Retail News NOVEMBER 2021
Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine
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Contents News
Are you ready for Christmas? IT is a well-worn cliché that the years seem to pass by faster, the more of them you have under your belt, but in 2021 it also feels more true than ever. It only feels like weeks since we were discussing Christmas 2020 and yet Halloween has been and gone and retailers’ and consumers’ thoughts are turning to Christmas. With that in mind, we present the annual Retail News Christmas Stocking special report, focusing on the products guaranteed to cause a stir this festive season, from confectionery and biscuits to alcohol (Page 26-55). This year, we highlight the Christmas Winners of the 2021 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, which were announced in time for the festive season (Page 34), Jean Smullen looks at the top wines for festive celebrations (Page 36) and William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association, explains how the Irish whiskey renaissance is set to continue in the coming years (Page 51). Also this issue, we say ‘bon voyage’ to Derek Mooney, JTI Ireland’s Sales Director, on his retirement, with a note or two from some of his friends in the trade; we report on the big winners at the Blas na hÉireann Awards (Page 14), focusing on some of the most innovative food producers across the country; we reveal the winners of the ECR Ireland Awards (Page 66); and Brian Donaldson, Maxol Group CEO, reveals the company’s ambitious plans for 2022 (Page 70). Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director
Counting the cost of Budget 2022.
3
Irish retailers express concerns over online fraud; 1,800 BWG staff presented with Retail Ireland Skillnet Certificates.
4
Online sales grow as shoppers embrace freedoms; Tesco to anchor new Adamstown development.
5
Climate action plan welcomed by fuels group; Aldi named Private Label Retailer of the Year.
6
Ireland’s waste management heroes rewarded at Pakman Awards; Gala take the plunge for Special Olympics Ireland.
7
Last chance to apply for Food Works 2022; UCC student honoured with Musgrave Award; Lidl launch Trolley Dash competition.
Blas na hÉireann Awards 14
The 14th annual Blas na hÉireann Awards showcased Ireland’s finest foods and the entrepreneurs who are driving innovation across the country.
20
Andrew Shannon, General Manager, JTI Ireland, reflects on the career of retiring Sales Director, Derek Mooney, while some of the best known names from the trade pay tribute to one of the FMCG sector’s enduring heroes.
23
Armagh-based oat producer White’s Oats have scored a top Eco Rating for their sustainable oat products.
Christmas Stocking 26
Tosca 60
Tosca believe that their new NeRa pallet can replace its wooden counterparts, while their Asset IQ technology will introduce efficiencies across the supply chain.
ECR Ireland Shopper Conference & Awards 66
The ECR Ireland Shopper Conference and Awards celebrated innovation in shopper engagement both in-store and digitally.
66
Forecourt Focus: Maxol
70
Maxol Group CEO, Brian Donaldson, reveals the company’s ambitious €20m investment programme for 2022, as well as noting the factors that are contributing to a strong performance this year.
Cyber Security 73
What can SMEs do in the wake of a cyberattack? A recent conference had the answers.
Employment Law
We highlight the products that will set consumer
26
76
When it comes to workplace grievances, having the right grievance procedure in place is crucial.
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The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) have awarded their annual Irish Wine Show Star Awards to 45 wines, which are available to consumers from NOffLA outlets across Ireland.
57
White’s Oats
Managing Director: Patrick Aylward
Graphics: Catherine McDonagh
57
20
Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine
Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen Production: Ciara Conway
Irish Wine Show Star Awards
Derek Mooney
Retail News Chief News Reporter: Pavel Barter
pulses racing this festive season, from seasonal confectionery to wines, beers, and spirits, including the remarkable rise of Irish whiskey and the Christmas winners of the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards.
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8 18 62 72 79 80
Industry News Retail Ireland: Monthly Update Tobacco: JTI Forecourt Focus: News What’s New Shelf Life
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News
Counting the cost of THE price of a packet of 20 cigarettes has gone up 50c to around €15, one of the many entries in a Budget that retailers have described as predictable and unspectacular. Despite the Minister for Finance’s efforts to spur economic recovery post-Covid, some retailer representatives believe that Budget 22 overlooks serious issues facing businesses in Ireland. Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland, noted a number of positive developments, including the extension of the Covid-19 Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) to April 2022. “We’re broadly welcoming of the significant Covid supports that put the economy in a position to recover,” Dillon told Retail News. “Wider economic recovery and consumer confidence should now be a priority. Much of retail is in a stronger position, but there are pockets – retailers linked to tourist attractions or city centre locations, for example – that are not fully back to where they were before the pandemic.” An increase in the National Minimum Wage - up 30c to €10.50 per hour - was well-flagged in advance of the Budget. Some retailers, however, contend that persistent minimum wage increases could impact wage rate expectation amongst employees. “The vast majority of retailers pay well above the minimum wage,” explained Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General. “When minimum wage increases year-on-year, staff on more than the minimum wage expect their wages to go up by the same amount. A lot of our members believe the market should dictate wage increases, and
Arnold Dillon, Director, Retail Ireland.
that the minimum wage doesn’t need to keep increasing over and above inflation.” Staff retention, which does not appear to have been a consideration in Budget 22, remains a major issue. “Staff recruitment and retention is probably the greatest difficulty for every retailer that I know,” noted Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA. “Businesses are hiring but more people seem to be deciding that the service industry isn’t for them anymore.” Staff shortages were exacerbated over the pandemic. Some EU workers, for example, have yet to return to Ireland. Around 15,500 retail workers are still availing of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), which is not helping staff shortages, according to Retail Excellence Ireland. The pandemic also ushered in lifestyle shifts that are impacting the workforce. “Students don’t appear to be available [to work],” said Buckley. Dillon continued: “Staff recruitment and retention has been felt across the economy. Now the economy is reopening, people are making different life choices. Retailers tell us that some people who worked for them have moved to different locations or are reducing their hours. An abiding problem is that certain parts of Ireland are less attractive because of the costs of living.” Budget 2022 saw no commitment to town centre regeneration, which has been on RGDATA’s pre-Budget submission list for a number of years. “We asked for collaborative town centre health checks to be funded and a national coordination body put in place to roll them out. There’s no sign of that, so that was a disappointment,” said Buckley. Also notable for its absence in Budget 2022 was any move to “force insurance
Tara Buckley, Director General, RGDATA. companies to pass on reductions in premiums,” she added. For the most part, Budget 22 was predictable. Cigarettes went up 50c to a price of around €15 for a 20 pack, with a pro-rata increase on roll-your-own tobacco of 70c. According to the Government, this increase will generate €56m for the Exchequer. Many retailers contend it will ultimately send more customers into the arms of the illicit trade. “There’s no imagination around tobacco in the budget,” said Jennings. “Now we have the additional trouble of a Brexitinspired Duty Free on our territory. People don’t even have to get off the boat to make their purchases.” CSNA has called on the Government to end the practice of what they call “ongoing price manipulation” by tobacco manufacturers in Ireland. Alcohol retailers had a slightly more to be happy about. The budget heralded excise relief for small producers of cider
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Budget 2022 and other fermented beverages in line with craft beer brewers. Alcohol duties were frozen for the third year running, but the National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) claimed this does not go far enough. “NOffLA called for a 7.5% reduction in alcohol excise levels for Budget 2022, in line with our drinks sector colleagues, to align Ireland’s punitive excise rates with EU levels,” said NOffLA’s Evelyn Jones. “The Government must protect the commercial models of drink sector businesses and provide the optimal trading environment, post Covid-19. Continuing with Ireland’s current excise regime, which is the second highest overall rate in the EU and UK, will only serve to burden the drinks sector businesses further in their recovery.” With Budget 22 now out of the way, retailers are worried about the raft of labour reforms in the pipeline. These
Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA. include changes to sick pay, pensions, and minimum wage.
Irish retailers express concerns over online fraud OVER 40% of Irish retailers who deal in online transactions are anticipating an increase in fraud attacks in the near future, according to research by Adyen, a payments platform. The research polled “100 retail decision makers in Ireland” over four days in September 2021, who expressed concerns about the “malicious and fraudulent use” of credit and debit cards. “Irish retailers are seeing a momentum of traffic towards online purchasing, away from physical cards,” explained Colin Neil, Adyen’s Managing Director in the UK. “Because of that, they’re anticipating more fraud. “In a bricks and mortar retail world, fraud is harder to commit because you have pin-based control on your card. Contactless payment thresholds are moving to higher amounts, but you still have [security] control as you can’t tap away forever. At some point, the issuer is going to require you to reinsert that card and enter a pin to validate the card. “Click-and-collect services, where the consumer has to physically go to a location and be present in front of a security camera, creates a tighter environment. When you move it online, though, the rigidity of some of
Colin Neil, Managing Director, Adyen. those controls is lessened.” Retailers are concerned about “fraud committed during the purchase process. Either credit card fraud through illicit chargebacks [in which consumers initiate disputes with their bank to overturn a transaction for an illegitimate reason], or redelivery fraud, where a customer states they never received an item,” added Neil. Adyen’s report, titled The Expectation Gap, found that only 38% of retailers believe their fraud prevention systems are effective. Neil recommended retailers to employ fraud tools and mechanisms, such as fraud-based engines, to fight fraud. Strong customer authentication (SCA), for example, requires banks to perform additional checks when consumers make payments.
1,800 BWG staff presented with Retail Ireland Skillnet Certificates BWG Foods have continued to support their Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL retailers and their staff throughout the Covid-19 pandemic by promoting their upskilling through training and education programme. Their retailers and their staff are afforded access to a diverse range of courses delivered through a training partnership model, workshops and online e-learning. All of the training programmes are industry certified, developed and delivered by professional trainers with significant retail experience. From March 2020 to date, a significant 1,800 BWG retailers and their staff have received industryrecognised qualifications from a series of courses and workshops facilitated by Retail Ireland Skillnet. “Our retailers take their role as providers of an essential service to their communities very seriously and have continued to upskill throughout the Covid-19 pandemic,” noted Peter Donohoe, Chief People Officer, BWG. “We have worked closely with Retail Ireland Skillnet to provide excellent and important courses to our vast network of over 1,000 community stores and are thrilled that so many of our retailers and their staff have received their Certificates.”
Peter Donohoe, Chief People Officer, BWG Foods.
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News
Online sales grow as shoppers embrace freedoms THE latest grocery market figures from Kantar show sales fell by 2.2% year on year in the 12 weeks ending October 3, 2021. The decline reflects the fact sales are still being compared against the extraordinary levels of shopping seen during the lockdowns in 2020. Spending remains 9.4% higher than in 2019. “It’s a nuanced picture in the grocery market at the moment,” explains Emer Healy, Retail Analyst at Kantar. “The lifting of social restrictions and high vaccination rates mean shoppers are more comfortable going out and visiting physical stores, but they also mean people’s social calendars are filling up again. More socialising means we’re living less regimented lives, and with more eating at restaurants, pubs and on-the-go, the reliance which many had on supermarkets to get their meals last year is starting to fade. That is evidenced in the latest four-week-ending data, which shows supermarket trips are falling by 4.5% year-on-year and the amount bought per visit is also down 0.9%.” Busier routines and less time to shop in-store means that many people have turned to online shopping. The latest four weeks saw online sales jump 7.1% year-on-year, adding €3m to the market. The further loosening of social restrictions on October 22 is not expected to herald major changes for the grocery sector going forward. “The relaxation of restrictions in Ireland has been a gradual process and people have already been enjoying increasing freedoms, with knock-on effects at the supermarket tills,” notes Emer. “We expect many office workers to continue to work flexibly, which will mean a mix of both in home and on-the-go eating
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 04/10/2020
12 Weeks to 03/10/2021
% Change (year on year)
% Change (vs 2 years ago)*
%
%
%
%
100.0%
100.0%
-2.2%
9.4%
Total Multiples
90.0%
91.1%
-1.0%
11.5%
Dunnes
21.9%
21.9%
-2.2%
6.3%
Tesco
20.9%
21.4%
0.0%
10.7%
SuperValu
21.9%
22.3%
-0.2%
15.3%
Aldi
12.6%
12.8%
-0.4%
10.6%
Lidl
12.7%
12.7%
-2.2%
16.5%.
Other Outlets**
10.0%
8.9%
-13.3%
-8.0%
Total Outlets
* This is provided to give further context to the year-on-year growth figures, which are now comparing against the accelerated take-home sales recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. ** = Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers and Cross Border shops Source: Worldpanel FMCG
at lunchtime. People are already back visiting pubs and restaurants too, so there shouldn’t be a major change in that sector either.” Halloween impacted on the latest figures, with sales of pumpkins soaring 32.1% over the past 12 weeks compared to last year, while sugar confectionery and share bags of chocolate are up 6.4% and 15.3% respectively, as people get ready for trick or treaters, Emer reveals. The past 12 weeks brought the highest levels of inflation in the market since March 2021. Prices are 0.6% higher than a year ago, with healthcare, hot beverages and frozen food the most affected categories, up 8.0%, 5.1% and 4.6% respectively. Despite prices going up, consumer confidence is high. Dunnes were the only retailer to recruit new shoppers this period as they and Tesco found favour through more premium items. “Dunnes typically have their most successful months in the autumn as shoppers favour
branded items and take shelter from the elements in their shopping centre locations,” Emer explains. “New customers contributed an additional €26.2m to their performance and Dunnes now account for 21.9% of grocery sales. Tesco’s market share increased 0.5 percentage points to 21.4% and they also enjoyed success through branded items; Tesco saw customers spend an additional €13m on wellknown names this period.” SuperValu continue to hold the largest share of the grocery market this month at 22.3%. Their shoppers visited more frequently than any other retailer, on average 21 times in the past 12 weeks. Aldi were boosted by store openings across the country and welcomed a second consecutive month with a recordbreaking share, now at 12.8%. It grew especially well in Connaught and Ulster, with sales up 6.9%, the strongest among all retailers. Lidl held its share steady at 12.7% this period.
Tesco to anchor new Adamstown development CONSTRUCTION has started on the first phase of a new €500m urban village development in Adamstown, Dublin. The first phase of The Crossings includes 279 apartments and over 8,500 square metres of space to house two major supermarkets, 20 retail units and five restaurant outlets, along with a multistorey car park. Tesco Ireland have signed a lease for a 3,700 square metre store, which is set to open in January 2023, with a second leading supermarket anchor store set to open at the same time. Bannon have been retained as agents for the leasing of the retail units, which will serve an estimated potential shopping population of over 100,000 people drawn from residents in Adamstown, and the neighbouring suburbs of Lucan, Celbridge and Leixlip. “We look forward to welcoming Tesco as one of the anchor tenants at The Crossings, which will bring new homes and retail development just a minute’s walk from Adamstown station,” noted Michael Hynes, Joint Managing Partner, Quintain Ireland.
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News
Climate action plan welcomed by fuels group FUELS for Ireland (FFI) have welcomed the publication of the 2021 Climate Action Plan, while criticising the “missed opportunity” to fully exploit the emission savings potential of biofuels and other advanced fuels, particularly in the area of home heating. The Government’s €125 billion Climate Action Plan sets out updated plans for how carbon emissions will be reduced over the rest of this decade, as the State looks to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. FFI, which represents companies in the liquid fuel sector, says that the publication of the updated plan is a welcome development, and that the plan to raise the blend proportion of biofuels in diesel and E10 in petrol was encouraging. “The increased use of biofuels in the road transport sector over the last decade has been one of the best examples of a successful emissions reduction strategy,” revealed Kevin McPartlan, CEO, FFI. “Thanks to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, we are reducing emissions by 300,000 tonnes each year.”
However, he argued that we need to see progress on these plans right away, so that we are following the lead of many European countries in mandating the use of E10 in petrol: “We also need to see an end to the needless delay in publishing the long-awaited policy statement on biofuels. Rather than actively considering the role which could be played by biofuels, advanced and synthetic fuels, their inaction means Ireland will continue to lag behind other countries needlessly.” As policymakers try to advance the decarbonisation of the State’s 12,000-strong vehicle fleet, McPartlan pointed to the example of B20 diesel, which is already on the Irish market and which he maintains could reduce emissions by 15% overnight in Government-controlled fleets if they chose to use it. Switching to fuels like this, and ramping up the use of hydrogen and other new fuels, could be of enormous assistance in reducing emissions from buses and other heavy duty vehicles, he added. McPartlan also argued that there has been a failure to consider how new
Kevin McPartlan, CEO, FFI. fuels could be used for home heating, rather than concentrating solely on electrification, maintaining that environmentally sustainable alternative options, such as liquid fuels, can reduce emissions per dwelling by up to 86%.
Aldi named Private Label Retailer of the Year
John Curtin, Aldi Group Buying Director.
ALDI Ireland have been named Private Label Retailer of the Year at this year’s Private Label & Contract Manufacturer Awards. The award recognises the success of their premium Aldi Specially Selected range. Developed by BusinessRiver, the Irish Private Label & Contract Manufacturer Awards recognise the best-in-class manufacturers operating in the private label sector in Ireland today and their achievements in competing on the world stage. The Aldi Specially Selected range showcases Aldi’s top-tier product offering across their 148 stores. First introduced in 2005, the range has since expanded to include 200 core products, with an additional 150 seasonal products on offer throughout the year. A large number of products from the range have performed strongly at both national and international awards, consistently winning multiple titles at the Irish Quality
Food and Drink Awards, the Great Taste Awards and Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards in Ireland, as well as accolades internationally. “This award celebrates 16 years of Specially Selected at Aldi, recognising a product range that embodies the Aldi commitment to premium quality products and exceptional value for money,” noted John Curtin, Aldi Group Buying Director. “The range is not only a pillar of our business, but a firm favourite among consumers with great taste. Behind Specially Selected is a team of dedicated buyers and suppliers, many of them Irish and longstanding Aldi partners, and with a talent for bringing the standout products to our shelves that Aldi customers have come to know and love. Today’s award recognises their hard work and commitment as part of the Aldi success story. We’re confident that Specially Selected will continue to excite and entice in the years ahead.”
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Ireland’s waste management heroes rewarded at Pakman Awards IRISH Packaging Recycling (IPR) were awarded the top accolade at the Pakman Awards 2021, the Overall Pakman Award, for their efforts in helping Ireland meet its recycling targets set by the EU. The Pakman Awards ceremony, which took place at the Shelbourne Hotel, saw representatives from leading organisations and community groups come together in accordance with government guidelines, to recognise achievements in recycling and waste management over the last two years. All 11 category winners on the night were automatically put forward for the overall Pakman Award, won by IPR. Irish Packaging Recycling (IPR) are Ireland’s largest Pictured at the 2021 Pakman Awards are (l-r): Séamus Clancy, recycling operator and in 2020, invested €2m upgrading CEO of Repak; Tom Shipsey, Chairperson of Repak and the plastics and metals sorting line at their Co. Dublin Stonehouse CEO; Brian McCabe and Des Crinion from Irish plant, the largest recycling facility in Ireland. Packaging Recycling (IPR), winner of the Overall Pakman Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Award, and Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD. TD, described the Pakman Awards as “a magnificent champions nationwide that excel in prevention, recycling, reuse, opportunity to recognise organisations across the waste reduction, biodiversity, innovation and education in all aspects and other business sectors who have taken the initiative to play of our everyday lives,” explained Séamus Clancy, CEO of Repak. their part in developing Ireland’s circular economy”. “It is a wonderful collaboration of all stakeholders, whose Winners on the night included Tesco Ireland, who scooped collective endeavours to protect our environment, provide a the Business Recycling Champion award. Efforts in prioritising platform where all aspects of recycling and excellence in waste the recycling of packaging and minimisation of food waste have management are recognised. There have been many fantastic resulted in the removal of 359 tonnes of PVC and 40 tonnes projects and initiatives nationwide that excel in prevention, of polystyrene materials from product packaging per year. recycling, reuse, reduction, biodiversity, innovation and In addition, Tesco Ireland have donated over 14m meals to education. These inspiring projects set a benchmark for others FoodCloud, saving over 18,900 tonnes of carbon. to follow. Repak Members Coca Cola, Lidl and Aldi were recognised “The Pakman Awards also give us an opportunity to create in the Plastic Pledge category for their commitment as part of awareness of how we can improve our recycling habits and the Repak Members Plastic Pledge, to reduce plastic packaging contribute towards reaching future EU recycling targets. The and increase the recyclability of packaging. Clean Ireland won finalists and winners show that Ireland is on the right pathway the Commercial and Household Waste Recovery Operator of for many of the challenging targets set by the Circular Economy the Year award, while Faerly won the inaugural Online Green Package.” Packaging category. For more information, visit www.pakman.ie. “The Pakman Awards acknowledge our environmental
Gala take the plunge for Special Olympics Ireland LONG-TERM sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail have announced their support of this year’s Polar Plunge, assisting in the promotion of the event and funding branded merchandise for registered participants to help make this year’s event bigger and better than ever. The event will help to raise much needed funds for Special Olympics athletes to help them get back to the clubs and sport they love. Gala Retail joined international soccer player and Special Olympics ambassador, Stephanie Roche, to help launch the Polar Plunge supported by Gala Retail, which will take place at Sandycove Pier on December 4 at 11am, as well as taking place virtually from December 10-12, allowing participants to take on the challenge at their own local pool, beach or lake. “As a platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail are thrilled to extend our partnership to support the Polar Plunge this year,” revealed CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond. “Having focused so much on isolating over the past 18 months, we hope to see a community of plungers taking part in the event at Sandycove or taking part virtually at their own local beach, pier, pool or lake; nominating others
Launching the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Sandycove Pier in Dublin is international striker and Peamont United footballer Stephanie Roche, second from left, alongside ‘Bear Chillis’ and CEO of Gala Retail Gary Desmond, with Special Olympics athletes, from left, Lorcan Tully, Eoin Tully and Edel Armstrong. on social media, raising funds for Special Olympics Ireland and making this the biggest Polar Plunge ever!” For more information, visit www.specialolympics.ie/ polarplunge.
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Last chance to apply for Food Works 2022 THE closing date is fast approaching for applications for Food Works, the highly successful tri-agency initiative run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc for innovative and export driven food and drink startups. Participants wanting to follow in the footsteps of thriving food and Owen Madden, Beth-Ann Smith and drink companies as Ken Madden from The Lismore Food Nobó, Wicklow Wolf Company, previous participants on and Fiid, have until the Food Works programme. December 3 to apply. The collaborative food and drink entrepreneurship
programme is designed for rising stars to help them transform from a start-up to an investor-ready company, with a focus on scaling internationally. Over 100 companies have successfully completed the unique programme since it began in 2012. The initiative, now in its tenth year, includes workshops with national and international industry experts across disciplines such as strategy, finance, product development and marketing. Participants are also eligible to apply for feasibility grant funding of up to €35,000 through Enterprise Ireland. “We encourage applications from any ambitious, innovative food and drink start-up with the potential to export,” notes Gillian Willis, Small Business Development Manager, Bord Bia. “Food Works has a successful track record in supporting Irish start-ups to succeed at home and abroad and can support and assist you to achieve your ambitions. The programme also showcases the pipeline of unique, high quality Irish food and drink products that have the potential to achieve export success.” Full details and an application form are available at FoodWorksIreland.ie.
UCC student honoured with Musgrave Award A UCC student was recently honoured with The Musgrave Award for Excellence in Food Microbiology for his work and research on plant extract processing, the cheese making process and vacuum-packed chilled storage of meat. Clonakilty native Reuben O’ Hea topped the class as the highest performing student in University College Cork’s Masters in Food Micro Biology Programme, delivered through the college’s renowned School of Microbiology. Reuben is a past employee of Musgrave and previously worked in in Trading as an Assistant Trading Manager for Moo’d & Frozen and then worked as a Brand Support Manager with the Moo’d Brand. The focus of his project was to isolate, identify and characterise the yeast and mould isolates, as well as evaluating the measures that can be used to control them, with the aim to improve the overall shelf life and the flavour profiling of the product. “I recognise that this award is very prestigious and would like to thank Musgrave for their support of this. I know from my time with Musgrave as an employee they have a close working relationship with UCC and the Department of Microbiology which is internationally renowned,” Reuben noted. “The award has opened up some brilliant opportunities for me and I’ve spent the last number of weeks demonstrating in the teaching laboratory
to undergraduate students in UCC.” Food Safety and Quality Manager Lucy O’Connor said the support of Musgrave for this award reflected the continuing positive association between Reuben O’Hea is pictured with Lucy UCC, Musgrave and the Musgrave O’Connor, Food Safety and Quality Food Safety Team: Manager at Musgrave Group; Dr “Musgrave Group Jennifer Mahony, Professor of believe in supporting Molecular Food Microbiology; and Colin Hill, Professor of Microbial Food new initiatives and research into Safety, at University College Cork. areas within food production, food composition and packaging innovation. This provides Musgrave, their suppliers and customers unique access to technologies and innovations that will keep our food safe, last longer and ensure sustainable development of the food chain in Ireland and internationally.”
Lidl launch Trolley Dash competition LIDL Ireland have launched their seventh Annual Trolley Dash, with the help of Brian Dowling and his husband, Arthur Gourounlian (pictured). The retailer’s biggest and most loved fundraiser of the year offers shoppers the opportunity to win their entire Christmas food shop for just €1, in aid of charity partner Jigsaw. Every store across the country will have one winner who will be challenged to a ‘Supermarket Sweep’ style dash around their local Lidl store to grab as much of their Christmas shopping as possible in just two minutes. Tickets went on sale in all Lidl stores across Ireland on November 13 for two weeks only.
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Industry News Spar partners with Too Good To Go to minimise food waste SPAR have launched a new partnership with pioneering food waste app Too Good To Go, making them the first retail network in Ireland to sign up to what is expected to be a game-changing solution in addressing food waste at retail level. The new partnership, which will start in Dublin, will mean that participating Spar stores will have the ability to select a range of short shelf-life products that remain in perfect condition but are unlikely to be sold on the day, package them into ‘Surprise Bags’, place the bags for reservation via the Too Good To Go app, and ultimately sell the bags instore for a third of the original value. From a user perspective, customers can log onto the app and browse stores that have ‘Surprise Bags’ available for reservation on any given day, before picking them up in-store. Lucy Bennett, Marketing Manager, Too Good to Go, is pictured with Colin Donnelly, Spar Sales Director, at Spar IFSC in Dublin.
M&S launch customer loyalty programme
Cadbury and FAI announce new partnership
OCTOBER 20 saw Marks & Spencer Ireland launching their first customer loyalty programme, Sparks, as a digital rewards scheme, with a promise that good things happen every time you shop. The launch of Sparks coincided with the introduction of a brandnew M&S app, making it even easier for customers to shop online. Sparks provides a more personalised experience, with instant rewards, tailored personal offers and a selection of charities to support. Pictured are Frances Deasy, Head of Marketing & Sales, M&S Ireland; Danielle Papagapiou, Customer Loyalty and experience, M&S; and Alex Kilborn, Head of Loyalty Operations, M&S.
CADBURY have become Official Partner of the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team in a move that further boosts support for the sport in Ireland. The announcement comes hot on the heels of the Football Association of Ireland establishing equal pay for the Men’s and Women’s National Senior Teams and underlines the deserved support for the team in their quest to reach the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and beyond. The partnership will see Cadbury take an active role in supporting the FAI’s strategy to continue to raise awareness and grow the women’s game in Ireland through acts of generosity, synonymous with the brand. Cadbury, whose Irish manufacturing operation is based in Coolock, will seek to support women’s football at a grassroots level by enhancing club facilities, while raising the profile of women’s players in Ireland. As part of the launch, the Women’s National Team captain Katie McCabe (pictured) visited her old club, Raheny United FC, whose senior women’s side will be the first of many grassroots women’s teams around Ireland to receive funding from Cadbury in a bid to boost participation among women.
Daybreak go Around the World for Irish Heart Foundation DAYBREAK’S recent Around the World challenge in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation has raised €22967.23! Daybreak employees embarked on a summer virtual active challenge and walked, ran, and cycled around the world to raise much needed funds for the Irish Heart foundation. “We care about people in our communities across Ireland and understand and respond to their everyday needs,” noted Vasco Vilas, Assistant Brand Manager with Daybreak. “We are proud to support the Irish Heart Foundation in its mission to save lives by eliminating premature death and avoidable disability from cardiovascular disease and ask customers to support our challenge.” Vasco is pictured with Judith Gilsenan, Commercial Director with the Irish Heart Foundation.
One4all raise €225k for Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin
One4all have announced that since their Shop4Crumlin initiative first launched seven years ago, over €225,000 has been raised for Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin, which raises vital funds to support sick children and their families in CHI at Crumlin. Taking place each September, when a One4all Gift Card or Digital Gift Card is used in any of its 11,000 retail partners in-store or online during Shop4Crumlin week, One4all donates 50c to Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin’s Giggle Fund for every transaction made. This year, Argos, Life Style Sports, River Island, Currys PC World and New Look also supported the campaign, donating an additional 50c to the Giggle Fund. Pictured are Jonathan Ryan, Head of Retail, One4all, and Denis Maher, Corporate Executive, Children’s Health Foundation.
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Industry News SuperValu launch hydroponically grown Microgreens SUPERVALU have announced the launch of two new hydroponically grown products grown right here in Ireland. SuperValu are the first retailer to bring vertically farmed hydroponic micro greens to market and the new products, available now on shelves around Ireland, are Signature Tastes Italian Style Microgreen Mix and Signature Tastes Microgreen SuperMix. Hydroponic vertical farming is an innovative farming method that allows greens to be grown in Ireland all year round, whatever the weather, significantly reducing food miles and time from farm to shelves. Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without using soil. In addition to the Microgreens, the Signature Tastes Growing Pea shoots are also launching in SuperValu stores; these are also grown using innovative soil-free methods but are grown on a bed of compostable paper. Stephen McCormack, McCormack Family Farms, is pictured with the hydroponically grown SuperValu Signature Tastes Microgreen Mixes.
Remembrance Run returns for 10-year anniversary HELEN Somerville, Spar Marketing Manager, is pictured with Frank Greally at the launch of the 2021 Remembrance Run 5k, the unique and hugely popular Walk or Run event that took place in the Phoenix Park on November 14. This was the 10th annual Remembrance Run 5k, proudly supported by Spar, who have been a key partner in growing the event over recent years. “It feels like 10 years have simply vanished since I came up with the idea for the Remembrance Run 5K as a great way to celebrate the memory of my dear friend, the writer Con Houlihan,” noted Frank Greally, who founded the Remembrance Run 5k in association with Athletics Ireland in 2012. “I will always be grateful that Athletics Ireland liked my idea of creating a unique Walk or Run event with choirs, music and a special Wall of Remembrance where participants could write names of deceased loved ones, family and friends.”
Aldi donate €1,000 worth of vouchers to student food bank appeal ALDI Ireland have donated €1,000 worth of gift vouchers to University College Cork (UCC) Students’ Union food bank in response to its national appeal. The Students’ Union ran out of supplies just 50 minutes after opening, with Students’ Union representatives attributing the high demand to rising rental prices, leaving many students struggling to afford their weekly shop. Aldi are giving shoppers the opportunity to donate towards UCC students struggling to afford food on campus by rolling out new food donation points across their Cork City stores. Pictured are (l-r): Heather O’Leary and Evelyn Collins of Aldi’s store in Wilton, Cork, with Asha Woodhouse, Student Union President, UCC, and Caoimhe Walsh, UCC Student Welfare Officer.
Bellingham Capital acquire Bunalun brand Bellingham Capital (BellCap) have announced the acquisition of National Organic 160 Products Limited (National Organics), owner of the award winning Bunalun brand. Headquartered in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Bunalun is Ireland’s largest and best-known organic food brand. National Organics achieved revenues of circa €22m in 2020. Kieran Dunne, the company’s co-founder will continue in his role as Managing Director. The amount of the transaction is undisclosed. Part of the Bellingham Group, BellCap is an investment fund founded by Mark Goodman in 2021. Its focus is to invest in the areas of agri-business, food industry & renewable projects across Ireland & the UK.
Positive response to Lidl’s plans for Athenry development
LIDL Ireland recently hosted a virtual community session to brief local residents, community leaders and stakeholders on their plans for a brand new store in Athenry. The event was opened by Minister of State with Responsibility for Disabilities in the Department of Health and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Anne Rabbitte TD. Attendees were shown numerous computer generated images of the development, showcasing the high quality build, while Lidl’s property team answered questions on topics such as flooding, environmental impact, accessibility and restoration of the nearby landmark building of Athenry House. Lidl’s regional property executive Dervla Nash said they were “blown away” by the public reaction to their plans for Athenry.
supporting
life-saving work
for baby Rio and other sick children. Since 2014, we’ve raised over €6.5 million for Children’s Health Foundation Temple Street, helping thousands of sick children like baby Rio.
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Industry News BWG Foodservice star at Catex 2021 PICTURED at Catex 2021, where BWG Foodservice unveiled their spectacular Christmas brochure, were Ricky O’Brien, BWG Foodservice Director, Jenny Egan, Marketing Manager, and Karla Murray, Head of Trading. The BWG Foodservice Christmas Brochure is packed with added-value products for customers, including a full range of chilled, frozen, ambient, disposables and seasonal ranges to get any commercial kitchen through this year’s festivities. “Central to our offering is the unwavering commitment to supporting local Irish suppliers, ensuring that the provenance of products across the Christmas range is readily accessible to the more discerning customers, including vegan and gluten free options,” noted Ricky O’Brien. “Of course, firm favourites are always popular, such as our BWG exclusive beef brand, Glasan Farm. Similarly, when it comes to treating ourselves over the festive season, we ensure we offer the latest seasonal trends and delectable desserts and bakery products through our relationships with Wexford’s Coolhull Farm, Dublin’s Mannings & Fusco Foods and Carlow-based bakery, Seery’s, whose exclusive Chef’s Kitchen Christmas pudding log dessert is a personal favourite.”
Mace go the extra mile for Down Syndrome Ireland MACE Sales Director Peter Dawn is pictured presenting Down Syndrome Ireland CEO, Barry Sheridan, with a cheque for €30,000, which are the proceeds of Mace Retailers’ Tour de Mace static cycling fundraising events. All through the summer, Mace retailers invited customers and staff to donate between 15 minutes and one hour of their time to cycle and raise much needed funds for Mace’s official charity, Down Syndrome Ireland. The Tour de Mace events are great for the charity, the store and the local communities they serve,” noted Peter Dwan. “They are a fabulous initiative and a fun and healthy way to raise funds for a very worthy cause; all the more important now with fundraising under increased pressure in the current environment.”
Pringles partner with Movember PRINGLES have partnered with Movember to take over the streets and get real men talking about mental wellbeing. Clean art, which is is a method of removing dirt on surfaces to create temporary images, recently popped up across the streets of Dublin, to mark the start of Movember and get men opening up to one another about mental wellbeing. With more than 25 pieces of clean art scattered across the capital, Pringles are hoping the eyesdown graphics will help people look up and reach out to a friend, colleague or family member.
Smurfit Kappa develop paper-based child-lock box for laundry pods SMURFIT Kappa have developed an innovative new packaging solution for detergent together with McBride, the leading European manufacturer of private label products for the cleaning and hygiene market. The Click-to-Lock Pods Box is a 100% paper-based solution which provides a sustainable and safe alternative to the traditional plastic box for laundry pods. It’s tamper-proof, thanks to an effective, certified child-lock system, in line with the International Association of Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, following successful protocol testing. It is also moisture resistant, due to a varnish inside the packaging that provides a barrier against any type of moisture from accessing the contents. The pack has 25% more capacity than the previous plastic version and brings efficiencies to the supply chain by facilitating an increased pallet load.
Kellogg Ireland introduce new staff supports KELLOGG Ireland are set to give more workplace assistance to those experiencing the menopause and will train managers on how to talk to staff about the subject. There will also be extra paid time off and support for fertility treatment and pregnancy loss, including for partners and those using a surrogate mother. Flexible working and a free counselling helpline are available to all Kellogg’s staff and will be encouraged to people experiencing these issues. “Many people experience these issues, and the impact can be both physical and mental, but they aren’t discussed widely in the workplace,” noted Sam Thomas-Berry, Kellogg Europe VP, Human Resources. “That’s why we’re launching several new workplace policies for even better equity and inclusion at Kellogg’s.”
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Fuels
Blas na hÉireann Awards showcase Ireland’s finest foods The Blas na hÉireann Awards shone a light on the talented food producers right across the country. BLAS na hÉireann, the Irish food awards, took place recently, in a virtual ceremony that celebrated the best of Irish food in the 14th year of the Awards. Wild About were crowned Supreme Champion for their So Sloe Jelly, while Temptation Pâtisserie were awarded Best Artisan Product for their Sea Salt Caramel Bar. Wild About are a multi-award-winning Irish artisan producer and local food hero. Working from their small sustainable permaculture farm in Co. Wexford, they grow and forage a range of produce to create deliciously low carbon, low sugar, sustainable handmade artisan dressings, syrups, chutneys and snacks directly from seasonal harvests. The Falconer family created Wild About products through a huge lifestyle change; they swapped living in London and careers in product design and documentary film-making for the good life in the Wexford countryside. Fiona was originally from Dublin and Malcolm grew up on a smallholding in South Wales, and now with their family, they specialise in handcrafting seasonal products using native wild ingredients, Ireland’s own superfoods.
Twins Kate and Ruth O’Hara of Temptation Pâtisserie, who won Best Artisan Product at this year’s Blas na hÉireann Awards for their Sea Salt Caramel Bar. Temptation Pâtisserie also won a silver award for their Luxury Hand Painted Bonbons, along with the awards for Best in Laois and Best Start Up.
Fiona and Malcolm Falconer of Wild About, who were named Supreme Champion at this year’s Blas na hÉireann for their So Sloe Jelly pictured here in the foraging garden of their home.
Home to Ireland’s first commercial nettle farm, along with a traditional vegetable garden and polytunnel, Wild About’s products are also based on foraged wild foods like sloes, haws, rosehips, crab apples, wild pears, quince and an array of other exceptional seasonal ingredients. Their Blas na hÉireann 2021 Supreme Champion win is for their So Sloe Jelly, where wild sloe berries from the native Blackthorn are made into a gorgeous seasonal fruit jelly conserve with a hint of star anise, perfect with duck, game and venison, and delicious with soft cheese or even just on hot buttered toast. “We are absolutely dumbfounded to be awarded Supreme Champion at the Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards,” says
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Blas na hÉireann Awards Fiona Falconer of Wild About. “We are a tiny family run company that believes passionately in the benefits of simple, sustainable plant-based foods. We grow ingredients for our products, ethically and sustainably, on our biodiversity farm here in Co. Wexford. We work seasonally, so the range changes with the harvests and we specialise in native wild ingredients. Malc makes everything by hand in small batches - pure artisan. But it’s just the two of us, we are tiny. “The Blas na hÉireann award is really special because it’s a simple Gold, Silver, Bronze, the best on the island of Ireland and the customer knows quality is assured,” she continued. “To be awarded Supreme Champion of the island of Ireland will have a great impact on our business. We stand with the hundreds of tiny food producers all over the country, doing farmers markets, stocking local shops, creating a real movement, driving quality, sustainability and innovation in Irish food. We spent years doing the Greys Lane Market at the Dingle Food Festival, watching our stall-less friends skip by with blue boxes (Blas Crystal trophy), then we picked up one, then another, now we have six Gold, two Silver, one Bronze, Best in Wexford, Best in Leinster and now Supreme Champion! Go small producers!! So for a tiny company like ours, this means the world.” Best Artisan Product Award The Blas na hÉireann Best Artisan Product 2021 award went to the young Co. Laois sisters behind Temptation Pâtisserie, Kate and Ruth O’Hara, for their Sea Salt Caramel Bar. Self-taught chocolatier twin sisters, Kate and Ruth set up their fledgling company just last year, producing luxury artisan chocolates and pâtisserie made with premium quality and ethically sourced ingredients in small batches in Mountmellick. The duo are accounting and finance graduates who worked in Dublin for the last couple of years and decided to take the leap to start their business, currently based in the MDA Kitchen in Mountmellick, specialising in hand-painted chocolates, bars and bonbons which they call “our little pieces of edible art”. Growing up with a love of French pâtisseries and chocolateries from family holidays to France, they are self-taught chocolatiers and learned everything they know through courses and videos online. Temptation Pâtisserie took home the Best Artisan Product 2021 for their Sea Salt Caramel Bar, a creamy 40% milk chocolate bar shell filled with a homemade salted caramel, made using West of Dingle sea salt, hand-harvested on the Dingle Peninsula. The bar is splashed with white and blue cocoa butter, illustrating the breaking waves of the sea. Temptation Pâtisserie were also winners of this year’s Blas na hÉireann Best Start-Up award. Shining a light on the best of the best Chairperson of Blas na hÉireann, Artie Clifford feels that now, more than ever, it is essential to shine a light and give that all important boost to the talented producers dotted around the island. “These are the 14th annual Blas na hÉireann awards,” says Artie, “and despite the very challenging circumstances of the last 18 months, I am delighted to report a record entry level from producers right across the island. This large increase in entries has raised the bar across all categories, allowing us to introduce new products and producers to the buyers and press with whom we work, which is really exciting. Congratulations to all the winners and to every producer who participated. It is always such a rewarding experience to see the wealth of exceptional foods being produced on the island of Ireland, and this has been the best year yet.”
The Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Product awards are proudly sponsored by Bord Bia. Tesco Ireland Tesco Ireland received a total of 25 awards at the Blas na hÉireann awards. Tesco products were awarded across all medal classes and spanned meat, fish and poultry, beer, wines and spirits, chilled, bakery and impulse categories. Seven Gold medals were awarded to Tesco for their own-label products, including the Tesco Finest Cranberry, Apricot and Clementine Loose Stuffing, which is the perfect addition to the big Christmas meal.
Joe Manning, Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland. “We’re delighted to have been awarded 25 medals at this year’s awards,” revealed Joe Manning, Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland. “It’s an honour to have our Irish produce awarded for quality: seven Gold, 12 Silver and six Bronze winners is a great achievement. We’re proud to work with suppliers across Ireland who are dedicated to making the best products for our customers; well done to our suppliers and in-house teams.”
Tesco Finest Cranberry, Apricot and Clementine Loose Stuffing, a Gold Award winner.
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Fuels Tesco Ireland’s Gold Winners included: Low cal Tonic with Elderflower; Fire Pit Sriracha Buttermilk Chicken Thigh Fillets; Tesco Finest Cranberry, Apricot and Clementine Loose Stuffing; Tesco Fire Pit Sweet & Smoky Mackerel Fillets 300g; Tesco Finest Black Pudding; Tesco Finest Tomato with Mascarpone & Fresh Basil Soup 400g; and Tesco Full Fat Greek Style 500g. Their Silver Winners included: Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Cream Liqueur Alcohol; Salted Caramel Truffles; Tesco Apple and Cinnamon Instant Porridge Oats; Tesco Finest Traditional 10 Hand tied Irish Pork Sausages; Tesco Finest Corn Fed Whole Chicken; Fire Pit Hoisin Mini Fillet Chicken Kebabs; Tesco Butter Salted 454g; Tesco Finest Irish Free Range Bronze Turkey Breast with Winter Fruit Stuffing; Tesco Finest Yogurt Sicilian Lemon Curd 150g; Fire Pit Brioche burger buns; Tesco Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Crème Fraiche 300g; and Cream Liqueur Alcohol took Tesco West Cork Sicilian home a Silver Award. Lemon 150g. Tesco Ireland’s list of Bronze Winners included: Tesco Porridge Oats; Tesco Finest Certified Irish Angus Beef Striploin Joint with Garlic and Herb; Fire Pit Pork Sizzle Steaks 381g; Tesco Finest Hearty Sweet Potato & Irish Chicken Soup 400g; Tesco Finest Mashed Potato 400g; and Fire Pit BBQ Cauliflower with Ranch Dressing 360g. SuperValu SuperValu’s suppliers picked up an impressive 83 awards at this year’s Blas na hÉireann awards at the virtual ceremony. This brings the total number of awards won by SuperValu suppliers over the last four years up to an incredible 432 awards across SuperValu Own Brand, Signature Tastes and Food Academy. Following on from a successful year in 2020, this year saw SuperValu Own Brand and its exclusive brand producers picking up 32 awards, winning seven Gold, 11 Silver and 12 Bronze. SuperValu award winners included two prestigious ‘Chef’s Larder’ awards. These were won by McCormack Family Farms’ SuperValu Signature Tastes Growing Pea Shoots and Kepak’s SuperValu Beef Tomahawk Steak. This highly regarded title is awarded for ingredients, specialist products or recipe staples that a chef would find to be a valuable part of their larder. SuperValu Signature Tastes also took home four Gold awards for Signature Tastes Potato Gratin from Ballymaguire Foods, Signature Tastes Chocolate Yule Log from Couverture Desserts Ltd, Signature Tastes White Chocolate and Cranberry Bites from Carleton Cakes and Signature Tastes Whole Grain Mustard by Folláin. Other Gold award winners included Carton Brothers Ltd’s SuperValu 48 Hour Marinated Irish Rotisserie Chicken, Manor Farm’s SuperValu Irish Free Range Whole Chicken and SuperValu Ham and Cheese Vol au Vent by Prestige Foods.
SuperValu Signature Tastes Chocolate Yule Log from Couverture Desserts Ltd was a Gold Award winner. It was also a great year for SuperValu’s Food Academy producers, who picked up 51 awards: 15 Gold, 17 Silver and 19 Bronze. These included Roll It Pastry (Meath), Filligans (Donegal), Isle of Crackers (Wexford), Cape Clear Distillery (Cork), Sushi King (Dublin) and Love A Little Sauces (Donegal). Tipperary’s Tullahay Farm won ‘Best New Product’ and a Gold Award for their Raspberry Bramble Fruit Flavoured Whey Drink. There were also four winners in the ‘Chef’s Larder’ category for Food Academy, including Fancy Fungi Mushrooms (Wexford), Roll It Pastry (Meath), Olly’s Farm (Dublin) & Garryhinch Mushrooms (Offaly). It was a fantastic day for Fiona and
McCormack Family Farms’ SuperValu Signature Tastes Growing Pea Shoots took home a prestigious ‘Chef’s Larder’ Award.
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Blas na hÉireann Awards Malcolm Falconer of Wexford based Wild About who took home the coveted ‘Supreme Champion’ award, the top accolade in Blas na hÉireann. “2021 has been yet another outstanding year for SuperValu at the Blas na hÉireann awards, with a total of 83 awards: including 51 awards for our amazing Food Academy producers,” noted Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu. “It’s been another great win for our local suppliers and producers at a time when it’s more important than ever to support local and Irish businesses. We are immensely proud of our award-winning brands and it’s wonderful to see the suppliers and producers receive the recognition they richly deserve.”
Inspired by Centra Potato Gratin, produced by Ballymaguire in Dublin, took home a Gold Award. Centra A total of 15 Centra suppliers take home seven Gold, five Silver and seven Bronze Blas na hÉireann Awards for their products available in Centra stores across Ireland. The expertly created Inspired by Centra range came out on top, with 11 products receiving awards, six of which were Gold. Working with trusted suppliers nationwide, the Inspired by Centra gold winning products include the Inspired by Centra Irish Rotisserie Chicken supplied by Carton Bros, Co. Cavan,
Inspired by Centra Irish Angus Sirloin Steaks with Pink Peppercorn Butter, produced by Kepak, Co. Cork, Inspired by Centra Potato Gratin, produced by Ballymaguire in Dublin, and Inspired by Centra Overnight Oats, produced by Fresh Cut Foods, Co. Dublin. “As the leading Irish convenience retailer, we pride ourselves on offering quality Irish produce for our customers to enjoy,” noted Ian Allen, Managing Director, Centra. “Our trusted suppliers scooping 19 accolades at this year’s awards demonstrates this. The Blas accreditation is a testament to Centra’s quality products from trusted Irish suppliers available across our network of 480 Centra stores nationwide.” Aldi Ireland Aldi and their Irish food producers brought home a total of 35 accolades at this year’s Blas na hÉireann awards, being awarded nine Gold, 13 Silver and 12 Bronze. There were also further celebrations with the announcement that Aldi supplier, Morgan’s Fine Fish, won the Bord Iascaigh Mhara Seafood Innovation Award for their Dublin Bay Prawns with a Garlic & Herb Butter supplied exclusively to Aldi. Aldi’s gold medal winning products Specially Selected were produced by ABP Meats, Abbey Cold Pressed Irish Farm Foods, Carroll’s Cuisine, Rapeseed Oil 500ml Connolly Meats, Donegal Rapeseed from Aldi Ireland Oil, Lough Gill Brewing Co., Oakpark was a Gold Award and Pipin Pear. “Quality and Irish produced food are winner. key pillars for Aldi, and we ensure that we work closely with as many Irish producers as possible, meaning our customers can enjoy quality, Irish produce, at the very best prices,” noted John Curtin, Group Buying Director at Aldi Ireland. “We’re over the moon to have had yet another
Aldi Ireland’s Specially Selected Irish Pork Fillet with Bacon Shallot and Parsley Stuffing wrapped in Dry Cured Pancetta from ABP Meats took home a Gold Award.
Inspired by Centra White Chocolate and Cranberry Bites from Carleton Cakes, one of the Blas na hÉireann Award winners.
successful year at the Blas na hÉireann awards, with our Irish suppliers once again receiving the accolades that they deserve. We always love going down to Dingle and attending the weekend in person and are already looking forward to next year when we can hopefully celebrate our successes together in person, but in the meantime, we would like to congratulate our suppliers, their teams and the Buying Teams at Aldi on their successes.”
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Retail Ireland: Monthly Update
SEVERE LABOUR MARKET CHALLENGES BEING FELT BY IRISH RETAILERS AS the economy has reopened, Irish retailers are reporting serious challenges recruiting new staff. Some of these challenges will ease as more people return to the labour market and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is
phased out. However, there are other more residual issues affecting the labour market. High rents and childcare costs make Ireland a less attractive place for many EU workers who left during the pandemic. At the same time, Covid has prompted many to change how they live; some have reduced their hours or plan to move locations, while others have opted to change career path, return to education, or take time off. All of this is disrupting recruitment right across the economy. Retail Ireland are actively engaged with Government to look at solutions. Assertive steps need to be taken to support workers moving from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment into employment. More support is also needed to bring all available talent pools into the labour market, including refugees and International Protection applicants, and those with hidden and visible disabilities. Supporting employers in the promotion of vacancies within the European Economic Area and, where necessary, accessing skills from non-EEA labour markets, is also crucial. Addressing the major cost-of-living issues being felt, especially in the major cities, will be central to addressing the long-term labour market challenges.
RETAILERS PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS 2021 CONSUMERS have been shopping for this year’s Christmas gifts since September, with online gift shopping having exceeded last year’s levels already. A recent Retail Ireland workshop heard that this is largely due to the easing of restrictions over recent months, with people deciding to spend savings accrued during periods of lockdown. Consumer behaviour has changed since the pandemic due to physical shops being closed, which in turn accelerated the move to online for many businesses. With this, online consumer expectation has also changed, with businesses having to compete on fast delivery times and the range of products on offer. Social media has also played a big part in consumer behaviour. Many retail customers are in a constant state of discovery as they spend time on social media throughout the day and see advertisements for various products that influence their choices. The Covid 19 pandemic has also shifted consumer attitudes when it comes to in-person shopping. Given that online shopping means purchasing with ease from the comfort of your home, customers now value their shopping experience more, so they are more likely to avoid shops that are too crowded. Shopping at Christmas time can also be overwhelming, so retailers must focus on personalising products, as well as the customer shopping experience, to
help alleviate this. Working from home has moved people to shop more locally as they have spent more time in their local shops. A big focus on buying local is still central to many consumers, which is why it should be a major focus of retailers to include those products and that message in their offering.
Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie Need more? For more information about what we do and how your retail business can benefit from our unique services and supports, please visit us at www.retailireland.ie.
The perfect choice to make Christmas Buy in-store or visit dunnesstores.com
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Derek Mooney
One of the good guys! At the end of December, legendary JTI Ireland Sales Director Derek Mooney will retire after over four decades with the company. Here, JTI General Manager Andrew Shannon is joined by a number of familiar faces from the FMCG sector to pay tribute to Derek and reflect on the stellar career of a man who knew the Irish tobacco business inside out.
OVER the course of my 20-year career with JTI, I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside some incredible professionals. True leaders who have worked tirelessly to build the business, develop their teams and, very importantly, collaborate with and support their customers. Derek Mooney is without doubt up there with the very best. We have worked together in various capacities since JTI’s acquisition of Gallaher in 2006, and from the outset it was absolutely crystal clear to me that his knowledge of the tobacco business in Ireland was unparalleled, as was his understanding of the FMCG category and the challenges facing both manufacturers and retailers. Within JTI, he has been a strong leader in coaching, mentoring and developing his people to prepare them for bigger roles in Ireland, as well as across our international business in our Swiss headquarters and markets. Immense respect Since taking over as JTI Ireland General Manager at the beginning of 2021, I have worked with Derek on a daily basis and have seen firsthand the immense respect he has built up over his four decades with the business, both among colleagues and customers. I’ve also seen that this goes both ways – he has established incredibly strong, longstanding relationships with our customers, based on mutual respect and an understanding of the importance in business of getting to a winwin solution. As I’ve visited stores and met with customers throughout
Andrew Shannon, General Manager, JTI Ireland.
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Derek Mooney Great host; average golfer! “HARD to put into a couple of sentences my thoughts on Derek. He has always been hugely supportive of Stonehouse and its members, from when he was a junior in Gallaher to when he was at the top of JTI. He is a tough negotiator, said ‘no’ a lot but had a wonderful act of always being nice as he said it! “Derek has always been great at balancing business with the social element of his role. Great host, average golfer, longtime friend. Stonehouse will miss his involvement in our business. Don’t know how Babs will put up with him being at home a lot!! Kick him out onto the golfcourse. Bon voyage.” Tom Shipsey, CEO, Stonehouse
Derek Mooney and his wife, Barbara, photographed when Derek served as IGBF President of Appeals. the country, it’s been obvious that there is a genuine warmth and friendliness there that goes beyond the business relationship. He has successfully navigated JTI through significant changes to the category: the retail display ban, standardised packaging, EU TPD2 and track and trace, to name just a few. But he was also keenly aware of how disruptive these changes could potentially be in stores, and always went the extra mile in supporting and guiding customers through periods of change such as these, the hallmark of someone who takes their leadership responsibilities seriously. Phenomenal legacy As he embarks on his retirement, Derek leaves a phenomenal legacy: clear market leadership across cigarettes and roll-yourown tobacco, spearheaded by iconic brands Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Mayfair and Amber Leaf; Logic Compact leads
One of the most popular figures in the trade “I HAVE had the pleasure of interacting with Derek for over 25 years and I can safely say he is one of the most popular individuals in the grocery trade. We have enjoyed many jousts in the boardroom and on the golf course, where Derek has always displayed his admirable qualities of passion and conviction in both locations! I wish Derek and Barbara every happiness in the future.” Leo Crawford, Group Chief Executive, BWG Group
the E-Vapour pods segment; and our Nordic Spirit nicotine pouches continue to grow. Beyond the strictly commercial success, however, he has also built an exceptional team of people across JTI’s Sales organisation, ranging from our Telesales operators to Key Accounts, Business Advisors and Logic Specialists, and he has been a mentor and friend to countless others throughout his career. So on behalf of everyone in JTI, both in Ireland and further afield, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Derek for his incredible dedication, commitment and total professionalism over the years, as well as his friendship, team spirit, camaraderie and sense of humour. After over 42 years of service, JTI will be a different place without him, but he can be extremely proud of the legacy he leaves. Wishing him only the best on a very well deserved retirement.
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Derek Mooney Hugely supportive of our industry “DEREK has played such a central role in the FMCG sector for many, many years and is one of the most highly-regarded sales professionals in the business. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Derek for over 20 years, and one thing that has always remained constant is Derek’s support for our industry. “Gala Retail have enjoyed a close working relationship with JTI and Derek since the Group was founded, and this positive working relationship has been productive in working together to overcome the many changes and major challenges of the past couple of decades. “Derek will be hard to replace but JTI have a solid management and team structure in place, so we look forward to building relationships with Derek’s successor. We wish Derek a happy and healthy retirement, and send our thanks to Derek for all that he’s done for Gala Retail and indeed the sector during his time at JTI.” Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail
One of the nicest guys in the trade
Understanding retailers’ needs and concerns “THE departure of Derek Mooney from JTI marks the end of a very long relationship between him and the retail sector. For many years, our Association relied upon the geniality, professionalism and empathy that Derek possessed to ensure that retailers’ needs and concerns were listened to by those slightly further up the chain of command. “There is little doubt that many of the changes and improvements that were made by Gallaher and JTI in terms of positive outcomes are as a result of the recommendations from Derek having taken heed of CSNAsuggested ideas. “The President and National Executive, as well as our members wish Derek a long and enjoyable retirement.” Vincent Jennings, CEO, Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association
“IT has been my pleasure to have had the opportunity to get to know and deal with Derek over the years. In fact, I am lucky enough to count him as a friend. “Derek has always been extremely professional in his dealings and this is something I have always admired. He is honest, diligent and passionate, whilst also being one of the nicest guys in the trade that always greets you with such a warm and welcoming smile. “Derek and Babs, I wish you nothing but happiness and fulfilment in the next chapter of life and look forward to catching up with you both soon. All the best.” Jim Barry, Managing Director, Barry Group
A rock of support “DEREK has been a rock of support for Applegreen through our almost 30 years in business. We greatly appreciated his work ethic, his deep industry knowledge, and his innate skills at bringing people together. Derek has no doubt played a major part in the success of JTI in Ireland through the many strong connections he has forged in the industry. I’m sure he will be greatly missed across the board! “We at Applegreen wish both Derek and Barbara every health and happiness in this next chapter of their lives. All the best and a really big thank you!” Joe Barrett, Chief Operating Office, Applegreen
Wonderful company and good humour Retail News would like to add our best wishes to Derek and Barbara on any new adventures and travels they might embark on. Derek was always a pleasure to meet and wonderful company. His good humour and quick wit kept us all amused over the years. Good luck Derek from Kathleen Belton and all the team.
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White’s Oats
White’s Oats leading the way on sustainability Co. Armagh oat producer White’s Oats have scored a top Eco Rating for their sustainable oat products. WHITE’S Oats have achieved an A+ Eco Score rating across their range of porridge oats as part of their ongoing commitment to provide the most sustainable oat-based product offerings. The Eco Score has been accredited to White’s by Foundation Earth, an independent non-profit organisation, following a first-of-its-kind UK pilot study conducted by the organisation to understand the environmental impacts of producing and selling a product. Consumers will see the Eco Score displayed on the packaging of the company’s oat products from the new year. An A+ rating is the highest score that can be awarded to a product and is reflective of White’s short supply chains, minimal processing, low water usage and minimal impact on biodiversity when producing their products. “We are proud that our porridge oats have achieved the highest Eco Score rating from Foundation Earth,” revealed James Mathers, General Manager of White’s Oats. “Research shows that today’s consumers value transparency around the environmental impact of the Pictured are (l-r): James Mathers, General Manager, White’s Oats, & Stuart Best, Business Development Manager, White’s Oats.
products they buy, and there is a clear shift towards more plant-based diets, as consumers focus not just on their health but on the health of the planet. “Our A+ environmental labelling on-pack provides consumers with the confidence The White’s product range will proudly display their that they are making A+ Eco Score from early in 2022. an informed choice and furthers our mission to deliver healthy, nutritious and and then awards that product an sustainable oat-based product offerings.” environmental rating from A+ to G, which is then communicated to shoppers via a Bold action traffic light system and a front-of-pack Cliona Howie, CEO, Foundation Earth, score. said, “Foundation Earth is inspired to see Some of the industry leading factors bold action from innovative companies that have resulted in White’s achieving like White’s Oats releasing their front the A+ Eco Score include: of-pack eco impact scores, offering consumers the credible information they • White’s work in partnerships with need to make more sustainable buying their growers and source 100% of choices. It’s a testament to the good work their conventional oats from Irish they’re already doing that their products farmers. This practice, which has rated highly. We’re excited to continue been a cornerstone of the business working with companies like this as our for 180 years, is integral to White’s pilot continues to accelerate our food local and sustainable sourcing systems to net zero.” model and ensuring a fully traceable The announcement comes as White’s grain supply. pledges to be carbon neutral in its • White’s growers engage in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions within supporting a range of biodiversity a year through a combination of carbon practices, including managed reduction and offsetting, with more habitats, such as wild bird cover to ambitious targets set for becoming net provide feed over winter, planting zero carbon by 2040. of wildflowers to attract pollinators, and rough grass margins, which A+ Eco Score provide nesting for birds. The Eco Score is determined through • All of White’s porridge oats come in a methodology developed by Mondra sustainably sourced, fully recyclable and borne out of research from Oxford paper packaging which can be University. A Life Cycle Assessment collected via kerbside. They recently is carried out which measures the announced the move to a larger 1kg environmental impacts from creating pack on three of their hero porridge a product, across farming, transport, products, resulting in 35% less paper processing, packaging, and retail, per tonne of finished product.
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Christmas Stocking: Essentials
Festive favourites
Irish consumers are planning to celebrate with family this festive season, and retailers should be ready to make their lives easy, and reap the rewards. CHRISTMAS is coming, and Irish consumers want to celebrate the holiday with family. It will be our second Covid Christmas, and Irish consumers want to spend time with our loved ones, something many of us were unable to do for so long during various lockdown restrictions. Indeed, Tesco Ireland recently published their annual Christmas Trends Research, examining the habits and behaviours of Irish consumers during the Christmas period and highlighting new trends and insights within the Irish marketplace. The big news is that Christmas is back on the menu: families are set to reunite, with almost three quarters (74%) of adults expecting there to be between three and eight people at the dinner table for Christmas dinner, while 12% expect to host more than nine guests for Christmas dinner. Retro recipes are in, as half of the respondents (50%) say they typically
source their Christmas dinner recipes from a traditional family recipe passed down through generations. Millennials are confirmed as the main generation to dish out a delicacy from the past, with (61%) of those aged 25-34 most likely to use a traditional family recipe passed down through generations Just over seven in 10 (71%) adults say that their favourite family Christmas tradition is Christmas dinner, closely followed by putting decorations on the tree (68%). The Late Late Toy Show has also been confirmed as a popular tradition, with 33% of adults saying this is their favourite Christmas tradition. Spending habits are set to soar this Christmas as the Irish consumer looks to make the best out of Christmas for 2021. One in five (20%) of adults expect to spend more this Christmas compared to what they spent last year. When it comes to spending on Christmas gifts this year, 23% of Irish consumers plan
to spend between €101 and €200, with a similar proportion (21%) saying that they plan to spend €201-500. As the environmentally conscious shoppers prepare for the festive season, the planet is kept in mind amongst 55% of adults, who say that sustainability will be a factor in their decision process when purchasing gifts this Christmas. When it comes to practising sustainability this Christmas, just over half (51%) of adults will be cutting down food waste, a 3% increase from last year. Amongst those who plan to cut down on food waste this year, just over six in 10 will do so by buying less food overall (62%) or by making better use of leftovers (61%), a statistic that has remained the same since 2020. Shopping local has also grown in popularity, with over four in 10 (43%) planning to shop locally for gifts in comparison to last year (38%). “What our research tells us is that
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Christmas Stocking: Essentials after the last year the people of Ireland are excited that Christmas is back and are determined to enjoy the festive season,” noted Cathal Deavy, Marketing Director, Tesco Ireland. “Traditions continue to play an integral role in households as families look forward to reuniting with their loved ones and making up for lost time.” Another recent report, commissioned by Sligo based digital company Dmac Media, revealed that Irish consumers want to buy Irish for their Christmas gifts this year. However, it found that the festive budget is €470, down from €541 in last year’s survey. The study examined Cadbury Puds have a luxurious the Christmas shopping habits of 1,000 truffle centre, covered in the Irish consumers and found that 58% of nation’s favourite chocolate. Irish adults are planning on gift shopping Cadbury advent calendars to the launch with Irish retailers this year, while 39% of new Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter of all adults anticipate spending 70Orange, there is something for everyone 100% of their Christmas gift shopping in this year’s range of special treats. This with Irish retailers. “My advice for Irish year also sees return of retro bestseller retailers is to invest time and budget in awareness and shopping campaigns and keep getting the message out that you are open, in-store and online,” noted Dave McEvoy, Director of Dmac Media. Cadbury Mondelez International have a host of new treats and returning favourites available for the 2021 Christmas season across confectionery and biscuits, from much-loved brands Cadbury, Green and Black’s and Maynards Bassetts. The ever popular Cadbury Selection Box. From the beloved range of
The iconic Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar returns with a new and improved design.
Cadbury Puds, with a luxurious truffle centre, covered in the nation’s favourite chocolate. The limited-edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Orange contains orange nugget inclusions, making it a great treat for chocolate orange lovers and a key addition to a retailer’s festive range, and comes with an impactful winter-themed design for strong stand-out on-shelf. Cadbury Dairy Milk Gingerbread and Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Wonderland will also make a reappearance this year. There are a plethora of self-treats and novelties, including Little Robins (Hazelnut Creme and Chocolate Noisette) and Jingly Bells (classic and Daim variants), and Cadbury Dairy Milk Snowman novelties. Maynards Bassetts’ iconic seasonal sharing bags will be making a return this season, with a new, eye-catching design. The iconic Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar returns with a new and
improved design, as well as new moulds to enhance the consumer experience, while Cadbury are introducing an allnew engaging advent calendar, allowing shoppers to build and decorate their very own pop-out Christmas tree throughout the month of December, as well as the Freddo Colour Me In Advent Calendar, designed for shoppers looking for all the fun of advent calendars but with an original twist, and the revamped Green & Blacks advent calendar. Retailers can add some festive excitement in-store with Cadbury Tree Decorations, with reduced packaging. Filled with tasty Cadbury chocolate, the decorations make a lovely treat in the lead-up to Christmas, driving sales in the Tree Decorations segment. Cadbury are also tapping into the Christmas Baking Ritual with the launch of Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate House (RRP €20), made up of Cadbury White Buttons, Cadbury Dairy Milk Gingerbread, Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Wonderland, Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets and Cadbury Flake. The Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Christmas Cracker is a multipack of Freddo Christmas crackers, each filled with two delicious Cadbury classic chocolates and a surprise toy. Cadbury also have a comprehensive selection box portfolio, with a range of sizes and products to suit all shoppers, including the relaunched Fry’s Collection selection box in a new design with an exciting new product mix inside.
Retailers can add some festive excitement in-store with Cadbury Tree Decorations. When it comes to tinned sweets, Cadbury have consumers covered with the new look Cadbury Heroes tub and the limited edition Cadbury Roses and Cath
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Christmas Stocking: Essentials Kidston tin, which offers a fresh Cath Kidston take on the iconic Cadbury Roses design, making them a thoughtful gift for a loved one with strong stand-out instore. Their seasonal biscuits range has something for everyone, making it a key part of a retailer’s festive range, including Oreo Festive Favourites, which returns this year with a selection of Oreo’s mostloved SKUs including the iconic Chocolate flavour sandwich biscuit with a vanilla flavour filling enrobed with Cadbury’s chocolate, great for sharing during the festive season, a Cadbury and Oreo Selection Box, and the Oreo Seasonal Tin, filled with classic, chocolate and golden Oreo’s. A limited-edition box of Oreo Snowy Enrobed Biscuits contains original Oreo biscuit richly covered with a white chocolate flavour coating, while the Oreo Yard is great for sharing with friends and family or to be used as a stocking filler. Back with a new design for this season are Cadbury Snowy Fingers, white chocolate Cadbury Biscuit Fingers limited edition winter boxes, and Cadbury Festive Friends Biscuits, half-covered with milk chocolate in seasonal shapes, including bitesize Santa, snowman, reindeer and penguin. Returning this season is shopper favourite The Great Big Box of Fingers, putting a festive touch on a Cadbury classic. Lir Chocolates Leading Irish chocolatier Lir Chocolates are expanding their Baileys range, with the launch of a Baileys Chocolate Bombe as part of their Christmas portfolio for 2021. The Chocolate Bombe will be available to consumers at leading retailers; Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Musgraves and BWG with an RRP of €6. Each pack contains three Chocolate Bombes, made up of Baileys flavoured milk chocolate with marshmallows housed inside the shell. The product will tap into the growing trend of home entertaining as a result of the pandemic
Aldi announce 2021 Grow with Aldi Festive suppliers! FOR the second year running, the Grow with Aldi programme has gone festive as they give local suppliers and producers from all over Ireland the opportunity to sell their products in Aldi stores this Christmas season. From luxurious lavender candles to light in your home this winter, artisan smoked salmon and chicken liver pate for a Christmas gathering, to whiskey from the Wicklow hills, the Grow with Aldi Festive suppliers for 2021 includes something for everyone. “From award-winning coffee to Irish-made whiskey, and everything in between, we couldn’t be happier with the quality products that our customers can look forward to trying out this Christmas through Grow with Aldi Festive,” Ballyhack Smokehouse said John Curtin, Group Buying Director at Salmon: award-winning Aldi Ireland. “Support for Irish suppliers is important all year round but especially over the salmon, slowly smoked using beechwood chips for festive season, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring many quality Irish products to Aldi shelves a light, gentle smoke. nationwide, so that our customers can choose amazing, locally made produce, at a great price.” Lir Chocolates have launched an exciting new range of gift boxes, bringing together their mostloved chocolates to add delight and joy to every occasion.
and appeal to consumers looking to enjoy Christmas at home with fun and innovative products. “With indulgence and reuniting with extended family being at the forefront for consumers this Christmas, we wanted to add some theatre to these moments and make them even more
Lir Chocolates are expanding their Baileys range, with the launch of a Baileys Chocolate Bombe as part of their Christmas portfolio for 2021.
special for consumers with the launch of the Baileys Chocolate Bombe,” revealed Katie Byrne, Senior Brand Manager at Lir Chocolates. “Hot Chocolate Bombes became a viral trend on TikTok last year and with Christmas 2021 set to be bigger than ever, we’re confident consumers are going to enjoy our Bailey’s Chocolate offering to the sector, which will be available all over winter and not just Christmas. Our Baileys Chocolate brand always performs well around special occasions, with consumers seeking out products and brands they know and love.” Lir Chocolates have also launched an exciting new range of gift boxes, bringing together their most-loved chocolates to add delight and joy to every occasion. The innovative Irish chocolatier are also celebrating introducing the first plastic-free chocolate gift boxes to Irish shelves. Lir Chocolates, a Gold member
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Christmas Stocking: Essentials of Origin Green, have made this welcome move to plastic-free packaging as part of their journey to become fully sustainable across all their packaging and ingredients within the next five years. The Lir Chocolates Occasions Collection (230g, €11 RRP) contains 22 mouth-watering chocolates, with seven stunning varieties including the Sea Salt & Caramel Affair, Mint Moment, Crunchy Nut Novelty and the Valencia Orange Crunch. The beautiful, eye-catching blue box has a kraft paper interior, which unfolds to reveal the beautiful handcrafted chocolates, guaranteed to bring a smile and spread joy every time. The Lir Chocolates Occasions Collection is available in Tesco, Dunnes, SuperValu, Donnybrook Fair, Nolans and for delivery direct to consumers’ homes from www.lirchocolates.com. The Lir Lovely Collection (110g, €6 RRP) contains 16 luxurious chocolates
extend this focus on natural to our packaging, offering customers the option to go plastic-free and fully sustainable at every gifting occasion.” KitKat Nestlé Ireland’s popular confectionery brand KitKat is bringing some early seasonal cheer to its much-loved two finger treat this winter, with the launch of a limited edition caramelised biscuit flavour. Featuring the brand’s trademark crisp wafer, the smooth KitKat milk chocolate is enhanced with warm caramel notes and flavours of cinnamon and spice for a mouth-wateringly festive feel. “With its warming spiced caramel flavour, our newest two-finger KitKat is a delicious treat to enjoy with a hot drink this season,” revealed Maria McKenna, Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland. “Inspired by the flavours of speculoos, the tradition Belgian spiced cookie, this is a limited-edition flavour, only available for winter months, so don’t forget to try some before they are gone!” KitKat Caramelised Biscuit is available now in multipacks of nine two-finger bars from a wide range of supermarkets, convenience stores and value retailers.
WITH so many experiences to choose from, the Press Up Gift Card offers the chance to create memories with those you love most. Available to buy in just a few easy clicks, the Press Up Gift Card takes the hassle out of choosing the perfect present. From special staycations and golf getaways, to intimate dinners, cocktails and catch ups, and date nights at The Stella Cinema, there are endless experiences to enjoy. See pressup.ie for more information.
favourites in two festive flavours to help consumers get into the merry spirit: rich and buttery Toffee Nut Latte and the Holiday Blend, a balanced and sweet coffee with herbal and maple notes. All products come in red packaging inspired by Starbucks iconic red cup, which was
The Lir Chocolates Occasions Collection (230g, €11 RRP) contains 22 mouth-watering chocolates, with seven stunning varieties including the Sea Salt & Caramel Affair, Mint Moment, Crunchy Nut Novelty and the Valencia Orange Crunch. with four fabulous flavours: Milky Smooth Truffle, Intensely Raspberry, Sea Salted Caramel Truffle and a Crunchy Milk Chocolate. The gorgeous green colour gift box also has a kraft paper interior, making it innovatively plastic-free and fully sustainable. “At Lir, we are in love with chocolate; spreading joy with our wonderfully, delicious chocolate creations is at the heart of everything we do,” said Katie Byrne. “The Lir Occasions and Lovely Gift Boxes are collections of our mostloved chocolates and we’re thrilled with the reaction so far. For over 30 years, we’ve been focusing on using natural ingredients to develop our winning combinations. We’re delighted to now
One card: 65 experiences to choose from
New limited edition KitKat Caramelised Biscuit has a mouthwateringly festive feel. Starbucks Following last year’s positive reception, Nestlé Ireland are bringing back Starbucks holiday favourites this festive season for Irish consumers to enjoy from the comfort of their homes. Exclusive to the season, the Starbucks at-home limited edition products include five
Nestlé Ireland are bringing back Starbucks holiday favourites this festive season for Irish consumers to enjoy from the comfort of their homes.
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Christmas Stocking: Essentials launched more than 20 years ago to mark the arrival of the festive season. “We are very excited to bring back the Starbucks holiday range for our fans this season,” said Carol Anne Deasy, Starbucks Marketing Manager at Nestlé Ireland. “We know how much people love Starbucks festive coffee and we want to bring some of that ‘Starbucks holiday magic’ home for everyone to enjoy. The products were incredibly popular last year, and we hope that this year even more Starbucks fans can savour their favourite festive coffees at home.” Nescafé Gold Blend Nescafé Gold Blend is introducing its first ever limited-edition winter jar featuring an augmented reality (AR) recipe creation to help unwrap the festive joy. Exclusive to this season, not only does the jar have a winter design but it also features a QR code which coffee fans can scan with their mobile to discover festive coffee recipes and try them at home with Nescafé Gold Blend instant coffee. There are three seasonal recipes, including Smoked Cinnamon Coffee, White Chocolate Mocha and Creamy Caramel Latte, to help consumers get into the festive spirit. “We are very excited to introduce our first ever limited-edition winter design jars to Nescafé Gold Blend to help consumers bring the festive coffee shop experience home,” noted Carol Anne Deasy, Coffee Marketing Manager, Nestlé Ireland. “This season, our coffee lovers will not only be able to enjoy the rich and smooth taste of Nescafé Gold Blend in a winter design jar but also will have the opportunity to unwrap three delicious festive coffee recipes to try at home.”
Nivea Consumers can treat themselves and their loved ones to some self-care this winter with a range of gift sets from Nivea and Nivea Men that cleanse and comfort. The Nivea Ultimate Collection (RRP €35) is packed with moisturising, refreshing and indulgent products for head-to-toe pampering. It includes a host of products, including: Nivea Irresistibly Smooth Body Lotion, Nivea Rose &
Nivea Natural Indulgence is the perfect gift for the eco-conscious consumer.
The Nivea Smooth Skin Pamper Time Set is filled with Nivea essentials to help skin feel super smooth and cared for, even when on-the-go. Almond Shower Cream, Nivea Pearl & Beauty Anti-Perspirant Roll-On, Nivea Bye Bye Dry Skin Nourishing Face Mask, Nivea Soft Rose Caring Lip Balm, Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream, as well as a hot water bottle, eye mask, hair bobbles, and a shower puff. The Nivea Smooth Skin Pamper Time Set (RRP €16) is filled with Nivea essentials to help skin feel super smooth and cared for, even when on-the-go. This ultra-stylish cosmetic bag includes: Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream, Nivea Soft Rose Caring Lip Balm, Nivea Diamond & Argan Oil Shower Cream, Nivea Bye Bye Dry
Skin Nourishing Face Mask and Nivea Micellar Skin Breathe Micellar Water 3-in-1 Make-Up. The range also includes Nivea Hydrate Yourself gift set (RRP €18) and the Nivea Pampering Indulgence collection (RRP €25), for those in need of a little luxury. For the third consecutive year, Nivea continue with their sustainability pledge across their gifting range, with sustainably-savvy gift sets. These include Nivea Natural Indulgence (RRP €25), Nivea Totally Natural (RRP €20) and the Nivea Natural Collection (RRP €14). Meanwhile, the Nivea Men range also has a host of gift options for the festive season, including the Nivea Men Men’s Club Skin Care Wash Kit (RRP €16), the Nivea Men Daily Trio Gift Set (RRP €7), the Nivea Men Hydrate Sensitive & Refresh Kit (RRP €18), the Nivea Men
Nivea Men Kick Back Bumper Pack is full of Nivea Men skincare favourites, as well as festive socks, slippers and an eye mask. Nescafé Gold Blend has launched its first ever limited-edition winter jar featuring an augmented reality recipe creation to help unwrap the festive joy.
Full Works (RRP €25), the Nivea Men Fresh Cracker (RRP €7) and the Nivea Men Kick Back Bumper Pack (RRP €35), the ultimate gift set for men.
Sell Christmas Stamps in your store One4all and Bags & Boxes also available from PostPoint.
aprs.sales@anpost.ie
1800 300 150
s Christma ll are ne4a O & s p m Sta Point rs in Post huge selle er y year. stores ev e to stock uld lik If you wo d apply to these an ostPoint P become a ase call agent ple il. or ema
Christmas Stamps 2021
Christmas Stamps 2021
Christmas Stamp Booklets This Christmas, let’s make more memories
náisiúnta 20 Stampaí National stamps
náisiúnta National stamps 5 Stampaí
One4all Gift cards Customers can buy and post in your store.
Bags & Boxes
Stamp Booklets available • International Stamps x5 • National Stamps x5 • National Stamps x20
XMAS_STAMPS_TRADE_AD (180x132).indd 1
This Christmas, let’s make more memories
Bags & Boxes • Bag E6 • Box E9
12/10/2021 13:26
Lindt brings the Christmas magic! THERE really is something special about Lindt chocolate at Christmas. Whether it’s a moment of bliss before or after preparing the Christmas dinner, a Kris Kindle present, or something special under the Christmas tree, The Master Chocolatiers at Lindt have been hard at work creating a selection of sumptuous gifts for the Christmas season, with a delicious range of mouth-watering chocolate to match every taste. Lindor Milk Truffle is available in varying sizes, including the familiar 200g cornet and the Christmas limited edition Lindor Milk & White with smooth melting white chocolate enrobed in the finest milk chocolate. Another favourite at Christmas is the Lindor Gift Box 287g, a beautifully crafted gift-wrapped box embellished with red bow – truly perfect for your loved ones this Christmas! Also returning this year are the indulgent Lindor selection boxes,
available in Milk and Assorted and filled with an irresistible assortment of Lindor favourites including tempting truffles and bars! It wouldn’t be the festive season without an advent calendar and there is a milk chocolate truffle behind every door of the Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles Advent Calendar 300g. Ideal for sharing the bliss, the Lindor Assorted Tin offers six blissful varieties. From classic Milk, and Extra Dark truffles to the irresistible Salted Caramel, there’s a flavour for everyone. A firm family favourite each festive season, the adorable Lindt Teddy, lovingly created by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers, has lots of exciting creations to share with the ones you love. New this year is the Lindt Teddy Advent Calendar and the unique Teddy and Storybook containing a Lindt Teddy & a Classic ‘The Night Before Christmas’ storybook. Lindt have a social media competition, where consumers are being asked to guess the location of Lindt Teddy in wellknown locations across Ireland , with the chance to win Lindt chocolate hampers! For more information, visit www.instagram.com/lindt_ireland/ or www.facebook.com/LindtChocolateIreland.
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Christmas Stocking: Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards
Festive winners from Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards The Christmas Winners of the 2021 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have been announced in time for the festive season. THE Christmas winners of the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have been announced for 2021, with the rest of the winners being revealed later this month. The expert judging panel had the envious task of tasting a host of delicious Christmas fare and have collated an impressive list of delicious products to grace consumers’ tables during the festive period. Lidl: top performing retailer Lidl were the best performing retailer at the Christmas Irish Quality Food Awards for 2021. With some strong products across a whole range of categories for the festive period, Golds were awarded for their Deluxe Buttery Roast Potatoes, Deluxe Cranberry and Port Sauce, and their Deluxe Irish Cheese Board. Judges praised the “good, crunchy texture
The 2021 Christmas Product of the Year Award was won by Aldi Specially Selected 40 Day Matured Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast, from ABP Cahir. on the outside” of the potatoes, while remarking on the “soft, fluffy middle, a great convenient option”. Lidl’s Cheese Board gained special mention for the provenance of the Irish cheeses, and the panel noted the “good balance of sweet and sour” in the Cranberry and Port Sauce.
Lidl Deluxe Cranberry & Port Sauce, from Folláin, was a Gold winner in the Christmas Store Cupboard Items category.
Christmas Product of the Year The judging panel were unanimous in awarding the 2021 Christmas Product of the Year to the Aldi Specially Selected 40 Day Matured Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast, from ABP Cahir. They described this three-rib roast as “Gold
standard, a beautifully presented showpiece product”. The flavour was exceptional and the standard of the 40 days maturing was outstanding. All felt it was great to see beef rib roast offered on the bone. The panel also thought it offers “outstanding value for money”. On behalf of the Irish Quality Food and Drinks Awards team, a huge congratulations to all the winners! The winners of the year-round categories are being announced in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, November 23, 2021: https://irish.qualityfoodawards.com/ IQFA21/en/page/home.
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Christmas Stocking: Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards Gold: Aldi Specially Selected Part Boned Ham with Fig and Christmas Spice, Connolly Meats Silver: Aldi Specially Selected Berkshire Pork Rack with Armagh Bramley Apple and Cinnamon Sauce, ABP Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Heritage Bronze Irish Reared Turkey Breast with Cranberry, Apricot & Clementine Stuffing, Hogan’s Farm Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Oak Smoked Organic Irish Salmon with Organic Whiskey, Burren Smokehouse Silver: Lidl Deluxe Irish Turkey Crown, IGWT Bronze: Aldi Specially Selected Festive Irish Half Horseshoe Ham with Cooking Spice and Cinnamon & Muscovado Glaze, Callan Bacon Bronze: Aldi Specially Selected Port and Orange Topside Ham, Oakpark Foods Bronze: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Honey & Clove Baked Irish Ham, O’Brien Fine Food Christmas Mince Pies Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better 6 Handmade All Butter Mince Pies, The Foods of Athenry Wildberry Bakery Jewelled Christmas Cake: Silver winner in Christmas Cakes.
The full list of winners are as follows: Christmas Retailer of the Year: Lidl Ireland Christmas Product of the Year: Aldi Specially Selected 40 Day Matured Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast, ABP Cahir Christmas Cakes Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Iced Richly Fruited Christmas Cake Slices, Carleton Cakes Silver: Wildberry Bakery Jewelled Christmas Cake
Christmas Puddings Silver: Aldi Specially Selected Laura’s Irish Vintage Christmas Pudding, Staffords Bakery Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Slow Steamed Irish Whiskey Christmas Pudding, Seery’s Bakery Christmas Store Cupboard Items Gold: Lidl Deluxe Cranberry & Port Sauce, Folláin Silver: Lidl Deluxe Apple & Honey Ham Glaze, Folláin Bronze: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Brandy Butter, Wexford Home Preserves Christmas Vegan/Vegetarian Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Brie, Rocket & Cranberry Quiche, Zanna Cookhouse For more information, visit irish.qualityfoodawards.com.
Christmas Cheese Gold: Lidl Deluxe Irish Cheese Board, Traditional Cheese Silver: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Cheese Selection, Traditional Cheese Bronze: Lidl Deluxe Irish Cheese Hamper, Traditional Cheese Christmas Chocolate and Confectionery Bronze: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Nougat Selection, Miena’s Irish Handmade Nougat Christmas Desserts Silver: Lidl Deluxe Hand Rolled Orange Chocolate Roulade, Fuscos Bronze: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Mango & Passion Fruit Mousse Dessert, Le Patissier Christmas Main Meal Accompaniments Gold: Lidl Deluxe Buttery Roast Potatoes, Willowbrook Silver: Lidl Deluxe Cornbread Sage & Onion Stuffing, M&M Christmas Meat and Fish Gold: Aldi Specially Selected 40 Day Matured Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast, ABP Cahir Gold: Aldi Specially Selected Cook in the Bag, Irish Reduced Salt Half Horseshoe Ham with Irish Black Butter Glaze, Connolly Meats
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Brie, Rocket & Cranberry Quiche, from Zanna Cookhouse, was a Silver winner in the Christmas Vegan/ Vegetarian category.
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Christmas Stocking: Wine
The vine knowledge
Jean Smullen reveals some of the wines guaranteed to fly off your shelves this festive season. of 48% on this market; red wine sales account for 45% of the market share. Chile remains the most popular country of origin with 25.8% of the market, followed by Spain in second place with 15.4%, just ahead of Australia with 13.8%. French and Italian wines are the 4th and 5th most popular country of origin. With Christmas fast approaching and life returning to a degree of normality, it is anticipated that consumer spend on wine will be strong and it is expected that this Christmas the consumer will trade up, having got a taste for drinking better quality wine during the lockdown period. Retail News has spoken to a number of the key wine importers and we now take a look at some of the mid-price and premium wines that will be available in the run-up to Christmas. Barry & Fitzwilliam Barry & Fitzwilliam will have some of their best-selling wines on offer this Christmas. Look out for the Villa Maria Private Bin Range on offer at €12-13. The McGuigan Black Label Range will have an offer price of €9. Nothing says Christmas like a glass of Sherry and the popular Harveys Tio Pepe will be on offer at €14. These offers will be available to all retailers and independent off
THE recent Drinks Ireland - Wine report shows that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns meant that sales of wine in Ireland reached an all-time high of 10m cases during 2020. Normally, 82% of wine sold in Ireland is purchased in the off-trade. However, during 2020, due to Covid lockdown and the closure of the hospitality sector, retail wine sales increased by +28%. Total wine sales grew by +12% and there was a +10% increase in per capita consumption. It was estimated that during 2020, 95% of all wine sales were from retail and online sales (Source: Drinks Ireland Wine Report 2021). In terms of wine’s share of the alcohol market, 2020 saw a +5% increase to
32%. This was mostly at the expense of beer’s market share, which fell from 44% to 38%. The popularity of Rosé continues, with a 7% share of the wine market, up from 3% in 2016. According to the Drinks Ireland Wine report, white wine is still the most popular category, with sales
McGuigan Zero: unrivalled taste, zero alcohol.
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Christmas Stocking: Wine Gary Barlow Organic Wines
POP star Gary Barlow has launched Gary Barlow Organic, his own range of organic wines in partnership with Benchmark Drinks. These wines have been carefully crafted and developed by Gary, reflecting his passion for quality, authentic wine. Whether as part of a celebration with loved ones or to wind down after a gig, Gary has acquired a taste for wine over the years and developing his own wine range has been a dream of his for as long as he can remember. He’s spent the past two years collaborating with Londonbased distributor Benchmark Drinks to create a well-balanced, sophisticated and sustainable wine range, with unique packaging, featuring a stylish piano key design, an instantly recognisable nod to his incredible 30-year music career. The medium-bodied red and refreshing, zesty white have been produced by Peninsula Wines in Spain. Founded by Andreas Kubach and Sam Harrop, they’re both Masters of Wine and renowned for their sustainability and “sympathetic winemaking”, embracing both nature and science to make wine with as little intervention as possible. Gary Barlow Organic Wines are proudly distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.
Villa Maria Sauvignon Blush: Sauvignon Blanc with a hint of Merlot. licences during November & December. McGuigan is now the number one Australian wine brand in the off-trade. The Black Label range comprises a Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Rose and Malbec, while McGuigan Frizzante is a light style of sparkling wine, full of lively yet delicate bubbles that give a crisp and refreshing sparkle. The latest addition to the McGuigan Portfolio is McGuigan Zero: unrivalled taste, zero alcohol. Launching with Shiraz, Chardonnay, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling, McGuigan Zero is created using state-of-the-art spinning cone technology, which allows alcohol to be removed at lower temperatures than ever before, thus resulting in a truly beautiful tasting product. The Michel Lynch Bordeaux wines are always popular at Christmas, mostly due to their Irish connection: Michel Lynch was the grandson of an Irish immigrant, James Lynch, a colonel in the Irish army of James II whom he followed to France. Two centuries on, his name lives on in Chateau Lynch Bage. In 1986, the current owners of the estate, the Cazes family,
created the Michel Lynch brand as a tribute to the estate’s historic Irish owner. The Michel Lynch AOP Bordeaux will be on offer at €12.49. This Christmas, Michel Lynch will also have a two bottle Wooden Gift Box of the AOP wines, which makes this an ideal quality Christmas gift. Villa Maria is Ireland’s number one New Zeland wine brand. This year saw a new label on their highly successful Private Bin range, with the same outstanding quality in a new contemporary pack. November sees the launch of a delectable Sauvignon Blush, Sauvignon Blanc with a hint of Merlot. Delivering the taste experience of New Zealand’s favourite white wine with a playful fun factor that opens up a whole new occasion for Sauvignon Blanc. It’s 90% Sauvignon Blanc, caressed with 10% Merlot for a beautiful ‘Provence-like’ blush. Looks like rosé, but tastes like Sauvignon Blanc. After 21 years of growing grapes organically, Villa Maria are launching EarthGarden, their first organic wine range to meet the rising global demand for sustainable produce and as part of their commitment to converting 100% of the company vineyards to be organically managed by 2030. “The global organic wine market was forecasted last year by IWSR to grow 43% by 2024, and New
Zealand’s $2 billion wine industry is well positioned to capitalise on this trend,” said Matt Deller MW, Villa Maria’s Chief Global Sales & Marketing Officer. “Villa Maria, as one of New Zealand’s first and largest organic wine producers, aim to help lead the charge with EarthGarden, which is already attracting significant interest from several of the world’s largest retailers.” Look out for this range coming soon to Ireland. Bibendum Ireland Viña Santa Rita, have announced that their 2018 Casa Real Reserva Especial has joined the great wines of France via La Place de Bordeaux, the world’s most exclusive international distribution network for fine wine. This marks a significant step forward in building international recognition for one of Chile’s most emblematic and respected wines. Distribution of Casa Real Reserva Especial for the European market through La Place de Bordeaux is now in place. 2018 Casa Real Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon reflects an exquisite vintage where all the stars aligned. At a recent tasting in Dublin, Sebastian Labbe, Head Winemaker at Viña Santa Rita, virtually presented two of their premium wines. The 2018 Santa Rita Floresta Chardonnay (RRP €30) is made from 100% chardonnay grown in Limari
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Enjoy GARY BARLOW ORGANIC WINE Sensibly
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Christmas Stocking: Wine Kylie Minogue Wines IN under a year, Kylie Minogue Wines have sold over one million bottles of wine, making it one of the most successful wine brands ever to launch. The latest addition to the range is new Rosé Sparkling Prosecco, housed in an iconic ‘Lovers’ debossed glass bottle, joining an exquisite, elegant portfolio of bespoke wines, crafted with passion and integrity. Launched in 2020 in Ireland on Kylie’s birthday, May 28, the rosé quickly become one of the most successful launches in its category ever. This Signature range comprises of three wines from France: a delicate and pale dry rosé made from Cabernet and Carignan grapes, a light and zesty Sauvignon Blanc from Gascony and a smooth and juicy Merlot from the Pays d’Oc. Kylie has an amazing Côtes de Provence Rosé, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle, and the latest addition, the Kylie Minogue Sparkling Prosecco Rosé, which comes from the prestigious Zonin estate, a familyowned winery spanning seven generations who are the pioneers of premium D.O.C. Prosecco and who celebrate their 200th anniversary in 2021. Kylie Minogue Wines are distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam. Valley in Chile; a superb wine that shows what Chile is capable of when it comes to Chardonnay. The 2012 Casa Real Reserva Especial (from Magnum) (RRP €200) is beautifully soft and elegant on the palate; there was lots of fruit, but this wine is still very young and has a long way to go. All vintages of Casa Real
Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon since 1989 come from the sustainablyfarmed Carneros Viejos Vineyard in the Alto Jahuel area of the Maipo Valley. One to buy and keep for future generations, especially for the fine wine enthusiast. Cassidy Wines Cassidy Wines are highlighting Award winning wines from this year’s National Off Licence Gold Star Awards this Christmas. They include three Gold Star Winners. Ferrari Brut NV (RRP €38) was the winner in the Sparkling Wine or Champagne under €60 categoory, while their Gold Star winner in the Under €15 Rosé was 2020 Domaine la Colombette Rosé (RRP €12.99). Their third Gold Star in the €20 New World Red category went to the 2019 Catena Malbec (RRP €19.99). Cassidy Wines were also awarded a Bronze Star in the Under €20 Old World Red for 2018 Viridi Organic Cotes du Rhone, a Silver Star in the Under €15 Old World Red for 2018 Chateau de Montmal Fitou and a Bronze Star in the Under €10 Old World Red for Chantarel Merlot NV. Comans Beverages Brand new to the Comans list Mionetto Prosecco is the biggest selling is Mionetto Prosecco, a brand Prosecco brand in Italy. that is going places; in Italy it is the biggest selling Prosecco brand and has a significant following. sparkling) Prosecco as well as the With its distinctive premium labelling Mionetto Rosé Prosecco. Both punch from the Prestige Selection, they have above their weight in terms of price/ the Mionetto DOCG Spumante (fully quality ratio. Available this Christmas at a
The Dada brand grew by over 100% in sales this year.
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Christmas Stocking: Wine price of €72 for 6 x 75cl. Cava is an unsung hero of the sparkling wine category; the wines are bottle fermented in the traditional way in the Penedes region of Spain. Comans Beverages have the Perelada Brut Reserva and Perelada Brut Rosé for €70 for 6 x 75cl. The Brut Reserva is made from Macabeu (30%), Xarel-lo (45%) and Parellada (25%), the region’s indigenous
The Protos Reserve Two Bottles with Two Glasses gift pack should prove particularly popular this Christmas.
Maschio Pinot Rosa Frizzante
Comans Beverages have the Perelada Brut Reserva and Perelada Brut Rosé on offer this festive season. grapes. Bottle fermented and with an ABV of 11.5% it is worth a look. The Perelada Brut Rosé ABV 11.5% is made from a blend of Garnatxa (69%), Pinot Noir (17%) and Trepat (14%); with Rosé wines so in demand these days, this is bound to perform well during the Christmas season. Look out for the all three of the Dada Art Wine Range which includes Dada 1, Dada 2, Dada 3 and Dada 8 selling this Christmas for a case price of €76 for 12 x 75cl. Dada as a brand grew by over 100% in terms of its sales this year, bringing the brand into the Top 5 wine brands here in Ireland. Protos is a cooperative winery founded
NEW to the Irish market from Comans Beverages Ltd is the Maschio Pinot Rosa three-pack. Produced by Cantine Maschio, this Frizzante Prosecco is made from a blend of Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero grapes grown in the Veneto Region. It is currently one of the biggest selling wines in Italy and has successfully launched in other countries around Europe in recent years to critical acclaim. It is partially vinified like a white wine, followed by a natural fermentation in pressurised tanks, which gives the wine its characteristic lively effervescence. Available in a handy three-pack, it is ideal for travelling, bringing along to a dinner party or as last minute gift idea! in 1927 in the DO Ribera del Duero. They have 1400 ha of vineyards in both Ribera del Duero and Rueda, and the wines are made at the cellar designed by the British “starchitecht” Richard Rogers, which opened in 2009. The construction of a winery at the heart of the mountain that holds the Peñafiel Castle, to age their
barrels in over 2km of underground tunnels, really put the winery on the map. Protos has a great following on the Irish market; look out for the Protos Reserve Two Bottles with Two Glasses gift pack offer at €117 per case of 3 x 2 x 75cl.
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Christmas Stocking: Wine Edward Dillon & Co. Earlier this year, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy held an on-line tasting of their range, featuring three of their top Rosé Champagnes. The LVMH representative Robert Loughnane told us that in 1989 the Champagne region produced 800,000 bottles of Rosé; by 2016 that figure had risen to 15m bottles. The rise in popularity of Rosé Champagne, especially among Generation Z, means that these days Rosé Champagne is now more commonly consumed by men.
The other important LVMH Champagne brand is Veuve Clicquot’ Yellow Label Brut Champagne (RRP €59). Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne was invented by Madame Clicquot in 1818 and it was the first known blended Rosé Champagne. Veuve Clicquot Rosé (RRP €75) is mostly Pinot Noir 55% with 15% Meunier and 30% Chardonnay. Krug Grande Cuvée (RRP €215) is at the heart of the House of Krug. The key to premium Champagne is the blending; this is the winemaker’s art, to choose the best fruit from various sites and blend them together to create a consistent style that is all about quality and that is the essence of the Krug philosophy. The other important feature is the Reserve wine they use to top up the wine for the second fermentation.
Krug Grande Cuvée: at the heart of the House of Krug. Findlater & Co Look out for the Wynns range this Christmas from Findlater & Co. Viticulture has long been part of the tradition of the south east corner of South Australia. In the 1860s, John Riddoch purchased 3,500 acres of land around Penola and built the ‘Gables’ winery (now Wynns Coonawarra Estate). Many of Australia’s premium red wines, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and blends, are born in the vineyards of Coonawarra; some of the wines from this region rank amongst the best reds in the world.
Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial is hugely popular in Ireland. Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial (RRP €63) was first launched in 1997; before that only Vintage Champagne was Rosé. This is a blend of mostly red grapes, Meunier 40%, Pinot Noir 40% and 20% Chardonnay. Moët like their Rosé to have a fruity element and this certainly has, with rhubarb and strawberry flavours to the fore. They age it for 24 months on the lees and use relatively young reserve wines. Look out too for the Moët Brut Imperial and Rosé Champagne Miniatures available in 20cl bottles (RRP €25), an exact representation of regularsized bottles, these are bound to appeal for those looking for a quality stocking filler. The Moët Brut Imperial 75cl (RRP €56) is also a ‘must stock’ and they also have Moët Brut Imperial Magnums (RRP €125).
Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne was invented by Madame Clicquot in 1818 and it was the first known blended Rosé Champagne.
The Wynns story was told by Sue Hodder and Sarah Pigeon, the winemakers at Wynns, who were recently joined by a group of Irish wine journalists, including myself, to taste the range currently available here at a virtual tasting organised by Findlater & Co. Two of the featured wines at the tasting were the 2020 Wynns Coonawarra Estate
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Christmas Stocking: Wine Fresh, rich and vibrant, notes of lemon and apricot flood the palate for the ultimate easy drinking experience; with Rosé in demand on a year-round basis now, this is bound to be a popular wine. They also have the 2020 Mirabeau En Provence X Rosé (RRP €22), a vegan wine made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Cinsault grapes grown in Coteaux d’Aix-enProvence. Another very popular wine style at Christmas is Rioja, look out for the Berceo Tempranillo (RRP €14), Berceo Crianza (RRP €15) and Berceo Reserva (RRP €17). Created in 1897 in the heart of the Bordeaux region, Yvon Mau has built up unique expertise in Bordeaux wines. Remaining faithful to its terroir, the trading house has grown into one of the leading players in the Bordeaux wine trade. The Wynns range from Findlater & Co includes the Look out for Chateau impressive 2020 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay Fougeres (RRP €25), and the 2019 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz. Chateau Moulin de Riviere (RRP €20) Chardonnay (RRP €18.95) and the 2019 and Chateau Boutillot (RRP €15), part Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz (RRP of the exclusive Hubert de Bouard €18.95). range from Yvon Mau. The Chardonnay was a revelation; a medium bodied style, lightly oaked, Liberty Wines this was a more restrained style of Liberty wines have some great Chardonnay than I would expect from a Christmas gift offers, including Piperwine produced in South Australia and I Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV in gift box absolutely loved it. The Shiraz was very (RRP €65.99). With a long and varied spicy and peppery, but its style was like history dating back to its beginnings in the Chardonnay, tighter and more linear. 1785, when it was created by FlorensBoth wines are definitely worth a look and Louis Heidsieck, Piper-Heidsieck is are keenly priced. one of Champagne’s most well-known yet underestimated houses. The Freixenet Copestick Cuvée Brut is the house’s benchmark Look out for Freixenet Copestick’s new wine, made from a blend of the three 2020 Mirabeau Rosé Belle Année (RRP Champagne grapes, with 10-20% €15), a Vin de France made from a reserve wines, and aged for three blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. years on the lees in the chalk cellars
Haute Couture Sparkling Rosé LAUNCHED in 2018, Haute Couture’s sparkling Rosé has quickly become a go-to gifting solution for many supermarkets and off-licences. Pale pink in colour with enticing aromas and flavours of juicy cherry, blackberry and raspberry, on the palate, this rosé is creamy and has the perfect dosage for a delicately sweet finish. It is available in a handy twin-pack. Distributed by Comans Beverages Ltd.
deep beneath Reims. It is elegant and balanced, punching well above its weight and representing astonishing quality and class. From their wine range look out for Tinpot Hut Turner Vineyard Marlborough Riesling 2018 (RRP €25.99), made in small quantities with a lower alcohol content of 9.5%. They also have a hugely intense and complex Casa Ferreirinha Quinta da Leda Douro Tinto 2018 (RRP €62.99). Liberty Wines were appointed as agents for Ferreira Port in Ireland this year. This Christmas look out for the Ferreira Dona Antónia 10-Year-Old Tawny Port NV (RRP €33.99).
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Christmas Stocking: Beer & Cider
Special brews
Beer and cider sales are set to soar for Christmas. THE off-trade has been particularly busy over the pandemic, as consumers switched from closed pubs and clubs to drinking and socialising at home. Typically, about 60% of beer consumed in the Irish market is done so in our pubs, restaurants, and hotels. That percentage fell to 29.7% in 2020 according to Drinks Ireland - Beer’s Annual Market Report, with 70.3% of sales coming through the off-trade. The various lockdowns of the hospitality sector have also impacted on the types of beer that were sold in 2020. Stout sales typically make up around 30% of overall beer sales, but in 2020 stout made up just 25% of beer’s market share. Lager was the main beneficially of this, increasing its market share rise from 63% in 2019 to 69% in 2020. Ale’s beer market share went down from 6% in 2019 to 4% in 2020. Non-alcoholic beer had a fractional increase in its market share by 0.1% to 1.1%. Off-trade cider sales also grew during the pandemic, but as the on-trade reopens, this is predicted to decline, although craft and premium offerings continue to interest consumers and drive sales. Apple cider continued to account for the majority of sales in 2020, according to the latest report into the sector from Euromonitor International, followed by pear flavour and other fruit-based flavours, which include options such as strawberry and raspberries. Producers on the cider/perry landscape are experimenting with different apple varieties to gain interest, including light versions, as well as pear and berry flavours. Drinks Ireland - Cider have welcomed the recent Budget’s introduction of an excise relief programme of up to 50% for independent small producers of cider and other fermented beverages. “There are at least a dozen craft cider producers scattered across Ireland that will benefit greatly with this reduction, enabling further investment, job creation and innovation,” noted Seamus O’Hara, the Chair of Drinks Ireland Cider and Founder and CEO of Carlow Brewing Company, which produces a range of cider brands including Falling Apple and Craigies.
Guinness For those consumers stuck for ideas for Christmas gifts, the Guinness Gift Pack could prove the perfect answer. The perfect gift that says “I saw this and thought of you” for those evenings evening in, with feet up with a Guinness perfectly poured in your very own Guinness glass. Meanwhile, Guinness The Guinness Gift Pack is sure have launched new to prove popular this festive Guinness Nitrosurge, so consumers can experience season. the famous two-part pour at home this Christmas. It is perfect for those who choose to enjoy a can of Guinness at home this festive season, and forms the perfect stocking filler or Kris Kindle gift.
Guinness have launched new Guinness Nitrosurge, so consumers can experience the famous two-part pour at home this Christmas.
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Christmas Stocking: Beer & Cider BrewDog Punk IPA is where the BrewDog revolution began. This scenestealing flagship is an India Pale Ale that has become a byword for craft beer rebellion; synonymous with the insurgency against mass-produced, lowest common denominator beer. Punk IPA charges the barricades to fly its colours from the ramparts: full-on, fullflavour, at full-throttle. Punk IPA is the flagship brand Layered with new where the BrewDog revolution world hops to create an explosion of tropical began. fruit and an all-out riot of grapefruit, pineapple and lychee before a spiky bitter finish, this 5.6% trans-atlantic fusion IPA is light golden in colour, with tropical fruits and light caramel on the nose. The palate soon becomes assertive and resinous with the New Zealand hops balanced by the biscuit malt. The finish is aggressive and dry, with the hops emerging over the warming alcohol. This fresh, full flavour natural beer is a tribute to the classic IPAs of yester-year. The postmodern twist is the addition of amazing fruity hops, giving an explosion of tropical fruit flavours and a sharp bitter finish. Other uncompromising leaders of the pack include Elvis Juice, Hazy Jane, Lost Lager, Punk AF and many more Distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam, sales are at an all-time high and we don’t see the rebellious Punk IPA slowing down anytime soon. Grolsch Premium Pilsner In great news for beer fans the length and breadth of the country, Richmond Marketing have announced that Grolsch is back! Consumers’ favourite Dutch beer with the iconic swing-top bottle returns to the market with new look premium packaging. Grolsch boasts a refreshing depth of flavour from its unique double brewing process, all at 4% ABV. Specially crafted by the brewmasters at its historic home in Enschede, the Netherlands, Grolsch Premium Pilsner draws upon generations of Dutch brewing mastery, to expertly craft the taste through its double-brew process – a double-decoction mash, using two hop varieties for bitterness and aroma, blended with two types of Dutch malt, and Enschede’s original Dutch spring water source. Since its inception in 1615, Grolsch Grolsch, the Dutch has had an ethos of going against beer with the the grain and doing things its own iconic swing-top way, sticking to its core values and commitment to substance. Its enduring bottle, returns to the market with character makes it distinctive and new look premium highly recognisable as a global brand packaging. worldwide.
Island’s Edge Heineken Ireland are rolling out Island’s Edge, a brand new Irish stout, to off-licences and retailers across the country, following a successful soft launch in 300 Dublin bars. New research shows eight in 10 adults feel there is room for more tastes and flavours in Irish stout, with 75% of people interested in trying a new, more modern stout on the market, while over 70% would be more inclined to opt for stout if there was a lighter tasting, more refreshing stout option (research from Bounce Insights, August 2021). Island’s Edge is a brand new “Two years in the making, Irish stout from Heineken this is the most exciting Ireland. innovation that has come to the market in recent years,” noted Ruth Hankin, Category & Shopper Marketing Controller at Heineken Ireland. “In a move that will rejuvenate the stout market and offer consumers increased choice, Island’s Edge will offer something completely different to consumers as it arrives in shops and off licenses.” Island’s Edge hit shelves in September with a full 360 campaign launch and trial mechanic to support its launch in a four and eight-pack can SKU offering for shoppers with edgy, progressive packaging. Consumers purchasing Island’s Edge stout in stores will be offered an exclusive gift with purchase, the new iconic stout glass, while Heineken Ireland have armed their field sales team with sample cans to share with off licenses and stores. Rye River Rye River Brewing Company, the Celbridge-based, multi awardwinning brewery, are introducing a brewery-led brand as part of a strategy to streamline their brand and The Rye River brand brings the award channel strategy. winning brewery to life. The introduction of the new brand will support the next stage of the brewery’s development, following a year of significant growth in off licence and retail sales, despite the challenges the global pandemic presented. “We have developed a successful story in craft brewing without having any of our brands carry the Rye River name, so we decided to bring a brand to life that recognises who we are,” explained Tom Cronin, Founder and Managing Director of Rye River Brewing Company. “Apart from the Rye River Seasonal range, which is small batch, this will be the first of our everyday beers to carry the Rye River name,”. The Rye River Brewing Company brand will replace McGargles on draught in pubs and will be available in a 4 x 330ml pack format in retail. A range of McGargles favourites will remain available in retail in 500ml format.
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Christmas Stocking: Spirits
Unleashing the spirits of Christmas
Sales of spirits in the off-trade have grown during the pandemic, as consumers seek to recreate the pub experience at home, creating their favourite cocktails in the comfort of their homes. CHRISTMAS is always a peak selling period for spirits, which are often seen as a premium gift option, while consumers also buy their favourite spirits brands for at-home entertaining over the festive season. Christmas 2021 is expected to be a big one, with consumers now used to creating magical cocktails in the comfort of their own homes. The closure of the on-trade for much of 2020 and a lot of 2021 has seen consumers turning to the off-trade in their droves, with a significant boost for off-sales as consumers aimed to recreate their favourite cocktails at home. The latest annual report from Drinks Ireland - Spirits revealed that the off-trade accounted for 88% of domestic spirits sales in 2020 in volume terms. Despite sales and exports declining last year due to Covid-19, Ireland’s spirits sector showed its ‘resilience’, according to the Drinks Ireland - Spirits report, which says that the sector is now setting its sights on recovery. Domestically, the closure of hospitality venues had a negative impact on the sector, particularly for brands that rely heavily on the on-trade. Overall, sales fell by 4.8%, from 2.42m nine-litre cases in 2019 to 2.3m nine-litre million cases in 2020. However, spirits
accounted for 22.3% of domestic alcohol consumption in 2020, up from 20.8% the previous year, and some spirits categories benefited from the consumer shift to the off-trade in Ireland, according to the report, with Irish Cream Liqueur sales growing by 26.5%. Many of us will have seen the multitude of new ‘ready to drink’ (RTD) products hit the shelves over the course of 2020. These include spirits based RTDs and hard seltzers. As a category, hard seltzers did not exist in Ireland in 2019, but in 2020 nearly 90 thousand cases of various brands were sold. Vodka remained Ireland’s most popular spirits drink in 2020, with a 31.6% market share, although this declined by 10.2%. Irish whiskey claimed a 26.3% market share, followed by gin/ Irish gin (14.04%), and rum (7.4%). While sales of gin in Ireland fell by 6.6% between 2019 and 2020, it has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with gin sales up by 184% between 2014 and 2019. Forecasts for the next five-year period suggest that the growth in gin and Irish gin has not ended and that the decline in 2020 will be seen as a Covid-19 related blip, according to the Drinks Ireland - Spirits report.
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Christmas Stocking: Spirits Minke Vodka from Clonakilty Distillery The team at Clonakilty Distillery were celebrating recently, with the news that their Minke Irish Vodka scooped the Gold Award in the Smooth category at The Spirits Business Vodka Masters 2021. The vodka debut for the popular Cork distillery was launched just a number of months ago and was commended by judges for having a smooth taste, “with a nice creaminess and a good balance” and was also noted by the panel for being “soft with a touch of peppery spice notes.” “As the newest member to Clonakilty Distillery’s portfolio of award-winning spirits, we are absolutely delighted to see Minke Irish Vodka being recognised for its superb quality and signature smoothness,” noted Adam Collins, Marketing Manager at Clonakilty Distillery. “We pride ourselves on being a producer of premium Irish spirits, and to be acknowledged in such a competitive category is very rewarding and is a credit to the entire team here at the distillery.” Paul Corbett, Head Distiller and
Minke Vodka from Clonakilty Distillery is distilled using whey-base spirit, derived from milk. Blender at Clonakilty Distillery also revealed the secrets of success to creating Minke Vodka’s unique and award-winning taste: “We slow distil a whey-based spirit in our own pot still, through a 10-metre copper coil before it reaches our condenser. This added reflux from the coil creates an incredibly pure and clean spirit, while the whey base alcohol delivers a rich and smooth velvety
mouthfeel.” Unlike most Irish vodkas, which are distilled using a grain-based alcohol, Clonakilty Distillery’s Minke Vodka uses a whey-based spirit, derived from milk which is produced on the ninthgeneration family farm, located a short distance from the distillery itself. “Using whey alcohol as the base spirit delivers a velvety mouthfeel which coats the palate,” Paul Corbett explained. Tia Maria A favourite of coffee lovers across the world, Tia Maria is a sweet liqueur with a strong coffee character and a complex aromatic structure. By using cold brew extraction, Tia Maria can always ensure that their coffee liqueur has a distinct taste thanks to three significant elements: coffee (100% arabica provides the distinctive roasted, full-bodied rich taste), vanilla (responsible for the soft and velvety back notes) and Jamaican Rum, that give Tia Maria its body, depth and structure. 2020 marked the year Tia Maria had an aesthetic makeover, starting from the bottle. Now the harmonious shape with soft, clean lines forms a profile that makes a perfect match with the new graphic label, where bold red strokes capture the brand’s dynamic energy. Ever true to its message, One of a Kind, Tia Maria highlights its uniqueness through the label, opting to express the authentic character. Same great tastenew look! The Espresso Martini is just one of many cocktails that can be made using Tia Maria. Other favourites include the Tia Mint Americano, the Tia Iced Popcorn Frappe Tia Maria is a or the Tia favourite for coffee Cappuccino. liqueurs lovers all Tia Maria over the world. can also
Gordons 0.0% launches WITH Christmas fast approaching, Diageo are launching a Gordons 0.0% for those who chose to abstain but are looking for a sophisticated non-alcoholic choice, not a soft drink. It’s now commonplace for consumers to choose to moderate. Nielsen data actually tells us that non alcoholic growth spikes at Christmas and summer, key trading periods (Source: Nielsen On & Off Trade Data to May 2019). Ensure to stock up on new Gordons 0.0%, offering consumers that familiar brand experience be enjoyed over ice with tonic water and a slice of citrus (lemon or grapefruit). Check out TiaMaria.com for more cocktail inspiration. Tia Maria is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam. Maharani Gin Beverage distribution company Bevella has partnered with Rebel City Distillery, producer of multi award-winning Maharani Gin. Rebel City Distillery is a boutique distillery situated in the heart of Cork’s historic Docklands, which was
Maharani Gin is a premium, ethically produced gin, distributed by Bevella.
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Christmas Stocking: Spirits Hendricks’s Gin sparkles in Cork HENDRICK’S Gin is partnering with luxury hotel The River Lee to offer a most unusual experience to the people of Cork. The first experiential activation by Hendrick’s Gin since 2019, ‘To The Moon’ at The River Club transforms the hotel’s terrace into an immersive celebration of humankind’s long fascination with sky travel, the cosmos and aeronautical endeavours. ‘To The Moon’ at The River Club was conceived in partnership with Hendrick’s Lunar Gin, the latest limited release gin in the Cabinet of Curiosity range from Master Distiller Lesley Gracie. This delectably cosmic gin with deeply floral and richly aromatic tones was imagined under the influence of the celestial light of the moon, and is best suited to night-sipping & moonbathing on this stylish nocturnal terrace. ‘To The Moon’ at The River Club runs until February 2022. founded in 2020, becoming the first distillery within Cork’s city limits for almost 50 years. Fusing a longstanding heritage of craft with a splash of experimentalism, Rebel City Distillery was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife Robert and Bhagya, alongside Robert’s father Brendan Barrett. The distillery has since launched its first release, Maharani Gin, which celebrates a fusion of the couple’s respective heritage and cultures of Cork and Kerala. “We are really excited to introduce Maharani Gin to the world and to partner with Bevella to strengthen our distribution network and to market our prestige Maharani brand to the island of Ireland,” said Robert Barrett, co-founder of Maharani Gin. Maharani Gin pays homage to Kerala women who are known for their strength
and importance in society. The word ‘Maharani’, meaning Queen, is a tribute to revolutionary women everywhere. The premium gin is zested with pomelo fruit, and uniquely spiced with cassia and nutmeg-mace, all sourced from a women’s organic farming cooperative in Bhagya’s home state of Kerala, India. This heady combination results in a gin of truly transcendental taste, a liberation of spirit and spice. Maharani Gin has already won a host of awards in its first year: Silver in The London Spirits Awards, bronze in the Craft Spirits Berlin, gold in The Gin Masters, and bronze in the IWSC, and a Silver Medal in the Blas na hÉireann Awards. Southern Comfort Southern Comfort have recently launched new pre-mixed drinks in three thirst-
The ultimate gift from M&S M&S have introduced their super sparkly, strictly limited-edition Light-up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur Magnum (that’s a whopping 1.5 litres), complete with shimmering edible 24 carat gold leaf and silver leaf and playing a magical festive tune! The ultimate present for gin lovers, the mesmerisingly mega-sized Light-up Snow Globe boasts a new flavour in the M&S Snow Globe family: a deliciously seasonal Blood Orange Gin Liqueur, perfect served on the rocks, topped up with Prosecco or with premium tonic water for the ultimate festive G&T with a twist. With its stunning Nutcracker-themed illustration of beautiful ballerinas, toy soldiers and snowy scenes, it also makes striking festive table centrepiece. In fact, M&S have a Snow Globe family available this year. Their sell-out Light-Up Liqueurs have been causing a stir in stores; after selling out multiple times last year, they are flying off shelves again this year. Flavours include new Spiced Sugar Plum Gin Liqueur with warm festive spices and new Madagascan Vanilla Spiced Rum Liqueur. With gorgeous light-up bottles inspired by The Nutcracker ballet, consumers can get their hands on the whole collection for the ultimate festive treat.
quenching flavours, Peach, Apple and Cola. Inspired by classic Southern flavours that pair perfectly with Southern Comfort, each packs a fullflavored taste and are the perfect convenient go-to for barbecues, picnics, parties and enjoying with friends. “We are delighted to introduce these new refreshing taste experiences to our many Southern Comfort enthusiasts,” noted Laura Scott, Brand Manager of Southern Comfort with Hi-Spirits Ireland. “We wanted to give our customers something different and not another seltzer. These flavours perfectly complement the unique New Orleans flavours of Southern Southern Comfort’s fruit and Comfort’s prespice accents that mixed drinks you are now able come in three to enjoy anytime, thirst-quenching anywhere.” flavours: Peach, Southern Apple and Cola. Comfort’s ready-to-drink 330ml cans are available in selected retailers and off licences throughout Ireland at €3.50 RRP.
Retail News|November 2021|www.retailnews.ie|51
Christmas Stocking: Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey rebounds quickly from pandemic
The home of whiskey is reaping the rewards of the Irish whiskey renaissance, writes William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association.
The home of whiskey is reaping the rewards of the Irish whiskey renaissance, writes William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association. IN this country, we sometimes forget that Ireland is the home of whiskey, the place where whiskey found its name, the birthplace of whiskey distilling. Ireland has produced whiskey for longer than anywhere else and because of this, Irish whiskey has a depth and diversity unrivalled among other whiskeys. Our industry’s long history has been a chequered one, with highs and lows, but one that has more recently seen many more highs. From two distilleries in the 1980s, to four in 2010, we now have at least 40 distilleries. Add to this, the many blenders, bonders and independent bottlers who form part of the exciting Irish whiskey family. The foresight, ambition and investment by both major spirits companies and a pioneering wave of Irish entrepreneurs have underpinned this renaissance. But having distilleries would be worth nothing if their output wasn’t up to scratch – and it is. In Ireland we can be very proud of the quality and approachability of our Irish whiskey, and it is the increasing depth and diversity of the category, buoyed by the expansion in producers, which has spurred on
increasing consumer interest in Irish whiskey around the world. Consumer trends A good example is cask-finishing, which has been a hot topic in recent years. Compared to other whiskey-making nations, our rules offer more scope to Irish whiskey producers regarding what types of barrels and wood they can use to age their product. This is one of the main reasons that Irish whiskey has become a world-leader in the art of cask-finishing, offering unique and complex taste profiles based on the barrels used. More recently, we are seeing an accelerated rate of launches of new unique expressions, new ‘halo brands’ and new age-statement stock, including the first-ever releases from some of those new distilleries that have emerged since 2010. Irish whiskey is also one of the hottest trends right now when it comes to cocktails and mixology. In line with global trends towards sustainability and authenticity, consumers and tourists alike are increasingly looking to ‘local’ when it
William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association. comes to buying food and drink. The lockdowns during Covid-19 have also led to many consumers looking more to
52|Retail News|November 2021|www.retailnews.ie
Christmas Stocking: Irish Whiskey shift is here to stay. E-commerce is going to be an increasingly important sales channel for the future; and it is already offering unique opportunities for Irish whiskey brands to break through into new markets and new consumer segments.
There are now over 40 distilleries across the country, from a low of just two in the 1980s. ‘local’ offerings. The expansion of Irish whiskey production to more counties in Ireland means there is much more scope to promote local brands in the Irish on- and off-trade, catering to an everygrowing consumer niche. Irish whiskey sales As a result of the growth and trends outlined here, Irish whiskey has become the world’s fastest growing spirit category, with global sales having increased by over 140% since 2010. In February 2020, the 12-month rolling total for Irish whiskey global sales broke 12m cases. This was worth €890m in export sales to Ireland’s all-island economy. For the calendar year of 2020, 11.4m cases were sold, a slight decrease compared to 2019, but still exceeding expectations in terms of what we initially thought was feasible during the pandemic. While overall sales were slightly down, this is nearly all due to the collapse in duty free and travel retail. On a highly positive note, we saw sales holding up in major markets such as here in Ireland, the United States and Canada, with strong growth in the UK, major central and eastern European markets, including Germany and Poland, as well in emerging markets across Africa and Asia-Pacific, from Nigeria to Australia. Last year, we would have thought it might take three to four years to bounce back to our pre-Covid sales high. But we now expect full recovery, along with additional growth, to have been achieved during 2021. The resilience of Irish whiskey through the pandemic has paved the way for a strong rebound and what we expect to be continued robust growth, across both established and emerging markets.
Irish whiskey still has many years of strong growth ahead before we see global sales plateauing. This is testament to the resilience and resolve of our industry and to the ever-increasing global consumer ‘grá’ for Irish whiskey. These global trends apply also in Ireland. Sales of Irish whiskey in Ireland have grown every year over the past decade, while domestic sales of premium-and-above priced Irish whiskey have grown by over 400%. The rise of e-commerce The pandemic has seen an explosion in online sales of Irish whiskey, including in Ireland. This pivot to direct-to-consumer sales has played a vital role in protecting many jobs in our industry which would otherwise have been lost as a result of lockdowns. While Covid-19 may have been the stimulus for this shift in consumer behaviour, it looks like this
Teeling Whiskey have been at the forefront of the Irish whiskey renaissance.
#DiscoverIrishWhiskey As the leading voice of the Irish whiskey industry, the Irish Whiskey Association have been active in promoting the category to international media and trade. We have developed booklets and online content on the ‘depth and diversity’ narrative and on Irish whiskey cocktails. We have innovated new models of reaching out to international media to promote Irish whiskey. More recently, in October 2021, the Irish Whiskey Association launched a new course, titled ‘Irish Whiskey in the World of Spirits’, attended by 118 participants, mainly staff from Irish pubs, hotels and
Irish rules offer more scope to domestic whiskey producers regarding what types of barrels and wood they can use to age their product, one of the main reasons that Irish whiskey has become a world-leader in the art of caskfinishing. off-licences. The course was delivered by the Irish Whiskey and Spirits Institute and supported by Taste 4 Success Skillnet. It saw successful participants receive a globally-recognised Level 1 award in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. This upskilling initiative forms part of a broader Irish Whiskey Association campaign to support post-lockdown reopening, to reposition Irish whiskey more centrally across the on- and offtrade and to enhance the Irish whiskey experience available to the consumer. The programme will also see a range of practical and educational supports being rolled out in 2022, with a view to expansion internationally.
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Christmas Stocking: Irish Whiskey
Liquid Gold
Irish whiskey’s renaissance has seen the number of distilleries on the island grow exponentially, with a host of quality brands now available. IN the 1980s, Ireland was home to just two whiskey distilleries, its indigenous distilling industry having been decimated. Four decades later, however, and the landscape is very different, with more than 40 working distilleries now operating across the island, producing a range of premium whiskeys for the home and export markets, with new products coming on stream all the time. We profile some of the latest additions to this growing brand portfolio. Jameson Black Barrel Proof Hot on the heels of its recent ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ trophy at the 2021 International Spirits Challenge, Jameson is launching a 50% ABV, or 100-proof, limited edition of its triple-distilled Black Barrel whiskey – great to gift (and even better to keep) this Christmas. Jameson Black Barrel Proof is made from pot still and
grain whiskey matured in a combination of American oak, sherry casks and double charred ex-bourbon barrels to give an even deeper flavour experience. Uniquely, this expression will be bottled at 50% ABV and without chill filtration. The result is a rich, smooth expression that showcases the benefit that the tradition of barrel-charring can add to the world’s favourite Irish whiskey. “Jameson Black Barrel is a triple distilled blend of our small batch grain and traditional single Jameson Black Barrel Proof pot still Irish whiskey is made from pot still and and boasts a robust grain whiskey matured in a spiciness, with flavours combination of American oak, of butterscotch and sherry casks and double charred fudge. Paying tribute ex-bourbon barrels to give an to the cooper’s skill, even deeper flavour experience. maturing a portion of our whiskey in double charred barrels brings out sweet and spicy characteristics in abundance as it penetrates deeper into the charred oak,” explains Irish Distillers’ Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. “Like every family, Jameson is made up of individual characters with their own distinct personalities. Bottling Jameson Black Barrel at a higher strength is a great way to accentuate the already beloved characteristics of this unique whiskey to create a totally new experience for whiskey enthusiasts.” Galley Head from Clonakilty Distillery Clonakilty Distillery have launched their brand-new Single Malt whiskey, the latest addition to their award-winning range of spirits. The Galley Head expression represents a new departure for the Distillery as the brand sought to create a high-quality whiskey that was accessible in terms of price but still retained the quality and finish that Clonakilty Distillery has become renowned for amongst whiskey connoisseurs. Matured and finished at their Atlantic Ocean Warehouse,
New Galley Head Single Malt from Clonakilty Distillery: a full-flavoured, barley-forward whiskey.
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Christmas Stocking: Irish Whiskey Galley Head Single Malt represents a marriage of a re-shaved, re-toasted wine cask and Bordeaux red wine casks. “We decided on single malt to produce a full flavoured, barley forward whiskey,” said Paul Corbett, Head Distiller at Clonakilty Distillery. “We finished this single malt in two cask types, a reshaved, re-toasted wine cask and a freshly disgorged Bordeaux red wine cask. The rejuvenated wood imparts a caramel sweetness and complex spice to the whiskey, while the fresh wine casks add a fruitiness that complements the cereal character of the malt.” The whiskey derives its inspiration from the Galley Head Lighthouse, which stands guard over the barley fields at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The Lighthouse, which was built in 1875, rises an imposing 53m above the roaring Wild Atlantic Ocean, just outside Clonakilty town. Bushmills Causeway Collection Following the launch of The Causeway Collection to worldwide acclaim last year, Bushmills Irish Whiskey are set to make waves again with their new series of exclusive and elusive Causeway Collection releases for 2021. The groundbreaking Causeway Collection is a selection of extremely rare and unique
From Bushmills Causeway Collection: the 2011 Sauternes Cask and a 1995 Marsala Cask aged in rare Marsala casks for an unprecedented 15 years. aged and cask finished Irish single malt whiskeys from The Old Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. This year’s collection features 12 new releases to be launched worldwide across eight markets, and includes two bottlings exclusively released for the island of Ireland: the 2011 Sauternes Cask, a first for Bushmills Irish Whiskey, and a 1995 Marsala Cask aged in rare Marsala casks for an unprecedented 15 years.
Writers’ Tears Writers’ Tears – Single Pot Still is the missing link in Walsh Whiskey’s rich portfolio of 21 distinct super-premium whiskeys. Originally matured in bourbon barrels, the triple-distilled, single pot still whiskey was then further matured in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks from Spain and Florio Marsala Hogsheads from Sicily, before being cut at a juicy 46% ABV. 5,800 bottles of Writers’ Tears – Single Pot Still are being made available to Ireland, the UK, France, Germany and Holland, retailing for €59.99.
Writers’ Tears – Single Pot Still, the latest release from Walsh Whiskey. Powerscourt Distillery Powerscourt Distillery recently launched the eagerly anticipated new addition to the ‘Five Elements’ series, a 20-yearold single malt Fercullen, limited to just 1,500 bottles. This 20-year-old Single Malt whiskey is a marriage of five different cask styles, expertly combined by Master Distiller, Noel Sweeney, to form a genuinely complex and distinctive whiskey. The ‘Five Elements’ include: a single distillery source; two types of oak maturation; American White Oak and European Oak; four different finishing casks - Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximenez, Marsala and Muscatel; five styles Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximenez, Marsala, Muscatel and Bourbon casks; and the
Powerscourt Distillery’s Master Distiller, Noel Sweeney, pictured with the Fercullen Single Malt.
The Fercullen Mill House Single Grain Amarone finish is a marriage of single grain whiskeys produced in 2010, 2011 and 2012. globally recognised touch and blending expertise of Noel Sweeney. This follows the recent introduction of the Mill House Limited Edition Single Grain Amarone finish Fercullen. The first release in their Estate Series, it’s named to give a nod of respect to their brand home, the near-300-year-old mill house built from Wicklow granite and the distillery buildings’ historical anchor. The Fercullen Mill House Single Grain Amarone finish is a marriage of single grain whiskeys produced in 2010, 2011 and 2012 by Powerscourt’s Master Distiller and Master Blender, Noel Sweeney. This Single Grain Irish whiskey was initially matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels, before finishing in premium Italian Amarone casks for 18 months. This allows the whiskey to reach an optimum mellow combination of grain, bourbon, oak and Amarone. Titanic Distillers United Wines have secured an exclusive all-Ireland distribution deal with Titanic Distillers, Belfast’s newest premium Irish Whiskey brand. The partnership will see Craigavon-based United Wines handle all distribution for the new whiskey through their extensive on- and off-trade customer base across the island of Ireland.
Launching the partnership at United Wines’ 75,000 square feet warehouse in Craigavon are Titanic Distillers Commercial Director Stephen Symington (left) and United Wines Managing Director Martin McAuley.
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Irish Wine Show Star Awards
Best cellars The 2021 Irish Wine Show Star Awards were presented to 45 of the finest wines available across the country. THE National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) have awarded their annual Irish Wine Show Star Awards to 45 wines at their annual event. As the awards celebrate their 21st year, the winning wines from the Irish Wine Show Star Awards will be available to consumers from NOffLA outlets across Ireland. Speaking at the Awards, Gary O’Donovan, Chairman of NOffLA, congratulated the 2021 winners, saying that “It is great to be able to celebrate some of the finest products sold by our highly-trained members around the country. As independent, specialist retailers NOffLA members are at the heart of their communities and serve as responsible and highly knowledgeable local retailers who are committed to excellence, both in terms of personal service and the high-quality wines that we offer.” He went on to warn, however, that NOffLA members’ offering continues to be under serious threat as Irish excise levels impede the drinks sector in Ireland and remain the highest among our EU neighbours. Distinctive Award symbols In excess of 600 wines were submitted to the Star Award adjudication panel of NOffLA judges and independent wine journalists. Points were awarded on the
basis of appearance, smell, taste and value for money criteria, and the winning 15 were selected as the best wines from key suppliers across a number of price categories. Each of the winning wines will be sold in NOffLA member outlets across
the country and will be recognisable by distinctive Award symbols on each bottle. In the pre-Christmas period, NOffLA members will promote the Irish Wine Show Star Awards 2021-2022 Collection as ideal Christmas gifts, in a variety of special gift packs.
Declan Saunders of Tindal Wine Merchants, winners of the White Wine of the Year Award, and Bren Smith of Mackenway Distributors, winners of the Wine of the Year Award, pictured at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards, held in the Radisson Blu Golden Lane.
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Irish Wine Show Star Awards
Reggie Walsh of NOffLA presents the first place award for Sparkling Wine Under r25 to Richard Morriarty of Findlater & Co, at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards, held in the Radisson Blu Golden Lane.
Gary O’Donovan, chairman of NOffLA presents the first place award for New World Red Under €10 to Willie Dardis of Ampersand Wines at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards.
About NOffLA
Reggie Walsh of NOffLA presents the first place award for Sparkling Champagne Under €60 to Amanda Cardiff of Cassidy Wines, at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards.
Gary O’Donovan, Chairman of NOffLA, presents the first place award for New World Red Under €15 to Rachel Coogan of Febvre Wines at the 2021-2022 Irish Wine Show Star Awards.
NOffLA was established in 1991 and represents independent specialist off-licences across Ireland, with the sector representing 5,900 jobs in 26 counties. NOffLA works to promote the responsible sale, marketing and consumption of alcohol and to share best practices with the entire trade. NOffLA’s members’ outlets are specialist or pure off-licences and tend to be owner-operated, located in the heart of their communities and employ expertise in responsibly retailing many unique products. http:// www.noffla.ie/
2021 Gold Star Award Winners CATEGORY
Old World White Under €10 Old World White Under €15 Old World White Under €20 New World White Under €10 New World White Under €15 New World White Under €20 Old World Red Under €10 Old World Red Under €15 Old World Red Under €20 New World Red Under €10 New World Red Under €15 New World Red Under €20 Rosé Under €15 Sparkling Wine Under €25 Sparkling/Champagne Under €60 White Wine of the Year 2021-2022 Wine of the Year 2021-2022
WINE
Maximo Blanco Trulli Vermentino IGP Mâcon-Uchizy, Domaine Talmard Antares Sauvignon Blanc Asymmetric Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Tokara Premium Sauvignon Blanc Maximo Tinto Trulli Salice Salentino DOP Tuella Douro Red Coral Reef Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Fleur du Cap Pinotage Catena Malbec Domaine La Colombette Rosé Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Ferrari Brut Mâcon-Uchizy, Domaine Talmard Trulli Salice Salentino DOP
VINTAGE
2020 2020 2020 2021 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 2018 2019 2020 NV NV 2020 2019
COMPANY
Mackenway Distributors Ltd. Mackenway Distributors Ltd. Tindal Wine Merchants Ampersand Wines Ampersand Wines Mackenway Distributors Ltd. Mackenway Distributors Ltd. Mackenway Distributors Ltd. Tindal Wine Merchants Ampersand Wines Febvre Wines Cassidy Wines Cassidy Wines Findlater & Co. Cassidy Wines Tindal Wine Merchants Mackenway Distributors Ltd.
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Tosca
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Can a revolutionary new plastic pallet replace its wooden counterparts? The team at Tosca believe that their new NeRa pallet can and will do just that, while their Asset IQ technology will introduce efficiencies across the supply chain. IMAGINE a plastic pallet that has been engineered to outperform wood? Just a few years ago, such a claim would seem impossible but the new NeRa pallet from Tosca is the result of years of research and development. NeRa is “Europe’s strongest heavy-duty nestable rackable pallet”, according to Tosca, and one which they believe will significantly change the sector going forward, with a host of advantages over its wooden counterparts. What better company to engineer the future of pallets? Tosca are global leaders in reusable plastic packaging solutions and pooling. The company offers crates, pallets, dollies, bulk containers, displays, layers and trays for the entire supply chain. They enjoy a 60-year history of innovation that has driven growth in reusable packaging and supply chain solutions in North America, innovation which has come to Europe and to Ireland in a big way, not least with the opening of a new Irish wash plant. “Tosca are Europe’s largest supplier of plastic pallets pooling, with a very strong presence in the UK,” explains Adrian Dale, Managing Director, Tosca UK & Ireland. “Tosca are currently significantly expanding our presence in Ireland with the delivery of our new wash plant, demonstrating a long term commitment to serving our Irish customers.” “We have the broadest range of any pooler, offering a huge variety of plastic solutions for the supply chain,” adds Jesse Sels, President - Europe, Middle East & Africa. “We are looking
to build our presence in Ireland as we are very ambitious about expanding in this market and we are looking to scale our solutions in Ireland.” Tosca’s mission, according to Adrian, is to help their customers to eliminate waste at every turn: “We have an extremely robust and flexible range of products that allow us to work with a large variety of different industries. We are a pooling company, offering a supply service and delivering supply chain solutions for our clients. Our focus on sustainability means our new Irish wash plant will use renewable energy sources; our focus on efficiency means we can help customers reduce transport costs by use of better stacking lightweight pallets.” Engineered to out-perform wood In this arena, the new Tosca NeRa Pallet, which the company describes as Europe’s strongest heavy-duty nestable rackable pallet, has been engineered to out-perform wood. The most critical part of that sentence is the mention of wood pallets. The wooden pallet is ubiquitous in the supply chain; it is cheap, repairable, reusable and can come from renewable sources. In order for the Tosca NeRa pallet to replace wooden pallets, it will need to significantly disrupt the sector and that is what it is designed to do. The Tosca NeRa Pallet has been engineered to outperform wood by being lighter weight but heavy duty, ideal for automation and conveyors, by saving 2.5x stack heights over
Retail News|November 2021|www.retailnews.ie|61
Tosca
The new NeRa pallet from Tosca is the result of years of research and development. wood, and by being rackable on any racking system. According to Tosca, their pallets have a number of major advantages over wood that directly impact their customers’ total cost of business. The pallets have been engineered for strength; the patented PowerDeck minimises damage, making the product strong like a rackable, but light like a nestable pallet. It features a reinforced solid top deck, a 3,000kg static load capacity and an 18kg low weight. The Tosca NeRa pallet saves 2.5 times on stack height when compared to wood. The nestable design cuts stack heights in half, meaning fewer trips are required in the supply chain, offering savings in cost and reducing the environmental impact of a customer’s supply chain. The pallets are all uniform in size; each NeRa pallet is the same weight and size, with the patented SureFoot legs efficiently and safely distributing loads. The pallets are compatible with 100mm and 150mm conveyor roll pitches and fit standard and drive-in racking, making them extremely easy to fit into any existing supply chain set-up. These pallets are cleaner and safer than wood, according to Tosca, as they are damage and germ-resistant for cleaner operations that save on labour. They offer damage-free transfer over conveyors; the contoured leg of the SureFoot design deflects forks, making the pallets easier to lift and the high-vis colouring of the footing improves high rack safety. The Tosca NeRa pallet has been designed with sustainability in mind; it is 100% reusable and repairable, and the use of recyclable plastic helps reduce any disposal waste. The highly efficient nesting capability of the pallets helps to directly reduce CO2 emissions from the supply chain by reducing the volume of trips necessary. Significant endeavour The team at Tosca are extremely proud of the new NeRa pallet, which is the result of a significant investment in terms of time and energy over a number of years. “We face a huge challenge
Tosca are global leaders in reusable plastic packaging solutions and pooling, offering crates, pallets, dollies, bulk containers, displays, layers and trays for the entire supply chain.
in looking to replace wood as the pallet of choice in the supply chain,” Adrian admits. “In order to do that, we have invested heavily in creating a product that we feel is better in every way than its wooden counterpart. With the opening of our Irish wash plant, we will expand our ability to service our Irish customers and we are actively looking to Irish customers who we can help introduce efficiency and cost reductions into their supply chain systems.” Jesse explains how the process “has taken us years of research and development to get to this point. We have created a superior product and it just remains for us to demonstrate to our customers by delivering tailor-made solutions for their supply chains that are sustainable, efficient and that reduce costs.”
The Tosca NeRa Pallet has been engineered to outperform wood by being lighter weight but heavy duty, ideal for automation and conveyors, by saving 2.5x stack heights over wood, and by being rackable on any racking system.
Asset IQ: helping you identify inefficiencies Along with the launch of the Tosca NeRa pallet, the company have also developed the Tosca Asset IQ service, which leverages the increasingly connected world of the Internet of Things (IoT) to demystify the supply chain and locate inefficiencies along that chain. Asset IQ operates as a full-service provision, outfitting customers’ pooled reusables with a cost-effective track and trace solution that delivers data points as per the customer’s requirements. Asset IQ harnesses a variety of technologies, including Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular GPS, to outfit pallets, bulk containers, crates or other assets. This allows users to uncover new insights from the supply chain with a dashboard, alerts and reports. According to the company, the system offers customers more visibility by getting real-time intel from assets across the supply chain; more savings by lowering costs associated with losses, delays and scanning labour; and more control by improving accountability and compliance with helpful IoT tools. Asset IQ also offers advanced functionality with features to monitor the status and health of cargo in addition to reusable packaging assets, with solutions for monitoring temperature, humidity, vibration/jitter, inventory levels, POS promotion compliance, weather conditions and more, depending on customer requirements. “Asset IQ is not just a system that lets you know where something is,” explains Jesse. “It is a system that is deigned to let you make real world decisions with that knowledge that can help you improve some aspect of your business. That is the real value of a system such as Asset IQ.” Tosca have ambitious plans to disrupt the use of wooden pallets in the supply chain. They have plans to grow their presence in the Irish market and have invested in their ability to do so with their new wash plant. In short, the company have given themselves a platform on which to build and are actively looking for partners to help reduce supply chain costs and improve sustainability.
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Tobacco: JTI
Retailers concerned over tobacco excise hike The decision to increase excise on tobacco products has been condemned by the trade, who feel it will push more tobacco consumers to the black market.
THE excise increase on tobacco in Budget 2022 has been broadly criticised by the retail trade, who believe that the high price of legitimate tobacco products in Ireland will serve to push more and more consumers into the black market. The 50c increase brought the cost of an average packet of cigarettes to €15. “It’s very disappointing to see an excise increase in Budget 2022 which will inevitably make it even harder for retailers like myself to compete against the rapidly growing black market in Ireland,” said Benny Gilsenan, national spokesperson for Retailers Against Smuggling, who stressed that Ireland continues to be a key target for tobacco smugglers as a result of having one of the highest rates of duty on tobacco products in the EU, resulting in unfair competition for Irish retailers. “We fully expect that this latest excise increase will drive more Irish smokers to the black market,” Gilsenan said, “with criminal gangs exploiting the demand for illicit tobacco products. This will inevitably lead to a growth in large-scale smuggling activity and ant smuggling. Ultimately, this means retailers will continue to suffer, not only through the loss of the legal purchase of cigarettes but also any additional purchases that person might make when they are in the store. It is regrettable that Minister Donohoe has ignored the warning made by both retailers and the Department of Finance Tax Strategy Group that an excise increase could encourage more smokers to source products outside of the State.” This year has seen Revenue announcing almost 50 high profile tobacco seizures, including the seizure of over 40m cigarettes, with an estimated retail value of under €49m, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of over €39m. “The detection and seizure of illegal tobacco products must remain a priority for Irish authorities,” argued Gilsenan, “with increased awareness of the elaborate means criminal gangs are utilising to transport these huge volumes. In the context
of excise goods, there needs to be greater focus on rendering existing enforcement regulations more robust by introducing attachment orders to violations, thereby providing the means to the State to recoup losses to the Exchequer driven by smuggling.” The Irish cigarettes market recorded its highest annual growth rate in the last decade in 2020, mainly fuelled by sales of legitimate cigarettes through Benny Gilsenan, national mainstream retail spokesperson, Retailers Against channels as travel Smuggling. restrictions due to the pandemic prevented Irish consumers from easily accessing cheap cigarettes from abroad, according to the latest report into the sector by Euromonitor International. However, with the easing of restrictions, tobacco sales are predicted to decline in the coming months, with Euromonitor warning of a potential further drop with the introduction of duty-free for Irish consumers travelling through airports in the UK following Brexit. Sales of economy cigarettes are expected to rise in the next two years, Euromonitor predict, in line with a declining share of mid-price and premium cigarettes. The key components of the economy that affect legitimate cigarette sales, such as
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64|Retail News|November 2021|www.retailnews.ie
Tobacco: JTI employment levels, travel and disposable income, are expected to negatively impact households in the short-term as Ireland transitions out of living with Covid-19. Amber Leaf When Amber Leaf puts its name to something, you know it’s special. From innovation in pack format, to limited edition designs, there’s a reason Amber Leaf retains the status of Ireland’s number one Roll-Your-Own brand (Source: Nielsen ROI Extended Scantrack, RYO SOM YTD October 10, 2021, 70.9%).
Amber Leaf Original and Blonde 30g pouches are now available with ZipSeal. JTI Ireland have added ZipSeal to Amber Leaf 30g pouches. Available across both Original and Blonde SKUs, it’s the same great taste existing adult smokers expect, with quality sealed into a more convenient pouch. Keep stocking up on Amber Leaf, Original and Blonde 30g pouches, now available with ZipSeal.
Are you ready to shake up some ‘Shimmering Surprises’? THIS year has seen the addition of the B&H Gold Mega Box (34 cigarettes), as well as the continued success of Silk Cut, Ireland’s number one cigarette brand (Source: Nielsen ROI Extended Scantrack, RMC SOM YTD October 10, 2021 (21.2%), number one RMC brand in Ireland). To celebrate, JTI Ireland are giving retailers the chance to win some amazing premium prizes. When you stock any B&H Gold King Size 20s, or Silk Cut Purple, Blue & Silver King Size 20s, you’re not just stocking Ireland’s number one SKU (Source: Nielsen ROI Extended Scantrack, RMC SOM YTD 10 Oct 2021 (9.6%), number one RMC SKU in Ireland), B&H Gold 20s, and Ireland’s number one cigarette brand, Silk Cut (Source: Nielsen ROI Extended Scantrack, RMC SOM YTD October 10, 2021 (21.2%), number one RMC brand in Ireland), you’re stocking the premium quality that existing adult smokers expect. To enter the prize draw, simply go to the JTI Ireland microsite, enter the code printed on the inside of the limited edition outer and shake the festive shimmering globe. Pick up an outer today for more information on how to shake up some magic!
JTI Ireland are giving retailers the chance to win some amazing premium prizes when they stock any B&H Gold King Size 20s, or Silk Cut Purple, Blue & Silver King Size 20s. Mayfair Big Box SKU. So stock up today on Mayfair’s Big Box Box formats and don’t miss out on the growing big box sector! Mayfair think big with Ireland’s number one value cigarette brand (Source: Nielsen ROI Extended Scantrack, RMC SOM YTD October 10, 2021 - 15.3%).
Nordic Spirit In the Nordics, they have a word ‘annorlunda’, which means ‘different’. This is the perfect way to describe JTI Ireland’s Nordic Spirit flavours. Whether you’re in the mood for Smooth Mint, with notes of refreshing menthol and sweet peppermint, or Berry Citrus, with a citrus zing and notes of sweet and tart berries, each flavour is brilliantly different. Mayfair is Ireland’s number one value cigarette brand. And the Mayfair It’s time to start thinking big. Mayfair delivers not only great quality, but also great value, particularly when buying a
Nordic Spirit is available in Smooth Mint and Berry Citrus flavours, in two different strengths. differences don’t end there. Nordic Spirit is available in two strengths, Regular and Strong, giving consumers the freedom to choose whatever feels right for them. Stock Nordic Spirit now and give your customers an “annorlunda” experience! Note: 18+. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance.
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Nivea
Winter skin saviours from Nivea NIVEA, the world’s number one skincare brand, have the best winter skin saviours to give consumers’ skin the boost it needs to stay nourished, moisturised and glowing all winter long. With winter around the corner, it’s time to think about protecting skin from harsh winter conditions as skin can become dry in the winter months as wind, cold air and heating affect the skin’s natural moisture balance.
Oil, provides superior performance and deep nourishment for hands. The gentle, vegan formula with a unique Nivea scent leaves hands smooth and soft for 24 hours, offering the best of Nivea, just for hands. Offering a fast absorption with a rich and intensive moisture, the Nivea Intensive Moisture Hand Cream nourishes dry to very dry skin, ensuring hands are protected from the stress of dry skin.
Original Care Lip Balm, 5.5ml (RRP €2.49) Nivea Original Care Lip Nivea Balm provides long lasting Intensive moisture for lips, while Moisture preserving the healthy Consumers can Hand Cream condition of delicate skin. transform dry Made with naturally derived provides skin into deeply superior ingredients and enriched moisturised Nivea Original with Shea Butter and Organic performance and noticeably Care Lip Balm Jojoba Oil, the Original Care and deep smoother skin nourishment provides long Lip Balm takes care of lips with Nivea Rich for hands. lasting moisture all day long. Experience Nourishing for lips, while long-lasting moisture for Body Lotion. preserving lips with this unique caring the healthy formula, while keeping lips beautifully Nivea Intensive Moisture Hand Cream, 100ml condition of smooth and supple and protected from (RRP €3.49) delicate skin. drying out. Nivea Intensive Moisture Hand Cream, enriched with Almond Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion, 400ml (RRP €7.49) Transform dry skin into deeply moisturised and noticeably smoother skin with Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion. The formula contains Nivea Deep Moisture Serum, natural Almond Oil and Vitamin E to lock in moisture, leaving consumers with noticeably smoother skin for 48 hours. With a rich and creamy texture, the Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion reduces the roughness of dry to very dry skin after the first application and offers long-lasting relief from dry skin, an effect you can not only feel but also see.
CARE FOR YOUR SKIN
66|Retail News|November 2021|www.retailnews.ie
ECR Ireland Shopper Conference & Awards
Making omnichannel retailing a reality The ECR Ireland Shopper Conference and Awards celebrated innovation in shopper engagement both in-store and digitally. THE ECR Ireland Shopper Conference 2021 was a celebration of all things digital and omni-channel, as well as sustainability, while the Awards celebrated the hard work of all the finalists in both the Shopper Awards and Digital Awards categories. Opening the conference, Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland, told attendees, “As we will see demonstrated today, Ireland has very high standards when it comes to category management, shopper engagement, marketing and the use of technology to enhance data capture, deliver actionable insights and build relationships with consumers. That is great, but the reality is that we are only on the start of a journey that sees those high standards become the norm, and in turn gives us the opportunity to collectively raise the bar even higher to create and deliver shopper experiences that are constantly evolving and improving.” Speakers from five companies opened the conference, giving their top tips for winning the customer journey. The first was Colm Rooney, Director, Shopper Intelligence. According to Colm, “This year, Irish consumers are still highly averse to running out of supplies, with overstocking preferable Orlagh Geraghty, Marketing Manager, Britvic Ireland, winner of the to running out. As with last year, we do still see ECR Ireland Shopper Award 2021, pictured with Declan Carolan, people willing to pay more for premium products if General Manager, ECR Ireland. the quality is there. Having said that, my third top tip is that price sensitivity is set to become more important than over the last 18 months and it is possible that behaviour and expectations. Our third suggestion is to focus we will see promotion escalation over the next year, so be on creating shopper focused systems all along the path to prepared.” purchase, so that you can fit into the life of your customer.” Carol Curley, Trading Manager with Musgrave Retail Ruth Lloyd-Evans, Senior Account Manager with Nielsen IQ, Partners Ireland, had some very practical tips for getting things explained to the conference that, “Consumers are more agile back to normal. Carol told the conference, “The global pandemic than ever now, with a huge variety of shopping options open changed shopper activity drastically and in the 18 months since to them. Our first top tip is that while customers have been then, we have seen a major change in customers’ expectations. relatively price inflexible over the last 18 months or so, that will Meeting the new expectations will be key to succeeding postnot continue and that it is going to be important to review your pandemic. At MRPI, we have been engaging in in-store revamps pricing strategy in the coming months. It is also more important so that our physical locations match those expectations and we than ever to engage in omni-channel activity and use it to your have been improving our online offering to match consumer advantage to help you succeed in bringing your product into
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ECR Ireland Shopper Conference & Awards
Declan Carolan, General Manager, ECR Ireland, announces the winner of the Digital P2P Award 2021 as Heineken and dunnhumby for their joint venture to optimise in-store screen media in Tesco Ireland. the shopping patterns of consumers. Our third and final top tip is about using data to understand changes in your customers’ priorities. Personal health and products that contribute to that are very important messages to communicate and sustainability is becoming one of the most influential aspects in the minds of customers. If you are more sustainable than you used to be, you must make sure you get that message out to customers loud and clear.” Fergus McCauley, Pharmacy Key Account Manager with healthcare company IQVIA, explained that, “For any retailers that have any exposure to marketing or selling cough, cold or flu medicine, you should expect a very large increase in demand over last year. Obviously during Covid restrictions, we saw a huge fall in the need for regular cold and flu treatments. We are already seeing numbers well ahead of last year as we enter cold season and it will be important to have stock levels at normal in order to maintain supply. Our second tip is another product to keep an eye on, and that is the vitamins / minerals / supplements products. Our data suggests that these products will see significant growth this year and beyond. Out third tip is to stay informed and be agile. If we stay on top of Covid and the vaccines continue to work so well, we should be back to
normal before long. But don’t forget that situations can change, so stay as informed as possible over the next year and it will help inform your decisions.” Mike Doole, Managing Director- UK and Ireland, Advantage Group, let the conference know that, “Suppliers scores from consumer this year have been very good here. People are very happy with the way Irish businesses are performing and it will be important to keep those high standards up. The shopping experience has changed dramatically by being far more agile, faster and efficient, and consumers want that experience to remain, making an online presence or partnership more important than ever. Finally, it is very important to be aware that consumers now feel that systems should get better and more convenient over time so do not rest on your laurels if you are doing well now.” ECR Shopper Award The ECR Shopper Engagement Conference is renowned for the ECR Shopper Award, with the finalists presenting successful Irish case studies that positively influence the consumer or shopper through in-store activation & the path to purchase Ciaran Brennan and Karen Murphy presented the Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pop project from Unilever. Unlike the tub
Debbie Mullaney, Channel Manager Modern Trade & E-Commerce, Heineken Ireland, pictured with the Digital P2P Award 2021, for the joint project between Heineken Ireland and dunnhumby / Tesco Ireland. format, the Peace Pop from Ben & Jerry’s squarely targeted the snacking sector in ice cream. The project looked to increase OOH consumption from 2.8% to 4.8%, it looked to land 70 incremental branded freezers in the convenience channel and
Holly Baldock, Customer Strategy and Innovation, dunnhumby, pictured with the Digital P2P Award 2021, for the joint project between Heineken Ireland and dunnhumby / Tesco Ireland.
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ECR Ireland Shopper Conference & Awards
Orlagh Geraghty, Marketing Manager, Britvic Ireland, explains Ballygowan’s journey to become Ireland’s most sustainable bottled water. to trial digital POS in the last 20 yards. The launch began in January of this year with an unmissable ATL media campaign and saw the Peace Pop brought to life in the convenience channel. The results were extremely impressive: year to date Peace Pop has delivered €1.25m in retail sales value and increased Ben & Jerry’s market share for OOH consumption by almost 100%, giving it a 5.3% share of the market now. The top tip from Ciaran and Karen is to be execution obsessed in order to see success. Fiona Calley, Account Director, Delta Group, presented the launch of Tesco Own Brand ice cream. The objectives of the campaign were to launch and stand out against big brands, to adapt bespoke fixtures in-store and to engage with partner campaigns and organisations to add value and volume. The transformation of Tesco ice cream aisles into Ireland’s largest ice cream trucks was visually stunning, an innovative physical activation that helped drive awareness of the Tesco Own Brand ice cream launch. The in-store activity was supplemented by a media campaign, digital activity and tie-ins with organisation such as Love Irish Food. The launch gave Tesco a market share increase of 2.9% for ice cream in a highly lucrative market and the physical activity in-store delivered tremendous awareness to help increase market share. Fiona’s top tip for the day is to always live your customer’s journey and walk their walk on the path to purchase. Carla Mooney, Shopper Marketing Executive, Britvic Ireland, presented the relaunch of Rockstar Energy Drink, which sought to reinvigorate the brand and to become the undisputed up and comer in the big can sector. A brand refresh
coincided with a strong ATL media campaign, including in-store activity and digital out of home advertising. The campaign sought strong partnerships with all elements of wholesale and retail, delivering over 500 displays, five store take-overs, over 80 chiller placements and thousands of pieces of in-cooler POS material. The new look and larger can have more than delivered the refresh that the brand sought and Carla’s top tip on the day was to always look to compel consumers on their path to purchase. Jill McGann, Head of Take-Home Trade Activation, Diageo Ireland, spoke about the Guinness Christmas 2020 campaign. Guinness wanted to help
create a more playful and magical atmosphere during the Christmas season, as Christmas 2020 was a particularly dark time in the midst of the pandemic. The campaign sought to promote the brand, while highlighting the fact that dark times pass and even in the darkest times we still keep the lights on, waiting for the inevitable better times to come. The media campaign delivered this messaging across traditional and digital media during the festive season. The results saw growth ahead of category, increased online share and online conversions. Jill’s top tip on the day was to make sure your project is grounded in a genuine sentiment shared by your audience. The extremely worthy overall winner of the 2021 Shopper Awards was Ballygowan’s journey to become Ireland’s most sustainable bottled water, presented by Orlagh Geraghty, Marketing Manager, Britvic Ireland. Britvic decided to bring Ballygowan on this journey for two reasons: it was the right thing to do for the environment and to help reinvigorate a brand that had lost market share. Ballygowan changed its branding, and moved its packaging to recyclable, recycled and lighter bottles. It invested heavily in its bottling plant to achieve this and the project represented a genuine change in attitude across the entire company. Ballygowan shared these changes with Irish consumers and the reaction was immediate, as the move precisely matched the changing priorities of customers. This journey has
Ciaran Brennan and Karen Murphy presented the Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pop project from Unilever.
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ECR Ireland Shopper Conference & Awards seen Ballygowan strengthen its identity in the minds of Irish consumers and undergo a radical and inspirational transformation. It was a fantastic winner for the 2021 awards and Orlagh’s top tip on the day was to keep your core objective at the heart of every single action. Digital P2P Award winner There were two finalists in the Digital P2P Award 2021. Siobhan Casey, Channel Planning & Effectiveness Manager, Bulmers, and Alyson Clarke, Customer Marketing Manager, Bulmers, talked attendees through the Bulmers Secret Orchard campaign. “Our objective was to run a competition, as part of our When Time Bears Fruit campaign, across our social & digital channels to drive engagement with consumers, and encourage them to pick up a pack of Bulmers when instore/shopping online,” they explained. “We wanted to ensure that we covered every touchpoint along the digital path to purchase with this campaign. Bulmers Secret Orchard is a seamlessly integrated activation which brought the brand idea to life using experiential, whereby consumers could win a ‘money can’t buy’ experience.” The winners of the Digital P2P Award 2021 were Heineken Ireland and dunnhumby for their joint venture to optimise in-store screen media in Tesco Ireland stores. This partnership tested the results from in-store digital activity, by testing on screen digital displays in the off sales sections of Tesco supermarkets, as well as trialling push notifications to consumers on events, temperature notifications, or functional reminders to stock up. The two organisations collaborated fully with each other to test the effect of a variety of digital tactics and have shared data to allow them to say they are only just getting started on projects like this. Their top tip for the day was to “Be brave and stick with it; even if results sometimes may not meet expectations, you need to keep calm and carry on.” Holly Baldock, Customer Strategy and Innovation, dunnhumby, and Debbie Mullaney, Channel Manager Modern Trade & E-Commerce, Heineken Ireland, explained how retail continues to evolve creating an omni-channel experience, and while digital signage is still relatively new, it provides an opportunity to improve communication with customers, offer inspiration on their shopping trip, join up the digital presence happening online and bring it into the physical environment.
Jill McGann, Head of Take-Home Trade Activation, Diageo Ireland, spoke about the Guinness Christmas 2020 campaign, which spread some hope in the midst of the pandemic.
Siobhan Casey, Channel Planning & Effectiveness Manager, Bulmers, and Alyson Clarke, Customer Marketing Manager, Bulmers, explained the success of the Bulmers Secret Orchard campaign. On-trend The two winners were particularly impressive. The hard work by Britvic Ireland and Ballygowan to transform the brand and effectively communicate that shift in focus coincided exactly with consumer sentiment and has placed the brand in an extremely strong position. The partnership between Heineken Ireland and Tesco Ireland to win the 2021 Digital Award shows clearly how the digital and physical worlds are integrating and the
value of partnership and shared data. All the finalists displayed innovation in positively influencing the shopper through category management, shopper marketing and digital shopper engagement, while the award presentations themselves (available on www.ecrireland.ie/shopper_conf_ awards_2021) provide demand-side practitioners with a unique opportunity to learn from successful case studies in the Irish market.
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Forecourt Focus: Maxol
Maxol unveil ambitious growth plans
Maxol Group CEO, Brian Donaldson, reveals the company’s ambitious €20m investment programme for 2022, as well as noting the factors that are contributing to a strong performance this year. MAXOL have announced a €20m investment programme for 2022 across multiple sites, including Sandyford, Castletroy, Kilkenny, Clarecastle and Donore Road, having already invested over €7m in the business in 2021. The announcement was made by Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group, who also provided an update on the performance of Maxol’s retail business during 2020 and highlighted the contribution that staycations made to a stronger forecasted H2 performance in the current year. The latest figures for the company showed a profit before exceptional items of €17.1m for 2020, a not unexpected fall of 7.5% on 2019 given the Covid-19 impact on trading conditions, which included 5km travel limits and rolling lockdowns. Notwithstanding the challenging conditions that prevailed between January and May 2021 that included Brexit and full or partial lockdowns, the outlook for the full year 2021 is positive and is set to outperform 2020, according to Brian. “There are a number of factors that have contributed to the strong company performance since May, but we have pinpointed one that has probably had the most positive impact on our business. The significant rise in staycations provided not only the tourism sector with a bounce, but the forecourt and convenience sector has also been a beneficiary,” says Brian. “Not only were consumers visiting our forecourts for fuel, but the Maxol network proved a convenient pit-stop for snacks, confectionery and deli items and we anticipate that this trend will continue for the coming months.” 2021 investment programme While the impact of Covid-19 saw a number of development and refurbishment programmes delayed, Maxol continued to invest in the business. A €7m investment programme in 2021 included the refurbishment of two key sites in Ballycoolin, Dublin 15, and Riverside in Navan, Co. Meath. The multimillion euro investment programme, which extended to a number of sites across the country, also saw the introduction of drive-thru Burger Kings, new indoor seating areas, extended
outdoor seating areas, additional car parking spaces, car wash upgrades, the creation of more retail space, larger Maxol deli counters and the introduction of premium fuel pumps to additional sites as part of Maxol’s carbon neutral programme, which sees 100% carbon emissions off-set on premium fuel purchases. “Our investment programme was an important undertaking not only in terms of alignment to our growth strategy, but because we have a strong sense of purpose that includes recognising the role we can play in helping to rebuild local economies,” Brian insists. “Maxol isn’t just a national brand, it’s a local brand. Our sites are run by local people, employing local people, serving local people.
Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group.
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Forecourt Focus: Maxol This model has served us well for more than 100 years and its vigour was tested, and resilience proven during the past 20 months.” Robust model – new foundations in food and grocery While people moved in their droves to shop online during the height of the pandemic, an increase in eCommerce doesn’t mean that high street or convenience stores will become obsolete, according to Brian Donaldson. “There are many advantages to online shopping and indeed, a move to online kept many Irish businesses afloat when their doors were shut. But consumers have not abandoned what they see as a more experiential, personal way to shop that isn’t purely transactional. People are sociable beings by nature and our network model, and the importance we place on our foodservice, stood up to the test of significant behavioural change during Covid-19,” says Brian. Over the past five years, Maxol has been transitioning from its position as a fuel brand selling food and grocery to a convenience food service brand that also sells fuel, along with other energies for mobility. “If anything, the Covid-19 crisis proved the robustness of our evolving business model,” explains Brian. “While fuel sales dropped by up to 70% during the first week of lockdown, sales of food and grocery remained strong. Many people didn’t want to shop in large, busier stores so their local Maxol became the go-to for their everyday essentials.” The Maxol Group are investing in more eat-in areas in forecourts where there is space to expand and the aim is to become a destination for friends and families looking to catch up over a cup of coffee, a hot meal or a freshly prepared lunch from the deli. “We are growing our food offering all of the time and are gearing up for the launch of our third drive-thru Burger King at Ballycoolin in Dublin, together with our first Apache Pizza outlet in Donabate, Co. Dublin,” notes Brian. Maxol are partnering with another Irish family business, OKR Group, on these well-known food franchise brands, responding to the growing demand for hot, freshly prepared food at mealtimes. This will be Maxol’s first foray into home delivery with Apache Pizza, which will offer customers greater choice and convenience from local, family providers. Local and loyal Supporting local has always been a
priority for Maxol and 65% of the company’s bakery and deli goods are sourced from local producers, including scones from O’Keeffe’s Bakery in Cork, apple turnovers from the family-owned Golden Bake company in Dublin, while Milish Foods (Dublin) produce Maxol’s range of muffins and Coolhill Farm in Wexford make the brand’s traybakes, such as Rocky Roads. Using Irish milk and cream, familyowned Silver Pail in Cork supply Maxol with their new ice-cream brand, N’ice Cream. Freshly brewed coffee is a key driver of customer loyalty and Maxol’s exclusive Rosa coffee brand is expected to hit €9m in sales this year, the most popular variant being a 12oz Americano. Soft drinks are the biggest selling category product in Maxol service stations, accounting for 22% of total shop sales, followed by confectionery (22%) and dairy (13.5%). Car wash – future proof More than 600,000 vehicles will pass through a Maxol car wash this year, with 36% of all car washes taking place at the weekend. While volumes were hit during the January-March lockdown period, Brian stresses that the car wash facility is a critical part of the Maxol offering that will endure long after the demise of internal combustion engine vehicles. “A staple of the forecourt model, which is an often overlooked and undervalued jewel in the crown, is the car wash facility,” he states. “As we transition to alternative fuelled vehicles, we can’t forget that they too will need to be washed. And, by making our car wash more environmentally friendly, using recycled rainwater wherever possible, we are future-proofing a key, sustainable service offering that is really important to our business.” Maxol invested €600k in rebranding and upgrading Maxol car wash facilities in 2021. Reducing carbon footprint Maxol’s environmental journey continues to evolve as the company look to reduce their environmental footprint and support customers in making more sustainable choices. Maxol were one of the first retailers to offer 100% compostable cups and lids, discounts are provided to customers who use a reusable cup when
Over the past five years, Maxol has been transitioning from its position as a fuel brand selling food and grocery to a convenience food service brand that also sells fuel, along with other energies for mobility.
purchasing hot drinks, and the company has been installing compostable and recyclable bins across its service stations to support customers’ recycling efforts. The company recently marked the first full year of its carbon offsetting programme that aims to offset 100% of carbon emissions with its premium fuel range, which has fewer pollutants and is now available at 40 Maxol sites. The programme also supports a number of green initiatives such as the planting of 10,000 trees in Ireland, local community projects and global projects designed to off-set carbon emissions. “The Maxol Group are very transparent and also very serious about our commitment to the environment and investing in ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” highlights Brian. “We do not pretend to be something that we are not. We sell diesel and we sell petrol and will continue to do so as long as these fuels are needed. There’s no silver bullet that will suddenly transform the automotive market overnight, but we are looking at all of the ways that our business can change and make better, greener choices. Every investment and every decision begins with an examination of the impact it will have on the environment; we take a ‘sustainable first’ approach to every operational decision. “We are working with KPMG on a programme that will allow us to better benchmark and measure our carbon savings year-on-year and that is an important step in our sustainable journey.” The journey for Maxol continues following the celebration of their centenary in 2020. 12 new dealer sites were added to the Maxol network during 2021, bringing the total number of Maxol service stations around Ireland to 242. More than 80 people are employed directly and more than 1,000 indirectly by The Maxol Group across the island of Ireland.
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Forecourt Focus: News Applegreen commit to Net Zero by 2030 in Ireland APPLEGREEN have formally committed to using Net Zero methodology to reduce the direct carbon footprint of their Irish operation by 90% by the year 2030. The company will achieve this through initiatives including cleaner energy and enhanced EV solutions and has also committed to offsetting any residual emissions that cannot be eliminated. This announcement by Applegreen is part of the company’s Drive Change sustainability strategy, which prioritises a low carbon future across the company’s asset network and supply chain, as well as offering cleaner energy solutions. This commitment from Applegreen is a key milestone on their route to carbon neutrality by 2050. Applegreen’s route to carbon neutrality will encompass all ‘Scope 3’ emissions including fuel distribution, waste management and supply chain commitments. Fiona Matthews, Managing Director of Applegreen Ireland. “This signals the next major step in our sustainability journey,” said Fiona Matthews, Managing Director of Applegreen Applegreen’s sustainability journey is already well underway Ireland. “We are focusing on what we can do now, with a tangible through a wide range of initiatives, including offering customers and transparent commitment to achieving Net Zero in our own certified Carbon Neutral driving, native Irish forestry creation, operations by 2030. biodiversity awareness, water harvesting and recycling. The “As a business, we are very aware of the role our industry company has also introduced own-brand plant-based Tetra Pak plays in contributing to carbon emissions,” Fiona continued. water bottles and continues to source from local food suppliers. “Our business is based around roadside retailing and we take Additionally, Applegreen operates a very successful Charitable Fund our responsibility to act now very seriously. We are committed to that has distributed almost €5m to local Irish charities over the becoming carbon neutral by 2050.” past decade.
Texaco launch second Support for Sport initiative VALERO Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand, have confirmed their commitment to host the 2021 Texaco Support for Sport initiative for the second successive year. Under the scheme, which follows a similar line to that which proved so successful last year, a gross fund of €130,000 is being set aside for distribution to sports clubs on a county-by-county basis, with successful applicants receiving €5,000 in each case. Open to sports clubs across the Republic of Ireland, irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender, including clubs that may have made an unsuccessful application previously, the initiative recognises the valuable contribution Pictured at the launch of the 2021 Texaco Support for Sport that sports clubs make to communities and initiative is former Irish rugby international, broadcaster and throughout Irish society as a whole. Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, Donncha O’Callaghan, with “Mindful that sport is at the heart of Marketing Manager for the Texaco brand, Bronagh Carron. so many communities throughout the initiative opens up an avenue to funding for those that need it country and a key component in the fabric of Irish society, most.” we are delighted to host Texaco Support for Sport for the second year in succession,” noted James Twohig, Director of Leading the adjudication process once again is Texaco Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited. “At a time Support for Sport ambassador, acclaimed broadcaster and when many sports clubs have had to weather difficulties and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan. For limitations of one kind or another, the Texaco Support for Sport more information, visit www.TexacoSupportforSport.com.
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Cyber Security
The worst-case scenario: recovering in the wake of a cyberattack
It’s easy to find information on how best to prevent cyberattacks, but what can SMEs do when the worst happens? Matheson’s inaugural conference on cybersecurity, ‘How to Prepare and Respond to A Data Security Incident’, saw a panel of experts give answers to that key question. Morgan Stokes reports. MUCH of the omnipresent media discussion on cybersecurity focuses on prevention, but it may be better for business to treat cyberattacks as an inevitability. That’s the key takeaway from law firm Matheson’s first cybersecurity conference, ‘How to Prepare and Respond to a Data Security Incident.’ The panel was moderated by Sinead McSweeney, Vice President, Public Policy, EMEA, and Managing Director of Twitter Dublin, and featured insights from Inspector Brian Halligan of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau; William O’Brien, Director, Cyber Security, Forensics and eDiscovery, PwC; Deirdre Crowley, Partner, Data Protection, Privacy and Cyber Security, Matheson; and Michael Byrne, Partner in Litigation with a focus on Technical Disputes,
including Cyber Breach Disputes, Matheson. Presented as an online webinar with a Q&A chat, the event aimed to shine a light on what to do in the worst-case scenario. Trouble is just a click away Prevention is better than cure when it comes to security, and employers might take pride in how well their staff are trained. But measures around employee behaviour, like password changes and avoiding phishing emails, don’t always work in the real world, where staff are tired, busy or just having a bad day. In a certain environment, an observer might recall the joke about a physicist trying to cure a sick coop of chickens by telling the farmer to first put the entirely spherical bird into a vacuum.
Inspector Halligan is keen to emphasise that a breach can happen to anyone at any time: “Everyone is only one click, tap or swipe away from becoming a victim of a cybercrime”. McSweeney, who was at the helm of a response to a security breach at Twitter in 2018, agrees: ”It’s no longer a question of ‘if’... but really considering in depth and in a very real way what to do when it happens.” The increase in cyberattacks comes from a combination of sheer scale and technical scope. McSweeney says that like many legitimate companies, con artists and scammers brought their businesses online due to lockdowns, and Microsoft’s 2020 Digital Defence Report shows a 35% increase in attacks for 2020. It is true, however, that attacks are getting more sophisticated. The same report notes that cybercriminals are now able to set up email accounts that mirror a company’s domain (the part after the @ in yourname@example. com) exactly, which makes phishing attacks look more convincing, and that malicious software is evolving faster than antivirus software can keep up. Rapid reporting – a matter of law All panellists were keen to stress the legal obligations of a victim of
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Cyber Security
The increase in cyberattacks comes from a combination of sheer scale and technical scope.
cybercrime to report the event in a timely manner, and with good reason – in July 2020, the Central Bank fined Bank of Ireland €1.6m for failure to report a cybersecurity breach. In fact, legal penalties can range from an unlimited fine to five years in prison If your organisation is hacked or otherwise compromised, you have 72 hours to report the event to An Garda Siochana and the DPC, including holidays and weekends. According to the International Telecommunications Global Cybersecurity Report, considered an industry bible, Ireland’s legal mechanisms for dealing with breaches are among the best in Europe, and Halligan is keen to stress the Gardaí’s track record in dealing with cybercriminals. While the hysteria around cyberattacks makes for great headlines, we don’t always hear as much about the successes of cybercrime units around the globe. In October, the Gardaí were able to seize the servers of the criminals behind May’s HSE cyberattack. Halligan notes that sharing information about cyberattacks is crucial to building a pattern that global law enforcement can follow to the perpetrators: “by engaging with us, the victim is making a significant
contribution to our knowledge.” McSweeney agrees: “No piece of information is too big or too small to report to the Gardaí.” Halligan also cautions against paying any ransom demanded: these people are criminals, and there’s no guarantee your data will be retrieved. The inspector also points out that they’re used to dealing with busy businesses, and that the Gardaí understand the need to ensure business continuity. It’s never just you – keeping third parties in the loop Not only does a business have an obligation to report a data breach to law enforcement, but they’re also required to inform anyone whose data may have been affected – and in the modern commerce ecosystem, that could be any number of suppliers, employees and contractors, as well as clients. Under GDPR, a victim of a cyberattack must inform anyone whose data may have been compromised ‘without undue delay’; the law doesn’t state an exact timeframe, but it’s clear that sooner is better than later. Deirdre Crowley explains that all notifications must be “in plain language” and should lay out exactly what is being done to retrieve data and ameliorate the
damage. If enough data is compromised that informing all parties individually is unrealistic, a note must be published somewhere that third parties will see it. Crowley also notes that commercial data is not governed under GDPR, but that such definitions can be hazy. It’s essential, she says, to conduct a regular audit of what data your organisations hold “to deal with the full 360-degree picture of what’s vulnerable”. Contracts can also lay out what a third party can expect to happen in the event of a breach. In Retail News July/August 2020, we reported that the majority of attacks on food businesses come through third parties. Crowley acknowledges this, and suggests a zero-trust approach, giving vendors and clients no more data than absolutely necessary. She also says that with the ubiquity of these kind of attacks, third parties generally show some understanding – but there is a delicate suggestion that anyone in charge of informing clients should have some customer service experience. Crowley also points to an exception to the law on disclosing to third parties. If the data seized is unintelligible, third parties do not need to be informed of the breach. She strongly suggests encrypting all data as a matter of course. She also calls insuring a business against cyberattacks ”a very prudent step”. Deploying the troops – getting good at wargames There’s something of the general about William O’Brien, and he wastes little time in instructing attendees on how to develop strategy. A key component, he says, is “wargaming” – running through a simulation of an attack before it occurs. We have written previously about how and why a holistic approach involving everyone from shop floor to C-suite is important for prevention, and O’Brien argues that it is no less important for preparedness. “Cybersecurity incidents aren’t just an IT issue,” he says. “Anyone working in the business has an obligation to protect brand and reputation”. Simulations should involve everything from reporting an initial attack internally, to IT employees locking down systems, to liaising with the Gardaí and third parties. O’Brien breaks the process down to containment, investigation, recovery, and reporting. An IT team should be on hand to prevent any malicious software spreading further and to see what can be retrieved; a team should be in place to find out what happened; and designated individuals should report to Gardaí and clients. All roles should be clearly
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Cyber Security
Cybercriminals are now able to set up email accounts that mirror a company’s domain exactly, which makes phishing attacks look more convincing. defined, so that there’s no confusion when something happens. Even if IT is outsourced, internal positions must be allocated. Some solace through civil court action Michael O’Brien raises a new and interesting possibility – the chance to take action through civil courts. It is, he says, possible to take out an injunction against ‘persons unknown’ (i.e. hackers) to prevent them from using your data. The practice is gifted to us by Harry Potter, of all things – Bloomsbury used one in 2003 when the contents of one of the books in the series were leaked. O’Brien acknowledges that an injunction is no magic wand, and that hackers are criminals – “they’ll never comply” with a court injunction. But many other web companies that host illegal data on their systems are doing it unwittingly; they may have purchased it from a company they thought was legitimate for marketing purposes, for example. A court injunction can provide a mechanism to prevent others from using it and can also send a message to third parties that you’re serious about keeping them safe. The takeaway Digital security is an ecosystem – even if you’re certain your own organisation is as safe as possible, you can still be vulnerable to exposure from third parties. Training hard and having processes already in place can remove fear and allow you to spring into action as soon as possible. As O’Brien puts it, it’s “all about that
preparation... training is a fundamental part of that. Getting senior leadership, IT, internal resources into a room and doing crisis planning” is essential to a meaningful recovery.
If your organisation is hacked or otherwise compromised, you have 72 hours to report the event to An Garda Siochana and the DPC, including holidays and weekends.
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Employment Law
Workplace grievances: a good procedure can avoid a bad situation Barry Reynolds, Chris Ryan and Sinead Egan of DAC Beachcroft, specialists in employment law, advise on dealing with workplace grievances, where having the right grievance procedure in place is crucial. WITH Government restrictions further easing, businesses are reopening and welcoming employees back into the workplace on a phased and staggered basis. Some employees may be returning for the first time in nearly 18 months. Covid-19 has forced many employees to change their way of working, and the nature of work in the future may look very different. Employees may be returning to work full-time or part-time and others returning on flexible working arrangements. Whatever the case may be, one thing for certain is that employees will be returning to a very different workplace to the one they left before the start of the pandemic. With these changes, employers may be faced with employees raising concerns and grievances regarding this new environment. What is a grievance? A grievance is a complaint that an employee, or group of employees, have in relation to their employment, including in relation to working environment or working relationships. A grievance can arise for a variety of reasons, including disputes in employee terms and conditions, unclear processes and procedures, excessive workloads, disputes over pay or hours or even certain inter-personal disputes. A grievance procedure enables employees to raise concerns with their employer in the first instance, and to facilitate the employee and employer in resolving these concerns. It is the first place an employee raising issues should be directed to seek to resolve those issues. It would also show that the
employer has considered how such issues should be resolved. A well-drafted and robust grievance procedure can help employers resolve issues at an early stage, before the issue escalates. In the absence of a grievance policy, employees may feel they have no recourse to resolve their complaint, which can damage working relationships, affect an employee’s job satisfaction, result in employees going on sick leave, and if unresolved, could potentially lead to reputational damage and in extreme circumstances, lead to an employee resigning and claiming constructive unfair dismissal. What does this mean for employers? No doubt the first couple of weeks of returning to in person working will see a period of adjustment for employers and employees alike. Employees may be returning to a workplace with new policies and procedures, rules and likely even colleagues they may not have met in person previously. It is inevitable that employers will face a variety of new workplace issues in the coming months, as employees familiarise themselves with the new way of working. It is important for employers to ensure that a grievance policy is in place and up-to-date, such that employees can raise these issues with their employer and allow the employer to resolve them, without damaging working relationships. A minor issue that could have been dealt with informally could become a much more serious issue if not handled appropriately.
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Employment Law grievance involves their line manager, with another appropriate member of management. It may be the case that a simple discussion between the employee and their manager allows the employee to outline their concern and permits their manager to resolve it in an efficient way, without recourse to a formal process. Mediation may also be considered, particularly in smaller organisations where there may not be sufficient managers to review the issues, or where it involves more than one employee, and parties will be required to work together in the future. Mediation is a confidential process, where willing participants will be facilitated by an independent third party to seek to resolve the issues without imposing a decision on the parties, but rather seeking to come to a mutually acceptable agreement. Formal stage While informal resolution is generally the preferred method to resolve a grievance, if A grievance can arise for a variety of reasons, including disputes in informal resolution is not achieved or if the employee terms and conditions, unclear processes and procedures, issue is so serious that it is inappropriate, a excessive workloads, disputes over pay or hours or even certain interformal process may be necessary. Once a formal personal disputes. grievance is received, it is usually up to the employer to determine what happens next, with What procedure should be followed? recourse to the policy. There is no ‘one size fits all’ procedure that an employer should However, in light of the Code setting out that employee follow whenever an employee raises an issue. Employers may grievances be fairly examined, it is likely that some degree be subject to procedures that have been agreed with a trade of investigation will be necessary in order to determine the union, which should be followed if this is the case. However, steps to be taken. It is also wise to ensure that any managers the WRC’s Code of Practice on Grievance and Disciplinary involved in the formal stages, including any investigations, are Procedures (the Code), SI No.146 of 2000, contains general appropriately trained and have the necessary support to help guidelines and essential elements of a grievance procedure. avoid any unnecessary mistakes. In the first instance, the Code outlines that procedures are While an investigation may not always be needed in every necessary to ensure that grievances are handled fairly and in case, an employer accordance with natural justice. should ensure that Essential elements of the Code include that the process be in a fair process is writing, it be reviewed and updated periodically to be consistent achieved. The purpose with changed circumstances in the workplace, the process must of conducting an be rational and fair, and that an internal appeal mechanism investigation is to is available. In addition, the Code recommends the following gather facts about be included: the right to be represented during a meeting by a the complaint and colleague or trade union representative, the right to have issues to reach a dealt with without delay, and the right to have an independent party deal with each step in the grievance process. While the structure of the process can vary, and can depend on the employer itself, a grievance process should be clear, be communicated to all employees and be applied consistently. Employees should be encouraged to use the grievance procedure whenever they have issues, regardless of the nature of the complaint. Informal stage Best practice outlines that the grievance procedure is broken into separate stages, with the first stage being informal resolution. This can be a very important part of a grievance, as it can allow the organisation to resolve the issue quickly, without resorting to a formal process, which can be longrunning, disruptive and expensive. At this stage, an employee should be encouraged to raise the issue with their immediate line manager, or if this is inappropriate, for example, as the
A grievance procedure enables employees to raise concerns with their employer in the first instance, and to facilitate the employee and employer in resolving these concerns.
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Employment Law
If there are limited numbers of senior employees with the requisite skills and training to carry out a grievance process, employers will need to consider whether an external third party may be necessary to achieve independence in the process in order to ensure fairness.
conclusion on the issue, whether or not the investigator upholds the grievance. It is also helpful to request that the employee raising the grievance outline their preferred outcome, such that an investigator can consider this as part of the outcome. For some employers, impartiality at each stage of a grievance process can be tricky. Naturally, the fewer employees there are in an organisation, the harder it is to guarantee independence during each stage of the process. In this instance, a well drafted grievance procedure will outline the steps to be taken in a grievance, and include the level of management responsible for carrying out the stages in the grievance procedure. Where there are limited numbers of senior employees with the requisite skills and training to carry out a grievance process, employers will need to consider whether an external third party may be necessary to achieve independence in the process in order to ensure fairness. Key takeaway for employers A grievance procedure is a necessary policy for all employers. Employers would be well advised to use the time before all staff return to the workplace to review their handbooks and policies. It is important that employers ensure that their grievance
About the authors: Barry Reynolds (breynolds@dacbeachcroft.com), Chris Ryan (chryan@dacbeachcroft.com) and Sinead Egan (segan@dacbeachcroft.com) of DAC Beachcroft (https://www.dacbeachcroft.com/en/gb/locations/ dublin/) are specialists in employment law. 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
procedure is not only fit for purpose but also that it reflects the employer’s working environment. If there is no policy in place, then it is highly recommended that one be put in place as soon as possible. Employers should ensure that employees are provided with a copy of the grievance procedure at the outset of their employment, and they are requested to sign the policy to outline that they have read and understood the content of it. If there is doubt as to what should be in an existing policy, employers should refer to the Code, which will provide basic guidance in relation to their policy. Grievances are likely to arise at some stage in any organisation. Putting in place a robust and well written procedure will not only help resolve issues early, it can help avoid a situation where employees become embroiled in disputes, which can be long and costly for employers. Communicating the policy is essential; where everyone is familiar with the procedure, then issues can be resolved more quickly. After a procedure is put in place, it’s just as important that an employer follows it and applies it consistently. If you have any queries or require any assistance in relation to any of the above, please contact Barry Reynolds, Sinead Egan or Chris Ryan.
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What's New ROAD TO FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 STICKER COLLECTION LAUNCHED
GALLAGHERS BAKEHOUSE LAUNCH HANDCRAFTED SOURDOUGH RANGE
PANINI have announced the launch of their Road to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Sticker Collection, which hit shelves on November 4. This new and exclusive official sticker collection covers 40 of the nations looking to book their ticket to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022! “We are excited to kick off the journey to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar with the official Road to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Sticker Collection,” noted Chris Clover, Head of Marketing for Sport, Panini UK. “The stage is already set for an incredible and unique tournament next year, and football fans are really going to enjoy collecting, swapping and sticking the world’s best players in an album that will be kept and treasured over time.” Collectors can kick-start their collection with a starter pack featuring a sticker album plus 26 stickers.
GALLAGHERS Bakehouse have teamed up with Donegal legend, Daniel O’Donnell, to celebrate the nationwide launch of their new range of uniquely handcrafted sourdough everyday breads and to introduce their new campaign, Bread Made Better, The Secret is Out. The new range perfected by Gallaghers expert bakers includes sourdough that is fermented for 12 hours and baked slowly to deliver a unique bread which not only maintains shape and bounce but tastes superb. Gallaghers Bakehouse revealed a new ad featuring Daniel O’Donnell uncovering Donegal’s best kept secret.
KEELINGS SUPPORT ISPCC CHILDLINE KEELINGS recently announced their fourth year supporting children’s charity ISPCC Childline, with a donation drive from October 25 to November 15, where 10c from every berry punnet sold across Ireland goes towards the charity. “Keelings are a family run business, and those family values are hugely important to us,” noted David Keeling, CEO, Keelings Retail. “The ISPCC Childline services are invaluable to so many with the incredible work that they do so we are really delighted to be able to help them in their fund-raising efforts so that they can continue to deliver these services to children at risk.” Pictured are Andrea Corr, ISPCC Childline Ambassador; David Keeling, CEO, Keelings Retail, and Mia Sheanon at the launch of the annual Keelings and ISPCC Childline donation drive.
UCC COFFEE WIN INNOVATION AWARD UCC Coffee have triumphed at this year’s lunch! show at ExCel, London, bringing home a muchcoveted Innovation Award at the first unveiling of their To Go Premium Automated Retail, a fast, reliable high-quality coffee vending solution that offers total personalisation to your business. Described as “the most versatile coffee machine on the market”, it is fully customisable from chassis to user interface, including drink options from freshly ground standard or decaffeinated beans to seasonal drink opportunities.
ZEUS LAUNCH NEW FLEXI-HEX FOLD TOP BOX GLOBAL packaging provider Zeus have annouced an exclusive partnership with Flexi-Hex to introduce their new Fold Top Box to the Irish, UK and European market ahead of the peak packaging season. Zeus are now stocking Flexi-Hex’s range of sustainable, plastic-free bottle packaging and are the first supplier to offer the innovative new Fold Top Box. The Fold Top Box can reliably protect naked bottles, pre-boxed bottles or tinned bottles in transit when used with the Flexi-Hex Mini Sleeve or Air Sleeve. They are available in three sizes for one, two or three bottles. For more information, visit zeuspackaging.com/uk/flexihex.
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Shelf Life CENTRA have raised €150,000 in support of the Irish Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Awareness programme. Centra have proudly supported the Irish Cancer Society for 12 years and the funds raised this year are an accumulation of donations in aid of the ‘Care For Your Pair’ movement. This year, fundraising initiatives from Centra stores included a tap at till mechanic in-store which raised €114,000, as well as the sale of merchandise and a Just Giving page which raised €38,000 collectively. . LOVE Irish Food have teamed up with luxury online food retailer Ardkeen Quality Food Store to launch their ‘taste of home’ gift hampers to share with friends around the world this Christmas and through the year. Some of the wonderful Irish brands that feature in the hampers include: Coole Swan, O’Donnell’s crisps, Ballymaloe Relish, Flahavan’s, East Coast Bakehouse, McCambridge Bread, Legacy Cider, Cadbury’s, Folláin Irish Preserves, Tayto and many more. See www.ardkeen.com for more information.
DEALZ are once again supporting Team Hope as a retail partner for their annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal to donate gift-filled shoeboxes to children affected by poverty across Eastern Europe and Africa. The theme for this year’s appeal is #MakeAChildSmile and aims to encourage people to think about the single impact, joy and smiles that a shoebox brings to the child who receives it. Pictured are Team Hope CEO Peter Heaney, Dealz Country Trading Manager Sharon Sheridan, and Dealz Regional Trainer Thomas Macken. ALDI are renewing their contract with Kilkenny-based apple grower Philip Little in a contract worth approximately €200,000 to the fresh produce business. For the past five years, Aldi have proudly stocked apples supplied by Philip Little’s farm, who employ as many as 20 seasonal staff in the Kilkenny locality. AVOCA have announced the highly anticipated re-opening of their Dublin based Suffolk Street store, restaurant and food market. Following a closure period of over 18 months, Avoca’s flagship store re-opened on November 5 with a beautifully revamped store, just in time for the bustling Christmas retail season.
VERVE have announced the retention of their ISO 20121 Sustainability Certification for the eighth consecutive year. As the only Irish agency with the ISO 20121 sustainability certification, they are also delighted to have expanded the certification to Verve GB, who were assessed for the first time and awarded the ISO this year. According to Aideen O’Neill, Head of Sustainability, Verve, “The ISO Management system gives us a structured approach to addressing sustainability in our work, both internally and with our client projects.” STAFF at the Tesco store in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, are pictured celebrating the fact that they sold the winning ticket for the Daily Million top prize of €1m on October 28. “This €1m prize won by one of our customers is truly life-changing!” said Shane Higgins, Deputy Manager, Tesco Newcastle West. CHEP, the supply chain pooling specialist in the FMCG and retail marketplace, have won a bronze Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) 2021 UK & Ireland award for Innovation for their collaborative Wheeled Quarter Pallet platform trial. The Chep Wheeled Quarter Pallet is the first platform of its kind, designed and developed by Chep and trialled with Britvic Ireland on a promotion in Henderson Retail stores across Northern Ireland to great success. Designed for pre-filled promotional displays, the Wheeled Quarter Pallet makes the benefits of quarter pallets accessible to smaller and harder to reach convenience stores as it removes the need for bulky handling equipment. CROSS Refrigeration have announced that they have made a significant investment in Martin Food Equipment which means that Cross Refrigeration now have a majority interest in the foodservice equipment specialists, complementing their overall client service offering. The new partnership means that both businesses can combine their expertise in refrigeration engineering and foodservice experience to create a solid platform for future growth. Both businesses will continue to operate independently with their full teams. MARY Kennedy is returning to TV screens in Guaranteed Irish Series 2 on TG4. The show, produced by Kildare based Dundara Television & Media, will see popular presenter Mary Kennedy return to our screens as host of the seven-part series which features 13 local businesses, including award-winning food producers Clonakilty Blackpudding and Achill Sea Salt, green technology firm Green HaaS, and SuperValu, looking at how they got to where they are today, the value of their business membership of Guaranteed Irish and more.
It’s your Call… You
At the IGBF we assist the families of over 300 of your colleagues every month. These families are more unfortunate than ourselves and without your support such assistance would not be possible... But we still need your help to continue making the difference.
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