Top stories in the papers this week 22 – 28 April 2011

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Aldi gets planning permission for store in Leitrim; Consumers to eat 10% more chocolate by 2015; Butchers find recipe for success with cheap cuts

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27 April 2011

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1. Aldi gets planning permission for store in Leitrim

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a new Aldi store on the outskirts of Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim. The Irish Times reports RGDATA argued the development was contrary to retail planning guidelines, as the site was 800m from the town’s main street. However the board’s inspector said that due to the “significant” expansion of Carrick, the development would not contradict the guidelines.

2. Consumers to eat 10% more chocolate by 2015

Irish consumers are expected to buy around 10% more chocolate between now and 2015, according to research by Euromonitor. The Irish Examiner reports that the EU data analyst has predicted Ireland’s chocolate market will grow from €583 million to €631m over the next four years. The growth rate for seasonal chocolate between 2005 and 2010 was 16% and this is expected to grow from an estimated €85.4m today to reach €100m in 2015.

3. Butchers find recipe for success with cheap cuts

Not one single butcher has gone out of business in the past 12 months, according to the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ABCI) group. The Irish Independent reports cash-strapped customers are said to be returning to the traditional butchers shop, and are ditching pricey prime fillets for less expensive cuts. The ABCI also reported that at least a dozen new butchers outlets have opened up in the past year.

4. Milk and cheese prices to increase from Sunday

Glanbia is recommending price increases of between 4.5% and 11% across its milk, cheese and butter products from Sunday. According to a Glanbia spokesman quoted in The Irish Examiner, Irish farmgate prices have increased by 24% since the start of 2010. Glanbia had previously absorbed these cost increases, but “with no significant reductions presently forecasted,” would be forced to pass these increases on.

5. BuyLo opens in west Dublin retail park

The Royal Liver Retail Park on the Naas Road in west Dublin has been given a new lease of life with the arrival of Irish discount retailer BuyLo, now trading out of a food store of 1,207sq m (13,000sq ft). The Irish Times reports this is BuyLo’s seventh outlet and the first in the Dublin area. Barry Group MD, Jim Barry, said BuyLo is planning to open a further six stores in various locations around the country by the end of 2011.