Retail News February 2021

Retail News FEBRUARY 2021

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

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Northern Ireland.

Open for Business.

Following the end of the transition period, Northern Ireland continues to be a great place to buy from if you are in Ireland: The Protocol on Ireland/ Northern Ireland has ensured there are no border controls.

So for trade between Northern Ireland and the EU that means: • No tariffs • No new customs checks • No new regulatory checks Our products continue to move to Ireland as they always have, friction free with no delays. Just the same, Pure, Natural, Quality from our trusted food and drink manufacturers.

Contact our business development team for more information.

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Northern Ireland. Altogether more.

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|1

Contents News

Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director

3

Stakeholders meet to consider Deposit Return Scheme; Musgrave appoints Ian Allen as MD of SuperValu and Centra.

Drinks industry to strengthen standards for online alcohol sales; Bord Bia encourages food industry to ‘Think Digital’.

6

Grocery market continues to grow in lockdown.

8

Mace launches national fundraising initiative for Down Syndrome Ireland; Lidl to recruit 1,200 new staff; CSNA launches wellbeing and digital support for members.

9

Grow with Aldi investment hits €3m; Tesco Ireland certified a Great Place to Work; Food and drink exports declined by 2% in 2020.

16

SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave MarketPlace stores across Ireland have donated €129,000 to local community buildings in conjunction with the SEAI.

30

After an unprecedented year, where the grocery retail sector was recognised for the essential service it provides to Irish society, we face into an uncertain 2021. Retail Ireland Chair Brian Donaldson and Director Arnold Dillon reflect on the year that was and the challenges facing Irish retail going forward.

18

Londis Sponsorship 26

Londis is absolutely delighted with the renewal of its sponsorship of Ireland’s Fittest Family, which recently recorded record viewership figures on RTÉ One.

Despite the impact of Covid-19, Ireland’s forecourt sector is in good health, according to the latest data from international experts Experian Catalist.

Transport and Logistics 36

Aidan Flynn, GM, Freight Transport Association Ireland, explains just what the free trade deal between the EU and the UK means for those importing to and exporting from Ireland.

36

Data and FMCG Sharing your data with your supply chain partners can really maximise its effectiveness.

Customer Experience 52

Retail News Interview 18

Since January 2019, Kind has grown to become the number one singles brand in the fruit, nut, cereal category.

Forecourt Focus: Analysing the Market

50

Sustainability

What are the customer experience trends grocers should be adapting to and avoiding in 2021?

Employment Law 54

Barry Reynolds and Jenny Wakely, specialists in employment law with DAC Beachcroft, examine workplace issues that have been brought into sharp focus by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Digital Maturity 58

The Irish food retail/grocery sector was the big winner in an international study into digital maturity.

Out of Home Communications 60

The Out of Home communications industry is predicted to show some recovery in 2021, according to a recent Kinetic Viewpoint event.

Regulars & Reports 10 Industry News

Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine

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Managing Director: Patrick Aylward Editorial & Marketing Director:

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Kathleen Belton

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Editor: John Walshe

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Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen

4

Retail News Chief News Reporter: Pavel Barter

29

Retail groups call for earlier vaccinations for shop workers.

What will 2021 bring?

I DON’T imagine anyone in the country will look back on 2020 with much fondness, with most of us just glad that we were able to put the year behind us. That said, the grocery/FMCG industry deserves huge credit for the way it stepped up and kept the country supplied during the biggest crisis in living memory, and continues to do so.

In our Retail News Interview, editor John Walshe talks to Brian Donaldson, Chair of Retail Ireland and CEO of The Maxol Group, and Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland, about the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Irish grocery sector, the effects of Brexit on the supply chain, the importance of sustainability and the legacy challenges that will still be with us post-pandemic (Page 18).

We also examine the forecourt sector in detail (Page 30), where James Haigh, Business Consultant, with London-based forecourt experts, Experian Catalist, delves into the latest statistics from the Irish forecourt sector, finding a category in good health, with 64 new sites opening last year, despite the pandemic.

Elsewhere, Aidan Flynn, General Manager, Freight Transport Association Ireland, explains just what the Brexit deal means for Ireland (Page 36); we report on a lively webinar where the experts concluded that collaboration is the key to getting value from big data (Page 50); and Martyn Jones, Director, VoCoVo, explores the customer experience trends grocers should be adapting to and ditching in 2021 (Page 52).

Kind Snacks

2

33 Forecourt Focus: News 38 Easter Treats 46 Paper Products 62 What’s New

Email: morgan.stokes@tarapublications.ie Production: Ciara Conway

Graphics: John Sheridan Printed by: W&G Baird

Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.

64 Shelf Life

2|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

News

Retail groups call for earlier vaccinations for shop workers

OUT of a provisional list of 15 vaccination groups of people in Ireland, retailer workers are likely to be allocated No. 13, according to the HSE. In a letter to RGDATA, Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, wrote: “I understand the retail/wholesale sector is likely to be included in the Government allocation group 13.” This places retail workers in the category of ‘Other workers in occupations important to the functioning of society’, beneath ‘People working in education sector’ (11) and ‘People aged 18-64 living or working in crowded settings’ (9).

The letter followed a request from

Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General.

RGDATA to ensure that essential retail and food logistic employees would be categorised in Level 6: ‘Key workers (Vaccination Programme)’.

“We believe it should be a priority for essential retailers and food logistics workers to get an early vaccine,” Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General, told Retail News. “Obviously, we don’t believe that should be in front of the most vulnerable identified by the Government.

Once they and frontline health care workers have been completed, we believe that essential retail and food logistics workers should be in the next category.”

Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA), said there has been “jostling for position” from different sectors on the priority list, but retail’s effort to “contain and control the spread of the infection, despite the fact that tens of millions of customers come through the door” should place it higher on the list.

Retailers are reporting an increased amount of customers entering their stores without masks. In January, a woman in Sligo town was charged for violently assaulting a staff member in a shop after being asked to wear a facecovering. The proprietor of a SuperValu in Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, was left “badly shaken” after a stand-off with two customers who refused to wear masks. In both incidences, Gardaí were called.

“There is a small group of persistent, aggressive anti-maskers that are creating problems,” said Buckley. “We

get weekly reports of incidents in stores: people making aggressive scenes at the store entrance, when they are refused entry because they are not wearing a mask, and shouting about their rights, equality legislation and GDPR. People filming our security staff who are doing their job, acting politely, and following the store policy.”

“They’re out spoiling for a fight,” added Jennings. “Rather than taking on the guards, they are taking on poor staff members in shops. It’s a minority of a minority but there isn’t a week that goes by when you don’t see them in your shops.”

Buckley continued: “I just got off

Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland.

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|3

News

Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA.

the phone to a member who is dealing with a customer who is insistent they have an exemption from wearing a mask but won’t provide proof. When the staff refused this customer at the door, they threatened legal action. The owner knew the customer and phoned them.

The customer said they won’t show the exemption under GDPR.” RGDATA is seeking legal advice as to whether there is a way to reveal evidence of an exemption from wearing a mask without revealing any personal details.

In their letter to RGDATA, the HSE claimed that the current “key constraint” to mass vaccination is a limited amount

of vaccines: “so it is not possible to reach everyone as quickly as we would like... Although any grouping or list has limitations and cannot take account of each individual workplace/person, the HSE must adhere to this Government policy in rolling out the vaccination programme.”

The most immediate priority, according to Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland, “is to get vulnerable groups vaccinated and then roll it out to the rest of the population as quickly as possible. We are awaiting clarity as to where retail workers will sit in order of prioritisation.”

Stakeholders meet to consider Deposit Return Scheme

Musgrave appoints Ian Allen as MD of SuperValu and Centra

INDEPENDENT retailers, government officials, and environmental groups have begun brainstorming around plans to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for PET plastic drinks bottles and aluminium cans in Ireland. The scheme, which is part of the Programme for Government and the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, may be introduced as early as autumn 2022.

Retail representatives told Retail News they are committed to introducing the scheme, which aims to improve the environment by reducing litter and promoting recycling, as long as retailers are “front and centre” of the scheme.

Retail Ireland has signed up to the Circular Economy. “A clean environment and resilient and resource efficient economy are vital for continued sustainable development of Irish society,” said Arnold Dillon, Director. “The introduction of a DRS scheme is a significant aspect of the Programme for Government - in that vein, we are committed as a sector to working constructively with Government on the most effective way to introduce a scheme.”

Under the proposals, customers will pay a €0.20 deposit per container. Retailers insist they should be remunerated for any costs incurred in setting up the mechanisms for DRS. “The department [of Environment, Climate and Communications] indicates that it is impossible to do this on a shoestring budget,” said Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA. “It’s going to cost tens of millions of euro. Whether or not there is a quantifiable benefit is another matter. You’re diverting money from a [Repak] collection scheme that is already working efficiently.”

Dillon called for “uniformity” in relation to DRS pricing: “A set price for returns is preferable. If prices vary per size, it could create issues. It would be preferable that a minimum and maximum size limit be placed on containers and that certain lines such as glass and dairy be excluded altogether.”

Ireland’s scheme follows a move to introduce DRS in Scotland from July 1, 2022, where retailers in Scotland will be required to charge a 20p deposit for drinks in single-use cans, plastic or glass bottles. The retailer must then take back the empty bottle, when given to them by the consumer, refund the deposit, and submit the bottle for recycling.

The department for the Environment, Climate and Communications has set up a working group to progress plans and discuss further details with retailers.

MUSGRAVE has announced the appointment of Ian Allen as Managing Director of SuperValu and Centra. A 23-year Musgrave veteran, Ian has over 30 years’ experience in the grocery industry and a proven track record of delivering significant brand growth. He has served in a variety of roles including SuperValu Sales Director, Centra Sales Director, Head of Trading Strategy & Planning, and Director of Frank and Honest Coffee, which is now the number one on-the-go coffee brand in the country.

“We are delighted to appoint Ian as Managing Director of SuperValu and Centra,” revealed Musgrave CEO Noel Keeley. “His appointment reflects the success he has had across multiple roles, most recently as Sales Director of SuperValu, which has performed strongly this year.”

Noel also paid special tribute to Ray Kelly who served as Interim Managing Director over the past number of months, “stepping into the role in the midst of a global pandemic and steering our retail brands through Covid-19.”

Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu and Centra.

4|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

News

Drinks industry to strengthen standards for online alcohol sales IRELAND’S drinks industry has signed up to a new alliance with online retailers, and e-commerce and delivery platforms to strengthen standards for the online sale of alcohol, to further safeguard Irish consumers.

The move comes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, according to Drinks Ireland, saw e-commerce sales of

alcohol increase in Ireland last year, with this trend set to continue in 2021.

While the closure of the hospitality sector resulted in overall alcohol consumption declining in 2020 in Ireland, with Revenue clearance data showing that it fell by 4.5% between January and September 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, Drinks Ireland said it’s important that consumers that are buying alcohol online are protected.

A range of Irish based drinks producers were among the 12 leading global beer, wine, and spirits producers and 12 prominent global and regional online retailers, and e-commerce and delivery platforms, to form this global alliance to implement industry standards for the sale of alcohol online. It was established through the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), of which Drinks Ireland is a member.

The new alliance aims to prevent the online sale and delivery of alcohol to minors and to reduce harmful drinking Patricia Callan, Director of Drinks Ireland.

among adults.

“The rise of e-commerce offers opportunities for Irish producers to break into new markets and reach new consumer segments and this will only grow in 2021,” noted Patricia Callan, Director of Drinks Ireland. “But Irish producers are committed to doing this in a responsible manner and are delighted to join this global collaboration between drinks companies and e-commerce platforms, which is the first of its kind.”

The new alliance will develop global standards of responsibility that: • Enhance safeguards and security measures so minors are unable to buy alcohol online; • Put in place mechanisms to prevent beer, wine and spirits being delivered to minors or to individuals showing visible signs of intoxication; • Promote global standards as a resource to support the development of national in-country codes and practices for the online sale and delivery of alcohol, which build on local and national regulation.

Bord Bia encourages food industry to ‘Think Digital’ BORD Bia has launched a comprehensive new suite of digital services under its Think Digital programme to support Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture sectors as they continue to face the severe and ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and the challenges of post-Brexit trading. The new services have been designed with a focus on unlocking the e-commerce potential within the sector to deliver much needed growth.

A new online retailing study from Bord Bia shows that in the three years since 2017, online shopping has grown by 75%. In the next three years to 2023, this is forecast to grow by a further 55% (Source: Statista). Covid-19 has led to a profound shift in the adoption of online grocery shopping, and is continuing to grow as physical distancing restrictions remain in place. Some 34% of Irish consumers who bought their groceries online in 2020 were ‘first-timers’, while 33% of EU online grocery shoppers only started in the past six months. The Bord Bia report also showed that whilst grocery traditionally trails other categories in transitioning to online, it is now the fastest-growing category.

In addition to exploring online retail habits, Bord Bia was particularly focused on identifying opportunities for selling Irish meat and seafood online. Although approximately 94% of the EU population eat meat and/or seafood, the study highlighted that only 56% buy those products online. However, 44% of online grocery shoppers who are currently not buying meat online are open to buying beef online, and 54% of online shoppers who are currently not buying seafood online are open to it, which suggests untapped potential for both sectors.

Adam Baker, Client Capability Manager at Bord Bia, believes the time has come for Ireland’s food sector to become digital adopters: “Diversification into new markets has been a crucial component for growth across the food industry over the last decade. Today, the growth in online shopping and grocery e-commerce offers our sector another growing, and potentially very valuable, alternative route to market. Through this new Think Digital programme, Bord Bia want to ensure that Ireland’s food industry has the requisite skills and knowledge it needs to successfully compete in a digital world.”

The new services will be primarily provided through a series of virtual workshops, webinars and self-service digital marketing guidebooks. According to Bord Bia, companies can also apply for bespoke, one-to-one digital mentoring, digital project management and branding supports.

Bord Bia is encouraging all companies in the food, drink and horticulture sectors to register for ‘Think Digital’ services on www.bordbia.ie or for further information on available supports, email thinkdigital@bordbia.ie.

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News

Grocery market continues to grow in lockdown THE latest figures from Kantar show that take-home grocery sales in Ireland grew by 16.4% in the 12 weeks to January 24, 2021. Growth edged up over the past month to 16.8% as the new year brought a full month of restrictions on eating and drinking out of home.

“January wasn’t quite the fresh start we hoped for and ongoing lockdowns meant we continued to rely on supermarkets to keep us fed. With restaurants and bars closed for the past four weeks, Irish shoppers spent an extra €142.8m on take-home groceries compared with last year,” noted Emer Healy, Retail Analyst at Kantar.

“Many of us like to kick off a new year with good intentions, but this January, shoppers clearly struggled to balance the usual resolutions and health kicks with a need to treat themselves and lift their spirits in lockdown.

Veganuary took a bit of a backseat and 15,000 fewer Irish households purchased meat-free alternatives this month, driving a 5.2% decline in sales compared with last year. Some people did have a crack at Dry January, and sales of non-alcoholic beer soared by 84% year on year, but we didn’t deprive ourselves completely and sales of chocolate and crisps grew by 26% and 40% this month.”

With the return of home schooling

in January, households with children spent €172 more on groceries in the latest four weeks. “Parents and children once again found themselves working side-by-side at kitchen tables, and that means more mouths to feed throughout the day. Busy families turned to childfriendly breakfast and lunch options, parting with an additional €4.5m on cereals, €3.9m extra on yogurt and €7.8m more on cheese,” Emer notes.

January also brought uncertainty about the impact of Brexit. “All eyes have been on our supermarket shelves following the Brexit deal. We have seen some impact from the temporary disruption in the fresh fruit aisles and sales of tropical fruit, strawberries, and soft fruit all fell this month as shoppers struggled to get their hands on imported produce. But there has also been a boost for homegrown Irish staples and sales of vegetables have increased by 18.5% in the latest four weeks,” Emer revealed.

“Stable grocery inflation of 1.6% in January also suggests that shoppers aren’t feeling an additional pinch on their wallets just yet.”

As people continue to spend as much time at home as possible, 12% of Irish shoppers purchased groceries online in the first four weeks of 2021. Sales of groceries through digital channels reached a record-breaking market

share this month, accounting for 5.2% of grocery sales in January, almost doubling from 2.7% a year ago.

Bolstered by their online presence, Tesco and SuperValu boosted sales by 16.5% and 18.5% respectively. While both retailers achieved sales growth through larger shops, it was Tesco that saw the biggest increase in trip size among all the grocers this period, as shoppers added on average 3.5 more items to their trolleys.

Both Aldi and Lidl announced thousands of new jobs in Ireland this month. Lidl continued to see the strongest growth of all the retailers and grew sales by 25.6% as shoppers spent an additional €77.9m in-store. Aldi held a 11.3% share of the market this period, with its success driven by shoppers adding more items to their baskets.

Dunnes is top of the table with the largest share of the market this period at 22.6% as visitors to the grocer continued to spend the most in the store.

This follows last month’s figures from Kantar, which revealed a record breaking €1.2 billion was spent on groceries in December, making it the busiest month ever, as the average shopper spent €134 more on groceries in December 2020 than the previous year.

MARKET SHARE - TOTAL GROCERY

Includes expenditure across Food, Beverages, Alcohol, Household and Health & Beauty categories Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend 12 Weeks to 26/01/20

12 Weeks to 24/01/21

% Change in value sales

%*

%*

%

100.0%

100.0%

16.4%

Total Multiples

89.6%

89.8%

16.6%

Dunnes

23.6%

22.6%

11.3%

Tesco

21.8%

21.9%

16.5%

SuperValu

21.7%

22.1%

18.5%

Aldi

11.4%

11.3%

15.3%

Lidl

11.0%

11.9%

25.6%

Other Outlets**

10.4%

10.2%

14.6%

Total Outlets

* = Percentage Share of Total Grocers ** = Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers and Cross Border shops Source: Worldpanel FMCG

8|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

News

Mace launches national fundraising initiative for Down Syndrome Ireland MACE has launched a national fundraising campaign to support Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI), following a renewal of their charity partnership. The Mace fundraising campaign will provide much-needed funds for the launch of a new online education course developed by DSI in response to the impact of the global pandemic on its members.

The 10-week course ‘Ability Online’ will provide supports to adults with Down syndrome who have been left more isolated, with significant job losses and limited options to engage with further education and other life activities due to Covid-19.

The first €10,000 raised by Mace retailers allows DSI to set up and deliver the first 10-week-online course, which began on February 15, with every €5,000 raised thereafter funding an additional course.

Funds are being raised through a combination of countertop charity boxes

in Mace stores across the country, a contribution from the sale of selected Mace own brand products and, Covid-19 restrictions allowing, a number of fundraising activities throughout the year.

Since adopting Down Syndrome Ireland as Mace’s official charity partner in 2017, Mace retailers have engaged in a number of initiatives designed to raise awareness and funds for the worthy charity and in the last two years have raised a total of €170,000 in funds.

“In the last 12 months, Mace retailers have seen first-hand just how important our contribution is to the communities we serve and above all, in helping those most vulnerable,” noted Daniel O’Connell, Mace Sales Director. “We are extremely proud therefore, to have renewed our partnership with DSI and to support this initiative, which will provide meaningful opportunities to adults with Down syndrome to engage, socialise and look for employment opportunities.”

Lidl to recruit 1,200 new staff LIDL Ireland is to recruit more than 1,200 new employees to its Irish operations this year in a variety of operational and office-based roles across its store network of 168 store locations, three regional distribution centres and Dublin head office. The new roles are being created to support Lidl’s growing footprint of stores nationwide that will see the country’s fastest growing retailer (Source: Kantar) open six new stores, carry out seven rebuilds of existing stores, as well as embark on a €75m expansion project on its Mullingar regional distribution centre. Successful candidates will be offered the retailer’s market-leading benefits packages and award-winning learning & development opportunities within in the business.

Recently awarded Best Covid-19 Response by a Retailer at the Irish Quality Food Awards, the retailer’s frontline workers’ dedication has not gone unnoticed and Lidl has now also committed to a €2m investment in a Covid Employee Bonus for all employees on the island of Ireland, the third Covid bonus offered by the retailer to recognise the valiant efforts of their essential workers during the pandemic. The announcement comes as Lidl is one of just 14 Irish companies recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer for 2021.

“Our most important asset has always been our people, and 2020 has reinforced that they are in fact the bedrock of our business, which is why we have prioritised building not only an exceptional place to work, but also an inclusive, rewarding and fulfilling culture at Lidl for our employees,” said Maeve McCleane, Director of Human Resources at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland. “It is with great pride that we accept this year’s Top Maeve McCleane, Director Employers certification and I look forward of Human Resources at Lidl to welcoming many new colleagues to team Ireland & Northern Ireland.

Lidl in the coming months.”

Daniel O’Connell, Mace Sales Director.

CSNA launches wellbeing and digital support for members THE Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association has partnered with Spectrum.

Life to provide valuable mental health and wellbeing supports for CSNA members and their employees nationwide in 2021.

Spectrum.Life is the largest provider of employer health and wellness services in Ireland, looking after the health and wellness needs of over one million users.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Spectrum.Life to provide our members with this very valuable support programme at a time of stress for our members,” noted Gus O’Hara, CSNA Deals Chairperson.

“Spectrum.Life are a very welcomed addition to our portfolio of over 35 exclusive CSNA Deals partners.”

Stephen Costello, Spectrum.Life CEO, said, “We recognise that the uncertainty and mental health challenges posed by the Coronavirus and supporting employees’ wellbeing has never been more important and look forward to supporting CSNA members in 2021.” For more information visit www.csna.ie.

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|9

News

Grow with Aldi investment hits €3m ALDI has announced the return of its ‘Grow with Aldi’ supplier development programme for 2021, which will see it supporting Irish suppliers, offering them the chance to become a core range listing in all 145 Aldi Ireland stores. To date, over 500 Irish suppliers have entered the Grow with Aldi programme over the last three years, with Aldi’s investment hitting €3m. This year, the Grow with Aldi message is sustainability, and entrants are encouraged to demonstrate how their product/company is focusing on sustainability as a top priority. This year will also see non-food related Irish products have the chance to appear on Aldi’s shelves.

Pictured is Deborah Crowley from Funky Monkey Foods, one of the Grow with Aldi 2020 winners, along with John Curtin, Group Buying Director at Aldi Ireland.

Tesco Ireland certified a Great Place to Work TESCO Ireland has been officially certified a Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year. The accolade was assessed and granted through Great Place to Work’s Trust Index employee survey, followed by a thorough Culture Audit demonstrating policies and practices.

This year, Tesco was commended by GPTW for its Covid-19 response in prioritising the safety of colleagues and customers alike. Throughout the pandemic, Tesco continued to support colleagues with additional bonuses, enhanced colleague discounts, life assurance and earlier access to staff rewards for new colleagues.

“We’re very proud to have retained the Great Place to Work standard for the fourth consecutive year,” said Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland. “Our teams, like many others, have been tested like never before in the past year as the way we work has changed significantly. Our colleagues have completely risen to the challenge and worked hard to help and safely serve our shoppers a little better every day. This accreditation is a tribute to all our colleagues. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Tony Pannu (front centre), store manager, Tesco Swords Airside, is pictured with his team celebrating that Tesco has been officially certified a Great Place to Work 2021 for the fourth consecutive year.

“The first three years of the programme were very successful for everyone involved, and Aldi forged new links with fantastic Irish suppliers from around the country,” revealed John Curtin, Aldi Ireland Group Buying Director. “During Covid-19, we were also in a position to help even more small Irish suppliers listing on our shelves as part of the Grow with Aldi programme, so we know that the quality of food and drink produced in Ireland is outstanding.

This year, we are asking suppliers to include products that highlight their work on sustainable food and products, we are looking forward to sampling what is on offer, as well as trying out non-food related products as part of the programme for the first time.”

Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO, said: “Recent research by the Bord Bia Thinking House revealed that 39% of Irish consumers are buying local grocery brands more often and the Grow with Aldi programme plays an important role in showcasing the distinctive, innovative and delicious products small and medium Irish suppliers are working hard to create. The programme also supports participants as they develop essential business skills and capabilities through workshops and tailored mentoring, which is key to building a resilient and thriving indigenous food and drink sector for the years ahead.” Further details are available at www.aldi.ie/grow.

Aldi also confirmed it is extending its temporary shorter payment terms initiative for small and medium Irish suppliers for the entirety of 2021, meaning that Aldi will continue to process payments for suppliers that transact up to €1m worth of business annually within five working days.

Food and drink exports declined by 2% in 2020 THE value of exports of Irish food, drink and horticulture were held to a marginal 2% decline in 2020, valued at €13 billion (down from €13.2 billion in 2019), during a period of unprecedented change and challenge that saw the largest disruption to normal market operation, globally, since the end of World War II. The figures from the annual Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report 2020/2021 underline the dividend of a decade-long diversification strategy that has seen Ireland achieve a broad global base for its food and drink exports, which now reach in excess of 180 countries. Increases have been recorded in the value of Irish dairy, pigmeat and sheepmeat exports, along with very significant increases in the value of exports to Africa and the Middle East as new international markets come to the fore.

Launching the report, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, said that Ireland’s food and drink producers “found a new level of resilience that saw exports in 2020 of close to 2019 levels”. He vowed that this year, the Department and Bord Bia will “focus on supporting our primary producers and manufacturers as they trade through continued uncertainty to support jobs and communities throughout Ireland.”

The Chief Executive of Bord Bia, Tara McCarthy, added: “Last year was a pivotal year of learning for us all and 2021 will be even more significant in terms of how we apply these learnings to rebuild and drive growth in new and emerging markets. The success of the industry’s transition to doing business virtually – from participation at online trade fairs to the development pioneering virtual trade missions – show that we can, and we will, rise to the challenge of doing business in new and inventive ways. This resourceful approach, coupled with the sector’s focus on geographic and customer diversification over the past decade has now paid dividends and is integral to safeguarding our exports.”

10|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News BWG Foods launches new fresh ready meals brand BWG Foods has announced the launch of a new range of high-quality fresh ready meals, Fresh Choice Kitchen, which is being rolled out across its network of over 1,000 Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores nationwide. The launch of ‘Fresh Choice Kitchen’ follows a partnership with a number of Irish suppliers to bring a new range of quality but affordable fresh and chilled convenience products to the marketplace, with a focus on sustainable, environmentally friendly packaging. Suppliers include Galmere Foods, Galway; Swift Fine Foods, Monaghan; Prestige Foods, Kerry; and Aveo, based in Dublin. The range includes products in traditional chilled convenience categories such as ready meals but also includes new areas for BWG Foods’ private label range, such as chilled desserts and fresh pizzas. BWG Foods is projecting sales potential of approximately €1m annually for its new brand and has plans to grow the brand nationally through a series of targeted marketing campaigns.

SuperValu to produce light fittings made from CDs SUPERVALU is to produce its light fittings for its network of 223 stores from recycled CDs using 3D Printing technology. As a result, its light fittings will have a 75% reduced carbon footprint for material supply & manufacturing, transport and end of life combined, due to the lightweight nature and reduced number of parts compared to a traditional luminaire, which translates to a 35% carbon emission saving when shipping. SuperValu has partnered with two Irish companies, Domus and Pro Light Design & Technology, to roll-out the recycled and 3D Printed Luminaires, with installations completed in 40 stores to date ahead of a larger roll-out to be completed this year. The roll-out forms part of a broader set of commitments as part of SuperValu’s sustainability plans, with SuperValu Managing Director Ian Allen explaining: “We are working hard to be more environmentally friendly, fundamentally rethinking everything we do from product packaging to how we design our stores.”

Fyffes Launches New Website FYFFES has launched a new website, fyffes.com, which makes it easy for customers and other users to find the information they need about its products and responsible business practices. ”Consumers and other stakeholders told us that they want to know more about the provenance of our bananas, pineapples, melons and exotic range, the so-called ‘farm to table’ journey. They want to know more about how we care for our people who harvest and pack by hand so that our products arrive in perfect condition to the supermarket shelves,” said Caoimhe Buckley, Director of Corporate Affairs. ”We want to make it easier to access information about our sustainability efforts, our certifications, quality controls and standards. We also want to help people find a good banana bread recipe during the many global lockdowns we are all experiencing.”

GM Marketing celebrates 21st birthday BELFAST- based, brand-building distributor, GM Marketing has launched a new website to mark its celebratory milestone of 21 years in business. Founded by Gerard McAdorey in 2000, GM Marketing has a varied portfolio spanning food, beverage, baby, household, and foodservice brands, with the addition of several own-label products on behalf of its customers. The brand portfolio includes well-known household names such as Fox’s Biscuits, Tilda, Nando’s, Filippo Berio, and the most recent addition to the portfolio, the Costa Coffee At Home range for the GB Wholesale & Convenience channel. “We’re now entering our 21st year stronger than ever – we have the right mix of people, experience, and expertise, with an exceptionally strong commercial team from various FMCG and retail backgrounds, which ensures we understand the markets, their customers and how to effectively build brands with purpose,” said Gerard. For more information, visit www.gmmarketing.co.uk.

Lidl launches designer face coverings for charity LIDL Ireland has partnered exclusively with Dublin-based art and fashion studio Jill & Gill to launch brand new designer face coverings which will be available in all 168 Lidl stores across the country. €1 from the sale of each two-pack of the colourful new face coverings will go to Lidl’s charity partner Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, which offers support, listening, and expert mental health advice to young people aged 12-25 across Ireland. “We’re delighted to launch our new Jill & Gill face coverings and to support our charity partner, Jigsaw, in this way,” noted Aoife Clarke, Head of Communications & Marketing at Lidl Ireland, pictured with Jill Deering and Gillian Henderson, owners of Jill & Gill.

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12|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Smarties switches to recyclable paper packaging NESTLÉ’S much-loved Smarties brand will shortly be using recyclable paper packaging for its confectionery products worldwide. This represents a transition of 90% of the Smarties range, as 10% was already packed in recyclable paper packaging. The roll-out of the new material, which will be complete in Ireland and the UK by April, makes Smarties the first global confectionery brand to move to paper packaging, removing approximately 250m plastic packs sold worldwide every year. The innovative new designs include sharing bags, multipacks and giant hexatubes made from coated paper, paper labels or carton board, all produced from sustainably sourced and recyclable material.

Kinetic and Coca-Cola encourage consumers to be ‘Open to Better’ in 2021

KINETIC has partnered with Coca-Cola to launch the new ‘Open to Better’ campaign, which features limited edition packs with 25 light-hearted resolutions to inspire people to be ‘Open to Better’. The new cans include phrases such as ‘I promise to listen more, just for you’, ‘I will never watch a series without you again’, and ‘I’m not the best at cooking but I’ll try’. Consumers also have the opportunity to personalise Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Diet Coke cans at coke.ie/opentobetter in Republic of Ireland and at coke.ie/ opentobetter in Northern Ireland and make their own personal pledges. Working closely with MediaCom, the team has devised an OOH campaign featuring a series of these positive and light-hearted resolutions, strategically placed at locations with high levels of activity during the current movement restrictions, including digital Point of Sale located in essential retail outlets and residential areas.

Kellogg’s launches new snack bar range KELLOGG’S is expanding its W.K Kellogg by Kids range with the launch of brand-new, healthy snack bars. As part of Kellogg’s drive to encourage families to make healthier choices, the W.K Kellogg

by Kids range first launched in 2020 with W.K Kellogg by Kids Multigrain Shapes Cereal, the first mainstream children’s cereal to be made with tasty fruit and veg and the number one cereal NPD of 2020. Due to its popularity, Kellogg’s has expanded the range with W.K Kellogg by Kids Bars. Made with tasty fruit and veg, wholegrains, and a source of fibre, the bars come in two flavours: Orange & Carrot and Strawberry, Raspberry & Beetroot. They contain no added sugar, no artificial colours or flavours and are less than 100 calories per bar.

BWG Foods joins Origin Green BWG Foods has become a verified member of the world’s first national sustainability programme, Origin Green. The business has worked very closely with Bord Bia’s Origin Green team to develop a sophisticated and comprehensive sustainability strategy that includes measurable targets around initiatives that will contribute positively to the environment, and also to the local communities in which BWG and its retailers operate.

BWG Foods has focused its efforts on a range of initiatives to reduce their environmental impact, including transitioning to renewable energy sources, lowering carbon emissions, reducing waste output and adopting more sustainable sourcing methods within its supply chain.“Our commitment to sustainability is borne out of the desire to always do the right thing by our customers and our communities, by reducing our environmental footprint, contributing to healthier diets, and supporting local communities,” noted Simon Marriott, Chief Operating Officer, BWG Foods (pictured). “Becoming a member of the Origin Green community signifies our achievements to date and our strong focus on sustainability into the future.”

PepsiCo Ireland donates €35,000 to Pieta PEPSICO Ireland has donated €35,000 to suicide prevention charity Pieta, which will help Pieta offer support to those in crisis all year round. PepsiCo Ireland’s donation is a personal one, with employees around the country nominating the charity partner they wished to help the most. The donation is made possible after an unexpected year saw PepsiCo pivot and adapt its strategy, with the help and support of Irish retailers. “It’s as a result of our strong relations with our retailers, that we are able to support our local communities and organisations, working together to support such an important cause,” noted PepsiCo General Manager, Adam Smart. “We’d like to extend a sincere thank you to every retailer that we worked with last year, who have helped to add a little more hope to 2021.” For more information or to donate, please visit www.pieta.ie.

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14|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Lidl launches fundraising initiative for LGFA clubs

FOLLOWING the successful launch of its brand new campaign with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) recently, Lidl Ireland has announced a new fundraising initiative through its rewards app, Lidl Plus, to level the playing field for ladies Gaelic football players across the country. Since February 15, customers who register for its Lidl Plus app can sign up to the retailer’s fundraising initiative to raise much needed funds for their local club. Each time Lidl Plus registered users spend over €30 in-store and scan their app at the till, they will receive a stamp on their digital stamp card. Multiple stamps can be earned in each shop if a multiple of €30 is spent and once six stamps have been collected, users can submit their completed stamp card via the app and their stamps are then added to their chosen club’s total.

Each club that achieves a minimum of 50 completed digital stamp cards is guaranteed a reward, starting from a set of Lidl sponsored jerseys up to €5,000 in cash funding for clubs that collect 500 or more completed stamp cards. “This latest initiative by Lidl is a great opportunity for our clubs across the country to raise some much needed funds to help build on the progress we’ve made and to continue to encourage participation and growth in the sport,” noted Carla Rowe (pictured), Dublin LGFA star and All-Ireland winner.

Irish Honey Liqueur wins gold THE Wild Geese Irish Honey Liqueur has taken the top prize in the Liqueur category at the 2021 Concours International Top Spirit Awards. The Liqueur beat off a host of competition in a blind taste test, with the jury judging on criteria including nose, colour, taste and price. “To have been selected for this prize under the current challenging conditions, beating off bigger competitive brands, is a major achievement,” noted Andre Levy, Chairman of The Wild Geese producer, Protégé International.

“The award reinforces the quality of our products, which have been recognised around the world by almost 70 prestigious international awards.”

Aldi launching click-and-collect service ALDI has launched its first click-and-collect service for its customers throughout Ireland. Following a successful trial of the service in Dublin, Aldi is extending the service to customers through 15 of its stores across Ireland, while the service will be extended to further stores across the country in the near future. Aldi customers can choose from a full range of grocery items online, then drive to their local store where they can have their shopping brought to their cars by store colleagues contact-free, in line with social distancing rules. “Following the success of the initial trials of the service, we’re really excited to now be able to offer click-and-collect to Irish customers in this roll-out to selected stores,” said Niall O’Connor, Group Managing Director, Aldi Ireland (pictured). “We are continuously reviewing and looking at new ways we can enhance our customers’ experience with Aldi and this is another solution that we’re proud to provide.”

Tesco confirms longterm support for small suppliers TESCO Ireland is extending its improved payment terms for small suppliers, until the end of February 2022. Since the emergence of the pandemic in March last year, Tesco announced that it would support small and local suppliers by temporarily changing its payment terms to have their invoices processed within five days, instead of the usual 14 days. While the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, the extension of Tesco’s improved payment terms will mean small businesses will be supported further. “This is a huge help for a company like ours,” noted Keith Symes, Managing Director, Wicklow Rapeseed Oil (pictured), whose company has worked with Tesco for over five years.

“Securing five-day payment terms until February of next year helps us improve cash-flow at a time when we need to provide what certainty we can to our four full-time and four part-time staff. We’re grateful to Tesco for their sensitivity to the small supplier and look forward to continuing to supply our award-winning products from our fourth-generation farm in Wicklow to family tables across the country.”

Lotto millionaire in The Belfry WARREN Brennan, store manager at The Belfry Spar store in Citywest, and co-worker Sinead O’Leary celebrate after their store was confirmed as the winning location for a recent Lotto Plus 1 top prize win of €1m.

“The staff in the store are absolutely buzzing, knowing that somebody who came into the store yesterday is now a millionaire,” said Warren.

“It’s truly incredible! The store is situated in the heart of a large residential area here in Citywest so the likelihood is that one of the local residents is a brand new millionaire. Whoever they are, we wish them every bit of luck with their million euro win.” The same draw saw another lucky online Lotto player from Co. Dublin winning a cool €112,078 after matching five numbers and the bonus ball in the main Lotto draw, falling just one number shy of winning the entire jackpot worth €7.5m.

16|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Sustainability

Musgrave Group supporting sustainable communities with SEAI

SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave MarketPlace stores across Ireland have donated €129,000 to local community buildings in conjunction with the SEAI. SUPERVALU, Centra and Musgrave MarketPlace stores have teamed up with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for the ninth consecutive year to spearhead environmental change in the Irish retail sector and beyond through their ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ initiative.

Once again in partnership with the SEAI, a number of community upgrade projects were completed, with 10 stores across Ireland participating in the initiative. The community grant scheme administered by SEAI supported the project with a total investment value of €265,000.

The initiative calls on stores to identify and upgrade areas of their own operations which can be made more energy efficient, in keeping with high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, but also enables them to identify community buildings in their area to donate funds and enable them to upgrade their facilities. The objective of the initiative is to reduce energy costs, fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions year-onyear.

Welcome savings in a challenging year Over €1.2m was invested by the stores that participated in 2020, whereby several energy-saving measures and solutions were implemented. The community buildings associated with stores who participated in the scheme received up to €129,000 between them as a result of energy-saving measures implemented by their respective SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave Marketplace stores.

Community buildings and clubs who benefitted include; • Peamount FC, Dublin • Cuala GAA Club, Dublin • Midleton Football Club, Cork • Midleton Rugby Club, Cork • Carndonagh FC, Donegal • Ballybunion Leisure Centre, Kerry • Ballybunion Community Centre, Kerry • Kings Island Community Centre, Limerick • Dungarvan Rugby Club, Waterford

Upgrades included the installation of new heat pumps and insulation, while others had windows and doors replaced and the remainder opted for new energy efficient LED lighting. These upgrades put funds back into the pockets of nominated community groups during a challenging year, reducing yearly energy bills by almost €19,000 or 147,000 thermal KWH savings, the equivalent in energy terms to powering 43 houses per year.

The 10 stores involved in this year’s Building Sustainable Communities initiative included SuperValu stores in Sundrive, Rush, Youghal, Newmarket, Midleton, Carndonagh, Ballybunion and Dungarvan, as well as Centra Newtownpark Avenue (Dublin) and Musgrave MarketPlace Limerick.

Daniel Murphy, Cost and Sustainability Manager with Musgrave, celebrating their contribution to the Building Sustainable Communities Scheme, in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

A shining example of the fantastic strides being made in their green endeavours is SuperValu Ballybunion, Co. Kerry. The store underwent a refrigeration and LED lighting update in 2017, which greatly reduced their electricity consumption and carbon footprint by almost 30%. This year, the store had PV solar panels installed, which has reduced their carbon footprint by a further 20% now that the store is generating its own green energy.

Centra Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, also made huge energy savings as a result of new PV solar panels installed this year, reducing their carbon footprint by 40%.

Leading by example “The Musgrave Group have been leading by example in their own stores with their energy saving initiatives, in addition to informing their communities and customers in the process to illustrate how everyday changes can make a big difference,” noted Declan Meally, Head of Transport and Communities with SEAI.

Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu and Centra, commented: “As part of our sustainability plans, we are committed to making a real difference and creating a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are constantly looking for ways in which we can operate our business in more environmentally friendly ways. For example, we are working to ensure that 100% of our Own Brand range packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 and to reduce our carbon emissions to net zero carbon by 2050.

“The Building Sustainable Communities initiative is one that we are proud to be part of each year and it’s quite rewarding to see a significant reduction in the various stores’ energy bills, having completed the various works. It’s even more rewarding to see our community buildings are also benefitting from this initiative and I look forward to the other positive changes we’ll make together in the future.”

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18|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

The Retail News Interview

Facing the challenges head-on

After an unprecedented year, where the grocery retail sector was recognised for the essential service it provides to Irish society, we face into an uncertain 2021. Retail Ireland Chair Brian Donaldson and Director Arnold Dillon reflect on the year that was and the challenges facing Irish retail in 2021.

THE impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Irish society cannot be over-stated.

At the time of writing, we are still seeing infection levels of well over 1,000 per day, while the death toll from this insidious, invisible killer continues to rise daily. Who amongst us at the start of 2020 would have considered grocery retail the frontline in a battle against a global disease? And yet, grocery stores and their staff have continued to provide a vital service over the course of the

Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring that the country remains supplied with food and drink, while practically every other sector has been shut down or had its activities severely curtailed.

“It’s been a bit like a rollercoaster ride,” confesses Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group and Chair of Retail Ireland. “When the pandemic started, nobody really knew what we were facing and there was genuine fear and anxiety amongst frontline retailers. The

guidelines and the textbook had not been written as to how you set up a retail business to protect staff and customers.

It really was a very uncertain, uncharted time and retail stepped up to the mark very quickly.”

Within a space of just 72 hours, many retailers had formulated a plan of action to ensure stores were safe places to shop, investing in a host of protective measures like Perspex screens, signage and sanitise stations, as well as changing cleaning rotas, ensuring contactless payments, closing seating areas in-store, introducing limits on customer numbers in-store, and rigorously following the changes to guidelines and adhering to public health restrictions.

“Retail can be proud of what it achieved within a very tight window,” Brian says, citing his own experience with Maxol, whereby the company established a “war office” as news of the pandemic hit, with management working

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|19

The Retail News Interview

Retail can be proud of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as it stepped up to keep the country supplied.

18-hour days “to get our retailers through everything that they needed to do both in terms of compliance and best practice.”

Maxol worked very closely with other retail groups, including BWG Food, Musgrave and the Henderson Group (in Northern Ireland), to make sure they were providing “100% accurate

“

Every business knows that for it to remain relevant and appealing to customers, there is a bigger demand, and a responsibility, on all of us to make sure we are doing the right things on renewable energy, and with things like recyclable and compostable packaging. This is a good thing, but it is going to add cost to business because doing the right thing isn’t always the cheapest option.

”

information and advice to retailers, and providing them the instore POS to relate that advice to customers”.

“Essential retail has played a key part in keeping the nation going and in many ways following the first lockdown, the standards, disciplines and protocols that we established gave the Government the confidence to reopen all of retail and other sectors of the economy,” Brian summarises. “So I think retail can be proud of what it achieved in a very tight timeframe and has continued to deliver for almost 12 months.”

Covid in 2021 Brian believes that the position faced by retail in 2021 is a different one. “Where we are now is slightly different, because I think consumers have confidence that when they go into essential retail, they are going to be in a safe environment, because we are now in our third lockdown and we have done it successfully twice already.”

“We have to make sure that we do everything right to protect our staff and our customers, and I think we are doing that,” Brian contends. “Nobody wants another 2020 again and the sooner we get through this latest lockdown and this latest spike in transmission, the better. Whilst we are still allowed to trade and we are grateful to be classified as essential retail, the vast majority of retailers on the high street remain closed; their wages are being paid by the Government and that doesn’t suit anybody. The concern for retail is that when things start to re-open and Government supports end, how many of those businesses will be able to trade?”

Changing consumer behaviour The pandemic has changed consumer behaviour for good, the Retail Ireland Chair believes, and the growth in online shopping is a trend he expects to stick post-Covid, as the pandemic “accelerated the adoption of technology in retailing”.

“Home delivery was always a tough sell for many supermarkets,” he admits. “But people have transitioned, initially through necessity and for reasons of safety but now, they are used to the convenience of home delivery and they like it. The same is true of click-and-collect, which was a slow-

20|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

The Retail News Interview burn. I think people now realise that time is precious and they can see the value of services like click-and-collect or delivery. People now accept that technology has a big part to play. In fact, the use of technology is 2-3 years ahead of where it would have been if we hadn’t had Covid.”

Another big change during the pandemic was consumers’ “greater solidarity with independent retailers who were there for them in a time of crisis.

I think that has built and strengthened relationships,” Brian states. “All that we can hope is that the consumers who moved back to local, independent retailers will continue to support them in the days, weeks and months ahead.”

The transition from office work to working remotely for huge swathes of the population brought opportunities as well as challenges for retailers.

While community stores benefited from additional business, shops based in city centres or close to office blocks found themselves unusually quiet.

“Genuinely, I think our ways of working are going to remain different,” says Brian. “I don’t see the concept of being in an office five days a week continuing, because many businesses realise that people can be much more effective working from home, not

“

I don’t see the concept of being in an office five days a week continuing, because many businesses realise that people can be much more effective working from home, not sending people into cities unless they really have to. I think there is going to be much smarter working, which will have an impact on the retail landscape.

sending people into cities unless they really have to. I think there is going to be much smarter working, which will have an impact on the retail landscape.

That is something many retailers are now looking at in terms of how their customer flows have been altered.

“For those retailers, I don’t think their business will return to pre-Covid 19 levels, so they will have to adapt and look at how to make their business more attractive to those that are coming into Brian Donaldson, Retail Ireland Chair and CEO of The Maxol Group: “Retailers are resilient, and we have already seen them adapt through technology and new services such as click-andcollect, so I remain confident retail will continue to evolve and play an important role in the recovery of the economy.”

”

those locations,” he continues. “But retailers are very good at that; they are very agile and good at seeing new opportunities on how to replace lost revenue and lost sales.”

Government supports during the pandemic have been “hugely welcome and absolutely crucial”, from the PUP payment to the waivers on commercial rates. But the latter area is one that requires further attention, according to the Retail Ireland Chair: “This is an area where the Government and the County Councils that set rateable valuations on properties need to take account of what has happened over the last 12 months and to factor that into what our industry needs over the next five years.”

The Brexit challenge Aside from Covid, the other huge logistical challenge affecting Ireland is the United Kingdom leaving the European Union and the prolonged negotiations that took place throughout 2020. The last-minute deal, while welcome, meant that businesses didn’t have a lot of time to get to grips with the new regulations, which have led to delays and supply chain issues at the beginning of 2021, particularly in Northern Ireland.

“There are more difficulties for Northern Ireland retailers than for those in the Republic and that comes down to supply chain. I think UK retailers and businesses were not prepared and were caught off guard,” Brian contends, while confirming that they have seen a big difference in preparedness between British and Irish suppliers.

He is confident that as all stakeholders get used to the new regulations and what is required, these problems will resolve themselves fairly quickly. The issue whereby certain

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|21

The Retail News Interview is in the technology side, customer liaison roles or category management roles, areas that are evolving,” Brian explains.

The use of technology is 2-3 years ahead of where it would have been if the Covid-19 pandemic hadn’t happened, according to Brian Donaldson.

Insurance reform The thorny issue of insurance reform is never far from retailers’ thoughts and both the Director and Chair of Retail Ireland believe that real progress needs to be made in this area during 2021.

“The size of the claims is still the biggest issue,” Arnold says. “Government has promised significant action on that. We are hopeful that reviews are currently in place around awards and that reform will bring Ireland back into line with other countries, because the awards here are often multiples of what you get in other jurisdictions. Change has been required on this for years and hopefully we will see it this year.”

Brian explains that despite huge investment by retailers in areas like CCTV, staff training, risk assessment etc, it has not led to a reduction in insurance premiums, but the retail group is in constant communication with Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD. “He is leading the reform of insurance and has given us a commitment that he is going to make it top of his agenda,” Brian explains.

“I fully appreciate that Covid and Brexit have been a real distraction and I am confident that he will drive the reform agenda this year.”

products travel through multiple jurisdictions, such as an ingredient sourced from the EU, processed in Britain and then imported into Ireland, still has a substantial amount of red tape and paperwork to negotiate, however.

Retail Ireland Director, Arnold Dillon, believes that the issues around product origin will “have an impact on how suppliers, producers and retailers operate, whereby the model that a lot of companies have used, where they treat the UK as a distribution hub for Ireland, will change, and will lead to a fundamental re-think in terms of organising supply chains.”

Arnold also believes that there is a risk that additional costs could be borne by consumers, but “the hope is that given the highly competitive market, that the supply chains will overcome some of these challenges.”

Labour costs There are a host of other issues facing retailers that have been with us for a long time and will still be there, when the more immediate concerns of Brexit and Covid have hopefully retreated. The issue of high business costs, including labour costs and insurance premiums, will still be there when the dust settles.

“Retail is a challenging business. One of the very few variable overheads you have is your wage cost,” Brian admits.

“We have seen the minimum wage continually rise every year, which is a challenge for retail as that has to be funded. In some cases, if you are not getting revenue growth, those increases lead to job losses rather than job creation.”

However, the Retail Ireland Chair is cognisant of the fact that retail staff are critical to “the level of service you provide and the type of offer you make to consumers”, so retailers continue to invest in their greatest asset. To that end, Retail Ireland has worked on an apprenticeship scheme via the Retail Ireland Skillnet, to ensure that retail is a career rather than just a job.

One area Retail Ireland is keen to explore via apprenticeships is retraining for those staff members whose role may no longer be required in the future, as technology like AI impacts on the shopfloor. “What we are trying to do as an industry body is to make sure that people in retail can be re-trained so they can remain in retail, albeit in a different role, whether that

Arnold Dillon, Retail Ireland Director: “An awful lot of incredible work is already being done by individual retailers in terms of sustainability and it is what consumers want and what consumers expect.”

22|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

The Retail News Interview engines, over 30% were petrol engines.

These cars all have a life expectancy of 12-13 years in Ireland so there’s still going to be a lot of internal combustion engine vehicles on the road post-2030.

Beyond that, you are probably looking at electric vehicles being in the majority and you are probably looking at hydrogen powering the majority of HGVs, road trucks, transport and trade vehicles.”

In the meantime, forecourt retailers are trying “to plan to be able to provide energy formats at the right time and the right cost”, as Brian explains: “At this point in time, there is no business case to support a huge move to electric because by the time the electric vehicle fleet gets to a certain size, today’s equipment will be redundant and out-of-date because technology is moving at such a pace. But this is something that is going to impact on every fuel retailer across the globe within this decade.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed some Irish shopping habits for good.

Sustainability and the environment The issue of sustainability is also top of retailers’ agendas moving forward. A few years ago, some people were paying lip service to the issue of climate change, but now it has become firmly embedded in company culture, because it is being driven by consumers.

“Every business knows that for it to remain relevant and appealing to customers, there is a bigger demand, and a responsibility, on all of us to make sure we are doing the right things on renewable energy, and with things like recyclable and compostable packaging,” Brian agrees. “This is a good thing, but it is going to add cost to business because doing the right thing isn’t always the cheapest option. But as an industry, we have to move forward for the right reasons and consumers will have to accept that on certain products they may end up paying a little bit more, but I believe there is a willingness amongst consumers to do that.”

Arnold acknowledges that the sustainability agenda may not have been to the fore over the last year, as the immediate threats of Covid and Brexit took precedence, but “as we move through this crisis, all of the issues around sustainability and packaging will return. It is going to be about getting the incentives right for consumers and for business. An awful lot of incredible work is already being done by individual retailers in terms of sustainability and it is what consumers want and what consumers expect.”

Brian explains that his own company,

The Maxol Group, now measures its carbon footprint across every aspect of the business, from site level to supply chain and head office. “It’s not inexpensive,” he admits, revealing that The Maxol Group is working with KPMG on a structure to measure and make significant progress on sustainability. “It takes money, time, resources and people, but unless you are doing it now, you will become obsolete to customers very quickly.”

The energy revolution As a fuel retailer, Maxol is also at the coalface of the energy revolution in terms of how we power our vehicles. The Group recently unveiled an extensive carbon offsetting programme, and it has also been to the fore in terms of electric vehicle charging points on forecourts.

“Everyone now realises across the world that governments are backing electricity as the next energy for mobility, or for a large part of it,” Brian admits.

“By 2050, we are looking at having zero greenhouse emissions around the globe.

Ireland is talking about banning new sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines that run on petrol or diesel by 2030. So, there will be an accelerated shift to electric vehicles within the next 10 years, which will probably be full plug-in.

“The real inflection point, when things really start to change, is probably going to be around the mid-point of this decade,” he continues. “At the moment, people are a little uncertain what to do, whether to stick with a petrol or diesel car. In 2020, 45% of new car sales were still diesel

Consumer confidence As we move forward through 2021, Brian believes that there will be a sharp increase in consumer spending once restrictions are eased, but he is less optimistic about the longer-term outlook. “When we come out of this lockdown and a certain percentage of the population are vaccinated, I think we will see pent-up demand spike and then we might see that level out again.” he says.

“Unfortunately, in the wider economy businesses will close and job losses will start to build, as we get into what could be a difficult trading environment and a tough economy across so many levels. In our sector, retailers are resilient, and we have already seen them adapt through technology and new services such as click-and-collect, so I remain confident retail will continue to evolve and play an important role in the recovery of the economy.”

Arnold is slightly more optimistic in his outlook: “Ireland is in a better position than a lot of other countries in terms of the macro-economic situation so the hope is that, while there are enormous challenges in the medium term, if we do get a proper re-opening of the economy at large, then retail will be in a position to benefit from any lift in consumer confidence. There have been very high savings rates, so that is a lot of untapped potential and if we can find the right incentives and restore confidence, there is a hope that we will get a strong rebound. The real risk in the immediate term is to ensure that retail businesses survive this current phase. Hopefully, the Government supports that are there are sufficient to help keep those businesses alive until we get to the point where we can see a proper recovery.”

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26|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Londis Sponsorship

Londis sponsorship is the perfect fit

Londis is absolutely delighted with the renewal of its sponsorship of Ireland’s Fittest Family, which recently recorded record viewership figures on RTÉ One. LONDIS is thrilled to be celebrating another hit season of the phenomenally successful television show, Ireland’s Fittest Family, which is proudly sponsored

by Londis for the second successive season. The popularity of this show and concept has soared year-on-year, with an audience of more than 500,000 tuning in for the first episode of the 2021 season, which represents a whopping 28% increase in audience figures.

At its essence, Ireland’s Fittest Family is a competitive sports entertainment television viewing pleasure, encouraging families to come together to view and experience collectively and fostering a feel-good factor that is almost impossible to replicate. It is also an exhilarating physical challenge like no other. Opposing families do battle with each other for the honour and glory of winning the right to progress week-on-week.

This year’s series was filmed in Kilruddery Estate in Wicklow, observing strict Covid-19 health and safety protocols, and brought together 16 of Ireland’s fittest, fastest and strongest families from across all four provinces to compete over the eight weeks for the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family in a series of challenges designed to test their physical and mental endurance.

Pictured on location at Kilruddery Estate, Co. Wicklow, are presenter Mairead Ronan (foreground), with judges Derval O’Rourke, Olympian and World Champion hurdler, hurling icon Davy Fitzgerald and Anna Geary, All-Ireland Camogie winner and Dancing with the Stars finalist.

Working in harmony It is a truism that family supports family, which is the premise of this phenomenally successful television show.

Londis stores are predominantly familyrun operations with different generations working together in harmony for the betterment of the group. The best kept secret of Ireland’s Fittest Family is that contestants only progress if they work together in harmony, which is also the

reason behind the continuing success of Londis stores.

Londis retailers, their families, staff and teams work together, which is why this truly is an exciting and innovative partnership as it brings together two of Ireland’s favourite family brands and helps reinforce the reputation of Londis retailers as being perfectly in harmony with the communities they serve.

This is Londis’ second year

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|27

Londis Sponsorship every precaution and the utmost care was taken to ensure the safety of all the families, crew and coaches, with the first episode airing on Sunday, January 3.

“We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of RTE’s Ireland’s Fittest Family,” noted Conor Hayes, Londis Sales Director. “The show is a perfect fit for Londis; it’s a family show that gives local people a chance to represent their families, parishes and counties on the big screen in a healthy, fun and competitive way. Londis is a family-oriented brand that operates at the heart of communities across Ireland; this sponsorship gives us an exciting platform to promote our healthy eating options and to encourage everyone to be more active.”

The Doyle family, battling it out to try to win Ireland’s Fittest Family, sponsored by Londis, in a series of challenges designed to test their physical and mental endurance. sponsoring the show, emphasising a clear association between Londis and the show’s content and messaging.

Creating the right energy When it came to selecting the right sponsorship, Londis was discerning about creating the right energy around the brand and ultimately opted for a partnership that fits perfectly with the brand’s ethos. The sponsorship also complements Londis’ focus on health and wellbeing by offering healthy choices in stores and helps to maximise the reach to target markets driving long-term brand awareness amongst consumers. Critically, this sponsorship affords Londis a perfect proof point as a brand for health-conscious consumers, with a local spirit.

Londis is a family-oriented brand that operates at the heart of communities across Ireland and this sponsorship gives the brand an exciting platform from which to promote its healthy lifestyle messaging, while also encouraging everyone to be more active. As community-based retailers, who pride themselves on being local just like their customers, Londis retailers are passionate about celebrating that sense of community the show promotes.

Star-studded show The hugely popular show features well-known radio presenter Mairead Ronan and a star-studded line up of coaches, including hurling icon Davy Fitzgerald, Olympian and World Champion hurdler Derval O’Rourke, All-Ireland camogie winner and Dancing with the Stars finalist Anna Geary and legendary Ireland, Munster and British and Irish Lions rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan. Filmed during August and September this year,

The Thompson family are one of 16 families from across the country to compete for the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family, sponsored by Londis.

Strong retailer buy-in A very important facet of all Londis sponsorships is retailers’ buy-in. Their enthusiasm for this sponsorship is absolute and they have adopted the new Londis double act of ‘Liam and Des’, two warehouse operators who were introduced to the television audience for the first time during last season, as members of the extended Londis family! The witty stings that preceded and followed every episode captured the attention of viewers from the off, and their return to the screen for this season has been greeted with delight by all viewers.

Pictured are All-Ireland camogie winner and Dancing with the Stars finalist Anna Geary, hurling icon Davy Fitzgerald, presenter Mairead Ronan, and Olympian and World Champion hurdler Derval O’Rourke, at the launch of the latest season of Ireland’s Fittest Family, sponsored by Londis.

Londis’ Ireland’s Fittest Family sponsorship has also been recognised and lauded at various prestigious marketing awards, including placing second in the Best Content Marketing Award - Retail Consumer category at the Irish Content Marketing Awards 2020. Crucially, it is also well established that television sponsorship’s impact is long-lasting and Londis has amplified that impact with complementary marketing activity at store level, that included a competition for their customers and direct engagement with Davy Fitzgerald. Point of Sale and digital and social media assets promoting the show and amplifying Londis’ health and fitness message have also been created and play a crucial role in bringing the sponsorship to life for retailers and customers in-store.

The sponsorship is augmented by additional activity, including TV spots running in every break during the first and last episodes of the series, ensuring the Londis brand is prominent in the audience’s mind throughout the broadcasts. This coveted sponsorship is a huge coup for the Londis brand and this season in particular emphasises the convenience of the Londis network of stores as Londis local retailers continue to provide a safe shopping environment for their customers’ essential needs close to home.

Londis retailers and the Ireland’s Fittest Family contestants know local because, ultimately, they are ‘Local like You’.

28|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Nivea

Complete cleansing care with Nivea – no compromise

CREATED to offer easy make-up removal, skin cleansing and care, the Nivea cleansing range delivers the most complete cleansing experience. The innovative collection of products from Ireland’s number one face brand helps to thoroughly cleanse the skin, while gently caring and protecting its delicate moisture balance. The Nivea cleansing line comprises various formats to suit all cleansing preferences, with dermatologically and ophthalmologically approved products.

• Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes Gently but effectively cleansing the skin while maintaining its natural balance, these wipes thoroughly remove face and eye make-up, while providing the skin with refreshing moisture. These soft and gentle wipes are made with 100% renewable plant fibres, are biodegradable, and are enriched with specially selected Organic Argan Oil and Organic Aloe Vera, ensuring they are suitable for even sensitive skin.

•

•

Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water This award winning product has an innovative formula which cleanses and removes makeup, while moisturising the skin in one simple step. It respects the skin’s natural balance, requires no rinsing and is free of perfumes, colourants and parabens, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover This wonder product benefits from a gentle bi-phase formula which effectively dissolves eye make-up, while caring for eyelashes and the delicate skin around eyes. The ‘oil phase’ is designed to remove waterproof mascara and eye make-up without irritation.

The ‘aqueous phase’ is formulated to protect

and care for lashes without leaving any oily residue. The highly effective yet caring formula is also enriched with cornflower extract, which is known for its antiinflammatory and soothing properties.

The innovative collection of products from Nivea helps to thoroughly cleanse the skin, while gently caring and protecting its delicate moisture balance.

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|29

Kind Snacks

A Kind of magic!

Since January 2019, Kind has grown from being the No. 14 singles brand to the No. 1 singles brand in the fruit, nut, cereal category.

NOW in its third year on the Irish market, Kind is continuing to grow from strength to strength, breaking into new categories and climbing from the No. 14 singles brand in the fruit, nut & cereal category to the number one position in the space of just over a year.

Kind launched in Ireland in partnership with Mars in January 2019, bringing to the market five flavours in its core range, including the bestselling Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt.

In response to the growing consumer trend, Kind Protein launched in May 2019, quickly gaining strong distribution through not only convenience and

The most recent addition to the Kind range: Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate.

grocery but non-traditional retail such as gym and pharmacy. Kind launched its breakfast range in September 2020 in multipack format, proving very popular in the changing landscape of shopper behaviour.

Kind recently launched its newest flavour, Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate, a combination of its two best-selling flavours: Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt and Caramel Almond Sea Salt.

Sustainability a key concern Sustainability is important to Kind, and they know it is equally important to their community. In 2020, Kind took a number of steps to becoming more environmentally conscious, including moving supply chain from the US to Europe and the UK to reduce its carbon footprint and removing palm oil from most of its recipes.

In close partnership with Mars, Kind is evaluating non-plastic packaging alternatives, like biodegradable/ compostable materials, that meet its food safety and brand equity needs. Like Mars, Kind is a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

Flexible packaging is not accepted in most global recycling infrastructure systems. However, Kind is actively looking for solutions, like alternative materials, for wrappers.

In August 2020, Kind announced its commitment to become the first snack company to exclusively source

its almonds from bee-friendly farmland across the globe by 2025. Almonds are the lead ingredient in most of Kind’s 80+ products and the company’s number one ingredient by both volume and spend.

By collaborating directly with farmers, suppliers, researchers and other leading brands, Kind aims to significantly expand the usage of bee-friendly practices among almond farmers What’s next for Kind in 2021?

Kind will continue to expand into new categories, with a strong innovation pipeline from the US business, including a sharing bag and multipacks across all ranges.

In 2021, Kind will focus on its mission to build a kinder world through purposeled initiatives, encouraging people to be kind to themselves, their communities and their world.

Kind has seen the important role that kindness plays in mental health, especially through the darkest days of the pandemic, and so it is kicking off the year with a campaign called ‘exercise kindness’. Kind is proud to partner with Pieta House in 2021 to help raise vital funds to help the charity continue the important work it does in the prevention and de-stigmatisation of suicide in Ireland.

Kind is available in impulse, convenience and grocery retailers nationwide, as well as gyms, pharmacies and cafes. Kind currently has nine flavours in its core and Protein range and three flavours in the breakfast range – available in both single and multipack.

Kind’s journey in Ireland is just getting started; now is the time to give Kind a try!

30|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Forecourt Focus: Analysing the Market

Forecourt market remains strong

Despite the impact of Covid-19, Ireland’s forecourt sector is in good health, according to the latest data from international experts Experian Catalist.

IRELAND’s forecourt sector remains in a good position, despite the impact of Covid-19 over the year. The latest report into the Republic of Ireland forecourt market from Experian Catalist, the London-based experts who provide a leading global source of information and analysis on petrol and retail forecourts, reveals that the number of forecourt sites grew by 64 over the course of 2020, to a total of 1,871.

These new forecourt sites included a number of high profile openings by the biggest players in the market, Circle K, Maxol and Applegreen, while the figures also reflect last year’s sale of Tesco’s 22 Irish fuel sites to DCC. The latter move makes DCC a sizeable player in the market with 114 sites across the country, as the former Tesco forecourts (now branded as Certa) joined DCC’s Great Gas and Emo forecourt brands in Ireland.

“Overall, I think the market is fairly stable in terms of the number of sites,” explains James Haigh, Business Consultant, Experian Catalist. “As one would expect, some of the smaller, more isolated sites have closed but the major brands have added a few sites – several new to industry (NTI) or greenfield sites and some obsolete sites which have been reopened. The focus continues to

be on the food-to-go and shop offer with the forecourt as another service offer rather than the main purpose.”

Forecourts provide local shopping amid pandemic In keeping with the trends in recent years, the new generation of forecourt stores are ‘shops that also sell fuel’ rather than ‘fuel outlets that also sell groceries’. In fact, James believes that the Covid-19 pandemic may have seen increased sales for some outlets, which provided local shopping amenities to consumers amid the restrictions.

“In the spring last year, there was a concern that the forecourt industry could be very badly affected,” James notes, acknowledging that “volumes certainly dropped as travel restrictions were introduced”. However, he explains that “these have recovered quite well over the course of the year; I think the trend for more local shopping has been a distinct benefit to the forecourts.”

Indeed, he feels that the increase in importance of local shopping is a key take-away from 2020 and one that will continue to impact the market over the coming year. “I think that one of the key lessons to come from 2020 is the importance of the local market and each site’s customer base,” he avows.

James Haigh, Business Consultant, Experian Catalist.

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|31

Forecourt Focus: Analysing the Market “The importance of making sure the offer reflects local needs is important if not essential. Coffee is a key driver and a balanced offer is important; premium/ healthy is of growing importance also but not at the expense of the usual wellpriced offer.”

Delving into the data The Experian Catalist data includes the market share by brand, based on fuel volume sales, listing Circle K as the market leader in terms of fuel sales, with 31.2% of the market by volume, followed

by Applegreen (13.7%), Texaco (11.3%), Top Oil (11%), Maxol (10%) and DCC (7%).

The data also reveals that more than half (55%) of Irish forecourt sites are dealerowned, while 45% are company-owned sites (see Graph 3).

Graph 2 shows exactly how many forecourt sites each brand has open, and compares the figures to those from 2019.

The result shows strong confidence in the Irish forecourt sector, with Circle K opening nine new sites over the course of 2020, Texaco opening five additional sites, Maxol unveiling four new forecourts and Applegreen opening three new sites.

The Tesco sites are now branded as

Graph 1: Market Share by Brand

Graph 2: Market Development by Brand

Brand*

No. of open sites

Average MF volume per site (kl p.a.) ***

% Market share MF volume

% Outlet share

Effectiveness ****

CIRCLE K †

371

2,515

31.2

19.8

1.57

APPLEGREEN

193

2,129

13.7

10.3

1.33

TEXACO

153

2,212

11.3

8.2

1.38

TOP OIL

247

1,339

11.0

13.2

0.84

MAXOL

142

2,111

10.0

7.6

1.32

UNBRANDED

423

516

7.3

22.6

0.32

DCC ††

114

1,827

7.0

6.1

1.14

INVER

61

1,260

2.6

3.3

0.79

AMBER

38

1,397

1.8

2.0

0.87

CAMPUS

40

1,154

1.5

2.1

0.72

MINOR BRAND

27

1,431

1.2

1.4

0.86

SWIFT

26

781

0.7

1.4

0.49

TARA

19

800

0.5

1.0

0.50

MORRIS OILS

17

396

0.2

0.9

0.25

TOTAL

1,871

1,602

† Circle K – includes Circle K and Topaz branded sites. †† DCC – includes sub-brands Certa, Great Gas and Emo. * Brands include sub-brands or subsidiaries as appropriate (identified as Share Brand in the database). ** Open sites include all currently operating petrol stations & sites that are under development at time of publishing. *** MF Volume refers to all grades of fuel bought on the forecourt by cars, vans and light commercial vehicles (Petrol, diesel, LPG etc.) and is based on Catalist estimates. This excludes fuel sold to the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) commercial sector usually through separate facilities away from the normal forecourt. **** Effectiveness is Volume Market Share divided by Outlet Market Share.

All data is based on ‘open’ sites (including sites under development and excluding Non-Retail sites). Brands are listed in order of market share for motor fuel volume sales. (Source: Experian Catalist)

Brand*

No. open sites V4 2019

No. open sites V4 2020

Difference

AMBER

38

38

0

APPLEGREEN

190

193

3

CAMPUS

39

40

1

CIRCLE K

362

371

9

DCC

0

114

114

EMO †

50

0

-50

GREAT GAS †

33

0

-33

INVER

62

61

-1

MAXOL

138

142

4

MINOR BRAND

54

27

-27

MORRIS OILS

17

17

0

SWIFT

0

26

26

TARA

18

19

1

TESCO †

22

0

-22

TEXACO

148

153

5

TOP OIL

225

247

22

UNBRANDED

411

423

12

TOTAL

1,807

1,871

64

† Emo (60 outlets), Great Gas (20 outlets) & 34 Certa (formerly Tesco) outlets sites now counted under the DCC Share Brand †† Swift sites previously counted under ‘Minor Brand’’(Source: Experian Catalist).

(Source: Experian Catalist)

32|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Forecourt Focus: Analysing the Market Certa and operate as part of the DCC offering, along with Emo and Great Gas, while the 26 Swift sites were previously classified under ‘Minor Brand’.

Graph 4 reveals that the majority of forecourt sites now have a shop and car wash attached, and the findings will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the forecourt retail landscape in Ireland, with 98% of Applegreen sites having a shop on-site, while the same can be said for 95% of Circle K sites and 94% of Maxol sites.

The final table (Graph 5) gives average shop sales per annum and average shop size and looks at the relationship between the two. It also shows average shop sales per annum per thousand litres of fuel sold, which gives an insight into the strength of the relationship between fuel and shop sales across the various brands.

Graph 3: Market Share by Ownership Ownership

No. of open sites**

Average MF volume per site (kl p.a.)

Market share

Outlet share

Market Effectiveness

COMPANY

495

2,726

45.0

26.5

1.70

DEALER

1,376

1,197

55.0

73.5

0.75

TOTAL

1,871

1,602

Definitions: Company: Owned by the supplying Oil Company whose name appears on the brand sign.

Dealer: An independently owned site usually supplied under an agreement with an Oil Company whose name usually appears on the brand sign. Also includes unbranded sites with no Oil Company identification.

Hypermarket: No Hypermarket branded sites remain in Ireland following the sale of the Tesco sites to DCC – all are now Company Owned (Source: Experian Catalist)

A robust sector with a bright future The figures point to a robust forecourt sector in Ireland, and James Haigh is confident that the future looks bright for the market here.

“With the vaccine rollout should, hopefully, come a relaxation to the lockdown restrictions, which means more travel and thus volumes should recover to their pre-Covid levels,” he concludes. “Electrification will continue but will not have a significant impact in the coming year. I think site numbers will remain fairly stable. with the major brands adding a few new sites at suitable locations.”

Graph 4: Market Development by Brand

Graph 5: Comparison of shop sales in relation to shop size Brand*

Average Shop Sales (€’000 p.a.) Sales

Average Shop Size (sq m)

Average Shop Sales/Sq Metre Shop Space

Average shop sales in €/’000 litres fuel sold

30

AMBER

596

55

10,753

404

62

APPLEGREEN

731

71

10,304

340

499

51

9,827

397

Brand*

No. open sites V4 2019

% Sites with Shop

% Sites with Car Wash

AMBER

38

89

39

APPLEGREEN

193

98

52

CAMPUS

40

83

CIRCLE K

371

95

DCC

114

54

36

CAMPUS

INVER

61

98

31

CIRCLE K

692

68

10,128

267

388

48

8,003

331

MAXOL

142

94

63

DCC

MINOR BRAND

27

63

26

INVER

511

54

9,545

400

MORRIS OILS

17

71

0

MAXOL

698

67

10,398

326

SWIFT

26

54

19

MINOR BRAND

331

64

5,196

183

TARA

19

68

21

MORRIS OILS

263

33

8,000

731

TEXACO

153

93

58

SWIFT

354

37

9,612

369

TOP OIL

247

79

34

TARA

291

40

7,210

325

UNBRANDED

423

52

11

TEXACO

699

74

9,506

303

TOP OIL

502

56

8,970

335

UNBRANDED

319

41

7,807

511

TOTAL

1,871

(Source: Experian Catalist)

(Source: Experian Catalist)

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|33

Forecourt Focus: News

Applegreen treats customers with new ‘Rewards’ app APPLEGREEN is treating customers to a complimentary hot beverage, courtesy of the company’s popular ‘Rewards’ app.

Anyone who downloads and registers on the app is entitled to the complimentary hot beverage at any participating Applegreen store and will also be in with a chance to win a year’s supply of free fuel in 2021.

The Applegreen Rewards app offers customers rich offers including products for 50c, Coffee Club and Car Wash Club.

“We invite all our customers to download the Applegreen Rewards app and revive themselves with a delicious, complimentary coffee at any of our participating Applegreen stores located around Ireland,” said Applegreen COO, Joe Barrett. “Anyone who downloads and registers on the app will also automatically be entered into a draw to win free fuel for 2021, we will be picking 125 winners in early 2021.”

The Applegreen Rewards app can be used on in-store purchases and Applegreen stores nationwide, with customers benefiting from 50c in-store offers and stamps for coffee and car wash.

Maxol’s Christmas coffee sales result in €63,000 donation to Aware SALES of coffee in the lead up and during Christmas have resulted in a huge donation for mental health charity, Aware, which recently announced a total of €63,000 raised through the Maxol campaign.

The Maxol coffee fundraiser saw 10 cent from the sale of every cup of Rosa coffee or other hot drink during November and December go to the charity, which it has been supporting for five years. During that time, through its annual Christmas coffee campaign and other initiatives, Maxol and its retailers, with the generous backing of its customers have raised a total of half a million euro.

“Aware has seen a significant increase in demand for our services over the past year as evidenced by the 36% increase in calls to our Support Line,” noted Drew Flood of Aware. “We expect that demand to remain high throughout 2021 as the societal and economic consequences of Covid-19 continue to impact on Irish communities and on the nation’s ability to cope with anxiety, stress and depression. We rely heavily on the support of communities and corporate organisations like Maxol to ensure that we can continue to serve the Irish public with free support, education and information supports, regardless of the circumstances.

“This is a fantastic fundraising result and we are very grateful to all participating Maxol stations throughout the country and every single person who purchased a Rosa coffee or hot drink in support of Aware and our services.”

Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group, added, “Aware needs support to keep these vital services going. Over the last year, it has been encouraging to see how everyone rallies together when it is needed the most, so I hope people continue to dig deep where they can and support charities like Aware, who have limited fundraising opportunities at the moment. We are very thankful to our customers for their ongoing support of Aware.”

Protect your business with reliable insurance solutions for all your Petrol Retail Insurance needs...

As a petrol retailer, you need to know that if anything unexpected happens, help is on hand to minimise your disruption to trade and stock supply so that you are not letting down or losing any of your customers.

We provide market-leading insurance packages for all your Forecourt and Petrol Retail risks, backed by the support of an expert team who understand your sector and who talk your language.

We will also give you advice and point you in the right direction when it comes to improving your Risk Management procedures because this is central to reducing your claims & as a result, your premium costs.

We suggest the following checks for improving Risk Management Procedures: • Exits: All exits should be clear of any obstacles and adequately lit. If there are mats at the entrance it is essential that they are smooth and free from any creasing.

• Floors: Floors should also be free from any obstacles and clutter. A change in floor level on the Shop Floor should be clearly marked.

• Spillage Procedure: If there is a spillage in any of the flooring areas there should be a procedure in place to ensure that all spills are cleaned up immediately.

• Forecourt: Any uneven surfaces or cracks in the Forecourt should be repaired. A significant amount of Slip, Trip and Fall accidents occur on Forecourts because of these defects. If there is a delay in repairing such hazards it would be recommended that these areas are cordoned off. Items of Stock such as Flowers and Solid Fuel which are normally kept on the Forecourt should be stored in a tidy manner. They should never form an obstacle that will prevent people from entering or exiting your premises.

• Lighting: All areas of the site should be adequately lit making it easy to navigate around the site in a safe manner.

• CCTV: In the event of an incident which could give rise to an insurance claim, CCTV will allow you to view the event carefully. In some instances, this footage could be used in defence of a false insurance claim. CCTV footage should be kept for 30 days, however footage specific to an incident should be immediately copied onto a disc & retained in a safe place. This could hold the key to successfully defending a claim made against your business.

From an Insurance point of view, Insurance Companies may look more favourably on well managed claims free risks which can often lead to a reduction in premium.

If you would like to hear more about our services or if we can help you with any questions, please call: Gearoid Fitzgerald: 086 896 9234 or you can call the Arachas head office on 01 2135000 Alternatively, you might prefer to email us at insure@arachas.ie and we will get back as soon as possible.

Take Care and Stay Safe from all of us at Arachas – Protecting You & Yours

Let Us Look Out For You

Protect your business with reliable insurance solutions for all your Petrol Retail Insurance needs Talk to one of our Petrol Retail Insurance experts today: T: 01 213 5000 E: insurance@arachas.ie W: www.arachas.ie

Arachas Corporate Brokers Limited t/a Arachas, Capital Insurance Markets, Capital IM, Covercentre is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

36|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Transport and Logistics

Brexit: the logistical fallout

Aidan Flynn, General Manager, Freight Transport Association Ireland, explains just what the free trade deal between the EU and the UK means for those importing to and exporting from Ireland, as well as highlighting the teething problems and outlining what should be done to preserve Ireland’s competitiveness.

THE Brexit transition period concluded at 11pm on December 31, 2020, seven days after the EU and the UK announced a negotiated free trade deal. The deal has been broadly welcomed as it preserves the good relations between the two blocks. From a freight distribution and logistics sector perspective, it allows goods to move freely without the need for additional licences or permits and conserves continued cabotage rights, albeit at a reduced rate of two additional journeys within a seven-day period. As the United Kingdom is outside the Single Market and the Customs Union, however, new non-tariff barriers such as customs declarations, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks for products of animal origin, VAT on imports and rules of origin are applied, thus causing friction to the free flow of goods between the two blocks.

Aligning to the new trading environment is problematic, given there was no true transition period. The scale of the administrative burden for all in the freight distribution and logistics sector is unprecedented and the issues are compounded by the lack of expert customs agents to support the new regulatory requirements. The supply chain is resilient and those engaged in the movement of goods were at varying

degrees of readiness pre-January 2021.

The impact of Brexit was always going to create disruption, where a substantial amount of learning within the supply chain would need to take place once the transition period ended.

Unpreparedness of British businesses The unpreparedness of British businesses has resulted in a dramatic reduction in volumes being shipped to Ireland in the early weeks of 2021. The consumer has not been overly discommoded to date, due in some part to pre-Christmas stockpiling and because the national lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has limited our spending habits. However, the new regulatory requirements have created more problems than expected, particularly for British businesses and this will manifest itself in the coming weeks where increased volumes will put pressure on the supply chain to be compliant with all their paperwork requirements. To put things in perspective, the number of declarations is expected to increase from 1.5m per annum pre-Brexit to over 20m post-Brexit. There are also requirements for safety and security declarations (Entry and Exit summary declarations) and preboarding notifications (PBN) required to get on a ferry.

Since the establishment of the single market over 25 years ago, the Just-InTime model of logistics has thrived. This model is reliant on certainty of delivery times and drives efficiencies into the supply chain that reduce the need for significant storage facilities and the

Aidan Flynn, General Manager, Freight Transport Association Ireland.

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Transport and Logistics ability to service retail businesses from centralised distribution hubs based in other Member States. It also worked because it was supported by the negligible administrative burden for moving goods within the European Union.

Small countries like Ireland benefit from economies of scale that countries the size of the United Kingdom (and the EU as a block) can utilise in purchasing from third countries. Products are bought in large quantities, delivered into large countries where the tariffs are paid, and the goods are then cleared to move freely within the single market. Ireland’s reliance on the UK as a distribution hub ensured that we benefited from these economies of scale that enabled Irish consumers to get access to products at the right price.

It also worked because of our close geographic proximity and the frequency and cost of ferry connections. Adjusting to the new Customs and SPS requirements for food imports is a real challenge for industry and requires alignment between the consignor, consignee, hauliers, and customs agents, to ensure that paperwork is completed correctly.

Changing roles and responsibilities Roles and responsibilities within the supply chain must be negotiated and defined. The movement of goods is complex and requires many players to guarantee the goods can be collected by hauliers and delivered in a timely manner. It is fair to say that trading with the UK has become a whole lot harder across all sectors.

Businesses that have heretofore been reliant on groupage or loads that combine many hundreds of different products are particularly affected. The simpler the consignment, the easier it is to process through customs. The example below relates to e-commerce products being shipped from Great Britain to Ireland and highlights the complex process required: • Each package will require documentation prepared with import and export declarations generated. » Need to check origin and assign commodity code for entry into SAD; » Invoice – value of the product needs to be considered. VAT at import if valued over €22; » Exporter provides the cert of origin to be uploaded to revenue (for all goods of non-EU origin); » SAD prepared for Box (consignment) which generates an MRN; » This box is part of a consignment that has 2,000 other boxes: • Each box has an MRN. • All import MRNs need to be input into the revenue AIS system.

• All MRNS used for Safety and Security declarations generation.

• Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) Generated for the load/vehicle/trailer. » 30 minutes from Dublin or Rosslare port, drivers will be advised of their routing for inspection with customs or free to exit the port; • Requirement for 2,000 MRNs to be cleared: • If the load had one product, it would have one MRN, so this e-commerce load is the equivalent to 2,000 loads.

Importers should also be aware that a Revenue Trader Account Number (TAN) is required. This is a secure channel through which you can make payments, for example to pay import duties. Goods that are coming into Ireland are subject to rigorous inspection by Revenue and Department of Agriculture inspectors - the UK has introduced easements on a rolling basis,

including no requirement for health certificates or safety and security declarations for up to six months.

A new logistics model needed?

Since the start of the year, between 20% and 30% of all trucks arriving into Ireland have been called for inspection. This suggests that there are problems with completing the paperwork correctly and is evidence of teething problems. These levels of inspections are not sustainable. To import products of animal origin, 24-hour notice must be provided to the Department of Agriculture.

This, when coupled with the customs requirements, effectively halts the model of logistics we have grown accustomed to and new ways of doing business must be engineered. This requires collaboration and a collective ambition to work with all main players in the distribution chain to re-engineer efficient distribution. New relationships and roles and responsibilities must be redefined and negotiated.

Those collecting the goods (hauliers) must have the correct information; otherwise, there will inevitably be delays at ports.

Direct connectivity to Europe There is an option to reduce all the pain currently experienced with our neighbours and that is to maximise the benefits of membership of the Customs Union and the Single Market.

France is now Ireland’s biggest European import partner; albeit trade volumes with France are just under half that of what we had with the UK - €20 billion imports from UK, compared to €9 billion from France.

Our direct connectivity with continental Europe needs to expand quickly to preserve Ireland’s competitiveness.

Rosslare has seen a year-on-year growth of in excess of 400% (Source: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transportand-tourism/surge-in-freight-traffic-on-direct-ferry-routesto-europe-1.4453585), with new routes to Dunkirk. Demand for direct services to the continent is outstripping supply as the supply chain looks to shift from a reliance on the UK land-bridge. What has worked in the past will not work in the future. This brings opportunities but it needs the supply chain working together and being supported

by Government policy to protect Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness for business.

Under the new trade deal, hauliers must have the correct information and documentation for goods; otherwise, there will inevitably be delays at ports.

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Easter Treats

Egg - ceptional

Easter ahead

Easter 2021 could provide Irish shoppers with a chance to celebrate in style, so ensure you stock up on the biggest and best Easter treats.

EASTER 2020 was a challenging period, as the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to family gatherings. Shoppers spent less time socialising, which saw a reduction in gifting, placing a greater focus on in-home occasions, following government guidelines. Nielsen figures revealed that there was an overall -8% decline in spend for Easter eggs during the eight weeks leading to Easter in 2020 compared to 2019.

This year, however, spring, and Easter in particular provides a platform on which to create magical brand experiences, according to Nestlé Confectionery. There is a strong opportunity for brands and retailers to drive growth in 2021, by ensuring the right brands are available in the right formats at the right time for the shopper. The early season remains key, with 80% of shoppers who buy in the early season returning to buy again, Nestlé reveal.

“We are still seeing that confectionery is one of the few categories where shoppers are willing to spend money on the products that they love, in order to treat themselves and their loved ones,” reveals Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero UK & Ireland. “This continued behaviour is driving the trend towards premium confectionery products, where customers are willing to pay more for a brand that they have an emotional connection to.”

All categories play a different role at different stages during the Easter season, according to Boorer. Larger stores are encouraged to focus more on Easter Eggs with more planned missions, while smaller stores can dial up more of the sharing and self-treat products as their shoppers tend to be a bit more impulsive.

Ferrero see the Easter season being spilt into three phases that retailers should adopt early on to maximise sales across all confectionery categories:

Phase 1 - Early Season (First seven-eight weeks before Easter): This is where retailers should drive awareness with Mini Eggs and self-treat products.

Phase 2- Mid-season (four weeks before Easter): This is when shoppers begin to actively think about Easter, and it is now when the smaller eggs and models should be displayed to shoppers. Smaller eggs will engage shoppers from the start of the season through to the main event. Some shoppers may consume these products before Easter, offering another opportunity for re-purchase before the weekend itself.

Phase 3- The Main Event: For this, the shopper demand is very much for Easter eggs of all sizes, as these are the ones to be given as gifts and to share. Retailers should ensure that their range of eggs appeals to the whole family.

Irish consumers love chocolate, and this Easter will hopefully present a chance to celebrate in style, particularly if restrictions lighten.

Lindt Lindt Gold Bunny is back this spring, available now in stores nationwide. Delivering over €900k in sales, Lindt Gold Bunny continues to dominate the Novelties category as clear market leader in Easter hollow figures in Ireland (Source : Nielsen Scantrack to April 19, 2020, MAT / Easter Period = 16 weeks to April 12, 2020, versus 17 weeks to April 21, 2019).

Made by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers from the finest Lindt chocolate, wrapped in exquisite gold foil packaging and finished with the iconic red ribbon and ringing bell, Lindt Gold Bunny is guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of your shoppers and their loved ones.

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Easter Treats Easter Egg. Following on from the phenomenal success of the Lindor Salted Caramel Box launch in 2020, Lindt’s most popular flavour is now available as an Easter egg. The Lindt Easter egg range continues to be a key sales driver for retailers at springtime and is once again proving a must stock item for retailers as consumers look to trade up and give a premium, special Easter gift.

There is a Lindt Gold Bunny for everyone, making it the perfect gift for Easter.

This spring season, retailers can expect to see a heavyweight support plan behind the Lindt Gold Bunny brand.

The Make Yours Personal campaign returns bigger and better than ever, allowing customers to choose from four different ribbon messages at point of purchase for their very own Lindt Gold Bunny: ‘Happy Easter’, ‘I Love You’, ‘You Found Me’ and ‘Just For You’.

Lindt Gold Bunny comes in a variety of different sizes, formats and flavours, available across all retailers nationwide.

Make sure to bring the magic of Easter to your customers this Spring with Lindt Gold Bunny.

This spring, the Lindt Easter egg range is back on your shelves with a new brand refresh, featuring bold and vibrant packaging which creates a visually impactful and coherent range on shelf. No Lindt Easter egg range is complete without the new Lindor Assorted and Lindor Salted Caramel

Lindor Heart Box 160g – the same smooth melting Lindor in a seasonal Heart Box.

Lindt Lindor has strengthened its position as the number one boxed chocolate brand in the Irish market. €1 in every €6 spent on a box of chocolates in Ireland is spent on a Lindor box, proving that Lindt Lindor continues to be a must stock for retailers in 2021 (Source: Nielsen, Total Scantrack ROI + Discounters Data to December 27, 2020).

With a wide range of exciting and delectable flavours as well as formats, Lindt Lindor is the perfect chocolate gift for any occasion. Lindor’s success comes not only from the muchloved classic Lindor milk recipe but also through its continual innovations to the market, guaranteed to excite and delight your shoppers.

This spring, comes the new Lindt Lindor Salted Caramel. The Lindt Master Chocolatiers combine expertise and the finest ingredients to produce the perfectly round milk chocolate shell with salt crystals filled with an irresistibly smooth melting caramel centre. Also returning this Lindt Lindor has strengthened its position as the number one boxed chocolate brand in the Irish market.

This spring, the Lindt Easter egg range is back on your shelves with a new brand refresh, and new Lindor Assorted and Lindor Salted Caramel Easter eggs.

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Easter Treats February is the limited edition Lindor Heart Box 160g – the same smooth melting Lindor in a seasonal Heart Box, making it the perfect gift for your loved one.

Supported by a strong national campaign, Lindt Lindor TV advertising will return to your screens this spring with increased support and activity both in and out of store.

Cadbury Easter is the second largest confectionery season after Christmas, and Mondelez International is proud to be the number one manufacturer during this egg-citing time (Source: Nielsen Total Scantrack ROI (excl. Dunnes & Discounters), value sales, 16 w/e April 12, 2020). This year sees Mondelez International unveil its full range of egg-citing Easter confectionery to help retailers capitalise on the 2021 season with shoppers’ favourite trusted brands.

Mondelez is bringing a much-loved character to life in 2021 through an exciting partnership for the Easter season.

The Cadbury Peter Rabbit novelties range will see Beatrix Potter’s iconic bunny appearing across small and medium shell eggs, Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets and a range of seasonal launches, with the partnership supported through eye-catching PoS material. The elegant Beatrix Potter Illustrations will exemplify Easter joy and gifting and provide stores with the ability to create impactful displays to drive awareness of the Easter season in-store.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Plush Toys will return with a new look, aligned with the Beatrix Potter partnership, featuring the soft toy character of Peter Rabbit alongside a small Cadbury Dairy Milk shell egg. Toys are one of the biggest gifting categories at Easter and so The Cadbury Peter Rabbit novelties range will see Beatrix Potter’s iconic bunny appearing across some iconic Cadbury Easter products.

Cadbury Creme Egg turns 50 CADBURY Creme Egg is celebrating its 50th birthday. To mark this momentous occasion, fans have the chance to find an egg-sclusive Golden Creme Egg in stores across Ireland and win up to €5,000. Let the Golden Goobilee celebrations begin!

The limited edition Golden goodies will be hidden in stores masquerading as the muchloved classic Cadbury Creme Egg for fans to uncover. The gooey delights have been given a golden touch, with the delicious Cadbury chocolate shell covered in edible gold dust, and filled with that familiar fondant goodness. For five delicious decades, Cadbury Creme Egg has been the nation’s favourite Easter brand, with one Cadbury Creme Egg sold every four seconds.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Plush Toys will return with a new look, aligned with the Beatrix Potter partnership, featuring the soft toy character of Peter Rabbit alongside a small Cadbury Dairy Milk shell egg. the partnership offers a real opportunity to cater for shoppers looking for high-value gifts.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Bunny will also feature Beatrix Potter imagery on-pack, with returning favourites Cadbury Dairy Milk Bunny Orange Mousse and Cadbury Dairy Milk Bunny Vanilla Mousse also available in the new-look.

Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit will also appear on-pack of the Cadbury Hollows range, appealing to shoppers wanting a differentiated offering. The White Oreo Hollow Bunny brings two powerful brands from the Mondelez portfolio together, Oreo and Cadbury, while tapping into the growth seen by white chocolate.

After Mothers’ Day and up until Easter weekend itself sees the majority of Easter confectionery spending. Cadbury is tapping into the joy of the traditional Easter Egg hunt through a campaign based around their iconic Cadbury purple egg, encouraging consumers to “Show you care…hide it!”.

This campaign is expected to reach around 74% of all adults during the Easter season through TV and video on demand, out of home and digital PR, in-store activations and experiential marketing.

This will be followed up with a new digital activation, which will enable consumers to hide an egg virtually for someone they love anywhere in the world.

Shell eggs are key in the run-up to the Easter weekend, remaining hugely important to New Cadbury White Oreo Shell Egg features an egg made from a creamy white chocolate shell with Oreo pieces.

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Easter Treats shoppers. For 2021, Mondelez is also calling upon the power of its well-loved brands to launch a range of new products within shell eggs.

Tapping into the iconic Fruit & Nut heritage brand, which has been on shelves since 1926, the Cadbury Fruit & Nut Shell Egg will contain one giant egg alongside three Fruit & Nut 49g bars.

Also new to the range is the Cadbury White Oreo Shell Egg. Containing one egg, made from a creamy white chocolate shell with Oreo pieces, the Cadbury White Oreo large is an ideal gifting offer for shoppers looking to buy for adult family members aged 18-35.

Nestlé Confectionery After a 2020 season hit by shopping restrictions and lockdown measures, Nestlé Confectionery aims to help retailers bounce back by bringing its biggest brands such as KitKat, Aero, Smarties and Quality Street to the season’s best-selling formats to create a winning spring 2021 range.

What’s more, all of the Easter range from Nestlé Confectionery contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Retailers need an early start to capitalise on mini eggs sales which are popular throughout the full season and attract repeat KitKat Bunny, first launched in 2020, has a rich chocolatey centre filled with crispy wafer pieces, all encased in a smooth milk chocolate bunny shaped shell. purchases right up until Easter Sunday.

Headlining the mini eggs range for Nestlé is the popular KitKat Bunny, first launched in 2020.

With an original take on the classic KitKat flavours, the bunnies have a rich chocolatey centre filled with crispy wafer pieces, all encased in a smooth milk chocolate bunny shaped shell. They are vegetarian and gluten free, and come in a variety of different formats, including singles, a mini bunny sharing bag, multipacks and large and giant eggs.

As a nation of white The After Eight premium egg features a large mint flavoured dark chocolate egg complete with a 300g box of After Eight mints.

chocolate lovers, it’s not surprising that Milkybar is the number one white chocolate in Ireland. Nestlé is adding a brand-new seasonal launch to its portfolio with Milkybar Bunny, a lovable white chocolate foil-wrapped bunny character available in a range of three sizes to meet different The KitKat Chunky Cookie Dough Incredible Egg comprises a cookie dough flavoured milk chocolate egg with caramel inclusions, alongside three KitKat Chunky Cookie Dough bars. shopper needs. With a gap in the novelties category for a white chocolate product, Milkybar Bunny is certain to attract new shoppers and generate incremental sales.

The new launch will join the Smarties Bunnies range, which launched in 2020 and is made up of five fun characters, each one a different colour. Each bunny comprises a chocolate shell with mini Smarties inside.

They are available in a range of sizes, including impulse, impulse multi-pack, small novelty and medium novelty, ideal The Smarties Mini Eggs Incredible egg is a milk chocolate egg with crunchy mini Smarties in the shell plus a Smarties mini eggs sharing bag.

as ‘thinking of you’ gifts. Plus, there is also the Bunny Family Gift Pack which contains one 94g bunny and three 18.5g impulse bunnies. Both Milkybar and Smarties are big brands shoppers know and trust and these cute characters are certain to capture shoppers’ attention in store.

This year, the Mini Eggs category will benefit from a brand-new launch from flagship brand KitKat: KitKat Mini Eggs. Each foil-wrapped egg comprises a milk chocolate shell with a rich chocolatey centre and crunchy wafer pieces. Mini eggs make great solutions for sharing, egg hunts or creating baking masterpieces. Completing the 2021 Mini Eggs range are the popular Smarties Mini Eggs, Milkybar Mini Eggs pouches, and Aero Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs, which were launched this year.

Big, well-known brands are also key when it comes to stocking large eggs, as shoppers are looking for the recipient’s favourite. Nestlé’s extended large egg range for 2021 gives shoppers a greater choice of trusted, quality brands in a popular size format, ideal for sharing with friends and family and at an accessible price point.

New for 2021 is the Aero Peppermint Mini Eggs Giant

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Easter Treats Egg which comes complete with an Aero Peppermint mini eggs pouch, while the actual chocolate egg is also peppermint flavoured.

Making a welcome return this year are Nestlé’s range of Incredible eggs, each containing a chocolate egg with something special included in the shell. New for 2021, the KitKat Chunky Cookie Dough Incredible Egg comprises a cookie dough flavoured milk chocolate egg with caramel inclusions, alongside three KitKat Chunky Cookie Dough bars.

KitKat Chunky Cookie Dough has been a consumer favourite since the impulse bar was unveiled in 2016, and this unique and exciting new product also has mass appeal. The Yorkie Raisin and Biscuit Incredible egg is The Kinder Surprise 100g will see hugely popular Marvel heroes and Disney Princesses a milk chocolate egg with crunchy included as part of a mixed case, with the well-known characters included on-pack and as toys within. biscuit and juicy raisin pieces in the shell, plus three full-size bars of Yorkie Raisin and Biscuit. The event, serving as a reminder and driving doing so throughout the whole of Easter.

Smarties Mini Eggs Incredible egg is a Six weeks from Easter, retailers should excitement in-store.” milk chocolate egg with crunchy mini Gifting occasions at Easter looked start stocking the smaller eggs and Smarties in the shell plus a Smarties very different in 2020, particularly as the chocolate models. These token and mini eggs sharing bag. novelty gifts become more of a priority occasions fell earlier on during lockdown Premium eggs also feature more to shoppers in this period, with some while family gatherings were being indulgent offerings such as the After also re-purchasing these products again cancelled, Boorer maintains. While it Eight premium egg, which features a before the big day. Finally, retailers remains unclear what restrictions will be large mint flavoured dark chocolate egg should look at stocking Easter eggs in place around Easter 2021, shoppers complete with a 300g box of After Eight. of all sizes a month before the main will still be looking for the high-quality The wider Nestlé range includes a giant egg range with offerings from Smarties, Aero, KitKat, Yorkie and Quality Street, as well as kids added value packs from Smarties and Milkybar.

Egg hunts continue to be a growing trend and both the Smarties and Milkybar Egg Hunt packs will also be prove popular with shoppers again this year.

“2021 will continue to see a focus on sustainability from Nestlé,” explains Maria McKenna, Marketing Manager, Nestlé Confectionery. “This year, all hollow eggs in the range will be plastic free, whilst a number of the packs in the Mini Eggs range have reduced their packaging by up to 20% and this will be communicated to shoppers with an on-pack flash. This is another step in our commitment to making 100% of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.”

Ferrero “For Easter, retailers should focus on seasonal sharing and self-treat products in-store during February,” advises Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero UK & Ireland, “with items like our Thorntons Bunny 29g, Ferrero Mini Eggs Hazelnut/Cocoa 100g or Kinder Joy 20g, thereby encouraging shoppers to buy into the season early and continue

Ferrero Mini Eggs are available in both Hazelnut and Cocoa flavours for Easter 2021.

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Easter Treats

The Thorntons Bunny 29g will help to encourage shoppers to buy into the season early and continue doing so throughout the whole of Easter. products or gifts to treat loved ones.

Larger stores should therefore offer a broader range of premium Easter eggs to encourage people to trade up and spend that little bit extra, according to Boorer: “For example, we are increasingly seeing our Kinder 220g egg being given

Merchandising advice from Ferrero

How should retailer merchandise their Easter displays to build excitement in store with social distancing guidelines in mind?

“There is certainly an opportunity to increase sales if the right range, display and promotional strategies are activated in-store,” reveals Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero UK & Ireland. “In order to overcome the added challenge of social distancing guidelines, retailers should consider where their cross-category displays are positioned in-store. As shoppers like to take their time to carefully select the right card, bouquet of flowers and gifts, we’d recommend situating the displays away from places such as the entrance or queue, in order to ensure all shoppers are comfortable with the space available to them.”

as a main present, as it provides shoppers with a larger toy, offering more value.” He believes that stores with limited space should look to dial-up the sharing and self-treat options, catering to shoppers who are more impulsive and more likely to repeat purchase throughout the season.

Premium boxed confectionery will continue to play an important role in driving seasonal sales, so it’s important that the right pack formats are offered to suit their shopper’s mission and basket size.

“For example, Ferrero Rocher 300g and Thorntons Classic 262g are ideal offerings that make it easier for shoppers to switch to these premium brands that will help drive bigger basket sales for retailers,” Boorer says.

He also feels that shoppers are willing to pay more for a brand that they have an emotional connection to. “As the fourth biggest children’s confectionery brand in Easter (Source: Nielsen Total Coverage Kids Easter, 13 weeks to Easter 2019 & 2020), we know that our range of Kinder eggs are popular with families because of the fun and excitement we bring to the category with our multiple licenses. This year, the Kinder Surprise 100g will see hugely popular Marvel heroes and Disney Princesses included as part of a mixed case, with the well-known characters included on-pack and as toys within. Meanwhile the larger Kinder Surprise 220g eggs, which performed exceptionally well during Easter 2020, will receive a Minions update to celebrate the launch of ‘Minions 2: The Rise of Gru’, out next summer,” Boorer noted.

Mars Ireland M&M’s is an all-time global favourite and is back to make Easter 2021 that much sweeter. M&M lovers will be thrilled with the addition of M&M’s Large Crispy Egg, an exciting extension of the number one M&M’s flavour in Ireland. This addition is sure to bring a lot of excitement to the category and appeal to both existing and prospective consumers during the seasonal period. M&M’s Crispy will be available as a 250g large egg and is set to be a great complement to the existing Easter range, joining the M&M’s Peanut and Chocolate Large Easter Egg (268g) and the M&M’s Xtra Large Speckled Egg (313g). There is something for everyone on their hunt for the perfect Easter egg; M&M’s Speckled Eggs are also available in bitesize packs, with 45g and 135g pouches.

M&M’s Speckled Eggs are available in the 313g large egg size, as well as bitesize packs.

The M&M’s Peanut and Chocolate Large Easter Egg (268g) is a firm favourite with Irish consumers.

M&M’s Large Crispy Egg is an exciting extension of the number one M&M’s flavour in Ireland.

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Paper Products

Sales rise amid pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to rising demand for tissue and hygiene products in Ireland, which looks set to continue over the coming months.

SALES of retail tissue, especially toilet paper and paper towels, rocketed during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as consumers stockpiled around the time of the first lockdown.

The wide range of product areas in retail tissue affected by Covid-19 includes toilet paper, paper towels, boxed facial tissues and pocket handkerchiefs, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International. The home seclusion trend has seen many consumers spending most of their time at home, leading to greater use of both recycled and non-recycled toilet paper in the home.

Euromonitor expect sales growth of 5% in the retail tissue category over 2020, but warn that the category is considered mature and so they do not expect significant increases over the longer term. However, demand for retail tissue and antibacterial wipes is expected to see steady growth over the coming months as a result of increased use during the pandemic and the view of many consumers that continued use of these products will be especially effective in ensuring ongoing good health.

Sales of away-from-home tissue, however, have declined considerably, as much of the hospitality and foodservice sector was effectively closed for much of 2020, as well as a reduction in demand from other commercial customers and public authorities. As a result, Euromonitor expect away-from-home tissue sales to decline by 5% in 2019 constant value terms in 2020 overall in light of the impact of Covid-19, compared to a 3% growth which had been predicted pre-Covid.

Aside from the pandemic, intensifying competition from private label has led to a number of leading retail tissue brands introducing bigger packs in order to attract price-conscious, bargain-hunting consumers. Another trend will see leading brands continue to promote their environmental credentials to consumers, as the area of sustainability becomes increasingly important to Irish shoppers.

Essity Ireland The Cushelle brand is going from strength-to-strength in the Irish market and the team at Essity are delighted that Cushelle now holds the spot as the number one brand in Ireland with 18.1% value sales (Source: Kantar WPO data to December 27, 2020). Cushelle has been in the Irish market for 10 years and is well recognised by consumers thanks to effective TV advertising, with brand icon Kenny the koala.

Key to Essity achieving the number one position has been through attaining strong consumer loyalty to the brand, combined with the launches of successful and

In 2021 Cushelle will launch an impactful on-pack promotion across 2.5m packs in partnership with the WWF, with every promotional pack raising money towards protecting koalas.

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Paper Products

Cushelle Double Roll, with twice as many sheets as the standard roll, is now available in 85% recycled and renewable packaging. popular line extensions such as the Cushelle Quilted range.

Cushelle Quilted was introduced on the smaller four and nine roll packs, plus the larger 16 and 24 roll packs, in 2018. In addition, in 2019 Essity added further to the Cushelle range with the launch of Cushelle facial tissues, which expands the brand beyond purely toilet tissue. In 2020, Cushelle launched Cushelle Double Roll, now available in 85% recycled and renewable packaging. With twice as many sheets as the standard roll, an irresistibly cushiony soft Cushelle Double roll lasts twice as long. The new sustainable packaging is made from 60% recycled plastic and 25% plant-based material.

Plenty is also performing strongly in the Irish market across all retail formats. The household towel market has benefited from the increased use of towels at home and is seeing growth of +27.7% as consumers are at home more often and using household towels as part of their regular cleaning routines (Source: Kantar WPO data to December 27, 2020). On average, consumers now purchase three rolls per shopping trip, which equates to 36 rolls per year. Plenty is playing a critical role in driving this growth for the category with the brand growing at 17.8% in the last 12 months (Source: Kantar WPO data to December 27, 2020). The growth in the Plenty brand is being driven by strong performances across all retail formats. Plenty is made with a new Power X Structure on its sheets, which delivers exceptional performance. It’s 40% more absorbent and it’s “wettable, wringable and scrubbable”.

“At Essity, we are breaking barriers to well-being and that includes the wellbeing of our planet and the communities

Ireland and the UK, Essity delivers this strategy through the ‘Four Rs’ – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Responsible, according to Ailish: “The four Rs keep us focused on taking action and making progress. In the UK and ROI, every sustainability project now ladders back up to at least one of the Rs. We also collaborate with industry experts to be part of the solution, recognising that we can make a real impact together for people, society and the environment.”

For Cushelle, Essity is committed to improving its sustainability credentials, without compromising on the quality of its tissue products. “Through innovations in product, packaging and production, we’re committed to becoming a more sustainable brand,” Ailish reveals. “We also believe that sustainability extends to being a responsible brand; therefore, part of our focus is on ensuring we contribute to sustainable communities and wildlife conservation.” In 2021 Cushelle will launch an impactful on-pack promotion across 2.5m packs in partnership with the WWF. Every pack of Cushelle promotional packs sold will help donate money towards protecting koalas, with a total value of €150,000. For more information, visit cushelle.com/ wwf.

Cushelle’s goal in 2020 was to reduce pack film thickness and remove handles from its packaging to save 50 tonnes of plastic a year (primary film savings, 2020). Since 2016, Cushelle has saved 400 tonnes of cardboard inner tubes or core, which sit in the centre of its toilet rolls.

where we live and work,” comments Ailish Walsh, Brand Manager, Essity Ireland. “In July 2020, we published a new report – The Green Recovery, which identified how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted consumer behaviour towards, and perception of sustainability.

The report also sought to identify the barriers that are preventing consumers from living more sustainably.”

Research conducted for the report shows that more than half of respondents find the subject of sustainability confusing. Other barriers highlighted include complexity and inconsistency of communications from brands and companies, and unclear terminology used on packaging and in advertising (This independent study was carried out online via OnePoll, from June 10-12, 2020, on 2,000 UK adults).

“Our goal is to break these barriers down to drive continuous improvement and a better understanding of how to live more sustainably,” Ailish explains. “This starts with how we communicate our focus areas and progress as a business.”

Essity’s global sustainability strategy is defined by three pillars: Well-being, More from Less and Plenty is performing strongly in the Irish market across all retail Circularity. In formats.

Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|49

Paper Products Kimberly-Clark As brand leader in Ireland (Source: Nielsen ROI Total Scantrack, toilet tissue, value sales, MAT w/e 27/12/20, PL excluded), Andrex is constantly looking for opportunities to improve its

Kimberly-Clark has revolutionised Andrex Classic Clean by introducing a new and unique 3D Wave texture that is proven to clean more effectively. product offering and the team at Kimberly-Clark know that feeling clean Andrex Classic Clean has has always mattered been voted Product of the to consumers. With Year in the Toilet Tissue the changing attitudes category at the annual towards hygiene that 2020 Product of the Year Awards brought, Andrex’s focus on 2021. delivering a better clean has never been stronger.

“With our new brand campaign, ‘Clean is a Feeling’, we are communicating the benefits of feeling refreshed after every clean in a standout campaign,” reveals Danielle Anderson, Country Lead - Ireland. “This campaign started in August 2020 and will continue throughout 2021 and beyond.”

This year, Kimberly-Clark has revolutionised Andrex Classic Clean by introducing a new and unique 3D Wave texture that is proven to clean more effectively, giving you a better clean with fewer sheets (compared with previous Andrex Classic Clean). Kimberly-Clark’s extensive market research showed that consumers had a significantly improved experience, both in terms of overall measures and on meaningful attributes such as feeling clean, strength and softness. Andrex Classic Clean has also been voted Product of the Year in the Toilet Tissue category at the annual Product of the Year Awards 2021, as voted on by a survey of 9,965 people

by Kantar.

Andrex continues to talk to consumers about Andrex Washlets, which have helped drive the fast-growing segment of moist toilet tissue. More and more consumers see the benefits of achieving an elevated, shower fresh, feeling of clean. This is an underpenetrated part of the category that offers huge retailer opportunities as consumers continue to adopt.

“Our commitment to sustainability is always at the forefront of everything we do,” Danielle states. “Our packaging is now made using 30% recycled plastic and is still 100% recyclable.

This year, we will build on this development by introducing Andrex Gentle Clean 4 roll Toilet Tissue in paper packaging.

We have also led the way with the Andrex Washlets range in the moist toilet tissue category which are 100% plastic free, biodegradable and certified as Fine to Flush by the UK water industry.”

Sofidel Plastic is a key material used within our economy and is used on a daily basis. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic litter is disposed and ends up in our seas. Sofidel and Nicky continuously focus on improving sustainability and ensuring products are environmentally compatible. Large investments are undertaken to provide shoppers with consistent high quality, innovative and sustainable products at great value.

Today, Nicky wants to strongly assert its leadership in sustainability credentials within Ireland as an innovative brand and a pioneer for good environmental practices and launch a new packaging made from paper. The choice of this material is the result of a study aimed at finding the best compromise between product quality and environmental sustainability.

The new packaging is made from Kraft paper, a renewable and readily biodegradable material, with a lower impact on marine and terrestrial life. Paper packaging is easier to recycle after use; consumers simply dispose of it in their green bin.

Paper is manufactured through a production chain that is less pollutant than plastic and has lower carbon dioxide emissions.

For more information, visit www.nicky.ie.

New Nicky paper packaging is now available in Ireland.

50|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Data and FMCG

Collaboration the key to getting value from data

Sharing your data with your supply chain partners can really maximise its effectiveness, according to a recent webinar that analysed FMCG brands’ and retailers’ relationships with big data.

BUSINESS analysts RecommenderX is hosting a series of webinars featuring industry experts to help break down big data. The first in the series covered FMCG Brands & Retailer Relationships with Data. The discussion featured Declan Carolan, GM of ECR Ireland and Co-Chair of ECR Community; Hash Alsadi, UK Head of Business Development with RecommenderX; Stephen O’Neill, Head of Category, O’Brien Fine Foods; Roger Jackson, CEO, Shopper Intelligence; and Kevin McCarthy, CEO of RecommenderX. The Q&A format provided a lively platform for debate and discussion to explore the sometimes overwhelming nature of big data and what to do with it.

What do people think about data?

Roger: “What we find for a lot of the retailers that we work with is that they see more and more data sources each year, and often more cost associated with collecting and interpreting it.

The first RecommenderX webinar on FMCG Brands and Retailer Relationships with Data proved a lively debate.

The reality is that it is a challenge to understand what data says and how to use it effectively. To some retailers, data is something like a necessary evil rather than a valuable resource.”

Stephen: “As retailers who have gone on a journey to make data work for us, we see it as a resource. But that is how we see it now, at the end of a long and involved process. We have brought ourselves to a position where we have made data an effective tool to help build our brand and business.

There are very large costs associated with data collection, cleaning, storage, etc. Like any part of our business, we have invested in data and we must see a return on that investment.”

Declan: “There can be a perception with some retailers, suppliers and

manufacturers that data belongs to them. Roger and Stephen, as data providers and consumers, have already mentioned the cost associated with data.

Of course, you own the data you invest in, but the companies we see getting the most value from their investment are those who are willing to share it with their partners in the supply chain. When all the partners bringing a product to a consumer share their data, they can add value at each part of the chain and help to deliver a return on the investment they made in gathering that data. While you own your data, you need to share to see its full value.”

Getting the truth from data often depends on the question being asked, or even how it is asked. Can we use data to find the one source of the truth?

Hash: “Getting the ‘truth’ out of data

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Data and FMCG use that data is how you make your money back. Ask important questions that will lead you to actions.”

Stephen: “Treat it as an asset rather than a cost. Using data as a tool to inform your overall strategy means you can begin to see the value in the asset rather than just the cost of collecting it.”

When all the partners bringing a product to a consumer share their data, they can add value at each part of the chain and help to deliver a return on the investment they made in gathering that data. depends on the volume of data, its accuracy and its relevance to the questions being asked. If we have a specific question to ask and collect the right data to ask it, of course we can get the truth and find actionable insights; if not, there is no point to data collection.

It is that process of understanding how to use data to get to the truth that we are engaged in refining now.”

Kevin: “We are definitely in an ongoing revolution. The FMCG sector has been very good when compared to other sectors with regard to volume of data collection. But in terms of what to do with that data, or agreeing common standards to ensure accuracy across the sector, it is behind some other sectors. Ensuring accuracy is absolutely essential if we are to get the correct

answers. With that accuracy we can get more easily to the answers we’re looking for.”

Roger: “Getting a single simple solution to a question is always the goal. As a sector, we are still in a learning process.

Unfortunately, it can be an expensive process and the reality is that to date, investment in data is not always an investment that has produced a return.

The costs associated with getting your hands on it can far exceed the value of what you can do with the data. But that is only in the short term. The reality is that have been evolving and learning and the organisations that have experienced growing pains will be better positioned for the future.”

How do we make data more valuable in the short term?

Declan: “In one word, collaboration.

The companies that we have seen that are willing to trust their supply chain partners and share data towards shared objectives are the ones that are maximising the return on their investment.”

Hash: “Absolutely. How you use the data directly affects the value right now. We need fast-moving data for a fast-moving sector for sure, but how you target and

About RecommenderX

Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland and Co-Chair of ECR Community: “While you own your data, you need to share to see its full value.”

Roger: “If you frame your questions based on your needs rather than the data you have available, you can increase value. Make your data answer questions you need answers to. Don’t just spend time capturing and interpreting data.

Make it answer the questions that matter to your business.”

Kevin: “I agree, it absolutely comes down with having a specific objective that the data will serve. Otherwise you just end up paying a data tax for collection without insight.”

O’Brien’s have been on a journey with regard to data use, has it been a successful one?

Stephen: “Yes, but not an easy one.

We have democratised data within the organisation and looked for ways to work smarter and more effectively. We really do treat data as an asset and we have allowed it to be used quickly and easily by disparate departments with differing needs to deliver specific insights and suggestions. We are definitely seeing benefits to processes, efficiency and effectiveness across the organisation.

But it took a lot of planning, time, hard work and investment to get to where we are.”

Conclusion Big Data has been with us for many years now and it keeps getting bigger.

We have arrived at a time where the data found in the FMCG sector can be captured and cleaned fast enough to help inform even short-term decision making. With this plethora of data, it is more important to know what you want it to do for you before you start collecting it, or you run the risk of paying a cost that may never see a return.

RecommenderX was founded in 2016 with the goal of addressing a recurrent business problem. Companies have large quantities of data and they want their businesses to be data-driven; however, the data is siloed, difficult to obtain, and requires significant manual repetitive effort to cleanse and integrate.

And all of this before the data is analysed, visualised and mined for insights.

RecommenderX blends experience in machine learning, predictive analytics, data visualisation, recommendation and information retrieval to deliver solutions for its customers. For more information, visit https://recommenderx.com.

52|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Customer Experience

What’s next for the in-store experience?

Martyn Jones, Director, VoCoVo, explores the customer experience trends grocers should be adapting to and ditching in 2021.

RETAIL sales in Ireland were surprisingly healthy in 2020 despite challenging trading conditions. In October, retail sales rose 8.1% year-on-year, despite all non-essential shops being told to close. Yet declining footfall and the rise of online shopping means grocers must take a fresh look at the instore experience to address this new balance. So, what is next for the in-store experience, and what positive steps can grocers take?

With footfall declining but sales figures showing strength, grocers need to adopt a multi-channel approach to continue being of value to shoppers.

Becoming a multi-channel store means blending the online and the offline channels and bringing the benefits of online shopping in-store. This can include instant assistance when you need it, easy access to product information and faster service.

Building the multi-channel grocery store Typical elements in a multi-channel store include online ordering in-store, mobile payments and interactive kiosks.

But grocers shouldn’t solely focus on the customer-facing technologies.

Successful connected retailers should also consider how connected their staff

are with the store itself and with each other.

The new blend of online and instore shopping calls for a connected ecosystem of shoppers, staff and systems. This includes connecting staff to make smarter decisions, integrating CCTV with alerts to warn of an influx of customers, and connecting smart shelves so staff can restock efficiently.

All of this can be enabled with voice communication technology that connects systems across the store, including staff communication, customer services, workforce management, inventory, and security systems.

Staff wearing lightweight headsets can liaise with each other to get instant answers to customer queries.

Colleagues can also receive security alerts from smart security devices or from each other, and stock that needs replenishing or products that have been requested by a customer can be brought out from the stock room in an instant without the customer being kept waiting.

Mastering click-and-collect Click-and-collect is a growing trend, with PwC reporting last year that 17% of shoppers in Ireland had used click-andcollect services and 44% of millennial shoppers were expected to buy this way.

These figures are likely to have grown during the pandemic as responsible shoppers strive to get in and out of stores quickly. The trend could also grow more throughout 2021 if those who have switched to click-and-collect during the pandemic have been impressed by the speed and convenience of a service

Martyn Jones, Director, VoCoVo.

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“

Self checkout is now a staple of many retail grocery outlets. that saves them the time of traversing the entire store to stock up on their weekly groceries. As the same PwC report points out, 47% of Irish shoppers said that they expect to quickly and conveniently navigate stores.

Clearly, click-and-collect presents grocers with a growing opportunity to fulfil changing customer expectations. Yet executing this service successfully requires more efficient operations to cope with the demand. Whether a store has space for a new collections desk or not, click-and-collect can be facilitated in a seamless manner using call points and keypads.

These can be placed on standard checkouts, self-service checkouts, customer service desks and click-and-collect counters, allowing staff to quickly and discreetly communicate to have collection items brought out to the customer with minimal delay.

Enabling click-and-collect can also entail moving workers from other areas of the store to pick click-and-collect items from the stockroom or shopfloor and serve at the collection counter. This is where grocers can benefit from smart workforce planning. Software that connects popular workforce planning apps to in-store voice communication technology can streamline workforce planning to cover all in-store services, including click-and-collect. The software converts task notifications generated by the planning apps such as ‘switch from stocking fresh produce to manning the collections desk’ into instant voice notifications and alerts they can access in real time while they’re working.

Time to get experiential?

Experiential retail is seen as another growing trend. Also known as ‘retail theatre’, experiential sees retailers offer entertaining experiences that go beyond the traditional shopping experience and inject a ‘wow factor’ in a bid to increase footfall and keep customers in stores for longer. The redevelopment of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Dublin is expected to include an experiential element.

Many retailers will have flirted with technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to enhance the customer experience, but for grocers it will be wiser to swap

Customer Experience

The new blend of online and in-store shopping calls for a connected ecosystem of shoppers, staff and systems.

This includes connecting staff to make smarter decisions, integrating CCTV with alerts to warn of an influx of customers, and connecting smart shelves so staff can restock efficiently.”

”

disruptive tech and get back to basics. Retailers across all categories need to shift towards implementing more critical technologies, such as those that provide real measurable value, including improving staff efficiency and enhancing operations.

With customers spending more time online and less in-store browsing, making the most of reduced contact time will be crucial. This is where connected voice communication technology again shows its value, providing more direct channels to staff with exceptional product knowledge and enabling a fully connected workforce that can respond to customers more rapidly.

Food for thought 2020 has been challenging for everyone but it’s been particularly demanding for staff in the grocery sector working on retail’s frontline. In-voice communication technology doesn’t just streamline in-store operations and improve the customer experience, it can also elevate staff morale. Being able to chat while you work with colleagues working in other parts of the store can be a significant morale booster and in-turn this can help stores to become happy and productive environments that shoppers and staff can enjoy collectively.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MARTYN Jones is a Director at VoCoVo, where he is responsible for growing the company’s partnerships, alliances and customer base, as well as expanding its presence across core markets in the UK, EMEA and North America.

Martyn joined VoCoVo in October 2018 and has been instrumental in the growth of the business and its global portfolio of clients, including Tesco, TGI Fridays, TK Maxx, Aldi, Metro bank and Halfords.

Prior to VoCoVo, Martyn was a freelance business consultant, working with both large corporates and early stage start-ups. He also worked for Solverboard as Head of Sales, Marketing and Product, and for Cyklop International as Business Development Director.

54|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Employment Law

Working with a pandemic Barry Reynolds and Jenny Wakely, specialists in employment law with DAC Beachcroft, examine workplace issues that have been brought into sharp focus by the Covid-19 pandemic.

THE Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted many workplace issues and challenges, some that have existed since long before the pandemic and others that are relatively novel. This article briefly discusses a selection of some of the salient issues.

Health and safety Since the start of the pandemic, there has been increased focus on employers’ obligations regarding safety, health and welfare at work. These include the requirement to provide a safe place of work, a safe system of work, a duty to ensure that an employee’s colleagues are competent, and that equipment used in the workplace is safe.

This is an area that is particularly challenging for employers and employees working in retail. Employers are anxious to ensure that their staff stay safe while carrying out their duties and interacting with colleagues and customers. Employers are required to follow public health advice, which is being regularly revised and updated as the Covid-19 situation unfolds.

• As readers will be aware, the May 2020 Return to Work Safely Protocol was updated and replaced in November 2020 by the Work Safely Protocol, which sets out a range of minimum requirements that apply to every sector and place of work.

• There is sector specific advice for the retail sector in the form of the Covid-19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide, published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).

• There is also important information for businesses on the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) website, hsa.ie, including helpful templates and checklists. HSA inspectors are now also tasked with visiting workplaces to ensure compliance with the Work Safely Protocol.

• The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) also has important information for businesses on how to reduce the risks associated with Covid-19.

• There is new guidance on remote and blended working, which of course applies to those managers within retail who are working from home.

There have been challenges for ongoing compliance in this rapidly evolving environment. Employers must be in a position to demonstrate that they are doing all that is reasonably practicable to ensure employee safety. Human resources issues can arise in this context. For instance, employers must be aware that various claims could be made by employees, including for penalisation or for constructive dismissal, for example, where an employee alleges adverse treatment following them raising health and safety concerns. Some of these types of claim can give rise to a risk of uncapped compensation or of other remedies in favour of staff.

We have also seen a variety of employer responses, including disciplinary action, where members of staff have not been fully compliant with safety requirements, so as, potentially, to compromise the safety of others. These may include, where warranted, disciplinary action and we recommend that specific advice is sought to ensure that the employer approach is within the range of reasonable responses.

Bullying and harassment Our article, ‘How to recognise bullying in the workplace’, published in the December 2020/January 2021 edition of Retail News, made reference to an imminent new Code of Practice. This Code has now been published and is in effect: Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work) Order 2020 (SI No. 674/2020, the “Code”). The Code sets out guidance on identifying, managing and preventing bullying at work and the procedures to be put in place by employers. It is worthy of mention again in this context, given the broad remit of claims of adverse treatment connected to the workplace.

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Employment Law Bullying and harassment do not require any physical proximity and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and Labour Court have long highlighted that harassment can take place through telephone calls, emails, text messages and through the use of virtual and social media platforms.

Employers should ensure that they have appropriate, up-to-date policies in place to address inappropriate behaviour and that they adequately investigate complaints of bullying and harassment in compliance with the relevant Codes of Practice. Policies should be modernised to explicitly reflect the position that they apply, irrespective of whether employees work at a fixed place or at home or otherwise, and that they extend to interactions outside normal working hours or normal places of work.

policies and processes, such as annual leave, emergency leave and absence management policies.

Absence management matters are rarely cut and dried, but there are now additional issues for employers to consider, particularly those regarded as essential services (including essential retail), where most employees will be required to attend the workplace.

Employers may experience high levels of absenteeism arising not just from staff illness, but also as a result of having employees who have been advised to cocoon or to restrict their movements or self-isolate.

As employers are keenly aware, in managing difficult employee issues and in applying internal procedures, they must bear in mind the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. The everevolving landscape may warrant a relatively strict approach to some aspects of employee conduct e.g. where there is a suspected breach of safety guidelines. In other instances, it may be more appropriate to relax the usual rules e.g. to take account of extenuating circumstances around attendance and absence reporting.

Disciplinary issues can and do still

arise and employers may have to decide whether to invoke the disciplinary process and, if so, to hold meetings at their premises or remotely or, less likely, to pause the process. Employers will need to consider the practicalities and ensure that such procedures are conducted fairly. Employers will also need to consider the likely impact on an employee’s wellbeing and health of any delays in the progress of any internal procedures.

Where staff are struggling, it may be appropriate to refer them to any workplace related supports, such as an Employee Assistance Programme, if one is available. It may also be necessary in certain circumstances to refer the employee to the company’s occupational health advisors or obtain health and safety input where there is significant absence or there are other questions relating to fitness to work.

Employee wellbeing and management Many longstanding work-related challenges to employee wellbeing, Lay-off and short-time attendance, productivity and job Lay-off and short-time have long been satisfaction have been brought into used as alternatives to implementing sharp focus by the pandemic. Workload, redundancies but never on the scale statutory limits on working hours, now necessitated by the pandemic. The childcare challenges, illness and provision of wage support schemes medical vulnerabilities are just a few such as, currently, the EWSS, has of the challenges which are magnified in current times.

These must often be managed very carefully.

In relation to working hours, there are limited exceptions to the need to observe weekly maximum working hours as well as minimum breaks. Statutory limits and entitlements continue to apply during this time and working hours must be recorded and proactively monitored.

In relation to absences and availability for work, employers have been facing new challenges. In dealing with these issues, the employer must navigate the new temporary wage supports and emergency and other leave entitlements. Some of these are not tailored to deal with the childcare or care-giving challenges that have arisen for staff during the pandemic or indeed to the necessity for staff to take leave from work for health or other reasons.

Employer approaches have comprised both availing of the new temporary State It is crucial for employers to keep up to date with public health advice and to maintain supports (where they apply to communication with employees and keep them aware of developments that affect or individual circumstances) but also their longstanding internal are likely to affect their employment.

56|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Employment Law

Employers are required to follow public health advice, which is being regularly revised and updated as the Covid-19 situation unfolds. encouraged employers to preserve employment relationships. The criteria for availing of wage subsidies can often apply where businesses retain staff with some level of working hours or where they implement temporary lay-offs. The criteria must, of course, be carefully assessed and reviewed on at least a monthly basis.

‘Lay-off’ in this context refers to a temporary period during which an employee does not work and may or may not, depending on the circumstances, receive some level of pay. ‘Short-time’ is where an employee works less than half his normal hours, although many employees’ hours have been reduced to different degrees.

Generally speaking, an employer must reasonably believe that the situation will not be permanent in order to implement one of these options and furthermore reasonable prior notice of the change is generally required. However, practices have necessarily adapted very quickly to the circumstances and urgency of the pandemic. Prior notice of lay-offs has been hugely truncated. Lay-offs have been imposed in preference to redundancies in many circumstances where employment contracts may be silent on the issue and there is widespread reliance on ‘custom and practice’ in the sector or on employee consent. It is possible that there will

be disputes in this area, for example regarding entitlements to be paid wages at any particular level. There are and there remain potential risks in laying off staff or reducing pay.

Employers should also ensure that they apply reasonable and objective selection criteria in selecting employees for lay-off and short-time and do not discriminate against employees on any of the nine grounds protected by Equality legislation: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, or membership of the Traveller community. This area should be closely watched by employers.

A key statutory change in this area is that lay-off and short-time do not currently give rise to the risk that staff can deem their role redundant and as such claim a statutory redundancy payment. This right has been suspended from March 13, 2020, and to at least March 31, 2021.

Takeaway for employers This is a difficult and uncertain time for employers and employees alike. It is crucial for employers to keep up to date with public health advice and to maintain communication with employees and keep them aware of developments that affect or are likely to affect their employment. Employers should review their policies and procedures to ensure that they are up-to-date and sufficient

to cover workplace issues that may now present in ways that were not anticipated at the time of drafting.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

FOR specific assistance and advice in respect of any of these or other employment law issues, please contact Barry Reynolds (breynolds@ dacbeachcroft.com) or Jenny Wakely (jwakely@dacbeachcroft.com) of DAC Beachcroft (https://www. dacbeachcroft.com/en/gb/locations/ dublin/) or one of their other specialist employment law solicitors.

This article is for general information purposes only and does not comprise legal or professional advice. You should not rely on any of the material in this article without seeking appropriate legal advice.

Twitter: @dacbeachcroft LinkedIn: DAC Beachcroft Dublin

DON’T PAY TO HAVE YOUR STOCK TAKEN AWAY Myself and my brother ran a small newsagents/grocery shop on Kevin Street, Dublin, for over 30 years. We sold large quantities of short-dated and out-of-date alcohol, chocolate, biscuits, soft drinks, confectionery and tobacco products. I dealt with many of the leading distributors and Cash and Carry’s around the country and wasn’t afraid to take the chance on 50 or 100 pallets of the same item, as I have friends

in the grocery trade who I would wholesale to. In 2020 alone, I bought several artic loads of Easter eggs from a large multiple during Easter week and sold everything. The final week of 2020, I bought 47 pallets of short-dated water and by January 10, 2021, they were gone.

If you have stock taking up space in a warehouse and you want to dispose of it, don’t hesitate to call me on 087 2233806. Save my number: you mightn’t need it today, but you might need it someday.

Between Brexit and Covid, I believe there is a surplus of stock available, especially in the catering sector which I can dispose of.

We are interested in purchasing large or small quantities of shortdated or out-of-date alcohol, chocolate, biscuits, soft drinks, confectionery or piped tobacco

products which are not selling for you.

Alternatively, if you are interested in purchasing from me don’t hesitate to call me either.

Meanwhile, if you have branded stock which you don’t want entering the retail trade, I can recommend a leading charity to collect it from you.

Don’t pay to get your stock taken away: Call John Cryan on 087 2233806.

KEVIN’S MART

We are interested in purchasing any quantities of short dated / out-of-date alcohol, chocolate, biscuits, minerals, confectionery or piped tobacco products which are not selling for you.

John Cryan | 087 2233 806

58|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

Digital Maturity

Pandemic pushes grocery retail to online high The Irish food retail/grocery sector was the big winner in an international study into digital maturity, as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated online grocery shopping.

THE rise in online grocery shopping over the course of the last year has been well documented, as the Covid-19 pandemic led to a massive growth in the numbers availing of home delivery and click-and-collect services.

The numbers have been borne out by the fact that Irish food and grocery retailers enjoyed the biggest improvement in scores in the 2021 Digital Leaders in Ireland Study from management and tech consultant BearingPoint. In general, Ireland ranked bottom of the table in international comparison with six other European countries (Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK), but the phenomenal rise in demand for online grocery saw the Irish food retail sector improving its digital maturity score, which quantifies the ability to serve customers through digital channels.

The BearingPoint 2021 Digital Leaders study scores 390 companies (53 Irish and 337 European) representing various industry sectors on a scale ranging from ‘Failed’ (0) to ‘Outstanding’ (5). Each company in the study was measured on 239 objective criteria across four dimensions of digitalisation: digital marketing, digital product experience, eCommerce and e-customer relationship management (E-CRM). Ireland achieved an overall average score of 2.53 for digital maturity,

the lowest among the seven countries; The Netherlands topped the table with an average score of 3.00.

Seven industry sectors in Ireland were assessed (Banking, Telco, Insurance, Food Retail, Energy, Media and Food Produce). Banking maintained its position for the second year in a row as the most digitally mature industry in Ireland, while Food Produce had the lowest scale score of 1.51.

Scoring highly on eCommerce The Food Retail sector enjoyed the biggest rise in scores from the previous year, increasing from 2.50 to 2.73, as growing demand saw improvements in online services and impressive increases in online orders. Tesco (3.44), Dunnes (3.32) and SuperValu (3.28) are all featured within the top 10 companies in this year’s Digital Leaders Study in Ireland. The retailers scored highly on eCommerce, consistently displaying a good level of product presentation, as well as efficient purchasing processes. SuperValu also demonstrated a high level of sales support by offering services such as live chat and click-to-call.

Tesco scored particularly highly on digital product experience, where it scored 4.34. Tesco exhibited a strong capability to provide customers with detailed content and company information on a well-designed website with modernised functionality, the study found. The retailer’s engaging product and store information is user-friendly, while its ability to provide a positive experience on devices, such as its mobile website, enabled Tesco Ireland to shine in an increasingly digital industry.

The profitability challenge Tesco published information showing that its online sales grew by nearly 70% during the year, with a 90% uplift during the height of the first wave of lockdowns. However, the shift in channels from store to online brings with it challenges on profitability, the study warns. “Online fulfilment is typically more expensive than store fulfilment, meaning that every customer who simply switches channel erodes profit for the retailer,” according to BearingPoint, while Tesco had to more than double its delivery capability, thus adding further cost to the channel. However, the BearingPoint study argues that the boost for grocery eCommerce is likely to be permanent, so it is an area worth getting right.

One definite area of improvement for each of the food retailers is E-CRM, which was the lowest scoring dimension for each of the Irish companies surveyed, while food retailers top the rankings for E-CRM in some of the other countries included in the study.

“This year’s findings provide a wake-up call for Irish businesses to remind them that they must not become complacent and must continue to progress on the path to digitalisation in order to accelerate their recovery and growth, both during and post the pandemic,” noted Gillian O’Sullivan, Country Leader for BearingPoint in Ireland.

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Out of Home Communications

OOH industry to recover ground in 2021

The Out of Home communications industry is predicted to show some recovery in 2021, according to a recent Kinetic Viewpoint event.

KINETIC, the specialists in Out of Home (OOH) communications for brands, recently hosted an industry seminar to look at the OOH industry in 2021, after a difficult year in 2020. The virtual event highlighted the changes in audience behaviour as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for flexibility and agility.

As experts in audiences on the move, Kinetic has invested heavily in research and behaviour analysis tools to provide effective OOH solutions for brands. In 2021, investment in existing networks and new format developments will be a key contributor to growth. Despite a very challenging environment, media owners have continued to invest and show confidence in the industry. According to Kinetic, industry forecasts show incremental growth over the next couple of years, and by 2023, spending should be back in line with 2019 figures.

Aoife Hudson, Deputy Managing Director at Kinetic, spoke about the role of OOH in this key growth period: • OOH builds broadcast reach but can do so in a dynamic and agile way, increasing the effectiveness of communications.

• In an uncertain world, brand fitness and trust signals are vital.

OOH can play a key role in strengthening brand metrics such as trust, popularity, success and importantly, purchase intent.

• OOH can build connections between our audiences and local communities. As audiences are proactively supporting local businesses, this provides an effective hook for brands to create powerful moments with their audiences.

Identifying trends in audience movement Caroline Decourcy, Insights Director at Kinetic, looked at the importance of audience data, to identify trends in audience movement throughout tiered restrictions. Despite being in a similar situation to the restrictions last April, the OOH audience has not declined at the same rate. Research carried out by Kinetic Insight (Source: Kinetic Insight, Changing consumer behaviour 2020-2021) found that: • Top-up shops, which reduced to just 12% last May, have increased to 36% (January 2021); • 53% of audiences prefer shopping instore to online. This is expected to increase over the course of 2021 as the

Using Out of Home communications builds trust with consumers, according to Kinetic. vaccination scheme is rolled out and environments are perceived as safer by shoppers; • Increased consumption patterns of social media and streaming services are beginning to settle, with more time OOH noticing ads.

“It is easy to default to certain theories around the word ‘lockdown’,” noted Ciara Gibney, Marketing Manager at Kinetic.

“In this session, we wanted to look at the key myths that have been present in our industry, including the notion that ‘Everyone is working from home’. It is true that more people are working from home during this time, but studies show that 60% of our workforce are still travelling to work. With the 40% of our population who are working from home, their local area is becoming more important to them and so, becomes an important touchpoint for brands. As we make our way through 2021, we expect to see a more hybrid approach with office and home working.”

Continuous recovery Aoife Hudson concluded the event with some thoughts on 2021: “Throughout the year ahead, we will see continuous recovery in the OOH industry as we begin to see some level of normality returning. Market developments by our media owners continue to provide new and engaging touchpoints that brands can utilise, and a level of importance and focus will be placed on innovation and dynamic. Overall, the OOH audience is still very much present at various touchpoints and there are strong opportunities for brands to lead the charge and create a real point of difference over their competitors.”

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62|Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie

What’s New NUTELLA LAUNCHES BISCUIT RANGE IN IRELAND FOLLOWING sell-out success in Europe last year, Ferrero is launching its hugely-popular Nutella biscuit range to Ireland for the very first time. As the world’s first biscuit to contain a creamy heart of the much-loved chocolate hazelnut spread, Nutella Biscuits offer the unique taste of Nutella coupled with a delightfully crunchy golden baked biscuit, making them perfect for shopper to share with their loved ones. Available in either a sharing pouch or a tube, Nutella Biscuits are positioned as an ideal product to be shared, giving an irresistible taste and the perfect way to deliver a truly heart-warming experience to shoppers. “We’re confident that Nutella fans will love the delicious taste and enjoy sharing their Nutella Biscuits with loved ones, giving retailers the opportunity to appeal to new shoppers and grow their biscuit sales,” noted Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director for Ferrero UK & Ireland.

BEN & JERRY’S LAUNCHES PEACE POPS TO celebrate the 30th birthday of the iconic dough-riginal, Cookie Dough, Ben & Jerry’s are bringing you something special this year. Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pops are legen-dairy Fairtrade Vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips and a peace-shaped, cookiedough-inspired centre, dipped in a soft chocolatey coating, and lovingly popped on a stick to take it with you wherever you go. Peace Pops were first created by co-founders Ben and Jerry to campaign for peace initiatives in the US, way back in 1988.

Peace, Love & Cookie Dough is more than just a funny saying – Ben & Jerry’s continue to raise a stick for peace, justice and equality today, from Fairtrade Certified ingredients that champion economic justice, to partnerships and advocacy that seek to educate and mobilise citizens to drive systemic change around the world.

KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES SQUARES GO AMERICAN KELLOGG has expanded its Rice Krispies Squares offering with the introduction of a new American range, including Cookies & Cream and Salted Caramel Pretzel flavours. The launch comes in response to the increasing popularity of American flavour variants, driving double digit growth of 26% since 2017 (Source: NPD Group report, 2019). Kellogg’s identified the opportunity to expand its range of Rice Krispies Squares bars to meet consumer afternoon snacking needs. “Our insights show that American flavours drive strong taste appeal with shoppers and we were keen to tap into that with our new Rice Krispies Squares Cookies & Cream and Salted Caramel Pretzel,” said Neil Rogers, Brand & Activation Manager, Kellogg’s Ireland.

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OPEN to Better is the theme of Coca-Cola’s campaign for hope and optimism in 2021. Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke cans will feature 25 limited edition light and uplifting resolutions to encourage the nation to be ‘Open To Better’ in 2021. For the first-time ever, people have the opportunity to design their own unique Coca-Cola cans with personalised resolutions at Coke.ie/opentobetter.

The campaign sees its iconic CocaCola logo removed from packaging for a limited time and replaced with series of empowering and uplifting resolutions. “By having positive messages replace the iconic logos and handing over CocaCola cans to consumers to personalise with their own #OpenToBetter pledges, we hope to in some small way help people to feel positive going into the new year and to bring a little fun into our everyday lives,” said Karen O’Shea, Marketing Manager at Coca-Cola Ireland.

PRINGLES TURNS UP THE HEAT WITH NEW SPICY RANGE PRINGLES has launched Sizzl’N, a new range of three delicious flavours with varying levels of heat intensity that challenge people to step up the spice. With each building in spice, the new flavours include Kickin’ Sour Cream (medium), Spicy BBQ (hot) and Cheese & Chilli (Extra Hot), aiming to satisfy all thrill-seeking foodies who want to push their taste buds to the limit. Containing no artificial colours or flavours, the new range will amplify some well-known Pringles flavours with an extra kick of spice that builds with every bite to test snackers’ limits. “We know our shoppers like spicy food, so we’re hoping the new range will allow people to be more adventurous with their palates,” said Neil Rogers, Brand & Activation Manager, Kellogg’s Ireland: “We can’t wait to see how many of our Pringles fans can handle the most intense heat.”

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What's New SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF CHEESE… CARBERY Cracker cheese is starting off 2021 with a fresh new look. To celebrate, Carbery Cracker has launched ‘A Cracking Cheese for Snacking’ campaign, showcasing the delicious mature red and white cheddars that Carbery Cracker has to offer. Carbery Cracker cheese is proud to be a product of West Cork, and is manufactured by Carbery Group in Ballineen.

The fun, eye-catching new packaging reflects the burst of taste that only West Cork dairy can produce. Carbery Cracker has also reduced the microns in its film packaging, which means 15% less plastic goes into landfill.

BUBBLE OVER WITH EXCITEMENT FOR NEW AERO DARK & MILK NESTLÉ has announced an exciting new addition to its Aero range – Aero Dark & Milk. Made with 51% cocoa solids and 9% milk solids, Aero Dark & Milk is a deliciously rich way to enjoy the brand’s famous chocolatey bubbles. Available in a 90g sharing bar, Aero Dark & Milk will be available in major retailers and convenience shops. An Aero Dark & Milk Peppermint sharing bar will be available as an exclusive in Tesco stores. “Aero Dark and Milk has a higher percentage of cocoa solids than standard Aero chocolate, which makes it ideal for those who are looking for a more intense, grown-up flavour,” said Maria McKenna, Confectionery Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland, who also revealed that Aero Caramel, which launched last year as a sharing bar, will soon be available in a multipack of 4 x 27g bars.

MINECRAFT ADVENTURE TRADING CARDS COLLECTION LAUNCHED MINECRAFT fans are sure to be excited about the brand-new Minecraft Adventure Trading Card Collection by Panini! Minecraft is an open-ended, block-building sandbox game where fans can explore their own unique world and create almost anything they can imagine. With over 126m people playing Minecraft every month and over 200m copies sold worldwide, Minecraft is the best-selling video game in history.

The collection of 230 cards includes special glow in the dark, shiny and 3D cards, as well as plenty of cards featuring favourite characters, universes, weapons and tools.

Starter packs include a fantastic binder, three packets and one limited edition card. Each packet contains eight cards.

OREO DUETS WITH LADY GAGA INSPIRED by the 2020 smash-hit album, Chromatica, Oreo’s new collaboration with global superstar and philanthropist Lady Gaga hit Irish shelves from February 1. The classic blue Oreo Original pack has had a Gaga make-over, morphing into a vibrant pink colour in a Chromatica-inspired design, with an exciting digital experience waiting to be discovered and amazing music prizes to be won. With every participating Oreo pack, fans can enter into a draw to win thousands of music prizes, including some featuring Lady Gaga. Oreo also launched a unique competition for superstars in the making, challenging consumers to share their own ultimate rendition of ‘Stupid Love’, the critically acclaimed lead album track, with the best ones having their entry video edited to create a virtual ‘duet’ music video alongside Lady Gaga!

LIDL LAUNCHES RECYCLED SHOPPING BAGS PICTURED is Owen Keogh, Head of CSR at Lidl Ireland, and Luke Lewis, aged five, celebrating the announcement of Lidl Ireland’s new range of 100% recycled plastic shopping bags.

To mark the announcement, the retailer is calling on young creatives across the country to exercise their imaginations and submit a drawing of what one of the R’s of Sustainability means to them, whether that be Reduce, Reuse or Recycle.

Full details and terms and conditions can be found at www.lidl.ie/shopping-bags.

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Shelf Life ALDI recently launched a nationwide search for a couple that has had to postpone their wedding celebrations due to the current global pandemic. The competition was launched by well-known personality, Bonnie Ryan (pictured), who herself has had to postpone her wedding this year. Aldi wants to treat one lucky couple by providing them with the flowers for their wedding and Champagne to the value of €5,500. Aldi will also provide an expert florist to assist preparations for the wedding day.

“There is a real sense of excitement within the business because this is such a fantastic prize for a couple that has had to postpone their nuptials over the past year,” said John Curtin, Aldi’s Group Buying Director. “At Aldi, we work with fantastic Irish flower suppliers, and the winning couple will be provided with the best of the best service ahead of their big day!”

THE Irish Sun, Ireland’s bestselling daily tabloid newspaper, has created an educational supplement entitled ‘The Irish Fun’ to provide a range of activities for primary school children during lockdown. The series is designed to promote positivity and add structure to young children’s lives during these restricted times, through a range of fun activities.

Each edition contains numerous exercises and illustrations for primary school children from the educational publisher Twinkl.

“In order to minimise the impact of school closures on both parents and children, The Irish Sun wanted to bring some fun by creating a supplement that offers interactive online and print resources on a variety of topics,” said Kieran McDaid, Editor of The Irish Sun.

CATEX 2021 has been rescheduled and will now take place on September 21-23, 2021 due to the uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. IFSA Chair, Patrick Clement, wrote to exhibitors to inform them of the date change, following ongoing consultation by the board of IFSA with exhibitors and partners.

The rationale behind choosing this date was a combination of trying to keep Catex 2021 in the 2021 year, while giving organisers some additional time to assess how the pandemic and indeed the country will react to the rollout of vaccinations early this year.

BULMERS Ireland has announced the launch of Seven Summits, Ireland’s first premium, naturally produced hard seltzer. Initially available in three flavours, Seven Summits is naturally brewed, providing a unique difference to other hard seltzers available today. Produced in association with the Whitewater Brewing Company, one of Ireland’s leading craft breweries, Seven Summits draws it inspiration, and its pure water, from the breath-taking seven summits of the Mourne Mountains, and is produced in small batches using hand crafted alcohol with natural flavourings and sparkle added through a natural brewing process.

Seven Summits is being introduced in three flavours: Wild Berry, Lemon and Mango. “We are excited to launch a truly distinct and refreshing product for consumers at the end of a challenging year for the drinks industry,” noted Karl Donnelly, Marketing Director, Bulmers Ireland. “The low carb alcohol segment is evolving fast and it’s exciting for Bulmers Ireland to now have a premium offering within this space.”

JANUARY 2021 saw the launch of three new meal pots for The Happy Pear food community, packed full of pure plant goodness. Full of fun, hearty flavours, proteins, fibre and goodness, these meal pots make perfect meal throughout the day and are available in Lentil & Sweet Potato Dahl, Thai Red Curry and Mexican Style Chilli flavours. Dave and Steve say, “We have been creating ready meals for years and we are delighted to bring out a range of easy and healthy portions that anyone can enjoy for dinner or lunch available exclusively in SuperValu stores and selected Centra stores nationwide.”

TESCO Ireland recently announced that it has reached an incredible €5m in donations to community groups and local causes across Ireland through its Community Fund initiative. This significant milestone came as the retailer prepared to donate over €118,000 to health-related community groups such as the Irish Wheelchair Associations, ISPCC and the Irish Cancer Society, in the first round of the 2021 Fund, as the impact of Covid-19 continues to be felt for local fundraising. “We’re incredibly proud to have helped over 20,000 community projects across the country over the last six years,” said Rosemary Garth, Communications Director, Tesco Ireland. “We know how important Community Fund donations are to local organisations, from purchasing sports kits, enabling senior citizen supports, helping to maintain their premises to supporting them to buy much-needed equipment at local level. It’s humbling that we can continue to support the outstanding work carried out, helping those who need it in our communities.”

PANINI has been taken aback by the demand for the new Premier League Official Sticker Collection 2021. Despite the current restrictions, sales of the new collection (the only official Premier League sticker collection) are even outperforming the hugely successful 2020 collection. The Panini Premier League 2021 Sticker Collection has already established itself as by a distance the fastest selling collectable currently available in the UK and Ireland, with fans both young and old enjoying both the quality of the new album, the stickers (including plenty of shinies) and the amount of detail included for each team. Many are finding the sticker packets the perfect reward for children who work hard at “home school”!

MARY Lardner of O’Toole’s in Tuam, Co. Galway, pictured with Graham Bogle and Mags Connolly, after the Bishop Street store was confirmed as the winning location for a €500,000 Euromillions Plus top prize win on Friday, February 5. Mary, who has worked in O’Toole’s for the past 33 years, was overjoyed to hear that one of the shop’s deserving customers had come into such good fortune: “This is the best news that we’ve had in a long time. Things haven’t been easy for a lot of people during Covid so I really do wish the best of luck to the winner. I really hope that this win is the start of all things good! Our store is one of the largest SuperValu shops in the country – we employ 170 people so this is sure to be the most popular topic of conversation in every household in the town.”

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