Ulster Grocer November 2020 by Helen Wright

GROCER ULSTER

Over 45 years at the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry

NOVEMBER 2020

N O. 1 M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E LO C A L G R O C E R Y S E C TO R

GROCER ULSTER

NOVEMBER 2020

N O. 1 M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E LO C A L G R O C E R Y S E C TO R

Over 45 years at the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry

IN’SPAR’ED CAMPAIGN LEADS ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

From left, Bronagh Henderson receives Best Marketing Campaign for Henderson Wholesale’s Festive In’spar’ation from Clare Forster of Mash Direct, award sponsor, and Alyson Magee and Chris Keenan, Ulster Grocer.

enderson Group bagged a hat trick at this year’s Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards, picking up the headline award of Best Marketing Campaign along with two other accolades. Winners, highly commended entries and sponsors came together at the Culloden Hotel & Spa on October 16 for a socially distanced photoshoot marking the 32nd annual awards, which are usually held during the Grocers’ Ball in May but were postponed this year as a result of the pandemic. Henderson Wholesale’s Festive In’spar’ation campaign picked up the lead award, which was sponsored by previous winner Mash Direct, with highly

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UG MARKETING AWARDS 2020: FULL COVERAGE OF WINNERS, HIGHLY COMMENDED & SPONSORS AT OUR SOCIALLY DISTANCED PHOTOCALL IN THE CULLODEN HOTEL & SPA ON OCTOBER 16

commended going to Lidl NI. Other wins for the group included Best New Product Launch/Relaunch (sponsored by Carn Coldstore) for Henderson Wholesale’s The Chef, with Tayto picking up highly commended. And Henderson Wholesale’s 12 deals of Christmas campaign won Best In-Store Consumer Sales Promotion (sponsored by Aqua Twist) with highly commended awarded to Musgrave NI for its Supervalu - Value to sing about campaign. Winning this year’s prestigious Young Marketeer Award, sponsored by Forest Feast in memory of Lorraine Hall, was MXB’s Ella Thackray with highly commended going to Henderson Wholesale’s Jonny Agnew.

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GREAT TASTE AWARDS 2020: WITH NI PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT AGAIN THIS YEAR, A LOOK AT SOME OF THE LOCAL PRODUCTS AWARDED GOLD STARS BY THE GUILD OF FINE FOOD

The first recipient of a new award for 2020, Leader in Marketing sponsored by MXB, went to Desi Derby of Musgrave NI, kick-starting a strong performance for the group. It also picked up Best CSR Initiative/Charity Partnership for its partnership with Action Cancer with highly commended going to Boost Drinks/ Air Ambulance NI and the category sponsored by Hunky Dorys. Another double award winner, meanwhile, was Finnebrogue Artisan for Best Sustainability Initiative (sponsored by Electric Ireland) with highly commended awarded to Henderson Technology/ Gander. Finnebrogue also lifted Best Brand for Naked Bacon, with Tayto named highly commended in the Henderson Food Machinery-sponsored category. Invest NI sponsored the Best Export Marketing category, awarded to White’s Oats with highly commended going to Naturo Petfoods, which then went on to win Best Digital Marketing Campaign (sponsored by MBNI Truck and Van) for It’s only natural while Fruice’s No awkward bits campaign was highly commended. The Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020 were judged by industry experts Michael Maguire and Sam Butler.

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HEALTH & NUTRITION: LATEST CATEGORY ACTIVITY, FROM HYDROSPORT & REIGN DRINKS TO LINWOODS’ IMMUNE-BOOSTING SEEDS & CAVANAGH’S NUTRITIOUS FREE-RANGE EGGS

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VEGETARIAN & FLEXITARIAN: NEW LAUNCHES IN THE BUOYANT CATEGORY INCLUDE MASH DIRECT’S CABBAGE BAKE & RICH SAUCES’ GREAT TASTE-APPROVED ONLY PLANT BASED RANGE

email: info@ulstergrocer.com Volume 55 Number 7 NOVEMBER 2020 Editor: Alyson Magee E: a.magee@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4175 Contributors: Michele Shirlow, Sam Butler Sales Manager: Chris Keenan E: c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk Tel: 028 9026 4266 Art Editor: Helen Wright Production Manager: Irene Fitzsimmons Ulster Grocer c/o Independent News & Media Ltd, Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG www.ulstergrocer.com @ulstergrocer www.facebook.com/ulstergrocer Subscriptions: £27.50 per annum £37.50 per annum (outside UK) Designed & Produced by: Independent News & Media Ltd Tel: 028 9026 4000 Printed by: W&G Baird, Antrim Tel: 028 9446 3911

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EDITORIAL COMMENT

A REWARDING MOMENT IN A CHALLENGING YEAR

nother month and Brexit rumbles on, with DUP MP Sammy Wilson suggesting the UK may concede to EU customs officials on the ground in Northern Ireland following an exchange with Cabinet member Michael Gove in the House of Commons last month. Northern Ireland businesses involved in the agri-food supply chain now have less than two months to prepare for customs checks and declarations for goods entering from GB. Around 200 lorryloads are reported to enter NI ports from GB daily to supply the grocery sector. Where the process becomes more complicated is for goods deemed ‘at risk’ of export from NI to the Republic of Ireland, which may become subject to tariffs. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year and, with the new requirements coming into force alongside Brexit on New Year’s Day, the outlook for 2021 remains daunting. By the time this magazine arrives on doorsteps, NI should be halfway through the latest four-week period of restrictions aimed at curtailing the spread of Covid-19. At time of writing, retail has escaped the contentious shutdown imposed on the hospitality sector, with only an 8pm cut off imposed on alcohol sales and the continuance of mandatory mask wearing in shops. The situation could of course change at any time if positive cases and hospital admissions continue to increase. If a positive is to be found, at least the lack of other avenues for expenditure right now should help to maintain the current buoyancy of grocery sales. An interesting development related to the pandemic has been a number of restaurants innovatively shifting their focus into retail. Following the October 16 hospitality shutdown, Tony O’Neill rapidly rolled

out a province-wide delivery service for meals from his acclaimed St Anne’s Square restaurants Coppi and Buba for an astoundingly small fee of £4. And the Glasgow-based owner of the Six by Nico chain, which includes a Cathedral Quarter restaurant, has just launched HOME-X, a UK-wide delivery service offering a range of wine, cheese and meal options including vegan dishes. While grocery retailers, from our local convenience stores to the national supermarkets, have certainly upped their game in terms of ready meal quality in recent years, the expansion of restaurants into the retail chain is creating a new level of competition. Speaking of competition, we have already announced the winners of the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020 online, but this edition showcases our winners, highly commended and sponsors in full over ps11-36. It may have been held five months later than usual and certainly lacked the conviviality of the GroceryAid Grocers’ Ball, but we were very lucky to be able to host a socially distanced photoshoot for the Awards before NI went back into lockdown. May I repeat our gratitude to competitors and sponsors for their patience with the prolonged Awards process, and to judges Michael Maguire and Sam Butler for their hard work. We are so grateful to everyone for attending the photo opportunity. Getting to see you all in person and capture those images is so much more rewarding than any virtual ceremony. Enjoy,

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NEWS

NI CAN THRIVE POST-BREXIT WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT

orthern Ireland’s economy can recover from Covid-19 and make the most of Brexit with the right support, political leaders were told at the 24th Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) Annual Dinner. Speaking at the event, NIFDA Chairman Nick Whelan called on political leaders to urgently address the need for a capital support scheme for Northern Ireland food manufacturers, and a Northern Ireland food export marketing body. This year’s event was broadcast remotely from Belfast’s Hilton Hotel on October 15 and was attended virtually by 120 industry leaders and political representatives, with Asda CEO Roger Burnley serving as keynote speaker. “2020 has been a year like no other,” said Whelan. “As an industry, we have faced unique, unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our food processors redesigned factories to ensure, where physically possible, social distancing was enabled and continuously reshape how we do things to improve the welfare of our employees. Put simply, our industry has demonstrated its critical

From left, Michael Bell, executive director, NIFDA; Gillian Morris, head of corporate banking Northern Ireland, HSBC UK; and Nick Whelan, chairman, NIFDA.

importance, and shown its ingenuity. “At the same time, our industry is also facing the very real challenge of EU exit – which is 78 working days away. NIFDA has been working to get clarity on new arrangements and provide input. EU exit has the potential to be highly positive or negative for the Northern Ireland agrifood Industry. If it is to be a success – and if we are to recover from Covid-19 - the

WALMART SELLS ASDA TO ISSA BROTHERS Acorporation Walmart to the UKsda has been sold by US retail

based Issa brothers, owners of the EG Group totalling 5,200 petrol stations and 33,000 employees across Europe and the US. Zuber and Mohsin Issa started their billionaire empire from a single Manchester forecourt, and were recognised with CBEs in the Queen’s birthday honours last month. Based in Blackburn, the brothers won an auction to buy Asda with their private equity backers TDR Capital and have committed to invest over £1bn in the chain over the next three years. Following the announcement, Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) said it was looking forward to building a new strong and positive relationship with Asda and its supplier International Procurement & Logistics (IPL) and had

already discussed its contracts with potato growers. “During the discussion, we highlighted that the NI retail marketplace for potatoes does differ substantially to GB,” said William Irvine, deputy president, UFU. “The signals from Asda and IPL were very positive and they indicated new contracts will be progressed soon, advising that they want to work with our local packers and farmers for the longer-term stability of the NI potato industry. Going forward, the UFU is calling on all retailers to be mindful of the complexities of the local market in NI when merchandising and, in particular, when delivering short-term promotions. We are now progressing with plans to meet all retail buyers and in the interim will continue monitoring the situation.”

ability of the Industry to reshape and retool, to adapt to new market demands must not be curtailed.” Whelan said NI is the only nation in the UK without a processor capital grant to drive innovation and productivity, while creation of an export marketing body could boost exports and turn NI’s unique post-Brexit position into an opportunity.

DISMAY OVER REJECTION OF AG BILL AMENDMENT

Ps’ rejection of the Lord Curry amendment to the UK Agriculture Bill, ensuring all imports would have to meet UK animal welfare and environmental standards, has been branded a blow for UK agriculture and consumers. “Without an official policy in place to stop trade deals being done with countries that produce food to standards that would be illegal here, there is a huge risk that our market will become flooded with cheap imports that do not meet the food needs and expectations of our consumers,” said Victor Chestnutt, president, UFU. “With the Agriculture Bill due to return to the House of Lords, we hope a new suggested amendment by the Lords is put forward. One that gives the Commission more input and enables our MPs to voice their opinion to the House of Commons so that a vote can be reached in support of putting official legislation in place to protect our UK animal welfare and environmental standards.” 5

NEWS

AROUND NOON ACQUIRES SIMPLY FIT FOOD IN STRATEGIC DEAL

round Noon has acquired Simply Fit Food, a supplier of convenience meals made from wholesome, natural ingredients, with the aim of diversifying its product offering and growing sales in the UK and Ireland. The deal will see Simply Fit Food continue to trade under its existing brand within the Newry-based Around Noon group. Evelyn Garland and Luke Judge, founders of Simply Fit Food, will remain shareholders and continue to operate and manage the business as a unit within Around Noon. Around Noon has been in business for 30 years and employs over 300 people. It supplies a broad range of high-quality sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit pots and cold pressed juices to customers including forecourt and convenience retailers and

From left, Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon, with Evelyn Garland and Luke Judge, co-founders of Simply Fit Food.

cafes. The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions made by Around Noon, including the purchase of London-based Chef-in-a-Box in 2017. Around Noon also markets bakery items from its inhouse operation, Sweet Things, which it

KESTREL FOOD MD AWARDED MBE IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

Michael Hall, founder and managing director of Kestrel Foods.

ichael Hall, founder and managing director of Kestrel Foods, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours in recognition of his services to economic development in Northern Ireland. Hall founded Kestrel Foods in 1996,

STRONG GROWTH FOR SYMBOLS AS LIDL LEADS MULTIPLES 6

launching the Forest Feast brand the same year and then the ACTI-SNACK brand in 2016, with his late wife Lorraine. His vision and dedication have built Kestrel Foods into one of the UK’s leading snacking businesses, recognised across the world for its premium and innovative ranges. Hall’s foresight has led to continued investment in its world class manufacturing facility, which now employs 80 people at its headquarters in Portadown, Co Armagh. Earlier this year Kestrel Foods announced a further £2.8m investment in its facilities to extend capability and to keep up with increasing demand. This will create a

orthern Irish grocery sales have grown by 9.1% during the 52 weeks to October 4, according to the latest figures from Kantar, with value growth of 7.8% for multiple and 19.2% for symbol retailers over the period. Multiples account for 82.2% of the local market against 8.7% for symbols. “Lidl once again took the crown as the top performing retailer this period – increasing its sales by 12.5% over the 52 weeks,” said Emer Healy, retail analyst at Kantar. “Significantly larger trips, with volumes up 15.4%, contributed an

acquired from Dublin-based owners in 2016. As part of the purchase of Simply Fit Food, Around Noon plans to invest substantially in a refresh of its brand and product range, including an investment in new environmentally friendly packaging. Its ambitious plans include doubling Simply Fit Food’s annual sales in just 12 months and creating a stronger presence for the brand in multiple and convenience retail. “This acquisition will provide us with a foothold in a new and fast-growing segment of the market,” said Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon. “Sales of health-related foods grew to over £773m in the UK last year and 64% of UK consumers say they have purchased health foods. This is only likely to grow further.” further 22 jobs over the next three years. Hall has a strong commitment to ethical trading and sustainable sourcing, dedicating much of his career to working with smallholder farms and organisations such as Preda Fairtrade in the Philippines. This ensures fair prices, sustainable environmental practices, local education and empowers indigenous farmers through the sales of dried fruit and nuts. He is a strong advocate of giving back to the community and over the years has supported numerous charities and sporting organisations. He invests in Future Talent through the Kestrel Careers Programme as well as coaching new business start-ups and sponsoring the Ulster Grocer Young Marketeer of the Year award.

additional £29.7m to Lidl’s overall growth. “Tesco, Northern Ireland’s largest retailer, increased its sales by 9.8% year on year. Basket sizes expanded by 14.4% and contributed an additional £158.3m to Tesco’s sales. “It was Asda customers who made the biggest additions to their shop. Volumes grew by 20.7% and total sales by 4.2%. Sainsbury’s sales rose by 9% and it remains the only retailer to see an uplift in trip frequency in the latest 52 weeks. A small jump in shopper visits to store by 2% contributed an additional £11m.”

NEWS

PRINCE CHARLES THANKS KEY WHOLESALE AND LOGISTICS WORKERS

RH The Prince of Wales has visited the Henderson Group’s warehouse in Mallusk to thank key retail and wholesale workers for their hard work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Prince Charles met safely with workers from various aspects of the Group’s companies, including lorry drivers, warehouse operatives and retail staff, all of whom kept the country going during lockdown by ensuring vital supply and services to and from SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores in Northern Ireland. “Our workers from all areas of our business have been nothing short of amazing, dedicated and inspirational during one of the most challenging times our industry has seen,” said Martin Agnew, joint managing director of the Henderson Group. “We are extremely proud to have their commitment to keeping supplies on the road and shelves stacked during an unprecedented time formally recognised, and we hope it has given them a boost to know their work has not gone unnoticed by even higher sources than ourselves.” Gary Reid, a lorry driver with Henderson Wholesale who has been with the company for 50 years this year was among those meeting Prince Charles. He said: “We were very lucky

HOSPITALITY SHUTDOWN CREATING TOWN CENTRE CRISIS

HRH The Prince of Wales is pictured with Martin Agnew, joint MD of the Henderson Group, during his visit to the Group’s Wholesale warehouse to thank frontline logistics and retail staff for their commitment during lockdown.

to have been kept in employment when we were in the depths of lockdown, as we were providing an essential service. We were key workers and were fully committed to ensuring our communities got their essentials, especially when the panic buying kicked in. Prince Charles recognised that, and I was very proud to meet him with my colleagues.” During the Covid-19 pandemic, Henderson Group kept their 96 Henderson Retail, and hundreds of independently owned stores supplied with essentials for their local communities, whilst maintaining retail,

Glyn Roberts, chief executive, Retail NI. “Such an action would result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in retail, the supply chain and on our high streets. escribing the shutdown of “Since the closure of the Northern Ireland’s hospitality hospitality sector, many of our sector under pandemic control measures introduced on October 16 members in high streets across as ‘a hammer blow to town centres’, Northern Ireland are reporting a significant loss of trade and footfall. Retail NI has urged the NI Executive The Executive should not make a not to follow the Republic of Ireland’s lead in closing non-essential bad situation even worse.” Retail NI has called on the NI shops. Executive to immediately convene RoI has moved to ‘level five’ the High Streets Taskforce, Covid-19 restrictions, ordering the announced on August 7, and to closure of non-essential shops for six weeks from October 22 whereas, devolve regeneration powers to local councils to give them greater in NI, retail restrictions have been limited to mandatory face masks and responsibility to repurpose and reimage town centres. an 8pm curfew for alcohol sales. “Let’s be clear - the Executive “We are not facing a high streets should not be considering a similar crisis any longer, it is a high streets shutdown for Northern Ireland,” said emergency,” he said.

logistics and wholesale roles across the company. Henderson Foodservice also diversified to supply more than 15,000 food boxes for delivery to vulnerable and selfisolating people thanks to a collaboration with the Department for Communities. Since March, Henderson Retail has invested over £1m and continues to invest in safety measures and protocol throughout its stores, alongside clear communications around safe shopping regulations to its shoppers through in-store, TV, radio and social media messaging.

NEW SERVICE EXPECTED TO HIT INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

new parcel collection service announced by Royal Mail will come as a severe blow to many of its members, according to the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN). Royal Mail’s Collect Plus will see postal workers pick up packages directly from customers at their doors for a fee of 72p per parcel, in addition to postage costs. Many smaller independent retailers already offer a parcel collection and return service to customers during opening hours and will lose vital revenue because of the move by Royal Mail, says NFRN. NFRN National President Stuart Reddish said using local stores for parcel collections and returns has a number of advantages in terms of convenience. Stores are open for up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, as opposed to having to book a time slot and be at home for the new Royal Mail service. Also, for many people, a visit to their local convenience store is the only time they go out in their community. 7

RETAIL NEWS - INDEPENDENTS

MPS URGED TO BACK LATEST CORONAVIRUS CAMPAIGN FOR INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

he Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) is calling for MPs to support its latest campaign to protect shop workers, as Covid-19 restrictions tighten. The poster campaign encourages customers across the UK and Ireland to ‘be kind, be patient and wear a face covering’ when inside their local shop. NFRN National President Stuart Reddish has written to all MPs asking them to raise awareness of the campaign by displaying the posters and promoting them on social media. This latest drive is an extension of the NFRN’s successful Shop Local, Shop Little poster initiative, launched earlier this year,

to remind customers that local stores could provide for all their needs and to encourage them to shop sensibly. Shop Local, Shop Little advertisements were seen by millions of people across the UK and Ireland as MPs, national newspapers and magazines backed the NFRN’s campaign. “Independent retailers have gone out of their way to support their communities by ensuring a safe environment,” said Reddish. “In the main, customers have adhered to the guidelines but some members have experienced hostility and frustration and, sadly, in some instances have even been subject to abuse and threats.

PANDEMIC TURNS SHOPPERS TOWARDS LOCAL & FARM SHOPS

“We hope that by seeing these new posters, customers will treat independent retailers and their staff with greater understanding and respect, which means protecting everyone’s health and safety – customers and those working in the shops – by covering their faces and maintaining social distancing at all times.”

BOOST DRINKS EXTENDS SUPPORT TO LOCAL INDEPENDENT SECTOR

S Nigel Owens MBE, world-renowned rugby union referee and cattle farmer based in Pontyberem, Wales.

esearch released by Barclays has uncovered the impact of the pandemic on consumer grocery shopping habits, as more than a quarter of those in Northern Ireland now suggest they buy produce in local shops and farm stores[1], instead of supermarket-only purchasing pre-Covid. Over 300,000(2) people in Northern Ireland had never visited a farm shop prior to the pandemic, but now visit regularly. Further to this, nearly twothirds of those in Northern Ireland suggest they will be buying more home-grown produce as a result of the pandemic and Brexit. The research uncovers appetite in Northern Ireland for sustainably sourced foods, with 27% looking to purchase seasonal produce, an indication that consumers recognise their role in helping the sector become carbon neutral.

Additionally, over half believe grocery shopping from local stores and farm shops is better for the environment, and 48% think purchasing from these outlets helps them to better understand where their produce has come from. Encouragingly, farms look increasingly likely to help, with 78% of Northern Irish farmers planning to sell and process at least some of their produce locally within the next three years. Sources: 1 - Farmer Research Conducted by Opinion Matters 26.08.20 -03.09.20. Sample: 1,000 farmers based in England, Wales, Scotland, & Northern Ireland. 2 - Consumer Research Conducted by Opinion Matters 14.09.20 – 17.09.20. Sample: 2,000 Nationally representative 18+ Adults in the UK, of which 52 were in Northern Ireland.

taying true to its We Love Local ethos, Boost Drinks has been supporting its Northern Ireland trade customers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic by involvement in various local initiatives. From the beginning of the pandemic, the province’s best-selling soft drink Boost has provided more than 1,500 Covid-19 safety point-of-sale (POS) kits to retailers, along with advice on helping the channel navigate the virus in-store. Boost, which supplies only to the independent sector and not to large multinational supermarket chains, designed and created posters with advice on social distancing and government recommended hygiene practices. The company also created a dedicated new website enabling retailers to order free POS, obtain category advice and download free marketing guides to help drive sales in stores. “It’s very important to us that we support our local customers, a commitment that we made and have stuck to since launching in Northern Ireland in 2003,” said Adrian Hipkiss, marketing director, Boost. “We understand there are huge obstacles for many people at the moment as we navigate our way through unprecedented challenges. We hope our local trade initiatives have gone some way to help both our wholesale and retail customers.”

RETAIL NEWS - SYMBOLS

NI RETAILERS AMONG FRONTLINE WORKERS HONOURED AT SPECIAL CEREMONY

wo local SPAR stores have been awarded accolades at the Convenience Awards, held digitally this year and honouring the frontline convenience retail stores and workers working tirelessly through the pandemic. SPAR Loughbrickland in Co Down took home the Excellence in Technology award, while SPAR Titanic, Belfast was awarded with the Food to Go Retailer of the Year Award. “As ever, the Convenience Awards honoured the best in our industry, but every store’s team which operated during the challenge of the lockdown should feel honoured and recognised as they did an outstanding job in keeping their communities going,” said Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director, Henderson Group. “Huge congratulations go to our local

retailers who picked up awards and beat national competition from across the UK.” Local retailers dominated the Excellence in Technology category, with Smyth’s EUROSPAR, Ballymoney, SPAR Loughbrickland, Co Down and SPAR Titanic, Belfast making up the shortlist. All have implemented the award-winning innovative EDGEPoS system from Henderson Technology, alongside further solutions by the company including selfcheckout tills and stock control systems providing seamless operations for staff and shoppers. SPAR Titanic, Belfast took home the Food to Go Retailer of the Year award after investing over £680,000 into its new premises, which has provided an increase in sales since moving to its larger site in the Titanic Quarter in 2017.

COSTCUTTER FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS EXPERT

ostcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) has announced a partnership with data expert Data Revolution, to provide independent retailers with vital insights powered by predictive analytics on shopper trends, pricing, range and promotions, help them manage costs and maximise sales. Working in partnership with Data Revolution, a Big Data management expert and part of the Talysis Group,

CSG began a trial of a predictive analytics portal across 100 independent stores in the South of England late last year. Following the success with trial stores, the partnership will seek to support more retailers across the symbol group’s estate. “Our trials, initially in stores who operate our CPOS system, took place before the Covid crisis and the results were outstanding, with retailers reporting increased sales, improved margins and

Aaron and Dale Beckett from SPAR Loughbrickland.

Mark McCammond, retail director, Henderson Group, added special congratulations to Courtney Spurling from SPAR Maxol Tate’s Avenue in Belfast, who was shortlisted for Sales Assistant of the Year. “Our retail staff have been an integral part of keeping our communities going over the past six months, and we want to congratulate all our staff for their efforts, with a special mention for Courtney’s recognition,” said Hammond. achieving higher rebates, as a direct result of the data they could access,” said David Morris, IT director, CSG. “We’ve used the lockdown period to focus on analysing those results and refining the offer, to give our retailers the best possible insights and advice. Predicting what will be their bestselling lines, what ranges they can look to rationalise, what promotions deliver the best results and what ordering and pricing decisions will maximise their sales and help manage costs. “A dedicated portal will be introduced to retailers through their BDM in future, who will provide detailed guidance and recommendations to optimise the benefits. “It will add projected performance data on shopper behaviour to the rich insights we already provide retailers on their customers, through our Shopper First programme. Retailers will be able to access segmented data, tailored to their store type, location and demographics.” 9

RETAIL NEWS - MULTIPLES

M&S OFFERS SURPLUS FOOD TO COMMUNITY GROUPS IN NI

&S is looking for charities and community groups across Northern Ireland to join its food redistribution scheme. Since 2015, M&S has worked with its food redistribution partner Neighbourly to donate surplus food to local charities and community groups. M&S and Neighbourly have been working to develop a new app for colleagues to revolutionise how they donate surplus food, the launch of which was fast-tracked to enable extra support during the Covid-19 crisis. The app is now in all 585 M&S stores, enabling many of them to more than double their food redistribution rates. Across Northern Ireland, 632,808 meals have been donated to local charities and community groups since the scheme began – with more than 5 million meals donated across the UK since March 1 alone. By providing charities with updates in real-time, the new app enables them

said Philip Conlon, head of Region at M&S in Northern Ireland. “Across our region there are lots of successful partnerships but with the launch of the app we’re able and eager to do more, so we are looking for charities to come forward to partner with our stores to help us redistribute the surplus.” Charity and community groups based in the region who would like to get involved in the food surplus programme or other charity initiatives are encouraged to email mandsfood@neighbourly.com to find out more.

to collect even more meals to feed the people they support. “We’re extremely proud of our food redistribution programme with Neighbourly that helps provide meals for those in need in our local communities,”

TWO LOCAL PRODUCERS SECURE TESCO LISTINGS

wo local producers, Noisy Snacks and Hellbent, have secured business with Tesco in Northern Ireland. Noisy Snacks, an award-winning snack brand engaging all the senses, has secured a listing with Tesco in Northern Ireland. Six products, including Great Taste award-winning Red Curry and Coconut Noisy Corn, will be available across Tesco’s Northern Irish stores from October. “We really want to offer customers great-tasting innovative products,” said Jonathan McWhinney, Tesco. “Noisy Snacks impressed us very much. Offering a flexitarian range with delicious satisfying snacks, plus a unique experiential USP creates real brand stand-out and adds to the customer experience. “We are very proud to be backing

a Northern Irish developed product which we believe has massive potential all over the UK.” Meanwhile, two new pork products from Hellbent, a Northern Ireland producer of South African sausages, burgers and meatballs, have also won business with Tesco Northern Ireland. The two novel products, Cherry Balsamic Pork Belly and Apricot and Mustard Pork Belly, have been listed across seven Tesco stores. Both traditional South African snacks, the two products have been developed by the Hellbent team into standalone meals. The company has previously gained listing with Aldi Ireland for its South African Boerewors beef sausages, a recent Great Taste winner, and with the Henderson Group’s EUROSPAR supermarkets in Northern Ireland and a string of delis for its sausages, burgers and meatballs. The new products are based on Oepsie, which are popular in South Africa as snacks before a main grilled meat dish.

SAINSBURY’S LISTS LONG MEADOW CIDER VINEGAR

ong Meadow Cider, a local producer of award-winning ciders, apple juices and apple cider vinegar, has won new business with a UK supermarket. The familyrun business is now to supply its apple cider vinegar to Sainsbury’s Northern Ireland’s stores. The deal follows extensive discussions and samplings of the natural apple cider vinegar, which won a gold star in the recent Great Taste awards. Long Meadow also won stars for its Blossom Burst cider and Sparkling Apple Juice. It has won a string of Great Taste and Irish national food awards. Long Meadow, located on the family orchard farm of Pat and Catherine McKeever at Loughgall, near Portadown in Co Armagh, has developed sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. The new business with Sainsbury’s is a major boost for the company, which already supplies craft cider to the store.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN SPONSORED BY MASH DIRECT WINNER: HENDERSON WHOLESALE FESTIVE IN’SPAR’ATION

lare Forster, head of marketing at Mash Direct, said: “Mash Direct are delighted to sponsor the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards for the first time. We are proud sponsors of the Best Marketing Campaign. Congratulations to Henderson Wholesale who are very worthy winners of this award, their Festive In’spar’ation was both innovative and seasonally appropriate. As a Northern Irish brand focused on providing farm fresh, convenient local produce, it is great to be able to award this prize to another company that prides itself in locally sourced products. I would also like to congratulate Lidl NI on winning highly commended and Boost who were also in this category. It is excellent to see companies adapting and reacting to new market trends and ever-changing situations.” Bronagh Henderson (Henderson Wholesale) and Clare Forster (Mash Direct)

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “The Festive InSPARation campaign was fostered by Henderson Wholesale in the wake of research into consumer buying habits suggesting that people were becoming more selective in how and where they buy their Christmas needs. Henderson’s has pursued the challenge of re-positioning SPAR retail outlets as a premier choice for Christmas purchases. The consumer insights that guided the marketing programme were expertly carried out. It enabled Henderson’s to build a campaign using endorsement from leading chefs that not only addressed consumer perceptions of SPAR retail outlets, but delivered significant like-for-like sales increases over previous Christmas periods.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Bronagh Henderson, brand marketing manager, said: “We are very proud of the recognition for the Festive InSPARation through-the-line campaign. Over the past number of years, our retail estate have been working tirelessly to improve the range and merchandising in-store with the aim of cultivating a great shopping experience for customers. This campaign showcased that work, focusing specifically on the Christmas offering. At a time of year that can often be stressful for food shopping, highlighting the variety, quality and provenance of food in our stores reminded customers that they could take the hassle out of Christmas by shopping locally with SPAR and EUROSPAR. The campaign contributed to market-leading retail sales increases over the period, demonstrating how it brought SPAR and EUROSPAR front of mind as a destination for Christmas shopping.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: LIDL NI JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “In seeking to expand market share in 2019, Lidl realised there was a need to engage more closely with potential and existing shoppers so that the quality and diversity of its product offering could be more readily understood. Lidl and their partners Ardmore Advertising designed and delivered the groundbreaking Loathers, Likers and Lovers TV, press and social media campaign to influence consumer buying. The result was a brand and service awareness campaign that increased Lidl’s market share in a highly contested retail market.” Chris Lyttle (Ardmore/Lidl NI) and Clare Forster (Mash Direct) 11

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST DIGITAL MARKETING SPONSORED BY MBNI TRUCK AND VAN WINNER: NATURO PETFOODS – IT’S ONLY NATURAL

ean Clarke, truck sales manager at MBNI Truck and Van, said: “Congratulations to Naturo Petfoods for winning the Best Digital Marketing award with their It’s only Natural campaign. This is the first year MBNI Truck and Van have been involved with sponsoring the awards and look forward to continuing that support. The latest Mercedes-Benz trucks offer the most technological advanced cockpit on the market and with class leading fuel economy and safety. Congratulations also to the highly commended entry from Fruice.” Lauren Toal (Naturo Petfoods) and Sean Clarke (MBNI Truck and Van)

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “The Naturo Petfoods brand of wet petfoods is owned by Co Tyrone-based Mackle Petfoods. The skilful way they developed a social media presence and strong digital campaign behind the home grown Naturo range from a standing start is very impressive. The level of consumer engagement achieved has been a major driver in positioning Naturo in the UK and Ireland markets.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Lauren Toal, brand manager, said: “We are delighted to receive this award for our UK & ROI digital campaign It’s Only Natural. Our food is 100% natural and so is the instinct to care for our pets, which was the premise of our messaging. Our campaign seen phenomenal engagement figures, doubled the amount of page views on our website and a 25% increase in our sales. We are proud to be a global brand based in Co Armagh serving 15 countries internationally, and would like to thank our wonderful retailers here in NI for their support and Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards for their recognition.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: FRUICE - NO AWKWARD BITS JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Fruice has skilfully utilised social media in representing and repositioning the soft drinks brand and the application of Video on Demand facilities has been a central tenet of promotional marketing. The encouragement of consumer ‘awkward moment’ experiences to support the No Awkward Bits campaign was a clever creative touch.” Ella Trackray (MXB/Fruice) and Sean Clarke (MBNI Truck and Van) 12

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

HEART-WARMING STORIES OF SPECIAL MOMENTS

aturo Pet Foods was founded in 2010 after its parent company, Mackle Petfoods, identified a gap in the market for a premium, 100% natural pet food. Fast forward 10 years, and Naturo is now the number one natural wet dog food in the UK and the fifth largest dog food brand. We believe that our four-legged family members deserve a healthy, well-balanced meal without inedible animal product, bulking agents, or chemicals. Our products are 100% natural, processed to the same standards as those used for human consumption. Pets are at the heart of what we do and we understand the important roles they play in our lives. Our 2019 campaign Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Only Natural to Care (winner Best Digital Marketing Campaign at Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020) focused on the immensely strong bond we hold with our dogs and cats. It demonstrated that just like Naturo, our instinct to care for one another is natural.

This lead nicely into our current 2020 campaign Share How you Care, which highlighted how pets and pawrents cared for each other during the global pandemic. Our Naturo family shared with us heart-warming stories of special moments held in homes across the nation between four and two legged family members. Naturo is currently available in 15 countries worldwide reaching pet parents as far as South Korea, across Europe and the United Arab Emirates. We are delighted that our efforts in creating a large export network from our factory in Co Armagh has been recognised as we come Highly Commended in Best Export Marketing in the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. To find out more about Naturo, visit us at www.naturopetfoods.com and check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

LORRAINE HALL YOUNG MARKETEER SPONSORED BY FOREST FEAST WINNER: ELLA THACKRAY – MXB

ichael Hall, owner & MD of Kestrel Foods, said: “We are delighted to present this year’s Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award to Ella. Lorraine was known as the inspirational driving force behind our Forest Feast brand, and the award recognises the same passion and drive amongst the up-and-coming marketing stars of the future. From the judges’ comments, the competition was particularly stiff this year, but Ella’s talents have shone through to make her a deserving winner.”

Ella Trackray (MXB) and Bronagh Clarke (Forest Feast)

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “With an MSc in Digital Marketing and BA (Hons) in Business with International Management from Northumbria University, Ella Thackray is digital media manager with MXB in Belfast and works in building MXB’s capabilities in digital and social techniques. She has amassed an impressive track record in delivering digital solutions for world-class clients, and manages some 15 major agency accounts. An accomplished presenter, she also hosts monthly skill share workshops for colleagues and clients and provides creative insights to client problems.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Karen Carmichael, managing director, MXB, said: “The team here at MXB and our clients are thrilled to see Ella win this award. She is a first-class marketeer who has achieved outstanding results for our roster of global clients. Ella was born to lead and MXB has nurtured that in her. She brings to our agency an award-wining standard of work. Her digital capability sees her mine for insight, crafting cutting-edge digital solutions across platforms for sectors as varied as FMCG, Retail and Tech. Outstanding competency for one so young in her career. Well done Ella, this is well deserved acknowledgement.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: JONNY AGNEW - HENDERSON WHOLESALE JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “An MSc Marketing Graduate from Queen’s University Belfast, Jonny Agnew is food development marketing executive with Henderson Wholesale and is engaged in devising and launching diverse own brand ranges and developed The Greengrocer’s range of fruit and vegetables for SPAR. He also launched the The Chef range of restaurant style meals for Henderson’s which has also featured in the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020. He is also an accomplished trainer and presenter and has received several in-house honours for outstanding performance.” Jonny Agnew (Henderson Wholesale) and Bronagh Clarke (Forest Feast) 15

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST IN-STORE CONSUMER SALES PROMOTION SPONSORED BY AQUA TWIST

WINNER: HENDERSON WHOLESALE – 12 DEALS OF CHRISTMAS

ohn Hamilton, director of Aqua Twist, said: “Aqua Twist is proud to return as sponsor of Best In-Store Consumer Promotion at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020. Congratulations to both the highly commended promotion from SuperValu with its Value to sing about campaign, and the 2020 winner, Henderson Wholesale’s 12 Deals of Christmas promotion. Both companies ran exceptional in-store promotions and we wish them continued success. Aqua Twist and our charity partners, NI Children’s Hospice, would like to thank both Musgrave and Henderson for their continued support, and look forward to future business development with each company.”

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Henderson Wholesale created a novel 12 Deals of Christmas promotion that outperformed previous Christmas campaigns and exceeded their own expectations. Henderson’s strategy in educating customers as to the value and scope of in-house promotional offers has significantly increased the average basket spend and the numbers of customers buying at local stores. Henderson’s are also commended for their insight that facilitated this integrated marketing programme to create a seamless and successful instore promotion; an example of customer service at its best.”

Bronagh Henderson (Henderson Wholesale) and John Hamilton (Aqua Twist)

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Bronagh Henderson, brand marketing manager, said: “We are delighted to have won Best In-store Consumer Sales Promotion. The 12 Deals of Christmas is now a well-established fixture in the calendar for our retailers and shoppers alike. In fact, our shoppers contact us regularly to tell us that they love the campaign. We know that Christmas can be an expensive time of the year and we want to reward our valued shoppers with big brands at rock bottom prices in the run up to the big day. The deals are a great footfall driver, attracting new customers into store and driving incremental sales. This year was particularly special as we worked with the Belfast Ukulele Band on the TV commercials. These local talents sang their way through the 12 Days of Christmas – making for a very memorable campaign.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: SUPERVALU - VALUE TO SING ABOUT JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Musgrave NI is commended for its 2019 SuperValu Value to sing about in-store sales promotion. The object was to endow SuperValu with a new and sustainable comparative advantage over competing retail outlets. The media driven promotion encouraged shoppers to experience a breadth of product brands and hundreds of quality own label products that they might not have expected in a local store. The promotion saw a significant increase in like-for-like sales over previous years.” Patricia McIlroy (SuperValu) and John Hamilton (Aqua Twist) 16

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH/ RELAUNCH SPONSORED BY CARN COLDSTORE WINNER: HENDERSON WHOLESALE – THE CHEF

atrick Derry, MD of Carn Coldstore and Derry Refrigerated Transport, said: “Carn Coldstore is proud to be involved with the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020 as sponsor of the Best New Product Launch/ Relaunch category which recognises innovation in the grocery category. We congratulate all entrants in another highly competitive year, and in particular winner Henderson Wholesale for its campaign for The Chef range, and Tayto which was highly recommended for its brand relaunch. It is great to see continued growth and success for both businesses.”

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “In 2019 Henderson Wholesale launched The Chef, a new brand of restaurant-quality ready meals to be sold daily through SPAR stores in Northern Ireland. Under the guiding hand of renowned chef Carl Johannesson, the business operates from a new commercial kitchen. The scope of market research undertaken to evaluate the demand for a new bespoke food service brand was professionally executed and the manner in which the new product range has been designed and brought to the market stands to Henderson’s credit.”

Jonny Agnew (Henderson Wholesale) and Patrick Derry (Carn Coldstore).

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Gareth McAnlis, head of food development, said: “Winning Best New Product Launch at this year’s 2020 Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards is a testament to the creativity that exists at the heart of our new Henderson Kitchen facility and the drive from the wider Henderson Group to be constantly innovating within the fresh food sector. In less than a year since its creation The Chef is in over 67 stores across our estate, offering shoppers a low-fuss, high-quality dinner option for the family that is made right here in Northern Ireland at our own Co Antrim kitchen as well as a new line of Under 500 Calorie meals that offers convenience and a healthy, wholesome meal at any time of the day. This is just the beginning for The Chef so check out our selected SPAR/EUROSPAR stores to see what we’re cooking up next.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: TAYTO GROUP - TAYTO JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “In 2019, Tayto relaunched its brand to target younger consumers, focusing on a brand proposition of Generous Exuberance and the hashtag #TAYTOHAPPY. The rebrand encompassed repackaging the entire Tayto range, backed by an integrated marketing strategy across multiple platforms from TV, outdoor and digital to in-store, sponsorship and experiential activity. The investment and strategy paid off in enhanced sales, distribution and brand awareness among the target group.” Elly Hunter (Tayto) and Patrick Derry (Carn Coldstore) 18

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

TOMMY CHARTERIS RETIRES AFTER 32 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TAYTO

ommy Charteris has seen a lot of change in his 32 years at the Tayto Group. The long-serving director of development and innovation, who will retire this year, has played an integral role in the growth and transformation of the company since first joining what he sees as ‘the Tayto Family’ in 1989. The family-owned company is one of the best-known players in the Northern Ireland food sector. It owns and manufactures the Tayto brand, the most successful crisp brand in Northern Ireland. After joining Tayto in the late 1980s as a sales manager, Tommy evolved his role and quickly developed a taste for innovation by bringing Tayto its first maize-based product, Bikers. Longevity is often a good measure of a product’s success, and when a generation of adults are still reaching for the snack more than 20 years later, it shows he was onto a good thing. Following the success of the launch of Bikers, Tommy went on to develop children’s character maize-based snacks based on the likes of Postman Pat, Bob the Builder and Thunder Birds. He says he found the inspiration for the snack’s target audience not at the office, but at home, through his own children. The character range was a huge success, driving some of the company’s highest sales to date and giving Tayto its first taste of being a leading snack food manufacturer beyond Northern Ireland. In 1997, Tesco entered the Northern Irish market which became a game changer for the business. Although there was concern that GB multinationals could be damaging to local producers, the company instead saw an opportunity to supply to the GB market. Tommy, moving into the purchasing and production side of the business, worked closely to build the relationship with Tesco to secure that stepping stone beyond the Irish market. It is a testament to his work then that Tayto is today a number one supplier for most of Britain’s supermarket chains. Of course, the Tayto Group’s growth has not been achieved without challenges. When Walkers entered into the Irish market in 2000, Tayto was faced with the possibility of not being able to compete with the GB giant. Tommy and other colleagues decided to make a show 22

From left, Stephen Hutchinson, chairman; Tommy Charteris; and Fergal McCann, chief executive, Tayto Group

of strength by doubling the packet size of Tayto crisps without raising the shop value and offering consumers the chance to ‘have a bag on us’. The success of the campaign solidified Tayto’s position as Northern Irish’s favourite crisp and snack brand and sending a clear and powerful message to rivals. Known for his ability to wear many hats, Tommy was part of the team that went on the acquisition trail in 2002 – a journey spanning 14 years which has seen

THE INNOVATION AND DEDICATION THAT TOMMY CHARTERIS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPANY OVER HIS 32 YEARS HAS PLAYED A BIG PART IN ENSURING WE ARE A RESILIENT BUSINESS. Tayto grow from a local manufacturer to the third largest snack manufacturer in the United Kingdom, employing 1,500 people across seven sites in the UK. Today, thanks to this team, Tayto Group’s portfolio includes much-loved brands such as Golden Wonder, Mr Porky, REAL Crisps, The Real Pork Crackling Company, Midland Snacks, Jonathan Crisp and Tayto. Tommy was also behind Tayto’s latest launch of a full range of popcorn

– including toffee popcorn which has just entered the market. Tayto popcorn range sales have grown at a phenomenal rate and it is now brand leader and also was recently awarded two Great Taste one-star awards, widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. Now, as Tommy hangs up his multiple hats to head into retirement in the midst of a pandemic, he remains one of life’s optimists and goes into his new chapter with an unchanged attitude which believes that the glass is never half empty, it’s always full. He along with all senior Tayto staff have been working tirelessly to ensure that the company navigates the difficulties that may still arise from coronavirus. The Tayto Group values every single contribution that has been made by all of the team, which has been essential in also protecting the health of the business. The innovation and dedication that Tommy Charteris has contributed to the company over his 32 years has played a big part in ensuring Tayto is a resilient business which can look to the future with cautious optimism. Group Chief Executive Fergal McCann expressed his gratitude on behalf of the entire Tayto family to Tommy for his contribution over the years and joined them in wishing him a very long and happy retirement.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST BRAND SPONSORED BY HENDERSON FOOD MACHINERY WINNER: FINNEBROGUE ARTISAN – NAKED BACON

avid Henderson, owner of Henderson Food Machinery, said: “The Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2020 marks our fifth year as sponsor and, with our expertise focused on supplying food manufacturers, Best Brand is a great fit for the company. Our congratulations to all competitors in this year’s awards, and of course to this year’s winner Finnebrogue Artisan for its Naked Bacon brand and the highly commended entry, Tayto. Henderson Food Machinery provides machinery solutions tailored to all customer requirements.”

Megan McGonigle (Finnebrogue Artisan) and Debra Henderson (Henderson Food Machinery)

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “In a few short years, Co Down based Finnbrogue Artisan’s Naked Bacon brand has carved out a niche market with its 100% ‘Nitrite free’ meat products. The skilful placement of Naked Bacon in the mainstream grocery market, and the extent to which the brand has achieved significant distribution in competition with long established brands is to be applauded.”

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Kerri Smith, sales & marketing manager, said: “We are delighted to have won the Best Brand award for our ever-growing Naked range. Our Naked products have the essence of Finnebrogue at the very core – making food the best it can be without being bound by the way it has always been done. It began with Naked Bacon – the first, and still the only, bacon brand in the UK to not contain nitrites. We have since introduced plant-based products to the Naked range as we look at what our customers want, the gaps in the market and improve on the existing offerings to ensure UK consumers have the best possible options for a balanced, sustainable diet that’s good for them and the planet. We’re very proud to hail from Northern Ireland and to grow the talent our province has to offer in order to feed the nation.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: TAYTO GROUP - TAYTO JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Tandragee-based Tayto is a long established and much revered manufacturer of potato crisps with a brand reputation that transcends the generations. Tayto has skilfully utilised targeted promotional activity to support its strong brand profile and has achieved year-on-year sales growth in a mature snack food market.” Elly Hunter (Tayto) and Debra Henderson (Henderson Food Machinery) 24

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST EXPORT MARKETING SPONSORED BY INVEST NI WINNER: WHITE’S OATS

ohn Hood, director of food & drink, said: “Invest NI is delighted to sponsor the Best Export Marketing category at this year’s Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. Always a fiercely contested category, congratulations to the very worthy winner White’s Oats and to Naturo Petfoods on being awarded highly commended. Exporting is vitally important to the growth of the Northern Ireland economy. Both of these companies are great examples of how a focus on exporting combined with an innovative approach to the development and execution of successful marketing campaigns can lead to an increase in export sales and further business growth.”

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “In 2018, Fane Valley conducted a study of Middle East markets for White’s Oats and committed significant investment to launch and support a range of developed products over a three-year period. White’s tenacity in presenting the brand as a premium health food has been skilfully done, and targeting key UAE Gulf States helps to build a solid base in the region. The White’s brand is on target to achieve significant export sales in the coming months.”

Stuart Best (White’s Oats) and John Hood (Invest NI)

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Stuart Best, business development manager, said: “Winning the award for Export Marketing is immensely encouraging. It is a testament to the strength of our international marketing strategy and the dedication of our team to develop sales outside of our domestic market. The investment in developing compliance and market access strategies in order to accelerate our growth in territories that offer significant opportunities has proven to be hugely worthwhile. In particular our export sales in the Middle East region over the past 12 months has been especially pleasing and we are proud to witness successful distribution of our porridge oats and oat cereals throughout the region. This award is the latest in a series of prestigious award won by White’s in the past 12 months, having been crowned the UK Best Breakfast Product at the UK Quality Food Awards in December.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: NATURO PETFOODS JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Following success in Southern and Eastern Europe, Mackle Petfoods is embarking on a market by market launch of the Naturo petfood brand in key Pacific Rim countries, beginning with South Korea. After an extensive trawl of potential commercial partners, a major Korean distributor with expertise in the domestic petfood market was appointed, and resources have been committed to support the brand over the coming years. Mackle’s export sales have increased 116% between 2016 and 2019.” Lauren Toal (Naturo Petfoods) and John Hood (Invest NI) 26

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

LEADER IN MARKETING SPONSORED BY MXB

SPONSORED BY

WINNER: DESI DERBY - MUSGRAVE NI

aren Carmichael, managing director, MXB, said: “We are delighted to see Desi Derby of Musgrave NI win this award. The convenience sector has played an invaluable role supporting the wider supply chain and supporting customers during the pandemic. Never has it been more important to acknowledge the innovation, quality and service that companies like Musgrave excel at as a backbone to the entire grocery sector. Always it’s the people behind the brands that set them apart, create award-winning standards and propel the whole sector forward. Desi is an absolute exemplar in this space and we congratulate him sincerely.”

lster Grocer Leader in Marketing 2020 Desi Derby is not your typical ‘business personality’. In a short space of time, he has established himself as one of the key figures behind our booming food and drink industry that locals and visitors alike have come to recognise as a defining point in Northern Ireland’s identity. Through his passion, hard work, innovation and ability to mobilise those around him, Desi has left his mark with retailers such as Tesco, Lidl and now Musgrave NI. Crucially, Desi’s work has enabled thousands of NI food and drink companies to benefit from Desi’s support in building their business both locally and on the world stage. As well as his impact on local business and the local economy, Desi has been passionate in ‘growing good business’. His work with charities such as Action Cancer has helped raise £3m and his support of initiatives such as the SuperValu Big Bus mobile cancer screening unit, which is literally saving lives across NI, providing early detection and support for those who wouldn’t otherwise be screened. Over the last 20 years, Desi has worked with some of the most respected national 28

Desi Derby, Musgrave NI, and Karen Carmichael (MXB)

retailers, such as Tesco, Lidl and more recently, Musgrave NI (SuperValu, Centra, Mace and Musgrave MarketPlace). One common thread Desi has woven across all of these companies is his support of ‘local’, in terms of local suppliers, local produce and local communities. He’s passionate about encouraging consumers to buy local whenever possible. And he has actively created a stage to give local companies the opportunity to grow their business within these national retailers. Playing an instrumental role in helping to set up the Tesco Taste NI brand identity, Lidl’s support of local suppliers and The Musgrave MarketPlace Food Academy, thousands of NI and RoI food and drink companies have benefited from Desi’s support in building their business both locally and on the world stage. Underpinning all his achievements, is

Desi’s personality and the values that drive him. He embodies the Musgrave values; the same values which have helped make Musgrave a successful business across the island of Ireland and Europe for 140 years. These include developing long-term, stable relationships honesty and hard work, with Desi progressing from head of marketing NI to marketing director of Musgrave Wholesale Partners across the island in just 12 months. Desi’s appetite for hard work is underlined in his expanded role in which he is delivering steady growth for the SuperValu, Centra and Mace brands in NI as well as Daybreak in RoI and the Musgrave Marketplace brand across Ireland. One of his biggest personal achievements, meanwhile, is developing and nurturing a strong team around him.

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Desi Derby, marketing director, said: “Thank you to Ulster Grocer for this award which I am delighted to receive. The retail sector in Northern Ireland is fortunate to have many strong brands and great teams working on their marketing campaigns. I am fortunate to work with fantastic brands and marketing colleagues, both in our retail and wholesale business. I am passionate about delivering marketing communications which resonate with the shopper and deliver strong commercial or affinity benefits for the business. While a real honour for me personally, this recognition is also testament to the work of our dedicated teams right across Musgrave.”

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

BUILDING STRONG BRANDS IN A LOCAL CONTEXT MUSGRAVE NI MARKETING DIRECTOR DESI DERBY, FIRST WINNER OF THE NEW LEADER IN MARKETING AWARD, TALKS TO UG that they do, so it was fantastic that we could honour those colleagues with our Store Heroes initiative which also involved a £1 donation for each nomination to our long-standing charity partner, Action Cancer.

esi is no stranger to the world of food retail, consulting for Tesco and working for Lidl before joining the Musgrave Group in 2016 as head of marketing, quickly progressing to the role of marketing director covering both the retail business in Northern Ireland and the wholesale & foodservice arm in the Republic of Ireland. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD WIN. HAS RETAIL ALWAYS BEEN A PASSION FOR YOU? I spent the early part of my career working in agencies both here in Belfast and in Dublin and that is where my retail journey began, working with clients in the sector – both in food manufacturing and food retail. With Musgrave, I work with both our retail and wholesale brands – building strong brands in a local context is something I’m both passionate about and really enjoy. Managing a retail and wholesale business is challenging at the best of times; however that has amplified during 30

the pandemic. There is no doubt that the last eight months have been a difficult time for so many businesses across Northern Ireland. We have faced our own challenges across our business. At the beginning of the pandemic, the focus was on ensuring any risk to our supply chain was minimised, helping our store network to navigate the new norm of retail as well as working with our wholesale customers as they adapted to restrictions. Encouragingly however, we have continued to invest in our store network this year with the opening of the new Centra A1 Banbridge, and our first drivethru facility, as well as a revamp of Centra Maguiresbridge and our new Centra Mallusk store getting ready to open its doors in November. Our stores and independent retailers have really stepped up, playing a vital role in their communities during the crisis – whether that’s offering a home delivery service or supporting those most vulnerable. Shoppers really appreciate all

YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ACTION CANCER IS ONE THAT HAS RAISED OVER £3M, YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD OF THAT? We are indeed and it is the fantastic work of our store network and head office colleagues all year round that means we are able to support this great local charity and the lifesaving service that it provides. The pandemic has been particularly hard for charities so to be able to raise some funds is a big priority for us. Our first fundraising drive, during the pandemic, was for our store heroes, but we also sold NHS support stickers across our network raising over £12,000 for local charities including our own partner. Our current Halloween initiative involves the donation of 50p from each pumpkin sale to Action Cancer and we will be selling charity face masks in the run up to Christmas – hopefully our customers will continue to get behind our fundraising initiatives as the money we raise really does make a difference. Throughout Covid, our brands have used the mantra TogetherWeAreStronger; delivering that is important to us as a business but it’s also very relevant in the context of raising funds for Action Cancer. ON THE SUBJECT OF CHRISTMAS – IT MOST CERTAINLY WILL BE A DIFFERENT ONE FOR MANY PEOPLE… While we don’t know what restrictions will be in place in December, we can assure our customers that we will be delivering a Christmas experience across our brands, as we approach a Christmas like no other. Making Christmas affordable has been a key focus as we are acutely aware of the financial impact of Covid-19 on many people. One thing we can guarantee is that our stores will continue to offer the best service to our customers, keeping our stores well stocked and safe, at a time when they need us most.

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST CSR INITIATIVE/CHARITY PARTNERSHIP SPONSORED BY HUNKY DORYS WINNER: MUSGRAVE NI/ACTION CANCER

artin McClinton, sales manager at Northern Snack Foods, said: “2020 marks our eighth year as sponsor of the Best CSR Initiative/ Charity Partnership category at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards, and a year in which CSR has perhaps never been more important. Our hearty congratulations to all entrants for their worthy initiatives, and in particular to this year’s winner Musgrave NI for its longstanding partnership with Action Cancer and to highly commended Boost Drinks for supporting the vital Air Ambulance NI service. Hunky Dorys is proud to lend its support to marketing initiatives extending beyond commercial gain to benefit local charities and communities.”

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Using the resources of its local retailers, Musgrave has topped its 18-year commitment to Action Cancer by raising £200,000 in just one year. The commendable achievement of this inspiring and successful CSR partnership, and the benefits that it has delivered to combat cancer in Northern Ireland is to be applauded.”

Louise Tolerton (Musgrave NI) and Martin McClinton (Hunky Dorys)

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Louise Tolerton, communications manager, said: “Our partnership with Action Cancer is one that we take great pride in. Our retailers and colleagues work tirelessly to raise money to help support the important services that the charity provides right across Northern Ireland. We host the Big Bus at our stores throughout the year, providing a lifesaving early breast screening service as well as supporting the Health Action Programme for schools – a great initiative all about championing health promotion to our young people. We are delighted to have this work recognised by Ulster Grocer.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: BOOST DRINKS/ AIR AMBULANCE NI JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “As a leading independent soft drinks company, Boost elected to link with Air Ambulance and to assist in fundraising on the charity’s behalf. Utilising diverse promotional initiatives, the CSR partnership secured £25,000 for Air Ambulance, doubling the initial project target.” Gareth Hardy (on behalf of Boost Drinks) and Martin McClinton (Hunky Dorys) 32

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS

BOOST DRINKS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NI COMMUNITY

oost’s We Love Local ethos doesn’t stop with its passion for supporting the independent sector; the leading soft drinks company invests in the Northern Ireland community also. For two consecutive years, Boost has teamed up with Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) to provide the life-saving charity with some vital support. AANI, in partnership with Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland and requires essential funds and awareness to keep the operation moving. Boost Drinks selected Air Ambulance NI as its chosen charity and raised £25,605 in 2019. The success of the partnership now has been recognised by receiving the Highly Commended status for the Best CSR/Charity Initiative at this year’s Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards. Adrian Hipkiss, marketing director, Boost, said: “We are passionate about supporting the NI community so when launching our Red Berry 500ml variant in 2019 saw the opportunity to give back to one of NI’s most-deserving charities. “Boost Red Berry was the-then number two soft drink in the local convenience sector and introducing it in bottle format was an exciting launch for us and we wanted to share this with a local charity. “We launched the 500ml bottle in March 2019 with a promise to donate 5p from every sale to life-saving charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. “In addition, we helped organise various initiatives throughout the year to raise funds and awareness such as the Three Peaks Challenge which saw 400 people coming together to trek to the top of either or all three of NI’s most famous mountains – Slieve Donard, Cuilcagh and Slemish. “The charity work with AANI has been very important to us so receiving a Highly Commended status at this year’s prestigious Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards is something we are so very proud of. As a brand and a business, we will continue to build on our CSR in the future and support the NI community.” Boost Drinks was established in 2001, launching in Northern Ireland in 2003 and now owns the province’s top-selling soft drink in Boost Red Berry* within the local independent convenience channel. *Based on Units Sold IRI Marketplace Convenience NI 52 weeks to 9th Aug 2020

COVER STORY

MANFREIGHT BUILT ON TRADITION, RESPECT, PRIDE AND PROFESSIONALISM

ounded almost 50 years ago in Northern Ireland, Manfreight is a company that has been built on tradition, respect, pride and professionalism. Chris Slowey, managing director of Manfreight, took the helm in 2010 after succeeding his late father. It was a difficult time for all business due to the ongoing recession. His first task was an in-depth business analysis, with particular emphasis on the major costs of the business such as fleet, insurance, fuel, and wages. After analysis, keeping skills on board was crucial to the success of the business during the period of succession and recession. Contrary to what their competition were doing, Manfreight took the unusual step of retaining its workforce to maintain stability. It was this combination of keeping skills on board and reducing major costs which were the catalysts to becoming a dynamic logistics business. RE-THINKING THE PROCESS Key personnel to Manfreight’s business were sent to the Volvo Academy, the principal truck in operation at that time, to be retrained to maximise the vehicles’ potential and therefore improve efficiencies. Volvo’s truck technologies were sophisticated and had been developed to improve fuel efficiency and maximise the skills of the driver. These newly trained driver trainers rolled this knowledge out to the existing driver 34

base, thus reducing overheads and making substantial cost reductions. Fuel usage reduced by 0.7 miles per gallon, which amounted to a saving of 8% of the company’s fuel costs for the year. Maintenance costs also reduced in line by 9% as the driver’s performance with training saved on wear and tear. The combination of keeping skills on board and reducing major costs were the catalysts to becoming a dynamic logistics business. The savings that Manfreight made maximising its fleet efficiency were reinvested into new vehicles and technology, allowing the level of service to increase without having to pass this cost on to customers. EXPANDING THE BUSINESS Scaling a business creates challenges regardless of industry type or size. Manfreight’s ethos is to ‘never stand still, know your market, and always challenge costs outside of your influence’. In the last five years, Manfreight have grown exponentially through strategic acquisition. In 2016, the purchase of a company which dealt in walking floor trailers allowed Manfreight to extend their core offering into other European markets. 2017 saw Manfreight’s boldest move to date – the purchase of the reefer division of DFDS Belfast – a multinational company over twice Manfreight’s size. With this acquisition, they took on 100

new staff, 300 trailers and a customer book worth over £24m servicing the UK mainland. The integration of the two businesses led to Manfreight offering full and part loads seven days a week to existing and new customers in retail business. They also added to their services a 20,000sqft. Double A BRC-accredited chilled storage facility in a key location in Belfast Port and a state-of-the-art workshop. The company’s background in transporting refrigerated goods allowed the natural extension of the business into Lancashire - a hub of refrigerated activities in the UK. MANFREIGHT TODAY Manfreight strives to be a partner of choice, rather than a supplier, by working closely with the customer, looking at their 12/18/24 month business plan, identifying challenges and tailoring solutions to achieve their ultimate objectives. It is a strategy that is paying off for Manfreight and its customers. While traditional hauliers effectively run lorries, Manfreight runs a business – they understand that the logistics industry has grown beyond just the distribution of goods. Today, communication, customer care and guaranteeing integrity of product along the way have now become the order of the day; as the industry has evolved, so too have Manfreight’s services. The company is truly passionate

COVER STORY about improving and optimising their customers’ supply chains, helping them gain a competitive advantage. “Not only do we offer a time efficient, fully tracked and traced service, we also provide a seamless experience from planning to delivery right through to reporting, taking care of the entire process for our customers.” In doing so, Manfreight has become a one-stop shop for some of the biggest brands in the FMCG industry by offering an incomparable route to market. THE FLEET In nearly five decades, the fleet has grown from just one truck to over 500 state-of-the-art vehicles. Manfreight is the only haulier in Northern Ireland in direct partnership with Schmitz Cargobull, the trailer manufacturer. This allows the company to design the optimum trailer to service their customer base. “We operate over 250 Schmitz Refrigerated Trailers, 170 of which are no more than 18 months old with the latest functionality - these include: live load tracing, self-diagnosis of faults and geofenced automatic door locking from collection to delivery allowing seamless documentation of the cold chain. The system is backed up a 24-hour control desk in Germany, ensuring the trailers are working to their optimum potential. This allows us to uphold our reputation for ensuring integrity of product from farm to fork.” Manfreight also engages closely with the major truck manufacturers, Scania and Volvo, to design trucks for its principle application. Ensuring the trucks are suited to their working environment has paid off for Manfreight – increased reliability and efficiency has resulted in reduced costs for their customers. “Having a competitive price gets you through the door, but reliability retains the business.” Scaling a business creates challenges regardless of industry type or size; Manfreight’s ethos is to not stand still, know your market. FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS The Manfreight team works hard to bring a positive family culture in everything they do. Every member is proud and passionate about their role within the company - from the wash operatives who keep the fleet cleaner than any on the road, to the drivers, planners and admin staff who provide a service second to none in the logistics industry. Even after a long arduous journey, the

drivers are often proudly polishing and photographing their trucks which can be seen on social media. The admin and planning staff are delighted when customers regularly say ‘thank you’ for simply doing what they see as ‘just doing their job’. By developing close client relationships, Manfreight has shown that by listening to its customers’ needs and incorporating them into the business process, the combined partnership results in success for both parties. Manfreight’s main hub is in Co Armagh – this is another example of growing with partnerships in mind. It is situated in a highly productive area of Northern Ireland central to manufacturing and farming communities, producing chicken, beef, and pork. Based within 500 yards of one of its principal customers, Manfreight can rapidly react to their demands, whilst having easy access to Belfast and Dublin Ports. It allows the company to be both reactive and proactive to customer demands. They have seen continued success in their business development by fostering these relationships and values. BREXIT The industry isn’t without challenges; Brexit is currently the hot topic. But Manfreight is a lean operation aware of their margins and areas where they are better utilised and profitable. With a customer base that includes many blue-chip clients, Manfreight has enjoyed rapid expansion by constantly tailoring operations to suit their customer demands in today’s challenging and complex business environment. Should Brexit bring delays at the port for their customers, Manfreight’s strategic trailer partnership will ensure that the route to market is maintained. They are big enough to cope yet small enough to care. “Our customs clearance solution is tailored to the demands of Brexit. Customers simply upload their master data - product, commodity code and origin data – and we will take care of the rest.” As well as the Brexit implications, the spread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 has obviously been at the forefront of minds the world over. Even in its infancy, its significant impact on supply chains became obvious. It has become even more clear that the essential role of the logistics industry is to keep supply chains operating. Hence there is a remarkable story to be told about the sector that supports our well-being in every possible dimension. This new normal presents challenges

for industries across the UK and Ireland and this was strikingly obvious to those involved in both the production and distribution of groceries and food. Suddenly cashiers, the shelf stockers, HGV drivers and warehouse operatives joined the health care workers as the heroes in this new story. Like these heroes, Manfreight took immediate steps to combat this crisis with particular emphasis on ‘covid-proofing’ the entire operation. At the forefront of this was the safety of the customers, their staff as well as Manfreight’s own team members. Prior to lockdown the company invested heavily in both technology for the working environment out on the road and the existing infrastructure to ensure the operation could work safely in the office and maintain high levels of efficiency remotely if needs be. Manfreight embraced what was available in the market place – gas sanitisation systems for buildings, offices and the vehicle fleet - anti-viral and anti-bacterial sterilisers were put to use to ensure the safety of the staff and customers company-wide. Throughout the past year, the industry has come up against many challenges. Manfreight has proven they are not only dynamic but resilient when it comes to crisis management and reaction. The company has a beating heart and it is visible through the people who have made and continue to make Manfreight what it is. Even during a pandemic they have maintained the steady growth they have seen in the last decade, continuing to innovate and move with the times. Manfreight respect and protect those they have a responsibility to. They are a company that remembers their past but still knows their destination. They remain the logistics partner of choice for their old and new customers alike. 35

ULSTER GROCER MARKETING AWARDS SPONSORED BY

BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY ELECTRIC IRELAND WINNER: FINNEBROGUE ARTISAN

ermot McArdle, head of business markets, said: “Electric Ireland are delighted to sponsor the Best Sustainability Initiative at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards this year. We understand how important sustainability is to customers, and to the success of the businesses that serve them. It’s great to see Northern Ireland businesses taking the necessary steps toward building a brighter energy future for everyone, and a massive congratulations to this year’s winner Finnebrogue Artisan for their innovation in artisan food production and highly commended Henderson Technology/Gander for their environmental and customer centric app.” JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Finnbrogue Artisan’s cultivation of its Naked Bacon brand and range of nitrite-free meat products, and the company’s strong ethical credentials, are major drivers in this company’s professional ethos. The company has presented a succinct summary of its development of an Environmental Risk Register for the business in tandem with its programme to achieve ISO 14001 quality standard, and for which certification has been issued. This is a sterling achievement for a smaller emerging NI business.”

Megan McGonigle (Finnebrogue Artisan) and Alan Cunningham (Electric Ireland)

WINNER’S COMMENTS: Kerri Smith, sales & marketing manager, said: “Finnebrogue’s win for Best Sustainability Initiative at the 2020 Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards is a testament of the hard work and dedication of the environmental team. Our custom-built Environmental Risk Register was developed over a series of evenings and weekends and has provided us with a one-stop shop for our suppliers environmental credentials and global impact rating. It is our company-wide drive and determination to build a better future for this planet that makes Finnebrogue a truly special team to be a part of.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: HENDERSON TECHNOLOGY/GANDER

Gillian Kelly (Henderson Technology/Gander) and Alan Cunningham (Electric Ireland) 36

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “This application centres on the development and roll out of the Gander mobile app that identifies retailers about to heavily discount fresh food due to imminent expiry of ‘sell by’ date. Henderson worked in partnership with Gander to bring this innovative product to market. Access to discounted food can be a benefit to many people and it is also an excellent means of reducing some of the 900,000 tonnes of food waste that local authorities have to process annually (at public expense). ‘Reduced food’ amounts to 7% of retail turnover. Full marks for originality.”

ADVERTORIAL

WE’VE GOT THE TONIC, YOU’VE GOT THE SPIRIT

chweppes continues to bring bubbles into consumers’ lives through its unique effervescence, so striking you can’t help but smile! Schweppes was Ireland’s number one mixer in 2019 and continues to grow in this position in 2020. As people seek to recreate special drinks at home more often, the brand has gone from strength to strength; with growth driven by the new 1l Slimline Elderflower variant and Schweppes 150ml mini can range across its Signature and Classic ranges. To ensure Schweppes is topof-mind with consumers this Christmas, a fully integrated

marketing campaign will be launched. Watch out for our uplifting Christmas message Schweppes, We’ve got the Tonic, You’ve got the Spirit as Schweppes will be back with a new TV ad, plus much more, to surprise and delight consumers over the festive period. This will all be supported with excellent instore execution and offshelf POS and displays. Contact your local Coca-Cola HBC representative to discuss activation plans. Alternatively you can contact the Customer Service Centre on: 028 9262 0520.

PROFILE

COCA-COLA HBC RESPONDS TO CONSUMER DEMAND FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS ULSTER GROCER SPEAKS TO ANDREA WHYTE, MARKETING DIRECTOR AT COCA-COLA HBC IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND TO DISCUSS THE COMPANY’S LAUNCH OF KEELCLIP™, A NEW, MORE SUSTAINABLE PAPERBOARD PACKAGING SOLUTION FOR MULTI-PACK CANS WHAT ARE YOU ANNOUNCING? At Coca-Cola HBC, we are delighted to be launching KeelClip™, an innovative, minimalist paperboard packaging solution for multipack cans. This follows a €15m investment by Coca-Cola HBC, our partners The CocaCola Company, and Coca-Cola European Partners, to introduce this new packaging format across Europe. It is a first for the non-alcoholic readyto-drink industry and we’re proud that Ireland and Northern Ireland will be one of the first markets to go live. The packs have been trialled with our customers since September and will be available in stores across the island by the end of October. WHAT BRANDS WILL TRANSITION TO THIS NEW FORMAT? The paperboard solution will be used across all Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, CocaCola Zero, Fanta and Sprite multi-packs of four, six and eight cans. HOW DOES THE KEELCLIP™ WORK? A KeelClip™ comprises of a top board that the cans clip into and a central cardboard ‘keel’ - similar to a ship’s keel that stabilises the pack. Small, removable glue spots fix the cans to the keel. This ensures that the cans are secure in the package for transport but can be easily removed for the consumer to enjoy. When the last can is removed, KeelClip can be put straight in the recycling bin. WHY IS IT BEING INTRODUCED? Our business has a commitment to a World Without Waste, and this starts with designing more sustainable packaging. Our goal is to reduce our overall carbon footprint by minimising the amount of packaging we use, with a particular focus on single-use plastic. Shrink wrap plastic is currently used around our multi-pack cans, and is not easily recycled here on the island. So, we are moving to this paperboard solution which is more sustainably sourced and 40

fully recyclable. In Ireland and Northern Ireland, more than 200 tonnes of shrink wrap plastic will be eliminated annually, to be replaced by this more sustainable paperboard solution. IS THE CARD RECYCLABLE? Yes. All the cardboard we are using for KeelClip™ is sustainably sourced with a Forest Stewardship Council certification that assures the good practices in the source of paper/wood we are using. Sustainable forest management certification assures that forests are managed in line with strict environmental, social and economic requirements. We recommend that people place it in appropriate card/paper recycling bins after use and have included recycling messages on our packs and our point-ofsale to encourage this.

WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN YOUR SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING STRATEGY? All of our bottles and cans are 100% recyclable and, in recent years, our focus has turned to increasing the recycled content within our packaging. Today, our water brands, Deep RiverRock and Smartwater, are made with 100% recycled PET plastic, and our on-the-go packs (500ml or less) for Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta and Sprite also contain 50% recycled plastic. Our investment in recycled plastic has eliminated the need for 3,450 tonnes of new plastic each year, and supports a true circular economy for waste by keeping resources in use for longer. We are also working to reduce the plastic used in our primary packaging

overall. Since 2018, we have reduced the plastic we use in our bottles by 10%; achieved through ‘light-weighting’ our bottles and with the introduction of a smaller bottle cap. IS SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A MARKETEER? Yes absolutely. Marketing can only be effective if it listens and responds to customer and consumer needs. We understand that shoppers are increasingly seeking more sustainable packaging solutions and are actively trying to reduce the amount of packaging wrapped products. We see it as our job to respond to these emerging trends and to partner with our customers to find solutions. Shoppers are increasingly looking to brands to show leadership in sustainability and KeelClip is a great example of how we have done just that. HAVE YOU INVESTED IN YOUR LOCAL PRODUCTION FACILITY TO SUPPORT THE MOVE TO KEELCLIP™? Yes, we continue to invest in our plant and our people to support our sustainability agenda. In early 2020, following a £9.3m investment in our plant in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn, we commissioned a second canning line to increase capabilities. This enabled the production of our new taller, Sleek Can formats which, in turn, supports our transition to KeelClip™. WHAT’S NEXT? In early 2021, we will switch to cardboard cartons for our larger multi-pack cans. Once this transition is complete, we will have eliminated more than 585 tonnes of shrink wrap plastic annually. For more information, visit.ie.Coca-ColaHellenic.com.

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

MINISTERS PLAY KEY ROLE IN ENCOURAGING FOOD AND DRINK BY MICHELE SHIRLOW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FOOD NI

he recent praise for the local food and drink successes at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards from Diane Dodds, our economy minister, is greatly appreciated by the companies achieving recognition from the panel of expert judges, especially at what has been a challenging period for smaller enterprises. Minister Dodds is a longstanding supporter of the industry which contributes around £5bn annually to the local economy and has the potential, I am convinced, to help drive it forward faster beyond the current coronavirus crisis. I know the companies can – and wish to - assist growth here through enterprise and innovation and their determination to grow business especially in Britain and the Republic of Ireland, our two most important marketplaces. There is scope to develop new business in both. Recent successes in Great Taste and Blas na hEireann will certainly help to increase awareness of the quality of the food and drink being produced by small- to medium-sized enterprises in particular. Our bigger companies in meat and dairy, of course, have established business which they are currently developing. The recent decision by the US authorities to enable Foyle Foods in Derry and WD Meats in Coleraine to export there was an

important boost for both companies and the wider economy. We are extremely fortunate to have ministers of the calibre of Diane Dodds and Edwin Poots at Agriculture, Farming and the Environment who both appreciate the innovation, enterprise and resilience of our food and drink companies. Minister Poots has provided important support to farming and fishing industries. Fishing, of course, has long been an important sector but is currently experiencing severe market challenges. While the support for boats to remain in port on a rota basis will help fishing families, the tie-up scheme, however, will adversely impact processing plants involved in the export of prawns. They will also need significant support to stay in business to enable them to take advantage when the markets improve as they surely must. Farming and food are interrelated and mutually dependent. A healthy and progressive farming industry is an essential requirement for an enterprising, ambitious and successful food and drink industry. As Minister Dodds rightly remarked about Blas na hEireann: “Awards such as these celebrate the best of what the industry offers and highlights the sector’s resilience and tenacity to continue to do business during such challenging times.” It certainly has been difficult for many artisan and smaller enterprises especially those starting their retail journey at farmers’ and food markets across Northern Ireland. While many of the markets are back in operation, the understandable concerns of shoppers and essential social distancing rules have substantially reduced footfall. Interestingly, the big local winners at Blas were both in seaweed processing. Seaweed, of course, is now seen as a healthy and natural product. Our two winners were Crawford’s Rock in Kilkeel, the Best New Product for a novel seasoning, and Islander Kelp from Rathlin, the Best Seafood Product for a relish developed in association with En Place Foods in Cookstown. I am delighted to say that these three companies and many more Blas winners are all Food NI members. And the vast majority of Great Taste winners are also members. They are all benefiting from the networking and other services that we provide. These now include export support with Invest NI’s Food and Drink Division in delivering programmes to boost sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. We appreciate greatly the opportunity provided by Invest NI to help grow sales outside Northern Ireland. We now have an experienced marketing team to support any future initiative in Britain, the Republic and further afield. Furthermore, Ninth Wave Irish Gin in Ballynahinch has become ‘The Most Awarded Gin’ on the basis of its achievements in international competitions including a highly influential event in China, the biggest global market for spirits. And Co Antrim’s The Sexton is now among the most successful single malts in the US. Northern Ireland has a successful and ambitious food and drink industry that has the products, resilience and tenacity to develop opportunities that are still growing in our most important markets. Companies merit greater support to realise their undoubted global potential.

ADVERTORIAL

AFTERS, BY GENESIS. YOU’VE GOT TO TASTE THEM… MAGHERAFELT BAKERY, GENESIS, HAS JOINED FORCES WITH STEPHEN CHISHOLM, WINNER OF THE FIRST SERIES OF THE GREAT IRISH BAKE OFF, TO RAMP UP ITS OFFERING WITH A NEW CAKE RANGE

‘A

fters, by Genesis’ comes in packs of four to nine personal sized buns and pastries that combine all the baked goodness synonymous with the brand, including fluffy sponges, rich, velvety buttercream and sumptuous jams. Stephen joined the team at Genesis last year and has been working with the product development team and the company’s highly experienced Master Baker, Nigel Lennox, to come up with new concepts, not only for the Afters range but also for the bakery’s wide portfolio of prestigious retailers. The Afters collection is available in stores across Northern Ireland and is a premium brand aimed at discerning customers who are looking for a special treat that tastes homemade. Speaking about the new range, Paul Allen, executive chairman, Genesis said: “At Genesis we are dedicated to continually evolving and improving on the range that our customers have loved and known so well since the brand began its story over 50 years ago. “We were delighted when Stephen agreed to join us to work across our businesses. He combines a passion for food with restaurant and business experience which is an unusual but very effective mix. “Nigel, Stephen and all in our New Product Development department have tried to come up with something for everyone with this range, with chocolate and fruity options and beautiful decoration which is expertly hand-piped by our fantastic team. We’ve even given two of our firm favourites - jam bakes and iced tops - an upgrade and have produced our Best Ever versions. We

Great Irish Bake Off winner helps Genesis sweeten up offering with brand new bakes and pastry range.

shall also have seasonal variations, so the offering will change over the weeks with new cakes being introduced and of course there will be other new tastes and flavours coming on board as well in the coming months.” Afters is being launched with a highprofile marketing campaign, with the marketing strapline Afters, by Genesis. You’ve got to taste them… The campaign includes a heavyweight UTV advertising campaign showing people’s own videos of their first-bite reactions to various Afters products; plus radio advertising and competitions across Cool FM, DownTown Radio and U105. PR and social media campaigns will also be rolled out along with product drops to local influencers and celebrities to generate further awareness and interest. In total, it is estimated that there will be

in excess of 1.5million opportunities for people in Northern Ireland to see or hear about the Afters range. The Afters, by Genesis product range includes: a premium chocolate collection, fruity afternoon tea collection, rose cupcakes, sundae specials, afternoon delights, best ever iced tops and jam bakes and they retail between £2.50 and £3.50. More information can be requested from sales@genesisbakery.co.uk

GREAT TASTE 2020

KITCHEN VEGILANTES – PLANT BASED FUEL WITH ATTITUDE

lant -based company, Kitchen Vegilantes, was co-founded by DELI LITES Directors, Brian and Jackie Reid, alongside Brian’s sister Jemma ReidWhite. In Veganuary 2020, the brand launched its first plant based food-togo range with great success selling in retailers across Ireland. As more people turn to a vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian lifestyle, the team identified a clear gap in the market for flavour-packed, plantbased produce to grab on the go which are also now available for online home delivery anywhere in Ireland. The Kitchen Vegilantes products are 100% meat-free and packed full of plant-based proteins. The range includes a number of main meals, breakfast and snack options to provide healthy, clean, nutritious food which appeal to all consumers, not just those on a pure plant-based diet. The current product line-up includes two main meals - Cheeky Chickpea Tikka and Rebel 3 Bean Burrito Box along with energy bites - Cranberry Choco Lit Bites

Jemma, Brian and Jackie

and indulgent Bite Me Banana Brownie Bites, and two Anytime Oats in Macho Mochaccino or Berry Blast. It was the Kitchen Vegilantes Macho Mochaccino Oats that won over judges at Lunch! show’s Innovation Challenge, as well as winning a recent Irish FreeFrom Award. The Rebel 3 Bean Burrito Box also won a Great Taste award in 2020, which is not surprising given its punchy flavour, texture and impressive nutritional content. They’re in good company, with award-winning flavours constantly being

developed by DELI LITES. Their range of sharing slices includes their new Belgian Chocolate and Mint flavour, and the two star Great Taste-winning Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie. Kitchen Vegilantes’s aim is to create genuinely tasty food that doesn’t rely on meat as a source of protein, instead they try to maximise naturally occurring plantbased proteins mixed and flavours that you will want to eat time and time again. Their new range of products, which will include vegan traybakes and desserts, are already underway and will be launched in time for Veganuary 2021.

Sharing Slabs

GOLD STAR FOR CLOUGHBANE AT GREAT TASTE

loughbane Farm Foods, Pomeroy picked up a gold star at the 2020 Great Taste awards for its Lasagne, developed by Business Development Robert Robinson, business Manager Robert Robinson in his development manager, Cloughbane Farm Foods. family kitchen. “We are thrilled to be awarded a gold star for the quality of our Lasagne, a recipe close to my heart that was created for my family,” he said. “Cloughbane Farm is now a team of 50, and this accolade is testament to their hard work and commitment to creating convenient, quality food. “Our Lasagne uses the finest quality minced steak from UK and Irish farms and is cooked with a homemade white sauce creating a ready meal with no compromise on taste or nutritional value. “Our company ethos is always to provide a true farm to fork experience meaning it really is a Taste You Can Trust, so it is no surprise that and the judges picked up on this noting that the lasagne had a wonderfully homecooked flavour.” One judge said: ‘A lot of care and thought has gone into this product. A good lasagne is a thing of many parts. Here, the bechamel has a great cheesy flavour, the tomato ragu is rich with seasoning and the subtle herbs are well balanced. The beef is generous too. An impressive ready meal.’ Cloughbane Farm’s extensive ready meal range, including its award-winning Lasagne, is stocked in local Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, SPAR, Centra and various independent stores across Northern Ireland.

ADVERTORIAL

HYDROSPORT SUPER FUEL M onster Energy’s HydroSport is the ultimate energy drink for sport, giving players the super fuel they need to play hard. Whether you want to get stuck in on the field, at the track, or on the court, HydroSport will help energise, refuel and recover. HydroSport contains 200mg of natural caffeince, electrolytes, BCAAs with zero sugar and zero calories. Non-carbonated, it’s the perfect drink to grab and guzzle before the big game or at half time. HydroSport comes in three, great tasting flavours, lemon and lime (‘Striker’), dragonfruit (‘Hang Time’) and tropical (‘Charge’). ENERGY HydroSport offers a serious caffeine kick, with 200mg of natural caffeine per 650ml bottle, giving you the energy you need to give it your all on the field. Plus, with zero sugar and zero calories, you have all the benefits of a performance energy drink, but built for sport. ADVANCED HYDRATION It’s half time and you’ve been sweating and grafting. HydroSport will help hydrate when you need it the most. Electrolytes are critical for rapid and sustained hydration and help maintain peak physical performance and electrolytes lost in sweat.

RECOVERY After working to your limit, BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids), along with Magnesium, Vitamins B3 and B6 may help to reduce tiredness and fatigue.

ADVERTORIAL

REIGN TOTAL BODY FUEL E

ngineered to fuel the toughest workouts. Reign Total Body Fuel is the only performance energy drink on the market that incorporates natural caffeine, zero sugar, zero calories, BCAAs, l-Arginine and B-Vitamins. Reign Total Body Fuel comes in four delicious flavours, including Melon Mania, Razzle Berry, Lemon HDZ and Sour Apple. CAFFEINE Best consumed before your workout, Reign Total Body Fuel contains natural caffeine, derived from green coffee beans, to provide you with sustained energy to perform at your peak throughout your workout. ZERO SUGAR + ZERO CALORIES Stay on track with your fitness goals.

Reign Total Body Fuel offers all the benefits of a performance energy drink, with zero sugar and zero calories.

of a balanced diet. BACCs, along with L-Arginine and B Vitamins may help muscle recovery after a hard-hitting workout.

BCAAS Each can of Reign contains the highest quality BCAAs (Leucine, Iso-Leucine and Valine). These essential amino acids are not produced in the body and are therefore crucial components 47

ADVERTORIAL

LINWOODS ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS TO TAKE EXTRA SPECIAL CARE

s the UK continues to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, health has never been more important, with many consumers looking for ways to boost immunity and improve overall wellbeing at this crucial time. In response to the changing landscape, Armagh-based Linwoods Health Foods has launched its latest campaign, encouraging consumers to ‘take extra special care’ and boost their immune system during the winter months. Research into Covid-19 is continuously evolving, with recent calls for health professionals to explore the believed benefits Vitamin D has on minimising the negative effects of the virus. With winter now on the horizon, Linwoods believes now is a fundamental time for consumers to consider getting the all-important vitamins and nutrients into the daily diet. The Take Extra Special Care campaign from Linwoods is designed to address the current needs in consumer health, showcasing three nutrient dense products from the 22-strong product portfolio – Linwoods Shelled Hemp, Linwoods Milled Flaxseed with Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts and Co-Enzyme Q10 and Linwoods Milled Flaxseed with Bio-Cultures and Vitamin D. With research showing that 59% of consumers say that they have become more conscious about their overall health this year, Linwoods is committed to providing its customers with the information they need to live a wellbalanced life and prides itself in offering quick and simple solutions to provide the 48

body with the right nutrients, enhancing daily health and wellbeing through highquality plant-based foods. Ideal for those with busy lifestyles, the Linwoods seed blends provide consumers with an easy way to get more goodness into mealtimes in two simple spoonfuls. Unlike other brands in the health foods category, the seeds are prepared through a unique cold milling process

which breaks down the seed for easy digestion whilst retaining all the fibre and nutritional benefits contained within the whole seed. The daily diet can play a significant role in supporting the immune system. Linwoods understands there is a common misconception that a variety of supplements are required to support the immune system. Although, for the most part a healthy balanced diet can provide adequate nutrients to support the body’s nutritional demands. Packed full of nutrients, the Linwoods Shelled Hemp is bursting with health properties to help enhance mealtimes, providing a unique nutty texture for dishes while boasting impressive health credentials. Linwoods Shelled Hemp contains 18% of the daily recommended intake (RI) of Zinc and 19% of the RI of Iron in one single 20g serving. Zinc and Iron are both vital for immune health and the seed blend helps support the normal function of the immune system in two spoonfuls. There are few foods from which you can gain such a high percentage of your RI of Selenium and Magnesium in just one serving. One serving of the Linwoods Milled Flaxseed with Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts and Co-Enzyme Q10 contains 33% of the RI of Selenium which contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system, and 18% of Magnesium which contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Sprinkle the blend on meals to enhance dishes with added immune system support.

ADVERTORIAL As we head into winter, it can be harder for consumers to maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D through natural sunlight. One in five adults in the UK are believed to have low levels of Vitamin D and many are unaware of how low levels may negatively impact immune function. Public Health Agency (PHA) advises that adults and children over the age of one should have 10 micrograms (mcg) of the sunshine vitamin. One serving of the Linwoods Milled Flaxseed with Bio-Cultures and Vitamin D offers 5mcg of Vitamin D which helps maintain immune system function, as well as 20% of Magnesium which contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Patrick Woods, director of Linwoods Health Foods, said: “The health category as a whole has seen a significant

shift in consumer needs and demands this year, especially in food consumption and eating habits. We are proud to be leading the way in this shift, providing our family of customers with the information and tools they need to boost their health and wellbeing through their daily diet when they need it most. “We wanted to create a campaign that ran true to the heart of the Linwoods brand and Take Extra Special Care does just that. Our new simplistic style campaign hopes to translate how supporting your health and wellbeing can be as simple as adding 20g of cold milled seeds to your diet every day. “I’m a strong believer that we all need to practice positive habits at mealtimes

and our three immunity supporting seed blends provide simple ways to boost the nutritional value of daily meals by adding 20g on soups, salads, porridge and yoghurts.” The new Take Extra Special Care campaign follows a modern and exciting new brand identity for Linwoods Health Foods in May 2020, which included a new pack design and refreshed logo and was the first new look for the brand in the UK and Ireland for seven years. The re-brand was born out of research into further understanding its customers and reflected the Linwoods philosophy around how simple small changes every day can make the biggest difference, which underpins everything they do. Linwoods also recently announced the launch of a brand-new social campaign for October - the Linwoods Health Movement. The campaign, which ran alongside the Take Extra Special Care activity, saw the launch of a free digital wellness hub with over 1,000 members, designed to encourage people of all ages to get moving during October with the aim of increasing fitness levels,

improving nutrition and enhancing overall wellbeing in the run up to winter. Linwoods teamed up with specialists from the health and fitness industry to provide practical advice for consumers, including virtual workouts, delicious recipes and nutritional guidance on how to support the immune system during the colder months. With a longstanding commitment to providing its customers with quality health foods, Linwoods has been a trusted brand in the health food sector for 16 years, with its supplies of ingredients sourced globally and selected from the best suppliers and growers to ensure the highest standards, which deliver accessible, easy-to-use nutrition to health-conscious consumers around the world. Linwoods’ full health foods range is widely available from all leading supermarkets, Holland & Barrett, all good independent health food stores and online retailers including Ocado and Amazon. To speak to one of our sales team or learn more about the Take Extra Special Care campaign please contact flax@linwoods.co.uk Patrick Woods and John Woods

ADVERTORIAL

PRODUCING QUALITY EGGS FOR A BALANCED DIET

t Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, John and Eileen Hall have been focused on consistently producing the finest quality eggs in the industry since 2002. The many awards they have won confirms it, including seven stars in Great Taste in the past seven years, Blas na hEireann two gold, two silver and Chefs Choice Awards over the past five years. Winning the prestigious Delicious Produce Award last year, along with winning the Farming Life Poultry Farmers of the Year Awards in 2017 and 2018, have been highlights for them. Winning Fermanagh Herald Family Business of the Year Award was

important too, as their business is built around family. Their staff are treated as part of their extended family too. Chef Shauna Froydenlund cooked with Cavanagh eggs in the Great British Bake Off 2020. The world leaders ate them at the G8 Summit in the Lough Erne Resort in 2013. The outdoor range provides many behavioural opportunities for the Cavanagh birds. During the day, they enjoy unlimited access to the pastures. This is a stimulating environment where they can explore, forage, scratch around, sunbathe and dust bathe. At night they are housed in barns for their safety. This also allows them to express normal behaviour with perches for roosting. Eggs are packed full of essential vitamins, minerals, trace elements and high-quality protein. They are naturally rich in vitamin A, B Vitamins, including folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, and choline,

Vitamin B2, B12, and Vitamin D. They are great for exercise, whether you are aiming to build muscle, lose weight or generally get fitter and healthier. Eggs are great for both pre and post-workout recovery. Being low in calories, they can be part of any calorie-controlled diet. The way you prepare your eggs will of course affect their nutritional value. For instance, if you fry an egg instead of boiling or poaching it, this will increase the calories. It is important that you eat your eggs with other nutrient-rich foods, such as vegetables, salads, and whole grains to benefit from a balanced diet.

VEGETARIAN & FLEXITARIAN

EUROPE’S FIRST DEDICATED PLANT-BASED EVENT TO BE HELD IN 2021

ales of meat-free foods have grown by 40% in the last five years and represent one of the industry’s fastest growing sectors. Now, in a positive move for the return of in-person events, Plant Based World Expo will launch in London on April 8-9, 2021. Following a series of successful US-based events, the European show will offer industry professionals the unique opportunity to hear from the world’s leading plant-based experts and discover more about the incredible innovation taking place. The event, which will be hosted at the Business Design Centre, is backed by leading plant-based businesses including Just, OmniPork, Beyond Meat and Meatless Farm, as well as world leader Quorn. A carefully curated conference programme will equip retailers, distributers, foodservice providers, entrepreneurs, investors and healthcare professionals with take-home insights on how to capitalise on the unique business and health opportunities presented by the sector.

HENDERSON GROUP AMONGST PEAS PLEASE WINNERS

eg Fest, a week-long e-conference bringing together a community of businesses, cities, organisations, and individuals to discuss what place vegetables have in food policy, diets and the post-Covid-19 food environment, was held last month. The event included inaugural Peas Please Prizes celebrating milestones and achievements made by Peas Please pledgers aimed at boosting veg consumption. An Innovation Prize went to Sainsbury’s for its Little Ones range launched in April 2018 to provide babies and children up to three-years-old with all the nutrients they need for the vital first 1,000 days of their development. A Champion prize was awarded to Birds Eye for its commitment to increasing marketing and messaging, and its vegetable product range, to attract more families into vegetables and pulses. The Henderson Group, meanwhile, picked up a Rising Star award for pledging to develop its partnership with local suppliers, farmers and growers through the relaunch of The Greengrocer range, setting a goal of increasing vegetable sales by 5% year on year. Lidl won a Good Society Prize for its continued support and commitment to the Healthy Start voucher scheme supporting low income families with small children to buy fruit and veg.

BURSTING WITH FLAVOUR

ash Direct is headed by the award-winning Hamilton family team: husband and wife Martin and Tracy and their sons Lance, and Jack. The farm is located in the green fields of Co Down, close to the shores of Strangford Lough, and the family is proud to select older heritage varieties of vegetables for their products, chosen specifically for their flavour rather than appearance. These products bring vegetarian shoppers into the main aisles of the grocery shelves. Mash Direct offer fresh alternatives, bursting with flavour, texture, or desirability. One of Mash Direct’s recent innovations is their new ready-to-eat Cabbage Bake edition, created fresh on the farm with the true taste and texture of homemade. The Cabbage Bake combines steam cooked cabbage with a delicious rich and creamy sauce and a Cheddar cheese crumb. Suitable for vegetarians, the Cabbage Bake can be enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to meat, fish, or plant-based alternatives. Lance Hamilton, sales director at Mash Direct, said: “We are pleased to launch our Cabbage Bake edition in SPAR, EUROSPAR, Musgrave NI, ViVo and independent stores. It is a highly versatile product that is ideal to enjoy on its own or as a delicious accompaniment. Mash Direct produces over 50 products that are 100% gluten-free and free from artificial colourings and flavourings and are available throughout the UK and Ireland. All Mash Direct products are prepared immediately after harvesting. This ensures an unrivalled freshness of flavour and retains the natural texture and nutritional benefits of the ingredients. The full range is low in saturated fat, gluten-free and free from artificial flavourings, preservatives and colourings.

ADVERTORIAL

PLANT BASED WITHOUT COMPROMISING QUALITY OR FLAVOUR

nly Plant Based was born out of our love of food and in particular the recent explosion in vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian options available worldwide. Our desire is to make sure people following a plant-based diet can enjoy exceptional mayonnaise and sauces that do not compromise flavour, texture and the pure enjoyment they bring. Products that are good enough for everyone and let you follow a plant-based diet at the same time. Although recently launched, Only Plant Based has tapped into the creativity and experience of the development team at Rich Sauces to deliver these Great Taste award-winning products. The Rich Sauces team is best known for their success in foodservice where they have grown business for some 30 years, gathering numerous awards including Irish Quality Food Awards and numerous Great Taste awards for their range. So, whilst Only Plant Based is a new brand to retail, it is built on a strong heritage of innovation and uncompromising quality. When we began our journey, the vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian markets were still in their infancy and plant-based options often disappointed the taste buds. As the variety and quality of plant-based meals and options improved, we always felt there was still something missing, a compromise in quality or flavour that didn’t sit quite right. Sure, the new veggie burgers tasted great, and the ‘no-chicken strips’ had our mouths watering, but you can’t have a great burger without a great sauce, and what good are veggie chicken strips without something to dip them in? The seed for Only Plant Based was sown. At Rich Sauces, we love experimenting and trying new flavours. Developing fresh new ways of bringing the latest food trends to our customers and marketplace is what motivates us. We love food, always have, always will. That’s why when we set our hearts on creating the world’s best mayonnaise, we knew it would take all our creative flair and culinary knowledge to pull it off. ‘Good’ for us wasn’t going to be good enough; our range needed to be great! We set out to create a great-tasting range of plantbased mayos that would 52

delight everyone, suit all purposes and tastes and also that would complement, complete and improve the ever-growing menu of great vegan and vegetarian recipes. Our first creation – Only Plant Based Mayonnaise, was an immediate success and we instantly wanted to add to the range. Shortly after came The Garlic One and The Spicey One (chipotle). All three lines have received Great Taste awards and so our hard work was immediately recognised. We aren’t stopping there though; in the pipeline we have lots of new exciting on trend, taste bud bursting flavours which we target to launch in 2021. Not only does the range taste great, it is based on a bedrock of market and consumer research. Indeed during consumer sensory panels at Ulster University, the consumer expressed their delight and their preference for Only Plant Based mayos over the category leaders. Through this research, we tailored Only Plant Based to be bang on trend as a plant-based solution and to fill a gap within the category ie mayos and flavoured plant-based sauces. As a local NI manufacturer, Only Plant Based quickly secured our first listing in Tesco NI in August 2020. Initially ranged in 13 stores but hoping to roll out to the full estate in 2021, Jonathan McWhinney (NI packaged buyer) was delighted to introduce our great tasting range to his shelf and commented: “The rise of the vegan market has been exponential and the trends show that it is here to stay with more and more customers looking for and switching into flexitarian choices. To have a local producer that supplies Tesco NI with its first vegan range of sauces is really exciting and allows us to offer our customers

great, innovative new products that do not compromise on taste. We are very proud to be backing a Northern Irish developed product which we will believe has massive potential all over the UK.” The range is being supported with a comprehensive in store activity programme including on shelf offers, sampling and off shelf displays. Still only in our third month, we have just launched in Musgraves NI and several key online retailers such as TheVeganKind and Greenbay. In November, we will be part of the much sought after TheVegankind Birthday subscription box which will be sent to 8,500 keen foodies all over UK. We are currently in discussions with major retailers throughout Ireland and GB and hope to announce more significant listings before Christmas. In order to facilitate our supply options in GB, we have engaged with a number of wholesalers and distributors to create a comprehensive route to market solution. Our ambition is not just for GB and Ireland but much more. We want to build a brand that has worldwide appeal and recognition. We have formed a partnership with a team of likeminded foodies in USA. Indeed, we have just completed our first full shipment of approx. 40,000 units to facilitate new listings our partners have developed. A very exciting opportunity which will provide great exposure for Only Plant Based and importantly develop scale here in Northern Ireland. We recognise the significant part social media plays on the development of new brands and customer partnerships. To this end, we have invested heavily in an ongoing and comprehensive social media strategy both in GB/Ireland and the USA, including content, regular posts, 24-hour monitoring and interaction with fans, customers and consumers as well as engaging influencers campaign where we partner with key influencers to tell our story. Recently the well-known NI based blogger, Ginger Vegan wrote: ‘I’m loving It’s Only Plant Based! I’ve been using the Chipotle on everything from burritos to avocado on toast, it’s perfect for spicing up any dish. The Garlic Mayo is fab in chickpea Chuna, the flavours across the range are incredible.’ Our aspiration is not to stop at three mayos, there are lots more flavours on the way and we will be developing the Only Plant Based offering across our other product categories such as dressings, sauces and bouillons. Watch this space...

ADVERTORIAL

FUNCTIONAL COOKIES WITH VITAMINS

AVAILABLE TO ALL NORTHERN IRELAND RETAILERS

ime to build your immune system with cross border wholesaler Interbev Ireland, which has secured exclusive distribution nationwide with Bergen Biscuits, Maxx Vital Vitamins and Renksan Group since the start of the year. Interbev Ireland has a vast range of products from health care and anti-bacterial to food and beverages. Historically, clients have been from the hospitality and food service. However, in more recent times, Interbev has moved into retail and is currently listed with Nisa, SPAR and Londis IRL, Today’s, Iceland and Costutter. Interbev is a family-run business,

working on both sides of the border. Established in 2002, it has gone from strength to strength in its growth within the retail market. Interbev has increased employment and its delivery fleet in recent times, which has created more employment locally. The company’s buyers search globally and are continuously keeping up to date with the market for new and improved products to bring to their consumers. Interbev Ireland has an extensive range of biscuits including Reese’s and Hershey’s (American biscuits), Obsession, No Added Sugar biscuits, Functional Cookies with Vitamins and Mini Bites. It stocks vitamins

and has a vast range of Belux Care antibacterial products which include wipes, liquid soap, bar soap and hand sanitiser. All products are accredited and certified; the anti-bacterial products are PCS-approved by the Irish government. Over the coming months, Interbev Ireland’s focus will be in all retail stores across Northern Ireland, providing excellent quality products with high profit margins. For further information, please get in touch with Shanine Rice – Business Development Manager - on 07706959499 or email sales@interbevireland.com

MY LIFE IN THE GROCERY TRADE RYAN McCRACKEN, FOUNDER/MD, MCCRACKEN’S REAL ALES BRIEFLY OUTLINE YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY I’ve worked most of my career in the IT sector. Even though on face value they are two completely different sectors, I’ve picked up invaluable experience and it’s allowed me to turn my passion of brewing and dream of starting a microbrewery into a reality. WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? Running a small family business, my role couldn’t be more varied. I find I have to wear many hats. Some days you will find me brewing, bottling or packing out in the brewery. Others, I’ll be on the road travelling around the province selling our seven-strong range of Irish Craft Beers and of course out on deliveries. When we started out a little over two years ago, it was just myself and my wife. Now we’ve a team of five, due to increase very soon due to expansion. WHEN DID YOU TAKE UP THIS POST? McCrackens officially opened in September 2018, although I guess I had been in the ‘role’ from November 2017. It took almost a year to make my dream into reality. Taking the initial concept, developing our range, turning an empty shell of a building into a brewery and of course ensuring we complied with all the legal requirements.

recipe, turning it into reality, taking the first sip and then seeing other people really enjoying something I’ve created. I also love my sales days where I get out and meet new perspective customers and feeling that sense of achievement when I’ve made a sale. If you asked me what the worst part of my job was at the start of the year, I don’t think I could have answered it. However, post-lockdown that’s a different matter. Like many businesses we encountered challenging times. Thankfully, we were able to diversify somewhat and concentrate our sales efforts on the offsales trade and through our website.

BEST/WORST PARTS OF YOUR JOB? I love brewing from taking an idea of a

BRIEFLY OUTLINE A TYPICAL DAY My typical double brew day will involve

getting up at 3:45am to start the brew. The whole day should take around 12 hours, although there are times when something doesn’t go as planned such as a pump not performing 100% or encountering a ‘stuck sparge’ and this could extend things considerably. In fact, on my first ever outing with the system I attempted a double brew day, which, in hindsight, was a big mistake. Due to some teething issues encountered, the day was extended to 23.5 hours. At the end of a double brew day, we will have produced two batches/fermenters full of our beers. It will be a further 10 days or so before it’s ready to bottle and another six weeks before it’s matured enough and can be delivered. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND AWAY FROM WORK? Spending time with my young family. We’ve two boys, a four-year-old and a three-month-old, so we’re never short on games and entertainment. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF NOT MANY PEOPLE MAY KNOW I also have a passion for cooking, I love trying out different recipes. In relatively recent times, I’ve been combining my two passions and experimenting cooking a variety of dishes using our beers. We’ve just started blogging about some of our favourite recipes.

MARKETING NEWS

HENDERSON PRODUCES SECOND CONSUMER MAGAZINE TO WEATHER THE WINTER

enderson Group, owner of the SPAR and EUROSPAR brands in Northern Ireland, has produced its second consumer magazine providing a feast of inspiration to weather the winter months ahead. Winter InSPARation, in which the Group has invested over £100,000, will be provided free of charge in all SPAR and EUROSPAR stores across Northern Ireland from November 2, with a print run of nearly 400,000 on recycled paper. The magazine serves up a recipe book of winter warmers inspired by seasonal and local produce, created by the brands’ Executive Chef Carl Johannesson. Edited by Claire Craig, the local journalist speaks to sports stars MMA Champion Leah McCourt and former Ulster and Ireland

captain, Rory Best, alongside household names including Cate Conway and Aimee Fuller on how they have navigated one of their most challenging years yet. “Our Winter InSPARation magazine is a 100-page read which oozes comfort, from chats with our local celebrities and farmers to over 30 pages of winter warmer recipes that covers breakfast, lunch and dinner along with money off coupons,” said Bronagh Henderson, marketing manager at Henderson Group. “We are also welcoming our readers into our Christmas Kitchen, which is a 21page pull out covering everything from party food, in the hope that we can have safe festive gatherings this year, to the main event – the Christmas Dinner – and absolutely everything in between.”

LINWOODS COMMITS TO THREE-YEAR SPONSORSHIP OF ULSTER HOCKEY U18 GIRLS

U18 Ulster Hockey players Olivia Beattie, Niamh Hogan, Emma Uprichard and Ella Armstrong are pictured with Ellen Woods, marketing executive at Linwoods.

ne of Northern Ireland’s leading health food brands has become the main sponsor of Ulster Hockey’s

U18 Girls, making it the official Health Food Partner to all Ulster performance teams. Linwoods, the Co-Armagh based family business, has sponsored Ulster Youth Hockey since 2017. This latest signing has extended that collaboration for the next three years. The team’s jerseys have also been upgraded to showcase the new Linwoods logo following the company’s rebrand earlier this year. Hockey is steadily growing in popularity across Ulster - there are now 76 clubs, 250 club-based youth teams and around 8,000 men and women playing in leagues and cups on a weekly basis. The

successful World Cup campaign saw Ireland’s Women’s team finishing as silver medallists, and both international squads ranked in the top 10. “At Linwoods the promotion of a healthy lifestyle is at the core of our operations,” said Ellen Woods, marketing executive at Linwoods. “We see the importance of investing in the health of our young people and athletes and so to extend our partnership with Ulster Hockey was certainly the right fit. “We see the great work Ulster Hockey is doing – on and off the field – to promote an active lifestyle for children, adults and families.”

LMC LAUNCHES NEW TRUTH ABOUT BEEF AD CAMPAIGN

ivestock and Meat Commission (LMC) has officially launched a new promotional campaign to highlight to consumers the positive story and credentials of Northern Ireland’s world class sustainable beef. There is specific focus on the nutritional and environmental credentials of Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured beef communicated via a suite of exciting, innovative and engaging advertising materials. To inform the campaign, LMC commissioned consumer research which found that whilst 90% of adults in 58

Northern Ireland still eat red meat, 26% of consumers planned to eat less red meat in the future. These individuals were identified as ‘lapsers’ and the research delved into their psyche to inform every aspect of the Truth about Beef campaign. The campaign uses the sensory experience that comes with cooking and eating high quality beef as a tool to engage consumers in the positive story that the beef industry has to tell in addressing global challenges such as climate change and meeting the nutritional needs of a growing population.

Running for an initial boost of eight weeks during October and November and then again from January to March 2021, the campaign aims to lead the conversation about the positive contribution beef production can make to global challenges.

BUSINESS NEWS

HENDERSON GROUP PICKS UP TWO RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS AWARDS

enderson Group has been honoured twice in Business in the Community’s new-look Responsible Business Awards for 2020. Both the Wholesale and Technology companies have been named Responsible Business Champions at the annual awards event which seeks to honour businesses in Northern Ireland ‘demonstrating strong, inclusive leadership, who continuously innovate to tackle pressing social issues and repair and rebuild our planet’. Henderson Group, which employs over 4,000 staff, was named a Responsible

Business Champion in the Wellbeing at Work category for their Well Aware strategy, while Henderson Technology took the same honour for the Responsible Digital Innovation Award for its partnership with Gander, the mobile app which helps stores clear more ‘reduced to clear’ food products to lower food waste. The Group’s Well Aware programme, which was re-launched with a new strategy in 2018, has resulted in a decline in absence rates recorded from Jan 2018 to Dec 2019, an excellent staff retention rate and a more

BARCLAYS LAUNCHES £250M FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP NI FARMERS DRIVE SUSTAINABILITY

Richard Lilburn, local farmer

arclays has teamed up with Nigel Owens MBE, world-renowned rugby union referee and Welsh cattle farmer, to launch a new campaign driving awareness among consumers of the benefits of helping the food system become carbon net zero. Sustainability Through Agri-Tech

will also provide farmers with access to £250m available to support their business to become carbon net-zero through Agri-Tech solutions. In a survey of 209 Northern Irish farmers from a larger sample of 1,000 across the UK, eight in 10 believe they could be carbon neutral by 2035, five years ahead of the 2040 target set by the National Farmers’ Union for England and Wales. One in seven believe that they have already reached this goal, while 73% said they were thinking about how to make their businesses more sustainable in the wake of the pandemic. More than three-quarters of Northern Irish respondents also said becoming greener will increase their farm’s competitiveness after the UK has left the EU, indicating Brexit could accelerate their transition to becoming carbon neutral.

LOGISTICS UK COMMENTS ON TRADER SUPPORT SERVICE

he recent launch of a new Trader Support Service to assist UK businesses with customs and other formalities as the Brexit transition period comes to an end has been welcomed by Logistics UK. The new service “should help NI businesses – who face particular challenges – transition to the new trading arrangements, protect continuity of trade and help to ensure EU Exit is a success for the NI economy,” said Seamus Leheny, Logistics UK policy manager for NI. “The service will also provide support to GB businesses who trade with, or move goods to and from, NI. As a next step Logistics UK are now calling on the UK government to publish a clear border operating model.” 60

engaged workforce which has resulted in increased Group sales of over 9%. Meanwhile, the Gander app has been supplied to 350 SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores free of charge, with over 41,000 user downloads of the app and on average, stores are reporting a 5% reduction in food waste.

BOOK TACKLES EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE Legal Island has published a book to help SMEs understand how best to keep employees engaged in the new world of work amid the Covid-19 crisis. Mastering Small Business Employee Engagement – 30 Quick Wins and HR Hacks from an IIP Platinum Employer, is a self-help book for the those running either an SME or a team of people in a larger organisation. The book is written by Barry Phillips BEM, CEO, and Jayne Gallagher, MD, Legal Island, a Co Antrim employment law and HR training firm.

CONSUMER COUNCIL WELCOMES DECISION ON BACK BILLING The Consumer Council has welcomed new rules designed by the Utility Regulator to limit the length of time electricity and gas companies can back bill domestic and microbusiness consumers. Under the new rules, which go live on October 1, energy companies may only back date consumers 13 months for outstanding amounts where there has been a supplier fault in calculating the correct amount the consumer has to pay. This is often caused when a meter is not read and an estimate is used. Currently suppliers can go back by up to six years.

APPOINTMENTS

GROCERYAID APPOINTS THREE NEW TRUSTEES Ruston Smith, chairman of GroceryAid Trustees.

roceryAid has been at the heart of the food and drink industry for 160 years supporting colleagues through challenges. The charity has appointed three new trustees to its Board in 2020: Mark McKenzie, group sales director, Nestle UK & Ireland; Dawood Pervez, managing director, Bestway; and Rhian Bartlett, Sainsbury’s director of fresh foods. The charity is overseen by 16 trustees who are responsible for legal and statutory compliance and the development and

growth of the charity. McKenzie has been with Nestle for 20 years, prior to which he trained with Marks and Spencer and John Lewis, followed by stints with Mars UK and Coca-Cola Enterprises. “I am delighted to work with GroceryAid as we continue to build the supporter base and raise funds across our industry, to enable us to help all colleagues who need the charity’s support,” he said. Pervez was appointed to the role of managing director of Bestway in 2018,

THESE ARE IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS FOR GROCERYAID AND FURTHER ENHANCE THE TALENT WE HAVE TO DRAW ON AT THE CHARITY. IT’S FANTASTIC TO HAVE A TEAM OF TRUSTEES OF THIS CALIBRE. having been elected to the Board of Directors of Bestway Group in 2004. In addition to driving progressive digital platforms to define the future of the sector, Dawood set up the Group Export Division, which established trade links to over 20 countries and was awarded the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for Export in 2012. Pervez said: “Having been a member of GroceryAid’s Presidents Fundraising Committee, I have seen first-hand the innovation to drive income growth from events like our Barcode Festival. We are still at the beginning of an ongoing journey and I look forward to helping develop these further.” Bartlett is a retailer with over 20 years’ experience. She re-joined Sainsbury’s last year from Screwfix, where she was customer and digital director. Bartlett said: “GroceryAid plays such an important part in the welfare of many grocery colleagues and I am delighted to be joining the charity. I look forward to being able to contribute to sustaining their growth at a time of great challenge for the industry.” Ruston Smith, chairman of GroceryAid Trustees, said: “These are important appointments for GroceryAid and further enhance the talent we have to draw on at the charity. It’s fantastic to have a team of Trustees of this calibre.”

SHELFLIFE

To see your product featured in Shelf Life, contact Chris Keenan at c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk or Tel: 028 9026 4267

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NEW BROTHS OFFER A BOOST FOR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

arol’s Stock Market, a Derry specialist in natural bone stocks and broths, is launching two new broths following a collaboration with celebrity chef Paula McIntyre.

The latest broths from the small business are a vegan-friendly Mushroom Broth with organic miso and ginger with the distinctive flavours of Wild Atlantic seaweed and Ballyhoura mushroom umami from Limerick, and a Cottage Bone Broth with free-range pork, turkey and chicken. Carol Banahan, the founder and managing director of Carol’s Stock Market, has recently expanded into bigger premises to meet growing demand in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain for its portfolio of natural products. “The mushroom broth has both delicate and robust flavours, while the cottage broth is full of protein and

MEAT MERCHANT LAUNCHES ORIGINAL SAUCES FOR RICHER FLAVOURS

he Meat Merchant, the retail arm of award-winning producer Hannan Meats, has launched the first eight in a planned portfolio of quality sauces. The sauces have been created as the perfect accompaniment for the Moira-based company’s wide range of meats acclaimed for their rich flavours and collecting a host of national and international quality awards including a record haul of 28 UK Great Taste awards from the hugely influential Guild of Fine Food. The original recipe sauces have been developed in association with experienced chef Paul Clarke of En Place Food in Cookstown, another business in the Hannan stable which has won a string of UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. All the new products, which include M1 Steak, Habanero Hot, Sweet Chilli, Buffalo Wing and Rib, are available in 255g bottles under The Meat Merchant Serious about Meat brand. In addition, a fresh tomato sauce has been created for use with pasta dishes or pizza. The Meat Merchant has been developing the sauce for sourdough balls from Zac’s Bakehouse near Ballymena in Co Antrim. The artisan bakery supplies sourdough to the Meat Merchant.

collagen and is a very tasty product,” she said. “They are both gluten-free, a feature of all our bone broths and gravies. “Our cottage broth is so versatile and can be used for many different dishes. It is also great for supporting the immune system, especially important at this very challenging time for everyone, as it is super high in collagen at around 14g per pouch.”

GLENISK LAUNCHES NEW QUARK RANGE

lenisk has launched a new range featuring QUARK, a multifunctional health food supporting gut health through the exclusive culture Lactobacillus Rhamnoses. Each pot is 0% fat, high in protein, a source of fibre, high in Vitamin D, contains no added sugar and is made with fresh Irish milk and real fruit. New Glenisk QUARK comes in four flavours – Luscious Mixed Berry, Mango & Passionfruit, Coconut & Vanilla and Perfect Peach – and includes from only 53 calories per pot. The range includes multipack 4 x 100g and individual 150g servings and is available now from selected SuperValu and Centra stores. Glenisk’s QUARK range is made using grass-fed Irish milk and, and is free from artificial additives, flavourings, and synthetic ingredients. “At Glenisk, we want to offer the very best products to our customers and believe in food-first nutrition for a healthy lifestyle,” said Vincent Cleary, managing director of Glenisk. “Our latest Quark range offers so many health benefits while remaining a nutritious and flavoursome snack.”

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WANT YOUR COMPANY TO GET NOTICED? ADVERTISE HERE... CONTACT CHRIS KEENAN ON 028 9264 4267 OR EMAIL:

c.keenan@ independentmagazinesni.co.uk

GROCER ULSTER

Over 45 years at the heart of the Northern Ireland food industry

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Q&A TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I am an ex-chef who now works in speciality food production. I run En Place Foods in Cookstown and CRAIC Foods in Craigavon. As well as MD, I also undertake most of the NPD work for both businesses.

IN THE HOT SEAT PAUL CLARKE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, EN PLACE FOODS

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY INVOLVE? Very varied. Both En Place and CRAIC are small businesses, but are very innovationfocused. I don’t recall a time when I haven’t had a product development project running either for ourselves or for one of the many clients we now work with so, as well as the general operational demands, some part of the day will always involve recipe or process development. In lockdown, we also started craicfoods.com, an online speciality food store which is primarily an outlet for direct selling the products of the start-up brands we work with and developing/managing this is currently a daily task. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Hard to pick a particular highlight, there have been lots of good and also some very tough times. I tend to celebrate the small victories rather than particular big moments; what seems like an important celebratory achievement has usually only come about because of the often hard won small wins along the way. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The biggest part of our business is to foodservice and being speciality focused, we never stand still. There is always an unexplored kitchen technique or a chef doing something new that warrants investigation. It’s an excuse to indulge in the latest cookbooks from some the world’s leading chefs and for a bit of fine dining a couple of times a year. WHAT IS YOUR MOST DIFFICULT TASK? Time management. WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? The Eisenhower principle: ‘most things which are urgent are not important, and things which are important are not urgent’. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST GRIPE? Food waste. It’s estimated that a staggering 15m tonnes of food produced 66

is lost or wasted every year in the UK. It’s a paradox that the industry has this enormous amount of waste and yet a growing percentage of households still struggle to buy sufficient healthy food to eat. Given the land resources, time and effort that go into food production, it appears we don’t seem especially concerned about dropping tonnes of the stuff into landfill to pump out greenhouse gas instead of feeding the people who need ít most. There have rightly been various campaigns for retailers to stock wonky veg etc, but I believe there needs to be more education on the true value of food.

I’m also of the opinion that the integrity of food production doesn’t have to be diluted when scaled. Countries such as Italy and France with long historical food cultures have proved the ‘giant artisan’ food producer model and I see no reason why some of our unique Northern Irish brands can’t do the same.

WHAT TALENT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? Teleportation would be handy; could settle for just between Cookstown and Craigavon.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD PRODUCT? No single ingredient as I always see food as more than just the individual product; it’s contextual and so many other factors influence the experience. If I am in the Channel Islands, it’s lobster and oysters, at home it’s a tomato from the greenhouse at the end of summer, and on a wet weekend in Donegal, bacon and cabbage is favourite for a day.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS/ AMBITIONS? Some of the small brands we work with have great potential and for the ones that are up for the challenge, I’d like them to grow with us. There are some truly world-class artisan food producers in Northern Ireland and while many may wish to remain lifestyle or smallscale enterprises, there are a few who I know have the ambition to do more.

WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? Anyone who gives it their best shot. WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE? The Channel Islands, Jersey, I get there whenever I can.

HOW DO YOU RELAX? A trip to Queen’s Film Theatre when I get the opportunity. Other than that, good food, wine, music, time with the family and frequent dog walks.