Top stories in the papers this week 19 – 26 August 2011
Online egg tender system comes under fire from IFA; Underage cigarette sale ‘stings’ are down; Shoppers head to discounters as prices rise
Print25 August 2011
1. Online egg tender system comes under fire from IFA
Musgrave has been criticised by the Irish Farmers’ Association for trying to cut egg prices with an online auction. The Irish Examiner reports that the IFA described the move as a blatant attempt to force the price of eggs to drop below the cost of production. However Musgrave defended the system, saying it was confident that higher costs incurred by the producers would be reflected in the prices they receive.
2. Underage cigarette sale ‘stings’ are down
The number of sting operations carried out to find retailers who are selling cigarettes to underage teens has fallen. The Irish Independent reports that these test purchases, where a young person poses as a customer, fell to 402 last year compared to 690 in 2008. The HSE said the test purchases were a “resource-intensive process” and were prioritised for shops with previous problems or complaints related to underage sales.
3. Shoppers head to discounters as prices rise
Aldi and Lidl have experienced sales growth of 25% and 6% respectively, pushing their combined market share up to 10.7%. Published in The Irish Examiner, the latest Irish figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks ending 7 August 2011, show shoppers are now paying 4.4% more for general groceries than last year, and are trying to make further cuts. This has also benefited own brand goods, which are up by 6%.
4. Getting behind the Aldi label
“Given the cloak of secrecy which shrouds the sector”, Irish Times journalist Conor Pope reports he was surprised when invited by Aldi to visit its headquarters in Naas, take part in a taste testing session and talk business. He outlines how the discounter with 84 stores across the Republic, now has 107 Irish producers making food for it, and has dispelled much of the suspicion it encountered upon opening 10 years ago.
5. Tesco hopes to expand Coonagh Cross store
Tesco Ireland is seeking planning permission to expand its store at Coonagh Cross in Limerick. The Limerick Leader reports the supermarket giant has announced its intention to extend the north-eastern side of the store to provide a home shopping facility, as well as four loading bays and other access points. “A handful of jobs” will reportedly be created if Limerick City Council gives the proposal the green light.
Also:
Charity urges alcohol price increase as deterrent (Irish Examiner)
Food groups show the way in avoiding Ireland’s debt trap (Irish Independent)
UK retailers fined €55m for dairy price fixing (Irish Independent)
-Major supermarkets were handed multi-million euro fines last week for their involvement in price fixing of dairy products almost 10 years ago.
Food retailers aware of the increase in demand for gluten-free products (Irish Examiner)
UK tobacco display ban set for spring (Derry Journal)
Ennis Chamber fears retail zoning will cause ‘doughnut effect’ (Irish Examiner)
US retailers suffer as clouds gather for consumers (Irish Independent)
Gene Kerrigan: Cosmopolitan Carrick will survive (Sunday Independent)
Eight more a day join town’s dole queue in Dundalk (The Argus)
Eason set for LRC over cost savings (Irish Times)
Council warning over Bewley’s Café (Irish Times)
When the whole world’s a stage (Irish Times)
-A look at busking in Galway, including how it affects retailers
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