In the papers this week 13 – 19 March 2010
98% of all chicken has dangerous bug; Tesco's massive turbines to eclipse tallest building; Loss of cigarette duty estimated at €600m
Print18 March 2010
Retailers have been urged to package chicken in special leak-proof bags, following the news that leakage is causing chicken packaging and supermarket shelves to become contaminated with the bacteria known as campylobacter. The Irish Independent reports that a European Food Safety Agency study showed 98% of all Irish chicken contains this dangerous bug, which is nearly one-third higher than the European average.
Tesco is to be granted planning permission to construct two 300-feet high wind turbines at its distribution centre in north Dublin that, when completed, will be taller than the Republic’s tallest building, The Elysian in Cork. The Irish Independent states its understood that the two towers – which have received a provisional go-ahead from Fingal Co Council – need to be so high in order to capture enough wind to generate a viable amount of electricity.
The Irish Tobacco Manufacturers Advisory Committee has estimated that the State will lose out on over €600 million of cigarette duty this year, as a as a result of Ireland’s high level of cigarette smuggling. The Irish Times reports that according to the organisation’s estimates, some 30% of all cigarettes bought here will have their duty paid elsewhere.
Marks & Spencer bowed to pressure from investors this week, after chairman Stuart Rose agreed to a 25% pay cut for his final months with the high street giant. The Sunday Business Post’s breaking news service reports Rose’s salary will be cut from £1.16m (€1.3m) to £875,000 (€979,014) and he will lead the search for a new independent non-executive chairman before finally leaving M&S in March 2011.
Chemist chain Boots plans to create more than 150 jobs in Ireland later this year when it opens five new stores. The Irish Times reveals that the stores, which will vary in size between small community pharmacies and larger units in out-of-town shopping centres, are due to open this summer in Donegal, Mayo, Limerick and the greater Dublin area.
The Irish Examiner reports UCC students could be responsible for the addition of some seriously creative new ranges on Ireland’s grocery shelves. Mílóir, a new spread that combines honey and cream cheese, scooped the top award at the UCC New Food Product Development Showcase, was set up to highlight new food products developed by students from the BSc Food Science and BSc Food Business degree programmes.
The proposal by Glanbia Co-op to purchase the Irish business of Glanbia plc will be discussed by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) at a meeting in Kilkenny on Monday night. The Irish Examiner reports that according to ICMSA Dairy Committee chairman Pat McCormack; the organisation’s support will rest on whether the proposal has meaningful and practical benefits for milk suppliers.
Cuisine de France owner, Aryzta, has unveiled a 7.4% fall in sales at its food division in the last six months of 2009. Group-wide profit was subsequently down 5% at €134m; prompting Aryzta boss Owen Killian to highlight the enduringly tough consumer outlook facing Aryzta’s retail customers across Europe. However, according to the Irish Independent, the bakery giant chief also stressed bakery offered "excellent food value for customers."
EU legislation could dictate the buying power of retailers and the returns paid to producers in the future, according to the Irish Independent. Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness says she has received confirmation from Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos that issues concerning the food supply chain would be addressed through legislation at EU level. A spokesman for Ciolos added formal legislative proposals could be expected by next June or July.
Ulster dairy processor Dale Farm is to invest €43m (£39m) in plants in Tyrone and Antrim in one of the largest-ever investments in the Northern dairy sector by a single company. The Irish Independent quotes Dale Farm Group chief executive David Dobbin who claimed the investment would enable the group “to further develop our added value sales in the UK and Ireland."
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