Boozy Biccies launch limited edition St. Patrick’s Day Cookie

Boozy Biccies, the alcohol-infused snack brand, has launched a special St. Patrick’s Day cookie. “Paddy’s Wee Cookies”, a green beer flavoured biscuit using butter from Co. Derry and beer from Dublin, meaning – in the words of founder Michael Thompson – it doesn’t get much more Irish. The limited edition biscuits are packaged in a new white box, and were photographed in Downpatrick, at the site of St. Patrick’s cross. Paddy’s Wee Cookies are sold in 140g boxes, rrp £4.99. Boozy Biccies is an artisan cookie producer in Northern Ireland, selling primarily into North America. For more details and to order, visit www.boozybiccies.com.

Club is seeking outside-the-box designs for its new Club Orange can

Club launches nationwide competition to redesign can

Soft drink icon Club has launched a new campaign calling on digital natives and creatives to design its new can, with the winning design going on to be produced and sold in stores throughout Ireland. The ‘Club Unreal Flavours’ campaign is challenging consumers to demonstrate how they would turn an ordinary can into an unreal one. The competition is open until 31 March; Club will share a selection of the best designs online before announcing the overall winner on 14 April 2020. The can design will then go live on 150,000 Club orange cans by the end of summer. To learn more and enter, visit Club Orange on facebook.

Dublin Food Chain ‘Producer Showcase’ held in Dublin

Dozens of Irish brands were on display in Dublin’s Crowne Plaza Hotel for the Dublin Food Chain’s Producer Showcase, at which buyers from all of the major Irish retail and foodservice brands were on hand to sample and learn more, with a view to acquiring new listings. Some of the retail brands present on the day included BWG Foodservice, Pallas Foods, Musgrave Wholesale Partners, Kylemore Group, Starbucks, Tesco, SuperValu and more. Some of the up-and-coming Irish brands on display included Sadie’s Kitchen, Maria Lucia Bakes, The Sweet Potato Pizza Company, Fused by Fiona, Dan and Monstro, King of Kefir, Porter & Nash, The Little Pharma and more.

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The health and wellness revolution that has taken place in Ireland in recent years has led to the growth of the healthy snacking segment. Increased interest in specific diets as well as growing participation in sports and gym activity has seen a number of Irish and international brands capitalise on the desire for quasi-indulgent snacks that also provide a healthy injection of protein at just the right time, whether it’s before or after sports or elsewhere.

Life on the go

2020 is going to be a big year for Nutramino, building on the momentum of the launch of the Nutra-Go low sugar protein snacks and ready to drink shakes ranges. Nutramino offers a mix of taste and functionality that helps consumers make better snacking choices with a balanced range of products that satisfies cravings for a treat on the go.

Nutramino aims to support consumers for “life on the go”. To that end, it has become the official snack to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association – one of Europe’s fastest growing sports organisations. In this year of the 20×20 campaign, Nutramino says it proud to back an organisation that promotes female sports in every corner of the country. It will be working with the organisation to help promote strong nutrition messages across the counties and club units and help them grow their numbers of players and members.

Nutramino has a range of in-store promotions planned for 2020 which will showcase the good work of the LGFA and help retailers drive sales of these higher margin snacks. The brand is currently in close to 400 stores, with a promotion that allows consumers to win an exclusive LGFA training kit to encourage them to keep going even during the dark February nights.

The Nutra-Go range includes a mix of low sugar high protein formats and three tasty shakes meaning retailers can meet the differing needs of consumers that come into a store whether they are looking for something sweet, great taste without the guilt or a quick boost of energy.

Q&A with Paul Fullam, country manager Ireland, Glanbia Performance Nutrition

Paul Fullam

Q: Who is the ideal target audience for Glanbia Performance Nutrition in Ireland, and how do you ensure your brands are a go-to choice for these consumers?

A: Our snacking products are designed for the growing number of active consumers seeking a healthier choice of snack or a protein boost after exercise or when on the go. Glanbia Performance Nutrition is unique in that we can leverage a portfolio of strong brands to address the differing needs of consumers and offer a choice of formats to broaden the appeal of the category.

Under our Nutramino brand, we offer a great tasting range of low-sugar protein snacks and ready-to-drink shakes suitable to all active consumers. Nutramino offers that Scandinavian mix of taste and functionality, and is doing very particularly well in forecourts and convenience.

Our recent partnership with the Ladies GFA looks set to help grow the brand significantly in 2020 and we have an exciting range of in-store promotions planned to showcase that partnership and elevate the brand further.

Our other hero brand Optimum Nutrition is the world leader in protein powder, and appeals strongly to regular gym goers and athletes with a performance goal. Our recent launch of the Optimum Nutrition high protein snack range has broadened the appeal even further, with the ultra-soft Optimum Bar and deliciously crunchy Protein Crisp Bar proving popular with consumers who want something different from the traditional protein bar experience.

Finally, we have an exciting promotion leveraging our partnerships with both Leinster Rugby and Munster Rugby coming in April.

Q: How significantly has Nutramino grown within the Irish marketplace?

A: Nutramino has had major progress in Ireland over the last two years. Working in partnership with PRL and Leyden’s, we have grown distribution across the gym, convenience, grocery and forecourt channel.

Our research shows that consumers want choice when it comes to protein snacking. It is no longer good enough for a retailer to offer just another flavour of the same chewy bar. Our retail partners are telling us that when different formats such as our Nutra-Go Low Sugar Protein Wafer or Optimum Nutrition Protein Crisp Bar are available, consumers will try them and keep coming back.

In short, building a multi-format range which appeals to more consumers helps grow total sales for the category.

Q: What advice would you give retailers in order to drive Nutramino sales? Particularly those retailers who may be limited in terms of shelf space?

A: While many retailers now stock several flavours of similar protein bars, the majority are missing out on significant additional revenue by not meeting the changing needs of consumers.

We recommend prioritising a choice of format and brand over yet another flavour extension. Help consumers with their desire to make better choices by clearly signposting and placing healthy and protein snacks at front of store. Place beside or within chocolate confectionery to offer a clear choice; this will drive sales of higher margin options versus traditional confectionery. Seeing as 46% of all healthy snacks are consumed with a hot drink, place protein snack options next to coffee machines to drive incremental spend. Finally, for those retailers that do have space, we have seen great results from well-designed temporary FSDUs – particularly when linked to a powerful promotion such as our ‘win an exclusive LGFA training kit’ offer with Nutramino, which is currently in stores nationwide.

Q: How does Nutramino encompass the brand tagline ‘For Life on the Go’?

A: Nutramino is Scandinavia’s leading active nutrition brand and has that perfect mix of taste and functionality. The Nutra-Go low sugar protein range in particular is light, convenient and proving very popular with those active consumers who are looking for a great tasting way to boost their protein intake while getting on with life.

Q: How important are low calorie counts for your target audience and how do you deliver on this front?

A: Our target audience wants choice, and will reach for different formats to meet their different moods or needs. Great taste, protein and low sugar continue to be very big drivers for us; leveraging our portfolio we can offer a choice of formats with lower calorie options to more high protein options. Our Nutra-Go Low Sugar Protein Wafer has proven popular with those looking for a light, lower calorie option as it comes in two individually wrapped portions so it can be consumed across a day rather than in one sitting. Each serving is less than 100 calories so a very permissible tasty treat.

Optimum performance

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is a staple in the dressing rooms of Leinster and Munster Rugby, as well as among the Irish sailing team headed for Tokyo 2020

Optimum Nutrition, the world’s number one sports nutrition brand, has long been the market leader in the protein powder category and with the recent launch of a new snacking range, it is quickly becoming a go-to snack for gym-goers and athletes.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey is a staple in the dressing rooms of Leinster and Munster Rugby, as well being in the kit bags of the Irish sailing team heading to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games this summer.

New improved versions of the top five flavours of Gold Standard 100% Whey have been launched, and Optimum Nutrition has even kicked off a “Love it or Your Money Back” guarantee. A retail promotion in SuperValu is currently running to win tickets to Leinster v Munster at the Aviva Stadium this April.

The Optimum Nutrition high protein snack range has brought the brand into convenience stores for the first time, with 30 years of heritage in sports nutrition coming with it. The range is also bringing new consumers to Optimum Nutrition, with the soft Optimum Bar and the crunchy Protein Crisp Bar (packed with 20g protein) offering consumers a choice and a change.

Think again

Kind sold more than 1.8m bars in 2019 alone

Despite being on the market just one year, Kind has had a very strong year, selling more than 1.8m bars in 2019. With the amazing success of the core bars in the first half of 2019, the brand launched Kind Protein in July. Protein continues to be the number one attribute that consumers look for in the healthy snacking category, with 69% of consumers favouring protein over any other benefit.

Looking at the healthy snacking bay in most stores, it is clear the trend is set to continue in Ireland. However, consumers are also looking for snacks made from whole, minimally processed, nutrient-dense ingredients that they can see – and pronounce! With that in mind, Kind has lunched three Kind plant-based protein bars which, just like the core range, contain whole nuts as their first and predominant ingredient. Each bar contains 12 grams of protein; eight from said peanuts and four from soy crisps.

Kind plant-based protein bars are available in three flavours: Crunchy Peanut Butter, Toasted Carmel Nut, and Double Dark Chocolate

Not only are Kind bars a great source of plant-based protein, they also taste great and don’t leave a chalky aftertaste. The three bars in the range are: Crunchy Peanut Butter, Toasted Carmel Nut, and Double Dark Chocolate.

To learn more and stock Kind, visit Kindsnacks.ie or @KINDsnacksIreland on social platforms.

Q&A with Ealron Kennedy, Kind lead manager, Ireland

Ealron Kennedy

Q: How significantly has Kind grown within the Irish marketplace since launch?

A: While Kind has been in the Irish market for a number of years, we officially launched with Mars Ireland in January 2019. We have been in triple-digit growth ever since and sold 1.8 million bars in 2019.

We are now the number two singles bar brand in the ‘fruit, nuts and cereal’ singles bar category* just behind Kellogg’s, and we have overtaken lots of the household brands that have been in the Irish market for many years. We launched our 12g Plant Protein range in July 2019 and we are seeing strong growth in this area, which is in line with current trends in Ireland. We believe that our products fill a gap in the market for a better-for-you snacks that are full of nutrition and taste delicious, so we expect this growth to continue strongly in the coming years.

Q: Through the use of different formats, sizes and flavours, how have you encouraged consumers to view Kind as an ideal choice for multiple occasions?

A: Kind currently has 12 single SKUs in the Irish market; nine core Nut bars and three Protein bars. With a wide variety of flavours and different functional benefits, including a good source of fibre and protein, our bars are the perfect choice for occasions such as pre or post-workout snacking, breakfast, fuel between meals or as a treat with a cup of tea or coffee. Kind also has a strong pipeline of NPD coming down the tracks such as breakfast bars, frozen bars and much more which will make Kind the perfect snack for every occasion.

Q: Kind’s packaging is distinctive in that it features a transparent section which allows consumers to see the actual product. Why did you feel this was important?

A: Transparency is one of our brand values that has been part of our DNA since 2004 when Kind was founded: whether that is between Kind associates, our customers, our suppliers and most importantly our consumers. We promise to always use the best quality ingredients and treat them with integrity. These are mostly whole, minimally processed nuts and ingredients that you can see and pronounce. We felt it was important for the consumer to see exactly what they are buying and that allows them to make the choice in full transparency.

Q: How extensive are your marketing plans for Kind in Ireland over the next 12 months?

A: As with any growing brand, we have some pretty ambitious plans for 2020. We are the first European market to support the Kind brand with TV advertising, which will be on all-year round. Our main marketing strategy is bars in hand, as we know when people try our product they are very likely to buy it next time they see it in-store as they just taste amazing.

Field marketing is our bread and butter, whether in-store sampling, in the workplace and gyms, as well as on-street and events such as Wellfest, Thrive and Taste of Dublin. This year we are the Official Snack Partner for Quest Adventure Series and The Great Limerick Run. We will also be returning to the Dublin Marathon which we have been part of since 2017. Events are a great opportunity for us to meet and speak with our consumers and let them learn a little more about our product and get to know us as a brand. Social media is also an important platform for us as it allows us to have two way dialogue with our consumers.

Q: Kind offers numerous health benefits, whether consumers are looking for fibre or protein, vegetarian or kosher options. Why did you feel it was important to cater to all these needs?

A: At Kind, we believe that the consumer shouldn’t have to choose between tasty and nutritious, so we always strive to make products that are both! Our first ingredient in every product is always nutritionally dense; nuts in our core range, which means that our bars are naturally high in fibre, lower GI and high in protein. When consumers began to ask for products that were higher in protein, we created a bar with more peanuts and added soy crisps, bringing the protein content up to 12g. While our products contain honey, they are always vegetarian. It is important for us to be kosher as our bars are sold all over the world.

*(Source: Nielsen Scan Track YTD 2019)

The quark spark

Nestlé’s Lindahls range comes in an impressive six flavours, offering something for everyone

Kvarg is the Swedish word for Quark, a dairy product that offers an alternative to fatty cream and yoghurt

Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg is a high-protein dairy product hailing from Sweden, which is currently experiencing healthy growth in the UK and Ireland. Lindahls Kvarg is available in six flavours: Raspberry, Vanilla, Peach & Passion Fruit, Blueberry & Vanilla, Coconut and Stracciatella. Kvarg is Swedish for quark, which is a specialised type of dairy that can act as a substitute to fatty creams and yoghurts.

The number one quark in Sweden*, the Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg range has a delicious creamy texture – similar to Greek yoghurt – created to help lead a balanced, healthy lifestyle**. Whether you’re a long-time gym-goer or just starting out on a healthy flex, Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg is the perfect partner for a regular workout.

Containing 17g of protein per pot, Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg single pots are also low sugar and fat-free*** and a great addition to your pre or post workout meal plan. Delicious mixed with berries, fruit or granola.

Nestle Lindahls Kvarg pots can be found in the chilled yogurts aisle. To learn more, visit Lindahls.co.uk.

*(Source: In value sales of the total Quark segment: Nielsen 2018)

**(Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. It is important to have a varied diet as part of a healthy lifestyle)

***(Stracciatella is low sugar and low fat)

Reload the snacks

Sports nutrition brand Grenade is continuing to dominate the snacking world, kicking 2020 off in style with the release of its newest offering, Grenade Reload.

Available in three popular-trending flavours, Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Chunk and Billionaires Shortbread, this oat bar is the ultimate energy snack thanks to a blend of complex carbohydrates, with higher protein levels to help consumers feel fuller for longer between meals.

Grenade CEO and co-founder Alan Barratt says the brand wanted to start 2020 with a bang. “We wanted to produce an energy bar that is sure to change the snacking world, and Reload does just that,” Barratt says. “We want consumers to get the most out of their day and Reload makes sure they’ve got more in their tank!”

Grenade recognises the latest shopper trends within the healthier snacking sector, and has identified that consumers want a snack that is not only good for them but is going to be satiating and boost energy level. With slow release energy from wholegrain oats and all-natural nut butters, Grenade Reload caters to these needs, thanks to its high levels of protein and fibre, as well as its low sugar content. This brand-new tasty treat is the perfect guilt-free option for those looking to fuel themselves during the day in a healthier way – plus it is vegetarian-certified.

“We’re offering something different to the market,” Barratt continues. “Consumers are looking for great tasting, high quality, innovative snacks that provide something different with a fun and quirky twist. We will continue to push the boundaries within the snacking market – Reload is the newest recruit which we’re confident will be a firm favourite amongst consumers.”

Grenade Reload is exclusively available to purchase from grenade.com, Amazon, and Superdrug. It will also be available to purchase wholesale from sports specialists Tropicana and Muscle Finesse.

Best of both

Fulfil’s Chocolate Brownie offering has become the number two healthy bar in value sales, showing the strength of the Fulfil brand

With its genuinely tasty, healthier alternatives to standard chocolate confectionery bars, Fulfil bars continue to reinvent the snacking category. In 2019 the brand continued to grow and remains category leader with a 71% share in the protein bar market*.

Last year, two new flavours were introduced to the range: Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Brownie. The latter, Chocolate Brownie, has already become a consumer favourite, the number two healthy bar in value sales and number five in value ROS of all single bars in the 12 weeks to 29 December 2019**.

Fulfil has created a more indulgent protein bar category with these new mouth-watering flavours, whilst still maintaining the positive credentials of 20g protein, less than 3g sugar and nine vitamins in each bar.

Keep up to date on all things Fulfil on Instagram @Fulfil_Nutrition or Facebook at Fulfil Nutrition.

*(Source: ROI Total Scantrack MAT to 29 December 2019)

**(Source: Total Single Bars ROI Total Scantrack to 29 December/ROS for bars with >10% numeric Distribution)

Kinetic energy

The success of Kinetica is rooted in its dedication to developing products alongside the top nutritionists and athletes in the sporting industry. Since 2009, the brand has developed a complete range of sports nutrition including a successful convenience line.

2020 promises to be an exciting one for Kinetica. The brand started out the year showcasing a whole new look that is sure to make an impact within this commodified category. Some exciting new partnerships were announced, including with Leinster Rugby and Dublin GAA official nutritionist Daniel Davey.

Kinetica is built around quality and trust which is why the brand uses grass-fed protein powders, while all of its products are made with only natural flavours and colours. Kinetica is low in naturally occurring sugars and all products are 100% batch tested and comply with European Food Safety Authority guidelines.

It’s surely looking like 2020 is the year for Kinetica!

To learn more, visit @kinetica_sports on Instagram.

One shot

After seven years of development, the Turmeric Co. has officially launched its range of healthy shot drinks in Ireland. The brand is now available in more than 100 Dunnes Stores outlets across the country, as well as selected Spar stores. Created to enhance health and boost the immune system, the brand’s three flavours offer a natural blend of fresh and organic ingredients, with each 60ml shot containing 35g of fresh, uniquely extracted wet Turmeric root.

The original shot, Nature’s Remedy, is the simplest way of adding fresh, organic Turmeric to one’s diet, while the Turmeric Fused with Ginger shot has an additional 2.5g of fresh and organic Ginger root. The range is completed with Turmeric Fused with Beetroot, blended with freshly extracted beetroot combined with flax oil and parsley – a must for anyone who loves nutrition. Additional ingredients in each shot include watermelon, pomegranate, pineapple and lemon, all extracted directly from the fruit.

The Turmeric Co. is the brainchild of international footballer Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu who, after suffering a heavy cruciate ligament injury and experiencing adverse effects to prescribed anti-inflammation medicine, took matters into his own hands. Along with his family, Kanu spent the last seven years developing the product which now stands head and shoulders above others on the market. The products have already won partnerships with some of the world’s most prestigious sporting organisations, including the England Rugby Team and multiple GB Olympic camps, and the brand has ambitious expansion plans in the coming months.

Unlike its competitors, The Turmeric Co. does not use powders or water in any of its shots, and its ingredients offer extraordinary effects on health, from boosting the immune system, fighting common colds, to reducing cellular inflammation around the entire body. Turmeric contains a powerful compound called curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory that makes it an instant alternative to synthetic drugs and traditional medication, and helps fight infection, reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. Each product also includes piperine, an ingredient which enhances the bio availability of curcumin, the active ingredient within Turmeric by up to 2,000%.

The Turmeric Co. drinks are available to buy now from €2.99 per shot or €5 for two from Dunnes Stores, Spar, theturmeric.co and Amazon.co.uk.

Living healthier lives

Containing only 25 calories per 500ml bottle, Ballygowan Activ+ is available in two flavours, Orange and Apple & Raspberry

Ireland’s number one water brand Ballygowan has teamed up with the GAA and GPA to develop a fitness drink for active lives called Ballygowan Activ+.

Ballygowan Activ+ is the official fitness partner of the GAA/GPA. Delivering on parent company Britvic’s ‘Healthier Everyday’ strategy to help consumers lead healthier lives, Ballygowan Activ+ was developed by Britvic in consultation with the GAA/GPA based on the refreshment needs of both elite sportspeople and today’s everyday health conscious consumer. The added vitamins, minerals and electrolytes in Ballygowan Activ+ help to refresh and replenish the body so consumers can maintain an active lifestyle every day. Ballygowan Activ+ has zero sugar and only 25 calories per 500ml bottle, with two tempting fruit flavours to choose from: Orange or Apple & Raspberry.

Ballygowan Activ+ is the perfect fitness drink, suitable for everyone, no matter what their activity level is – from leading GAA players to a group of friends playing a five-a-side or to refresh after a brisk walk or run.

Ballygowan Activ+ is available nationwide at an RRP of €1.75.

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Villa Maria, the world-famous New Zealand winery, has opened its doors for an ambitious feature-length documentary. Entitled Vintage, the film tells the story of winemaking in a close-up of the entire process, peeking behind the curtain of the harvest period. Vintage will have its Irish TV premiere on March 1 on Virgin Media 3, and will subsequently be avialable to view on the Virgin Media Player through to the end of April.

Villa Maria’s 2019 vintage harvest has been captured in a new documentary

“For the first time ever in New Zealand, a winery is capturing the vintage process,” says Villa Maria Chief Winemaker, Nick Picone. “Viewers will see the passion and hard work that goes into every bottle”.

Vintage​ follows Picone’s experienced team of Stuart Dudley (Marlborough viticulturist), Ollie Powrie (chief viticulturist) and Jessica Marston, a “viticulture cadet” undertaking her first vintage. Told through these own unique viewpoints,​ Vintage ​ reveals how the team cope with unforeseen challenges, vastly varying climates, frost-filled early mornings and 24-hour-day.

Leading a film crew following the team for 40 days at the busiest time of year, director Colin West did not know what to expect. “We hoped that everything would go well,” he said, “but becuase the vintage is so different from one year to the next, we didn’t really know how it was going to unfold.”

As it turned out, 2019 was a stellar year, resulting in outstanding wines that will go on to be enjoyed around the world. Described as “a tremendous watch” by British wine writer Oz Clarke, ​Vintage airs on Virgin Media 3 on March 1.

To view a preview trailer of this fascinating documentary, visit Villa Maria’s official site.

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Tayto has launched two new limited-edition flavours, and this time inspiration for these flavoursome taste-combinations stems from original Irish dinner favourites.

The two new distinctive flavours with more than a nod to the brand’s Irish heritage are Tayto Bacon & Cabbage Flavour and Tayto Beef Stew Flavour.

The new limited edition choices are available nationwide for a short time only, so retailers are advised to stock up now.

Each 45g pack has a RRP of €1.15* (*packs can be subject to a special offer in different retail outlets).

For more information, check out www.taytocrisps.ie, www.facebook.com/MrTayto, Twitter.com/MrTaytoIreland and Instagram.com/mrtaytoireland.  

#TaytoBeefStew #TaytoBacon&Cabbage #TaytoFlavour

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Müller has returned as a sponsor on RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars, the country’s most popular celebrity dance-off show.

Available now in store, the multipack includes Müller’s “best-ever” new Müller Corner recipe which contains more protein and has a thicker and creamier texture. It includes Strawberry, Vanilla Chocolate Balls and Milk Chocolate Digestives.

The Official Yogurt of Athletics Ireland, Müller said in a press statement that it is “targeting sustainable and profitable growth”, and will “continue to strengthen core brands, like Müller Corner and Müllerlight, by bringing its brand to life and adding further inspiration to the yogurt category”.

Müller currently manufacturers major brands including Müller Corner, Müllerlight and Müller Rice, and produces chilled desserts under licence from Mondelez International, as well as supplying the private label yogurt market from a dedicated state-of-the-art yogurt facility.

“We’re so excited to partner with Dancing with the Stars again in 2020,” said Michael Inpong, strategy and marketing director at Müller Yogurt & Desserts. “Not only does it give us the opportunity to engage with the Irish market and raise awareness of Müller,” Inpong added, “but the series is perfectly aligned with our brand purpose, which is to inspire happy, healthy lifestyles.”

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Pure Treats, a new, low in sugar, award-winning brand, introduces a tasty range of mini cakes which are proudly produced in Ireland. Naturally sweetened with zero compromise on flavour, Pure Treats is now stocked by retailers nationwide.

Ticking the ‘healthier you’ box, the Pure Treats range contains only natural plant-based sugar replacements which reduces the sugar content by up to 90% and calories by up to 40%, making it the perfect guilt-free treat that doesn’t compromise on taste. The Pure Treats range contain less than half a teaspoon of sugar in each mini cake, offering a treat with less calories and slow releasing sugars; good news for everyone and diabetic friendly.

Each Pure Treat pack contains two light and fresh, individually wrapped mini cakes, making it an ideal treat to share now or to keep for later. The Pure Treats range (SRP €2.99) is now available in Dunnes Stores, SuperValu and Avoca outlets, along with a host of independent retailers nationwide. All flavours will shortly be available in a single serve option.

The Pure Treats range includes:

• Berry Burst – Winner of a Blas na hÈireann 2019 Award, the Pure Treats Berry Burst is a light and fluffy muffin-like cake with fresh raspberries, blueberries and red currants.
• Lemon Drizzle – A light madeira cake with a lemon drizzle topping.
• Choco Chip – A light and fluffy chocolate sponge made with the finest cocoa and topped with chocolate chips.

For more information on the range, visit www.PureTreats.ie, Instagram: /Puretreats.ie, Facebook: /PureTreats and Twitter: /Puretreatcakes.

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Aldi’s Gort ‘Project Fresh’ store has reopened its doors to customers following an extensive renovation project which has seen the store completely refurbished as part of Aldi’s €160m investment in its Irish store network.

Aldi has committed €100m to constructing and opening 20 new stores, while Project Fresh sees Aldi invest a further €60m in revamping the layout and design of its 142 stores nationwide.

The newly refurbished store has received a full makeover in line with Aldi’s award-winning Project Fresh design.

Featuring the new layout, Aldi’s Gort store offers a wide selection of fresh food at the front of the store, hi-spec fixtures and fittings and new signage that provides a more efficient and hassle-free shopping experience.

The store will be powered by 100% green electricity. Aldi has invested heavily in improving its energy management systems and its entire store network is now powered by 100% wind generated energy. Aldi was the second retailer in Ireland to achieve ISO 50001 accreditation in recognition of its efforts to improve energy efficiencies.

Operating nine stores in Co. Galway, Aldi has become an established part of Galway’s retail landscape, proving very popular with shoppers for bringing greater competition, choice and value for money.

Aldi’s Gort store participates in Aldi’s national partnership with FoodCloud, donating surplus food to local charities daily. The store has donated over 1,000 meals to its charity partners to date. Aldi Gort is also part of Aldi’s Community Grants network. Burren Animal Rescue is just one of several charities availing of the €500 bursary grants this year.

Speaking at the reopening, Patrick Coffey, store manager, Aldi Gort said: “The Project Fresh revamp of our store is great news for our customers. Its new spacious design makes for a very easy and enjoyable shop.”

“Our commitment to our customers is we will never be beaten on price and will always provide the best value. Our Swap and Save campaign continues and the goal of this campaign is to remind shoppers about the saving that can be generated by swapping their weekly shop to Aldi.”

Aldi is committed to growing its Irish supply base and increasing the number of Irish products available in its stores. It has invested more than €1.5m in its Grow with Aldi supplier development programme since 2018, which offers up-and-coming artisan Irish food and drink producers the chance to have their products listed in Aldi’s 142 stores. Aldi also recently increased its support for small Irish suppliers by reducing its payment terms to 14 days for suppliers that transact up to €300,000 annually with Aldi.

Aldi will sell over €750m worth of Irish goods this year, sourced from Irish producers, manufacturers and suppliers across the country.

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Bord Bia has launched the first consumer promotion of Irish beef in the US to date, giving consumers the chance to win a trip to Ireland when they purchase Irish beef.

Launched on 24 February, the on-pack promotion is taking place in 17 Roche Bros supermarkets and will run until 16 March.

Exports of Irish beef to the US have been strong in recent years – 876 tonnes of beef were exported in 2017 and 956 tonnes the year after. In 2019, exports soared to 4,718 tonnes, valued at €19.45 million – a 428% increase on 2018 figures.

Irish beef is currently the only beef from Europe available for sale in US retailers.

“Since the US market opened for Irish beef in 2015, Bord Bia has been steadily building relationships between Irish beef suppliers and key trade customers in the US,” said Henry Horkan, manager, Bord Bia North America. “We are now leveraging these trade relationships to launch the first Irish beef promotion directed at US consumers. The purpose of the campaign is to increase sales of Irish beef across Roche Bros Supermarkets and create customer loyalty to Irish beef that will surpass the three-week duration of the campaign.

“The promotion will also raise awareness of the premium nature of Irish beef, sourced from Quality Assured farms, and fully traceable from farm to fork. In the longer term, this activity provides Bord Bia with an excellent platform to further grow the opportunity for Irish beef in the US retail channel, emphasising its marketability and strong consumer acceptance.”

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Dealz and Poundland have appointed two Irish women to take leading roles as part of a new structure for the business across the island of Ireland.

The discount retailer will continue to trade as Dealz in the Republic of Ireland and as Poundland in Northern Ireland.

The change reflects the importance of the two markets as the company accelerates its reinvention programmes.

Sharon Sheridan, the newly appointed country manager – trading, will be responsible for trading decisions, including buying, merchandising and supply chain. Sheridan has led trading in the Republic of Ireland for the past seven years.

Olivia McLoughlin, who joined last October from Dixons Carphone, has been appointed country manager – retail, with responsibility for the supervision of 99 stores. McLoughlin was previously responsible for ROI, NI and Scotland with Claire’s Accessories and all of Ireland with Carraig Donn.

Austin Cooke, retail director, said: “Dealz and Poundland are transforming at pace and we’re excited about Olivia and Sharon leading the exciting development of our stores across the island of Ireland. Between them, they’ll be responsible for the operational, and trading performance north and south of the border.”

The group trades from 66 Dealz stores in the Republic of Ireland and 33 Poundland shops in Northern Ireland. Last year it announced its plan to open 10 more stores in the republic this year.

Both brands have shaken up the retail sector with their simple pricing policy and have become flagship tenants in high streets and shopping centres at a time when other retailers have been in retreat. Key categories include food and drink, health and beauty, home and pet, leisure and entertainment, stationery, party and celebrations.

Following the success of Dealz in Ireland, parent company Pepco is currently expanding the brand in Spain and Poland.

The post Dealz unveils new co-leadership for the island of Ireland appeared first on Shelflife Magazine.

The signs are positive for the infant and baby category, according to the latest report by Euromonitor on ‘Baby Food in Ireland’, published in August 2019.

“With the highest birth rate amongst the EU member states and one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe,” writes Euromonitor, “the Irish market is lucrative for both baby food and milk formula.” The analyst points out milk formula use is also strengthened by the high proportion of women aged 20-45 years of age that are both employed and work outside the home.

“Prepared baby food continued to be the most dynamic baby food category in 2019, particularly benefitting from greater need for convenience, good economic growth and high employment rates,” Euromonitor reports. “Its growth also comes from continuous quality improvements and an alignment with current health and wellness trends.”

‘Snackification’ is another trend impacting the baby food category. Euromonitor writes that “other” baby food is doing well thanks to the snacking trend that is spilling over from “adult” food – referring to the grazing trend that has been going on in packaged food for a while in Ireland, where snacks generally are highly demanded. “Whereas in the past, parents in transit may have simply brought a packet of plain biscuits or rusks along to give their children something to nibble on,” Euromonitor writes, “there is a growing number of specific (and value-added/more expensive) products to be consumed on-the-go that are addressing that need.”

New look for a new generation

The new Caldesene packaging is still marked with the brand’s signature heart shape to offer familiarity to consumers

The gold standard for the treatment and prevention of nappy rash for over 45 years, Caldesene Medicated Powder has received a new look. Parent company Clonmel Healthcare has unveiled new, brighter branding and packaging that will make Caldesene, the leading nappy rash product, look even more impactful on the shelves.

Clonmel Healthcare has invested extensively in a full brand audit on Caldesene. During the process, various stakeholders were consulted, including new parents to discuss their experiences of their baby’s nappy rash and current treatment trends.

A bolder design has been created, while ensuring the recognisable Caldesene look is retained. The front of the packaging has been decluttered, so consumers can understand the core message – Caldesene Medicated Powder prevents and treats nappy rash. The new design uses strong and warm colours that are appealing and attention-grabbing for the retail environment. The inviting pink and teal colours on the packaging are still marked with the signature Caldesene heart shape to offer familiarity to consumers, and the new baby graphic portrays the company’s family values at point of sale.

Caldesene’s marketing director Martin Gallagher says the brand’s “new modern, attractive packaging is attention-grabbing and clearly communicates the product on-shelf”

“We have created a new image to highlight that Caldesene prevents and treats nappy rash, and it should be used at every change,” says marketing director Martin Gallagher. “It was so important to us that we maintained the brand heritage,” he adds, “whilst conveying to the consumers that this is still the same great product that they have grown up with. The product has not changed in any way. This new modern, attractive packaging is attention-grabbing and clearly communicates the product on-shelf.”

Clonmel Healthcare aims to improve the way the company communicates to make Caldesene more relevant and accessible for today’s audience. In order to communicate the values of Caldesene to a whole new generation of parents, the brand has also introduced the new supporting tagline: ‘Tender care at every change’.

To engage consumers with the new look, Caldesene will run a substantial advertising campaign including radio advertising, visual media, online marketing, a new Caldesene website, in-store POS and attendance at all significant trade shows.

For more information, visit www.caldesene.ie.

Heavenly results

Heavenly Tasty Organics’ Yummy Wafer Wisps were shortlisted at the latest UK Quality Food and Drink Awards

Heavenly Tasty Organics, the Northern Ireland leader in award-winning natural foods for babies and toddlers, has been listed by Dunnes in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In total, the company is now supplying six products to Dunnes.

Heavenly Tasty, which is headquartered in Augher, Co. Tyrone, has a listing for two flavours each of its Veggie Waffles, Breadsticks and Yummy Wafer Wisps in a deal involving Dublin-based food distributor Total Brand Solutions, a subsidiary of Europe’s Total Produce.

Heavenly Tasty won the ‘Best Baby Snack’ title at the latest UK Quality Food and Drink Awards for its healthy Veggie Waffles in Sweet Beet and Shallot flavour

Shauna Blair, the founder and managing director of Heavenly Tasty, says the company’s latest deal represents “an immensely important contract for us because it offers access to the biggest food retailer on the island and one with a strong reputation for quality food”.

“Ireland has proved a very good market to date for the Heavenly brand,” she continues, “and the addition of Dunnes strengthens our brand presence and offering for the Irish consumer.”

Blair also praises Total Brand Solutions for its “tremendous assistance” in enabling the company to secure this key listing in a market targeted for faster sales growth.

“The listing enables families shopping in Dunnes to buy our range of organic, natural, nutritious and outstandingly tasty foods for babies and young children,” Blair adds.

Heavenly Tasty Organics now intends to support Dunnes and Total Brand Solutions in marketing initiatives to increase awareness of all its organic foods for children which are now also selling well in other parts of Europe, the UK and the Middle East.

Glenn Troy of Total Brand Solutions expressed the company’s delight to be named the official distributor for the Heavenly brand in Ireland, and says it is now “aiming to roll the Heavenly products out nationwide in 2020”.

Shauna Blair, a mum of four young children, established the company in 2009 and runs it with husband James, the commercial director, from their base in county Tyrone. She began developing natural foods when she was unable to find the type of baby products she wanted in Northern Ireland.

Among many recent awards won by Heavenly Tasty is the ‘Best Baby Snack’ title at the prestigious UK Quality Food and Drink Awards for its healthy Veggie Waffles in Sweet Beet and Shallot flavour; also included in the listing with Dunnes.

Another organic product, Yummy Wafer Wisps in Apple, Spinach and Kale, was shortlisted in the quality awards. This is also now available from Dunnes stores.

In addition to these products, Dunnes has listed Carrot and Cumin flavoured Veggie Waffles; Breadsticks in Original and Rosemary flavours; and Yummy Wafer Wisps in Banana and Pumpkin.

The good start

Glenisk’s Organic Baby Bio range supports normal growth and bone development

Dairy is packed with nutrients and ‘five dairy a day’ is essential for a healthy diet, especially to support growth and development in children.

Glenisk is encouraging parents to give their little ones ‘The Good Start’ when it comes to nutrition by advocating for five dairy a day for kids as a source of:

• Calcium to grow and maintain strong bones
• Protein for muscle growth and bone development
• Gut health – yogurt is a naturally fermented food supporting healthy digestion
• Vitamins and minerals, including B12 for energy and a healthy immune system

Packed with nutrients, the Glenisk Organic Baby Bio range contains no added sugar, no bits and nothing artificial

Glenisk’s policy is simple moreover: all products are organic, 100% natural and with nothing artificial – ever.

Suitable for babies from six months, Glenisk’s Organic Baby Bio range gives little ones the best possible start when beginning their solid food journey, supporting normal growth and bone development. The smooth and creamy fromage frais is packed with nutrients and contains absolutely no added sugar, no bits and certainly nothing artificial. The range includes four flavours in a four-pack format (four x 60g): Natural, Apple & Pear, Banana & Peach or Strawberry & Apple Fromage Frais.

For older children, Glenisk’s Organic Bio Kids range offers three flavours in a four-pack format (four x 90g), each 100% Natural, Organic and with Low Sugar Options available: Strawberry, Banana and Vanilla. Glenisk has also this month introduced a new Vanilla flavour to its Organic GO-Yos Yogurt Tubes range (six x 40g) in addition to the Strawberry and Banana & Peach options.

Tailored for little tummies

With a 59% market share, Milupa Cereals contain no added sugar or salt as well as no added flavourings, colours or preservatives

Ireland’s number one baby cereal, Milupa holds a 59%* market share.

Milupa Cereals are ‘Tailored for Little Tummies’ through every step in the weaning journey. Now in a convenient resealable bag, with some yummy new flavours. Milupa Cereals contain no added sugar or salt** and no added flavourings, colours or preservatives.

Milupa has reformulated the three most-loved recipes and introduced exciting new flavours to ensure the best progression possible in both taste and texture for little ones.

*(Source: Nielsen Scantrack Sales Value MAT 29 Dec 2019)

**(Contains naturally occurring sugars and sodium only)

The post Baby monitor appeared first on Shelflife Magazine.

At 4.8%, Ireland’s unemployment rate stands at its lowest recorded level since January 2007. While this is welcome news to most, many employers have learned that a candidate-driven market has its own challenges.

Small to medium businesses are competing with large multinationals to attract the best possible talent. Finding the right candidate for a job can be an arduous task. Without in-house recruitment teams at their disposal, smaller employers can find themselves working to fulfil positions at the expense of their day-to-day tasks. It’s in times like these that the services of a professional recruitment agency really shine. In handing over the task to the professionals, a retailer can return their focus to doing what they do best.

Not only that, but a properly managed recruitment procedure sends the right message to high-calibre candidates. With the help of a professional team, an employer can run a formal recruitment procedure, complete with a well-considered job specification and thorough interview process.

Having a diverse and inclusive workplace is more pertinent today than ever before. More than just aspirational buzzwords, a company must follow the correct recruitment procedure to ensure it does not fall foul of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2005. Employers must ensure that job advertisements do not include discriminatory wording, nor do they discriminate against candidates on any of the nine grounds included in the legislation; gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the traveller community. If a company breaches this legislation it could face not just financial, but reputational damage. However, a professional recruitment company should be well versed on the do’s and don’ts when hiring staff.

Indeed, in today’s hotly competitive talent market, the services of a professional recruitment agency are needed more than ever. To better understand why, we spoke to several leading recruitment companies to learn more about the services they offer and their areas of expertise.

Barry Whelan, CEO, Excel Recruitment

Excel Recruitment: Harnessing industry insight to find the right candidate

Recruitment factfile: Excel Recruitment

HQ: Dublin, Cork, Naas

Established: 2002

Key people: Barry Whelan, CEO; Nikki Murran, director of grocery retail

Key clients: Musgrave, Aldi, BWG Foods, Gala Retail, Campus Oil, Applegreen, Circle K, Iceland Ireland

Contact: (01) 814 8747 or info@excelrecruitment.com

Web: www.excelrecruitment.com

Social:

Facebook: @excel.recruitment

Instagram: excel_recruitment

Twitter: @ExcelRecruit

LinkedIn: Excel Recruitment

Q&A with… Barry Whelan, CEO, Excel Recruitment

Q: The internet and social media have changed the way in which individuals and employers connect with one another. How has the recruitment business adapted to remain relevant in this new dynamic?

A: Social media is a tremendously useful tool for our consultants and our business, making it quicker and easier to reach a large pool of candidates. It allows us to connect with and keep up-to-date with current clients and candidates and showcase ourselves as leaders in recruitment to potential clients while targeted advertising campaigns or messaging abilities can allow us to reach unknown or passive candidates who will work well in our client’s business.  While all of this is great, it is important to remember that while the medium used to reach candidates might change, the message we use doesn’t. Social media is just another tool in our consultants’ arsenal, facilitating them to do what they do best – make real connections and match the right people to the right job. While the technology and tools evolve, the skillset and knowledge of our consultants are still what counts when it comes to identifying great candidates and matching them to clients and roles in which they’ll thrive.

Q: Tell us about the origins of your company, and how it has grown since then.

A: I founded Excel Recruitment in 2002, after seeing a need for a recruitment service for retailers with experience, knowledge and understanding of the retail industry. We began exclusively in retail before replicating our winning formula across other industries, while still retaining our commitment to retail. 2019 was the biggest year in the history of our company. Our team grew to over 44 talented consultants and support staff, we moved into our brand new state-of-the-art offices in Dublin city centre, expanded our Cork office, established dedicated HR and pharmacy recruitment divisions and cut the ribbon on our brand new office in Naas, Co. Kildare. We plan to continue this expansion in 2020, adding more talented recruiters to our ranks in order to better meet our clients’ needs. Plans are already underway to establish our next office in Galway in late 2020.

Q: What are three qualities that any candidate should focus on, in order to make themselves most suitable for a role?

A: Our clients are the top national and international retailers in the country. They are diverse and constantly evolving, just like the roles we recruit and the people we look for to fill these roles. We find great employees for our clients but equally, we want all our candidates to find their dream roles – jobs they find fulfilling and that they will grow and succeed in.  We achieve both goals by not trying to fit candidates into some abstract ideal but instead by taking the time to understand who our candidates are and matching them with companies where they’ll thrive. No two candidates, roles or retailers are the same. Our expert team harness their extensive industry insight and take the time to match the right candidate with the right job, ensuring a long-lasting, mutually beneficial outcome for both candidate and client.

Q: How does your agency keep fully informed about developments within the markets it serves?

A: By reading ShelfLife magazine! We are retailers recruiting for retailers. Each of our consultants has had long successful careers in the retail industry and have never lost their passion and love for retail. We stay on top of market trends and the latest industry developments not because we have to, but because each of us is genuinely interested in the industry. We are proud, close supporters of industry representative groups such as Retail Excellence Ireland, RGDATA and CSNA. These close affiliations are on top of the close relationships we cultivate with our clients, catching up regularly about what they’re experiencing ‘on the frontlines’. All of this means we constantly have our finger on the pulse of the markets we serve. We are advocates for retail, promoting and celebrating careers in the industry through our involvement with the C-Store Awards and Grocery Management Awards and speaking each year to the graduating class in DIT’s Retail Management BA and postgraduate courses on the realities of job seeking and careers in the retail industry.

PRL Recruitment: Sourcing high-calibre professionals across the sector

Recruitment factfile: PRL Recruitment

HQ: PRL Recruitment, PRL House, Old Naas Road. Bluebell. Dublin D12 TN30

Established: 1973

Key people: Richard Jones, general manager; Seamus Farrelly, recruitment director

Key clients: McKesson Wholesale Ireland, Procter & Gamble, Stafford Lynch, Lloyds Pharmacy, Lindt Sprungli and Gas Networks Ireland

Contact: (01) 668 5144

Web: www.prlrecruitment.com

Social:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/prlrecruitment

Instagram: @prlrecruitment

Twitter: @prlrecruitment

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/prl-recruitment

Q&A with… Richard Jones, general manager, PRL Recruitment

Q: The internet and social media has changed the way in which individuals and employers connect with one another. How has the recruitment business adapted to remain relevant in this new dynamic?

A: Most social media platforms now offer advertising services which include detailed targeting options for connecting and engaging specific candidates. Historically, recruitment agencies relied on their own database, online or print-based job advertising platforms as well as their own networks and referrals. Social media, including LinkedIn, has now widened that net which allows agencies to engage both active and passive candidates, which in the current jobs market is a huge benefit.

Q: Tell us about the origins of your company, and how it has grown since then.

A: PRL Recruitment was incorporated in 1973 as Sales Placement. For over four decades, PRL Recruitment/Sales Placement has been servicing the Irish market and sourcing high-calibre sales professionals at all levels within a business across multiple sectors. With permanent offices in Dublin and Belfast as well as satellite offices in Kilkenny and Cork, our all-island footprint means we can service our clients’ needs no matter what their location. PRL Recruitment is Ireland’s largest sales specific recruitment agency and only have sector specific consultants with industry servicing any sector.

Q: What are three qualities that any candidate should focus on in order to make themselves most suitable for a role?

A: Be specific. Too many candidates use a blanket approach when applying for a new job. I would suggest the candidate be specific in what they apply for and make sure the ‘actual’ skills and experiences which are required by an employer are highlighted in their CV.

Honesty. Candidates who are dishonest in any process will not be successful.

Preparation. As part of our service offering to candidates, we deliver interview preparation and if required presentation preparation. Areas to focus on during any interview preparation are: facts and figures (sales figures etc.), anticipate questions and ensure your response is factual and concise (don’t waffle) and research the company, the role and where possible engage with someone who has either done the job or is doing a similar job so you can form a full understanding of its requirements and challenges.

Q: How does your agency keep fully informed about developments within the markets it serves?

A: PRL Recruitment is part of PRL who are industry leaders in implementing and managing sales strategies and teams on behalf of our clients. Not only do we recruit sales specialists, we are sales specialists and therefore have a unique understanding of the market. The PRL Recruitment team also regularly attend industry specific events and training to ensure they remain up to date with industry trends, needs and challenges.

Cpl: Providing innovative total talent solutions

Recruitment factfile: Cpl

HQ: 8-34 Percy Place, Dublin 4

Established: 1989

Key people: Anne Heraty, CEO; Lorna Conn, CFO; Lisa Holt, MD (Ireland); Garrett Roche, MD (Global)

Key clients: Musgrave Group, SuperValu, Centra, Aldi, Smyths Toys, Hickey’s Fabrics, Smiggle

Contacts: Deborah Crilly, director, Cpl Retail, deborah.crilly@cpl.ie (01) 614 6103; Richard Hogan, manager, Cpl Retail richard.hogan@cpl.ie (01) 614 6129

Web: www.cpl.com

Social: 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpljobsireland

Twitter: @cpljobs

Instagram: @cpljobs

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cpl

Q&A with… Deborah Crilly, director, Cpl

Q: The internet and social media has changed the way in which individuals and employers connect with one another. How has the recruitment business adapted to remain relevant in this new dynamic?

A: Social media is an excellent channel for us to engage and connect with our employees, perspective employees, clients and of course candidates. Cpl has a large following on LinkedIn, with over 100,000 engaged followers and with the help of our in-house marketing team we can target the right candidates across the world and drive job applications for our clients. Social media is also a powerful tool for sharing our knowledge and providing solutions to our clients’ needs on a daily basis.

Q: Tell us about the origins of your company, and how it has grown since then.

A. Cpl was started by our CEO Anne Hearty. This year, the company celebrates 30 years in business. Things have grown hugely since then and in the first half of the financial year in 2020, Cpl as a group delivered a 10% increase in net fee income and a 23% increase in earnings. We’re continuously investing in innovative technology solutions, adding further value for our clients. We’re recognised globally as a leader in talent solutions, specialist recruitment, managed solutions and outsourcing. Cpl has grown through strong organic growth, strategic acquisitions and with thanks to the people who provide the best solutions to our candidates and clients and who make Cpl a truly great place to work every day. Our goal going forward is to be the best at providing total talent solutions globally, driven by our three strategic pillars – ‘future ready’, ‘client first’ and ‘total solutions’.

Q: What are three qualities that any candidate should focus on, in order to make themselves most suitable for a role?

A: Key important qualities that candidates should possess are commitment to the retail industry, exceptional commercial skills and exemplary customer service. These differ in weight depending on the seniority of the hire, but generally experience is not enough when it comes to us shortlisting the most suitable candidates for our retail clients. To have retail experience in today’s war on talent is a given. Cpl Retail works with candidates that have the drive, commitment and a passion for a career in the retail industry. Retailing is a people business; providing people with exemplary service and recruiting the right people with the right talent is what Cpl does well.

Q: How does your agency keep fully informed about developments within the markets it serves?

A: Each of our recruitment teams are specialists in their fields. Many of our retail recruitment team come from sales or retail backgrounds. They know the industry and have meaningful connections across the sector. Our business is really all about people and we adopt a people-centered, strategic approach to how we deal with all our clients (‘the Cpl Way’). This combined with our investment in technology, strategic sponsorships and the support of our partners keeps us at the forefront of developments in the markets we work in. We also have locations across Europe and keenly monitor retail activity and hiring trends, not just in Ireland, but globally.

The post Finding the right fit appeared first on Shelflife Magazine.

As consumers watch the ticking time bomb that is the climate crisis, it’s understandable that sustainability is hot on the minds of many. As the bid to make a real impact becomes more urgent, the sidelines can be a frustrating place to be. That may be why consumers’ consumption patterns have changed in recent months. Consumers in their droves are assessing the impact of where they spend their money. Just as sustainable brands and products have seen a positive kickback from this trend, those that ignore the cause leave themselves at risk of being left behind.

Research from Kantar found that 77% of UK grocery shoppers have switched, avoided or boycotted buying certain brands because of their environmental policies. This figure is greater still among younger consumers, at 87%. Across the board, 90% of those surveyed agreed that brands need to take more responsibility for the waste they produce and the impact it has on the environment.

Push-back against single-use plastic and plastic-dense packaging is mounting. The Global Plastic Action Plan estimates that 8 million metric tonnes of plastic leak into our oceans every year and that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our seas. Several brands have stepped up to the mark and removed single-use plastic from their ranges. Some are researching innovative alternatives to plastic.

To meet consumer demand, businesses are leaning into the circular economy. The system, which aims to eliminate waste through the continual use of resources, has been used as a framework of sorts for many retailers. Products and processes have been optimised to better reduce, reuse and recycle. What’s more, some brands have embraced renewable energy sources, biodiversity and carbon offsetting.

“Industry must show leadership in responding to what is the greatest challenge of our time,” says Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment, Richard Bruton. “Every enterprise must look at how they operate their own business, with a view to doing so more sustainably,” he adds. “The entire retail industry has a powerful role to play in tackling this issue.”

Just as the retail industry adapts to combat the big issue of our time, we’re diving into the leading brands and latest developments within this exciting area.

Q & A with… VivaGreen founders Garrett and Russell Walsh 

VivaGreen founders Garrett Walsh (head of research and development) and Russell Walsh (head of manufacturing)

Q: For decades, VivaGreen has been delivering top quality eco-friendly products to the retail market – where did it all start?  

A: My brother Garrett and I set up VivaGreen almost 30 years ago; driven by our engineering backgrounds to develop innovative products made from sustainable sources. In the early 90s, we were both working in the US and environmental issues and waste problems were at the forefront of our minds. We started looking at how we could use our engineering skills to develop products that would reduce waste and be kind to the environment and we returned to Ireland to set up the business in 1992. One of our first products we developed was GreenStake, a plastic-free biodegradable landscape stake for pinning sod and tents that breaks down into the soil. We sold over 1 million to Glastonbury Festival and today the product is used by the likes of Augusta National Golf Club.

Q: Sustainability and environmental awareness has always been at the forefront of VivaGreen’s range. In the early days of the brand, what inspired this awareness and how has it evolved since then?

VivaGreen’s GreenSax range was one of the first compostable bag products to hit the shelves in Ireland

A: Perceptions about environmental issues have changed hugely over the last 30 years, resulting in changes in consumer behaviour, particularly in more recent times. When we set up VivaGreen, very few people were making purchasing decisions based on how they impacted the environment. Our products were as eco-friendly then as they are now; however, the main reason people bought them was because they were good quality and saved them money. Those reasons still apply today, but we now have a growing base of customers who are using our products because they are eco-friendly, good quality, cost effective and made in Ireland. Today, people are more conscious about supporting local, doing their bit to help the environment and minimising the use of chemicals in their homes and all our products meet these consumer demands. Our most popular range of GreenSax compostable bags – one of the first compostable bags to hit the shelves in Ireland – continues to grow with the recent launch of our SnackSax 100% compostable paper sandwich bags. Our Chemical-Free range includes, MossOff Chemical-Free, which is completely safe to children, pets and plants and DeOdour Chemical-Free, which eliminates bad smells in bins.

Q: Tell us about the new product range, and what makes them stand out in a competitive segment?

The Tru Eco range includes All Purpose Cleaner (500ml and 1.5L), Washing-Up Liquid (500ml and 1.5L), Non-Bio Laundry Detergent (1.5L) and Fabric Conditioner (1.5L)

A: Tru Eco is our new range of refillable, eco-friendly laundry and household cleaning products for conscious consumers. We have replaced harsh chemicals with safer, plant-based, biodegradable ingredients. The four-strong product range includes All Purpose Cleaner (500ml and 1.5L), Washing-Up Liquid (500ml and 1.5L), Non-Bio Laundry Detergent (1.5L) and Fabric Conditioner (1.5L). The bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic, and they are reusable, recyclable and refillable. More and more consumers are switching to green cleaning to reduce chemicals in their home and we developed Tru Eco to meet a gap in the market for an eco-friendly cleaning range at an affordable price without compromising on quality. We worked closely with an Irish-based, independent environmental scientist, to ensure sustainable practices using naturally derived and biodegradable ingredients which are free from harsh chemicals but work together to deliver a powerful performance. Tru Eco products are guaranteed Irish, plant-based, cruelty free, septic tank safe and developed in Ireland. Reducing its carbon footprint even lower, Tru Eco offers a refill solution, which creates a circular economy product and closes the loop on plastic waste.

Q: What marketing activity is planned for the new VivaGreen range?

A: To support the launch of Tru Eco, we will be implementing a national PR campaign and digital marketing activity targeting environmentally conscious consumers. For more information about Tru Eco and our full range of products, visit www.vivagreen.ie.

Q: Sustainability, climate change and a plastic-free future is very high on the agenda for practically every industry in the world. As experts in the area, what are your predictions for this initiative in the coming years?

A: Legislation, such as the EU’s 2030 climate change targets, is driving innovation, leadership and sustainable production development to fight climate change. Consumers are also driving change and demanding that businesses meet certain standards and offer alternatives to plastic, chemicals, and imported goods. Innovating, developing and manufacturing eco-friendly, chemical-free products is at the core of what we do in VivaGreen. By buying Tru Eco products, consumers are supporting a local, eco-friendly business, and reducing their plastic waste footprint, environmental impact as well as lowering carbon emissions.

Dedicated to greater sustainability

The stylish pink and lime ribbon used within the Butlers 2020 Easter Collection has been created from 100% recycled consumer plastic bottles

Butlers Chocolates is committed to systemic change on the path toward greater sustainability and is dedicated to reducing energy inputs, minimising the carbon footprint and lessening its impact on the environment. For many years the long-established luxury chocolatier has undertaken numerous sustainable and ethical practices across the business, such as a commitment to local sourcing, using recyclable packaging and the reduction of single-use plastic.

Butlers is a fully verified member of Origin Green. All Butlers Chocolates are crafted using sustainably sourced cocoa under the Cocoa Horizons umbrella. The Butlers factory in Dublin has a zero waste to landfill and hosts Ireland’s largest solar panel installation on its roof, providing approximately 14% of the factory’s annual electricity needs – the equivalent production resource for 2.5 million chocolate bars.

All coffee served in Butlers Chocolate Café is Fairtrade. While customers are incentivised to bring a reusable cup, all takeaway coffee cups are 100% recyclable and made and printed in Ireland.

This spring, most of the Butlers 2020 Easter Collection will be presented in either recyclable or keepsake packaging. The stylish pink and lime ribbon used within the collection has been created from 100% recycled consumer plastic bottles. As part of its continuing journey in 2020 to reduce the usage of single-use plastic, Butlers is replacing the PET holders in its wrapped eggs with a cardboard alternative – an initiative that will save approximately three tonnes of plastic this Easter season. For more, see www.butlerschocolates.com.

3:1 water to wine ratio

E&J Gallo Winery has released a sustainability report as part of its commitment to improving its processes, reducing its carbon footprint, and preserving natural resources. To realise these goals, the company has pledged to minimise its use of fertilisers and pesticides where possible, recycle and reuse process water, protect river habitants and create new wetlands. By 2022, the winery plans to achieve an industry-leading 3:1 water to wine ratio.

According to the report, E&J Gallo has installed 10 acres of solar panel fields since 2015, offset 20% of its energy usage by making biofuel from grape seeds, and saved 100,000 gallons of water by switching to ultraviolet sanitation.

Smart sustainability

Worth €1.17m, the Glacéau Smartwater brand now uses 100% recycled plastic bottles

In the latest move as part of its sustainable packaging strategy The Coca-Cola Company, in partnership with Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, have announced that Glacéau Smartwater bottles are now made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET).

Glacéau Smartwater, the third largest on-the-go bottled water brand in Ireland, will move its entire range and both its 600ml and 850ml servings into plastic bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic. The changes will remove 3,100 tonnes of virgin plastic from circulation each year and will mean that Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company is the only soft drinks supplier in Ireland to now have its full on-the-go water portfolio 100% rPET.

Smartwater has continued to grow month-on-month with the brand more than doubling in size over the last year and growing by 68.8% in January versus the previous year. Smartwater has added an incremental €814,000 to the water category in the last year, making the brand now worth €1.17m. Smartwater continues to grow faster than Evian (+2.2%) and Volvic (-2.2%)* and, with the launch of the new 100% rPET bottle, the brand hopes to accelerate its growth further.

At the same time, Coca-Cola is continuing to work with local re-processors to double the amount of recycled PET used in all its plastic bottles, across 20 brands, to at least 50%. The new packs will be launched ahead of schedule in early 2020 and will make Coca-Cola the biggest user of recycled PET plastic in Ireland.

This is the latest action from Coca-Cola as it marks two years since it launched its sustainable packaging strategy – in which it set out an ambition to work with others to ensure that all its packaging is recovered so that more can be recycled and none ends up as waste. It comes as the Coca-Cola Company took a series of actions in countries across Western Europe that will remove 9,000 tonnes of virgin plastic from circulation and replace it with recycled plastic over the course of the next year.

The launch of the new 100% rPET Smartwater bottle will be supported with a fully integrated marketing plan in April, which will drive awareness through outdoor advertising (OOH) and social, using Instagram to maintain long term presence. In-store point of sale will also help call out the 100% recycled message on shelf. June will see the company further reinforce its sustainability message for the brand with an exciting ‘message on a bottle’ campaign which will see various recycled/recycling messages printed across Smartwater bottles.

*(Source: ROI MAT to January 2020)

*(Source: Smartwater Brief 2020 – ROI Only)

Committed to sustainable future

Aurivo spent €38 million on sustainability initiatives over the last seven years

Aurivo, a dairy processing co-op, was named the most sustainable business of 2019 at Compass Group’s annual awards.

The company is committed to the cause, having claimed to have spent €38m on sustainable initiatives over the last seven years. Its initiatives include using woodchip and liquid natural gas to process milk, reducing heavy fuel oil usage and cutting carbon emissions by 75%, or 25,000 tonnes per year.

What’s more, the heat pump technology in its Co. Donegal liquid milk site reduced fossil fuel consumption by 80%, which the company says makes it one of the most sustainable liquid milk plants in the country.

It’s not just the product that’s sustainable – thanks to the introduction of a 1.75L bio-based carton for Organic For Us, Connacht Gold and other retail milk brands can now offer their consumers the first renewable carton on the market. Made of 75% paper, the carton’s cap, neck and coating have been sourced from plant-based raw materials using sugar cane.

Combatting climate change campaign

One million trees will be planted across Ireland and Africa in a bid to combat climate change

Irish people can help to combat climate change by supporting a new campaign to plant one million trees in Africa in 2020. How do you plant one million trees in Africa? According to Glenisk and Self Help Africa, it’s by planting 100,000 trees in Ireland.

One Million Trees is a local-to-global initiative that will see development charity Self Help Africa plant ten new trees in Africa for every single native tree planted in Ireland. The initiative is supported by Irish dairy brand, Glenisk through its Bio Organic Yogurt range.

Self Help Africa will plant one million new trees in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 and an additional 100,000 native trees in Ireland. This campaign is affiliated with one of the biggest global reforestation efforts in history, the UN-backed initiative One Trillion Trees.

Native Irish trees will be planted by local partner, Trees on the Land, while the SuperValu chain will act as a retail partner to the campaign and will work with Glenisk to support in-store fundraising promotions throughout the year.

“The message of this campaign is that while no-one can do everything to combat climate change, everybody can do something,” says Ray Jordan, CEO, Self Help Africa. “In Africa, trees not only help remove harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, they also provide an important source of food, income, shade and shelter for rural poor households.”

The initiative will also be backed by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Primary School Teachers’ Union. Paul Flynn, president of the GPA said that Gaelic inter-county players past and present were proud to be involved and would champion an initiative that could have a positive impact on an issue that was of both local and global importance.

As part of the campaign, Vincent Cleary, managing director of Glenisk, has pledged to reforest up to 120 acres of what was previously Glenisk Wood in Co. Offaly.

For more information, visit selfhelpafrica.ie/onemilliontrees.

Eat good, do good and feel good

Kellogg’s tasty W.K Kellogg range not only tastes good but also does good as 10c from each box goes to good causes.

Every bowl of granola, cereal or snack in the W.K Kellogg range is delicious, wholesome and nutritious as the world’s largest plant-based food company believes in the power of eating good food.

Kellogg’s founder, William Keith Kellogg, believed in giving back. That’s why 10c from every box of W.K Kellogg sold will go to a good cause, like the Breakfast Club Programme in Ireland. The main purpose of a breakfast club is to provide a safe, secure environment before school, where children can have a decent breakfast with their friends. Children who have a good breakfast have improved concentration, improved attendance and punctuality, better behaviour and improved attainment and achievement at school.

Kellogg’s believes that eating good, wholesome food and giving back to the community goes a long way to making you feel good.

The W.K Kellogg range has no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, no palm oil and is suitable for vegans. It has tasty clusters of baked wholegrains, which are a perfect plant-based protein.

The W.K Kellogg range includes a tasty selection of no added sugar options in Raspberry, Apple & Carrot, Cocoa & Hazelnut, Coconut, Cashew & Almond and Simply Granola. The range also includes the new W.K Kellogg by Kids. The first children’s cereal to include fruit and vegetables that was created for kids by kids is available in Blueberry, Apple & Beetroot and Strawberry, Apple & Carrot.

The plant-based, vegan range includes Nuts & Raw Fruit Bars for on-the-go snacking, available in Cocoa & Hazelnut, Apple & Pumpkin Seed and Sunflower & Chia Seed.

Triumph at Green Awards

Ice Water was recognised for its sustainable water achievement at the annual Green Awards last month. Ice Water was lauded for replacing bottled water with premium filtered solutions in many Irish offices, such as Twitter, Air BnB, PwC and Survey Monkey. These installations contributed to a reduction in single-use plastic usage.

The company claims that its installations and bottle filling stations reduced the number of plastic bottles coming into the Irish market in 2019 by 15 million. “As a small company, says Peter Wynne, CEO, Ice Water, “it is a hugely significant achievement for Ice Water to be recognised on a national scale for our commitment to sustainability.”

Lauded for green credentials

(L-R): Matthew O’Gorman, Manor Farm; Maurice Bergin, MD, Green Hospitality Programme; with Charles Smith, co-founder, Farmers to Market

Chicken processor, Manor Farm, won the best sustainable food product at the 2020 Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) awards. The processor was awarded for its ‘Farmers to Market’ Free-Range Chicken Thigh Burgers.

Matthew O’Gorman, Manor Farm says: “We are delighted to have won the best sustainable food product award this year. We have been working alongside Farmers to Market to ensure the best quality product was produced without compromising on our sustainability goals. We are incredibly proud to have our efforts recognised at the ISFA’s. It motivates us to continue to strive to have the best quality poultry on the Irish market.”

The theme of this year’s IFSA’s was ‘Innovation for a sustainable future’, which recognises the industry’s efforts to tackle climate change. The awards categories were designed to celebrate excellence and innovation across all food sectors from beverages to catering equipment.

A ‘Dragon’s Den’ style panel was put together to judge the shortlisted entries, which involved a presentation of the finalists’ sustainability products and services. Judges included, Maurice Bergin, managing director of the Green Hospitality Programme, Brian Walsh, packaging technologist for Repak, and Tony McGuigan, head of procurement and F&B projects for Dalata Hotel Group.

Judges were taken with the Farmers to Market’ Free-Range Chicken Thigh Burgers, commenting: “The winner took a well-known food material and re-imagined it whilst working closely with their own suppliers in a strong and environmentally friendly manner with very strong community support. The simple chicken thigh has a new life.”

Seeds of change

Farm manager Conor O’Malley and commercial director Philip Meade Jr. with the Meade 2kg White Potatoes packed in a 100% compostable paper pillow pack bag

Meade Potato Company, one of Ireland’s leading growers, packers and distributors of fresh produce to the retail and foodservice sectors, has been active and innovative on multiple fronts with its sustainability programme.

Fresh from introducing a first-of-its-kind compostable potato bag to Lidl Ireland, the company is now tackling energy carbon emissions with the planned installation of 300kW of solar panels to supplement its wind turbine. When completed, the panels will take 112.5 tonnes of carbon out of its operation each year. Furthermore, the company can lower herbicide use by mechanically removing weeds from around the crops using specialist machinery.

As reducing food waste is one of the most scalable ways to reduce carbon emission, Meade Potato Company will join forces with FoodCloud for an increased programme of ‘gleaning’ dates for 2020. Gleaning is the process whereby any suitable crops left over in the field after harvesting are not ploughed back into the ground but are gathered by volunteer, CRS or school groups for people in need. The company already makes weekly donations to the community foodbank, which means this gleaning initiative will add further fresh produce donations to FoodCloud.

‘Tomorrow Charter’ initiative

Consumers can trade cans for shares under new initiative

Independent craft brewer, BrewDog, has revealed the details of the first initiative from its sustainable business charter ‘BrewDog Tomorrow’ in collaboration with Cans for Equity. The programme will see BrewDog exchange shares in its business for empty aluminum BrewDog beer cans, in a bid to encourage more sustainable business practices through incentivised recycling.

In a clarion call for turning waste into equity, BrewDog is inviting its customers to bring empty aluminum cans to their nearest BrewDog Bar. In exchange for 50 empty BrewDog cans, consumers will be given a voucher for a share in the Scottish brewery. Those based in Ireland can trade in their empty beer cans at the brewer’s flagship Irish venue, BrewDog Dublin Outpost. The initiative will be live until its latest round of crowdfunding closes in April.

BrewDog Tomorrow comprises of six different initiatives to encourage upcycling within the drinks industry. Other arms of the campaign include, Once Beer Vodka, an initiative distilling imperfect beer into vodka and, DIY Dog, which encourages home brewing to reduce transport miles. The overarching aim is to explore how the drinks industry can have a more positive impact on the planet.

James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, said: “The BrewDog beer in your fridge can now reward you twice – once when you open it, and again when you hand it back to us.”

For more information, visit www.brewdog.com.

Innovative sustainable packaging

Nestlé will invest up to €1.9bn to migrate from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics and to accelerate the development of innovative sustainable packaging solutions. Building on its 2018 commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, Nestlé will source up to 2 million metric tonnes of food-grade recycled plastics between now and 2025. In addition to its in-house research, the company will launch a sustainable packaging venture fund to invest in start-up companies that focus on these areas.

The company intends to reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third in the same period whilst working with others to advance the circular economy and endeavour to clean up plastic waste from oceans, lakes and rivers.

Driving change

Companies that don’t make sustainable changes could get left behind, says Hannah Carter, founder of plant-based baked goods company, Oggs.

As consumers grow increasingly frustrated at the inaction of large companies, Carter predicts that companies that make a difference will reap the rewards. “Consumers are hungry for leadership and change on environmental issues,” she says. “It’s up to brands to start prioritising people and the planet over profitability.”

Right now, Carter says the small companies are driving the change, and it is forcing bigger organisations to rethink their practices. “Food and drinks companies specifically will start to join forces to help advancements in technologies and processes.

“In the coming years,” she adds, “we believe that consumers will start to further prioritise plants in their diet, meat consumption will be occasional and will be even more mindful about their purchases.”

Sustainable winegrowing journey

As a member of Sustainable Winegrowing NZ, Villa Maria has been measuring and reducing carbon emissions for over ten years. It uses rail-freight for domestic shipments and offset emissions though Air NZ FlyNeutral programme. As 30% of its vineyards are organically managed, it uses natural ways to combat pests and disease – such as wildflowers which bring beneficial insects. The company aims to bring this figure to 100% by 2030. Its other sustainability goals include operating a zero-waste landfill by 2025, and to run solely on renewable energy by 2035.

GS1 member spotlight: Airfield Estate

GS1 Ireland and Airfield Estate in south Dublin are working in partnership to improve the impact of food production and consumption on “people, planet and pocket”

Grainne Kelliher, CEO of Airfield Estate, says the company is “working to ensure that consumers understand the impact of their food choices on themselves, their families, society as a whole and, ultimately, the planet”

Sustainability is an area of increasing focus for many Irish food producers. GS1 Ireland has an extensive track-record of working with members to design and deliver cost-effective, consumer-centric, sustainability solutions.

One of the partnerships GS1 is most proud of is a recent sustainability initiative at Airfield Estate.

“At Airfield, we are concerned with the effect that food production and consumption have on people, planet and pocket and how inaccurate and conflicting information around food is causing confusion for consumers,” says CEO Grainne Kelliher. “We’re working to ensure that consumers understand the impact of their food choices on themselves, their families, society as a whole and, ultimately, the planet.”

Strategic pillars

To address this challenge, Airfield is working within four strategic pillars; Sustain, Connect, Engage and Collaborate. Within the context of the Connect pillar, Airfield and GS1 have commenced a collaboration to explore ways in which the use of food and tech solutions can inform the consumer and nudge them to make food choices that benefit people, planet and pocket.

One such way will focus on milk at Airfield Estate, by providing product traceability information and labelling data to help tackle food waste.

Traceability solution

fTRACE is a software system, approved by GS1 Ireland, that captures and records batch level traceability information about a product as it moves through the supply chain. The fTRACE solution will be implemented on Airfield Estate’s milk process, providing Airfield and GS1 with the ability to display and educate food stakeholders on full supply chain traceability and the benefits of advanced product barcodes, in one location.

Building on legacy

Airfield in south Dublin is a 38-acre estate and the original home of the Overend sisters, Letitia and Naomi. Today the estate builds on their legacy, sense of community and charitable endeavours. For example, Airfield used its Jersey dairy herd and life-saving pasteurisation, to donate to the safe milk depot, single-handily reducing infant mortality in Dublin in the early 1900s. It is this Jersey herd that is the focus of the initial traceability pilot project in Airfield and the deployment of mobile technology to make the milk supply chain fully visible to the estate’s customers. In time, the project scope will extend to other key food groups that are particularly susceptible to waste.

Visit www.airfield.ie/about-us for more information.

Date for your diary. Industry seminar: ‘Food loss and waste across the supply chain’, will be held on Thursday, 21 May 2020, in Airfield, Dublin 14. Enquiries and bookings can be made through GS1 Ireland by telephone: 01 208 0660.

Q&A with… Sheila Dowling, sales director at Bewley’s

Sheila Dowling

Q: How important is sustainability to your business and why?

A: The Bewley family’s Quaker origins are at the heart of our company, guiding our business practices and the development of our long-term sustainable supply relationships with the world’s best tea and coffee producers. We believe in being ethical and responsible in everything we do and conducting our business in a way that improves the health of the planet and the lives of all those we deal with.

We’re proud of our progress but there’s always more work to be done. We constantly review our practices and set new sustainability goals. Whether it’s new low-energy usage coffee equipment or a reduction on packaging weight, we are committed to developing new greener products, services and systems.

Q: Could you give a few examples of the best sustainability practices you have adopted in your organisation?

A: Since 2006, we have reduced our CO₂ emissions per tonne of manufactured product by over 60% and since 2010, we have reduced our waste to landfill by over 80%. All Bewley’s coffee is 100% Fairtrade certified and we were the first to introduce Fairtrade coffee to Ireland over 20 years ago. Other recent initiatives that have been developed include the offset of Scope 1 and Scope 2 Carbon Emissions through the purchase of carbon credits from co-operatives where we buy our coffee. Our tea cartons are made from recycled materials, our coffee capsules and cups are 100% compostable, and we are partnered with Origin Green, Ireland’s food and drink’s sustainability programme.

Q: What does the future of sustainability look like for your business?

A: We recognise that the products we supply and the packaging we put out to the market need to support the circular economy. This is a lengthy and ongoing project as we seek to select the material that has the best chance of either containing repurposed material or of being recycled into a product with a second purpose. We absolutely have this as a focus area for our business and have spoken with other coffee companies to see if there are advantages and insights to be gained through collaboration. Right now, we’re taking action to reduce the weight of foil used in our current packaging, trialling biodegradable foil, developing compostable hand-packed coffee pouch solutions and understanding the waste stream for this.

We’re determined to find a solution that is right for the planet and right for our customers and partners. We need to guarantee the quality and shelf life of our coffee so we can continue to give consumers the best possible taste.

Q: How are you communicating your sustainability credentials to consumers?

A: Sustainability is one of our core brand pillars. We consistently remind consumers about our commitment to it through our various partners, for example Fairtrade, Origin Green and our long-standing partnership with the Irish Hospice Foundation as well as our retail product packaging and this is highlighted throughout Bewley’s Grafton Street. We are also working on a very exciting new product that will be a first in the industry in terms of sustainable practices and we hope to see that launch in early summer.

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Mash Direct, the award-winning ‘field to fork’ convenience vegetable accompaniments brand, is celebrating the forthcoming release of Sony Pictures’ Peter Rabbit 2. The company will be giving away a range of prizes including a once in a lifetime trip to Hollywood through an exciting on-pack promotion.

To be in for a chance to win, all consumers have to do is pick up selected products from the Mash Direct range, which have been given a makeover and are branded with beautiful imagery of Peter Rabbit and his friends.

The prizes can be won on packs of the Mash Direct Mashed Potato, Champ, Carrot & Parsnip, Carrot, Parsnip & Turnip, Mashed Turnip, Potato Croquettes, Potato, Cheese & Onion Croquettes, Green Cabbage and Potato Rosti. The range is available in selected retailers and can be purchased from RRP €2.29.

One lucky winner will receive a fantastic three-night stay in a luxury hotel in Hollywood for a family of four. They will be given an exclusive Sony Pictures studio tour. They will also celebrate with a delicious meal at one of the top restaurants in Hollywood, as well as enjoying an action packed urban farm tour and a self-guided Santa Monica drive in an electric Mini 4X4.

In the new Peter Rabbit 2 movie, the characters go on a heist in a farmer’s market. Creating themed Mash Direct packs of produce direct from the farm, is a perfect fit to celebrate the upcoming return of Peter Rabbit and his friends to the big screen.

Cetainly, as a committed veg lover, Peter Rabbit is the perfect partner for Mash Direct. The company combines six generations of the Hamilton family’s farming expertise to create an extensive range of tasty and award-winning ‘field to fork’ vegetable accompaniments, which cook in just three minutes. Everything is produced fresh on the family farm to create the true taste and texture of home cooking from a brand which has received 22 Great Taste Awards to date.

Mash Direct’s range is ideal for families and children as each dish is low in saturated fat, gluten-free and free from artificial flavourings, preservatives and colourings. Available in multiple retailers, the Mash Direct range can be found in the ready meals aisle or the fresh chilled product aisle in Tesco, Supervalu, Dunnes Stores, Centra, Eurospar and Spar stores as well as various independent retailers.

Excited to be partnering with Sony Pictures again for the release – which is now scheduled to take place in August – Jack Hamilton, chief operations officer at Mash Direct said: “Peter Rabbit is one of the most iconic characters who loves vegetables and we hope this collaboration encourages more families to incorporate delicious and high quality veg in their daily diet.”

Meanwhile, Barbara Murphy, head of distribution in Ireland at Sony Pictures pointed out: “Peter Rabbit is renowned for getting up to mischief, but is also synonymous for fresh field vegetables! The on-pack promotion is the perfect way to engage families and encourage healthy eating whilst giving them the chance to win prizes in connection with one of our most lovable characters.”

The Mash Direct on-pack promotion is currently running in supermarkets. To enter the competition, individuals will need to visit www.mashdirect.com/peterrabbit2, fill out a form and enter a promotion code that can be found on the clear plastic film to be in with a chance of winning

For more information, visit www.mashdirect.com / www.mashdirect.com/peterrabbit2, Facebook: www.facebook.com/MashDirect and Instagram: @mashdirect.

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Sports nutrition brand Acti-Snack has launched seven new healthy Nut and Trail Mixes designed to naturally fuel the body and promote recovery in athlete, sports and health enthusiasts.

Designed in partnership with performance nutritionists and adventure athletes, the brand is centred around tailored, plant-based products that meet the body’s need to refuel and recover.

‘Food first’

Lorna Cooke, a leading Irish sports nutritionist at Sports Medicine NI, has been involved in the development of the product and explains how Acti-Snack is different from traditional sports snacks.

“Acti-Snack has embraced the ‘food first’ approach to fuelling and recovery,” says Cooke, “but has also concentrated on only using natural ingredients which is fantastic. Being ‘food first’ ensures that athletes are better fuelled to reduce risk of injury and improve competition performance.

“What sets Acti-Snack apart from traditional protein snacks,” she adds, “is the natural nutrition approach as well as unique flavour blends which reduce the problem of flavour fatigue that can be a real issue for endurance athletes.”

Bronagh Clarke, marketing director at Acti-Snack, explains that the brand noticed “a real gap in the market for healthy sports nutrition and protein snacks that aren’t filled with artificial sweeteners or pseudo health credentials”.

“The Acti-Snack range is hand-crafted and baked and is designed with protein front and centre to help build muscle mass,” says Clarke. “However, we know athletes need much more than that. We’ve also considered broader micro and macro nutrients that are needed for performance such as potassium, magnesium and iron to fight muscle fatigue. The products are all vegan, gluten free and 100% natural.”

Answering different need states

The range is designed to answer different need states, ranging from high energy mixes to fuel athletes before and during an event or training, to all-natural recovery mixes, to low sugar Keto mixes*. As the first and only accredited Keto snacks in the UK and Ireland, these two specific mixes feed growing dietary trends around the growing demand for lower sugar, lower carb options.

Launching with seven new mixes, the Acti-Snack range is specifically designed to equip athletes and adventurers to help them achieve their goals.

• The ‘Energy’ mix is aimed to give trailblazers to get them a much-needed boost before and during adventures and comes in two flavours; Salted Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter.
• The ‘Natural’ mix is perfect for those who want to savour the ingredients with no added flavours and comes in three mixes; Natural Nut, Fruit and Nut, Nut and Seed.
• The ‘Keto’ mix is the first accredited Keto snack in the UK and Ireland and comes in two flavours; Salt and Apple Cider Vinegar and Buffalo BBQ

The mixes are available in a variety of sizes from the 40g on-the-go packs for €1.75, to the Power Packs which are in available in up to 200g packs retailing at €5.00 which are now available on shelves across Ireland. For more information or to stock Acti-Snack, contact Barry Tyndall on +353 (0) 860 467713.

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Aldi Ireland took home the gold for two of its bespoke spirits at the World Spirits Awards in Austria last week.

The discounter won gold in the dry gin category for its Boyles Gin, while its Ardfallen Whiskey won gold in the blended Irish whiskey category.

The World Spirits Awards are considered to be the highest quality spirits awards in the world, honouring the best producers and products of spirits .

Since 2016, Blackwater Distillery has partnered with Aldi to develop the private-label Boyle’s Gin brand exclusively for the retailer’s Irish and UK markets. Every drop of Boyle’s Gin is produced in Blackwater Valley, Waterford, using the finest imported botanicals, along with local apples, blackcurrants and elderflowers to produce a truly world-class gin. Boyle’s Gin previously won gold at The Gin Masters 2018.

Peter Mulryan of Blackwater Distillery said: “It was been wonderful to work with Aldi to bring quality Irish craft gin to the widest possible audience. This latest award is very much appreciated.”

Exclusively sold in Aldi, Ardfallen Irish Whiskey is triple distilled and matured in bourbon casks. Ardfallen takes its name from the area from which the malted barley is sourced in Co. Cork.  The whiskey is crafted in small batches and has been meticulously blended to give an aroma of chocolate, almond and green fruit with a lingering sweetness to the taste and a finish of vanilla and cocoa that ends with a slight spiciness. Ardfallen Irish Whiskey previously won bronze at the Irish Quality Food Awards 2019.

Tom Doorley, Aldi’s spirits expert said: “From one of Ireland’s exciting newer distilleries comes this traditionally triple-distilled Irish whiskey. Delicate yet spicy, it has aromas of fresh nuts and a hint of apple. Ageing in Bourbon casks has imparted a warm, vanilla, toasty character that tastes round and generous on the palate.”

Both Boyle’s Irish Gin and Ardfallen Irish Whiskey are on sale in Aldi stores nationwide now.

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Taste of Dublin, inspired by NEFF, is back for its 15^th year from the 6 – 9 August.

Postponed to August due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the foodie festival will once again return to the stunning Iveagh Garden’s in the heart of Dublin city. Over four days, visitors can enjoy an idyllic summer weekend of gorgeous food from Dublin’s hottest restaurants, mingle with home grown chefs, indulge in gourmet produce, test their culinary skills or simply relax and enjoy the lineup of entertainment.

This year, Taste of Dublin will celebrate its 15^th birthday and the organisers will be taking a trip down memory lane as they invite back some of the iconic chefs who have supported the event over the years.

The 15^th birthday theme will also celebrate up-and-coming Irish culinary talent and the very best in Irish ingredients. Offering a playful twist on the serious subject of quality food, Taste will once again be the place to be with a vast array of restaurants, producers, bars, and exhibitors.

Tickets are now on sale at www.tasteofdublin.ie and fans can also sign up to be the first to hear the latest news and line-up for this year’s event.

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Irish dairy is world-class, thanks to a combination of Ireland’s cool climate, generations of tradition and robust regulations governing animal welfare, production techniques and transportation. Among Irish people, tourists and foreign populations alike, Irish dairy is seen as an irreplaceable and irresistible part of Irish culture.

Of course, this does not mean there is no room for evolution and innovation in the industry, however. Competition between brands and increased demand for healthier options combined with the ongoing issue of Brexit, mean that the leading brands have had to diversify their offering to meet consumers’ needs.

Q&A with… Tim Ryan, head of marketing, Glanbia Consumer Foods

 Q: Avonmore offers a diverse range of milks. Why has the company specialised to this extent? 

A: At Avonmore, we believe in the power of dairy nutrition and for almost 20 years now, Glanbia has invested in the development of the milk category through a range of value-added products. When you think about it, milk is a category that a significant number of consumers buy so the convenience element of getting all your daily vitamin D in a glass of Super Milk for instance really resonates.

Q: Across the dairy category, how has Avonmore catered to consumers seeking both indulgence and those who are calorie-conscious?

A: We constantly talk to our customers and undertake a significant amount of research. We’ve found that calories don’t really form a large part of the conversation as consumers are looking for good sources of nutrition. The trend in recent years has been around a move to full fat milk, especially for those who are catering to a family. We do offer a range of products of course; our Super Milk and Slimline brands both offer fat free options. As far as indulgence goes, well I’m biased, but a glass of Avonmore whole Super Milk does it for me!

Q: Kilmeaden Cheese’s portfolio includes several format options. Convenience is obviously a key factor here; how significantly has this variety driven sales?

A: I think cheese is the ultimate snack; don’t we all love a bit of cheese out of the fridge on occasion when we are grazing! We have a wide range of formats across Kilmeaden and will be announcing some new innovations soon which we are excited about on a number of levels. If you think about how we snack throughout the day, cheese might not be what always comes to mind, unless of course you work in Glanbia and then you are never too far from a bit of cheese! Our hand-cut slices range is really popular with consumers using it from snacking to a convenient way of making a tasty toastie. Of course, our range of blocks are still very popular and staple formats like slices, grated and sandwich slices are adding tremendous value to the category.

Q: Is the growing popularity of vegan products a concern for the dairy category?

A: Like any competitor, non-dairy products are of course a head wind, but I believe that consumers are still getting to know these products and finding a role for them in their diets. I believe that nutrition and taste will continue to be important to consumers and of course, natural is a big point of conversation as well. We are still seeing good growth in our value-added products ahead of the market, so for the moment we will continue to learn from consumers about their changing diets. 

Avonmore’s new Strawberry Protein Milk contains 27g of protein

Q: How significantly will Avonmore invest in marketing over the next 12 months?

A: We will continue to support our key strategic priorities over the next year. Our flagship brand Avonmore Super Milk is set for another great year with a new creative platform and TV campaign going into production in the coming weeks. The re-launch of Mooju at the end of 2019 is working well and will be supported pre-dominantly through shopper and digital/social in 2020. Our Avonmore Protein Milk brand has a very exciting year of innovation ahead with several new variants on the way and will be supported by a mix of social and experiential. 2019 was a significant year for Avonmore Protein Milk with the successful launch of our Gold variant which is producing some great results.

Q: Sustainability is a growing concern for many consumers; how does Avonmore ensure packaging is environmentally friendly?

A: There is no doubt that sustainability is a huge topic for consumers. All our milk packaging is recyclable. A number of years ago, we invested in a new 1L carton across our range which is designed with easy fold lines which makes it easier to fold, which in turn doesn’t take up as much space in consumers’ recycling bins. Like everyone we are on a journey and will continue to innovate to meet the changing needs of consumers.

Berry good!

Avonmore is delighted to welcome its newest member to the family; Strawberry Protein Milk (500ml). This great-tasting, fresh, strawberry-flavoured milk is packed with 27g of protein; perfect for those who engage in regular exercise. Protein supports the growth and maintenance of muscle mass, enjoyed as part of a varied and balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

The Strawberry flavour is available now, retailing at €1.39 RRP.

Fridge-friendly naturals!

The innovative tub design of Irish Yogurts Clonakilty’s 1kg range, allows for a large product to be placed on the fridge door, saving space on consumers’ fridge shelves

Irish Yogurts Clonakilty’s range of fridge-friendly 1kg natural yogurts, are available in a Whole Milk Natural Live Yogurt and a Low Fat Greek Style Natural Live Yogurt. The innovative tub design allows for a large product to be placed on the fridge door, saving space on the inner fridge shelves.

These yogurts are made from all-natural ingredients, are high in protein, a source of calcium and contain no added sugar. With much focus being placed on healthy eating, these are ideal for eating as a plain yogurt, in smoothies, for breakfast bowls with added fresh fruit, and for home baking and cooking.

In the modern world, with much focus being placed on sustainability, the tubs are widely recyclable.

Irish Yogurts Clonakilty has been producing the highest quality yogurt in Clonakilty, in the heart of West Cork, a globally known food producing hub. The brand’s churn-style technology is unique to Irish Yogurts, where the yogurt is given characteristics such as smooth, creamy body and texture, and greater mouthfeel. Quality and taste are paramount to enhance the customer experience, says Irish Yogurts, confident that every product and every spoonful within its range, gives that mouth-watering experience.

For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.irish-yogurts.ie.

Hot stuff                                 

Returning on 9 April, the Connacht Gold Hot Cross Bun Day gives the nation the chance to enjoy a real treat

Connacht Gold Hot Cross Bun Day is back on Thursday, 9 April 2020. For four years, Connacht Gold has been out and about treating the nation to Connacht Gold Half Fat butter smeared on fresh hot cross buns.

As real butter continues to regain popularity, Connacht Gold Half Fat butter delivers on taste with half the fat. A Blas na hÉireann and Great Taste Award-winning butter, it contains no vegetable oils or chemically treated fats, only the delicious natural taste of butter, and all the health benefits of half the fat.

Samples of Connacht Gold buttery goodness will be handed out at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre this year, with more than 6,000 samples scoffed by butter loving passers-by in Dublin and Galway last year.

Not leaving anyone out, online fans can join a week-long pun-filled competition in the hope of claiming a hamper of fresh hot cross buns and Connacht Gold Half Fat butter delivered to their front door. Follow the campaign on social media, using the hashtag #ConnachtGoldHotCrossBunDay.

Planting one million trees

Glenisk in partnership with development charity, Self Help Africa, have jointly pledged to plant over one million trees in 2020

For over 30 years, Glenisk, ‘the Good Yogurt’, has been producing premium and organic Irish milk and yogurt from its Co. Offaly base, and currently produces over 120 million servings of yogurt per year.

Glenisk recently announced details of its partnership with development charity, Self Help Africa and their joint pledge to plant over one million trees in 2020. The campaign will include the planting of 100,000 native trees in Ireland and one million trees in sub-Saharan Africa in a bid to fight the growing threat of climate change.

Planting trees is a useful, practical solution and a vital step in saving our planet. In Africa, native trees will provide food, shelter and income for families and communities, helping those most affected by, but least responsible for, climate change.

The campaign will be supported across Glenisk’s Bio Organic Yogurt range with new packaging launching this month. SuperValu, with 223 stores nationwide, will act as the exclusive retail partner to the campaign, working with Glenisk to support in-store fundraising promotions throughout the year.

The public can get involved by donating €5 to Self Help Africa, which will result in one tree being planted in Ireland and 10 planted in Africa. See selfhelpafrica.org/OneMillionTrees to pledge support. For more information, visit www.glenisk.com #OneMillionTrees.

Focused on simplicity and sustainability

Danone Dairy Ireland has introduced a new yogurt range, Danone Yogurt, the brand’s biggest launch in three years. The new Danone branded range has been developed in conjunction with families to reflect the simplicity they are seeking in a world where they have more choice than ever. The new range caters to increasing calls from Irish shoppers for food brands to create simple, sustainable, great-tasting products that align with their personal, health and family values.

The new Danone Yogurt range has something to cater for everyone in the family with simple recognisable ingredients, no added sugar or sweeteners and in 100% recyclable pots. Danone Ireland has invested €1 million into the launch, with activations across video on demand, out of home, sampling, shopper, and point of sale alongside a social and public relations strategy to introduce the product range effectively to Irish families.

The new Danone Yogurt range uses ingredients that consumers will recognise: just milk, live cultures and a fruit and veg layer, all with no added sugar or sweeteners

The new Danone Yogurt range uses ingredients that consumers will recognise: just milk, live cultures and a fruit and veg layer*, all with no added sugar or sweeteners**. It includes formats for the whole family, including single pots, family sharing pots, multipacks and kids’ pouches. Flavour combinations include: Strawberry & Blood Orange, Peach & ginger, Peach & Raspberry, Mango Carrot & Banana, Strawberry and plain Natural Yogurt.

“For Danone, doing good is about more than just making delicious yogurts with no added sugar**,” says Rachel Doyle, Danone Ireland head of marketing. “It’s about doing our bit for families, our communities and our planet. That’s why our new range focuses on ‘Simply What Matters’ and caters for all the important daily family moments, which we know help to build sustainable eating habits. It’s also why our pots and cardboard are 100% recyclable, helping families who are working to make better decisions when it comes to packaging.”

The new Danone Yogurt range includes organic kids’ pouches, which have an RRP of €2.50 per four-pack

Danone has held its belief in simplicity for over 100 years, since it was founded in 1919, and the company wants to continue to have a positive impact long into the future. Danone’s work as a force for good was recognised in 2017 with a certification as a B Corporation***. The brand wants to make recycling simple – something the whole family can participate in – so is using clear on-pack recycling labels (OPRL) and all pots and cardboard are 100% recyclable****.

*(The plain natural yogurt does not contain fruit layer. The kid’s pouches are blended with fruit purée)

**(Contains naturally occurring sugars)

***(Certified B Corporations meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. B Corps work toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment and stronger communities. (https://bcorporation.net)

****(Kids’ pouches are not currently recyclable through curb-side collections. Danone is working to make the pouches widely recyclable, but in the meantime has partnered with Terracycle – a scheme families can participate in to recycle the kids’ pouches. This is just one part of Danone’s ongoing commitment to discover and implement solutions that drive sustainability)

Delivering innovation and sustainability

Strathroy’s new Protein Milk has been widely welcomed by teams and athletes as a refreshing and nutritious sports drink for recovery

Strathroy’s commitment to innovation and developing sustainable packaging has led to a significant reduction in the amount of plastic used in jars and new designs that benefit retailers and customers.

As Ireland’s oldest family dairy, Strathroy has consistently innovated and invested to bring choice, quality and value to Irish households.

As sales director Phelim McCarron points out: “We have been producing our own 2-litre jars for over ten years. These use over 20% less plastic than those we previously used, a saving of over 6.5 tonnes of plastic every week.

“By comparison,” he adds, “currently there are 2-litre jars on sale containing almost 35% more plastic than the Strathroy produced jar. You really have to consider if this is sustainable given the carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and the higher energy used in production.”

Due to demand from retailers and consumers, Strathroy recently redesigned the 3-litre jar, and began manufacturing these in-house. Once again, the new jar uses over 20% less plastic than the previous model. The new design also increases the number of jars per trolley, from 56 to 64, so reduces transport costs and emissions by over 14%.

“For the retailer,” continues McCarron, “this innovation offers significant savings in in-store chilling, staff costs, etc. It also helps retailers achieve their plastic reduction targets.” Strathroy also now produces electricity and heat for its production plant using an anaerobic digester which uses grass grown in the surrounding fields as its energy source.

Products in the Strathroy stable including Protein Milk and Mega Milk have proved popular. “Our new Protein Milk has been widely welcomed by teams and athletes as a refreshing and nutritious sports drink for recovery,” says McCarron. “Likewise, Mega Milk offers additional nutrients as part of the daily dairy intake.”

“These innovations underline our proactive approach in lowering GHG emissions,” he continues, “and demonstrates clearly Strathroy’s ethos and corporate social responsibility alongside our commitment to quality, choice and value for our customers.”

High protein and great taste

The number one quark in Sweden, the Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg range helps consumers to lead a balanced, healthy lifestyle

Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg, the great-tasting, high protein dairy product from Sweden, continues to grow in the UK and Ireland, and is now available in six great flavours – Raspberry, Vanilla, Peach & Passion Fruit, Blueberry & Vanilla, Coconut and Stracciatella.

Kvarg is Swedish for quark. Successfully launched in the UK and Ireland and the number one quark in Sweden^*, the Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg range has an appealing, creamy texture – similar to Greek yoghurt – created to help consumers lead a balanced, healthy lifestyle**.

Whether for a long-time gym-goer or those just starting out on a healthy flex, Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg is the perfect partner for any customer’s regular workout.

Containing 17g of protein per pot, Nestlé Lindahls Kvarg single pots are also low sugar and fat-free*** and a great addition to a pre or post-workout meal plan. Delicious mixed with berries, fruit or granola, Nestle Lindahls Kvarg pots can be found in the chilled yogurts aisle nationwide.

For more information, visit www.lindahls.co.uk/, www.instagram.com/lindahls_uk/ and www.facebook.com/LindahlsUK/.

*(Source: In value sales of the total Quark segment – Nielsen 2018)

**(Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. It is important to have a varied diet as part of a healthy lifestyle)

***(Stracciatella is low sugar and low fat)

Showcasing dairy excellence

‘Green grass, family-owned farms, top quality milk’ stated across a billboard, aims to connect consumers with the model of dairy farming in Ireland, joining the dots between quality farming and quality food

The National Dairy Council (NDC) has launched a new out-of-home billboard advertising campaign celebrating Irish dairy farmers and their grass-fed Irish cows working together to sustainably produce top quality milk and dairy products.

The campaign highlights how in Ireland our green countryside is an incredible asset and provides us with a unique grass-based farming system. This, paired with the expertise and the commitment of individual farmers and their families are vital ingredients in the success of Irish dairy – here at home and abroad.

While the positive credentials of Irish dairy are longstanding and plentiful, the gap between food origin and the consumer is growing. At the same time, consumers are demanding natural sustainably produced food – transparency, authenticity, taking responsibility for your health and your environmental impact.

Ireland’s dairy sector has an opportunity to reconnect consumers with natural food production and showcase that in Ireland our unique grass-based system, coupled with our family farming system, is what really sets Ireland apart.

The NDC first revealed the campaign showcasing dairy farming excellence in a national outdoor campaign in December 2019, with a second burst in January 2020.

For the outdoor billboards, the NDC specifically looked for placements that would focus on high impact. Giant images of Irish cows grazing freely on green pastures appeared on outdoor billboards across the country. To ensure a volume of traffic, the association targeted main arterial ways/motorways and secured large format premium roadside billboards.

The NDC’s campaign showcasing dairy farming excellence was first revealed in a national outdoor campaign in December 2019, with a second burst in January 2020

‘Green grass, family-owned farms, top quality milk’ stated across a billboard, aims to connect consumers with the model of dairy farming in Ireland, joining the dots between quality farming and quality food. The farmer, the animals and the land; all work in harmony to produce quality milk.

In urban areas, the NDC also included advertisements at bus stops which informed consumers that ‘Approximately 99% of water used in Irish dairy farms is supplied naturally by rainfall’.

This campaign celebrates what is truly special about Ireland – our unique way of farming coupled with the passion of our dairy farmers to produce high-quality dairy products. It is no surprise why people at home and abroad simply #LoveIrishDairy.

‘Everything starts with milk’ 

Ensuring 2020 starts with that all-important health kick, professional rugby 7’s star and Love Island winner, Greg O’Shea, has joined forces with one of Ireland’s top female boxers, Kellie Harrington, to support the second year of the ‘Everything starts with milk’ initiative, a European Milk Forum campaign focused on encouraging Irish consumers to drink more quality milk from Europe.

Sports stars Greg O’Shea and Kellie Harrington are ambassadors for the ‘Everything starts with milk’ initiative, a European Milk Forum campaign focused on encouraging Irish consumers to drink more quality milk

O’Shea and Harrington announced their roles as ambassadors at an ‘Everything starts with milk’ training day that took place at University College Dublin, which saw boxing club, Fingal CC Dublin, a rugby team from Dublin’s Kings Hospital School and one hockey team from Saint Aloysius College, Co Cork, win the chance to train with the stars, as well as several members of the Irish Women’s hockey team who were also in attendance to support the campaign.

The pan-European campaign – supported locally by O’Shea and Harrington – is being implemented by the National Dairy Council in Ireland to highlight the importance of milk as an important dietary building block at all stages of life, from childhood growth and development to post-workout recovery.

The perfect post-performance recovery drink, milk is rich in protein – an important nutrient for muscle growth and maintenance – and provides a natural carbohydrate source to help refuel energy stores. A glass of milk offers an abundance of electrolytes in a fluid form to assist rehydration and provides a number of vitamins and minerals with important roles for health including calcium, phosphorous, and potassium to support bone health, iodine to contribute to normal cognitive brain function, vitamin B2 to assist with energy release, and vitamin B12 to support normal functioning of the immune system*.

Speaking about the launch of year two of the ‘Everything starts with milk’ campaign, Jeanne Spillane, marketing manager at the National Dairy Council said: “We are looking forward to working alongside both Greg and Kellie this year to develop engaging content, activities and appearances that will highlight why dairy milk is a great choice post-exercise.”

*(Source: Research conducted by the National Dairy Council in Ireland)

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Lidl Ireland has unveiled its range of Deluxe Easter eggs handmade by Cavan-based chocolatier, Aine’s Handmade Chocolates.

Available in 163 Lidl stores nationwide, the artisan eggs have been crafted by chocolate experts who have been creating deliciously smooth and creamy handmade chocolate since 1999.

The UTZ-certified eggs are available in a number of varieties exclusive to Lidl including Deluxe Milk Chocolate or White Chocolate (€7.99), a decadent Deluxe Milk Chocolate and Honeycomb (€7.99) or for those looking for something a little unique, the Deluxe White Chocolate with Raspberries egg (€7.99) is sure to delight.

Lidl has invested €380,000 into the venture, and Aine’s Handmade Chocolates has supplied Lidl with more than 50,000 eggs for stores across the island to date.

“This partnership has been a game changer for our business,” said Ann Rudden, managing director, Aine’s Handmade Chocolates. “With the investment and unwavering support Lidl has offered us, we have been able to grow our capabilities and business significantly, allowing us to hire more employees and offer more selection to customers.

“It’s always a special moment when we see our handmade eggs on the shelves at our local Lidl store, and we hope shoppers will support us and pick up these special eggs this Easter for their friends and families.”

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The Coeliac Society of Ireland is teaming up with baked goods brand Promise Gluten Free to deliver free food packs to hundreds of vulnerable coeliacs who are cocooning in order to stay safe from the coronavirus.

Delivery of around 400 packs to the homes of mostly elderly people throughout Ireland will start this week. They will include baked staples like gluten free bread but also Easter treats such as hot cross buns. The society hopes that further deliveries in the coming weeks will include products from other manufacturers.

The move comes after cocooning members of the Coeliac Society who could not travel expressed concern that they would struggle to access gluten free products as the coronavirus lockdown continues. Many feared they might become ‘glutened’ because they would not be able to stick to the strict gluten free diet which is required to manage their coeliac disease.

Coeliac Society CEO Gill Brennan said of individuals with coeliac disease currently cocooning: “These are vulnerable people in the current climate, not least because many of them have underlying conditions other than coeliac disease. These care packs will help keep them safe and well by allowing them to stick to their gluten free diet, but they will also mean they have one less thing to worry about at a time of real stress and anxiety in their lives.”

Mary Horkan, senior marketing manager at Promise Gluten Free, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown is a very worrying time and it is important that we help and protect those who are vulnerable.

“We hope the care package brings some joy to those people who can’t leave their homes right now.”

The Coeliac Society of Ireland’s dietitian Sarah Keogh is hosting weekly Facebook Live Q&A sessions on how to cope during the Covid-19 crisis. These will cover different health topics that are relevant to coeliac sufferers, including ‘Osteoporosis: Are you getting enough calcium?’ ‘Fibre and Coeliac Disease: What are the best sources?’ and ‘Looking after your heart: Cholesterol and you’.

Anyone wishing to support The Coeliac Society of Ireland can do so at www.coeliac.ie/join-now/donate/

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BWG Foods has joined forces with a number of its supply partners to ensure those working in the Covid-19 test centres in Dublin and Galway receive regular deliveries of water, fruit and confectionery to support them during these extraordinary times.

 Together with Tipperary Water, Ishka Irish Spring Water, Global Fruit Co and Total Produce Ireland, Cadbury Ireland and Lindt, BWG’s retail brands – Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL  – are making regular deliveries of care packages to the members of the Irish Defence Forces, Irish Naval Service, the National Ambulance Service, the gardai and the HSE staff courageously working at the sites.

Commenting, Willie O’Byrne, managing director, BWG Foods said: “Every frontline worker, from healthcare to essential retail, is an inspiration and source of great pride to us all and we are delighted to support in a practical way, the courageous men and women working these test centres.”

 “A small thank you from our own team, also answering Ireland’s call,” O’Byrne added. 

To date, BWG Foods has delivered more than 20 pallets of water, fruit and sweet treats to the testing centres in Galway and Dublin.

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