www.retailnews.ie|January/February 2012|Contents|3
Contents New Beginnings? 2012 began with the welcome news of a grocery uplift during the festive season 2011, and thankfully, the mild weather meant that we had no snow or ice, keeping consumers from our stores, unlike last January. However, this wouldn’t be the Irish FMCG market without some form of controversy and this time around, it is the results of not one but two Governmentcommissioned studies into the misuse of alcohol, from the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. Both studies have predictably come up with wildly inappropriate, overthe-top reactions that fly in the face of personal freedom in favour of a Nanny State that restricts access to a legal product to all because of the actions of a minority, in a sector where 99% of retailers are already acting responsibly and policed effectively. Our Chief News Reporter, Pavel Barter delves into the issue (Page 4), gauging reaction from the retail trade to yet another threat to its livelihood. Meanwhile, the Government’s decision to increasing VAT and excise on tobacco products is “sheer lunacy”, which is costing jobs, writes Benny Gilsenan, Spokesman, Retailers Against Smuggling (Page 26). In a hard-hitting report into the illegal trade and its affects on legitimate retailers, Gilsenan further argues that failure to tackle the problem of illegal tobacco sales cost the public finances €435m in 2010 and made for a loss to retailers of €575m in the same year. He calls on Finance Minister, Michael Noonan TD to act now before it is too late. Finally, our annual Retail News Commercial Transport supplement once again sees Motoring Correspondent Padraic Deane reporting on the latest news across the van sector, including revealing the Continental Irish Van of the Year, the Volkswagen Crafter (Page 28).
News
4
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Retailers Fuming over Government Reports on Alcohol Sales.
28 Seafood
16 BIM’s Seafood Circle Awards saw the finest supermarket seafood counters and specialist seafood retailers rewarded for their endeavours. But the real rewards include soaring seafood sales across the winning stores.
4 5
BWG Upgrades Customer Service Systems; Bord Bia Launch Mentoring Programme.
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Tesco, SuperValu and Dunnes Outperform Market; Retail Lettings Looking Up; New CEO at Topaz.
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12 Money spent at a
Kathleen Belton Editorial & Marketing Director
locally owned grocery store has a bigger impact on the local economy than that spent in a foreignowned multiple, according to a new report by economist Jim Power.
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has been named National Off Licence of the Year at the NOffLA Off Licence Awards.
Tobacco Smuggling
26 The Government’s decision to increase VAT and excise on tobacco products is “sheer lunacy”, which is costing jobs, writes Benny Gilsenan, Spokesman, Retailers Against Smuggling.
38 Shelf Life
38 The latest news and gossip from the trade.
Regulars 8 Industry News 36 Market News
T A R A Managing Director: Fergus Farrell Editorial & Marketing Director: Kathleen Belton
Poolbeg House, 1/2 Poolbeg Street, Dublin 2.
Editor: John Walshe
Tel: (01) 2413095 Fax: (01) 2413010
Advertising: Kathleen Belton
kathleen@tarapublishingco.com
Web: www.retailnews.ie Email: retailnews@tarapublishingco.com
Pat Murray
pat@tarapublishingco.com
Subscription to Retail News: e95 plus VAT Email: aoife@tarapublishingco.com
Adrian Murphy
adrian@tarapublishingco.com
Origination by: Rooney Media Graphics
Chief News Reporter: Pavel Barter Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen
Correspondent Padraic Deane presents the annual Retail News Commercial Transport Supplement, including news on the Irish Van of the Year 2012, Renault’s new electric Kangoo ZE and Mercedes’ new van purchase finance scheme.
35 Redmond’s of Ranelagh
Published by: Tara Publishing Co. Ltd.,
johnwalshe@tarapublishingco.com
28 Motoring
NOffLA Off Licence Awards
XL Store of the Year; Appointment at Retail Ireland; Marketplace International 2012.
Special Report
Commercial Transport
Printed by: W&G Baird
Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.
Sectoral Reports 22 Healthy Options 32 Paper Products