Did you know… Wicklow Town is the focus of Dunnes Stores new Christmas advert? This is despite the town not actually having a Dunnes store in the locality. The retailer advert is making an effort to compete with other retailers festive ads, which often raise sentiment with familial scenes. The new ad by Dunnes shows Wickow Town covered in snow as a father returns to his family at Christmas, passing the Market Square and Halpin’s Cafe, before reaching his house in Leitrim Place.
Did you know… Lidl Gorey has been given planning permission to rebuild at its site on the Arklow road? The old store will be completely demolished to make room for the new, bigger store which will feature an additional off licence, bakery, lobby and toilet facilities. The plans said that “the proposed development consists of the demolition of the existing permitted licenced discount foodstore and the construction of a new mono-pitched licenced discount foodstore with a gross floor area of 2,416 square metres”. However, it is unclear when exactly the work will take place.
Did you know… SuperValu marketing director Ray Kelly has won Marketer of the Year 2014? Kelly was awarded at a ceremony in Dublin for his work on the SuperValu brand, as a result of him taking “bold steps to make SuperValu a market leader that’s currently going from strength to strength.” Kelly was presented the award by Michael Cullen, editor of Marketing.ie, in association with Alternatives Group.
Did you know… Improper Butter has won the Jumpstart 2014 competition? Founded by Elaine Lavery, Improper Butter is a premium butter flavoured with herbs. The company is based in Clonskeagh, Dublin, and was awarded for being “an innovative product that seems ready to take off.” The awards were held in the Learning and Innovation Centre at the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown. Lavery is the youngest entrepreneur to win the award, aged 24.
Did you know… Ireland has ranked as joint number one with Canada for food safety? According to a report from the Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for Food in Canada, in collaboration with the University of Guelph’s Food Institute, Ireland and Canada rate highest among 16 OECD Countries. Commenting, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said that it is vital to ensure that the food Ireland generates is consumable and safe. He said, “It’s good to know that our efforts to ensure that public protection and Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high quality and safe foodstuffs is recognised internationally.”
Did you know… Only 11% of shoppers believe that labelling for country-of-origin on food produce in Irish shops is clear, according to a survey by Love Irish Food? Only a small number of products, like beef and fish, have a legal requirement to show country-of-origin information on processed grocery food products. The group said brands that 'sound like' they were produced in Ireland - using Irish family names or old Irish brand names - are causing confusion to Irish customers. “Cully & Sully soups, Lyons Tea, and HB Ice Cream are examples of products that people believe are Irish made,” the survey said.
Did you know… Ireland’s first Workplace Wellbeing Day is to take place on 27 March 2015, supported by employer’s organisation Ibec? Companies are being encouraged to host special events and promotions for their staff. Workplace Wellbeing Day is an expansion of the existing workplace wellbeing programme, which Food and Drinks Industry Ireland (FDII) currently supports through the Nutrition and Health Foundation (NHF). Research released to mark the announcement reveals that only 15% of employers provide healthy food choices in canteens or vending machines. A report commissioned by the NHF shows only one third of employees take the recommended exercise required for a healthy lifestyle while four in ten office-bound workers are not physically active at all during their work day. Launching Workplace Wellbing Day 2015, Danny McCoy, CEO, Ibec said, “With 11 million days lost through absenteeism every year at the cost of 1.5 billion, improving employee wellbeing is in everyone’s best interest.”
Did you know… The Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) has announced an allergy warning for undeclared egg, soya and cereal (containing gluten) ingredients in the product ‘Asian Choice Seafood Cocktail Mix? The batch information is Best before date 24/02/2016; batch: DV3154; lot 2016-0224-Maxport-2466; size: 10 kg. This makes it unsafe for consumers who are intolerant or allergic to soya, egg or gluten or their constituents to consume this product. For more information visit www.fsai.ie
Did you know… Dawn Meats has agreed to buy a significant stake in France’s second biggest beef producer Elivia, which is owned by Terrena, one of France’s largest farming co-operatives? Following the deal, The transaction value was not disclosed, but sources close to the situation said the initial stake was to be under €40 million. After the initial stake purchase, Dawn Meats will have the option to buy up to 70% in the joint venture between 2018 and 2019. The long-term objective is to invest €100 million in modernising the loss-making Elivia beef unit between now and the end of 2017. “It’s a case of eat or be eaten. The reality is that the consolidation is happening, and Irish businesses in the food industry must adapt to this”, Dawn meat’s chief executive, Niall Browne, recently told the Irish Independent.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson and Robert Moloney.
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