Yet more price cuts mean average trolley of goods now dropped by almost €70 since January

SuperValu has announced it is making a further €30 million investment to deliver even more long term price cuts to consumers.

Starting today, an additional 1,000 everyday products and brands across all ranges are reduced significantly in all 194 independently owned SuperValu stores.

This is being delivered without sacrificing SuperValu’s commitment to Irish suppliers and Irish jobs and will see the value of SuperValu’s price reductions and offers top €230 million in 2009, with over 3,000 permanent price cuts in-store so far this year.

For consumers this means a real saving of almost €70 on their average shop at SuperValu since the beginning of the year.

Commenting, Donal Horgan, Managing Director, SuperValu, said; “Just over six weeks ago we announced a significant number of price cuts and offers and we are now extending this even further across another 1,000 everyday products and brands. SuperValu is a business that listens to what the Irish consumer wants and given our market share performance, which is growing ahead of our competitors, we know we are getting it right. Consumers are voting with their feet and that tells us that our mix of everyday low prices and market leading promotions is exactly what they want.“

“As always, these deep price cuts are being delivered without compromising our support for Irish suppliers, brands and jobs, as has been our commitment all along. No one can match SuperValu’s credentials when it comes to supporting Irish and we will be continuing with this policy gong forward.“

Currently 75 per cent of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland. These purchases are worth in excess of €2.85 billion every year to the Irish economy and indirectly support 14,000 Irish jobs. For example all SuperValu branded beef, lamb, chicken, pork and bacon is 100 per cent Irish, while 65 per cent of all our fruit and veg is also Irish adding up to €1.2 billion worth of fresh produce every year.

Musgrave Group categorically opposed to illegal, unfair and unsustainable business practices

In response to the Fine Gael Bill on Fair Trade published today Musgrave Group has stated that it does not engage in the practice of ‘Hello Money’ and would welcome any moves to control and eliminate such “sharp practices” from the Irish grocery sector.

It believes such practices jeopodise the businesses of local suppliers and damage the reputation of the grocery industry and responsible players within it.

However, a distinction needs to be made between sharp practices and legitimate negotiation which is vital to driving down costs and delivering value to consumers.

Musgrave Group has today written to Fine Gael to outline its position on its approach to working with its suppliers which is based on developing long term mutually beneficial relationships and to point out that it is fundamentally opposed to and does not engage in the practice of ‘Hello Money’.

In response to the Bill, Musgrave Group also reiterated its commitment to Irish suppliers and producers.

In this year alone Musgrave has invested €200 million to deliver price reductions to consumers across its Irish brands including SuperValu and Centra.

Unlike other retailer’s price reduction initiatives, these reductions have been introduced without compromising Irish jobs or Musgrave’s commitment to purchase from Irish suppliers.

Currently 75 per cent of everything sold through Mugrave’s retail brands is sourced or produced in Ireland and this is set to continue. These purchases are worth in excess of €2.85 billion every year to the Irish economy and indirectly support 14,000 Irish jobs.

A week of food tastings and great offers is set to demonstrate SuperValu’s appreciation for all things Irish

SuperValu has further demonstrated its commitment to Irish food and suppliers by launching the inaugural SuperValu ‘Value Irish’ Week.

Starting today, ‘Value Irish’ Week will see all 194 independently-owned SuperValu stores showcasing the very best of Irish food and brands with more than 1,500 demonstrations and tastings.  Suppliers involved in ‘Value Irish’ Week include Kepak, Brennan’s Bread, CountryStyle Foods, Glanbia, Carbery, Green Farm Foods, Lyons Tea, Boyne Valley, Green Isle, Unilever Ice Cream and Georgia Pacific.

Bord Bia is also supporting “Value Irish” Week by providing hundreds of recipe leaflets to each SuperValu store throughout the country, to help families make the most of Irish products in their daily meals.

Each SuperValu store will be running competitions and special giveaways each day for shoppers. All of this is in addition to the €200 million recent price cuts, which slashed the cost of an average trolley of goods by €30 – further demonstrating the brand’s commitment to delivering lower prices without sacrificing Irish suppliers and jobs.

Donal Horgan, Managing Director, SuperValu, said, “Value Irish Week is just one way SuperValu stores are showing their support for Irish food, which we believe is amongst the best quality found anywhere in the world. As an Irish brand that’s been around for more than 30 years, SuperValu is proud to work closely with Irish suppliers and local producers to provide consumers with Irish, home-grown products at the best possible price.”

SuperValu is home to more local producers than any other retailer, ensuring each store stocks goods specific to its local area.
Centrally SuperValu also stocks goods from an additional 600 Irish suppliers, ensuring that 75 per cent of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland.

These purchases are worth in excess of €2.85 billion every year to the Irish economy and indirectly support 14,000 Irish jobs. For example all SuperValu branded beef, lamb, chicken, pork and bacon is 100 per cent Irish, while per cent of all fruit and veg is also Irish, adding up to €1.2 billion worth of fresh produce every year.

Later this year, SuperValu is also set to launch the Supervalu ‘Irish Supplier of the Year’ Awards, which will recognise and reward Irish suppliers and brands throughout ‘2010. The awards scheme will celebrate successful and innovative Irish food companies through a nationwide competition to search for the best companies, suppliers and producers in a range of categories. Entrants will be invited from categories such as Best Fresh Produce, Most Innovative Product, Food Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Newcomer and more. Awards in the form of business bursaries will total approximately €30,000. 

Added Horgan, “The search will be on for Ireland’s best and hardest working Irish suppliers. I look forward to applauding these individuals and companies, as their core values are parallel to SuperValu’s – honesty, passion for food and working hard for our local communities and Ireland.“