Top stories in the papers this week 20 – 26 August 2010
Payzone disconnects shops over toll-fee pay surcharge; Superquinn executive likely to take Dunnes post; Profits at Lowry refrigeration firm decline by 31%
Print26 August 2010
1. Payzone disconnects shops over toll-fee pay surcharge
Two retailers were disconnected from the Payzone system this week after they were found to be charging an additional 50 cent on the M50 toll; increasing the €3 single charge by 17%. However the Irish Independent reports the service was reinstated after both retailers agreed not to impose the 50c surcharge. EFlow, which was contracted by the National Roads Authority to operate the service, said that while not in any way unlawful, the practice of additional charges was "totally unacceptable".
2. Superquinn executive likely to take Dunnes post
Superquinn’s second-in-command, James Wilson, is rumoured to be plotting a defection to rival Dunnes Stores. The Irish Independent reports that the trading director is expected to join Dunnes in the coming months. However Surperquinn’s executive chairman Simon Burke declined to comment on the speculation when contacted by the paper. Superquinn also recently lost its operational and development director Sheena Forde, who quit the retailer to become head of buying at Dunnes.
3. Profits at Lowry refrigeration firm decline by 31%
Garuda Ltd, the refrigeration firm owned by Independent TD for Tipperary North Michael Lowry has reported a 31% fall in pre-tax profits to €354,000 in 2009, according to accounts just filed. The Irish Times reports Mr Lowry’s firm is said to hold contracts with large supermarket chains, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Superquinn and Lidl. The paper states Mr Lowry resigned as a Fine Gael minister in 1996 after it emerged that extensive work on the renovation of his Tipperary home had been paid for by Dunnes and treated in the retailer’s books as work on one of its Dublin stores.
4. Payment on delivery is illegal, off-licences warned
Jim McCabe, national spokesman of the National Off-Licence Association, has reminded retailers that accepting cash payments for delivering alcohol to the homes of customers is an illegal practice, as a result of the sale taking place outside licensed premises. The Irish Times reports the comments followed an RTÉ Primetime investigation which found off-licences in north Dublin were delivering alcohol to underage punters and not seeking identification. Tesco and Superquinn were also found to be engaging in the practice through their online services but the youths paid with a debit card prior to delivery.
5. Call for online alcohol sales ban
Following Prime Time’s investigation, which showed off-licenses delivered alcohol to underage test drinkers, the CSNA has called for an immediate stop to the sale of alcohol online. The Irish Examiner quotes CSNA CEO Vincent Jennings: "I have no doubt that with the vast majority of retailers there is a very comprehensive policy regarding an ID requirement at shop level. But there should be an immediate cessation of availability of alcohol online. We need to treat it as the product it is. They either have to accept that this is a controllable substance, or that it is not," he said.
Also:
Four million cigarettes seized (Irish Times)
Over-regulation strangling retail newsagents (Meath Chronicle)
– Vice president of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents in Ireland, Joe Sweeney, discusses problems facing newsagent industry
Days lost to industrial disputes down 50% (Irish Times)
– Overall, CSO satistics have reported three workplace disputes involving 24 workers altogether during the second quarter; one of which occured within a firm in the wholesale and retail sector.
Concern over cigarette display ban in NI (Belfast Telegraph)
M&S hoping new chairman can repair relations with the City (Irish Times)
Food companies digest rising prices (Sunday Business Post)
Easons halves losses to €10m as retail revenue falls 5% in Republic
Call for minimum alcohol pricing in NI (Evening Herald)
Producers from ’50 mile radius’ for Carnaross Harvest Festival (Meath Chronicle)
Cadbury boss hoping €15m ad campaign will go down a treat (Irish Independent)
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