Top stories in the papers this week 21 – 27 October 2011
€150m lost to laundered diesel annually; Maxol-Mace partnership extended; Ditty's Home Bakery in Co Derry named as top baker
Print25 October 2011
1. €150m lost to laundered diesel annually
Laundered diesel is costing the State €150m every year, says Retail Ireland. The Irish Independent reports the group has demanded tax reforms and more resources for gardai and customs officials to fight the illegal trade, which accounts for approx. 12% of all diesel sold in Ireland. It added that laundered fuel is not only available in border counties, but has been found in Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly and Dublin.
2. Maxol-Mace partnership extended
Maxol and BWG plan to invest €225 million in extending their existing Maxol-Mace partnership. The Irish Times reports the companies will spend €225 million in establishing Mace convenience stores at 55 Maxol service stations around the country. The resulting forecourt business, they say, will have annual sales in the region of €160m and employ about 1,000 people. Maxol currently has 218 service stations nationwide.
3. Ditty’s Home Bakery in Co Derry named as top baker
Ditty’s Home Bakery in Castledawson, Co Derry, has received the UK Baker of the Year accolade. The Irish Times reports the bakery has an annual turnover of around £2.64 million and carefully chooses its retailers. Owner Robert Ditty notes: "If you get involved in supplying certain outlets it can become an unstoppable machine – where it is hard to make money and also one that you may not always be able to depend on."
4. Why supermarket price promises aren’t all they seem
UK supermarket headline deals have been examined in The Guardian this week, and their small print drawbacks highlighted. For example, following the launch of Tesco’s Big Price Drop scheme, Guardian writer Nils Pratley asked the retailer how much a trolleyload of shopping he had previously bought would now cost – it had gone up by £2.09. Tesco also simultaneously stopped its double clubcard points offer.
5. Provisional liquidator appointed to Zapa Technology
The board of Dublin-based Zapa Technology has appointed a provisional liquidator to the company after encountering funding difficulties, reports The Irish Times. The firm which has secured seven contracts with retailers, including the Insomnia chain for its in-store payments tag, owes over €700,000 to trade creditors. Liquidator Grant Thornton has advertised in a national newspaper for expressions of interest in the business.
C-Store award winners to be announced
Finalists in the 2011 ShelfLife C-Store Awards are currently having their stores audited by the judging panel. Together with our platinum sponsors, Cuisine de France and The Irish Daily Star, ShelfLife is delighted to announce that the finalists, overall winners and category winners will be named at a special dinner in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire,Co. Dublin on Wednesday, 30 November 2011.
Also:
Customs shut nine plants for fuel laundering (Sunday Independent)
Eggs face ban from shops if battery cages remain (Irish Independent)
Northern Ireland minister Wilson slams ‘pathetic, bullying’ Tesco (Belfast Telegraph)
Minister Shatter launches review of voluntary code for sale and display of alcohol products (Department of Justice and Equality)
Why a leg wax could soon be on your grocery list: Tesco cash in on £14bn a year beauty market (Daily Mail)
‘Black September’ for retail trade (Irish Examiner)
-Shoppers have cut back spending on electrical goods, furniture and ladies fashion.
26 brought to Letterkenny general hospital on night of cheap booze offer (Donegal Daily)
Retail sales see faster Q3 fall, according to REI survey (Evening Echo)
Irish publicans call for end to cut-price booze (The Journal)
Payments firm Realex announces 50 new jobs (Belfast Telegraph)
Glanbia set to spend €200m on acquisitions (Irish Examiner)
£1.7m Antrim town makeover approved (Build.ie)
Ocado climbs after Merrill buy note, as FTSE jumps 2% on Eurozone hopes (Guardian)
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