The pride of Ireland
Whether it’s a start-up making waves in its own particular segment, or an iconic household name continuing a long-standing legacy, Irish consumers are often drawn to an Irish brand and when it’s of the calibre we’re currently seeing, why wouldn’t they be?
Print17 October 2017
The 10th annual Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards took place in Dingle, Co. Kerry at the end of last month, celebrating and awarding hundreds of Irish brands of the utmost quality. There’s no doubt that Ireland’s food scene has stepped up a gear in recent years, and the reasons for that are a combination of factors, rather than one individual one.
The Awards itself, for example, is part of the acceleration. A self-fulfilling prophecy, if you will, in the sense that the very existence of the awards is something that brands have started using as a litmus test for their own quality and popularity. Having that little mark of quality on one’s packaging is something to strive for, and those that did not triumph at this year’s event are no doubt already planning on making next year’s list already.
Second to that, there is the issue of Ireland’s economy in recent years. We don’t need to revisit that whole affair, other than to say many were inspired to go into business for themselves. Every start-up has its own story.
Whatever that story, we decided to seek out some of those brands and focus on them. Whether they’re family favourites and regulars on Kantar Worldpanel’s Top 100 brands, or newcomers to the market gaining traction little by little, they’re all brands you would be well-advised to stock.
Drive and innovation
Fulfil’s Peanut & Caramel bar is one of many flavour innovations
Since its launch less than two years ago, much of Fulfil’s success can be attributed to the innovations that have seen it shake up the Irish snack market and drive the healthy snacking revolution.
Fulfil’s vitamin and protein bars have been a huge hit with health-conscious, on-the-go consumers nationwide. They are low in sugar, high in protein, and are the first protein bars in the world to provide 100% RDA of nine multivitamins.
Prior to launch, Fulfil’s co-founders, Niall McGrath and Tom Gannon, identified a gap in the market for a snack that was both healthy and tasty. They then took an innovative approach in terms of the brand’s positioning. Aimed squarely at the mass market, Fulfil has successfully established itself as a lifestyle brand, ensuring that it remains relevant to the everyday lives of consumers.
Fulfil went on to sell 15 million bars in its first year, and it is now Ireland’s fastest growing confectionary brand, as well as the number one value driving brand in convenience with 75% market share*. The brand’s growth has been incremental to the market and has contributed more than €4.1 million in ROI convenience value growth. To read and learn more, visit www.fulfilnutrition.com.
*(Source: Nielsen ScanTrack Unit Sales Data: Jun 18/17)
The power of balance
For many, maintaining balance in life can be tough. With Avonmore Balance, that all-important measure just got a little easier. Avonmore Balance is a low-fat milk, fortified with extra protein, iron and vitamins to help put back what life takes out.
The new offering has been developed specifically with women in mind; it has 30% more protein than standard milk, to support muscle development. Added iron helps fight tiredness and fatigue, folic acid assists in maternal tissue growth during pregnancy, and added Vitamins C and D help to improve the immune system and provide a source of calcium respectively. How about that for jam-packed with goodness!
Avonmore Balance Milk is now available in supermarkets nationwide. To learn more visit avonmore.ie, or visit Avonmore on Twitter or Facebook.
Ireland’s clear favourite
Ballygowan water originated at St. David’s Well in Newcastlewest, which was first discovered more than 800 years ago
In conjunction with its position as Ireland’s number one water brand, Ballygowan also sits in the number five position in Ireland’s soft drinks market by value, and is its second biggest brand by volume. These results show that Ballygowan is tapping in to consumer demand for healthier options, and delivering strong growth of 12% MAT, driving sales of water throughout the market.
The exceptional performance has propelled the brand to deliver an additional €2m retail sales in the last year alone*. The secret to success is a commitment to quality and innovation combined with an engagingly communicated rich brand provenance.
All Ballygowan is bottled at source in a dedicated bottling facility in Newcastlewest, where the St David’s Well source was first discovered by the Knights Templar over 800 years ago. The well sits in the grounds of the Ballygowan bottling plant to this day. A strong Irish brand, Ballygowan is a founding member of the Love Irish Food campaign which champions locally sourced goods, supporting Irish jobs. Ballygowan is also a proud supporter of Irish sport and is the Official Hydration Partner to Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Kerry GAA teams.
The most recent addition to the range is Ballygowan Sparklingly Fruity – a unique range of low calorie, low sugar Ballygowan water drinks in a stylish can. With just 23 calories per can and with no artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners, the range is ideally positioned to appeal to consumers looking for healthier refreshment.
*(Source: Nielsen Scantrack August 2017)
Revolutionising water
Celtic Pure is the largest independent water company in Ireland, having undergone metamorphic change with 50% growth in 2016 and over 35% growth in 2017. The brand is now set to revolutionise its production management system with new machinery and more.
Following the €18m investment last year, a 70,000sq ft warehouse and offices have been built, adjoining the Celtic Pure existing facility, allowing a huge growth in production capacity from 120m to 250m bottles per annum. Housing a technologically advanced management and tracking system with new bottling lines, the recent innovation will double the production line outputs by 100% from March 2018, satisfying increasing customer demand.
Celtic Pure’s new 70,000sq ft facility, including that ever-so-Irish tagline!
The final stage of the investment will be completed in 2019 with an exciting new robotic warehousing system and smart storage from Electric 80, making Celtic Pure the most advanced water bottling company in the country. This entire management of the warehouse will revolutionise the way the company works, promoting speed and efficiency.
Celtic Pure is sourced locally from deep beneath the Drumlin Hills in Co. Monaghan and continues to win awards from the British Bottler’s Institute for its best in class still and sparkling water range.
Celtic Pure is a proud supporter of Irish sport and is the Official Hydration Partner to the FAI and to the Monaghan GAA team.
For more information, visit www.celticpure.ie.
Driving footfall
Through services such as the National Lottery, bill payments, pre-paid gas and electricity, waste management, parking, mobile top-ups and more, PostPoint processes more than 18 million transactions every year
When it comes to driving footfall in stores, there are few Irish brands that provide a range of options and products like PostPoint. Part of the An Post Group, it was established in 2000 and has been helping local retailers and communities “do more in store” ever since.
Through services such as the National Lottery, bill payments, pre-paid gas and electricity, waste management, parking, mobile top-ups and more, PostPoint processes more than 18 million transactions every year, while the facility is available to more than 150 billers. The keywords for PostPoint include useful, practical and simple, plus while the group is a part of An Post, customers can rest assured that all payments are processed safely, securely and simply.
PostPoint retailers can order stamps and One4all conveniently and quickly through the PostPoint helpdesk
In addition to regular utility bills, customers can also pay their Local Property Tax and TV Licence Renewal as well as many of their local waste payments and local City and County Council Payments through PostPoint.
Added to these services are exclusive An Post products such as postal products, stamps, TV licence renewal and One4all Gift Cards, as well as new innovative online payment products like paysafecard.
PostPoint supplies electronic services to approximately 1,800 retailers nationwide
PostPoint supplies electronic services to approximately 1,800 retailers nationwide and works hand in hand with thousands of retailers in every town and every village across Ireland. By joining PostPoint, retailers enjoy the support of a dedicated customer services team as well as an award winning sales support team on the road.
PostPoint retailers can order stamps and One4all conveniently and quickly through the PostPoint helpdesk. All orders are delivered free of charge straight to the retailer’s door.
PostPoint works with all major retail brands including Spar, Centra, SuperValu, Tesco, Gala, Mace, Londis, Costcutter, Daybreak, Topaz and Applegreen. Retailers can find more information about joining PostPoint at www.postpoint.ie, or by calling PostPoint Retail Support on 1890 20 42 20.
40 years of Guinness Jazz
Cork will once again play host to jazz greats from around the world this October bank holiday
This October Bank Holiday weekend, the legendary Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place. This year’s event marks 40 years since it was first founded – originally as a gathering of local jazz fans and musicians. Since then it has evolved into one of the highest-profile jazz events in Europe, which continues to attract major talent from around the world.
The festival this year takes place from 27 – 30 October, where the city will once again play host to 40,000 jazz fans from Ireland and around the world.
Along with the festival’s long-standing partnership with Guinness, the 2017 festival has joined forces with iconic London jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, which will host a stage at the festival. It’s fitting, given that legendary band leader Ronnie Scott was one of the festival’s first headliners back in 1978.
“This vital connection opens up a brilliant opportunity for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival to connect directly with the vast Ronnie Scott’s Club network of jazz fans all over the world,” says Jennifer Gleeson, the festival’s sponsorship manager, “and to bring more overseas visitors to the event.
“We are proud to continue to support this important cultural event and to work in partnership with the Cork Jazz Festival Committee,” Gleeson adds. “This is a big festival year for both of us as we continue to work together to keep the festival strong and healthy and to support the local economy. It’s an amazing event that has gone from strength to strength for 40 years and long may it continue.”
Full details for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival can be found at guinnessjazzfestival.com.
Made for exploring
After 40 years on the market, Kelkin is embarking on its biggest adventure yet
For over 40 years, Kelkin has brought energy to generations of Irish families. The brand’s story began when husband and wife team Ken and Liz Kinsella set out on a journey to make wholesome food available for everyone to enjoy. Since then, the Kinsellas’ passion for healthy living has inspired the brand to bring consumers delicious food which fuels an appetite for life.
Kelkin’s high quality, wholesome products stretch across categories such as cereals, popcorn, rice cakes, peanut butter, fruit juices and vitamins. Furthermore, Kelkin is also Ireland’s number one ambient free-from food brand*.
This year, to mark the 40th anniversary, Kelkin has completed an ambitious redesign, introducing new packaging across its entire range of products. On top of that, more than 20 new products have also hit shelves this year.
For October, a major relaunch of the Kelkin brand is set to take place, with its largest-ever marketing campaign. The brand awareness campaign will include TV, OOH and digital, featuring Kelkin’s hero products across all categories. It will also introduce the brand’s new tagline: ‘Made for Exploring’.
Beefing up the market
At last month’s National Ploughing Championships, Monaghan farmer Colm Connolly used the occasion to launch a selection of new flavours of Rucksnacks, his own healthy Irish beef jerky snack.
Rucksnacks is a grass-fed beef jerky snack with only 89 calories per serving. With no added sugar, no gluten and no allergens – it is a quality Irish food that ticks a lot of health boxes as a lean protein snack.
For more information visit www.rucksnacks.com, or add Rucksnacks on Twitter or Facebook.
Year of change
Bulmers may have a new colour scheme and ad campaign, but the cider remains unchanged
Supported by a multi-million Euro investment, 2017 was the year of revolution for Ireland’s number one cider, Bulmers. With changes in everything from its packaging to its advertising campaign, Bulmers took a seismic leap that saw everything about the brand transform – except the taste, which is sacrosanct!
As ever, Bulmers is still produced locally in Co. Tipperary, while its new copper-toned design – on shelves nationwide now – has been turning heads, as has its new 100% Irish advertising campaign.
Using percentage statistics to make sharp observations about modern life, the 100% Irish ads take a humorous look at Irish people’s feelings towards things such as sport, music, relationships and indeed anything that is relevant to modern day society. How people feel about these things varies. 10% one way or another; their behaviour might go 30% or their chances of doing or liking something could be 50%. But, the ad goes on to say, regardless of life’s variables there’s one constant, one thing that is 100%, fully fledged and proudly Irish – Bulmers.
Amid these changes, Bulmers has reiterated its belief that innovation is at the heart of everything it does. The brand holds the number one slot in the cider category, with an impressive 82% of the on-trade, and 45% of the off-trade markets.
Podzz of nutritious choice
A new superfood range of healthy seeds and berries, Nutripodzz is designed, developed and distributed by Irish family-run business, BR Foods
Nutripodzz is a new superfood range of healthy seeds and berries that instantly boosts the nutritional value of any recipe, whether added to smoothies, sprinkled on cereals, salads or soups, or used in baking for a tasty superfood boost.
The range consists of seven superfoods; Chia seeds, Flax seeds, Hemp seeds, Goji berries, Inca berries, Mulberries and Cranberries conveniently packaged in stackable, re-sealable and transparent cups, which seal safely after use, and stack high taking up less space on the counter or cupboards.
The brand is designed, developed and distributed by Irish family-owned and managed business, BR Foods. Owner William Rochford came up with the idea in his kitchen with the help of his three daughters and son, all of whom are very focused on health and wellness. He set about creating a range of seeds and berries that not only allowed his family to boost breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time with great health benefits, but also did not take up too much space in the kitchen.
The Nutripodzz range retails from €1.99 for Flax seeds to €3.99 for Inca berries and Mulberries and is stocked nationwide in Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Tesco, Centra, Spar, Londis, Mace, The Health Store, and independent stores.
Follow Nutripodzz on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for recipes, healthy tips, advice and more: @Nutripodzz; #Nutripodzz.
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