Companies including Connacht Gold, Green Saffron, Carlow Brewing Company and Chia Bia are among the suppliers set to be announced later today as participants in the 2014 Bord Bia/Tesco Supplier Development Programme. Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney will launch the initiative at an event at Bord Bia’s headquarters, and give details on the 16 companies participating in this year’s scheme, which include Boutique Bake, Improper Butter, Matt's Dream Pizza, Harvest Moon and Johnnie Cupcakes (Local Programme); Broderick's, Blue Haven, Carlow Brewing Co (O'Hara's), Paganini (Fit Fuel), Kinsale Gourmet, O'Hanlon Herbs and Waldron Meats (National Programme), and Chia Bia, Rye River Brewing Co./McGargle's, Green Saffron, Connacht Gold and Yeats Country Foods (Export Programme). Aidan Cotter, chief executive, Bord Bia and Phil J Clarke, chief executive, Tesco Ireland, will also give presentations at the event, which will also play host to a Supplier Case Study by Green Saffron.
Green Isle Foods plans to invest €30 million into its Irish operations, which is expected to create 115 new jobs over the next five years. The frozen food firm said that 50 new jobs will be based in its Longford facility with another 65 jobs at its pastry production plant in Portumna, Galway. Managing director, Green Isle, Eddie Power said: “It is critical that we have well invested facilities to ensure that we compete and win on both national and international stages. This investment programme increases our capacity and extends our product offering and secures access to a wider range of international markets.” Green Isle Foods produces brands Goodfellas and Donegal Catch and is part of the UK-based 2 Sisters Food Group. The company employs over 24,000 people across the world.
Paypoint has announced a new brand identity incorporating a new brand design, a new logo and a new website for the PayPoint group and B2B activities. PayPoint has also launched new developments including Paypoint Mobile and Online and a new multi-channel payment proposition. PayPoint has merged its internet payment service provider and mobile phone payment businesses, previously trading as PayPoint.net and PayByPhone. The new business, known as PayPoint Mobile and Online, combines PayPoint's expertise in online payments with PayByPhone’s consumer insight. Dan Salmons, managing director, PayPoint Mobile and Online, said: “Customers want to pay by mobile or online with a convenient, simple, seamless experience. As a result, many organisations are suddenly finding they need more sophisticated payment solutions that can keep up with the rapid changes in technology, consumer behaviour and regulation." PayPoint already enables retail cash payments through its 36,000-strong retail network across the UK, Ireland and Romania.
SuperValu is due to create 40 new jobs with the opening of a new store in Crossgar, Co. Down. The new construction will be 6,000 sq ft in size and will feature a filling station alongside the store, as well as parking for over 70 cars. Nigel Maxwell, of Musgrave Retail Partners (MRPNI) said, “This new SuperValu store represents a significant investment for MRPNI in Crossgar with the creation of a large number of jobs for local people. With the store's key location on the main road between Downpatrick and Belfast it will provide an important service to passing trade as well as the local community."
J.J Darboven Ireland has opened a new flagship coffee house, located on Lower George’s Street, Dun Laoghaire. The Mongey family-run business will offer coffee brands including Alfredo espresso, IDEE coffee, Movenpick coffee and Eilles gourmet coffee at the new store. There will also be a dedicated Eilles tea emporium. JJ Darboven Ireland also incorporates an “espresso bar” serving coffee, tea & chocolate to go. Graham Mongey, J.J Darboven Ireland, said; “The store is really unique and we are proud to bring our strong family heritage in this business to a new audience through this outlet. We have also developed an exclusive Eilles tea emporium, which is a new experience for Irish consumers; where they can purchase a huge range of the freshest loose leaf teas from around the globe.” J.J Darboven Coffee House is located at 64 Lower George’s Street, Dun Laoghaire and is open Monday through Saturday.
The Sales Institute will host its annual National Conference tomorrow, May 28. Held in the Balsbridge Hotel in Dublin 2, the topic of this year’s Conference will be ‘Leveraging the Recovery’. The Conference will be chaired by Sean Gallagher and will feature ten speakers from all sectors of the Irish economy, including Eileen O’Mara – Senior AVP for Commercial Sales UK & Ireland, Salesforce; Cathriona Hallahan – Managing Director, Microsoft, Gerard O’Neill – Chairman, Amarach; Damian Daly – Director of Marketing & Customer Analytics, Bank of Ireland; Jill Ross – Managing Director, Unilever, amongst others. The conference is the premier event of the year for senior sales leaders in ICT, FMCG, financial services and all sectors across the wider business community. Each year the event attracts over 300 Sales Leaders under one roof to network, gain ideas and understand new and future trends. For more information, click here. Ticket prices are €250 for members and €395 for non-members.
The Irish Independent website has upped its coverage of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the launch of a new 'Small Business' section. The additional coverage will include daily news updates, a new advice centre and featured entrepreneurs. The advice centre will provide the latest tax and legal tips for SMEs and advice on how to cut income tax bills. Regular contributors will include Irish Independent and Sunday Independent columnist and Dragon's Den presenter Richard Curran, as well as economist Dan O'Brien.
Cork County Council is due to complete the final phase of its Food Enterprise Kitchens in Carrigaline. The kitchens will provide food start ups with access to top professional facilities on an hourly basis by the end of September. The service will allow early stage food businesses to research new products and develop their commercial production at minimal financial risk. Deputy county mayor, Cllr Tim Lombard, said: “The important thing here is to give these indigenous companies the opportunity to use research to develop from market stalls into hopefully becoming small businesses. Startup costs are the big issue for these companies. These units are all top-end in quality terms, stainless steel and washable. We have taken the cost out of it for these companies, in a bid to help them realise their potential and create jobs.” Lombard said that the council believe there is huge potential out there for growth in the food market, both nationally and internationally. Cork county council currently has 17 longer-term units, used by food businesses for about two to three years. The units vary in size from 1,000 to 3,000sq feet, designed to suit different food production needs.
Glenilen Farm has signed new deals with Tesco UK and Aer Lingus to supply desserts. Glenilen will supply 138 Tesco UK stores with three desserts; lemon cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and coconut and passion fruit panna cotta from the middle of June. The deals are expected to create five new jobs at the family run business in Drimoleague, Co. Cork. Alan and Valerie Kingston, owners of Glenilen, have been supplying Tesco Ireland since 2011. Alan said the Tesco UK deal is “quite significant in terms of our dessert range.” The Glenilen deal with Aer Lingus will also see it provide cheesecake on the airline’s pre-order menus for European flights. The new contracts will go towards helping to increase turnover to about €4.6 million for the 12 months to the end of February 2015. Last year, the company had a turnover of €4.25 million.
Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) believe that the biggest threat to their business is 'cash flow', according to the latest quarterly Close Brothers Business Barometer. The survey found that two fifths of companies surveyed say that their biggest concern is cash, while 11% of respondents said that late payments were their most pressing concern. Just 10% said that lack of skilled staff was the biggest issue for them. Close Brothers managing director Harry Parkinson said: “Many businesses appear to be experiencing growth but they could still face financial difficulties. There is a danger they will struggle to survive should they fail to meet the financial demands of an increased workload.” Parkinson said that it’s important that firms regularly review their resources and recognise when they need additional financial support. “Positive signs of recovery may finally be emerging, and it’s promising to see firms planning to increase staff numbers. Job creation can itself bring unique difficulties, however, as this form of growth is dependent on a reliable cash flow.”
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
{loadposition ri27052014}
