In anticipation of summer, SuperValu, Ireland’s leading independent supermarket network, has announced today the first of new season Irish strawberries will go on sale this week. The company has announced that it will account for €4 million worth of fresh strawberry sales in 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Donal Horgan, Managing Director, SuperValu, said, “At SuperValu, we are committed to supporting local Irish producers and growers and we are delighted to increase the amount of fresh Irish strawberries that are available to Irish consumers to 80 per cent of our total sales.

This commitment to investing in local produce guarantees top quality, fresh Irish fruit and vegetables for consumers. SuperValu’s commitment to Irish based growers and producers resulted in combined Irish retail sales of €1.2 billion of fresh Irish food in 2009.“

During 2009, Musgrave, owner of the SuperValu brand made a significant contribution to the Irish economy and Irish suppliers with 75 per cent of all products purchased on behalf of all its retail partners, either produced or manufactured in Ireland. This represents total purchases from Irish suppliers in excess of €2.85 billion at retail level, serving to both create and protect Irish jobs and livelihoods and also sustain the Irish community.

The finalists for the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) 2010 Community Heroes award were unveiled at the Convenience Retailing Show yesterday, and three of the four finalists were Budgens and Londis retail partners.

Congratulations to: Sunder Sandher, Londis (Leamington Spa), Dee Patel, Budgens (Woodbridge) and Mike Duffy, Budgens (Lightwater) on reaching the finals. The other finalist is Charanjit Doal, Lifestyle (Wheaton Aston).

The ACS Community Heroes Award, now in its fifth year, will be presented to the retailer who can best demonstrate that they, and their store staff, have achieved something that has made a real difference to their community within the last year.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The quality of entries this year has been outstanding. We have chosen four finalists in 2010 instead of the usual three, as we believe that they have all made a tangible difference in their communities and deserve to be shortlisted to be presented with the award. The finalists for this award exemplify the crucial role that local shops play at the heart of their communities.”

Londis has launched a ‘swap to save’ campaign to show shoppers how much they can save on a basket of shopping by switching from the branded equivalent to Londis own brand.

For example, with Londis own-brand products (RRP) a shopping basket containing oven chips, coffee, kitchen towels, apple pies, cola 500ml, tinned sweetcorn, bleach and flour offers a saving of a third compared to the branded equivalent. The ‘swap to save’ message, that Londis own brand is a better buy than the branded equivalent, is flagged up on consumer leaflets, which Londis retailers can distribute locally.

Says Phil Smith, Londis managing director: “In these tough economic times we know that customers are looking for value and Londis is committed to supporting its retail partners, enabling them to deliver excellent value to shoppers through an own brand that offers great quality at a better price.”

To celebrate Mothers’ Day, Budgens is offering shoppers a mega deal on chickens with the price of a Budgens medium whole chicken (1.35kg) cut from £4 to £3 as part of its Red Hot Value promotional activity from 11 – 31 March.

Says Phil Smith, Budgens Managing Director: “This is an example of Budgens bringing down prices in order for our retail partners to deliver value to shoppers.“

During the three-week promotional period the group anticipates a near nine fold increase in sales.

To support this offer there are also some great deals on seasonal vegetables, including leeks at 600g for 400g (RSP £1.49) and King Edward potatoes with 40 per cent extra free.

Budgens is working with energy experts, Greengate, to offer its Budgens retail partners the opportunity to cut the cost of their energy and carbon emissions.

Says Daniel Quest, Budgens sales director: “We are working closely with suppliers to jointly drive efficiencies, which is why Budgens continues to be the partner of choice for independent retailers.”

Guy Warner, owner of Warner’s Budgens, says: “I was astonished that I saved energy even in my most energy-efficient store, so I immediately took the solution operation-wide. In a few months we’ve saved 21 per cent on electricity and 30 per cent on gas. What’s more, with Greengate’s Carbon Trust loan scheme I will effectively get my energy management solution for free!”

Many Budgens retailers are already enjoying the benefits of slashed energy bills. For example, Susie Hawkins who has a number of award-winning forecourt sites with Budgens stores says: “After just two months our Monmouth store is saving 22 per cent on electricity.”

Malcolm Tinkler of Greengate adds: “Most c-stores are using 10-40 per cent too much energy because of ineffective energy management. With a simple three-step plan and state-of-the-art wireless energy-management system, we help customers take ultimate control of their hungry assets and achieve immediate payback.“