Top stories in the papers this week 21 – 28 January 2011
Grocery spend up 2.1% for end of 2010; Tesco threatens publisher ban in war of words over bestseller snub; Own-brand products selling like hot cakes
Print27 January 2011
1. Grocery spend up 2.1% for end of 2010
Total grocery spend for the last quarter of 2010 was up 2.1%, according to the latest Kantar Worldpanel figures. The Sunday Tribune reports that while people splashed out at Christmas, they still wanted value for money. Tesco was the star performer and the discounters also performed well, with Superquinn’s market share continuing to decline. The figures outline the market share of all Ireland’s major grocery players.
2. Tesco threatens publisher ban in war of words over bestseller snub
Tesco has warned Irish publishers that it will ban their books from its shelves if they don’t play by its rules. The Irish Independent reports new bestseller ‘The FitzPatrick Tapes’, was published in secret almost two weeks ago to avoid legal complications and distributed directly to Easons and selected bookstores, but not Tesco or other supermarkets. Tesco duly sent a letter to publishers warning it wouldn’t tolerate such actions.
3. 124 Donegal jobs to go at Gallagher’s bakery
At least 124 jobs are to be lost at Gallagher’s bakery at Ardara in Co Donegal. RTE News reports the company will close its frozen bread section which, it says, is unsustainable in the long term. Some of the frozen bread operation will be transferred to the parent company’s other plant in Dublin, and attempts are being made to save 65 other jobs through redeployment to Dublin and through the possible sale of the fresh bread section.
4. Own-brand products selling like hot cakes
Sales of private-label products are now worth an estimated €3bn. The Irish Independent reports the average Irish shopper is expected to spend €1,827 on such products this year, according to research agency Kantar Worldpanel. Kantar’s figures show own-brand value share of the Irish grocery market has grown from 16% in 2001 to 33.1% last year and is expected to grow further this year.
5. Managing director of Allied Foods joins Dunnes
John Casey, the MD of DCC-owned Allied Foods, has jumped ship to join the board of Dunnes Stores as its distribution director. The Irish Independent reports the move marks the latest defection to Dunnes of senior figures within the Irish retail and distribution sector. Superquinn’s James Wilson and Sheena Ford both joined the group last year. According to insiders, another senior appointment at Dunnes is also expected soon.
Also:
€32m was shopkeeper‘s first development loan (RTE News)
Aldi to open near Luas in Sandyford (Irish Times)
Self-styled bishop gets around Mass card ban (Irish Catholic)
‘400 retail stores will close by end of month’ says REI (Evening Echo)
Social charge ruining hope of recovery, warn retailers (Irish Independent)
Sales slide 3.7% in icy conditions (Irish Independent)
Christmas retail sales weaken (Irish Times)
Commercial property outlook for 2011 may be brighter (Irish Times)
Big brands sign up to waste reduction pledges (Guardian)
Sales of Irish whiskey forecast to outsell rivals in overseas markets (Irish Examiner)
UK – 20,000 new jobs at Sainsbury’s (Meat Trade News Daily)
Ocado shares hit new high on talk it is on Morrisons’s shopping list (Guardian)
UK petrol prices rising at record rate (Belfast Telegraph)
Visa cards up 65% last year (Irish Times)
Retailers cut equivalent of 10,000 jobs in UK last month (Guardian)
Fairtrade coffee producers face challenge of climate change (Guardian)
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