Top stories in the papers this week 3 – 10 May 2010
RGDATA successfully appeals Castlerea superstore; Tesco ups rent in Athlone; Large superstores “destroy jobs,” says Musgrave chief
Print10 May 2010
1. RGDATA successfully appeals Castlerea superstore
RGDATA has successfully appealed planning permission for a 20,000 sq ft food superstore on the outskirts of Castlerea. The Roscommon Champion reports plans for the new superstore had previously been given the go-ahead by Roscommon County Council. However, following RGDATA’s appeal to An Bord Pleanala, the board has now refused planning permission on the grounds that the superstore would “be contrary to the Ministerial guidelines set out in the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities…which support the continuing role of town centres."
2. Tesco ups rent in Athlone
Following a decision by Tesco, which owns the Golden Island shopping centre in Athlone, to seek a rent increase of up 40% – fears are running high for stores and jobs in the centre. Reports by the Westmeath Independent and Shannonside FM claim up to six stores at the shopping centre could be forced to close if the retail giant goes ahead with its plans to increase rates by between 35 and 42%, based on a review conducted in 2007.
3. Large superstores “destroy jobs,” says Musgrave chief
Musgrave chief Chris Martin writes in the Sunday Tribune that Ireland should learn from the UK’s mistakes when it comes to planning laws. According to Musgrave’s research, the close-knit community is “now no more than a memory” in Britain, but still alive – although under threat – in Ireland. “Contrary to what their advocates claim, large superstores do not lead to lower prices or more jobs, said Martin, who quoted research from the National Retail Planning Forum that claimed "each superstore opening resulted in an average net loss in employment of 276 full-time equivalents".
4. Irish consumer foods worst performer for Kerry Group
The Kerry Group has announced business continued to improve in the first quarter of 2010, except for its consumer foods sector in Ireland. The group claimed it was the leader in chilled foods cabinet in the UK and Ireland and, in the €100 billion food and drink market in Ireland and Britain, that it was right in the middle. However, The Irish Times reports the group added Kerry brands in Ireland lost out recently to private label and value brand offerings due to “intense competition” – although a repositioning of brands in this area in the fourth quarter was reportedly seeing an improvement occur.
5. Kraft ‘unwise’ over Cadbury plant closure
US food giant Kraft was “irresponsible and unwise” in reversing its commitment to keep Cadbury’s Somerdale plant open following its successful takeover battle for the chocolate maker, a committee of UK lawmakers has claimed. The Irish Times reports the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has now also urged Kraft today to make no further compulsory redundancies or plant closures in the UK over the next two years, following its £11.7 billion Cadbury takeover and its closure of the Somerdale site with the loss of 400 Cadbury jobs.
Also:
Likely British Vat increase will further lower numbers of shoppers heading north – Retail Excellence Ireland (Sunday Business Post)
Commercial property deals of €500m under way – CBRE (The Irish Times)
Euro zone retail sales remain weak (The Irish Times)
Pop-up shops: a reality for retail or just another sign of recession? (Sunday Tribune)
Belfast slips even further down list of top retail cities (Belfast Telegraph)
Debenhams suffers 65% fall in Irish profits (The Irish Times)
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