Retail News|January / February 2018|www.retailnews.ie|7
News Consumer Spending for 2017 Finishes on a High VISA'S Irish Consumer Spending Index, which measures expenditure across all payment types (cash, cheques and electronic payments), pointed to a +4.9% year-on-year increase in spending during December 2017. This followed a +5.1% rise in the previous month, highlighting the continued Philip Konopik, Country expansion of consumer Manager, Ireland, Visa. spending for 10 successive months in 2017. Household spending in Ireland continued to rise at a solid pace at the end of 2017. Looking at the fourth quarter of the year as a whole, spending was up +3.6% on an annual basis. This was the strongest rate of expansion seen during 2017. The increase in Irish Consumer Spending for 2017 overall was more modest, with year-on-year growth of +2.5%, compared to 2016. Data for December signalled a positive Christmas period for retailers on the high street, with face-to-face expenditure up +5.3% year-on-year. Face-to-face spending has now risen in each of the past four months, with December’s growth marking the fastest increase seen since April 2016. It also marked the third successive month where face-to-face spending outperformed growth in eCommerce payments (which saw a solid rise at +3.8%). Irish households increased their spending on Food & Drink on an annual basis in December, the fourth month running in which a rise has been recorded. At +5.4%, growth was at an eight-month high. “The December data is another boost for the economy, with a strong finish for the year and positive growth for 2017 overall,” said Philip Konopik, Country Manager, Ireland, Visa. “The increase in Irish consumer spending is reflective of the strides being made in the labour market, with the unemployment rate continuing to fall and average weekly earnings continuing to rise. One particular highlight from our data is the beginning of a recovery for Irish retailers, with face-to-face spending having risen for four consecutive months – showing a +4.1% year-on-year rise for Q4, which we hope marks the start of a trend.”
Obituary: Marie Dowdall IT was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Marie Dowdall recently after a short illness. Marie dedicated over 40 years of her life to Dunnes Stores, working with three generations of the Dunne family. “Those who were lucky enough to work with Marie and those who trained under her will know she was a skilled professional, kind and loyal to Dunnes Stores and to everyone in the company. Marie was as passionate and driven about the company as she was the first day she started,” read a statement from Frank Dunne, Margaret Heffernan, Anne Heffernan & Sharon McMahon. Retail News would like to express its condolences to Marie’s husband, Kenneth, and son Craig, and all of her extended family.
Aldi Bans Sale of Energy Drinks to Under 16s ALDI Ireland is to restrict the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under 16 years of age, the first retailer in Ireland to introduce this measure. From March 1, customers buying soft drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be asked to prove their age in all of Aldi’s 130 Irish stores. “We are introducing this age restriction in response to growing concern about the consumption of energy drinks among young people,” revealed Finbar McCarthy, Group Buying Director at Aldi Ireland. All of Aldi’s caffeinated energy drink products will be subject to the agecheck.
ABFI Slams Anti-Business Alcohol Bill ABFI (Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland) has labelled the advertising and labelling measures of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill as “disproportionate” and “ineffective”, as it goes before the Dáil. Patricia Callan, ABFI Director, called on the Government, in particular, to remove the cancer warning labels from the Bill. “No other country in the world has mandatory cancer labels on ABFI Director, Patricia Callan. alcohol products and we believe that such a measure applies a stigma to products produced in Ireland. It gives a clear advantage to our competitors abroad, who are not required to carry such labels,” she said, noting how “A specific Irish-only label would also result in significant additional costs and logistical difficulties for businesses operating here. This means that products might be withdrawn from the Irish market, or new products might not be introduced.”
Lidl to Open Distribution Centre in Newbridge LIDL has received planning permission for a new distribution centre in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The 54,000 square metre distribution hub will employ more than 350 people, when complete, including 100 new positions.