Peter Nixon, Managing Director at Philip Morris Limited in the United Kingdom and Ireland, stresses that Philip Morris no longer produces menthol cigarettes and clears up a mistake over a recent advert

Let’s be clear: menthol cigarettes are banned

Peter Nixon, Managing Director at Philip Morris Limited in the United Kingdom and Ireland, stresses that Philip Morris no longer produces menthol cigarettes and clears up a mistake over a recent advert.

MENTHOL cigarettes were banned across the EU on May 20. Despite the fact that we’ve all known about the ban for quite some time, the last couple of weeks has seen a great deal of confusion –amongst consumers, within the trade and now in the press. As makers and sellers of tobacco products, we are serious in our responsibility to clear up the confusion surrounding our products and to demonstrate our compliance with the law. At Philip Morris, we have discontinued all our menthol cigarettes. Just as importantly, we stayed away from introducing accessories, such as menthol flavour cards or filter tips. This was a deliberate decision. There is, however, one area in which we should have done better.

Confusion

We placed an advert in this publication designed to introduce you, our retail partners, to a new variant called Marlboro Bright. As most of you know, Marlboro Bright is a traditional cigarette that has no menthol in it and is sold in standardised packaging. However, our advert described Marlboro Bright as the “the Marlboro menthol blend –without methylation”, a poor choice of words open to misinterpretation. And yes, “methylation” is a typo. It was meant to say “without menthol”. The ad was a mistake. It should not have run. And I am writing to you now to make it completely clear that Philip Morris cigarettes are compliant with the law. Adding to the confusion, on May 30, The Irish Times claimed that we justified Marlboro Bright’s compliance because “the cigarette doesn’t taste of menthol when it is smoked”. We never said this. Marlboro Bright tastes just like a traditional non-menthol cigarette because that is precisely what it is.

Retailers have responsibility too

It is also important to note that The Irish Times was able to purchase a pack of Marlboro Green, a discontinued menthol brand, after the ban took effect. Make no mistake: the law is clear and this sale was illegal. Just as we have stopped making menthol cigarettes, retailers have a responsibility not to sell menthol cigarettes. This is why we introduced, and are continuing to run, a buy-back scheme for our discontinued menthol cigarettes –and we are here to help if you need any more details about this. The ban on menthol cigarettes is now in place. Every manufacturer and retailer has a responsibility to adhere to the law with the products they make and sell. Please know that I take this responsibility very seriously –just let us know if you have any outstanding questions about our products’ compliance with the law, or how you can take part in our buy-back scheme.

Circle K opens new Dungarvan service station

CIRCLE K has opened the newest station in its nationwide company owned network, Circle K Dungarvan. A total of €2.5m was invested in the redevelopment of the new site, which is located on the N25 road at Gallows Hill, Kilrush Roundabout, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, and will serve an estimated 18,000 customers daily. The new site is a full redevelopment of the local service station and a significant addition to Circle K’s network of service stations in the south east of Ireland. The opening of Circle K Dungarvan brings the total of Circle K’s company owned stores to 159 nationwide. Circle K has retained employment from all staff who worked at the service station prior to the redevelopment, resulting in the creation of 13 jobs in the locality. Like all service stations in Circle K Ireland’s network, a range of protective measures has been implemented at the new site in Dungarvan to ensure appropriate levels of hygiene, social distancing as well as staff and customer health and safety at this time. Circle K Dungarvan boasts a wide range of superb offerings, including Circle K’s high-quality fresh deli food range, signature Real Hot Dog offering, Circle K’s own Simply Great Coffee, a wide selection of pastries, as well as its signature flavour range of Froster frozen soft drinks, and soft serve ice-cream. “At this time, it is important that we do all we can to support local communities in Ireland more than ever, so I am delighted

Paul Dixon, Senior Director of Retail Sales and Operations, Circle K Ireland, pictured at the new Dungarvan service station.

that this new site is opening as we continue to journey through the crisis together,” said Paul Dixon, Senior Director of Retail Sales and Operations, Circle K Ireland. “At Circle K, the health and safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority and our new service station opens with a range of protective measures in place.”

Maxol supports fundraiser for Aware

DEMAND on mental health services is expected to remain high for a long time due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Dominic Layden, CEO of leading mental health charity Aware, who was speaking ahead of the launch of the charity’s latest fundraiser, supported by Maxol. Aware provides free support services to people impacted by anxiety, depression, stress and other mood-related disorders, and is currently seeking to bring up to 200 additional trained volunteers on board in anticipation of the huge increase in demand for its services arising from the pandemic. The charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising events to support its services. However, with most of its planned activities cancelled, Aware urgently needs funding. Together with its charity partner Maxol, Aware is now calling on the public to do two things:

1. Phone a friend, neighbour or colleague because sometimes a friendly call can be a lifeline;

Maxol moves into the renewable energy sector

Pictured are bright co-founders Ciaran (left) and Stephen Devine (right), with Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group.

MAXOL is moving into the renewable energy sector with bright, a new, technology-based energy supplier, which has vowed to disrupt the Irish energy market. Using a unique software platform and specially designed app, it will offer just one simple tariff and provide customers with affordable green electricity at a fair and transparent price. Bright was founded by entrepreneurs, Ciaran and Stephen Devine, who have been operating in the renewable energy sector for many years, in partnership with Maxol. “This is a significant move for Maxol as we look to diversify our business by making a move into the renewable energy sector,” said Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group. “Such a move was an intrinsic part of our growth and diversification strategy, but it was crucial that we partnered with the right people with the experience, technical know-how, entrepreneurial spirit and vision to make it happen. This is great news for Irish consumers and the Irish energy market and is a fitting way for The Maxol Group to mark its centenary year, as we celebrate the past, while looking to the future.” “The electricity market in Ireland is overly complicated and it doesn’t need to be” says Ciaran Devine, who co-founded bright alongside his brother Stephen. “Bright’s beauty is in its simplicity. We are offering one simple variable rate tariff to everyone –that’s it. So, when prices fall, savings can be passed on to bright’s customers, the way it should be.” Bright has created 15 new jobs at its Belfast HQ where it will manage its island-wide operations, with the company planning to double its workforce in the coming months. At its core, bright is utilising modern technology to provide 100% green electricity to homes across Ireland, something that is central to the company’s ethos. Its unique software will also lead to even greater benefits when smart electricity meters are rolled out across the country. “The world is evolving faster than ever, and we want to be at the heart of that change, so bright’s technology platform isn’t just for the here and now. It is designed to help our customers save money and become more efficient as the technology in their homes evolves, and that’s something we’re really excited about showing over the next 12 months,” said Ciaran Devine. “We’re also looking forward to bringing bright’s tech-driven, transparent approach to the gas supply market later this year. That will allow our customers to easily manage their gas and electricity using our app. So, they’ll no longer need to deal with different suppliers and dozens of confusing tariffs.” Bright will be available to domestic electricity consumers across Ireland from the end of June 2020 and will launch in Northern Ireland in late summer. A further announcement regarding its more information, see www.brightenergy.com.

gas supply offering will follow later in 2020. For

Lucky Cork Lotto ticketholder scoops €250,000 Lotto Plus Prize

RAY’S Centra/Applegreen service station on the Limerick Road in Charleville, Co. Cork, sold a winning Lotto Plus 2 ticket worth €250,000 over the June bank holiday weekend. “My brother, Brendan and I set up this store over 15 years ago and this is our first big Lotto win so we’re absolutely over the moon for one of our customers,” sad co-owner Ray Lee, pictured (right) celebrating the win with his brother Brendan (left), and staff members Zara White and Emily Flynn.

CIRCLE K has revealed that sales of its range of Froster drinks almost doubled in recent weeks, with over 100,000 cups of Froster sold nationwide during the June bank holiday weekend alone. Currently available in 135 sites nationwide and with a further rollout planned in the coming months, Circle K’s range of Froster ice cold beverages, which include flavours such as Coca Cola, Fanta Blue Raspberry and Orange Freeze, have taken the nation by storm. Sales of Froster increased by 46% over the week of the Bank Holiday in comparison to the week before. Sales of Circle K’s soft serve ice cream have risen by over a third (35%) over recent weeks in comparison to sales for the same timeframe last year.

AWARD winning seafood producer, Carr & Sons Seafood Ltd, from Killala, Co. Mayo, has acquired HJ Nolan Seafood, Dublin. Both Carr & Sons Seafood and the HJ Nolan Brand will be part of the esteemed Mondi Group. Erling Charleson, owner and founder of Mondi, is thrilled for this opportunity to continue the legacy of this historic brand into the future. Going forward, Nolans Products will be produced at the Grade A accreditation facility in Killala, Co Mayo. For more information, visit www.carrandsons.ie.

BARILLA, the largest producer of pasta in the world, has announced the roll-out of its new 100% recyclable packaging. This packaging will be implemented across the brand’s bestselling products, including Penne, Fusilli, Spaghetti, Lasagne, Linguine, Tortiglioni and Mezze Penne Tricolore, and is constructed with a combination of paper-based materials and 100% virgin fibres, all of which are sourced responsibly from certified sources. To ensure ease of disposal for consumers, Barilla’s new packaging features instructions and visual aids that correspond to the appropriate recycling measures. This not only benefits the customer in terms of convenience and peace of mind, but also contributes to the brand’s ethos of ‘Changing our World, One Pack at a Time’.

POPULAR health food company, Linwoods, which supplies its range of tasty Superfoods across Ireland, has unveiled a new visual identity, including a new brand logo and pack design, following a major customer research project and a €560,000 investment. The rebrand champions the health qualities of the Linwoods product range and encourages customers to take care of themselves by adding nutrients and vitamins to their diet. As part of the rebrand, the company has also launched a new Immunity Campaign to educate consumers on the healthrelated benefits the products provide. John Woods, founder and owner of Linwoods Health Foods, is pictured with some of the new look products. WEXFORD based craft brewery YellowBelly Beer has announced a partnership with craft beer specialists Alpha Beer & Cider Distribution. From June, ABCD will commence national distribution of YellowBelly’s craft can range. This coincides with a new addition to its flagship range, Pirate Bay Session IPA, which joins an already stellar line-up including award winning beers Citra Pale Ale, Castaway Passion Fruit Sour, and Kellerbier Unfiltered Lager. Pirate Bay is a juicy, tropical, hazy session IPA with a bitter kick, at a reasonable ABV of 4.5%. The can boasts the now familiar artwork from YellowBelly’s resident artistic director Paul Reck.

BERNARD and Rosemary Walsh, the founders of Walsh Whiskey (Writers’ Tears & The Irishman), have declared the company’s commitment to raise €16,000 to fund 1,000 hours of homecare for seriously ill children under five years of age. The Covid-19 pandemic is creating serious financial trouble for many charities, including the renowned Jack & Jill Foundation, www.jackandjill.ie. Walsh Whiskey will undertake a range of initiatives during 2020, beginning with the Facebook Livestream raffling of Bernard & Rosemary Walsh’s personal collection of a complete set of Writers’ Tears Vintage Cask Strength, superpremium, triple-distilled whiskeys on July 9. The complete collection is worth up to €2k but participants in the raffle will have the chance to win it and support the Jack & Jill Foundation for just €16 per ticket. Each ticket sold will buy one hour of special home nursing care and respite for a child and family supported by The Jack & Jill Foundation.

GRENADE has added a new limited-edition fruity flavour to its Carb Killa range, the Strawberry Ice Cream Carb Killa bar. Featuring a natural strawberry flavour, combined with a thick white chocolate coating, and filled with the renowned Carb Killa crispies, this on-the-go nutritious summer snack is packed with 21g of high-quality protein and less than 2g of sugar, staying true to Grenade’s high protein, low sugar credentials. With no spoon or freezer required, this healthier alternative treat is the ultimate guilt-free indulgence for health-conscious consumers looking for something a little lighter to curb their cravings –without compromising on taste.

SINCE June 10, Keelings are supporting their partner charity, ISPCC Childline, with their special ISPCC Childline donation packs. Over four weeks, Keelings are donating 10c from every pack of berries sold to this very deserving charity. “Keelings is an Irish-owned, family-run business, and as such, family values are hugely important to us,” said David Keeling, MD, Keelings. “We are in unprecedented times, which are affecting everyone differently, especially children who have no experience with factoring a pandemic into their lives. We are delighted to continue our partnership with ISPCC Childline, whose services and support are invaluable now more than ever.”