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www.retailnews.ie|March 2014|Contents|3

Contents

Tobacco Debate Intensifies WITH Minister Reilly continuing his pursuit of plain packaging for tobacco products, we report on the intensifying debate.

Opposition is growing to the proposed legislation, and not just from the tobacco industry, or even the retail industry, the two sectors who will be hardest hit should such a move get the go-ahead.

Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, economist and lecturer in Finance at Trinity College, Dublin, and the Smurfit School of Business, UCD, argues that plain packaging of tobacco products will likely lead not to a reduction in smoking but to substitution in favour of cheaper brands and supply alternatives. Meanwhile, in its submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children’s pre-legislative consultation on the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013, the Law Society of Ireland expressed its concern over the legal implications of the concept of plain packaging and how it might affect the standing of intellectual property rights here in Ireland and abroad. See our full report on Page 16-19.

Elsewhere, we examine the latest readership and sales figures for the newspaper and magazine sector and advise on hot categories for 2014 (Page 22), with advice from both Magazines Ireland and retail consultant Karen Meenan on how to make the most of your news stand.

Jennifer Heffernan and Michael Nuding of Denis Finn Solicitors report on a recent District Court judgement, which dismissed a claim by Phonographic Performance Ireland Limited (PPI) against a shoe retailer for non-payment of royalties, in what could be an important judgement for other retailers throughout the country (Page 32). Finally, Martin Smethurst, Managing Director of Retail for Ireland at Wincor Nixdorf, explains why, despite low levels of customer adoption, mobile payment should be embraced by retailers if they are to reap the expected rewards (Page 39).

Kathleen Belton Editorial Director kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

News 4 Retailers go postal

The Value of Brands 27 The P&G Effect

over Tesco deal; IGBF President of Appeals 2014 appointed.

campaign celebrates the science behind its brands and highlights how they offer the best value to consumers.

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16 Tobacco 16 The high cost of

5

End of laser cards will lead to higher costs; Lidl open three new stores.

6

Superquinn rebrand sees SuperValu shine; Londis and Griffin’s extend deal to 2019; Tesco accepts competitors’ vouchers.

7

ABFI calls for “society approach” to alcohol misuse; Topaz wins gold; Investment in Febvre.

plain packaging: the number of dissenting voices to the proposed introduction of plain packaging on cigarettes and tobacco products in Ireland is growing.

Retail Ireland: Monthly Update 20 Government to

establish new Retail Consultation Forum; Cautious welcome to retail sales growth; Tickets selling fast for Retail Ireland MasterCard Annual Conference 2014.

LISTINGS: MARCH 15-21, 2014

THE BEST OF IRISH FASHION • TV • FOOD • BOOKS • MOVIES

PRINTED IN IRELAND

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SuperValu reports €2.1 billion sales; Banana giants to merge.

PRICE: €1.80 N IRELAND: £1.40

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INSIDE!

KIAN EGAN

Irish seafood co-op signs agreement with Spanish retailer; Plastic bag use to be cut across Europe; Glanbia reports good year.

Musgrave MarketPlace invests €700,000 in Sallynoggin outlet; Food & Hospitality 2014 open for business; Ballyfree Eggs raises €14k for Irish Cancer Society.

“I feel like the luckiest guy in the world”

I love being a Mammy!

Imelda May on her new TV show, turning 40 & having more babies

ANDREW SCOTT

“I’m glad fame didn’t happen earlier for me”

SHANE FILAN

“You only live once, enjoy it”

YOUNG, GIFTED & IRISH

The newbies making their mark

22

Music Copyright 32 In 2013, the Dublin

District Court delivered an important judgement on the playing of music on the business premises that makes interesting reading for retailers, write Jennifer Heffernan and Michael Nuding of Denis Finn Solicitors.

Mobile Payments 39 Mobile payments

should be embraced by retailers, but not by limiting consumer choice, writes Martin Smethurst, Managing Director of Retail for Ireland at Wincor Nixdorf.

On The Vine 44 Jean Smullen reports on the resurgence of French wine in the Irish market.

28

News-Stand 22 Following a number of tough years for print media, the latest figures for the newspaper and magazine sector in Ireland make for interesting reading.

REGULARS & REPORTS

Published by: Tara Publishing Ltd, 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.

Managing Director: Patrick Aylward

Tel: (01) 6785165 Fax: (01) 6477127

Editorial Director: Kathleen Belton kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

Web: www.retailnews.ie Email: kathleenbelton@retailnews.ie

Editor: John Walshe

Subscription to Retail News: e95 plus VAT Email: ciara@tarapublications.ie

Advertising: Brian Clark

johnwalshe@tarapublications.ie brian@tarapublications.ie

Chief News Reporter: Pavel Barter Wine Correspondent: Jean Smullen

Production: Jim Heron

Printed by: W&G Baird

Reproduction without written permission is strictly prohibited.

12 Industry News 28 Baby Care 34 E-Cigarettes 38 Market News 40 Yellow Fats 42 Drinks News 46 Shelf Life

4|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

News

RETAILERS GO POSTAL OVER TESCO DEAL RETAIL representatives are worried that a strategic link-up between An Post and Tesco will have negative repercussions on post office services around Ireland. RGDATA issued a statement, suggesting the deal would “de-prioritise the provision of postal services in Irish town and village centres”.

Brian McGann, General Secretary at The Irish Postmasters’ Union, told Retail News that postal workers were also concerned.

“It’s becoming more common that [Tesco] stores are out of town, so it pulls business away from town centres, particularly in small towns.

Our main concern is that it will undermine the viability of the network over the course of time.”

Tesco and An Post told Retail News that the initiative, currently on a trial basis in four Tesco stores, is similar to PostPoint, An Post’s electronic transaction and payment service channel, which allows consumers to pay bills, top up phone, and purchase gift cards.

PostPoint currently has 2,400 units around the country.

“Post & Pay is virtually the same as PostPoint, except the branding is a little bit different,” said Michael Sullivan, Media Relations Manager for Tesco Ireland. “They have nearly all the same services, the difference being you can post a letter through pre-paid postage boxes.”

Aengus Laverty, An Post spokesperson, added: “Post & Pay enables the large number of customers visiting Tesco supermarkets in Naas, Tullamore, Gorey and Cabra (Dublin), to weigh and post

letters and parcels, buy stamps and pay household bills. These services were not available in these stores up until now.”

According to Laverty, the initiative is in response to a decline in mail volumes in recent years. “An Post’s mail volumes have fallen approximately 30% since the peak of 2007.

European Postal Operators are entering into new distribution agreements with retailers to improve public access to services. The Post & Pay initiative is one of the ways in which the wider An

Post Group is attempting to address this serious volume decline.”

McGann questioned the employment of untrained staff at Post & Pay terminals. The staff would not be bound by Official Secrets Legislation, nor would they be trained in anti-money laundering requirements, he said: “These outlets are operating in a much more unregulated way than the post office network.”

But Sullivan insisted Post & Pay was not a replacement for the post

office: “It’s not a post office.

We wouldn’t be handing out social welfare payments, for example.”

According to An Post, no contracts have been entered into, although they may introduce the concept to other chains and stores.

“Tesco is the first retailer with whom PostPoint is trialling Post & Pay,” said Laverty. “PostPoint may also trial it with other retailers during 2014, as part of a pilot scheme to gauge customer interest and usage.”

The postal network, already facing the prospect of social welfare payments being moved to a direct electronic payments system, fear that Post & Pay could have long-term affects on their business. “Our concern is that it will cannibalise and dilute the business of the existing network,” said McGann.

Laverty refuted these suggestions: “The intention is to grow the business. Not shrink it.”

IGBF President of Appeals 2014 Appointed THE Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (www.IGBF.ie) has announced the appointment of BWG Foods’ MD, Willie O’Byrne (pictured) as President of Appeals for 2014.

Willie succeeds Leonard Hegarty, President of Appeals 2013, who enjoyed tremendous success in delivering much needed funds for the charity.

“The IGBF has successfully assisted over 300 families annually over the past 30-plus years and continues to carry out this important work in an ever more challenging environment,” said Willie O’Byrne. “The charity caters for less advantaged and distressed families of retailers and suppliers alike and I look forward to making a significant impact to what is a very important and worthwhile cause during 2014”.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|5

News

END OF LASER CARDS WILL LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS THE phasing out of the Laser card system, in favour of and Visa MasterCard debit cards, has led to higher costs for retailers, Retail News has learned.

While retailers were charged around 8c per transaction under the Laser system, in order to have payments processed, they pay between 11c and 20c per transaction for debit cards.

Ray Ryan, who owns an independent convenience store in Limerick, told us he was “much worse off” with the loss of the Laser system.

Retail representatives predict more charges on the horizon. AIB and Bank of Ireland-issued debit cards allow contactless payments.

At the moment, the banks are not charging for these methods of payment. This could change in the future.

“I’ve no doubt they intend to charge customers,” said RGDATA’s Tara Buckley, who added that the retailer faces associated charges in accepting debit cards. “There are hidden costs - broadband, merchant services, lodgment, banking, security fees...”

Ryan believes the culture of card over cash amounts to more cost. “If a retailer takes in €30,000 of card payments, it will cost him roughly 1% in fees to process that,” he

RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley

said. “That’s about €300 in direct fees. If I took that in cash, the equivalent cost to handling it is €135. That’s a 222% difference in fees to do business by cards instead of cash.”

Ryan said banks were not steering consumers or retailers toward card payments “for the good of society. I would put it down to, very simply, fees. The fees the banks are making for credit card transactions are significantly higher than

the fees they were charging for cash.”

Meanwhile, the European Commission has rendered legally binding the commitments offered by Visa Europe to significantly cut its multilateral interchange fees (MIFs) for credit card payments to a level of 0.3% of the value of the transaction (a reduction of about 40 to 60%) and to reform its rules in order to facilitate cross-border competition.

“The cap on inter-bank fees for Visa Europe’s credit cards and the commitments ensuring cross-border competition are excellent news for European consumers, since the fees paid by retailers end up on their bills,” said Vice President Joaquin Almunia, “Today’s decision adds to what has already been achieved through the Commission’s antitrust investigations concerning

inter-bank fees.”

Payments by card play a key role in the Single Market, both for domestic purchases and for purchases across borders or over the internet. European consumers and businesses are making more than 40% of their non-cash payments per year through payment cards. Any competition distortions in this field may therefore hamper the good functioning of the Single Market and harm European consumers through higher prices.

In particular, inter-bank fees are paid by retailers’ banks (acquirers) to cardholders’ banks (issuers).

The fees are fixed jointly by the banks; retailers and consumers have no means of influencing them through competition. The reduction of these fees leads to lower costs for merchants when they receive payments by card. Since retailers normally pass on these charges to their customers through the higher prices for the goods and services they sell, consumers ultimately pay the fees that banks charge retailers. This means that a reduction of these fees is likely to benefit not only merchants, but also consumers.

Lidl Open Three New Stores Countrywide LIDL have opened three new stores over the last month, creating over 50 jobs in the process in Galway, Cork and Donegal. The three new stores in Doughiska, Cork City Centre and Letterkenny brings the Lidl store network to 140 stores and the workforce in Ireland to more than 3,400.

“These new openings bring to 140 the number of Lidl stores in Ireland and reinforces our ongoing commitment to offering customers across Ireland top quality products at market-leading prices every day,” noted Aoife Clarke, Head of Communications.

“With daily freshly baked breads and pastries and a wide variety of food and non-food items, there is something for everyone. We look forward to welcoming our new customers in store”.

6|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

News SUPERQUINN REBRAND SEES SUPERVALU SHINE THE latest supermarket share figures from Kantar Worldpanel in Ireland, for the 12 weeks ending March 2, show that SuperValu has become Ireland’s second largest grocer following the rebrand of Superquinn’s stores on February 13.

“Bringing 24 Superquinn stores under the SuperValu banner has enhanced the retailer’s position as a major player in the grocery market,” notes David Berry, Commercial Director at Kantar Worldpanel.

“SuperValu now accounts for 25.3% of Irish shoppers’ grocery market spend, just 1.1 percentage points behind Tesco.

Its sales have remained broadly in line with the market, which shows that it has been able to retain its market share while acquiring assets. Now, the main challenge for SuperValu is to convince previously loyal Superquinn shoppers of the merits of the SuperValu brand, and ultimately hold onto their custom.”

Despite the overall grocery market declining for the fifth successive month, Aldi and Lidl are delivering double digit sales growth, and have increased their market shares by 1.4 and 0.8 percentage points respectively. “Over the past three years Aldi and Lidl have

captured a combined 3.8 share points from the competition, and have grown sales by 37% in an overall grocery market which has grown by just 1%,” Berry explains. “Conversely, Tesco and Dunnes have both experienced declines in market share and actual sales as the result of the pressure exerted by the increasingly competitive market place.”

February saw the grocery market’s weakest performance since

September 2011, with sales declining by 0.6%. Falling inflation has played a significant part in this as vegetables and bread, two important staple items, are now cheaper than they were last year. Grocery inflation stands at 1.7% for the 12-week period ending March 2, 2014, down from 2.9% last period and the lowest level since April 2012.

For further information, see www.kantarworldpanel.com.

Total Take Home Grocery - Ireland Consumer Spend Total Grocers Total Multiples Tesco Dunnes Total SuperValu SuperValu Superquinn Total Discounters Aldi Lidl Other Outlets**

12 Weeks to 03 March 2013 %*

12 Weeks to 02 March 2014 %*

change** %

100.0% 88.5% 27.6% 23.3% 25.3% 19.8% 5.5% 12.2% 6.1% 6.2% 11.5%

100.0% 88.5% 26.4% 22.4% 25.3% 14.4% 7.5% 7.0% 11.5%

-0.6 -0.6 -4.9 -4.7 -0.7 17.2 22.8 11.6 -0.8

*= Percentage Share of Total Grocers **= Refers to share growth or growth or decline not change in market share ***= Includes stores such as M&S, Boots, Spar, Centra, Greengrocers, Butchers And Cross Border shops

Londis and Griffin’s Extend Deal to 2019 ADM Londis plc has signed an agreement with the Griffin Group, which will see the extension of their partnership to 2019.

The Griffin Group has been a member of the Londis franchise since 2005, and is one of the country’s largest symbol group retailers, currently operating 17 stores in the greater Dublin area, and employing over 400 staff.

Commenting on the agreement, Londis Chief Executive Stephen O’Riordan said, “We are delighted to announce the extension of a very successful and valued partnership with the Griffin Group. It is a great endorsement of our retailer offering and partnership approach that one of the biggest retailers in the country has re-signed with us, in what is, as ever, a competitive space.

“The last few years have seen significant investment by the Group

in our game-changing and award winning Centralised Chilled Distribution facility, incorporating over 1,500 product lines, and our market leading intelligent ordering platform iSIS,” he continued. “These investments have generated significant efficiencies and a competitive edge for our retailers, whereby we are delivering lower prices, higher margins and lower costs to our retailers.”

He described the extension as “a vote of confidence in our future plans as a business, and I look forward to this continuing partnership with Seamus and his team.”

Seamus Griffin, MD of Griffin Group echoed this sentiment. “We have worked very well with Londis since 2005. The Group has demonstrated a significant capacity for innovation, something that has been extremely beneficial to us in what remains a challenging,

Pictured are (l-r): Stephen O’Riordan, CEO, ADM Londis, and Seamus Griffin, MD of Griffin Group.

and always competitive marketplace,” he said.

“The ‘owned by retailers for retailers’ model is also a huge advantage, as the priority is to pass savings back to the retailer and to invest in margin enhancing

initiatives on our behalf.

The launch of the Group’s Centralised Chill facility highlighted this commitment and allowed Griffin Group to generate significant in-store efficiencies and operational savings.”

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|7

News ABFI CALLS FOR “SOCIETY APPROACH” TO ALCOHOL MISUSE THE only way we can address the issue of alcohol misuse is by having a whole of society approach. Such was the message from Kathryn D’Arcy, Director, Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, following the launch of a Cross Party Oireachtas Group on Alcohol Misuse.

“As alcohol manufactures and suppliers, we want to see our products consumed correctly and not misused,” she said, before describing “the continued refusal of members of an anti-drinks industry lobby to engage with the sector to enable a solution-based approach to alcohol misuse” as “obtuse, wrong-headed and narrowminded”.

D’Arcy said that ABFI had written twice to the Department of Health in the previous month: “they have refused to engage with us”.

“We have requested that industry could participate in a key Alcohol Conference being hosted by Alcohol Forum,” she said. “They declined to allow us to participate. And today we

see the announcement of an informal, all-party group seeking to progress legislation and policy that can help reduce alcohol harm in Ireland, with a particular emphasis on the Public Health Alcohol Bill, again with no suggestion of dialogue with the sector.

“We’re now in the implementation phase of the Alcohol Bill. Without getting the views and support from all relevant parties, including the social organisations, publicans, off-licences and supplier companies, government will not be able to credibly implement the proposals,” she said.

The drinks industry employs 62,000 people, D’Arcy pointed out: “Policy decisions effect their future.

Those who propose policies in a vacuum would do well to remember this.

“Only by all parties coming together to address misuse can we hope to effect the necessary societal change that will ensure that abuse of this product is not acceptable,” she concluded.

“We must have greater alignment if this is going to happen. Excluding industry from the debate is wrong.”

Meanwhile, the Irish Brewers Association have welcomed a new report which shows the significant contribution that the brewing sector makes to the Irish economy. The report ‘The Contribution made

by Beer to the European Economy’, drawn up by Ernst & Young, highlights the economic impact of beer in Ireland, finding that beer production and sale is attributable to 40,800 jobs and a value add of €1.3 billion, contributing €1.2 billion to Government revenue through VAT, excise and income-related contributions.

“The brewing sector is hugely important to the Irish economy and should be supported appropriately,” noted David Smith, Chairman of the Irish Brewers Association and Country Director of Diageo. “The beer industry and consumers have been subject to a 43% increase in

Topaz Wins Gold

Topaz CEO, John Williamson is pictured with An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, at the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards.

TOPAZ has been named as one of Ireland’s ‘Best Managed’ companies for the fourth year in a row. Topaz received the award at the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards Programme gala dinner in Dublin recently, which was attended by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. Companies which have been recognised as a Best Managed Company for four years running are awarded with a special gold standard accolade.

“Topaz is a young dynamic company and the programme helped us to instil a culture of constant improvement and of building from within,” said John Williamson, Topaz CEO. “Consumer confidence is growing once again and we believe strong leadership, focused on the strategic development of the organisation, will deliver continuing growth and success for our company.”

Kathryn D’Arcy, Director, Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland.

beer excise duty in the last two budgets. This makes the tax they pay amongst the highest in Europe, which is killing jobs and could stunt potential expansion going forward. I would urge the Government to reverse this excise, in order to foster growth and bring new jobs into the sector, which will further the sector’s contribution to our recovering economy.”

Investment in Febvre INVESTMENT firm Padmore Ltd is now the majority shareholder in wine business Febvre and Company Ltd, following a substantial investment in the company.

The deal includes Paul Sapin, Febvre’s subsidiary in France, which supplies over 30 countries worldwide. Padmore’s capital will allow Febvre to take advantage of improving economic conditions, positively positioning the company for acquisitions and further expansion going forward. Anthony and Gregory Alken have resigned as directors and have left the business, while Jim Bradley has been appointed Chief Executive of Febvre and Company Ltd with immediate effect. Bradley is well known in the drinks industry; his experience spans involvement with the C&C Group, and he was a former President of the European Soft Drinks Association and President of the Irish Beverage Council.

8|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

News SUPERVALU REPORTS €2.1 BILLION SALES SUPERVALU recorded retail sales of €2.1 billion in 2013, a 1% increase on the previous year’s figures.

SuperValu’s performance and growth in market share is attributed to the grocery retailer’s unique combination of outstanding fresh food, Irish sourcing, value and market leading customer service.

SuperValu grew its market share in 2013, finishing the year with a 20.1% share of the market.

This growth has continued into 2014 with recent Kantar figures showing SuperValu continuing to increase share.

Since the name change of the 24 Superquinn stores earlier this month, SuperValu now has a combined market share of 25.2% and is the largest Irish grocery brand in the country. This builds on the momentum behind the SuperValu brand, which has grown 30% over the past 10 years.

In Dublin alone, SuperValu’s market share has increased to almost 22% where it now has 44 stores, positioning the company well in terms of the on-going population growth that will continue on the east coast over the coming years.

The expanded SuperValu network consists of 223 stores, employing 14,500 employees and handling 2.6 million transactions a week.

Pictured at the SuperValu Retail Conference in The Malton Hotel, Killarney, are (l-r): Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu; Michael Morgan, SuperValu Sales Director; and Kevin McCarthy, SuperValu Retail Chairman.

SuperValu plans to open three new stores in 2014 as part of a €7m investment by its independent retail partners, which will result in the creation of 210 jobs.

A further €12m will also be invested in the expansion and refurbishment of 45 stores this year. This comes on top of the €20m in-store investment programme in the former Superquinn network, which was announced earlier this year.

“SuperValu’s success can be attributed to putting the customer first, investing in quality and staying true to our roots in communities across Ireland,” noted Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu.

“Customers are voting with their feet as evidenced by

the latest Kantar research which shows that 30,000 new customers shopped with SuperValu over the past 12 weeks.”

Kelleher stressed that SuperValu has delivered value to consumers by investing in price reductions and the development of their Own Brand range.

“Our Own Brand range has proven highly popular with customers, with sales increasing by 9% last year and it has accumulated over 40 Great Taste and Blas Na hEireann Awards,” he said.

“SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible, and since the Superquinn name change, now purchases almost €2 billion worth of goods from Irish suppliers, which helps

Banana Giants To Merge TWO of the world’s biggest banana distributors are set to merge. Fyffes is to merge with rival Chiquita in a milestone deal that will result in Chiquita shareholders owning 50.7% of the new company, ChiquitaFyffes, with Fyffes shareholders holding 49.3%.

The new company will have an operating presence in more than 70 countries and will employ around 32,000 worldwide.

David McCann of Fyffes will become CEO of ChiquitaFyffes, while Chiquita Chief Executive Ed Lonergan will serve as chairman.

The merger, which is subject to approval by shareholders of both companies and the High Court of Ireland, is expected to be tax-free for Fyffes shareholders.

to sustain 30,000 jobs in the economy,” he added.

“We stock 100% fresh Irish meat - beef, pork, chicken and lamb – which is born, bred and reared in Ireland.

As part of our on-going investment in quality, SuperValu was the first retailer in Ireland to adopt the National DNA Traceback Programme for Bacon and Hurley’s SuperValu in Midleton was the first store in the country to secure the Bord Bia Quality Assured Butcher Counter.”

He pointed out that SuperValu retailers paid out €220m in wages and contributed millions more to communities through spending with local firms and charitable contributions.

“All of this keeps more money in the local community, helping to make vibrant places for all of us to live in and shop,” Kelleher enthused.

“With one in four shoppers now shopping in a SuperValu outlet, we are determined to build on the quality and value proposition that shoppers have come to expect from us and our retail partners,” he concluded. “Looking forward to 2014 we will continue to focus on offering a unique combination of fantastic quality, excellent customer service and an innovative shopping experience.”

Tesco Accepts Competiton’s Vouchers IN a canny competitive move, Tesco has vowed to accept Dunnes and SuperValu money-off vouchers for the foreseeable future. “This is so that our customers, particularly our loyal customers, do not lose out by shopping with Tesco,” Michael Sullivan, Tesco Ireland, told Retail News. “It’s similar to our Price Promise campaign.” The latter offers consumers money off vouchers if their basket of shopping is more expensive than at Lidl or Aldi.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|9

News IRISH SEAFOOD CO-OP SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SPANISH RETAILER CASTLETOWNBERE Co-op has been appointed by major Spanish retailer Mercadona as their international whitefish supplier. The agreement will result in the co-op supplying Meradona with an estimated 2,000 tonnes of fish. This contract will be of significant benefit to the local community, with 36 onshore jobs already created in the co-op, ensuring existing jobs are also supported on the fishing vessels.

Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-op recently achieved Grade A status for Food Safety from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and BIM’s Responsibly Sourced Standard for sustainable fishing and processing practices.

Located at one of Ireland’s busiest fishing ports, Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-op, has been a supplier of whitefish, pelagics and Pictured in Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-op are John shellfish to leading retail, wholesale foodservice and other businesses Nolan, Manager of the Co-op, Paul Ward, BIM and Ismael Fogado, Mercadona. in Europe, Asia and internationally, for decades.

Plastic Bag Use to Be Cut Across Europe THE European Parliament Environment Committee has clearly voiced its support for decisive steps to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags in Europe.

The Committee voted to introduce strict targets forcing each country to cut use of lightweight plastic bags by 50% by 2017, rising to 80% by 2019.

Of course, Ireland already has a plastic bag levy, as does France, Spain and Norway, and new regulations may see similar charges being introduced across the EU. Member states will, however, be allowed to set their own rules for meeting the targets, which could mean a blanket ban on plastic bags in some countries or a tax on retailers

Planning Ahead ALDI has been granted permission to build a store in River Valley, located in the Fingal area of Dublin. Local residents, however, have criticised the decision. River Valley Residents Committee expressed concerns over traffic management, due to the number of pedestrians attending a local college, a primary school, and sports fields. “It is just about workable as it is, but with an Aldi store here, this will increase traffic flow as there is only one way into the estate and one way out,” Arthur Browne told the Fingal Independent.

who give out bags for free. The average EU citizen uses 198 plastic bags each year, the vast majority of which are singleuse.

The new provisions also acknowledge the important contribution that biodegradable and compostable plastic bags can make to enhanced biowaste collection across the EU. The report exempts very lightweight carrier bags (below 10 micron thickness) from the scope of any measures and requires their progressive replacement with biodegradable and compostable bags. It also allows Member States with existing separate collection of biowaste to reduce the price of biodegradable and compostable lightweight carrier bags by up to 50%.

Glanbia Reports Good Year GLANBIA plc has announced its results for the year ended 4 January 2014.

Highlights included total group revenue growth of 10.5%, Total Group EBITA growth of 9.2% and adjusted earnings per share growth of 11.9%.

“Glanbia had another year of double digit earnings growth in 2013 as the Group delivered a 12% increase in adjusted earnings per share,” noted Siobhán Talbot, Group

Managing Director.

Our two global growth platforms performed well, particularly Global Performance Nutrition, where strong momentum in branded revenue growth and international expansion delivered a 28% increase in profitability, on a constant currency basis. We expect 2014 to be another positive year for the Group.

We will benefit from our ongoing organic investment programme, good prospects for Global

Ingredients and Global Performance Nutrition and an expected improvement in Dairy Ireland.

“We are guiding 8% to 10% growth in adjusted earnings per share for the full year 2014, on a constant currency basis,” she added. “Our ambition is to continue to deliver a similar annual organic growth rate through to 2018, while seeking to sustain a return on capital employed in excess of 12%.”

10|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

News MUSGRAVE MARKETPLACE INVESTS €700,000 IN SALLYNOGGIN OUTLET MUSGRAVE Wholesale Partners have officially opened their newly refurbished Musgrave MarketPlace cash & carry outlet in Sallynoggin, South County Dublin. Musgrave have invested €700,000 in the refurbishment, which brings the total invested in their MarketPlace network to nearly €11m in the last five years. A further €5m will be invested in the network over the next three years.

The newly refitted 42,000 square feet store employs 40 staff. With an innovative customer service layout, the store stocks 12,000 products and boasts an expanded food service range, including a new chill freeze section, carrying over 800 food products. Customers

can purchase Musgrave MarketPlace’s 100% Irish fresh meat range as part of the exclusive Butchers Select and Simply Meat offering, as well as an expanded fresh fruit & veg range, sourced and priced daily.

“The improvements to our branch network are a very important part of delivering on our commitment to customers in providing unrivalled quality and value. We are continually investing in our branch network to deliver on our brand promise of ‘first for value, first for choice and first for service’.”

Commenting at the opening, Sallynoggin General Manager, Owen McFeely, said: “We are delighted to officially reopen

Pictured at the official relaunch of Musgrave MarketPlace Cash & Carry Sallynoggin are (l-r): Paul Kerrigan, Director, Musgrave MarketPlace ROI; Derry Clarke of l’Ecrivain Restaurant; Owen McFeely, General Manager, Musgrave MarketPlace, Sallynoggin.

our Sallynoggin branch with great new ranges and an extended chill/ freeze offering for our customers.

We have a long and proud tradition of supplying

retail, foodservice and SME businesses in South County Dublin and along the east coast and are looking forward to building on this commitment into the future.”

Food & Hospitality 2014 Open for Business FOOD & Hospitality Ireland is now open for business. Taking place on September 17 and 18, 2014, at the CityWest Events Centre, this year’s exhibition looks like being even better than 2013’s inaugural event, which attracted 2,217 key buyers from the Irish & Northern Irish markets. Over 85% of exhibitors felt their attendance at F&HI 2013 had been worthwhile or very worthwhile, while 79% of exhibitors would recommend the event to another company. Perhaps more importantly, over €10m worth of orders were placed at the event, with 67% of visitors placing at least one order at the show. For more information on how F&HI 2014 can help your business, contact Caroline McGuinness, Event Manager, Fresh Montgomery Ltd, on 0044 2890 431000 or email Caroline.McGuinness@freshmontgomery.co.uk.

Ballyfree Eggs Raises €14k for Irish Cancer Society

John Mohan and Gerard Caufield, Directors of Greenfield Foods, with packs from the Ballyfree Eggs pink pack promotion.

JOHN Mohan and Gerard Caufield, Directors of Greenfield Foods, Smithboro, Co. Monaghan, presented a cheque for €14,000 to the Irish Cancer Society, following a Ballyfree Eggs pink pack promotion in Tesco, Dunnes and SuperValu stores, where 5c from every special pink pack sold was donated to the Society’s Action Breast Cancer programme. “We are delighted to have been involved with this campaign” said John Mohan, MD. “The Ballyfree egg brand is all about family, Irish tradition and supporting local farm communities. Since most families in Ireland have unfortunately been affected or know someone affected by cancer in some way, this was a really good fit for us, and also allowed us to give something back to the community.”

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12|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Gala Sponsors Spring Juvenile Hurdle GALA was the sponsor of the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the recent Hennessy Gold Cup, which took place at Leopardstown race course, Dublin. As part of its plan to increase brand awareness across the country, Gala pledged its support to the Grade 1 race. “Gala, like horse racing, is very much part of communities throughout Ireland and therefore, we saw the sponsorship as a natural fit for us,” explained Gary Desmond, Gala

CEO. Gala is celebrating 15 years of successful business across the country this year, and sponsorship forms an important part of Gala’s marketing mix for 2014 in order to support an increase in brand awareness. Under a determined ride by jockey Barry Geraghty, Dessie Hughes’ Guitar Pete (pictured) came up trumps to win the Gala Retail Spring Juvenile Hurdle with a two and a quarter length victory over Tiger Roll.

Topaz Fuels GoCar TOPAZ is to be the official fuel supplier to GoCar, Ireland’s only car sharing initiative. The car club, which currently operates in both Dublin and Cork, now has up to 70 vehicles which are equipped with Topaz fuel cards for members to refuel on their trips. GoCar works on a pay-per-trip basis, which allows users the freedom to access a vehicle as and when they need it. Another bonus with GoCar is that members aren’t charged for parking at any pay and display parking spaces. In addition, some of the stresses and costs associated with motoring, such as insurance premiums and vehicle servicing, are also removed. Pictured at the launch of the new partnership are Niall Carson, Business Development Manager GoCar Ireland, and Liam Mulcahy, Commercial Director at Topaz.

Robert Roberts Hosts Delegates from World Coffee Events DELEGATES from World Coffee Events descended on Dublin recently for the Organisation’s WCE Summit 2014. With the World Barista Championships set to take place in Dublin for the first time in 2016, representatives from World Coffee Events were treated to a whistle-stop tour of Dublin in preparation for the world’s biggest coffee event. As one of the oldest coffee businesses in Ireland, roasting coffee for both foodservice and retail, Robert Roberts welcomed the representatives by sponsoring a reception on the Rooftop Bar at The Marker Hotel – a customer of Robert Roberts’ multiple great-taste winning coffee. Pictured are (l-r): James Shepherd, Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) Irish National Coordinator and WCE Chair from Beyond the Bean; Tom Rooney, General Manager, Robert Roberts; Annemarie Tiemes, SCAE; and Matthew Johnston from WBC.

SPAR South Africa Delegation Visits Ireland IRELAND’S convenience retail sector was in the spotlight recently as a senior delegation from SPAR South Africa flew into Ireland for a specially organised ‘look and learn’ trip of 11 leading SPAR, SPAR Express and EUROSPAR stores across Dublin, Kildare and Westmeath. Similarly to SPAR Ireland, SPAR South Africa operates three different SPAR formats to cater for supermarket and neighbourhood shopping and the retail development team - led by Rob van Staden, International Retail Development Manager for SPAR International were keen to understand more about this country’s success in local convenience and supermarket retailing.

This is the second visit in six months by an international SPAR delegation; in November last year, a team from SPAR Shanxi in China also visited a number of SPAR stores as part of an organised trip to Ireland.

NDC’S Moo Crew is Back THE National Dairy Council has announced that Moo Crew, The Primary Dairy Moovement, is open to primary school teachers and pupils again in 2014. The initiative was developed by the NDC in 2013 in consultation with teachers, based on findings that 37% of girls and 28% of boys aged from 5-12 years in Ireland have inadequate calcium intakes in their diet.

It is an interactive education programme intended to help bridge that nutritional gap by encouraging children in 3rd to 6th class to learn about the importance of the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group, in a fun way. Support for teachers includes lesson plans, activities and web resources (www. moocrew.ie). Children also have the option to take part in the Moo Crew class-based competition which culminates during National Dairy Week (May 12-18), with the option to submit their projects by May 21. Olympic boxer Darren O’Neill is pictured with 10-year-olds Emma Williams from Killiney, Co. Dublin, and Max Guilfoyle from Ballybrack, Co. Dublin.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|13

Industry News Musgrave Helps to Feed Ireland’s Future MUSGRAVE Group ran career development sessions from March 3-7 for 500 unemployed young people as part of Feeding Ireland’s Future, an initiative by the Department of Social Protection with Intreo, ECR Ireland and a number of companies from the Irish food and grocery sectors to support unemployed young people in their search for work.

Each training session facilitated by the Musgrave HR Team covered cover how to manage their social media reputation; preparing their CVs; how to draft cover letters and applications; interview role plays; and a site tour to give them an overview of what a career in the food and grocery industry entails. Pictured are (l-r): June McCarthy, Human Resources Manager, and Luke Hanlon, Logistics Director, both of Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, Cork, with Feeding Ireland’s Future participants Genelle Casey and Jamie Daniels from Holyhill, Cork.

Topaz Wins Workplace Award

TOPAZ has been recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland for the ninth time.

The fully Irish owned and managed company was the only retailer to make the top 20 and is once again the only fuels and convenience retailer on the list of Best Workplaces in Ireland. Paul Candon, Marketing and Corporate Services Director at Topaz, said, “The enthusiasm

and professionalism of our staff is key and we would like to thank all our 1,600 employees for their contribution in once again making Topaz a Great Place to Work. Awards like this are a vote of confidence in the way we do business.”

Aoife Ní Mhurchú, Group HR Manager at Topaz (third left) is pictured celebrating the award with colleagues.

Donnelly Sponsors Leinster Women’s Rugby LEADING fresh fruit and vegetable supplier, Donnelly has been announced as the official new sponsor of the Leinster Women’s Rugby Team. The threeyear sponsorship deal will see the Donnelly logo appear on the Leinster Women’s Rugby team jersey as well as on items of the match-day and non-match-day training kit. Donnelly will also maximise the sponsorship through above-the-line and below-the-line promotional campaigns entitled ‘Powering the Mighty’, which will involve a complete marketing and PR campaign across online, social, and print, as well as a high level of involvement at all levels of Leinster Women’s Rugby. Pictured are Leinster players Sharon Lynch and Fionnuala Gleeson, with Alan Waters, Marketing Manager.

Feeding Cork City A NEW urban dining initiative, Feed the City saw 5,000 people enjoying tasty and nutritious vegetarian curry absolutely free on March 15 at Grand Parade, Cork.

The initiative aims to highlight the issues of food waste and sustainability, and will only use vegetables that have been deemed surplus or are otherwise going to waste. The schedule of activities for Feed the City also included an exciting line up of street entertainment for all the family, as well as a food trail and exhibition, a series of talks on growing your own vegetables, composting, gardening tips and cookery demonstrations by renowned vegetarian chef and author, Denis Cotter of Café Paradiso, and local food writer and chef, Mercy Fenton. Pictured at the Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill Community Garden are: Dr Colin Sage, Department of Geography, UCC; Denise Cahill, Healthy Cities Coordinator, Health Promotion Department , HSE – South; Katherine Harford, NICHE; and Chef Mercy Fenton.

Putting the Fun Into Fundraiser OVER 600 people attended a health and wellbeing evening in Killarney on 20th February 2014 organised by the NDC and Dawn Milk, with proceeds in aid of The Donal Walsh #Livelife Foundation. TV broadcaster Kathryn Thomas was event MC and is pictured (left) with Finbar Walsh and Elma Walsh from the Donal Walsh Foundation; Chef Mark Doe, from Just Cooking, Firies, who gave a flavour of the diversity of cooking with dairy in an entertaining cookery demonstration; dietitian Paula Mee who delivered a lively presentation on “Dairy Goodness: What’s in it for you?”; Joe O’Connor who concluded the evening with an introduction to fitness and training; and Caroline O’Donovan, Nutritionist with the National Dairy Council.

14|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Industry News Moy Park Celebrates Relaunch Success

ACCORDING to the latest brand and advertising tracker research carried out by RDSI, Moy Park has firmly cemented its position as Ireland’s number one chicken brand following the successful relaunch of the brand in 2013. The research shows that spontaneous awareness of the Moy Park brand increased to 39%, making it the top-of-mind chicken brand for consumers across Ireland.

The research also shows that Moy Park’s brand relaunch, which was driven by a new-look advertising campaign, has been positively received by consumers across the island of Ireland – with a noted increase in recall of the campaign and a stronger understanding of Moy Park’s product offering amongst shoppers. Pictured on the set of the Moy Park TV ad are Andrew Nethercott (third from left) and Briege Finnegan (eighth from left) from Moy Park, along with the cast of characters who star in the new ad.

Subway Opens 200th Store SUBWAY’S famous fan and Irish rugby star, Tommy Bowe is joined by Scott Whelan, aged 7, and his little sister Ava, aged 5, at the opening of the 200th Subway Store in the Monread Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare. The new store opening will create five new jobs in the local community and will be \ operated by Naas-based Subway franchisees, Tom and Barbara Ward.

Irwin’s Scores for Irish Hockey THE Irish Hockey Association has agreed a partnership with Portadown based Irwin’s Bakery, securing financial support and the provision of match programmes for all 2014 Irish Hockey League fixtures. “As a family-owned business, baking bread for local communities for over 100 years, we are keen to encourage local sporting talent and at the same time raise awareness of the important role a balanced diet plays in maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Michael Murphy, Commercial Director, Irwin’s Bakery. “We look forward to an exciting league and working in partnership with the Irish Hockey Association.” Pictured are Internationals Bruce McCandless, Shirley McCay and Hannah Robinson, Marketing Manager, Irwin’s Bakery.

Cuisine de France Helps Skills For Work Week PICTURED at Cuisine de France during the Skills For Work Week as part of Feeding Ireland’s Future are (l-r): Declan Carolan, ECR Ireland General Manager, with participants in the Baking Academy, Keith King, Kirstie Cummins and Lyndsey Kearns, and Paula McElroy, Learning and Innovation Hub Leader with Cuisine de France. Over 1,500 young people participated in Skills for Work Week, an initiative by the Irish food and grocery industry to support unemployed young people.

Super Event for Limerick Business MORE THAN 50 Limerick retailers turned out at the Strand Hotel recently for AIB’s ‘Retail - The Winning Formula’ seminar. The seminar is the second in a series to be hosted across the country by AIB and was an opportunity for Limerick retailers to get first hand advice from Simon Healy, AIB’s Retail Sectoral Specialist, and Mark Brennan, AIB’s Head of Digital Marketing and Innovation. Chairman of Insomnia Coffee Company and broadcaster Bobby Kerr was also on hand to chair the Q&A session. A wide variety of local Limerick businesses were encouraged to focus on what they were good at and tell the market about it. Pictured are (l-r): Simon Healy, AIB’s Retail Sectoral Specialist; Sinead Cummins, Head of B2B Marketing, AIB; Bobby Kerr, Chairman of Insomnia Coffee Company and broadcaster; Mark Fitzharris, AIB’s Regional Director of Retail Banking in the Mid-West; and Mark Brennan, AIB’s Head of Digital Marketing and Innovation.

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Tobacco

The High Cost of Plain Packs?

Opposition is growing to the Government’s proposed introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products.

THE number of dissenting voices to the proposed introduction of plain packaging on cigarettes and tobacco products in Ireland is growing.

Well-known economist Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, lecturer in Finance at Trinity College, Dublin, and the Smurfit School of Business, UCD, tells Retail News that he believes the proposal “is informed by a poorly-researched view of consumer behaviour”.

“With smoking being a highly addictive activity, behavioural incentives and constraints that apply to other consumption goods work differently for tobacco consumption,” he explains. “Plain packaging of tobacco products, in my view, will likely lead not to a reduction in smoking but to substitution in favour of cheaper brands and supply alternatives. This may or may not result in an increase in tobacco consumption overall, but it is almost a sure bet that it will lead to no reduction in smoking.”

Dr Gurdgiev argues that there are two basic reasons why such an outcome is likely. “Firstly, reducing visibility of the brand identity on legally sold cigarettes can increase the brand value to consumers. This is the ‘forbidden fruit’ argument. If so, it will raise the value of counterfeit and illegally smuggled cigarettes, and will also increase the value of cigarettes purchased legally outside Ireland.

In the same way, plain packaging can perversely increase the ‘coolness’ factor for branded cigarettes not only for already consuming adults, but for those starting to smoke.

“Secondly, with all legally sold tobacco no longer differentiable by brand and product type,” he continues, “consumers will be more able to substitute in favour of cheaper and/or stronger alternatives to reduce the cost of their consumption, without reducing the signalling value of their consumption. This also can result in increased consumption of tobacco. Crucially, in both cases,

Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, economist and lecturer in Finance at Trinity College, Dublin, and the Smurfit School of Business, UCD.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|17

Tobacco

John Freda, General Manager, JTI Ireland.

“Plain packaging of tobacco products, in my view, will likely lead not to a reduction in smoking but to substitution in favour of cheaper brands and supply alternatives.” – Dr Constantin Gurdgiev. plain packaging adoption is likely to increase the amount of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes, as well as cigarettes imported legally for personal consumption.”

The economist doesn’t expect the introduction of plain packaging to have any significant effect on investors’ and markets’ perception of Ireland as a place to do business. Neither should we expect a significant loss in terms of markets’ view of our intellectual property protection regime or other reputational and institutional capital, he notes.

“However, we have to be careful not to set a precedent whereby such an approach to social and health policy can generate a risk of IP restrictions on other products and services,” he warns. “There is a real and legitimate concern that the introduction of these measures on tobacco products can serve as a precedent for applying similar restrictions on IP of producers in other industries such as, for example, alcohol, sugar-containing foods and/or fast food in the future.”

He argues that in order to avoid any potential adverse impact that such concerns can generate, we need to make certain that Irish Government sets out an iron-clad empirical case for the importance of such actions with respect to tobacco. “This case must be made in advance of the introduction of the restriction and it should be subject to open and informed consultation process, involving not only the health authorities, but also other stakeholders in the issue including, for example, the Revenue, Consumer Rights representatives, retail services and the tobacco industry. For the reasons outlined above, in my view, making such a case will be a hard task for the Government.”

Intellectual Property Rights The Law Society of Ireland is also concerned with the legal implications of the concept of plain packaging and how it might affect the standing of

intellectual property rights here in Ireland and abroad.

In his submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children’s pre-legislative consultation on the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013, Law Society President, John Shaw reiterated the Society’s view from February 2013 that: “A fully functioning intellectual property system, which operates consistently and transparently across all sectors and provides certainty for intellectual property owners, investors, international partners and traders and members of the public, is vital to the future of both the EU and Irish economies. Reforms which have the effect of undermining that system should be considered very carefully.”

The Law Society advised that any move to introduce plain packaging could be anti-Constitutional. The Irish Constitution requires the State to protect property rights and the Irish Supreme Court has previously struck down legislative provisions as unconstitutional where they involved restrictions on the exercise of property rights or a deprivation of rights all together without compensation for such interference.

“Were this matter to come to court, it is likely that the Court would be asked to consider evidence available regarding the effectiveness of plain packaging on smoking habits as against the range of other actions that can be considered to minimise or eradicate smoking,” Shaw noted, citing examples such as taxation, educational and cessation initiatives, sanctions and penalties etc.

Plain packaging would have consequences not just for the Irish Constitution, however, but also in an international context, including the

18|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Tobacco

Andrew Meagher, Managing Director, John Player

EU’s freedom of movement of goods as tobacco products sold in another members state, would not have the same access to Irish markets as a result of the Bill’s provisions.

Ireland is also a signatory to the WTO, and specifically the TRIPS agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). Under that Agreement, we have committed to respect a number of key provisions that impact on the nature of trademark rights, including Article 7, which provides that the nature of goods ‘shall in no case form an obstacle to the registration of the mark’ “The Law Society is concerned that the extent of interference envisaged by the proposed Bill may give rise to potential actions against the State, and Europe under the provisions of the TRIPS agreement,” Shaw noted.

The Law Society is concerned that ‘unintended consequences’ of the Tobacco Bill could result not only in claims against the state, but could also adversely impact on businesses and employment. “The role of the IP in foreign direct investment should not be underestimated, and perhaps should be included in the regulatory impact assessment of the Bill,” Shaw argued.

Regulatory Impact Assessment Indeed, the issue of Regulatory Impact Assessment was mentioned again and again in submissions to the Committee.

Andrew Meagher, MD, John Player, warned that “the fact that a Regulatory Impact Assessment has not even been conducted in advance of this proposal will surely set alarm bells ringing in the HQs of Irish and foreign multinationals”.

John Freda, General Manager, JTI

Ireland, urged the Committee to call for an independent and robust Regulatory Impact Assessment to be completed and reviewed before the plain packaging Bill goes any further. “The Irish Government must now ensure that the proposed Regulatory Impact Assessment includes a thorough review of evidence and consider alternatives that will work,” he said.

Steven Donaldson, General

“There is a real and legitimate concern that the introduction of these measures on tobacco products can serve as a precedent for applying similar restrictions on IP of producers in other industries such as, for example, alcohol, sugar-containing foods and/or fast food in the future.”

– Dr Constantin Gurdgiev.

Manager of PJ Carroll, argued that according to the Cabinet handbook and Taoiseach’s guidelines, “an RIA should have been carried out before Minister Reilly brought the proposal to legislate to Cabinet last November, and this committee should not have been asked by the Minister to hear evidence without having an RIA to assess the costs and benefits”.

“This Committee must consider the outcome of a Regulatory Impact Assessment before making any recommendations to the Minister,” stressed Donaldson, who urged the Committee to look further at the evidence from Australia. “The evidence clearly shows that the Australian plain packaging experiment is failing and we would urge the Committee to await the outcome of the major dispute at the WTO,” he argued.

A number of countries are currently challenging Australian plain packaging legislation at the World Trade Organisation. It is one of the biggest disputes ever to appear before the WTO, with 35 parties (including the EU and therefore, Ireland) involved.

All of Ireland’s major tobacco producers (JTI Ireland, John Player and PJ Carroll) argued in their submissions that the proposed legislation on plain packaging would bring with it a number of unintended consequences, including a rise in “tobacco tourism”, as consumers travel abroad for cheaper tobacco, as well as driving more consumers to the illicit trade. The most recent KPMG report points to a 13% increase in the level of tobacco smuggling in Australia in the first six months after plain packaging was introduced. If these figures were to be replicated in Ireland, it would undermine the interests of honest retailers, the tax compliant tobacco industry, Government excise returns and public health objectives.

Furthermore, the evidence from

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|19

Tobacco Australia indicates there has been no change in rates of smoking, or in the amount of people that smoke, even though plain packs have been in the market for some 15 months; Submissions called for alternatives to the introduction of plain packaging, which they argued would be more successful in achieving the government’s aims of reducing smoking levels.

“Ireland’s 2012 smoking rate of 29% is the same as it was in 2006,” argued Andrew Meagher. “28% of young Irish people start smoking at 15 years and younger compared to the EU average of 17%. The ban on press advertising, the ban on smoking in pubs, the ban on 10-packs, the ban on display of tobacco in shops, significant excise increases...none of these have had any measureable impact on smoking rates. Ireland’s tobacco control model is simply not working.”

Education Programmes He, and indeed his colleagues in JTI and PJ Carroll, pointed out how in other countries, certain education programmes have proven particularly successful at stopping children from starting to smoke.

“The German tobacco control strategy, which is education based, has produced striking results,” Meagher argued. “This is a country that permits billboard and cinema advertising of tobacco. Tobacco products are openly displayed in their shops. Yet youth smoking initiation rates are 17% in Germany, compared to 28% in Ireland.”

“Introducing similar programmes in Ireland from primary school right through to second level could be equally successful and w e respectfully ask the Committee to consider this as one of a number of serious alternatives to plain packaging,” argued Freda.

“Packaging is not why children or adults start smoking, and plain packaging will not make them stop,” noted Steven Donaldson.

“The criteria for introducing new laws should be based on objective fact, real world robust evidence and demonstrable results. There is no evidence, there are no results and no Regulatory Impact Assessment was

conducted to justify this Bill,” Meagher argued.

However, he continued, this does not mean we cannot and should not immediately implement measures to prevent minors from smoking. We can: • By implementing programmes to give minors the life skills to be able to say no to peer pressure when it comes to tobacco use or indeed other habits; • By preventing minors from accessing tobacco by prosecuting any retailer that sells tobacco to those under age; • By resourcing the enforcement authorities to put the criminals who sell illegal cigarettes out of business.

John Freda maintained that the introduction of plain packaging will actually increase children’s access to tobacco products in this unregulated market because of the price.

Both he and Donaldson called on the Government to introduce legislation to punish adults who knowingly buy tobacco products for children.

He explained how a key challenge for Government and society is to make sure that children can’t access tobacco products. “The best way to achieve this is to maintain a regulated disciplined market where tobacco can be legally sold and stamp out the selling of untaxed and unregulated tobacco at a fraction of the price to children by organised criminals and illegal traders,” he said. “These people don’t care about the quality of their product or how young the person is they are selling to.”

Incentivising Healthy Alternatives Speaking to RETAIL NEWS, Dr Constantin Gurdgiev also believes that there are alternatives available to the Government to achieve the same aims.

“To reduce abuse of tobacco and other harmful behaviour, consumers should be firstly incentivised to adopt healthy

JTI Launches Plain Packaging Website JTI Ireland has launched www.theplainfacts.ie - a website dedicated to communicating information about ‘plain’ packaging of tobacco products. The website highlights the lack of evidence in support of this measure and addresses the consequences it could have on foreign investment, legitimate retailers, and the tax losses to the government. “’Plain’ packaging is not as simple as it sounds”, states John Freda, General Manager of JTI Ireland. “All sides of the debate should be made available to people - they deserve to understand what this proposed legislation entails.”

Steven Donaldson, General Manager of PJ Carroll.

alternatives and choices,” he argues.

“Such incentives should take the form of both positive payouts on good choices and negative costs associated with poor choices. We have plenty of the latter and virtually none of the former. For example, incentives can be provided by allowing health insurers to differentiate pricing of health policies for smokers and non-smokers.

“Likewise, we need to develop a more functional approach to supporting those smokers who are willing to cease harmful behaviour through the process of quitting. Education is a critical step in the direction of reducing tobacco addictions and abuse. The smoking statistics to date suggest that using incentives and education to reduce smoking in Ireland is working, albeit not at the speed we would have liked to see. Strengthening the positive tools in addressing the problem of nicotine addiction and supporting consumers willing to give up tobacco should be considered the least risky approach to policymaking on the issue of tobacco abuses.”

20|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Retail News Ireland: Monthly Update GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH NEW RETAIL CONSULTATION FORUM RETAIL Ireland has welcomed the announcement that the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation intends to establish a new Retail Consultation Forum. The new group, the creation of which we had been seeking for some time, means retailers can directly engage with legislators and policy-makers to help shape a better business environment for Irish retail.

The announcement was contained in this year’s Action Plan for Jobs, which contains a number of other measures that Retail Ireland had lobbied for. These include: • Action on the black economy; • An increase in the annual threshold for payment of VAT that will assist retailers with reduced administration costs and enhanced cash flow; • Introduction of the national postcode system to make it cheaper for retailers to make home deliveries.

• Most importantly, local authorities will be encouraged to reduce rates and development contributions to incentivise town centre redevelopments.

Directly employing over 275,000 people – almost 15% of all Irish jobs – and paying over €8 billion annually in wages and generating over €5 billion in tax revenue every year, the retail industry is vital to Ireland’s economic future. The measures contained in the Action Plan show the Government is starting to take our industry more seriously.

Tickets Selling Fast for Retail Ireland MasterCard Annual Conference 2014 A NUMBER of major retailer groups have already booked their place at the Retail Ireland MasterCard Annual Conference 2014, which takes place on Tuesday, May 6, from 8am to 2pm at the Gibson Hotel, Point Village, Dublin 1.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Recovery and Renewal” and the event provides a valuable opportunity to network and engage on critical issues, learn from experiences and share insights on the future of Irish retailing. A number of high profile speakers from across the worlds of industry and Government will gather to inspire, inform and entertain.

The event will be opened by An Taoiseach, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, will Enda Kenny TD, who will address delegates on open the Retail Ireland MasterCard the ongoing push to return Ireland and the retail Annual Conference 2014, on industry to growth, success and prosperity.

Tuesday, May 6, at the Gibson The conference will be chaired by publishing Hotel, Point Village, Dublin 1. entrepreneur and popular broadcaster Norah Casey, with keynote speech by Baroness Neville-Wolfe, formerly of Tesco and now a member of the House of Lords and serving president of EuroCommerce, who will discuss her career as one of the most respected names in retail and present her thoughts on the future shape of the sector.

Tickets for this, Ireland’s retail event of the year, are competitively priced at €125 for Retail Ireland member delegates and €175 for non-members, who are very welcome to attend.

For more information and to book your ticket, visit www.retailireland.ie.

Cautious Welcome to Retail Sales Growth

At first glance, 2014’s first set of monthly retail sales statistics from the CSO indicates impressive growth across the sector: however, when new car sales are stripped out, the news is less positive.

Official data for the month of January shows a welcome increase in the value of sales in supermarkets (1.2%), DIY and electrical (3.1% and 2.7% respectively), service stations (2.1%), furniture stores (4.4%) and, most significantly, department stores (5.9%). However, there was a fall in the value of sales in specialist food stores, fashion outlets and book shops. The result is an overall increase of 0.7% in value terms when compared with January 2013, when motor and bar sales are excluded.

Retail Ireland is forecasting consumer spending to rise by over 1% this year and we look forward to the industry building on this modest yet positive start to the year as the economic recovery gains pace.

Tel: 01-6051558 www.retailireland.ie

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News-Stand

The Paper Trail Irish newspaper and magazine sales remain a vital part of your product offering in-store. We examine the latest readership and sales figures for the sector and advise on hot categories for 2014.

FOLLOWING a number of tough years for print media, the latest figures for the newspaper and magazine sector in Ireland make for interesting reading, with most industry commentators predicting that the news-rack will break out of recession in 2014, which should make this the most interesting and profitable year for the sector in a long time.

Over three million people in Ireland read newspapers regularly, according to the Joint National Readership Survey (JNRS) 2013, which was released at the end of February. This figure includes readers of print and online newspaper products.

2.9m people read printed newspapers regularly (either a daily newspaper yesterday, or a Sunday/weekly newspaper in the past week). Almost 500,000 people

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The newbies making their mark

The RTÉ Guide is still Ireland’s best-selling magazine title, selling more than 57,000 copies each week.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|23

News-Stand Top Tips For Bigger Sales • Ensure that one third of your magazine space is given over to comics, and make sure you have ample space to display the cover-mount, which drives the sale.

• Rotate your magazine and comics stock daily.

• Block your magazine stand into sections that are appropriate for your customer base. “For example, you should have a section of magazines

accessed newspaper titles online yesterday (for daily brands) or in the past week (for Sunday/weekly brands).

Indeed, online newspaper readership has grown by 40,000 (9 %) in just six months and is very positive news for the newspaper industry.

“This is the first JNRS report that allows for comparison of online

geared towards men to include all men-related titles, from health and fitness to music, film, sport, computers, cars and gaming. “Men don’t want to have to root around for magazines and they don’t want wedding titles right beside their favourite music magazines,” smiles Karen Meenan. “No man in Ireland is ever going to buy a wedding title.”

readership figures with a previous report and thus, it provides evidence of emerging trends. It is very positive, but not surprising, to see that online readership is growing at such a healthy pace. Our members have invested heavily in digital media and we believe that readership will continue to grow well in this area,” said Frank Cullen, Co-ordinating

Director of National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI).

Consistent Print Readership Meanwhile, print readership has remained relatively consistent, with no change to the topline figure for all newspapers. In fact, the research found a high crossover in readership between print and online,

Top Performance from Harmonia

U Magazine, Irish Tatler and Woman’s Way: three of the top performing women’s magazines in Ireland.

HARMONIA, Ireland’s biggest magazine publisher, retained the top three positions for magazine sales for Irish female titles in the latest ABC figures (JanuaryDecember, 2013).

U Magazine, Woman’s Way and Irish Tatler are 1, 2 and 3 when it comes to actively sold women’s magazines in Ireland in 2013 and the full Harmonia portfolio sold 2.2m magazines over the course of 2013.

That’s a staggering 646.8km of magazines – enough to lay a glossy trail from Malin Head to Mizen Head!

In a year when publishers closed their doors, fortnightlies

became monthlies and longstanding magazines ceased publication, Harmonia maintained their loyal customer base.

Harmonia also increased the frequency of their award-winning food and drink bible, Food & Wine Magazine to 11 issues per annum, proving strong brand loyalty in a tough market. Food & Wine is the Consumer Magazine of the Year (under 15,000).

And Harmonia’s cover sales contribute over €3.1m to retail sales in Ireland – a testament to the strength of the magazine market and its contribution to the economy in these tough

times.

“In the current economic climate, what really matters is when people put their hands in their pockets and actively buy magazines,” commented Harmonia CEO Ciaran Casey. “In 2013, we maintained our top three positions for magazine sales to Irish women, proving once again that Harmonia’s titles are strong brands that can triumph during tough times,”

Ireland Of The Welcomes, another of Harmonia’s best sellers.

with the majority of readers who report that they read newspapers online reporting that they also read printed versions.

Behind the topline figures, there is evidence that while 2.9m people continue to read newspapers regularly, occasional readers (readers who do not read a daily title every day) now make up to one in two Average Issue Readers (AIR) of daily newspapers, which is a higher rate than that recorded pre-2012.

This is one factor that has contributed to print newspaper readership remaining strong, while circulations have declined.

Magazine Titles Irish magazine titles too are very much holding their own against international magazines. In spite of intense competition on the news-stand from imported titles, the Irish magazine market is doing relatively well and the latest ABC figures show Irish titles holding their own. “While individual titles will have their own ups and downs, as a broad based organisation we’ve seen those before and while the print market is under pressure in general, we’re happy to see that not only have several titles recorded increases, but that Irish magazine brands continue to lead in their markets, despite the difficult trading conditions they faced

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News-Stand Irish magazine publishers are working hard at retail and Magazines Ireland has been active in promoting all its members’ titles with the multiples and with independent retailers’ associations. By joining forces, Irish magazines are ensuring that Irish titles have a competitive edge on the newsstand. Brands are being promoted much more aggressively than previously, just to maintain sales. LinkSave promotions for complementary magazine titles, as well as newspaper and magazine bundle offers, have worked well and offer great value to the customer.

Frank Cullen, Co-ordinating Director of National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI).

in 2013,” notes Grace Aungier, CEO, Magazines Ireland.

A Virtuous Circle According to Magazines Ireland, it isn’t just about the hard graft though: there’s a genuine virtuous circle between Irish magazines and their retail trade partners. “We shop in their shops: therefore, we support our retailers,” Aungier states. “Similarly, Irish retailers understand that Irish magazines connect with their customers in a way an import never can.”

John Whelan, Chairman, Magazines Ireland, explains that “Irish publishers continue to focus on delivering high quality and engaging content across multiple platforms.

Their strength is in understanding the uniquely engaging role magazines play

Panini Kicks Off World Cup Trading Card Game PANINI has been granted the exclusive rights

by FIFA to produce and sell the official sticker album, collectable trading cards and trading card game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Having been creating FIFA World Cup sticker albums since 1970, Panini’s official licensed FIFA World Cup Adrenalyn XL Trading Card

Game is sure to be hugely popular this year.

The exclusive trading card game based on this exciting event will include striking imagery and action shots of the world’s best footballers. Collectors will have the chance to get involved in the spectacular tournament, with all the player images, statistics, bios and special info for the competing teams.

Collectors can manage their virtual binder online using the codes on the backs of their cards, compete against other players around the globe and challenge their friends.

There are 416 cards to collect, including 124 special cards to look out for. Collectors can kick-start their collection with a starter pack which includes a collector’s binder, 18 trading cards, a game board, rules sheet and limited edition card.

The trading card game will be backed by a multi-channel marketing campaign, including TV advertising, cover-mount activity with Strike-It Magazine, press and web advertising, nationwide sampling, as well as national and regional newspaper activity. The collection will also be backed by investment at retail across all key listings.

Grace Aungier, CEO, Magazines Ireland.

in readers’ lives and in continuously striving to maintain editorial excellence and relevance in an increasingly diverse media landscape.”

Describing 2014 as an exciting time for the magazine business, Aungier stresses that Irish magazines continue to dominate their respective markets. “For example, none of the UK imports can match anything like the impact of the Women’s Fashion Trifecta of U, Image and Irish Tatler.

Innovative new product launches in 2013, including Taste from RTE Guide and BASH from Image Publications, as well as exciting developments on digital platforms, enable us to deliver the highest quality content to our audiences and advertisers across every dimension. With the market showing signs of positive momentum and 2014 anticipated to be the year when the market will finally move out of recession, we look forward to new launches and more brand extensions from our members.”

Comics: No Laughing Matter Comics are still big business, according to Karen Meenan, retail consultant, whose company, The Daily Profit helps retailers to maximise returns from their newspaper and magazine section (www.dailyprofit.ie and www.facebook. com/thedailyprofit.ie). There have been a number of new, high profile launches in comics over the last few years, mainly from the UK – there are still no Irish-produced comics on the market.

“New comics need to be TV-based,”

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News-Stand Irish Consumer Magazines - Sales & Circulation Title

Active Sales

Average Circulation

RTE Guide

55,432

57,062

TV Now!

24,240

24,511

U Magazine

21,863

22,585

Ireland of the Welcomes

21,837

22,463

Woman’s Way

21,209

21,321

Irish Tatler

20,080

23,057

VIP Magazine

20,055

21,252

Easy Food

18,942

20,021

Stellar

18,053

18,353

U Magazine Ultimate Girls Guide to Absolutely Everything

17,681

17,681

Social & Personal

16,076

20,693

Kiss

16,003

16,003

Xpose Magazine

15,126

17,305

Irish Country Magazine

14,821

15,888

Image

14,549

22,371

Hot Press

10,852

17,239

Irish Field

10,673

10,741

Woman’s Way Cookbook

10,512

10,525

Image Interiors & Living

9,264

17,291

The Irish Garden

8,049

8,378

Food & Wine

6,327

7,921

Irish Tatler Man

4,507

4,948

Easy Parenting

4,104

7,521

BASH

3,280

3,737

Business Plus

1,762

10,192

GCN (Gay Community News)

58

10,269

(Source: ABC, Active Sales figures, plus Average Circulation by Product, January-December 2013) Meenan explains. “The two biggest launches in recent months were Doc McStuffins and Sofia The First [both Disney Junior TV shows] which are high profile TV shows. Kids drive demand for them, because they watch the show on television and then want the magazine and, invariably, the free toy.”

Indeed, cover-mounts

have improved greatly in quality and remain a huge selling point for comics, according to Meenan, which continue to drive sales.

“Kids still want the free toy,” she says.

“Teenagers, however, are more sophisticated than that and teenage titles are beginning to drop, because the go-to reference point for

any teenager is an iPad or smart phone,” she says. “One recent title, called Nails Ink, sold really well on issue one but issue two didn’t sell because kids realised that they could just google ‘nail art’ and get information for free. This is the challenge.”

Cover-mounts are hugely important, even for adult titles, according to Meenan.

“If it’s a good, quality free gift, consumers will go for it. For example, if it’s a good brand of mascara, nail varnish or hand cream, it will sell. But it can’t just be any mascara: it has to be a branded one, or people will not go for it, free gift or not.”

Cover-mounts, however, are often a bone of contention. Consumers love them, but retailers generally don’t. “The whole idea behind cover-mounts is the same as banding products together: to sell more.

Retailers often complain that cover-mounts are too bulky and they don’t have room for them, yet, nobody complains when a shampoo and conditioner are banded together, for example. If a retailer gets in, say, 10 copies of Thomas The Tank Engine with a fantastic free toy, the instant reaction is to return five copies, citing lack of space as the reason why, and then sell out of them.

The knee-jerk reaction is to return cover-mounts, rather than use them to improve sales.”

Rotation is the Key Ensuring your magazine display is fresh is vitally important too. This is as simple as rotating your stock daily, in magazines and,

especially, comics.

“For example, if you have Postman Pat at the front today, you should have Fireman Sam there tomorrow and Tractor Tom there the day after,” Meenan explains. “If you do that, the child who is coming into

John Whelan, Chairman, Magazines Ireland.

that shop every day with his parent has three different opportunities to see three different titles.” Any shop that has implemented this policy has seen comic sales increase by up to 300%.

“Retailers often complain that rotating stock is a hassle, yet they have no problem clearing out a deli bowl a few times each day, which is more work than just rotating titles on your magazine stand. If a shopper is walking by the magazine stand every day and sees the same magazine at the front of the display, if they’ve bought it, they can’t buy it again, but if they see a fresh title every day, you have a much bigger opportunity to grow your sales.”

The Daily Profit Property of:

The Daily Profit ‘The Profit is in the Detail’

THE Daily Profit was established by Karen Meenan in 2008 to help retailers to make the most of their Newsagency category in-store. Karen helps retailers to become a destination newsagency, boasting that retailers who sign up to The Daily Profit are out-performing the Irish market by a whopping 133%. For more information, see www.dailyprofit.ie or visit www.facebook.com/thedailyprofit.ie.

IGBF LAUNCHES MIDSUMMER’S FAMILY DAY. On Saturday June 21, 2014 it is the inaugural IGBF Midsummers Day being launched at Tayto Park, Ashbourne, Co Meath, www.taytopark.ie . Through the generosity of Largo Foods and Tayto Park, the IGBF have been allocated 1000 Family Tickets at a substantially reduced cost, thereby presenting the IGBF with a unique opportunity to strengthen its fundraising efforts.

Tayto Park is Ireland’s leading family attractions with over 450,000 visitors in 2013. Tickets for the IGBF Midsummers Family Day include entrance to Tayto Park for 2 adults and 3 Children (under 16years) and children under 3 enter free of charge. In addition to entrance to Tayto Park, entrants on the day will be entered in a draw to win a Family Holiday for 2 Adults and 3 Children (value €2500) and one of 5 Family memberships. Tickets exclude food, the Eagle Sky adventure and Geronimo zones.

Speaking at the launch, Des Redmond, Development Director IGBF, stated “The IGBF is basically a grocery and retailer charity assisting supplier and retailer colleagues throughout the country. We currently support nearly 300 families / individuals monthly who are in distress. Whilst we totally appreciate the support already received, we earnestly appeal to all retailers and suppliers to contribute to the Fund by joining us for the Family Day on June 21 in order to assist our colleagues who face on-going financial duress.”

Family Tickets (2 Adults & 3 Children) are available at €50 either through the IGBF’s Regional Chairmen - www.IGBF.IE or by contacting Des Redmond, 0867736388, des.redmond@igbf.ie.

JOHN WEST SURVEY INDICATES TWO THIRDS DINING ‘AL DESCO’ DAILY New ‘John West Steam Pot’ range of tuna with seasoned couscous offers tasty and nutritious lunchtime option to ‘al desco’ diners A new survey conducted by John West has revealed that nearly two thirds of all workers (62%) dine at their desks at lunchtime most days of the working week. The majority of workers (61%) also admit that the recession has impacted upon their lunchtime options and that they are now ‘more conscious of value as a result’.

The biggest benefit of ‘al desco’ dining is seen to be its ‘cost effectiveness,’ receiving 66% of the vote, with the biggest drawback (78%) deemed to be a ‘lack of a break from the working day’.

Not surprisingly, taste is the most important factor when choosing an ‘al desco’ lunchtime option, receiving 65% of the vote, with nutritional value also scoring high at 46%. If buying lunch out, over half of the respondents (54%) say they will spend less than €5, with only 10% prepared to spend €7 or more.

Conscious that consumers are looking for a combination of great taste, strong nutritional credentials and value for money, John West has launched Steam Pots, a delicious range of succulent tuna and nutritious couscous infused with herbs and spices. Available in five fantastic flavours, the John West

Steam Pots range is ideal for ‘al desco’ dining, as it simply requires the addition of boiling water for a warm, fast, filling and extremely flavoursome lunch.

Natasha Ginty, John West Interim Marketing Manager, commented: “We have developed the Steam Pot range as a direct response to consumers’ desire for a tasty lunchtime option that also ticks the nutrition box. Steam Pots are high in protein and are low in saturated fat and sugar, making them the ideal option for today’s nutrition-conscious consumer. We’re delighted with the fantastic response so far and are looking forward to more people trying the Steam Pots range over the coming months.”

To celebrate the launch, the John West ‘SS Steam Pot’ Roadshow will be travelling across the country to Ireland’s top food and music festivals, allowing festival goers to trial the delicious new range. To tie in with the roadshow, John West is holding an exciting competition offering entrants the chance to become the SS Steam Pot ‘First Mate’ and win tickets to attend some of the nation’s best festivals, including Electric Picnic, Body and Soul and Bloom, along with accommodation and dinner for you and a guest!

To enter the competition simply visit the ‘Become a First Mate’ page at www. john-west.ie

Pictured at the launch of the new John West Steam Pots Natasha Ginty, John West Interim Marketing Manager and Old Sam.

The John West Steam Pots varieties are* • Tuna Infusions with Coriander & Cumin and Lime and Coriander Couscous • Tuna Infusions with Basil and Sun-dried Tomato Couscous • Tuna Infusions with Chilli & Garlic and Spicy Red Pepper Couscous • Tuna Infusions with Soy & Ginger and Mushroom Couscous • Tuna Infusions with Lemon & Thyme and Tomato & Black Olive *RRP €2.99 each

The John West roadshow will be distributing samples and coupons to over 400,000 people across the country.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|27

The Value of Brands

P&G Calculates True Value of Brands The P&G Effect campaign celebrates the science behind its brands and highlights how they offer the best value to consumers.

PROCTER & Gamble has launched its new P&G Effect campaign in Ireland. The campaign celebrates the passion and research that goes into its trusted everyday brands, revealing their true value, which lasts far beyond the checkout. The campaign will encourage customers to reassess how they think about value and how value isn’t just about the cheapest option.

P&G will be supporting this campaign with strong marketing support and consumer engagement, involving a 13-week radio campaign, media relations, nationwide retailer POS materials and online activity.

The long-term campaign objective is to increase trial of, and loyalty to, P&G brands by sharing the research and development behind each brand.

The P&G Effect reveals the expert science, technology, research and development which go into some of the products that form part of daily life in Ireland.

Calculating Value “At P&G, our core mission is to offer the very best value to our consumers and we take pride in the heritage, value and performance of our brands,” explains David Cotter, Ireland Country Manager for P&G. “P&G invests €2 billion annually in research and development – more than our main competitors combined – ensuring our brands deliver real value to consumers. We believe value is a beneficial

in short cycles and use 30% less energy (when using 50C/55C / Eco Cycle). We believe P&G brands offer the best value possible and we want people to know it.”

Commitment To Science Some examples of how P&G will be championing this in the campaign include:

The P&G Effect reveals the expert science, technology, research and development which go into some of the products that form part of daily life in Ireland.

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28|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Baby Care

Baby Talk Brand loyalty remains extremely strong in the baby care sector, as Irish consumers seek out the best for their little ones.

IRISH consumers are extremely brand loyal when it comes to baby and child-specific products, according to the latest report into the sector from Euromonitor. It is not unusual for products to be used over many generations: therefore, product efficacy is a key element in this regard.

With such strong brand loyalty, it has remained difficult for private label products to gain a strong foothold in the Irish market, despite the impact of the recession in recent years, with the exception of Boots’ private label products.

Euromonitor expect baby and child-specific products to grow by 1% per year to 2017, with medicated baby and child-specific products and nappy rash treatments expected to record the strongest performance, with predicted CAGRs of 3% and 2%, respectively, over this period. Continued consumer preference for long established, branded products can be expected to continue to drive the performance overall.

Euromonitor predict similar growth rates of 1% for baby food, as Ireland’s declining birth rate is beginning to have a detrimental impact on growth potential. The maturity of the category, combined with extremely strong brand loyalty amongst Irish consumers and the already well-established and very extensive product ranges of baby food, look set to ensure a strong and very positive performance for the leading players in the category, although this is also likely to place limits on the levels of competition in the category

and compromise the potential for further positive growth somewhat.

During April 2013, concerns began to emerge in Ireland in relation to the supply and availability of some products in powder milk formula. Initially, it was believed that shortages were set to be the result of illicit shipments being made from countries such as Ireland and the UK to China amidst ongoing concerns about food safety in China, following the 2008 melamine contamination scandal, with externally produced branded products considered to be safer and to represent superior quality.

Subsequently, it emerged that drought conditions in the US during 2012 had resulted in a shortage of maize starch, which is used to thicken milk formula, especially products aimed at babies exhibiting signs of severe colic and constipation.

Cow & Gate The total baby fruit pots and pouches category in Ireland is worth â‚Ź5.6m (Source: ACNielsen, Scantrack, 26/01/2014). Cow & Gate contributes the largest share at 55% sales volume to the category. It has a range of fruit

Since their launch last year, Cow & Gate Fruit Pouches have grown share significantly.

Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie|29

Baby Care

As well as providing a handy snack when ‘on the go’ or at home, Cow & Gate foods also provides nutrients needed by Irish toddlers.

Since their launch last year, Cow & Gate Fruit Pouches have grown significantly (12% MAT, ACNielsen, Scantrack, 26/01/2014), offering another solution from the already strong Cow & Gate portfolio.

As well as providing a handy snack when ‘on the go’ or at home, Cow & Gate foods also provides nutrients needed by Irish toddlers. Just one Cow & Gate 100% fruit pot/pouch provides one portion of fruit for a toddler. As they contain 100% fruit with added vitamin C, parents can be assured that there is no added sugar, colourings or preservatives, in fact no artificial anything, perfect for any growing baby.

Solids should be introduced around six months and not before 17 weeks of age. Consumers should use Cow & Gate fruit pots and pouches as part of a varied weaning diet.

Just one Cow & Gate 100% fruit pot/ pouch provides one portion of fruit for a toddler.

flavours, and formats are adapted and designed with weaning in mind.

Suitable from around six months, Cow & Gate 100% Fruits with added Vitamin C are available in three convenient formats: pots (4x100g), multipack of pouches (4 x 90g) and single pouches (80g). Flavours available include the following: Apple & Banana, Apple & Pear, Fruit Cocktail, Apple, Pear, Apple & Strawberry.

Heinz Heinz has been taking care of little appetites for generations with its comprehensive baby food range, offering everything for baby from Heinz Mum’s Own Recipe jars and trays, to rusks, baby cereals, juice, potted fruity custard desserts and the Heinz Cook at Home range.

The highly successful Heinz Mum’s Own Recipe range is a unique concept, in that all the varieties in the range are based on recipe suggestions that Heinz have gathered from real mums.

Heinz Mum’s Own Recipe in its bright, eye-catching packaging, offers lots of delicious breakfast, savoury and dessert varieties. Heinz Mum’s Own Recipe also offers some of its most

popular savoury recipes across all age stages, so babies can enjoy their favourites, such as Cottage Pie, Spaghetti Bolognese and Sunday Chicken Dinner, for longer, while still discovering new, exciting textures.

Heinz Fruity Desserts are a blend of creamy custard or yogurt with fruit puree to create delicious varieties such as Fruity Custard Fruit Medley and Fruity

Heinz Farley’s Rusks, available in packs of nine or 18, are rich in Calcium, Iron and Vitamins and contain no added colours, flavourings or preservatives.

Heinz Mum’s Own Recipe in its bright, eyecatching packaging, offers lots of delicious breakfast, savoury and dessert varieties across all age stages, such as the hugely popular Cottage Pie.

30|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Baby Care Yogurt - Banana.

Suitable for all ages from 4-6+ months, each pack contains four 100g servings in a convenient plastic pot, complete with a re-closable lid, making them the ideal dessert or snack solution at home or on the move.

Heinz Farley’s Rusks, available in Bepanthen is a gentle and effective protection against the causes of nappy packs of nine or 18, are rash, suitable for daily use. rich in Calcium, Iron a medicated baby powder and Vitamins and contain no 9% in the nappy rash category, taking its share that prevents and treats added colours, flavourings or of the grocery market to nappy rash. It works by preservatives. Heinz Rusks 16.3% (Source: ACNielsen). attacking harmful bacteria are also available in Reduced The focus in 2014 is on and soothing skin irritation.

Sugar and Gluten-Free communicating Bepanthen Its special formulation also varieties. as the gentle and effective means that it forms a barrier The popular Heinz protection against the causes against wetness on a baby’s Farley’s cereals range of nappy rash, suitable for skin. Caldesene Powder is is ideal for breakfast or daily use. available in three handy dessert, and includes all February 28 saw the sizes: 20g, 55g and 100g. the favourites such as beginning of a 10-month CaldeSpray, the latest Sunrise Banana Cereal sponsorship of the addition to the family, is and Strawberry Yoghurt, Bepanthen Baby Clinic a zinc oxide milk spray which are available in 125g on TV3’s Ireland AM. The for nappy rash. This packets. six-minute monthly slot concentrated spray has Heinz Organic Biscotti brings together experts in excellent skin adherent and are delicious biscuit fingers, the baby and parenting skin protective properties, which have been especially fields to discuss a number which form a protective designed to fit perfectly in of baby related topics. As the hands of babies from barrier against wetness. part of Bepanthen’s ongoing nine months onwards. With There are approximately involvement with the 12 individual biscuits per Pregnancy & Baby Fair, 125 changes in each bottle pack, Heinz Organic Biscotti Bepanthen will be offering of CaldeSpray. CaldeSpray viewers an opportunity to are the perfect delicious is the ideal choice for busy win tickets to both the 2014 snack for toddlers up to 36 mums and dads on the go, Dublin & Cork events as part thanks to the following months. of an on air giveaway with The range of Heinz Baby TV3. Bepanthen will have Juice remains ever popular a large stand at both fairs, in thirst quenching varieties which take place on April 5 such as Mixed Berries & and 6 at the RDS, Dublin, Apple Juice with Spring and April 12 and 13 at City Water and Pear Juice with Hall, Cork.

Spring Water in handy Supplementary to this 750ml packs. Heinz also offer activity, Bepanthen are an Apple & Blackcurrant baby juice variety in a handy sponsoring a 10-month advertorial programme 150ml pack, ideal for babies in the Mothers & Babies on the move! supplement of the Irish Independent. Both projects Bepanthen will be amplified with target Bepanthen has launched advertising in parenting a major multi-channel press and top parenting campaign, incorporating website MummyPages.ie and sponsorship, advertising a 12-month PR programme. and PR, to support the expansion of the brand in 2014. The skincare brand consists of nappy rash ointment and moisturiser for babies and Bepantiseptic first aid cream, which has replaced Germolene cream.

Parent product, Bepanthen Ointment grew sales by

Caldesene The Caldesene range has seen great expansion over recent years and now consists of Caldesene Powder, Caldease Ointment and CaldeSpray.

Caldesene Powder is

benefits: • Easy application CaldeSpray couldn’t be easier to use – Shake well and apply one or two sprays to baby at each nappy change to protect against nappy rash; • No need to rub Spray and go – with CaldeSpray there is no mess and no sticky fingers, guaranteed; • No direct contact with skin This eliminates the danger of infection and cross-contamination; • No need to irritate baby’s delicate skin

There is no need to worry about further irritating the affected area or causing baby any pain or distress as the skin does not need to be touched.

Why does nappy rash occur? When a baby wets a nappy, bacteria react with the urine on the nappy to form ammonia. If the nappy isn’t changed quickly, the ammonia can ‘burn’ the baby’s delicate skin. If a nappy is wet and soiled at the same time, this causes a different chemical reaction, which can irritate and damage the skin even more.

The Caldesene range has seen great expansion over recent years and now consists of Caldesene Powder, Caldease Ointment and CaldeSpray.

Protects Larger e s Caldea be u t 100g

nappy cha n g e

at ever y

The Complete Nappy Rash Treatment Solution

Treatment of nappy rash: Cleanse and dry the affected area, sprinkle on Caldesene after each nappy change or as a directed by the physician. For topical use only.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. The active ingredient in Caldesene Medicated Powder is Calcium Undecylenate 10% w/w, 20g, 55g, 100g pack size.The active ingredient in Caldease Medicated Ointment is Zinc oxide 15% w/w 30g and 100g pack size. CaldeSpray contains zinc oxide 10%, 50ml pack size. Clonmel healthcare Ltd. Date prepared: Nov 2012.

2012/ADV/CAL/074

32|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Music Copyright

Landmark Decision on Music Licences In 2013, the Dublin District Court delivered an important judgement on the playing of music on the business premises that makes interesting reading for retailers, write Jennifer Heffernan and Michael Nuding of Denis Finn Solicitors.

A RECENT District Court judgement dismissed a claim by Phonographic Performance Ireland Limited (PPI) against a shoe retailer for non-payment of royalties, in what could be an important judgement for other retailers throughout the country.

PPI was established in 1968 to act on behalf of record company rights in the public performance, broadcasting and reproduction of their recordings.

PPI also collects royalties on behalf of performers. In the case of PPI v Patrick Burke Shoes Limited, the issue before the court was the non-payment of royalties to the PPI.

Not only did the District Court judge dismiss the PPl’s claim against the shoe retailer, but also ordered them to pay the retailer’s costs for the case.

The defendant retailer, who was represented by Denis I. Finn Solicitors, is the owner of shoe shops in Dublin’s Talbot Street and Donaghmede Shopping Centre. In both stores, there was a radio playing in the background for the benefit of staff during quiet trading periods. As a result of this, the shop owner was being sued by PPI for the unpaid royalties, which amounted to €2,046.52, while the PPI were also seeking aggravated and

punitive damages up to the maximum jurisdiction of the District Court, which at the time stood at €6,348.

When the case came to court, evidence was given by employees of PPI who had visited the shops of Patrick Burke Shoes. Their evidence was that they heard certain named songs being played on the radio, in respect of which they said their client record companies own the copyright.

Communication to the Public?

In defending the shoe retailer, solicitors Michael Nuding and Jennifer

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Music Copyright Heffernan made legal submissions based on two judgements of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the issue of music copyright.

The EU Directive, on which the Irish Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 is based, entitles the copyright owner to seek remuneration from the broadcaster where there has been “a communication to the public”. The two judgements considered what amounts to “a communication to the public”.

The first case concerned a referral by the Irish Court regarding an exemption for hotels under the 2000 Act to make copyright payments in respect of music broadcasts in guest bedrooms. The PPI sought a declaration that this section of the Act was a breach of the EU Directive.

The second case concerned an Italian Dentist, Marco Del Corso of Turin, who had a radio playing in the reception area of his dental practice.

The ECJ found that determining whether the hotel’s or the dentist’s broadcasts amounted to “a communication to the public” would require an individual, case-specific analysis focused on three overlapping factors: • The role of the user; • The concept of public, which refers to “an indeterminate number of potential listeners“ and

broadcast and ruled that the “patients are not ‘receptive’, but instead listened to the music by chance”.

Accordingly, the ECJ ruled the dentist was not making a “communication to the public” for the purpose of the Directive and therefore was not required to pay royalties. However, it did find that the hotel’s broadcasting amounted to “a communication to the public” and held Ireland was incorrect to have exempted hotels from the requirement pursuant to the 2000 Act.

implies “a fairly large number”; • Whether the communication is of a profit making nature.

European Court of Justice Rulings The cases had different outcomes. While both entities were found to be a user, the ECJ held the situations differed in relation to the second and third criteria.

The ECJ found the hotel’s customers fitted the definition of “public” because they were of “indeterminate number” and were “a fairly large number of persons”.

However, it ruled that the dentist’s clients were not a “public” because they formed

a consistent, determinate group, and because only a small number would be present in the practice listening to the broadcast at any one time.

In relation to the third criteria, it held the hotel’s broadcast was, in fact, of a “profit-making nature” because it was “an additional service which has an influence on the hotel’s standing and, therefore, on the price of its rooms” and “is likely to attract additional guests who are interested in that additional service”.

However, in relation to the dentist, the ECJ argued that it was not reasonable to expect a rise in the number of patients because of the

About the Authors THIS article was written

by Jennifer Heffernan and Michael Nuding of Denis I. Finn Solicitors, 5 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2 (pictured). Dennis I. Finn is a full services law firm, committed to delivering legal excellence for over 35 years.

With 24 employees, deep industry experience and a proven track record, Denis I. Finn offers legal services to private, corporate and institutional clients. For more information, see www. denisifinn.ie.

The Ruling Before Dublin District Court, Judge Mary Collins accepted Michael Nuding’s argument that the defendant shoe retailer was analogous to the Italian Dentist on the grounds that: a) Unlike a hotel, there is no large indeterminate number of persons present when the songs are being played; b) Also unlike a hotel, the shoe retailer’s customers come across the music by chance and not by choice; c) Again unlike a hotel, their decision to enter the shop and whether to buy shoes or the price of the shoes is not influenced by the radio being played in the background and accordingly, no economic benefit arises.

Although the decision does have not precedential value in this jurisdiction and it was emphasised by the District Court that this case fell on its own facts, it may have some relevance for business owners faced with these annual levies.

It has to be a comfort for retailers that this judgement resulted in a number of subsequent cases being withdrawn from the courts.

If a retailer believes their case could avail of such a defence, then it could be worth while seeking legal advice before paying their PPI invoice. Denis I. Finn Solicitors would be happy to discuss the merits of this decision on a case-by-case basis.

34|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

E Cigarettes

The Electronic Revolution The growth of e-cigarettes shows no signs of abating, with new EU rules ensuring that they can be freely sold in stores.

THE decision by the European Parliament to approve new draft tobacco products legislation on February 26 will not just impact on the cigarette market (where health warnings will now cover two thirds of the pack), but will also affect the e-cigarettes sector. Electronic or e-cigarettes can now be freely sold in stores. Indeed, e-cigarettes will be regulated as tobacco products, unless they are presented as having curative or preventative properties, such as helping smokers to quit, in which case they will be regulated as medicinal products.

The draft legislation was approved by MEPs by 514 votes to 66, with 58 abstentions. The legislation still has to be endorsed by member states’ ministers in the Council of the EU, although it has already been informally agreed with EU Health Ministers.

Providing the legislation passes without amendments, e-cigarettes will be regulated, either as medicinal products, if they are marketed as a quitting aid, or alternatively as tobacco products. In the latter case, their nicotine concentration should not exceed 20 mg/ml. Refillable e-cigarettes will be allowed, with cartridge sizes capped at 2ml. Electronic cigarettes should be childproof and should carry health warnings. They will also be subject to the same advertising restrictions as tobacco products.

Once the legislation is approved by the Council of Ministers on March 14, member states have to put the provisions on tobacco products into effect within two years of the updated directive’s date of entry into force.

Here in Ireland, Health Minister, James Reilly TD is considering banning the sale of e-cigarettes to consumers under 18.

Nicolites Launching a business on the eve of the largest economic downturn in living memory would usually be a surefire guarantee of failure. So it is all the more impressive that despite launching his company less than a year before the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Nikhil Nathwani now finds himself at the helm of a company that this year is set to turn over more than â‚Ź2.4m a month.

When the workplace smoking ban came into effect in the UK in July 2007, Nikhil was working for the family business

36|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

E Cigarettes

More and more smokers are trying to turn their back on tobacco, with electronic cigarettes giving smokers a truly revolutionary alternative.

and running a bar with shisha pipes in Leeds. As the ban came into effect, he was tasked with finding ways to accommodate their smoking customers.

Nikhil travelled to China to examine the fledgling technology of electronic cigarettes. Within weeks, Nicolites was born and its progress has been staggering. In 2011, the company turned over €730,000 and in 2013, sales topped €28m.

As the health impact of smoking tobacco has become clearer and The Nicolites range of e-cigarettes includes public opinion has turned, more both disposable and rechargeable models. and more smokers are trying to turn their back on tobacco. Electronic cigarettes - which look and feel like real cigarettes but are battery powered and contain a nicotine solution which is inhaled as a vapour - are giving smokers a truly revolutionary alternative.

The Nicolites e-cigarette model contains the latest in advanced technology and innovation that makes it the most affordable type of e-cig on the market today. It comes in two types; disposable and rechargeable.

Nicolites’ disposable device does not The disposable device does not require charging and is equivalent to aprequire charging and is equivalent to proximately 20 or 40 conventional tobacco approximately 20 or 40 conventional cigarettes, depending on the model. tobacco cigarettes, depending on the model. Once it’s depleted, consumers simply dispose of it and start using a new one.

The rechargeable model comes with a battery, a charger and two cartomisers. After buying the starter kit, only cartomisers are needed. Cartomisers come in a variety of strengths to match Cartomisers for Nicolites’ rechargeable model come in a variety the user’s current nicotine intake – high of strengths to match the user’s current nicotine intake – high (16mg/ml), medium (11mg/ml) low (6mg/ml) and zero (0mg/ml). (16mg/ml), medium (11mg/ml) low (6mg/

ml) and zero (0mg/ml). Also, since electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco, they’re not subject to the smoking ban and can be used anywhere – indoors and outdoors.

It has not always been an easy journey for Nicolites and Nikhil’s uncle, Nilesh Nathwani, and his business partner, Parag Khiroya, the owners of a pharmaceutical company, have been key to the company’s success.

With their expertise in the sector, Nilesh and Parag helped Nicolites accrue the necessary accreditations and licenses to become one of the first suppliers of e-cigs to the UK market with both going on to join forces with Nikhil and take a stake in the business.

A number of companies have entered the e-cigarette market in the last five years but none has enjoyed the success of the Nicolites brand. A survey found that six of the company’s products - which include menthol and cherry flavoured cigarettes and an electronic cigar - were in the top ten selling e-cigarette products in June 2013. In the UK, Nicolites are stocked by more retailers than any of their competitors.

Already this year, the Nicolites brand has replaced millions of traditional cigarettes and, with the market still growing, the sky really is the limit for a business very much in the ascendancy.

For more information, please visit www.nicolites.co.uk Jasper & Jasper Nano Ampersand were the first company to sell electronic cigarettes on the mainstream market when they

NANO disposable is the smallest electronic cigarette within the Jasper & Jasper range and offers the cheapest price point on the market to consumers.

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E Cigarettes launched Jasper & Jasper into the convenience sector in 2011. In the past three years, they have worked together with retailers to develop the brand and the electronic cigarette category and they now have Jasper & Jasper available in over 2,000 outlets nationwide.

NANO disposable is the smallest electronic cigarette within the range and offers the cheapest price point on the market to consumers. Retailing at only €4.99, NANO is the bestvalue entry point for first-time users of electronic cigarettes. It is as close to a real cigarette in its size and feel and is the equivalent of 20 cigarettes which will also create huge savings for smokers if they make the switch over from cigarettes.

NANO also has a low outer price for retailers, giving them an electronic cigarette option for their store with minimal investment required. NANO is also supported with stands and a full suite of POS to highlight its favourable pricing to consumers in-store.

SKYCIG Electronic Cigarettes Ampersand were appointed the official Irish agent for SKYCIG Electronic Cigarettes and commenced a successful sell-in to the trade in September 2013. The SKYCIG brand will already have some recognition amongst Irish retailers and consumers as it is the exclusive advertiser within the E-cigarette category at English Premier League matches.

Ampersand’s range contains the convenient single use SKYCIG One

Could E-Cigarettes Spell The End for Tobacco?

ELECTRONIC cigarettes could be society’s best chance to eliminate tobacco smoking, according to Professor Peter Hajek, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine’s Tobacco Dependence Research Unit.

Speaking to The Irish Times recently, ahead of a visit to Galway for a one-day course on helping smokers to quit, Professor Hajek noted that e-cigarettes have great potential in the fight against tobacco, as the vapour they emit is free from harmful substances like tar. “Nicotine itself may be no more harmful to health than coffee, and it’s the other substances in regular cigarettes that are dangerous,” he said.

The Professor estimated that one third of British smokers have tried e-cigarettes and 12% of that group have made the switch from tobacco.

Indeed, Professor Hajek feels that it is only a matter of time before tobacco companies switch over to e-cigarette manufacture themselves, with some already buying into this new market.

make a permanent switch with their flavour of preference.

SKYCIG take pride in offering a high level quality product, with eyecatching packaging that immediately stands out on-shelf, combined with very attractive price points, starting at €6.99 for the disposables and €17.95 for the Start kit. SKYCIG also have a range of Point-of-Sale materials and stands available to highlight the brand and to encourage sales in-store.

NJOY Ampersand have most recently added NJOY to their Electronic Cigarette portfolio. With investors such as Sean Parker, the founding President of Facebook and US Spotify; Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal; and the celebrity star Bruno Mars to name a few, NJOY is a brand that has firm plans in place to be the biggest branded electronic cigarette in the world.

NJOY is a premium electronic cigarette with the look, feel, flavour and satisfaction of the real thing, but without the tobacco smoke. It provides everything consumers like about smoking without the things they don’t: no tobacco smoke or cigarette smell. The packaging is innovative, engaging, re-closeable and hygienic and NJOY is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of its contents by encouraging customers to participate in their recycling programme.

Currently the top selling electronic cigarette in the US market, NJOY has sold over 10m units to date. This success is planned to be rolled out on a global scale through NJOY’s relentless pursuit of innovation in the product, product experience and science and by producing a product that gives smokers the ultimate satisfaction, while building a brand that they will love.

The SKYCIG brand will already have some recognition amongst Irish retailers and consumers as it is the exclusive advertiser within the E-cigarette category at English Premier League matches.

in Rich Tobacco and Menthol and the rechargeable SKYCIG Start kit option along with replacement cartridges in the Rich Tobacco, Menthol and Classic Tobacco flavours. These provide more traditional cigarette smokers with the opportunity to trial their products and

Currently the top selling electronic cigarette in the US market, NJOY is expected to replicate its success here.

38 |RetailNews|January/February News|March 2014| www.retailnews.ie 10|Retail 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Market News Industry LINWOODS PUTS A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

RIO McCOY’S PROMOTION KICKS OFF

THE award-winning Linwoods range of delicious, nutritious ‘Superfoods’ is the perfect solution for consumers who want to ensure that their diet comprises everything they need to get through life looking and feeling great. As consumers put those gloomy wintery months behind them, it is important to get their best foot forward and put a spring in their step with Linwoods. All ingredients are natural, gluten free, have no added sugar and are organic, where possible, so it could not be easier to get that much needed daily healthy boost. With 11 variants in the Linwoods range to choose from, there is a Linwoods product to fit every need. See www.linwoodshealthfoods.com for more information.

KP Snacks is running an exciting new promotion for leading brand McCoy’s, offering consumers the once-in-alifetime trip to experience the summer of sport in the heart of Rio. Based on the insight that if you can’t be at the game, the best place to watch it is with your mates in your local pub and designed to drive incremental sales, the promotion appeals to the Man Crisps’ key target audience of adult males and is supported by an on-pack promotion. The biggest ever promotion for McCoy’s, the Rio McCoy’s Local campaign is fronted by celebrity ‘pub landlord’, Al Murray, and feature an on-pack promotion that will run across McCoy’s handypacks, multipacks and price-marked-packs. The promotion will give consumers the chance to nominate their local pub to be recreated in Rio, via the brand’s promotional microsite (www.mccoys.co.uk/riolocal), with 15 trips for two to Rio up for grabs.

NEW EXTRA ICE CITRUS WRIGLEY is extending the range of its top selling gum brand with the launch of new Extra Ice Citrus. Tapping into the growing trend towards sugar free and fruit flavoured gum, and following the hugely successful Extra Strawberry and Bubblemint launches, Extra Ice Citrus is designed to drive volume and category penetration through a fresh tasting product, which will generate continued sales momentum on the Extra brand, currently in 11.6% sales growth (Source: ACNielsen, L12 Weeks, w/e 26/01/2014). To coincide with the in-store launch, Extra Ice Citrus will be supported with a dedicated TV copy, while the Extra brand will feature on TV throughout the year with more than 40 weeks on air. For more information on the launch or to request point of sale material, retailers can arrange a visit from their local representative by calling (01) 4353200.

NEW CUSHELLE TV ADVERT GLOBAL hygiene company SCA is launching a new creative campaign for Cushelle, starring the brand’s icon Koala in his own computer game, softening the spiky objects he meets along the way by giving the Cushelle whoosh of warm air to everything he encounters. The advert builds on the emotional engagement of its brand and engages both children and parents. This further deepens the emotional connection consumers feel towards Koala and cements Cushelle as the most desirable toilet paper brand for parents and families. See www.cushelle.ie for more information.

KENCO MILLICANO SUNLIGHT BLEND KENCO Millicano Sunlight Blend is a fresh, citrusy new addition to Ireland’s number one Wholebean Instant coffee range (Source: ACNielsen Data, W/e Dec. 29, 2013), launched just in time for spring. Medium roasted for a vibrant aroma, it gently awakens your senses so that you can enjoy the great taste all day long. Kenco Millicano Sunlight Blend contains finely-milled wholebeans, giving coffee lovers the taste and aroma reminiscent of roast and ground coffee in an instant. Whether at work or at home, it only takes a few minutes to brighten your day with this fruity new blend. “With Kenco Millicano Sunlight Blend, coffee drinkers can enjoy a bright, well-rounded coffee experience throughout the day - morning, noon or night,” notes Mary Moran, Brand Marketing for Kenco. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/KencoIreland.

ALMONDY PARTNERS WITH CADBURY & PHILADELPHIA SWEDISH baker Almondy has added two new cakes to its best-selling range of frozen desserts by linking up with the biggest brands in their fields, Cadbury and Philadelphia. The brand new Cadbury Chocolate Mousse & Almond Cake and Philadelphia Almond Layered Cheesecake with Lemon tap effortlessly into consumer mega-trends for indulgent, convenient yet natural treats. And, by harnessing the proven power of the superbrands, they arm retailers with a compelling offering for increased sales. Both products have a universal appeal for customers of all ages, and are also naturally gluten-free and and baked in a dedicated gluten-free site to prevent cross-contamination.

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Moblie Payments

Making the Move to Mobile Payments Martin Smethurst, Managing Director of Retail for Ireland at Wincor Nixdorf, explains why, despite low levels of customer adoption, mobile payment should be embraced by retailers if they are to reap the expected rewards. transition to a digital wallet. So how do they do this?

Martin Smethurst, Managing Director of Retail for Ireland at Wincor Nixdorf.

THE payment industry clearly sees a viable future for the use of smartphones as digital wallets, with the announcements of launches from AIB with their Me2U app, Google’s ‘Wallet’ and Verizon Wireless’ ‘ISIS Mobile Wallet’. In fact, according to Gartner, mobile payments represented a $235 billion market in 2013, which will rise to $721 billion by 2017.

However customer adoption has been slower than anticipated and only 21% of mobile transactions completed in 2013 were merchandise purchases rather than balance transfers.

The potential for the retail industry is huge if you consider the benefits, from faster payments and faster moving queues to the potential to increase repeat purchase, through loyalty based programmes linked to customer’s phones. However, if retailers are to reap the benefits of mobile payment, they will need to play their part in aiding customers’

Don’t Limit Customer Choice Mobile payments have been hailed as the next thing for in-store technology, but the reality is that mobile phones are still primarily used by customers for in-store research, such as product reviews or price comparisons.

Smart retailers will not force the use of mobile phones for payments if it’s not what their customers want, but supplement existing forms of payments such as cash, credit and debit with new technologies. The key to success will be maximising opportunities across all channels and ensuring customers have a seamless experience where they can use the payment method they prefer.

Test the Waters A common argument against mobile payments and particularly near field communication (NFC) – using your mobile phone to pay for items by connecting or scanning it over another NFC-enabled device, (for example, a payment terminal) is that it requires a substantial investment in infrastructure to get the technology off the ground. However, if retailers are looking to upgrade their terminals anyway, they should consider that there is very little cost difference between terminals that aren’t NFCenabled and those that are.

Educate Educate Educate Like any new technology, educating staff and consumers is the key to encouraging adoption. NFC allows customers to ‘tap and go’ and pay for items instantly. While this seems like a straightforward and convenient option that consumers would jump at,

adoption has so far been slower than predicted. Like riding a bicycle, we all need the confidence to take that first step and avoid the embarrassment of admitting we don’t know how to use a contactless solution. This is particularly vital for those of us who aren’t ‘digital natives’ and who need a bit of help and encouragement to make the leap into the technological unknown.

Don’t Limit Your Approach It can’t be stressed enough that mobile payment platforms should be open if they are to succeed. Retailers should not put all their eggs in one basket with one technology, since it is still difficult to predict which technology customers will ultimately favour. Importantly, retailers need to retain the ability to move quickly and incorporate alternative mobile payment methods if needed.

Reward Your Customers The real power in mobile payments is that it allows retailers to harness customer data and tailor products and services to encourage brand loyalty. We have already seen loyalty schemes that previously used vouchers and coupons making the move into the digital age – the mobile device is waiting in the wings to become the new loyalty card. Retailers must be ready to make mobile an essential part of their loyalty offering if they are to finally deliver an Amazon or eBay-like experience to customers in-store.

Ultimately, if customer data is used responsibly and effectively, mobile payments can enable retailers to sell more of the most relevant products to the most receptive customers – improving service levels and margins.

40|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Yellow Fats

Spread the Good News Health and taste are key drivers of yellow fats, while the return to homemade breakfasts and sandwiches is all good news for the category.

THE Irish consumer is traditionally very brand loyal. This loyalty has been tested in recent years, with economic conditions prompting many consumers to seek out cheaper alternatives, such as private label products or value offers on branded goods. However, the strength of home-grown brands in the yellow fats sector, which have a longstanding tradition in the market and have built strong relationships with Irish consumers, has ensured that the yellow fats sector remains strong. The development of new products with added health benefits, such as cholesterol lowering products, has also helped the yellow fats sector to remain strong in both value and volume terms.

One benefit of the economic downturn for retailers was the return to homemade breakfasts and sandwiches, which was good for the yellow fats sector. Indeed, breakfast and lunch are key occasions for spreads, accounting for up to 84% of total usage. Indeed, since the recession began in 2008, homemade breakfasts and lunches have enjoyed a revival, up 3% and 3.4% respectively since 2008 (Source: Kantar Usage Occasions Nov 2012).

Retailers can unlock category value, according to Unilever, by inspiring shoppers with interesting and engaging mealtime ideas, which feature complementary host foods such as bread and morning goods. Stocking low calorie or low fat products that don’t compromise on taste will also help to grow sales.

“Health and taste are key drivers of the Butters & Spreads category,” explains Adrian Adams, Senior Category Manager for Chilled Food at Unilever. “However, shoppers are increasingly unwilling to compromise on taste in order to be healthier. This presents a clear opportunity for the category to maximise sales through tasty product innovation and also improved shopper education on how they can better manage their family’s health.”

Connacht Gold Celebrating the fact that Ireland’s consumers are realising they can enjoy the taste of real butter with just half the fat,

Connacht Gold has launched a TV campaign for its Low Fat Butter, following the success of last year’s record brand growth.

The six-week campaign is running across TV, radio and online, combined with a significant presence in-store with point-of-sale and tastings.

Connacht Gold butter is the fastest growing brand in the butter and spreads category, according to Aurivo, with the brand achieving double digit growth in sales and category share in the past year.

The strong vote of confidence by consumers in Connacht Gold highlights the latent Connacht Gold has launched a TV campaign for demand for its Low Fat Butter, following the success of last real taste year’s record brand growth. and real butter. The innovative TV campaign aims to highlight the difference between Connacht Gold’s real butter, as distinct from butter substitutes on the market.

The nationwide marketing campaign follows a similar investment last year, which resulted in considerable nationwide customer recruitment for Connacht Gold. The campaign was created by Havas Worldwide Dublin and was filmed in County Sligo.

The Connacht Gold range also includes multi award winning products, such as the prestigious Great Taste three

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Yellow Fats gold star winner, Connacht Gold Softer Butter, and Blas na hEireann winner, Connacht Gold Garlic and Herb Butter.

The brand’s Unsalted Butter has achieved significant growth since its launch in 2013.

As part of the new campaign Flora - which has over 40% penetration in Irish households - is introducing a brand new in-store creative platform.

Entitled ‘Bring a little goodness to everyday life’, the emphasis is on the role of food in family life, and promotes the versatility of Flora as a tasty Flora accompaniment to breakfast, lunch and In 2013, Flora, the leading spread dinner. brand from Unilever, announced a “The new Flora campaign brings heavyweight marketing campaign and back the iconic sunflower that rebranding exercise, its biggest ever generations of mums know and love, whilst also celebrating the ups and downs of family life,” notes Patty Essick, Brand Building Director for Spreads at Unilever UK & Ireland. “Mums tell us that being a mum is the best job in the world, but it’s also one of the toughest. They have to provide food that everyone likes, fits with modern, busy lives, and will make their money Flora’s latest heavyweight campaign highlights the great taste of Flora and sees the return of the iconic go further. They need Flora sunflower. a great-tasting Flora that all the family love, whether on toast, in packed lunches or when cooking – and they want to know it’s good for their family too.

“We’re confident that this integrated campaign will enable us to lead the reinvigoration of the butter and spreads category, As part of the brand re-launch, Flora’s packaging and logo which has a have been redesigned, and now feature a colourful look longstanding and and prominent Flora sunflowers. welcomed place in families’ fridges.”

As part of the brand remarketing investment into the brand, launch, the Flora packaging to drive value growth back into the and logo have been redesigned, Butters and Spreads category. and now feature a colourful look and Kick-starting a long-term prominent Flora sunflowers. commitment with continued investment into 2014, the campaign was led by advertising on mainstream TV as well as activation across a mix of additional platforms including OOH, • The Butters and Spreads category has digital, print and PR. household penetration of 99% and has The campaign highlights the great little to no expandability; taste of Flora and sees the return of the • Trading shoppers up into premium iconic Flora sunflower – modernised sectors which carry a perceived added for today’s shopper – which will remind benefit will unlock category value; consumers of the natural goodness of • Retailers should group products by sunflowers found throughout the Flora type, such as grouping all cholesterol-lowering spreads together, to range: sunflower oil naturally contains highlight their offering to consumers omega 6. Flora contains omega 3 & and encouraging them to expand their 6, which help to maintain normal repertoire; cholesterol levels.

The RRP of 500g tubs of Flora Buttery, Original Light and Lighter than Light is €2.37, with an RRP €4.89 for 1kg tubs.

Dairygold Since the first tub of Dairygold spread was made over 30 years ago, Kerry Foods have been bringing Dairygold butter spreads to generations of Irish butter lovers.

Dairygold prides itself on its unique taste and texture that spreads straight from the fridge. It is traditionally made with churned cream and natural ingredients, combining to deliver a great tasting spread that makes food taste better.

Dairygold Original is available in 227g, 454g and 908g tub sizes. The range also includes Dairygold Lighter, delivering on the great Dairygold taste but with less fat.

The latest addition to the family is Dairygold Baking Block. With all the taste consumers know and love of Dairygold, it’s made with churned cream to make the fluffiest cakes, most golden scones and perfect pastry.

For quick and tasty recipes to make food taste better, visit www.yourdairygold.ie.

Kerry Foods have been bringing Dairygold butter spreads to Irish butter lovers for more than 30 years.

Trade Up for Benefits • Retailers can encourage consumers to trade-up by ensuring they stock a selection of added-value offerings, including cholesterol lowering spreads or olive spreads, alongside other leading products to target upper market shoppers who typically purchase a diverse range of spreads for different functions; • Ensure fixtures are simple and easy to navigate, enabling consumers to clearly identify different spread types.

(Source: Unilever)

42|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

Drinks News

Appointment at Findlater FINDLATER Wine & Spirit Group have appointed David O’Boyle as Field Sales Manager for Dublin and the eastern region. David’s role sees him managing a team of wine specialists that service on-trade and independent off-licence accounts in the midlands and eastern counties of Ireland. David has held various management roles in FindlaterGrants, Bacchus and more recently Febvre, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the wine and the on-trade business. He is also a Level 3 WSET Diploma holder.

HENNESSY GOLD CUP A GREAT SUCCESS TO mark the running of the 2014 Hennessy Gold Cup, guests of Hennessy gathered at Leopardstown Racecourse to witness Last Instalment’s victorious run under the guidance of jockey Brian O’Connell. Guests from the drinks, retail and hospitality industries gathered to enjoy a Hennessy cocktail and canapés reception, followed by a delicious buffet lunch. Those in attendance included Willie and Angela O’Byrne from BWG, Noel Keely from Musgraves, Charlie Sheil, General Manager at The Marker Hotel, and Mark O’Brien from Tesco Ireland. On the day, there was also some exciting news from Hennessy, as Andy O’Hara, ‎CEO at Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd, unveiled the new bottle, label and packaging for Hennessy V.S., continuing the brand’s iconic revolution since 1765. Created by car design firm Pininfarina, who has worked with high-end automobile manufacturers Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, Jaguar and Alfa Romeo, the redesign is assertively contemporary, highlighting the intensity and power of what lies within. While the bottle redesign is structured and masculine and the elevated carafe showcases the brand’s stability; the longer and more stylish neck is finished with a quilted pattern to bring radiance and brightness to the bottle. One of the most significant additions is the emblematic date, 1765, which is engraved on the glass to reflect the long-standing history of Hennessy as it reaches its 250th anniversary in 2015. London designer Lucy Choi is pictured with Caroline Sleiman, Market Development Manager, Moët Hennessy, at the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Bushmills Live 2014 Launched THE music-loving whiskey makers at the Old Bushmills Distillery have handmade the world’s largest barrel oak headphones to launch this year’s Bushmills Live 2014 indie music festival. Made by two local artisans using almost a dozen giant whiskey barrels, the headphones stand at over 10 feet high and will form an interactive centrepiece, with music from Bushmills Live artists past and present played through the unique, handcrafted headphones. ‘Bushmills Live 2014’ is a festival of handcrafted whiskey and music that will take place at the Old Bushmills Distillery, on Ireland’s stunning north coast, on June 11-12, 2014, with breakthrough British band, The 1975 headlining the festival on June 12. The ‘moneycan’t-buy’ tickets will not go on general release. Instead, music and whiskey fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page – www.facebook.com/bushmills.

IRISH DISTILLERS LAUNCH CORK WHISKEY WAY IRISH Distillers have launched Cork’s first ‘Whiskey Way’ trail; an experience of two of Cork’s greatest treasures, Irish whiskeys and its pubs. The guide is available as a free iPhone app, or users can avail of a printed map from various pubs, tourist centres, and the Old Jameson Distillery,

Midleton. The exciting trail will bring users on a guide of Cork’s historical city and features 10 handpicked pubs, renowned for their welcoming bartenders who have a passion for Irish whiskey and their great atmosphere.

Pictured at the launch of The Cork Whiskey Way were Master Distiller, Brian Nation; John Bowe, Irish Distillers; and Sabine Sheehan, Jameson Visitor Centres.

www.retailnews.ie|March 2014|Retail News|43

Drinks News

Irish Distillers Chief Call for Excise Reversal Anna Malmhake, Chairman & CEO, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, has called for a reversal of excise hikes on spirits and the return of the ban on below cost selling.

Anna Malmhake, Chairman & CEO, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

A REVERSAL of the Government’s October budget increase on the spirits sector is essential in order to avoid the erosion of this proud, indigenous industry and to prevent a rapid resumption in cross-border shopping, according to Anna Malmhake, Chairman & CEO, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard results for the first six months of this fiscal year, ending December 31, 2013, Malmhake called for a return of the ban on below cost selling, which formed part of the Groceries Order until its abolition in 2006.

Serious Consequences “We in Irish Distillers are fully supportive of the Government’s commitment to tackling alcohol misuse and continue to play an active role in promoting responsible consumption,” she stressed. However, she pointed out that overall alcohol consumption in Ireland has in fact declined by nearly 20% in the last decade and urged the Government to work with all stakeholders to develop and introduce “evidence-based solutions that will address alcohol misuse,

instead of punishing the majority of consumers who drink responsibly, with relentless tax hikes… We believe the reintroduction of the ban on below cost selling could be an immediately effective policy move in this area.”

While cognisant of the financial constraints that the Government is under, Malmhake warned that “the recent series of punitive increases imposed on this vital part of the agri-food industry will have serious consequences, not only for established producers such as Irish Distillers but for new start-up Irish whiskey distilleries, publicans, retailers and all of their employees.”

The CEO, however, applauded the Government for keeping the VAT rate at 9%, which she described as a positive step for the hospitality sector, which plays a key role in the tourism economy.

The Jameson Effect Commenting on the Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard performance for the sixmonth period to the end of December 2013, she described it as another positive one for Jameson worldwide.

“However, in stark contrast, the 35% increase in excise on spirits in a period of 10 months (20% in Dec 2012 and 15% in Oct 2013) has had a severe impact on the Irish market,” she said.

Jameson is now the key performing brand for Pernod Ricard, along with Ricard. Jameson performed strongly for the first six months of the fiscal year with 16% sales growth and 13% volume growth.

Declining Market However, the total spirits market has declined by 7.4% in 2013 (Nielsen MAT). The continued decline in the on-trade (-5.7% volume for spirits) and off-trade (-8.1% volume for spirits) combined with the excise increase (15% on spirits) in October has had a hugely negative impact on the spirits industry in Ireland. A further deceleration of

Jameson performed strongly for the first six months of the fiscal year with 16% sales growth and 13% volume growth.

9.6% can be seen in the six months ending December 31, 2013. More worryingly, however, is that the real time effect of this latest increase will only be realised in 2014, according to the company.

When it comes to wine, the figures make equally worrying reading. The total wine market has declined by 8.6% in 2013 (Nielsen MAT). The continued decline in the on-trade (-2.9% volume for wine) and off-trade (-8.8% volume for wine), combined with the excise increase (18% on wine) in October, have had a hugely negative impact on the wine industry in Ireland. A further deceleration of 9.3% can be seen in the six months ending December 31, 2013, with Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard predicting that, just like in the spirits sector, the real time effect of this latest increase will only be realised in 2014.

Ireland has the highest levels of excise on wine in the EU, with approximately 50% of the cost of an average bottle of wine going to the Exchequer, and the third highest excise on spirits in the EU, with approximately 66% of the cost of a bottle of whiskey going to the Exchequer.

44|Retail News|March 2014|www.retailnews.ie

On The Vine

Allez Les Bleus Jean Smullen reports on the resurgence of French wine in the Irish market.

AT the start of each year it is always useful to check on trends. This time last year, the French market share on the Irish wine market increased by 1% to 14% of the total market. Most of this growth can be attributed to discounting of (mostly) premium French wines by the supermarket groups, particularly Tesco, whose UK planogram contains a high percentage of French wines, and the discounter supermarkets Aldi and Lidl, for whom French wine sales account for 17.6% of their volume sales.

It is estimated that up to 70% of French wine currently on sale on the Irish market is own label, brought in directly by the supermarket groups.

However, the independent off licence trade is also seeing an increase in sales of French wine, with many of the key independents and importing companies reporting steady growth, particularly for AOP France rather than branded wines.

This augurs well for European wines in general, with Italy and Spain also showing upward growth in terms of market share. It should also be noted that the huge transition from Old to New World Wines in the Irish wine market has started to turn around, mostly at the expense of Australia and

Chile.

In the years 1990 to 2004, there was a dramatic increase in sales, with New World wines rising from 6% of the total market (1990) to 75% of the total market share (2004).

However during the period 20082012, New World wine sales decreased to 68%, with European wines recording an increased market share of 32% of the total market in 2012, up from 29.3% in 2008 (Source: IWA July 2013 & Nielsen 2013).

France at the premium end of the market is all about showing value.

Southern France in particular is offering great value at the present time, which also helps to grow overall French wine sales. Value on the Irish wine market today is not about offering entry level prices but supplying wines which punch above their weight in terms of price/quality ratio, particularly in the mid price category of €15-20.

Generic wine promotions from France are also on the way back, with Sopexa allocating a budget to promote wines from the Rhône Valley in 2013 and Inter Beaujolais also focusing on promoting their wines on the Irish market with a trade tutored tasting and participation at Taste of Dublin.

Both generic bodies have confirmed they will return in 2014 with similar programmes.

There is also great demand for top end wines from the regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, though the total volume allocated to this market is relatively small. Loire Sauvignon Blanc appears to be ticking all the boxes and is in great demand, though here too, excellar prices are increasing.

The trade are also reporting that in the on-trade, France is definitely back as a house wine on many wine lists with Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP), the intermediate category replacing Vin de Pays in French wine law, leading the way on this front, particularly from the South of France.

Unlike New World wines, France may not provide the volume wines in many restaurants but it can dot the list, with wines from the Loire, Bordeaux, Rhône, Languedoc and Burgundy and these are filling the shelves in the independent off trade as well.

In fact, relatively speaking, France over-performs, compared to countries like Australia and Chile, who have a far bigger overall market share. This is most likely due to a long tradition of French wines being served with food in Ireland, as well as the fact that France offers such a variety of wine styles from different regions. As Irish consumers become more adventurous in their food choices, there is a knock-on affect in terms of their wine choice as well.

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On The Vine A look now as some of the French wines that are a must-stock.

Michel Lynch Classic Range €15

(Barry & Fitzwilliam) This is the number one premium French brand on the Irish market. In 1932, the Cazes family bought the estate, which is still 100% family owned. This wine is part of the Lynch Bages portfolio. This is one of the famed Wine Geese wine estates, which has an Irish connection.

2013 was a very good year for sales of the Michel Lynch Classic range.

Faiveley

(Barry & Fitzwilliam) From Burgundy, Barry & Fitzwilliam also distribute the iconic Faiveley house. Burgundy is all about style.

Prices are high, mainly due to two relatively small vintages and the disastrous summer of 2013. However, the customer votes with their purse and most Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is Michel Lynch: the selling out as soon number one premium French brand on the Irish as it arrives, with market. advance orders being allocated before they even hit our shores.

Trimbach Pinot Blanc €16-17 (Gilbeys Wines)

Gilbeys are also well placed to supply the key regions of Alsace and Burgundy. Their Burgundian portfolio of Jabolet and Drouhin is in great demand. Their Alsace range, from one of the region’s top producers Trimbach, is also worth a look. Their Pinot Blanc is very much in demand by discerning and adventurous wine consumers and is another wine to create a point of difference on a wine shelf or a restaurant list.

Marc Signerin (Vin de France) €9.99

(Ampersand Wines) Produced by Boisset, this is a great value range made from grapes grown

in the South of France. Available in three varietals, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this is new to the market, well priced and packaged, and already garnering quite a following in the independent off trade.

J Moreau et Fils Sauvignon de Saint Bris €14-15

(Findlater Wine & Spirit Group) The consumer demand for Sauvignon Blanc shows no sign of abating.

This slightly ‘off piste’ Sauvignon from the Chablis region offers great value. The Findlater group have a very strong French portfolio. Some of their outstanding offerings include Les Vignes de Bila Haut, a Côtes du Roussillon Villages from the famous producer Michel Chapoutier, which is a spectacular red wine from the Languedoc. They also offer the unusual grape, Picpoul de Pinet from Château Font Mars: this crisp, fruity wine will appeal to people who may be tiring of Sauvignon Blanc. Malbec is another grape winning lots of new followers, particularly from Cahors, Malbec’s spiritual home. Here, they are now starting to produce more consumer friendly styles like this wine, Georges Vigouroux, which is new to the Findlater range and which certainly fits into this category.

Mommessin Chablis €17-18 (Coman’s Wines)

The old stalwarts of the Irish trade, Chablis and Fleurie are still very much in demand. The Irish consumer’s love affair with cool climate Chardonnay grow on the Jurassic limestone soils in Chablis continues unabated.

Mommessin is a producer rated very highly, especially with the Irish wine press, who regularly give the house good reviews.

The other old reliable is Fleurie from the region of Beaujolais.

Beaujolais is an easy wine to sell in Ireland, especially to the Irish consumer of a certain age, who thinks that Fleurie is a brand name. A pretty name, good volume production, and freshness of

Mommessin is a producer rated very highly, especially with the Irish wine press, who regularly give the house good reviews.

flavour all contribute to make this the most popular of the 10 Beaujolais Cru. Fleurie is lovely when young; it produces full sweet silky wines.

Coman’s Fleurie is Domaine de la Presle, which retails at €17-18 and is a fine, well made example of this classic style. Look out too for their Cuvee St Pierre Pinot Noir and IGP wine from the South of France, retailing at €12, which is punching way above its price point.

Mouton Cadet €13.99

(Cassidy Wines) This is a generic label from one of Bordeaux’s most famous houses, the Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The label began in the 1940s, making it the oldest branded wine in the world. The range is available in red, white and rosé. All are blended wines: Mouton Cadet red is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet France and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mouton Cadet white is made from 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon and 5% Muscadelle.

Château Bellevue del la Foret Optimum €30

(Mackenway Distributors) This wine from South West France is made by an Irishman. Philip Grant, a very successful Irish businessman, studied his WSET Diploma here in Ireland in the 1980s and one day promised he’d make his own wine. He went on to buy this Château Château Bellevue in the AOP del la Foret Optimum of Fronton, is actually made by near Cahors Irishman, Philip Grant. and this wine was recently awarded a twostar rating in the prestigious Guide Hachette. It is made from the Negrette grape and is definitely a wine to recommend to your more adventurous wine consumer.

LEADING consumer group Which? has awarded its prestigious ‘Best Buy’ accolade to Aldi’s Magnum All in One Complete (€3.45 / 40 pack) following a blind test to find the best dishwasher tablets on the market. Praised for tackling stubborn stains, Aldi’s own brand dishwasher tablets were ranked ahead of more expensive, market leading brands. “We’re proud to say that Aldi products regularly outperform well-known brands and the latest consumer test by Which? shows

why our dishwasher tablets make the grade for ‘Best Buy’, delivering on both performance and price,” enthused Aldi’s Group Buying Director, Rob Farrell.

IT’S great to see technology doing its job, like CashGuard’s security system. Two raiders who recently attempted to steal money from a SPAR store in Dublin’s Clondalkin were forced to leave empty-handed thanks to the fact that the store had installed a CashGuard system. Staff were threatened but not injured and two raiders fled the store after they couldn’t access any cash. Hurray for CashGuard!

THE Subway brand has launched a seven-week campaign to tie in with the launch of Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted in cinemas across Ireland. Celebrating all things green in honour of Kermit the Frog, Subway stores are introducing avocado during the campaign as a limited time additional salad option while stocks last, which can be added to any existing Sub, flatbread or snacks, as well as introducing two new Subs: Turkey Avocado and Chicken Avocado. Subway stores have also launched a range of six limited edition Muppets Most Wanted Kids’ Paks to collect, which include a low-fat four-inch Sub, Capri Sun Fruit Crush drink and a Bear Pure Fruit Yoyos.

The launch is supported with an above-the-line campaign with 30-second and 10-second TV ads featuring Muppets characters, Kermit, Miss Piggy and Constantine.

NUSLI is a brand new Irish product that combines award winning irish yogurt, fruit, apple-juice, whole-grains almonds and hazelnuts. Nusli is already premixed all in one container (with a spoon included) and yet maintains its texture and delicious taste without any preservatives or stabilisers. From a retailer perspective, Nusli captures the opportunity afforded by consumers’ desire for a healthy grab and go convenience breakfast, mid morning or afternoon meal replacement. The container has been designed to make maximum use of limited shelf space and can be merchandised on its side or stacked vertically. From a consumer perspective, Nusli is absolutely delicious and healthy, with wholegrains, nuts and yogurt contributing to slowly release energy so consumers feel fuller for longer. See www.nusli.com for more details.

KEELINGS recently celebrated the year’s first harvest of Irish strawberries. To mark this important calendar date for Ireland’s leading fresh produce supplier, David Keeling presented everyone’s favourite Galway girl, Síle Seoige with a punnet of the First Harvest of Irish strawberries.

“Strawberries are one of the fruits most widely associated with the Keelings brand and so the first harvest is always special to everyone at Keelings and marks the beginning of a new growing season,” David Keeling noted. “This years’ Keelings Irish strawberry harvest is the earliest ever to ripen.”

CORK’S reputation as the food capital of Ireland received a new boost at the recent 2014 Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards, with six of the seven awards going to Cork producers, organisations or individuals. The 2014 IFWG Food Award winners are Cork’s Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms, Coolea Matured Farmhouse Cheese and Irish Atlantic Sea Salt.

Stonewell Cider (Co. Cork) claimed the Guild’s inaugural Drink Award and Dermot Carey and David Langford were awarded for their notable contribution to Irish food for their expansive Heritage Irish Potato Collection. An Environmental Award was presented to Responsible Irish Fish (Co. Cork) for its commitment to the development of sustainable fishing practices and a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the inimitable Corkonian Myrtle Allen, a much-loved fellow Guild member, on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Pictured are (l-r): Aileen O’Neill, Irish Atlantic Sea Salt; Geraldine Emerson, Stonewell Cider; Dicky Willems, Coolea Cheese; Lucy Creegan, Ballyhoura Mushrooms; and Dermot Carey, Heritage Farmhouse Potatoes.

IRISH Vegan food company, Dee’s Wholefoods are launching a selection of their ‘free from’ products into UK stores. The products, which are not only 100% vegan but are gluten, dairy, egg, soy, wheat, GMO free and free from all artificial additives, are available at Waitrose and Booths stores. The products were all created by Deirdre Collins and are produced using a clean label and ‘free from’ ethos without compromising on taste. Waitrose will be stocking the Organic Omega Burger and the Traditional Vegan Sausage and Booths will be stocking the Organic Spicy Bean Burger, Organic Omega Burger, Roast Garlic and Mushroom Vegan Sausages and the Leek and Onion Vegan Sausages. See www.Dees.ie for more information.

The Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2014 11 September 2014 Round Room Mansion House, Dublin

Nothing says we’re the best like winning a Quality Food & Drink award IRISH

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VALUE

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PACKAGING

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GOLD WINNER

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IRISH IRISH RETAILER GOLD WINNER

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Deadline for entries: 2 June To enter please visit www.irishqualityfoodawards.com For more details please contact: Lara Monahan, lara.monahan@irishqualityfoodawards.ie 00 44 (0) 20 8253 8632 / Ireland 00 353 (0) 1 8176362 Please quote the promo code RNEFP2 when entering.

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No reliable evidence for plain tobacco packaging exists.

Easier for criminals to copy tobacco packs More access for minors to cheap illegal tobacco No proven health benefits

PLAIN PACKAGING

Increased loss to the Exchequer through illegal trade Job losses in retail Damage to Ireland’s reputation as a place to do business

CONSEQUENCES

The negative consequences are clear.

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