ShelfLife April Issue

LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED GROCERY TRADE CIRCULATION IN IRELAND

April 2022

LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED GROCERY TRADE CIRCULATION IN IRELAND

April 2022

C-store awards 2021 Spar/Texaco, Junction 14 crowned Supreme Champion

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Ireland’s pride All the deserving c-store winners on the night

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Hero brands Retailers vote for brands that helped drive growth in 2021

CONVENIENCE RETAILING • OFF-TRADE • SUPERMARKETS • NEWSAGENCY • FORECOURT

C-Store Awards 2021 Special supplement inside celebrates Ireland’s leading convenience stores

one year on for nearby

S&W Wholesale MD Michael Skelton reveals plans for further growth

Going against the grain Following the recent sharp run-up in grain prices, Dan White asks if we are on the cusp of a food price explosion?

CONVENIENCE RETAILING • OFF-TRADE • SUPERMARKETS • NEWSAGENCY • FORECOURT

Jason McSteen E: jmcsteen@sandwni.com T: 086 604 0474

Never too f r from home

OPINION 3

ShelfLife April 2022 Vol. 29 No.4

A retail rollercoaster: Costs up but card payments down!

Editor GILLIAN HAMILL (01) 294 7776 gillian.hamill@mediateam.ie Staff journalist JULIA O’REILLY (01) 294 7709 julia.oreilly@mediateam.ie Contributors CAROLINE REIDY FIONNUALA CAROLAN BARRY WHELAN COLIN GORDON Head of business IAN MULVANEY (01) 294 7766 ian.mulvaney@mediateam.ie Account manager MARK MORGAN (01) 294 7767 mark.morgan@mediateam.ie Circulation subs@mediateam.ie Publisher JOHN McDONALD (01) 294 7744 john.mcdonald@mediateam.ie Printing W & G Baird Ltd ShelfLife is a controlled circulation magazine, available to selected individuals with interests in the retail and wholesale grocery trade, who fall within the publisher’s terms of control.

For those outside these terms, annual subscription is €98.00 including postage & packing.

Unsurprisingly, price increases are at the forefront of many minds this month.

Not least of which is the latest announcement by Newspread. In a letter to retailers, the distributor said a weekly surcharge of €2.20 in the Republic and £2 in Northern Ireland, will apply to invoices from 17 April. Newspread attributed this increase to the rise in the price of fuel and noted it is a temporary measure that will be removed “once conditions allow”. ShelfLife will be reporting on this issue in further detail within next month’s issue. Meanwhile, Dan White discusses the wider ramifications of price increases on page 14.

Another worrying incident which occurred during the past month, was the technical problem that occurred at payments company Opayo. This resulted in an eight-hour outage of card payments on 21 March and caused extensive problems in supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol forecourts – with the SuperValu network of shops being impacted. While we often hear about the rise of contactless payments – a movement undoubtedly bolstered by the Covid-19 crisis – perhaps the forecasted demise of cash has been considerably exaggerated? No doubt those with in-store ATMs on the day in question reflected on the truth of the old adage that ‘Cash is King’ after all!

In more cheerful news, this month’s issue contains a special supplement on the postponed ShelfLife C-Store Awards 2021. Perhaps you might even spy yourself letting your hair down on the night!

Gillian Hamill, editor, ShelfLife magazine

Contents April 39

18

50

62

COVER STORY 22

On the up: Michael Skelton, MD of S&W Wholesale outlines plans for growth with the opening of a new distribution hub, building on the success of the Nearby retail brand one year after launching

NEWS&ANALYSIS Managing Director JOHN McDONALD; Sales Director PAUL BYRNE Operations Director BILLY HUGGARD Published monthly by Mediateam Ltd., 55 Spruce Avenue, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

A94 RP22 Telephone (01) 294 7776 Fax (01) 294 7799 ISSN: 1393 0753

Circulation audited by Audit Bureau of Circulations.

ShelfLife is a member of Magazines Ireland

4 6 16 66

News grid Seen and heard CSNA news NOffLA news

FEATURES&REPORTS 14 Against the grain: Russia’s

invasion of Ukraine has triggered a spike in grain prices that threatens to turn the current energy-driven inflation into a more deep-rooted 1970s-style stagflation, writes Dan White

18 Centra store profile: Retailer Mark Power tells ShelfLife about

the launch of Centra Millers Glen

in Swords and how they are showcasing new concepts for the brand

24 ShelfLife C-Store Awards

2021: All the coverage from the 2021 gala awards ceremony including insights and profiles on the winners

32 In it to win it: Fionnuala

Carolan speaks to overall winner Gavin Moran of Spar/Texaco, Junction 14 about overcoming all obstacles to bring home the Supreme Champion Award

ADVISOR 10 Recruitment: Encouraging an

employee to reconsider resigning can save a company a lot of

time and money, writes Barry Whelan of Excel Recruitment 12 HR: Caroline Reidy explains how to use and not abuse fixed term contracts 68 Marketing: Colin Gordon looks as how to achieve a balance between art and science when it comes to effective marketing

MARKETING& CATEGORY FOCUS 50 58 62 70

Irish whiskey Alternative protein Sugar confectionery Market movers

4

NEWS

NEWSGRID The top news stories in FMCG

and retail from across Ireland

Asda launches one-hour grocery personal shopper service with Buymie

Pret A Manger to expand into Ireland

Asda has launched a new delivery trial where customers can communicate directly with a ‘personal shopper’ whilst in store and get their big shop brought to them in as little as an hour. Customers in Leeds and Bristol can now access Asda’s full online range of products as part of a partnership with on-demand delivery platform, Buymie. The trial will be available in selected postcodes within a three-mile radius of 10 Asda stores and could be rolled out further if successful.

Pret A Manger is to expand into Ireland for the first time as part of a deal with franchise partner Carebrook Partnership Ltd. Through the partnership, 20 Pret shops will be established across the island of Ireland over the next decade, creating approximately 500 jobs, with the first shop set to open on Dawson Street in Dublin this summer, creating 25 jobs in the city.

Those interested in joining Pret should visit the website: www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/pret-jobs.

Grocery inflation grows private label share The end of Covid restrictions has coincided with price rises across the high street, and grocery inflation now stands at 3.7% which is the highest level since October 2013, according to Kantar. “Private label’s share of the grocery market is on the rise and has grown by 1.2% since last year. Retailers’ own lines now account for 46.3% of total grocery sales,” says Emer Healy, senior retail analyst at Kantar.

Londis wins Eir Spider Award Londis has won the Best B2C category at the Eir Spider Awards 2022 for its national advertising and social media campaign, ‘Overheard in Londis’, featuring Liam and Des. This award recognises Londis’ submission as a compelling, provocative B2C campaign that successfully drove brand awareness. Established in 1996, the Spider Awards are dedicated to recognising companies and individuals driving digital excellence.

Retail associations raise payment services outages with Central Bank RGDATA has called on the Central Bank to urgently review the back-up services provided by payment service providers in the case of outages, saying there is a significant business impact on supermarkets and convenience stores when cashless systems crash. “Recently we have seen a significant outage from a card payments company (Opayo) which caused significant disruption among retailers,” said RGDATA director general Tara Buckley.

RGDATA requested details of the measures that the Central Bank is taking to ensure that payment services providers have appropriate contingency arrangements in place to prevent outages. The CSNA has also called on the Central Bank to investigate the payment system outage.

Fyffes opens new €25 million banana ripening centre in Balbriggan A new banana ripening and distribution centre, owned and operated by Irish banana distributors, Fyffes has opened and commenced operations in Balbriggan, North County Dublin. Representing an investment

by Fyffes in the order of €25 million, the new centre will have an output of over 7 million bananas per week, all for supply to Irish retailers, wholesalers and food providers, north and south.

Irish take-home grocery sales decline by 7.7% Irish supermarket sales fell by 7.3% over the 12 weeks to 20 March 2022, the latest takehome grocery figures from Kantar show.

Sales are still up on 2020, although only by 1.3% as the comparison now includes the record demand for groceries before the first national lockdown in March 2020. In the latest four week period sales have declined by 7.7% due to the rise in out of home consumption.

New website launched to help Irish businesses welcome Ukrainians In a not-for-profit initiative, The Tech For Good Dublin community has launched a new website, Pryvit.ie which enables Irish businesses to welcome refugees escaping from Ukraine. Pryvit means hello in Ukrainian and the aim of the site is to allow people who have been displaced by the war to access special offers and discounted goods listed by Irish businesses. For more information, visit https://techforgooddublin.org/.

Sick pay: CSNA says retailers should not face ‘double-whammy’ The CSNA reports that it will continue to monitor and seek amendments to those sections of the recently announced Sick Leave Bill that affect employers in the service sector disproportionately. The bill makes mandatory the payment to any employee at a rate no less than 70% of the rate for the day(s) absent. As the CSNA points out, an absence of a colleague necessitates a call-up of a replacement making it a “double-whammy” payment. ■

For more details on all the above and the latest grocery-related news as it happens, visit www.shelflife.ie.

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

6

SEEN AND HEARD

Aryzta poised to double sourdough and speciality bread capacity at Grange Castle bakery Aryzta is currently in the final stages of completing the installation of a new speciality bread manufacturing plant at its Grange Castle bakery in Dublin. The investment which includes a significant expansion of its state-of-the-art live sourdough starter plant, will result in a doubling of capacity for the production of sourdough and speciality breads. The project, supported by Enterprise Ireland, will result in additional capacity for both its Irish and UK customers.

Demand for sourdough bread has shown significant growth in recent years and the increased capacity will enable Aryzta to keep pace with this growing trend. This expansion will also allow for the development of exciting new products to meet the ever more complex tastes of Irish and UK consumers.

All the specialty and sourdough breads produced at the Grange Castle bakery are made using a perpetual live starter which has 30 years of heritage in the business. This starter is used

Anthony Proctor, managing director, Aryzta Ireland/UK; Kieran Rumley, CEO, Love Irish Food; Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia and Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

Ireland’s largest grocery shopper study goes live with Shopper Intelligence’s 2022 programme Shopper Intelligence, the leader in large scale, global shopper insight studies, has completed the data collection for the latest wave of its Irish programme and will report its fifth year of Irish grocery insights to clients from late April onwards.

Almost 30,000 Irish shoppers have been interviewed over the past five months to understand the ‘why’ behind their purchasing decisions, for over 150 categories and across the key grocery, discounter and convenience retailers.

Since its launch in Ireland five years ago, Shopper Intelligence has been steadily building a reputation as the go-to source for understanding Irish shopper behaviour, perceptions and satisfaction. The unique shopper insights delivered over the last four years have provided suppliers with much needed data to support category planning, and Irish retailers are increasingly recognising Shopper Intelligence‘s powerful ability, in conjunction with other data sources, to drive category and store growth.

“It will be fascinating to see, in this year’s dataset, how Irish shopper behaviour has changed as we move out of the ‘pandemic years’ and into a new phase of uncertainty and price pressures,“ said Colm Rooney, country manager for Shopper Intelligence Ireland.

“Or in fact, will it show us that some behaviours have not changed and have actually bedded in over the past two years? We really look forward to figuring this out, category by category, retailer by retailer, with our clients over the coming weeks and Shopper Intelligence is the only international benchmarking months, and building these category stories into their system built on what shoppers plans for the year.” think, want and do

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

and regenerated on a daily basis at the Grange Castle bakery, creating the unique and distinctive flavour of the Aryzta premium sourdough breads.

This announcement follows the 2020 Grange Castle investment which saw the installation and commissioning of Aryzta’s ‘Next Generation Stress Free French Bread’ baking capability, producing the highest quality French bread available on the market today.

“This expansion is an important step on the Aryzta journey to premiumise our bread range and to align the business with the consumer demand for breads with high nutritional value, fibre, seeds, grains and of course sourdough,” said Anthony Proctor, managing director of Aryzta Ireland/UK. Aryzta Ireland is the owner of the popular Cuisine de France brand which recently celebrated 32 years in the Irish market.

Velo Coffee sponsors ‘Brew for BUMBLEance’ fundraiser Established in 2013, BUMBLEance had one vision, to provide transportation services for children affected by serious and life-limiting conditions in a fun and safe environment.

The official children’s national ambulance service of Ireland, BUMBLEance All of the proceeds from the ‘Brew for provides safe and BUMBLEance’ coffee morning fundraiser will comfortable go towards BUMBLEance transportation for Ireland’s youngest patients as they travel between their homes and hospitals, hospices, treatment centres, and respite centres nationwide.

The service is totally free for service users.

This year, BUMBLEance has launched a coffee morning campaign titled ‘Brew for BUMBLEance’. Organisations, schools, communities, and individuals from all over Ireland are invited to host your own ‘Brew for BUMBLEance’ coffee morning in aid of BUMBLEance and help raise much-needed funds for Ireland’s youngest patients.

BUMBLEance is delighted to have Velo Coffee come on board to sponsor the event.

“We at Velo Coffee Roasters are delighted to be involved with ‘Brew for BUMBLEance’,” said Rob Horgan, owner of Velo Coffee Roasters. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to help raise funds, so we can continue to bring joy and comfort to some of Ireland’s most critically ill children.”

Velo Coffee has kindly donated a selection of coffees that BUMBLEance will be distributing to those who sign up to host a coffee morning. Additionally, celebrity chef and BUMBLEance ambassador Aoife Noonan has provided recipes that are ideal for people to create for their coffee mornings. BUMBLEance has made the recipes readily available on its website as part of the digital fundraising kit that people can choose to receive once they sign up.

You can find out more information about the event on the BUMBLEance website and ‘Register your Brew’ at www.bumbleance.com/brewforbumbleance.

ICY FRESH MOMINT

For more information go to:

WWW.NORDICSPIRIT.IE nordicspirit_ie This product contains nicotine.

Nicotine is an addictive substance.

nordicspiritie

8

SEEN AND HEARD

SuperValu launches 2022 TidyTowns competition Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys has launched the 2022 SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

Since it first took place in 1958, the competition has grown from strength to strength. This year, we Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys with will see some new and Ian Allen, managing director, SuperValu exciting awards with great prizes, including an award on bat conservation, redesigned awards on climate action and air quality and the continuation of the Young Persons in TidyTowns award.

“Seeing the competition back to its normal cycle is very welcome news and no doubt thousands of TidyTowns volunteers across the country are thrilled to see the competition back in full swing,” said Minister Humphreys.

This year marks SuperValu’s 31st year of sponsoring the competition, and SuperValu MD Ian Allen commented on its impressive growth over the years.

“There is a great opportunity to continue the evolution of SuperValu TidyTowns,” he said, “enabling us to engage and empower people around the country to create sustainable communities, recognising the value of our biodiversity, and coming together to play our part in response to climate change.”

The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competition is 20 May. For more information visit: www.tidytowns.ie.

ATMs from Point Cash by Brinks offer market-leading branding solutions Many retailers have begun offering a host of in-store services to drive footfall and generate repeat business. Banking is a key part of this strategy, giving consumers secure access to their cash in a trusted environment.

Point Cash by Brinks, the world’s largest cash management company with over 180,000 ATMs in 34 countries, offers marketleading ATM branding solutions to help retailers can engage with their customers.

Brinks offers features such as ATM wrapping, branding, and on-screen promotions.

Flash animation or even video can also be shown to enhance the customer experience. Beaconing can target customers with instant offers to their mobiles on entry to a store, and receipt printing ensures they can have additional offers and QR code upselling.

With the Central Bank of Ireland predicting that the demand for cash will grow between 4-8% in 2022, Brinks, the world’s largest cash ATMs will further enhance the management company, has over 180,000 ATMs in 34 countries destination value of your store.

SuperValu’s ‘Tap to Donate’ fundraiser returned for World Autism Month

BAT Ireland helps retailers prevent youth access to nicotine products

SuperValu’s ‘Tap to Donate’ fundraising drive took place in stores last month to raise funds for the AsIAm Community Support Team.

The team provides a range of direct supports to autistic people and their families including the AsIAm Autism Information Line, the AsIAm Advice Clinics Programme and the AsIAm Seminar Series which is directly sponsored by SuperValu.

Running from 7 to 10 April, SuperValu encouraged its customers to tap to donate €2 at the till when making any purchase to support autism inclusion during World Autism Month.

The World Autism Month theme for the not-for-profit is ‘Same Chance’, which highlighted the barriers autistic people still regularly identify and endure across the areas of social, education and professionalism in society today.

In 2021 over €50,000 was raised during the SuperValu fundraising campaign and all The initiative raised funds for money went directly to the AsIAm, which provides a range AsIAm Community Support of direct supports to autistic people and their families Team.

Verify, BAT Ireland’s Youth Access Prevention (YAP) programme, provides retailers with display materials and information on how to prevent their tobacco and vapour products from being accessed by those under 18.

The company created Verify to give support and practical information to retailers and staff to ensure it was playing its part in preventing youth access to nicotine-containing products.

Some people over 18 look younger than their age. That is BAT Ireland’s tobacco and why it is important to ask for a Vuse vapour products are valid ID if you think a customer for adult users only looking to purchase tobacco or a vapour product is under 25.

If this happens you should: • Seek proof of age before purchase of any nicotine-containing product • Ensure the ID provided is a valid ID • Refuse if they are not over 18 or if they do not produce a valid ID BAT Ireland’s tobacco and Vuse vapour products are for adult users only. If you have any questions about Verify or need more POS materials, contact your BAT Ireland trade representative. ■

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

r u o y n o t s i A tw s r u o v a l f e t i favour

LIFE’S WONDERFUEL

10

ADVISOR: Recruitment

The true cost of replacing an employee BARRY WHELAN

managing director of Excel Recruitment

www.excelrecruitment.com

Encouraging an employee to reconsider their decision to resign from a company, can help save a great deal of time and money further down the line, writes Excel Recruitment’s Barry Whelan

I

reland is in the midst of the ‘Great Resignation’ with employers witnessing a higher churn in employees than most can recall. We know there is a staff crisis in hospitality, but there is also a looming crisis for labour in the retail, industrial, warehousing, transport, and heath sectors. Workers are leaving their jobs in record numbers and new roles, due to demand caused by the re-opening of society, are being registered at a faster rate than we have ever witnessed in Excel Recruitment. This is leaving businesses scrambling to replace employees, often at a major cost to the business.

Job postings consistently rising The trajectory of job postings for the retail sector is on a consistent upward trend, having more than doubled from 1,578 in February 2021 to 4,258 in February 2022 (data courtesy of Indeed). Retail will be the next sector to be faced with a serious and damaging staffing crisis, akin to that currently being suffered in hospitality.

The industry data paints a stark picture – between 2019 and 2021, the number of retail job seekers per retail job vacancy had been increasing year-

“Management need to understand the total cost of ownership in employee disengagement and attrition before making a decision not to try to retain talent,” writes Barry Whelan

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

on-year. However, since then it has dipped significantly and in February 2022 there were 39 job seekers per job, down from 78 job seekers per job in February 2021. What’s more, the number of employers with active retail job vacancies has now nearly tripled in the 12 months to February 2022 when it stood at 1,360 employers - up from 488 employers in February 2021.

Re-evaluating priorities Following the pandemic, we’ve seen thousands of workers change careers, upskill in their current industry, and/or just make the decision to strive for a better work-life balance.

That dynamic, combined with the fact that the industry has also missed out on approximately two years of new candidate intakes - due to workers either leaving the sector during Covid because of lockdowns and working restrictions, or indeed leaving the country - has left supply as a major issue, which continues to deteriorate.

the true cost Depending on the complexity and seniority of a role, the actual or real cost of employee turnover can be estimated to be between 33% to a whopping 200% of the employee’s annual salary.

Before allowing an employee to resign without any effort to get them to reconsider, employers should be aware of all the possible costs of replacing an employee.

The more obvious costs such as advertising, the recruitment process, executive and human resource professionals’ time spent interviewing, recruitment agency costs, background or reference checks, rejection of unsuccessful applicants or indeed interim temporary workers hired to plug a hole, all add up to a considerable number of man hours and burn rate interviewing.

But these are not the only costs; you must consider lost productivity, lost sales, lost turnover, lost knowledge,

and new hire learning errors along with training time. These are the hidden costs of losing good employees.

Whiplash changes The talent market has undergone whiplash-like change in the last 18 months, with companies shedding their workforce last spring and then spinning into a hiring frenzy this summer. It’s no surprise that many employees are looking for new opportunities or at least re-valuating their career priorities.

Oftentimes, when an employee looks to leave, they should not be retained, because fresh talent can add unmeasurably to a business. However, management need to understand the total cost of ownership in employee disengagement and attrition before making a decision not to try to retain talent.

‘stay’ interviews There are two recent trends that are worth looking at. The first is the ‘stay’ interview. Here, instead of the usual six-monthly appraisal, companies engage with employees asking them why they continue to work for them and what they need to continue to do so.

Intercom, the Irish-founded tech communications platform with more than 800 employees, is a great example of this, with managers holding special meetings with each of their team members encouraging them to stay.

Boomerang employees The second trend is boomerang employees: employees who return after leaving a company. A new LinkedIn Workforce Insights survey shows that this keeps rising.

Boomerang recruits amounted to 4.3% of all job switches last year, up from less than 2% in 2010, according to LinkedIn data. Fully trained, culturally compatible employees returning to their employer can’t be a bad thing! ■

12

ADVISOR: HR

What you need to know: Fixed term contracts

Fixed term contracts can prove useful when completing projects with a clear deadline or during busy periods, but it is essential to ensure their use is not abused, as The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy outlines here

CAROLINE REIDY

managing director, The HR Suite

F

ixed term contracts are governed under the protection of employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003. The purpose of the act is to ensure that fixed term workers are not treated less favorably than permanent employees in addition to establishing a framework to prevent abuses arising from the use of successive fixed term contracts.

What is a fixed term worker?

A fixed term employee is someone who: • Is employed under a contract which contains a specific start and end date or, • Who is employed to carry out a specific task or project or, • The continuity of whose contract is contingent on a particular event such as the availability of continued funding from an external source.

When offered?

A fixed term contract would be offered in the following instances: • When sourcing cover for an employee who is out on maternity leave, adoptive leave, long term sick leave or any other period of absence from work.

• When you require an employee to assist in working on a specific project that would have a clear timeline.

• During busy periods for the business, e.g., Easter, Summer, Christmas, etc. where there is a clear deadline.

Before the end date of employment stated within a fixed term contract, the employer must meet with the employee and confirm their contract is coming to an end

Comparison with permanent staff Effectively there is no difference between a permanent employee and a fixed term employee.

Employees on a fixed term contract must be treated in the same manner as permanent staff members. For example, employees with fixed term contracts have the normal entitlement to annual leave (holidays), maternity leave, and wage slips.

Duration An employee can have a number of fixed term contracts provided that the combined duration of those contracts does not exceed four years. This applies unless the employer can show that there is an ‘objective justification’ for doing so.

After this, if the employer wishes the employee to continue, it must be with a contract of indefinite duration.

Recruitment for a permanent position

CONTACT THE HR SUITE:

If you require further information or advice on HR, please do not hesitate to contact The HR Suite’s consultants on (01) 9014335 or (066) 7102887 or email the company at info@thehrsuiteonline.com.

What happens when a permanent position arises in a company which has employees on fixed term contracts?

Section 10 of the act obliges an employer to inform a fixed term employee in relation to vacancies which become available in the workplace. This ensures that the employee shall have the same opportunity to secure a permanent position as other employees.

Renewal Section 8 of the act obliges an employer when renewing a fixed term contract to inform the employee in writing. This

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

letter must outline the reasons for the renewal and the failure to offer a contract of indefinite duration. This must be done at the latest by the date of the renewal.

non-renewal A fixed term contract should state the end date of the employment. Prior to this date, the employer must meet with the employee and confirm that the fixed term contract is coming to an end.

This meeting should be conducted with the notice required to be given to the employee. For example: if my fixed term contract is coming to an end and I have worked with the company for six months covering a sick leave absence, then this meeting should be held with me one week in advance of my employment ending.

After this meeting, the employer must furnish the employee with a written statement that the fixed term contract is coming to an end and will not be renewed. It is advised to have this letter ready in advance so that it can be finalised after the meeting to include any additional points and given to the employee that day.

This letter must be given before the finish date and employers must furnish the employee with the relevant notice in line with the minimum notice and terms of Employment Acts 1973 – 2005. Reasons for the termination should ideally be as per the reason the fixed term contract was commenced.

expiry If a company does not meet with the employee and inform them of the fixed term contract coming to an end and put this in writing prior to the expiry of the fixed term contract, then this automatically becomes a contract of indefinite duration.

Continuous service The Unfair Dismissal Act contains a provision aimed at ensuring that successive temporary contracts are not used in order to avoid continuous service legislation.

Where a fixed-term or specified-purpose contract expires and the individual is re-employed within three months, the individual is deemed to have continuous service.

top tips • The start date and end date should be clearly defined in the contract.

• Keep track of any employees on a fixed term contract to ensure that contracts do not expire and that employees are met within the right frame times.

• Ensure fixed term employees received the correct written statements when renewing or not renewing a fixed term contract.

• The duration of the fixed term contracts should not exceed four years.

• Employees on a fixed term contract should be treated the same as permanent employees. ■

Point Cash by Brinks, the world’s largest cash management company is changing instore banking!

ATMs by Point Cash by Brinks offer market leading branding solutions to ensure you can engage with your customers, with features like:

• ATM wrapping and branding Ensures your brand is clean and clear.

• Beaconing targets customers

Instant offers direct to customer’s mobiles on entry to your stores.

• On-screen promotions with imaging • Receipt printing

Additional offers and QR code upselling.

Driving impulse and offer driven sales.

• Flash animation or video

Can also be shown to enhance the customer experience.

• Irish based helpdesk

Best In class, full-service helpdesk.

This transformation means, the customer journey is even more enjoyable, and our ATMs will enhance the destination value of your stores.

A real ally, some research has suggested that basket spend can increase by up to 65% when there’s an ATM with marketing.

Contact: Arrange an appointment to see how you can re-engage with your customers by calling: Will Caffrey, Business Development Manager, on 01 588 6957 or email will.caffrey@brinkspointcash.ie

www.brinkspointcash.ie

14

OPINION

Dan’s Digest

With Dan White VieWs on the latest eConomiC & politiCal neWs

Going against the grain Unless the recent sharp run-up in grain prices is quickly reversed, we may be on the cusp of a food price explosion, writes Dan White

government has announced a €200 energy price rebate in April for all gas and electricity customers.

Higher energy prices are already feeding through into much higher inflation, even before the higher electricity and gas bills kick in next month. According to the CSO, the consumer price index was up by 5.6% in the year to March, its highest since April 2001.

The European Commission now expects fullyear Irish inflation to hit 4.6%, surely an under-estimate.

We’ve had sharp increases in energy prices before, most recently in 2018. However, as soon as the market sorts itself out and supply comes back into line with demand, prices fall almost as quickly as they rose and any effect on the overall price level is temporary.

Why should it be any different this time?

Won’t oil and gas prices fall rapidly as soon as our new Iranian, Venezualan and Qatari best friends take advantage of the absence of Russian supplies and flood the market?

While that’s what might happen, it might not be a good idea to bet on it.

Grain prices Ukraine accounts for 8% of total world wheat exports and 18% of barley exports with Russia contributing a further 17% of wheat exports and 13% of barley exports

R

ussia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered a surge in grain prices that threatens to turn the current energydriven inflation spike into a more deep-rooted 1970s-style “stagflation”.

We are by now all familiar with the impact of higher energy prices. Brent crude oil prices have risen from $77 a barrel at the end of 2021 to $108 at the end of last month. Over the same period, the price of natural gas, upon which most of us depend for our electricity, home heating and cooking, has risen from £1.53 to £2.99 a therm on the London ICE market.

Felt on the forecourts The initial impact has been felt on the forecourts with the AA estimating that the average price of a litre of petrol increased from €1.56 in September 2021 to €1.82 in ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

March of this year. The rise in diesel prices has been even steeper, from €1.45 to €1.90.

Dearer fuel has pushed up the cost of filling a 45-litre tank of petrol by €11.70 to €81.90 while the price of a tank of diesel is up by €20.25 to €85.50 And these increases would have been even steeper had it not been for the government’s decision to reduce the excise duty on petrol by 20 cent a litre and by 15 cent on diesel from 9 March.

impact on utilities As most utility rates are adjusted annually, the impact on electricity and gas bills was slower to make itself felt. That’s now changing and fast. Electric Ireland has announced that electricity bills will be increased by 23% and gas bills by almost 25% from May. In an effort to soften the blow of higher energy bills, the

Oil and gas aren’t the only commodities to have seen their prices soar in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine accounts for 8% of total world wheat exports and 18% of barley exports with Russia contributing a further 17% of wheat exports and 13% barley exports.

The invasion of Ukraine has sent grain prices soaring with wheat, upon which most of us depend for our daily bread, up more than 50% over the past five months. It is a similar story with barley, maize and soya prices, all of which have also risen by approximately 50% over the same period.

These higher grain prices are what threaten to turn the current temporary energy-driven spike in inflation into something more deeprooted. It’s not just more expensive flour and bread. Dearer wheat also feeds through into dearer pasta and the processed foods, biscuits, cakes, pastries etc for which it is the main ingredient. Higher barley prices quickly translate into dearer booze – barley is the main ingredient in beer and whiskey. Barley is also used to feed animals which means dearer beef

OPINION

while soya is the main feed for poultry and pig farmers, which in turn means more expensive eggs, chicken, pork and bacon.

Just for good measure, natural gas is the main raw material for most fertilisers. This means that fertiliser prices have also soared.

You get the picture, unless the recent sharp run-up in grain prices is quicky reversed, we may be on the cusp of a food price explosion.

Food price explosion How likely is a food price explosion?

Most Ukrainian and Russian grain is planted the previous winter rather than in spring, meaning that the seed is already in the ground.

This means that a quick settlement in Ukraine could see this grain harvested as usual in late summer and prices fall almost as quickly as they rose.

On the other hand, most of this grain is exported through the Ukrainian port of Odesa, which seems to be firmly in Vladimir Putin’s sights. Barring a Pauline conversion on the

Brent crude oil prices have risen from $77 a barrel at the end of 2021 to $108 at the end of last month

Russian tyrant’s part, the smart money must be on very little Ukrainian or Russian grain being exported this autumn.

impact on wages and prices This means that grain prices will remain high at least until the next southern hemisphere harvest in 12 months’ time. Far more likely, is

“The invasion of Ukraine has sent grain prices soaring with wheat, upon which most of us depend for our daily bread, up more than 50% over the past five months.”

15

that higher food prices will have triggered a wage/price explosion long before then. The first indication that this process might already be under way in this country came on 2 April when Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath announced that the government would seek “to engage” with the trade unions on public sector pay.

Under the current pay agreement, public sector pay was increased by 1% in February and was due to rise by a further 1% in October.

When the deal was agreed in December 2020, inflation for this year was projected to be about 2%, not much more than a third of the figure it is currently running at.

With the starting gun having been fired on a renegotiation of the public sector pay deal, how long will it be before private sector workers seek the same treatment as rapidly rising prices erode their spending power also?

Barring a sudden and unexpected fall in commodity prices, not very long at all.

All of which points to rates of inflation last seen during the 1970s and early 1980s. While higher energy prices may have provided the initial trigger for higher inflation rates, it will be higher food prices that result in it becoming embedded into the expectations of consumers and businesses. ■

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www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

16

CSNA NEWS

CSNA NEWS CSNA ADVICE

Beware: Labels can cause you problems Vaping labels

JOHN PAUL LONERGAN National President, CSNA

PRESIDENT’S OPINION

The need for civility in our stores Over the past month we have had an increase of calls to the association in relation to staff in our stores being verbally abused regarding price volatility. I would like to remind members of the public that the staff in our stores are coming into work every day to continue to serve and assist members of the community. I feel that this increase in abuse is misdirected at our staff and our stores. As an association, we have made representations to the government in relation to the recent increases in the prices of fuel as it has been our staff that have taken on the brunt of the anger from the public in regard to these increases.

During the past two years, we have been continuously lauded and praised as heroes, we are still the same people carrying out the same important tasks. More respect and less anger please.

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

There are certain labelling obligations that all retailers of vaping products are obliged by law to ensure are properly affixed and contained in any packaging for vaping. There is a relatively new product range – the disposable vape bar – which some suppliers are providing to retailers without the necessary information affixed. Instead, they are suggesting that the retailer should stick the labels onto the pack themselves: be very careful on this front. You are the obligated person in this matter, and you are the person that will be detected by the EHO if they visit your store and note a noncompliant product.

Alcohol In the next tranche of regulations pertaining to the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, there will be an obligation to display on the label/ container certain pre-approved health warnings. It will be very important that retailers of alcohol produced outside of the country have these obligatory warnings placed on them in advance of their delivery into your premises,

Retailers of vaping products are required by law to ensure certain labelling obligations are properly affixed to all vaping products

whether that is done by the makers, their distributors or wholesalers.

Solid fuels In the course of the last month, we have been made aware from two different parts of the country that compliance officers were bringing to the attention of solid fuel retailers that it is an offence to sell, or offer to sell, any bituminous (“smoky”) coal that does not have the sulphur content printed on

the bag.

Can you ensure that your supplier adheres to this obligation which many parts of the country have now been alerted to since July 2020.

These are: Carrigtwohill, Ashbourne, Rathoath, Donaghmore, Ballina Co. Mayo, Castlebar, Cavan, Cobh, Enniscorthy, Killarney, Longford, Mallow, Middleton, Tramore, and Tullamore.

CSNA TIP OF THE MONTH

CSNA ADVICE

Scam alert!

We have been made aware that a scam, which is as old as the hills, has resurfaced recently.

The contents of a pack of cigarettes are removed and replaced with something of equivalent weight and volume, such as wadding, paper, playing cards, etc, and a replacement or refund is sought as they weren’t what was asked for.

It’s up to you how you want to protect yourself from being scammed but please make your staff aware of the potential of these opportunists to trick them.

As these examples show, the scammers remove the contents of the pack and stuff it with something of a similar weight and volume

Don’t leave it too late to enquire about your insurance renewal!

Normally most retailers only begin to enquire about their insurance renewal four weeks before their renewal date. CSNA recommends that you make contact eight weeks prior to your renewal date to allow your insurance broker time to ensure that they can get you the best renewal price available at the time.

CSNA NEWS

17

IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE CSNA, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSOCIATION ON 045 535050

CSNA ADVICE

CSNA NEWS

CSNA members sell recent winning jackpot Lotto tickets

CSNA responds to queries on staff obligations to wear masks and close contacts

Congratulations to our member Eoin Ryan in Chapter & Verse, Dublin on recently selling the winning €5.3 million jackpot ticket.

CSNA member Eoin Ryan said he was delighted to get the call from the National Lottery to let him know that one of his customers had become a millionaire at the weekend.

Congratulations are also in order for CSNA member Geoff Scally of Centra Summerhill who sold the €4.6 million winning jackpot ticket just weeks after selling the €1 million winning Millionaire Raffle ticket.

CSNA member Geoff commented: “I truly hope that it brings the winner great luck and that they really enjoy their win and

Recently we have been contacted by a number of members enquiring if they can insist that their staff wear face masks during working hours. We would advise members that they cannot force their staff members to wear face masks whilst in work.

In addition, the government recently updated the advice surrounding close contacts. If you have an employee that thinks they have been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19, they do not need to restrict their movements or self-isolate.

They should: • Watch out for symptoms of Covid-19 – it can take up to 14 days after you are infected for symptoms to show.

• Take extra care to follow the advice on protecting others from Covid-19, in case you have the virus.

The • If you have been in close contact with association someone with Covid-19, you do not advises need to do a Covid-19 test unless you members are a healthcare worker. that they This recent update should help to cannot force relieve the pressure of close contact staff to wear employees not being available for face masks at work work. ■

Congratulations to Chapter & Verse on their recent sale of the winning €5.3 million Lottery jackpot ticket

their new title as a Lotto jackpot winner!”

We would also like to congratulate CSNA member Darren Cleary of Mace, St Gabriel’s Rd, Clontarf on recently selling the National Lottery €1m Irish Lotto Plus ticket.

Congratulations to all three members and their staff from all in the CSNA!

APPOINTMENTS Shelton Distributors Ltd announces key additions to ROI team Eric Barber

Eric Barber has been appointed general manager at Shelton Distributors, with immediate effect. Barber previously worked as a business analyst with Ion Group in the Fintech sector, and with ISS Facilities Management Group. He holds a Masters in Business Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from UCD. Barber looks forward to leading and supporting the Shelton team, focusing on staff development and upskilling. He plans to promote greater awareness of Shelton’s premium brands and value propositions with new and existing partners in the Irish traditional and online FMCG trade.

Paraic Donohoe

Paraic Donohoe becomes head of sales.

Donohoe has a wealth of experience in developing people and brands, and worked previously with Boyne Valley Foods, P&G Cards and Petit Pop Agencies.

He will oversee and support the development of the Shelton sales team by focusing on strategic brands, promotional activities and appropriate in-store placements.

Stephen Daly joins the team in a new customer relationship management (CRM) and business development role. Daly’s background in opening and developing retail outlets culminated in his election as president of the

Stephen Daly

CSNA in 2013. He represented the specialist confectionery, stationery and newsagents lobby for several years, and was instrumental in introducing the very successful members’ Affinity Deals scheme during his time in office.

He will work with Fergal Galvin, who has recently joined Shelton from his previous roles with Kerry Foods and Freshways.

Together they will concentrate on building and developing relationships with existing and new customers in the north and west of Ireland, while focusing on the proven CSN brands within the Shelton all-yearround and seasonal portfolios. ■

www.shelflife.ie www.shelflife.ie| |ShelfLife ShelfLifeApril April2022 2022

18

STORE PROFILE

Centra Millers Glen is a showcase for some of Centra’s latest food concepts.

Seasoned retailer Mark Power tells Fionnuala Carolan how he is enjoying running this new operation in a diverse corner of north county Dublin

Originally from Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, experienced retailer Mark Power has been with the Centra brand for 12 years

Redefining retail

C

entra Millers Glen in Swords only opened its doors last November. The shop is a part of Gannon Properties’ new development which includes thousands of houses and apartments for Swords. This is an area that has seen a lot of development over the last few years with the emphasis on getting houses built as fast as possible to tackle the housing crisis in the city. It has become a popular place to live due to it being 20 minutes from the city and 10 minutes from the airport.

“It’s a thriving area and it’s very diverse and interesting,” says Power. “There are a lot of different nationalities living here and many people work in the airport or the hospitals in town. It’s a thriving area and there’s still a lot of development ongoing.”

The store is a considerable size at 8,000 square foot of retail and 10,000 in total. There are apartments above the shop with Centra as the anchor tenant alongside four other units, one to be a pharmacy that will be open in a number of weeks and two other units that haven’t been let yet.

Foody heaven There are a number of new concepts showcased in this store reflecting a lot of new

thinking from Centra. There is the new barista offering from Frank and Honest called Proud to be Serving which works well here as there is an in-store café with seating for 22 allowing customers to enjoy coffee in a cup as opposed to a takeaway option if they desire.

Food-to-go/food for later is the main focus of the store. As well as the traditional deli serving hot and cold food, everything from lasagne and curry to roast dinners, the Caramico Pizzeria is a new pizza brand offering that Musgrave has developed over the last two years. Again, like the coffee, it can be consumed in-store or delivered via Just Eat. “We found it fitted in well in the area here,” said Power about Carmicio’s Pizzeria. “You can buy it cooked or take it home to cook later. It’s quite a congested marketplace so you have to be good at it. A lot of people are doing pizza but this is performing well.”

With a young clientele, they also have a thriving bespoke Happy Pear section. “We have that millennial demographic that are very much flexitarian. They may not be fully vegan but they like the option of vegetarian,” he explains.

While it’s a real foody shop, it has a substantial grocery offering too. “We’re

catering for that 0-48 hour mission. People are shopping for today and tomorrow. You can do a weekly shop if you want but it’s very much the 0-48 hour mission we are focused on. We have a fresh bakery with bespoke cakes for special occasions available. You can order a cake for a birthday tomorrow with a photo or message on it,” he explains.

Ice cream and balloons Due to having two primary schools and a secondary school in close quarters, [a Gaelscoil, an Educate Together school and Swords Community College] they have a very busy Mood ice cream counter especially from Friday to Sunday serving everything from hot pancakes to waffles and cones to milkshakes and 99s. It’s proving very popular especially on Friday afternoons when kids get a treat and according to Power this is getting more popular all the time.

Something rather unique in the store and apt due to so many children in the area, is a balloon bar. They offer normal and helium balloons for all occasions and even offer balloon arches which are gaining traction.

Power explains how it works: “You can walk in and just ask for a balloon on the spot but you’d have to order a balloon arch. On average a medium size balloon arch with 150 balloons would be €100 and a happy birthday balloon with a number would be €9. We have an area with greeting cards and party products so it fits in well with that,” he says.

Drinks for all tastes

Retailer Mark Power is proud of the team at Centra Millers Glen, who he says are “working very, very hard”

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

As you would expect, there is an extensive offlicence within the store carrying everything from premium spirits like your Midleton and Red Breast whiskeys alongside frozen cocktails and €8 bottles of wine. Power says that deciding to have a dedicated white wine fridge and chilling all their white wine has been received very well. “We have 35 feet of chilled wine. It’s separate from the beer fridge. It’s something we have learned over the years that people want wine to consume within a half hour of buying it.” They also have a large

STORE PROFILE

Centra Millers Glen has a fantastic Freshly Prepared Meals section, including everything from lasagne and curry to roast dinners

range of non-alcoholic drinks in what they dub the Zero Zone.

The average spend overall in the store is €12.50. Power explains that it is a bit lower than in his other shop down to the fact that cigarette sales are lower due to there being less smokers in the younger generation. “It’s a different demographic,” he explains. “We have to diversify to provide a broad range.”

Dual Centras Power’s other aforementioned shop is another Centra in Rathnew, Co. Wicklow which he opened in 2010. He has been with the Centra brand for 12 years and says he is really enjoying independent retailing after years learning the trade working in the multiples.

He is originally from Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin and has a strong retail background from working in Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt and a number of other Dunnes in the Leinster area and subsequently he ended up in management with Dunnes Stores. “I was with Dunnes for nine years. I then moved to Wicklow with my then girlfriend, now wife and I managed SuperValu in Wicklow for ten years. Then I worked for Pettitt’s SuperValu for a few years while waiting to take on my own store as there were a few planning issues

While Centra Millers Glen is a real foody shop, it also features a substantial grocery offering

that delayed that process. I learned a lot working with all of those companies,” he says. Customer service and hygiene are two of the main areas he always focuses on in his stores. “Customers want the place clean and tidy and to be served with a smile and treat people the way you want to be treated. It’s not rocket science but it’s easy to get wrong.

If a customer comes in and gets what they want they will come back,” he states.

Community store Power really wants to build a community around the shop and a recent initiative set that very much in motion. “We put a post up on social media to say that if people were out and about in the area and felt unsafe or threatened that they could come in and use our phone or wait for someone to collect them. It went viral,” he explains. “It was only supposed to be a local thing. It wasn’t a marketing stunt or anything but it was just something I felt as a parent and a husband would be a good thing to do so that they knew they had somewhere safe to go. It got traction on news sites in Dublin. It’s very much a community we are trying to create,” he adds.

There are 170 houses just finished right

The Moo’d offering is a magic combination of Irish dairy and Italian ingredients enjoyed by every generation

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next to Centra Millers Glen and the shop is getting busier by the week. There are also 1,800 units still to be built so they will have builders for the next number of years keeping the deli going strong. The builders are already great customers.

“You would have people in at 7am for coffees but the builders get their break around 10.30am and there would be an influx of customers then and again from 1pm to 2pm.

You’d set your watch by them. It’s good business. It’s good profitable sales,” he says.

Power splits his time between his two stores and is feeling very confident about the trajectory of his latest venture. “There’s a very good team here and they are working very, very hard. They were all trying to find their feet the first couple of months but they’ve settled in really well. So far so good; the feedback has been overwhelming. It’s growing week by week as shoppers are faced with rising costs we are intent in seeking out and offering the best value. We are ahead of projections and there is a lot more in it with more development in the area to come too.”

With Power steering the ship, it’s shaping up to be a very successful first year in business for this new Centra store! ■

The store features the latest state of the art Frank and Honest bean to cup offering

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

20 ADVERTORIAL

Nettles: Don’t die wonderin’…

The winner of the Blas na hEireann, All Ireland Supreme Champion Award for its So Sloe wild berry jelly, Wild About is pioneering new vegan products from wild native ingredients A small ethical and sustainable business run from a five-acre biodiversity farm in Co. Wexford, Wild About is currently producing some of the best plant-based vegan food products in the country. The brand’s dedication was rewarded earlier this year when it took home the Blas na hEireann, All Ireland Supreme Champion Award for ‘So Sloe’, a wild berry jelly.

Where do you Comefrey my lovely...

Wild About is the brainchild of Fiona, a Dublin native and Malcolm Falconer from South Wales; born out of fatigue with the rat race.

Fiona, a documentary film producer and Malcolm, a product design engineer, met while studying at the Royal College of Art in London. Carving out successful careers, they married and soon had a mortgage, demanding careers and three young children.

“It was great fun, but became more and more demanding,” the couple recall. “The treadmill got faster and faster, clearly unsustainable. So, one night we sat down at the table of our terraced house in London,

Tus Nua Farm has a five-acre field, where the Falconers have built a passive eco house, planted all varieties of berries, vegetables, herbs, fruits and surrounded the whole site with native wild fruiting hedging

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

The team at Wild About, led by Fiona and Malcolm Falconer, are passionate about offering “great tasting, ethical, sustainable, locally produced food”

whipped out a map of Ireland, stuck a pin in it and decided to change our lives forever.”

The pin landed in Gorey, Co. Wexford and soon after so did the Falconers. Selling up in London, they next purchased a five-acre field, where they built a passive eco house and set about planting all varieties of berries, vegetables, herbs, fruits and surrounded the whole site with native wild fruiting hedging.

“We became more and more aware of the environmental impact of primary food production here in Ireland,” they explain. “For us, soil quality is the single most important component of growing, yet the soils are fed chemical nitrates and sprayed with herbicides; it’s all about yield.

“We took a different approach, using

Malcolm Falconer was formerly a product design engineer before deciding to switch the London treadmill for an outdoor life

permaculture techniques to grow clean, sustainable, seasonal produce. We created a range of plant-based chutneys, preserves, syrups, oils, dressings, and raw foods featuring native wild ingredients. Wild About was born.

Small but perfectly formed In ten years of trading, Wild About has won just about every accolade for its products: 23 Great Taste Awards, nine Blas na hEireann Awards, Good Food Ireland Producer of the Year, Local Food Hero, Leinster - Irish Restaurant Federation, a Irish Food Writers Guild Award and All Ireland Farmers Market Champion. Despite all this recognition, the business has made a conscious decision to remain small.

The Wild About range has won a cornucopia of awards during the past ten years

ADVERTORIAL

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“We decided to stay small and niche; to concentrate on creating supreme quality, ethically produced products, from ground, to pot, to shelf,” the duo explain. “We have extremely high demand for our products, we sell everything we make. Our customers include SuperValu, artisan retailers, hotels, restaurants and we proudly supply Aer Lingus with its First Class Signature Cocktail Syrup, served on all transatlantic flights. Wild About as a brand provides a new approach, offering customers something a bit different. Great tasting, ethical, sustainable, locally produced food that’s something that customers have really responded to.”

Wild thing I think I love you But it doesn’t stop there, specializing in native wild ingredients has been one of the defining characters of Wild about.

Wild About proudly supplies Aer Lingus with its First Class Signature Cocktail Syrup, by blending Nettle Syrup with champagne

Wild About’s new Sparkling Fennel Drink features a strongly beneficial ingredient and is a unique flavour within the ready-to-go drinks market

Fiona began cultivating nettles to feed demand, creating Ireland’s first commercial nettle farm, “We grow from seed in polytunnels, much to the ridicule of our farming community,“ laughs Fiona. “Is it hard to grow nettles? No, but there is certainly a bit of science in doing it!”

by Taste the View and stocked by SuperValu Food Academy and Aldi Special Buys.

“The future is exciting,” the duo add. “We’ve developed a second flavour, a Sparkling Fennel Drink, which again features a strongly beneficial ingredient and is a pretty unique flavour within the ready-to-go drinks market. “ Global trends are pointing clearly to significant growth in the natural flavoured drinks market, sustainability and plant-based products. There is huge potential for these sparkling drinks and Wild About.

“Wild about is a pure artisan producer, small scale, hand made from local, seasonal and wild ingredients,” they say. “It’s not scaleable.

However, the Sparkling Drinks provide us with the opportunity to remain true to the core of what Wild About is all about, while producing 30,000 units- plus in a single run. Bringing an Irish nettle drink to the international market has its challenges, but it’s a huge opportunity.

Market trends are in our favour. We have a strong brand, a distinct USP and a quality product to get noticed in a ferociously competitive sector and in the current market, we have security over the supply of our core ingredient.”

Wild about, Contact Fiona Falconer 086 8122952 or email Fiona@wildabout.ie ■

Is there a sting in the tail?

A native Dubliner, Fiona Falconer has delved into clinical data for raw ingredients

“What we have growing freely in our hedgerows are some of the most beneficial, nutitional produce in the land. Our own native superfoods.”

Fiona’s factual background led her to look at clinical data of the raw ingredients, while Malcolm’s background in innovation led to developing products featuring native wild ingredients. The products were scrupulously market tested on the Wild About market stalls at farmers’ markets and food festivals around the country. It soon became apparent there was a strong appetite for these products. Wild About joined the SuperValu Food Academy programme, leading with its nettle products, which soon became the brand’s product leaders.

Nettle is a pretty unique flavour in the market. One of the most beneficial finds of Wild About’s market research was identifying the customer’s clear desire to use the nettle product but often accompanied by a confusion about how to use it. “So, we looked at how we could make the product more accessible,” Fiona says. “Inspired by the Aer Lingus Signature Cocktail which mixes the Nettle Syrup with champagne, we came up with a nonalcoholic, ready to go, premixed 300ml Sparkling Nettle drink, which is vegan with less than 5% sugar.”

Launching in a global pandemic, with no tastings, farmers markets, food festivals or events to showcase and promote the new Sparkling Nettle Drink, Fiona and Malcolm have been pleasantly surprised to have produced almost 20,000 units, distributed

Wild About has created a non-alcoholic, ready to go, premixed 300ml Sparkling Nettle drink

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

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INTERVIEW

One year on for Nearby Celebrating the first anniversary of its Nearby brand this month, and with plans for a new 180,000sq ft distribution hub under way, S&W Wholesale has ‘A Whole Lot More’ to look forward to, as MD Michael Skelton tells ShelfLife

Michael Skelton, managing director at S&W Wholesale, says the new Chancellors Road site will “position us much better to service all our customers both north and south of the border”

S

&W Wholesale has featured prominently within business headlines of late, following the group’s investment of more than £15 million in a landmark 20-acre site on Chancellors Road, just off the main A1 Dual Carriageway out of Newry to Dublin. The site is set to house a new multi-purpose distribution hub, head office space, vehicle management area, recycling area and more.

Boasting 180,000sq ft of space, the new stateof-the-art storage centre will host all ambient, chilled, fresh and frozen products under one roof. What’s more, S&W has plans to reduce its carbon footprint with the introduction of electric car charging points, solar panels and temperature-controlled units.

Growth opportunities Managing director Michael Skelton is clearly excited about the opportunities the new development will open for the business. “The new investment will allow us to further grow the company and workforce but also position us much better to service all our customers both north and south of the border,” he tells ShelfLife. “Our retailers will have a wider choice of products, more delivery options and improved efficiencies with all being held centrally.”

Staff are set to play an important role within the redevelopment project, Skelton adds.

“There will be numerous occasions for our staff to have their say with our engagement feedback sessions focusing on elements that will tie in with their role at S&W such as office space and facilities in the warehouse.”

Talent search The business has also announced plans to build on its current 250+ workforce, with ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Skelton noting: “We will be on the lookout for new talent as we look to grow our workforce and bring jobs to the local area and beyond.

We also have some innovative new technologies to launch that will improve efficiencies for our retailers and staff that are due for announcement before year-end.”

He goes on to expand on S&W’s plans to grow and develop its workforce further within both 2022 and 2023, and it certainly appears that no stone will be left unturned in the search for the best possible talent! “With a growing customer base, we will be adding to our operations to help service both our new and existing customers,” he says. “Whether this is for our forklift drivers, driving fleets or pickers in our warehouse and freeze departments – we will be on the lookout for new talent. S&W will also be investing in developing and training our teams at all levels of the business, whether this is through in-house training programs or external manager development training.”

Staff training “We have a keen focus on developing our staff and encouraging training for each employee,” Skelton continues. “This can be through our Driving Academy, Team Lead Development Training or through a range of others such as Microsoft Excel, IOSH training or Mental Health First Aid; which we are very passionate about. The training has helped to ensure that staff see clear career paths within S&W and encourages them to progress through the business. This growth and our plans for increasing our workforce will not only be seen within operations but across our support teams such as IT, customer service, trading and marketing, to ensure we are giving our customers a whole lot more service.”

reached our one-year anniversary with over 75 stores already supporting local communities across the island of Ireland. When you consider the challenges that were faced during the pandemic, with lockdowns, keeping our staff and retailers safe and isolation measures – this milestone has already exceeded my expectations and more. It shows you the resilience of our symbol teams, the partnership we have with our signage and branding partners and the desire from the retailers to be a part of the brand.”

With more than 75 stores already on board, Skelton is confident the brand’s upward trajectory will continue. “We hit the ground running in January 2022 with new Nearby stores opening in counties Antrim, Donegal, Carlow, Dublin and Sligo to name just a few,” he says. “The teams are already scheduling the next phase with another huge milestone for the brand fast approaching. This will be another cause for celebration for Nearby. I have full confidence that the brand will continue to grow throughout Ireland. Who knows what figure we will be on this time next year? Right now, the main focus is building the brand and showcasing to the retailer why we can be their partner of choice for their store.”

Brand proposition According to Skelton, “hands-on support” is central to Nearby’s offering, and ShelfLife was

Nearby anniversary Indeed, there definitely seems to be something of a buzz surrounding S&W within the industry at present, with the launch of the Nearby convenience brand in April of last year adding considerable momentum to this growth in brand recognition. “We have witnessed phenomenal growth for Nearby over the past year since launching back in April 2021,” says Skelton. “I am immensely proud of the wider teams within S&W to have successfully

“We look for retail partners who are as passionate about their customers, their products and the future of their store as we are,” says MD Michael Skelton

INTERVIEW

23

looks sharp. It’s modern and really lifts the look and feel of the store. The retailers who have joined us already are delighted with the final result. They are involved from concept right through to the final stage for their store.

Many retailers have commented on the location icon that sits within the Nearby name and how it can be used in-store, across online channels and leaflets. It also reinforces the Nearby message.”

“Overall, the popularity is down to a mix, with the symbol teams being at the forefront of this as they guide the retailers on the Nearby journey,” he reflects. “I have full confidence that the brand will continue to grow throughout Ireland.”

Navigating challenges

One year since launching, over 75 stores across Ireland have already partnered with the Nearby brand with the latest opening in Cabra, Dublin

keen to hear more about the brand proposition. “We look for retail partners who are as passionate about their customers, their products and the future of their store as we are,” he says. “The retailer will benefit from the strong modern looking front fascia Nearby provides as well as the internal graphics that brings their store to life for their customers.

“Nearby retailers will receive all the benefits from being part of a symbol group,” Skelton continues. “These include marketing support, a dedicated business development manager (BDM), integrated EPOS, IT support, central billing and buying power from the Unitas Group - the UK’s largest independent wholesale buying group. This provides retailers with peace of mind that they are receiving the best value all year round.”

“But what makes us even more unique,” he adds, “is that we understand fully that our retailers are independent and our model supports them every step of the way. We don’t ask for membership fees and a list of must dos.

With our retail system in place, retailers will have more time to get on with the things that make their business unique, while we take care of the rest.”

Through the Nearby offering, S&W wanted to create a brand that is “very much focused on local and with a symbol that local customers would instantly recognise”. Skelton is confident that Nearby with its catchy tagline, ‘Never Too Far From Home’, fits the bill perfectly. ”It’s exciting to think of what milestone we could potentially reach this time next year throughout Ireland,” he says. “I believe the popularity is down to a combination of many elements. Due to our history and background, retailers have confidence in us to deliver. Our history dates back over 100 years and we have grown from strength to strength. The Nearby brand itself

The past two years have posed undeniable challenges for the retail industry, but Skelton says candidly that he’s “been known to enjoy a challenge or two! In all my years within the industry I would say the past two years have been the most challenging in terms of uncertainty. We have had the unprecedented pandemic and Brexit to contend with here. I must say though everyone at S&W has shown their capabilities and navigated it all with astounding determination and teamwork.”

Agility is an important characteristic that defines the business moreover. “I enjoy the next project or idea that starts to take legs the most,” says Skelton. “I really relish getting behind it to ensure the teams have what they need to bring it to life. It’s exciting to watch!

We have shown ourselves to be very agile and quick to adapt when we need to and the company has reaped the benefits of this. We have never steered away from a challenge or been afraid go down a different path or try something new. That’s what makes us unique – we don’t always have that red tape hanging over us that some others do.”

Team effort Ensuring the whole team is on board is likewise crucial, as this allows “idea generation to flourish,” he continues. “That is why we are

S&W managing director Michael Skelton says of the Nearby brand: ”It’s exciting to think of what milestone we could potentially reach this time next year throughout Ireland”

in such a fortunate position today – it’s because of our people. Ultimately, I want to create an environment where people will trust and believe in the direction S&W are going and the exciting plans we have for the future. I want the entire S&W team to be a part of this and I am achieving this through being upfront and honest with everyone to ensure each member feels valued and part of the journey.”

Naturally, the Nearby brand’s first birthday this month has provided an opportunity to reflect on its launch onto the convenience market last year. “This was a proud moment to witness, not only for me but for everyone involved,” Skelton says. “It’s something we had been working hard on behind the scenes and to finally see it launch officially with one of our long-standing retailers was an immensely proud occasion. It’s testament to the retail teams and the partnership we have with our suppliers, trade partners, signage teams and retailers. The relationships we have built are the backbone of everything we do and we take great pride in them.” With this mentality in place, S&W certainly looks set to make good on its brand promise to grow ‘A Whole Lot More’. ■

Anthony McVeigh, chief financial officer; Michael Skelton, managing director; Norman Savage, operations director and Alan Dorman, trading director at S&W, displaying the plans for the new Chancellors Road site

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED GROCERY TRADE CIRCULATION IN IRELAND

April 2022

C-store awards 2021 Spar/Texaco, Junction 14 crowned Supreme Champion

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Ireland’s pride All the deserving c-store winners on the night

Hero brands Retailers vote for brands that helped drive growth in 2021

CONVENIENCE RETAILING • OFF-TRADE • SUPERMARKETS • NEWSAGENCY • FORECOURT

SHELFLIFE C-STORE AWARDS 2021 CONGRATULATIONS TO A WINNING TEXACO STAR JUNCTION 14 MAYFIELD CHAMPION AWARD NATIONAL CONVENIENCE STORE OF THE YEAR 2021

JUNCTION 14 MAYFIELD

JUNCTION 14 MAYFIELD

FOOD TO GO RETAILER OF THE YEAR

BEST NEW C-STORE CONCEPT/OFFERING

JUNCTION 14 MAYFIELD FORECOURT RETAILER OF THE YEAR (LARGE)

© 2022 Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved. TEXACO and the STAR T Logo are registered trademarks owned by Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. Used with permission.

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26 SHELFLIFE C-STORE AWARDS 2021

Celebrating excellence

The exceptional standards of Ireland’s convenience store sector were celebrated at our national industry event Following another challenging year for Ireland’s convenience retail sector on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic, ShelfLife was once again delighted to celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s exceptional convenience stores in true style with our return to an in-person event.

Originally due to be held in November 2021, the ceremony was postponed due to the increase of Covid-19 hospitalisations occurring at that time, and to ensure the safety of all involved.

Proving the adage that good things come to those who wait, the country’s top retailers and brands gathered at the Royal Marine Hotel in

Dun Laoghaire on Thursday, 10 March 2022, to attend the prestigious event. Held in association with platinum sponsors Cuisine de France and The National Lottery, the ShelfLife C-Store Awards – now in their 20th year - are the only comprehensive and independently judged business accolades for the convenience store sector.

Together with returning master of ceremonies Marty Whelan, ShelfLife welcomed more than 330 guests from across the industry.

Awards were presented across 24 categories in total, celebrating the industry’s finest stores, people and brands in a diverse range of areas.

“We were absolutely delighted to celebrate

Guests at this year’s ceremony enjoyed sweet treats from Shelton Distributors and soft drinks from Britvic Ireland

the achievements of Ireland’s leading convenience retailers in-person once again, after two years of almost no physical events,” said ShelfLife publisher John McDonald.

George Canavan, sales & operations manager, The National Lottery, addressing the audience

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

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28 SHELFLIFE C-STORE AWARDS 2021

Mark Hargadon, commercial director convenience, Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland, giving guests an update on the latest developments at Cuisine de France

“Retailers have faced huge challenges during the pandemic – not least of which, difficulties with staff rostering due to isolation restrictions. However, Ireland’s convenience retail teams have responded to all the myriad challenges in a rapid and professional manner, with the safety of colleagues and customers kept front-of-mind at all times.

“Not only that, but Ireland’s convenience stores have in fact strengthened ties with their local communities even further, with many going the extra mile to assist and support their vulnerable customers,” he continued.

“This is a real testament to the professionalism and dedication of our leading c-stores, truly at the beating heart of their communities.”

“Despite the unique cocktail of challenges facing retailers throughout 2021, from staff shortages to inflationary pressures; high standards have never faltered,” added ShelfLife editor Gillian Hamill. “Once again, our judges were extremely impressed with the calibre of entrants across the country. All the winners should be extremely proud of themselves, their teams and the levels of service offered.

“The ShelfLife team would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all our award sponsors for their support which has made the ceremony possible and is greatly appreciated by us all.” ■

ShelfLife publisher John McDonald discusses some of the challenges currently facing Ireland’s retail industry

Master of ceremonies Marty Whelan was the consummate host as always and kept guests well entertained throughout the night

Smiles all round: Guests enjoying the opportunity to catch up with colleagues within the trade

After two years of nearly no in-person events, there was a great party atmosphere throughout the evening

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Congratulaaons to Lynch’s Gala Winner of the Gold award for Community Initiative at the 2021 C-Store Awards

Congratulaaons to McDermoo’s Gala Winner of the Silver award for Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Large) at the 2021 C-Store Awards

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30 SHELFLIFE C-STORE AWARDS 2021

Social Diary

Seán Dunne, Mark Morgan, Ian Mulvaney, Julia O’Reilly, Fionnuala Carolan, John McDonald, and Paul Byrne of Mediateam

Lynne Andrews, Ian O’Rourke, Chloe Rowan, Fiadhnait McDonnell, Trystan Farnworth, Simon O’Connor, Bryan O’Sullivan, and Niamh Blighe of Britvic

Jennifer Devlin and Cormac Devlin TD

Luke Kilmartin and Matthew Kilmartin of Kilmartin Service Station

Vincent Jennings of the CSNA and Tara Buckley of RGDATA

Paul Roache, Amy Barry and Brian Flaherty of Barry Group

PJ Guinan and Mary Guinan of Guinan’s SuperValu, Carrick-on-Suir

Robbie and Amanda Healy of Mace, Cavan Road, Cootehill, Co. Cavan

Martin McClinton, Ruth Elliott, Austin Bradley, Michael Craddock, Carol McCaghy, Barry Filgate and Barry Coy of Tayto Snacks

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Jennifer Glynn and Yvonne Duffy of Maxol Westport

CONGRATULATIONS ShelfLife National C-Store Awards have once again recognised individual excellence and achievements in the convenience sector.

CONGRATULATIONS TO FORDE’S DAYBREAK DUNGARVAN FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING DOUBLE WIN!

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Kevin Forde of Forde’s Daybreak, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford is presented with the Staff Development award by Darren Thornberry, Head of Sales, Payzone

Forde’s Daybreak Dungarvan

FORECOURT RETAILER OF THE YEAR (SMALL)

Forde’s Daybreak Dungarvan

Kevin Forde of Forde’s Daybreak, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, is presented with the silver Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Small) award by Thomas Desmond, Head of Business Development, PCS

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SUPREME CHAMPION PROFILE

Winning against all odds

Mark Hargadon, commercial director convenience, Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland joins George Canavan, sales & operations manager, National Lottery to present the Supreme Champion Award – National Convenience Store of the Year 2021 to Peter Varga, Penyo Shilev-Kulesza and manager Gavin Moran of Spar/Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

The morning after winning the C-Store of the Year Award, Gavin Moran made his way around the Junction 14 store and congratulated each staff member on “their win” and complimented them on their dedication and hard work. He says the award belongs to them as they make the place what it is. This is a testament to the type of leader he is and the overall ethos of this multi-award winning business.

Built in 2011, Spar/Texaco Junction 14 was always a one of a kind. Situated in an ideal location on the M8 in Kildare to catch all the traffic between the south of the country and the capital, it caters for busloads of match and concert goers as well as the local and passing trade.

This store has always been something of a phenomenon and previously also won the overall C-Store of the Year Award in 2014.

Since then the place has had a huge revamp doubling its capacity and what was already an

Junction 14 is currently tracking approximately 30,000 transactions a week but that is expected to rise another 10/15% in the summertime

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

impressive facility is now something truly unique.

“People are fascinated by what we do here in Junction 14,” admits Moran. “We had a NACS (National Association of Convenience Store) group in here last week – 50 retailers from across Europe. There were retailers from Oman and Portugal and they were all very impressed by it and couldn’t get their heads around the fact that we are all one team and it is not run by the individual franchises. It’s quite unique in the industry across Europe. We have created something different and it’s lovely to see people’s reaction to it.”

Crowned Supreme Champion of the C-Store Awards 2021, Spar/Texaco, Junction 14 in Mayfield, Co. Kildare is an exceptionally worthy winner.

Fionnuala Carolan caught up with manager Gavin Moran to hear about the challenges this business experienced over the past two years and how it has bounced back stronger than ever

Back in 2014, business was steadily growing and they knew that eventually they would be constrained by the size of the operation. “In retail in Ireland you can’t rest on your laurels. If you’re not moving forward you are losing,” explains Moran. “We knew we were constricted

in the old building so the only way to do it was a big revamp. So we started looking at plans that year and the plans changed numerous times. Our designers pushed us to future-proof the building. There was a lot of collaboration and everyone had a voice.”

The work eventually started in May 2019 and was due to be finished on 10 January 2020 but like all building projects, it fell behind so the new date was March 2020. They were just three weeks away from completion when the country got locked down for the first time due to Covid.

They were forced to trade from a temporary shop and had to let the majority of the staff go.

“We went from 170 staff to only 15 of us working during Covid from March until the summer when we opened again. We were down 86% on the previous year and I was thinking how has this happened?” says Moran, as he reminisces about that particularly tough period.

Junction 14 has seating for 144 indoors and a further 100 outside, with the ability to create another 50 seats for the summer by transforming an internal kids play area to seating

“We opened in 2011 as a forecourt with food counters but now we are a food court with a fuel offering,” says Gavin Moran, explaining the group’s shift in outlook

Revamping

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SUPREME CHAMPION PROFILE 33

As well as a wide variety of popular foodservice brands, Junction 14 houses its own brand of fresh food called Mayfield Fare

The €6 million building project was finally completed by the August bank holiday weekend in 2020. However, things were not about to get any easier. “Just as the building was completed county Kildare got locked down and people were being advised not to stop their cars in the county and to keep driving! We had to close again. It was really bad. We had enough staff to serve the business but we had no business to serve the staff. It was October before we got to open the new seating area but then it was closed at Christmas again.”

These lockdown periods were some of the toughest times Moran had ever experienced in his career mainly because he was so accustomed to moving at breakneck speed and facilitating large crowds that when things suddenly ground to a halt, it was hard for him to change gears. While business soared in neighbourhood shops, motorway sites were decimated. Thankfully since the lockdowns ended business has been booming again and this fantastic new facility is being utilised to its full potential.

“We’ve had a great start to 2022. The midterm break was a great week for us. We’re optimistic for the year ahead. Projections have been met and we are excelling in some departments,” he says.

Options Customers are spoiled for choice with a host of Irish and international brands under the one roof here. Aside from the Spar shop, they have their own brand of fresh food called Mayfield Fare alongside Supermacs, Zambrero, Subway, Insomnia, Chopped, Boston Donuts and Gino’s Gelato.

At the moment they are tracking around 30,000 transactions a week but that is expected to rise another 10/15% in the summertime.

“Supermacs is the most popular followed by Mayfield Fare, followed by the new franchises Zambrero and Subway - they are doing very well. Gino’s has also been doing very well in the last few weeks because the sun has been shining - Gino’s spikes in the summer. It’s rare that someone would come in here and not be able to find something they liked to eat,” he says.

There is seating for 144 indoors and they can create another 50 seats for the summer by transforming an internal kids play area to seating. There is also seating for another 100 outside.

Gino’s Gelato has been performing strongly in recent weeks when the sun has been shinning

With the advance of electric vehicles and the price of fuel rocketing, food is now paramount to the success of this type of business. The facility has 16 fuel pumps and an additional four truck and six electric charging points.

“We opened in 2011 as a forecourt with food counters but now we are a food court with a fuel offering. That’s the way our business had changed and how we run it and market it,” explains Moran. “We concentrate heavily on what happens within the four walls. Good customer service is vital because if customers come in and have a good experience it will bring them back again.”

Personal growth Moran has been with the business from its inception in 2011. They celebrated the ten year anniversary of the store last year and with that Moran and 16 staff marked ten years of service too. “That’s a lot of people with long service working with the company. It’s a testament to the owners. It is a very nice and exciting place to work,” he says. The owners are brothers Donal and Liam Fitzpatrick, successful business men from the locality and the owners of the Lidon Group which also runs an agricultural machinery supply business and Monasterevin Motors.

Staff There are currently 170 staff employed and they are trying to recruit for another 30 positions. “We’re trying to have enough staff trained to cover holidays, Covid absenteeism and extra busy periods. Q3 is a very busy quarter here for us. We have the All Irelands taking place in July so that’s very early compared to normal years. You have Bloom on in June now for the first time in three years, and any amount of concerts on. Anything that brings people to Dublin is business for Junction 14,” he explains.

According to Moran the reason Junction 14 works as well as it does is that there is a very strong management team. “Every department has a manager and an assistant manager and a number of supervisors depending on how big it is. I’m here to guide them and for them to vent to if they have a problem. We tease it out and they often have the answer in their own heads,” he says. “I love empowering people to make decisions themselves. I always encourage that because if you are always waiting on someone to make a decision for you, work becomes very boring. You can be powered by our own decisions. You are growing the person

and they are getting better at what they do,” he explains.

Moran says he has watched the staff members grow over the past decade and even witnessed two of his managers getting married to one another last year. “My Insomnia manager and my Subway manager met while working here and they got married in October,” he reveals.

Night of the C-Store Awards With this impressive revamp and sales going beyond expectations already, were Moran and the Junction 14 team hoping for or even expecting a win on the night of the C-Store Awards? Not really, he says.

“I couldn’t call it as I didn’t know what the competition was like. Normally I’d be on the road a good bit more so you see what your competitors are doing.”

Due to Covid, the 2021 ShelfLife C-Store Awards were postponed until March 2022 instead of the original date of November 2021 and there was definitely a buzz in the room as people reconnected with friends and colleagues from the industry. “It was brilliant to be back at an award ceremony. There was a super atmosphere in the room. Covid cut off your social ties and networking opportunities and even though I’d talk to some other retailers on the phone here and there, it wasn’t the same.”

Moran says that the award is testament to the hard work put in by the team over a difficult period. “It takes every person giving it their best to make it what it is. I’ve always held the ShelfLife awards in high regard. They are very well received in the industry and you are being benchmarked against your peers. We are delighted and very proud to have won.” ■

Top-up shopping is quick and hassle-free with Spar at Junction 14

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

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34

SHELFLIFE C-STORE AWARDS 2021

C-Store Awards 2021: All the winners!

Food to Go Retailer of the Year Sponsored by Cuisine de France

National Lottery Star Store Retailer of the Year

Bronze: Spar, Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath

Sponsored by The National Lottery

Silver: Spar, Little Island, Co. Cork

Runner up: Bergin’s Food Fair, 45 Parnell Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

Gold: Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Mayfield, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Protein Section Display of the Year Sponsored by Fulfil

Spar, Greenhills, Monegall, Co. Offaly

Runner up: Hanley’s, Pearse Square, Fermoy, Co. Cork Winner: SuperValu, Main Street, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan

Best Impulse Offering Sponsored by Excel Recruitment

Phone Accessory Display of the Year

XL, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9

Sponsored by SmartBits

Cuisine de France Bakery of the Year

Londis, DCU Glasnevin, Dublin 9

C-Store Off-Licence Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by Cuisine de France

Eurospar Swords, Dublin 15

Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland

Retail Technology Supplier of the Year

Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo

Sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year

CBE

Sponsored by Invest NI

New C-Store Product of the Year

Spar, Little Island, Co. Cork

Sponsored by Spar

New Convenience Store Concept / Offering

Cadbury Orange Twirl

Marketing Campaign of the Year

Sponsored by Anglo Irish Refrigeration

Sponsored by Mace

Spar, Little Island, Co. Cork

Heineken

Staff Development Award

Product of the Year

Sponsored by Payzone

Sponsored by XL

Daybreak, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Coca-Cola

Community Initiative of the Year

Wine of the Year

Sponsored by Kellogg’s

Sponsored by Barry Group/Costcutter/Carry Out

Lynch’s Gala, Killydoon, Co. Cavan

Santa Rita

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

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SHELFLIFE C-STORE AWARDS 2021

Food & Drink Start-up of the Year

Convenience Store of the Year (Small)

Sponsored by Centra

Sponsored by Cuisine de France & The National Lottery

Hot Chip Dublin

Joint Bronze: Spar, Back Lane, Lahinch, Co. Clare Joint Bronze: Today’s, Finisklin Road, Co. Sligo Silver: Mace, 47 Thomas Street, Limerick City Gold: Spar, The Plaza, Park West Business Park, Dublin 12

Supplier of the Year Sponsored by Gala

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Convenience Store of the Year (Medium)

Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland

Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Small) Sponsored by PCS

Bronze: Costcutter / Swift Fuels, Burgess, N25 Service Station, Killeagh, Co. Cork

Sponsored by Cuisine de France & The National Lottery

Bronze: Mace, Lissycasey, Ennis, Co. Clare Silver: Spar, Little Island, Co. Cork Gold: Centra, Lahinch Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

Silver: Daybreak / Circle K, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Convenience Store of the Year (Large)

Gold: Costcutter / Applegreen, Lifford, Co. Donegal

Sponsored by Cuisine de France & The National Lottery

Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Large)

Bronze: Londis McNamee’s, Darragh, Ennis, Co. Clare Silver: Spar, Main Street, Croom, Co. Limerick Gold: Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo

Sponsored by PCS

Bronze: Londis / Circle K, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Silver: Gala / Circle K, Patrickswell, Co. Limerick Gold: Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

National Convenience Store of the Year 2021 Sponsored by Cuisine de France & The National Lottery

Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Roche’s MACE Thomas Street, Limerick and Talty’s MACE Lissycasey, Co. Clare.

John McDonald, publisher of ShelfLife, presents Sinead Roche, and Helena Roche of MACE Thomas Street, Limerick City with the silver Convenience Store of the Year (Small) award.

Ronan Neary, national account controller, National Lottery presents the bronze Convenience Store of the Year (Medium) award to Grainne Talty, MACE Lissycasey, Ennis, Co. Clare.

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

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36 C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 2021

Food to Go Retailer of the Year

Phone Accessory Display of the Year

WINNER: Spar/Texaco Junction 14, Mayfield, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

WINNER: Londis, DCU Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Site manager at Spar/ Texaco, Junction 14, Gavin Moran, is presented with the Food to Go Retailer of the Year Gold Award

by Mark Hargadon, commercial director convenience, Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland

James Fitzpatrick, business development manager at Smart Bits Phone Accessories presents Connor Hayes, Londis sales director, BWG Foods with the Best Phone Accessory Display award on behalf of Londis DCU, Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Judges’ verdict

Judges’ verdict

The judges were struck by the outstanding fresh food offering of this winning store, as well as its remarkable seating area. With a fabulous variety of food-to-go and indoor seating for more than 250 customers, this store is a flag bearer for the Spar brand. Customer service, cleanliness and range all make Spar/Texaco, Junction 14, the winning Food to Go Retailer for 2021.

In today’s world, being able to replace lost or broken mobile phone accessories with ease is essential for consumers. With an offering that could only be challenged in a phone store, Londis DCU in Glasnevin, Dublin 9 ticked that box and more.

The judges were truly impressed with this store’s wide product range that was all at once well priced, well placed and well merchandised.

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

Protein Section Display of the Year

C-Store Off-Licence Retailer of the Year

WINNER: Spar, Greenhills, Monegall, Co. Offaly

WINNER: Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo

Ruth Brennan, brand manager at Fulfil Nutrition, presents Andrew Fallon of Spar, Greenhills, Moneygall, Co. Offaly with the Best Protein Section 2021 award

David Hernan, national account manager, Bibendum Ireland presents Des Cosgrove, owner and Dean Gaffney, retail store manager of Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo, with the C-Store Off-Licence Retailer of the Year award

Judges’ verdict

Judges’ verdict

Impulse is an important driver of protein products such as bars, snacks and drinks, with the result that an eye-catching display and in-store triggers can work wonders in helping to generate sales with those shoppers who are increasingly looking for a healthier option to help boost their fitness performance, but also want to indulge a little. Spar Greenhills has achieved this feat with aplomb, featuring a strong range of options across the category; cleverly merchandised and promoted.

At Centra Maugheraboy in Co. Sligo, the team say their offlicence is a key component of the business, and that importance was reflected through the extensive product range, superb display, and knowledgeable staff. This Centra store likes to keep up with market trends and is always looking for exciting new products that its local customers will love.

Sponsored by:

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Sponsored by:

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C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 2021

Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year

Community Initiative of the Year

WINNER: Spar, Little Island, Co. Cork

WINNER: Lynch’s Gala, Killydoon, Co. Cavan

Lisa Corcoran, store manager, Spar, Little Island, Co. Cork is presented with the Best Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year award by Jen Guiney, business development executive, Invest Northern Ireland

Sarah Ferguson, general manager of Kellogg’s Ireland presents Paudie and Sarah McKenna, owners of Lynch’s Gala, Killydoon, Co. Cavan with the Community Initiative award

Judges’ verdict

Judges’ verdict

On our visits to this winning store, all the judges were wowed by the high standard of Spar Little Island’s fresh and chilled department. As well as boasting an impressive range of fresh produce, the store’s price points and standards of merchandising helped it stand out in a competitive category.

This award acknowledges some of the brilliant work that c-stores across the country are doing to support their communities. Between raising funds for various causes, or hosting special events, to sponsoring football jerseys for their local teams, the level of involvement by our colleagues in the trade is remarkable.

To members of its local community, this store is so much more than a place where people do their shopping. Our winner, Lynch’s Gala in Killydoon, Co. Cavan, organised a number of successful efforts to support its customers throughout the pandemic. For a 12-week period, the store closed its doors and safely delivered groceries direct to customers, giving vulnerable members of the community the ability to keep their cupboards full while they cocooned safely at home. Lynch’s Gala also ran weekly colouring competitions for local kids stirring at home during lockdown.

Sponsored by:

Staff Development Award WINNER: Daybreak, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

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Sponsored by:

R

Kevin Forde of Forde’s Daybreak, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford is presented with the Staff Development award by Darren Thornberry, head of sales, Payzone

Judges’ verdict There’s no doubt in the judges’ minds that this retailer understands the merits of nurturing their staff with a view to inspiring them to make a positive contribution to the local community. Staff development is provided to all staff through external and internal courses at Daybreak Dungarvan. What’s more, it does quarterly competency testing on all staff and provides regular feedback through the performance review process.

Guests enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with colleagues from the trade on the night

Sponsored by: MC Marty Whelan stepping into a photo with guests

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

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38 C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 2021

National Lottery Retailer of the Year

Best Impulse Offering

WINNER: SuperValu, Main Street, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan

WINNER: XL, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 Nikki Murran, director, Excel Recruitment, presents Colm Fitzsimons of XL, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 with the award for Best Impulse Offering

Simon Reenan, field sales representative, National Lottery Ireland presents Bernadette Callaghan and Lorraine Byrne of SuperValu, Main Street, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, with the National Lottery Retailer of the Year Award

Judges’ verdict

Judges’ verdict SuperValu in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan fully meets all the National Lottery sales agent criteria. In fact, no customer can visit the winning store without being fully aware of the National Lottery brand. Customer service, friendliness, eye contact and full awareness of the Lottery range by staff sealed this win.

When choosing which store has the best impulse offering, the judges were on the lookout for a savvy shop layout designed to guarantee sales success at an impulse level. As well as meeting that criteria, XL Beaumont Hospital impressed the judges with its exceptional displays of confectionery and other impulse products that fit perfectly in line with its demographic.

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

Cuisine de France Bakery of the Year

Best New C-Store Concept/Offering

WINNER: Eurospar Swords, Dublin

WINNER: Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Derek Coyle and Chris Furey of EuroSpar Swords, Dublin, are presented with the Cuisine de France Bakery Award by Mark Hargadon, commercial director convenience, Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland

Trevor Wright, managing director, Anglo Irish Refrigeration presents Gavin Moran, manager of Spar/ Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare with the Best New C-Store Concept/ Offering award

Judges’ verdict Judges’ verdict An enticing in-store bakery offering has become increasingly important within the retail sector in recent years. We’ve seen a substantial increase in in-store bakeries and an everwidening range of fresh goods within the segment. In a competitive category, Eurospar Swords was notable for its passionate team and expansive range of high-quality fresh products.

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ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Innovation is absolutely vital across the board in Ireland’s highly competitive convenience sector. The judges felt Spar/ Texaco, Junction 14, was a worthy winner of the Best New C-Store Concept/Offering award, for the manner in which such a diverse range of foodservice offerings have all been seamlessly blended under one roof. Whether customers are in the mood for a top-notch pizza, burrito or salad, they can find them all here, among much more – and it is this impressive range and the efficiency with which every moving part within the overall floor plan is operated – which makes Junction 14 a true pioneer within convenience.

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INTERVIEW 39

On the frontline (L-R): National XL development manager Colm Fitzsimons pictured with XL and cash & carry national sales director Paul Bealin, who leads the XL team

Throughout the past two years, Ireland’s c-store retailers have played a vital role on the frontlines of the Covid-19 crisis, providing an essential service for locals. This is particularly true of XL Beaumont – a c-store located within Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, which quickly became a vital service for staff and patients alike

Accepting the Best Impulse Award on behalf of manager Mary Fitzpatrick and the team at XL Beaumont, national XL development manager Colm Fitzsimons made a real impact on the stage when he spoke about the team’s dedication throughout the crisis. ShelfLife decided to catch up with him to learn more about the challenges involved

A

s part of the XL team that has seen the retail brand become one of the fastest growing symbol brands, national XL development manager Colm Fitzsimons is particularly proud of the strides made by the XL Retail Group, its independent retailers and the wider team of business development managers, who work daily with those same retailers.

The XL team, which is led by XL and cash & carry national sales director Paul Bealin, help keep the XL business to the forefront of the industry by working closely with retailers daily to ensure they are realising the potential of their business, optimising their store performance, ensuring the shop layout is working for their customer demographic and that all sales opportunities are being maximised.

As national XL development manager, Colm, working closely with Paul Bealin, oversees the business development team in their work alongside XL’s independent retailers.

In the unavoidable absence of XL Beaumont

manager Mary Fitzpatrick at the recent ShelfLife C-Store Awards, Colm accepted their award for the Best Impulse category. In his acceptance speech on behalf of Mary, Colm explained how XL Beaumont opened its doors just weeks before the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and how the team there has weathered the storm for the last two years.

Q: XL Beaumont won the Best Impulse Award; what did winning this award mean to the store and the XL Group?

Q: Shortly after XL Beaumont opened, the pandemic reached Ireland. How did this impact the new store within the hospital and the team there?

A: Following the introduction of the restrictions to help combat the spread of Covid-19, what this meant in real terms is that visitors to the hospital were immediately curtailed so XL Beaumont lost its customer base almost overnight. That was a huge blow, but the store and staff pivoted immediately and realised just how important their role was going to be in serving the needs of hospital staff and patients.

Our frontline healthcare staff in hospitals working to test, to care, to heal and to comfort have been an inspiration - not forgetting general hospital staff, ambulance drivers and all other hospital staff – and serving their needs is a responsibility Mary and the team in

A: This is a tremendous recognition of the magnificent work Mary Fitzpatrick and all the staff at XL Beaumont have put in since the day they started trading. Working in this industry is a calling in many respects and you must be truly committed to the vocation, which is exactly how all the staff feel. This award is a real testament to all XL retailers as it recognises what we do on a national stage and XL Retail Group is proud of all our retailers, which is why there is so much joy at XL Beaumont’s recent success.

The team at XL Beaumont continually provided a safe shopping environment for all shoppers

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40 INTERVIEW

XL Beaumont took very seriously. Their devotion over the last two years has been magnificent and, as this award highlights, commendable.

Q: What has been your proudest achievement to date at XL? A: It has been a great honour to be a part of

Q: How has the XL brand grown and developed during your time with the group?

A: As one of the fastest growing convenience brands in the Irish market, XL remains in a strong position to face the challenges and has thrived in what is a highly competitive landscape. XL retailers are local to the communities they serve and are passionate about ensuring they continue to provide great value to their customers. The strength of the XL symbol brand has grown hugely, especially over the last number of years and our tagline, ‘A great deal more at your local store’, underpins the brand promise of serving local communities, delivering great value, choice, service, and exciting consumer promotions.

XL Retail Group is constantly seeking ways to improve and enhance all facets of our business and our offering, especially in the design and flow of the XL store and making sure that we provide a pleasurable shopping experience for our customers. For example, in response to the government legislation around the separation of alcohol we have introduced a new off-licence design that is proving a

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Shoppers are spoilt for choice at XL’s ‘Your Local Deli’ counter

tremendous success with retailers and customers alike and we continue to grow and evolve to meet the ever-changing market trends.

Q: What has been the most challenging part of your role throughout the pandemic?

A: The most important facet of my role during the pandemic has been to support our XL retailers who have been on the frontlines serving the needs of the customers and communities in which they are embedded. I am immensely proud of how they provided a safe shopping environment for all, which was a terrific comfort to their customers during what were very challenging times.

the growth and development the XL Retail Group has achieved over the last 3-5 years.

The strength of the XL symbol brand is that it offers the opportunity to own your own business, pursue your entrepreneurial spirit as an independent retailer and being a part of the team delivering that to our independent retailers is a truly rewarding. Looking to the future, I am very excited about the plans we have for continuing the growth of the XL brand within the industry.

Q: How concerned are you about cost increases in 2022 and how do you intend to help XL retailers with the challenges involved?

A: Our industry is one that faces constant challenges, and we will continue to support our XL retailers as robustly as we have always done. Ultimately, as an XL retailer, you benefit from a support network that offers the independence of small business ownership supported by the benefits of a larger family network, which helps ensure the level of consistency and quality for which the XL network is renowned. ■

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C-STORE AWARD WINNERS

Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Small)

Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Large)

WINNER: Costcutter / Applegreen, Lifford, Co. Donegal

WINNER: Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Thomas Desmond, head of business development, PCS presents the Gold Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Small) award to Amy Barry, head of learning & development, Barry Group on behalf of Costcutter / Applegreen, Lifford, Co. Donegal

Judges’ verdict With competitive rates on both petrol and diesel, the team at Costcutter / Applegreen in Lifford, Co. Donegal consistently impress customers by cooking up a storm on a daily basis.

Every day, the deli is open from 6am and excellent homecooked delicious meals offer both superb quality and valuefor-money. As the team so aptly put it on their social media channels: “Heat your belly with our fabulous deli!”

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Thomas Desmond, head of business development, PCS presents the Gold Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Large) award to Gavin Moran, manager of Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Judges’ verdict A state-of-the-art motorway service station, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Spar / Texaco, Junction 14 in Monasterevin always strives to offer the best service possible.

Our judges believe the Junction 14 team have 100% succeeded in their goal to be a unique destination of choice.

Friendly and helpful staff combine with excellent standards in hygiene, cleanliness and quality fresh food and facilities to create a first-class customer experience.

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Barry Group would like to congratulate our two winning franchisee’s Costcutter Killeagh & Costcutter Lifford who both won awards at this years Shelflife C-Store awards.

Tommy Mullane of Costcutter Killeagh presented with Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Bronze) award.

Amy Barry presented with Forecourt Retailer of the Year (Small) award on behalf of Costcutter Lifford.

41

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42 C-STORE AWARD WINNERS

Convenience Store of the Year (Small)

Convenience Store of the Year (Medium)

WINNER: Spar The Plaza, Park West Business Park, Dublin 12

WINNER: Donnellan’s Centra, Ennis, Co. Clare Ronan Neary, national account controller, National Lottery presents the Gold Convenience Store of the Year (Medium) award to Joan Donnellan and Edwina Donnellan of Donnellan’s Centra, Lahinch Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

John McDonald, publisher of ShelfLife, presents David Bagnell, owner of Spar, The Plaza, Park West Business Park with the Gold Convenience Store of the Year (Small) Award

Judges’ verdict

Judges’ verdict Spar The Plaza is a well-known and respected store throughout our industry. Its location means there is a particular demand and focus on the breakfast and lunchtime trade. The food-to-go department, which is comprised of a cold deli counter, hot food counter, salad bar, Insomnia coffee station and Cuisine De France bakery stand, is an extremely important part of the business, and the judges were most impressed with the range and the standards delivered throughout both this department and the overall store.

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Excellent standards of customer service, cleanliness and innovation were on display throughout Donnellan’s Centra in Ennis, Co. Clare. With daily staff meetings to combat the challenges posed by the pandemic, this tight-knit team consistently went the extra mile to give back to their local community, including delivering straight to elderly customers’ doors throughout lockdowns. Donnellan’s Centra has continually invested to keep up to date with the latest consumer trends, including introducing an impressive Moo’d ice cream concept and iced coffee machine from Frank & Honest.

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Congratulations to our Award Winning Retailers

LARGE CONVENIENCE STORE OF THE YEAR Cosgrove’s Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo

NATIONAL LOTTERY RETAILER OF THE YEAR SuperValu Bailieborough, Co. Cavan

C-STORE OFF-LICENCE RETAILER OF THE YEAR Cosgrove’s Centra Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo

MEDIUM CONVENIENCE STORE OF THE YEAR Donnellan’s Centra, Ennis, Co. Clare

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C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 43

Convenience Store of the Year (Large)

Supreme Champion: National Convenience Store of the Year

WINNER: Cosgrove’s Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo

WINNER: Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Mark Hargadon, commercial director convenience, Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland presents Des Cosgrove, owner and Dean Gaffney, retail store manager of Centra, Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo with the gold Convenience Store of the Year (Large) award

Judges’ verdict Cosgrove’s Centra in Maugheraboy, Co. Sligo is a store that screams fresh the second the customer walks in the door. A 7,000sq ft supermarket that that has been operating in its local community for over 15 years, Cosgrove’s Centra has achieved major turnover growth by driving excellent standards of customer service and constantly evolving to include new trends and initiatives and extensive product ranges. This included adding a new Mondos Donut and Ice Cream counter and a stand-alone Happy Pear section; bang on trend!

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See you at the ShelfLife C-Store Awards 2022!

Reckon your c-store is a true contender? Preparations are already underway for the C-Store Awards 2022 which will be held in November. As these photos illustrate there’s a fantastic atmosphere on the night and we look forward to seeing you there!

Mark Hargadon, commercial director convenience, Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland joins George Canavan, sales & operations manager, National Lottery to present the Champion Award – National Convenience Store of the Year 2021 to Peter Varga, Penyo Shilev-Kulesza and manager Gavin Moran of Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Judges’ verdict Our overall Supreme Champion Award winner, Spar / Texaco, Junction 14, is a store that consistently delivers an excellent customer service, with first-class foodservice and friendly, helpful staff. With a wide array of fresh food options available, customers are spoilt for choice and our Supreme Winner’s reputation for high standards across the board has resulted in this store becoming a real destination spot.

High-spec, well-proportioned facilities are spotlessly clean.

Coupled with an easy-to-navigate layout, this has created a store to which customers are keen to return.

The quality throughout this winning store is clear, even down to the smallest detail. A store truly designed with the customer’s comfort and convenience top of mind.

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www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

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44 C-STORE AWARD WINNERS

Retail Technology Supplier of the Year CBE, one of Europe’s largest EPOS providers, has been named as the 2021 Retail Technology Supplier of the Year. The company is investing heavily in cloud-based technologies to offer retailers the flexibility to manage their businesses from anywhere

The Nominees are: • • • • • • • • • •

Merit Solutions Cashguard Questzones Market Hub CBE Retail Solutions Station Master Payzone Leaders Enterprise Almotech

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ShelfLife publisher John McDonald presents Gearóid Concannon, group director of CBE, with the Retail Technology Supplier of the Year award

Dominic Feeney and Gearóid Concannon of CBE, which has grown to become one of Europe’s largest EPOS providers

In recent years, we’ve seen technology play a more dominant role in retail. As retailers embrace innovative IT solutions, CBE has been on hand to support them every step of the way - from initial discussion to sign-off – to allow retailers to focus on running their business.

The CBE team continues to lead the way in shaping EPOS solutions offered to the retail sector both here in Ireland and the UK. Retailers need an IT solution that can manage all of their operations from one central hub enabling them to provide customers with the best possible shopping experience.

CBE’s R&D division is investing heavily in cloud-based technologies. This will offer retailers the flexibility to manage their business from anywhere, even in the comfort of their own home, using any mobile device. All information is in real-time, using predictive

analysis, business intelligence, and data analytics.

Experience has shown that retailers who are embracing technology can now see that the investment will benefit their business and that they will continue to be leaders within their industry by having all the information at their disposal to make the correct business decisions.

Formed in 1980, CBE has grown to become one of Europe’s largest EPOS providers. CBE designs and develops cutting-edge software applications for the retail, forecourt, hospitality, fashion, pharmacy, and general merchandise sectors. CBE’s in-house innovation lab provides a unique competitive advantage that allows the group to offer agile bespoke solutions to prospective customers. Employing over 190 skilled personnel, CBE continues to lead the way in retail technology innovations.

Innovators in Retail & Hospitality Technology Innovators in Retail Technology Award Winning Solutions for the AwardForecourt winning & solutions for Sectors the Retail, Hospitality

retail and forecourt sectors

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EPoS Solutions EPoS solutions Business Management Solutions Business management software Cloud-based Software Cloud-based software Mobile MobileApplications applications Multi-branch Multi-branchSolutions solutions Self Self Checkout Checkout

Reta i l Techno lo g y Sup p lie r o f t he Ye a r 2 0 21 0818 373 000 │ 0800 731 4591

cbe.ie

info@cbe.ie

: 1890 373000 / 0800 7314591 : info@cbe.ie : www.cbe.ie @CBE_EPoS : @CBE_EPoS

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C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 45

Best New Product Award The Best New C-Store Product of the Year Award was awarded to Cadbury Twirl Orange due to unprecedented customer demand

The Nominees are: • • • • • • • • • •

Monster Yorkie Orange Cadbury Caramilk Club Pat Frog Guinness Nitro Surge Cadbury Twirl Orange Fiid Cali Cali Protein Bar Carrolls Grab & Go Ham Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Butter Bars

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Cadbury Twirl Orange is the number one new product development and is in the top 20 best-selling chocolate impulse bars

The Best New C-Store Product of the Year Cadbury Twirl Orange made a real splash when it was initially launched as a limited-edition product. So much so, that it was made a permanent part of its brand’s product offering.

The judges said it was this product’s innovative marketing campaign and roll out that set it apart from the competition.

Cadbury launched the Cadbury Twirl Orange in 2019 as a limited edition, and following unprecedented demand, Twirl Orange came back for good in 2021. Made in the Cadbury factory in Coolock, Dublin, it’s the number one new product

Kevin O’Sullivan, national field sales & – International, development manager, Mondelez is presented with the Best New C-Store Product of the Year award for the Cadbury Twirl Orange by John McDonald, publisher of ShelfLife, and John Moane, chief commercial officer of BWG Foods

development and is in the top 20 best-selling chocolate impulse bars. Flavour innovation remains a key driver of growth, driving consumer engagement and recruiting younger shoppers.

Twirl Orange combines the popular Cadbury Twirl chocolate with one of the favourite chocolate flavours to bring excitement to the market.

Marketing Campaign of the Year Keeping the customer at the heart of its journey, Heineken was awarded the Marketing Campaign of the Year

The Nominees are: • • • • • • • • • •

Lucozade An Post Denny Pepsi Brady Family Ham Heineken Cadbury National Lottery Guinness Coca-Cola

Sponsored by:

Heineken Ireland describes the award as a testament to its belief that the most successful marketing campaign keeps the shopper and the consumer at its heart

Mace sales director Peter Dwan presents Ruth Hankin, head of category & shopper marketing at Heineken, with the Marketing Campaign of the Year award

Whether a brand is a local start-up or a global institution, a strong marketing campaign can be what stands between success and failure. For this year’s winner, the judges see its campaign as an all-round success. Its mass appeal, unique approach, and clear messaging all made Heineken the frontrunner for Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Heineken Ireland says it is delighted to accept this award as a testament to its belief that the most successful marketing campaign keeps the shopper and the consumer at its heart. The company will continue to drive and deliver

shopper centric campaigns for the category and its brands through curating an engaging shopper journey throughout 2022. From disruptive pre-store communications to unmissable instore features and displays, and a rewarding post-store experience; elevating the shopper experience is always front and centre to the brief. Heineken wishes to pay tribute to its retail partners who gave their space in fridges and floors to the brands such as Heineken, Island’s Edge, Moretti and Orchard Thieves to enhance their shoppers’ in-store experience.

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

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46 C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 2021

C-Store Product of the Year A much-loved brand that consistently delivers sales for every retailer, Coca-Cola was awarded the C-Store Product of the Year Award

The Nominees are: • • • • • • • • • •

Fulfil Tayto Dettol Lucozade Bewley’s Avonmore Coca-Cola Monster Red Bull Dairymilk

Sponsored by:

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland says its “number one priority is driving category sales growth for customers”

A perennial best-seller, the Product of the Year Award goes to a brand that has consistently innovated to meet consumer needs and drive growth. This winner has also made impressive strides on the sustainability front, by eliminating waste and through continuous initiatives to encourage consumers to recycle.

Coca-Cola was delighted to take home the ‘Product of the Year’ Award. The Product of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious accolades to win and is judged by retailers who have nominated their top three selling convenience store products.

Andrea Whyte, marketing director, CocaCola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “I am extremely proud to see our 500ml CocaCola product win in this category. Our number one priority is driving category sales growth for our customers, and I would like to sincerely thank all those who voted for us, it is greatly appreciated by all.”

Simon Marriott, chief operations officer, BWG Foods, presents Cathal Garvey of Coca-Cola with the C-Store Product of the Year Award

C-Store Wine of the Year The Wine of the Year was awarded to Santa Rita, one of the oldest and most respected wineries in Chile and one of the top selling wine brands in the off-trade in Ireland

The Nominees are: • • • • • • • • • •

Blossom Hill McGuigan Oyster Bay Villa Maria Cono Sur Santa Rita Dada Casillero del Diablo Yellow Tail Barefoot

Sponsored by:

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

The addition of shiraz and pinot grigio to Santa Rita’s varietal range has boosted the brand’s performance

Amy Barry, head of learning & development, Barry Group, presents Annita Forte of Santa Rita with the Wine of the Year award

One of Chile’s oldest and most respected wineries where sustainability always tops the agenda, Santa Rita’s range continues to be one of the top selling wine brands in the off-trade in Ireland. The addition of shiraz and pinot grigio to the varietal range has helped the brand’s growth in terms of its performance in the last year with pinot grigio now the third biggest selling grape variety on the Irish market.

With over 140 years of winemaking experience, Santa Rita is proud to be recognised as Ireland’s best-selling wine brand and delighted to have been voted ‘Wine of the Year’ at the ShelfLife C Store Awards.

Undoubtedly one of the keys to its success is consistency, both in the quality of wine in the bottle, and through a series of in-store promotional activities which ensures the brand is never far from the wine buying decision maker.

New additions to the ranges keep the brand fresh, with a no alcohol and low alcohol range due to be launched in spring and autumn 2022 respectively.

Sustainability at Santa Rita Estates is always top of the agenda in every part of the winemaking process from the vineyard to the glass and it has a fully integrated environmental and commercial sustainability programme in place.

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C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 47

Food & Drink Start-Up of the Year An artisan producer of a premium product, the Food & Drink Start-Up of the Year Award was awarded to gourmet cookie dough company Hot Chip Dublin Hot Chip is the recent winner of the Best Food and Drink Start-Up Award at the ShelfLife C-Store awards.

Established in September 2020 by Dave McSharry, the goal of Hot Chip Dublin was to introduce a gourmet cookie dough to the Irish market. The idea came to McSharry after he moved home from Australia after living there for three years. Rapid expansion has since led to the brand becoming the go-to for premium cookie dough. Following strong sales, Hot Chip moved into a larger production facility in Tallaght.

Sponsored by:

Hot Chip DUBLIN

Hot Chip currently produces four flavours of cookie dough

Dave McSharry, CEO of Hot Chip is presented with the Food & Drink Start-Up of the Year award by Finbarr Ryan, territory operations manager, Centra

Hot Chip produces premium Irish cookie dough for both retail and food service. McSharry wanted to make the process of baking delicious cookies as easy as possible for both customers at home and café owners alike.

The brand has already done collaborations with Ben & Jerry’s, Base Pizza, BMW, Vodaphone, and TikTok as well as featuring at the Taste of Dublin festival. Hot Chip currently produces four flavours of cookie dough. Its biggest selling flavour Mixed Chocolate Chip is infused with Belgian dark and milk chocolate. Other flavours

include White Belgian Chocolate, S’mores and its new 100% plant-based vegan cookie dough.

Hot Chip’s cookie dough comes cleverly wrapped in baking paper, making it easy to chop and bake straight from the fridge.

Made with no additives, preservatives or stabilisers, Hot Chip uses high quality ingredients such as Irish butter and Belgian chocolate chips in its cookie dough. The brand currently offers 500g cookie dough rolls for retail with smaller pack sizes and new flavours on the way soon.

Hot Chip

DOUGH IT

YOURSELF

Premium Irish Cookie Dough

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48 C-STORE AWARD WINNERS 2021

C-Store Supplier of the Year This year’s C-Store Supplier of the Year Award was awarded to Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland for continually delivering high quality products and unequalled service to its retail customers

The Nominees are: • • • • • • • • • •

Tayto Snacks Glanbia Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland Mondelez Britvic Coca-Cola HBC JTI Dale Farm Lindt PepsiCo Gala Retail operations manager, Billy Massey presents Philip Campbell, Leo Molloy, Shane Vaughan, Ger Hurley, Anne Marie Keevan, Kevin Fitzgerald, Eric Nolan, Mark Hargadon, and Eileen Townsend of Aryzta Food Solutions Ireland with the 2021 Supplier of the Year award

Sponsored by:

Operating a store demands a logistical juggling act with many considerations to be taken into account. Reliability, dedication and innovation are all key attributes from a supplier which will help their retail partners to stay ahead of the game.

The winner of this award, Aryzta Foods Solutions Ireland, offers these qualities in abundance; continuing to delight customers by adding a new twist to some of their favourite treats, while offering convenience, great taste and fantastic value across the board. Customers come to shops looking for Aryzta’s products which have become synonymous with quality and value over the years.

This award is voted for by the retailers, and is therefore a testimony to the value Aryzta adds to their businesses.

Commenting on the award, Mark Hargadon, commercial director, Aryzta Ireland, said it was an honour to receive the award. “Aryzta Food

Cuisine de France has perfected the golden brown crispy crust and unmistakable light, fluffy velvet centre of its ‘Le Parisien’ baguette

Solutions Ireland have won this award for the last sixteen years,” he said, “which is a great achievement, however managing to stay at the top throughout is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of all involved.”

ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards now open for entries The ShelfLife C-Store Awards will return for 2022 in November!

For details of sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ian Mulvaney at ian.mulvaney@mediateam.ie or Mark Morgan at mark.morgan@mediateam.ie.

Have the C-Store Awards 2021 whetted your appetite to show everyone just how good your management teams are?

Good news! The ShelfLife Grocery

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Management Awards will return this year, supported by platinum sponsor Bank of Ireland, with an annual prize-giving ceremony and gala dinner to celebrate Ireland’s best grocery managers this summer at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

A highlight in the FMCG business calendar, the awards held in association with Excel Recruitment, recognize and reward excellence within the vibrant grocery sector.

The awards are now open for entry at www.groceryawards.ie.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities or the awards ceremony, please contact Mark Morgan at mark.morgan@mediateam.ie or Ian Mulvaney at ian.mulvaney@mediateam.ie.

Best of luck with your entry! ■

ShelfLife editor Gillian Hamill and Owen Clifford, head of retail sector, Bank of Ireland, presenting the National Grocery Manager of the Year Award to last year’s champion, Karl Fitzgerald of Applegreen Rathcoole, Co. Dublin

• ARYZTA has completed the installation of a new speciality bread manufacturing line at its Grange Castle bakery in Dublin.

• Speciality and sourdough breads produced at the Grange Castle bakery are made using a perpetual live starter which has 30 years of heritage in the business.

• Our speciality breads premiumise our range in order to meet the consumer demand for breads with high nutritional value, fiber, seeds, grains and of course sourdough.

For more information, contact afsordering@aryzta.com

Irish Whiskey

Alternative Protein

Sugar Confectionery

50 CATEGORY FOCUS Irish Whiskey

Whiskey rocks!

A truly dynamic sector that is bustling with innovation, Irish whiskey is a category in hot demand. So much so that the number of Irish whiskey distilleries has leapfrogged from four to 40 since 2010, writes Gillian Hamill

T

he future of the Irish whiskey industry looks bright. After more than €1.5 billion was invested in the Irish whiskey sector in the 2010s and global sales grew from 60 million to 144 million bottles in January 2020, Irish whiskey was named the world’s fastestgrowing spirits category of the past decade.

And that growth looks set to continue. Drinks industry analyst IWSR expects to see Irish whiskey sales jump 33% from 2020 to 2024, recording sales of 15.3 million cases.

The success of Irish whiskey abroad is a true testament to the sector’s quality, which as Drinks Ireland points out, is impressively “rich with heritage”. According to Bord Bia data, Irish whiskey exports grew by 25% in 2021 and were valued at €855m. What’s more, Irish whiskies achieved sweeping success at the World Whiskies Awards held in London last

Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey blends the light, sweet vanilla notes of Irish grain whiskies, with the rich, deep spice of triple-distilled malts

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

month. “The sweeping success of Irish whiskey distilleries, bars and retailers confirms Ireland’s re-emergence as one of the world’s leading whiskey-producing nations,” said William Lavelle, director of the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA).

The Irish Whiskey Association also recently drew attention to a multitude of reasons for celebration within the Irish whiskey sector.

Impressively, the number of Irish whiskey distilleries has grown from four to 40 since 2010. Furthermore, the IWA assesses that global sales of Irish whiskey broke the 13 million case barrier in 2021 for the first time ever. That’s a massive 150% growth over the past decade. Meanwhile, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has

reported that sales of Irish whiskey in the US grew by 17.8% last year to 5.9 million cases.

The annual market report from Drinks Ireland|Spirits, which was published in September 2021, showed that despite sales and exports declining in 2020 due to Covid-19, Ireland’s spirits sector nevertheless demonstrated impressive resilience.

After vodka, which holds a 31.6% market share in the spirits category, Irish whiskey is the country’s second most popular spirit with a 26.3% market share.

Overall, this a hugely exciting sector to operate in, as the quality credentials of the distilleries displayed over the next few pages illustrate.

A measure of pride

who worked in Belfast’s shipyard more than a century ago - and now tourists will be able to walk in their footsteps in the very pump-house and dry dock that represent such an authentic part of the Titanic story and indeed the history of Belfast.

At Titanic Distillers, the focus is firmly on crafting world class spirits that honour the heritage of the great ship, ship builders, and the city of Belfast.

Great skill and artistry were required to create this whiskey. To balance its complexity – yet ensure it is simple to appreciate and savour. To blend the light, sweet vanilla notes of Irish grain whiskies, with the rich, deep spice of triple-distilled malts. To round everything out with a hint of peat smoke and a long, lingering finish. As Titanic Distillers aptly puts it: “We made the whiskey we want to enjoy after a long, hard day. The whiskey we want to share.”

2022 promises to be a huge year for Titanic Distillers and its Premium Irish Whiskey. Not only has the company secured one of the most globally recognised brand names, but it is also based in the famous Titanic Quarter of Belfast and has plans to convert the historic Titanic Pump-House and Thompson Dock into a new distillery and world class tourist attraction.

Titanic Distillers is inspired by the people

Titanic Distillers is based in the famous Titanic Quarter of Belfast

w e’ll be at whiske y live visit us at stand 34.

titanicdistiller s.com @titanicdistiller s

avail a ble through united wine s drink re sponsibly

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CATEGORY FOCUS Irish Whiskey

A

&

with Stephen Symington,

founder and commercial director, Titanic Distillers

Q: What are the qualities that make Titanic Distillers Whiskey stand out from the offerings currently available within the market?

A: Within Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey, there are five different spirits blended together, giving a huge amount of complexity and layers. It is a combination of Irish double and peated triple distilled single malts, along with a combination of bourbon, sherry and virgin oak-aged grain and malt whiskies. The main point of difference from our competitors is the introduction of peated single malt to our blend - this offers Irish whiskey drinkers the opportunity to delve into the world of peated Irish whiskey, which is becoming ever more popular, but at an affordable price. A whiskey that can be enjoyed neat or in a range of complex and simple cocktails for the consumer’s enjoyment.

Five different spirits are blended within Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey, which creates fantastic complexity and layers

A journey of taste Created through a collaboration between Camus, the world’s leading family-owned cognac producer, and the Baring Family’s Revelstoke Trust, Lambay Irish Whiskey is a combination of centuries-old Irish whiskeymaking expertise and five generations of French Cognac blending and maturation expertise.

A unique location, Lambay Island is a hidden paradise just three miles off the coast of Dublin. Here lies a playground for puffins, a sanctuary for seabirds, and the adopted home of a troupe of wallabies.

Lambay Island is also home to the business’s bonded warehouse, the Sea Cask Room, open to the rich micro-climate of maritime winds and sea pollens on Lambay. Its sleeping casks effectively absorb the rich Island maritime conditions of iodine, sea spray, and salt that enrich Lambay’s oak cognac casks with unique

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Q: How extensive will the marketing campaign for the new whiskey prove, and what elements will this entail? How will this link in with the opening of the distillery later this year?

A: The brand will have a heavyweight campaign behind it which will feature digital, social, sampling, PR and events – including exhibiting at Whiskey Live in Dublin this June, along with being named category sponsor of leading Audio-Visual-Art festival, AVA, hosted at the Titanic Slipways in Belfast this summer. And all of that, ahead of the official Distillery launch in summer 2022 which will see the historic Pumphouse at Thompson dock, where the Titanic once stood, become home to Titanic Distillers – right in the heart of Belfast’s maritime mile.

Once dwarfed by the Great Ship, the Pumphouse stood in the shadows. Now we’re inviting people to come and walk in the footsteps of the shipyard workers; the air thick with stories of former glory and experience the new spirit of Belfast’s famous docklands.

Visitors can explore the true home of Titanic and learn first-hand about the characters that have shaped and inspired our story, and our whiskey. Simple. Honest. True.

With planning now granted, we are collaborating with stakeholders and funders to have our distillery and tours in operation by summer 2022.

Q: What are your growth projections for the brand for the next 12 months following launch?

taste profiles.

Born from independently sourced single malts and created for a discerning whiskey palette, Lambay Whiskey is delighted to announce the launch of a new three-part collector’s series of single malts called the Reserve Cask Series.

Lambay Whiskey Single Malt - Batch 01 is the first batch of the series, limited to 10,000 bottles. It will be available on shop.lambaywhiskey.com from this month onwards, while Batch 02 will release at the end of 2022 and Batch 03 at the end of 2023.

“This series is designed to push the boundaries for our whiskey fans to taste the diversity of cask finishes we can create in our single malts,” says Sabine Sheehan, global brand ambassador, Lambay Whiskey. “Our first Lambay Single Malt release in 2018 was a huge success with its floral, tropical notes and lingering sweetness attracting a new >>

Titanic Distillers offers whiskey afficionados the opportunity to delve into the world of peated Irish whiskey

A: We have ambitious targets for our brand which includes global exports and impressive NPD extensions over the next 12 months – but before that, and at the heart of our ambitions, is to create a credible brand for the home-market.

A brand our city can be proud of and adopt as their own.

Q: Belfast was once the largest producer of Irish whiskey on the island of Ireland. How will you help revive this tradition through your brand and specifically through the opening of the distillery?

A: Whiskey has played an important part in the history of our city. We want to revive this great distilling tradition and bring Belfast back to the forefront of Irish whiskey production, by becoming the first working distillery in Belfast in over 100 years, while at the same time, telling the story of a past when Belfast led the way globally - not just in distilling or shipbuilding but across many areas of industry, manufacturing and innovation.

Lambay Whiskey Single Malt - Batch 01 is limited to 10,000 bottles

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CATEGORY FOCUS Irish Whiskey

Triple blended to perfection Uais: The Triple Blend is a unique fusion of pot still, single malt and grain whiskeys; the three types of Irish whiskey blended together in perfect harmony. Named for Colla Uais: one of the famed Three Collas, brothers who once ruled ancient Ireland.

Uais is a whiskey that honours the past but moves in bold new directions.

The Uais bottle is made from the most eco-friendly materials possible; 100% recycled glass and recycled paper for the label with a sustainable wood stopper and a biodegradable vegetable-based seal. Uais is a part of Ahascragh Distillers Family Bond series of sourced releases but within a few years the liquid inside these bottles will be produced using a carbon neutral distilling process at Ahascragh Distillery. This ecodistillery in the west of Ireland will be powered by renewable energy. Its new highly efficient energy storage design was recently recognised by SEAI and through the Exeed Programme, was awarded capital grant support for its installation.

Uais is an authentic Irish whiskey with an innovative twist. A blend of old and new;

>> swathe of whiskey drinkers to Lambay.

“This Reserve Cask Series will challenge that profile with three very different limitededition cask releases,” she adds. “Oak, tobacco, salt and peat will challenge the traditional sweet, floral and mellow profile we had before, opening us up to new consumers that prefer those taste profiles and wish to leverage up, on their current favourites.”

Lambay Whiskey Single Malt - Batch 01 is no ordinary single malt. A rich triple-distilled single malt, it is matured in bourbon barrels and finished in Lambay Whiskey’s signature style of French Camus cognac casks.

Batch 01 contains a higher percentage of island matured Lambay Single Malt delivering a more intense salty note. This Single Malt consists of both first-fill and second-fill cognac cask finishing, creating a more intense mouthfeel of spice, tobacco, and

Lambay Irish Whiskey is launching a new three-part collector’s series of single malts called the Reserve Cask Series

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Uais: The Triple Blend from Ahascragh Distillery fuses pot still, single malt and grain whiskeys

traditions, flavours and stories, Uais is a step up from the ordinary.

Available now at Celtic Whiskey Shop, Irishmalts and all good stockists.

pepper on the palate.

Blended with Single Malt from the Lambay Island warehouse, the whiskey has soft smoky attributes with slight salinity and a lingering finish that balances the rich oak and herb note. Before bottling, the island’s own Trinity Well water is added in the final flourish, to deliver this delicious, triple distilled Irish whiskey (ABV: 43%).

For more information, contact info@lambaywhiskey.com, Lambay Irish Whiskey Company on LinkedIn or telephone +353 (0) 1 567 540.

Grace and flavour Grace O’Malley Irish Whiskey unveils its most vibrant and colourful blend to date, ‘The Grace’, a collaboration with street artist Kathrina Rupit, also known as KinMx, who has taken her latest mural to new heights in the

heart of the city’s creative quarter.

The Grace, a 60ft by 40ft public artwork sees a contemporary, artistic interpretation of the famous Irish pirate queen, Grace O’Malley, has taken up residency on Aungier Street in Dublin. Bottles, flowers and waves crash at Grace’s booted feet, bringing to life the elements of achievement of Ireland’s most widely known warriors and notable seafarers.

The Grace is one element of an exciting project partnership with Fresco and the Subset Collective, rolling out this year.

Having launched as a mural, artwork will also be painted across 500 black Grace O’Malley Irish Whiskey bottles in a separate installation launching this month. These bottles will then be used for a limited edition bottling of Grace O’Malley 12 Year Old Single Grain Irish Whiskey Amarone Finish. Each whiskey bottle will host a sectional piece of the mural, representing a unique piece of the artwork with funds from the sale going directly to the Irish art community.

“We are committed to establishing a genuine long-term relationship with the Irish art community and see The Grace campaign as an exciting start to a genuine multi-dimensional bond between the brand and this community,” says Heather Clancy, brand manager for Grace O’Malley Irish Whiskey.

Four hundred of The Grace Limited Edition Whiskeys will be sold across e-commerce and off-trade platforms, with the remaining one hundred bottles sold alongside an NFT corresponding to the public artwork.

Inis Tine Uisce Teoranta (ITUT) which owns the Grace O’Malley Premium Irish Spirits Brand will only retain the production costs of the product, with all profits going directly to the team behind the project.

The painted bottles will be displayed at Mend Studio in April, with the launch of the limited edition bottles and the corresponding NFTs in June. Further details will be announced via the brand’s Instagram page @graceomalleyspirits and www.graceomalleywhiskey.com.

Grace O’Malley, who was incarcerated in Dublin Castle almost 450 years ago, is today regarded as one of the world’s most extraordinary female trailblazers

KATIE & NEIL WALSH’S PUB, STONEYBATTER

WIN YOUR UNSUNG HERO A TRIP TO NYC SIMPLY SCAN AND ENTER NOW.

AS WITH the generations before them, countless people from across society answered their country’s and community’s call when it came. With an inner spirit and strength of charter much akin to centuries passed, putting the needs of others before themselves, we celebrate the true independent spirits of Ireland.

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56 CATEGORY FOCUS Irish Whiskey

Double glory It’s been a good start to 2022 for Clonakilty Distillery in terms of awards, and last month the team continued their winning ways by scooping two major awards at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards.

The maritime distillery trumped in two categories at the ceremony in London. Visitor experience manager Ewan Paterson won the Best Visitor Experience Manager category, whilst the muti-award winning Clonakilty Small Batch Single Malt Whiskey added another accolade to its collection of silverware.

Clonakilty’s Small Batch Single Malt was the second award for the team on the night, coming up trumps in the Single Malt Small Batch Category.

Head distiller at Clonakilty Distillery Paul Corbett said the team was delighted to be recognized for this whiskey, which was made in collaboration with O’Hara’s Brewery.

“O’Hara’s brews exceptional beers and on nosing the casks before filling I knew we were going to be crafting something special,” he says. “The resulting Clonakilty Small Batch Single Malt has a complex blend of chocolate, fruit and spice notes with a rich mouth-feel and we’re delighted it has been recognised on a global scale.”

To keep up to date with all things Clonakilty Distillery, check out Twitter @clondistillery, Facebook @clonakiltydistillery and Instagram @clonakiltydistillery. For more information, visit www.clonakiltydistillery.ie/.

Spirit of wild, rugged beauty There is no shortage of inspiration for a sublime range of Fercullen Irish Whiskey cocktails at Powerscourt Distillery. Surrounded by the wild, rugged beauty of the Wicklow Mountains, steeped in the history and traditions of Ireland’s Ancient East and nestled beside the splendour of The Powerscourt Gardens, wild and cultivated ingredients are abundant.

The distillery uses only the best Irish ingredients to reflect the current consumer expectations for authentic, seasonal and delicious hand-crafted cocktails. Creating cocktails that reflect this landscape, drawing on classic cocktails and adding a fresh new

Fercullen 8-Year-Old Irish Whiskey is matured for eight years in American oak

twist allows Fercullen Irish Whiskey’s extraordinary spirit to shine through!

Delicious and refreshing, the Powerscourt Pear Blossom is inspired by the delicate pear blossom on the longstanding pear trees clinging to the old stones walls of the walled garden of Powerscourt House. It’s made with Fercullen 8-Year-Old Blended Whiskey, mixed with the incredible smoked pear bitters from Beara Bitters and Irish pear juice from another excellent Irish producer DP Connolly. The distillery loves collaborating with local artisan producers from Wicklow and Ireland’s Ancient East.

Fercullen 8-Year-Old Irish Whiskey is a carefully selected blend of aged malt and grain whiskeys, matured for eight years in American oak and skilfully blended to deliver a classic Irish whiskey. Hints of citrus, vanilla and oak combine delicately to produce a satisfying, clean, crisp mouthfeel with enough depth to bring life to summer drinks and cocktails.

With a RSP of €43.99, it is available now in O’Brien’s off-licenses, SuperValu and through Barry & Fitzwilliam.

For more information, visit www.PowerscourtDistillery.com.

Trail-blazing spirit Slane Irish Whiskey is a multi-award-winning blend that is triple distilled for smoothness and triple-casked for character. Matured in a combination of American virgin oak, seasoned

Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Slane is a smooth, complex and robust blend that is rich in colour and full of flavour.

A striking black bottle calls out its distinctive flavour and unconventional approach that embodies the trail-blazing spirit of Slane, setting itself apart from other brands.

It has received multiple awards since launch at a local and international level, including Best Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of less than €60) at the 2019 Irish Whiskey Awards* and most recently receiving the Gold Medal Irish Whiskey Masters from The Spirit Business 2021.

A trail-blazing Distillery and Visitor Centre is situated on the grounds of the legendary Slane Castle.

Distributed in Ireland by Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd, a 700ml format is widely available across multiples and off-licences nationwide, as well as a 50ml format. With 40% ABV, the RSP for 700ml is €33.** *(Source: https://irishwhiskeyawards.com/news/82-2017winners-of-the-irish-whiskey-awards.html) *(Source: https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2021/08/theirish-whiskey-masters-2021-results/) **(RSP is at the sole discretion of the retailer)

Distinctive rebrand The Irishman range of super-premium whiskeys, produced by Walsh Whiskey, recently unveiled an extensive rebranding to reflect its dedication to the pursuit of excellence in single malt whiskeys. The most striking change in The Irishman rebrand is the introduction of a bespoke, tall, tapered bottle.

A significant feature of the bottle is a series of embossed phrases around the lower part of the bottle that capture the essence of The Irishman’s focus and purpose, which is ‘to pursue a lifelong journey in search of the perfect dram/taoscán of single malt, while respecting past traditions and with ambition for future possibilities’.

A new brand icon is one of three distinctive features on the label and product packaging, which also contain a lot of the unique, technical details of each expression. The icon, which features a capital letter ‘I’ (for Irishman) inside two-tone staves of a barrel, signifies The Irishman’s journey to learn from the past while creating the future.

Slane Irish Whiskey scooped a Gold Medal Irish Whiskey Masters from The Spirit Business 2021

The Powerscourt Pear Blossom cocktail combines Fercullen 8-Year-Old Irish Whiskey with smoked pear bitters from Beara Bitters and Irish pear juice from DP Connolly

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Slane Irish Whiskey is matured in a combination of American virgin oak, seasoned Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks

Produced by Walsh Whiskey, The Irishman range of super-premium whiskeys has recently been rebranded with new packaging

Irish Whiskey CATEGORY FOCUS

Inspired by the untamed spirit of the founders of The Wild Geese in their stand against corporate bullying and the pioneering spirit of the “Wild Geese”, founding fathers of the Irish diaspora, Wild Geese Untamed Non-Chill Filtered Cask Strength Irish whiskey is a multiaward winner, having taken Gold at the 2021 Irish Whiskey Masters, Silver at the International Spirits Challenge in 2020 and another Gold at the 2019 PR%F Awards.

A blend of malt and grain whiskeys, Untamed is double distilled then matured in single-use white oak Bourbon casks. Clean, bright and pale yellow in colour, Untamed is light and floral on the nose, before opening up with bright, citrus flavours with a hint of spice on the palate. Perfect neat, chilled or on the rocks, it finishes surprisingly long and soft for a cask-strength whiskey – an iron fist in a velvet glove - making it the ideal addition to any connoisseur’s cabinet.

The Wild Geese Heritage Collection has a whiskey for every palate in its portfolio. The three-time ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ winner was one

Full-bodied finish

The Whistler range is crafted by the Cooney family in Boann Distillery in the heart of the Boyne Valley.

Whistled into life one fabled New Year’s Eve, the multi-award-winning range of Irish whiskey expressions are matured and finished in a host of fascinating casks from around the world.

The brand’s newest release, The Whistler ‘Mosaic’ Marsala cask small batch single grain whiskey recently won the title of ‘World’s Best Single Grain’ at the World Whiskies Awards in London.

This unique single grain Irish whiskey has been initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished for no less than 15 months in exquisite Sicilian Marsala casks. This creates a perfectly balanced whiskey which boasts a deliciously fruity and flavoursome nose and palate to match.

2021 was milestone year for the Connacht Distillery as it successfully brought its Connacht Single Malt Irish Whiskey to the market. The first whiskey to be distilled in Co. Mayo in over 150 years, it has been extremely well received and acknowledged by industry commentators and experts alike, winning a gold medal in the ‘New Irish Whiskey’ category at the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards and most recently picking up a coveted Double Gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2022.

Crafted using 100% Irish malted barley, aged in ex-bourbon casks for four years and finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks, it is then double distilled from the distillery’s own copper pot stills. It features a warm and fullbodied finish, with tasting notes including raisin and dried fruits, a honey sweetness and hints of almond and star anise, as well as a palate of vanilla, spices, dried fruit and malt.

It is available through the Connacht Distillery’s own website and stockists nationwide (RRP €65).

2022 is shaping up to be another busy year for the Connacht Distillery. It recently announced its expansion into the UK market, appointing Spirit Cartel as its whiskey distributor. It also recently welcomed the return of tours of the distillery in Ballina, Co. Mayo, with large numbers of visitors expected over the summer months. Visitors are encouraged to book tours and tastings in advance online at www.connachtwhiskey.com. ■

The Whistler ‘Mosaic’ Marsala cask small batch single grain whiskey is perfectly balanced

Connacht Single Malt Irish Whiskey has been crafted using 100% Irish malted barley

Sip and whistle a while

Irish Whiskey

Untamed originality

of the first independent bottlings and the first super-premium Irish whiskey collection. From single malts to carefully crafted blends, these best-in-class whiskies are produced using an extended double distillation process for a smoother product with distinctive character.

In recognition of the untamed spirit so vividly demonstrated by the Ukrainian people, The Wild Geese has produced a t-shirt with the message Unbroken Unbowed Untamed emblazoned on it. All profits will help Ukrainian refugees. It aims to sell 1,000 t-shirts to raise tens of thousands of euros for their cause.

Visit www.irishpremiumspirits.eu for more information. For distribution details, contact sales@protege-international.com.

Alternative Protein

Other unique and notable features of the new labels are the addition of braille for the visually impaired and nutritional and calorific information on e-labels positioned on back of pack and online. The braille highlighting The Irishman’s brand name, is also a personal tribute

by Bernard Walsh to the memory of his own grandfather, Jack Walsh, whose loss of vision made a lasting impression on his grandson.

There are also changes to the composition of the range, with a change of name for one core expression and the addition of a limited edition to the core of the portfolio. The Founder’s Reserve blend (70% single malt and 30% single pot still) has been renamed The Harvest. This new name honours the great contribution of the farming community in the whiskey-making process. The whiskey is crafted entirely from a mash bill of 100% Irish barley.

The Irishman Caribbean Cask, first released as a limited edition bottling in 2018, has also been added to the portfolio’s core expressions which include The Harvest; Single Malt; 12-Year-Old Single Malt; 17-Year-Old Single Malt and the Vintage Cask. The Irishman Caribbean Cask Finish is a rare vatting of single malt and single pot still whiskeys finished for six months in Chairman’s Reserve Rum casks from the tiny tropical Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, before being bottled at 46% ABV.

Untamed is an ideal addition to any whiskey connoisseur’s cabinet

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The Irishman labels include braille

The latest award is the fourth international ‘World’s Best’ gong for the distillery in the World Whiskies Awards since 2019 and it was also nominated in the finals for the world’s best blended malt for The Whistler ‘The Good, The Bad and The Smoky’ which came away as Ireland’s best blended malt.

At the WWAs last year, Boann won the world’s Best New Make 2021 and world’s best honey for the Whistler Irish Honey, in addition to the world’s best cream liqueur for Merrys Irish Cream Liqueur in 2019.

The Co. Meath distillery, based just outside Drogheda, blazed a trail to the finals in London after coming through the first round of blind tastings, in which it scooped 11 prizes.

The Whistler range is distributed exclusively in Ireland by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

For further information, visit www.boanndistillery.ie.

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Rooting for you!

With a growing number of people now interested in pursuing a plant-based diet – whether on a ‘flexitarian’ or full-time basis, alternative proteins are allowing health-conscious consumers to pursue their nutritional goals without having to sacrifice on flavour, writes Gillian Hamill

A

s consumer awareness of the environmental impacts of the meat industry grows, so too have demands for plant-based protein products. In just a few short years, producers have found pioneering new ways to supply the growing market for alternative proteins, from vegan-friendly roasts and sandwich stuffers to barbecue-ready favourites and breakfast essentials.

Ingredients such as textured pea proteins, mung beans and seaweed are being utilized alongside soy to improve the taste, texture,

Deliciously creamy taste, now plant-based Dairygold, Ireland’s number one dairy spread brand, continues to maintain its position as market leader in the ‘butter, spreads and margarine’ (BSM) category. Now, the brand is expanding on its already vast consumer base by introducing a new plant-based range.

Appearing on shelves from 4 April onwards, the new line of products will feature plantbased cheese alternatives in grated and sliced formats as well as a plant-based version of the renowned Dairygold spread.

The new range, which is entirely vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and lactose-free, comes as more and more Irish consumers seek to reduce their dairy consumption. Consumers are at the heart of the Dairygold brand and it has always been hugely important for Dairygold to continue to adapt to their evolving needs with innovative, great tasting products.

With the introduction of this new range, Dairygold becomes the first Irish brand to operate in plant-based across multiple

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

functionality, and nutritional credentials of the meat analogues.

Food Matters Live reported on five plantbased food trends and innovations for 2022 and ‘new proteins from vegetables’ came top of the list. “Soy, peas and beans are widely used as the main proteins in plant-based meat, but food companies are working towards extracting proteins from other vegetables too,” it states. For example, UK-based potato supplier Branston announced in July that it was building a £6 million facility to extract

protein from potatoes to be used in plantbased, vegetarian, clean-label and starch-based products for other manufacturing applications.

The new potato protein extraction plant is said to be the first of its kind in the UK. Cabbage is also being eyed up for the plantbased protein market, Food Matters Live reported. At the end of November, Naylor Farms, one of the largest cabbage growers in Europe, applied for planning permission to build a new processing plant in Lincolnshire, to be used to extract plant-based protein from cabbage.

categories. The decision to make this momentous leap followed many rounds of open dialogue with consumers all over Ireland.

Feedback from consumers ultimately revealed that many struggled to find plant-based dairy alternatives from a brand they know and trust without having to compromise on taste and functionality. With trust and credibility key to Dairygold’s success, it was instrumental to Dairygold that it become the Irish brand that consumers have been looking for, by allowing them to pursue their own nutritional goals without having to make sacrifices along the way.

“With the launch of our new plant-based range, we wanted to acknowledge the increasing percentage of the population that are choosing to incorporate less dairy into their diets and ensure they feel seen by the

brands that have always been a part of their lives,” says Michelle Daly Lennon, marketing manager for Dairygold. Dairygold is proud to say that the new plant-based range maintains the same deliciously creamy taste whilst expanding its offering to become a brand that fits with the identity of all its customers, makes them feel great, meets their nutritional needs and fits with their sustainability expectations.

Dairygold has been a staple in Irish hearts and fridges for over 30 years. The brand is worth over €30m in retail sales value (RSV) and holds 20% market share within the BSM category. The long-term success of Dairygold has been built on the brand’s ability to continuously connect with consumers through its high-quality products and commitment to continuously evolving the brand’s communications platform.

Dairygold has launched a range of plant-based dairy alternatives including cheeses and a spread

Plant-based Dairygold White Slices come in ‘peel & reseal’ packaging

Dairygold’s new plant-based range is entirely vegan, dairyfree, gluten-free and lactose-free

BASE T N A D· · PL

THE PLANT BASED

with the creamy taste NOW AVAILABLE IN-STORE

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60 CATEGORY FOCUS Alternative Protein

Start the day right The Happy Pear is making breakfast something worth waking up for with the launch of two new tasty mueslis to add to its expanding range.

The new Super Mueslis – May’s Original and Elsie’s Fruit & Nut are both made with a delicious blend of crunchy sprouted flakes, oats and spelt flakes. Elsie’s Fruit & Nut has the addition of mixed dried fruits for added sweetness and texture.

What makes The Happy Pear Super Muesli a little bit different is that it’s made with crunchy ‘sprouted’ or ‘activated’ cereal flakes. This is a process where the natural grain is germinated or ‘activated’, which awakens the nutrition inside the grain, making it sweeter, and in the process, easier to digest, allowing the nutrients to be more easily absorbed by the body. The Happy Pear has used a tasty mix of buckwheat flakes, brown lentil flakes and red quinoa flakes to give a great crunchy taste experience.

The Super Mueslis contain no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and come in a recyclable pouch, so consumers can easily recycle the packaging in their bins at home.

“Named after our daughters, these new Super Mueslis are especially close to our heart,” say founders Dave and Steve. The Happy Pear Super Muesli May’s Original and Super Muesli Elsie’s Fruit & Nut retail at €3.99 each (400g), available exclusively in SuperValu, Centra and Daybreak stores nationwide.

For more information, check out Instagram: @supervalu_irl @centra_irl @thehappypear #TheHappyPear #eatmoreveg.

plant-based diets. Plant-It also uses real chopped and sliced vegetables, frozen at source to lock in their goodness and avoid unnecessary waste.

Winner of the 2021 V Awards and voted by the Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) as Ireland’s best sustainable food, Plant-It is on a mission: to inspire Irish consumers to choose good and do good, by increasing the appetite for healthy plant-based choices (choose good) and help plant the planet (do good). The company dedicates a portion of sales from every Plant-It product to support reforestation efforts across Ireland. Already the brand has planted 15,000 native trees and aims to plant many more in 2022.

Plant-It dedicates a portion of sales from every product to support reforestation efforts across Ireland

Choose good, do good Launched in 2021, Plant-It produces a wide range of plant-based food, including 100% Irish meat-free, chicken-free, egg-free, fish-free and veggie products, in retail and food service.

Using its own in-house texture technology, Plant-It is confident it has successfully managed to produce delicious products that mirror the taste and texture experience of meat, while being reassuringly plant-based.

All Plant-It products are 100% vegan, with no GMO, no artificial colours or flavours and are high in plant protein and fibre. In addition, they are fortified with Vitamin B12, iron and calcium, which are traditionally lacking in

Full of wholesome ingredients Irish vegan company, Thanks Plants, packs a serious amount of protein in its range. With over 20g of protein per 100g, these products are not only wholesome but also very satisfying. The range comprises three flavoured sausages in Apple & Sage, Sundried Tomato & Herb and a Frankfurter variant.

There is also a roast dinner centrepiece called the Everyday Roast, stuffed with wild rice and apricots, and a seasonal Spring Roast out now, stuffed with roast potatoes and red peppers.

“Packing our products full of great

Thanks Plants’ Spring Loaf is made from tomato and lentil seitan, with a potato, red pepper and rosemary stuffing

wholesome ingredients is really important to us,” says Aisling Cullen, owner and creator of Thanks Plants. “Our ingredients list is easy to understand and we have no nasties, artificial preservatives or binders added in.

“Our customers also love how much protein the products carry, especially those into sports and fitness,” she adds. “Having a high protein content means that our products are very satiating. They will keep you fuller for longer.”

Cullen explains that the high protein content mainly comes from the vital wheat gluten, aka seitan. “Seitan was first discovered by Chinese Buddhist monks centuries ago,” she says. “It gives a great meaty texture to our products and is super high in protein.

“We’ve got more products coming this year, including our NoMoooo Burger and Chorizo Crumbles. These will have the same great protein levels as our other products, plus a wholesome ingredient list.”

Thanks Plants products are currently available online at www.thanksplants.co, in select SuperValu stores around Ireland and in good independent stores such as Lotts & Co, Nourish and Nolans of Clontarf.

The Thanks Plants range includes three flavoured sausages and a roast dinner centrepiece called the Everyday Roast

Fabulous and fishless Birds Eye Green Cuisine is a plant-based based brand which consists of ‘veg foods’ and ‘meat substitutes’. The perfect brand for vegans, flexitarians and consumers who simply want to reduce meat intake in their family dinners.

2021 saw the launch of Green Cuisine into ‘chicken-free’, following successful launches into red-meat substitutes, and veg foods, which have made great inroads in terms of market value share for Green Cuisine which now sits at 20.3%*.

The H1 2022 focus for Green Cuisine is the April NPD launches with a delicious addition to the ‘veg foods’ sector that is a Cauliflower, Sundried Tomato & Mozzarella Burger.

Another exciting launch for Green Cuisine utilises the Birds Eye Fish Finger heritage, by tapping into the ‘fish-free’ sector with the launch of Green Cuisine Fishless Fingers. A tasty, protein packed product, with a crispy golden crumb. Made up of rice protein, which

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

is a source of Omega 3, this product provides all the benefits of a real fish finger. Both NPD SKUs are available now.

With a robust pipeline in place, integrated with exciting activity plans, there is a lot more to come for the Green Cuisine brand in 2022. ■ *(Source: Nielsen data (Scantrack) L4Wks. W/C 27 Feb, 2022)

Birds Eye Green Cuisine Fishless Fingers are made of rice protein, which is a source of Omega 3

Venue: Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Deadline for entries: May 6 Enter or nominate here: www.groceryawards.ie

Summer 2022 For seat/table sales, and sponsorship opportunities please contact markmorgan@mediateam.ie and/or ianmulvaney@mediateam.ie Categories available for sponsorship: Best Cash & Carry Manager, Best Deli/Food to Go Manager

MAIN SPONSOR

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

CATEGORY SPONSORS

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.groceryawards.ie

Irish Whiskey

Alternative Protein

Sugar Confectionery

62 CATEGORY FOCUS Sugar Confectionery

Sweet street Featuring much-loved favourites and a host of exciting new innovative products, the sugar confectionery market is thriving. ShelfLife highlights all the latest trends and newest developments within the sector

R

etailers know all too well that when it comes to products that consumers impulse buy, sugar confectionery is particularly tempting, especially among children. Even as we become more health conscious as a nation, sweet treats are still a staple in the Irish diet as sugar-free or

reduced sugar products gain momentum.

What’s more, many brands are keen to cater to the growing vegan population with gelatine-free formats of their most popular sweets. For example, Rowntree’s veganfriendly treats are suitable for those following vegetarian, vegan and religious diets.

According to Jeremy Dee, managing director, Swizzels, the sweets category is the second highest category that shoppers like to spend time browsing so it is critical to ensure you are stocking the biggest brands to drive a strong rate of sale and therefore profit.

Vegan-friendly sweets

coffee or lunch break. Due to this, when shopping patterns were impacted by the pandemic over the past two years, it had a knock-on effect on mint sales as shoppers have stayed at home, resulting in fewer Rowntree’s Pick & Mix out of home are suitable for those consumption following vegetarian, vegan and religious diets occasions.

However, as the country hopefully returns to more normal living patterns with people returning to work and travel, retailers now have an opportunity to boost their mint category sales once again.

In order to capitalise on this growth opportunity, retailers should start by ensuring they are stocking the best-selling packs across

a range of usage occasions, ‘breath freshness’ and ‘sweet treat’. Polo has a range of popular mint flavours including Original, Sugar Free and Spearmint.

Rowntree’s, a brand long synonymous with sugar confectionery, is ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy its fruity chews with the extension of the brand’s vegan friendly portfolio. The recently launched vegan friendly Rowntree’s Fruit Gums and Rowntree’s Pick & Mix join existing vegan friendly brands within the range such as Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles and Rowntree’s Jelly Tots and all are suitable for those following vegetarian, vegan and religious diets.

Brand new from Rowntree’s this year is Randoms Squidgy Swirls. A variant within the already well loved Randoms brand, this latest launch is sure to win over fans both old and new. Randoms Squidgy Swirls are a tonguetantalising assortment of fruit and yoghurtflavour creamy-tasting jellies in three varieties: blackcurrant and yoghurt, strawberry and yoghurt and apple and yoghurt. They are chewy with an immensely satisfying squidge making for a playful treat for fruity chew lovers of all ages.

Also new to the Rowntree’s range are Jelly Tots Tropical Tots. A vegan friendly treat, Tropical Tots are made with real fruit juice and come in five tangy flavours: passion fruit, peach, pineapple, grapefruit and mango.

Mints are very much a functional/ destination segment of the sugar confectionery The recently launched market, with vegan friendly shoppers actively Rowntree’s Fruit seeking out Gums join existing products to freshen vegan-friendly brands their breath after a within the range

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Polo has a range of popular mint flavours including Original, Sugar Free and Spearmint

Sunshine in a bag Sonas Sweets is an Irish brand of sugar confectionery developed and distributed by Ampersand. The word Sonas comes from the Irish word meaning happiness, and Sonas Sweets brings a little happiness and sunshine to Irish consumers every day!

The Sonas Sweets range includes a €2 mix up bag and €1 hanging bags, which has now been extended to 24 different varieties since its launch. The Sonas Sweets range has all the favourites including jellies, sour sweets, bonbons, and liquorice pencils. The 100g hanging bags are a perfect treat sized portion priced at €1.

Retailers and consumers can also be assured

The Sonas Sweets range includes a €2 mix up bag and €1 hanging bags which has now been extended to 24 different varieties

in these challenging times where hygiene, health and food safety are at the fore of people’s minds that Sonas Sweets is a premium quality offering and the highest standards of food safety and compliance with legislation have been ensured for the wellbeing of consumers. Sonas Sweets Mix-Ups are all hand-packed in a factory in double laminate bags with a re-sealable tab which are fully compliant with traceability and bestbefore-date along with strict controls and conditions carried out by staff throughout the production and packing processes.

If you are interested in stocking Sonas Sweets, get in touch with Ampersand on 01 4130150 or email info@ampersandsales.ie or visit www.ampersandsales.ie.

Share the yum

Irish Whiskey

Alternative Protein

Sugar Confectionery

64 CATEGORY FOCUS Sugar Confectionery

Perfect for all sharing occasions, Swizzels’ Variety bags have recently been rebranded to include everyone’s favourites in three different packs, such as Luscious Lollies, Scrumptious Sweets, and Curious Chews. Available with a £1 RSP, the bags are free from artificial colours and they are all now suitable for vegans.

4.1% of the Irish population, or 146,426 adults, follow a vegan diet. The research also showed that the majority of these adults, 54%, were aged 18 – 34.

Retailers should consider providing a vegan/ vegetarian selection to accommodate those with dietary requirements, as well as stocking variety bags and sharing packs that offer something for everyone.

Swizzels’ range of Chew Bars are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans which is clearly highlighted on front of pack, ensuring that shoppers can be confident they are making the right choice when it comes to purchasing sugar confectionery.

Bringing innovation to children’s confectionery

Swizzels predicts that sharing bags sales will continue to grow as we return to pre-Covid life

Swizzels has a broad range of products to fit shopper needs, including singles, sharing bags and seasonal lines to maximise sales

According to Jeremy Dee, managing director, Swizzels, the sweets category is the second highest category that shoppers like to spend time browsing so it is critical to ensure you are stocking the biggest and best brands that will drive a strong rate of sale and therefore profit.

Swizzels has a broad range of products to fit shopper needs, including singles, sharing bags and seasonal lines to maximise sales.

Whilst sugar confectionery is bought all year round, there are strong spikes in the summer months and around Halloween. Time of day is also a critical measure as a lot of sugar confectionery is bought in the afternoon and evenings. With this in mind, countlines and single product confectionery will be in higher demand during the warmer months, as more customers will be purchasing sweets for themselves on the go.

Research also suggests that in-home eating occasions have risen by +60%**, likely due to the pandemic, meaning bigger at home family and social occasions are growing in importance**.

As such, shoppers are looking for sharing packs to cater for get-togethers and ensure they have a mixture of sweet options that the whole family can enjoy. Swizzels predicts that sharing bags sales will continue to grow.

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Shelton specialises in marketing children’s candies and treats which bring a little quirkiness and disruption to the confectionery aisle. Children’s impulse novelties are in great demand, and Pez Dispensers (RRP: €2.00) and Candy Refill Packs (RRP: €1.50) have become special go-to treats for children of all ages. Pez Dispensers are collected worldwide, with special limited editions often changing hands for large sums of money.

Pez is a true leader in bringing fun to their fans, and there is now a Pez-Play App, where anyone can go online and download Pez games to play with other Pez fans. Check out Pez Refill packs for more details.

Bringing innovation to children’s confectionery is also a special feature which Look-O-Look delivers in so many ways. Look-

O-Look Candy Pizza, Candy Burgers, and new French Fries Take-Aways, together with the new Party Cracker and iconic Candy Flower Bouquets can brighten up any kiddie’s party, or special occasion. Sales figures peak during the summer months for all Look-O-Look products, and the new Look-O-Look floor stands feature 2 x shelves to carry traditional hanging bags, and several Candy Take-Away novelties.

Trolli has a new face and logo, and this is shown to great effect with the new Trolli Big Burger, featuring a modern design stand, which creates fantastic impact in any store.

The Trolli motto is that “Life is far too important to be taken too seriously!” and this can be seen in so many of their quirky quality confectionery creations.

Chocolate Surprise Eggs are always a winner with children, and Zaini Chocolate Eggs feature famous children’s licences including Barbie, Paw Patrol, SpongeBob and many more. Made with premium Italian chocolate, these eggs with surprise toys are also gluten-free, and can be safely shared with children with wheat-intolerances.

Shelton also launched the WOM brand of novelties in 2021, which include many versions of candy soothers to put a different smile on anyone’s face – no more masks! These unique dummies promise to be a great fun item during the summer months. For further information on all the items here, contact Shelton at so@shelton.ie. ■ *(Source: Category Benchmark research, February 2020 to August 2021) **(Source: Landmark Q4 2020) ***(Source: IRI, Sugar Confectionery category, Value Sales 12wks to 31/10/2021, Total Market data) ****(Source: IGD Category benchmark research, Jun-Sep’18.

Base: 3,633 British supermarket shoppers / 115 confectionery shoppers) *****(Source: Bord Bia’s Dietary Lifestyles Report, Nov 2018) ******(Source: Future of Food, 2019)

Diamond Mist Bar is a single use disposable range of vapes, bringing a modern look and branding to the vape market. Made with a high quality finish and a modern stylish design, the advantages of disposable vapes is there is no need to recharge or refill. The Diamond Mist Bar brand has seen dramatic growth since it has been launched into the Irish market. Available in 11 Great flavours from Iced Mango, Refreshing Mint to Grape Ice, there is a flavour for everyone.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS - 575 Puffs - 400mAh High voltage battery - 2ml E-liquid Capacity - 20mg Salt Nicotine - Sleek design - 11 Great Flavours - Disposable AVAILABLE IN 11 GREAT FLAVOURS Grape Ice Lychee Ice Refreshing Mint Strawberry Ice Cream Blue Razz Orange Soda Pineapple Ice Iced Mango Lush Ice Banana Ice Havana Vanilla

TO PLACE YOUR ORDER OR FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS EXCITING RANGE OF DISPOSABLE VAPES CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST BELOW JR Byrne & Sons Cash & Carry Unit 33a, Robinhood Industrial Estate, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Tel: (01) 460 2580 www.jrbyrnes.com

Byrnes Cash & Carry Unit 11, Northern Cross Business Park, Finglas, Dublin 11 Tel: (01) 864 6346 www.byrnes.ie

John McBride (Cranford) Ltd., Milford Business Park, Convent Road, Milford, Co. Donegal Tel: (074) 915 3151 www.mcbridescc.ie

Tuffys Wholesale Collooney Roundabout, Dublin Road, Collooney, Co. Sligo Tel: (071) 916 7797 www.tuffys.net

Perrys Cash & Carry Strawhall Industrial Estate Carlow Co. Carlow Tel: 059 913 1653 www.perryscashandcarry.com

Murphys Cash & Carry Millpark Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford Tel: (053) 923 3152 www.hmurphywholesale.com

66 NOFFLA NEWS

www.noffla.ie

NOffLA welcomes new associate member, Sugarloaf Beverages/Istil 38

NOffLA is delighted to announce that new associate member Sugarloaf Beverages is now proudly sharing details of its first release, Istil 38 Pot Still Irish Vodka. Produced in a traditional copper pot still, Istil 38 is made to be enjoyed with thoroughly modern serves Istil 38’s classic vodka is currently being distributed with two different flavours set to be released soon, Pink Berries and Vanilla. Each vodka within the range is specifically designed to be mixed into long drinks and into some of the world’s most loved cocktails.

The 500-litre copper pot still selected, strips out any impurities, leaving Istil 38 with a highly finessed quality of liquid. It is slow distilled four times thus leaving the vodka so pure that it needs no further filtration. Using reverse osmosis, the vodka’s ABV is then reduced down to 38% using natural spring water taken from the heart of the Boyne Valley sourced two hundred feet below ground. This lighter ABV also gives the vodka a softer, smoother mouthfeel and a brighter grain character.

“We wanted to create a forward-thinking Irish vodka, for people who always seek the

ISTIL 38 KEY FACTS • Istil 38 is produced in Meath with grain spirit in a 500-litre copper pot still.

• The ABV is 38%.

• 5c from each bottle sold in Ireland will go towards planting native Irish trees.

• The RRP is €35.

• Available nationwide to the on-trade and also available in all independent off-licenses. best,” says Sugarloaf Beverages managing director Shane Davey.

“They know life is short and our time for pleasure and indulgence is even shorter. So, we’ve dedicated ourselves to handcrafting this ultimate vodka.

For those whose time is at a premium, we feel Istil 38 is the perfect premium spirit to enjoy it with.”

“Our classic vodka is already being very well received for its rich depth and it’s great to see it being served with lime and soda in some of Ireland’s best bars,” he continues. “Soon we will be bringing out our first two flavours, Pink Berries and Vanilla.

Both of which were crafted with great detail to bring maximum flavour to highball serves and the massively popular cocktail, Espresso Martini.”

“In terms of sales, vodka is the biggest spirit in Ireland,” he adds.

“With Istil 38, our ambition is to show people that we have a premium Irish alternative to the industrially produced multinational vodka brands. We make it by time-honoured traditional means, but our sensibilities for the serves are firmly in the modern era.”

Another key element behind Istil 38, is its environmental and sustainability policy. Five cents from every bottle will be donated

My favourite...

In our column outlining members’ favourite tipples, NOffLA members share their expertise on the brands that excite their palates. This month, Richard Browne of Jus De Vine in Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, highlights his favourite picks

Richard Browne is a fan of the latest releases from both Brú Brewery and Slane Irish Whiskey

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

There hasn’t been a whole lot of exciting beers or spirits launched within 2022 that have really made me think “wow” and urged me to go back and buy another.

It was always a case of trying something new and it just being a ‘one and done’ type of scenario but two that have stood out for me of late have been the new releases from Brú Brewery and Slane Irish Whiskey.

“Echoes” is one of the latest beers to join the Brú Brewery Urban Jungle range of highquality craft beers. Not only is the labelling absolutely fantastic which draws you towards it, it is truly a phenomenal beer. This Double Dry Hopped West Coast IPA is exploding with flavour due to the hops being added during and after fermentation, resulting in tropical fruit notes and a long

Istil 38 is a premium Irish spirit which has been slow distilled four times

to help plant native tree forests in the country it is sold in. Istil 38’s bottle was chosen due to its shape and weight, which meant less CO2 emissions when transporting. As a brand, the group has committed to being a carbon neutral company from the very start of its journey.

bitter finish. One of the best beers Brú and their head brewer Fran have produced.

I like my whiskey as much as I like my craft beer and I like to think I balance my love between the two. We all have a go-to beer and for me it’s the same with whiskey, in which my go-to has always been Slane. It’s very easy drinking and suits anyone I give a sample to who is interested in getting into the craze of Irish whiskey.

Slane’s latest release celebrates more than 40 years of music at Slane Castle. It is predominantly aged in extra virgin oak and then blended with seasoned barrels and sherry casks that accentuate the toasted oak and vanilla flavours on the palate. This limited edition won’t be on the shelves long, so I highly recommend picking up a bottle from your local off-licence.

NOFFLA NEWS 67

www.noffla.ie

Thank you to current associate members The National Off-Licence Association would also like to express its sincere gratitude to all associate members, as shown below, for their continued support ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Ampersand Wines

Hi-Spirits Ireland

Barry & Fitzwilliam

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

Bevella, C/o Primeline Sales & Marketing

John Player

Bibendum Ireland

Liberty Wines Ltd.

Bulmers Ireland

Mackenway Distributors Ltd.

Cassidy Wines

MCM Spirits

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland Limited

Molson Coors Ireland

Diageo Ireland

Richmond Marketing

Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd.

Santa Rita Estates

Febvre Wines

Sugarloaf Beverages/Istil 38

Findlater & Co.

The Dalcassian Wines & Spirits Co. Ltd.

Heineken Ireland Ltd.

Tindal Wine Merchants

noffla contacts If you have any queries regarding NOffLA membership or services, please contact our administrator, Reggie Walsh, at Block D, Unit 6, Nutgrove Office Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, by telephone on 01 - 296 2326, by fax on 01 - 296 2451 or by email at info@noffla.ie.

The NOffLA website can be found at www.noffla.ie. ■

OFF-TRADE NEWS

molson Coors launches madrí excepcional in off-trade channels Molson Coors Beverage Company is launching Madrí Excepcional in the off-trade to help retailers capitalise on the fast-growing world lager category*. Building on the brand’s success since launching in the on-trade in October 2020, Madrí Excepcional is now available in grocery stores and off-licences across Ireland since March 2022.

“The world lager category continues to go from strength to strength and Madrí Excepcional’s crisp, refreshing double award-winning liquid and Madrí Excepcional is a collaboration distinctive branding give it a real point between Molson Coors and Madrid’s of difference,” says Shane O’ Sullivan La Sagra Brewery at Molson Coors. “In Ireland, Madrí Excepcional has already broken into the top-ten best-selling draught world lagers**, so we are confident it will help retailers drive sales in the off-trade too.”

Madrí Excepcional is a collaboration between Molson Coors and Madrid’s La Sagra Brewery. It aims to capture “El alma de Madrid” or “The Soul of Madrid” and has all the taste characteristics of a modern European-style lager. The crisp, clean and refreshing beverage is full of flavour and aroma at 4.6% ABV, serving a refreshing, balanced taste born from the streets of modern Madrid. *(Source: Nielsen Total Grocery Outlets ROI | Lager Category, Value Sales | MAT and 12 w/e to 2 Jan 2022 vs 2019). **(Source: CGA data for Total ROI On Trade, Value and Volume, 12me Dec 2021 – World Lagers)

New Revenue data shows alcohol consumption fell by almost 10% between 2019 and 2021 The closure of the hospitality sector resulted in a significant decline in alcohol consumption over the past two years, but people have progressively been drinking less since 2001, according to Drinks Ireland.

New provisional data from Revenue* shows that alcohol consumption fell by 4.7% between 2020 and 2021.

There was an even more dramatic fall of 9.6% between 2019 and 2021, showing the true impact of Covid-related restrictions and closures on hospitality venues.

“This latest data shows the continued decline in alcohol consumption in Ireland, exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Patricia Callan, director of Drinks Ireland. “Alcohol consumption is now at its lowest level in 20 years, down by about 30% since the peak of 2001.

“The industry has worked hard to continue to tackle alcohol misuse,” she added. “The growing trend we see at home and in other established international markets is people choosing to drink quality over quantity, which we welcome and will continue to encourage.” ■ *(Source: https://www.revenue. ie/en/corporate/documents/ statistics/excise/quarterly-alcoholbreakdown.pdf)

People are “choosing to drink quality over quantity,” says Patricia Callan, director of Drinks Ireland

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

68 ADVISOR: Marketing

Marketing: Is it an art or science?

COLIN GORDON

marketing expert

While acting as chair of judging of the 2022 All Ireland Marketing Awards (AIMs), Colin Gordon often sensed marketers trying to work out where to position themselves on the art vs science spectrum. Here, he reflects on the extent to which marketing is a balance between the two faculties

E

ver since marketing came onto the business scene and embedded itself in business planning, systems and structures, there has been debate and discussion among practitioners and thinkers as to whether marketing is an art or a science.

This ‘constructive critiquing’ has prevailed no matter if we are talking about businesses operating as B2C or B2B, FMCG or retail, domestic or international. The nature and volume of the debate oscillates with the introduction or waning of new technologies and new platforms.

art vs science spectrum Whether it was direct mail or ‘social media’ (which may well be an oxymoron!) in the last 20 years, the development of experiential marketing, or whatever, there has been a very real disagreement on the art vs science spectrum. This has been made more real with the introduction of ‘performance marketing’ (and I thought all marketing was there to perform something), modelling by such institutes and individuals as Ehrenberg-Bass and Mark Ritson.

I’ve had a front row seat on how this debate is playing out while acting as chair of judging of the 2022 All Ireland Marketing Awards (AIMs). I’m not going to go into any specifics or individual submissions – across 100 case studies over the course of the judging it was wonderful to see the

agility, the resilience and the professionalism shown across so many sectors, organisational types and differing sizes, degrees of marketing experience, and available resources.

They were all superb.

it’s about people Even if there was no mention of the ’art of marketing’ or how to build more scientific models for growth or spend, you regularly got the sense that marketers are trying to work out where to position themselves on the spectrum. But at its root, marketing is fundamentally about people, even if it’s a B2B organisation. People have emotions and dreams; they have prejudices and biases. They respond to stories and will respond differently to the same message depending on circumstances – business, personal, etc.

“Marketing needs to be much more responsible for how its activities perform against specific expected targets, what I call ‘Smart Measurable Results Against Targets’.”

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

The art piece is strong. But while people are certainly not fully rational all the time, there is more and more understanding of the human condition and mind, allowing more and more science to be developed across a whole range of specialisms. The science piece!

not an either/or equation It’s like asking where do the magic and flair enter, or do we want to be defined by ‘painting by numbers’ (recognising that this phrase can be seen as a pejorative). For me, it’s not a simple either/or equation or debate. In my view, it’s not art nor science, it’s a balance. And we need to be conscious that the debate seems to have been very centred around communications (advertising, for instance) rather that examining the wider role of marketing in an organisation. Art can be more important in this balance in some areas of the overall marketing role; science can come into prominence in others.

And this ‘mix’ may change as circumstances change. It certainly should do so.

ADVISOR: Marketing 69

including those normally handled by marketers. Where the balance becomes more biased towards the science side is on outputs.

specific targets

From direct mail (as shown above) to social media, in the last 20 years, “there has been a very real disagreement on the art vs science spectrum,” writes Colin Gordon

Art – creativity and innovative thinking and execution – can be used throughout a project, throughout an organisation and by marketers and other colleagues in the organisation. Art is not the preserve of the marketing ‘function’. Likewise, business and resource modelling and deployment of specific modelling techniques, the science part of business, can equally be directed towards various business problems

Marketing needs to be much more responsible for how its activities perform against specific expected targets, what I call ‘Smart Measurable Results Against Targets’. For too long and in far too many instances, marketers have relied on reports on spend efficiency and social media activity and have not been prepared to set out planned results against which their (albeit narrowly defined) view of what marketing is responsible for in an organisation is expected to deliver.

Certainly, more accountabilities will help build the credibility of marketing going forward.

Marketing is not a simple function and operates across a complex set of dynamics in any industry, organisation or issue. To be most useful for an organisation, marketers need to not be so fixed in their view as to where marketing may lie on the art-science spectrum, that they miss creativity on the one hand and proper accountability on the other. ■

‘Marketing is in trouble: How we got here and 10 steps to get us out’ by Colin Gordon is now available to purchase, published by Orpen Press.

To get your hands on a copy, visit the following: www.orpenpress.com UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08M9XY6HF US: www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9XY6HF Ireland: Marketing is in trouble eBook by Colin Gordon - 9781786051127.

Rakuten Kobo Ireland - www.kobo.com/ie/en/ ebook/marketing-is-in-trouble.

INTERVIEW

20

QUICK QUESTIONS WITH

ELLIOT HUGHES

managing director, Dingle Distillery 5. Best ad on telly?

I’m not sure I’ve watched an ad on TV in a long time!

6. Worst ad on telly? As above!

Elliot Hughes

1. Best place for coffee?

Bean in Dingle.

2. Favourite movie?

Really enjoy Spotlight; an excellent film.

3. Top book recommendation?

I recently read Samantha Power’s ‘The Education of an Idealist’ which I thoroughly enjoyed.

4. Which social media platform do you use most?

Twitter is the only social media platform I really use.

7. Favourite grocery shop?

Lotts & Co. 8. What would you cook if you were to compete in ‘Come Dine With Me’ and would you win?

Probably something slow cooked on our BBQ.

Parts of the USA would interest me to live in but other parts, not so much.

16. City or beach break?

City break; always something to do.

11. Greatest achievement to date?

The work we’ve done as a business to establish Dingle Distillery in the Irish whiskey and global gin scene.

17. Top restaurant recommendation?

I haven’t been to Chapter One’s new incarnation but previously it was that and I’m looking forward to trying the new set-up.

12. Best website?

Flaviar.com; very simple to operate and a great concept.

18. Pop or rock?

Rock.

13. Most annoying public figure?

Paul Murphy. Painful!

19. Favourite time of the day?

The evening time.

9. First thing you would do if you were Taoiseach?

Add thousands of public car chargers and further incentivise electric cars as well as moving the Metro North forward!

14. Best piece of advice you ever received?

Don’t rush to make a decision, but don’t delay either.

10. If you had to live in another country, where would you choose?

15. Biggest fear?

Snakes. 100%!

20. What’s the last compliment you received?

That I am honest, if frankly a bit too honest about my thoughts on business; both ours and others. ■

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife April 2022

70 MARKET MOVERS

Fulfil

Lindt

Awaken the senses with new Lindt Excellence Caramelised Hazelnut Fulfil serves up ‘a twist on your Fulfil favourite flavours’ flavours’ Fufil, the Irish vitamin and protein bar company, has reinvented the snacking category by offering genuinely tasty, healthier alternatives to people leading busy, health-conscious lifestyles. To date Fulfil has earned a 76% share of the healthy bars category and 14% of total single bars* with its popularity continuously growing through its offering of tasty, healthy alternatives to chocolate confectionery bars.

Recently published consumer research indicated that consumers are seeking more complex and diverse tastes for their snack consumption moments, and the demand for white chocolate is up 19% from 2021. A Dunhumby study highlighted the lack of dark chocolate options available, representing only 23% of impulse confectionary ranges. This led Fulfil to develop White Chocolate Peanut Caramel and Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel bars.

The launch of these two new flavours reveals Fulfil’s twist on its most popular flavours, Salted Caramel and Peanut & Caramel bars as well as answering the consumer’s desire for more diverse flavours. Both bars will launch this April under the tagline ‘a twist on your favourite flavours’ and will be available nationwide. *(Source: Data Revolution collated EPOS c1700 Stores to week 8 2022)

Nordic Spirit

A tempting new flavour experience, the new Lindt Excellence Caramelised Hazelnut bar brings together the two most popular ingredients in the bars category – hazelnuts and caramel* with shoppers rating it 8.4 out of 10 in terms of taste**.

An experience to treat all the senses, Excellence Caramelised Hazelnut is a delicate blend of luxurious rich dark chocolate and crunchy caramelised hazelnuts combined with crisp caramel pieces.

As the number one dark bar brand in the category*; with Lindt Excellence, your shoppers will discover the expertise and craftsmanship of Lindt’s master chocolatiers.

Blending the most aromatic cocoa beans finest with the fi nest ingredients, to create rich and refined flavour refi ned chocolate of intense fl avour and elegant texture for the ultimate chocolate experience, is their hallmark - and Excellence Caramelised Hazelnut is no different.

Supported by a full 360° campaign; including TV, social, PR, in-store sampling and much more, the new Excellence Caramelised Hazelnut is now stocked by supermarkets and retailers nationwide; RRP €2.90. *(Source: Nielsen Total Scantrack Value Sales, February 2022) flavour **(Source: Quantilope research fl avour screening, July 2020)

Nestlé

Nordic Spirit embraces ethos of Nordic minimalism Nordic minimalism is all about simplicity, and a less-is-more approach to life. Nordic Spirit* embraces that spirit.

Nordic Spirit high-quality nicotine pouches, without tobacco, smoke or vapour, allow adult consumers to “make the most of every moment, anytime, anywhere”.

To avoid disappointing your customers, stock up on Nordic Spirit today. *(18+. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance.)

What’s colourful and comes in white chocolate? Only Smarties have the answer!

Smarties have been synonymous with colourful, chocolatey fun for 85 years – and now the brand is celebrating its landmark birthday with a brand-new product.

Nestlé Ireland has announced that white chocolate Smarties will hit shelves across the country from the middle of March. Like the rest of the range, Smarties White will come in recyclable paper packaging and will initially launch in a 38g hexatube. A 100g sharing bag will also be available from June.

“White chocolate is becoming ever more popular with consumers, outperforming both milk and dark chocolate at a category level and growing every year to date and we are particularly delighted to now launch Smarties White,” said Maria McKenna, confectionery marketing manager, Nestlé Ireland.

In 2021, Smarties became the first global confectionery brand to move all its products to paper.

The brand’s new packaging is made from coated paper, paper labels or carton board, all produced from sustainably sourced and recyclable material.

Containing no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, sales of Smarties in the UK and Ireland totalled £72 million (€86 million) in the past year. ■

ShelfLife April 2022 | www.shelflife.ie

Brewed in the UK