42|Retail News|December 2016|www.retailnews.ie
Drinks News Tesco Ireland’s Sweet Surrender! AS part of its ongoing commitment to help Ireland’s shoppers make healthier choices, Tesco Ireland has announced reductions in sugar levels in its own brand soft drinks, halving the sugar content in some products, including Tesco Cola. The move makes Tesco the first retailer in Ireland to respond to the Government’s A Healthy Weight for Ireland Plan. As a result, Tesco customers are now consuming on average over 20% less sugar from its own brand soft drinks than in 2011. Additionally, Tesco Ireland has committed to reorganising its 148 stores to give better positioning to low sugar drinks. This will involve stocking as many low sugar drinks as sugary drinks and giving display prominence to no/low sugar drinks in stores. “This is a really important move by Tesco. Anything that makes the healthier choice easier is positive and this initiative will help the consumer to do just that,” noted Professor Donal O’Shea, Consultant Endocrinologist at St Vincent's University Hospital and St Columcille’s Hospital, pictured (left) with Alison O’Doherty, Senior Buying Manager for Impulse at Tesco Ireland; and Joe Manning, Category Director at Tesco Ireland.
NEW LIMITED EDITION SHORTROSS GIN THE distillers at Rademon Estate in Co. Down, home to Shortcross Gin, have released a new batch of their international award-winning limited edition Shortcross Cask Aged Gin. Three casks of the expression were laid to rest this year, with a limited number of bottles now available to purchase across the UK & Ireland. “The release of our first batch of Shortcross Cask Aged Gin took place earlier this year and was an incredible success,” explained David Boyd-Armstrong, Head Distiller and Operations Director. “Due to the unprecedented demand for this new Shortcross expression, we decided to release another batch of our highly commended Shortcross Cask Aged Gin in the run-up to Christmas, providing us with the perfect opportunity to offer a unique product and gift during the festive period.”
Matua Named IWSC New Zealand Wine Producer of Year MATUA has taken the top prize for all New Zealand wineries at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), winning the trophy for New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year. The winery, which produced New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc in 1974, had a medal tally which incorporated the Trophy alongside 12 medals, including Gold Outstanding for the 2013 Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, five Silver Outstanding medals, four Silvers and a Bronze. This now means that Matua has received the title of NZ Wine Producer or Winemaker of the Year at a major international wine competition four years consecutively, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, having already been bestowed this honour at the 2013 and 2015 New Zealand Royal Easter Show Wine Awards and the 2014 New Zealand International Wine Show. In Ireland, Matua is distributed by Findlater Wine & Spirit Group.
THE WILD GEESE IRISH WHISKEY DEFEATS WILD TURKEY THE High Court of Australia has rejected the request of Campari America, owner of Wild Turkey, to appeal the recent unanimous decision of the court to find in favour of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey concerning the non-use of trade marks by Wild Turkey. The landmark decision means that The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey can now enter the Australian market and Campari cannot use the ‘Wild Geese’ trademark on its products in Australia. “We are delighted that the High Court has effectively endorsed the original unanimous decision that grants us the basic right as a business to use our name,” said Ándre Levy, Co-Founder and Chairman, The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey. “This is just one part of a larger battle that we have been engaged in for the past 14 years that has included over 50 actions across several geographies.”
BRITVIC IRELAND PRELIMINARY RESULTS 2016 has been a very successful year for Britvic Ireland, with revenue growth of 9.4% (5.8% on a constant currency basis) to £131.7m and volume growth of 3.6%, according to the company’s preliminary results for the 53 weeks ended October 2, 2016. Britvic Ireland has now recorded six consecutive quarters of growth. Britvic Ireland has successfully established and leveraged its position as the number one player in “no added sugar” and now claims over 30% share and is outperforming the market. For the past two years Britvic has been innovating in the low and no sugar segment as part of its health strategy to deliver more choice in the soft drinks market. It has launched five new ‘low’ and ‘no added sugar’ products, including Club Zero, MiWadi 0% Sugar, MiWadi Minis 0% Sugar and Ballygowan Sparklingly Fruity. 60% of Britvic Ireland’s sales are now in the low and no sugar segment.