ireland.

“We’ve been hearing noise from the agricultural community and some suppliers that there are unfair practices, yet there has been nothing proven as far back as I can remember,” Gleeson noted.

“Suppliers and retailers have commercial terms that

they negotiate: if they are considered unfair, I’m sure someone would have taken a case at some stage through the current legislation.”

Gleeson contended that “unfair practice” to some, is “competition” to others.

“Over the last four or five years, the way things have gone in the economy, there’s been a race to the bottom in terms of retailer and supplier margins,” he continued. “There has been fierce competition at every level. The consumer price index for food is down.

People are getting better value. That is coming out of supplier and retailer pockets. Look at some of the profits for some of our big retailers: they have been significantly impacted.”

Yet competition is not always skewed in favour of retailers. “There’s massive competition from the retailer perspective. In some categories, there is very little or no competition from a supplier perspective,” Gleeson noted. “You have the same manufacturers supplying a large proportion of the market with very limited route to market for other competitors.”

From an Irish perspective, could further EU legislation, set up to police retailer-supplier relations, make a difference?

“I don’t believe so,” said Gleeson. “All it will do is bring more bureaucracy and cost to consumers.”

The Competition and Consumer Protection

SPAR To Open 50 New Stores IRELAND’S EU CommissionerDesignate Phil Hogan plans to introduce new legislation if “unfair practices” continue between retailers and suppliers, despite his own party introducing such legislation in Ireland this year.

During three hours of questions before the European Parliament agriculture committee, the Commissioner-Designate for Agriculture and Rural Development said he would consider legislation to ensure a “fair price for producers, and not the declining price we have at the moment”.

In July, the Irish Parliament passed Fine Gael’s Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, legislation designed to prevent unfair practices, such as unilateral altering of contracts, and retailers requiring “hello money” for space in supermarkets or forcing suppliers to fund promotions.

Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, described it as a “watchdog with real teeth”.

Vincent Jennings, head of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), found Hogan’s comments baffling, insofar as they pertained to Ireland as well as other EU states. “If Phil Hogan has an opinion on the matter, why didn’t he call for the Competition and Consumer Protection Act to have additional teeth when Richard Bruton was bringing it through?” wondered Jennings. “Surely the Irish government believes it has collared this off now.”

In his comments, Hogan referred to an overall European perspective,

saying that a rapid “happening parallel” concentration of retailers to Ireland’s new has led to uneven enforcement policy, she bargaining power. A told us. voluntary initiative Jennings described between processors the entire exercise, from and retailers in some an Irish perspective, member states lacks an as pointless. “This effective enforcement government has brought mechanism, he said, in a bill designed to and fails to include counter any perceived an opportunity for inadequacies,” he said. confidential complaints.

“Maybe [Hogan and Ireland’s Competition McGuinness] went into and Consumer hibernation and forgot Protection Act 2014, that the Competition Phil Hogan, Ireland’s EU Commissioner-Designate, however, provides and Consumer pictured with Fine Gael MEP for confidential Protection Act 2014 Mairead McGuinness. whistleblowing. was there. The bill is Fine Gael MEP designed to introduce Mairead McGuinness, who questioned significant sanctions for anybody who Hogan about the prices large is considered to be acting improperly.” supermarket chains pay to producers, What kind of improper practices also disregarded her own party’s new persist? According to McGuinness, legislation. In a subsequent press the primary concern is a “relentless release, McGuinness talked about how pressure to get producers to supply there are “some voluntary standards products cheaper, non-payment of in place at EU level and in Ireland: the suppliers, holding back of money. All of problem is that they are voluntary.” these things have an impact on the cost In an interview with Retail News, supply chain.” She cited the example of one retailer’s tendering process for McGuinness said there was “an the vegetable sector, which she said the Irish interest” in a new European Irish Farmers’ Association indicated voluntary initiative, which a number was crippling the sector. of supermarket chains signed up to.

Frank Gleeson, Chairperson of “The main stakeholders have agreed to Retail Ireland, is sceptical about such root out unfair commercial and trading practices. A lot of retailers signed up for claims due to lack of evidence. “At this it. They are training staff and reporting moment in time, I’m not aware of any unfair practices that have been proven back. They’re going to have a review under any legislation in either Ireland, by the end of next year to see if there the UK or Europe,” he told Retail are any changes or improvements,” she said. This voluntary initiative is News.

“Over the past 12 months SPAR has been focused on adding high quality new stores to the network and this strategy is paying dividends,” noted BWG Group CEO, Leo Crawford. “The retail sector makes a hugely important contribution to the Irish economy. Our planned store growth over the next two years and the new jobs that will be created will contribute to the economic recovery, especially in BWG Group CEO, Leo Crawford, pictured at the SPAR Retailer Convention in Killarney. the local urban and rural communities in which our SPAR has announced plans to add SPAR stores are located.

50 new stores to its network by 2016, “Following six years of recession, leading to the creation of up to 1,000 we believe the economy is finally new full and part-time jobs over the turning the corner and this uplift next two years. The announcement is starting to positively impact the was made at the SPAR Retailer retail sector. The upcoming budget Convention in Killarney, which was will be a crucial milestone and we attended by more than 200 retailers urge the Government to include from around the country. measures such as the reversal in SPAR’s owner, BWG Group, employer PRSI rates in order to has up to €100m for investment in maintain the fragile recovery in our store development across its store sector.” network, including SPAR, over the SPAR took the opportunity next five years. This follows the of the retailer gathering to also recent investment by SPAR South launch its new SPAR Select range Africa in BWG. The funds that are of premium quality private label now in place will be used to expand products, making it the first SPAR’s existing retail network convenience group in Ireland to across the country, as well as assist existing retailers with refurbishment introduce a premium line to its and expansion plans. Over €5m own brand category. SPAR Select will be invested in a new SPAR features products from 22 local store design, launched in SPAR Irish suppliers and is predicted to Millennium Walkway, which will be generate sales in the region of €7.5m rolled out to over 100 new stores. in the first two years alone.

Vincent Jennings, CSNA.

Commission (CCPC), an amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, will be established on October, 31, 2014, with the responsibility of regulating practices in the grocery goods sector.

Retailers Appeal over Court Charges RETAILERS have called for a fair margin to provide in-store court fine payment services. The appeal came after the Irish Courts Service published a tender seeking payment service providers to provide fine payment through shops. Retailers deal with payment service providers, including Payzone, PostPoint, and PayPoint etc., RGDATA Director over utility bills. Yet retailers General, Tara Buckley. claim it costs them money to provide the service.

“When the M50 tolls [tickets] were put up as a tender, the payment service providers put in the tenders, but nobody spoke to retailers,” said Tara Buckley, Director General, RGDATA. “The tenders are assessed on whatever proposal the payment service provider puts in. Whoever wins the tender has usually offered the lowest margin to retailers.

The retailers are given a fait accompli: ‘This is the new M50 toll service. You’re getting 0.05% of every toll payment you accept’.”

RGDATA wrote to the Courts Service following the publication of the tender.

Although not many customers will avail of the service, Buckley said a principle was at stake. “Many different bodies, state and private, think the best place for people to pay [for services] is in the local shop. A lot of our members have no problem about being convenient and providing these services, but we must insist they get paid properly for doing so.”

Courts Service CEO Brendan Ryan replied to RGDATA, claiming he would consider retailer concerns when evaluating tenders.

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Minister Welcomes 10-Year Vision for Consumer Foods competitive and fast moving marketplace, companies could best be facilitated to deliver sustained growth,” the Minister said. “The potential of value added sectors to deliver growth and jobs had been identified in Food Harvest 2020. I am delighted that operators in this diverse sector have collaborated to develop a focused strategy.”

Prepared consumer foods are value added food and beverage products selling domestically or Colin Gordon, FDII Chairman; Simon Coveney TD, internationally to retail, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Frank food service or other food Ryan, Chairman of the Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) companies. The sector already Strategy Group, at the launch of A 10 Year Vision for provides employment for Prepared Consumer Foods. more than 20,000 people in the Irish economy, and the MINISTER for Agriculture, Food industry vision document targets the and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD creation of an additional 7,500 jobs over has welcomed the Food Harvest 2020 the next decade.

Strategy Group’s ‘10 Year Vision for The document has been prepared as Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF). part of the overall Food Harvest strategy Speaking at the launch of a 10 Year by an industry led group established by vision document, Minister Coveney the Minister under the chairmanship stated that this key manufacturing sector had the potential to deliver added of Frank Ryan, the former CEO of Enterprise Ireland, with Colin Gordon, value and jobs, resulting in valuable FDII Chair, as vice-chair. FDII provided home market sales and increased the secretariat. exports.

The Minister noted that the report “Prepared consumer foods are a was very significant in the context of key value added sector and earlier this developing the added value piece under year I asked the industry to identify its FH 2020 and building its job creation strengths and needs, and how, in a very

Tom Shipsey Appointed Chairperson of Concern

STONEHOUSE CEO, Tom Shipsey (pictured) has been appointed Chairperson of Concern Worldwide’s governing council, Ireland’s largest humanitarian organisation. He takes over from Frances O’Keeffe, who was Chairperson from 2010, and, as with all Concern’s Council roles, the position of Chairperson is undertaken in a voluntary capacity.

Tom has visited and witnessed the work of Concern, both at home and in the field, visiting Haiti in 2010, northern Uganda in 2011 and Ethiopia in 2013. Tom’s interest in Development goes back to 1982, when he worked for a summer in Kenya.

“It is a great honour for me to be appointed Chairperson of Concern’s Council,” Shipsey said. “I am very grateful for the support of my fellow Council members who will play an important role in facilitating the success of Concern over the next year.

Concern has a strong track record in making a real difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people and I am really looking forward to working with our team to make sure their efforts at fighting global poverty continue to have a transformative and lasting impact.”

potential. It profiles the diversity of the sector in company size, product mix and growth stage and builds on this analysis to set out a 10 year vision for development. It also recommends a range of actions, including increased research innovation and upskilling, appropriate regulation and improvements in competitiveness, which would assist companies at different stages of their development.

The recommendations cover the following areas: 1. Improving the funding environment for PCF companies to grow; 2. Introducing a suite of competitiveness improvement measures; 3. Leveraging the retailer relationship to grow domestic and international market share; 4. Establishing a new PCF-specific focus on R&D and innovation; 5. Enhancing the skills and capabilities in the sector.

According to the report, by 2025, the PCF sector will have led the future growth of the overall Irish food industry; deliver products that are recognised by consumers globally as innovative, safe, sustainably produced and of the highest-quality. It will also have developed into a dynamic sector based on talent, finance, research capability and government support; and will be recognised as among the most advanced, efficient and sustainable PCF sectors globally.

New Molson Coors MD for UK and Ireland MOLSON Coors Brewing Company have announced that Frederic Landtmeters (pictured), Chief Commercial Officer, Molson Coors Europe, will take over as Managing Director, Molson Coors UK and Ireland, succeeding Simon Cox, who will take on the role of CEO, Molson Coors Europe, from January 1, 2015. Simon Cox succeeds Mark Hunter, who will take over the global reins of Molson Coors Brewing Company (MCBC) when current President and CEO, Peter Swinburn, retires at the end of the year.

NOffLA Gold Star Wine Awards THE National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has announced the 15 winners of this year’s annual Gold Star Wine Awards. Selected by a panel of NOffLA judges and independent wine writers, the winners were recognised at an event in Ely Dublin, where the association called on the Government to address excessive excise duty on wine and alcohol and to reintroduce a ban on below cost selling.

Speaking at the awards, Evelyn Jones, Chairperson NOffLA, noted how “successive excise increases have driven 544 off-licences out of business since 2008.

There has been a 62% excise increase in wine over the past two budgets with distributors and importers, SMEs, paying nearly €18,000 (€17,958) more on every 1,000 cases purchased.”

In excess of 600 wines were submitted to the Gold Star Award adjudication panel. Points were awarded on the basis of appearance, smell, taste and value for money and the winning 15

The NOffLA Gold Star Wine Award winners are pictured with their awards.

were selected as the best wines, from the key suppliers across a number of price categories.

The winners on the night included Taserra Wine Merchants, Liberty Wines, Findlater Wine & Spirit Group, Mackenway

Distributors Ltd, Cassidy Wines Distribution Ltd and Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

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 Gold Star Awards 2014-2015 Collection as ideal Christmas gifts, in a variety of special gift packs.

ADM Londis Celebrates 60 Years in Ireland A STATE of the art operating table for sick children, more suicide and self-harm crisis centres and a hospice nurses’ outreach programme have all received funding from ADM Londis, who are marking their 60th year in operation in Ireland this year. To celebrate 60 years serving local communities, Londis gave its customers and retailers the opportunity to share €60,000 between three national charities; Pieta House, the Irish Hospice Foundation and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. Supporting causes which affect young and old in local communities throughout Ireland, Londis’ charity partners were chosen by their network of over 200 retailers nationwide.

Throughout the months of May, June and July, Londis customers received a token with every transaction

Pictured at Londis’ presentation of the ‘60k for 60 Years’ cheque to Temple St Children’s Hospital, The Irish Hospice Foundation and Pieta House are (l-r): compere Marty Whelan; Londis CEO, Stephen O’Riordan; Margaret Murphy, Temple St Children’s University Hospital; Helen McVeigh, The Irish Hospice Foundation; Majella and John Roche, Londis Doneraile; and Cathy Kelly, Pieta House.

which they then used to vote for their chosen charity by inserting it into the relevant slot at the display unit instore. In doing so, Londis customers across Ireland decided how the €60,000 was divided between the three charities. A further

€20,000 was raised through national and regional radio promotions and a coffee and cupcake morning in Londis stores nationwide.

This brings the total amount shared by the three charities to over €80,000.

The charities were

presented with the funds raised at the ADM Londis 60th Anniversary Banquet, which took place in the Doubletree by Hilton, recently. “It is a privilege to stand here and present these charities with the funds raised through our network of stores,” noted ADM Londis Chief Executive, Stephen O’Riordan. “The work that these charities undertake on a daily basis impacts communities around the country in many ways.

Community is a theme which resonates with us all and as a group of retailers, we’re proud to play our part to help support our local communities to be better, more prosperous places for everyone. In presenting these cheques, we hope to give something back to the communities which have supported ADM Londis retailers for the past 60 years.”

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SPAR’s Fair City Sponsorship Continues

Tune Up Your Business with IMRO Award

SPAR and RTÉ Television have announced a new sponsorship agreement that will ensure the SPAR store which resides on the set of popular indigenous soap, Fair City, continues to be part of the SPAR store network for at least the next three years. The new deal forms part of an overall investment of €900,000 by the brand owners which, along with the sponsorship, includes a fully integrated national and local marketing campaign.

The Irish drama series, which is currently celebrating its 25 year anniversary, and attracts over 500,000 viewers every episode, originally saw Christy Phelan’s corner shop transformed into the leading convenience retailer back in 2011, in what marked a ground-breaking sponsorship deal at the time.

“We are delighted to have

IMRO’s Tune-Up Your Business Award is a new award designed to encourage Irish businesses to tap into the commercial benefits of providing music for their customers and employees.

Have you ever thought about offering music for your customers or staff members but were unsure of where to start? Or perhaps you are looking to upgrade the music equipment that you are currently using?

There is a prize fund of €4,000 up for grabs, to spend exclusively on music equipment in your premises. The Awards programme is open to those currently using music and also for businesses planning to introduce music

Garry Healy, SPAR Retail Operations Advisor, and Suzanne Weldon, Marketing & Communications Director at SPAR, pictured with the cast of Fair City.

extended our innovative sponsorship with Ireland’s most popular television soap,” enthused Suzanne Weldon, Marketing & Communications Director at SPAR. “The arrangement with RTÉ has provided our brand with a far

reaching platform for communicating with our customers in a creative and entertaining way over the last three years. Because Carrigstown’s SPAR store is part of the actual storyline, viewers have been given a real-life insight into what

New Laws May Curb Investment in Food and Drink Sector NEW laws may stop up to a quarter of Irish food and drink firms investing in their brands, according to a new survey from Amárach Research. In addition, 15% of companies say legislative and regulatory change will force them to transfer manufacturing to other locations, while over half said they would look to export markets to expand.

The research was revealed

by Gerard O’Neill, Chairman of Amárach Research, who was addressing more than 200 business leaders, IP professionals and brand managers at a major international conference on Intellectual Property in Dublin recently. O’Neill argued that the research shows that the Irish business community is worried about the impact excessive regulation, and in particular threats to Intellectual Property, will have on their brands and their businesses.

Key findings in Amárach’s research include:

• 90% expect the food and drink sector to be singled out for more regulatory and legislative change; • 75% say compliance with legislation has resulted in significant additional costs, such as labelling and staff training; • 56% expect to face significant costs to become compliant with emerging and future legislation; • 40% are aware of further legislative & regulatory changes affecting their operations in the short term, especially labelling changes; • 33% expect new requirements for calorie counting and nutritional listings to be a big source of change in the future.

The findings show that compliance with current and pending legislation comes with significant costs and is clearly an increasingly important consideration for companies in the food and drinks sector, according to O’Neill.

it takes to run a retail business, just like our other 450 retailers around the country. We congratulate the show on its 25 years of success and we’re delighted to be part of history in the making.”

Gerry McGuinness of RTÉ TV Sponsorship, described the SPAR store in Fair City as “the benchmark for product placement in Ireland”. RTÉ has worked very closely with SPAR to design realistic internal and external sets that mirror the look and feel of SPAR stores nationwide.

“The Fair City SPAR shop fits naturally into the storyline and is a central part of the community,” said McGuinness. “RTÉ welcomes SPAR to Carrickstown for another three years and we look forward to more dramatic moments in the future appearing on our screens.”

Irish Companies Cream of the Crop GLANBIA Ingredients Ireland Limited (GIIL) and Diageo took home first prize for ‘Best Business to Business Partnership’ at the annual Pictured are: Joseph Maguire, Global Responsible Sustainability Manager, Diageo; Luis Rangel, Global Head of Commodities and Business Raw Materials, Diageo; Audrey O’Shea, Awards Sustainability Manager, GIIL; Sean Molloy, ceremony Director of Strategy, GIIL, and Jim Bergin, in London CEO, GIIL. for their ‘Sustainable Cream Initiative’.

Over 400 European companies entered the awards, of which there were 91 finalists shortlisted and 13 overall category winners. The two companies were recognised for jointly creating a benchmark sustainability programme, for the entire process chain from the fresh milk supplied by Glanbia’s farmers, all the way to the final product, Baileys Irish Cream liqueur.

“It is a huge achievement for both Diageo and Glanbia Ingredients Ireland to be internationally recognised for our B2B partnership, the Sustainable Cream Initiative,” enthused Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited. “The success of the initiative has demonstrated that an uncompromising focus on sustainability can have long-term commercial benefits.”

into their premises in the near future.

“No matter what industry you’re in, everyone agrees that putting your customer at the heart of your business and providing good customer service is a top priority. Whether you operate a hotel, restaurant, bar, hairdressing salon or supermarket, part of this service is about providing customers with music to enhance their experience,” stated Victor Finn, Chief Executive, IMRO. Businesses can enter simply by explaining how they would enhance and develop the music in their business if they won the prize fund by completing an online application form at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/

Roz Purcell and Paddy McKenna bring music to the workplace, as IMRO launches the Tune-Up Your Business Award.

imrotune-up. The closing date for entries is November 7, 2014.

Aldi and Lidl Continue to Grow Share THE latest supermarket share figures from Kantar Worldpanel in Ireland, for the 12 weeks ending September 14, show that both Aldi and Lidl are continuing to post impressive performances, with sales up by 15.1% and 12.3% respectively over the past year.

“Aldi and Lidl have both enjoyed record levels of market share over recent months and this strong performance has continued thanks to increased footfall over the past 12 weeks,” explained David Berry, Commercial Director at Kantar Worldpanel. “Lidl has attracted 41,000 new shoppers this quarter, as shoppers were enticed by back to school offers.

Meanwhile, Aldi’s sales have been boosted as more shoppers chose to visit the retailer for their main grocery shop, with customers increasing their spend by €1.20.”

Dunnes Stores posted the strongest results among the larger grocers, enjoying increased sales for the fifth successive month. “A rise in the number of round euro priced branded goods on sale has drawn customers into its stores, contributing an additional €15m in sales for the retailer,” Berry noted. “Some 37% of branded goods sold in Dunnes are now

on sale at a clear round euro price point, compared with just 32% last year.”

SuperValu has attracted an extra 40,000 households through its doors this year, boosted by its own brand offering. The trade-off is that reduced customer spend in store has meant a slight dip in sales for the retailer compared with last year. On average, SuperValu customers have reduced their spending by €16 over the past 12 weeks by choosing more own brand products.

Elsewhere, Tesco remains Ireland’s

number one grocery retailer despite a dip in market share from 26.7% to 25.2% year-on-year. Shoppers are continuing to choose Tesco, upping the number of trips they make to the leading grocer. The challenge for Tesco lies in making sure its customers maintain their in-store spend, which has decreased by almost €2 on average over the past year.

Grocery inflation stands at 1.6% for the 12-week period ending September 14, 2014, up slightly from 1.5% last period and one of the lowest levels in almost three years.

Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend 12 Weeks to 15 Sep 2013 %*

12 Weeks to 14 Sep 2014 %*

change** %

100.0% 88.7% 26.7% 22.1% 25.0% 19.7% 5.3% 14.9% 7.4% 7.5% 11.3%

100.0% 88.8% 25.2% 22.1% 24.7% 16.8% 8.5% 8.3% 11.2%

0.7 0.8 -5.0 0.8 -0.6 13.7 15.1 12.3 -0.4

Total Grocers Total Multiples Tesco Dunnes Total SuperValu SuperValu Superquinn Total Discounters Aldi Lidl Other Outlets**

*= Percentage Share of Total Grocers **= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops

Tesco Redundancies on the Way? TESCO Ireland is in “early stage discussions” with staff in relation to possible redundancies. However, the company has categorically denied that the move has anything to do with recent revelations that Tesco plc had overstated its profits.

In a statement to RTÉ News, Tesco confirmed that it was in discussion with some departmental store managers to see if any wished to be redeployed to other roles or whether any would wish to apply for voluntary redundancy. The company has not indicated how many redundancies could emerge from its 15,000-strong workforce in Ireland. Tesco also stressed that any redundancies would be voluntary and that staff were also being offered the option of moving from full-time to part-time employment.

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Tax & Finance

News MACE Announces Charity Partner partnership will focus specifically on fundraising for the Foundation’s Nurses for Night Care programme, which is a free national service providing homecare nurses for people with illnesses.

To kick-off the partnership, MACE will be selling Halloween smile chocolate lollipops for €1 at stores nationwide, with proceeds Pictured are (l-r): Alex Banahan, Sales Director MACE; sisters going to the IHF. Seren Martin and Saoirse Martin; and Sharon Foley, CEO, Irish Hospice Foundation.

The company will donate 10c from THE Irish Hospice Foundation has bottles of MACE water purchased, been officially named as MACE’s new along with a contribution from 50 charity partner for 2014/2015, during other everyday items in the MACE which time the group has set out to Own Brand Range. Other fundraising raise €100,000 for the Irish charity. The initiatives for the Irish Hospice

Further Growth for SuperValu

Rory & Raymond Hannon are pictured with staff members at Hannon’s SuperValu, Enfield.

SUPERVALU is to create 24 new jobs following the opening of Hannon’s SuperValu in Enfield, Co. Meath. This follows a major expansion project which sustained 50 local construction jobs over the last number of months and saw the former Centra store on the site converted and expanded from 5,000 square feet to a 12,500 square feet SuperValu store.

This announcement

is one of a number of SuperValu store developments underway.

Quish’s SuperValu in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, which employs over 115 local people, has just undergone a €600,000 store refurbishment project. These projects are indicative of SuperValu retailers’ longstanding commitment to local communities across Ireland.

“This is a very

exciting development for our store which allows us to provide a further 24 jobs for members of the Enfield community, in addition to the 46 local staff members we currently employ,” said Rory Hannon, co-owner of Hannon’s SuperValu with his brother Raymond. “The extensive expansion plan for our store demonstrates our long-standing commitment to the locality of Enfield.”

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu said “SuperValu is working hand in hand with local store owners like Rory & Raymond Hannon and Seán Quish around Ireland to build vibrant local communities. These significant investments create jobs and provide customers with the fantastic choice, quality and value which is synonymous with SuperValu.”

Foundation include collection boxes in local stores and ongoing seasonal themed promotions.

The Nurses for Night Care programme helps non-cancer patients with life limiting illness end their days at home surrounded by their families.

The service is provided free of charge and operates in every county of Ireland.

“For the first time, we asked retailers to decide who the MACE charity partner should be and the Irish Hospice Foundation stood out because the charity is centred on a cause that touches a lot of people and carries out great work in local communities,” noted Alex Banahan, Sales Director, MACE. “Also, it has a nationwide footprint and this was very important to our retailers who also operate right across the country. We have an ambitious target to raise €100,000 for the charity, so we will be working with our independent retailers on several national and store level initiatives, and hope that our customers will be keen to show their support.”

Tobacco Tax Will Trigger Smuggling Gains: JTI THE recent budget decision to increase excise tax on cigarettes by 40c goes against the government’s objective to raise revenue, according to JTI Ireland. “One in four of all cigarettes consumed in Ireland avoid Irish tax, with the Exchequer estimated to be losing €240m annually at a time when taxpayers are being asked to pay water charges,” said Igor Dzaja, General Manager for JTI Ireland. “Sudden and steep tobacco tax increases influence consumers’ choices, leading them to buy cheap, illegal tobacco. This move is counterproductive, as the Exchequer risks losing revenue at the expense of illegal trade and criminality in local communities. It will be warmly welcomed by cigarette smugglers who already see Ireland as a lucrative target.”

According to Dzaja, “Planned, longterm and balanced tax policies best meet government objectives to raise stable tax revenues. The Minister is ignoring his own advice and is adopting a strategy that is likely to result in serious consequences for the Exchequer and retailers.”

Income Tax Deadline for Retailers THE Income Tax return deadline for 2013 is fast approaching. For all paper returns, the deadline is October 31, 2014, for those filing and paying through Revenue’s Online Service (ROS), an extended deadline (November 13, 2014) will apply.

• You have bought/ received or sold shares; • You own land or property that is being let; • You have income from overseas; • You have sold or given an asset away, such as a holiday home or some shares.

Some or all of your sources of income may be

taxed at source through payroll, DIRT or Dividend Withholding Tax. Even if this is the case, a return will still be required. Payment of any outstanding tax will be required on the filing deadline date, along with any preliminary tax for 2014.

Reasons For Filing a Tax Avoiding Interest Charges Return To avoid interest charges, The most common reasons the amount of preliminary that a tax return may be tax paid for the following required are as follows: tax year must be equal to or • You are a sole trader or a exceed the lower of: partner in a partnership; • 90% of your final liability • You are a proprietary for the tax year, or director in a company • 100% of your final (owning more than 15% liability for the previous of shares in a company); tax year, or • You have rental property • 105% of your final income; liability for the pre• You have large amounts preceding tax year. (This Director: Martin Hyland, of savings or investment option is only available ACCA, AITI Chartered Tax Adviser, income; Retail News HP PressAd-v2_Layout 0314-TAI01 1 30/03/2014 15:47 Page 1where preliminary tax is Tax Accounting Ireland.

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12|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News

PURINA SPONSORS GREAT IRISH DOG WALK

Store Locations

GOLDEN Retriever Chelsea is pictured with Tara Duggan, Purina PetCare, and Natasha Eames, DSPCA, at the announcement that Purina partnered with the charity for its family event, ‘The Great Irish Dog Walk’, which took place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, recently. This partnership is part of Purina’s ongoing support for the DSPCA. It already supplies all the food for the cats and dogs in the charity’s care - both residents and foster care alike. In 2013 alone, the DSPCA served over 10,000 meals to the cats and dogs in its care. The aim of the Great Irish Dog Walk 2014 is to help raise awareness of the suffering of some animals and to help the DSPCA raise funding to rescue neglected and ill-treated animals.

Topaz Lifts Top Awards TOPAZ has claimed three awards at the latest ADFX Awards, the Oscars of the advertising industry. The company’s loyalty game, Play or Park, claimed gold in the Retail and Fashion category, as well as two silvers in the New Launch and Automotive categories. Paul Candon, Marketing and Corporate Services Director at Topaz, is pictured (centre) at the Bord Gais Theatre with (l-r): Tania Banotti, CEO, IAPI; Abi Moran from Target McConnell’s; Jason Nebenzahl from PHD; and Paul Fisher from Target McConnell’s. Topaz’s agencies were Target McConnells and PHD Ireland. The judges said Play or Park was an excellent example of what could be achieved with big, bold ambitions and a genuine desire to present customers with something new and exciting. They also said the company’s decision to opt for a completely different strategy had pushed it ahead of its competitors, while driving an increase in fuel and food sales.

Boyne Valley Honey Days Support Down Syndrome Ireland CELEBRITY chef Andrew Rudd and top presenter Louise Duffy are pictured cooking up a storm with Josh Garvey (10) and his sister Molly (7) from Dundrum, using Boyne Valley Honey to encourage people to indulge in a little goodness for Down Syndrome Ireland. Boyne Valley Honey and Down Syndrome Ireland are rolling out their annual Honey Days fundraising event, which runs throughout the month of October and sees hundreds of volunteers and supporters across the country selling mini pots of delicious Pure Natural Boyne Valley Honey for just €2.

Wonky Veg at Tesco TESCO has become the first Irish retailer to announce a commitment to working with growers to purchase more vegetables that are classified as an irregular shape or size.

Named ‘Wonky Veg’, Tesco will trial the offering with carrots and mushrooms which will sold in specially marked ‘Wonky Veg’ packs, giving shoppers the opportunity to choose which vegetables they would like to purchase. Tesco Ireland buys nearly five million packs of Irish carrots every year sourced from two growers; Leo Dunne in Laois and John Dockrell’s in Wexford. Closed cup mushrooms are sourced from Codd Mushrooms in Carlow and Kerrigan’s Mushrooms in Meath.

Growers have welcomed the move by Tesco to introduce misshapen produce rather than rejecting them on the grounds of appearance due to irregular shape or size. Model Roz Purcell is pictured with some of Tesco’s Wonky Veg.

Ploughing is Child’s Play for SuperValu ‘All Stars’ PICTURED at the launch of SuperValu’s ‘All Star’ line up for the National Ploughing Championships is ‘Mini Bernard Brogan’ (Harley Smith, aged four), ‘Mini Paul Galvin’ (Rocco Kelly, aged four) and ‘Mini Aidan O’Shea’ (Noah Lynch, aged two). SuperValu built an entire village to showcase its commitment to growing local communities and celebrated the very best fresh food available from its good food family of over 600 Irish, Signature Tastes and Food Academy producers over the three-day event. Placing the spotlight firmly on the best taste of local, SuperValu enlisted the help of current football stars Bernard Brogan (Dublin) and Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), as well as retired Kerry player Paul Galvin to take to the stage of the SuperValu Village Green with celebrated Irish chef, Kevin Dundon, to host demonstrations that feature recipes from SuperValu Food Academy producers – a programme which aims to support food start-ups to secure their first retail listing.

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14|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News NEW LOOK FOR DUBLINER DUBLINER Cheese is introducing a striking new logo and pack identity across its popular range of Original, Vintage and Lighter cheeses. From this month, the award-winning product portfolio has been revitalised with a fresh contemporary look, which also works to reinforce the brand’s famous taste and dedication to quality. As part of the new look, Dubliner’s full flavoured reduced fat range has been re-named Dubliner Lighter and features exceptionally rich colour choices on-pack that will stand out on-shelf. Indeed, the use of strong colours across the portfolio will also achieve extremely strong stand out on-shelf, with eye catching POS materials erected in selected stores to alert shoppers to the new identity. Other planned marketing activity includes a comprehensive PR campaign, running parallel with full digital support in the form of a new look website, www.dublinercheese.ie, and extensive social media activity.

Kavanagh’s SuperValu Helps Egg-citing Times Ahead BALLYFREE to Secure Medical Site Free Range eggs PICTURED at the greenfield site in Castlebar where the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation will construct a purpose-built medical care facility following a donation of €103,156

by Kavanagh’s SuperValu stores across Mayo are Noel Kavanagh, Managing Director of the Kavanagh Group, and Cynthia Clampett, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice. The funds, which were collected following a series of fundraisers arranged

by Kavanagh’s SuperValu stores through their ‘Help Us to Help Others’ campaign, bring the total figure raised by Kavanagh’s SuperValu stores for cancer patients and hospice care over the last three years to over €275,000.

Noel Kavanagh credited the local communities involved for their contributions. “Without their generosity, we would not be here today with a cheque for over €100,000. It’s astonishing in hard times what can be achieved.”

OOH Advertising Market Continues To Grow

NEW figures published by OMA/Nielsen show a positive increase in Out Of Home (OOH) advertising in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period last year. The overall spend was up 7% and the market is now worth €45m. Almost 50% of OOH was spent on small formats including 6-Sheets at Bus Shelters, shopping centres as well Digital OOH dPods.

Entertainment and media had the highest overall spend by category, followed by food (€7m), with Mondelez and Unilever Ireland the biggest spenders. The most recalled campaign unprompted from January to June 2014 was Unilever HB Ice Cream (pictured) at 51%, according to Kinetic’s post campaign researcher service, Researcher.

are hoping to capitalise on recent increasing demand and encourage parents of young children to eat more eggs, by giving away a new innovative product called Shrinkies. The plan is to make egg time fun for children. The Smithboro-based, family run business is giving away unique little cartoon character sleeves which fit onto the egg before boiling, called Shrinkies. “The Ballyfree brand is all about family and the community. We would just like to generate a few smiles in homes around Ireland, and hopefully introduce some younger consumers to the eggs category,” said John Mohan MD of Greenfield Foods, pictured with Charlie Knight at the launch of Ballyfree Free Range Eggs Shrinkies. See www.greenfieldfoods.ie/shrinkies for more information on how to get Shrinkies free of charge.

Spicy Prize from Forest Feast BREEDA Conroy from Wexford will be jetting off to Morocco for a luxury five night holiday for two, having won an Irelandwide competition with Northern Ireland based dried fruit and nut brand Forest Feast. Breeda entered the ‘Win an Exotic Break’ competition online, having picked up a pack of Forest Feast Snack International snack mixes. Forest Feast’s Snack International products are mixes of dried fruit, nuts and savoury snacks, inspired by exotic global flavours, ranging from the traditional tastes of the Mediterranean to the fiery spice of Morocco. “We wanted to offer people enjoying our products a true taste of the exotic by giving them the chance to win a holiday to Morocco, where they can witness first hand all the delicious flavours that help inspire our products,” noted Christine Whelan, Forest Feast, pictured (right) with Breeda.

FACTS • IRELAND HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ILLEGAL TOBACCO TRADE IN EUROPE

• €150 MILLION PROFIT FOR CRIMINALS ANNUALLY*

• CRIMINALS SELL TOBACCO TO CHILDREN AND DO NOT ASK FOR I.D.

• PLAIN TOBACCO PACKAGING WILL INCREASE

AVAILABILITY OF CHEAP ILLEGAL TOBACCO TO CHILDREN BY MAKING PACKS EASIER TO COPY

Have you heard all sides of the debate?

* Retail Ireland, “Tackling the Black Market and Retail Crime”, August 2012.

For more information visit

16|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News KENCO COFFEE VS GANGS INITIATIVE KENCO Coffee has launched a pioneering campaign, Coffee vs Gangs, aimed at encouraging young people in Honduras to choose a life of coffee farming over a life of crime. Honduras produces some of the world’s best coffee, but is also home to some of the world’s most notorious gangs, and Kenco has created an opportunity for young people to choose a positive path in education and training over gang membership. The Coffee vs Gangs initiative will target young Hondurans who are at a crossroads in their lives and at risk of entering a gang. By supporting the young people with the skills and training they need to become successful entrepreneurs, Kenco is hoping to help develop the next generation of coffee growers. Kenco’s Coffee vs Gangs project will see young participants learn everything there is to know about growing coffee, as well as the skills it takes to run a small business.

By the end of the 11-month project, the young Hondurans will have a qualification and a business plan, enabling them to become coffee farmers, work in the coffee export business or do something else entirely. Follow the journey of the young Hondurans at www.coffeevsgangs.com.

Ireland’s First 100% Gluten Free Food Market THE Coeliac Society of Ireland, in association with SuperValu, hosted Ireland’s first ever 100% Gluten Free Food Market at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork recently. The Ballynogluten Food Market is part of the organisation’s annual national convention, which also took place that weekend, bringing together coeliacs from all over Ireland to interact in a fun environment to learn more about the disease, discover new gluten free products and engage with other members of the ever growing coeliac community in Ireland. “We are delighted to be sponsoring this event for the second year in a row,” noted Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu. “Last year, we launched the SuperValu FreeFrom range, a selection of gluten free products, spanning across all departments from bakery, chill, frozen and dry goods. This range continues to grow with new suppliers presenting new and innovative products on a regular basis.”

Coeliacs Bill O’Herlihy and Liana Tallon are pictured at the launch of the Ballynogluten 100% Gluten Free Food Market.

Artisan Food Winners Announced

PICTURED at the recent Belling West Cork Artisan Food Awards & Forum at Liss Ard Estate, Skibbereen, are (front, l-r): Eamonn Howell of Musgrave Group, Helen Collins, Chairperson of A Taste of West Cork Food Festival; Lord David Puttnam; and (back, l-r): Tim Lucey, Cork County Manager; John Field, Field’s SuperValu, Chairman of the Awards; and Sean O’Driscoll of Glen Dimplex/Belling. A Taste of West Cork Food Festival runs annually in September in 16 towns and villages and the Forum and Awards recognise the best in artisan foods from the West Cork region. This year’s awards went to Caherbeg Free Range Pork (Rosscarbery, Co. Cork) and Toonsbridge Dairy (Macroom) which produces Mozarella cheese. Other finalists short-listed for awards included Claire’s Homemade Hummus (Union Hall), West Cork Pies (Schull), Glebe Gardens (Baltimore), and Durrus Cheese (Durrus, Bantry).See www.atasteofwestcork.com for more information.

Full Steam Ahead at Flanagan’s Foods WITH a new leadership team and their additional product offering, Flanagan’s Foods are going from strength to strength in 2014. With recently appointed Managing Director, Fiona Lee (left), Sales Director, Brian Keogh (centre) and New Business Development Director, Michael Flanagan (right), all settling in their new roles, the company continue to expand their business expertise along with their portfolio. Whilst continuing to grow their business with Thornton’s and Burton’s Biscuits, new additional brands to Flanagan’s include Vitalia, Balconi and Elizabeth Shaw. They are also stepping into the ‘Free From’ category with the Big Oz and Sunstart ranges.

With an adaptable model to suit the FMCG market, Flanagan’s Foods declare that the business is positive, driven and actively looking towards the future. Michael Flanagan says that “the market has never changed so fast and will never be this slow again”. To keep up with the rapidly changing market trends, Flanagan’s Foods are always ahead of the curve by delivering growth through insight, passion, commitment, clear focus and innovation. Flanagan’s Foods offer an excellent service to all of their brands by ensuring that they deliver, as a professional organisation with an award-winning sales team and excellent marketing support.

Butlers.indd 1

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Londis Retailing Excellence Awards

Londis Retailing Excellence Awards

Londis retailers, suppliers and guests celebrate the group’s 60th Anniversary in the Doubletree by Hilton.

Marty Whelan and Stephen O’Riordan are pictured presenting Tommy Murphy, from Burke’s Londis PLUS, Kinvara, with the Supermarket Store of the Year Award 2014. Burke’s Londis Kinvara also won a Gold Retailing Excellence Award on the night.

Celebrates 60th Birthday

Pictured receiving the store Store of the Year Award from compere Marty Whelan and Stephen O’Riordan, Londis CEO, are Londis Adare store owners David, third from left, and Karen Curtin (right) with Ciana Dineen, Daniel Boyle, store manager. Londis Adare also won a Gold Retailing Excellence Award on the night.

ADM Londis celebrated 60 years in Ireland with a black tie banquet and the presentation of the Londis Retailing Excellence Awards in early October.

Leo McCauley, ADM Londis Chairman, delivering the opening address at the group’s 60th Anniversary Black Tie Banquet and Retailing Excellence Awards.

THE Doubletree by Hilton was the setting for Londis’ 60th anniversary banquet dinner and annual Retailing Excellence Awards ceremony on Friday, October 3rd. Attracting in the region of 400 guests, with Londis retailers

traveling from all over Ireland, the event also included the official handover of the impressive charity donations from the group’s ‘60K for 60 years’ campaign.

The evening was opened by Londis Chairman, Leo McCauley, who welcomed guests to help celebrate the 60th anniversary of ADM Londis in Ireland. He reminded those present of how ADM was born when a small group of independent retailers got together with a view to working together to combine their collective buying power. Their motivation at the time was to create a stronger buying group to enable them to deal directly with manufacturers, thereby improving their buying power and improving the price and range of the groceries which they could offer to their customers.

Long History of Retailing Many of the retailers who were present

Londis Adare pictured receiving their Overall Store of the Year Award at the Londis Retailing Excellence Awards.

of a strong, independent grocery trade in Ireland.

The values and objectives which rang true for these independent retailers in 1954, still hold true for the group today, the Chairman noted.

While we have witnessed shifts in consumer behaviour, driven by the unprecedented economic upheaval of recent years, Londis continues to hold its own, with a powerful local franchise embedded in the communities which they serve. on the evening have long histories with the group. The group Chairman made special reference to retailer Frank Shiel, who remembers his father John attending the first ever ADM meeting in Grafton Street, along with the other founding fathers of Londis, including the late Val McCarthy. McCauley went on to highlight the establishment of RGDATA, founded by Val McCarthy, which followed ADM Londis, as instrumental in ensuring the survival

60K For 60 Years Earlier this year as part of their 60th anniversary celebrations, Londis worked with their retailers to identify three worthy causes, behind which they would put their fundraising efforts in 2014. With the support of their network, Londis gave customers the opportunity to share

€60,000 between three very deserving national charities: Pieta House, the Irish Hospice Foundation and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. A further €20,000 was raised through national and regional radio promotions, as well as a hugely successful coffee and cupcake morning held in Londis stores nationwide.

Many of the stores around the country got on board and gave it an extra push locally. In particular, John Roche of Roche’s Londis in Doneraile, Co. Cork, was recognised by the group for the special effort he made in raising over €11,000 for Pieta House, when he took home the Londis Community Initiative of the Year Award.

Londis Store of the Year Awards However, the main

Londis, Dublin Rd, Monaghan won the Convenience Store of the Year Award. Pictured are (L-R): Marty Whelan, Stephen O’Riordan; Mel Lundy, Londis Monaghan.

Pictured at the presentation of the ‘60k for 60 Years’ cheque to Temple St Children’s Hospital, The Irish Hospice Foundation and Pieta House are (l-r): Marty Whelan and Stephen O’Riordan, with Margaret Murphy, Temple St Children’s University Hospital, Helen McVeigh, The Irish Hospice Foundation, Majella and John Roche, Londis Doneraile; and Cathy Kelly, Pieta House.

purpose of the evening was to celebrate the excellence which Londis stores nationwide bring to the group, every day.

Those nominated stores demonstrate that by offering customers an excellent range of products at competitive prices,

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Londis Retailing Excellence Awards

Londis Retailing Excellence Awards

of their commitment to implementing exceptionally high standards throughout their stores, thereby providing an excellent customer experience to their local communities.

Award Winners Overall Londis Store of the Year: Curtin’s Londis, Adare, Co. Limerick

Londis Supermarket Store of the Year: Burke’s Londis PLUS, Kinvara, Co. Galway

Londis Foodmarket Store of the Year: Curtin’s Londis, Adare, Co. Limerick

Londis Convenience Store of the Year: Londis, Dublin Rd, Co. Monaghan

Retail Employee of the Year: Kelly Hyland, Gillen’s Londis, Dublin Rd, Trim, Co. Meath Group Support Office Employee of the Year: Declan Kettle, Fresh Food Manager

Supplier of the Year Awards

Warehouse Supplier of the Year: Richmond Marketing Central Billing Supplier of the Year: Largo Foods Chilled Supplier of the Year: PepsiCo. (Tropicana & Naked Smoothie)

Category Award Winners

Fruit & Veg Store of the Year: Gillan’s Londis PLUS, Summerhill, Co. Meath Off Licence Store of the Year: Timothy’s Londis PLUS, Abbeytown, Co. Roscommon Customer Service Store of the Year: Roche’s Londis, Doneraile, Co. Cork Deli & Hot Food Store of the Year: Gillen’s Londis, Dublin Rd, Trim, Co. Meath Food Safety Store of the Year: Gillan’s Londis, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Newspapers & Magazines Store of the Year: Londis, Newcastle Rd, Co. Galway Community Retailer of the Year: Roche’s Londis, Doneraile, Co. Cork

Gold Retailing Excellence Awards

Curtin’s Londis, Adare, Co. Limerick Gillan’s Londis, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Hanratty’s Londis, Belturbet, Co. Cavan Martin’s Londis, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford Londis, Shankill, Co. Dublin Byrne’s Londis, Aughrim, Co. Wexford Londis: Dublin Rd, Co. Monaghan; Tulsk, Co. Roscommon; Westport, Co. Mayo Griffin’s Londis: Grafton St; Lower O’Connell St; The Atrium Sandyford; St James’ Hospital, 14-15 Lower College Green Brodigan’s Londis, Quay St, Dundalk, Co. Louth Gillen’s Londis, Dublin Rd, Trim, Co. Meath Roche’s Londis, Doneraile, Co. Cork Boggan’s Londis, Rosslare Strand, Co. Wexford Browne’s Londis, Kilcock, Co. Meath Hanley’s Londis PLUS, Station Rd, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Kelly’s Londis, Milltown, Co. Kerry Sheehan’s Londis, Parkgate St, Dublin 8 Burke’s Londis PLUS, Kinvara, Co. Galway Hanrahan’s Londis, The Faythe, Co. Wexford Cunningham’s Londis PLUS, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo Shiel’s Londis PLUS, Malahide, Co. Dublin Kerrigan’s Londis, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Gillan’s Londis PLUS, Summerhill, Co. Meath Timothy’s Londis PLUS, Abbeytown, Co. Roscommon

along with a top class, local service, you can count on the continued support of your customer.

While recognising the excellence of each of the 200 stores in the network, the group carried out an independent audit across a range of criteria, including customer care, the quality of their fresh food offering, the depth and breadth of their product range, and the store’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of hygiene and food safety.

Recognising Excellence Presenting the awards, Stephen O’Riordan, Chief Executive ADM Londis, congratulated the winning stores. “2014 is a very special year for the Group as it marks our 60th year

Keating’s Londis PLUS, Newtown, Cobh, Co. Cork Hyne’s Londis, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare

Silver Retailing Excellence Awards

Doyle’s Londis, Gorey, Co. Wexford Canavan’s Londis, Inch, Co. Wexford O’Brien’s Londis, Larkins Cross, Co. Wexford O’Doherty’s Londis, Lady’s Island, Co. Wexford Hanrahan’s Londis, Piercetown, Co. Wexford Patterson’s Londis, Foxrock, Co. Dublin Griffin’s Londis, Fonthill and St Stephens Green.

Mattimoe’s Londis, Naas, Co. Kildare Londis, Foxford, Co. Mayo Hiney’s Londis, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo Fahy’s Londis, Batterstown, Co, Meath Londis, Navan Rd, Trim, Co. Meath Donegan’s Londis, Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath Marshall’s Londis PLUS, Mullingar Co. Westmeath Aherne’s Londis, Thurles, Co. Tipperary O’Connor’s Londis, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick Londis, Grange, Co. Sligo Grace’s Londis PLUS, Loughrea, Co. Galway

Bronze Retailing Excellence Awards

Londis, Newcastle Road, Co. Galway Londis, Cleaboy, Co. Waterford Londis, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 Dillon’s Londis, Fethard on Sea, Co. Wexford Mulligan’s Londis, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Griffin’s Londis, in New St, O’Connell St, Parkwest, Westmoreland St, Sandyford and KCR.

trading in Ireland,” he said. “Over the last six decades, we as a group have thrived because of the strength of our offering and through the hard work, resourcefulness and professionalism of our retailers. We know that by offering customers an excellent range of products and excellent prices, along with a top class service, we can count on their continued local support. These awards are a testament not just to these retailers but also to their teams of employees who support them in serving their local communities.

Tonight we recognise the excellence of each of these stores and their employees in providing an excellent consumer experience to the local communities they serve.”

The winning stores received their awards in recognition

Val and Paul Boggan from Boggan’s Londis Rosslare Strand, Co. Wexford, are pictured receiving their Londis Gold Retailing Excellence Award from Stephen O’Riordan. Also pictured is event compere, Marty Whelan.

Griffin’s Londis were the proud recipients of five Londis Gold Retailing Excellence Awards. Pictured were Marty Whelan, Stephen O’Riordan, with Seamus Griffin, Griffin Group MD, along with David Bridgette and employees from the winning stores: Griffin’s Grafton St, Lower College Green, Lower O’Connell St, The Atrium Sandyford and St James’ Hospital.

Declan Kettle, Fresh Food Manager, ADM Londis plc, accepts the Group Support Office Employee of the Year Award from Marty Whelan and Stephen O’Riordan.

Roche’s Londis Doneraile, Co. Cork, were the proud recipients of three awards, taking home a Gold Retailing Excellence Award, the Customer Service Store of the Year Award and the Community Retailer of the Year Award. Store owners Majella and John Roche are pictured with Marty Whelan and Stephen O’Riordan.

Kelly Hyland from Gillen’s Londis in Trim, Co. Meath, receives the Londis Retail Employee of the Year Award from Stephen O’Riordan and Marty Whelan.

Suppliers of the Year

Tom Gannon from Richmond Marketing (right) accepts the Londis Warehouse Supplier of the Year Award from Marty Whelan and Kieran O’Farrell, Londis Group Head of Trading (centre).

John O’Connor from Largo Foods accepts the Londis Central Billing Supplier of the Year Award from Kieran O’Farrell, Londis Group Head of Trading and Marty Whelan.

PepsiCo (Tropicana & Naked Smoothie) were awarded Chilled Supplier of the Year.

Jonathan Gillan from Gillan’s Londis, Castleknock, Dublin 15, accepts the Food Safety Store of the Year Award from Stephen O’Riordan and Marty Whelan.

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Life The Retail News Shelf Interview

The Retail News Interview

Making His Mark on the Black Stuff Mark Sandys, Global Business Brand Director, Guinness, talks about the recently opened Brewhouse No. 4 at St James’ Gate, the most technologically advanced brewery in the world, and what it means for Guinness.

THE biggest stout brewery in the world was officially opened

by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, in early September.

Brewhouse No. 4 at St James’ Gate is also one of the most technologically advanced and most environmentally friendly breweries in the world.

“It is the only brewery to achieved platinum level sustainability,” boasts Mark Sandys, Global Business Brand Director for Guinness. “We are aiming to have zero waste going to landfill and to reduce the amount of water we use by 33%. We take sustainability very seriously, partly because it is an area that is going to be increasingly regulated, but also because it is something that matters to consumers. If consumers felt that we were only paying lip service to sustainability or that we were doing things that were detrimental to the environment, it would come back and hurt us.”

descendant of Arthur, who was Managing Director of Guinness back in the 1920s, which decorates one of the walls of the Guinness Storehouse: “Our beer will be created by the craft and heritage of our past, allied to the most modern science of tomorrow”.

“That has always been part of what Guinness has been about and is encapsulated in our new brewery,” Sandys explains. “We still roast all of our own barley on site; we grow the Guiness yeast on site. We buy nearly all our barley from Irish farmers. Many of the farmers and the brewers are themselves descended from families who have always worked for Guinness, so that passing down of craftsmanship, tradition and the reputation of Guinness still exists. This new brewery allows that craftsmanship a much bigger and more scientifically advanced landscape on which to use those craft techniques.”

Brewhouse No.4 is 10,000 m2 and was the largest construction project in Ireland in 2012, equating to 2m man hours. It uses state-of-the-art technology and processes to minimise energy consumption and greatly reduce environmental impact, ensuring that Diageo remains an industry leader in the area of sustainability.

Craftsmanship & Tradition As the name suggests, it is only the fourth brewery that has been opened by Guinness at St James’ Gate, the first of which was the one that Arthur Guinness himself established back in 1759.

“The site here at St James’ Gate remains the same site that Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on 255 years ago,” Sandys smiles. “Although the nature of the site and what it is used for has changed over that time, the craftsmanship and knowledge that goes into our beers remains remarkably similar.”

He cites a quote from Rupert Guinness, a direct

Flexibility In Brewing Currently, Diageo exports more than €800m in products to over 130 countries, while the Guinness Flavour Essence, which is produced in St James’ Gate, enables further brewing of Guinness in 50 countries around the world. So what will the new Brewhouse enable them to do?

“At its most simple level, Brewhouse No. 4 creates one billion pints a year, three quarters of which are for our export markets around the world,” the Director notes. “But we can make a greater variety of different beers in this brewery. Already we make beers like Smithwick’s and Kilkenny here, but we have recently launched some smaller beers, like Guinness Dublin Porter and Guinness West Indies Porter, which were created in our pilot brewery.”

The St James’ Gate site has, for over a century, been home to an experimental brewery, which Sandys notes “really gives our brewers the opportunity to try out different flavours and different hops. With the Dublin and West Indies Porters, our brewers got their inspiration by going into the archives, finding old recipes and trying to recreate them. When they get them right, those beers transfer to the main brewery so they can be made at a commercial level. It is that ability to switch between Guinness Draught, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and those new porters that makes the new brewery quite different from our previous ones.”

Stout Tradition of Innovation Going forward, Sandys foresees more

Guinness Dublin Porter and Guinness West Indies Porter, created in the pilot brewery at St James’ Gate.

innovation in the realm of craft stouts and porters from Guinness, thanks in the main to the fact that “the consumer is more interested in beer than has been the case over the last 20 or 30 years. They’re interested in the ingredients, the process and also in the people who make the beers as well.”

It’s not just here at home that this innovation is bearing fruit, however, as

“In 1991, the Guinness widget won the Queen’s Award for technology, and second place that year went to the Internet, so the Guinness Widget is officially a better invention than the Internet.”

they have recently launched Guinness Blonde American Lager in the US, which Sandys describes as “a fantastic drink that has more hops in it than other lagers. It’s the only lager to use the Guinness yeast, which helps to give it a bit more flavour than its competitors.”

The stout and porter market has in the past been viewed as very traditional and slow to change, with the draught pint of Guinness as we know it, complete with the 119.5 second pour, the same since 1959. However, that fact belies the amount of innovation and change that takes place throughout Guinness.

“One of the great privileges of working here is that you have access to the archives, and when you look back through those archives, you see very quickly that Guinness has a real history of innovation, of doing things first. Some of this is product innovation, such as the fact that in 1959, Guinness was the first nitrogenated beer in the world, but also in things like the Guinness Widget in Draught Guinness in a Can. In 1991, the widget won the Queen’s Award for technology, and second place that year went to the Internet, so the Guinness Widget is officially a better invention than the Internet,” he laughs.

“But even our ways of working are

Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie|25

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The Retail News Interview

Life The Retail News Shelf Interview

innovative,” he continues.

“The Guinness Storehouse, for example, was the first ever skyscraper to be built in Europe. This sense of doing things first has been there throughout our past and I think it’s really important for our future as well.

What that means is more innovation, trying to guess where the beer industry is going to go in future years and that is something we are actively working on with our pilot brewery in particular.”

A New Generation of Stout Drinkers One of the key challenges facing Sandys is that of opening up the stout market to a new generation of drinkers, seduced by a variety of new brews in the market. The way Guinness tackle that differs by region around the world.

Advertising, of course, plays a massive role, with the brand responsible for some of the most iconic, eye-catching and memorable campaigns over the years, from watching Michael Fassbender swim the Atlantic to the recent Sapeurs ad, starring the

above and beyond that, we are the official beer of the Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales international rugby teams, so we have a lot of activation that goes around that. The next 12 months are going to be massive in the build-up to the 2015 World Cup, so let’s hope Ireland and England can keep those markets interested by doing well in the World Cup,” he smiles.

Pictured at the launch of Brewhouse No. 4 at St James’ Gate are An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD (centre), with Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo (left), and Paul Armstrong, Diageo Supply Director – Brewing.

campaigns. It feels as if it’s coming from the home of Guinness and reasserting what we stand for as a brand.”

The brand has just launched a new campaign

“Ireland now has the highest excise duty in Europe and that is going to have a negative effect on the industry, not just on companies like Diageo, but on the hospitality trade, which accounts for 94,000 jobs, on tourism, on consumers.” sartorially elegant natives of Brazzaville, part of the Made Of More campaign.

Here at home, the latest TV ad takes the cameras inside the brewery at St James’ Gate. “It features some of the people who work here, including the brewers themselves, talking about how Guinness is made,” he reveals. “It’s probably the most Irish of all our

in Africa, called Made Of Black, working with a host of celebrities from that continent. “What was interesting was that the new generation of celebrities were less concerned about having material things to show off their wealth or status in society, but wanted to show off their achievements in creativity, whether that

was in fashion, art, dance etc,” Sandys notes. “So we took that influence into the advertising campaign. As we launched, we had selfies from 20 of those ‘influencers’ talking about what they were made of and it has been a really successful launch.

The hashtag #madeofblack has been trending on Twitter in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya since launch.”

While we are rightly proud of Guinness as an intrinsically Irish brand, it is perhaps surprising that it is not necessarily viewed that way outside of these shores.

“In the UK, the United States and Canada, which are all big markets for Guinness, it is viewed as a brand from Ireland which has a very strong integrity, but it is quite different in Africa, however, where Guinness has a very long history,” the Brand Director relates. “Guinness first appeared in Sierra Leone, for example, in the 1820s.

It benefited in the early years from the expansion in shipping in the UK and Ireland. The brewery in Nigeria, which opened in

1963, was the first Guinness brewery to be opened outside the UK and Ireland. So it has really been adopted by consumers as an African brand and they don’t really see it relating back to Ireland, to St Patrick’s Day or to rugby, which would be amongst its strongest associations here.”

Winter Warmer Vs Summer Sizzler?

Another association with “the black stuff” is that it is an autumn and winter drink, a perception which is proving hard to shift, with the result that Guinness’ share of the beer market worldwide is lowest in the summer. “However, innovations like Guinness Extra Cold in the UK have successfully fought back against that,” Sandys explains. “I think that where we create the right Guinness occasions, that’s where we can get more pints into people’s hands. A key example of that is our association with rugby.

“We have just signed up as sponsor of the Guinness Pro 12 tournament but

Amplifying Musical Talent Another high profile campaign for Guinness in Ireland in 2014 is Amplify, a massive music promotion which organised gigs in hundreds of pubs all over Ireland across five weekends.

“Amplify has got off to an incredible start,” he boasts. “We want to really support our customers all over the country, so we have created music gigs in 500 pubs around the country. We’ve had 800 bands sign up to be part of the competition. By creating these gigs with up-and-coming bands, it’s a great way of engaging with a generation of new Guinness drinkers, but also making sure that we are driving traffic into our on-trade customers.”

Amplify has replaced Arthur’s Day, which ran very successfully for five years from 2009 to 2013. Last year, however, saw something of a social media backlash against the event, but Sandys is adamant that it will be viewed as a tremendous campaign.

“We certainly see Arthur’s Day as having been a great success for the five years that it ran,” he insists. “It created some great experiences for consumers. We had a host of surprise gigs from some of the biggest bands in the world playing in local pubs. We certainly don’t feel that there was any evidence linking Guinness or Arthur’s Day to binge drinking, as was alleged in some quarters. That said, five years is a reasonable amount of time for a marketing campaign to run and by evolving it into Amplify, we’ve been

Brewhouse Facts • Brewhouse No.4 is the largest stout brewery in the world.

• 35% of global beer for Diageo is now produced at St James’ Gate.

• Three million pints are produced at St James’ Gate per day.

• One billion pints are produced per year.

• The new brewery saves an olympic sized swimming pool of water every 30 hours.

• Carbon reductions are equivalent to 4,000 cars a year.

• Zero waste to landfill brewery.

Kodaline, pictured at the launch of Guinness Amplify.

able to breathe some new life into it and, to an extent, re-purpose it so that it’s more specifically aimed at supporting our customers and ensuring that it’s spread out over a longer timeframe as well.”

The Future For Sponsorship The latest in a line of high profile sponsorships and events, Amplify is another example of the brand knowing its target audience and talking directly to them through a medium they like. Indeed, Guinness is intrinsically associated with some of the biggest sporting events in Ireland, primarily through their hurling and rugby sponsorships. Following years of rumblings at Government level about introducing a ban on alcohol sponsorship for sporting events, it would seem that common sense has prevailed.

“Having spoken to the IRFU, the FAI, Horse Racing Ireland and the GAA, all of those organisations are against any ban on alcohol sponsorship and freely admit that any such ban would be detrimental to their sport,” he reveals. “I was lucky enough to attend the Galway Races this summer and it’s the 50th year that Guinness has sponsored the event, which has enabled it to grow, as well as creating great experiences for consumers visiting. We are firm in our view that it would be detrimental to sports themselves and to consumers attending those sporting occasions, if alcohol sponsorship was not there.”

While Diageo recognises the potential dangers of misuse of alcohol, he notes, and invests considerable sums into education programmes for consumers, he is adamant that there is absolutely no link between sports sponsorship and misuse of alcohol.

Sandys is also critical of the Government’s continued excise hikes in recent years. “Ireland now has the highest excise duty in Europe and that is going to have a negative effect on the industry, not just on companies like Diageo, but on the hospitality trade, which accounts for 94,000 jobs, on tourism, on consumers.” As a result, Diageo called on the Government to reverse last year’s excise increase.

“Through a combination of direct and indirect employment, Diageo supports 20,000 jobs in Ireland, so we asked the Government to please not hamper our industry anymore,” he states.

Diageo, through the €169m investment in Brewhouse No. 4, has made a very real investment both in brewing in Dublin and Guinness in general, Sandys concludes. “Guinness is our biggest brand in Western Europe and by far Diageo’s biggest brand in Africa, so, along with the rest of our beer portfolio, it gives us the platform to launch our spirits brands, for example, in Africa. Guinness is one of the cornerstones on which the business is built. We are committed to Guinness and we are committed to the longterm growth of Guinness as this new development proves.”

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Shop Profile

Shop Profile

MACE Moves Ahead in Malahide Store owner Rhonda Brophy is pictured outside her newly revamped MACE store in Malahide, Co. Dublin.

A revamp at Rhonda Brophy’s MACE store in Malahide village, Co. Dublin, has seen a renewed focus on meeting the needs of its customers head-on.

THE recent revamp at Rhonda Brophy’s MACE store in Malahide, Co. Dublin, has not only transformed the look of the shop, but has also seen significant changes in how it functions.

Rhonda has been involved with retail all her life, starting

off at the tender age of 12, when she began working part time for her mum, Ruth O’Flynn. 1991 saw Ruth O’Flynn beginning what would become a very profitable, long-term partnership with MACE when she branded her 7/11 shop in Coolock as a MACE store. The family has been working with MACE ever since. With a successful working relationship for over 20 years, her mother’s decision to work with BWG Foods and MACE has stood the test of time and Rhonda continues to enjoy the fruits of the relationship.

Although the Coolock store, where the relationship with MACE first began, was sold in 2009, the family still has shops in Malahide, Kilbarrack and Finglas. Part of the group since 2002, the Malahide store, run by Rhonda, recently underwent a significant revamp.

Maximising Use of Space With just over 1,000 square feet of retail space, the Malahide

store doesn’t have an enormous footprint, and as such it has always had a very strong focus on food-to-go.

That focus has become even sharper after the latest development. Rhonda tells Retail News: “The shop has been here for a long time and I know my customers very well. I had a very clear vision for what I wanted from this revamp. The shop had not had any major work done to it since 2002, so it was starting to look a little dated. I very much wanted to bring the look of the shop up to date, but I also had some very specific changes in mind for this project.”

The latest revamp is designed to make maximum use of the limited space. For example, the shop no longer offers customers any frozen food. The small frozen food offering that had been present in the old shop has been stripped out and the additional space has been made available to fresh food and an impressive coffee offering.

“We have a lot of competition in the area and this shop is not really suitable for customers looking to do a large shop,” Rhonda explains. “We’ve always been known in the village for fresh food-to-go and this latest development highlights that. The Bewley’s coffee machine that we chose is much higher quality that an average machine, offering great quality Fairtrade coffee and tea at a value for money proposition.”

New MACE Image The work was finished quickly, with the project lasting just three weeks during July of this year. Rhonda kept the shop trading for the duration, avoiding sending customers elsewhere but also keeping regulars engaged in the development. “I was extremely impressed by the speed and quality of the work,” she reveals. “Although it did not take long, I did not want to close the doors to my customers. It created a great atmosphere in the shop, where customers were able to see how the development was going. There was a sense of excitement about the whole thing. Many of the staff here, and many of our customers, have been here since

before my Mum took over the shop.

This is their shop as much as mine and I think it’s very important that staff and customers have that sense of having a stake in the shop.”

Once the project was completed, the shop adopted the new MACE image, as well as highlighting a trimmed down grocery line. The project delivered an increase in fresh food-to-go and graband-go pre-prepared food, as well as a superior coffee offering and an increase in snack food. The only outstanding element of the plan still to be installed is a wine section. Rhonda will look to acquire a wine licence for the shop, as she believes that it will suit the new format.

“I am very happy with the new look of the shop, and just as importantly, so are my customers,” Rhonda notes.

“It really looks the part, but it also functions the way I wanted it to. I know my customers well and so do my staff.

What we have created here is a shop

Fact File Owner: Rhonda Brophy Location:

Main Street, Malahide, Co. Dublin

Size:

1,100 square feet

No of staff:

12 full time & part time

Opening Hours: 07:00-22:00, Mon-Fri; 08:00-22:00, Saturday; 09:00-22:00, Sunday

that presents the right products in the right way. Between MACE and myself, we have a great deal of knowledge and understanding of the business and of my customers. The newly launched MACE shopper feedback programme, ‘Did we make you smile today?’ is another way for our shoppers to tell us how we are doing. Together, we have developed a shop that offers my customers what they want, how they want it.”

Successful Partnership With a strong track record of partnership, Rhonda has always been very happy with the MACE group. She is very active in forums and finds that the group is very open to dialogue with retailers. The MACE U-Learn online training resources, as well as the online marketing resources, give Rhonda access to efficient and cost-effective ways of keeping her staff highly trained and producing promotional material.

Indeed, Rhonda is cognisant of the fact that despite the fact that the MACE group has grown significantly since the 1990s, it still places the retailer at the heart of its business.

Rhonda has created a shop that is perfectly suited in form and function for her customers. She is continuing the legacy of her mother, Ruth, by knowing and meeting the needs of the local community, while also maintaining what has been a very successful working relationship with MACE, one which has been working hard for well over two decades.

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Biscuits, Crackers & Cakes

Risk It For A...

The biscuits market in Ireland is increasing at pace, with new developments in sweet and savoury biscuits helping to drive category growth.

IRISH consumers are well known for their sweet tooth, and this is extremely evident in the biscuits category, which is estimated to have grown by a healthy 5% last year, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor, who report that all types of biscuits within the category gained in size on the previous year.

Product variations and indulgent brands are assisting in driving growth as these products have higher unit prices and are less likely to be imitated by private label. The rise in popularity of breakfast biscuits also helped to drive growth.

Euromonitor expect the biscuits category to record annual growth rates of 2% in constant value terms over the coming years, and predict that sandwich biscuits and chocolate coated biscuits will be the strongest performing categories, with growth rates of 4% and 2%, respectively.

The latter category is expected to see growth due to a continued increase in indulgence products and also organic products that are coated in chocolate.

It’s not just sweet biscuits that are growing at pace, however, as the savoury biscuit category is up a whopping 9.2% in value year to

date (Source: ACNielsen, September 7, 2014), thanks to a whole raft of new products, strong campaigns and recruiting new consumers to the category.

Jacob’s Cream Crackers continue to be household staples and firm family favourites, the last 12 months have proved busy at Jacob’s HQ with innovation launching across multiple segments.

Jacob’s J-O’s Vanilla Cream & Milk Chocolate were launched in September 2013 with significant investment to support the launch. The catchy TV ad aired in November with supporting print and online advertising. Valeo now claim an 11% share of the

Jacob’s Biscuits Jacob’s retains its place as number one biscuit brand in Ireland for another year (Source: Kantar Brand Footprint 14.05.14). “Our position as brand leader in the category continues to humble and challenge us,” notes a company spokesperson. “We continue to champion products which fit perfectly into the daily lives of today’s Irish consumers while ensuring that great taste and good value are always top of our agenda”.

Jacob’s entered the healthier snacking category in October While hero 2013 with the launch of their Rice Cake range, which is available products Mikado, in both savoury and sweet variants.

Elite, Fig Rolls and

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Biscuits, Crackers & Cakes eating on-the-go or work lunches.

The TUC family also grew, as the success of the Sour Cream & Onion range was followed with the introduction of Bacon to the big flavour range. TUC’s Bring Home the Bacon campaign has seen the brand take over buses, billboards and bus stops across the country with its distinctive yellow designs.

This coming year sees the team at Jacob’s gear up for even bigger plans, not only for further innovation but also for some exciting news from Jacob’s family favourite brands.

The TUC family grew, with the introduction of Bacon to the big flavour range, and the Bring Home the Bacon campaign has seen the brand take over buses, billboards and bus stops across the country.

New Year.

Two new Jacob’s Crispbreads variants joined the portfolio in July, available in Original & Sesame.

Jacob’s worked with healthy living TV star Kathryn Thomas, who proved a natural ambassador for the brand. Jacob’s Crispbreads offer something different to consumers, and are available in individual snack packs, meaning Two new Jacob’s Crispbreads variants joined the portfolio in July, they are perfect for available in Original & Sesame.

children’s biscuit segment: indeed, over 300,000 households have bought a pack and sales are continuing to exceed expectations (Source: Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 20/07/14).

Jacob’s also entered the healthier snacking category in October 2013 with the launch of their Rice Cake range, which is available in both savoury and sweet variants. In sweet, they launched Milk and Dark Chocolate options and Natural and Sea Salted Roll Pack weren’t far behind. Jacob’s have again seen these products exceed expectations and have succeeded in bringing new consumers into the Rice Cake category, which is essential for growth. As a result of this performance, Jacob’s introduced Yoghurt flavour to the range in May of this year and it has already become a firm favourite with consumers. Indeed, Jacob’s have plans in place to accelerate this growth and will share these with the market in the

Burton’s The biscuit market continues to provide great profit potential for retailers, particularly for those that recognise the role that ‘treatier’ biscuits can play.

“A significant proportion of customer spend in this category is on ‘treatier’ biscuits, purchased either for a special occasion or as part of an everyday routine,” says David Costello, Burton’s Biscuit Company’s Head of Customer Category Management. “It’s the big brands that resonate most with shoppers on the high street, and Maryland Cookies, Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodgers are ones which capture people’s attention and generate most interest on-shelf.”

Category growing NPD also continues to play an important part in enabling retail outlets to make the most of shelf space.

Burton’s is known for its category boosting product innovation: most recently, it announced that it was bolstering its iconic children’s brand, Jammie Dodgers, with the launch of a

The hugely popular Maryland Chocolate Chip Cookies from Burton’s Biscuits.

Full of Jammie Mischief

Stock up now!

N o added

Jammie Dodgers, one of the most popular brands in the Burton’s Biscuits portfolio.

nasties*

*No artificial colours or flavours. Non GM ingredients.

N

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EW

Biscuits, Crackers & Cakes new variant, Jammie Dodgers Berry Blast.

“This new variant goes to show that Burton’s continues to launch some of the most innovative products in the marketplace, offering more choice for consumers, and transforming the biscuit aisle through its power brands,” Costello explains.

“Maryland has also continued to go from strength to strength since the launch of Maryland Gooeys in 2013, garnering a fantastic response from consumers.”

Maryland Gooeys are crunchy choc chip cookies filled with a delicious chocolatey, gooey centre. They are available in three 160g varieties

Frighfully Good Halloween Brack from Farmbake

HALLOWEEN is drawing scarily close, but fear not, because Farmbake, the Irish owned and family-run cake business, have a frighteningly tasty Halloween Brack that’s sure to keep all your ghouls and ghosts in good spirits.

Farmbake is run by father and son team, Jim and Alan Divney, who both understand the importance of sharing a traditional Irish Barm Brack with family and friends at Halloween. Priced at just €2.49, the Farmbake ‘Halloween Brack’ is one of the very few available in shops that contains a ring. Find the ring and, as tradition has it, you will have success in love and lots of good luck!

The Farmbake range, which consists of 40 cake and treat options, can be found in approximately 2,500 stores nationwide, including SPAR, MACE, Daybreak, Tesco, Londis, Gala and Costcutter. For more information, see www.farmbake.ie.

– Chocolate, Hazelnut and Triple Chocolate.

Jammie Dodgers Berry Blast are available in 140g packs.

Burton’s Biscuit Company is a leading branded and own label supplier of quality biscuits and snacks. It owns and bakes market-leading brands such as Maryland Cookies, Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels, and bakes Cadbury chocolate biscuits under licence.

United Biscuits Enjoyed by Irish families for generations, McVitie’s has a large biscuit portfolio of much-loved iconic brands. Earlier this year, United Biscuits embarked on a major relaunch of its McVitie’s brand to rejuvenate and create fresh interest in its top sweet biscuit brand. As part of the overarching Masterbrand strategy, UB unveiled its new design created to drive an ownable, distinctive and consistent brand identity across the entire McVitie’s range, including McVitie’s Digestives, Jaffa Cakes, Rich Tea, Hob Nobs and Penguin.

In addition to the redesign, the most

significant element of the McVitie’s relaunch programme was a brand new approach to its advertising. The re-launch kicked off in February and was supported with a €1m multi-media campaign, UB’s biggest ever. McVitie’s through-the-line ‘Sweeet’ campaign hits all consumer touch points, extending from TV, digital and press to bespoke in-store shopper marketing activity.

Three new TV adverts were created, each focusing on one of the following McVitie’s biscuit brands: Jaffa Cakes, Digestives and Chocolate Digestives.

Harnessing the power of the McVitie’s brand, UB plans to modernise and grow the McVitie’s brand by unlocking new occasions and creating fresh interest in biscuits to drive sales for retailers. The re-launch has been successful year to date and despite a declining sweet biscuit market, UB increased its sweet biscuits market share by +1pts to 19.7% in value and by +2.5pts to 24.1% in volume (Source: ACNielsen, September 7, 2014).

United Biscuits are also driving the taste revolution in savoury biscuits.

Up 9.2% in value year to date (Source:

The iconic McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes brand, loved by Irish consumers.

Enjoyed by Irish families for generations, Carr’s is leading the taste revolution in the savoury biscuits sector with new range extensions including Carr’s Crispbreads, Cream Crackers and Flatbreads.

Our new €1m Carr’s “Because Taste Matters” campaign spans TV, outdoor, PR and bespoke shopper activity.

A campaign so impactful, our crackers will fly off the shelves!

McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives: a firm favourite with Irish consumers.

BECAUSE

MATTERS

Cat Club Re-Launch

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Biscuits, Crackers & Cakes

MACKLE Petfoods, the makers of Brandy dog food, are excited to announce the re-launch of their cat food brand, Cat Club. For over 40 years, Mackle Petfoods has worked with specialist pet nutritionists to produce only the finest quality pet food products. The success of Cat Club since its introduction in 1998 is testament to yet another quality product from a local company whose philosophy is to put pets first. Made with the finest quality Irish meat, Cat Club is fully traceable from farm to can.

Cat owners see their cat as not just a pet, but as an important member of the family and

they want to feed them only the best.

But our feline friends can be fussy creatures and cat lovers know that palatability and quality is vital. They are looking for a high quality, tried and trusted cat food but at a value price, which Cat Club offers.

As part of the Cat Club re-launch, new improved formulations have been introduced across the range, improving the quality and palatability of the brand. Cat Club has also undergone a packaging re design, which will increase the brand’s identity on-shelf.

A new departure for Cat Club is the introduction of a new Poultry Selection Chunks in Gravy 6 Pack, to complement the current Cat Club Variety Chunks in Jelly 6 Pack. Cat Club has also introduced two new Variety 3 Packs, Price Marked at €2, offering the customer

value for money and the retailer strong margin.

• Cat Club Variety Chunks in Jelly 3 Pack PM €2 • Cat Club Variety Chunks in Gravy 3 Pack PM €2 Cat Club has a proven sales record, so the launch of the new Gravy 6 Pack and Variety 3 Packs priced marked at €2 can only increase sales for retailers.

Cat Club will also be supported by a strong advertising campaign and promotional activity throughout the coming months.

Cat Club’s carefully prepared natural meaty chunks in appetising Jelly and Gravy have all the nourishment and essential vitamins and minerals to ensure all-round good health and lively energy for cats.

Why not visit Cat Club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/catclubcatfood.

United Biscuits are driving the taste revolution in savoury biscuits with the Carr’s brand, including Carr’s Cream Crackers.

date. There is something from Carr’s to suit every meal time occasion and taste preference, allowing consumers young and old to

“Cats love their Cat Club”!

enjoy Carr’s any way they like. Be sure to stock up now as Carr’s leads the taste revolution in the savoury biscuit aisle.

Cat Club Cat Food

The Carr’s re-launch kicked off in July and will continue to be supported throughout the remainder of the year with a multimedia ‘Because Taste Matters’ campaign.

ACNielsen, September 7, 2014), the savoury biscuit category shows no sign of slowing as United Biscuits (UB) continues its plan to drive even stronger market growth. Under the Carr’s Masterbrand, UB continues to drive the savoury biscuits growth by unlocking new occasions and recruiting younger consumers.

Available in stores now, the new Carr’s range includes new Carr’s Crispbreads, Carr’s Cream Crackers, Flatbreads and Oddities.

The Carr’s re-launch kicked off in July and will continue to be supported

throughout the remainder of the year with a multi-media ‘Because Taste Matters’ campaign. A brand new TV ad has been developed by local Irish advertising agency, DDFH&B, to create awareness and drive trial of the new Carr’s range. The through-the-line campaign hits all consumer touch points, extending from TV, digital and press to bespoke in-store shopper marketing activity.

Results to date have been extremely positive, with UB brands growing ahead of marketing growth, up 17% in value year to

There is something from Carr’s to suit every meal time occasion and taste preference, allowing consumers young and old to enjoy Carr’s any way they like.

Cats love their Cat Club.

And you’ll love our new campaign.

Launches Jan 2015

Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie|39

38|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards

Pictured are (l-r): Isabelle Sheridan, On the Pigs Back, winners of the inaugural Small Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by SuperValu, with Linda O’Connor, SuperValu Own Brand Manager, event MC Catherine Fulvio and Lara Monahan, Irish Quality Food Awards Project Manager.

Winner in the Christmas Chilled/Ambient category was Simply Better Ham Glaze from Dunnes Stores and Wexford Home Preserves. Pictured are L-r): Jane Milton, Susan O’Shaughnessy, Patrick Farrell, Dunnes Stores, Catherine Fulvio; and Tom & Laura Sinnott, Wexford Home Preserves.

More than 50 of the finest food and drink products in the land were rewarded at the second annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, in a glittering awards ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House.

THE very best in Irish food and drink was celebrated at the second annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, which took place in the Round Room of the Mansion House on September 11, 2014. More than 50 of Ireland’s leading food and drink products were rewarded for their quality, taste and originality at a black tie dinner, hosted by wellknown celebrity chef and TV star,

Catherine Fulvio, which was attended by over 500 guests entrants, judges and spectators.

“It’s been a fantastic second year for The Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards,” explained event organiser Helen Lyons. “We’ve had well over 600 entries for our expert judging panel to taste, so you can be absolutely sure that if you are a finalist, your product

really has been put through its paces by some of the industry’s finest food and drink experts.”

Double the Number of Entries Bruce Langlands, Director of Food at Harrods and Co-Chair of the IQFDA Judging Panel, described it as “an amazing year for Ireland, with 600 products entered this year, which was double the entries from last year, with some phenomenal winners.”

The seed of the Irish Q Awards idea was first planted six years ago during a conversation between Helen Lyons and a high profile retailer. It took five years for that initial idea to come to fruition in 2013 but the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards was certainly worth the wait and has quickly established itself as the premier food awards in the

country.

Exacting Judging Process The IQFDAs are sister awards to the UK’s Quality Food and Drink Awards, which have been established for 35 years, which Helen Lyons acknowledged are widely regarded as “the most difficult accolades to win in the sector”.

“That’s something that I am actually very proud of as it highlights just how thorough the judging process is and it underlines the true value of winning such a prestigious award,” she noted. That value has translated into the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, with an equally demanding judging process, taking place at DIT’s School of Culinary Arts, overseen by kitchen manager Agnes Bouchier-Hayes, who ensured that each product was served to the judges in perfect

condition.

The Irish Quality Food Awards set out to recognise excellence in product development for food and drink producers, retailers and catering companies in Ireland only, with Q Awards being awarded across 50 different categories. The Overall Gold Q is awarded to the one product that stands out among all the other entries and is chosen from the winners of the main categories, representing the very best of the best.

Overall Gold Q Award Winner The Overall Gold Q Award winner was Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb from Dunnes Stores/Tendermeats, which also won in the Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry Pork, Lamb and Other Joints category.

“To be recognised as the best in the category is something you need to

celebrate and tell the consumer. It’s a recognition of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes,” enthused Diarmuid Murphy, Head of New Product Development at Dunnes Stores.

Small Producer of the Year Award Cork-based paté and terrine producer, On the Pigs Back were selected as winners of the inaugural Small Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by SuperValu and judged by a panel from Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland. The company will now have the opportunity to supply a wider range of their gourmet products to SuperValu’s 222 stores nationwide and will benefit from significant sales and marketing support from the retailer. Indeed, SuperValu subsequently signed a deal with On the Pigs Back worth €100,000, which will see two new jobs created at the company and further capital investment,

40|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards as they extend their range across the entire SuperValu network.

“Working with local SuperValu retailers has given me a route to market which otherwise would not have been open to me,” explained Isabelle Sheridan of On the Pigs Back. “My relationship with SuperValu has provided me with the skillset required to expand my business and create jobs in the process.”

Pictured accepting the award for Fresh Produce: Vegetables are (l-r): Peter Keogh, Ross Keogh, event organiser Helen Lyons,Catherine Fulvio, event MC, with Tom Keogh and Kevin Keogh, all from Keogh’s Farm & Keogh’s Crisps.

Cuisine de France’s Four Cheese Speciality Bread

NOW SIMPLY THE BEST IN IRELAND • Winner Overall Gold Q Award: • Winner Overall Christmas Gold Q Award: SIMPLY BETTER Handmade Orange & Honey Ham Glaze.

SIMPLY BETTER French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb.

Pictured accepting the Cereals Award for Kavanagh’s Luxury Fruit Porridge with Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Dusted Cranberries from Martin Doyle, MD at MLS, is Noel Birchall, Buying Director, Aldi, with event MC Catherine Fulvio, and Lara Monahan, Project Manager, Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards.

Dunnes Stores and Keeling Fruit Juices were the winners in the Cold Beverages category for Simply Better Valencia Orange Juice. Pictured are (l-r): Retail News Editor John Walshe; Heather Kingston, Dunnes Stores; Catherine Fulvio; and Lara Monahan, IQFDA Project Manager.

CUISINE de France has been recognised at this year’s Irish Quality Food and Drinks Awards, with its Four Cheese Loaf winning in the Large Speciality Breads category.

Paying tribute to the Four Cheese Loaf, the judges recognised the winning combination of Red Leicester, Regato, Gruyere and Mature White Cheddar in a freshly baked Cuisine de France loaf as the best in the category.

The judges praised its aroma and gave special mention to the bread’s golden texture. “At Cuisine de France, we believe that our customers deserve the very best and we work tirelessly to create authentic breads and pastries that our consumers love,” noted Shane Vaughan, Marketing Manager at Cuisine de France. “When you combine not one, but four rich and fragrant cheeses with the finest Cuisine de France loaf, the result is something very unique.”

Plus winner of an additional 13 awards

6 category awards: 5 highly commended; 2 commended.

We would like to thank all our local Irish suppliers and food producers who have helped to make our Simply Better range such a success.

What the Judges said Connemara Hill raCk

of lamb.

This rack of Lamb was an absolute favourite with the judges, and it was clear from their highly positive comments that this was at Gold Q Award standard.

Everything from its premium packaging, referring to the product’s provenance, to its “juicy and delicate” taste, were applauded by the panel. Its neat French trimming and appearance were also standout features.

The Lamb was cooked to perfection, according to the on-pack instuctions, and the meat scored highly being sourced from Bord Bia approved quality assured farms.

EXCLUSIVELY for DUNNEs STORES

42|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards KILDERG®

The Irish Quality Food Awards 2014!

DAIRY MANOR®

• 454g • 1Kg = 4.82

DELUXE®

2.19 RATHDARAGH®

Low GI Multiseed Cob

Seafood Chowder

Extra Mature Cheddar

• 400g • 1Kg = 4.48

• 375g • 1Kg = 9.31

IL

OUR CH

M

Celebrating our scoop of more awards for individual products than any other retailer, at The Irish Quality Food Awards 2014!

LER

F

RESH

FRO

• 250g • 1Kg = 7.40

F

1.79

3.49 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Irish Cream Liqueur • 700ml • 1L = 12.84 • 17% Alc. Vol.

• 400g • 1Kg = 1.23

49c amongst the big winners on the night, taking home no fewer than 10 Awards, including lifting the Gold Drink Award for Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey,

1.85 DELUXE®

2011 75cl

NEWGATE®

Cream of Tomato Soup

ed Handmade Farmhouse Raspberry Yogurt, produced

by Killowen Yogurts, was the winner in the Yogurts category for the second year in a row. Indeed, Aldi were

IL

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Event organiser Helen Lyons presents the Award for Liqueurs & Speciality Spirits to Eleanor Byrne, Junior Project Manager, Brand Development, Lidl. Also pictured are event MC Catherine Fulvio, and Lara Monahan, Project Manager, Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards.

Retail News Editor John Walshe presents the Cheese Award to Sarah Delahunt, Lidl, who won for Irish Extra Mature Cheddar. Also pictured are Catherine Fulvio and Lara Monahan, IQFDA Project Manager.

OUR CH

M

RESH

LER

F

RESH

FRO

Other Winners Other winners included Genesis Crafty, whose Toaster Wheaten won in the Bread - Wheaten and Soda Breads category. The Award win “gives us accreditation when we are going to present to major retailers,” enthused Commercial Director, Melvyn Bacon.

Another delighted winner was Ross Keogh, Production & Sales Manager at Keogh’s Farm and Keogh’s Crisps, whose Easy Cook 7 Minute Baby New Potatoes won in the Fresh Produce – Vegatables category, while their Sweet Chilli & Irish Red Pepper Potato Crisps won in the Bagged Snacks section.

“These awards are very positive for the Irish industry and I think having it on the bag will definitely give us a boost in-store,” noted a delighted Keogh.

Aldi Specially Select-

1.49 Irish Creamery Butter

A WINNER...

M

Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey, from Aldi and Castle Brands Inc., winner of the Gold Q Award in the Drinks category.

SuperValu, three times more money is invested back into the local economy,” Kelleher continued. “One of the ways this is achieved is due to our unique retail model, whereby stores are independently owned and operated by local retailers, and retailers have the freedom to purchase directly from local suppliers.

A food start-up can begin its relationship with a local SuperValu store, before eventually growing their business across our entire store network. As a result, you will often find products in your local SuperValu that you cannot buy in other supermarkets.”

Multiple Award Winning!

Tastes like

FRO

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director SuperValu, said, “We are delighted to present this award to On the Pigs Back and congratulate them on their title of Small Producer of the Year. This opportunity will now enable On the Pigs Back to grow from a small local supplier to a business supplying products across our entire SuperValu network, demonstrating our commitment to Irish suppliers.

“International research shows that by shopping in locally owned stores, like

Agnes Bouchier-Hayes, Lecturer from Limerick Institute of Technology & IQFA kitchen manager, is pictured presenting the Hot Beverages: Coffee Award to Roy Raftery and Shaun Raymond, both from United Coffee, Linda O’Connor, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland; and George MacLeod, MRPI (right) for SuperValu Signature Tastes Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans. Also pictured is event MC Catherine Fulvio (second from right)

• 340g • 1Kg = 4.38

IL

Dee Laffan, Easy Food Editor, is pictured (left), presenting the award for Free From – Chilled And Savoury to Ed Kerrigan and Paul Scally, Aldi Buying Directors, Paul Diffley and Gene Left, both from Gallaghers Bakery, and event MC, Catherine Fulvio.

Premium Irish Blackcurrant & Rum Preserve

14.99

8.99

And THERE’S MORE... On top of this great achievement 10 of our products were Highly Commended!

Choose to live a little facebook.com/lidlireland See www.lidl.ie for all offers

Scan this code with your smartphone to go to our homepage *These products are planned carefully to ensure full availability. Despite this however, they may sell out quicker than expected.

While stocks last. All offers apply to the Republic of Ireland only.

Enjoy Alcohol Sensibly. Visit

Permitted hours of sale of alcohol are Mon - Sat 10.30 - 22.00, Sun 12.30 - 22.00

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Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards

Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards BAGGED SNACKS

Sweet Chilli & Irish Red Pepper Potato Crisps Keogh’s Crisps

BISCUITS - SAVOURY:

Simply Better Irish Wholemeal Crackers Dunnes Stores / Sheridans Cheesemongers

BISCUITS - SWEET

My Family Favourites Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Wafer Dunnes Stores / CKS

BREAD - SMALL BREADS AND ROLLS Black Olive Roll Tesco / Panelto Foods

DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS BUTTERS AND SPREADS

Dairy Manor Irish Creamery Butter Town of Monaghan Co-Op

DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS YOGURTS

Aldi Specially Selected Handmade Farmhouse Raspberry Yogurt Aldi / Killowen

DELICATESSEN - ANTIPASTI

Pastrami Irish Beef Tesco / O’Brien Fine Foods

DELICATESSEN - OTHER DELI COUNTER PRODUCTS

BREAD - LARGE LOAVES

Low GI Multiseed Cob Lidl / Mannings Bakery

Wiltshire Cured Ham on the Bone Musgrave Retail Partners / O’Brien Fine Foods

BREAD - MORNING GOODS:

DESSERTS AND PUDDINGS

Finest Muesli Bread Tesco / Arytza Bakeries

BREAD - SPECIALITY BREADS Four Cheese Loaf Cuisine de France

BREAD - WHEATEN AND SODA BREADS Toaster Wheaten Genesis Crafty

CAKES AND MORNING GOODS:

Apple & Blackberry Lattice Bar Tesco / Golden Bake

CEREALS

Kavanagh’s Luxury Fruit Porridge with Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Dusted Cranberries Aldi / Stafford Lynch

CHEESE

Irish Extra Mature Cheddar Lidl / Dale Farm Dairies

CHOCOLATE AND CONFECTIONERY Irish Chocolate Selection Lidl / Lir Chocolates

CHRISTMAS Q - CHRISTMAS CAKES, BAKERY AND DESSERTS 6 Deep Filled All Butter Mince Pies Dunnes Stores / Sargents Bakeries

CHRISTMAS Q - CHRISTMAS CHILLED, GROCERY AMBIENT, MEAT, FISH & SAVOURY

Simply Better Ham Glaze Dunnes Stores / Wexford Home Preserves

COLD BEVERAGES

Simply Better Valencia Orange Juice Dunnes Stores / Keeling F Juices

SuperValu Signature Tastes Panacotta Musgrave Retail Partners / Prestige Foods

FISH - FRESH FISH

Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed Marinade Burren Smokehouse

FISH - FRESH FISH DISHES

Deluxe Seafood Chowder Lidl / Galmere

FOOD TO GO

Finest Open Smoked Salmon Sandwich Tesco / Freshways

FREE FROM - CHILLED & SAVOURY

:Aldi ‘Has No’ Delicious Soft White Bread Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery

FREE FROM - SWEET

Aldi ‘Has No’ Lemon Muffins Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery

FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - BACON Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Rashers Dunnes Stores / Callan Bacon

FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - BEEF STEAKS: Aldi Specially Selected 28 Day Dry Aged Rib Eye Aldi / ABP Cahir

FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - POULTRY Confit of Duck Silver Hill Foods

FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - SAUSAGES, BURGERS AND MEATBALLS Simply Better 6 Superior Honey & Mustard Irish Pork Sausages Dunnes Stores / Arthur Mallon Foods

FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - PORK, LAMB AND OTHER JOINTS RETAIL Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb Dunnes Stores / Tendermeats

CATERING

Butchers Select Lamb Rack French Trim Musgrave Wholesale / Kepak

FRESH PRODUCE - FRUIT:

SuperValu Fruit Salad Mix Musgrave Retail Partners / Freshcut Foods

FRESH PRODUCE - SALAD

Finest Irish Piccolo Cherry Tomatoes Tesco / Jim O’Rourke

FRESH PRODUCE - VEGETABLES Easy Cook 7 Minute Baby New Potatoes Keogh’s

FROZEN FOOD - SAVOURY

Aldi Specially Selected Irish Beef Quarter Pounders with Cheddar Cheese and Sweet Chilli Aldi / Kepak

FROZEN FOOD - SWEET

Roll It Sweet All Butter Shortcrust Pastry Roll It Pastry

GROCERY AMBIENT - SAVOURY

SEASONAL OCCASIONS

Aldi Luxury Irish Chocolates (Mother’s Day) Aldi

SOUPS

Cream of Tomato Soup Lidl / Princes

HOT BEVERAGES - TEA:

McGrath’s Reserve Blend Tea Aldi / Robert Roberts

HOT BEVERAGES - COFFEE:

SuperValu Signature Tastes Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans Musgrave Retail Partners / United Coffee

VALUE Q

My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam Dunnes Stores / Histon Sweet Spread Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb Dunnes Stores / Tendermeats CHRISTMAS GOLD: Simply Better Ham Glaze Dunnes Stores / Wexford Home Preserves

SMALL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Chicken Liver Paté with Garlic & Brandy On The Pig’s Back

ALES & LAGERS

Independent Stout Independent Brewing Company of Ireland

CIDER

Tempted? Summer Sweet Irish Craft Ciderdj’s juice and cider

SPARKLING WINE

GROCERY AMBIENT - SWEET

WINE

PIZZAS

Pizzado Choice Pizza

READY MEALS

SuperValu Signature Tastes Lamb Tagine Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire

SIDE DISHES

SuperValu Signature Tastes Braised Red Cabbage Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire

SAUCES AND SALAD DRESSINGS Vine Tomato & Jalapeno Pasta Sauce The Scullery

Crémant d’Alsace Brut AOC Lidl / S.C.V.B St. Emilion Gran Cru AOC, 2011 Lidl / Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion

SPIRITS - LIQUEURS AND SPECIALITY SPIRITS Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur Lidl / Terra

SPIRITS - WHISKIES

Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey Aldi / Castle Brands Inc

GOLD DRINK WINNER

Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey Aldi / Castle Brands Inc

My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam from Dunnes Stores and Histon Sweet Spreads was the winner of the Value Q Award.

Pictured are (l-r): Jane Milton, Patrick Farrell, Dunnes Stores, Lorraine Mc Mahon, Hain Ireland Ltd, Catherine Fulvio, and Louise Moorhouse, Hain Ireland Ltd.

produced by Castle Brands Inc., which also won the Spirits Award in the Whiskeys category.

“The quality of the winners is superb,” noted Ed Kerrigan, Buying Director at Aldi Stores Ireland. “We have the climate, the environment, to create great Irish food and drink products. When someone externally, independently verifies it for us, that is the crowning glory.”

See the panel opposite for a full list of all the Award winners on the night.

GOLD Q AWARD

Honeyed Fig, Rhubarb & Chilli Savoury Jam Irish Bee Sensations Blackcurrant and Rum Jam Lidl / Abbey Farm Foods

Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed Marinade was the winner in the Fresh Fish category. Pictured are (l-r): Dee Laffan, editor, Easy Food; Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Owner/Manager, Burren Smokehouse; Catherine Fulvio; and Lara Monahan, IQFDA Project Manager.

Cream of Tomato Soup from Lidl/Princes, winner in the Soups category.

Rewarding Excellence The awards are open to all retailers, food producers, wholesalers and food service operators across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. They are a unique collaboration between Food and Hospitality Ireland

Overall Q Award

and the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards (now in its 33rd year) and sponsored by top UK packaging manufacturer, Benson Group as well as Invest Northern Ireland and MLS Labelling & Printing Systems. Retail News is proud to continue as trade media partner of the awards, while Easy Food magazine was the consumer media partner.

All excess food from the judging was given to The Capuchin Centre for Homeless People, which provides warm food each day and more than 1,800 food hampers a week to vulnerable people in Dublin, and FareShare.

To find out more about the second Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, visit: www.irishqualityfoodawards.com, become a friend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ IrishQualityFoodAwards or follow them on Twitter, @IrishQFAs.

THE Overall Gold Q Award winner was Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb from Dunnes Stores/Tendermeats, which also won in the Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Pork, Lamb and Other Joints category.

Pictured receiving the overall Gold Q Award for the Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb are James Wilson and Diarmuid Murphy, both from Dunnes Stores, Barry Mulvihill, Tendermeats, Catherine Fulvio, event MC, and Greg Rossiter, Tendermeats, with Bruce Langlands, Harrods.

46|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie

NEW

Cereals

The Big Breakfast

Weetabix Leading breakfast brand Weetabix has recently unveiled a new pack design that aims to remind consumers about the nutritional strength of its product. Low in salt, sugar and fat whilst also being high in fibre and a great source of protein, Weetabix is made from 100% natural wholegrain wheat, ensuring that it is a healthy, nutritionally balanced and tasty breakfast for the whole family.

The green flash, present across all packs since the start of September, reminds shoppers of Weetabix’s impressive health credentials, with a bowl of Weetabix and milk being one of the healthiest breakfast options available in the

with

is launching a deliciously smooth new breakfast drink

Irish consumers’ love affair with breakfast cereals shows no signs of abating.

THE breakfast cereals category grew at an estimated 2% in 2013, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor, who predict continued, albeit modest, 1% growth in the coming years.

Sales are expected to continue to grow year on year due to improvements in product offerings, Euromonitor report. All categories are expected to return to growth in the coming years as the economy begins to recover. However, Euromonitor warn that many consumers will continue to buy lower-priced products and private label as their quality continues to improve to the level of their branded counterparts.

Kellogg continued to lead in terms of brand sales in 2013 with an estimated 39% value share, followed by Weetabix and Flahavan with 12% and 10%, respectively, according to Euromonitor. Kellogg sustained its leading position due to the large number of products it has that are available in the market. Its strongest brand is Special K, which continues to benefit from strong developments and variations. This has enabled it to remain popular among those seeking healthy options for breakfast. However, there was a slight decline in its value share which it lost to more popular cereal options.

s t i f o r p r u o y l Fue Weetabix on the go Weetabix

The Weetabix portfolio includes some of the most popular cereal brands in Ireland.

category.

Commenting on the new design, Weetabix Senior Brand Manager, Claire Canty, said, “From listening to our customers, we know that health is one of the biggest motivating factors in their decision making process. As such, we wanted to make it easier than ever for people to remember that when it comes to providing a nutritional and tasty start to the day, Weetabix really is the number one choice that the whole family can enjoy.”

With 134 calories in a two biscuit serving, as well as many of the vitamins and minerals a body needs to stay healthy, including one third of the recommended daily intake of Thiamine (B1) Riboflavin (B2), Niacin, Folic Acid and Iron, Weetabix has been fuelling consumers’ breakfast since 1932, and is made the same way, the same size and on the same site for over 80 years.

Designed to be a delicious breakfast solution, Weetabix On The Go Breakfast Biscuits boast the famous Weetabix wholegrain fuel credentials for those mornings when there isn’t time for a bowl of breakfast cereal. The crunchy breakfast biscuits, baked in the distinctive Weetabix lozenge shape, are available in three delicious flavours, Milk & Cereal, Fruit & Fibre, and Apple & Cinnamon, to appeal to a wide range of consumers who are looking for a tasty on-the-go breakfast solution and know and trust Weetabix to deliver

1 in 5 state they eat breakfast on the go Available in Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry – 8 x 250ml SRP cases Supplied ambient, serve chilled – sell from the chiller to boost your breakfast sales

Stock up now by calling your local representative For more information, visit www.weetabixonthego.co.uk

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Cereals in order to unlock breakfast growth through innovation, Weetabix is the first to market ‘breakfast drinks’ and aims to capitalise on a category with massive potential Weetabix On The Go Breakfast Drink aims to replicate similar nutritional breakfast requirements by being the only drink that can offer the same protein, energy and fibre equivalents as a Weetabix cereal in milk, and fortified with vitamins and minerals. With an ambition to fuel modern lifestyles, the milkshake drink is available in a 250ml single serve, resealable bottle in four different flavours: Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana and Vanilla.

The Breakfast Drink should Weetabix On The Go Breakfast Drink is available in be located within the ambient cereal aisle for shoppers to chill a 250ml single serve, resealable bottle. at home. It will also be available ready-chilled in metropolitan and the fuel they need. corner stores plus garage forecourts Baked to golden perfection with for consumers who purchase breakfast a delicious crunch, these wholegrain whilst commuting. Available in 250ml breakfast biscuits are high in fibre and resealable bottles, consumers can grab a source of six vitamins and minerals, it, drink it, bin it and get on with the including calcium. morning, knowing they’ve had a good The range comes in case sizes start to the day. of 16x50g packs, with each pack Also part of the Weetabix portfolio, containing 4 biscuits.

Alpen Original Muesli is the original Weetabix On The Go Breakfast Swiss style muesli, packed full of the Drink is a deliciously smooth portable finest natural ingredients and classic drink, designed specifically for muesli taste, including juicy raisins breakfast times. Delivering quick to help provide fibre, crunchy nuts, creamy rolled oats and wholegrain wheat flakes that help provide energy to start the day the right way.

Meanwhile, Ready Brek, also part of the Weetabix range, is to build on its existing Easy Sachets porridge range by adding two delicious new flavours to the mix. Available in Chocolate and New Weetabix On The Go Breakfast Biscuits boast the famous Gingerbread flavour, Weetabix wholegrain fuel credentials for those mornings when these child-friendly there isn’t time for a bowl of breakfast cereal. smooth oat porridges are a great winter and easy breakfast fuel, it has all warmer and the perfect addition to any the energy, fibre and protein of a breakfast table.

Weetabix cereal in milk. Its launch was Designed to appeal both to parents, a pioneering move for the breakfast looking to ensure their kids have a category, which attempts to provide wholesome and nutritious start to the alternative consumption options that day, and kids who just want something are better placed to meet the needs tasty, the new flavours boost all of of a more mobile and time-sensitive Ready Brek’s nutritional credentials. generation of consumers, without Made from wholegrain oats, a serving forcing them to compromise on taste or of Ready Brek is high in fibre, as well nutrition. as delivering 50% RDA of Calcium and With a vision to identify key drivers 25% RDA of Iron and Vitamins.

Cereals Kellogg’s Squares Sponsor RTÉ’S Damo & Ivor

Louise Robinson, Brand Manager for Kellogg’s Squares, is pictured with Damo, launching the sponsorship of the new series.

KELLOGG’S Squares is the new sponsor of RTÉ 2 comedy sketch show Damo and Ivor. Created and negotiated by Carat, the deal with RTÉ 2 sees 10- and seven-second stings running in and out of breaks and at the beginning and end of the show.

“We are delighted to confirm this sponsorship with the Damo and Ivor show and RTÉ,” noted Louise Robinson, Brand Manager for Kellogg’s Squares. “The Kellogg’s Squares brand is all about having a little bit of irreverent fun, so we see this sponsorship with Damo and Ivor as the perfect fit to drive relevance with its young adult audience.”

Ruth Kennedy, Sponsorship Executive, RTÉ, added, “Following the ratings hit of 2013 on RTÉ 2, the new series of Damo and Ivor returns for its long-awaited second series. It’s absolutely the perfect fit for Kellogg’s Squares, as both brands appeal to young adults. The Kellogg’s sponsorship messages fit perfectly with the tone of the content of the programme: fun, mad and off the wall. We are delighted to partner with Kellogg’s on this new sponsorship, which is a cornerstone of the new look RTÉ 2.”

Ready Brek is also re-launching its Original Easy Sachet Porridge. First appearing on shelves back in 2012, the porridge has proven so popular with parents and kids alike that it will be re-launched with fun new packaging to bring it in line with the rest of the range.

Flahavan’s Flahavan’s is the top selling porridge product on the Irish market. The Flahavan’s brand continues to build on its long established, loyal consumer base by staying close to the consumer and their evolving needs. The growing interest in health, combined with the changes in legislation around packaging nutritionals, has lent itself well to the hot oats category, offering new opportunities to meet evolving consumer needs such as convenience.

The recent growth of the convenience hot oats category ticks all the boxes, including health, value for money and convenience.

Brand differentiation within the category is key to retaining loyal consumers in this challenging retail market and according to Brand Manager, Moya Verling, Flahavan’s consumers’ appreciation for the quality of its product is a strong differentiator for the brand. Consumer appreciation of the product is as a result of a number of key differentiators that are linked to everything that is unique about the Flahavan’s product. “The key Flahavan’s differentiators are focused around its Irish heritage, alongside

Flahavan’s: the top selling porridge brand on the Irish market.

its quality and taste,” Verling notes, “from the sourcing of our oats from local Irish farmers, the unique milling process that retains the full rich texture of the plump Irish oats sealing

Flahavan’s Original Granola, a deliciously indulgent toasted wholegrain oat granola, combining fruit, nuts, seeds and the finest Flahavan’s Irish oats.

in their natural aroma, giving them a distinctive creamy taste and our strong sustainability and environmentally friendly credentials. All these brand differentiators are reinforced by the assurance that our product is a truly Irish brand through support and association with key industry initiatives such as Bord Bia Origin Green and Love Irish Food.”

Combined with this, Flahavan’s continue to stay closely aligned to their growth strategy. The focus on innovation continues to be at the forefront of the brand strategy and the team are delighted with the reaction to the recent launch of Flahavan’s Original Granola, a deliciously indulgent toasted wholegrain oat granola, combining fruit, nuts, seeds and the finest Flahavan’s Irish oats.

Flahavan’s Original Granola is a deliciously indulgent toasted wholegrain oat granola, combining fruit, nuts, seeds and the finest Irish Flahavan’s oats. Consumers can enjoy as a cereal, a snack or as a topping on yogurt, ice cream, fruit or porridge.

Flahavan’s Original Granola is made with the finest quality ingredients, including Flahavan’s Irish porridge oats, and has no additives or preservatives. It comes in an easy-open 450g pack, which is resealable for lasting freshness. The added advantages for the trade are that it comes in a small case size, with six packs per case, in shelf-ready packaging.

Linwoods The summer saw Dublin GAA partnering with the award-winning health food company Linwoods, with

Armagh-based Linwoods becoming its Official Health Food Supplier for a three-year period.

The partnership ensures that each player’s diet will now contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which are all core elements of Linwoods’ product range, consequently complementing each player’s performance on the pitch in a positive, energy-driven way.

The Linwoods Superfoods range, which includes a selection of milled and blended seeds, nuts and berries, includes products that have the addition of Bio Cultures, for healthy digestion and immune system; and Co-enzyme Q10, which helps to produce energy from every cell in the body. The products can be added to any meal or snack for a nutritional boost. The versatility of the range ensures players can easily include it in their everyday diet and become a lifestyle choice.

Speaking about the partnership, Linwoods’ Sales and Marketing Manager Joanne Hayden said: “We have a reputation for providing high quality innovative healthy foods and we understand the dedication, commitment and passion shown by athletes and those within Dublin GAA, and are delighted to join forces with them to deliver this important aspect of their training.”

Dublin hurlers Danny Sutcliffe and Liam Rushe are pictured in Croke Park at the announcement of Linwoods as the Official Health Food Supplier for Dublin GAA.

“Linwoods products are a rich source of essential nutrients such as essential fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can be used in a variety of ways to improve the nutritional value of main meals and homemade snacks. They are excellent for adding to homemade breakfast cereals, muesli, yoghurt, porridge and smoothies, as well as making healthy treats,” noted Daniel Davey, Dublin Senior Football Performance Nutritionist.

For more information see www.linwoodshealthfoods.com.

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Food & Hospitality Ireland

Food & Hospitality Ireland

Tasty Event at Citywest

Donogh Raftery from Co. Cork’s Ballyhoura Apple Farm, is pictured with Caroline McCusker and Toby Wand from Fresh Montgomery at the launch of Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland.

Hospitality Ireland served up a tasty show for visitors. The Restaurants Association of Ireland created a platform for visiting restaurateurs, chefs and even novice cooks to view some of the country’s most-respected chefs cooking up a storm at The Skillery feature.

Running on both days, eight chefs, including Domini Kemp, Padraic Og Gallagher, Kevin O’Toole and the Craft Butchers’ Adrian Martin, impressed visitors with live cookery demos, reinforcing the importance of skills.

Insomnia Chairman and radio presenter, Bobby Kerr, is pictured officially opening Food & Hospitality Ireland 2014.

Food & Hospitality Ireland proved a hugely successful event, with more than 150 companies showcasing their products to thousands of visitors.

IN ITS new home of the Citywest Events Centre, Food & Hospitality Ireland delivered thousands of visitors to the 2014 event, with exhibitors reporting brisk trade and business being done.

Taking place on September 17 and 18, the new location served visitors well and encouraged more people to attend the event from outside of Dublin.

With over 150 companies showcasing their products and services, the two-day event delivered tasty products, a host of awards, inspirational speakers and expert cooking demonstrations.

From the Craft Butchers Shop of the Year awards to the Overall Product of the Show winners, Food & Hospitality Ireland celebrated the very best of Ireland’s thriving food, retail and hospitality industries.

“Over the past eight months, we have worked with our show partners to ensure Food & Hospitality Ireland delivered features that were of real benefit to the sectors.

From the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland to the CSNA,

Restaurants Association of Ireland, Retail Ireland and the Coeliac Society of Ireland, our goal was to ensure there was something for everyone at this year’s event, and this we achieved,” explains Toby Wand, Managing Director of Fresh Montgomery, organisers of Food & Hospitality Ireland.

“We invested in creating new and exciting features such as The Skillery and the show’s first-ever Profit Shop, and visitor feedback has been extremely positive,” Wand continues. “The features offered practical advice and knowhow that will be applied in food, retail and hospitality businesses in the months ahead.”

Shining A Spotlight The Spotlight Stage was one of the most hotly anticipated features at Food & Hospitality Ireland and was home to a line-up of industry experts over the two days.

Former Dragon, Bobby Kerr, interviewed two of Ireland’s finest businessmen, including Eamonn Quinn, former Marketing Director and Deputy Chairman, Superquinn, on ‘Entrepreneurship’s role in food retail success’; followed

by Frank Gleeson, Managing Director of Food Services, Aramark Ireland, and Chairperson, Retail Ireland, on ‘The Future of Retail’.

There was a lively hospitality debate on ‘Creating successful hospitality concepts’, which was chaired by Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive, RAI, and featured Kevin Thornton, from Thornton’s Restaurant on the panel, and Andrea Coffey from Google UK & Ireland dished out tips on ‘How to maximise brand presence online and grow sales’.

Cooking Up A Storm With plenty of food and drink products on display, Food &

New Products & Services With over 150 companies showcasing innovative products and services, visitors had a wealth of new products to see, taste and explore.

With everything from handmade nougat to Trailblazing BBQs that cook over 600 burgers per hour, Food & Hospitality Ireland really did deliver a vast array of products under one roof.

“We are really delighted with the positive response to our products and the excitement generated with visitors,” commented Warren Manley, from Trailblazer BBQs. The mix of products, services and new venue certainly seemed to resonate with visitors. Visitor Brendan Bergin from Bergin Meats described it as a “fantastic show: loved the venue, the parking, the access and the event itself.

Found two new products, granola from O’Donnell’s in Killorglin and fruit juices.”

Susan O’Sullivan from the Farm Kitchen Restaurant added: “My visit was very worthwhile. I made lots of new contacts and found new products.”

Product of the Show In honour of the quality of products and business solutions available at the event this year, the Product of the

Bobby Kerr is pictured awarding Edmund and Liam Walsh from EWS Butchers in Donegal Town the Craft Butcher Shop of the Year.

Show awards made a welcome return. Taking home the top accolade of Overall Product of the Show was exhibitor, Caterwaste.

Competing against 50 products and services from exhibitors in the food and hospitality sectors, Caterwaste’s BioBear was named as the Overall Product of the Show by an independent panel of judges that included Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), and John Hickey from the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland.

The new BioBear range of dry Waste Food BioMass Machines transforms food waste into sterilised Biomass material within two hours instead of the normal four-week period required for composting. It removes water from food waste, reducing its volume by 90%, which ultimately leads to savings of approximately €180 per kilo for its customers. The judges felt that this innovative technology and substantial savings for customers were a winning combination.

Please see the panel (right) for the full list of winners from the Product of the Show Awards.

Ireland’s Best Butcher Long-standing show partner, the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI) held its annual awards at Food & Hospitality Ireland. Insomnia Chairman and radio presenter, Bobby Kerr, who officially opened Food & Hospitality Ireland, presented the ACBI’s most prestigious award, Butcher Shop of the Year, to Edmund and Liam Walsh from EWS Butchers in Donegal town.

EWS Butchers is a family business, owned by the Walsh family, and it’s been trading in Donegal town since 1962. It’s owned by three brothers, Liam, Edmund and John, who run the butcher’s shops in Donegal town and

Ballintra, and also manage the family farm, which specialises in Aubrac beef.

In the category accolades, EWS Butchers were also named Best Butcher’s Shop on a High Street. Other category winners were B Molloy Master

Product of the Show Winners

Pictured receiving the Product of the Show Award for their BioBear product is Michael Dorman, Operations Manager of Caterwaste with Bobby Kerr.

Overall Product of the Show Winner: Caterwaste for BioBear Gold Winners: Trailblazer BBQ for Trailblazer 600s Dovinia Chocolates for Cheese Chocolate Serendipities Montgomery Food Consulting Ltd for the Butchery Excellence Scheme Silver Winners: Masterbutcher for Masterbutcher.ie DBC identity for Zenius Plastic Card/Tag printer CBE for CBE Mobile POS (MPOS) Bronze Winners SMR7 and FMI for SMR7 Eurotaste Ltd for Hela Tomato Ketchup & Mayo Dualtron for Wincor Nixdorf Beetle moPOS

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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update Retail Ireland: Monthly Update News

Food & Hospitality Ireland

RETAIL IRELAND MEETS MINISTER NOONAN

Donna Coffey and Aisling O’Brien from Smooch, part of the Profit Shop at Food & Hospitality Ireland.

Brian Fitzpatrick, Oriel Sea Salt, pictured at the exhibition.

Frank Gleeson, Managing Director of Food Services, Aramark Ireland, and Chairperson, Retail Ireland, discusses ‘The Future of Retail’ with Bobby Kerr on the Spotlight Stage.

Butchers in Ennis, who won Best Butcher’s Shop in a Shopping Centre, and James Shortt Craft Butchers in Castleblayney for Best Rural Butcher’s Shop.

In addition, the ACBI also staged its National Sausage & Pudding Championships and the Speciality Foods competition.

Following months of regional heats, hundreds of butchers competed for the top prizes with the Overall Supreme Champion of Sausage of the Year going to John and Marian Shannon from Shannon Butchers in Kiltimagh.

Other winners included: • Derek Dunne’s Butchers in Wicklow for Traditional Sausage; • Shannon Butchers in Kiltimagh for Speciality Sausage, Italian; • Tuite’s Butchers in

Drogheda for White Pudding; • Callaghan’s Butchers in Ardee for Black Pudding.

On day two of Food & Hospitality Ireland, 150 butchers were awarded Certified Craft Butcher status by the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI), with certification guaranteeing their customers the highest standards in food, customer service and product knowledge.

Plans For 2015 Next year, there’s set to be a very special addition to Food & Hospitality Ireland with the first-ever Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland becoming part of the overall event.

On the opening day of F&HI 2014, Managing Director of Fresh

Montgomery, Toby Wand announced plans to bring Ireland’s first dedicated show for the Irish artisan and fine food industry to the

show.

Taking place on September 16 and 17, 2015, at the Citywest Events Centre, Dublin, the introduction of the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland is expected to further build on Food & Hospitality Ireland’s growing status as the trade expo for artisan brands, showcasing their products on a national stage.

For further information on Food & Hospitality Ireland 2015, incorporating the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland, please contact Caroline McCusker on 048 (028) 9068 3381 or via Caroline.mccusker@ freshmontgomery.co.uk. To keep updated on the plans for 2015, follow the show on twitter @FHIexhibition or check the website www.foodhospitality.ie.

Hailing from the shores of Loch Ness, Cobbs Cakes brought its award-winning products to Ireland for the first time.

A DELEGATION of Retail Ireland members recently met with Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to discuss our Budget 2015 proposals, which contain five key priorities to support the retail industry by encouraging the Government to; • Impose no new costs on retailers and make it cost-effective for retailers to hire new staff by reversing last year’s changes to employers’ PRSI; • Cut personal income taxation so consumers have more money to spend; • Freeze or reduce other consumer taxes, whilst maintaining the 9% VAT rate on tourism and hospitality services; • Incentivise retailer investment in town centres and encourage use of vacant outlets; • Bolster consumer confidence by “confidence checking” Government announcements.

At the meeting, which acted as a central element of our pre-budget public affairs strategy, the Minister listened carefully to our points and undertook to closely consider all of them. He agreed that retail had been “first in to the recession and would be last out” and stated that he was eager to help the industry.

Retail has been hardest hit by the recession, with 50,000 jobs losses and sales down at least 25% from peak levels. Despite this, the sector remains Ireland’s largest and most geographically diverse industry and employer, with enormous potential. In the run up to Budget Day on October 14, we continued to stress that this is a critical time for the industry, and the Government must do all it can to ensure that recent signs of recovery are nurtured and furthered strengthened.

Retail Ireland Annual Report 2013 RETAIL Ireland recently published its Annual Report for 2013, detailing what was a year of contrasts for the Irish retail sector. On the one hand, we saw our industry continue to grapple with a sluggish economy, stagnant demand and ever-increasing business costs. On the other hand, towards the end of the year, we saw an increase in consumer confidence and the first tentative signs of a recovery in retail sales.

It fell to Retail Ireland, as the leading voice of the Irish retail sector, to tell both sides of this complex story. Throughout 2013, we communicated the strategic importance and enormous potential of our industry so that no one was left in any doubt that we remain Ireland’s largest private sector employer and most geographically diverse industry, playing a crucial role in local communities and wider society.

2013 was also a year of firsts for Retail Ireland. We held our inaugural annual conference in May, with over one hundred retailers, politicians and high profile decision makers gathered at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to discuss Irish retail, its challenges and opportunities.

2013 also saw the publication of our ‘Strategy for Retail’, a first for the industry.

This comprehensive and well-received paper highlighted the fact that Government can achieve its goal of creating thousands of jobs, winning investment and securing regional development by working with the retail industry to achieve a meaningful and sustainable recovery.

Our Annual Report makes for interesting reading and can be accessed via our website at www.retailireland.ie.

Retail Sales Continue to Rise RETAIL Ireland warmly welcomed the CSO’s Retail Sales Index for August 2014, which showed the ninth consecutive monthly year-on-year rise in both the value and volume of retail sales. While the value of all sales rose by 5.3% during August, when new cars and sales in bars are excluded, the total value of sales rose by a more modest, albeit healthy, 2%, compared with August 2013.

The latest official retail sales statistics provide further proof that the recovery in the domestic economy is gaining momentum. The rebound in sales continues to be led by furniture, lighting and products for the home, with an impressive 14.5% increase in the value of such sales over the same month last year. Meanwhile, the value of sales in electrical outlets rose by 5.1%, those in supermarkets by 2.9% and those in department stores by 2.2%.

However, an analysis of August’s statistics also shows that we cannot afford to be complacent. The value of sales in specialist stores, including grocers, butchers and off licences, saw a combined fall of 3.5%, whilst sales in pharmacies fell by 2.2%, indicating that some operators continue to struggle and highlighting the fragility of retail’s recovery.

Budget 2015 provides a valuable opportunity to enhance consumer confidence and boost spending power through income tax cuts and reductions in consumer taxation. This, coupled with additional measures such as freezing excise duties and introducing effective actions to fill vacant high street units, will help secure a more sustainable recovery in retail sales, boosting employment and promoting investment, and benefiting the entire economy.

Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie

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Drinks News Richmond Marketing to Distribute Barton & Guestier RICHMOND Marketing is now the sole distributor for Barton & Guestier wines in Ireland. Based in Bordeaux and selling 10m bottles to 130 countries per year, Barton & Guestier has based its winemaking strategy on AOC and Varietal wines from the main French regions: Bordeaux, Loire, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhône, Provence, Languedoc, Corsica and Gascony, where B&G’s head winemaker Laurent Prada and his team work in partnership with around 200 winegrowers. The link with Ireland is historically strong as it was the Irishman Thomas Barton who founded the wine shipping company in 1725 after emigrating to Bordeaux. Today, Barton & Guestier continues to pay respect to its Irish history with the Thomas Barton Range, a unique and prestigious range of carefully selected wines from the heart of the greatest appellations in the Bordeaux Region. The B&G Reserve Range (pictured) chosen from 30 partners in the Languedoc, Gascony and Corsica - has become one of the most popular offerings from the company in Ireland.

DRINKS INDUSTRY WELCOMES BUDGET DECISION ON ALCOHOL DRINKS industry representative bodies have welcomed the Government’s decision not to increase excise on alcohol in the recent Budget. The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) and the National Off Licence Association (NOffLA) have both supported the move, with NOffLA claiming that the decision will offer some relief to the difficulties currently being faced by the independent off-licence industry in Ireland.

“We are still operating in a challenging economic climate but today’s announcement will serve to provide a degree of reassurance to small business owners all over Ireland,” said Evelyn Jones, Chairperson, NOffLA. “Since 2008, 544 Off-Licences have closed or lapsed with the loss of 3,000 jobs across the industry. While today’s announcement is very positive, we will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders to represent the interests of our members, independent business owners embedded in communities across the country.”

Jones went on to call for a ban on the below cost selling of alcohol, as well as the introduction of a minimum unit price on alcohol to discourage deep discounting and promote responsible retailing.

DIGI, meanwhile, welcomed the increase in excise relief for microbreweries, but called on the Government to reverse the recent excise increases on alcohol in next year’s Budget in order to create jobs and drive further growth. “The current excise level in this country is uncompetitive and while today’s announcement represents an important first step in supporting this industry, we would call on government to reverse the excise increases of recent years in next year’s budget,” argued Peter O’Brien, Chairman of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland and European Corporate Relations Director for Diageo.

Drinks News RYE RIVER TO DISTRIBUTE BAVARIA IRISH brewery and distributor, Rye River Brewing Company has agreed a partnership with Bavaria to distribute and market the brand in Ireland. The Swinkels family, brewers of Bavaria and the Netherlands’ second largest brewer, have moved the distribution rights for its Irish operation to Rye River Brewing Co. to pump-up sales and boost growth in Irish market. “What we needed is a challenging distributor who is prepared to disrupt the market by creating postive waves and extolling the value proposition Bavaria offers to the Irish market,” noted Frank Swinkels, CFO of Bavaria N.V. “We believe Rye River Brewing will introduce our beers to a whole new generation of loyal fans and deliver a refreshing choice for people at home or in the pubs.”

Dublin Drinks Industry To Invest Almost €200m by 2017 THE brewers and distillers of Dublin 8 have joined forces to show their support for the local Dublin 8 community with a ‘Dublin Ate, Culture Quenched!’ event, hosted by the Dublin Whiskey Company in their historic mill building, which dates back to 1691.

There are now five brewers and distillers located in Dublin 8, who will have invested over €199m in the area by 2017, with three new distilleries, Alltech, Dublin Whiskey Company and Teeling Whiskey Company, as well as Five Lamps Brewery, currently in various stages of planning, plus Guinness’ existing operations at St James’ Gate, where the new €169m “Brewhouse No.4” was recently opened. Pictured are (l-r): Jack O’Shea, Alltech; Eibhlin Roche, The Guinness Storehouse; Michael Reddy, Teeling Whiskey Company; Marie Byrne, Dublin Whiskey Company, and John Leonard, The Five Lamps Dublin Brewery.

SOD TURNED AT WALSH WHISKEY DISTILLERY A RETURN to whiskey distilling in Carlow and the South-East, after absences of over 200 and 100 years respectively, took a big step forward recently as the founders of the independent Walsh Whiskey Distillery, Bernard & Rosemary Walsh, turned the sod at Royal Oak, County Carlow, and construction commenced on their €25m world class, craft Irish whiskey distillery by the banks of the River Barrow. Located on an 18th century estate, comprising 40 acres of pastoral land, the distillery will be the largest independent whiskey distillery in Ireland. Its two production lines, using both pot stills and column stills, will give Walsh Whiskey the capacity to produce 500,000 cases of whiskey annually. Bernard Walsh is pictured with a bottle of Irishman Founder’s Reserve whiskey.

William Grant & Sons opens €35m Tullamore Distillery WILLIAM Grant & Sons Ltd officially opened its new €35m state-ofthe-art whiskey distillery in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Ireland, following two years of construction. This milestone marked the return of whiskey production to Tullamore 60 years after the original distillery closed its doors. The Tullamore Distillery is the first new distillery to be constructed on a greenfield site in Ireland in over 100 years and is one of the most significant investments to date in the resurgent Irish whiskey sector. It is also one of the largest projects undertaken by William Grant & Sons. Tullamore Distillery will be capable of producing the equivalent of 1.5m cases of Tullamore D.E.W. annually, which is now the second largest Irish whiskey in the world. “This new facility will secure our future production demands for the rest of the century as Irish whiskey embarks on its most exciting chapter yet,” noted Stella David, Chief Executive of William Grant & Sons Ltd, pictured with fifth generation Grant family member, Peter Gordon.

JAMES-AGED PALE ALE LAUNCHES AWARD-WINNING Cork brewery Franciscan Well and Jameson Irish Whiskey have launched a second collaboration, Franciscan Well Jameson-Aged Pale Ale, which is perfectly accompanied by a Jameson Irish Whiskey. Building on the critical acclaim of the multi-award winning Franciscan Well Jameson-Aged Stout, Shane Long, Founder of Franciscan Well Brewery (right) and Dave Quinn (left), Master of Whiskey Science at the Jameson Distillery, decided the time was ripe for another joint project, this time experimenting with the effect of Jameson barrels on the popular style of pale ale. “After the success we saw with our Jameson-Aged Stout, all of us here at Franciscan Well felt excited about trying something new with the guys at Jameson again,” said Long. “This time, our challenge was to create a pale ale with enough flavour to make a good match for food but that would not overpower the whiskey. We’re really pleased with the result.”

APPOINTMENT AT FINDLATER FINDLATER Wine & Spirit Group has announced that Kevin Moore has rejoined the company as Wine Specialist, covering the Midlands area.

Kevin previously worked as Spirit Brand Ambassador with Findlater Wine & Spirit Group and made radical progress with the company’s on-trade distribution during his time with the company, particularly with brands such as Tullamore D.E.W. Findlater are delighted to have him back as his track record in terms of operational excellence was first class during his time as a Spirit Ambassador.

Innovation from Tiger Dublin Fringe TIGER Beer, new title sponsor of Tiger Dublin Fringe, ran an innovative Out of Home campaign to promote the festival. To help drive engagement, special photo-booths were set up at the various Tiger Dublin Fringe events at Meeting House Square and the Project Arts Centre, with event attendees encouraged to step into the photo-booths and get their picture and video taken. Adding a Tiger twist to the image, various designs such as ‘tiger stripes’ were projected onto participants’ faces and a selection of the video footage was used in the Out of Home campaign. A large format billboard on Wexford Street appeared blank by day but came alive after 8pm, when a selection of the photo-booth footage was digitally projected onto the billboard, bringing the campaign to life. Video was also uploaded onto three digital Adshel screens across Dublin, including Camden Street, North Circular Road and Lower Leeson Street, and smaller digital ‘Orb screens’ across the city centre.

HARP MAKES HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES! NORTHERN Ireland’s skyline took on a different shape recently as iconic landmark, Scrabo Tower was joined by another structure that soared high on the Ards Peninsula – a nine meter high pair of wings made from barley. The barley art was commissioned by local lager brand Harp as part of its ‘Look on the Harp Side’ campaign which champions Northern Ireland’s optimistic way of seeing things.

Belfast based bespoke artist and designer, Gareth Martin, handcrafted the wing structure in five days using 250 bales of barley, 440 meters of twine and 400 wooden stakes.

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Efficient Consumer Response

Efficient Consumer Response

Collaboration the Key to Improving Availability The ECR Ireland Supply Chain Summit examined the issue of on shelf availability and how to cut down on out-of-stocks, and also saw the presentation of the inaugural ECR Ireland Supply Chain Award.

The BWG National Distribution Centre team celebrate receiving the ECR Supply Chain Award 2014.

THE second ECR Ireland Supply Chain Summit took place in the City West Hotel in Dublin on September 10, 2014.

The event was attended by some of the most significant players in the Irish FMCG sector, indlucing BWG, MRPI, ADM Londis, Gala Retail Services, Mars Ireland, Cuisine de France, IBM and Irish Distillers.

The theme for this year’s event was ‘Collaboration’: between manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers, in order to add value, efficiency and profitability to the supply chain. Phil Mitchel, European OSA Manager with Unilever, kicked off the morning with a very interesting presentation on the

importance of on-shelf availability (OSA).

On-Shelf Availability – Unilever As consumers, many of us may have experienced the frustration of out-ofstocks. Mitchel presented some very interesting statistics on what the consumer tends to do when the product they want is not on the shelf: 31% look to buy elsewhere and 9% choose not to purchase at all. Mitchel also explained that according to Unilever’s experience, a 3% improvement in OSA rates delivers a 1% increase in sales, suggesting that a lack of OSA is costing retailers dearly. According to Mitchel,

“improving on-shelf availability rates is the greatest form of non-innovation led growth” at Unilever.

“We have been on this journey for seven years now,” Mitchel noted. “We currently have an EU average of 95% OSA and we are looking to raise that to 98%. To give that context, that will deliver a 1% increase in the total sales across the EU to Unilever, which is a very significant figure, simply by making sure that our product is always on-shelf. We have been working closely with organisations such as Tesco, ASDA, Walmart, C1000 in Holland and Carrefour in France and many others.

In order to achieve our improvements in OSA, it has been and continues to be vitally important to work closely with retailers and we look forward to keeping that collaboration going.”

Technology in the Warehouse – Heavey RF Another extremely interesting and informative presentation came from Ronan Clinton, CEO of Heavey RF. As the theme of the conference reinforced time and again, the supply chain is an end-to-end system, where each part of the process is vital to overall effectiveness. Clinton focused very much on current developments in the warehouse and delivery systems, and what is coming next. In a very polished performance, Clinton presented what is hot in warehousing.

Vision Directed Logistics (VDL) is one such hot topic. While we are still a few years away from true and full integration of VDL into picking operations, it is the way of the future, Clinton noted. Voice directed logistics, where pickers are aurally prompted, is already common in some countries, but VDL brings picking to a whole new level. Check out the You Tube video “Pick By Vision” to see where we are headed (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=uqQoPuZ4YME).

Pictured are (l-r): Peter Donohoe HR & Operations Director, BWG Foods; Willlie O’Byrne, Managing Director, BWG Foods; Debbie Johnston, Customer Service Manager, BWG National Distribution Centre (NDC); Joanne Mellon, Operations Manager, BWG NDC; Leo Crawford, Group CEO, BWG Group; Mark Delaney, Bond Manager, BWG NDC; and Conor Byrne, Warehouse Manager, BWG NDC.

Green & Clean is another trend, according to Mitchel.

Saving the environment and money is a no brainer when combined. Intelligent lighting systems and dark warehouses will generate significant savings in the future.

Mobile apps & multimodal integration will also improve: picking apps for Apple and Android and improved integration in information sharing and retrieval will see smart phones and devices play an increasing role in storage and delivery.

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) was hailed as the last technological improvement the warehouse sector would ever need back in 2006.

However, this is one of those technologies that Clinton sees as less ‘hot’. Although it is useful in the warehouse, particularly those of a very large scale with significant automation, it is less suitable to smaller scale systems such as those found in Ireland.

ECR Ireland Supply Chain Awards 2014 There are a huge number of reasons why an item can go out of stock. The supply chain runs from the manufacturer all the way to the shelf, and out of stock can be a sign of anything

from slow stacking (with the product in the back of store) to more serious issues in the chain from ordering problems to delivery accuracy issues.

For the first time this year, the ECR Ireland Summit featured the inaugural ECR Supply Chain Awards, which recognise the best supply chain projects in Ireland for 2013-2014. All of these projects aimed to deliver innovative solutions to any and all issues associated with the supply chain.

The 2014 finalists included ADM Londis, GS1/ BIM and BWG Foods, with BWG taking the ultimate honour in what was an extremely close contest.

“The competition was a close run affair with the minimum amount of votes separating the three finalists,” noted Declan Carolan, ECR Ireland General Manager. “ECR awards are a prestigious accolade as they are voted for by industry peers with award recipients gaining entry to the ECR Europe Awards.”

BWG’s ‘Excellence Delivered’ was an extremely significant undertaking for the company in Ireland, and included bringing BWG’s Kilcarbery National Distribution Centre (NDC) online. This centralisation of the delivery system has seen customer service

levels for BWG’s customers rise to 99%. An easy order software system was rolled out to retailers as part of the program, as well as technology that allows retailers to track the position of incoming delivery trucks. The move to double decker trucks with flexible packing and rack systems has proven cost effective, but also sustainable, by removing 600,000 miles of BWG traffic from Irish roads. BWG has made significant investments in its supply chain network which have completely transformed it from top to bottom, incorporating the latest technology and employing best practice methods in order to create a system that was a genuinely worthy winner of the 2014 Supply Chain Award.

Fresh Food Delivery As the name suggests, the ‘Fresh Supply Chain’ initiative from ADM Londis focused very much on the issues around fresh food delivery. With the challenges of perishability, accurate and timely supply systems around fresh food are particularly critical. ADM Londis has made significant investments around the entire area of fresh food, from forecasting demand to improving ordering and delivery accuracy.

Technology features strongly in the initiative to help retailers in the ordering experience, from integrating EPOS systems into the ordering system, to a ‘suggestion algorithm’ for retailers completing orders, where the system will check if key items were left off the order for a reason or were an oversight by the retailer.

The entire initiative has been designed ultimately to ensure that the consumers gets choice, availability, quality and value for money in fresh food at the end of a supply chain that has experienced the minimum amount of loss. The ‘Fresh Supply Chain’ from ADM Londis has seen OSA rates rise to 98%, delivering demonstrable increases in sales.

Collaboration The most technically specific and detailed of the three finalists was the collaboration between Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and GS1 Ireland. BIM has identified Asia as a key market for export for Irish seafood. The traditional supply chain system moves not only product, but data.

In the traditional supply chain, each link interacts with the one before and after it, but not with other links. With issues around traceability key in seafood, the efficient and effective transmission of data, as well as product, from the boats in Ireland to the shelves in Asia was addressed by the ‘E-Locate’ initiative they undertook with GS1 Ireland.

The initiative makes very effective use of the increased information that the 2D barcode allows. The initiative also featured peer to peer sharing in the supply chain and a global data synchronisation network,

Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland.

which allows all elements in the chain to see any of the data associated with the chain, along with the source.

This project should deliver a distinct advantage to Irish seafood in the Asian market, which will be the real reward in the long term.

Overall, the 2014 ECR Ireland Supply Chain Summit provided a strong lesson on how collaboration is vital in order to create an end-to-end supply chain where the people, processes, plant and product all work together in harmony to delivery efficiency and improvements all round.

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OTC Medicines

OTC Medicines

The Best Medicine The OTC medicines market continues to grow, with new product development helping to fuel market growth.

THE market for consumer health products, including Over-The-Counter (OTC) medicines, showed growth in 2013, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International.

Euromonitor predict the majority of new product development in the industry will focus on diversifying existing brands through new flavour variations, formulations and the enhancement of delivery mechanisms.

While this proved a useful tactic during the last few years, when trading conditions were more volatile, the time is now ripe for more dramatic innovation, with consumers ready to take risks on new and exciting products, having survived the onslaught of five years of economic austerity, Euromonitor maintain.

In the analgesics sector, 2013 was another year of strong growth for ibuprofen in Ireland as the category continued to outpace all other analgesics categories. Euromonitor expect Ireland’s mature analgesics sector to increase in constant value at 2% per year in the coming years.

The cold, cough and allergy sector is expected to grow at a slower rate of 1%, according to Euromonitor. The category continues to suffer from the seasonality of many products, mainly because hay fever is generally only a problem during

become more demanding in terms of product ingredients in recent years as knowledge and awareness of the benefits of various vitamins, minerals and nutrients increases. Furthermore, there is a growing preference for multifunctional vitamins and dietary supplements which address a range of issues and concerns in one product, resulting in an increasing number of condition specific products in terms of pregnancy care, joint care and energy products, among others. Euromonitor predict growth rates of 3% per year for this sector going forward.

summer, while coughs and colds are much more common during winter, with consumers often unwilling to try new or innovative products, preferring instead to stick with those products which have worked for them in the past.

The extensive range of products available in digestive remedies in Berocca Ireland covers a broad spectrum of digestive complaints and this continued New Berocca Single Serve Sachet from to drive the performance of the category Bayer was launched specifically for the convenience and impulse channel during 2013, with Irish consumers to attract those who don’t routinely increasingly confident and assured shop for vitamin supplements and also in terms of the self-management of a to make the brand more accessible to wide variety of digestive complaints, its existing user base at a time when Euromonitor reveal. Indeed, they they need the benefits Berocca offers predict annual growth rates of 2% for most, on-the-go. This new innovation this category going forward. offers consumers a healthy alternative Vitamins and dietary supplements continued to see strong development and diversification along gender lines in 2013 as manufacturers responded to increasing consumer demand for products with a more targeted performance.

Both male and New Berocca Single Serve Sachet offers consumers a healthy female Irish alternative to more traditional energy drinks and gives an ideal link consumers have sale opportunity with bottled water.

to more traditional energy drinks and gives an ideal link sale opportunity with bottled water.

The vitamin and minerals market is worth approximately €8m in grocery (Source: ACNielsen, Value, May 18, 2014). Multivitamins is the largest category within this and Berocca is the number one brand with 45% share (Source: ACNielsen, Value, May 18, 2014). Berocca Single Sachets offer retailers an opportunity to unlock a share of this market with a tried and trusted brand.

This product is a unique proposition for the convenience and impulse channel, offering an incremental sales opportunity for retailers. Berocca Single Serve Sachets are available in shelf ready counter top packaging to assist ease of shop and merchandise in-store. The launch will also be supported by morning radio, sampling and in-store POS, including clips strips for dual siting. Berocca Single Serve Sachets have an RSP of €1 and are distributed in Ireland by Jaymark. Tel: (01) 4081571.

Rennie Rennie, also from Bayer, remains the number one brand in both value and volume in the antacid category, with total market share of 42.8% and owns the top two selling SKUs (Source: ACNielsen, Antacids Value & Volume, July 13, 2014). Tablets are by far the most popular format in grocery, and this is where Rennie dominates with 72.9% share. Convenience, effectiveness and good taste are what make it number one with consumers and a must have stock line for convenience

Always read the label Always read the label

A heavyweight TV campaign and Christmas-themed POS will be used to support Rennie in all trade channels in the run up to the Christmas season.

and impulse retailers.

Rennie provides a range of antacid tablets that come in several flavours to provide fast, effective relief from indigestion and heartburn. It starts to work in two minutes by treating at the source of the problem, by gently neutralising the excess acid into water and other natural substances.

A heavyweight TV campaign and Christmas-themed POS will be used to support Rennie in all trade channels in the run-up to the Christmas season, which traditionally sees a significant uplift in demand. Rennie is distributed in Ireland by Jaymark. Tel: (01) 4081571.

Pfizer Paracetamol In little over a year since the launch of Pfizer Paracetamol and Pfizer ParaExtra, these recent additions to the analgesic market have been going from strength to strength. Developed following extensive consumer

Pfizer Paracetamol and Pfizer ParaExtra have been going from strength to strength since their launch a little over a year ago.

Rennie provides a range of antacid tablets that come in several flavours to provide fast, effective relief from indigestion and heartburn.

research and leveraging the strength of Pfizer, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, the two products have been a hit with Irish consumers.

Using sleek metpol board, consumer research revealed that 2/3 of respondents expressed a liking for the new Pfizer Paracetamol packaging.

Significantly, a massive 80% said that they would be likely to buy the product, with over half of these being positively influenced by the Pfizer branding.

Adding to the on-shelf impact, the Pfizer range is presented in recyclable cardboard display trays, enhancing

standout and assisting with recognition and ease of selection for consumers.

As well as looking great on-shelf, the range is attractively priced, ensuring that in today’s value led environment, your customers will be pleased. The range is backed with TV advertising which has helped drive sales for retailers.

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare reminds retailers to keep all medicines out of the reach of children and to read the package instructions carefully.

Clonmel Healthcare The Caldesene range, from Clonmel Healthcare, has seen great expansion over recent years and now consists of Caldesene Powder, Caldease Ointment

The Caldesene range, from Clonmel Healthcare, has seen great expansion over recent years and now consists of Caldesene Powder, Caldease Ointment and CaldeSpray.

and CaldeSpray.

Caldesene Powder is a medicated baby powder that prevents and treats nappy rash. It works by attacking harmful bacteria and soothing skin irritation. Its special formulation also means that it forms a barrier against wetness on your baby’s skin. Caldesene Powder is available in three handy sizes, 20g, 55g and 100g.

Caldease Ointment also relieves the symptoms of nappy rash. Caldease protects irritated skin and soothes minor skin irritations, superficial wounds and burns. Caldease Ointment can be applied before the powder and works to actually put back fluids to the skin area and act as a moisturiser, helping prevent recurrence of nappy rash. Caldease is available in both 30g and a new larger 100g tube.

CaldeSpray, the latest addition to the family, is a zinc oxide milk spray for nappy rash. This concentrated spray has excellent skin adherent and skin protective properties which form a protective barrier against wetness.

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Legal Matters

Legal Matters

Just How Safe is Your Workplace?

By law, you are obliged to provide a safe workplace and a safe place for consumers to shop. Failure to do so could be extremely costly indeed, writes solicitor Tanya Brady.

WITH the retail industry employing in the region of 270,000 people in Ireland, the typically low-risk sector has the potential to cause serious headaches for retailers in the area of personal injuries; in particular those associated with slips, trips and falls.

According to figures released by Retail Ireland in February 2013, accidents of this type account for nearly 50% of all claims made against retailers. Despite the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 alleviating a high number of false claims - whereby under section 14, it is an offence if an individual purposely gives or causes to be given false or misleading evidence in a personal injuries action - Retail Ireland acknowledge that personal

injury claims of this nature are on the increase.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers have a number of responsibilities in this area, such as providing a safe workplace with safe access, together with the implementation of risk assessments and safety statements in their business. The Safety, Health and Welfare (General Application) Regulations more specifically require employers to provide flooring that does not have dangerous bumps, holes or slopes.

Prevention is Better than Cure (Or a Law Suit) The property owner or an employee

will be liable if they have caused the hazardous condition, they should have known about the hazard and did not correct it or they did not take reasonable steps to prevent the accident, such as placing a barrier or warning sign near the hazard. Bear in mind that the trader is not responsible if the injured party were trespassing on the property or were acting in a reckless manner so as to cause their injury. The cause of such a high level of accidents in the category of slips, trips and falls can be attributed to a number of factors: for employers, it’s possibly the lack of ability to adequately assess the risk factors within their business.

For employees, it may be due to the fact that they assume that it is the company’s responsibility to prevent slips and trips rather than their own.

How To Prevent Accidents The importance of risk assessments and safety statements cannot be overstated and proper management of safety and health is key. But just what is a risk assessment? The Health and Safety Authority describe it as simply looking closely at what in your place of work or about your work activities could cause

harm to your employees and visitors to your workplace (e.g. customers, suppliers, sales representatives etc) and determining the control measures you can implement to minimise the risk.

Between 2010 and 2012, over 22% of all workplaces surveyed had not carried out a slip, trip and fall risk assessment. The HSA identified this shortfall and offer a BeSMART.ie facility, allowing employers to prepare comprehensive risk assessments and safety statements for their workplace through the website.

The Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, Martin O’Halloran has made a number of suggestions that business owners can implement to contain the issue; such as nominating one person per shift to take responsibility for clearing up spillages and highlighting areas where employees and customers are required to take extra care, such as a sudden change in the level of flooring. Another good starting point is acknowledging obvious risk factors such as poor lighting and damaged flooring. The provision and installation of adequate signage and warnings can also serve to highlight possible risks to employees and customers.

It should be noted that signage does not fully discharge the onus on the part of the retailer in this

implemented in order to prevent any potential claims. In this case, a lady slipped on a wet floor in a nightclub in Dublin and was awarded €56,000 in damages on the basis that the cleaning and maintenance system did not operate effectively. Despite the fact that the cleaning system was described as a “brilliantly regulated cleaning system”, the court was not satisfied that it was properly utilised by staff on the night of the incident.

regard. It has been stated that a sign should only be used where hazards cannot be avoided or eliminated and should only be implemented as a last line of defence.

In February 2014, the HSE were ordered to pay over €1m to Nilofar Ikram, a physiotherapist who fell on icy steps outside a

About the Author TANYA Brady is a solicitor with McCanny & Co Solicitors in Sligo and is a graduate of NUI Galway and Trinity College, Dublin. She has recently completed a Certificate in Conveyancing and Property Law with the Law Society of Ireland. McCanny & Co. Solicitors are located in Pollexfen House, Wine Street, Sligo, and have been providing the North West of Ireland with legal services for over 35 years.

Tel: (071) 9145928. Email: mccanny@eircom.net.

Dublin Community Hospital in January 2010. It was heard by the High Court sitting in Limerick that three yellow wet floor signs were placed to one side of the steps in question. Mr Justice David Keane stated that the defendant failed in its duty of care and that directly caused Ms Ikram’s accident and her subsequent loss. From this case, it is clear that employers should not rely solely on ‘caution’ signs to warn people about wet surfaces – if they do not physically prevent access to the area concerned, they can easily be overlooked and cause an accident.

Implementation of the System It was noted in the recent case of Moore –v- Westwood Club Limited that having a regulated cleaning and monitoring system on paper is not enough; the system must be properly

Ignore the Statistics at your Peril Both the business and the injured party suffer as a result of the fall-out: in 2012, alone it was estimated that a total of €22m was paid out in compensation, with an on-average payment totalling €27,286. For those injured, it was reported that between the years 2011 to 2013 alone, 25% were not in a position to work for at least a month after having their accident.

Of this percentage, a large proportion indicated that they suffered on-going physical and mental side effects as a result of the trauma.

For struggling small to medium sized businesses, this could ultimately lead to the business owner questioning their ability to continue their business, definite financial difficulties and possible closure.

Can your business afford to ignore the risk?

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Costcutter Store of the Year

Costcutter Store of the Year

Costcutter Scores on Quality Eugene Carney from Costcutter Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, is pictured accepting the Foodmarket Wine Store of the Year Award from Jim Barry, MD, Barry Group.

The Costcutter Store of the Year Awards saw the top stores countrywide rewarded across a host of categories.

Michael and Josephine Fitzpatrick, from Costcutter Kilmihil, Co. Clare, are pictured receiving the Costcutter Express Store of the Year Award from Jim Barry, Holly Barry and Gerard Burke, Group Account Manager, Barry Group.

Jim Barry is pictured with Aaron Massey, Costcutter Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, winner of the Costcutter Foodmarket of the Year.

Jim Barry, Barry Group Managing Director, with his daughter Holly, presents the Costcutter Supermarket of the Year Award to Michael, Olive, Susan and George Doherty, from Carndonagh

UP to 35 new stores will open in the coming year under the Costcutter/ Carry Out retail franchise brands in Ireland, creating around 300 new jobs, it was announced at the Costcutter Store of The Year Awards, held recently at The Heritage Hotel, in Killenard, County Laois.

Jim Barry, Managing Director of the Barry Group, who support the 120-strong independent Costcutter group, said that the locally owned stores have invested substantially in new technology, range and services in the past year, and that business is very much “on the up”, reflecting the big demand for community based retailing.

Upping The Bar The MD thanked the team at the Barry

Group for “upping the bar” over the last year. Acknowledging that the Irish grocery market remains a difficult and ever-changing place to do business, Barry pointed to the continued growth of the discounters and the fact that Tesco continues to lose share. The convenience market, he maintained, had more than halved over the last decade but it is stabilising, he said.

The Dublin market, for example, is recovering, along with Cork, Galway and other larger populated areas, but things remain tough in rural areas.

However, he opined, we are most likely at the beginning of the next business cycle.

Barry argued that our Government suffers from “a lack of joined-up thinking”. We are meant to be the best

small country to do business in, he argued, yet there are many threats to our business. He cited the proposed plain packaging on cigarettes and tobacco as a case in point, as well as the high costs of doing business in Ireland, the threat of crime, counterfeit products and the lack of access to broadband, especially in rural areas.

In terms of the Barry Group, however, he argued that their longterm policy of not affecting services to customers during the recent difficult trading years is paying off, and there is a major focus within the Group on how to keep improving these services.

New Developments at Costcutter Within Costcutter, there are many new developments in the pipeline, including the roll-out of a new store operator manual, the launch of a Costcutter app, and a new loyalty scheme. Other developments include enhancing the role of the account manager, developing

an off licence offering, extending Costcutter’s private label range and developing a solid fuel offering, as well as increased focus on the product mix and brand development.

“How we all manage and develop our brand going forward is vital for us all,” Barry noted. To that end, Barry Group will focus on developing the Costcutter brand through a combination of traditional and new/ social media, as well as in-store

execution. “We need everybody on board, the retailer, supplier and the Colm Allen’s Costcutter Phibsboro, Dublin 7, was named Costcutter Express Wine Store of the Year: Declan Johnson, team at Barry Group, Barry Group, is pictured accepting the award on behalf of all working together to the store. deliver to our maximum Pick, and Carry Out independent retail potential,” the MD franchises, and providing wholesale explained. food and alcohol distribution to over The Barry Group, based in Mallow 800 independent retail customers in Cork, is one of the biggest retail through its central distribution distribution groups in Ireland, owning network nationwide. and operating the Costcutter, Quik

Costcutter Store of the Year Awards Costcutter Supermarket of the Year Winner: Runners-up:

Doherty’s Costcutter, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal Liddy’s Costcutter, Roslevein, Ennis, Co. Clare Tuohy’s Costcutter, Birr, Co. Offaly

Costcutter Foodmarket of the Year Winner: Runners-up:

Massey’s Costcutter, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin Durkin’s Costcutter, Tully, Connemara, Co. Galway Daniels’ Costcutter, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Costcutter Express Store of the Year Winner: Runners-up:

Fitzpatrick’s Costcutter, Kilmihil, Co. Clare Cruise’s Costcutter, Wellingtonbridge, Co. Wexford Skelly’s Costcutter, Virginia, Co. Cavan

Farren’s Costcutter, Buncranna, Co. Donegal

Off Licence of the Year Winner: Runners-up:

Massey’s Costcutter, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin Daniels’ Costcutter, Ballina, Co. Mayo Durkin’s Costcutter, Tully, Connemara, Co. Galway

Fresh Produce Award Winner:

Liddy’s Costcutter, Roslevein, Ennis, Co. Clare

Best Food To Go Award

Winner: Costcutter Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary (Amber Oil)

Foodmarket Wine Store of the Year

Forecourt of the Year

Costcutter Express Wine Store of the Year

Best Customer Service Award

Winner: Runners-up:

Winner: Runners-up:

Carney’s Costcutter, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo Murphy’s Costcutter, Macroom, Co. Cork Carrig’s Costcutter, Tiermaclane, Ennis, Co. Clare Allen’s Costcutter, Phibsboro, Dublin 7 Cruise’s Costcutter, Wellingtonbridge, Co. Wexford

Winner: Runners-up:

Winner:

Costcutter Fermoy, Co. Cork (Amber Oil) Liddy’s Costcutter, Mill Road, Ennis, Co. Clare Stafford’s Costcutter, Clonard, Co. Wexford

John Moran, Costcutter Dingle.

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Costcutter Store of the Year

Kevin Rice, General Manager, Amber Oil, is pictured receiving the Costcutter Forecourt of the Year Award for Costcutter Fermoy, Co. Cork, from Jim Barry, MD, Barry Group.

John Moran from Costcutter Dingle, Co. Kerry, is pictured receiving the Award for Best Customer Service from Jim Barry, Barry Group MD.

Winning Ways!

Massey’s Costcutter in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, was the big winner at this year’s Costcutter Store of The Year Awards, winning the Foodmarket of the Year category for the fourth successive year, as well as taking home the award for Costcutter Off-Licence of the Year.

Other winners included Doherty’s Tom Liddy from Costcutter Roslevin, Ennis, Co. Clare, is presented with the Best Fresh Produce Award by Jim Barry,Costcutter, Carndonagh, County Donegal, which Barry Group MD.

Market News was named Costcutter Supermarket of the Year; Fitzpatrick’s Costcutter, Kilmilhil, County Clare, winner of Costcutter Express Store of the Year; and the Amber Costcutter, Fermoy, County Cork, winner of Best Forecourt.

Costcutter stores in Roslevan in Ennis, Tipperary town, Dingle, Phibsboro in Dublin, and Ballyhaunis in Mayo were also honoured at the awards ceremony, which celebrated excellence in retailing across Costcutter franchised stores.

Congratulating all of the finalists, Jim Barry said that the Cork company was committed to continued reinvestment to meet its customers’ needs.

“Food retail is one of the most competitive sectors in Irish business, and indigenous operators like Costcutter and Barry’s of Mallow continue to raise standards and quality, by reinvesting in range and customer service, and working with local suppliers to secure the value and service consumers expect”, Jim Barry said.

Sixty Years in Irish Retail The Barry Group, which will celebrate its sixtieth year in business next year, also recently made a €1m investment in a centralised chilled distribution solution, which is expected to yield up to €200m in additional business revenue for the wholesale distribution company in the next five years.

A new retail IT system was also specially developed to support Costcutter’s chilled distribution, with the bespoke retail software facilitating automated ordering, and giving store owners and managers increased business intelligence on sales trends and pricing when placing orders.

Advanced retail systems and wider own-brand range provision have seen store numbers grow considerably in the Costcutter group in the past year.

Tipperary town, Kilbeggan in Westmeath, Galway’s Spiddal, Clonskeagh in Dublin, Ballyheigue in Kerry, Monaghan town, and Allenwood in Kildare have all seen the opening of new Costcutter supermarkets and convenience formats in recent months.

An expanded range of Costcutter own-brands and a new generic Meadowbrook Farm chilled and fresh food range have also boosted business considerably for the Costcutter stores network, in the increasingly pricecompetitive market.

See www.barrygroup.ie for more information.

GLENILEN FARM GOES LIGHT GLENILEN Farm have launched a new range of low fat, live yoghurt pots, Glenilen Farm Light which are lighter and lovelier than ever at just 1% fat and less sugar than the original range. The range is available in four delicious flavours – Strawberry, Blueberry, Rhubarb and Natural – the new 450g pots are the perfect way to enjoy farmhouse fresh goods with two thirds less fat than the original range. Each flavoured pack is priced at €2.25, with the natural variety retailing at €1.99 and consists of 1% fat creamy, natural, live yoghurt with no artificial additives or preservatives. “Customers have been asking for a low fat option for some time now and we are delighted to be able to deliver a range that still retains our authentic farmhouse taste with lower fat and less sugar,” noted Valerie Kingston, co- owner of Glenilen Farm. See www.glenilenfarm.ie for more information.

CAT CLUB RELAUNCHED AS part of the Cat Club re-launch, new improved formulations have been introduced across the range, improving the quality and palatability of the brand. Cat Club has also undergone a packaging re design, which will increase the brand’s identity on-shelf. A new departure for Cat Club sees the introduction of a new Poultry Selection Chunks in Gravy 6 Pack, to complement the current Cat Club Variety Chunks in Jelly 6 Pack. Cat Club has also introduced two new Variety 3 Packs, price marked at €2, offering the customer value for money and the retailer strong margin.

Cat Club has a proven sales record so its re-launch can only increase sales for retailers. Cat Club will also be supported by a strong advertising campaign and promotional activity throughout the coming months. See www.facebook.com/catclubcatfood for more information.

TESCO RAINBOW CAULIFLOWERS

IT’S #MOYPARKTIME!

TESCO are stocking a delicious seasonal range of Romanesque and colourful cauliflowers in stores for 10 weeks to November. The coloured cauliflowers, available in purple, orange and emerald green, are all naturally produced and exclusive to Tesco. Grown in Rush, Co. Dublin, and distributed by Gilfresh Produce, the colourful cauliflowers are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Four-year-old Annabelle Smith is pictured with some of the Rainbow cauliflowers.

SWIZZELS HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR WITH Halloween just around the corner, iconic confectionery brand Swizzels is gearing up for the spooky season with an extensive range of sweet treats this October 31. The classic range of Swizzels favourites, Lots of Lollies, Bumper Bag, and Chew Crew were among the top selling products last year and the individually wrapped sweets make them the perfect choice for Trick or Treaters as well as serving at parties. The Swizzels Party Tub, which includes a host of household favourites like classic Love Hearts, Double Lollies, Refreshers, Fruity Pops and Fizzers, is ideal for all spooky occasions. Other spooky treats include the Monster Mix bag, containing long time favourites such as Double Lollies, Refreshers, Love Hearts, Fruity Pops and Drumstick Lollies, all with a Halloween twist. See www.swizzels.com for more information.

MOY Park is set to unveil a new advertising campaign following its successful sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The new campaign, ‘#MoyParkTime’ will see the brand back on TV and new outdoor and press advertising, as well as bespoke digital media activity. “Independent research from RDSi has shown that spontaneous awareness of the Moy Park brand has increased to 48% (Source: RDSi Ireland Brand Tracker: Wave 3 - August 2014), making it the top-of-mind chicken brand for consumers across Ireland,” explained Paul McGurk, Brand Marketing Manager for Moy Park. “Therefore, the timing of the new campaign couldn’t be better.

We are confident our new campaign, which kicks off from October 20 with the launch of the new TV ad on screens across Ireland, will resonate with consumers and showcase the personality behind the brand.” For more information, see www.moyparkchicken.com.

ALPRO BOOSTS BIG POTS ALPRO is unveiling its biggest ever product-focused Irish marketing campaign to boost awareness and sales of its Big Pot range of soya alternatives to yogurt. A distinctive new TV creative features ‘a dance of spoons’ and a ‘rain of toppings’ to inspire consumers to re-invent their breakfast every day with Alpro’s hero Big Pot variety, Simply Plain. The flavour has recorded strong value sales of +100% over the past year, emerging as a star performer for the brand alongside Alpro Vanilla – up an impressive +689% (Source: Nielsen, Irish value sales to June 2014). The TV campaign is being backed by a fully integrated marketing campaign, including digital advertising, an on-pack promotion, in-store/on-line promotions and activations, a press partnership, social media and PR.

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Shelf Life TOPAZ customers and staff have raised over €280k in the past two years for their charity partner, Aware. As well as fundraising, the partnership aims to promote positive mental health and to highlight the important services that Aware provides.

In the month of September alone, Topaz staff nationwide raised over €17,000 through a variety of fundraisers for Aware’s ‘Beat the Blues Campaign’. Topaz brand ambassador Alan Quinlan, who has himself experienced depression, was on hand in Cashel recently to support staff in their fundraising efforts. Five year old John Fitzgerald from New Inn is pictured with his dad, also John, making a donation to the former Munster and Ireland rugby international.

HEINZ Ireland has joined forces with Kinetic, the Out Of Home media planning and buying specialists, and OMD Ireland to run a special campaign to launch the new Heinz Tomato Ketchup 50% Less Sugars & 25% Less Salt. To promote the new recipe, Heinz is using a 3D Purchase Point special at the Dunnes Stores at Cornelscourt Shopping Centre, Dublin. The special displays a giant 3D replica of the iconic Heinz imagery with 3D tomato vines and leaves highlighting the new recipe. The creative can also be seen across a Purchase Point campaign, which consists of 6 Sheet formats in supermarkets and shopping centres, strategically positioned at the Point of Sale. Pictured are (l-r): Emily O’Kane, Marketing Manager, Heinz, and Alan Rochford, Country Manager for Ireland, Heinz.

ELAVON, a leading Irish global payments solutions provider, has announced that its first-to-market MobileMerchant device is extending access to allow retailers to accept payments ‘on the move’ across the country, and in doing so increase their Point of Sale opportunities. The move sees Elavon continue its trend of investment in mobile technology solutions for businesses in the Irish market, strengthening the ability for businesses to accept payments for Android, iPhone and iPad users.

MobileMerchant is an innovative, secure, complete payment solution that transforms mobile devices into payment terminals. By connecting a smartphone via Bluetooth, MobileMerchant enables companies to do business anywhere, at any time, and accept Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards.

IRELAND’S single price value retailer, Dealz recently celebrated its third anniversary of trading in Ireland by announcing plans to open an additional 10 stores, creating over 300 new Irish jobs. Dealz also opened a new flagship store in Dublin City Centre in early October, making this the retailer’s 35th Irish store.

Located in the Ilac Shopping Centre, Dublin 1, the store has over 5,000 square feet of selling space. Model Holly Carpenter is pictured celebrating Dealz’ third anniversary of trading in Ireland.

LEADING in-store research and auditing company, Shelfwatch who turn 10 in 2015, are marking the occasion early by rebranding and are delighted to announce the launch of a new more contemporary corporate identity.

Shelfwatch Managing Director, John Davis, is pictured introducing the new brand identity.

KILDARE-based chocolatier Lily O’Brien’s has become the latest Irish company to be stocked in Tesco UK stores. The lucrative deal will see Lily O’Brien’s products listed in over 500 Tesco stores throughout the UK in time for Christmas.

Jason Popplewell, Commerical Director of Lily O’Brien’s, and Malachy O’Connor, Fresh Food Commerical Director of Tesco Ireland, are pictured celebrating the news at the National Ploughling Championships.

The Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2014 11 September 2014 Round Room Mansion House, Dublin

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

To see the full list of winning products please visit www.irishqualityfoodawards.com For more details about the 2015 awards please contact: Lara Monahan, lara.monahan@irishqualityfoodawards.com +353 1 8176363 Sponsored by

In association with ER ST !

GI OW RE N

VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles were delighted to support the annual Small Firms Association lunch which took place recently in the RDS, Dublin. Guest of Honour, President Michael D Higgins opened the event, which was one of the biggest business events of the year for the small business community.

KEITH Banks, Category Channel Manager: Food, Nestlé Ireland; Sarah Jane Donnelly, TV3 Group; and Ireland AM’s Anna Daly and Joe Shannon, are pictured announcing Nestlé Carnation as the new sponsor of TV3’s Ireland AM cookery segments.

Ireland AM is Ireland’s leading breakfast TV show, with regular cooking segments running twice a week, which will be topped and tailed with Nestlé Carnation sponsorship stings and branding, as part of this year-long sponsorship.

See and taste products from the Irish Quality Food Awards!

Visit the Irish Quality Food Awards Showcase at a dedicated area of Food & Hospitality Ireland.

Plus there will be demos from award-winning chefs on The Skillery, discussions from industry leaders on the Spotlight Stage and over 100 suppliers from Ireland and beyond.

FREE WIFI, FREE PARKING AND FREE REGISTRATION. PLUS A FREE CUP OF TEA!

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the recent Brandy Competition in Retail News, Declan Downey from Tramore, Co. Waterford, who is the lucky winner of a Brandy Hamper which includes an iPad Mini.

Register using the unique link below and pick up a free cup of tea at the show:

www.foodhospitality.ie/QUAL

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Join us and you and your customers will be smiling.

As you know happy customers make very good business sense. When you are part of the MACE family you will have the strength of the MACE buying power behind you. You will have access to the incredibly supportive MACE team. Not only is there a nationwide ad campaign, there is tons of in-store, local marketing and advertising support. The MACE Own Brand range offers your customers quality and is extremely competitively priced. We are Ireland’s fastest growing neighbourhood and forecourt stores because people everywhere like the extras we offer. Being part of our success story will put a smile on the face of your business.

John Tully – 086 818 9312 (Regional Manager North) | Liam Attridge – 086 852 1362 (Regional Manager South) visit www.mace.ie |

facebook.com/maceireland

Going the extra smile