The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has said that retailers in the capital are "cautiously optimistic" about the final week of Christmas trading. Dublin Chamber chief executive Mary Rose Burke says that "both footfall and spending in Dublin city centre so far this month have been strong" and that more trade is expected due to the extra weekend before Christmas.
Guinness has become the biggest ale and stout brand in the UK. Industry magazine The Grocer reports that Guinness Draught has moved past John Smith’s Extra Smooth to the top spot, having added £3.3 million sales in the past year.
Revenue has published a revised income tax guideline booklet for farm partnerships. The booklet advises farmers on the formation and operation of Registered Farm Partnerships. Teagasc Farm Structures Specialist, Thomas Curran, worked with Revenue staff to ensure the document is easily available online.
Northern Irish craft brewing co-operative Farmageddon has linked up with two other local businesses to create an innovative porter. Echlinville Distillery, based in Co Down, and Bailies Coffee, in Belfast, are supplying whiskey casks and coffee beans to help produce Farmageddon's new Baltic Porter.
Christmas mascot Kevin the Carrot is saying farewell, as Aldi premiered the final instalment of its Christmas adverts. It features Kevin in more hijinks, with an ending that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas. Aldi hopes the ad will ‘melt the iciest of hearts and raise a chuckle from every Scrooge across the land’.
