Centra stores have taken home four awards at the recent ShelfLife C-Store Award ceremony in Dublin on 26th November 2014. The ShelfLife C-Store Awards, now in its 14th year, were set up by leading retail industry magazine to acknowledge stores and individuals that set the standards for the industry.

Centra Castletroy in Limerick clinched Gold and took home the National Award for Stores from 4,000 to 8,000 sq ft. Kellys Centra, Mountain Top, Co. Donegal was named Silver award winner within the same category.

Donnellan’s Centra in Ennis clinched two prestigious awards, winning the overall Hygiene Award for Exceptional Standards in 2014 as well as taking home Silver in the National Award for Stores up to 2,000 sq ft category.

In winning these titles, Centra stores fought off stiff competition from convenience stores throughout Ireland. The award was adjudicated by independent judges on numerous conditions, including product offering, store hygiene and customer service. Of all the ShelfLife C-Store awards presented on the night, Centra stores across the country secured a total of four awards.

From the start of December, SuperValu NI is encouraging its independent retailers to host a variety of festive-themed activities in-store for customers, to help reach their £111,000 fundraising target for Northern Ireland cancer charity, Action Cancer.

Innovative ideas include hosting events such as Mince Pie and Mulled Wine Tasting evenings, Signature Tastes and Christmas Party Food Tasting evenings alongside competitions to win everything a customer may need for the perfect Christmas party.

The little ones will be catered for with the opportunity to sell Action Cancer’s Reindeer food and Surprise Santa Letters to customers in return for a small donation.

The money raised goes towards Action Cancer’s Big Bus mobile detection unit which began operating in 2006. The Big Bus has visited over 1,000 workplaces, community groups and SuperValu stores across Northern Ireland in that time, providing vital cancer screening and information services for men and women.

30 Food Academy participants graduate to Food Academy Advance

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD today welcomed the announcement that 200 small food producers will secure retail listings worth €10 million with SuperValu, through the Food Academy programme in 2015. Food Academy is a joint initiative between Bord Bia, the Local Enterprise Office Network and SuperValu to support small food companies in Ireland.

Minister Coveney also announced that of the total Food Academy programme participants, 30 high performingsmall food companies will graduate to Food Academy Advance, the next stage of the programme. Food Academy Advance provides these companies with access to expertise in branding, market research, business development and distribution, to allow them to scale up and secure national listings with SuperValu. This combination of both commercial and marketing insight assists in supporting producers through the challenging initial phases of business growth and strengthens their chances of future success.

Speaking at the Food Academy Conference in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin today, Minister Coveney TDsaid: “Food Harvest 2020 has identified the long term potential of the Irish agri-food industry to support ‘smart, green growth’. Ireland’s artisan food producers are making a valued contribution to this growth. Structured support from Bord Bia and Local Enterprise Offices, in partnership with SuperValu, will ensure that high potential food entrepreneurs can scale their businesses in a sustainable manner, creating jobs and furthering Ireland’s credentials as a food leader both nationally and internationally.”

The results of a research study conducted with Food Academy participants were also launched at the conference. The main findings included:

• Almost 85% of Food Academy participants expect to employ new staff over the next 12 months, with almost a quarter expecting to take on more than 3 new staff during this period;
• Almost half of Food Academy participants expect sales to increase by 50% or more over the next 12 months;
• Approximately 70% of small food producers expect to launch new products during the next twelve months;
• 98% of participants found the Food Academy programme beneficial to their business development;
• Gaining access to finance is the number one priority for Food Academy participants;
• Almost 80% of companies participating on the programme plan to develop their brand through social media.

By virtue of its community retailer model, whereby stores are independently owned by local entrepreneurs, SuperValu is able to give Food Academy participating companies the unique opportunity of starting their journey on a small scale. Participants are able to secure listings with individual stores, helping them grow to a point where they are on a commercial footing to supply a network of stores. 

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, commented: “At SuperValu we are committed to supporting local suppliers and building vibrant communities around Ireland. We are delighted to be able to work hand in hand with budding artisan food producers, providing them with the opportunity to trial their products in local SuperValu stores initially and then grow their partnership with us as they scale their business and supply more SuperValu stores, creating local jobs in the process. As SuperValu stores are independently owned and operated, our retailers are perfectly placed to support suppliers in scaling their business at a sustainable pace. At the same time, it allows our retailers to provide customers with a tailored local offer, stocking products which you cannot buy in other supermarkets.”

Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia, added “Bord Bia’s role in this partnership has been to design solutions for entrepreneurs to allow them to thrive in an environment that looks to support local. The Irish consumer is a discerning one and has in recent years grown to seek out and support local products and companies. The Food Academy model uniquely facilitates the promotion of these entrepreneurs to consumers in every county in Ireland, whilst equipping these young food companies to be consumer focused from the outset and to grow at a sustainable pace.”

Also speaking at the event, Vincent Reynolds, Chairperson of the Local Enterprise Office, said: “Food Academy provides a cohesive, structured support system for local food producers, to help them grow their businesses sustainably. It is an example of Government agencies and the private sector working together to create the right environment for food entrepreneurship in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Network with on-the-ground expertise and local contacts is perfectly placed to support small and medium enterprises to achieve a listing initially with their local SuperValu store and beyond to regional and national SuperValu stores. With that support, their growth is achievable, manageable and importantly, sustainable.”

SuperValu serves over 2.6 million customers every week and has 223 stores nationwide. 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible and purchases almost €2 billion worth of goods from Irish suppliers which help to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.  SuperValu was recently recognised as the best promoter of Irish products ahead of any other grocery retailer, according to the ‘Where We Shop 2014’ research study by Checkout and Ignite Research.

Musgrave Group was awarded the Business Working Responsibly Mark at an event in Dublin recently.

The Business Working Responsibly Mark is Ireland’s first and only independently audited certification for responsible & sustainable business practices.

The Mark, which is based on ISO 26000, for the first time, allows businesses to gain a baseline assessment of their responsible practices and to benchmark sustainable policies against other companies across different sectors.

The process for the issue of the Mark, which is valid for two years, was independently audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland(NSAI).

John Curran, Head of Sustainability at Musgrave Group said: “Gaining the Business Working Responsibly Mark is a significant achievement for Musgrave. It confirms that we operate to the very highest standards of responsible & sustainable business practices. During the process of achieving the mark, Musgrave was assessed across 27 key indicators, which covered 300 individual metrics within five business areas including: Workplace, Marketplace, Environment, Community and CR Management & Communications. The process also provided us with a road-map to develop and enhance our sustainable policies and practices into the future.”

Musgrave Group now joins a group of eleven companies who have successfully achieved the Mark so far including: Microsoft Ireland, ESB, CRH Ireland, Intel Ireland, Transdev Ireland, EirGrid, Accenture in Ireland, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Boots Retail Ireland, Bord Gáis Networks, Deloitte Ireland and 4 new recipients, which include Marks & Spencer, Ricoh, Ulster Bank and First Trust.

SuperValu enters insurance market with travel insurance offer

SuperValu, the leading Irish grocery retailer, has today launched SuperValu Travel Insurance, the first in a range of insurance products to be offered by the company.  
An annual family travel insurance policy to Europe for two adults and up to seven children with SuperValu Insurance will cost €56 or 15c a day. (This is based on the family holding private medical insurance, do not require winter sports cover and is purchased on line and meeting the necessary eligibility criteria)

SuperValu Travel Insurance provides cover for the important items such as trip cancellation and medical expenses when on holidays. Another key advantage is that SuperValu Travel Insurance offers a range of competitive fixed price options which mean that customers will only pay for what they want, be it a domestic trip, European or worldwide cover, single or family.  As with all travel insurance, terms and conditions apply.

SuperValu Insurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and the Irish retailer  has partnered with ACE, one of the world’s largest insurance providers, to underwrite its travel insurance product. SuperValu is currently in discussions with a number of other companies with a view to launching more insurance products into the market in 2015.

Commenting at the launch, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu, said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of SuperValu Travel Insurance, the first in a range of insurance products which we will introduce over the coming months.

Our move into the insurance business is a further demonstration of SuperValu’s innovative approach to offering our customers a broad range of services from a brand that they trust. We have entered the insurance sector after much research and feedback from customers that they are looking for an insurance provider that they already have an affinity to and one that they feel will offer them real value and assurance that they can travel  with peace of mind.

Customers looking to purchase SuperValu Travel Insurance will be able to buy it online at www.supervalutravelinsurance.ie or by calling 1890 719 425

SuperValu serves over 2.6 million customers every week and now has 223 stores nationwide. 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible and purchases almost €2 billion worth of goods from Irish suppliers which help to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.

SuperValu, the leading Irish grocery retailer, has announced today that it expects to sell 125,000 Irish poinsettias this Christmas. SuperValu will stock 100% Bord Bia quality assured Irish grown poinsettias supplied by Dublin based grower Uniplumo.

Now in its 18th year, Uniplumo’s partnership with SuperValu has led the grower to increase the number of poinsettias grown by 25% over the past three years to meet customer demand. Uniplumo are specialist growers in the Irish horticulture market, operating from seven acres of heated glass houses near Swords, County Dublin. The company employs over 40 staff.

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu, said, “As the number one supporter of Irish suppliers, our long-standing partnership with Uniplumo enables us to bring locally produced poinsettias of the highest quality to SuperValu customers all over the country. Our relationship with Uniplumo has helped the company to continue to grow in order to meet customer demand for the extremely popular poinsettia. SuperValu works with more local Irish suppliers like Uniplumo than any other retailer in the country. By shopping with SuperValu, customers are helping to ensure that up to three times more money stays in the local economy compared to international supermarkets.”

Tom Summerville, General Manager, Uniplumo, added, “Poinsettias are a traditional Christmas plant and we are delighted that through SuperValu’s 223 stores, our Bord Bia quality assured Irish grown poinsettias will decorate homes across Ireland again this year. This announcement by SuperValu of an even larger order this year is a very welcome one for Uniplumo, helping us to sustain over 40 local jobs, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the retailer long into the future.”

SuperValu serves over 2.6 million customers every week and now has 223 stores nationwide. 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible and purchases almost €2 billion worth of goods from Irish suppliers which help to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.

Action Cancer’s Health Action programme, sponsored by Centra NI, is on target to reach almost half a million schoolchildren in Northern Ireland since its launch 11 years ago.

Figures released by the charity revealed that cancer prevention sessions, featuring information about being fit and active, eating well, being safe in the sun and avoiding the dangers of smoking and alcohol, were brought to more than 480,000 children and young people at 1,000 nurseries, schools and colleges.

Action Cancer and Centra NI formed a partnership in 2003 in support of the award-winning Health Action project, which is the only one of its kind in the province. The number of young people taking part in Health Action road shows is at an all-time high, and is fuelled by more than £1 milllion of funding raised by Centra NI stores and MRPNI staff.
 

Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland has today agreed to acquire the Allied Logistics business from DCC plc. The acquisition is conditional on clearance from the Irish Competition Authority.

Allied Logistics provides ambient and temperature controlled storage and distribution services in Ireland and the acquisition will provide Musgrave with access to a highly efficient frozen supply chain. Earlier this year Musgrave acquired the foodservice division of Allied Foods and will continue to provide supply chain services to all of Allied Logistics existing customers.

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, said: “Allied Logistics is an excellent strategic fit for our operations in Ireland and there is a natural synergy between both organisations. We have a long-standing trading relationship and look forward to the employees of Allied Logistics joining Musgrave.”

Halloween is coming and Centra stores in Northern Ireland have taken on a spook-tacular fundraising challenge to raise £80,000 for charity partner Action Cancer.

Retailers are being encouraged to take on a range of fundraising activities for staff and customers from the 27th October until 2nd November to raise funds for the local cancer charity including fancy dress, apple dunking and pumpkin carving competitions and Halloween themed deli days.

The funds raised by Centra staff and customers will benefit Action Cancer’s Health Action health programme for young people, which has been designed to educate young people on healthier lifestyles including exercise, healthy eating and the dangers of smoking and alcohol.

Over the past 11 years, Centra stores have donated over £1 million to Action Cancer and their annual fundraising week is an important date each year to boost their fundraising total.

Nikki McDowell, Centra Northern Ireland Brand Manager, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for Action Cancer through fundraising week, which is a fantastic opportunity for Centra retailers and customers to work together in raising much needed funds for the local charity.”