Retail News|October 2016|www.retailnews.ie|27
Barry Group Awards to loosen purse strings, Barry noted, before pointing to more AC Nielsen statistics which argue that discounters and convenience stores continue to drive market growth, at the expense of the multiples. Barry Group is outperforming the market, he noted. The total convenience market is showing strong growth of 4.1%, yet Costcutter is growing well ahead of the market at 7%. The total off trace, including independents and discounters, is showing modest growth of 1.9%, while Carry Out is expanding at a phenomenal 16.6%, the MD revealed. There remain, however, concerns for our trade, according to Barry, including:
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Minimum pay rates; Illegal sales of cigarettes, alcohol and fuel; Possible rise in excise duty in alcohol and diesel; Broadband infrastructure; Irresponsible selling of alcohol: the source of the problem, he argued, is multiples and large retailers and we need to stop small and medium retailers being caught in the middle; Possible sugar tax; Social Welfare protection for owner/directors and self-employed; Rise in theft and robberies; Insurance costs; Energy costs and bank charges.
The MD encouraged each store owner to ask themselves the following questions:
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Do you provide our customers with a great experience every time they call to your store? Are your staff fully engaged? Are your team fully trained? Have you made it completely clear to your team what function they need to carry out to ensure your customers get great service every time? Have you identified your improvement opportunities? Have you communicated clearly your plan to all of your team members? Have you invested enough time in creating a plan good enough to give your consumer a great experience every time? Do you solve customer issues/concerns quickly? What do you need to stop doing?
The Next 12 Months The focus for the next 12 months remains on category management, according to Barry, while the group will continue to engage consumers on social media channels, will invest in a heavyweight marketing campaign and focus on expanding its network. The MD welcomed some new faces to the Barry Group team, including Kieran O’Farrell, Head of Buying; Ciara Meany, Marketing Manager; Sharon Murphy, Food Safety & Quality Manager; and Edel Cunniffe, Fresh Food Advisor; and also welcomed Simon Moloney to his new role as Financial Controller. He paid tribute to Costcutter’s successful marketing deal with TV3’s Red Rock, with two of its stars, Adam Weafer and Chris Newman in attendance, as well as writer Paul Walker and Gemma O’Shaugnessy from the production team. Indeed, one of the prizes on the night was a walk-on part on the hugely popular show. That wasn’t the only television link, as the Camembert Quartet, perhaps best known as the house band on
Pictured are (l-r): Jim Barry, MD, Barry Group; Michael and Josephine Fitzpatrick from Fitzpatrick’s Costcutter, Kilmihil, Co. Clare, Costcutter Convenience Store of the Year; Edwina Lucey, Sales Director, Barry Group and Noel Brady, Sales & Business Development Manager, Barry Group.
Pictured are Jim Barry, MD of Barry Group, presenting the award for Carry Out Express Store of the Year to Brendan O’Keeffe and Cormac Walsh, Carry Out Ennis, with Barry Group Sales Director, Edwina Lucey, and Head of Sales for Carry Out, David O’Keeffe.
Barry Group Account Manager Gerard Burke, accepts the the Costcutter Foodmarket Store of the Year Award on behalf of McDonaghadh’s Costcutter, Connemara, from Barry Group MD Jim Barry, Sales Director, Edwina Lucey and Noel Brady, Head of Sales for Costcutter.
Jim Barry, Barry Group MD, presents the Overall Supplier of the Year Award to Michael and Thomas Kennedy, K&K Produce Ltd. Also pictured are Kieran O'Farrell, Head of Buying, Barry Group, and Paul Fizgerald, Finance Director, Barry Group.