Top stories in the papers this week 9 – 16 September 2011
Allied Logistics to cut 175 jobs after losing Dunnes contract; UK government bins 'sell-by' dates; Profits down 6.9% at company behind Pettitt’s Supermarkets
Print15 September 2011
1. Allied Logistics to cut 175 jobs after losing Dunnes contract
Allied Logistics, part of distribution and energy group DCC, is planning to cut its workforce by 175 following the loss of a contract with Dunnes Stores worth an estimated €100 million a year. The Irish Times reports Allied – which has been providing Dunnes Stores with logistics services since early 2007 – has lost a contract to distribute milk, chilled and frozen products for the supermarket chain.
2. UK government bins ‘sell-by’ dates to reduce food waste
New government guidelines in the UK are asking grocery retailers to use packaging carrying only ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ dates. The Guardian reports the ‘sell-by’ date on food packaging is to be removed in a bid to cut the £12bn worth of food needlessly binned every year. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) found 5.3m tonnes of still-edible food is thrown away each year, costing the average UK family £680 a year.
3. Profits down 6.9% at company behind Pettitt’s Supermarkets
Torski Limited, the company behind Wexford retailer Pettitt’s Supermarkets and the Talbot Hotel Group saw pretax profits fall 6.9% to €2.15 million last year. The Irish Times reports documents filed at the Companies Office show the group’s accounts fell slightly in a tough consumer environment, falling 1.6% to €108 million. Revenues in the hotel trade were under more pressure than in the supermarket division and fell 4%.
4. Sweet result for Mars as new products help boost profits by 30%
Profits at the Irish arm of Mars increased last year by nearly 30% as the launch of new products boosted sales. The Irish Independent reports that Mars Ireland’s latest accounts, for the year to 1 January 2011, show it made a profit after tax of €5.05m, an increase of €1.4m on 2010. The company said sales were boosted by "stronger customer relationships" and the launch of the "Galaxy Bubbles" line of sweets.
5. Lidl seeking planning permission for store on Stardust fire site
German retailer Lidl has sought planning permission to build a supermarket on the site of the Stardust nightclub in Artane which burned down 30 years ago with the loss of 48 lives. The Irish Times reports the discount supermarket group has applied to Dublin City Council for the development of a 1,921sq m store at the Butterly Business Park, which stands on the site of the Stardust.
Also:
Parking charges plan is scrapped in NI to retailers’ relief (Newsletter)
Council promise review of Balbriggan parking (Fingal Independent)
-The Council have promised a review of town centre parking in Balbriggan, but an extension of free on-street parking is reported to be unlikely.
Next shares up 5%, M&S up 3% (Evening Echo)
Still no tenant for ‘old Dunnes’ (Enniscorthy Guardian)
Way cleared for huge new Tesco to be built (Gorey Guardian)
-Bord Pleanala rules on Gorey ‘hypermarket’
Australia – The supermarket wars (Meat Trade News Daily)
Hilton Food beefs up profits 8.8% (Belfast Telegraph)
Ciarán is on retail council (Enniscorthy Guardian)
– Ciarán Price, owner of Eurospar, Bunclody, and the Eurospar in Kildare Town Centre, has been appointed to the National Council of Eurospar Retailers (NCER)
Soaring UK inflation likely to spark hefty hikes here (Irish Independent)
Grafton Street is 15th dearest in the world for retail rents (Irish Times)
Growing doubts (Irish Examiner)
– A new book, Environment And Food, by UCC geography lecturer Colin Sage, has been launched
Nualight buys firm for €11m (Irish Examiner)
Villagers keep Co Antrim resort in business by opening new shop (Belfast Telegraph)
Paisley demands launderers stopped (Belfast Telegraph)
One-third of food is dumped (Irish Examiner)
The man who believes Ireland is a sure bet (Irish Independent)
Dunhill signs €1.5m deal with SuperValu (Irish Examiner)
Classic tea protesters win the day (Belfast Telegraph)
– Twinings revamped its Earl Grey tea in April by adding extra bergamot and citrus to the recipe, and drinkers were not impressed
Government strategy could cost thousands of jobs, retailers warn (Irish Independent)
– Businesses nationwide join forces in a new lobby group to call for urgent reform of ‘crippling’ commercial rates
Will we survive three more savage budgets? (Irish Independent)
Is Guaranteed Irish still a good idea? (Irish Times)
Dealz is done for a D15 discount retail store (Irish Independent)
Customs seize €3.1m worth of cigarettes (Irish Times)
Over 8m cigarettes seized in Dublin (Irish Times)
Associated British Foods expects to hit target (Irish Times)
‘It’s like the Celtic Tiger – we knew we were wrong and we kept going’ (Irish Times)
– An examination of the poor planning occurring at the Ring of Kerry
Decline in business activity derails recovery hopes in North (Irish Times)
‘There is a long way to go in Ireland in terms of the coffee story‘ (Irish Times)
-Interview with Andy Marshall, chief operating officer of Costa Coffee International, at the chain’s Dawson Street outlet.
Welcome back Marc (Irish Times)
-Profile piece on Marc Michel’s farm at Kilpedder, Co Wicklow – one of the first farms to be organically certified
Thinking inside the box (Irish Times)
-Wine boxes and self-fill, re-useable bottles are popular elsewhere, so why are we so reluctant to embrace them, asks The Irish Times
Consumer prices rose 0.2% last month (Irish Times)
M&S and Morrison lead rally in retailers as Footsie rises for third day (Irish Times)
Equities up as Total’s gain lifts oil companies (Irish Times)
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