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Looking to the future

THIS issue of Retail News is all about the future. First up, some of the biggest names in Irish grocery reveal what they would like to see Finance Minister, Michael McGrath TD, unveil in Budget 2024, due this October. With rising costs a huge concern for already pinched margins, forthcoming labour legislation, and its potential costs for beleaguered retailers, are top of the agenda (Page 2).

In our Retail News Interview, Seán Higgins, MD of Future Proof Insights, explains how his company uses cutting edge technology to deliver real insights into how consumers respond to brands in-store (Page 14). They utilise the latest tech to measure shoppers’ mental and physical responses, delivering valuable data that can make a real difference to how brands interact with potential customers. Meanwhile, Mathew Forde from Lewis Silkin Ireland identifies the benefits and challenges of generative AI for both retailers and consumers (Page 26), and we also look at what retailers need to do ahead of the Deposit Return Scheme going live next February (Page 51).

Elsewhere, we report on a busy month of fundraising events for the IGBF (Page 18), store owner Mary Forde explains how her symbol group partner supported her through the toughest of times after a fire devastated her Spar store (Page 22), we reveal the brands most beloved of Irish consumers via the Kantar 2023 Brand Footprint (Page 32) and Jean Smullen highlights Ireland’s Top 20 wine brands in the off trade (Page 36).

Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director

2 Finding room for retail in Budget 2024: retailers call for Government support.

4 Grocery sales up as inflation rate lowers to 15.8%; Aldi open two new stores.

5 Beer production and exports rise but consumption down.

6 EPA calls on food businesses to sign Food Waste Charter.

7 Ireland surpasses all EU recycling targets in 2022.

The Retail News Interview

14 Dublin based Future Proof Insights use cutting-edge technology to get inside the shopper journey, measuring responses from the brain, the eyes, the facial expressions and the skin, to ascertain how consumers respond to brands in-store, from packaging to promotion. Seán Higgins, MD, explains the technology behind the data.

Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund

18 Three massive events during June raised an impressive €160,000 for the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund.

Shop Profile

22 Mary Forde’s Spar store in Tallow, Co. Waterford, has been part of the Spar Group since its inception in Ireland in 1963. Without their support, Mary’s shop would not have survived a fire last November.

Panini

24 Panini’s Premier League Adrenalyn XL 2024, the only official Premier League trading cards, are on sale from August 3.

Retail Technology: Artificial Intelligence

26 Mathew Forde, Partner at Lewis Silkin Ireland, examines the issue of generative AI and identifies the opportunities and risks for retailers and consumers.

Kantar Brand

Footprint

32 Resilient brands are standing their ground and thriving in challenging times according to Kantar’s 2023 Brand Footprint, explains Emer Healy, Business Development Director, Kantar.

On the Vine: Top 20 Wines

36 In our annual report, Jean Smullen examines the top 20 wine brands on the Irish off trade, with some notable movers over the last 12 months.

Deposit Return Scheme

51 Re-turn, operators of Ireland’s forthcoming Deposit Return Scheme, outline what retailers need to do to ensure compliance with the new scheme, including those who qualify for a Take Back Exemption. We also profile RVM Systems, who have begun rolling out topof-the-range Reverse Vending Machines to Irish stores.

Sustainability: Supporting Local

58 Guaranteed Irish recently held an event focused on sustainability and the benefits of supporting local brands for brand owners, retailers and shoppers.