Seen and heard

Irish company The Naked Collective becomes world champion in food innovation

At the latest World Food Innovation Awards, The Naked Collective won in the ‘Best low or no product’ category for its no alcohol So.Beer brand. In addition the Mude range of functional drinks was runner-up in two other categories.

So.Beer is a non-alcoholic beer with benefits. The first of its kind, it contains built-in immune support and is packed with complex B-vitamins and minerals. So.Beer starts life from grains of barley and oats, bursting full of B-vitamins and selenium, polyphenols and water, and is ‘brewed’ to extract and retain the health benefits naturally found in grains, creating an isotonic ‘Superliquid’. Beta glucan, an extract from baker’s yeast which scientific studies suggest leads to a healthier immune system, is added to this isotonic ‘Superliquid’ to create the brand’s Immunoboost formula. In addition, it’s vegan, low sugar and low calorie.

The revolutionary company founded in late 2019 in Kildare by Catherina Butler and Niall Phelan, has recently won huge distribution deals in the USA, Canada, UK and Italy and is stocked in over 1,000 stores in Ireland.

CEO CEO of of Gala Gala Retail, Retail, Gary Gary Desmond Desmond with with founder and director of Starcamp, Aideen O’Grady

Star power: Gala Retail announces sponsorship of Starcamp

Gala Retail is the new commercial sponsor of Ireland’s number one network of children’s activity camps, Starcamp, committing to a two-year partnership that sees Gala named as the title sponsor. ‘Starcamp with Gala Retail’ camps and clubs, both on and offline, will run throughout the year, with Gala providing over €10,000 worth of prizes for participating children and their schools.

Starcamp is known nationwide for its awardwinning Easter and summer camps, which take place in more than 200 locations across Ireland each year. The past 12 months has seen Starcamp diversify in response to the coronavirus pandemic, offering virtual clubs so children all over Ireland can continue to enjoy the learning, activities and fun that Starcamp is known for.

Chief executive of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond, said the group is thrilled to partner with Starcamp, which like Gala’s 170 stores, plays a central role in local communities.

Check out Gala Retail’s social media channels for details on the ‘Starcamp with Gala Retail’ events planned for 2021.

Centra sees demand soar for ‘full Irish’ breakfast during pandemic

Centra has recorded a significant increase in demand for breakfast foods during the pandemic, with its ‘Inspired By’ product range generating almost €2m in sales through Irish producers last year.

Retail sales for products in the Irish-produced Inspired By Centra breakfast range soared more than 20% in 2020 to a total of €1.9m from €1.5m the previous year, according to the latest available sales data from the leading retailer.

The Inspired By Centra Dry Cured Rashers 219g achieved the greatest increase, with sales volumes skyrocketing by over 8,000% when compared to 2019. The range’s pork and bacon products are supplied by Co. Roscommon-based Oliver Carty.

Inspired By Centra Mini Puddings 260g soared by more than 5,000% in 2020; supplied by Co. Galway-based Loughnane’s. The range’s Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice 1ltr also jumped to €404,090 from €339,872 in 2019, with juices supplied by Co. Carlow-based Sunshine Juice.

What’s more, the Inspired By Centra Free Range Corn Fed Eggs 6pce rose 24% in 2020, supplied supplied by Clonarnby Clonarn Clover.Clover.

Finally, 2020 sales of the Inspired By Centra Traditional Pork Sausages 380g totalled €185,377, up from €144,194 in 2019. Arthur Mallon Foods supplies Centra with a wide range of own brand sausages from the business’ base in Co. Monaghan.

SuperValu and AsIAm launch ‘Say Yes to Autism Acceptance’ campaign

Too often autistic people face invisible barriers because of how the world works and the judgement and attitudes of others. They are so used to being told ‘no’. And so, to mark Autism Awareness Month in April, SuperValu and AsIAm have teamed up to launch ‘Say Yes to Autism Acceptance’. The aim of the campaign is to encourage people to say ‘yes’ for a change: yes to employment, yes to education and yes to community inclusion.

The campaign will include a ‘Say Yes to Autism Acceptance’ guide with 10 ways to say yes to autism acceptance, which will be available in SuperValu stores throughout World Autism Month in April.

As part of the campaign, AsIAm is asking the public to donate on asiam.ie/donate as queries to its service increase by 280% on the same period prior to the pandemic, and share #AutismMonthSayYes on social channels.

SuperValu is dedicated to making communities around Ireland more inclusive and is leading the way in autism-friendly shopping by continuously raising understanding and awareness of autism among its communities, customers and staff.