ShelfLife magazine - July issue

LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED GROCERY TRADE CIRCULATION IN IRELAND

July 2020

PLUS Cashless after Covid?

With the appetite for contactless payments on the rise, is a new cashless era on the horizon?

Maximising data How accurate customer data can improve the shopping experience and reduce costs

Seal the Dealz

As Dealz opens three new Irish stores, co-leaders Sharon Sheridan and Olivia McLoughlin discuss the retailer’s continued ambition despite Covid-19 CONVENIENCE RETAILING • OFF-TRADE • SUPERMARKETS • NEWSAGENCY • FORECOURT

OPINION 3

ShelfLife July 2020 Vol. 27 No. 7 Editor GILLIAN HAMILL (01) 294 7776 gillian.hamill@mediateam.ie Staff journalist JULIA O’REILLY (01) 294 7709 julia.oreilly@mediateam.ie Contributors CAROLINE MCENERY BARRY WHELAN BARLEY LAING Head of business IAN MULVANEY (01) 294 7766 ian.mulvaney@mediateam.ie Account manager MARK MORGAN (01) 294 7767 mark.morgan@mediateam.ie Circulation manager CRAIG KINGMA (01) 294 7774 craig.kingma@mediateam.ie Head of production LIZ O’ROURKE (01) 294 7781 liz.orourke@mediateam.ie Managing editor COLETTE O’CONNOR (01) 294 7775 colette.oconnor@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.

Has the government got you covered?

F

ace coverings; everyone’s talking about them. Many agree that they should be worn in enclosed public spaces, but who will police the measure?

Mandate trade union is adamant that retail staff should not be held responsible.

“Employers must put in place measures to protect staff against abusive behaviour in that regard,” says Mandate general secretary John Douglas.

Mandate has also raised concerns “that some retailers who are parented in the UK are taking advice and instructions from the management teams there” – a course described as “totally inappropriate” given the UK’s different regulatory guidelines.

As RGDATA’s director general Tara Buckley aptly points out: “There will always be that 1% of the public that do not comply with rules.” She cites examples of situations where some retailers have experienced people spitting and fighting in resisting the protocols, which led to staff calling gardaí.

Buckley says customers should know there will be spot checks or fines if they are not wearing masks, to drive the message home that this is a mandatory measure.

The CSNA has also voiced concerns about the practicalities involved.

While popping on a mask to hop on a bus or enter a shop is not an arduous task, some staff members who work long shifts, have said they don’t feel comfortable wearing a mask for hours in-store.

Writing in the Irish Mirror, Siobhan O’Connor makes another valid point about mandatory face coverings.

“Smiling is like a social lubricant, it eases awkwardness, in dubious moments when you meet humans for the first time, smiling can eradicate anxiety,” she writes. “If we can’t greet people with a smile, how do we communicate?

How do we flirt? How do we navigate the world?”

How indeed? We would love to hear your views on how you and your staff are coping with the new regulations.

Please email gillian.hamill@mediateam.ie and we will include your views and suggestions in next month’s issue.

Gillian Hamill Editor ShelfLife magazine

Contents July 16

20

COVER STORY 16

A Dealz a deal! Hot on the heels of the news that Dealz is opening three new Irish stores this month, we catch up with Sharon Sheridan, country manager of trading, and Olivia McLoughlin, country manager of retail, to learn how the group has not just survived but thrived during lockdown

NEWS&ANALYSIS ADVISOR 4 6 8 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

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22

News grid Seen and heard CSNA news

20 Cashless after Covid?

With the appetite for contactless and digital payments rapidly accelerating during the Covid-19 pandemic, Julia O’Reilly asks whether we’re entering the cashless era

29 Food focus

12 Data Barley Laing, UK and Ireland managing director at data quality and ID verification business Melissa, outlines how accurate customer data can improve the shopping experience and reduce costs

13 HR With many employees currently experiencing grief associated with a loss of normality during the pandemic, Caroline McEnery explains how to support your team throughout these challenging times

14 Recruitment Barry Whelan reflects on how the Covid19 crisis has brought the resilience of our industry and supply chains to the fore

MARKETING& CATEGORY FOCUS 22 30 36 38 41 46

Free from Back to school Health and beauty Summer wines Market movers 20 quick questions Darren Thornberry, head of sales at Payzone, takes to the hot seat to answer our quickfire queries this month

OFF-TRADE 42 44

Off-trade news NOffLA news

4 NEWS

NEWS GRID

5

NEWSGRID The top news stories in FMCG

and retail from across Ireland

Face coverings now mandatory in all shops

Aldi agrees 15-year lease for offices

Face coverings must now be worn in all shops, retail settings and shopping centres, the government has announced. At the time of writing, government said the strong advice is for people to start wearing the coverings immediately, although the regulations would take some time to draft.

Retail staff will also be required to wear face coverings unless there is a partition installed or a space of 2m between them and customers.

Mandate trade union supports the wearing of face coverings but said it should not be retail staff members’ responsibility to enforce the rules. The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) has also raised concerns regarding the practicality of the measure and compliance issues.

Aldi Ireland has agreed a new 15-year lease to move its 120-strong buying and marketing teams to a state-of-the-art corporate office at Birch House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare, in order to meet the needs of its expanding Irish sourcing operation and workforce.

The move reflects Aldi’s significant expansion over the past five years, which has seen its workforce grow from just four staff in 2004 to over 4,000. The 41,000 ft2 office space will feature Aldi’s ‘Taste Kitchen’, a state-of-the-art development kitchen where Aldi’s buying team will be able to create and test new Irish products.

Nearly 80% of independent retailers planning further investment: BWG Group BWG Group has released the results of a new survey of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL independent retailers, which includes an assessment of future outlook and key challenges, as well as the impact of Covid-19 on costs and operations.

Approximately 73% of respondents feel positive or very positive about the future outlook for their businesses. Nevertheless, BWG Group CEO Leo Crawford said, “there is a clear call out for action from the new government on commercial rates and insurance costs, to sustain these businesses into the future”.

The full results of this comprehensive and illuminating survey are available at shelflife.ie.

Social distancing costs are tax deductible

The Revenue Commissioners have advised that where a business incurs costs to implement social distancing measures for the purposes Finance Minister of the trade or profession Paschal Donohue concerned, those costs will be tax-deductible under the general income tax and corporation tax rules, RGDATA reports.

“Capital expenditures are not immediately tax-deductible for the year of such expenditure,” Finance Minister Paschal Donohue said during Parliamentary Questions.

“However, if a business were to incur capital expenditure on plant and machinery to implement social distancing measures capital allowances could be claimed on that expenditure,” he added. “These capital allowances would provide an annual deduction from income, of 12.5% of the expenditure, for eight years.”*

*(Source: Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, 20 May 2020, PQ. 106)

RGDATA urges passing of Occupiers Liability Amendment Bill Independent retailers’ group RGDATA has contacted Taoiseach Micheál Martin and all the relevant RGDATA ministers to highlight the early director actions that government needs general Tara to take to reduce insurance costs Buckley for shops. According to RGDATA, the proposed amendment to the Occupiers Liability Bill, which is supported by the Alliance for Insurance Reform, will rebalance the duty of care and make it fairer, more proportionate and reasonable.

“Businesses and consumers cannot wait for more consultative groups, studies, surveys, and business closures,” said RGDATA director general Tara Buckley. “We need action now.”

Tesco Ireland launches nationwide food appeal Tesco Ireland is running a week-long food appeal calling on shoppers throughout Ireland to donate a food product when they shop in stores between 13-19 July.

All items donated will be shared with over 130 partner causes from the Tesco Surplus Food Donations Programme, operated in partnership with FoodCloud.

Dealz opens three new stores Discount retailer Dealz has opened an additional three new Irish stores, bringing its portfolio here to 100 outlets. Located in Dublin, Cork and Donegal, the new stores opened on 16 July, creating over 75 jobs.

For more details, turn to page 16.

Lee’s Centra Group, Charleville launches ‘Support Local’ campaign A number of local businesses in Charleville, Co. Cork have launched a campaign to thank people for supporting local businesses and to encourage others to consider local businesses when making purchases.

The campaign, which is being spearheaded by Lee’s Centra Group, officially commenced on 15 June, running across social media channels. The initial four-week campaign has already given shoppers almost €2,000 worth of vouchers from the

28 participating businesses.

“It is all the small and medium businesses, that are the backbone of our local economy here in Charleville,” said Ray Lee of Lee’s Centra Group.

“We are all providing local jobs, supporting local suppliers, and giving generously to support every local community, charitable and sporting organisation in the area. We’re delighted to be able to play our part in supporting our fellow retailers to get back up and running.”

In order to communicate the message, the businesses have branded a shopfront at the traffic lights in the middle of Charleville with a message to thank the public for supporting their local businesses.

The campaign has received a lot of attention locally and according to Ray Lee, discussions have taken place with community representatives and Cork County Council as to how they could leverage the success of the campaign so far and broaden it into a wider campaign to promote the ‘Shop Local’ theme in Charleville. n

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

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

e t S a T e m Sa e t S a W S S e L

The wax paper packaging we use is 100% recyclable and compostable.

Consumers now have the choice to put our packaging in the recycling or compost bin.

We’re just doing our small part to make sure you can enjoy today’s bread today in a greener tomorrow.

T O D A Y’S B R E A D T O D A Y

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SEEN AND HEARD

One4All Gift Cards an ideal way to thank your team, tax-free We all know how challenging it’s been for businesses and their employees for the last several months. As life starts to return to normal, a One4all Gift Card is a great way to thank your team for all their hard work during this difficult time.

Under the government’s ‘Small Benefit in Kind’ exemption, One4all Gift Cards up to the value of €500 per employee are completely free of tax, PRSI and USC, saving you and your employees money. Normally, employers can give only one gift card per year to an employee, tax free.

However, the government has changed this

rule for the 2020 tax year to let employers give multiple gift cards to frontline or other key staff working during the Covid-19 crisis. This only applies to employees who continued to work during the restricted period.

Thanks to An Post’s corporate order service, you can place your order in your local post office for delivery to your business, making it easier than ever before.

Visit your local post office to find out more and to order your One4all Thank You Gift Cards for any value from €15 to €150, completely tax-free.

Employers are now allowed to give multiple gift cards to frontline or other key staff working during the Covid-19 crisis, tax-free

CHEP Store Solutions offer multiple benefits for retailers

According to CHEP, it has helped more companies move more goods, to more places, more effectively than any other company on earth. Now CHEP has extended its supply chain expertise into retail stores to provide

better replenishment and more effective promotions.

With Store Solutions, CHEP has a dedicated team of FMCG and retail experts that work in collaboration with European retailers and brands to deliver: • Safety for your staff and shoppers: Reducing the number of touches to products from warehouses and especially in stores is a key priority. Shelf-ready display units make the refill of shelves easy, safe and automatic.

• Managing costs sustainably: Save up to 60% of operational costs by using store-

ready display units. Refill fixtures quickly and with less manual work from your staff.

• Reigniting promotions effectively: Promotions can come pre-filled on a cardboard display attached to a reusable display pallet. This makes it easy to handle by store staff, limiting in-store display set up time, which is safer for your consumers and staff.

If you want to find out more about what CHEP Store Solutions can do for you, your business, and your shoppers, contact CHEP: Telephone: 01 8081648 / +44 161 786 0500, www.chep.com/storesolutions.

New animated series ‘Rare Owl Times’ encourages Dubliners to shop local Rare Owl Times is a mini-series centred around some Dublin ‘Owl Ones’ and ‘Owl Fellas’, who are based on the charming old characters we all recognize from the streets of Dublin’s fair city. They tell tales and use Dublinisms, as we find them frequenting a new local business in each episode. Each one ends with a reminder to shop local like we used to in the rare auld times.

Rare Owl Times was created by Showrunner, the new entertainment and culture hub of Dublin creative agency, Verve, which is headed up by creative duo, Sam Moorhead and Mikey Fleming.

and comedian and actor Ali Fox. The animated world was designed by young Dublin illustrator, Ross Carvill (@ross_ carvill) with sound design from IFTAwinning sound designer, Dean Jones (Raygun).

“We wanted to encourage people to support their local businesses in a fun, entertaining and non-preachy way,” said Sam Moorhead, creative partner in Showrunner.

Each episode of Rare Owl Times closes with a reminder to The animated series features three shop local like we used to in the rare auld times short episodes: check them out on YouTube and look out for the animated The series features voice work from comedian spot on Sky TV also.

Tony Cantwell, drag performer Wren Dennehy

SuperValu and AsIAm launch ‘Bridge Back to School’ learning resource SuperValu and AsIAm have launched a learning resource toolkit, developed with Mary Immaculate College, to help those with high support needs prepare during the summer months to return to school in September.

Covid-19 has posed challenges for every household in Ireland and for many autistic people, the loss of structure and routine has been particularly tough.

In total, 20,000 ‘Bridge Back to School’ resource booklets have been distributed to SuperValu stores nationwide and are available to pick up in every store at

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

identifiable points, as well as online from the SuperValu website.

AsIAm worked in collaboration with professor Emer Ring of Mary Immaculate College who has extensive experience in education, including working with the Department of Education and Skills, as a primary mainstream class teacher and as a learning and support resource teacher, to develop the resource.

SuperValu is dedicated to making communities around Ireland more inclusive and is leading the way in autism-

Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, launching the ‘Bridge Back to School’ learning resource

friendly shopping by continuously raising understanding and awareness of autism among its customers and staff. n

8

CSNA NEWS

CSNA NEWS Huge increases in PSO levy planned for October

PETER GAUGHAN, national president, CSNA

charges onto hard pressed Commercial energy users will businesses from October be alarmed with the news this year. Whilst it is from the regulatory authority acknowledged that for CRU which suggests that many there has been a increases for commercial users reduction in energy costs of electricity will see their bills over the past 12 months, increasing significantly from these decreases only October this year. manifest themselves for Public Service Obligation those who have not got (PSO) levies are charged lengthy contract pricing in three distinct sectors: with their energy providers. domestic, small commercial Please review your and medium/large energy contracts and commercial. satisfy yourself that you Small commercial customers are benefitting from lower pay €10.35 per calendar From October, the PSO levy will increase by 137% for wholesale energy costs. month for the PSO levy; this The extra PSO levy will increase by 137% to €24.50 small commercial customers and by 175% for medium to large commercial users costs cannot be avoided; per calendar month. unnecessarily high energy For those medium to large The current PSO Levy is charged at commercial users, the payment is by €1.22 per KMH but this will increase to costs can.

The CSNA can help all members way of KMH, which is based upon €3.36, a 175% increase from October. in this matter, contact the office on your Maximum Import Capacity (MIC) These increases will put hundreds, 045-535050 or email info@csna.ie. rating. if not thousands of euro in additional

Scam alert: Fraudulent collections of cigarette returns Recently there have been reports of individuals claiming to be from a wellknown courier company visiting stores to fraudulently collect cigarette returns.

With many stores holding menthol cigarette returns, we urge all retailers to always ensure that you and your staff ask for ID from anyone collecting cigarette returns in your store.

Ensure staff always ask for ID from anyone collecting cigarette returns

Mayo CSNA member sells his fourth winning jackpot ticket “The first big win was in 1989, two It was a case of ‘fourth time lucky’ for weeks before the All-Ireland football Ballinrobe newsagent and CSNA member final between Mayo and Cork, when Martin Murphy when he discovered his Kevin O’Toole from Tourmakeady won shop had sold the winning ticket for the £175,000. He was the PRO of the Mayo recent €2.8m Lotto jackpot.

GAA Board at the time so we thought it It’s the fourth ‘big win’ ticket that was a good omen!” laughed Martin.

Murphy’s newsagency on Main Street “The second time was when we sold in the South Mayo town has sold, and the winning Euromillions Lotto ticket in comes five years after Martin’s brother-in2014 for €315,000; that winner decided law bought his winning National Lottery to remain anonymous. ticket there which resulted in a €6.38m “And, of course, our third big win was windfall. when we sold the winning Lotto ticket for “It’s great news, we’re absolutely €6.38m to my brother-in-law, Ger. That thrilled and delighted to have sold the was unbelievable altogether! winning ticket,” said Martin Murphy. “I “We’ve sold lots of winning tickets in really hope it brings happiness, joy and good the shop over the years, but they’re the luck to whoever has won it. biggest ones.”

“To win the Lotto any time is great, but especially at a time like this and after what the last few months have been like for everyone,” he added.

Murphy’s newsagency was first opened in 1904 and Martin, who started working there when he was 15 years of age, has owned the business since 1975 — the year he also got married!

Since then he’s had three previous headlineBallinrobe newsagent Martin Murphy celebrating selling the making Lottery winners. winning Lotto ticket worth €2.8m

Keep updated on the Covid-19 situation on the CSNA website: www.csna.ie ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Irish Water sees sense

Upcoming CSNA Security Survey:

Your perspective sought At the CSNA, we don’t just listen to our members’ concerns, we act on them. As a national association, run by retailers, for retailers, we understand the issues that matter to you most and security is almost always at the top of that list.

Last year, we surveyed 1,820 retailers and created a security report and subsequent communications campaign to highlight these issues to the government, legislators, An Garda Síochána, the media and the wider public.

Since the publication of the report, we have become an integral part of the National Retail Consultation Forum. The CSNA and our members have engaged in many positive initiatives with An Garda Síochána, all the while continuing to lobby for change at all levels of government.

We will be rolling out another security survey to further this project in the coming weeks as we endeavour to keep the spotlight and pressure on the government, legislators and An Garda Síochána to make Ireland a safer place to do business for our members and the wider retail community as a whole.

Our 1,500 members together with non-

The CSNA Security Survey will help make Ireland a safer place to do business

members from the convenience stores and newsagents sector, will be asked to engage with this research. Following analysis, we will embark on another well-rounded communications campaign to keep security a top priority for our country’s key decision-makers.

If you have a particular concern or security issue you would like us to address in this research project, now is your chance.

Please do not hesitate to contact CSNA on 045 535050 or email info@csna.ie with your comments, suggestions and insights.

Regardless of whether you are a member or not, in the interest of quality research, we would be delighted to welcome your contact.

CSNA CONTACT DETAILS

The CSNA has been informed by Irish Water that the proposed increases in business water charges scheduled to commence in May have been deferred until further notice due to the Covid situation and an unwillingness by Irish Water to drown its business customers in any additional costs.

We have asked An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Retail Damien English to make representations to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with regard to a similar deferral to the proposed increases to the Public Service Obligation (PSO) electricity levy. n

Irish Water has deferred the proposed increases in commercial water charges until further notice

If you have any queries regarding CSNA services or membership please contact the office on Naas Road, Dublin 22 on 045-535050 or by email to info@csna.ie/www.csna.ie

ADVERTORIAL INTERVIEW

Today’s bread today … in a sustainable way!

Broadcaster and TV presenter Lucy Kennedy with Ivan Hammond, head of marketing at Brennans Bakeries, launching its new sustainability campaign

Ivan Hammond, head of marketing at Brennans Bakeries, outlines why sustainability is a firm focus for this market-leading business in the months and years ahead Q: How important is sustainability to your business and why?

A: Brennans has been on a journey on integrating sustainability initiatives into the bakery for a number of years now. Sustainability is important to the business because it: • Creates a positive impact on the environment • Generates greater cost savings • Attracts and retains new and existing customers • Creates a greater sustainability culture within the business • Produces greater distinctiveness and competitive advantage in the marketplace • Improves our brand image and reputation with our consumers and retailers

Q: Can you give an example of the best sustainability practices you are adopting in your organisation?

A: One key area we are focusing on at the moment is the packaging for our bread products. Sustainable packaging is so important for the environment, now and for generations to come.

The wax paper which is used for many of our bread products has been tested in line with the EU Directives on packaging and packaging waste. It conforms to the highest EU standards (EN 13430 and EN13432) and is also independently certified by Cré, the Irish Compostable Certification Scheme.

Our wax paper packaging is 100% recyclable and industrial compostable so consumers now have a choice and they can place this packaging either in the recycling bin or compost bin. We would also encourage consumers to look out for the sustainability symbols on our wax paper packaging – the recycling symbol for the green bin and the Cré symbol for the compost bin.

Brennans Bread now displays the recycling symbol for the green bin and the Cré symbol for the compost bin

Q: How do you see the agenda of sustainability shaping your business in the future?

A: Sustainability is and will continue to be a key business driver for Brennans Bakeries. We are committed to meeting our goals and in doing so, create longterm value for our business and our customers. We are on a journey with sustainability which has already resulted in many positive initiatives being implemented that we are proud of. We will continue to do what we can to create more sustainable solutions for the benefit of the environment, society and the business. We look forward to the next part of this journey.

For further information on Brennans Bakeries’ sustainability initiatives, visit www.brennansbread.ie/sustainability.

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Safe and secure Post-Covid-19, it has become desirable for retailers to reduce the amount of cash handled by staff in order to lower the risk of spreading the virus, as well as helping to improve end-to-end security.

Here, Premium Cash Solutions (PCS) explains more about the benefits offered by its closed cash management solution, SafePay, which allows retailers to still accept cash while remaining vigilant in terms of security and hygiene

P

remium Cash Solutions (PCS) is the exclusive distributor for Gunnebo cash automation products. Its partner Gunnebo is the number one supplier in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) for retail cash automation solutions. PCS is also the nominated supplier to Musgrave, BWG, Circle K and Maxol.

Major advantages Gunnebo’s portfolio includes SafePay, the most secure and cost-effective closed cash management product in the marketplace with a typical return on investment of less than 18

months along with immediate benefits to the bottom line. As well as improved customer service, increased productivity and reduced costs, closed cash management provides the following benefits:  Reduction of staff involvement in cash handling by up to 95%  Greater cash process efficiency  Better end-to-end security  No robberies or discrepancies  Safer staff and customers  Improved hygiene  Full control over cash processes  No cash differences  Solid return on investment  Finance packages available

Closed cash management allows retailers to accept cash in-store while ensuring that staff do not have to come into contact with it

Cash is typically manually handled six times in a retail environment from the moment it leaves the customer until it reaches the bank account. What if retailers could accept cash but eliminate the interaction with it? Closed cash management is a way of accepting cash transactions in-store and at the same time ensuring that staff do not have to come into contact with it. From the moment the customer pays, the cash can be kept secure until it is picked up by a collection service, so is there no need for manual handling of cash in the front or back office.

Many people rely on cash for access to goods and services; it remains an essential means of payment. Closed cash management allows retailers to continue accepting cash while staying vigilant when it comes to security and hygiene.

PCS works with each retailer to determine the right solution for their store, staff, and customers

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

From the moment the customer pays, cash can be kept secure until it is picked up by a collection service, so there is no need for manual handling of cash in the front or back office

Solutions to fit all retailers SafePay is a secure and efficient way for retailers to handle cash transactions in a busy retail environment and the SafePay modules can be configured to suit the retail experience, with customer self-pay, customer self-service or cashier-operated options. PCS works with the retailer to determine the right solution for their store, staff, and customers.

The company has delivered the right SafePay solution to Centra, SuperValu, Spar, Circle K, Pelco and Maxol stores to name but a few and their feedback has been excellent, as shown below.

Centra: “By eliminating administrative tasks, it has given my management team more time on our sales floor, focusing our customer whilst driving sales and margin.”

Circle K: “Any retail company would be mad not to look at SafePay.” Maxol: “Very supportive and easy to deal with support team.”

Spar: “Initially purchased SafePay for security reasons, however, the additional benefits were seen immediately.”

Quick and easy implementation Installations are completed in one day and PCS provides a half day on-site training session on the go-live day in order to oversee a successful and seamless implementation.

Call PCS for a no obligation consultation on +353 1 561600 or visit the website www.pcsgroup.com. n

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ADVISOR: HR 53

ADVISOR: DATA

Four ways clean customer data can help retailers prosper as the pandemic abates

Barley Laing, UK and Ireland managing director at data quality and ID verification business Melissa, outlines how accurate customer data can improve the shopping experience and reduce costs BARLEY LAING UK and Ireland managing director, Melissa www.melissa.com

T

he 2020 economic outlook for Ireland is challenging, with the European Commission recently predicting that the Irish economy will contract 8% this year.

This is a worry for grocery retailers who might have had mixed fortunes during the lockdown, and particularly for those who do not yet offer a standout online shopping and delivery service.

Convenience chains and supermarkets have been forced into selling online or improving their online offering during the lockdown. This is out of necessity to drive purchases, as they need to make the most of increasing demand for online grocery shopping as the pandemic abates. As the grocery sector experiences huge demand for online sales and delivery, it has become clear that having clean and accurate customer data is crucial to their success. If retailers are serious about standing out from the competition, they must tap into better data to improve the customer experience, reduce costs and drive growth.

1. Timely delivery of goods and communications

When customers are shopping online, “autocomplete reduces the number of keystrokes required when typing an address by up to 70%, accelerating checkout and increasing the likelihood of a completed purchase,” writes Barley Laing

Customer data – collected at the onboarding stage and through ongoing communications - is one of retailers’ most valuable assets. Only data that is clean, contemporary, and verified ensures sales-driven customer communications, and importantly, enables products ordered to be efficiently delivered.

This is vital in providing a standout customer experience in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Retailers need to remember that without routine data quality processes, customer data degrades at 2% each month and as much as 25% annually. Also, with customers increasingly providing data via their mobile devices, mistyping contact details on a small screen has become a problem. It’s why approximately 20% of addresses entered online contain errors such as spelling mistakes, wrong house numbers, and inaccurate Eircodes.

Fortunately, data that is simply incorrect, such as a customer name, address, email, or telephone number, can be easily rectified if retailers put some simple procedures in place. Straightforward and cost-effective, these practices involve cleansing and standardising existing customer data as a basic business practice. Currently held records can be updated in batch form and, moving forward, updated in real-time as new data is collected and becomes the critical driver of a seamless customer onboarding experience.

2. Speed up checkout and reduce cart abandonment Address autocomplete tools are a good place to start with the collection of accurate address data, correcting information at the customer onboarding stage. These tools automatically reveal a suggested correct version of the address as the customer completes an online contact form, enabling them to select one ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

that is not only accurate but easily recognised, and properly formatted. Autocomplete also reduces the number of keystrokes required when typing an address by up to 70%, accelerating checkout and increasing the likelihood of a completed purchase.

3. Save money and improve the customer experience Removing duplicate data reduces costs and protects the retailer’s reputation. For instance, when customers receive two mailings in their name, with one spelled incorrectly, this not only wastes marketing resources and opportunities, it also demonstrates to your customer a lack of understanding as to their identity and needs. By merging and purging the most difficult records with an advanced fuzzy matching tool, retailers save money with targeted customer communications and enhance the customer experience.

4. Improve logistics and reduce shipping costs Use accurate Eircodes. They ensure retailers can precisely locate individual addresses or premises, and are critical to providing better logistics, planning and faster deliveries.

While Eircodes specify an address, use geocodes — which deliver latitude and longitude coordinates — in order to gain pinpoint (rooftop) accuracy. Geocoding helps retailers avoid costly return-to-sender scenarios, and also makes it possible to accurately determine the shopper’s distance from the distribution point and therefore generate real-time calculation of shipping costs. Retailers can then offer a range of delivery options and prices depending on how fast the customer wants to receive their goods.

Geocoding can also power efficient retail store location and local search lookups. This drives footfall and enriches the shopping experience, increasing customer satisfaction.

Customer experience can also be enhanced with geolocational offers that target audiences based on their whereabouts, and the nearest outlet or distribution point to them.

Clean data powers success Online grocery sales are set to surge in 2020 in large part because of the pandemic. With Covid-19 still in circulation, shoppers continue to worry about the safety of the high street and have come to appreciate the convenience of a simple click for home delivery.

In the UK, recent research by Mintel reveals the online grocery sector is set to grow by 33% and reach £16.8 billion in 2020, up from £12.7 billion in 2019, with an increase in shoppers across all age groups from digitally savvy millennials to the over 65s.

Grocery retailers simply must be prepared to compete in this new landscape. Data is the key, and if they have not already, grocery retailers need to ramp up their access to accurate, quality customer data as a new driving force in their online and overall business success. n

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ADVISOR: HR

ADVISOR: HR 13

Grief in the workplace during Covid-19 CAROLINE MCENERY managing director, The HR Suite

There are many different types of grief which can affect the workplace.

One such form is ‘anticipatory’ grief, which occurs when a loss or sense of doom is expected in the foreseeable future

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.

While we normally associate grief with the loss of a loved one, many are currently experiencing a different form due to the Covid-19 crisis, stemming from a loss of normality. Here, The HR Suite’s Caroline McEnery explains how best to support employees through these challenging times

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n the ‘pre covid-19’ world, we would normally associate grief with the loss of somebody who we are close to such as a family member, neighbour, friend or work colleague.

In general, grief is experienced by everyone at some point in their lives and we all grieve differently. During the global lockdown, many have experienced a less familiar sense of grief all around the world. As described above, there is the grief most of us are familiar with when we lose someone close and are bereaved. However, it could be said there is a further, different sense of grief which many are now experiencing due to the loss of our sense of normality and freedom that we once knew.

Despite the easing of restrictions in recent weeks, our sense of normality from a pre-Covid world seems a distant memory. Many people describe a sense of loss due to being unable to connect with family and other social aspects of their lives. While many business owners and employers battle to stay afloat, it is important to allocate time and resources towards the wellbeing of employees. There are many wellbeing initiatives available to employees in the workplace, however, these may only treat symptoms of poor mental wellbeing.

Therefore, it is important that grief is identified and treated appropriately. It is essential that organisations manage grief as compassionately as possible.

Many types of grief There are many types of grief and as a manager it is important to try to understand grief and how it affects the workplace.

‘Anticipatory’ grief occurs when a loss or sense of doom is expected in the foreseeable future. Following on from this, ‘normal’ grief begins soon after the loss occurs and the person tries to identify ways to learn to accept the loss and continue their normal routine and daily tasks. A further form of grief is ‘complicated’ grief. This experience lasts significantly longer than other forms of grief and can seriously affect a person’s ability to function and complete the most basic tasks. When this type of grief is experienced, it often requires medical intervention in the form of mental health support which needs to be maintained over a period of time until the person can resume the normal routine of everyday life. It is ongoing and important that the wellbeing of the person is monitored regularly and that they feel supported. Finally, ‘delayed’ grief is when a reaction to the loss occurs at a later time. This can be brought on by another significant life event or by something unrelated. It can present itself in any of the other forms of grief described above.

The media has recently highlighted the heroic efforts

of all frontline retail staff, particularly the efforts and commitment of the grocery retail sector. These employees have been praised for their consistent service to customers throughout the crisis. Since the phased reopening of other retail outlets in the sector, more retail staff have returned to put themselves in the frontline. It is important that while there are clear guidelines for employers on the ‘return to work safely’ protocol, that managers and employers also maintain regular check-ins with employees to protect their wellbeing.

Define entitlements and supports In addition to the company bereavement policy, it is necessary to recognise the other forms of grief which many are experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There are many useful supports which can be offered to employees by using a proactive approach. It helps to clearly define employee entitlements and supports. While compassionate leave is not legislatively required, many employers offer it as a gesture of goodwill.

In general, it is good to operate an open-door policy with employees to discuss work-related or personal problems which must always be treated in the strictest confidence. It is important, as management, to be of as much assistance as possible in allaying the fears of employees. Employers and managers should make time for employees in this regard and listen sympathetically. These issues often affect employee performance when not addressed and subsequently also affect the business.

Employee assistance programme An ‘employee assistance programme’ (EAP) is a proactive support programme with the objectives of supporting employees whose health or wellbeing is being adversely affected and is recommended for implementation in the ‘return to work safely’ protocol. It gives confidential access to a free, non-judgmental resource that can potentially reduce stress and help to function normally. The EAP allows employees to avail of a range of professionals to help with any issues that may arise including grief.

While “we come together by staying apart”, it is important to be more aware of the present moment, including our thoughts and feelings, our bodies and the world around us. If we eat well and exercise regularly, it can positively change the way people feel about life and how we approach challenges; even in this challenge which is one of the most difficult we will ever face. Therefore, it is vital that we all stay positive, be kind and support ourselves and each other through the grieving process.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact The HR Suite on (066)7102887. n www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife July 2020

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ADVISOR Recruitment

Coronavirus shines a light on careers in food retail

While the old adage that ‘everybody eats’ has protected the grocery trade from the worst ravages of the economic fallout wrought by Covid-19, Barry Whelan of Excel Recruitment, reflects on how our industry’s resilience actually runs a lot deeper BARRY WHELAN managing director of Excel Recruitment

www.excelrecruitment.com

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s the Coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on both the local and global job markets, leaving many unemployed, furloughed or working reduced hours as employers implemented sweeping cost-cutting measures and forced closures, I think most of us either working in or supplying to the grocery trade, felt blessed to have taken a career path that involved food and food retail.

The age-old adage ‘everybody eats’ really made sense as we saw businesses that had survived the last recession forced to close such as hairdressers and of course pubs and restaurants, while supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations remained open for business.

Industry resilience The resilience of the grocery trade to recession and economic shocks, even those created by a pandemic, is heartening for those of us who work in the industry and attractive to jobseekers who want to join an industry that survived these most challenging times.

I think resilience isn’t just driven by the fact that people have to eat every day. We will always have customers because of this, but I believe the resilience comes from deeper factors that include how well run the grocery trade is and how competitive the market is.

Coping with panic buying Firstly, a great example of how the grocery retail trade in Ireland is extremely well run, is when we look to the start of the pandemic and the panic buying that took place across the country. Each player in the industry, whether they are a multiple, discounter or symbol, had to contend with this phenomenon, which came completely out of leftfield. Across the world, consumers really

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Despite frenzied panic buying at the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, “the supply chains held, the distribution centres ran, the trucks rolled and the store staff, management and of course suppliers worked tirelessly to restock shelves,” writes Barry Whelan

panicked, stripping stores of food and commodities, leaving empty toilet roll sections, pasta shelves and home baking isles. Later in the crisis, as the meat factories recorded outbreaks, freezers were filled with beef, lamb and pork. No buyer or planner or supermarket manager, no matter how much of a genius they are, could forecast what would be the next item to undergo a frenzied uplift. Who knew the entire population of Ireland would don their aprons and go all Mary Berry on us!

Despite all this random, frenzied buying, the supply chains held, the distribution centres ran, the trucks rolled and the store staff, management and of course suppliers worked tirelessly to restock shelves and alleviate the panic that had engulfed the Irish and indeed worldwide consumer.

Maintaining normality Retail workers were propelled to frontline employee status and thanked on billboards around the country.

As the majority of the population sat at home growing out their hair and beards and probably drinking too much, we got to stay in normality, getting up each day and going to

work, mostly with customers who appreciated that we had done so.

Competition in the trade had created diversification and some of our larger retailers had embraced online shopping. These retailers had to cope with unprecedented demand on this part of their business, using stores as distribution centres, with staff having to stock and then unstock the shelves themselves to fulfil ecommerce orders. Businesses prioritised at-risk customers and got on top of demand as fast as possible, managing a complex and unprofitable part of their business to maximum effect, delivering needed groceries to those most affected by the pandemic. Retailers need to be commended for their efforts here both in food and non-food ecommerce, another great example of how well our retailers are run.

Never has there been a better time to shine a light on careers in food retail. The Covid-19 crisis has shown that food retail and those who supply into it, are resilient to economic shock, populated with extremely well-run businesses that are robust and can cope with change. This is truly a great industry to enjoy a career in. n

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16

INTERVIEW

Dealz of the day

With Dealz having just opened three new stores in Ireland, the ambition of its recently appointed co-leaders is evident.

Gillian Hamill caught up with Sharon Sheridan, country manager – trading, and Olivia McLoughlin, country manager – retail, to hear how together they navigated the challenges of Covid-19 to emerge ‘stronger and better’, which fittingly enough, is the group’s hashtag Keeping prices low across the board is paramount at Dealz, where Sharon Sheridan says, “we will discontinue a product rather than put the price up for the customer”

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espite the challenges posed by lockdown, discount retailer Dealz is thriving. As ShelfLife headed to print, the retailer had just opened three new stores in Ireland, bringing its total portfolio here to an impressive 100 stores. Located in Rathfarnham in Dublin, Clonakilty in Cork and Buncrana in Donegal, the new stores which opened on 16 July, are expected to create over 75 new jobs with an investment of £1 million into the local Irish economy.

A vital development, given that Ireland’s unemployment is expected to rise to 7.5% this year. The group is also carving out a strong presence in the Dublin market, with the latest opening in Rathfarnham Shopping Centre its 16th Dublin store. Taking over the lease from previous tenant Penneys, Dealz is on a mission to bring back discount fashion with its Pep&Co clothing range after local shoppers were “left high and dry” following Penneys’ withdrawal.

fallen in love with the wider ranges at Dealz during lockdown – we stayed open and proudly delivered our promise of amazing value, despite the circumstances.”

It’s hard not to resort to the somewhatcliched phrase ‘baptism of fire’ in this scenario, given the incredibly short space of time that had lapsed between the date of the press release detailing Sheridan and McLoughlin’s appointments and the onset of the Covid-19 crisis. Nevertheless, Dealz was ideally placed to make the most of the lockdown-inspired

trend for all things self-improvement, with a healthy uptick in areas such as gardening, homeware and health & beauty. In fact, by May, Dealz had already observed a surge in weekly sales of home treatments since the first week of lockdown. Hair removal creams were up a staggering 3,183% and body wax strips up 425%. What’s more, weekly sales of €1.50 pregnancy tests were up by 25% since the first week of lockdown! Increases which helped offset the decimation of on-the-go sandwich sales.

Ambition to grow In March of this year, Dealz and Poundland officially announced that two Irish women were taking leading roles as part of a new structure for the business across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Namely, Sharon Sheridan, who was appointed ‘country manager – trading’, and Olivia McLoughlin, who was named ‘country manager – retail’.

Now, the latest openings are a clear signal of this dynamic duo’s ambition. As Olivia McLoughlin puts it: “We’re thrilled to open three new Irish stores on the same day – it’s a signal of our ambition to grow. Customers have ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

In May, hair removal creams at Dealz were up a staggering 3,183% and body wax strips up 425% since the first week of lockdown

INTERVIEW

Yin and yang Unsurprisingly, ShelfLife had plenty to discuss during our interview which took place via the ‘new normal’ medium du jour, the Zoom video conference call.

Fortunately, Sheridan explained that the joint leadership had been in place since the beginning of January, so the time scale was not quite so severe as we initially imagined. Of the two women’s partnership, she tells us: “We’re very similar in lots of ways but very different in others. I would say she’s the yin to my yang!

The two of us are very much on the same page. I was actually on holidays when all of this happened. I got back and the first person I rang was Olivia and I said: ‘Oh my god, what are we going to do?’ She said: ‘Together, we’re going to keep these shops open and trade them as best we can’.”

Without a doubt, sheer shock would have been the initial reaction of every retailer – and indeed every business – across Ireland, when faced with a challenge of the magnitude of Covid-19. Olivia McLoughlin is in full agreement that having a co-leader and sounding board to talk through the imminent necessary changes was an immeasurable asset. “The benefit of having the co-leadership piece was massive,” she says, “because certainly, it has been very difficult for all retailers. We’re in a brilliant position where we have been able to stay open,” but nevertheless, having a partner with whom to make joint decisions, removed a huge burden. “Both of us were able to make those decisions, which are life-changing decisions for colleagues that we’re talking about, [the possibility of having to] furlough them or close their stores. It’s been amazing to have the advantage of myself and Sharon being able to have those conversations together because it takes on some of that massive responsibility that you have about how you’re impacting people’s lives. Fortunately, we have been fully aligned and in Dealz, we haven’t had to furlough one single colleague which has been amazing.”

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Sharon Sheridan is responsible for all trading decisions, including buying, merchandising and supply chain. She had previously led trading in the Republic of Ireland at Dealz for the past seven years

Merchant’s Quay has Grand Parade and then Fairgreen has Pearse Street as well. However, the reality was that some of the staff actually had closer stores to where they lived so we accommodated them there as that was the right thing to do. They worked in their local home stores where they have been of huge benefit and support to us through all of this.”

During the hibernation of these three stores, Dealz was able to progress with phase two of the rollout of its simple pricing structure, as it was with a further 18 stores located in shopping centres which were “massively impacted from a footfall and turnover perspective”. The new simple pricing model means that in addition to its core €1.50 price point, Dealz will introduce big brands at a series of simple price points from 75c. The move, which followed a successful trial at the retailer’s leading store in Clarehall, Dublin, allows Dealz “to look after a wider variety of customers’ regular weekly needs at the amazing value they expect”. The simple

pricing structure is also reflected in simpler store navigation with new signage and improved store layout that makes the stores easier to shop.

The move initially covers shopper favourites in key categories, such as household, health & beauty, grocery, bread and cakes and pet, and brings new choices for customers. Examples include Old El Paso Fajita Kits for €3, fivepack Maggi Noodles for €1.50, Malt O Meal Marshmallow Mateys for €2.50 and eight-pack Kelloggs Pop Tarts for €2.50.

Stronger and better “Our hashtag in all of this,” says McLoughlin, “has been ‘stronger and better’ so we’ve looked at every single opportunity where we can come out of this and take the learning from it to be stronger and better.” Implementing phase two in the chosen stores “was a simpler task for the colleagues,” she adds, “because they had some of that downtime. It’s brilliant from a customer perspective that we have been able to progress >>

Store hibernations This is despite the fact three stores were temporarily closed, or “hibernated” as industry parlance would have it, during lockdown.

Namely, Mary Street in Dublin, Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Mullingar and Merchant’s Quay in Cork. “We obviously discussed it with all of our teams,” says McLoughlin.

“We went through a full closure process with them and then every member of management and every colleague in those stores was given the opportunity to firstly, work in the local stores, because most of them were dual-sited so obviously Mary Street has Liffey Street,

Olivia McLoughlin joined Dealz last October from Dixons Carphone. She was previously responsible for ROI, NI and Scotland with Claire’s Accessories and all of Ireland with Carraig Donn

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife July 2020

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INTERVIEW

with some of that simpler pricing and hopefully by the end of this year - it will take until the end of this year - we will have every store finalised.”

Meanwhile, keeping prices low, even in the midst of a pandemic, appears to be a genuine source of pride for team. “The biggest thing that our customers have loved,” says McLoughlin, “and it’s been very evident when you look at some of the comments around our competition on social media, is that we haven’t increased one price. As Sharon has said, you are probably getting more value now because you’re getting bigger quantities for the same price. Without speaking specifically about any of our competition, but as a mam going into stores,” she continues, ”when you see things like wipes that were a relatively low price that have quadrupled in price overnight in some of our competition, it’s a bad thing to take advantage of that situation and we were adamant that we never would and we haven’t done, nor would we ever in the future and that’s been great for our customers.”

“We don’t do high-low pricing,” Sheridan nods. “We’re in a place that if it comes to it, if we have to make the decision, we will discontinue a product rather than put the price up for the customer and we will look for something that will be as good for the customer in that area; that’s the way we’ve always traded Dealz here in Ireland.”

Securing deals Indeed, the huge soar in demand for products such as hand sanitiser has demanded buyers think outside the box. “Both myself and our colleagues in the UK team went out scouring,” says Sheridan, “seeing what we could get from our current supply base and then what we could get from anywhere else, while making sure that we’re working with legal [regulations], that the product is suitable for sale.” The result?

“We have a lot of new suppliers that we’ve taken on board,” she says, “and a lot of our current suppliers, particularly in the UK that would be a part of our parent business, they’re seeing massive increases [in orders] from us.

We haven’t put prices up, it’s not part of our strategy to put prices up, so customers are confident that they can get the product they want at the price it has always been.”

“Some other retailers,” adds McLoughlin, “they may not have put their prices up, but they’ve taken off their offers, such as their twofor-one promotions, whereas Sharon’s been able to maintain all of the things that our customers love about us; that value piece.”

Shopping safely Not only was it crucial to maintain a value focus, but implementing the right safety measures from the get-go “was a massive piece of work,” McLoughlin adds. This was a new logistical reality that all grocery retailers had to get to grips with incredibly quickly, and Dealz was no different in this regard. Perspex screens ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Sharon Sheridan, Dealz country manager – trading and Olivia McLoughlin, Dealz country manager – retail, say they have “proudly delivered our promise of amazing value, despite the circumstances”

and hand sanitiser stations were installed in every store, alongside 2m social distancing, the closure of every second till, compulsory handwashing for staff every 20 minutes, a greeter at every store to maintain shopper limits and of course, the maintenance of hygienic and safe staff spaces, such as canteens and offices.

Beyond these measures, ShelfLife was keen to hear what both women believe will be the long-term impacts of the Covid-19 crisis. “It’s two-fold,” replies McLoughlin. “The shopping patterns of the business will obviously change; people will continue to shop less frequently and go back to doing those bigger shops.”

Local focus The focus on the local community and colleagues’ interaction with their community is now “phenomenal,” she continues. “We’ve done a lot of things to say thank you to our colleagues. One of them was we gave them a token amount that they can use to buy items for themselves in-store. A big percentage of our colleagues have taken that money and not used it for themselves, but to make up care packs or hampers for their local community and that’s been really different. This [crisis] has made all our stores really feel they are part of a local community, that they are there for their local customers, so for me, there’s been some real upsides. We’ve been able to say to our customers, thanks for shopping with us and here’s a little bit of how we can give back to you.” This includes two occasions where Dealz has implemented a ‘buy one, give one’ initiative, whereby when customers bought one item such as an Easter egg, Dealz donated another to charity on their behalf.

“That local piece will be important,” adds Sheridan, “where before, people might have gone to a bigger town or a bigger centre, but now they know they can get the value locally.”

Exceptional talent With Dealz still in expansion mode moreover, it hasn’t had to hit pause on hiring the best talent available. “In some incidences, we have hired some colleagues that we know we will need in the future,” says McLoughlin. “We have also taken on some managers that will fit into our model, even up to the point where we’ve hired a new area manager designate within Ireland as well, so we have definitely looked at the opportunity as some other retailers have closed their stores, such as Carphone Warehouse, where there has been exceptional talent we

will never miss out on that opportunity to bring that talent into the business, so it never became a thing that we would put a pause on that desire for great talent within our business.” Indeed, McLoughlin herself joined Dealz last October from Dixons Carphone.

“We still have lots of opportunity,” she continues. “We’re still looking at opening more stores to keep the high street alive. The feedback is our local community love us, but they want us even closer to their doorstep, with lots of comments about ‘Oh, can you do online?

Can you get nearer to me?’ There’s huge demand there so we want to get into those local towns to service them even more than we did in the past.”

“From a product point of view,” adds Sheridan, “we’ll be looking to increase our till offer because while on-the-go might be a lot less than what it was, people are still coming in and they do want an offer, so we’ll be looking at areas where we’re not as strong at the minute.

We’re also looking at an extended range of homeware going forward, entering into higher price points, with items such as fluffy stools and ottomans. We’re looking at putting together ranges like that so we will be that one-stop-shop where people can get everything they want in one place.”

Colleagues have shone Another point which has come to the fore during this crisis is the importance of good staff.

“Sometimes when tough times come, people shirk away from it,” says McLoughlin. “These guys have shone in the toughest of times and we’ve seen the best of our people, for me every one of them are heroes. For us to give them a thank you gift and for them to say we’re going to give it to our local community instead, that’s new, we haven’t seen that type of behaviour for a long time and it’s even more important when we’re going through these struggles, they’ve been phenomenal. Colleagues have got in their cars, filled their boots and driven to local care homes and hospitals with donations. I have stores where not one colleague has self-isolated at all, they have come into work because they said ‘I don’t want to put any additional pressure on my peers’. They’ve done it safely, those without underlying conditions obviously, every one of them has chosen to come into work every single day and that’s testament I suppose to the fact retailers are essential, we are essential workers. Some of our customers come to see us because they don’t talk to other people during the day, they get to talk to us. It’s that lifeline; the big lesson with all of this is that retailers are a lifeline for a lot of people.” n

Recent months have been extremely challenging for communities the length and breadth of Ireland. The Covid 19 crisis has fundamentally changed how we go about our daily lives, interact with one another and how we do our jobs. Once routine, visiting a shop, supermarket or forecourt has become far more complex for every one of us.

Throughout this difficult period, however, frontline retail workers have played a vital role in keeping the country running. It is your hard work and commitment that has kept key businesses open, shelves stocked and ensured essential items remained available to consumers. From delivery drivers to store managers to cashiers, the country will be forever grateful for your efforts.

From everyone at JTI Ireland, we would like express

our sincere gratitude to you, the country’s frontline retail workers. Your professionalism in difficult circumstances and ability to quickly adapt to strict new working practices has been inspirational, and we have been exceptionally proud to work with you through this unprecedented challenge.

After months of providing remote support, our sales teams have now returned to field operations. Still, we know that things are not quite back to business as usual just yet and there will be difficult times ahead. But rest assured that JTI is there for your business in times of crisis, just as we are in times of progress.

Thank you from the JTI Ireland team.

20 FEATURE

Cashless after Covid?

The appetite for contactless and digital payments has rapidly accelerated under the Covid-19 pandemic. With cash increasingly falling out of favour, Julia O’Reilly asks whether we’re entering the cashless era

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he jingle of coins jostling in a pocket.

The crisp texture of a new ATM dispersed note. Both encompass the sensual encounters we’ve been having with cash for decades. Encounters that are fast fading into memory, as digital wallets and payment cards gain momentum in the marketplace.

As Covid-19 spread, so too did global reluctance to handle coins and notes when cashless payment was a viable option.

Research from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland found that at the end of April, 43% of consumers made weekly payments via their smartphones. ATMs gathered dust from lack of use when cash withdrawals shot down 56% in a six-week period.

To aid the transition - given that contactless payment was best practice for both retailers and consumers - the contactless withdrawal limit was increased in April of this year from

Premium Cash Solutions (PCS) offers a solution called SafePay, which allows stores to still accept cash, while eliminating the need for manual cash handling. For further details, turn to page 10

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

€30 to €50. The response was instant. May saw the highest monthly figure on record, for contactless payments in Ireland: €600 million.

‘On the way out’?

For all that, the transition has been a long time coming. Cash use has been in decline since the last quarter of 2019. A study commissioned

by One4All before Covid-19 broke, found that half of Irish adults use digital banking or contactless payments more often than they use cash. According to the same study, 25% of respondents used smartphones to make contactless payments, 10% said they “never carry money,” while 43% believed that cash is “on the way out.”

That trend is undeniable. According to research firm, GlobalData, Finland is the furthest along the road to a cashless society, with South Korea, Norway, Sweden and China lining up behind them. Ireland was placed eighth overall in terms of electronic transactions, boasting the most frequent use of cards across the globe.

Now, months into the ‘new normal’, we are inching ever closer to a cashless society reality.

And, reality it is, as if recent research from PayPal is anything to go by, the future will likely be cashless. Of 2,000 Irish consumers studied, 39% said they do not want to use cash post-Covid-19. That translates to over 1.9 million consumers expressing an aspiration to ditch the cash. Add to those, the additional 65% who said they believe a cashless approach is important in these times and the trend is unmissable, especially when we take into account that 61% of shoppers that use contactless payments, said they “try to avoid touching a card reader pad when making purchases”.

Commenting on the PayPal survey results, Annette Hickey, vice-president for EMEA

FEATURE

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Tellingly, 88% of participants in a 2019 Dublin Mint Office study said the move towards a cashless society will leave behind the vulnerable, which includes the elderly, the homeless, the unemployed, and even children.

customer services, PayPal said: “As well as implementing measures to help facilitate socially distanced shopping, businesses need to enable people to purchase goods in different ways in-store or, alternatively, buy online.”

A heightened awareness of germs is partially behind the shift towards cashless. It doesn’t seem to matter that the World Health Organisation has stated that handling money poses no greater risk than touching most other surfaces where the virus may live. Shoppers and businesses alike have turned to cashless to reduce the risk of transmission.

Touchless retail

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“Contactless transactions are the safest and most practical solution for customers in the current climate.”

While card in lieu of cash usage is actively encouraged in many stores, behind the scenes, retailers are bearing an unfair cost burden.

Speaking to ShelfLife magazine, Ann Martyn, owner of Centra, Mountrath, Co. Laois, said she has seen “a large increase” in cashless usage since the beginning of the ongoing health crisis. Ann Martyn, owner of Centra, Mountrath in Co. Laois and Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) “Increased usage equates Executive member, believes “the overall cost imposed by card to increased cost to the issuers to retailers is way too high, particularly for stores with a retailer,” said Martyn. large volume of low value purchases” “As a retailer, my concern Pointing out that a transition to a cashless about this, going forward, society will require reliable broadband is the cost to the retailer. The overall cost nationwide, Lonergan adds: “Down time will imposed by card issuers to retailers is way too cost business. We have already seen that happen high, particularly for stores with a large volume recently with the banks. When IT systems go of low value purchases. It’s a very large cost and down, business is lost.” one that is increasing all the time.”

Nobody could deny he’s right. Both Bank Change is required. According to Martyn: of Ireland and Ulster Bank suffered outages in “The Central Bank needs to review these recent months. However, it’s not just patchy charges more regularly. Or perhaps they could broadband that causes problems, security issues consider a ‘fixed charge’ when a limit is reached. do too.

For some retailers with Cash in Transit Deals, Some are wary of the digital trail cashless the cost of lodging cash is actually less than the transactions leave behind. While the lack of plastic fees.” traceability and anonymity of cash pose known problems, in this age of surveillance and data accumulation, cash consumers appreciate that only they are aware of how they spend their dosh.

It’s not just cash that consumers are wary of using. New research from retail innovation agency Outform suggests that there is a real demand for touchless retail in a pandemicstricken world. Participants of that agency’s survey favoured augmented reality try-ons, voice-activated solutions, and mobileactivated self-checkout options. Onein-four believed appointment-only browsing would make shopping safer.

“The survey showed an almost unanimous concern around safety among shoppers,” said Simon Vulnerable Hathaway, MD EMEA at Outform.

Tellingly, 88% of participants in a “The statistics demonstrate a clear 2019 Dublin Mint Office study said call for touchless retail as people the move towards a cashless society seek to avoid physical interactions will leave behind the vulnerable, which with products within the retail includes the elderly, the homeless, the environment. unemployed, and even children.

“There’s an undeniable awareness A further 68% claimed to be ‘against’ - and excitement - that a return to the idea of a cashless society. physical retail ‘as normal’ has to take While this study was published when place, but our stats show shoppers John Paul Lonergan, national vice-president of the CSNA and owner the world looked wholly different than are looking for retailers to invest in of Spar, Fairview in Co. Dublin, says card charges need to “be it does today, the concerns raised have simplified and made more transparent” touchless tech and find new ways for proven to be warranted. Which? research them to interact with brands in-store.” backs it up. It found that as CovidClearly, the way we interact with the world 19 accelerates the move to a cashless society, “Banks and card providers need to engage around us has changed, and public opinion has vulnerable individuals have indeed been left constructively with retailers around the costs shifted alongside that. The safety-first mindset with no way to pay for essential products and charges that go with card payments,” said that we have become accustomed to living in is and services.

John Paul Lonergan, who owns Spar, Fairview, unlikely to change anytime soon.

Of course, many are still reliant upon cash.

Co. Dublin, speaking to ShelfLife magazine.

Nearly half of those are over 65 years of age, “Retailers have seen significant increases in while nearly a third are in the 55 to 64 bracket. the cost of doing business with the move to Cost concerns Two thirds of those who depend on cash have card over cash with most cards attracting vastly For consumers, banks have made efforts to no digital skills. Over a third are likely to be a different charges. This has to be simplified and make contactless payments more accessible. vulnerable customer, with 42% having physical made more transparent.”

While AIB shelved plans to introduce a 1c per or mental health challenges. Let’s remember “As a retailer, I broadly welcome a move to transaction charge on those payments when that many in low-wage, irregular employment card payment,” added Lonergan, “but there are Covid-19 hit, Bank of Ireland announced it are paid in cash. Yet, Which? noted that 10% of many factors that need to be looked at carefully was waiving its contactless fees. At the time, shops now refuse to accept it. n if this is going to be a positive change.”

John O’Beirne, director of products, AIB said:

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rish consumers have been actively exploring free from products in recent years, be it for health, lifestyle or dietary reasons. According to the 2019 ‘Free From in Ireland’ report from Euromonitor, the strongest growth in the category comes from milk alternatives. Moreover, plant-based diets are pushing innovation in the sector, as producers have been concocting savvy replacements for meat, eggs and dairy. Meanwhile, the global appetite for gluten free food products is increasing at an annual rate of 9.1%. By 2025, the market is projected to be worth €29.12 billion.* With so many appetising free from products on the market, shoppers have become more discerning and will simply vote with their feet if retailers don’t have the right range of best-selling brands in stock.

Double digit growth Our feature this month includes gluten-free/wheat free, dairyfree/lactose-free and products suitable for those with allergies and intolerances. Showing the importance of the gluten free sector, the Coeliac Society of Ireland reports this country has 50,000 coeliac disease sufferers and 350,000 others who are gluten intolerant. What’s more, Bord Bia research published in 2017 showed 20% of Irish people shop for gluten free food regularly, with the retail market valued at €66m and experiencing double digit growth each year.

And while roughly one in every 100 people in Ireland has Coeliac disease, the Coeliac Society states that as many as 37,000 people remain undiagnosed, showing the potential for further growth that exists.

Bord Bia researched consumer

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

attitudes to gluten free food for the first time back in 2017, and the findings from this study remain relevant today. Highlighting where the sector’s growth has come from, Paula Donoghue, Bord Bia’s consumer insight manager said: “Traditionally, gluten free offerings were only available in pharmacies or health food stores, whereas now there is proliferation right across the retail chain. The market has experienced an increase in the number of available products as well as double digit growth in supermarkets. There is a lot of noise around the topic, whether it is from celebrity advocates such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Novak Djokovic, or chefs, nutritionists and bloggers.”

Increasingly conscious of diet Despite only 1% of the Irish population having been medically diagnosed with coeliac disease, the research found that a gluten free diet is particularly popular amongst the upper and middle class earners, over-indexing in the Munster area and amongst pre and older families. The desire for a healthy lifestyle is the key driver according to the research, with Donoghue noting: “As a nation, we’re increasingly conscious of

The free from category, which includes free from allergens, free from gluten, free from lactose, free from dairy and free from meat products, is continuing to grow, with further positive development expected over next five years’ forecast, according to Euromonitor Ireland.

Here, we highlight the brands that continue to innovate to meet this growing demand our diet with 87% believing we have a healthy diet. Some 78% of Irish people who follow a gluten free diet are not diagnosed as coeliac. Nearly half of these (38%) do not have any intolerance to wheat or sensitivities, but perceive gluten free to be a healthier lifestyle choice.”

A recent study by Mintel reached a similar conclusion about the category’s strength and further potential. According to Aisling Kearney, research analyst: “The Irish free from market has enjoyed growth over recent years, driven by ‘lifestylers’ and wider availability of products in supermarkets. Mintel expects growth to continue.”

Plant-based growth Our feature this month also covers a number of leading meat free and vegan brands.

As many Irish folks transition to a more plant-based diet out of health, animal or environmental concern, an enticing in-store vegan range has never been more essential. While Bord Bia estimated that 8% of the Irish population were vegetarian and another 2% vegan in 2018, the appetite for vegan foods is larger than veganism itself. Indeed, 92% of plant-based meals consumed in the UK in 2018 were eaten by non-vegans. Further, plant-based food consumption increased by 300% between 2017 and 2018, according to research from Foodable Labs. In 2019, Mintel Research reported that the term ‘vegan’ was the third fastest growing on-pack claim for food and drink launches over the last five years. *(Source: Grand View Research.

Gluten-Free Products Market Size Worth $32.39 Billion By 2025. 2019)

Shaping up nicely Brandshapers has proudly been recognised as one of Ireland’s fastest-growing providers of sales, marketing and distribution services across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The company has been a leading supplier of products in the health and wellness category for over 10 years; working with a range of local and international brands to meet the needs of Irish consumers and retailers. During this time, Brandshapers has seen a category that was once a niche area evolve to become more mainstream as more and more Irish consumers look to live a healthier lifestyle. Its range of brand partners covers a variety of dietary needs including healthier alternatives, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and vegan.

Brandshapers is delighted to showcase its free from partner brands including Nakd and Trek bars, Ellas Kitchen, Doves Farm, BFree, Bear Nibbles, Lo Bros Kombucha, Nutty Bruce Milks and Chia Bia Seeds, in this edition of ShelfLife.

To find out more information about the diverse categories and brands that Brandshapers works with, visit the website www.brandshapers.ie.

Sowing the seeds for success Irish health food company Chia Bia has supplied high quality chia seeds internationally for over 10 years.

Chia Bia entered the non-existent European chia seed market in 2009. A combination of chia seed education, engaging marketing campaigns and NPD have seen the company grow the Irish chia seed category to over a 30% market share of the branded seed market.

Since launching in 2009, Chia Bia has grown the Irish chia seed category to over a 30% market share of the branded seed market

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Brandshapers is excited to announce its appointment as Chia Bia’s Irish distributor in 2020. “Since our partnership with Brandshapers earlier this year, we have met and built strong relationships with retailers across the country and we are looking forward to activating new consumer campaigns to further drive sales,” says Barrie Rogers, Chia Bia owner.

Good for the soul Soulfresh’s mission is to change the way people eat and drink for the better, that’s why it is disrupting the largest food and beverage categories with healthier alternatives that reflect the wishes of today’s consumers, particularly those focused on a lifestyle of health and sustainability. In Ireland, Soulfresh’s two core brands are Lo Bros Kombucha and Nutty Bruce Milks.

With over 100 million living cultures (probiotics) per bottle, Lo Bros Kombucha is a naturally low sugar drink that is certified organic, vegan and contains no artificial ingredients. It has a wonderfully complex depth of flavour and comes in many popular flavours, including Ginger & Lemon, Raspberry & Lemon, Passion fruit and Cola.

Nutty Bruce is a range of plant milks that uses a high percentage of whole organic, activated almonds to create a deliciously thick and creamy milk alternative without using any gums, thickeners or stabilisers.

Fun nutrition Ella’s Kitchen has introduced a new deliciously dairy free range.

The brand has created a yummy Banana Yogurt Alternative, a perfect Pear & Fig Porridge, and a tasty Rice Pudding with Bananas &

Ella’s Kitchen dairy free range is packed full of fruity taste and creamy coconut milk

Strawberries. All of these are packed full of exciting fruity taste and creamy coconut ‘moo-ilk’.

Ella’s Kitchen has used its weaning expertise to design these specifically for babies and to make sure there is lots of variety for little ones who are dairy free or have a dairy intolerance.

Bear necessities

Lo Bros Kombucha contains over 100 million probiotics per bottle

Bear Yoyos are 100% pure fruit and veg with absolutely nothing else. A Bear Yoyo is one of an individual’s five-a-day and contains no concentrates or added sugar.

They are made using fruits and vegetables that are picked perfectly ripe and in season.

These are then blended and Nutty Bruce uses organic almonds to create a creamy milk alternative

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Bear Yoyos are 100% pure fruit and vegetables

gently mixed with other tasty fruits, and baked slowly at a low temperature. Finally, they are hand rolled for cubs to enjoy!

Bear Yoyos contain no nuts, dairy or gluten whatsoever. As they are made and packed in a completely sealed-off area, there is no chance of contamination. At Bear, the team aims to produce snacks that are as close to being allergen free as possible, so that all our cubs can enjoy them, even those with dietary requirements.

Shoppers can get their paws on a variety of Yoyo flavours in single packs, multi-packs and family packs.

Living free In a world where people want great-tasting healthy food as part of a lifestyle that is about living better, BFree exists to inspire and empower living free.

When BFree opened its doors in 2011, the company’s goal was to bring customers the best gluten and wheat free alternatives for their everyday favourite baked goods. Its awardwinning range now stretches from loaves to pittas to pizza bases to wraps, to name just a few.

Using the finest, hand-selected ingredients, BFree has crafted bakery products that not only taste good but are also healthy for you. It never compromises on taste, quality or freshness which

BFree’s goal is to inspire free living, with an award-winning range

has secured listings nationally.

BFree’s products have the added benefits of being vegan friendly, dairy free and nut free.

The brand recently introduced two loaves to the range, the White Sourdough loaf and the Wholegrain Sourdough loaf which are both proving extremely popular.

All of BFree’s product range is ambient and shelf-stable with the option of freezing products for up to a year.

Simple, natural and delicious Leading gluten free food brand Freee believes gluten free food should be simple, natural and delicious. It has created a range of tasty, award-winning foods for the whole day including flour, bread and cake baking mixes, breakfast cereals, oat bars, cookies, and pasta. Perfected over more than 40 years, the UK’s number one gluten free flour range* includes specialist naturally gluten free flour blends like Self-Raising, Plain, White Bread and Brown Bread as well as popular options like Buckwheat and Rice Flour. Gluten Free Flour has also experienced exceptional increase in demand

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Freee is the UK’s number one gluten free flour range

over the last few months. For those new to gluten free baking or short on time, the mixes range has proved very popular. Freee’s whole range is certified by Coeliac UK and is suitable for vegans.

There are also many organic options available. *(Source: Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 22 March 2020)

Long lasting energy Trek believes in snacks that are better for you and better for the environment. Trek provides products with natural, long lasting energy that sticks with you, empowering you to enjoy and get the most out of every moment. Whenever or wherever consumers need it, Trek keeps you going and will never let you down, using only natural ingredients.

In an increasingly active nation with a strong tendency of snacking, Trek’s Protein Nut Bars are the perfect choice for any time of the day. These tasty bars are made with all natural, vegan and gluten free ingredients, with less than 5g of natural sugar and 10g of plant-based protein. The bars come in four perfectly balanced flavours – Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt, Dark Chocolate & Orange, Blueberry & Pumpkin Seed and Coconut & Raspberry.

Naughty and nice!

Nakd bars are made from 100% natural ingredients – just fruits and nuts smooshed together with no added sugar or sticky syrups. Nakd wants everyone to find their “snack soulmate”. Everything the company makes is therefore gluten free, dairy free and vegan. The range comes in a wide range of tasty flavours so if you prefer nutty, fruity, cakey or chocolatey tastes, then there is something for everyone.

Nakd bars contain 100% natural ingredients, with no added sugar or syrups

Nakd is confident its Blueberry Muffin is unmatchable in fruity taste and luxurious texture.

Bursting with blueberries, this bar is the perfect treat to indulge in when consumers are looking for something a little sweet and easy to eat, not to mention super healthy as it counts for one of an individual’s five-a-day.

One of the newest members of the Nakd family is the Salted Caramel bar. These tasty bars are decadently delicious, and according to the brand, will leave you wanting more and more. Some things can be both naughty and nice!

Gliding ahead

Trek’s Protein Nut Bars contain less than 5g of natural sugar and 10g of plantbased protein

The Irish grocery market has seen a conscious move to healthier options with big increases in zero alcohol, gluten free, vegan, dairy free and more. Hüfi fits into this lifestyle choice and is >>

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recognised by this market with 100%+ growth in the last year alone. The brand’s four-pack 50cl cans work well in this category and will only improve over the coming months and years.

Hüfi Beer is currently Ireland’s top selling vegan-friendly, gluten free beer which takes its name from the Hüfi Glacier in the Swiss Alps. Now available in a convenient four-pack of cans, it has an ABV of 4.2%, the same as most standard beers. However, Hüfi contains only 140 calories per 50cl can, making it one of the lowest calorie beers on the Irish market.

Hüfi is stocked in SuperValu, Centra, Dunnes Stores, Spar, Londis, O’Briens, Fine Wines, Molloys and other independents.

Stockists can avail of a variety of POS including; free-standing shop tidies, posters and shelf strips. You can find more information on Hüfi Beer on its Facebook or Instagram pages or by visiting www.comans.ie.

Making mealtimes quicker and simpler

Clintons crisps do not contain any allergens, with no gluten, dairy or eggs

Stafford Lynch. Clintons crisps are now stocked in selected SuperValu, BWG and Avoca stores and independent outlets through Innovative Brands.

For further information, visit www.clintonsartisancrisps. com, Facebook: facebook.com/ clintonscrisps and Instagram: @clintonscrisps.

Spicing up the market

With an ABV of 4.2%, Hüfi Beer contains only 140 calories per 50cl can

Crisps everyone can enjoy When Clintons set about making the great crisps it is known for, the team decided from the start that they wanted a crisp that everybody can enjoy. That is why Clintons crisps do not contain any allergens; that’s right, no gluten, dairy, eggs…. the list goes on.

What’s more, Clintons crisps are cooked in pure rapeseed oil, for a fuller flavour and extra crunch. All its products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Clintons likes to keep it simple, but do it right, stating: “We’re about the down to earth, delicious crisp.”

The brand’s main distributor is

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Vada Pow frozen products are available in 200 stores nationwide. The range includes Spiced Potato Cakes, Sweet Potato Burgers, Croquette Tikka Masala and Mumbai Potato Pie. Vada Pow’s ‘Bombay style street food’ products cater for all dietary requirements i.e. vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians and gluten free. These products fit this growing sector of the market. Impressively, the Sweet Potato Burger won the silver award in the meatfree alternatives category at the Free From Foods Ireland

2020 has seen Birds Eye extend its focus into plant-based foods with the launch of the Birds Eye Green Cuisine range of meat substitutes and veg foods. The ‘Whoops, I’m a bit Veggie’ campaign has driven widespread awareness and trial, through dedicated creative that focuses on taste without taking themselves too seriously!

The most recent launch to Birds Eye’s plant-based Green Cuisine range includes Meat Free Meal Kits, Vegan Sausage Rolls and Meat-Free Chicken Pies.

Keen to make mealtimes quicker and simpler, the new Birds Eye Green Cuisine Meal Kits have been designed to help consumers create delicious meatfree versions of classic dinnertime favourites, such as Bolognese and Lasagne. The new range features

Awards. The Vada Pow range is very different from stereotypical Indian curry products and the name Vada Pow originated from the word ‘Vada Pav’ which is a famous patty and bun street food of Mumbai.

The products fit with the ethos of this Irish company as Vada Pow was founded with a simple vision: Food is to be good, not just in taste but for the body and the soul. These The Birds Eye Meat-Free Burgers deliver on taste products are made with wholesome ingredients which makes for an three dinnertime staples that easy customer choice. Indian can be cooked up in just 8-10 street food which is growing minutes, including a Bolognese in popularity and identified as Mix, Mexican-style ‘Fajita’ Mix, a new food trend, caters for and Chilli Mix. The versatile mixes people’s curiosity and allows can be used in a wide range them to experiment and explore of dishes and are made from a new foods. Vada Pow was named meat substitute that is rich in pea the Best New Food and Drink protein, low in saturated fat and Start-Up at the ShelfLife C-Store is a source of fibre, along with Awards in 2019. vegetables and tasty sauces.

Support integrates TV, online video, social, content partnerships, shopper and promotional support and will continue to run throughout 2020. >>

The Vada Pow range of Bombay style street food is gluten free and suitable for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians

With the new Birds Eye Green Cuisine Meal Kits, consumers can create tasty meat-free versions of classic dinnertime favourites

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Vegan Stone Baked Spicy Vegetable Salsa Pizza and is available now.

For further information and Goodfella’s full product list and details, visit www.goodfellaspizzas.com.

Wholesome and tasty The Glas Irish Beef-Free Burger contains 17g of protein

Biting into satisfaction Newly renamed Glas has just launched two new exciting products into its plant-based range including an Irish Beef-Free Burger with 17g of protein which is made without soya or gluten.

Glas has also re-launched the long-awaited return of the plantbased sausage, which now has a new and improved recipe.

Glas has developed a new plant-based casing which means consumers now get the same bite as they would with a regular meat-based sausage, making the change up to meat free that much easier. Both products are stocked in top Irish retailers.

Mighty meatless option We all deserve good pizza – but for Irish consumers cutting down on meat and dairy, it can be hard to find a mouth-watering pizza that meets the demands of their taste buds.

Frozen pizza masters Goodfella’s has got it covered, with the launch of its first frozen pizza to feature pea protein ‘mince’ – a meat substitute packed full of flavour and texture. Unlike other meat alternatives, the pea protein mince

contains no soy, making it the perfect option for shoppers with a soy allergy.

The new Goodfella’s Meatless Mediterranean Pizza includes a stone-baked thin base topped with tomato sauce, pea protein mince, chargrilled red and yellow peppers, tomato, red onion, oregano and finished with a salsa verde drizzle.

It’s pizza so good, the Vegan Society has given its nod of approval.

“We know the value of good vegan pizza to our customers,” says Claire Hoyle, head of marketing at Goodfella’s. “Irish consumers are switching up their diets and including more meat substitutes in their meals, so we’re giving pizza fans more choice by adding the Meatless Mediterranean to our family of delicious vegan pizzas. The pea protein topping tastes so good, families won’t even realise it’s actually meat-free and still packs 13g of protein per serving.”

This latest creation joins the brand’s other vegan pizzas, including favourites like the Goodfella’s Vegan Stone Baked Falafel Pizza and the Goodfella’s

Goodfella’s Meatless Mediterranean Pizza is topped with ‘mince’ made from pea protein

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

This year saw the launch of Thanks Plants in SuperValu stores, a new vegan ‘meatless meat’ company.

Thanks Plants is a range of wholesome sausages in a variety of flavours including Apple & Sage, Sundried Tomato & Herb and The Frankfurter. Aisling Cullen, the creator of Thanks Plants, decided to bring these products to the market after making them at home and seeing there was a lack of whole food meat substitutes in supermarkets with ingredients that people understood.

“As a vegan, I could see the growth of meat free products over the years as people became more informed about the impact of their food choices,” says Cullen.

“And although the variety of plantbased products was growing in supermarkets, I couldn’t find any that were as wholesome and tasty as the meat substitutes I made at home. I was delighted to get on SuperValu’s Food Academy which helped me launch my range and put it on the shelves.”

“Its early days but so far there has been great feedback from customers who love the products,” Cullen adds. “It isn’t ideal launching a company in the middle of the Covid pandemic, but the response so far has been very positive.”

Thanks Plants is currently stocked in SuperValu Lucan, Rathgar, Palmerstown, Knocklyon and Templeogue.

For more information, visit www.thanksplants.co and Instagram: @thanksplants.co.

Seize the day!

New Irish start-up The Naked Collective is an ambitious carbon neutral beverage company that loves creating healthy, functional natural drinks. Designed to meet the emerging needs of today’s consumers, the exciting new beverages are made solely from plants, vitamins and water.

You’re familiar with ‘super foods’: well, The Naked Collective has developed what it describes as a ‘SuperLiquid’, Made from 100% natural ingredients and its unique brewing process, The Naked Collective has created two brands, Mude and So.Beer.

Simply bursting with vitamins and minerals, the beverages are all low sugar, low calorie, vegan friendly, isotonic and if that wasn’t enough, they are also clinically proven to improve immune health.

The Mude range consists of five functional drinks, specifically designed to help consumers take control of their day: Sleep, Chill, Play, Work and ImmunoBoost.

All products are a naturally brewed seltzer with a unique function and flavour for different points throughout the day, whether that’s delivering a mid-morning kickstart or an ashwagandha-infused moment to help destress. These drinks are designed to support a positive and desired physical and mental change, within 5 - 20 minutes of consumption. They are all 100% natural with no artificial sweeteners, additives or preservatives. All packaging is highly recyclable which fits in with The Naked Collective’s commitment to the environment.

For further information, visit www.thenakedcollective.com. n

A new Irish start-up The Naked Collective has created an exciting range of beverages designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Ireland’s consumers

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FSAI publishes first recommendations for one to five year-olds The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published a report outlining food-based dietary guideline recommendations for one to five year-old children living in Ireland.

The latest Irish research on the dietary habits of this age group was used by the FSAI’s Scientific Committee to develop the guidelines, which reflect international best practice on young child feeding in an Irish context.

The report states milk is a key food, with a daily intake of 550ml of cow’s milk, or equivalent amounts of yoghurt or cheese, recommended.

The full recommendations are available at www.fsai.ie.

Love Irish Food announces 2020 Double Up Awards The new report advises parents against using some beverages such as almond ‘milk’, coconut ‘milk’ and rice ‘milk’, as milk substitutes for this age group

Aldi supports artisan cheeses with Irish Cheese Direct Aldi now stocks a range of Irish cheeses from suppliers in collaboration with Irish Cheese Direct (ICD). The ICD is a group of seven top Irish farmhouse cheesemakers who work together to directly supply the Irish retail sector with artisanal, local products. The new partnership involves three of the seven producers; Inagh Farmhouse Cheese (Co. Clare), Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers (Co. Tipperary), and The Little Milk Company (Co. Waterford).

Inagh Farmhouse Cheese, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers and The Little Milk Company are now available in stores

Under-35s increase dairy consumption during lockdown Almost 40% of Irish consumers under 35 have increased their dairy consumption since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown. That’s according to new consumer research of over 2,000 Irish adults released by the European Milk Forum, as part of its ‘Sustainable Dairy in Europe’ campaign.

While 91% of Irish consumers still think we can prevent all or most of the catastrophic consequences of climate change, when it comes to making food purchasing decisions, price (46%), nutritional value (34%) and healthiness (31%) trump carbon footprint (10%) and sustainable packaging (19%) concerns.

39% of consumers under 35 have increased their dairy consumption during the pandemic

optimum campaign for Love Irish Food has their brand objectives. announced the launch The award is open of the 2020 Double Up to both Love Irish Awards in partnership with Food members and Core and Media Central. non-members. Chosen The initiative is offering brands will have the five Irish food producing opportunity to advertise companies a ‘double up’ their products to the of €200,000 in radio Irish consumer with airtime, meaning selected double the momentum companies will have their and double the airtime. radio advertising spend Love Irish Food doubled in 2021. invites all qualifying Winners will have their Irish-produced food bought radio spend and drink brands to of €40,000 in Q1 2021 enter, detailing in 1,500 doubled by €40,000 in words or less, why free airtime in Q2 2021, this campaign should across Media Central Kieran Rumley, executive director be awarded to their radio stations, to include of Love Irish Food, whose member brand. Entrants will Newstalk, Today FM, and brands support 12,000 jobs in the need to present a sound others. Media Central’s Irish food industry business and marketing stations achieve a weekly case, with the winners audience of over 2 million being the brands deemed to benefit most listeners. Love Irish Food, Core and Media from the award.

Central will work with the winners to plan the “At a time when Covid-19 and Brexit have added so much uncertainty to the market, this Double Up award allows the winners the certainty of knowing that they have an increased advertising campaign for their brand in their plans for 2021,” said Kieran Rumley, executive director of Love Irish Food.

To enter, brands must first submit details of their company and brand at www.loveirishfood.ie by 24 July 2020. Completed entry forms must be submitted by 28 August 2020.

Fish imports and exports continue to rise Under EU regulations, all imports of fish Fish imports into Ireland from outside the EU from third countries (countries outside the are continuing to rise, according to figures EU) must be accompanied by a catch released by the Sea-Fisheries Protection certificate which confirms that the fish Authority, the state body responsible for was caught and declared legally, including regulating the sea fisheries and the sea food where and when the fish was caught and by production sectors. which vessel.

In 2019, over Last year, 4,000 tonnes of the SFPA fishery products provided catch were subject to certificates for SFPA import over 11,500 controls, up 26% tonnes of Irish on 2018. Fish and exports to third fishery products countries, an that are traded increase of into the European 8% on 2018.

Union are subject Additionally, to specific regulatory it provided controls to Sea fisheries regulator issues latest certification figures health prevent illegal, certificates unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish and for almost 84,000 tonnes of exports to fishery products from entering the food third countries. These certificates confirm supply chain. Anti-IUU regulations were that the products were handled under introduced as part of EU measures to tackle satisfactory hygienic conditions in an the estimated €1.1 billion in IUU products that SFPA-approved establishment and are were imported into the EU annually. accurately described. n

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After experiencing the trials and tribulations of home schooling when many children have also missed seeing their school pals on a daily basis, the ‘back to school’ season will be a bigger occasion than ever and a major family focus in homes across the country, with parents doing everything they can to make their children’s experience a positive one

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t’s no secret that, when it comes to school lunches, Irish families crave products and brands that provide convenience, value for money and nutrition. Now that the school season is fast approaching, products that tick those boxes will be in high demand.

Back to school is undeniably a costly time of the year for parents. Value is at the fore of many minds when shopping for lunchbox fillers. Multipacks have proven to be a hit for their convenience and value. In recent years, there has been a welcome explosion of healthy choices across the FMCG sector. The brands commanding attention reassure parents of the nutritional and natural value of their products, as several of the bestselling brands highlighted here aptly demonstrate.

All under one roof A recent study by analyst Mintel showed the importance of grocery stores featuring a broad back to school range, with easy-to-shop merchandising.

According to Mintel, parents find it helpful to have most of the back-to-school items they need to buy under one roof, with 77% saying it’s more convenient to shop at a retailer that sells a wide range of these items. This goes hand in hand with the popularity of grocers for back-to-school shoppers, with 45% saying they bought items from a supermarket in 2018.

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Mintel reports that back-toschool shoppers acknowledge that value for money has improved, with nearly twothirds (65%) saying there are now better options for some of the lower-cost back-toschool products than there were previously. Despite this improvement, over half (53%) of parents still find the back-toschool shopping period stressful.

Standing out “The popularity of supermarkets during the back-to-school shopping period is driven by the consumer desire for convenience and value,” says Samantha Dover, Mintel senior retail analyst. “They appeal because they offer a broad range of products needed for the start of the academic year, including stationery, lunchboxes and tech products, all under one roof. However, online-only and discount retailers are increasingly challenging their strength in this market.

“One way for retailers to stand out in a crowded marketplace is to make the back-to-school experience less stressful for parents,” Dover adds. She advises that “retailers could take inspiration from their European counterparts and, more specifically, Spanish children’s concept store Little Stories, which is a great example of how to improve the retail environment for both parents and their children. It uses primary colours

Each 100ml bottle of Actimel contains 10 million exclusive L. Casei cultures, Vitamins B6 and D

and cartoon motifs to create a child-friendly interior, in-store paths for children to follow and a half-height counter helping them feel part of the buying experience.”

Research from Shopper Intelligence, which surveyed 16,492 Irish shoppers between November 2019 and March 2020, also demonstrated the importance of the back to school occasion for retailers.

“An important, pre-planned and regular purchase occasion, the back to school category can drive loyalty to a store if done well,” Shopper Intelligence reports.

Support your immune system Actimel is an ideal option for the back to school lunch box for parents who are anxious to provide a nutritious choice. Each 100ml bottle of this fermented milk drink contains 10 million exclusive L. Casei cultures, Vitamins B6 and D, helping to support an individual’s immune system*.

Available in a range of flavours, the No Added Sugar range has continued to perform strongly since growing the range just over two years ago. In fact, recent data shows it has increased by +33.8% in value terms and by +30.1% in volume terms during the latest 12 weeks**. To provide The total Actimel brand has grown by +29.1% in value terms and +19.2% in volume terms during the latest 12 weeks

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*ACTIMEL CONTAINS VITAMIN B6 AND D WHICH SUPPORT THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. CONSUME AS PART OF A VARIED BALANCED DIET AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

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even greater choice, Actimel has continued to grow its No Added Sugar range in 2020, with a new Supermix flavour now available.

What’s more, in late 2020 and 2021, Actimel is set to launch some exciting innovation, which will maintain its focus on supporting consumers’ immune systems.

As we now emerge from lockdown, a focus on selfimprovement and wellbeing across all aspects of their lives will remain central for many shoppers. This continued emphasis on health and wellbeing has generated impressive results for Actimel, which has been experiencing strong performance and growth over the past few months, with the total brand up by +29.1% in value terms and +19.2% in volume terms during the latest 12 weeks**.

For many parents and kids eager to give the return to school their best shot, Actimel is great for lunchboxes, especially now when supporting the immune system is more important than ever. *(With Vitamin B6 and D to help support the normal function of an individual’s immune system.

Enjoy as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle) **(Source: MAT Nielsen Data ending 14 June 2020)

A family favourite With only four natural ingredients, Cuisine de France French bread is a perfect school lunch box filler.

If there was ever a food that unites people all over, it is bread!

Whether you love a crusty white roll or a seeded brown loaf, bread is the centrepiece of any good meal.

And would you believe the most iconic bread in Ireland is… French. With the new and improved Le Parisien and the Le Demi baguette, Cuisine de France is a firm family favourite across Ireland, and is a perfect lunch for all ages.

Best of all? Cuisine de France uses only the finest, 100% natural ingredients — flour, salt, water and yeast. There are a number of tasty ways Cuisine de France baguettes can be used for even the fussiest little eaters’ school lunch box.

Whether it is simply cut up and served with lashings of good Irish butter or dressed up with hummus, ham and cheese or tomato and salami, the possibilities are endless and exciting, allowing parents to easily change up their little ones’ lunch box ideas.

Cuisine de France baguettes

Cuisine de France uses only the finest, 100% natural ingredients — flour, salt, water and yeast

also make a great after-school snack as delicious mini pizzas —perfect for kids and parents alike. Simply place slices of the baguette with some tomato paste and cheese under the grill to lightly toast the crispy crust and unmistakable light, Natural, vegan and free from any additives, fluffy velvet centre Cuisine de France’s bread is suitable for all, from of a Cuisine de toddler age up France baguette.

Natural, vegan retailers this year*. Available and free from any additives, this in a slim stick format, it is the bread is suitable for all, from perfect on-the-go treat and is toddler age up. Your customers available in three delectable are safe in the knowledge that flavours – the classic Lindor milk they are providing their children recipe, the irresistibly smooth with a filling, versatile and melting mint filling and a zesty wholesome lunch. orange flavoured milk chocolate

A moment of bliss wherever you go Now worth over €2m in retail sales value (RSV), the smoothmelting Lindt Lindor Treat Bar is Ireland’s number one premium chocolate countline and is a proven must-stock range for

for those looking for something with a little twist, each flavour promising to be a “blissful” experience for your taste buds.

Following on from the success of the Lindor Treat Bar range – also available are the Lindor Milk and Orange multipacks – with the same slim stick packaging but in

The Lindt Lindor Treat Bar is Ireland’s number one premium chocolate countline

The Lindt Lindor Treat Bar range is now also available in the Lindor Milk and Orange multipacks

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

>>

FREE

AVAILABLE NOW TM, ®, © 2020 KELLOGG Company. ∆UK, MT & ROI, 18+ only. Promotion valid from 13.07.20 to 30.11.20 inclusive. For full Terms & Conditions and to participate, visit www.kelloggs.ie/backtoschool. Account registration, parent/guardian consent, proof of purchase and internet access required. W.K. Kellogg by Kids No Added Sugar Multigrain Shapes contains naturally occurring sugars.

Speak to your Kellogg’s sales representative for more details

34 CATEGORY FOCUS Back to school

Summer drinks

Health and beauty

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a convenient multipack format – perfect for filling lunch boxes or as a little picnic treat while consumers are out and about.

The Lindor Multipack is available in all leading retailers and retails at €2.69. The Lindor Treat Bar 38g range retails at €1.29 and is available nationwide.

Lindt Lindor is the epitome of indulgence as it creates a moment of escape and relaxation in your busy day - a smooth melting ‘me moment’.

The tempting Lindor Treat Bars are a product of the care and passion that Lindt’s Swiss master chocolatiers put into creating each and every recipe.

With a selection of flavours to choose from – shoppers can treat themselves to a moment of bliss wherever they go with the Lindor Treat Bar! *(Source: Nielsen Scantrack MAT, Snacking Countline Market, to 17 May 2020)

Great morning start

‘

Weetabix is passionate about providing its consumers with the ‘Weetabix Advantage’ every morning when they sit down for breakfast, giving them the strong start that only a proper breakfast can do.

Weetabix is still firmly the UK’s number one breakfast cereal brand* and a must-stock for retailers. Weetabix Original is and will always be, a low sugar cereal, and has all green traffic lights on-pack to make it easy for shoppers to make a healthy choice.

“Getting prepared to return to school is a hectic time for parents and kids alike, and never more so than this year,” says Simon Walker, head of sales for Weetabix. “It’s the ideal time to establish new routines, which is why we have brought back our Any-Which-Way-A-Bix campaign for the busy back to school period, encouraging shoppers to buy a pack of Weetabix to ensure the best start to their day.”

An updated Any-Which-WayA-Bix advert returns to TV in August, alongside additional in-store and online shopper

investment, giving Weetabix the number one share of voice in the cereal category for this period, and increased awareness to drive footfall into store.

“Retailers should ensure they stock the best sellers on their cereal shelves, including Ready Brek - the fastest growing product in the category, and Alpen - the nation’s number one muesli brand,” Walker advises. “Weetabix On The Go is also a must-stock, providing a tasty, convenient and nutritious breakfast for those on the move, whilst Weetos is a family favourite, with taste and chocolate being big drivers of consumption at breakfast time.” *(Source: Nielsen data to 30 Nov 2019)

Real Irish ham What makes Brady Family Ham so special is that it is real Irish ham. It is crafted from the finest Bord Bia approved pork legs, slow cooked to perfection in Brady Family’s traditional way, with no added water. It is this craftmanship, attention to detail, and focus on quality which has resulted in Brady Family Ham claiming the number one spot for not only the highest quality ham in the category but also the most recommended ham brand, by its consumers*.

Within its range, Brady Family has a vast array of products, which makes it a perfect lunchbox filler for back to school.

Brady Family’s succulent slices of carved ham are delicious in a wholesome sandwich, while the Just Add Shredded Ham is a perfect addition to a scrumptious pasta dish or salad. *(Source: Bord Bia, Brand Health Check, 2020)

Value is at the fore of many minds when shopping for lunchbox fillers. Multipacks have proven to be a hit for their convenience and value. In recent years, there has been a welcome explosion of healthy choices across the FMCG sector. The brands commanding attention reassure parents of the nutritional and natural value of their products.

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Back to school offering can drive loyalty to a particular retailer: Shopper Intelligence Ireland Shopper Intelligence Ireland carried out research on 16,492 Irish shoppers between November 2019 – March 2020 on their kids’ lunchbox preferences: the results of which are displayed on the previous page.

Colm Rooney, country manager, Ireland at Shopper Intelligence made some pertinent comments regarding the findings.

“Congrats to Irish parents, as our kids’ lunchboxes are actually filled with rather healthy products,” Rooney said. “Our data shows that yoghurt is the most popular item, followed by fruit and sandwich ingredients. Interestingly, in one out of four cases, these products are actually requested by someone else (i.e. the child).

“Irish shoppers are clearly indicating that the kids’ lunchbox occasion is a very important, pre-planned and regular part of the weekly shopping trip,” he added. “But the key take-away for me is that it can actually drive loyalty to a particular retailer/store. If shoppers feel a retailer delivers this kids’ lunchbox occasion well, they will keep coming back for it.”

Brady Family Ham has claimed the number one spot for being the highest quality ham in the category and is also the most recommended ham brand by its consumers

Packed full of goodness Green Farm is a natural, healthy, and tasty cookedmeat choice that is perfect for school lunches. The brand’s range of chicken, turkey and beef products are packed full of goodness as they are high in protein, contain essential vitamins, and have no nasties, meaning they are free from all artificial flavours and preservatives.

Green Farm’s 100% natural award-winning

High in protein, Green Farm contains essential vitamins and is free from all artificial flavours and preservatives

range contains both sliced and torn products which is ideal to keep any little one’s lunchbox exciting without compromising on quality and taste. n

Pringles is the

No.1

large sharing brand*

*Nielsen Total Scantrack MAT 29th Dec 19. TM, ®, © 2020 KELLOGG Europe Trading Limited

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Health and beauty

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36 CATEGORY FOCUS Health and beauty

Beauty boost

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or consumers looking to improve their physical or mental selves, health and beauty products are a good place to start. Growth in beauty and personal care performed positively in Ireland in 2019, according to data from Euromonitor Ireland*.

Sun care saw the strongest growth last year, driven by consumers’ growing awareness of the dangers of the sun, and the benefits of sun protection products. Natural and organic products drove further interest in the category. During lockdown, many shoppers of this category have used their extra time to finetune their skincare routines and have reported on social media forums that sticking to a daily routine helps them maintain a sense of normality and provides some comfort and reassurance; acting as a relatively inexpensive way to experience a little luxury.

In fact, premium products are forecast to boost growth, as Irish consumers are expected to invest in higher quality, natural ingredients. *(Source: Euromonitor, 2019: ‘Beauty and Personal Care in Ireland, June 2020’)

Complete face care Pampering skin from start to finish, Nivea provides superior care with its complete cleansing range and innovative Q10 Power range.

Consumers can start with the cleansing range for easy make-up removal, skin cleansing and care, then finish with the Q10 Power range to give skin a boost of Q10 and creatine to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Particularly in stores with a smaller space available for health and beauty ranges, it is essential to have the best-selling brands so shoppers won’t be disappointed. Here, we take a look at some of the latest products and innovations driving sales

The innovative cleansing range delivers the most complete cleansing experience and helps to thoroughly cleanse the skin while gently caring and protecting its delicate moisture balance. The Nivea cleansing line is comprised of various formats to suit all cleansing preferences with dermatologically and ophthalmologically approved products.

• Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 Nivea provides nourishing treatment from start to finish with its complete cleansing range in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water - This award-winning product caring for eyelashes and the clinically proven to reduce the has an innovative formula which delicate skin around eyes. The appearance of wrinkles. cleanses and removes make-up ‘oil phase’ is designed to remove while moisturising the skin in waterproof mascara and eye one simple step. It respects the • Nivea Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle make-up without irritation. The skin’s natural balance, requires no + Firming Day Cream ‘aqueous phase’ is formulated rinsing and is free of perfumes, The innovative Q10 Power Antito protect and care for lashes colourants, and parabens, making Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream without leaving any oily residue. it ideal for sensitive skin. replenishes the skin’s own The highly effective yet caring • Biodegradable Cleansing nutrient reservoir with cell-active formula is also enriched with Wipes - Gently but effectively Q10. Its comprehensive UVA/ cornflower extract which is cleansing the skin while UVB protection with SPF 15 known for its anti-inflammatory maintaining its natural balance, guards skin from the damaging and soothing properties. these wipes thoroughly remove effects of sunlight.

Bringing Q10 and Creatine face and eye make-up while to the forefront of consumers’ providing the skin with refreshing • Nivea Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle skin care routine, is Nivea Q10 moisture. These soft and gentle + Firming Night Cream Power – the most powerful antiwipes are made with 100% Helping to regenerate skin during ageing range yet. With cell-active renewable plant fibres, are sleep, the Q10 Power AntiQ10 and 10 times more creatine biodegradable and are enriched Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream than previous Q10 formulas, it’s with specially selected Organic Argan Oil and Organic Aloe Vera, ensuring they are suitable for even sensitive skin.

• Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover This wonder product benefits from a gentle bi-phase formula which effectively dissolves Nivea has unveiled its most powerful anti-ageing range yet eye make-up while

Health and beauty CATEGORY FOCUS 37

+ Pore Refining Day Cream Specially developed for combination skin, the Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle + Pore Refining Day Cream is enriched with algae extract, helping to refine the skin to visibly minimise pores.

• Nivea Q10 Power Eye Cream Helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, the Q10 Power Eye Cream firms the skin around the eyes and visibly alleviates dark circles, for noticeably smoother and brighter skin around the eyes.

Now “better than ever before,” L’Oréal Paris has upgraded its best-selling Lash Paradise mascara.

L’Oréal Paris has made changes to the mascara’s wiper. Although the ring inside the mascara tube’s mouth is the smallest part, according to L’Oréal, it is crucial to a mascara’s performance as it determines how much formula goes onto lashes. With the new and improved wiper, the company says each flick remains fresh from opening until final application.

Changes were also made to its formula. The blend of gentle oils and an upgraded soft-glide formula means that application is even more effortless. The formula offers the same instant volume with a feathery-soft application, even on sensitive eyes: lash-loving

L’Oréal Paris has upgraded its best-selling Lash Paradise mascara

castor oil for encouragement of lash growth, soothing cornflower water to respect sensitive eyes

Summer drinks

Serum Pearls The Q10 Power Replenishing Serum Pearls are based on a unique, patented formula with Q10, Creatine and Hyaluronic Acid. When activated, the pearls fuse with the moisture gel, melting into a silky serum, allowing the innovative formula to penetrate the skin.

Paradise found

and nourishing rose oil for instant volume in one easy swipe.

Keeping the same beloved brush with its alternating straight and wavy fibres for maximum impact in one instant sweep, Lash Paradise’s loyal followers will not be disappointed with its new and updated look.

With one sold every minute in the UK and Ireland, L’Oréal Paris acknowledges that upgrading a beloved product can be daunting. However, the research speaks for itself.

Instrumental testing over an eight-week period measured a +98% lengthening effect, 93% found that their lashes were more voluminous and had a +98% lengthening effect.

The new wiper means that Lash Paradise stays fresh after each use and has proven to glide onto the lashes more smoothly, making it even easier to apply whilst maintaining the same, beloved volume result.

L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise is available in Black, Intense Black, Waterproof Black, Brown and Primer nationwide at the end of this month (RRP: €16.50). n

Health and beauty

• Nivea Q10 Power Replenishing

Melt-In Mask Providing skin with overnight nourishment when used two to three times a week, the Q10 Power Sleeping Melt-In Mask is fast absorbing with a velvety formula that leaves skin with a healthy glow.

Back to school

• Nivea Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle

• Nivea Q10 Power Sleeping

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works by replenishing the skin’s own nutrient reservoir with highly concentrated Creatine and Q10, providing the skin with intensive moisture.

Summer wines

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38 CATEGORY FOCUS Summer wines

Sipping in the sun

Wine goes hand in hand with summer evenings outdoors. With a 27% market share of the alcoholic drinks market, wine remains Ireland’s second-most-popular beverage,* and now that we’ve been blessed with warm weather, wine will be at the top of many consumers’ shopping lists

N

ow that more people are entertaining from home, wine cocktails have been forecast to make a splash this summer. From spritzers to sparkling drinks, wine cocktails are a lighter alternative to traditional cocktails. Vegan wines are another trend to watch this summer. Animal derived ingredients are used in wine production across the globe.

Substituting these for plant-based alternatives opens the category up to those following the diet.

Meanwhile, wine in a can is sure to catch the eye of those looking for a greener, on-the-go alternative. Supermarkets in the US and UK have already hopped on the trend and enjoyed healthy sales growth in return. *(Source: Drinks Ireland|Wine 2019: ‘Irish Wine Market Report’)

Fizz the summer season!

Blossom Hill Gin Fizz is a sparkling blend of crisp white wine, botanical infused water, and a dash of gin, and is available in two flavours – Lemon & Rosemary, and Rhubarb. At 8.5% ABV, Gin Fizz should be poured over ice and served with a simple garnish.

First launched into the Irish

At 8.5% ABV, Blossom Hill Gin Fizz aims to tap into the growing gin trend and has achieved strong sales since launch

A

&

with Michelle O Sullivan, off-trade director, Findlater & Co

Q: How have consumers responded to the ‘19 Crimes’ labels which tell a story using an augmented reality app? Has this innovative labelling helped drive sales and how important are the additional benefits offered such as improving in-store theatre?

A: Guilty of being named the World’s Most Admired Wine Brand 2020 by Drinks International, 19 Crimes is a wine that shares the history of the infamous people who founded the land where its grapes are now grown. It highlights the plight of 165,000 convicts who made the long voyage by sea to Australia between 1788 and 1868, as punishment for committing one of 19 crimes.

19 crimes wanted to bring the stories to life with a fun and intriguing twist to the standard wine tasting experience.

To do this, we developed an interactive app which animates the 19 Crimes convicts’ infamous true stories.

To grow awareness of the brand and the concept of the interactive labels, there was a PR drop to key influencers.

This was extremely successful with everyone loving the twist on their standard drinking occasion and something new to bring to the experience. On the back of this success, we partnered with SuperValu to create a bespoke retail pack for Father’s Day which was criminally successful!

With so much choice available, it is vital to improve and build on the in-store experience by adding something that stands out. The combination of awareness and something unique in the market brought not only a positive sales boost but a new cohort of customers seeking that unique gift and experience. We suspect it will become a firm favourite with plenty of fingerprints to prove it!

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Q: With the launch of the new Blossom Hill Gin Fizz brand, why did you decide the time was right to enter the RTD category?

A: The big increase in rosé sales over the last few years has fed into the potential for this new category. The explosion in recent years in the traditional gin category has bought new younger consumers into gin, but we felt that it was still dominated by old-fashioned brands who spoke in a very outdated way. This left a gap in the market for a brand and a product that relates to the younger female gin consumer.

The 75cl bottle lends itself to the same occasion as prosecco, a group sharing experience whilst the smaller can format is perfect for an on-the-go summer occasion such as festivals (even if they are happening in your back garden!) and of course picnics. Consumers are looking for products that fit into their lifestyle and Blossom Hill Gin Fizz is right up their street!

Q: How do you intend to capitalize on the wellestablished Blossom Hill brand to attract new consumers to the wine market with a canned product?

A: What’s available to consumers in cans has been dominated by old-fashioned brands. There has been a lot of noise around so called ‘hard seltzers’ in recent months, but what we feel is that consumers are moving back to brands that they know and trust, not just in drinks but in all of their purchase decisions. Blossom Hill Gin Fizz offers brand reassurance on many levels. Blossom Hill is known for great quality wines that appeal to the consumer without any of the traditional wine “fuddy-duddiness”. Gin Fizz capitalises on this with gin being the strongest trend in alcohol in the

last five years. All of this is then wrapped up in a great ready-to-drink package.

Q: What are the major benefits of organic wines?

Michelle O Sullivan

A: Like many organic products, be it carrots or bread, the major benefits tend to be from an agricultural point of view.

There are no chemicals used in the farming of the grapes for these products and as such it is much better for the environment and for the ecosystem of where the grapes are grown. In general, there is a big move towards consumers being more concerned about what they are putting in their bodies and given the choice, I think most would choose to consume products that haven’t had chemicals used in their production. I would love to say that organic wines give you less of a hangover, but the science doesn’t back that up quite yet! Moderation is still the best way so far!

Q: How significantly have organic wine sales grown in recent years in Ireland? How do you intend to increase consumers’ knowledge about organic wines and drive category sales further?

A: Anecdotally, organic wine sales are in massive growth but realistically this is from a very low base. From a merchandising point of view, we are seeing a huge increase in aisles of health food with an organic or free-from focus and wine, while a little bit behind, will move in the same direction. The consumer education piece tends to be based in the on-trade where there is the ability to tell the story of

Summer wines CATEGORY FOCUS 39

Q: How will the Cono Sur Chilled range dispel the myth that red wine can’t be enjoyed in warm summer months? How will you encourage more consumers to try out this option?

A: Chilled reds are a trend that has been growing in the on-trade for years – it began as a way to take the edge off the rustic reds that would be served in Parisian wine bars but really came into its own around lighter styles like Beaujolais.

Chilling down a red wine tends to alter the taste profile in that the structure (tannin and acidity) sits up a little bit more with the fruit taking a back seat and this allows the wine to be more crisp and refreshing.

The big increase in rosé sales over the last few years has also fed into the potential for this new category and the leading Pinot Noir producer in Chile, Cono Sur, flying the flag for chilled Pinot Noir is an exciting and edgy way to get our consumers thinking about the potential of a chilled red.

With an elegant and minimalist design, the Cono Sur Bicicleta chilled range is sure to draw consumers’ attention

Organic growth Cono Sur has a deep commitment to the environment which is embedded in its new organic range. Since its conception, Cono Sur has been deeply committed to the development of its environmental policies, believing that high quality wine production can work hand in hand with ecofriendly practices.

This is led by Cono Sur’s key principles of going back to the origins, providing quality in a pure expression of nature, all whilst showing respect to the environment.

This year Cono Sur is launching four new Organic wines; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Carmenere Syrah. Young and fresh, this Sauvignon Blanc has a nice and bright colour with an expressive, refreshing, delicate, juicy and balanced taste. The Chardonnay has a seductively complex, very fresh and wellbalanced acidity taste to it, undoubtedly young and friendly.

Appealing in its rich and deep colour and governed by sweet wild fruit aromas, this Pinot has a personality of its own. Last but not least, is the Cabernet Carmenere Syrah, a wine of integrated

character, that culminates in a chocolate finish with underlying woody and toasty hints.

Cono Sur is distributed by Findlater & Co.

Fun, easy-drinking option Ampersand is delighted to present Hans Baer Secco, an exciting innovation to the Irish market this summer. Hans Baer Secco is a quality duo of German semi-sparkling wines packaged in a 20cl can. Available in white and rosé, this single serve format can be chilled quickly, is environmentally friendly and convenient for consumers out and about this summer.

The Hans Baer Secco range retails at €3.49 with full alcohol content at 10% ABV and is packed in a case of 12.

The packaging is classy and memorable with a visual logo of a bear on a bike. As the representative for Germany and the worldwide renowned symbol of the German capital of Berlin, the bear was chosen to be the trademark for the range.

Ampersand launched the Hans Baer range of wines last year in response to an increasing demand for high-quality and affordable wines from Germany and has >>

Summer wines

This year Cono Sur is launching two new chilled wines; Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rosé. The Pinot Noir is a young, bright ruby red with a good intensity of red fruit, cherry and raspberry aromas. On the palate, it has a medium concentration and is fresh, juicy and smooth with good acidity and persistence.

Meanwhile, the Pinot Noir Rosé has a bright, clean, elegant rosewood colour. There is a full expression of fresh fruit reminiscent of cherry, strawberry, raspberry and forest berries present in the nose whereas on the palate this wine is fresh and juicy with good acidity and balance. Both have an elegant and minimalist design that is sure to draw the eye of consumers.

Cono Sur is launching four new Organic wines; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Carmenere Syrah

Health and beauty

how a wine is produced. In 2017 in the UK, 38% of all on-trade wine lists included at least one organic, biodynamic or natural wine – this has remained on the increase.

In retail, major brands like Cono Sur are now offering an alternative Organic range, this will begin a conversation and education piece with consumers. In the past, there hasn’t been the option of a binary choice between organic or not from any of the leading wine brands.

Chilled to perfection

Back to school

market last summer, Blossom Hill Gin Fizz aims to tap into the growing gin trend, achieving strong sales since launching. It was created based off the increased demand from consumers for new and exciting products within wine.

Additionally, the gin market was thought to be quite old-fashioned and outdated leaving a gap in

Free from

The 75cl bottle of Blossom Hill Gin Fizz lends itself to the sharing experience for consumers, especially during the summer months

the market to attract a younger audience with the perfect blend of wine and gin.

Firstly, there is the 75cl bottle that lends itself to the sharing experience in line with the standard wine occasion. The rise in on-thego formats and Gin Fizz being synonymous with social occasions paved the natural way to launch the ready-to-drink can variation.

The 20cl can format enables consumers to easily enjoy the serve on-the-go, perfect for those summer occasions like festivals and picnics. It makes the product more accessible; that in turn allows Blossom Hill to continue to drive growth through innovative, fun and accessible concepts.

Blossom Hill Gin Fizz is distributed by Findlater & Co.

With full alcohol content at 10% ABV, the Hans Baer Secco range retails at €3.49

www.shelflife.ie | ShelfLife July 2020

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40 CATEGORY FOCUS Summer wines

enjoyed success and significant growth in sales since. The range consists of a Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and a newly launched Sauvignon Blanc, all with a retail price of €10.95 per 75cl.

The Hans Baer range of wines represents modern winemaking adopted by innovative producers to produce a fun concept of easy drinking wines for a growing market segment.

If you are interested in stocking Hans Baer semi-sparkling cans or any of the wines from the range, contact your Ampersand representative, call the Ampersand sales line on 01-4130150 or email info@ampersandsales.ie.

Creating a buzz Ampersand recently launched the Melea range of wines just in time for summer. Melea is a beautifully packaged range of organic and vegan wines with a unique story. Named after the rare bee Anthophora Melea, the range comprises two wines inspired by this rare insect. These include a white Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc blend, and a red made from 100% Tempranillo, both with an RRP of €11.95.

Melea wines come from the Cuenca area of La Mancha in Spain where the vineyard uses dry-farming methods and manages the vineyard traditionally without the use of toxic chemicals that can harm local wildlife, bees and other insects.

Bees not only act as important pollinators in the eco system, they also carry natural yeasts used to ferment wine. Melea

Based in the Cuenca area of La Mancha in Spain, the vineyard that produces Melea is completely organic

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

wines are fermented using the natural yeasts transported around the vineyard by local insects, including the bee. The vineyard is totally organic, and part of the company’s focus is to allow wildflowers to flourish to specifically attract the local endangered rare bee called Anthophora Melea, thus giving the wine the name Melea.

The project is the result of a collaboration between managing director of Long Wines, William Long and his wife Barbara Long, a mixed media artist who stitched together the bee motif used on the labels from recycled threads, and their son, Freddie, who managed the design process. The label has gone on to win awards and Drinks Business Magazine recently featured it as one of the best wine launches of 2019 in the UK. If you are interested in stocking Melea Wines, contact your Ampersand representative, call the Ampersand sales line on 01-4130150 or email info@ampersandsales.ie.

Delicate, alluring aromas

The Kylie Minogue Rosé features aromas of fresh summer berries and white blossom

an RRP of €12.99. For more information and to purchase Kylie Minogue Wines online, visit www.kylieminoguewines. com, and follow: Instagram. com/KylieMinogueWines.

For distribution enquiries here in Ireland, contact Kate Barry of Barry & Fitzwilliam on email at Kate.barry@ bandf.ie or telephone 021 430900.

Seriously fun To coincide with Award-winning actor, her birthday on 28 producer, designer and May, pop icon Kylie entrepreneur, Sarah Minogue launched her Jessica Parker is adding signature French rosé a new rosé wine to her in collaboration with collection of wines with Benchmark Drinks.

New Zealand-based Kylie Minogue Rosé winery Invivo & Co and is an elegant, bespoke Kylie Minogue it is now available for blend made from Rosé is beautifully summer sipping.

Carignan and Cabernet presented in a longThis premium rosé – Sauvignon grapes neck curved bottle Invivo X, Sarah Jessica sourced from the sunwith an engraved Parker Rosé – comes drenched southern label featuring from the South of French Coast, a region Kylie’s signature, known for its innovative finished off with a France and has been bespoke pearlescent crafted in partnership viticulture. capsule with Sarah Jessica With a deliciously Parker, the founders juicy and fresh first of Invivo and a family impression, the elegant winery in Provence. The new blend features a beautifully pale Invivo X, SJP Rosé will have a pink shade with delicate, alluring suggested retail price of €18 aromas of fresh summer berries and is currently available at and white blossom, refined and refreshing on the palate with a fruity, crisp finish.

“It has been a privilege collaborating with Kylie to bring her rosé vision to life,” said Paul Schaafsma of Benchmark Drinks.

“Kylie’s exquisite taste and refined palate made it a dream to develop this bespoke rosé blend, creating a beautifully elegant wine which reflects the character of Kylie Minogue.”

Kylie Minogue’s debut Rosé Vin de France is launching in Ireland on www.WinesofTheWorld.ie and Carry Out Off-Licences at

WinesOfTheWorld.ie.

The rosé comes hot on the heels of Invivo X, SJP Sauvignon Blanc, SJP’s first wine collab and one of 2019’s most successful global wine launches with huge retailers such as Costco, Bevmo, Albertsons, Sainsbury’s, SuperValu and Dunnes, which all listed the brand within months. Mike Osborne, founder and executive vice president of wine.com (the USA’s largest wine retailer) describes the wine as “one of their most successful launches ever”.

The final rosé blend was selected by SJP and Invivo over an afternoon of tasting and assessing in New York City and the result is a new rosé that can be taken very seriously, but is also very seriously fun.

The grapes come from a vineyard in Provence on a family winery Vins Chevron Villette located in the famous ‘Golden Triangle’, situated in Saint Tropez.

The Invivo X, SJP Rosé is all about expressing the very best of these Provence vineyards that Invivo famously sources from.

With cutting-edge technology and a ton of winemaking experience, the vineyard also strives to be eco-friendly by running the winery almost entirely on solar energy.

The critics at Wine Orbit in New Zealand have already given Invivo X, SJP Rosé 94 points and five stars.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sauvignon Blanc, which launched worldwide in September 2019, has already received a 90 points rating from Wine Spectator and a Gold medal at the Concurs Mondial du Sauvignon Blanc Competition 2020, along with numerous awards from the world’s largest wine competitions.

For more information, visit www.InvivoXsjp.com, watch www.vimeo.com/350635021 or check out Instagram: @invivoxsjp @InvivoWines, Facebook: Facebook.com/InvivoAndCo and Twitter: @InvivoWines. n Sarah Jessica Parker said blending the rosé “was not only great fun but, as always with my partners at Invivo, informative, surprising, delicious and wonderfully satisfying”

MARKET MOVERS Keogh’s

Fyffes

Keogh’s WTF? packs ask shoppers to guess new mystery flavour

Search to find ‘Ireland’s best banana bread’ launched

Keogh’s Crisps has been up to tricks with the launch of its new WTF flavour!

The new packs are designed to tease the taste buds as consumers have to guess what the flavour is. Packs of the Consumers have to guess ‘What’s the flavour?’ (WTF?) ‘mystery flavour’ are being rolled out of new mystery packs to stores over the summer months and already Keogh’s has been inundated by crisp fans guessing what the secret ingredients are.

Popular guesses include Bacon, Chicken & Thyme, Beef & Stout and even Curry Spice Bag. Consumers are loving giving it a shot to be in with a chance of winning a trip to the home of the secret ingredient supplier. The new flavour will be revealed later this summer.

For further information, visit www.keoghs.ie/competition/.

ViraPro

New child-friendly sanitiser launched to the retail trade Indigenous Irish company ViraPro has launched a hand cleanser specifically intended for children’s use. The new range called ViraPro Kids is non-toxic and alcohol free.

During lockdown, parents have been able to ensure their children wash their hands at home without the use of sanitiser. However, with a return to school on the horizon, sanitiser will again become as much a school day essential as pencils and copy books.

ViraPro Kids is available in four fruity scents and a range of pack sizes to cater to all needs

Parents have already given the product excellent feedback. “My children’s hands were red raw during the coronavirus pandemic from using alcohol hand gels,” said one Co. Dublin mum, Mrs Crowley. “I think ViraPro Kids is a great idea for children!”

ViraPro Kids comes in three sizes: 50ml - great for in the backpack, 100ml - ideal for in the car and 500ml - perfect for in the house or classroom. No more offensive alcohol smell, as they come in four fruity scents, Strawberry, Apple, Banana and Bubble Gum. “We know at ViraPro that Mrs Crowley’s story is a common one,” said Tony McMullan, ViraPro director. “At the onset of the pandemic, children were having to use alcohol sanitisers which can break down a child’s skin leaving it cracked and bleeding. ViraPro Kids will avoid that and ensure that kids hands are sanitised in a safe manner with no more tears because of sore hands.”

ViraPro is a brand created and owned by Portfolio Group, an Irish family business, founded in 1991.

The company was one of the first to deliver much-needed sanitiser and PPE to the HSE and NHS Northern Ireland. ViraPro chartered cargo planes at its own expense to bring in the much-needed healthcare products to help in the Irish fight against Covid-19.

ViraPro Kids will be in stores in August (50ml RRP: €1.99, 100ml RRP: €2.95, 500ml RRP: €6.95). To stock, contact 01839 4918 or email virapro@portfoliogroup.ie. View the full range at Virapro.ie. n

41

With home baking now firmly viewed as something of a national pastime, celebrity baker and chef, Donal Skehan has come together with Fyffes to find Ireland’s ‘best banana bread’ recipe.

Alongside gardening and redecorating our homes, baking has been one of the most popular activities enjoyed by mums, dads and children in recent times, with banana bread topping the list of favourites in most households.

Citing the purpose behind the venture, Skehan said: “There are as many different ways of baking banana bread as there are of enjoying the banana itself!

We are now a nation of banana Celebrity chef Donal Skehan and bread experts – it’s practically a Fyffes are joining forces to find the national dish – and it’s time to put many ways to bake this favourite those baking skills to the test. Our food aim is to capture as many ideas, ingredients and methods and to share them far and wide.”

Entries are open from 20-27 July, with winners to be announced on 31 July. Reward will go to the overall winner and best junior baker, with recognition also given for originality in a number of other areas.

Details online at www.fyffes.com/news/article/fyffes-great-bananabread-bake-off #FyffesGBBBO.

42 OFF-TRADE NEWS

Bulmers Rosé bursts onto summer shelves with new improved recipe Bulmers Rosé made a timely re-emergence onto shelves nationwide this month, adding some much-needed colour to 2020 with a new improved recipe. Initially trialled across a limited period in summer 2019, Bulmers Rosé is returning for 2020 with a sweeter, more distinctive summer flavour, making it appeal to those who enjoy other ‘pink’ drinks like gin and wine.

Produced in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, the home of Irish cider, Bulmers Rosé is made with the same 17 varieties of apples and dedication to the

craft as the Original to be ready just in time for the perfect summer day.

With an ABV of 4%, Bulmers Rosé comes in a 330ml bottle and is best served over ice, just like the Original, making it the perfect cooling summer drink for enjoying with friends, at a picnic or just for treating oneself at home.

With an ABV of 4%, Bulmers Rosé is an ideal cooling summer drink for enjoying with friends

Kopparberg reinvigorates ‘hard seltzer’ category with new bold range Kopparberg, the independent fruit cider giant and flavour expert that last year achieved huge success with the launch of its gin range, is now injecting its impressive flavour credentials into Ireland’s latest drinks trend - the hard seltzer.

Having launched in major retailers earlier this month, Kopparberg is confident its Hard Seltzer Kopparberg Hard Seltzer is a game-changer for the category, with a is expertly produced to the flavour that packs a punch same high standard people have come to expect from the Independent Swedish brand. With 5% ABV and 93 calories, the new beverage is carb and gluten free, and vegan friendly. The low-calorie count is the result of Kopparberg’s trademarked KopparSpirit, an alcohol base made from fermented fruit that leaves behind no residual sugar.

In true Kopparberg style, the new hard seltzers don’t shy away from flavour and there’s zero compromise on taste, with a hit of bold fruit refreshment; what the brand describes as “a far fuller-flavour than anything currently available in the Irish hard seltzer market”.

The decision to reinvigorate the hard seltzer category in Ireland comes as more brands start to announce plans to take on the market, with some big names set to make their transatlantic voyage this summer.

Kopparberg Hard Seltzer will go head to head to redefine a category that has been deemed “subtle, bland and tasteless” and in turn, eliminate any preconceptions consumers may have of the polarising new RTD phenomenon.

“Kopparberg Hard Seltzer will shake up the hard seltzer category as we know it,” said Mary Anne Byrne, head of alcohol brands in Richmond Marketing.

All three Kopparberg Hard Seltzer variants are now stocked in Tesco.

C&C Group assumes exclusive distribution of Budweiser across island of Ireland In a move described as a “strengthening of their partnership”, C&C Group has assumed exclusive distribution of Budweiser, the world’s biggest alcohol brand*, on the island of Ireland.

C&C now holds exclusive distribution of Budweiser Brewing Group’s (BBG) complete beer brand portfolio across Ireland. C&C and BBG (UK&I) will collaborate on the marketing of the unified portfolio, which also includes Stella Artois, Beck’s, Corona, Leffe and Hoegaarden.

The two companies say they plan to revitalise the Budweiser brand in Ireland and reconnect with Irish consumers, through a combination of marketing investment and in-pub activations. The planned marketing budget for the brand will be “a multiple of recent spend in order to capitalise on the inherent strength of the Budweiser brand in Ireland”.

Ireland will also be the world’s launch market for Budweiser’s new brand visual identity including new packaging and a new ‘Cadillac’ bottle with twist-off cap. The new brand identity will be rolled-out together with a range of investments in Irish pubs including new glassware and bar taps. In addition, Budweiser says it will move away from all plastic packaging by the end of 2020.

C&C has been working with BBG since 2009.

Partnership plans to revitalise the Budweiser *(Source: Interbrand, brand in Ireland, through a combination of Best Global Brands 2019 marketing investment and in-pub activations Rankings)

Lough Ree Distillery scores triple win at World Gin Masters and launches Aiteal

Michael Clancy, co-founder, Lough Ree Distillery, said he was delighted all three “uniquely Irish” products scored so highly in the prestigious international competition

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

Lough Ree Distillery in Lanesborough, Co. Longford is celebrating a trio of medals at the World Gin Masters, including a Gold Medal for Aiteal, its new gin made with Irish juniper.

Many gin distilleries look to the ends of the earth for their inspiration when developing new products.

The team at Lough Ree Distillery take a different approach, however, and have looked to local and Irish flavours for inspiration.

This approach has been rewarded with great recognition at the World Gin Masters, with the ninth international award for Sling Shot Distilled Irish Gin and Gold and Silver medals for two new Irish gins: • Sling Shot Distilled Irish Gin, launched in

October 2018, is the only spirit that contains a peat distillate, making it uniquely Irish and the very essence of terroir. It won a Gold Medal in the UltraPremium class at the World Gin Masters.

• Working with the Armada Hotel and Farm teams, foragers Thalli Foods, and Moy Hill Farm, new Mist + Moss Irish Gin was developed including Irish juniper and a selection of other botanicals sustainably foraged in Clare, and has now won a Silver medal.

• New Aiteal Irish Gin, one of very few juniperonly gins, boasts interesting and complex flavours.

As the gin is distilled with Irish whey spirit, Aiteal is the only 100% Irish gin, and it launches with the imprimatur of a World Gin Masters Gold Medal. n

44 NOFFLA NEWS

www.noffla.ie

NOffLA welcomes new associate member, Hi-Spirits

NOffLA is delighted to announce the addition of a new associate member on board this month, Hi-Spirits.

Hi-Spirits is one of Ireland’s leading spirit distributors with a

diverse portfolio of award-winning brands. The company works closely with bars, retailers and distributors to create effective, bespoke brand support that really drives customer demand and builds sales.

8 to contemplate!

The Wine Centre in Kilkenny was named Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2020 at the latest NOffLA Awards. Here, we catch up with manager Mark Tormey to grill him with eight quick questions on the latest trends and innovations sparking interest in-store

Award sponsored by Finca Flichman and Viños Los Boldos

Ballykeefe Gin: An award-winning gin that is locally produced here in Co. Kilkenny and family owned. The full range is available in-store and online via www.thewinecentre.ie/ballykeefe.

4. What has been your favourite-ever holiday or day trip relating to the drinks industry?

A trip to the Zenato vineyard in Northern Italy.

5. Which wine would you recommend for customers looking for an option for a summer’s eve barbecue?

Le Versant Rosé.

Joe Coyle of Liberty Wines presents the award for Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2020 to Dante Ruiz Gomez of The Wine Centre, Kilkenny

1. How has Covid-19 affected your business?

We have seen a big increase in online activity and sales via our website, www.thewinecentre.ie.

2. What are the main consumer trends you are observing in your store?

Customers are seeking better quality wines to drink at home with restaurants being closed or taking limited bookings.

3. If you could recommend one hidden gem within spirits to customers, what would it be and why?

6. What is the most expensive product you stock in-store?

A 28-year-old bottle of Method & Madness Single Cask. It is bottle 381 of 486 and is priced at €1,995.

The Wine Centre has renovated and extended the outdoor seating area at its Taproom

Specialising in wines, beers and spirits, The Wine Centre in Kilkenny has something to suit every taste

7. What is the lowest priced drink you stock in-store?

Our range of four for €10 mix and match beers – with over 30 different beers to choose from.

8. Do you have any predictions for the future of the off-trade industry in Ireland? Are there any areas in-store that you would like to expand or develop further?

We believe there is scope to increase our overseas sales of whiskey and are constantly adding new beers to keep our offering new and interesting. We also plan to source more exclusive wines from France and soon Spain. We have likewise renovated and extended our outdoor seating area at our Taproom which is adjacent to our store on John Street.

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. n

ShelfLife July 2020 | www.shelflife.ie

NEW KEY DATE AWARDS NIGHT: September 18 2020, Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF RETAIL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

MAIN SPONSOR

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46 HOTSPOTS

Hoppy ending for ‘Asda the frog’ after 5,000-mile journey Staff at Asda in Llanelli, South Wales, made a startling discovery when they came across an exotic tree frog in a bunch of bananas. It’s believed the frog survived the 5,000-mile long journey from his native Colombia without food or drink by slowing down its metabolism, as amphibians are able to do.

Named Asda in honour of his rescuers, the frog is now

safe and sound at specialist animal centre ‘Silent World To You’ in Haverfordwest. RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper praised the Asda store staff for keeping the creature safe. “We are pleased that Asda the frog is safe and well and hope he enjoys his ‘hoppy’ new home,” a spokesperson for the supermarket toad (sic!) media.

Asda staff leapt to the defence of an exotic tree frog

Market heats up for super strength chillies

New Zealand Covid case skips isolation for supermarket dash

Following soaring demand during the lockdown for super strength chillies, Tesco has re-added Grower Salvatore Genovese’s superthree of the world’s strength chilli peppers are up to 400 times hottest peppers to its hotter than jalapeño peppers range in the UK. Scotch Bonnet pepper sales have rocketed by around 170% since restaurants closed in March. Bedfordshire grower Salvatore Genovese is now providing even hotter varieties Carolina Reaper, Komodo Dragon and Armageddon to the retailer. However, Tesco has advised home cooks to exercise extreme caution when preparing and eating the fiery varieties.

Tesco’s chilli pepper buyer Emily Hampson said: “These superstrong varieties are not for beginners and we advise that only experts who know what they are doing should try them.”

Earlier this month, a man who arrived in New Zealand from New Delhi, managed to escape a managed isolation centre in Auckland. It’s understood he was in the facility’s smoking area where new 1.82m-high fences were being installed, when he made a spur of the moment decision to escape through a gap.

Upon his ‘great escape’ he made for a Countdown supermarket, where corporate affairs general manager Kiri Hannifin alleged he “did a lot of browsing in the health and beauty aisle” and even stopped and posed for selfies.

Seventy minutes after his escape,

20

QUICK QUESTIONS WITH

DARREN THORNBERRY, head of sales, Payzone 5. Best ad on telly?

I like the Cadbury’s ad where the boy throws the chocolate bar over the fence and tells his neighbour “you don’t need to throw that one back” as he does so often with footballs and other things. Nice.

Darren Thornberry

1. Best place for coffee?

I like a flat white and pop into many places but I mostly go to Costa. It’s reliable for a meeting also.

2. Favourite movie?

I love a sports movie such as The Rookie but I have watched The Shawshank Redemption and Man on Fire many times. My wife can’t understand why I watch the same movies again!

the man who tested positive for Covid-19, returned of his own volition.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins slammed his actions as “selfish”.

The man will be summonsed to appear in court charged under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act, where he will face either six months’ imprisonment or a $4,000 fine.

In a statement, Countdown said it closed for cleaning at 8.15am the next morning and didn’t reopen until the following day. All staff working that night were asked to self-isolate as a precautionary measure, and then tested over the next few days. n

6. Worst ad on telly?

The Haribo ads where the adults talk with children’s voices. Really annoying.

7. Favourite grocery shop?

I shop local so I pop into different stores through the week. The days of a massive shop in one retailer are over – in my house anyway.

3. Top book recommendation?

Really enjoyed Open which is about the tennis player Andre Agassi – his dad was tough!

8. What would you cook if you were to compete in Come Dine With Me and would you win?

Everyone seems pleased with my Sunday roast so I would lean that way but no, I wouldn’t win. I’m not creative enough in the kitchen.

4. Which social media platform do you use most?

WhatsApp: I connect with my friends and family there. I keep an eye on LinkedIn and Facebook but I don’t post much.

9. First thing you would do if you were Taoiseach?

Add more security to the Luas. I spent a good few years using it and I don’t miss it.

10. If you had to live in another country, where would you choose?

Very impressed with Lisbon, Portugal. Great transport, great weather and pretty vibrant. I would start there. A lot of hills though!

11. Greatest achievement to date?

Payzone has placed a lot of faith in me to help manage the card acceptance business, so that’s up there. Getting my two girls through the teenage years also – that was not easy!

12. Best website?

I flick through many but rte.ie is the one I am on most often.

13. Most annoying public figure?

Trump, followed closely by Boris.

16. City or beach break?

Love flying into Faro, Portugal, and heading up the coast.

17. Top restaurant recommendation?

My wife and I love going into Dublin city and we usually end up in the Port House on South William Street. You step into a little cavern. Private and really nice tapas food: can’t wait to get back.

When we get to Kinsale though, we love Fishy Fishy.

18. Pop or rock?

I love all types of music from U2 to Gavin James. I like motivational, energetic music.

14. Best piece of advice you ever received?

My mother said treat people like you would like to be treated – typical Irish mammy but it stuck and I believe in it. From a sales perspective – it’s a numbers game so work hard and you will get there.

19. Favourite time of the day?

Morning time – definitely. I get a lot done in the mornings and I feel I am at my most productive. Same at the weekends on a personal level – love getting up early. No queues wherever I go. It’s great.

15. Biggest fear?

I suppose it has to be that random call on a Tuesday afternoon or whatever – you look at the name on the phone and you just know something is up.

20. What’s the last compliment you received?

Just got my hair cut after lockdown.

My daughters said “that’s much better!” n

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